Rig Veda 2.32.8: Mandala 2, Sukta 32, Mantra 8
Sukta 2.32
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Multiple feminine devatās
- Chandas
- Anuṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
या गुङ्गूर्या सिनीवाली या राका या सरस्वती । इन्द्राणीमह्व ऊतये वरुणानीं स्वस्तये ॥
yā́ guṅgū́ryā sinīvālī yā́ rākā yā́ sárasvatī | indrāṇīm ahve ūtáye varuṇānī́ṃ svastáye ||
Czy jest Guṅgū, czy Sinīvālī, czy Rākā, czy Sarasvatī, Indrāṇī wzywam o pomoc, a Varuṇānī o szerokie dobrostan.
Word by Word
- या
- who/whichPronounस्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (सम्बन्ध-प्रत्ययः; ‘या’ = ‘which/who’)Role विशेषण-सम्बन्धः (प्रत्येक-देवी-नाम्नः विशेषणम्)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- गुङ्गूर्या
- Gungūryā (a goddess-name)Noun (Proper)स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ/आह्वेय-देवता (आह्वानस्य विषयः)Root गुङ्गूर्य (देवी-नाम; प्रातिपदिक)
- सि
- isVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् (वेदिक-रूपम् ‘सि’ = ‘असि/अस्ति’)Role क्रियाRoot अस् (धातु)
- सिनीवाली
- SinīvālīNoun (Proper)स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ/आह्वेय-देवताRoot सिनीवाली (देवी-नाम; प्रातिपदिक)
- या
- who/whichPronounस्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role विशेषण-सम्बन्धःRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- राका
- RākāNoun (Proper)स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ/आह्वेय-देवताRoot राका (देवी-नाम; प्रातिपदिक)
- या
- who/whichPronounस्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role विशेषण-सम्बन्धःRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सरस्वती
- SarasvatīNoun (Proper)स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ/आह्वेय-देवताRoot सरस्वती (देवी-नाम; प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्राणीम्
- IndrāṇīNoun (Proper)स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्म (आह्वानस्य)Root इन्द्राणी (देवी-नाम; प्रातिपदिक)
- अह्वे
- I invoke/callVerbलट्, उत्तमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् (वेदिक-रूपम् ‘अह्वे’)Role क्रियाRoot ह्वे/ह्वा (धातु; आह्वाने)
- ऊतये
- for help/aidNounस्त्रीलिङ्गे चतुर्थी एकवचनम्Role सम्प्रदान (उद्देश्यः: ‘for aid’)Root ऊति (प्रातिपदिक; ‘help, aid’)
- वरुणानीम्
- VaruṇānīNoun (Proper)स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्म (आह्वानस्य)Root वरुणानी (देवी-नाम; प्रातिपदिक)
- स्वस्तये
- for well-being/welfareNounस्त्रीलिङ्गे चतुर्थी एकवचनम्Role सम्प्रदान (उद्देश्यः: ‘for welfare’)Root स्वस्ति (प्रातिपदिक; ‘well-being, welfare’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धि-विग्रहः): या | गुङ्गूर्या | सि | सिनीवाली | या | राका | या | सरस्वती | इन्द्राणीम् | अह्वे | ऊतये | वरुणानीम् | स्वस्तये । विशेषम्: ‘सि’ इति वेदिक-प्रयोगः अस्-धातोः लट्-रूपे (असि/अस्ति-समकक्षः) ।
- मन्त्रे नामानि प्रथमा-एकवचनेन ‘या’ इति सम्बन्ध-सर्वनामेन सह समन्वितानि।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Whether she is called Guṅgū, Sinīvālī, Rākā, or Sarasvatī—Indrāṇī is invoked for help and Varuṇānī for well-being.
