Rig Veda 4.19.5: Mandala 4, Sukta 19, Mantra 5
Sukta 4.19
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shringara (love)
अभि प्र दद्रुर्जनयो न गर्भं रथा इव प्र ययुः साकमद्रयः । अतर्पयो विसृत उब्ज ऊर्मीन्त्वं वृताँ अरिणा इन्द्र सिन्धून् ॥
abhí prá dadruḥ jánayo ná gárbhaṁ ráthā iva prá yayuḥ sākám ádrayaḥ | átarpayo vi-sṛ́ta ubjá ūrmī́n tváṁ vṛtā́ṁ ariṇā indra síndhūn ||
Wybiegły jak matki ku dziecku; jak rydwany kamienie poruszały się razem. Uwolniłeś falujące fale, rozwiązane i wzniesione; uwolniłeś rzeki, które były zatrzymane, o Indro.
Word by Word
- अभि
- towards, uponIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRole AdhikaraṇaRoot अभि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRole AdhikaraṇaRoot प्र (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- दद्रुः
- they ran, rushedVerbलिट् (परोक्शभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRole (क्रिया)Root द्रु-
- जनयः
- women, mothersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot जनय् (प्रातिपदिक: जनय-)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-निपातRole (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)Root न (अव्यय)
- गर्भम्
- the embryo, womb-childNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
- रथाः
- chariotsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- as if, likeIndeclinableउपमा-निपातRole (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)Root इव (अव्यय)
- प्र
- forthIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRole AdhikaraṇaRoot प्र (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- ययुः
- they went, spedVerbलिट् (परोक्शभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRole (क्रिया)Root या-
- साकम्
- togetherIndeclinableअव्ययRole AdhikaraṇaRoot साकम् (अव्यय)
- अद्रयः
- press-stones (for Soma)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot अद्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
- अतर्पयः
- you satisfied, you filledVerbलुङ् (अorist), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; (अ-तर्पयः)Role (क्रिया)Root तृप्-
- विसृतः
- spread out, let looseAdjectiveभूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot वि-सृ (कृदन्त: विसृत-)
- उब्जः
- a swelling, surge (of water)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot उब्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऊर्मीन्
- wavesNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot ऊर्मि (प्रातिपदिक)
- त्वम्
- youPronounउत्तम/मध्यम? (यह: द्वितीय-पुरुष सर्वनाम), प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- वृतान्
- enclosed, obstructedAdjectiveभूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot वृत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक: वृत- < वृ- ‘to cover, restrain’)
- अरिणाः
- you set free, you releasedVerbलुङ् (aorist), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole (क्रिया)Root ऋ- (अरि/अरण् caus./denom. in RV usage) अथवा √अर् ‘to fit/raise’ (RV: ‘to set in motion, to release’)
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole (सम्बोधन)Root इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- सिन्धून्
- rivers, streamsNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot सिन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-निरसन): अभि | प्र | दद्रुः | जनयः | न | गर्भम् | रथाः | इव | प्र | ययुः | साकम् | अद्रयः || अतर्पयः | विसृतः | उब्जः | ऊर्मीन् | त्वम् | वृतान् | अरिणाः | इन्द्र | सिन्धून् । विशेष: (1) ‘अतर्पयः’ = अ-तर्पयः (लुङ्, 2sg) ‘तृप्’ धातोः
- (2) ‘विसृतः’ क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (वि+√सृ) ‘spread/let loose’
- (3) ‘दद्रुः, ययुः’ लिट्-रूपे (परफेक्ट) बहुवचन
- (4) ‘उब्ज’ RV-विशिष्ट जल-उत्थान/उत्सेध अर्थे नपुंसक
- (5) ‘अरिणाः’ RV-प्रयोगे ‘to release/set in motion’ अर्थे लुङ् 2sg—धात्वर्थ/व्युत्पत्तिः अनिश्चित (निघण्टु/निरुक्तपरम्परा अनुसार)
The meaning
Outer meaning
They rushed like mothers to a child; like chariots the stones moved together. Indra set free the heaving waves and released the rivers that were held back.
