Rig Veda 1.175.4: Mandala 1, Sukta 175, Mantra 4
Sukta 1.175
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
मुषाय सूर्यं कवे चक्रमीशान ओजसा । वह शुष्णाय वधं कुत्सं वातस्याश्वैः ॥
muṣāyá sū́ryaṃ kave cakrám ī́śāna ójasā | váha śúṣṇāya vadháṃ kútsaṃ vā́tasya áśvaiḥ ||
Wahai kavi (resi), rampaslah kembali Surya; genggamlah cakra dengan kekuasaan dan kekuatanmu. Bawalah hentaman bagi Śuṣṇa; angkutlah Kútsa dengan kuda-kuda Vāta—biarlah tenaga ilahi yang pantas memulihkan cahaya yang hilang dan menimpa si penimbun sinar.
Word by Word
- मु॒षा॒य
- secretly, by stealthIndeclinableअव्यय; (निपातवत्) ‘चौर्येण/गुप्त्या’ अर्थेRole KaraṇaRoot मु॒ष् (muṣ) / मु॒षा॒य (muṣāya) < अव्यय (instr. of muṣā ‘by stealth’)
- सूर्यं॑
- the SunNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot सूर्य (prātipadika)
- कवे
- O sage/poet (seer)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन/प्रथमा?; एकवचन (वेदे ‘कवे’ प्रायः सम्बोधनः)Role (Sambodhana) संबोधनRoot कवि (prātipadika)
- चक्रम्
- wheel, diskNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot चक्र (prātipadika)
- ईशानः
- ruling, lordly; possessingAdjective/Participleपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (ईशान = ‘ruling, possessing’)Role KartāRoot ईश् (īś) → ईशान (kṛdanta prātipadika)
- ओजसा
- with strength, by mightNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot ओजस् (prātipadika)
- वह
- carry! convey!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole (Verb) क्रियाRoot वह् (vah)
- शुष्णाय
- for Śuṣṇa (the demon)Noun (Proper)पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी; एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot शुष्ण (proper noun prātipadika)
- वधम्
- slaying, killingNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot वध (prātipadika) / √वध् (to strike)
- कुत्सम्
- Kutsa (name of a seer/hero)Noun (Proper)पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot कुत्स (proper noun prātipadika)
- वातस्य
- of the windNounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole Sambandha (genitive relation)Root वात (prātipadika)
- अश्वैः
- with horsesNounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot अश्व (prātipadika)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (Vedic sandhi resolution): मुषाय | सूर्यं | कवे | चक्रम् | ईशानः | ओजसा | वह | शुष्णाय | वधम् | कुत्सम् | वातस्य | अश्वैः । विशेषम्: (1) ‘मुषाय’ वेदेषु प्रायः अव्ययीभाववत्/तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण ‘मुषा’ (=चौर्य/गुप्ति) इत्यस्य ‘-य’ आगमेन ‘मुषाय’—‘गुप्त्या/चौर्येण’ अर्थे। (2) ‘कवे’ सम्बोधन-एकवचन (कवि) इति सामान्यः वैदिकप्रयोगः। (3) ‘वह’ = √वह् लोट् 2sg परस्मैपद। (4) ‘वातस्याश्वैः’ इति संहितायां षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषसम्बन्धः: वातस्य + अश्वैः → वातस्याश्वैः (अ + अ = आ)।
The meaning
Outer meaning
O seer, steal back the Sun; seize the wheel by your power. Carry the blow against Śuṣṇa; carry Kútsa with the horses of Vāta (wind).
Inner meaning
Indra, the inspired knower (kavi), recovers the lost Sun—illumination obscured by hostile powers. He seizes the ‘wheel’ (cakra): the turning law and right movement of consciousness/time, restoring its governance. He brings the decisive strike against Śuṣṇa (the drying hoarder), and carries the soul-force (Kutsa) by the swift wind-horses—rapid energies of prāṇa—toward liberated light.
Universal truth
When illumination is stolen by depression, dryness, or obscurity, the remedy is a decisive reclaiming of light and a reestablishment of right movement; swift energies must be yoked to a clear aim.
Themes
Mythic recovery of the Sun, Anti-drought demon motif, Swift energies aiding the hero
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-gotra (traditional)
- Other hymns
- RV 1.175.1-5, RV 7. (numerous Indra victory motifs; general)
Family tradition
Vision of restoring lost light and right movement; often portrays the gods as rescuers of the Sun/cows (illumination/knowledge).
Significance
The rishi frames liberation as recovery of Sūrya (truth-light) and re-seizing the cakra (ṛta’s motion), a key Aurobindonian symbol of restoring the law of the higher consciousness.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- कवि (kavi), ईशानः (īśānaḥ)
- Related deities
- Sūrya, Vāta, Maruts, Bṛhaspati
Cosmic role
Recovers the Sun/light, governs the cosmic movement, smites drought-like hoarders, aids the Aryan ally.
