Rig Veda 3.34.10: Mandala 3, Sukta 34, Mantra 10
Sukta 3.34
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
इन्द्र ओषधीरसनोदहानि वनस्पतीँरसनोदन्तरिक्षम् । बिभेद वलं नुनुदे विवाचोऽथाभवद्दमिताभिक्रतूनाम् ॥
índra óṣadhīr asanod áhāni vanaspátīṃr asanod antárikṣam | bibhéda valáṃ nunudé vivā́co 'thā́bhavad damitā́bhikratūnām ||
Indra menzahirkan herba-herba penyembuh dan hari-hari; dia menzahirkan para penguasa rimba dan ruang antara (antarikṣa). Dia membelah Vala dan menghalau para pengacau bicara; lalu dia menjadi penunduk kehendak-kehendak yang bermusuhan.
Word by Word
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- ओषधीः
- plants, herbsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot ओषधि (प्रातिपदिक)
- असनोत्
- won, gainedVerbलुङ् (अोरिस्ट), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root √सन्/सन् (to win, gain)
- अहानि
- daysNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- वनस्पतीन्
- lords of the forest, treesNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot वनस्पति (प्रातिपदिक)
- असनोत्
- won, gainedVerbलुङ् (अोरिस्ट), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root √सन्/सन् (to win, gain)
- अन्तरिक्षम्
- mid-air, atmosphereNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot अन्तरिक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
- बिभेद
- split, brokeVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root √भिद् (to split, break)
- वलम्
- Vala (the enclosure/cave demon), the penNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot वल (प्रातिपदिक)
- नु
- now, indeedIndeclinableनिपात (अव्यय)Role (सम्बन्ध/प्रयोगसूचक)Root नु
- नुनुदे
- thrust away, drove offVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root √नुद् (to push, drive away)
- विवाचः
- hostile utterances/voices, disputesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot वि-वाच् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘separating words/voices’, also ‘disputes’)
- अथ
- thenIndeclinableनिपात (अव्यय)Role (सम्बन्ध/क्रमसूचक)Root अथ
- अभवत्
- becameVerbलुङ् (अोरिस्ट/इम्पर्फेक्ट-प्रयोग), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root √भू (to be, become)
- दमिता
- tamer, subduerNoun (agent)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (अभवत् का विधेय)Root √दम् (to tame, subdue) + तृ (agent suffix)
- अभिक्रतूनाम्
- of the hostile/assailing powers (wills/stratagems)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root अभि-क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- संहिता-पाठ: इन्द्र॒ ओष॑धीरसनो॒दहा॑नि॒ वन॒स्पतीँ॑रसनोद॒न्तरि॑क्षम् । बि॒भेद॑ व॒लं नु॑नु॒दे विवा॒चोऽथा॑भवद्दमि॒ताभिक्र॑तूनाम् ॥ पद-विभाग (सन्धि-विच्छेद): इन्द्रः | ओषधीः | असनोत् | अहानि | वनस्पतीन् | असनोत् | अन्तरिक्षम् | बिभेद | वलम् | नु | नुनुदे | विवाचः | अथ | अभवत् | दमिता | अभिक्रतूनाम् | मुख्य सन्धि: (1) ओषधीः + असनोत् → ओषधीरसनोत् (विसर्ग-लोप/रुत्व-प्रयोगः; संहितायां ‘ः/ईः’ + स्वर आरम्भे संयोग) (2) वनस्पतीन् + असनोत् → वनस्पतीँरसनोत् (नकारान्त-बहुवचनस्य संहितायां अनुनासिक-चिह्न/ँ) (3) विवाचः + अथ → विवाचोऽथ (विसर्गस्य ‘ओ’ आदेशः, अवग्रहः) (4) अभवत् + दमिता → अभवद्दमिता (त् + द → द्द, परसवर्ण-सन्धि)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra brought forth healing herbs and the days; he brought forth the lords of the forest and the mid-world. He split Vala and drove away the confusers of speech; then he became the tamer of hostile wills.
