Rig Veda 8.40.5: Mandala 8, Sukta 40, Mantra 5
Sukta 8.40
- Rishi
- Nabhāka
- Devata
- Indrāgnī
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
प्र ब्रह्माणि नभाकवदिन्द्राग्निभ्यामिरज्यत । या सप्तबुध्नमर्णवं जिह्मबारमपोर्णुत इन्द्र ईशान ओजसा नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥
prá bráhmāṇi nabhā́kavad indrā́gníbhyām irajyata | yā́ saptá-budhnam arṇaváṃ jihmá-bāram aporṇutá índra ī́śāna ójasā nábhantām anyaké samé ||
Wyślijcie brahmāṇi, jak czynił Nabhāka, dla Indry i Agniego. Oni, którzy otworzyli siedmiofundamentowy ocean, ogrodzenie o ukośnych poprzeczkach, Indra, pan przez swoją siłę; niech inni zostaną rozproszeni na tym samym polu.
Word by Word
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinableupasarga (preverb)Root प्र (upasarga)
- ब्रह्माणि
- sacred formulations, hymnsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- नभाकवद्
- (hymns) like those of Nabhāka / Nabhāka-likeAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; बहुवचन (ब्रह्माणि इति विशेषणम्)Role KarmaRoot नभाकवत् (प्रातिपदिक; नाभाक-वत्)
- इन्द्राग्निभ्याम्
- by/with Indra and AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; द्विवचनRole KaraṇaRoot इन्द्र + अग्नि (समास-प्रातिपदिक)
- इरज्यत
- was set in motion / was stirredVerbलुङ् (आगम-रहितः aorist); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (अज्यत)Root रज् (धातु; रज्यति/रज्यते ‘to be colored, to be excited; to be set in motion’)
- या
- she whoPronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सप्तबुध्नम्
- having seven depths/bottomsAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन (अर्णवम् इति विशेषणम्)Role KarmaRoot सप्त + बुध्न (समास-प्रातिपदिक)
- अर्णवम्
- flood, oceanNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot अर्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
- जिह्मबारम्
- with crooked/obstructing barriersAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन (अर्णवम् इति विशेषणम्)Role KarmaRoot जिह्म + बार (समास-प्रातिपदिक)
- अपोर्णुत
- opened, uncoveredVerbलुङ् (aorist); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRoot अप + वृ (धातु; वृणोति ‘to cover, to enclose’; with अप- ‘to uncover/open’)
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole KartāRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- ईशानः
- ruling, sovereignAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन (इन्द्रः इति विशेषणम्)Role KartāRoot ईशान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √ईश् ‘to rule, possess’)
- ओजसा
- with might, by strengthNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- नभन्ताम्
- let them burst forth / let them spring outVerbलोट् (imperative); तृतीयपुरुष; बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदRoot नभ् (धातु; ‘to burst forth/shine?’ Vedic: ‘to spring forth, to break out’)
- अन्यके
- in another (place/way)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचन (समे इति विशेषणम्/अधि.)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot अन्यक (प्रातिपदिक; ‘other, another’)
- समे
- in the level/plain (ground), in samenessNoun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot सम (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: प्र | ब्रह्माणि | नभाकवद् | इन्द्राग्निभ्याम् | इरज्यत । या | सप्तबुध्नम् | अर्णवम् | जिह्मबारम् | अपोर्णुत् | इन्द्रः | ईशानः | ओजसा | नभन्ताम् | अन्यके | समे ॥ प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) इन्द्रा॒ग्निभ्या॑म् = इन्द्र + अग्निभ्याम् (समास/सन्धि; आ + अ → आ)
- (2) अपोर्णुत = अप + ओर्णुत (उपसर्ग-योग; अप + वृ-धातोः लुङ्)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Offer/utter the brahmāṇi (sacred formulations) as Nabhāka did for Indra and Agni; they opened the seven-founded ocean and the obliquely barred enclosure. By Indra’s lordly force may rival powers be driven away in the same arena.
