Rig Veda 4.16.8: Mandala 4, Sukta 16, Mantra 8
Sukta 4.16
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
अपो यदद्रिं पुरुहूत दर्दराविर्भुवत्सरमा पूर्व्यं ते । स नो नेता वाजमा दर्षि भूरिं गोत्रा रुजन्नङ्गिरोभिर्गृणानः ॥
apó yád ádrim puru-hūta dárdaḥ āvír bhuvat sáramā pū́rvyam té | sá no netā́ vā́jam ā́ darṣi bhū́riṃ gotrā́ rújann áṅgirobhir gṛṇānáḥ ||
Gdy ty, wielokrotnie wzywany, rozbiłeś skałę trzymającą wody, wtedy Saramā, twoja pradawna intuicja, objawiła się. Bądź dla nas przewodnikiem; przynieś nam obfitość siły, przełamując ukryte zagrody światła z mocami Angiras, gdy cię wychwalamy.
Word by Word
- अपः
- watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
- यत्
- which/that (that which)Pronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन (सम्बन्धसूचक/यद्-तद्)Role कर्म (सम्बन्ध)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अद्रिम्
- the rock, mountainNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot अद्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
- पुरुहूत
- O much-invoked (Indra)Noun (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot पुरुहूत (प्रातिपदिक; इन्द्रस्य विशेषण)
- दर्दर
- O splitter, cleaverNoun (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot दर्दर (धातु-आधारित प्रातिपदिक; ‘भेदक/विदारक’), √दृ/दर् (विदारणे)
- आविः
- openly, manifestIndeclinableअव्ययRole क्रियाविशेषणRoot आविस् (अव्यय)
- अभवत्
- became, came to beVerbलुङ् (अorist/इम्पर्फेक्ट-समूह); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √भू (भवति)
- सरमा
- SaramāNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot सरमा (प्रातिपदिक; देवशुनी/नाम)
- पूर्व्यम्
- former, ancientAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्म (यत्-सम्बद्ध)Root पूर्व्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- ते
- of you, yourPronounषष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- for us / of usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी; बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध (contextual)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नेता
- leader, guideNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ (सः…नेता)Root नेतृ (प्रातिपदिक; √नी ‘नेतुम्’)
- वाजम्
- prize, strength, bootyNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot वाज (प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- towards, hitherIndeclinableअव्ययRole क्रियाविशेषण/उपसर्गRoot आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- दर्शि
- show (to us), make visibleVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); परस्मैपद; मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन (वैदिक रूप: दर्शि = दर्शय/दर्श)Role क्रियाRoot √दृश् (दर्शने)
- भूरिम्
- abundant, muchAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन (वाजम् विशेषयति)Role कर्म-विशेषणRoot भूरि (प्रातिपदिक)
- गोत्रा
- cow-pens, enclosures (of cows)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot गोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- रुजन्
- breaking, shatteringVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन (गृणानः/सः इत्यस्य सह)Role कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot √रुज् (भङ्गे/विदारणे)
- अङ्गिरोभिः
- with the AṅgirasesNounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; बहुवचनRole करणRoot अङ्गिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- गृणानः
- praising, chantingVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शानच्); आत्मनेपद-भाव; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot √गृ (स्तुतौ) / गृण् (वैदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सम्भाव्य): अपः | यत् | अद्रिम् | पुरुहूत | दर्दर | आविः | अभवत् | सरमा | पूर्व्यम् | ते || सः | नः | नेता | वाजम् | आ | दर्शि | भूरिम् | गोत्रा | रुजन् | अङ्गिरोभिः | गृणानः || 1) यदद्रिम् → यत् + अद्रिम् (त् + अ → द्, वैदिक संधि/सवर्ण-समीकरण)
- 2) दर्दराविर्भुवत् → दर्दर + आविः + अभवत् (आविः + अभवत् में विसर्ग-लोप/संधि से ‘आविर्भवत्’)
- 3) भुवत्सरमा → भवत् + सरमा (त् + स → त्स)
- 4) ते । स → ते सः (पादान्त विराम)
- 5) वाजमा → वाजम् + आ
- 6) दर्षि → दर्शि (पाठभेद/लिप्यन्तर; धातु √दृश्, लोट् म.प. एक.)
The meaning
Outer meaning
When you, much-invoked, broke the rock for the waters, then Saramā, your ancient one, became manifest. Be our leader; bring abundant force, breaking the cow-pens with the Angirasas as we praise you.
Inner meaning
Indra’s act of breaking the rock releases the inner waters; with that release appears Saramā—intuitive perception, the faculty that ‘finds the hidden’ and tracks the lost rays. Once intuition manifests, Indra becomes the inner leader (netā), bringing vāja (effective force/achievement). The Angiras powers are the flame-born seers/aspirations that, through mantra and tapas, break open the secret enclosures (gotrā) where light-knowledges are held back.
Universal truth
Breakthrough in consciousness awakens intuition; intuition then guides the will to recover hidden knowledge and power through sustained aspiration and truthful praise.
Themes
Saramā myth, Finding the cows, Indra as guide, Abundance of force (vāja)
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 4.16, Rig Veda 4.18, Rig Veda 4.26, Rig Veda 4.27
Family tradition
Gautama hymns frequently align Indra’s action with Angiras work—recovery of light and the emergence of intuitive knowledge.
Significance
Vāmadeva links liberation (waters) with manifestation of Saramā (intuition), a key psychological step: once the obstruction breaks, the seeker gains a sure inner ‘scent’ for truth.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- puruhūta (much-invoked)
- Related deities
- Bṛhaspati, Agni, Saramā, Angirasas
Cosmic role
Breaker of the rock; awakener of intuition; leader toward the plenitude (vāja) and recovery of the cows (rays).