Inner meaning
Indra’s illumination releases ‘herbs’—healing powers in the embodied nature (restorative forces, right vibrations) and ‘days’—periods of conscious clarity. ‘Lords of the forest’ are the strong growth-forces in life (vanaspati) and the ‘midworld’ is the vital-mental field where energies circulate. By splitting Vala (the cavern/covering that hoards light), Indra frees the hidden riches of insight. He drives away vivācaḥ—forces that distort, divide, or confuse speech (inner and outer), restoring mantra and right expression. Thus he becomes damitā abhikratūnām: the tamer of hostile intentions—subduing contrary wills in the psyche.
Universal truth
Illumination is not only vision; it heals the system, restores rhythms of clarity, liberates hidden resources, and purifies speech and intention. When truth governs expression, hostile impulses lose their power.
Themes
vala-splitting, restoration-of-speech, healing-powers, subduing-hostile-wills
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Gāthina (Kauśika lineage traditionally associated)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 3.34, Rig Veda 2.24 (Bṛhaspati and Vala theme, as a close ally motif)
Family tradition
Mantric tradition highlighting Indra’s role in releasing light from Vala and establishing right speech—central to the Vedic psychology of revelation.
Significance
For Viśvāmitra, victory culminates in purified expression and disciplined intention: illumination must heal, organize, and make speech a vehicle of truth.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- vala-bhid (splitter of Vala), vivācaḥ-nud (driver away of confusers of speech), damitā abhikratūnām (tamer of hostile wills)
- Related deities
- Bṛhaspati (lord of speech), Agni (inner fire), Sarasvatī (inspired flow), Soma (delight that supports purification)
Cosmic role
Releaser of light and life-rhythms; purifier of speech; establisher of the midworld order.
Inner power
Illumined intelligence that heals embodied nature, clears the vital atmosphere, breaks subconscious enclosures, and disciplines contrary impulses.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra hymns connected to release of light (Vala) and protection of rite through right speech; used in Soma ritual recitations and victory sequences.
इन्द्र॒ ओष॑धीरसनो॒दहा॑नि॒ वन॒स्पतीँ॑रसनोद॒न्तरि॑क्षम् । बि॒भेद॑ व॒लं नु॑नु॒दे विवा॒चोऽथा॑भवद्दमि॒ताभिक्र॑तूनाम् ॥
इन्द्रः॑ । ओष॑धीः । अ॒स॒नो॒त् । अहा॑नि । व॒न॒स्पती॑न् । अ॒स॒नो॒त् । अ॒न्तरि॑क्षम् । बि॒भेद॑ । व॒लम् । नु॒नु॒दे । विऽवा॑चः । अथ॑ । अ॒भ॒व॒त् । द॒मि॒ता । अ॒भिऽक्र॑तूनाम् ॥
indraḥ | oṣadhīḥ | asanot | ahāni | vanaspatīn | asanot | antarikṣam | bibheda | valam | nunude | vi-vācaḥ | atha | abhavat | damitā | abhi-kratūnām
44
4 x ~11 syllables
Dynamic and clarifying; the sequence of ‘asanot’ actions gives a constructive, manifesting rhythm.
Feels like clearing and restoration; supports breath regularity and a sense of inner ‘day’ replacing confusion.
- ओषधीः (oṣadhīḥ)
- Literal: healing herbs. Symbolic: healing energies in body-nature; restorative vibrations and harmonizing forces
- अहानी (ahānī)
- Literal: days. Symbolic: cycles of clarity; conscious periods replacing inner night
- वनस्पतीन् (vanaspatīn)
- Literal: lords of the forest, trees. Symbolic: life-forces of growth and endurance; stable vital supports
- अन्तरिक्षम् (antarikṣam)
- Literal: midworld/atmosphere. Symbolic: vital-mental field where energies and desires move
- वलम् (valam)
- Literal: Vala (cave/covering demon). Symbolic: the enclosure that withholds light and knowledge; subconscient hoarding
- विवाचः (vivācaḥ)
- Literal: confusers of speech. Symbolic: false speech, inner noise, misinterpretation, divisive thought-forms
- दमिता (damitā)
- Literal: tamer. Symbolic: one who disciplines and pacifies unruly movements
- अभिक्रतूनाम् (abhikratūnām)
- Literal: of hostile wills/intentions. Symbolic: contrary impulsions opposing the soul’s aim
Indra’s cosmic ordering feats (Vala-splitting, restoring right speech) suited to Soma praise and rites seeking clarity of mantra and victory over obstruction
When invoking removal of obstacles, restoration of harmony/health, and protection of mantra/speech in the rite.
