Rig Veda 6.32.2: Mandala 6, Sukta 32, Mantra 2
Sukta 6.32
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
स मातरा सूर्येणा कवीनामवासयद्रुजदद्रिं गृणानः । स्वाधीभिॠक्वभिर्वावशान उदुस्रियाणामसृजन्निदानम् ॥
sa mātarā sūryeṇa kavīnām avāsayad rujad adriṃ gṛṇānaḥ | svādhībhir ṛkva-bhir vāvaśāna ud usrīyāṇām asṛjan ni-dānam ||
तो कवींंच्या प्रकाश—सूर्य—याच्या द्वारे दोन मातांना त्यांच्या स्थानी स्थापन करतो; स्तुती करत करत त्याने अद्रि (शिला) फोडली. स्वाधीन धींनी व ऋक्-गायकांसह, उल्लसित होऊन, त्याने उष्रिया (दीप्त गायींचे कळप) वर उचलले आणि त्यांचे निधान (गुप्त निवासस्थान) मुक्त केले.
Word by Word
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- मातरौ
- the two mothersNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, द्विवचनम्Role कर्मRoot मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- सूर्येण
- with/by the sunNounपुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, एकवचनम्Role करणRoot सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- कवीनाम्
- of the seers/poetsNounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्Role सम्बन्धRoot कवि (प्रातिपदिक)
- अव
- down, awayIndeclinableउपसर्गः (अव-)Root अव (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- आसयत्
- he caused to sit/settleVerbलङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot आस् (धातु) + णिच् (causative) → आसयति
- रुजत्
- he brokeVerbलङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot रुज् (धातु)
- अद्रिम्
- the rockNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot अद्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
- गृणानः
- praising, singingParticipleपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (कर्तरि वर्तमान-शतृ)Role कर्तृRoot गृ (धातु) → गृणाति; शतृ-प्रत्यय (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- स्वाधीभिः
- with (his) own insights/skillsNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्Role करणRoot स्वाधी (प्रातिपदिक; ‘स्वाधी’ = स्व-धी ‘own insight/skill’)
- ऋक्वभिः
- with the chanters/Ṛk-singersNounपुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्Role करणRoot ऋक्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- वावशानः
- eager/strivingParticipleपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot वाś्/वाश् (धातु; ‘to desire/seek, strive’) → वावशान (परिपूर्ण/तीव्रार्थक कृदन्त)
- उत्
- up, outIndeclinableउपसर्गः (उद्-)Root उत् (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- उस्रियाणाम्
- of the ruddy cows (rays)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्Role सम्बन्धRoot उस्रिया (प्रातिपदिक; ‘dawn-cows’/‘ruddy cows’ = rays)
- असृजत्
- he released, let forthVerbलङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot सृज् (धातु)
- निदानम्
- the outlet/starting-point (channel)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot निदान (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- Resolved sandhi/pada-splits: स मा॒तरा॒ → सः मातरौ
- सूर्ये॑णा → सूर्येण
- कवी॒नामवा॑सयत् → कवीनाम् अव आसयत्
- द्रु॒जदद्रिं॑ → रुजत् अद्रिम्
- गृणा॒नः → गृणानः
- स्वा॒धीभि॒ॠक्व॑भिः → स्वाधीभिः ऋक्वभिः
- उदु॒स्रिया॑णाम् → उत् उस्रियाणाम्
- असृजन्नि॒दान॑म् → असृजत् निदानम्. (Accent marks retained as in saṃhitā; pada-forms given without explicit accent marking.)
The meaning
Outer meaning
He set the two Mothers in their place by the Sun of the seers; praising, he shattered the rock. With self-mastering thoughts and with the singers, exulting, he sent up the radiant cows and released their hidden station.
