Rig Veda 9.48.5: Mandala 9, Sukta 48, Mantra 5
Sukta 9.48
- Devata
- Soma as the power that grows into Indra-force and greatness
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
अधा हिन्वान इन्द्रियं ज्यायो महित्वमानशे । अभिष्टिकृद्विचर्षणिः ॥
adhā́ hinvāná indriyáṃ jyā́yo mahitvám ānaśe | abhiṣṭi-kṛ́d vícarṣaṇiḥ ||
അപ്പോൾ, പ്രേരിതനായി മുന്നോട്ട് നീങ്ങുന്നവൻ മഹത്തായ ഇന്ദ്രിയ (ഇന്ദ്ര-ശക്തി)യെ പ്രാപിക്കുകയും വിശാലമായ മഹിമയിൽ എത്തുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു—അഭിഷ്ടി-കൃത് (ആഗ്രഹിച്ച സഹായം ജയിക്കുന്നവൻ), വിചർഷണി (വ്യാപകശക്തിയുള്ളവൻ).
Word by Word
- अधा
- then, thereafterIndeclinableअव्यय (काल/अनुक्रम सूचक)Role Adhikaraṇa (काल/अनुक्रम-निर्देश)Root अधा (अव्यय)
- हिन्वानः
- impelling, setting in motionVerb-derived (Participle)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वर्तमान-कर्तरि कृदन्त (शतृ → -आन)Role Kartā (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Root √हिन् (हिनोति) / √हि (प्रेरणे)
- इन्द्रियम्
- power, vigor, mightNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक; इन्द्र + इय/इयक-प्रत्ययः)
- ज्यायः
- greater, strongerAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (इन्द्रियम् इति कर्मपदस्य विशेषणम्)Role Karma (विशेषणरूपेण)Root ज्यायस् (प्रातिपदिक; तुलनात्मक-विशेषण)
- महित्वम्
- greatness, majestyNoun (abstract)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot महित्व (प्रातिपदिक; महत् + -त्व)
- आनशे
- has attained, has reachedVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपदम्Role Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)Root √नश् (नश्नोति/नशति) ‘प्राप्नुयात्’
- अभिष्टिकृत्
- maker of help/aid; helperAdjective (agent-noun)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (विचर्षणिः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषणरूपेण)Root अभिष्टि + √कृ (करोति) (समासः: अभिष्टि-कृत्)
- विचर्षणिः
- the widely-ruling one; lord of men/peoplesNoun/Adjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (वाक्यस्य कर्तृपदम्; इन्द्रस्य नाम/विशेषणम्)Root विचर्षणि (प्रातिपदिक; वि- + चर्षणि ‘मनुष्य/जन’ अथवा ‘प्रजाः’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: अधा | हिन्वानः | इन्द्रियम् | ज्यायः | महित्वम् | आनशे | अभिष्टिकृत् | विचर्षणिः । 1) हिन्वान इन्द्रियम् → हिन्वानः इन्द्रियम् (शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त ‘-आन’ + अकारादि पदे विसर्गः)
- 2) अभिष्टिकृद्विचर्षणिः → अभिष्टिकृत् विचर्षणिः (त् + व् संयोगे ‘द्व’ लेखन/उच्चारण-रूपम्; पदान्त त् परे वकारे संधिः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Then, being urged on, he attains the greater Indra-power and reaches vast greatness—he who wins desired help, the wide-ranging one.
Inner meaning
As Soma is pressed forward (hinvāna), the seeker’s consciousness grows into indriya—Indra-force: luminous mental power that conquers limitation. This leads to mahitva (vastness) and a capacity to secure abhiṣṭi (the sought aid) from the gods/powers. ‘Vicarṣaṇi’ indicates a power that moves widely through the planes—an all-ranging action of illumination in life.
Universal truth
Purified delight, when actively intensified, becomes illumination-power; illumination expands the being and draws effective help for right action in the world.
Themes
attainment, increase of power, help/protection, wideness
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 9.48.2, Rig Veda 9.48.3, Rig Veda 9.48.4
Family tradition
The verse stands in the Soma liturgy where the collective rishi-voice tracks inner growth: Soma → Indra-force → vastness → effective aid.
Significance
Shows the yogic sequence central to Aurobindo’s reading: Soma (Ananda) intensifies into Indra (illumined mind) and culminates in widening (mahitva) and victorious assistance (abhiṣṭi).
The deity
- Devata
- Soma (Pavamāna)
- Epithets
- hinvāna (impelled), indriya-vardhana (increaser of Indra-force—sense), abhiṣṭikṛt (giver/maker of desired help), vicarṣaṇi (wide-ranging)
- Related deities
- Indra, Maruts (dynamic forces), Agni
Cosmic role
Strengthens Indra and the gods in the sacrifice; catalyzes victory over obstruction and expansion into wide worlds.
