Rig Veda 3.49.4: Mandala 3, Sukta 49, Mantra 4
Sukta 3.49
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
धर्ता दिवो रजसस्पृष्ट ऊर्ध्वो रथो न वायुर्वसुभिर्नियुत्वान् । क्षपां वस्ता जनिता सूर्यस्य विभक्ता भागं धिषणेव वाजम् ॥
dhartā́ divó rájasas pṛṣṭá ūrdhvó rathó ná vāyúrvásubhir niyútvān | kṣapā́m vastā́ janitā́ sū́ryasya víbhaktā bhāgáṃ dhiṣáṇeva vā́jam ||
Dialah penegak langit, berpijak pada belakang ruang-antara; menjulang ke atas seperti rata, seperti Vāyu yang dipasangkan (niyutvān) bersama para Vasu. Dialah penenun malam-malam dan pembangkit Surya; dialah yang membahagi bahagian, dan seperti Dhīṣaṇā dia mengagihkan kelimpahan daya (vāja) demi menjadi kita.
Word by Word
- धर्ता
- supporter, bearerNoun (agent)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot धृ (धारणे) → धर्तृ- (कर्तरि तृच्)
- दिवः
- of heavenNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root दिव्/द्यौ- (प्रातिपदिक: दिव्/द्यौ ‘heaven’)
- रजसः
- of the midspace/atmospheric regionNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- पृष्टः
- touched, contactedAdjective/Participleपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (as qualifier of the subject)Root स्पृश् (स्पर्शने) → पृष्ट- (कृदन्त, क्त)
- ऊर्ध्वः
- upright, aloftAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (as qualifier)Root ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- रथः
- chariotNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (apposition/metaphor)Root रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableRoot न (उपमा-अव्यय)
- वायुः
- Vāyu (Wind)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
- वसुभिः
- with the Vasus (with the bright gods/wealths)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
- नियुत्वान्
- possessing (well-)yoked teamsAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (as qualifier of वायुः)Root नियुत् (प्रातिपदिक ‘yoking, team’) + वत् (मतुप्/वतुप्) → नियुत्वन्त्
- क्षपाम्
- of the nightsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root क्षप्/क्षपा (प्रातिपदिक ‘night’)
- वस्ता
- dweller; one who abides (through the nights)Noun (agent)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot वस् (आच्छादने/निवासे) → वस्तृ- (कर्तरि तृच्)
- जनिता
- begetter, producerNoun (agent)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot जन् (जनने) → जनितृ- (कर्तरि तृच्)
- सूर्यस्य
- of Sūrya (the Sun)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- विभक्ता
- distributor, apportionerNoun (agent)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot भज् (विभागे) + वि- → विभक्तृ- (कर्तरि तृच्)
- भागम्
- share, portionNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
- धिषणे
- the two Dhīṣaṇās (dual powers of inspiration)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृ (as standard of comparison with इव)Root धिषणा (प्रातिपदिक; ‘inspiration/insight’, also personified)
- इव
- as if, likeIndeclinableRoot इव (उपमा-अव्यय)
- वाजम्
- prize; strength; (ritual) rewardNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (object of implied ‘to distribute/award’)Root वाज (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (resolved): धर्ता | दिवः | रजसः | पृष्टः | ऊर्ध्वः | रथः | न | वायुः | वसुभिः | नियुत्वान् || क्षपाम् | वस्ता | जनिता | सूर्यस्य | विभक्ता | भागम् | धिषणे | इव | वाजम् । प्रमुख-सन्धि: (1) रज॑सस्पृ॒ष्टः = रजसः + पृष्टः (विसर्ग-सन्धि: षः + प् → स्प्)
- (2) वायुः + वसुभिः → वायुर् वसुभिः (विसर्ग → र्)
- (3) वसुभिः + नियुत्वान् → वसुभिर्नियुत्वान् (विसर्ग → र्, ततः र् + न् संयोग)
- (4) धिषणे॑व = धिषणे + इव (ए + इ → एव)
The meaning
Outer meaning
A praise of Indra as the supporter of the heavens and mid-region, rising like a chariot; linked with Vāyu and the Vasus; he “weaves” the nights, gives birth to the Sun, and apportions the share—distributing vāja (victorious power/plenitude) like Dhīṣaṇā.
Inner meaning
Indra is the illumined Mind that upholds the higher consciousness (dyu) while standing upon the field of life and movement (rajas). He ascends in us like an upward-driving chariot-force, aided by Vāyu (life-breath) and the Vasus (harmonizing powers of being). “Weaving the nights” is the divine ordering of our obscurities and subconscient intervals into a meaningful rhythm; “begetting the Sun” is the birth of the inner solar gnosis. Indra apportions the right share of force and joy to each part of the nature, distributing vāja—effective power for becoming—through Dhīṣaṇā, the intuitive discernment that allocates energies rightly in the sacrifice of self-perfection.