Inner meaning
The rishi urges the projection of mantric will (brahmāṇi) into the inner yajña so that Indra (illumined Mind) and Agni (divine Will) together break open the subconscient “ocean” whose depths are layered (seven foundations) and whose gates are crooked/oblique (jihad-bāra: distorted resistances). The opening releases the hidden streams of consciousness and knowledge; hostile movements (other impulses in the same field of nature) are dispersed by the sovereignty (īśāna) of illumined force (ojas).
Universal truth
When aspiration and right will are voiced clearly, the higher intelligence and the soul’s fire can open even the deepest, most resistant layers of the unconscious; then competing, chaotic tendencies lose cohesion and scatter.
Themes
opening the waters, mantric power (brahman), breaking obstruction
The seer
- Rishi
- Nabhāka
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 8.40.1-9 (hymn context)
Family tradition
Traditionally linked with the Kāṇva collection (RV 8); remembered as a seer whose effective brahman (mantric speech) wins openings and wealth.
Significance
Nabhāka functions here as a paradigmatic practitioner of the inner sacrifice: right utterance (brahmāṇi) aligned to Indra-Agni breaks the sealed subconscient and secures inner victory.
The deity
- Devata
- Indrāgnī (Indra and Agni in joint action)
- Epithets
- īśāna (lord, sovereign) [Indra emphasized]
- Related deities
- Soma, Uṣas, Bṛhaspati, Sarasvatī/Āpas (waters)
Cosmic role
Indra-Agni together represent the executive powers that establish victory of the gods: Agni leads the sacrifice upward; Indra breaks obstruction and releases the waters/light.
Inner power
Combined force of aspiration (Agni) and illumination (Indra) that opens the covered depths and disperses hostile impulses.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra–Agni offering with recitation of brahman during soma/oblations (general Indrāgnī stotra/śastra context)
प्र ब्रह्मा॑णि नभाक॒वदि॑न्द्रा॒ग्निभ्या॑मिरज्यत । या स॒प्तबु॑ध्नमर्ण॒वं जि॒ह्मबा॑रमपोर्णु॒त इन्द्र॒ ईशा॑न॒ ओज॑सा॒ नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥
प्र । ब्रह्मा॑णि । न॒भा॒क॒ऽवत् । इ॒न्द्रा॒ग्निऽभ्या॑म् । इ॒र॒ज्य॒त॒ । या । स॒प्तऽबु॑ध्नम् । अ॒र्ण॒वम् । जि॒ह्मऽबा॑रम् । अ॒प॒ऽऊ॒र्णु॒तः । इन्द्रः॑ । ईशा॑नः । ओज॑सा । नभ॑न्ताम् । अ॒न्य॒के । स॒मे॒ ॥
pra | brahmāṇi | nabhāka-vat | indrāgni-bhyām | irajyata | yā | sapta-budhnam | arṇavam | jihma-bāram | apa-ūrṇutaḥ | indraḥ | īśānaḥ | ojasā | nabhantām | anyake | same
48
4 pādas of ~12 syllables each (Jagatī norm)
Expansive, forward-driving cadence suited to proclamation and breakthrough.
Builds momentum and confidence; supports a felt ‘opening’ in the chest and brow as the verse moves from invocation to release and dispersal.
- ब्रह्माणि (brahmāṇi)
- Literal: sacred formulations, prayers, mantras. Symbolic: projected power of the Word—focused intention/aspiration that shapes consciousness
- नभाकवत् (nabhākavat)
- Literal: as Nabhāka did. Symbolic: the exemplar of right utterance—tradition of effective inner speech
- इन्द्राग्निभ्याम् (indrāgnibhyām)
- Literal: to/for Indra and Agni. Symbolic: union of illumined mind and divine will in the inner sacrifice
- सप्तबुध्नम् (saptabudhnam)
- Literal: seven-founded. Symbolic: multi-layered subconscient/being (physical–vital–mental gradations and their depths)
- अर्णवम् (arṇavam)
- Literal: ocean, flood. Symbolic: subconscient vastness holding imprisoned energies/knowledge
- जिह्मबारम् (jihmabāram)
- Literal: oblique/crooked-barred. Symbolic: twisted resistances, perverse knots that bar the inner gates
- अपोर्णुतः (ap-orṇutaḥ)
- Literal: they opened/uncovered. Symbolic: revelation—removal of covering (vṛtra-like obstruction)
- ईशानः (īśānaḥ)
- Literal: lord, ruler. Symbolic: sovereignty of higher consciousness over nature
- ओजसा (ojasā)
- Literal: by force, vigor. Symbolic: spiritual strength—effective tapas in action
- नभन्ताम् (nabhantām)
- Literal: let them be scattered/driven away. Symbolic: dissolution of adverse formations in the same plane of life
Mantric energizing (brahman) in Soma rites; thematically linked to the ‘opening’ motif (release of waters/forces) often invoked for success of the sacrifice.
