Rig Veda 6.41.3: Mandala 6, Sukta 41, Mantra 3
Sukta 6.41
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
एष द्रप्सो वृषभो विश्वरूप इन्द्राय वृष्णे समकारि सोमः । एतं पिब हरिवः स्थातरुग्र यस्येशिषे प्रदिवि यस्ते अन्नम् ॥
eṣá drápsō vṛṣabhó viśvá-rūpa índrāya vṛ́ṣṇe sám akāri sómaḥ | etáṃ píba harivaḥ sthā́tar ugrá yásyeśiṣe prá-divi yás te ánnam ||
ഈ ബിന്ദു—വൃഷഭൻ, വിശ്വരൂപൻ—ബലവാനായ ഇന്ദ്രനുവേണ്ടി സോമം ഒരുക്കപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കുന്നു. ഹേ ഹരിവഃ (ഹരിഅശ്വങ്ങളുടെ അധിപനേ), ഇതു പാനം ചെയ്യുക; ഹേ ഉഗ്ര, ദൃഢമായി നിലകൊള്ളുക—ആരുടെ അധിപത്യം പ്രദിവിയിലേക്കും വ്യാപിക്കുന്നു, ആരുടെ അന്നമാകുന്നു ഇതു.
Word by Word
- एषः
- this (one)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → एष-
- द्रप्सः
- drop; Soma-dropNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot द्रप्स (प्रातिपदिक)
- वृषभः
- bull (mighty one)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
- विश्व-रूपः
- of all forms; manifoldAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot विश्व (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्राय
- for IndraNounपुंलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी, एकवचनम्Role SampradānaRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- वृष्णे
- for the mighty one (the bull)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी, एकवचनम्Role SampradānaRoot वृषन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- सम्-अकारि
- has been prepared/madeVerbलुङ् (अorist), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role (क्रिया)Root √कृ (करोति) + सम्
- सोमः
- SomaNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- एतम्
- this (him/it)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- पिब
- drinkVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role (क्रिया)Root √पा (पिबति)
- हरिवः
- O bay-steeded one (Indra)Noun (vocative epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role (सम्बोधन)Root हरिवत्/हरिवस् (प्रातिपदिक; इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)
- स्थातॄन्
- supporters; upholdersNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role KarmaRoot स्थातृ (प्रातिपदिक; √स्था)
- उग्र
- O fierce oneAdjective (vocative)पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role (सम्बोधन)Root उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- यस्य
- whoseRelative pronounपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ईशिषे
- you rule; you have powerVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role (क्रिया)Root √ईश् (ईष्टे)
- प्र-दिवि
- in the highest heavenIndeclinable (locative phrase)अव्यय-प्रयोगः (दिवि = सप्तमी एकवचनम्, ‘in heaven’)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot दिव् (प्रातिपदिक) + प्र (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- यः
- whoRelative pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ते
- yourPronounषष्ठी, एकवचनम् (enclitic)Role (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)Root युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अन्नम्
- food; nourishmentNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role Kartā/KarmaRoot अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सम्भाव्यः): एषः | द्रप्सः | वृषभः | विश्वरूपः | इन्द्राय | वृष्णे | सम्-अकारि | सोमः || एतम् | पिब | हरिवः | स्थातॄन् | उग्र | यस्य | ईशिषे | प्र-दिवि | यः | ते | अन्नम् || 1) एष द्रप्सो → एषः द्रप्सः (विसर्ग-लोप/पदसंहिता)
- 2) विश्वरूप इन्द्राय → विश्वरूपः इन्द्राय (विसर्ग-लोप)
- 3) समकारि → सम् + अकारि (उपसर्ग-सन्धि: म् + अ → म)
- 4) सोमः । एतं → सोमः | एतम् (विसर्ग-लोप)
- 5) स्थातरुग्र → स्थातॄन् उग्र (नृ-प्रत्यययुक्त ‘स्थातृ’ का द्वितीया बहुवचन ‘स्थातॄन्’; संहिता में न् + उ → नु/रु-प्रभाव से ‘स्थातरु…’ जैसा पाठ)
- 6) यस्येशिषे → यस्य ईशिषे (स्वर-सन्धि: अ + ई → ए)
- 7) प्रदिवि → प्र + दिवि (अव्ययीभाव/उपसर्ग-योग)
The meaning
Outer meaning
A potent drop of Soma—bull-like and many-formed—is prepared for strong Indra. Indra is urged to drink, to stand firm with his tawny steeds; his sovereignty extends into the forward heaven, and this Soma is his food.
