Rig Veda 3.39.6: Mandala 3, Sukta 39, Mantra 6
Sukta 3.39
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
इन्द्रो मधु सम्भृतमुस्रियायां पद्वद्विवेद शफवन्नमे गोः । गुहा हितं गुह्यं गूळ्हमप्सु हस्ते दधे दक्षिणे दक्षिणावान् ॥
índro mádhu sámbhṛtam usríyāyāṁ padvád viveda śaphávann áme góḥ | gúhā hitáṁ gúhyaṁ gūḷhám apsú háste dadhé dákṣiṇe dákṣiṇāvān ||
ஒளிவீசும் உஷ்ரியா (பிரகாசமுடைய) பசுவில் சேர்த்த மது (அமுதச் சாறு) இன்றன் கண்டான்; பாதை அறிந்தவன் போல, பசுவின் குளம்புச் சுவடின் பதத்தில், கதிரின் மூல வலிமையில் அதைத் தேடிக் கண்டான். குகையில் மறைந்ததும், ரகசியமும், நீர்களில் ஆழ்ந்து மறைந்ததும் ஆகிய அதனை—தன் வலது கையில் வைத்தான்; தக்ஷிணா-வலிமை கொண்ட இன்றன் அவன்.
Word by Word
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- मधु
- sweet drink; honey (Soma-like sweetness)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
- सम्भृतम्
- gathered, collectedAdjective (past passive participle)नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन (मधु इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्मRoot सम्-√भृ (भृञ्) → सम्भृत (कृदन्त, क्त)
- उस्रियायाम्
- in/at the Usriyā (cow-stall/cow-like place; a name of a cavern/pen)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot उस्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
- पद्वत्
- with tracks/footprints; track-markedAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन (अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषणभावे: ‘पदचिह्नयुक्तम्/पदचिह्नेन’)Role कर्मRoot पद्वत् (प्रातिपदिक; -वत् प्रत्यय)
- विवेद
- found; discoveredVerbलिट् (परोक्सभूत/परफेक्ट); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot वि-√विद् (विदँ)
- शफवत्
- hoofed; having hoovesAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन (नम इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्मRoot शफवत् (प्रातिपदिक; -वत् प्रत्यय)
- नम्
- track/print; bending mark (i.e., a hoof-mark)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot नम् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘नमन/नमः’ इत्यर्थे वैदिकरूपम्)
- गोः
- of the cow (cattle)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (वैदिके उभयलिङ्गप्रयोगः); षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- गुहा
- in a caveNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचन (वैदिके स्थानवाचकत्वे)Role अधिकरणRoot गुहा (प्रातिपदिक)
- हितम्
- placed; depositedAdjective (past passive participle)नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन (गुह्यं/मधु इत्यादेः विशेषणम्)Role कर्मRoot √धा (धा) → हित (कृदन्त, क्त)
- गुह्यम्
- hidden; secretAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक; √गुह् ‘to hide’ से)
- गूळ्हम्
- concealedAdjective (past passive participle)नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot √गुह् → गूळ्ह (कृदन्त, क्त; वैदिक रूप)
- अप्सु
- in the watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; बहुवचनRole अधिकरणRoot अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
- हस्ते
- in the handNounपुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
- दधे
- placed; heldVerbलिट् (परफेक्ट); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole क्रियाRoot √धा (धा)
- दक्षिणे
- in the right (hand)Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचन (हस्ते इति विशेषणम्)Role अधिकरणRoot दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
- दक्षिणावान्
- right-handed; possessing the right (hand/power)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन (इन्द्रः इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृRoot दक्षिणावन्त् (प्रातिपदिक; -वन्त् प्रत्यय)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सम्भाव्यः): इन्द्रः | मधु | सम्भृतम् | उस्रियायाम् | पद्वत् | विवेद | शफवत् | नम् | गोः || गुहा | हितम् | गुह्यम् | गूळ्हम् | अप्सु | हस्ते | दधे | दक्षिणे | दक्षिणावान् || प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) इन्द्रो मधु = इन्द्रः + मधु (विसर्ग-लोपः/ओ-आदेशः पदान्ते). (2) शफवन्नमे = शफवत् + नम् (त् + न → न्न, अनुस्वार/द्वित्व-समायोजनम्). (3) हस्ते दधे (सन्धि-रहितः). (4) दक्षि॑णे दक्षि॑णावान्—पदविभागः स्पष्टः
- ‘दक्षिणे’ हस्तविशेषणम्, ‘दक्षिणावान्’ इन्द्रविशेषणम्
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra found the honey gathered in the shining cow, tracking it by hoof-mark; hidden in the cave, concealed in the waters, he placed it in his right hand, he who is rich in dakṣiṇā.
