Rig Veda 3.33.12: Mandala 3, Sukta 33, Mantra 12
Sukta 3.33
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Rivers
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
अतारिषुर्भरता गव्यवः समभक्त विप्रः सुमतिं नदीनाम् । प्र पिन्वध्वमिषयन्तीः सुराधा आ वक्षणाः पृणध्वं यात शीभम् ॥
atā́riṣur bharatā́ gavyávaḥ sám abhakta vípraḥ su-matíṃ nadī́nām | prá pinvadhvam iṣáyantīḥ su-rā́dhā ā́ vakṣaṇā́ḥ pṛṇádhvaṃ yā́ta śī́bham ||
Kaum Bharata, para pencari sinar, telah menyeberang; sang ṛṣi telah memperoleh keselarasan rahmat sungai-sungai. Wahai arus yang berdaya baik, kembanglah, mendesak maju dengan dorongan; penuhilah dadamu dan bergeraklah pantas.
Word by Word
- अतारिषुः
- they crossed overVerbलुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपद, 3rd person pluralRole (क्रिया)Root √तॄ (तरणे)
- भरताः
- the BharatasNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot भरत (प्रातिपदिक; जन/कुल-नाम)
- गव्यवः
- seeking cattle / cattle-winningAdjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (भरताः का विशेषणम्)Root गव्यु (प्रातिपदिक; ‘cattle-seeking’)
- सम्
- together, completelyIndeclinable (preverb) / Upasargaउपसर्गः (भज्-धातोः सह)Role (क्रियाविशेषक)Root सम्
- अभक्त
- he apportioned / he assignedVerbलुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपद, 3rd person singularRole (क्रिया)Root √भज् (विभागे/भागे)
- विप्रः
- the inspired sageNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुमतिम्
- good counsel / good intentionNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot सु- + मति (प्रातिपदिक)
- नदीनाम्
- of the riversNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinable (preverb) / Upasargaउपसर्गः (पिन्वध्वम्-क्रियायाः)Role (क्रियाविशेषक)Root प्र
- पिन्वध्वम्
- impel / swell (you all)!Verbलोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपदRole (क्रिया)Root √पिव्/√पिन् (पिन्व्) (वर्धने/प्रेरणे)
- इषयन्तीः
- (them) impelling / urgingParticiple (present active, causative) used adjectivallyस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्म (पिन्वध्वम् इत्यस्य)Root इषयन्ती (कृदन्त; √इष् ‘इच्छा/प्रेरणा’ से caus. इषय-)
- सुराधाः
- well-bounteous / of good giftsAdjective (used substantively)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (नद्यः का विशेषणम्)Root सु- + राधा (प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- towards, hitherIndeclinable (preverb) / Upasargaउपसर्गः (वक्षणाः/पृणध्वम्-क्रियायाः)Role (क्रियाविशेषक)Root आ
- वक्षणाः
- the streams / the flowing onesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot वक्षणा (प्रातिपदिक; ‘stream/flow’, RV usage)
- पृणध्वम्
- fill (yourselves) / become full!Verbलोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपदRole (क्रिया)Root √पॄ (पूरणे)
- यात
- go!Verbलोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद (वेदिक रूप)Role (क्रिया)Root √या (गतौ)
- शीभम्
- swiftly / with speedNoun (adverbial accusative)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (क्रियाविशेषणवत्)Role क्रियाविशेषण (गत्यर्थे)Root शीभ (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- अतारिषुर्भरता → अतारिषुः + भरताः (विसर्ग-लोप/संयोग)
- गव्यव॒: → गव्यवः (विसर्ग)
- समभक्त → सम् + अभक्त (उपसर्ग-संधि)
- सुमतिं न॒दीना॑म् → सुमतिम् + नदीनाम् (म् + न)
- प्र पिन्वध्वम् (पदविभाग)
- इषयन्तीः (कृदन्तरूप)
- सुराधा॒ आ → सुराधाः + आ (विसर्ग-लोप)
- आ वक्षणा॑: → आ + वक्षणाः (विसर्ग)
- पृणध्वं॑ या॒त → पृणध्वम् + यात (म् + य)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The Bharatas, seekers of cattle, have crossed; the seer has obtained the rivers’ gracious favor. O well-accomplishing streams, swell forth, pressing onward; fill your bosoms and move swiftly.
Inner meaning
The passage is accomplished: the seeker-forces have crossed the difficult life-currents and won ‘sumati’—a stable harmony with the energies. Now the rivers are urged not to obstruct but to increase rightly (‘pra pinvadhvam’)—to become abundant supports for the work. ‘Fill your bosoms’ indicates the life-force gathering fullness (strength, nourishment, delight) within, not leaking into wasteful dispersion, and then moving swiftly in the right direction—energies made effective for the onward march of the inner sacrifice.
Universal truth
After a breakthrough, the energies must not relapse into turbulence; they should be replenished, gathered, and directed swiftly to consolidate and extend the gain.
Themes
accomplished-crossing, gratitude, increase-of-force, flow-as-aid
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Gāthin (Kauśika tradition, commonly associated with Viśvāmitra)
- Other hymns
- RV 3.33.1-13
Family tradition
A tradition of mantra that accomplishes results—crossing, winning favor, then commanding right increase.
Significance
This verse marks the siddhi (attainment) phase: not merely overcoming an obstacle, but converting the conquered forces into active collaborators.
The deity
- Devata
- Rivers (Nadī/Sindhu powers) as beneficent accomplishers
- Epithets
- surādhāḥ (well-accomplishing), iṣayantīḥ (impelling)
- Related deities
- Āpaḥ, Indra (earlier impetus), Agni (the work that uses the increased force)
Cosmic role
Bestowers of abundance and speed; they carry nourishment and enable onward movement in the world-order.