Inner power
Illumined leader-force that, once invoked, awakens intuitive discernment and empowers the aspirant fires (Angiras) to uncover knowledge.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra praise in soma rites; also Angiras/cow-finding thematic cycles.
अ॒पो यदद्रिं॑ पुरुहूत॒ दर्द॑रा॒विर्भु॑वत्स॒रमा॑ पू॒र्व्यं ते॑ । स नो॑ ने॒ता वाज॒मा द॑र्षि॒ भूरिं॑ गो॒त्रा रु॒जन्नङ्गि॑रोभिर्गृणा॒नः ॥
अ॒पः । यत् । अद्रि॑म् । पु॒रु॒ऽहू॒त॒ । दर्दः॑ । आ॒विः । भु॒व॒त् । स॒रमा॑ । पू॒र्व्य॑म् । ते॒ । सः । नः॒ । ने॒ता । वाज॑म् । आ । द॒र्षि॒ । भूरि॑म् । गो॒त्रा । रु॒जन् । अङ्गि॑रःऽभिः । गृ॒णा॒नः ॥
apaḥ | yat | adrim | puru-hūta | dardaḥ | āviḥ | bhuvat | saramā | pūrvyam | te | saḥ | naḥ | netā | vājam | ā | darṣi | bhūrim | gotrā | rujan | aṅgiraḥ-bhiḥ | gṛṇānaḥ
44
4 x ~11 syllables
Narrative-to-invocation movement: first half reveals the decisive act, second half turns into prayer and leadership.
Creates a felt sequence: breakthrough → intuition awakens → guidance and gain.
- अद्रि (adri)
- Literal: rock. Symbolic: hard obstruction; sealed subconscient formation
- अपः (āpaḥ)
- Literal: waters. Symbolic: released currents of consciousness
- सरमा (saramā)
- Literal: Saramā (mythic hound). Symbolic: intuition/tracking faculty that discovers concealed light
- पूर्व्य (pūrvya)
- Literal: ancient, original. Symbolic: primordial intuitive capacity of the soul
- नेता (netā)
- Literal: leader. Symbolic: guiding illumined mind-force steering sadhana
- वाज (vāja)
- Literal: prize, strength, plenitude. Symbolic: effective power of realization; victorious energy
- गोत्रा (gotrā)
- Literal: cow-pens/enclosures. Symbolic: hidden chambers holding rays of knowledge
- अङ्गिरोभिः (aṅgirobhiḥ)
- Literal: with the Angirasas. Symbolic: flame-powers of aspiration and inspired speech that open the hidden light
Indra hymn segment for gaining vāja (victorious fullness) and the ‘opening of the cows’; recited to support the seeker’s guidance and breakthrough.
When invoking Indra as leader and opener of hidden wealth/light; in victory and illumination contexts.
Recitation as praise and petition for vāja and opening of gotra.
Use for cultivating intuition and asking for guidance in practice or life decisions after an inner ‘breakthrough’.
Saramā is traditionally the finder of the cows; psychologically she is the intuition that tracks the hidden light. √nī ‘lead’ (netā) frames Indra as inner guide. vāja is taken as ‘plenitude of force’ (not merely food/prize), consistent with its frequent association with victory and energizing fullness.
intuition (Saramā) as revelatory faculty, guidance/leadership of consciousness (netā), recovery of hidden light (gotrā)
Saramā’s manifestation symbolizes r̥ta’s guidance—truth-finding movement restored.
The ‘ancient’ intuition aligns with satya as inherent soul-knowledge.
Revelation of the hidden: intuition appears as a consequence of liberated consciousness.
Integral yoga psychology: intuition (saramā) as intermediary between illumined mind (Indra) and hidden supramental light (cows).
Rock/cave = subconscient enclosure; waters = liberated life; hound = intuitive tracker; cows = rays of knowledge.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Saramā-and-cows complex: after the rock is broken, Saramā becomes manifest and the cow-pens are opened with the Angirases—mythic recovery of hidden light.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √dṛ/√ruj ‘split/break’ continues the IE theme of cracking the barrier to release goods (waters/light). √nī ‘lead’ has clear IE parallels (PIE *ney- ‘lead’; cf. Greek néō ‘I go’ in related motion semantics, Latin nītor ‘strive’ is not direct but same movement field).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi explicitly asks Indra to become ‘netā’—an inner leader—so the opened energies and lights are not chaotic but directed toward vāja, the stable victorious fullness.
Invite intuitive guidance (Saramā) after breaking an inner block; ask Indra to lead toward vāja (effective power).
Ājñā (intuition) supported by Maṇipūra (force)
Nadi-śodhana (6 rounds) then chant; feel intuition arise in the brow as a quiet certainty.
From effortful seeking to guided movement by inner scent of truth.
Recall a current ‘rock’ (stuck pattern). Chant, visualize it cracking; sense a subtle intuitive ‘hound’ emerging—quiet, precise. Then sit 2–3 minutes asking for one clear next step (netā) and receiving it without mental argument.
Keep a slight melodic lift on puruhūta and saramā; resolve calmly on netā and vājam.
Emphasize: ápo yád adrím… dardár | āvír… sarámā | sá no netā́ | gotrā́ ruján…
(puruhūta): ‘hū’ long, (dardar): clear doubled ‘dar’ rhythm, (āvir bhuvat): separate ‘āvir’ + ‘bhuvat’, (saramā): final ‘ā’ long, (aṅgirobhiḥ): nasal ‘ṅ’, aspirated ‘bh’
Bright and invoking; slightly softer, reverent tone on ‘saramā’.
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