Inner meaning
The mantra recognizes a unity of feminine powers under different names/functions: (1) Guṅgū—an obscure name, taken here as a protective, humming/secret force of the inner Shakti; (2) Sinīvālī—gestation and establishment; (3) Rākā—plenitude and completion; (4) Sarasvatī—flow of inspiration and truth-word. Then it calls Indrāṇī—the Shakti of Indra (illumined Mind) for active aid in the battle for light; and Varuṇānī—the Shakti of Varuṇa (vast law and purity) for ‘svasti’, a wide, ordered well-being. Psychologically: invoke the whole feminine executive power—formation, fullness, inspiration, victorious energy, and purifying wideness.
Universal truth
One Reality works through many names and functions; when we invoke the integrated Shakti—creative, inspirative, victorious, and purifying—we receive both effective help and stable well-being.
Themes
Syncretic feminine invocation, Help and well-being, Speech and victory harmonized
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Lineage
- Bhṛgu (traditional stream association)
- Other hymns
- RV 2.32 (this sūkta’s feminine invocations)
Family tradition
A seer-line that often integrates multiple deities as coordinated inner powers; mantric synthesis is a hallmark of Mandala 2.
Significance
This verse is a compact theological-psychological synthesis: many goddess-names are recognized as facets of one working Shakti, then linked to Indra/Varuṇa powers for aid and harmony.
The deity
- Devata
- Multiple feminine devatās (Guṅgū, Sinīvālī, Rākā, Sarasvatī, Indrāṇī, Varuṇānī)
- Epithets
- ऊतये (ūtaye) for help, स्वस्तये (svastaye) for well-being
- Related deities
- Indra, Varuṇa
Cosmic role
A coordinated feminine pantheon: inspiration (Sarasvatī), fullness (Rākā), formation (Sinīvālī), hidden protection (Guṅgū), victorious aid (Indrāṇī), and purifying order (Varuṇānī).
Inner power
Integrated Shakti operating across mind (illumination), speech (inspiration), life (formation and increase), and law (purity and harmony).
In ritual
Where it is used
General protective and well-being invocation; suitable as a concluding integrative verse after addressing specific feminine powers.
या गु॒ङ्गूर्या सि॑नीवा॒ली या रा॒का या सर॑स्वती । इ॒न्द्रा॒णीम॑ह्व ऊ॒तये॑ वरुणा॒नीं स्व॒स्तये॑ ॥
या । गु॒ङ्गूः । या । सि॒नी॒वा॒ली । या । रा॒का । या । सर॑स्वती । इ॒न्द्रा॒णीम् । अ॒ह्वे॒ । ऊ॒तये॑ । व॒रु॒णा॒नीम् । स्व॒स्तये॑ ॥
yā | guṅgūḥ | yā | sinīvālī | yā | rākā | yā | sarasvatī | indrāṇīm | ahve | ūtaye | varuṇānīm | svastaye
32
4 × ~8 syllables
Enumerative and mantra-like; list cadence followed by two clear purposive calls.
Gives a sense of completeness (many facets named) and then a firm anchoring in aid and well-being.
- गुङ्गूः (guṅgūḥ)
- Literal: Guṅgū (name). Symbolic: hidden protective potency; subtle ‘humming’ force that guards and sustains inner work
- सिनीवाली (sinīvālī)
- Literal: Sinīvālī. Symbolic: gestation/establishment power
- राका (rākā)
- Literal: Rākā. Symbolic: plenitude/completion power
- सरस्वती (sarasvatī)
- Literal: Sarasvatī. Symbolic: inspiration, truth-flow, illumined speech
- इन्द्राणी (indrāṇī)
- Literal: consort/power of Indra. Symbolic: executive force of illumined mind; victorious energy that helps overcome resistance
- वरुणानी (varuṇānī)
- Literal: consort/power of Varuṇa. Symbolic: purifying wideness; law of harmony that establishes well-being
- ऊतये (ūtaye)
- Literal: for help. Symbolic: active intervention of higher force in inner difficulty
- स्वस्तये (svastaye)
- Literal: for well-being. Symbolic: stable harmony of the whole being under ṛta
Protective and integrative invocation; suited to rites seeking assistance (ūti) and svasti (well-being), harmonizing multiple powers.