Inner meaning
When the obstruction is broken, the released energies move with joy and inevitability: the ‘mothers’ are nurturing powers (supportive forces of nature/consciousness) rushing toward the ‘child’—the newborn divine possibility in the seeker. The ‘stones’ (adrayaḥ) that press Soma are inner pressures/forces that, when rightly aligned, propel the movement like chariots. Indra frees the uplifted waves (ūrmīn) and releases the held-back rivers (sindhūn): the life-currents and streams of consciousness flow again, bringing nourishment and delight. The image is not mere hydraulics but the psychology of liberation—blocked energies become harmonized, maternal, and forward-moving.
Universal truth
When inner resistance is removed, the natural energies of life and consciousness rush to support growth; what was blocked becomes a nourishing flow.
Themes
release of rivers, birth/emergence imagery, movement of the rigid, plenitude of flow
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.16, RV 4.18, RV 4.20
Family tradition
Vāmadeva often completes the Indra-victory arc with the joyful release of waters and supportive forces—liberation is followed by nourishment and growth.
Significance
The seer stresses the positive aftermath of conquest: not only the fall of resistance, but the maternal, life-giving movement of liberated energies toward the new birth in consciousness.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- vṛtrahan (releaser by slaying the cover), sindhupā (protector/releaser of rivers, thematic), vajrin (contextual)
- Related deities
- Soma (pressed by stones; delight), Agni (leader of sacrifice), Āpas (waters), Maruts (forces that accompany the release)
Cosmic role
Releaser of the waters/rivers after breaking the obstruction; restores nourishment and expansive movement.
Inner power
Power that converts blocked pressure into coordinated forward motion and frees the life-waves to rise and flow.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma-pressing context is strongly suggested (adrayaḥ): praise aligned with pressing and the release/flow of Soma and waters.
अ॒भि प्र द॑द्रु॒र्जन॑यो॒ न गर्भं॒ रथा॑ इव॒ प्र य॑युः सा॒कमद्र॑यः । अत॑र्पयो वि॒सृत॑ उ॒ब्ज ऊ॒र्मीन्त्वं वृ॒ताँ अ॑रिणा इन्द्र॒ सिन्धू॑न् ॥
अ॒भि । प्र । द॒द्रुः॒ । जन॑यः । न । गर्भ॑म् । रथाः॑ऽइव । प्र । य॒युः॒ । सा॒कम् । अद्र॑यः । अत॑र्पयः । वि॒ऽसृतः॑ । उ॒ब्जः । ऊ॒र्मीन् । त्वम् । वृ॒तान् । अ॒रि॒णाः॒ । इ॒न्द्र॒ । सिन्धू॑न् ॥
abhi | pra | dadruḥ | janayaḥ | na | garbham | rathāḥ-iva | pra | yayuḥ | sākam | adrayaḥ | atarpayaḥ | vi-sṛtaḥ | ubjaḥ | ūrmīn | tvam | vṛtān | ariṇāḥ | indra | sindhūn
44
4 × ~11 syllables
Rapid imagery and kinetic similes; the meter carries a sense of rushing release and rolling waves.
Invokes a felt flow in breath and emotion; good for moving from effort into spontaneous circulation and joy.
