Rig Veda 1.57.3: Mandala 1, Sukta 57, Mantra 3
Sukta 1.57
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha Maitrāvaruṇi
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
अस्मै भीमाय नमसा समध्वर उषो न शुभ्र आ भरा पनीयसे । यस्य धाम श्रवसे नामेन्द्रियं ज्योतिरकारि हरितो नायसे ॥
asmái bhīmā́ya námasā sáma adhvaré uṣó ná śubhrá ā́ bharā panīyáse | yásya dhā́ma śrávase nā́mendriyáṃ jyótir akārí haríto nā́yase ||
Bagi Dia yang menggerunkan ini, dalam adhvara, persembahkan dengan sembah sujud—seperti fajar—suatu persembahan yang cerah, yang patut dikasihi. Kediaman-Nya untuk kemasyhuran; nama-Nya ialah kuasa penguasaan; suatu cahaya dijadikan untuk memimpin ke hadapan, laksana kuda-kuda hijau yang dipasang kuk untuk perjalanan.
Word by Word
- अस्मै
- to himPronounपुं/स्त्री/नपुं (सर्वनाम), चतुर्थी एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot अस्मद्
- भीमाय
- to the terrible oneAdjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot भीम
- नमसा
- with reverenceNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचनRole करणRoot नमस्
- सम्
- together, fullyPreverbउपसर्गRoot सम्
- अध्वरः
- the sacrifice (rite)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot अध्वर
- उषः
- DawnNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Vedic form)Role उपमान (तुलना) / कर्तृ (तुलनापदे)Root उषस्
- न
- likeParticleउपमा-निपातRoot न
- शुभ्रः
- bright, pureAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृ (अध्वरस्य विशेषणम्)Root शुभ्र
- आ
- towards, hitherPreverbउपसर्गRoot आ
- भरा
- bring!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRoot √भृ
- पनीयसे
- for the more admirable (one)Adjective (comparative)पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot पनीयस् (पनीय + -इयस्)
- यस्य
- whoseRelative pronounपुं/नपुं, षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root यद्
- धाम
- abode; ordinance; splendorNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Vedic)Role कर्तृ/कर्म (वाक्यविन्यासानुसार)Root धामन्
- श्रवसे
- for fameNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot श्रवस्
- नाम
- nameNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्तृ/कर्मRoot नामन्
- ऐन्द्रियम्
- Indra’s; belonging to IndraAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनRole विशेषण (नाम/ज्योतिः) अथवा कर्मRoot इन्द्रिय (ऐन्द्रिय)
- ज्योतिः
- light, radianceNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्तृ/कर्मRoot ज्योतिस्
- अकारि
- was made; came to beVerbलुङ् (अorist, passive/impersonal), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRoot √कृ
- हरितः
- the tawny (horses/rays)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (उपमानपदे)Root हरित्
- न
- likeParticleउपमा-निपातRoot न
- आयसे
- for metal/bronze (iron); for strength (as ‘āyas’)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot आयस
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (pada-wise): अस्मै | भीमाय | नमसा | सम् + अध्वरः → समध्वरः | उषः | न | शुभ्रः | आ | भरा | पनीयसे | यस्य | धाम | श्रवसे | नाम | ऐन्द्रियम् | ज्योतिः | अकारि | हरितः | न | आयसे. Notes: (1) समध्वरः is from preverb सम् + अध्वरः with nasal assimilation before vowel. (2) उषो in saṃhitā reflects Vedic sandhi/phonetic form of उषः before न. (3) नामेन्द्रियम् in saṃhitā = नाम + ऐन्द्रियम् (a + ai → ai). (4) ज्योतिरकारि in saṃhitā = ज्योतिः + अकारि (visarga before vowel → र्). (5) नायसे in saṃhitā = न + आयसे (a + ā → ā). Accents are retained as given in the saṃhitā text
- pada forms shown are lexical/pada readings
The meaning
Outer meaning
Bring to the formidable One, with obeisance, in the sacrifice, a bright offering as at dawn—cherished. His abode is for fame; his name is mastery; a light is made for leading forward, like green steeds yoked for the journey.
Inner meaning
Offer to the formidable Indra (the power that confronts and breaks inner darkness) a pure bright oblation like Dawn (Uṣas): the clarified offering of aspiration and sincerity. Indra’s ‘abode’ is the field of śravas—soul-hearing and luminous renown (inner affirmation of truth). His ‘name’ is indriya—mastery and governing power of consciousness. From this invocation, a guiding light is formed for the onward journey (nāyase), and the ‘green/tawny steeds’ (haritaḥ) symbolize the vital energies now yoked to the illumined mind, moving forward under light.
Universal truth
When we offer a pure and luminous intention to the power of awakening, inner mastery grows, a guiding light appears, and life-energies become aligned to a higher journey.
Themes
offering and reverence, light as guidance, Indra’s mastery, dawn-like purity
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha Maitrāvaruṇi
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa lineage)
- Other hymns
- RV 1.57.1, RV 1.57.2, RV 1.56.5, RV 1.56.6
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha links Indra’s formidable power with dawn-like purity and the formation of guiding light for progress.
Significance
The verse teaches the ‘right offering’: not fear, but bright purity and cherished aspiration, which yields mastery and guidance for the journey.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- bhīma (formidable), indriya (lord of mastery), nāyaka (leader/guide, implied)
- Related deities
- Uṣas, Agni, Soma
Cosmic role
Leader who establishes victorious light and guides the powers (steeds) of life forward.
Inner power
Masterful illumination that turns vital force into a guided energy; creates a lamp of discernment for the path.
In ritual
Where it is used
Offering verse in Indra worship; aligns with dawn-time offerings and Soma contexts through brightness imagery.