Inner meaning
Indra establishes the ‘two Mothers’—Heaven and Earth, or more psychologically the higher and lower principles (mind and life/body, or light and force)—in right relation ‘by the Sun’, i.e., under the governance of truth-illumination. By inspired praise he breaks the ‘rock’ (adri), the hard obstruction/concealment in the subconscient. With ‘svādhī’ (self-rule, mastery of inner faculties) and with the ṛk-singers (mantric powers), he releases the usriyāḥ—the radiant cows, rays of knowledge—from their nidāna, the hidden seat. This is the classic Aurobindonian image: illumination releases the concealed Light and establishes harmony between the planes of being.
Universal truth
When consciousness is governed by truth-light and disciplined by self-mastery, the hard knots of the subconscious break and hidden knowledge rises into the waking life.
Themes
Cows/rays released from rock, Cosmic establishment, Indra as opener, Seer-aided victory
The seer
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya
- Lineage
- Bharadvāja (Āṅgirasa/Bārhaspatya)
- Other hymns
- RV 6.32, RV 6.33, RV 6.34, RV 6.31.3-4
Family tradition
Strong Angirasa motif: breaking the rock/cave and releasing the cows—interpreted as release of hidden light through mantra and illumined force.
Significance
A central Bharadvāja revelation: right cosmic ordering (mothers set in place) and inner liberation (rock broken, cows released) occur through Indra’s illumination aided by disciplined thought and chant.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- gṛṇāna (praised/chanting), vajrin (implied by rock-breaking), maghavan (giver of riches, implied)
- Related deities
- Sūrya, Uṣas, Bṛhaspati, Agni
Cosmic role
Organizer of cosmic relations (Heaven-Earth), breaker of concealment, releaser of light (cows) to the seers.
Inner power
Illumined mind-force that harmonizes higher/lower nature and breaks subconscious seals, allowing knowledge to ascend.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra hymns in Soma context; also Angirasa-style release motifs used to invoke illumination.
स मा॒तरा॒ सूर्ये॑णा कवी॒नामवा॑सयद्रु॒जदद्रिं॑ गृणा॒नः । स्वा॒धीभि॒ॠक्व॑भिर्वावशा॒न उदु॒स्रिया॑णामसृजन्नि॒दान॑म् ॥
सः । मा॒तरा॑ । सूर्ये॑ण । क॒वी॒नाम् । अवा॑सयत् । रु॒जत् । अद्रि॑म् । गृ॒णा॒नः । सु॒ऽआ॒धीभिः॑ । ऋक्व॑ऽभिः । वा॒व॒शा॒नः । उत् । उ॒स्रिया॑णाम् । अ॒सृ॒ज॒त् । नि॒ऽदान॑म् ॥
saḥ | mātarā | sūryeṇa | kavīnām | avāsayat | rujat | adrim | gṛṇānaḥ | su-ādhībhiḥ | ṛkva-bhiḥ | vāvaśānaḥ | ut | usriyāṇām | asṛjat | ni-dānam
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4 × 11
Ascending movement—especially in the ‘ud usriyāṇām’ lift; a release-rhythm after the ‘rock’ break.
Felt upward surge; supports meditation on opening and ascent of light from within.
- मातरा (mātarā)
- Literal: the two Mothers (Heaven & Earth). Symbolic: higher and lower principles of the being to be harmonized
- सूर्येण कवीनाम् (sūryeṇa kavīnām)
- Literal: by the Sun of the seers. Symbolic: truth-illumination as seen by the inner seer
- अद्रि (adri)
- Literal: rock, stone. Symbolic: hard obstruction; subconscient seal hiding light/joy
- गृणानः (gṛṇānaḥ)
- Literal: praising/chanting. Symbolic: mantric vibration that opens consciousness
- स्वाधीभिः (svādhībhiḥ)
- Literal: with self-governed powers/thoughts. Symbolic: inner discipline; mastery of mind-vital movements
- ऋक्वभिः (ṛkvabhiḥ)
- Literal: with ṛk-singers. Symbolic: powers of inspired speech and rhythmic thought
- उसरिया (usriyā)
- Literal: reddish/bright cows. Symbolic: rays of illumination/knowledge (go) rising into awareness
- निदानम् (nidānam)
- Literal: seat, resting-place, hidden station. Symbolic: subconscient repository where light is held back
Indra praise connected to the release of light/cows motif; recitable in Soma contexts emphasizing illumination and opening of the rock.
