Rig Veda 3.30.21: Mandala 3, Sukta 30, Mantra 21
Sukta 3.30
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Raudra (fury)
आ नो गोत्रा दर्दृहि गोपते गाः समस्मभ्यं सनयो यन्तु वाजाः । दिवक्षा असि वृषभ सत्यशुष्मोऽस्मभ्यं सु मघवन्बोधि गोदाः ॥
ā nó gotrā́ dadṛrhi gopate gā́ḥ sám asmábhyaṃ sanáyo yantu vā́jāḥ | divákṣā asi vṛṣabha satyáśuṣmo ’smábhyaṃ sú maghavan bodhi godā́ḥ ||
Bukalah bagi kami kandang-kandang lembu, wahai tuan kawanan; biarlah hasil-hasil kelimpahan berhimpun kepada kami. Engkau Banteng yang menggerakkan langit, berdaya benar; sedarkanlah bagi kami, wahai Maghavan yang pemurah, sebagai pemberi sinar pengetahuan.
Word by Word
- आ
- hither, towardsIndeclinableउपसर्ग (क्रियायोगे)Root आ (उपसर्ग) / ā (preverb)
- नः
- to us / for usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी? बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक ‘नः’ = अस्माकम्/अस्मभ्यम् सन्दर्भानुसार)Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद्
- गोत्रा
- cow-stalls, enclosures (pens)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन (RV: गोत्रा = गोत्राणि)Role KarmaRoot गोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- दर्दृहि
- make firm, strengthenVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRoot दृंह्/दृह् (धातु; ‘दृंह्’ = दृढीकरणे, strengthen/firm)
- गोपते
- O lord of cows / cowherd-lordNoun (vocative)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचनRoot गो-पति (प्रातिपदिक)
- गाः
- cowsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- सम्
- together, completelyIndeclinableउपसर्ग (क्रियायोगे)Root सम् (उपसर्ग) / sam (preverb)
- अस्मभ्यम्
- to usPronounचतुर्थी बहुवचनRole SampradānaRoot अस्मद्
- सनयः
- gains, winningsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot सनय (प्रातिपदिक; ‘gain, winning, acquisition’)
- यन्तु
- let them comeVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRoot या (धातु; गत्यर्थ)
- वाजाः
- prizes, spoils, strengthsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot वाज (प्रातिपदिक)
- दिवक्षाः
- sky-dwelling / having heaven as abodeAdjective/Noun (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot दिव-क्षस्/दिवक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक; RV epithet)
- असि
- thou artVerbलट् (वर्तमान), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRoot अस् (धातु; ‘to be’)
- वृषभ
- O bull (mighty one)Noun (vocative)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचनRoot वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
- सत्यशुष्मः
- of true might, truly powerfulAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot सत्य-शुष्म (प्रातिपदिक; तत्पुरुष)
- अस्मभ्यम्
- to usPronounचतुर्थी बहुवचनRole SampradānaRoot अस्मद्
- सु
- well, indeedIndeclinableनिपात/उपसर्गार्थे (intensifier)Root सु (निपात)
- मघवन्
- O bountiful one (Indra)Noun (vocative)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचनRoot मघवन् (प्रातिपदिक; epithet of Indra = ‘bountiful’)
- बोधि
- be awake, take noticeVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद (मध्यम: बोधि)Root बुध् (धातु; अवबोधने)
- गोदाः
- giver of cowsNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot गो-द (प्रातिपदिक; ‘giver of cows’)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (padapāṭha-style): आ | नः | गोत्रा | दर्दृहि | गोपते | गाः | सम् | अस्मभ्यम् | सनयः | यन्तु | वाजाः || दिवक्षाः | असि | वृषभ | सत्यशुष्मः | अस्मभ्यम् | सु | मघवन् | बोधि | गोदाः || Notable: सम॒स्मभ्यं॑ → सम् + अस्मभ्यम्
- सत्यशु॑ष्मो॒ऽस्मभ्यं॒ → सत्यशुष्मः + अस्मभ्यम् (o’ = visarga lost before vowel, avagraha marks elision). Accents are retained in the source but not re-marked per pada here
The meaning
Outer meaning
A plea to Indra, lord of cattle, to break open the cow-stalls and bring gains and prizes; he is the bull who impels heaven with true strength, asked to awaken as giver of cows.
