Rig Veda 10.169.3: Mandala 10, Sukta 169, Mantra 3
Sukta 10.169
- Rishi
- Not securely determinable from supplied text alone
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Likely Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
या देवेषु तन्वमैरयन्त यासां सोमो विश्वा रूपाणि वेद । ता अस्मभ्यं पयसा पिन्वमानाः प्रजावतीरिन्द्र गोष्ठे रिरीहि ॥
yā́ devéṣu tanvàm airáyanta yā́sāṁ sómo víśvā rūpā́ṇi véda | tā́ asmábhyaṁ páyasā pínvamānāḥ prajā́vatīr indra goṣṭhé rirīhi ||
Wahai Kuasa-kuasa yang membangunkan dan menggerakkan yang bertubuh di kalangan para dewa, yang segala rupa kamu diketahui dan diterangi Soma; semoga kamu, mengembang untuk kami dengan susu pemeliharaan batin, kaya daya menjadi, wahai Indra, menetap dan berdiam di kandang-sapi kami yang bercahaya (medan aman sinar-sinar yang terjaga).
Word by Word
- याः
- who/which (fem. pl.)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- देवेषु
- among the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- तन्वम्
- body, self, personNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot तनू (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऐरयन्त
- they set in motion / they impelledVerbलङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole (क्रिया)Root ईर्/इर् (प्रेरणे)
- यासाम्
- of whomPronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole SambandhaRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सोमः
- SomaNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- विश्वा
- allAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (रूपाणि इति विशेष्येण सह)Role KarmaRoot विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- रूपाणि
- formsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
- वेद
- knowsVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root विद् (ज्ञाने)
- ताः
- those (fem. pl.)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्मभ्यम्
- to usPronounउभयलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, बहुवचनRole SampradānaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- पयसा
- with milk / with nourishmentNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- पिन्वमानाः
- being filled/flowing; swelling withParticipleवर्तमान कृदन्त (शानच्), आत्मनेपद-भाव, स्त्रीलिङ्ग प्रथमा बहुवचन (ता: इति सह)Role KartāRoot पिव्/पिन्व् (प्रीणने/वर्धने)
- प्रजावतीः
- rich in offspringAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot प्रजा + वत् (प्रजावत्-प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNoun (vocative)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole (सम्बोधन)Root इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- गोष्ठे
- in the cowshed / cattle-stallNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot गो-ष्ठ (गोष्ट/गोṣ्ठ) (प्रातिपदिक)
- रिरीहि
- lead/bring (them) in; make them comeVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root रि/री (गत्यर्थ/प्रापणे; Vedic)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: याः | देवेषु | तन्वम् | ऐरयन्त | यासाम् | सोमः | विश्वा | रूपाणि | वेद | ताः | अस्मभ्यम् | पयसा | पिन्वमानाः | प्रजावतीः | इन्द्र | गोष्ठे | रिरीहि । 1) दे॒वेषु॑ त॒न्व१॒॑म्—इति संधिः न विशेषः (पदसीमा)। 2) ऐरयन्त = लङ्-रूपम् (ईर्/इर् धातोः) वैदिक-वृद्धि-आगमयुक्तम्। 3) पिन्वमानाः—कृदन्तः (शानच्) ‘ता:’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्
- वैदिके स्त्रीबहुवचने -आः प्रायः दृश्यते। 4) प्रजावतीरिन्द्र = प्रजावतीः + इन्द्र (विसर्गलोपः/रुत्व-प्रभावः पदसन्धौ)।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Herb-powers that set the body in motion among the gods; Soma knows all their forms; may they swell with milk for us, rich in progeny; Indra, let them abide in our goṣṭha (cattle-pen).
Inner meaning
These are nourishing feminine powers (śaktis) that awaken the embodied nature (tanū) to participate in the divine life (deveṣu). Soma, the principle of divine delight and luminous relish, ‘knows’ their forms—i.e., only delight fully reveals and harmonizes the many movements of nature. Their ‘milk’ (payas) is inner nourishment: clarified substance of consciousness that strengthens growth (prajāvatīḥ = rich in becomings/creative outcomes). Indra is invoked to establish these powers in the goṣṭha—not a cattle-pen but the secure field of rays (go = light), the illumined ground where knowledge-forces are gathered and protected.
