Rig Veda 7.19.1: Mandala 7, Sukta 19, Mantra 1
Sukta 7.19
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
यस्तिग्मशृङ्गो वृषभो न भीम एकः कृष्टीश्च्यावयति प्र विश्वाः । यः शश्वतो अदाशुषो गयस्य प्रयन्तासि सुष्वितराय वेदः ॥
yás tigmáśṛṅgo vṛṣabhó ná bhīmá ékaḥ kṛṣṭī́ś cyāváyati prá viśvā́ḥ | yáḥ śáśvato adā́śuṣo gáyasya prayantā́si súsviṭarāya védaḥ ||
തീക്ഷ്ണ-ശൃംഗമുള്ളവൻ, ശക്തിയുടെ വൃഷഭംപോലെ ഭീമൻ—ഒറ്റയ്ക്കുതന്നെ എല്ലാ ജനങ്ങളെയും ശരിയായ ഗതിയിലേക്കു പ്രേരിപ്പിക്കുന്നവൻ. ശാശ്വതമായി അദാശു (അർപ്പിക്കാത്തവൻ)ന്റെ ഗയ (ജീവബലം/സമ്പത്ത്)യുടെ മുൻനേതാവ്—ഹേ ഇന്ദ്രാ, നീയേ വേദ (ജ്ഞാനി), കൂടുതൽ സുഖകരവും കൂടുതൽ ദീപ്തവുമായ ഗമനപഥത്തിലേക്കു നയിക്കുന്നവൻ.
Word by Word
- यः
- who (he who)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध/विशेष्य-निर्देशक (यः … सः) / कर्तृ-सूचकRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ति॒ग्मशृ॑ङ्गः
- sharp-hornedAdjective (compound)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (यः …) का विशेषणRoot तिग्म-शृङ्ग (समास-प्रातिपदिक) < तिग्म (तीक्ष्ण) + शृङ्ग
- वृष॒भः
- bullNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (यः …) का विशेष्यRoot वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-निपातRole उपमान-सूचकRoot न
- भी॒मः
- terrible, formidableAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ का विशेषणRoot भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
- एकः
- alone, singleAdjective/Numeralपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ का विशेषणRoot एक (प्रातिपदिक)
- कृ॒ष्टीः
- peoples, tribesNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role कर्मRoot कृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
- च्यावयति
- drives away, dislodgesVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role क्रिया (कर्तृ: यः …)Root च्यव् (धातु) → च्यावयति (णिजन्त)
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinable (preverb)उपसर्गRole क्रिया-विशेषकRoot प्र
- विश्वाः
- allAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम् (कृ॒ष्टीः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्म-विशेषणRoot विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध/विशेष्य-निर्देशक (यः …) / कर्तृ-सूचकRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- शश्वतः
- of the ever-lasting/constant (one)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (अदा॑शुषः इत्यस्य विशेषण-सम्बन्धः)Root शश्वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अदा॑शुषः
- of the non-giver, of the ungenerousAdjective (kṛdanta used as noun)पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (गयस्य इत्यस्य षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः: ‘of the non-giver’s wealth’)Root दाश् (धातु) → अदाशुष् (नञ्-पूर्वक कृत्-प्रातिपदिक, ‘अ-’ + दाशुष् = दानकर्ता) अथवा ‘अदाशुष्’ = ‘अदातृ’
- गयस्य
- of wealth, of possessionsNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (प्रयन्ता इत्यस्य कर्म/लाभ्य-वस्तु-सम्बन्धः)Root गय (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्रयन्ता
- bestower, giverAgent noun (kṛdanta)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (असि इत्यस्य)Root प्र-यम् (धातु) → प्रयन्तृ (कृत्: तृच्) / ‘प्रयन्ता’ (कर्तरि)
- असि
- you areVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role क्रिया (सम्बोधन-प्रयोगः)Root अस् (धातु)
- सुष्वितराय
- for the better-impelled / more prosperous (one)Adjective (dative)पुंलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी, एकवचनम्Role सम्प्रदान (जिसके लिए)Root सुष्वितर (प्रातिपदिक; तुलनात्मक/विशेषण)
- वेदः
- knows, has knownVerb (perfect form used as finite)लिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role क्रिया (यः … वेदः)Root विद् (धातु) → वेद (परिपूर्ण/स्थिर-रूप)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-निरसन): यः तिग्मशृङ्गः वृषभः न भीमः एकः कृष्टीः च्यावयति प्र विश्वाः । यः शश्वतः अदाशुषः गयस्य प्रयन्ता असि सुष्वितराय वेदः ॥ मुख्य सन्धि/संयोग: (1) कृष्टीः+च्यावयति → कृष्टीश्च्यावयति (विसर्ग/श्-आदेशः)
- (2) प्र+विश्वाः → प्र विश्वाः (उपसर्ग पृथक्)
- (3) प्रयन्ता+असि → प्रयन्तासि (स्वर-सन्धि: आ + अ → आ)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra, fierce like a sharp-horned bull, alone can impel all peoples forward; he leads and guides toward a better passage, mastering the vitality of those who do not offer sacrifice.