Inner meaning
The ‘honey’ (madhu) is the sweetness of Ananda/Soma-like delight gathered in the luminous ray (usrīyā go). Indra discovers it by the true track (padvat) and the ‘hoof-mark’ (śaphavat)—signs of right movement of energy in life. This bliss is hidden (guhya, gūḻha) in the cave (guha) and even in the waters (apsu)—the deep vital currents and subconscient. Indra takes it into the right hand (dakṣiṇa): the power of right discernment and right action, distributing the boon (dakṣiṇā) to the being. The verse is a map of how hidden delight becomes consciously held and rightly used.
Universal truth
Deep joy is concealed within life and even within obscurity; by right discernment and right action, it can be found, held, and shared.
Themes
hidden madhu, cows as rays, waters symbolism, dakṣiṇā inner power
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Gāthina
- Other hymns
- RV 3.33, RV 3.34, RV 3.39
Family tradition
In Viśvāmitra’s Indra hymns, the recovery of hidden ‘treasures’ (light, sun, honey) from cave/waters is a repeated inner motif—revelation plus possession.
Significance
He articulates not only illumination but Ananda as a recoverable secret in the depths—held by Indra’s right power for integral transformation.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- dakṣiṇāvān (rich in right-giving power), padvit (track-knower, implied), guhya-vid (knower of secrets, implied)
- Related deities
- Soma (madhu/ananda), Varuṇa (waters/depths), Agni (cave/fire), Bṛhaspati (finder by word)
Cosmic role
Finder of hidden delight and light; brings up the concealed essence from waters/cave into conscious possession.
Inner power
Illumined intelligence that locates Ananda in the depths and stabilizes it in right action and right distribution.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra praised as discoverer of madhu (delight) hidden in the luminous source; relevant to Soma context where sweetness/intoxication symbolizes divine delight recovered and established.
इन्द्रो॒ मधु॒ सम्भृ॑तमु॒स्रिया॑यां प॒द्वद्वि॑वेद श॒फव॒न्नमे॒ गोः । गुहा॑ हि॒तं गुह्यं॑ गू॒ळ्हम॒प्सु हस्ते॑ दधे॒ दक्षि॑णे॒ दक्षि॑णावान् ॥
इन्द्रः॑ । मधु॑ । सम्ऽभृ॑तम् । उ॒स्रिया॑याम् । प॒त्ऽवत् । वि॒वे॒द॒ । श॒फऽव॑त् । नमे॑ । गोः । गुहा॑ । हि॒तम् । गुह्य॑म् । गू॒ळ्हम् । अ॒प्ऽसु । हस्ते॑ । द॒धे॒ । दक्षि॑णे । दक्षि॑णऽवान् ॥
indraḥ | madhu | sam-bhṛtam | usriyāyām | pat-vat | viveda | śapha-vat | name | goḥ | guhā | hitam | guhyam | gūḷham | ap-su | haste | dadhe | dakṣiṇe | dakṣiṇa-vān
44
4 × ~11
Investigative, ‘tracking’ movement in the first half; concluding gesture of secure possession (‘haste dadhe’).
Leads the mind from seeking to discovery to holding—useful for stabilizing bliss and confidence.