Inner power
Ananda that turns into luminous power of action—effective, victorious, expansive.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma Pavamāna recitation linked to strengthening Indra in Soma rites
अधा॑ हिन्वा॒न इ॑न्द्रि॒यं ज्यायो॑ महि॒त्वमा॑नशे । अ॒भि॒ष्टि॒कृद्विच॑र्षणिः ॥
अध॑ । हि॒न्वा॒नः । इ॒न्द्रि॒यम् । ज्यायः॑ । म॒हि॒ऽत्वम् । आ॒न॒शे॒ । अ॒भि॒ष्टि॒ऽकृत् । विऽच॑र्षणिः ॥
adha | hinvānaḥ | indriyam | jyāyaḥ | mahi-tvam | ānaśe | abhiṣṭi-kṛt | vi-carṣaṇiḥ
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4 × ~8 (approximate)
Driving and progressive; each segment feels like a step of ascent (urge → power → vastness).
Invigorating; supports confidence, expansion, and decisive action guided by light.
- hinvāna
- Literal: being impelled/urged onward. Symbolic: intensified aspiration; the push of yoga that increases the inner flow
- indriya
- Literal: belonging to Indra; power, vigor. Symbolic: illumined mind-force that breaks coverings (Vṛtra) and releases the rays
- jyāyaḥ
- Literal: greater. Symbolic: an ascent to higher intensity/grade of consciousness
- mahitvam
- Literal: greatness, vastness. Symbolic: widening of being; entry into larger consciousness
- abhiṣṭikṛt
- Literal: maker of desired help. Symbolic: power that secures the needed divine assistance—right supports, right forces
- vicarṣaṇiḥ
- Literal: wide-ranging, far-moving. Symbolic: conscious force that can operate through many layers of nature without losing truth
Culmination of Soma’s pressing/purification: intensified potency; inwardly, the aspirant’s consciousness attains greater victorious power and wide action
During Soma offerings and praises aimed at empowerment and victory.
Chant to increase ‘indriya’ (vigor) and invoke successful aid (abhiṣṭi) for the sacrificer.
Use before challenging tasks or inner breakthroughs: invoke luminous strength rather than mere adrenaline—act from widened consciousness.
hinvāna from √hi/√hinv ‘impel, set in motion’. jyāyas comparative from jyā ‘more’. mahitva from mah ‘great’ → magnitude. ānaśe from √naś ‘reach, attain’ (PIE *nes- ‘approach/return’ debated). abhiṣṭi from abhi- + √ṣṭh/√iṣ? (Vedic ‘help/assistance desired’) + kṛt from √kṛ ‘make’. carṣaṇi relates to ‘men/peoples/dwelling’ but in epithet vícarṣaṇi often ‘widely active, all-pervading’ (power moving among beings/realms).
growth into greater force (jyāya indriya), effective help as grace aligned with aspiration (abhiṣṭi)
Indra-force is effective when aligned to right intelligence (kratu) and ṛta; the mantra implies right victory, not chaotic force.
True greatness is widening into truth-consciousness, not ego-inflation.
Evolutionary ascent: delight intensifies into power and expands the worlds of the being.
Integral yoga psychology: Ananda → Illumined Mind → Widening; victory over subconscient resistance.
The ‘urge’ is the rising current in the nerves; Indra-force is the lightning of insight; vastness is inner sky opening beyond cramped ego-mind.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘increase into greatness’ mythologem: Soma, once set in motion, grows into greater Indra-force and attains vastness. Inner sense: the purified delight becomes an all-ranging power that creates the needed help for the seeker’s victory and expansion.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- Comparative formation jyāyaḥ is a shared IE grammatical strategy. √kṛ (make/do) reflects PIE *kwer-/*ker- type ‘make’ roots (Indo-Iranian √kar/√kṛ), showing archaic productivity in compound agent nouns like -kṛt.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi witnesses a staged yoga of Soma: when the force is ‘impelled’ (hinvānaḥ) through the prepared channels, it reciprocally becomes abhiṣṭi-kṛt—actively producing the precise aid the seeker’s aspiration intends.
Let joy intensify into luminous strength; then widen—act from the wide mind rather than the cramped reactive mind.
Manipura (power) rising to Ajna (illumination)
Brisker, controlled breathing for a few cycles (without strain), then return to slow breath while holding a sense of vastness overhead like open sky.
Dynamic stillness—powerful, clear, wide.
Chant standing or seated upright. Feel an upward surge on ‘hinvāna’, a flash of clarity on ‘indriyam’, and a widening on ‘mahitvam’. End with a quiet resolve to accept only the ‘desired help’ aligned with truth.
Respect the udatta on ‘अध॑’ and other marked syllables; keep the cadence driving but controlled.
Slightly emphasize the progression words: hinvāna → indriyam → mahitvam; keep ‘abhiṣṭikṛt’ clean and not rushed.
hinvānaḥ: long ‘ā’, indriyam: clear ‘dr’ cluster, jyāyaḥ: long ‘āyā’ feel; visarga softly, vicarṣaṇiḥ: retroflex ‘ṣ’, short final ‘iḥ’
Bright, forceful, forward-placed; avoid harshness.
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