Inner meaning
Indra as the illumined Mind-force, single and sovereign in us, drives all the mixed impulses and faculties (“peoples”) into right movement. The ‘non-offerer’ is the part of the being that withholds surrender and aspiration; Indra seizes and redirects its life-force (gaya) toward a more luminous path (suṣvitarā). He is ‘vedaḥ’—the knower—because true guidance comes from inner illumination, not from outer preference.
Universal truth
When the awakened intelligence is joined to sincerity and aspiration, it can reorganize the whole nature and convert resistant vitality into a forward journey toward clarity and joy.
Themes
breakthrough power, leader of the journey, transforming the withholding nature, knowledge-guided passage
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa lineage)
- Other hymns
- RV 7.18, RV 7.19, RV 7.33, RV 7.86-7.89
Family tradition
Saptaṛṣi tradition; hymns often express the ‘right guidance’ (ṛta) and the kingly leadership of the divine powers in the inner battle.
Significance
Vasiṣṭha’s vision emphasizes harmony with ṛta and the conversion of human movements into a divinely governed order; Indra here is the inner commander who rectifies the many ‘peoples’ of the nature.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- tigmaśṛṅga (sharp-horned), vṛṣabha (bull), bhīma (formidable), ekaḥ (the One, solitary champion)
- Related deities
- Agni, Soma, Bṛhaspati, Maruts, Uṣas
Cosmic role
Breaker of obstructions, releaser of the Light and the Waters; establishes the victorious movement of ṛta in the world.
Inner power
Illumined intelligence-force that compels right action, breaks inertia, and leads the life-energy toward a happier, clearer path.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-stotras in Soma-yajña contexts; also recited for strength and victory motifs in śrauta sequences.
यस्ति॒ग्मशृ॑ङ्गो वृष॒भो न भी॒म एक॑: कृ॒ष्टीश्च्या॒वय॑ति॒ प्र विश्वा॑: । यः शश्व॑तो॒ अदा॑शुषो॒ गय॑स्य प्रय॒न्तासि॒ सुष्वि॑तराय॒ वेद॑: ॥
यः । ति॒ग्मऽशृ॑ङ्गः । वृ॒ष॒भः । न । भी॒मः । एकः॑ । कृ॒ष्टीः । च्य॒वय॑ति । प्र । विश्वाः॑ । यः । शश्व॑तः । अदा॑शुषः । गय॑स्य । प्र॒ऽय॒न्ता । अ॒सि॒ । सु॒स्वि॑ऽतराय । वेदः॑ ॥
yaḥ | tigma-śṛṅgaḥ | vṛṣabhaḥ | na | bhīmaḥ | ekaḥ | kṛṣṭīḥ | cyavayati | pra | viśvāḥ | yaḥ | śaśvataḥ | adāśuṣaḥ | gayasya | pra-yantā | asi | susvi-tarāya | vedaḥ
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4 pādas of ~11 syllables each
Driving, martial cadence with forward thrust; suited to command and victory.
Energizes will and clarity; supports decisive inner movement and the sense of a guiding power taking the lead.
