Rig Veda 5.45.7: Mandala 5, Sukta 45, Mantra 7
Sukta 5.45
- Rishi
- Atri
- Devata
- Indra-Aṅgiras complex
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
अनूनोदत्र हस्तयतो अद्रिरार्चन्येन दश मासो नवग्वाः । ऋतं यती सरमा गा अविन्दद्विश्वानि सत्याङ्गिराश्चकार ॥
anū́nod átra hástayato ádrir ā́rcan yéna dáśa mā́sō nava-gvā́ḥ | ṛtáṃ yatī́ sarámā gā́ avindad víśvāni satyā́ aṅgírāś cakāra ||
Tu kamień tłoczący został wprawiony w ruch rękami; dzięki temu Navagvowie śpiewali przez dziesięć miesięcy. Poruszając się w Prawdzie, Saramā odnalazła Promienie; Aṅgirasowie uczynili wszystkie rzeczy prawdziwymi i spełnionymi.
Word by Word
- अनूनोदत्
- impelled/urged onVerbलुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपद, 3rd person, singularRole Kriyā (finite verb)Root अनु-नुद्
- त्रः
- the protector (Tṛ)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- हस्तयतः
- of the hand-stretching/hand-wielding (one)Adjective/Participleपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (genitive sg.)Role Sambandha (genitive relation)Root हस्तयत् (प्रातिपदिक; from √यत् ‘to strive/extend’, with हस्त ‘hand’)
- अद्रिः
- the stone/rock (press-stone)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot अद्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
- आर्चत्
- sang/recitedVerbलुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपद, 3rd person, singularRole Kriyā (finite verb)Root आ-√ऋच्
- अन्येन
- with another (means/one)Adjective/Pronounपुं/नपुं, तृतीया, एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- दश
- tenNumeralअव्ययRole Viśeṣaṇa (quantifier)Root दशन् (संख्या)
- मासः
- monthsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Vedic: nom. pl. in -āsaḥ)Role Kartā/Adhikaraṇa (time-span as subject/frame)Root मास (प्रातिपदिक)
- नवग्वाः
- the Navagvas (a group of seers)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot नवग्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऋतम्
- the ṛta (cosmic order/truth)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot ऋत (प्रातिपदिक)
- यती
- striving/goingAdjective/Participleस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (agreeing with सरमा)Root यत् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘striving/going’)
- सरमा
- SaramāProper Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot सरमा (प्रातिपदिक)
- गाः
- cowsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- अविन्दत्
- found/discoveredVerbलुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपद, 3rd person, singularRole Kriyā (finite verb)Root अ-√विद् (vind ‘to find’)
- विश्वानि
- all (things)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- सत्याङ्गिराः
- the true AṅgirasesNoun (compound epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot सत्याङ्गिर (प्रातिपदिक; ‘true Aṅgiras’)
- चकार
- made/didVerbलिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, 3rd person, singularRole Kriyā (finite verb)Root √कृ
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (pada-style): अनू॑नो॒दत्र॒ → अनूनोदत् त्रः (final -t of aorist before initial t-; Vedic orthography may show -d- by voicing assimilation)
- हस्त॑यतो॒ अद्रिः → हस्तयतः अद्रिः (gen. sg. -as > -o before vowel; restored to -aḥ/-as)
- आर्च॒न्येन॒ → आर्चत् अन्येन (aorist 3sg of ā-√ṛc ‘to sing’; -t before vowel; manuscript shows coalescence)
- दश॑ मा॒सो → दश मासः (Vedic nom. pl. मासाः written मासो)
- ऋ॒तं य॒ती → ऋतम् यती (anusvāra/म् before y)
- स॒रमा॒ गा → सरमा गाः
- अविन्द॒द्विश्वा॑नि → अविन्दत् विश्वानि (final -t before v-; written -d- by voicing)
- सत्याङ्गि॑राश्चकार → सत्याङ्गिराः चकार (visarga + c-; often written -āś-)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The pressing-stone is moved by hands; by that act the Navagvas chant through ten months. Saramā, moving in Ṛta, finds the Cows; the Aṅgirases make all things true and accomplished.
