Rig Veda 10.38.2: Mandala 10, Sukta 38, Mantra 2
Sukta 10.38
- Rishi
- Purūṣṭuta
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
स नः क्षुमन्तं सदने व्यूर्णुहि गोअर्णसं रयिमिन्द्र श्रवाय्यम् । स्याम ते जयतः शक्र मेदिनो यथा वयमुश्मसि तद्वसो कृधि ॥
sá naḥ kṣú-mantaṃ sádane vy ūrṇuhi go-árṇasaṃ rayím indra śravā́yyam | syā́ma te jáyataḥ śakra médino yáthā vayám uśmási tád vaso kṛdhi ||
आमच्या निवासात आमच्यासाठी बलसमृद्ध अशी परिपूर्णता उलगडून दे; हे इंद्रा, किरणांनी ओसंडून वाहणारे—ऐकण्यास योग्य, कीर्त्य असे—धन आम्हांस प्रकट कर. हे शक्रा! तुझ्या जयाचे सहचर आम्हांस कर; आमचा पाया विस्तीर्ण कर. आम्ही जशी आकांक्षा करतो, हे वसु, तसेच ते आमच्यासाठी सिद्ध कर.
Word by Word
- सः
- he (that one)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- to/for usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचनम् (एन्क्लिटिक)Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- क्षुमन्तम्
- abounding in nourishment/strengthAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot क्षुमन्त् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘क्षु’ + मन्त्)
- सदने
- in the seat/dwelling (assembly)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्गम्, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot सदन (प्रातिपदिक)
- वि
- apart, forthIndeclinableउपसर्गःRoot वि (उपसर्ग)
- ऊर्णुहि
- unfold/spread (for us)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role KriyāRoot √वृ (ऊर्णु; ‘to cover/spread/unwrap’)
- गोअर्णसम्
- a flood/stream of cows (i.e., cattle-wealth)Noun (compound) / Adjectivalपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot गो-अर्णस (समास-प्रातिपदिक; गो ‘cow’ + अर्णस ‘flood/wave/stream’)
- रयिम्
- wealth, bountyNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot रयि (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role SambodhanaRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- श्रवाय्यम्
- glorious, renownedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot श्रवाय्य (प्रातिपदिक; from √श्रु ‘to hear’ → ‘famed, worth hearing’)
- स्याम
- may we beVerbविधिलिङ् (सम्भावना/आशीः), उत्तमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Role KriyāRoot √अस् (भू) (optative base)
- ते
- of you/yourPronounषष्ठी, एकवचनम् (एन्क्लिटिक)Role SampradānaRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- जयतः
- (of you) conquering / when you conquerParticiple (verbal adjective)पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम् (सम्बन्धे) अथवा सप्तमी (वेदे बहुधा) — ‘of/when you are conquering’Role AdhikaraṇaRoot √जि (जयत्-; present participle)
- शक्र
- O Mighty oneNoun/Adjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role SambodhanaRoot शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- मेदिनः
- rich/abundant (ones)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot मेदिन् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘fat, rich, abundant’)
- यथा
- so that, asIndeclinableसम्बन्धाव्ययम्Root यथा (अव्यय)
- वयम्
- wePronounप्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- उश्मसि
- we desireVerbलट्, उत्तमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role KriyāRoot √वश्/√उश् (वेद. ‘to wish/desire’; present)
- तत्
- thatPronounनपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वसो
- O Vasu (bounteous one)Noun/Adjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role SambodhanaRoot वसु (प्रातिपदिक; epithet ‘good/wealth-giver’)
- कृधि
- make, doVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role KriyāRoot √कृ (करोति)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-विग्रह): स नः क्षुमन्तं सदने वि ऊर्णुहि गोअर्णसं रयिम् इन्द्र श्रवाय्यम् । स्याम ते जयतः शक्र मेदिनः यथा वयम् उश्मसि तत् वसो कृधि ॥ मुख्य सन्धयः: (1) व्यूर्णुहि = वि + ऊर्णुहि (उपसर्ग-सन्धि; इ + ऊ → यू/व्यू)
- (2) रयिमिन्द्र = रयिम् + इन्द्र (म् + इ → मि)
- (3) स्याम ते = स्याम् + ते (अनुस्वार/म्-लोप/संयोग)
- (4) वयमुश्मसि = वयम् + उश्मसि (म् + उ → मु)
- (5) तद्वसो = तत् + वसो (त् + व → द्व्)
The meaning
Outer meaning
A prayer to Indra to “unfold” (open out) in the worshipper’s dwelling a plenitude of strength and radiant wealth, and to grant participation in Indra’s victorious power and a wide, stable foundation for life.