At transitions (beginning/end of practice), especially when seeking both help in effort and stable harmony.
Recite as saṅkalpa/closing prayer; optionally offer water (Sarasvatī), light (Indrāṇī), and a gesture of purification (Varuṇānī).
Use as an ‘integration mantra’ invoking multiple inner supports: inspiration, fullness, formation, victory over resistance, and calm well-being.
svasti = su- ‘good’ + asti ‘being’ (√as ‘to be’): well-being as a stable mode of existence. Sarasvatī from saras ‘flowing’ + -vatī indicates ‘she who possesses the flow’—in inner sense, the streaming inspiration and right speech. The verse performs a ‘synoptic invocation’—multiple names/aspects gathered into a unified appeal for aid and well-being.
Svastī (good-being), Integration of powers (many names, one functional harmony), Rita (Varuṇa’s ordering; Sarasvatī’s right flow of speech)
Varuṇānī invoked for svasti aligns with ṛta as harmony and right law in life.
Sarasvatī implies satya expressed as right speech; Indrāṇī implies satya as victorious clarity.
Creation as coordinated powers: inspiration + formation + fullness + law produce stable manifestation.
Henotheistic synthesis tending toward unity-of-Shakti interpretation (Aurobindo-style: many powers, one Conscious-Force).
dawn-to-day (help and well-being across the day)
River = flow of inspiration; Moon = ripening/formation; Storm = breakthrough of illumination; Ocean/sky = vast purity and law establishing peace.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- A ‘garland-invocation’ mythologem: many feminine names are facets of a single complex of powers needed for realization—fecundity (Sinīvālī), fullness (Rākā), inspiration (Sarasvatī), victorious aid (Indrāṇī), and law-wideness/well-being (Varuṇānī). The mythic action is harmonization rather than combat.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- svasti rests on √as ‘be’ (PIE *h₁es- ‘to be’), with su- as evaluative prefix. Varuṇa’s name is often connected with √vṛ ‘cover/encompass’ (PIE *wel-/*wer- semantic field of covering/enclosing is widespread), matching the idea of encompassing order. Sarasvatī’s ‘flow’ imagery aligns with archaic Indo-European river-as-goddess poetics.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi’s stance is pragmatic and integrative: he does not isolate one deity but calls the appropriate powers for two aims—ūti (active help in struggle) and svasti (stable good-being). The relationship is that of a seeker assembling a complete inner instrumentarium: force, law, inspiration, and generativity.
Invoke the integrated feminine support-system; then rest in svasti (harmonious well-being).
Viśuddha (Sarasvatī), Ājñā (Indrāṇī), Sahasrāra (Varuṇānī as vastness)
4-part breath: inhale (receive Sarasvatī-flow), hold (Sinīvālī-holding), exhale (Rākā-fullness spreading), pause (Varuṇānī-purity).
Protected wideness—quiet mind with subtle joy and confidence.
Chant once naming the facets; then silently feel each: inspiration (throat), formation (lower abdomen), fullness (heart), victorious clarity (between brows), vast purity (crown/space). End with ‘svasti’ as a settled baseline.
List portion can be chanted evenly with gentle rises on each ‘yā’; then a slightly stronger call on ‘indrāṇīm’ and a calming resolution on ‘varuṇānīm svastaye’.
Cadence: yā guṅgūḥ | yā sinīvālī | yā rākā | yā sarasvatī || indrāṇīm… ūtaye | varuṇānīm… svastaye.
guṅgūḥ: nasal ṅ + g; long ū; visarga ḥ audible but soft, arasvatī: clear short a’s, crisp ‘sv’ cluster, indrāṇī: long ā and ī, varuṇānī: retroflex ṇ; long ā, ī
inclusive and soothing; finish with a broad, शांत (quiet) tone on svastaye.
3
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.
