Rig Veda 1.178.2: Mandala 1, Sukta 178, Mantra 2
Sukta 1.178
न घा राजेन्द्र आ दभन्नो या नु स्वसारा कृणवन्त योनौ । आपश्चिदस्मै सुतुका अवेषन्गमन्न इन्द्रः सख्या वयश्च ॥
ná ghā rājéndra ā́ dabhannó yā́ nú svásārā kṛ́ṇavanta yónau | ā́paś cid asmai sutúkā aveṣan gámann a índraḥ sakhyā́ váyaś ca ||
Воистину царь Индра не обманет нас — он, кто сводит сестринские силы воедино в их лоне. Даже Воды для него обрели радостный покой; да придёт к нам Индра с дружбой и с жизненной мощью.
Assurance and invitation: used to confirm Indra’s reliability and to request his friendly advent with vitality
unity of powers in a single source, trust in divine kingship (rājā), friendship (sakhyā) as spiritual alliance
Indra’s kingship maintains right order by harmonizing powers in their source.
Reliability (non-deception) is a mark of satya in the divine working—truth that supports the seeker.
Return to the womb/source where powers are one; re-creation of the being through integration.
Integral/psychological Veda: ‘sisters in the womb’ as synthesis of faculties.
Waters = emotional and vital currents; their ‘glad ease’ indicates purification without repression, flow without turbulence.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra the King as non-deceiver, the harmonizer who makes ‘sister’ powers cohere in one womb/source; even the Waters settle gladly with him. Psychologically, it is the assurance that the sovereign force integrates divided energies into a unified origin, producing ease and flow, and thus can be trusted as an ally.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- rājā from PIE *h₃rēǵ-. √gam from PIE *gʷem-. ‘sister’ (svasṛ-) corresponds to PIE *swésōr (Latin soror, English sister), a strong Indo-European cognate set, highlighting inherited kinship metaphors for cosmic powers.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asserts faith (Indra does not deceive us) and requests a relationship of sakhyā—friendship rather than mere transaction. The devatā is asked to come with vayaḥ, i.e., the strengthening of life-energy, indicating the rishi seeks an enduring inner alliance and harmonization.
Unify divided parts of the psyche at their source; invite a friendly governing light.
Maṇipūra (Indra’s force/organization) harmonized with Svādhiṣṭhāna (waters/emotions)
Slow exhale emphasis (inhale 4, exhale 8) to calm the ‘waters’; then normal breathing while resting in a unified center.
Integrated, emotionally clear, quietly strong.
Bring two conflicting impulses (‘sisters’) to awareness. On ‘yonau’, imagine them returning to one center in the navel/heart region. Let emotions flow like clear water under a sun of quiet power; conclude by feeling Indra as an inner friend rather than a distant force.
Rigvedic tri-svara; exact accents require svara-marked text.
Give firm clarity to ‘na ghā rājendra’ (confidence), then soften and flow on ‘āpaś cid…’ to mirror waters.
rājendra (rā-jendra; long ā), svasārā (long ā; retroflex not used here), kṛṇavanta (ṛ vowel; clear ṇ), yonau (yo-nau; diphthong au), āpaś (ś palatal; final ‘ś’ clear), sutukāḥ (tu-kāḥ; long ā; visarga ḥ)
Steady, reassuring; slightly more fluid on the water phrase.
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