Inner meaning
The concentrated delight (Soma) distilled from inner practice is offered to the illumined Mind-Power (Indra). The “drop” is a gathered essence of consciousness; “bull” marks virile force and victorious increase; “all-formed” indicates that bliss can take every needed shape—thought, courage, clarity, right impulse. The seeker calls Indra to drink this essence and become steadfast (sthātar) against inner resistance, extending mastery into the “forward heaven” (pradivi)—the higher, progressive plane of luminous mind beyond ordinary mentality. Soma is Indra’s “food” because illumination grows by feeding on delight, not by dry effort alone.
Universal truth
True strength is not mere willpower; it is illumined force nourished by a deep joy. When consciousness is fed by inner delight, the mind becomes stable, courageous, and capable of reaching higher planes of understanding and governance over life.
Themes
Soma as nourishment of divine force, Indra’s strength and stability, multi-potent essence (viśvarūpa), ascent to higher heaven
The seer
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya
- Lineage
- Bharadvāja
- Other hymns
- RV 6.41, RV 6.42, RV 6.43, RV 6.44
Family tradition
Mandala 6 is predominantly the Bharadvāja family tradition, with a strong emphasis on Indra as the victorious illuminer aided by Soma.
Significance
Bharadvāja’s seership often turns the outer yajña into an inner discipline: calling Indra to drink Soma becomes inviting the higher luminous mind to take up the distilled delight and lead the battle against obscurity.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- vṛṣṇe (the strong/virile), harivaḥ (lord of tawny steeds), ugra (puissant, formidable)
- Related deities
- Soma, Agni, Bṛhaspati, Maruts
Cosmic role
Breaker of the coverer; establisher of wide luminous order; opener of the higher worlds for the human ascent.
Inner power
Illumined intelligence allied with courage—clarity that acts, slays doubt, and stabilizes the will in the higher direction.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma offering to Indra in Soma-yajña contexts
ए॒ष द्र॒प्सो वृ॑ष॒भो वि॒श्वरू॑प॒ इन्द्रा॑य॒ वृष्णे॒ सम॑कारि॒ सोम॑: । ए॒तं पि॑ब हरिवः स्थातरुग्र॒ यस्येशि॑षे प्र॒दिवि॒ यस्ते॒ अन्न॑म् ॥
ए॒षः । द्र॒प्सः । वृ॒ष॒भः । वि॒श्वऽरू॑पः । इन्द्रा॑य । वृष्णे॑ । सम् । अ॒का॒रि॒ । सोमः॑ । ए॒तम् । पि॒ब॒ । ह॒रि॒ऽवः॒ । स्था॒तः॒ । उ॒ग्र॒ । यस्य॑ । ईशि॑षे । प्र॒ऽदिवि॑ । यः । ते॒ । अन्न॑म् ॥
eṣaḥ | drapsaḥ | vṛṣabhaḥ | viśva-rūpaḥ | indrāya | vṛṣṇe | sam | akāri | somaḥ | etam | piba | hari-vaḥ | sthātaḥ | ugra | yasya | īśiṣe | pra-divi | yaḥ | te | annam
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables each
Firm, marching cadence suited to invocation and command.
Builds steadiness and heroic resolve; the rhythm supports ‘standing firm’ while calling down a higher force.