Inner meaning
Indra is invoked as the illumined Mind-force that can open in the inner being (sadana) a kṣumant plenitude—abundant, force-filled consciousness—and a ray-overflowing wealth (go-arṇasa rayi), i.e., a flood of luminous knowledges. The seeker asks to become a companion of Indra’s victory: to align one’s mental-vital nature with the conquering illumination that defeats obscurity and establishes a broad, steady base (medin) for the yoga. “As we aspire, so accomplish” makes aspiration (uśmasi) the lever for descent of the higher power.
Universal truth
True prosperity is the expansion of consciousness: when aspiration is sincere and steady, the illumined intelligence can unfold inner plenitude, convert life into a field of victory over limitation, and establish a wide foundation for right action.
Themes
Spiritual wealth, Victory companionship, Manifestation of latent plenitude
The seer
- Rishi
- Purūṣṭuta (traditional attribution)
- Other hymns
- RV 10.38.1, RV 10.38.3, RV 10.38.4
Family tradition
Likely a late Ṛgvedic (Maṇḍala 10) seer-voice; hymns often carry a personal, prayerful tone emphasizing inner help and victory.
Significance
Purūṣṭuta’s voice here is the yogic petitioner: asking not merely for external gain but for the ‘unfolding’ of luminous abundance and stable wideness—classic Indra-work of opening the rays and establishing victorious consciousness.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Śakra (the Mighty), jayataḥ (the Victorious), go-arnasa-rayidā (giver of ray-flooding wealth, implied)
- Related deities
- Agni, Soma, Bṛhaspati, Uṣas
Cosmic role
Breaker of obstructions, opener of the light, establisher of spaciousness; champion of the gods in the cosmic battle for ṛta.
Inner power
Illumined Mind-force: decisive intelligence and spiritual strength that releases hidden knowledge, expands the being, and leads to victory over inner darkness.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-stotras within Soma-yajña contexts; also general Indra-invocation for strength and success.
स न॑: क्षु॒मन्तं॒ सद॑ने॒ व्यू॑र्णुहि॒ गोअ॑र्णसं र॒यिमि॑न्द्र श्र॒वाय्य॑म् । स्याम॑ ते॒ जय॑तः शक्र मे॒दिनो॒ यथा॑ व॒यमु॒श्मसि॒ तद्व॑सो कृधि ॥
सः । नः॒ । क्षु॒ऽमन्त॑म् । सद॑ने । वि । ऊ॒र्णु॒हि॒ । गोऽअ॑र्णसम् । र॒यिम् । इ॒न्द्र॒ । श्र॒वाय्य॑म् । स्याम॑ । ते॒ । जय॑तः । श॒क्र॒ । मे॒दिनः॑ । यथा॑ । व॒यम् । उ॒श्मसि॑ । तत् । व॒सो॒ इति॑ । कृ॒धि॒ ॥
saḥ | naḥ | kṣu-mantam | sadane | vi | ūrṇuhi | go--arṇasam | rayim | indra | śravāyyam | syāma | te | jayataḥ | śakra | medinaḥ | yathā | vayam | uśmasi | tat | vaso iti | kṛdhi
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4 pādas of ~11 syllables each (with Vedic variations)
Firm, forward-driving, suited to invocation and victorious resolve.
Builds confidence and expansive force; supports a sense of ‘opening out’ and triumphant establishment in the listener.