अ॒स्मै भी॒माय॒ नम॑सा॒ सम॑ध्व॒र उषो॒ न शु॑भ्र॒ आ भ॑रा॒ पनी॑यसे । यस्य॒ धाम॒ श्रव॑से॒ नामे॑न्द्रि॒यं ज्योति॒रका॑रि ह॒रितो॒ नाय॑से ॥
अ॒स्मै । भी॒माय॑ । नम॑सा । सम् । अ॒ध्व॒रे । उषः॑ । न । शु॒भ्रे॒ । आ । भ॒र॒ । पनी॑यसे । यस्य॑ । धाम॑ । श्रव॑से । नाम॑ । इ॒न्द्रि॒यम् । ज्योतिः॑ । अका॑रि । ह॒रितः॑ । न । अय॑से ॥
asmai | bhīmāya | namasā | sam | adhvare | uṣaḥ | na | śubhre | ā | bhara | panīyase | yasya | dhāma | śravase | nāma | indriyam | jyotiḥ | akāri | haritaḥ | na | ayase
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4×11
Ritual-bright opening with a dawn-like clarity; closing imagery accelerates like yoked horses.
Purifies and uplifts; ends with a forward-driving sensation suitable for setting intention and movement.
- भीम (bhīma)
- Literal: formidable, awe-inspiring. Symbolic: the uncompromising force of illumination that confronts darkness in us
- अध्वर (adhvara)
- Literal: sacrifice/ritual. Symbolic: inner work of transformation, steady offering of self
- उषः (uṣaḥ)
- Literal: dawn. Symbolic: illumination, awakening, new opening of consciousness
- शुभ्र (śubhra)
- Literal: bright, pure. Symbolic: clarified intention; purity of offering
- पनीय (panīya)
- Literal: to be cherished, admirable. Symbolic: delightful sincerity; offering made with love and care
- श्रवस् (śravas)
- Literal: fame, glory. Symbolic: inner hearing of truth; luminous affirmation and wideness of being
- इन्द्रिय (indriya)
- Literal: Indra-power, mastery. Symbolic: governing capacity of illumined mind over the nature
- ज्योतिः (jyotiḥ)
- Literal: light. Symbolic: guiding illumination formed in the consciousness
- हरितः (haritaḥ)
- Literal: green/tawny steeds. Symbolic: vital energies and dynamic faculties yoked to the journey under light
- नायसे (nāyase)
- Literal: for leading, guidance. Symbolic: inner guidance that conducts the being forward on the path
Instructional praise within the rite: bring bright offering to Indra; reinforces the sacrificial psychology—purity/brightness (śubhra) and reverence (namas) attract the god’s indriya (mastery).
At morning rites or whenever invoking Indra’s guidance and mastery; in sequences praising Indra’s power.
Presenting a ‘bright’ oblation (ghee/Soma) with namas; invoking guidance for the rite’s success.
Morning meditation/chant to set the day’s inner direction: offer a ‘dawn-like’ intention and ask for mastery over impulses and clear guidance.
bhīmá ‘formidable’ from √bhī ‘to fear’ → evokes awe that breaks complacency; panīyá from √pan ‘admire’ → cherished offering; indriyá ‘power of Indra’ from Indra + -iya → mastery/sovereignty; jyótis ‘light’ from √dyut ‘shine’ (cognate set); harít ‘green steed’ → symbol of life-energy in motion.
nāma as power-form, indriya as sovereignty, jyotis as truth-light guiding progress
Dawn-bright offering aligns the being with ṛta; guidance-light (jyotiḥ) is the path of right order.
Indra’s indriya is truth-governance—power to act from clarity rather than confusion.
Light made (jyotir akāri) suggests manifestation of guidance through invocation—illumination becomes a formed power in the being.
Yogic symbolism: offering → formation of inner light → yoking of vital energies to the path.
dawn
Dawn = awakening insight; horses = vital energies; journey = progressive sādhanā; light = inner guide.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘bright offering at dawn’ leading to the manifestation of light and the yoking of energies (haritaḥ) for the journey. Inner sense: reverent aspiration in the sacrifice evokes Indra’s mastery, and the result is a fashioned light that leads the being forward.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The dyut/jyotis light vocabulary belongs to a robust IE cognate set (PIE *dyeu- ‘shine, sky’). The formula ‘name as power’ is common in archaic poetics where naming invokes essence; the horse/steed as energy vehicle is also widely IE.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The r̥ṣi acts as ritual-technologist of consciousness: he prescribes the inner condition (bright, dawn-like offering with namas) and points to the devata’s response—indriya and jyotis. The relationship is reciprocal: correct offering evokes correct divine manifestation.
Morning offering of intention; invoking mastery (indriya) and forming a guiding inner light.
Ājñā (guiding light) and Anāhata (cherished offering, devotion)
Gentle sunrise breathing: inhale imagining dawn-light filling brow; exhale offering (namasā) from heart; chant softly at daybreak.
Awakening clarity with guided dynamism.
Before chanting, recall one area needing mastery. Offer it ‘brightly’ (without self-blame). After chanting, sit 2 minutes visualizing a steady lamp at the brow and the life-force (horses) calmly yoked to that light.
Vedic accents with a luminous lift on ‘uṣo’ and ‘jyotiḥ’; keep ‘indriyam’ clearly articulated as a power-word.
Start with reverent softness (namasā); brighten tone on dawn imagery; slightly quicken at ‘harito nāyase’ to suggest forward motion.
bhīmāya: long ī., adhvare: keep dh voiced aspirate., śubhre: retroflex ṣ, clear bh., jyotir akāri: link sandhi smoothly (jyotirakāri) while keeping r audible., harito: light dental t, not retroflex.
Bright, clear, devotional; finish with energized steadiness.
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