- madhu
- Literal: honey, sweetness. Symbolic: Ananda/bliss; the delight-principle gathered in consciousness
- sambhṛtam
- Literal: collected, stored. Symbolic: concentrated essence of delight accumulated through inner work
- usrīyā (go)
- Literal: the shining cow. Symbolic: luminous ray/illumined consciousness that carries delight
- padvat
- Literal: having the track/footing; track-knowing. Symbolic: right path, sure intuitive guidance
- śaphavat
- Literal: with hoof; by hoof-mark. Symbolic: marks of right energy-movement in the vital; practical signs in life
- guha / guhya / gūḻha
- Literal: cave; secret; hidden. Symbolic: subconscient depth where delight is concealed
- apsu
- Literal: in the waters. Symbolic: in vital currents, life-energies, subconscious flow
- dakṣiṇa (haste)
- Literal: right hand. Symbolic: right discernment and effective distribution of the gained delight (dakṣiṇā)
Indra praised as discoverer of madhu (delight) hidden in the luminous source; relevant to Soma context where sweetness/intoxication symbolizes divine delight recovered and established.
Indra-Soma sequences; imagery of madhu aligns with Soma symbolism in pressing/offering contexts.
Praise to invoke discovery of the hidden essence and its right enjoyment/distribution (dakṣiṇā).
Meditation for recovering joy from beneath stress: chant, then feel for a ‘sweetness’ behind sensations and emotions; hold it steadily and act from it.
madhu: from √mad ‘to be sweet/intoxicating, delight’; becomes delight-essence of realization. dakṣiṇa: from √dakṣ ‘be able, skillful’; ritual ‘fee’ is outer form, inner sense is right-disposing power and effective capacity. apsu (ap-) ‘waters’ as undifferentiated life-stuff; guhā ‘cave’ as hidden layer of consciousness. √dhā in dadhe indicates stabilization of the found essence in the right capacity.
hidden delight within life-waters, right-hand/right power (dakṣiṇa), discovery and establishment (√vid, √dhā)
The ‘track’ (padvat) is the way of R̥ta—right movement that leads to hidden truth and delight.
True delight is not fabricated; it is discovered as a concealed reality and then rightly held.
Extraction of essence: the universe hides its sweetness in depths; the gods bring it out for conscious life.
Aurobindonian: Ananda concealed in the subconscient/vital, recovered by illumined mind and right will.
Honey = bliss; cow = ray of knowledge; track/hoof = practical guidance in life-energy; cave/waters = subconscient/vital depths.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The recovery of hidden madhu (sweet essence/delight) concealed in the cave and waters, associated with the luminous Cow (ray). Indra not only finds but establishes it in the ‘right hand’—secured possession of delight and knowledge.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √dhā (dadhé) continues PIE *dʰeh₁- ‘to put, set’ (cf. Greek tithēmi). The inherited verb supports the semantic of ‘establishing’ the recovered essence as a stable attainment, not a fleeting experience.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi praises Indra as the one who can retrieve and stabilize the secret sweetness of existence. The implicit request is that Indra perform the same act in the seeker: bring delight-knowledge out of concealment and fix it in the right capacity (dakṣiṇa).
Recover ‘madhu’ in the waters: sense a subtle sweetness in the breath and in the vital currents; let Indra’s clarity hold it steady.
Svādhiṣṭhāna (waters/vital sweetness) rising to Anāhata (joy) and Ājñā (right discernment)
Slow inhale 5, exhale 7 for 12 rounds; on exhale feel ‘honey’ spreading; then rest in stillness.
Quiet joy held in lucid awareness; stable possession without excitement.
After chanting, place attention in the lower abdomen (waters), then ‘lift’ the sweetness to the heart; finally stabilize it at the brow as a clear, right-handed poise before returning to action.
Use Saṃhitā accents; keep clear rises on índro and dáksiṇāvān; maintain evenness through compound clusters (sambhṛtam, usriyāyām).
Slightly emphasize the ‘finding’ verbs (viveda, dadhe) with clean articulation rather than volume.
(sambhṛtam): ‘mbh’ voiced aspirate—do not drop ‘bh’, (usriyāyām): keep ‘yāyām’ flowing, (gūḻham): retroflex ḻ/ḍh-like sound—chant as a heavy retroflex ‘ḍh’ in many recitation traditions
Soft but precise, inward, resonant; let the final pāda settle like a seal.
3
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