Rig Veda 8.55.3: Mandala 8, Sukta 55, Mantra 3
Sukta 8.55
- Rishi
- Kāṇva / Kāṇvāyana
- Devata
- Indra, with enumerative dāna/wealth imagery
- Chandas
- Not securely determinable from excerpt alone
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
शतं वेणूञ्छतं शुनः शतं चर्माणि म्लातानि । शतं मे बल्बजस्तुका अरुषीणां चतुःशतम् ॥
śatáṃ veṇū́ñ śatáṃ śúnaḥ śatáṃ carmā́ṇi mlātā́ni | śatáṃ me balbaja-stukā́ aruṣīṇā́ṃ catúḥśatam ||
Sto instrumentów drgania, sto szybkich impulsów, sto osłon przygotowanych; sto utkanych osiągnięć dla mnie i czterystet rudości mocy - tak liczona jest pełnia, gdy siła odpowiada na wezwanie.
Word by Word
- शतम्
- a hundredNoun (numeral)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (गणनाविशेषणरूपेण) / संख्या-निर्देशRoot शत (प्रातिपदिक)
- वेणून्
- bamboo-stalks / reedsNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot वेणु (प्रातिपदिक)
- शतम्
- a hundredNoun (numeral)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (गणनाविशेषणरूपेण) / संख्या-निर्देशRoot शत (प्रातिपदिक)
- शुनः
- of a dogNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (Genitive)Root शुन (प्रातिपदिक; ‘श्वन्’ इत्यस्य वैदिक-रूपम्)
- शतम्
- a hundredNoun (numeral)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (गणनाविशेषणरूपेण) / संख्या-निर्देशRoot शत (प्रातिपदिक)
- चर्माणि
- hides, skinsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot चर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- म्लातानि
- withered, dried upAdjective (past participle)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (चर्माणि इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role Karma (विशेषणरूपेण)Root म्ला (धातु) → म्लात (कृदन्त, भूतकृत्/कर्मणि क्त)
- शतम्
- a hundredNoun (numeral)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (गणनाविशेषणरूपेण) / संख्या-निर्देशRoot शत (प्रातिपदिक)
- मे
- my, of mePronounषष्ठी, एकवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्बन्ध (Genitive/possessor)Root अहम् (सर्वनाम)
- बल्बजः
- balbaja-grass (a kind of coarse grass)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (सूच्य-कर्तृ/वस्तुनिर्देशः; ‘अस्ति’ इति लुप्तम्)Root बल्बज (प्रातिपदिक; द्रव्य/तृणविशेषः)
- तुकाः
- tufts/bundles (of grass/fibres)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā / विषय (समुच्चयेन; ‘अस्ति’ इति लुप्तम्)Root तुका (प्रातिपदिक; तृण/रेशा-गुच्छ/तन्तुविशेषः)
- अरुषीणाम्
- of the ruddy (mares/cows)Noun/Adjective used substantivelyस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (Genitive)Root अरुषी (प्रातिपदिक; ‘अरुष’ इत्यस्य स्त्रीलिङ्ग-रूपम्)
- चतुःशतम्
- four hundredNoun (numeral compound)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (गणनाविशेषणरूपेण) / संख्या-निर्देशRoot चतुर् + शत (संख्यापद-समासः)
Sandhi Notes
- संहिता-पाठः: वे॒णूञ्छ॒तम् = वेणून् + शतम् (न् + श → ञ्छ; वैदिक-सन्धिः)
- चतु॑:शतम् = चतुः + शतम् (विसर्ग-सन्धिः: ः + श → ःश)
The meaning
Outer meaning
A numerical listing of gifts/implements: “a hundred veṇūs, a hundred śunaḥ, a hundred prepared hides, a hundred balbaja-stuffs, and four hundred of the ruddy (aruṣī) ones.” It reads like a dāna (generosity) or abundance reckoning in an Indra setting.
