Rig Veda 3.32.5: Mandala 3, Sukta 32, Mantra 5
Sukta 3.32
- Rishi
- Gāthin Viśvāmitra
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
मनुष्वदिन्द्र सवनं जुषाणः पिबा सोमं शश्वते वीर्याय । स आ ववृत्स्व हर्यश्व यज्ञैः सरण्युभिरपो अर्णा सिसर्षि ॥
manuṣvád indra sávanam juṣāṇáḥ pibā sómam śáśvate vīryā́ya | sá ā́ vavṛtsva hary-aśva yajñáiḥ saraṇyúbhir apó árṇā sisarṣi ||
இந்திரா, மனிதர் வழக்கம்போல் ஸவனத்தை விரும்பி ஏற்று; நிலைத்த வீர்யத்திற்காக சோமத்தை அருந்து. ஹர்யஶ்வா (மஞ்சள்/செம்பழுப்பு குதிரைகளின் அதிபதியே), எங்கள் யஜ்ஞங்களால் இங்கே திரும்பிவா; விரைவோடும் சக்திகளால் நீர்களை—உயர்ந்து பொங்கும் அர்ணம் (பெருக்கெடுக்கும் வெள்ளம்) —ஓடச் சுதந்திரப்படுத்து.
Word by Word
- मनुष्वत्
- like men; in human fashionAdjective/Adverbialनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः) — ‘मनुष्यों की भाँति/मनुष्यों के लिए’Role Adhikaraṇa (रीति/प्रकार) / विशेषणRoot मनुष्वत् (< मनु ‘मनुष्य-सम्बन्ध’)
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- सवनम्
- the Soma-pressing; libationNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot सवन (प्रातिपदिक)
- जुषाणः
- enjoying; accepting gladlyVerb (participle)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; वर्तमानकालिक कर्तरि कृदन्तःRole Kartā (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Root √जुष् (सेवने/प्रीतौ) + शानच्
- पिब
- drinkVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole (आज्ञा) — क्रियाRoot √पा (पाने)
- सोमम्
- SomaNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- शश्वते
- for ever; perpetuallyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक; चतुर्थी एकवचन (दातृ/सम्प्रदानार्थे) — ‘सदा/नित्याय’Role Sampradāna (उद्देश्य/लाभ) / प्रयोजनRoot शश्वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- वीर्याय
- for strength; for heroic powerNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी एकवचनRole Sampradāna (प्रयोजन) / हेतुRoot वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- towards; hitherIndeclinableउपसर्गः (आ-)Root आ (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- ववृत्स्व
- turn yourself; come/returnVerbलोट्; मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole (आज्ञा) — क्रियाRoot √वृत् (वर्तने/आवर्तने) — ववृत्स्व (लोट्, आत्मनेपद)
- हर्यश्व
- O you of tawny horsesNoun (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot हर्यश्व (प्रातिपदिक; ‘हरि-रथाश्वयुक्त’)
- यज्ञैः
- with sacrificesNounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
- सरण्युभिः
- with swift (ones); with fleet (helpers/steeds)Adjective(इन्द्रस्य रथाश्वानां वा विशेषणम्) तृतीया बहुवचनRole Karaṇa (सह/साधनभाव) / विशेषणRoot सरण्यु (प्रातिपदिक; ‘शीघ्र/प्रवहमान/सरित्-सदृश’)
- अपः
- the watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अर्णा
- the floods; the streamsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया बहुवचन (वेदिक रूप: अर्णा = अर्णांसि)Role Karma (अपः इत्यस्य विशेषण/समुच्चय)Root अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक; ‘तरंग/प्रवाह/समुद्र’)
- सिसर्षि
- you set in motion; you cause to flow/driveVerbलट्; मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद (वेदिक रूप)Role क्रियाRoot √सृ (सरणे) — सि-सर्-षि (इच्छार्थ/प्रेरणार्थ पुनरुक्त-आवृत्तिः)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: मनुष्वत् इन्द्र सवनम् जुषाणः | पिब सोमम् शश्वते वीर्याय | सः आ ववृत्स्व हर्यश्व यज्ञैः | सरण्युभिः अपः अर्णा सिसर्षि || 1) मनुष्वत् + इन्द्र → मनुष्वदिन्द्र (व्यञ्जन-सन्धि: त् + इ → द् इ)
- 3) सः + आ → स आ (विसर्गलोप/प्रगृह्य-सा)
- 5) अर्णा = वेदिक नपुंसक बहुवचन (अर्णांसि) का छन्दसि रूप
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra is asked to enjoy the pressing ‘in the human way’; drink Soma for enduring heroism. Turn toward the offerings, O lord of tawny steeds; with swift-moving powers set free the waters, the flood, to flow.