Inner meaning
The adri (pressing-stone) is the concentrated will and disciplined tapas that expresses the hidden Soma (bliss/immortal delight) from the subconscient. The “ten months” signifies a full cycle of inner gestation—prolonged, patient practice—by which the Navagvas (pioneering seekers) sustain the mantra-force. Saramā is the intuitive revelatory faculty that follows the track of Ṛta (right order) into the cave of concealment and recovers the lost Rays (go = illuminations). The Aṅgirases are the soul-powers of the flame (Agni-forces) that, once the Light is recovered, ‘make true’ (satyā) the being—aligning thought, life, and body to the Truth and effectuating realization.
Universal truth
Illumination is not seized by violence but released by steady inner work: disciplined will + truthful orientation + intuitive tracking of the hidden leads to recovery of lost knowledge and the transformation of life into सत्य (truth-made).
Themes
Soma as expressed delight, intuition finds hidden light, truth made effective, Angiras seer-power
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 5.44, Rig Veda 5.45, Rig Veda 5.46
Family tradition
Ātreya seers—visionary-poetic lineage emphasizing luminous intuition (dhī) and the recovery of hidden Light through Agni/Indra-Aṅgiras work.
Significance
Atri’s seeing often turns on the psychology of the ‘cave’: concealment and release of the rays, the long tapas of the seekers, and the decisive intervention of intuitive truth (Saramā) aligned with Ṛta.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra–Aṅgiras complex (with Saramā; Soma-pressing implied)
- Epithets
- Vṛtrahan (implied), Goṣā (finder/releaser of the rays, implied), Satya-karman (truth-effecting, implied)
- Related deities
- Agni, Soma, Uṣas, Bṛhaspati
Cosmic role
Breaker of the cover (Vṛtra/pani concealment) and releaser of the luminous herds; establishes Ṛta by bringing hidden light into manifestation.
Inner power
Illuminated Mind-force (Indra) supported by flame-soul powers (Aṅgirases) and guided by intuition (Saramā) to extract bliss/strength (Soma) for transformation.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing / Indra-Soma praise (contextual)
अनू॑नो॒दत्र॒ हस्त॑यतो॒ अद्रि॒रार्च॒न्येन॒ दश॑ मा॒सो नव॑ग्वाः । ऋ॒तं य॒ती स॒रमा॒ गा अ॑विन्द॒द्विश्वा॑नि स॒त्याङ्गि॑राश्चकार ॥
अनू॑नोत् । अत्र॑ । हस्त॑ऽयतः । अद्रिः॑ । आर्च॑न् । येन॑ । दश॑ । मा॒सः । नव॑ऽग्वाः । ऋ॒तम् । य॒ती । स॒रमा॑ । गाः । अ॒वि॒न्द॒त् । विश्वा॑नि । स॒त्या । अङ्गि॑राः । च॒का॒र॒ ॥
anūnot | atra | hasta-yataḥ | adriḥ | ārcan | yena | daśa | māsaḥ | nava-gvāḥ | ṛtam | yatī | saramā | gāḥ | avindat | viśvāni | satyā | aṅgirāḥ | cakāra
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables each (Triṣṭubh cadence; minor Vedic variations possible)
Forward-driving, heroic-propulsive with a ‘breaking-open’ momentum suitable to Aṅgiras/Indra themes.
Builds inner will and clarity; supports sustained concentration and a sense of progressive unveiling.
- अद्रिः (adri)
- Literal: pressing-stone. Symbolic: concentrated will/tapas that expresses Soma from the hidden being
- हस्तयतः (hastayataḥ)
- Literal: by the hands, by manual action. Symbolic: personal effort and applied discipline in sādhanā
- नवग्वाः (navagvāḥ)
- Literal: the Navagvas (nine/novice singers). Symbolic: pioneering seeker-forces that persist through long inner cycles
- दश मासः (daśa māsaḥ)
- Literal: ten months. Symbolic: full term of inner gestation; prolonged maturation of consciousness
- ऋतम् (ṛtam)
- Literal: truth-order. Symbolic: right rhythm/law of the Spirit guiding action and perception
- सरमा (saramā)
- Literal: Saramā (divine hound). Symbolic: intuitive discernment that finds the hidden light
- गाः (gāḥ)
- Literal: cows. Symbolic: rays of light, illuminations, true knowledges
- अङ्गिराः (aṅgirāḥ)
- Literal: Aṅgirases. Symbolic: flame-born soul-powers that break the cover and establish truth in the being
- सत्या (satyā)
- Literal: true, made true. Symbolic: realization embodied; truth effectuated in mind-life-body
Soma pressing (adri) and chant (ārch-) imagery; verse supports the inner meaning of Soma as delight released by disciplined force over time
During Soma-yajña sequences; also as mythic-psychological recitation in Aṅgiras/Indra contexts.