- जनयः (janayaḥ)
- Literal: mothers. Symbolic: Nurturing powers/forces that support the soul’s growth
- गर्भ (garbha)
- Literal: embryo/child. Symbolic: Newborn divine formation in the being; emerging realization
- अद्रयः (adrayaḥ)
- Literal: stones (press-stones). Symbolic: Forces/pressures that extract Soma—disciplines, intensities that release delight
- रथाः इव (rathāḥ iva)
- Literal: like chariots. Symbolic: Coordinated propulsion; harmonized dynamic movement
- ऊर्मीन् (ūrmīn)
- Literal: waves. Symbolic: Surges of life-force and feeling energized upward
- सिन्धून् (sindhūn)
- Literal: rivers. Symbolic: Major currents of consciousness/energy in the system
- वृतान् (vṛtān)
- Literal: held back, covered. Symbolic: Blocked movements due to obstruction/covering
- वि-सृत (visṛta)
- Literal: loosed, spread out. Symbolic: Released, freely moving energies
Indra’s release-of-waters stotra; ritually resonates with Soma pressing (adri) but interpreted as inner release of currents and satisfactions.
During Soma pressing and Indra praise; thematically fits moments of ‘flow’ and offering of expressed juice.
Stotra accompanying pressing/offerings; mythic release mirrors ritual flow of Soma.
Use after clearing practices to ‘stabilize the release’: chant while feeling gratitude and allowing energy to circulate calmly through the body.
Key terms: √dru ‘run’ (dadruḥ) archaic motion verb. janay- ‘mothers’ from √jan ‘beget’. adri ‘stone’ also links to pressing-stones of Soma (ritual shell) but inner sense: rigid formations compelled to move. vṛta ‘held back’ from √vṛ ‘cover/obstruct’. sindhu ‘river/stream’ used for released currents of being.
release of restrained energies (vṛta → flowing), nurturing emergence (mothers → child), satisfaction/fullness (tṛp)
Rivers held back signify a stoppage of ṛta; their release is restoration of right circulation and nourishment.
The released flow supports truthful growth (garbha) by feeding all parts without distortion.
Birth imagery (garbha) + release of waters: creation as a new birth supported by liberated life-currents.
Integral reading: after breaking resistance, the energies must be harmonized and directed to nurture the new consciousness.
Rivers/waves = prāṇa and emotional currents; stones = disciplined pressure that extracts delight; chariots = coordinated life-movement; mothers/child = nurturing forces supporting new birth of realization.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The release of the rivers/waters held back by obstruction. Inner sense: once Indra breaks the covering force, the inner currents surge like mothers to a birth—energies previously rigid (stones) become cooperative movements, and the being is ‘satisfied’ by restored flow and delight.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √jan (mothers, generation) continues PIE *ǵenh₁- ‘beget’. Motion verbs √ya and √dru reflect archaic IE narrative style. The obstruction root √vṛ ‘cover’ is central in Indo-Iranian mythic vocabulary.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi celebrates Indra as the liberator of inner streams; the praise is itself a call to make the rigid parts of nature (adri) move in harmony, so that the practitioner’s consciousness can experience fullness (tṛp) through released currents.
After breakthrough, allow prāṇa to flow evenly; nurture the ‘new birth’ of intention with gentleness and steadiness.
svādhiṣṭhāna (flow) and anāhata (maternal support/heart)
Coherent breathing (inhale 5, exhale 5) for 5 minutes; on exhale silently feel ‘sindhūn’ flowing downward and outward; on inhale feel ‘ūrmīn’ rising softly.
Relaxed wideness with gentle joy; integration phase after effort.
Do not return to struggle once release is felt. Let the energies ‘rush’ naturally but keep awareness as the channel. Offer the flow inwardly to the Divine (as Soma-offering) and protect the newborn insight with simplicity.
Triṣṭubh; keep similes buoyant; allow a rolling cadence on ‘ūrmīn’ and ‘sindhūn’. Exact udatta/anudatta per śākhā.
Lightly accelerate through ‘abhi pra dadrur…’; give a clear rhythmic drive on ‘rathā iva…’; broaden and ‘flow’ on ‘ūrmīn… sindhūn’.
dadrur: keep double d, rolled r., adrayaḥ: clear dental d, not retroflex., ūrmīn: long ū; nasal n at end., sindhūn: long ū; keep dh aspirated.
Warm, flowing, resonant; less percussive than the ‘strike’ verses—aim for wave-like continuity.
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