Inner meaning
‘Manuṣvat’ indicates the divine power consenting to work within human consciousness—accepting the human offering and method, not bypassing it. Soma is taken for ‘śaśvate vīryāya’: a lasting hero-force, not a momentary exaltation. ‘Turn hither’ is the inward turning of the illumined mind toward the seeker’s effort. ‘Haryaśva’ (tawny-steeded) points to disciplined dynamic energies. ‘Swift-moving powers’ (saraṇyubhiḥ) are the effective currents of prāṇa/thought that, once aligned, release the ‘waters’—the blocked streams of consciousness, inspiration, and inner joy—to surge freely.
Universal truth
The higher consciousness cooperates with sincere human aspiration. When bliss is sought for enduring strength and not excitement, the aligned energies can break inner dams and release a living flow of inspiration and renewal.
Themes
Indra-invocation, Soma-ritual, Waters-release, Inner battle for flow of consciousness
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Viśvāmitra
- Other hymns
- RV 3.33 (rivers/waters), RV 3.31-3.32 (Indra’s victories and Soma)
Family tradition
Emphasis on yajña as inner discipline and on the release of waters (a recurring Viśvāmitra theme culminating in RV 3.33).
Significance
This verse bridges ecstasy and practical liberation: Soma-joy is sought to create enduring force that releases the blocked streams of consciousness in human life.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Haryaśva, (implicit) Maghavan, Soma-drinker
- Related deities
- Soma, Maruts, Agni, Sarasvatī (by waters/inspiration theme)
Cosmic role
Releaser of waters and wideness; receiver of offerings; leader of victorious action in the human journey.
Inner power
Illumined mind that turns toward aspiration and uses disciplined energies to open blocked flows of consciousness.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing invocations to Indra; also broadly applicable to offerings requesting release of waters (fertility/flow)
म॒नु॒ष्वदि॑न्द्र॒ सव॑नं जुषा॒णः पिबा॒ सोमं॒ शश्व॑ते वी॒र्या॑य । स आ व॑वृत्स्व हर्यश्व य॒ज्ञैः स॑र॒ण्युभि॑र॒पो अर्णा॑ सिसर्षि ॥
म॒नु॒ष्वत् । इ॒न्द्र॒ । सव॑नम् । जु॒षा॒णः । पिब॑ । सोम॑म् । शश्व॑ते । वी॒र्या॑य । सः । आ । व॒वृ॒त्स्व॒ । ह॒रि॒ऽअ॒श्व॒ । य॒ज्ञैः । स॒र॒ण्युऽभिः॑ । अ॒पः । अर्णा॑ । सि॒स॒र्षि॒ ॥
manuṣvat | indra | savanam | juṣāṇaḥ | piba | somam | śaśvate | vīryāya | saḥ | ā | vavṛtsva | hari-aśva | yajñaiḥ | saraṇyu-bhiḥ | apaḥ | arṇā | sisarṣi
44
4 × ~11
Invocatory and directive; a turning point feel (‘turn hither’) followed by a releasing surge (‘set free the waters’).
Moves from devotion to action; leaves the listener with a sense of opening and flow.
- मनुष्वत् (manuṣvat)
- Literal: in the manner of Manu/men. Symbolic: Divine working within human nature; consent to the human sadhana
- सवन (savana)
- Literal: pressing/libation. Symbolic: Act of inner offering and extraction of essence
- शश्वते वीर्याय (śaśvate vīryāya)
- Literal: for lasting heroism. Symbolic: Stable spiritual strength and perseverance
- हर्यश्व (haryaśva)
- Literal: tawny-steeded. Symbolic: Master of disciplined dynamic energies (vital forces yoked to right action)
- यज्ञैः (yajñaiḥ)
- Literal: by sacrifices/offerings. Symbolic: By conscious self-giving, aspiration, and works offered to the Divine
- सरण्युभिः (saraṇyubhiḥ)
- Literal: with swift-moving (ones). Symbolic: Effective currents of energy/thought; powers that quickly carry the will to its goal
- अपः (apaḥ)
- Literal: waters. Symbolic: Streams of consciousness, inspiration, delight; also released life-energy
- अर्णा (arṇā)
- Literal: flood, wave. Symbolic: Surging abundance of liberated consciousness-force
Soma pressing (Savana) context; suitable for Indra-invocation in Soma rites such as Agniṣṭoma/related Soma-yajñas
Midday Soma context; also in recitation sequences for Indra’s aid in ‘releasing waters’.
