Rig Veda 1.52.12: Mandala 1, Sukta 52, Mantra 12
Sukta 1.52
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
त्वमस्य पारे रजसो व्योमनः स्वभूत्योजा अवसे धृषन्मनः । चकृषे भूमिं प्रतिमानमोजसोऽपः स्वः परिभूरेष्या दिवम् ॥
tvám asyá pāré rájasaḥ vyòmanaḥ svabhū́ty-ojā́ aváse dhṛ́ṣan-manaḥ | cakṛ́ṣe bhū́miṃ prati-mā́nám ójasaḥ ’páḥ svàḥ paribhū́r eṣyā́ dívam ||
నీవు ఈ రజస్ (మధ్యలోక) అవతల, విస్తారమైన వ్యోమనంలో స్థితుడవు; స్వయంజాత ఓజస్సుతో బలవంతుడవు, మా అవసరానికి, హే ధృషన్మనః! నీవు పృథివిని నీ బలానికి ప్రతిమానం చేశావు; ఆపః మరియు స్వః (దీప్త లోకం) ను పరిభూతం చేసి, ద్యౌ (స్వర్గం) వైపు నీవు సాగుతున్నావు.
Word by Word
- त्वम्
- thou (you)Pronounपुं/स्त्री/नपुं; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot युष्मद्
- अस्य
- of this (of it)Pronounपुं/नपुं; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot इदम्
- पारे
- on the far sideNounनपुंसक; सप्तमी; एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot पार (प्रातिपदिक)
- रजसः
- of the space/region (rajas)Nounनपुंसक; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot रजस्
- व्योमनः
- of the sky/firmamentNounनपुंसक; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot व्योमन्
- स्वभूति
- by (thy) own might/natural powerNounस्त्री; तृतीया; एकवचनRole करणRoot स्वभूति (प्रातिपदिक) < स्व + भूति
- ओजाः
- strength, vigorNounनपुंसक; प्रथमा; एकवचन (वैदिक रूप: ओजाः = ओजः)Role कर्तृ (विशेषणवत्)Root ओजस्
- अवसे
- for help, for aidNounनपुंसक; चतुर्थी; एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot अवस्
- धृषन्मनः
- having daring mind; bold-mindedAdjective (epithet)नपुंसक; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ (त्वम्-सम्बन्धि विशेषण)Root धृषन्-मन् (बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय: धृषन् + मनस्)
- चकृषे
- thou hast madeVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole क्रियाRoot कृ
- भूमिम्
- the earthNounस्त्री; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot भूमि
- प्रतिमानम्
- a measure, standard, counterpartNounनपुंसक; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्म (भूमिम्-विशेषण/अपादानार्थक-उपमानभाव)Root प्रतिमान (प्रातिपदिक)
- ओजसः
- of strengthNounनपुंसक; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot ओजस्
- अपः
- the watersNounस्त्री; द्वितीया; बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot अप्
- स्वः
- the heaven, the luminous worldNounनपुंसक; द्वितीया; एकवचन (वैदिक अव्ययीभाववत्)Role कर्म/अधिकरण (गन्तव्य)Root स्वर्
- परिभूः
- overpowering, surpassingVerb (participial/nominal form)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/क्विप्-प्राय); प्रथमा; एकवचन; पुं (इन्द्र-विशेषण)Role कर्तृ (त्वम्-सम्बन्धि विशेषण)Root परि-भू
- एष्याः
- going to go; about to reachVerb (future/gerundive-like form)भविष्यत् कृदन्त/विशेषण; प्रथमा; एकवचन; पुं (त्वम्-सम्बन्धि)Role कर्तृ (त्वम्-सम्बन्धि विशेषण)Root इष्/एष् (गमनार्थ) अथवा √इ (एष्य- भविष्यत् कृदन्त)
- दिवम्
- the heaven, skyNounस्त्री; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्म/अधिकरण (गन्तव्य)Root द्यौ/दिव्
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (major): रजसो व्योमनः → रजसः व्योमनः (visarga before v)
- स्वभूत्योजाः → स्वभूति ओजाः
- ओजसोऽपः → ओजसः अपः (’ = avagraha for a-sandhi)
- स्वः परिभूरेष्या → स्वः परिभूः एष्याः (interpreting paribhūḥ as epithet and eṣyāḥ as future kṛdanta; pada-text style separates). Accent marks in the saṃhitā are not reproduced in the pada forms here
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra is described as transcending the mid-region (rajas/antarikṣa), vast in extension, self-born in power, acting for our aid. He measures Earth by his might, encompasses the waters and the luminous world (svaḥ), and moves toward Heaven.