Inner meaning
Indra is invoked to shatter the closed formations (gotra) that imprison the rays of illumination (gāḥ). When the inner ‘stalls’ open, the powers of plenitude (vājāḥ: victorious energies, attainments) converge into the being. Indra, the heaven-impelling Bull (divakṣā vṛṣabha), awakens in us as the giver of light-knowledge (godāḥ), establishing a higher consciousness (div/heaven) in the mind and life.
Universal truth
Progress requires breaking the inner confinements that hold back insight; when the obstruction is removed, energies of accomplishment gather and a higher, truer force awakens within.
Themes
finding the cows, awakening of Indra, victorious plenitude (vāja), truth-force
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Kauśika
- Other hymns
- RV 3.30, RV 3.31, RV 3.33, RV 3.53, RV 3.62
Family tradition
Kuśika hymns often emphasize the ‘opening of the cows’ as the release of inner light by Indra’s victorious mind-force.
Significance
The seer’s yoga is a battle for illumination: the key act is ‘breaking the gotra’—opening the sealed subconscient so the rays of knowledge can enter the waking mind.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Gopati (lord of the rays), Maghavan (bounteous), Vṛṣabha (bull of force), Satyaśuṣma (true-powered)
- Related deities
- Bṛhaspati (breaker of the cave, lord of the word), Sarasvatī (inspired flow), Agni (leader of the inner sacrifice)
Cosmic role
Breaker of the enclosures; brings the luminous herds (rays) and the victorious plenitudes (vāja) into the human field.
Inner power
Illumined mind-force that opens blocked regions and awakens higher consciousness in the seeker.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra invocation for victory and increase; compatible with Soma praise and general śastra usage
आ नो॑ गो॒त्रा द॑र्दृहि गोपते॒ गाः सम॒स्मभ्यं॑ स॒नयो॑ यन्तु॒ वाजा॑: । दि॒वक्षा॑ असि वृषभ स॒त्यशु॑ष्मो॒ऽस्मभ्यं॒ सु म॑घवन्बोधि गो॒दाः ॥
आ । नः॒ । गो॒त्रा । द॒र्दृ॒हि॒ । गो॒ऽप॒ते॒ । गाः । सम् । अ॒स्मभ्य॑म् । स॒नयः॑ । य॒न्तु॒ । वाजाः॑ । दि॒वक्षाः॑ । अ॒सि॒ । वृ॒ष॒भ॒ । स॒त्यऽशु॑ष्मः । अ॒स्मभ्य॑म् । सु । म॒घ॒ऽव॒न् । बो॒धि॒ । गो॒ऽदाः ॥
ā | naḥ | gotrā | dadṛrhi | go--pate | gāḥ | sam | asmabhyam | sanayaḥ | yantu | vājāḥ | divakṣāḥ | asi | vṛṣabha | satya-śuṣmaḥ | asmabhyam | su | magha-van | bodhi | go--dāḥ
44
4 × ~11 syllables
Incisive and forceful, with ‘splitting’ energy appropriate to dardṛhi (break open).
Stimulates courage and breakthrough; helpful when one feels mentally ‘sealed’ or dull.
- गोत्रा (gotrā)
- Literal: cow-stalls/enclosures. Symbolic: closed subconscient formations that imprison light
- दर्दृहि (dardṛhi)
- Literal: break open, split. Symbolic: decisive inner breakthrough; liberation of blocked consciousness
- गोपते (gopate)
- Literal: lord of cows/herds. Symbolic: master of the rays of knowledge; ruler of illumination
- गाः (gāḥ)
- Literal: cows. Symbolic: rays of light/knowledge
- सनयः (sanayaḥ)
- Literal: gains, winnings. Symbolic: attainments of consciousness; recoveries of lost powers
- वाजाः (vājāḥ)
- Literal: prizes, strengths. Symbolic: forces of plenitude and victorious energy
- दिवक्षाः (divakṣāḥ)
- Literal: heaven-impelling. Symbolic: that which drives the mind upward into the luminous plane
- वृषभ (vṛṣabha)
- Literal: bull. Symbolic: potent force of the illumined will-mind
- सत्यशुष्मः (satyaśuṣmaḥ)
- Literal: of true force. Symbolic: energy aligned with truth (satya), irresistible to falsehood
- गोदा: (godāḥ)
- Literal: giver of cows. Symbolic: bestower of rays—illumination and knowledge
Victory/boon-seeking recitation within Soma liturgy; also thematically aligned with prayers for ‘release of cows’ (illumination) and ‘vāja’ (victorious force).