Offer Soma and call Indra to accept, turn toward the sacrificer, and grant the release.
Chant when stuck or dry (mentally/creatively): offer effort, ask for enduring strength, then sit for a felt sense of inner ‘waters’ beginning to move.
Key roots and forms: (1) : pres. mid. ptc. of √juṣ ‘to enjoy, be pleased, accept’; indicates inward consent of the deity-force to the offering. (2) : imperative middle of √vṛt ‘to turn, roll, return’; ritual ‘turn hither’ becomes psychological ‘enter the field of the seeker’. (3) -: adj. from √sṛ ‘to run, flow’ with -aṇyu; ‘swift, running’, hence ‘swift-moving powers/impulses’ that carry the rite. (4) : ‘waters’ (PIE *h₂ep- ‘water’), in RV often symbolic of released luminous currents. (5) : ‘wave, flood, surge’ (cf. √ar/ṛ ‘to move, rise’ in semantic field of swelling/motion). (6) (from vīra ‘hero’): not mere physical prowess; effective potency of the illumined will.
R̥ta as right movement (release of ordered flow), vīrya as efficacious power, yajña as inner consecration
When Indra turns toward yajña, the human being aligns with R̥ta and the right flow resumes.
Lasting vīrya implies truth-based strength, not egoic force.
Release of waters is a creation-renewal act: restoring the flow that sustains worlds and growth.
Integral yoga reading: divine powers respond to aspiration and works; liberation includes dynamic life-flow, not only quietude.
Midday (hymn context)
Waters = released inspiration and life-energy; flood = abundance; horses = mobilized vital powers; midday = peak clarity for decisive opening.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The release of the Waters (āpaḥ) by Indra: the archetypal act where the obstructed currents are set flowing again. In the inner shell, this is the breaking of inner blockage so that streams of clarity, inspiration, and right movement (r̥ta) can run.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- āpaḥ ‘waters’ continues PIE *h₂ep- (cf. Latin aqua via a different root, but Germanic *ahwō ‘river’ is closer in function; Indo-Iranian preserves *ap- clearly: Av. āpō). The verb-field √sṛ ‘to flow/run’ (saraṇyu-, sisarṣi) matches widespread PIE motion semantics (cf. Greek ῥέω ‘flow’ from *srew- in the broader ‘flow’ family), supporting the inherited poetic formula of ‘release/flow’ as cosmic restoration.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- Reciprocity through yajña: the seer offers consecrated action and Soma (delight-essence), inviting Indra to ‘turn hither’ and participate. Indra’s return is not mere presence but effective action—he assimilates Soma for vīrya and, empowered, sets the waters flowing, i.e., grants the seeker renewed force and unobstructed inner currents.
Sincere offering + invocation for enduring strength; then allow blocked inner currents to move without strain.
Svādhiṣṭhāna (waters/flow) supported by Maṇipūra (vīrya)
Apāna-to-prāṇa harmonization: inhale feeling lift from pelvis to navel; exhale feeling soft spread through lower belly; 9 rounds, then chant once and sit.
From effortful aspiration to flowing ease with strength.
Make one concrete offering (a small act of discipline). Chant. Then wait for a subtle sign of ‘flow’—a fresh idea, softened tension, or renewed goodwill—and follow it gently (saraṇyu).
Observe Rigvedic accents; keep ‘manuṣvat’ clean and forward; let the final pāda flow like water in delivery.
Emphasize the intention-words: juṣāṇaḥ, śaśvate vīryāya, vavṛtsva, sisarṣi; keep a slight elongation on ā in āpo arṇā.
: pronounce ma-nu-ṣvat (ṣv cluster clean)., : retroflex ṣ; long ā., : avoid inserting extra vowel (har-ya-śva)., : keep ṣ in rṣi; pronounce si-sar-ṣi.
Warm, inviting at first; more flowing and expansive on the waters-release phrase.
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