- तिग्मशृङ्ग (tigmaśṛṅga)
- Literal: sharp-horned. Symbolic: penetrating power of discernment; incisive illumination that pierces resistance
- वृषभ (vṛṣabha)
- Literal: bull. Symbolic: sovereign strength of the divine Mind; forceful mastery
- कृष्टीः (kṛṣṭīḥ)
- Literal: peoples/tribes. Symbolic: the many powers and movements of the personality
- च्यवयति (cyāvayati)
- Literal: sets in motion, dislodges. Symbolic: shifts fixed habits; releases stuck energies into right action
- अदाशुष (adāśuṣa)
- Literal: non-offerer, one who does not worship/give. Symbolic: unsurrendered ego-nature that withholds offering to the inner Fire
- गय (gaya)
- Literal: life, vital force. Symbolic: prāṇic energy to be purified and led
- सुष्वितर (suṣvitarā)
- Literal: more auspicious passage. Symbolic: clearer inner way—luminous progress in consciousness
- वेदः (vedaḥ)
- Literal: knower. Symbolic: the illumined guide within; intuitive knowledge that leads
Indra hymn for energizing forward motion (pra-yantā) and breaking inertia/withholding in the sacrificer; used in Soma contexts to invoke decisive power.
During Indra-focused praises in Soma pressing/offerings; also as protective invocation before contests or undertakings.
Stuti (praise) to invoke Indra’s aid in overcoming obstacles and setting forces in right motion.
Use as a morning ‘inner leadership’ mantra before work/decisions: invoke clear intelligence to marshal scattered energies.
tigmá ‘sharp’ (√tij ‘to sharpen’) + śṛṅga ‘horn’ (PIE *ḱerh₂- ‘horn’; cf. Latin cornū) gives a classic IE image of the horned force that pierces. vṛṣabhá from √vṛṣ ‘to rain, to be potent’ = overflowing power. cyāvayati causative of √cyu ‘to move, dislodge’. vedaḥ from √vid ‘to know’ (PIE *weyd-; cf. English wit).
integration of the parts of the being (kṛṣṭīḥ as inner multiplicity), self-giving vs withholding (dāśuṣ/adāśuṣ), knowledge as guidance (vedaḥ)
Indra compels the many movements into ṛta—right motion rather than chaotic impulse.
Indra as ‘vedaḥ’ embodies truth-seeing guidance.
Re-ordering of the manifested nature by illumination; evolution through victorious progress.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: ascent from mixed nature to illumined mind.
dawn-to-morning transition (symbolic of awakening guidance)
The storm-king becomes the inner commander: sharp horns = piercing discernment; bull-force = steadfast mastery; passage = yogic path of progressive illumination.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra as the solitary breaker and mover of the many: the horned bull who dislodges all the ‘peoples’ (forces) and leads the journey to a better crossing. Innerly, it is the awakening of a unified power that reorganizes the fragmented nature and compels the closed parts (adāśuṣ) to release life-energy (gaya).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- vedaḥ (√vid, PIE *weyd-) is a direct IE inheritance (‘know/see’). śṛṅga ‘horn’ aligns with PIE *ḱerh₂- (Latin cornū). The bull/horn imagery is pan-IE in heroic poetry, supporting comparative mythic continuity.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi recognizes Indra not only as force but as vedaḥ, the knower who can guide the inner journey. Praise becomes an act of alignment: by naming Indra’s functions (breaker, mover, leader), the poet invites those functions to operate in his own divided nature.
Invoke the ‘one commander’ within to align thoughts, emotions, and impulses into a single right movement.
ājñā (clarity/command)
Moderate nāḍī-śodhana for 6–9 rounds, then chant once per exhale with a steady, forward cadence.
From scattered manas to organized buddhi; emergence of directive inner light.
Before chanting, offer a brief inner ‘sacrifice’: name one resistance you will surrender. While chanting, feel a lucid force above the brow driving all parts toward a happier path.
Triṣṭubh with Vedic accents; preserve udātta peaks on key verbs/nouns (e.g., cyāváyati, víśvāḥ) and svarita falls after udātta as per śākhā tradition.
Let the first hemistich rise in force (Indra’s might), second hemistich soften into guiding assurance (suṣvitarāya). Avoid flattening ‘ekaḥ’.
tigmaśṛṅgo: keep ṛ as vocalic ‘r̥’ and ṅg as nasal+g, vṛṣabho: clear retroflex ṣ, kṛṣṭīś: cluster kṛ- with vocalic ṛ; lengthen ī, cyāvayati: palatal y, long ā, adāśuṣo: long ā; ṣ retroflex, suṣvitarāya: ṣ retroflex; keep v short
Firm, resonant, forward-placed; end each pāda with controlled release.
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