Inner power
Masterful intuitive force that reclaims clarity, restores right rhythm, and directs swift energies for liberation.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra heroic deed remembrance within Soma praise; mythic exemplum to empower the rite
मु॒षा॒य सूर्यं॑ कवे च॒क्रमीशा॑न॒ ओज॑सा । वह॒ शुष्णा॑य व॒धं कुत्सं॒ वात॒स्याश्वै॑: ॥
मु॒षा॒य । सू॒र्य॒ । क॒वे॒ । च॒क्रम् । ईशा॑नः । ओज॑सा । वह॑ । शुष्णा॑य । व॒धम् । कुत्स॑म् । वात॑स्य । अश्वैः॑ ॥
muṣāya | sūrya | kave | cakram | īśānaḥ | ojasā | vaha | śuṣṇāya | vadham | kutsam | vātasya | aśvaiḥ
44
4 × ~11 syllables
Swift and imperative; strong verbs create a commanding rhythm.
Produces a sense of sudden recovery and forward rush; helpful to break tamas and mental fog.
- सूर्य (sūrya)
- Literal: Sun. Symbolic: Supramental/illumining truth-light; clarity that reveals and guides
- मुशाय (muṣāya)
- Literal: steal, snatch back. Symbolic: Recovering stolen consciousness from obscurity; reclaiming lost light
- कवि (kavi)
- Literal: seer-poet. Symbolic: Inspired intuitive intelligence in Indra (and in the awakened mind)
- चक्रम् (cakram)
- Literal: wheel. Symbolic: Wheel of ṛta/time; right rotation of energies; ordered movement of consciousness
- ईशानः (īśānaḥ)
- Literal: lord, master. Symbolic: Sovereign mastery over the nature’s movements
- ओजसा (ojasā)
- Literal: with strength. Symbolic: Concentrated spiritual vigor enabling decisive action
- शुष्ण (śuṣṇa)
- Literal: Śuṣṇa (demon). Symbolic: Drying force—depression, aridity, hoarding that blocks flow of joy/light
- वध (vadha)
- Literal: slaying/blow. Symbolic: Decisive inner act that breaks a fixed obstruction
- कुत्स (kutsa)
- Literal: Kutsa (ally of Indra). Symbolic: The striving soul-force or seeker-aspect carried to victory
- वातस्य अश्वैः (vātasya aśvaiḥ)
- Literal: with the horses of Wind. Symbolic: Swift prāṇic/vital energies harnessed to the divine movement
Mythic exemplum within praise: recalling Indra’s deeds to invoke similar inner victory during Soma offering
When invoking Indra’s decisive acts to mirror and support the sacrificer’s desired breakthrough.
Recitation as praise and as ‘model’ of victory; offering follows with intention of obstacle-breaking.
Chant during periods of mental dullness, depression, or ‘dryness’; use as a reclaiming of clarity and rhythm (sleep, routine, practice).
muṣāya from √muṣ ‘to steal’—in Vedic myth it often implies ‘stealing back’ what was taken by hostile powers; inner sense: recovery of light from the subconscient. sūrya is the archetype of illumination. cakra ‘wheel’ symbolizes ordered movement (r̥ta’s turning) and the solar law. ojas from √vaj/√uj semantic field ‘strength’, here concentrated force. Śuṣṇa (from śuṣ ‘dry’) signifies drought/aridity—psychologically, desiccation of joy/light by obstruction. Vāta (√vā ‘blow’) gives the swift impulsion; horses are dynamic energies.
Recovery of Light (knowledge) from concealment, R̥ta as the turning wheel/order, Ojas as concentrated spiritual energy
Seizing the wheel symbolizes restoring ṛta’s governance over the being’s movements.
Recovery of Sūrya indicates restoration of truth-perception.
From obstruction to ordered motion: the cosmos (and the person) advances by reclaiming light and reestablishing rhythm.
Integral symbolism: myth as inner event—recovery of supramental light and right dynamism.
dawn-to-day transition (symbolically, recovery of light)
Sun = illumined consciousness; wheel = right rhythm of life-force and thought; wind-horses = prāṇa energies enabling swift change.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The recovery of the Sun/light and the assault on Śuṣṇa: a classic Indra myth of restoring illumination and overcoming drought/obstruction. Inner-shell: reclaiming the stolen clarity of consciousness; striking the force that dries joy and blocks the flow of inspiration.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- Solar imagery (Sun, wheel) and the storm/wind-horse complex are widespread in IE poetics (solar wheel; divine steeds). The demon-as-drought figure parallels IE dragon/drought-obstructor patterns, though Vedic names are specific.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The poet reactivates Indra’s remembered deeds as a ritual-psychological lever: recounting archetypal victories invites the same power to operate now in the sacrificer’s inner field.
Reclaim the inner Sun; restore right rhythm; strike the ‘drying’ tendency.
ājñā (clarity) and sahasrāra (higher light) with prāṇic support
Kapalabhati-light or brisk exhalations (if suitable) to dispel ‘śuṣṇa’ dryness, followed by calm nasal breathing to ‘hold the Sun’.
Clearing breakthrough into luminous order.
Chant, then visualize a sun-disc above the brow. On inhale, draw its light into the head; on exhale, send it through the spine, setting a steady inner ‘wheel’ of rhythm.
Tri-svara; imperative verbs carry natural emphasis; follow accented saṃhitā for precise udātta/svarita.
Keep ‘sūryaṃ’ clear with nasal anusvāra; articulate ‘cakram’ with crisp k; avoid swallowing ‘īśāna’.
(muṣāya): retroflex ṣ, long āya, (īśānaḥ): long ī, ś not s, (śuṣṇāya): retroflex ṣṇ cluster, (vātasya-aśvaiḥ): sandhi—separate lightly for clarity
Commanding, bright, ‘cutting through’ fog.
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