Inner meaning
Indra is the awakened illumined Mind in us that exceeds the intermediate field of mixed desire-thought (rajas). “Self-born in might” points to an inner luminosity that arises from the soul’s own truth, not from external stimulus. He “makes Earth a measure of power”: the embodied nature (physical consciousness) becomes a stable base and instrument for the higher force. Encompassing the waters (inner currents of life and feeling) and the luminous world (svaḥ = higher mind/clarity), the consciousness ascends toward Heaven (dyu = supramental/light of Truth).
Universal truth
True mastery is not escape from embodiment but the transformation of it: the higher intelligence establishes measure, order, and ascent by taking up life-forces and clarifying them into luminous knowledge.
Themes
transcendent Indra, cosmic ordering, ascent and encompassing
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Viśvāmitra (Gāthin lineage)
- Other hymns
- RV 1.50, RV 3.62 (Gāyatrī), RV 1.51, RV 1.53
Family tradition
Kṣatriya-turned-brahmarṣi; hymns of dynamic ascent, Indra as inner conquering light
Significance
Viśvāmitra’s vision often maps the yogic progression: from the mixed mid-world to the luminous svar and toward div—an archetype of inner conquest and widening.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- dhṛṣanmanaḥ (daring-minded), svabhūty-ojāḥ (self-born in might), paribhūḥ (all-encompassing)
- Related deities
- Maruts, Agni, Soma, Viśve Devāḥ
Cosmic role
Breaker of obstructions, establisher of the luminous world (svar), measurer and organizer of the worlds for the sacrifice.
Inner power
Illumined intelligence and decisive will that takes up body and life, orders them, and leads consciousness upward.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-stotras in Soma-yajña sequences; recitation in Indra-focused śastra/stotra contexts
त्वम॒स्य पा॒रे रज॑सो॒ व्यो॑मन॒: स्वभू॑त्योजा॒ अव॑से धृषन्मनः । च॒कृ॒षे भूमिं॑ प्रति॒मान॒मोज॑सो॒ऽपः स्व॑: परि॒भूरे॒ष्या दिव॑म् ॥
त्वम् । अ॒स्य । पा॒रे । रज॑सः । विऽओ॑मनः । स्वभू॑तिऽओजाः । अव॑से । धृ॒ष॒त्ऽम॒नः॒ । च॒कृ॒षे । भूमि॑म् । प्र॒ति॒ऽमान॑म् । ओज॑सः । अ॒पः । स्वरिति॑ स्वः॑ । प॒रि॒ऽभूः । ए॒षि॒ । आ । दिव॑म् ॥
tvam | asya | pāre | rajasaḥ | vi-omanaḥ | svabhūti-ojāḥ | avase | dhṛṣat-manaḥ | cakṛṣe | bhūmim | prati-mānam | ojasaḥ | apaḥ | [svar iti] svaḥ | pari-bhūḥ | eṣi | ā | divam
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables each
Forward-driving, martial yet expansive cadence suited to ascent and proclamation.
Builds a sense of widening and upward surge; supports confident invocation of inner strength.