Inner meaning
The seer counts not material items but powers assembled for the inner yajña. veṇū (reed/flute) becomes the vibratory channels of mantra and prāṇa; śunaḥ (swift ones) are quick impulsions of the life-force harnessed to the divine Mind; carman (skins/coverings) are the protective sheaths and disciplined “containers” that can hold force without leakage; balbaja-stukā (woven tufts/strands) suggest woven formations of tapas and habit-energy that stabilize attainment; aruṣī (ruddy) are the dawn-red powers—ascending energies of illumination—multiplying beyond the earlier hundreds. The “reckoning” is the yogic accounting of prepared instruments, purified impulses, and safeguarded vessels so Indra’s force can descend and act.
Universal truth
Spiritual growth requires (1) refined vibration (sound/breath), (2) swift but governed life-impulse, (3) strong containers (ethical/psychic boundaries), and (4) an ever-increasing influx of illumined energy. Abundance is not possession but capacity—how much consciousness can safely receive and express.
Themes
enumeration-of-boons, plenitude, fiery-energies
The seer
- Rishi
- Kāṇva / Kāṇvāyana (traditional attribution for RV 8)
- Lineage
- Kāṇva
- Other hymns
- RV 8.55, RV 8.56, RV 1.36 (Kāṇva Agni hymns—lineage association), RV 1.62–1.63 (Kāṇva Indra associations in tradition)
Family tradition
The Kāṇvas are a seer-lineage noted for Indra hymns that blend dāna imagery with inner victory and strengthening of the sacrifice.
Significance
The Kāṇva voice often emphasizes preparation of the instruments (mind, life, body) so the divine powers can pour in as ‘wealth’—a symbolic language for inner plenitude.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra (contextual)
- Epithets
- Vṛtra-han (slayer of the Coverer), Maghavan (bounteous), Vṛka (wolf/strong one—appears in adjacent hymn 8.56)
- Related deities
- Agni, Soma, Maruts, Uṣas
Cosmic role
Breaker of obstructions; widener of the luminous world; giver of rains/forces that increase life and mind.
Inner power
The illumined Mind-Power that organizes energies, smashes subconscious resistance, and distributes the ‘riches’ of clarity, courage, and effective action.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-stotra within Soma-yajña sequences (general)
श॒तं वे॒णूञ्छ॒तं शुन॑: श॒तं चर्मा॑णि म्ला॒तानि॑ । श॒तं मे॑ बल्बजस्तु॒का अरु॑षीणां॒ चतु॑:शतम् ॥
श॒तम् । वे॒णूम् । श॒तम् । शुनः॑ । श॒तम् । चर्मा॑णि । म्ला॒तानि॑ । श॒तम् । मे॒ । ब॒ल्ब॒ज॒ऽस्तु॒काः । अरु॑षीणाम् । चतुः॑ऽशतम् ॥
śatam | veṇūm | śatam | śunaḥ | śatam | carmāṇi | mlātāni | śatam | me | balbaja-stukāḥ | aruṣīṇām | catuḥ-śatam
Anuṣṭubh-like cadence (probable; not fully secure from excerpt)
32
4 pādas x ~8 syllables (approximate, with Vedic resolutions)
Enumerative, drum-like counting rhythm; strong caesurae after ‘śatam’.
Builds a sense of accumulation and readiness—psychologically gathering scattered energies into a single prepared offering.