- सदने (sadane)
- Literal: in the dwelling, seat. Symbolic: in the inner abode of consciousness; the settled field of practice where powers are established
- वि ऊर्णुहि (vy ūrṇuhi)
- Literal: unfold, spread out. Symbolic: open out hidden capacities; release covered light/force into active consciousness
- क्षुमन्तम् (kṣumantam)
- Literal: abounding in nourishment/strength, plenitude. Symbolic: fullness of prāṇic-mental force and supportive abundance for sādhanā
- गोअर्णसम् (go-arṇasam)
- Literal: flood/stream of cows (rays). Symbolic: a surge of illuminations—rays of knowledge pouring in
- रयिम् (rayim)
- Literal: wealth, treasure. Symbolic: inner riches: powers, insights, capacities, and right enjoyments born of Light
- श्रवाय्यम् (śravāyyam)
- Literal: worthy of being heard/praised. Symbolic: a luminous attainment that resounds in consciousness; fame as inner recognition of truth
- जयतः (jayataḥ)
- Literal: of the victorious one. Symbolic: the conquering illumination that prevails over resistance
- मेदिनः (medinaḥ)
- Literal: broad/firm, wide-based. Symbolic: a vast, stable foundation in being—equanimity and wideness supporting action
- उश्मसि (uśmasi)
- Literal: we desire/aspire. Symbolic: upward will and psychic demand that calls down the higher force
Prosperity-and-victory request to Indra; suitable in Soma offerings where Indra is asked to ‘unfold’ rayi in the community’s seat.
During Indra praises in Soma pressing/offerings; adaptable as a general protective-success chant.
Recitation with offering (havis/soma) seeking ray-wealth, victory, and stability.
Use as a meditation-prayer before demanding work or inner change: ‘unfold plenitude in my inner dwelling; establish me in victorious wideness’.
rāyí ‘wealth’ in RV often denotes plenitude of powers and felicity. go-arṇasa ‘flood of go’ = abundance of rays/illumined knowledges. √ūrṇu ‘unfold/open’ suggests revealing what is latent in the ‘sadana’ (inner seat/being). śravas ‘fame’ is also ‘that which is heard’—inner sense: a resonance of accomplished power recognized by the soul.
Rayi as fullness of being, Go (rays) as knowledge-light, Sadana as inner seat (psychic dwelling)
Indra’s victory is the restoration of ṛta by breaking coverings that constrict consciousness.
Truth manifests as ‘ray-wealth’—knowledge that is worthy to be heard and lived.
Unfolding/manifestation: what is involved becomes expressed as plenitude and wideness.
Proto-Vedāntic / integral-yogic reading (Aurobindonian): ascent by aspiration and descent of illumined force.
The ‘flood of rays’ is the inflow of illumination into the settled inner space, producing stable wideness and victorious action.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra as revealer of hidden plenitude: he ‘unfolds’ wealth in the sadana, a mythic gesture akin to releasing the concealed lights. Victory is not only external conquest but establishment of a wide, stable foundation (medinaḥ) in consciousness.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- śravas (heard-fame) relates to PIE *ḱleu̯- (fame/hearing). √kṛ (kṛdhi) is a central Indo-Iranian ‘make/do’ verb. The metaphor ‘unfold’ aligns with IE textile/covering metaphors for revelation (cf. Greek καλύπτω ‘cover’ vs. ἀ-καλύπτω ‘uncover’).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi articulates aspiration (uśmasi) and asks Indra to actualize it (kṛdhi): a compact of will and grace. Indra’s victory becomes shareable; humans become ‘of the victorious one’ (te jayataḥ) by participation in his force.
Unfolding inner plenitude and luminous knowledge; becoming an instrument of victorious illumination.
Ājñā (illumined mind) and Anāhata (wideness/expansion)
Moderate nāḍī-śodhana, then silent inhalation on ‘vy ūrṇuhi’ (open), exhalation on ‘kṛdhi’ (establish).
Expansive, confident, upward-aspiring with receptive quietude.
Sit as if the heart-space is a ‘sadana’; invoke Indra to open the ‘ray-flood’. End by offering your will to be a companion of the victorious force in daily action.
Vedic svara depends on śākhā; preserve udātta peaks on key verbs (e.g., ū́rṇuhi) and deity name (índra) as per recensional accent.
Keep the cadence of Triṣṭubh: slight lift near mid-pāda, firm landing at pāda end; emphasize imperatives (vy ūrṇuhi, kṛdhi).
kṣ in kṣumantam is a conjunct (k + ṣ), not ‘kh’, ṛ in rayim is a short vocalic r, śravāyyam: lengthen ‘āy’ smoothly without breaking into two syllables, goarṇasam: link go + arṇasam with clear vowel junction
Steady, bright, invoking strength without strain.
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