During praises seeking release of light/wealth; in sequences celebrating Indra’s opening of the ‘cave’.
Stotra emphasizing praise + self-mastery as the means of release.
Chant during inner work with subconscious patterns (therapy/journaling): invoke ‘rock-breaking’ insight and the rise of hidden knowledge.
mātarā (dual) ‘two mothers’—a mythic dyad; often dyāvā-pṛthivī, or paired generative powers. avāsayat from √vas ‘to dwell, settle’ (causative). adri ‘rock’ as obstruction; √ruj ‘to break, shatter’. usrīyā ‘reddish, luminous cow’ from usra ‘dawn-red, shining’—symbol of rays of illumination. ni-dānam from ni- + √dā ‘to set’; ‘fixed place, station’ → hidden locus of the rays.
release of hidden knowledge (cows as rays), establishment of cosmic order (setting the Mothers), mantra-assisted breakthrough
‘Setting the two Mothers in place’ is cosmic ṛta—right relation of planes and functions.
Sūrya is the measure of satya; under it, the worlds are correctly ordered.
Unveiling: the hidden light is released; order is established; ascent of rays into manifestation.
Integral Yoga reading: descent of truth-light orders nature; ascent releases hidden illumination.
Dawn/noon solar governance implied (Sūrya as ordering light).
Solar clarity sets the inner ‘worlds’ in order; the hard subconscious knot breaks; knowledge rises like a herd into the field of awareness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The rock-splitting and release of the cows (rays): Indra breaks the adri and sends forth the usrīyāḥ from their hidden ni-dāna. Symbolically, illumination/knowledge imprisoned in subconscient obstruction is liberated by the sun-like truth-force, aided by the seers’ chant and disciplined thought (svādhī).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √sṛj ‘to let go, release’ is often connected to PIE *sreg- ‘to let go/flow’ (comparanda debated; Indo-Iranian evidence is strong). √dā ‘to give/set’ is from PIE *deh3- ‘to give’ (cf. Greek didōmi, Latin dare). √vas ‘to dwell’ reflects PIE *wes- ‘to dwell’.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi’s community of kavī/ṛk-singers participates in Indra’s act: praise (gṛṇānaḥ) and svādhī (self-governing thought) are presented as co-operant instruments through which Indra’s force can establish the cosmic dyad and release the rays. The exchange is collaborative: human discipline and chant open a channel for divine breakthrough.
Visualize two ‘mothers’ (higher intention and lower habit-life) aligning under a solar truth above the brow; then feel the ‘rock’ in the lower nature cracking and light rising.
ājñā (solar clarity) with support from mūlādhāra (subconscient base)
Slow inhale imagining ‘ud’ (upward rise), slow exhale softening the ‘rock’; add a brief kumbhaka after inhale to ‘hold the Sun’.
From divided planes → ordered harmony → upward release of insight.
Chant 12 times. After chanting, sit and ask: ‘What hidden knowledge wants to rise today?’ Note the first clear perception without analysis; act on one small truth.
Notice the lift on ‘sū́ryeṇā’ and the energetic break at ‘rújad ádrim’; ‘úd usríyāṇām’ should audibly rise.
Keep phrase-shaping: … avāsayat … rújad ádrim … svādhī́bhir … úd usríyāṇām … nidā́nam.
मातरा: long ā in mā-; roll lightly into -tarā, रुजदद्रिम्: maintain sandhi flow but keep ‘adri’ clear; avoid ‘adrim’ becoming ‘adrim’ too heavy, स्वाधीभिः: ‘svā’ long; dhī long ī, उसरियाणाम्: ‘usriyā’ with clear ‘ry’ glide, निदानम्: long ā; final -m light
Ascending, luminous tone; slightly soften after the ‘rock-break’ to let the ‘cows’ rise.
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