- शतम् (śatam)
- Literal: hundred. Symbolic: plenitude; a complete measure of prepared force
- वेणूम् (veṇūm)
- Literal: reed/flute; tube. Symbolic: channels of vibration—mantric resonance, nāḍī-like conduits of prāṇa
- शुनः (śunaḥ)
- Literal: swift; impetuous (also ‘dog’ in other contexts). Symbolic: quick life-impulses trained for the work
- चर्माणि (carmāṇi)
- Literal: skins, hides. Symbolic: protective coverings/sheaths; disciplined containment of energy
- म्लातानि (mlātāni)
- Literal: softened/prepared/made ready. Symbolic: purified and made fit—energies rendered workable
- बल्बजस्तुकाः (balbaja-stukāḥ)
- Literal: balbaja fibers/tufts; woven stuffs. Symbolic: woven formations of tapas; stabilized attainments in the vital-physical
- अरुषीणाम् (aruṣīṇām)
- Literal: of the ruddy ones. Symbolic: dawn-red illuminations; rising force of awakening consciousness
- चतुःशतम् (catuḥśatam)
- Literal: four hundred. Symbolic: expanded multiplication of illumined powers beyond the initial measures
Likely connected to dāna-praise (gift enumeration) within Indra hymn sequences; exact Śrauta placement uncertain.
During Indra praise in Soma pressing/recitation cycles; also as a prosperity-strength invocation
Recitation to invoke Indra’s ‘rādhas’ (bounty) and strengthening powers
Use as a ‘capacity mantra’—before work/meditation to collect instruments: breath, speech, will, and protective boundaries.
This verse lists enumerated items; some lexemes (veṇu, balbaja) are concrete and culture-specific. Inner reading: ‘veṇu’ as hollow channels (breath/voice), ‘carman’ as sheaths (kośa-like coverings), aruṣá as ruddy/fiery energies (dawn/solar-force). √mlā normally ‘wither’ but can yield sense of ‘soft/pliant’ in prepared materials.
plenitude through number symbolism (śata/catuḥśata as fullness, not arithmetic alone)
The counted plenitudes imply ordered distribution—force becomes effective when arranged according to ṛta.
Truth as exactness: inner accounting of readiness, not self-deception about capacity.
Formation of stable instruments (nāma-rūpa-like) to hold descending force.
Proto-yogic / Aurobindonian psychological reading within Vedic symbolism
Dawn-leaning (aruṣī symbolism)
Vibration (sound/breath) + containment (sheath) + rising illumination (dawn-force) = prepared embodiment for divine action.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘reckoning of plenitude’ mythologem: the hymn enumerates abundance as a sign of Indra’s victorious bestowal. Innerly, it is the many-formed equipment and energies provided for the yogic work—channels, sheaths, supports, and fiery powers.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The numerals (śata, catuḥ) preserve archaic Indo-European counting morphology (cf. PIE *ḱm̥tóm ‘hundred’ → śatam). The concrete nouns are more culture-bound, but the numeric formulae are strongly IE-poetic (catalogue style).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The r̥ṣi measures the god’s response in a concrete catalogue, but the deeper reciprocity is that invoked power translates into organized capacities in the human instrument—multiple means for embodiment and action.
Gathering of instruments: align speech (mantra), breath (prāṇa), will (saṅkalpa), and protective boundaries (psychic sheath).
Viśuddha (vibration/sound) and Maṇipūra (will/force)
Even inhalation–exhalation with soft internal japa; pause briefly after exhale to ‘contain’ force.
Collected, vigilant, ready-for-action (samyak-ārambha).
Before chanting, consciously ‘prepare the carman’: set a boundary of silence; then let the veṇu-vibration become steady; finally invite the aruṣī—rising light—to multiply without strain.
Notated svara unavailable in excerpt; chant in a steady Vedic recitation style with clear udātta lifts on accented syllables (esp. opening of each pāda).
Let ‘śatám’ be crisp and slightly lifted; maintain a small pause after each counted phrase to preserve the enumerative structure.
(śatam): short ‘a’ at end, not ‘shataam’, (veṇūm): retroflex-free ‘ṇ’ is dental ‘n’? Here ‘ṇ’ is retroflex: ve-ṇūm, (carmāṇi): ‘r’ tapped; long ‘ā’, (aruṣīṇām): ‘ṣ’ retroflex; long ī; final ‘ām’ nasalized
Firm, counted, resonant (as if ‘assembling’ powers).
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