Pressing (adri), chanting (stotra/śastra) to invoke illumination and release of ‘cows’ (rays).
Use as a ‘breakthrough’ mantra for periods of long practice—recite before meditation to affirm disciplined effort, intuitive guidance, and truth-manifestation.
: ‘stone’ (pressing-stone), from a- ‘not’ + √DR̥ ‘split’ is a traditional etymology; philologically ‘adri’ is ‘rock/stone’ (cf. mountain). Symbolically the compact force used to express Soma. : ‘nine-cowed’/‘nine-going’ (traditional); functions as a proper name for a seer-group; linked to initiation cycles. : from √SR̥ ‘to go, run’ (swift mover), hence the ‘tracker’; psychologically intuition that runs on the ṛta-path. : aorist of √VID ‘to find/know’ (PIE *weid- ‘see/know’), strongly supporting knowledge-discovery semantics. /: satya (from sat ‘being’) and ṛta (from √AR/√R̥ ‘fit, order’) paired as ontological truth + dynamic order.
Ṛta, Satya, initiation through time (ripening)
Explicit: Saramā moves in Ṛta; discovery occurs by right law, not caprice.
Aṅgirases ‘make all things satya’—truth becomes operative in the whole being.
Revelation of concealed light from the ‘rock/cave’—manifestation as uncovering.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindo-style) reading: manifestation through unveiling; consciousness-force as agent.
Stone=cakra-like concentration and resistance; Soma=bliss-force; cows=rays; months=gradual ripening; hound=intuition tracking the hidden path.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Angiras complex: through sustained chant and pressing (discipline + force), Saramā (intuition) discovers the hidden cows (rays/knowledges), and the Aṅgirases establish Satya universally—illumination leading to effective transformation.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √VID in avindat continues PIE *weid- ‘to see/know’, showing the deep link between ‘finding’ and ‘knowing’. The satya/ṛta pairing reflects an inherited Indo-European poetic habit of binomial abstractions for truth/order (cf. Avestan aša ~ ṛta).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The r̥ṣi narrates a paradigmatic inner-rite: human effort (hands, chant, time) cooperates with divine faculties (Saramā, Aṅgiras fire-powers). The devatā is not merely invoked but shown as an operative principle within the yajña-process.
Uncovering hidden knowledge by aligning effort (tapas) with truthful intuition (ṛta-guided dhī).
Ājñā (intuition/inner seeing) and Maṇipūra (will/tapas)
Moderate nāḍī-śodhana 6–6 or 6–3–6 before recitation; then natural breath with attentive listening to cadence.
From mental striving to illumined tracking; culminating in a settled certainty (niścaya) and quiet force.
Begin with a brief resolve: ‘Let my will press out the Soma of delight.’ Recite 9 or 27 times; pause after ‘ṛtaṃ yatī’ to feel the ‘path’ open; end with silent assimilation imagining rays rising from within.
Vedic svara as in Saṃhitā text: observe marked udātta/anudātta/svarita; keep the udātta lift on accented syllables (e.g., anū́-, hásta-, dáśa, víśvā-).
Maintain a clear udātta rise without stressy loudness; let svarita fall-glide be smooth; avoid flattening unmarked syllables into monotone.
Keep retroflex ṛ in ṛtaṃ crisp (not ‘rita’)., Differentiate śy/ṣy when they appear in related verses; here keep ‘saramā’ with dental s., Hold long vowels: māsaḥ, gāḥ., Pronounce ‘aṅgirāḥ’ withṅ (velar nasal) before g.
Steady, resonant, slightly forceful; end-pāda cadences softened into stillness.
9
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