Universal truth
Spiritual growth requires a governing illumination that both sustains the heights and organizes the middle realm of life. When the inner Mind aligns with breath, harmony, and intuition, even periods of darkness become woven into a larger order, and the Sun of clear knowledge is born; then right distribution of energy brings integral strength and progress.
Themes
cosmic support and ascent (ūrdhva ratha), ordering of darkness (vasta of nights), manifestation of truth-light (janitā sūryasya), bestowal of vāja (plenitude of force)
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Gāthin (Kauśika lineage often associated with Viśvāmitra)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 3.49.1, Rig Veda 3.49.2, Rig Veda 3.49.3, Rig Veda 3.50.1, Rig Veda 3.50.2, Rig Veda 3.50.3
Family tradition
Royal-seer tradition transforming kṣatriya dynamism into brahmarṣi illumination; hymns often stress conquest of inner obstacles by Indra and the ascent to light.
Significance
Viśvāmitra’s vision frequently turns battle-imagery into a psychology of ascent: the illumined Mind (Indra) organizes life-force (Vāyu/Maruts), conquers obscurity, and births the Sun of knowledge—an archetype for integral yoga.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- धर्ता (Dhartā), विभक्ता (Vibhaktā), उग्र (Ugra, implied by Indra’s forceful governance), मघवन् (Maghavan, bounteous—contextual within the hymn sequence)
- Related deities
- Vāyu, Vasus, Dhīṣaṇā, Sūrya
Cosmic role
Lord of the luminous mid-world who releases the Sun and the cows (rays), establishes the worlds, and apportions powers and boons according to ṛta.
Inner power
The divine Mind-force: illumination, right discrimination, victorious energy that orders prāṇa and senses toward truth.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-Soma praise within Soma-yajña sequences (general applicability; specific śrauta placement varies by śākhā)
ध॒र्ता दि॒वो रज॑सस्पृ॒ष्ट ऊ॒र्ध्वो रथो॒ न वा॒युर्वसु॑भिर्नि॒युत्वा॑न् । क्ष॒पां व॒स्ता ज॑नि॒ता सूर्य॑स्य॒ विभ॑क्ता भा॒गं धि॒षणे॑व॒ वाज॑म् ॥
ध॒र्ता । दि॒वः । रज॑सः । पृ॒ष्टः । ऊ॒र्ध्वः । रथः॑ । न । वा॒युः । वसु॑ऽभिः । नि॒युत्वा॑न् । क्ष॒पाम् । व॒स्ता । ज॒नि॒ता । सूर्य॑स्य । विऽभ॑क्ता । भा॒गम् । धि॒षणा॑ऽइव । वाज॑म् ॥
dhartā | divaḥ | rajasaḥ | pṛṣṭaḥ | ūrdhvaḥ | rathaḥ | na | vāyuḥ | vasu-bhiḥ | niyutvān | kṣapām | vastā | janitā | sūryasya | vi-bhaktā | bhāgam | dhiṣaṇāiva | vājam
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables each (Triṣṭubh cadence)
Driving, ascending, martial yet ordered—suited to images of uplift and distribution of force.
Builds a sense of upward momentum and inner governance; supports concentration on ascent through the mid-world into the solar clarity.
- धर्ता (dhartā)
- Literal: upholder, supporter. Symbolic: the sustaining power of the illumined consciousness that bears the ascent
- दिवः (divaḥ)
- Literal: heaven. Symbolic: higher mind/supramental light-plane in the inner being
- रजसः (rajasaḥ)
- Literal: mid-region/atmosphere. Symbolic: life-world of movement, desire, breath, dynamic interchange
- ऊर्ध्वः (ūrdhvaḥ)
- Literal: upward, ascending. Symbolic: the evolutionary push toward higher consciousness
- रथः (rathaḥ)
- Literal: chariot. Symbolic: psycho-spiritual vehicle of disciplined force and directed will
- वायुः (vāyuḥ)
- Literal: wind, Vāyu. Symbolic: prāṇa; life-breath that carries offerings upward and brings response
- वसुभिः (vasubhiḥ)
- Literal: with the Vasus. Symbolic: harmonizing luminous powers that stabilize and enrich the being
- क्षपाम् (kṣapām)
- Literal: nights. Symbolic: states of obscurity, inertia, subconscient cover
- वस्ता (vastā)
- Literal: weaver. Symbolic: the power that orders alternating light/dark into a coherent inner rhythm
- सूर्यस्य (sūryasya)
- Literal: of the Sun. Symbolic: inner Sun—illumination/gnosis born in the mind
- विभक्ता (vibhaktā)
- Literal: distributor, apportioner. Symbolic: discriminating governance that gives each part its right portion
- धिषणा (dhiṣaṇā)
- Literal: inspiration/intelligence. Symbolic: intuitive discernment that assigns force rightly in sādhanā
- वाजम् (vājam)
- Literal: prize, strength, plenitude. Symbolic: effective victorious power for transformation and becoming
Soma liturgy: praise describing Indra’s cosmic functions to secure right apportionment (bhāga) and vāja for the sacrificer
During Soma pressing/offerings or Indra invocations in a rite seeking victory, rain/force, and protection.