- द्रप्स (drapsa)
- Literal: drop, globule. Symbolic: concentrated essence of delight/awareness gathered from sadhana
- वृषभ (vṛṣabha)
- Literal: bull. Symbolic: fecund force, victorious power that increases and breaks resistance
- विश्वरूप (viśvarūpa)
- Literal: of all forms. Symbolic: one bliss taking many functional forms in the being
- इन्द्र (indra)
- Literal: Indra. Symbolic: divine Mind/illumination-force that conquers obscurity
- हरिवः (harivaḥ)
- Literal: lord of tawny steeds. Symbolic: master of dynamic life-forces/energies yoked to illumination
- प्रदिवि (pradivi)
- Literal: in the forward heaven. Symbolic: progressive higher mind-plane; advancing luminous consciousness
- अन्न (anna)
- Literal: food. Symbolic: that which sustains and increases a power—here, Soma-bliss sustaining illumination
Soma offering verse: declares Soma prepared for Indra; asks him to drink and stand firm in might, extending mastery into the higher luminous realm.
During Soma pressing and offering sequences for Indra
Invitation (āvāhana) and urging Indra to drink the pressed Soma
Use as a meditation-invocation before demanding inner work: ‘may the illumined mind drink delight and stand firm in me’.
drapsá ‘drop’ is a frequent Soma term; vṛṣabhá and vṛ́ṣṇe share √vṛṣ ‘to rain, be virile’—power as outpouring. viśva-rūpa indicates polyvalence of Soma-force. √īś ‘rule’ indicates sovereignty extending into pra-div (forward heaven), suggesting an ascent-domain where Indra’s mastery operates. Soma as ‘food’ underscores assimilation: divine power grows by the offered essence.
sovereignty (īś), pra-div (higher luminous expanse), stability of power (sthātar)
Indra’s firmness and sovereignty uphold r̥ta by overcoming disordering forces.
Pradivi suggests ascent toward truth-mind where governance is by clarity, not impulse.
Transformation through ‘pressing’—essence extracted from mixed experience becomes power for ascent.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian): ascent from mind to higher mind by delight and illumination.
Soma-nectar = distilled bliss; bull = surging force; horses = life-energies; heaven = higher consciousness-plane.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is Soma as the potent ‘bull-drop’ prepared for Indra, enabling him to stand firm and exercise sovereignty in the higher heaven. Innerly, the concentrated delight, multi-formed in capacity, nourishes the indriya of victory so it can stabilize and rule in the forward luminous expanse of consciousness.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √īś ‘rule’ connects to a broader IE semantic of ownership/mastery; √sthā ‘stand’ (PIE *steh₂-) is a core IE root, here spiritualized as stable establishment of force. The bull metaphor (vṛṣabhá) is a common IE emblem of potency, used in Vedic for psychic and cosmic power.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi presents the offering as Indra’s nourishment and asks for a specific inner result: firmness and extended mastery into pra-div. The exchange is precise: Soma is given so the Indra-force can become stable and sovereign in higher consciousness, benefiting the sacrificer through that established rule.
Invite the illumined mind to drink the inner nectar and establish steadfast mastery in the ‘forward’ (progressive) direction.
ājñā (illumined mind)
Moderate nāḍī-śodhana for steadiness; then quiet kumbhaka while inwardly offering ‘Soma’ (felt sweetness/peace) to the higher mind.
Focused, uplifted, heroic clarity (sattva with dynamic force).
Before action or difficult inner change, recall a felt joy/peace; offer it upward; then act from the steadiness that follows rather than from strain.
Vedic accents follow the saṃhitā: udatta on marked syllables, anudatta as default, svarita on falling tones (exact svara requires a pada-accented recension).
Keep each pāda as one breath-unit if possible; slightly lift udatta syllables; avoid stressing English-like beats.
eṣa not ‘eshaa’: short a at end, vṛṣabho: vocalic ṛ; bh as aspirated, viśvarūpa: ś (palatal) distinct from s, harivaḥ: final visarga softly before s/ś sounds, pradivi: clear dental d, short i vowels
Bright, steady, invoking; firm ending on each pāda.
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