Inner power
Replenishing, gathering, and directing life-force so it becomes an effective instrument of the soul.
In ritual
Where it is used
Thanksgiving after safe crossing; invocation for abundance and continued support of waters.
अता॑रिषुर्भर॒ता ग॒व्यव॒: समभ॑क्त॒ विप्र॑: सुम॒तिं न॒दीना॑म् । प्र पि॑न्वध्वमि॒षय॑न्तीः सु॒राधा॒ आ व॒क्षणा॑: पृ॒णध्वं॑ या॒त शीभ॑म् ॥
अता॑रिषुः । भ॒र॒ताः । ग॒व्यवः॑ । सम् । अभ॑क्त । विप्रः॑ । सु॒ऽम॒तिम् । न॒दीना॑म् । प्र । पि॒न्व॒ध्व॒म् । इ॒षय॑न्तीः । सु॒ऽराधा॑ । आ । व॒क्षणाः॑ । पृ॒णध्व॑म् । या॒त । शीभ॑म् ॥
atāriṣuḥ | bharatāḥ | gavyavaḥ | sam | abhakta | vipraḥ | su-matim | nadīnām | pra | pinvadhvam | iṣayantīḥ | su-rādhā | ā | vakṣaṇāḥ | pṛṇadhvam | yāta | śībham
44
4 x ~11 syllables
Triumphant and exhortatory; quick imperatives give a ‘surge’ feel.
Consolidates victory; energizes without agitation—an ordered increase.
- अतारिषुः (atāriṣuḥ)
- Literal: they have crossed. Symbolic: a completed transition to a higher poise
- गव्यवः (gavyavaḥ)
- Literal: seekers of cows. Symbolic: seekers of rays/illumination
- विप्रः (vipraḥ)
- Literal: seer, inspired one. Symbolic: the awakened discerning consciousness that wins harmony
- सुमतिम् नदीनाम् (sumatim nadīnām)
- Literal: the rivers’ good favor. Symbolic: stable consent and right relation with life-energies
- सुराधाः (surādhāḥ)
- Literal: good in accomplishment/bringing right results. Symbolic: energies that effectively execute the divine intention
- प्र पिन्वध्वम् (pra pinvadhvam)
- Literal: swell forth, increase. Symbolic: increase of purified force and supportive fullness
- इषयन्तीः (iṣayantīḥ)
- Literal: impelling, urging on. Symbolic: energies that carry forward aspiration without disturbance
- वक्षणाः (vakṣaṇāḥ)
- Literal: bosoms. Symbolic: inner reservoirs of strength/joy; gathered life-substance
- शीभम् (śībham)
- Literal: swiftly. Symbolic: unhesitating progress once harmony is won
Thanksgiving/confirmation after successful passage; also an energizing imperative to the life-flows to increase and carry forward the work.
After crossing or after completion of a difficult rite/phase; when seeking increase (pusti) through waters.
Recitation with offering to waters; gesture of gratitude and request for continued flow.
After a breakthrough in practice, use to stabilize and ‘fill the reservoirs’: nourish body, breath, and mind, then proceed swiftly.
from √tṛ ‘cross’. from √pīv/√pinv ‘swell, invigorate’ (related to ‘fatness’ → abundance). √iṣ ‘impel’ again foregrounds dynamic force. √pṛ ‘fill’ (PIE *pelh₁- ‘fill’ possible). su-rādhā ‘good accomplishment’ from √rādh ‘to succeed, accomplish, grant’.
sumati as harmony between human will and cosmic powers, abundance as spiritual fullness, movement as progression of sacrifice
Increase (pinv) is asked in a right-ordered way—force that serves the work.
Sumati implies truth-aligned intelligence governing energy.
Waters as abundance; fullness gathered in ‘bosoms’ echoes cosmic sustenance.
Vedic psychology of conversion: nature-force becomes an ally after conquest by light.
Swelling = increased pranic support; bosoms = inner store of strength/joy; swift movement = unobstructed progress of sadhana.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘successful crossing’ followed by the blessing of increased flow: once the passage is granted, the waters are invoked to intensify and hasten—innerly, the life-energies now cooperate and become more abundant for the onward journey.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The root-field of crossing (√tṛ) and filling/swelling (√pṛ, √pīv) matches widespread IE metaphors of prosperity as ‘fullness’. The imperative plurals address a collective natural power as a social agent, a typical archaic IE poetic stance.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The vipra ‘wins’ (abhakta) the rivers’ sumati—showing speech-as-action. The devatā is not merely appeased but enlisted to ‘press forward’ the work, implying sustained collaboration after the initial boon.
Integration after crossing: gather force, increase steadiness, and move forward without relapse.
svādhiṣṭhāna (flow) stabilized by maṇipūra (directed power).
Slow inhalations with brief kumbhaka to ‘fill the bosom’, then smooth exhale; repeat ‘ā vakṣaṇāḥ pṛṇadhvam’.
Full, steady forward movement—energy as nourishment rather than disturbance.
After success, do not stop at relief; consciously increase the purified force, store it inwardly, and apply it swiftly to the next right action.
Triṣṭubh; give energetic lift to imperatives (pra pinvadhvam, pṛṇadhvam, yāta).
Let the first half sound declarative (attainment), second half exhortative (increase).
atāriṣuḥ: long ā; retroflex ṣ, surādhā: long ā at end, vakṣaṇāḥ: retroflex ṣ; long āḥ, śībham: long ī
Bright and confident, not harsh; flowing resonance.
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