Invoked when seeking openings, gains, and strength—especially in contest/struggle motifs.
Stotra calling Indra to ‘open’ and ‘bring together’ the vājāḥ (powers/prizes).
Use as a ‘breakthrough mantra’ before study, creative work, or inner inquiry; chant to open clarity when stuck.
gotra- (go- ‘ray/cow’ + -tra ‘enclosure/instrument’) signifies hidden pens of light in the subconscient; opening them is a standard Vedic image for releasing illumination. vāja- from a root-field meaning ‘strength, prize, plenitude’ (often tied to √vaj/√vāj ‘to be strong/drive’)—here ‘substance of victorious force’. √budh (bodhi) ‘wake, know’ marks the requested epiphany: Indra must become awake/present in the seeker. vṛṣabha ‘bull’ from √vṛṣ ‘to rain/virilize’ suggests generative power, psychologically the pouring of force into the being.
release of hidden light (go-tra opening), satya-śuṣma (true-force aligned to Truth), awakening (bodhi) as descent of consciousness
Opening is not mere force but satya-śuṣma: power aligned with truth, restoring ṛta in the being.
True force awakens the giver of rays; illumination comes as a truthful energy, not a mental construction.
Release of hidden light from enclosure; ascent/impulsion toward heaven (div).
Aurobindonian symbolic psychology: Vṛtra-like coverings as subconscient resistance; Indra as illumined intelligence.
dawn/early morning (implied by ‘awakening’ and release of rays)
unspecified
The ‘cave’ of the subconscient opens; rays rise like dawn-light; the bull-force drives consciousness upward.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘opening of the cowpens’—classically the recovery of the stolen cows—functions as the release of concealed illuminations from the enclosed dark. Indra, as gopati and godā, is invoked to break the inner obstruction and let vājas (plenitudes of force) and sanayas (gains) flow into the seeker.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- go- traces to PIE *gʷōus; the inherited pastoral term is repurposed into a cognitive symbol. √budh (bodhi) is PIE *bʰewdʰ- ‘be aware, wake’ (cf. English bid in older sense ‘proclaim’, and Buddhist). The verse thus combines archaic IE lexicon with Vedic psychological semantics.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi demands not only gifts but Indra’s awakened presence: ‘bodhi’—become conscious for us. The human side offers invocation and readiness; the divine side must cleave the obstruction (dadṛrhi) and distribute gains in accordance with satya (truth-alignment).
Breaking inner enclosures: identify the ‘sealed’ area (fear, confusion, inertia) and invoke illumined force to open it.
Ājñā (opening of inner sight) and Viśuddha (release of truth-force through word)
Brisk but controlled ujjāyī for 12 breaths, then chant with a firm exhale emphasizing ‘dardṛhi’.
Awakened, upward-driven, decisive; a sense of inner doors opening.
Hold attention at the brow; on each repetition feel a ‘cleaving’ of dullness and the release of bright rays into the mind. End with a silent minute to receive the gathered vājāḥ as calm strength.
Ṛgvedic accents; emphasize udātta on vocatives like gopate and maghavan; keep svarita glide where marked in recitation tradition.
Let ‘ā no gotrā dardṛhi’ be delivered with a clean, commanding rise; pause lightly after each pāda to keep Triṣṭubh balance.
gotrā: retroflex ṭr cluster—do not soften to ‘trā’, dardṛhi: clear ṛ vowel; avoid ‘dar-dri-hi’—keep compact, satyaśuṣmo: śuṣma with retroflex ṣ; aspirate lightly, godāḥ: long ā; final ḥ audible but soft
Commanding, bright, slightly percussive on consonant clusters; finish with a steady, confident cadence.
7
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