Universal truth
Lasting growth comes when delight (Soma) illumines and harmonizes our energies, and the awakened mind-force (Indra) establishes them in a stable field of light.
Themes
Soma-illumination, Inner nourishment, Increase and progeny (spiritual becomings), Indraic establishment of light
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 10.97 (herb powers), RV 9 (Soma as knower/illuminer), RV 1.32 (Indra establishing light by slaying the coverer)
Family tradition
The verse reflects a Shakti-oriented Vedic psychology: nourishing powers, Soma’s delight, and Indra’s establishing illumination.
Significance
Shows the integral method: awaken nature (tanū) → illumine and harmonize by Soma → establish by Indra in the field of rays (go).
The deity
- Devata
- Indra (with Soma; feminine nourishing powers implied as Oṣadhī/Śakti)
- Epithets
- goṣṭha-sthāpaka (establisher in the field of rays; implied), vṛtra-han (slayer of the coverer; contextual Indra nature), soma-sakhā (friend of Soma; thematic)
- Related deities
- Aśvins (healing), Agni (will that prepares the offering), Prajāpati (creative formation; next verse)
Cosmic role
Indra secures the luminous domain and establishes the powers of growth; Soma reveals and feeds the movements; the feminine powers nourish and increase life.
Inner power
Indra = illumined mind-force that integrates experiences into stable realization; Soma = blissful clarity; Shakti-powers = regenerative energies.
In ritual
Where it is used
Healing and growth petitions; Soma- and Indra-associated invocations for nourishment and establishment of prosperity (inner/outer).
या दे॒वेषु॑ त॒न्व१॒॑मैर॑यन्त॒ यासां॒ सोमो॒ विश्वा॑ रू॒पाणि॒ वेद॑ । ता अ॒स्मभ्यं॒ पय॑सा॒ पिन्व॑मानाः प्र॒जाव॑तीरिन्द्र गो॒ष্ঠे रि॑रीहि ॥
याः । दे॒वेषु॑ । त॒न्व॑म् । ऐर॑यन्त । यासा॑म् । सोमः॑ । विश्वा॑ । रू॒पाणि॑ । वेद॑ । ताः । अ॒स्मभ्य॑म् । पय॑सा । पिन्व॑मानाः । प्र॒जाऽव॑तीः । इ॒न्द्र॒ । गो॒ऽस्थे । रि॒री॒हि॒ ॥
yāḥ | deveṣu | tanvam | airayanta | yāsām | somaḥ | viśvā | rūpāṇi | veda | tāḥ | asmabhyam | payasā | pinvamānāḥ | prajāvatīḥ | indra | go--sthe | rirīhi
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4 x ~11 syllables (approx.)
Rising, nourishing cadence; strong imperative close (rirīhi).
Builds a sense of filling and stabilization; good for grounding luminous experiences.
- देवेषु (deveṣu)
- Literal: among the gods. Symbolic: within illumined states and faculties of consciousness
- तन्वम् (tanvam)
- Literal: body/embodied being. Symbolic: the psychophysical nature that must be awakened and set in right motion
- ऐरयन्त (airayanta)
- Literal: they set in motion, arouse. Symbolic: awakening of energies and functions toward divine action
- सोमः ... रूपाणि वेद (somaḥ ... rūpāṇi veda)
- Literal: Soma knows the forms. Symbolic: delight-consciousness reveals, harmonizes, and perfects the movements
- पयसा (payasā)
- Literal: with milk. Symbolic: inner nourishment/ojas; luminous substance of growth
- पिन्वमानाः (pinvamānāḥ)
- Literal: swelling, being filled. Symbolic: increasing in force and richness through right reception
- प्रजावतीः (prajāvatīḥ)
- Literal: rich in offspring. Symbolic: rich in creative results, new formations of consciousness
- गोऽस्थे (goṣṭhe)
- Literal: in the cow-stall. Symbolic: in the secure station of rays/knowledge; gathered light-forces
- रिरीहि (rirīhi)
- Literal: let them settle/abide. Symbolic: establish the powers stably; integration rather than passing experience
Soma-related recitation context (general): invocation for increase, settling of powers in the ‘goṣṭha’; adaptable to Soma pressing/offerings and prosperity rites.