- राजसः (rajas)
- Literal: mid-region, atmosphere. Symbolic: intermediate plane of mixed impulses, desire-mind, vital-mental turbulence
- व्योमनः (vyoman)
- Literal: wide space, firmament. Symbolic: vast inner expanse of consciousness beyond constriction
- स्वभूत्योजाः (svabhūty-ojāḥ)
- Literal: self-born in strength. Symbolic: autonomous spiritual force arising from the inner being
- अवसे (avase)
- Literal: for help, aid. Symbolic: grace/support of the illumined power in sādhanā
- भूमिम् (bhūmim)
- Literal: earth. Symbolic: physical nature/body-consciousness as foundation
- प्रतिमानम् (pratimānam)
- Literal: measure, standard. Symbolic: right proportion and law established in the embodied life
- अपः (apaḥ)
- Literal: waters. Symbolic: life-energies, emotional-vital currents, flowing consciousness
- स्वः (svaḥ)
- Literal: luminous world. Symbolic: clarified mind, higher mental light (svar) leading upward
- दिवम् (divam)
- Literal: heaven. Symbolic: plane of truth-light; highest illumination
Invokes Indra as transcendent and ordering power; suitable for rites seeking protection (avase) and ascent.
During Soma pressings and Indra invocations for victory, rain, and strength
Praise (stuti) to summon Indra; offering of Soma and oblations accompanied by Triṣṭubh verses
Use as an ascent-mantra: stabilizing the body (bhūmi) while gathering life-waters (apaḥ) into luminous clarity (svaḥ) for higher meditation.
rajas as the mid-region becomes psychologically the intermediate vital-mental field. vyoman 'open space' indicates wideness of consciousness. svabhūti-ojāḥ: ojas as innate puissance; svabhūti as self-existent arising. prati-mānam (measure) from √mā 'measure' implies establishing order/ṛta in the earth-nature.
transcendence beyond rajas, ordering measure (pratimāna) akin to ṛta, ascent toward div (higher consciousness)
“Pratimāna” suggests ṛta as measure—Indra establishes proportion and law across planes.
Indra’s self-born might implies truth-force not dependent on outer conditions.
Worlds are arranged and linked: earth as base, waters as flow, svar as luminous domain, div as summit.
Proto-Vedāntic and integral-yogic reading: ascent and transformation rather than world-negation.
From turbulent intermediate consciousness to stable embodiment, then purification of life-currents into luminous mind, culminating in ascent to truth-light.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra as the transcendent power beyond the mid-region, who measures/sets Earth and encompasses waters and svàr, moving toward heaven. Inner sense: the illumined force establishes right proportion in the embodied nature and leads the being upward beyond the intermediate turbulence.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √mā 'measure' continues PIE *meh₁- 'to measure' (cf. Greek metron, Latin mensura). The spatial cosmology (earth/midspace/heaven) is a shared IE poetic architecture.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi appeals 'for help' (avase): Indra’s transcendence is invoked not as distant metaphysics but as active aid that re-measures the earth-nature and carries the seeker toward higher realization.
Widening beyond the ‘mid-region’ of restless thought; establishing the body as a calm base while lifting awareness toward higher light.
ājnā (illumined mind) with grounding through mūlādhāra (earth-base)
Slow inhalation imagining ascent from navel/heart to brow; gentle kumbhaka to ‘hold’ luminous space (vyoman).
From rajasic mixing to sattvic clarity and upward opening.
Begin seated, feel the body as bhūmi (stable). On each recitation gather emotional ‘waters’ into the heart, then lift to brow as svar-light; end with silent attention above the head as ‘divam’.
Vedic svara as per Śākala tradition; follow padapāṭha for word boundaries; primary udatta peaks often on key invocatory words (tvam, indra-related epithets).
Keep udatta clear and lifted; anudatta soft and low; svarita as a controlled fall—avoid flattening the cadence of Triṣṭubh.
Differentiate (ra-ja-saḥ) from (rājas)., Pronounce vyomanaḥ with clear ‘vyo’ glide (vyo-ma-naḥ)., svabhūtyojāḥ: keep the conjunct -tyo- clean (svabhū-tyo-jāḥ)., paribhūḥ: long ū and visarga lightly released.
Steady, resonant, slightly forceful on ascent phrases (ā divam).
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