Recitation to invite Indra’s uplifting power and right apportionment of boons; mental offering of strength to the deity.
Use as a meditation-chanted affirmation for structuring one’s energies: ‘Let the illumined mind order my obscurities and birth the inner Sun’—especially before demanding work or spiritual practice.
dhartā from √dhṛ 'to hold, support' (cosmic upholding → Ṛta). rajas- 'space, mid-air' (dynamic region). niyut- 'yoking, team' (controlled energies). kṣap- 'night' (covering/obscurity). vastā from √vas 'to clothe/weave' (to cover, arrange). janitā from √jan 'to generate' (birth of sūrya = emergence of illumination). vi-bhaktā from √bhaj 'to share, distribute' (cf. bhaga). dhiṣaṇā (from √dhī 'thought/vision' + instrumental/seat nuance) as the power of inspired discernment. vāja from a strength/fullness semantic field (often linked with vigor, winning force), used here as inner energy of accomplishment.
Ṛta as upholding (dhartā), emergence of illumination from obscurity (birth of Sūrya), right distribution (bhāga) as spiritual allotment
Indra ‘weaves’ nights and births the Sun—an image of ṛta as rhythmic law governing consciousness states.
Sūrya signifies satya-vision: truth made luminous in the mind.
Cosmic ordering: sustaining heaven, establishing the mid-region, generating solar knowledge; distribution of powers to parts of being.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: ascent from rajas to solar gnosis via illumined mind and intuition.
Night-to-dawn transition implied (weaving nights, begetting Sun)
Movement from obscurity to illumination: prāṇa and harmonizing powers lift the consciousness; intuition distributes force; the inner Sun arises.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is 'the begetting of the Sun'—illumination arising through the ordering of night/obscurity. Indra (or the praised power) is simultaneously cosmic upholder and distributor of the right share, linking victory to the manifestation of truth-light.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √dhṛ 'hold' has wide Indo-European parallels in the semantics of support/firmness; √bhaj 'share/apportion' (bhāga, vi-bhaktā) preserves an archaic distributive economy of the gods, reinterpreted inwardly as distribution of powers in the psyche.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi contemplates the deity as cosmic organizer to align the inner sacrifice with Ṛta: when the divine distributes bhāga and vāja 'like Dhīṣaṇā', the seeker receives discernment and force in right proportion, enabling ascent (ūrdhva) rather than dispersion.
Invoke the illumined Mind to ‘hold the heights’ while organizing life-force; contemplate the weaving of night-states into ordered progress and the birth of the inner Sun.
Ājñā (illumined mind) with support from Anāhata (harmonizing Vasus)
Nadi-śodhana or slow equal breathing, feeling prāṇa (Vāyu) yoking the ascent on the exhale and receiving light on the inhale.
From rajasic dispersion to concentrated upward aspiration; emergence into clear witnessing illumination.
Before chanting, set an intention: ‘Let my energies be apportioned by intuition.’ After chanting, sit 3–5 minutes noticing where force is excessive/deficient and inwardly ‘redistribute’ it toward calm power.
Vedic svaras (udātta/anudātta/svarita) as per śākhā tradition; maintain the udātta peaks on key nouns (indra/ūrdhva/sūrya) and observe svarita falls at phrase junctions.
Keep clear pāda pauses; do not run ‘ūrdhvo ratho na vāyur’—let the similes be distinctly articulated.
: aspirate ‘dh’, retroflex ‘ṭ’ absent here; keep ‘dhartā’ dental ‘t’ long ā, : ‘ra-ja-saḥ’ with visarga audible but light, : retroflex ‘ṣṭ’ cluster—‘pṛṣ-ṭaḥ’, : initial ‘kṣ’ conjunct; short ‘a’ then long ‘ām’, : ‘dhi-ṣa-ṇe-va’ with retroflex ‘ṣ’
Firm, upward-leaning resonance; emphasize ascent imagery without shouting.
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