After pranayama/meditation to ‘seat’ the gained force; also in recovery or before creative work.
Recite with a small offering (water/milk/ghee) or mental offering of gratitude; conclude with silent settling.
Use to integrate insights: chant, then sit 2–5 minutes feeling energies ‘abide’ in a calm luminous center.
Key roots: (1) < caus./impf. of √īr/er ‘to set in motion, raise, awaken’: the Powers energize the tanū (embodied instrument) into divine functioning. (2) < √vid ‘to know, find’: Soma as revelatory delight ‘knows’ all forms—i.e., can enter and illumine every configuration of consciousness. (3) < pres. mid. ptc. √pinv ‘to swell, make thrive’: abundance as a living increase, not mere gift. (4) from pra-√jan/√jā ‘to be born, generate’: creative multiplicity of inner states/realizations. (5) goṣṭha: go ‘ray/cow’ + sthā ‘standing-place’: the secured station where rays of knowledge are gathered and held.
increase of inner being (pínv-), creative manifestation (pra-jā), divine embodiment (tanū in deveṣu)
Right growth (prajā) occurs when energies are established in the law of light (ṛta).
True forms are known by Soma—truth becomes experiential delight, not mere concept.
Inner creation: new formations arise when nourished energies are stabilized in illumination.
Integral Vedic yoga: bliss and illumination cooperate to transform embodied nature.
Milk = ojas/luminous nourishment; goṣṭha = stable field of rays/knowledge; Soma = nectar of delight; Indra = mind-light that secures.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘gathering/settling of the cows’ reappears as an inner myth: the luminous rays (go) are to be established in the secure station (goṣṭha) by Indra. The feminine Powers that ‘impel the tanū among the gods’ are the enabling energies that make the human instrument capable of divine action; Soma, as delight-illumination, ‘knows all forms’ and thus can pervade and reveal every state needed for that establishment.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vid ‘to know’ is a classic PIE root *weid- (cf. Latin vidēre, English wise/wit). √jan/√jā ‘be born, generate’ aligns with PIE *genh₁- (cf. Greek génos, Latin genus). The semantic field supports a cognitive-creative reading: knowledge (vid) enables the generation (pra-jā) of new inner formations (rūpāṇi).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The speaker petitions Indra not for external cattle but for the inward ‘settling’ of divine energies in the consciousness-field. The reciprocity is implicit: as the aspirant offers attention and openness to Soma’s revealing delight, Indra is asked to consolidate the gains—stabilizing the awakened rays so they become a lasting possession of the being.
Integration: invite nourishing powers to settle in the ‘luminous pen’—a stable inner space of clarity.
Hṛdaya (Anāhata) as ‘goṣṭha’ of rays; or Ājñā for luminous stability
After chanting, practice 6 slow breaths with a gentle pause after exhale, feeling the force settle.
Quiet gladness; stable luminous containment.
Visualize a radiant enclosure in the heart/forehead where the rays of knowledge gather. Offer a drop of Soma-delight (simple gratitude) and ask Indra to establish the gained energy there.
Let ‘payasā pinvamānāḥ’ swell in volume slightly, then soften and settle on ‘goṣṭhe rirīhi’.
tanvam: pronounce nv cluster clearly, airayanta: ai diphthong; roll lightly, viśvā rūpāṇi: long ā in rūpāṇi, pinvamānāḥ: keep nasalization; long āḥ, prajāvatīḥ: long ā; dental t, goṣṭhe: retroflex ṣṭh cluster; aspirate th, rirīhi: long ī; light h at end
Warm, nourishing resonance; end with a grounded, quiet command tone.
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