Praise and invocation for splitting obstructions and driving away harmful influences; affirming Indra’s governance over hostile forces.
Chant for healing and for clearing communication: before difficult conversations, teaching, or mantra-japa to reduce inner noise and align intention.
oṣadhī from oṣa- ‘burning/quickening’ + dhī (or traditional derivations), denoting healing plants/powers. √bhid ‘split’ (PIE *bʰeyd- ‘split’). √nud ‘push’ (cf. ‘nudge’ as a Germanic cognate is possible but not direct). √dam ‘tame’ (PIE *demh₂- ‘tame, subdue’). krátu ‘will, resolve, intelligence-power’ is a key Vedic term; abhi-kratu indicates counter-will/hostile intention.
Vala as obstruction of light, truth-word vs. vivāca (confused speech), kratu (will/resolve) and its discipline (dam)
Bringing forth ‘days’ symbolizes restoring the rhythm of ṛta in consciousness.
Driving away vivācaḥ establishes truthful expression as a power of realization.
Manifestation of ordered life (herbs, growth) and ordered space (antarikṣa) through the breaking of concealment.
Vedic psychology: revelation (released light) + purification (speech/intention) as twin conditions for stable realization.
dawn/day (explicit ‘days’)
spring (implied by herbs and growth)
Healing and growth in the embodied being; clearing the vital atmosphere; breaking subconscious concealment; restoring truth in speech.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Vala-myth: Indra cleaves the enclosure that withholds light and drives out the ‘vivāca’—distorters of speech. Inner sense: breaking the subconscient seal and restoring the integrality of the truth-word (mantra), then disciplining hostile volitions (abhi-kratu).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √bhid ‘split’ is a clear PIE inheritance (*bʰeyd-). The semantic coupling of ‘speech’ (vāc) with truth-order is a shared Indo-European poetic feature (the sacral word). kratu as ‘resolve’ parallels IE notions of ‘mind/will’ as power, though its exact PIE cognates are uncertain.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi seeks not only outer victory but the purification of inner instruments: time-rhythm (days), life-healing (herbs), the vital-mental field (antarikṣa), and above all the right speech. Indra’s gift is to make the human vessel capable of true mantra by subduing counter-will.
Invite Indra to (1) heal the body-nature, (2) restore clarity-cycles, (3) clear the vital atmosphere, (4) purify speech and intention.
viśuddha (speech purification) and maṇipūra (will/discipline)
Bhrāmarī (5–7 rounds) to quiet inner noise, then chant; feel vibration cleansing throat and chest.
Clear, quiet, regulated; ‘day’ consciousness replacing inner night.
Practice ‘truthful speech’ inwardly: after chanting, observe the next 10 minutes of inner talk. Each time distortion appears (complaint, exaggeration, self-justification), gently ‘drive it away’ and return to simple, accurate perception.
Rigvedic three-tone; the repeated ‘asanot’ clauses benefit from consistent udātta placement to create a constructive, manifesting momentum; keep clear svarita resolution at pāda ends.
Give slight emphasis to the action-verbs (asanot, bibheda, nunude) without speeding; let the final pāda settle into calm authority on ‘damitā’.
: long īḥ; keep ṣ retroflex., : pronounce ha-ā-nī with clear long ā., : crisp kṣ cluster (k + ṣ), not ‘ksh’ blurred., : vi-vā-caḥ with long ā; keep final ḥ audible per training., : keep ṛtū long ū; articulate bhikr clearly.
Clear, cooling, and steady; slightly softer on healing imagery, firm on ‘bibheda valaṃ’.
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