In Indra-oriented sequences seeking victory, opening of waters/wealth, and removal of rivals; also adaptable to daily japa as a ‘breakthrough’ verse.
Utterance of brahmāṇi with oblations to Indra-Agni; intention of opening and dispersing obstructive forces.
Use before demanding work or inner practice: recite to invoke clear will + illumined mind to ‘open’ stuck subconscious patterns and dissolve competing impulses.
brahman (here plural brahmāṇi) from √bṛh ‘to grow, expand’ → mantric utterance that ‘makes vast’ (bṛhat) consciousness. arṇava ‘flood/ocean’ (liquid plenitude). budhna ‘bottom/foundation’ (PIE *bʰudʰno-; cf. English ‘bottom’). īśāna from √īś ‘to own, rule’. ojas ‘vigor’ from √uj/√oj ‘strength’.
bṛhat (vastness) implied by brahman, release of concealed plenitude, sovereignty (īśāna) of truth-force
Opening the ‘ocean’ restores the right flow of waters/forces in accord with ṛta.
Brahmāṇi as satya-vāc: true speech that accomplishes what it declares.
Release of the waters from enclosure—classic Vedic motif of manifestation from concealment.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: evolution of consciousness through opening of subconscient layers.
The ocean = subconscient; the barred enclosure = knots of ignorance; opening = liberation of life-energies and knowledge currents into the waking nature.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘opening’ of the seven-founded ocean from a barred enclosure—an archetypal release myth (waters/light/powers freed from obstruction), here framed as an effect of Indra–Agni aided by brahman (mantric force).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- budhna is a strong PIE cognate (PIE *bʰudʰno-; Sanskrit budhna-, Avestan bušna-, English bottom). The release-from-enclosure myth parallels Indo-European dragon/obstruction themes, though here expressed through Vedic ‘cover-opening’ diction (apa-√vṛ/√ūrṇu).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The r̥ṣi’s brahman is not description but operative speech: by projecting brahmāṇi he collaborates with Indra–Agni’s force to open the inner ‘ocean’ of plenitude; the reciprocity is co-action—human mantra and divine power together remove the crooked barrier.
Invoke Indra-Agni to open the ‘sealed’ inner depths and disperse competing impulses in the same field of action.
ājñā (illumination/Indra) and maṇipūra (will-fire/Agni)
Moderate paced recitation on a steady exhale; brief pause after ‘ap-orṇuta’ to feel the ‘opening’.
From effortful concentration to a breakthrough clarity and flow.
Before japa, set a single intention (brahman). Feel Agni as upward flame in the navel/heart; call Indra as clear light in the brow; then mentally ‘unbar’ the crooked gate and let inner currents move.
Vedic svara as per Śākala tradition: udatta/anudatta/svarita accents follow the saṃhitā markings; treat ‘īśāna ojasā’ with clear accent separation.
Keep the pitch rise on marked udātta syllables; avoid flattening compound clusters (indrāgnibhyām, saptabudhnam).
Maintain retroflex clarity: ṇ in brahmāṇi; ḍh/ṭh not present but keep dental t in ‘tām’ etc., jihmabāram: articulate jihma (jih-ma), long ā in bāram., ap-orṇutaḥ: slight pause at sandhi split ap | orṇutaḥ to keep meaning ‘uncover/open’., ojasā: long o, soft j, long ā.
Steady, resonant, victorious; firm articulation on opening verbs (aporṇuta).
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