Rig Veda 3.33.2: Mandala 3, Sukta 33, Mantra 2
Sukta 3.33
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Vipāṭ and Śutudrī
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
इन्द्रेषिते प्रसवं भिक्षमाणे अच्छा समुद्रं रथ्येव याथः । समाराणे ऊर्मिभिः पिन्वमाने अन्या वामन्यामप्येति शुभ्रे ॥
índreṣite prasaváṃ bhíkṣamāṇe ácchā samudráṃ rathyéva yāthaḥ | samārāṇé ūrmíbhiḥ pínvamāne anyā́ vām anyā́m ápy eti śubhre ||
ఇంద్రుని ప్రేరణతో, ముందుకు నడిపే ప్రవాహాన్ని యాచిస్తూ, మీరు ఇద్దరూ రాజమార్గంపై రథాలవలె సముద్రం వైపు సాగుతారు. అలలతో ఉబ్బి, సంగమ పోటీలో, హే శుభ్రే, మీలో ఒక ప్రకాశవంతమైన ధార మరొకదానికి దగ్గరవుతుంది—ఒకే ప్రవాహంగా ఏకమవాలని కోరుతూ.
Word by Word
- इन्द्रे॑षिते
- when/under the impulse sent by IndraAdjective (past passive participle used adjectivally)द्विवचन, सप्तमी (locative) / वैदिक प्रयोगे ‘इन्द्रे’ (सप्तमी) + ‘इषिते’ (सप्तमी-द्विवचन/सप्तमी-एकवचन-रूपसदृश; अर्थतः ‘इन्द्रेण प्रेरिते’)Role Adhikaraṇa (स्थितिः/निमित्त-आधारः: ‘इन्द्र-प्रेरणे’)Root इन्द्र- + इषित (√इष् ‘प्रेरणे’ का क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त) अथवा √इष्/√इष्-प्रेरण
- प्रस॒वम्
- the onward impulse / setting in motionNounपुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीयाRole KarmaRoot प्रसव- (प्र + √सू ‘प्रसवे/जनने’ → प्रसव)
- भिक्ष॑माणे
- (you two) begging/entreatingVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शानच्), आत्मनेपद, द्विवचन, प्रथमा (सम्बोधन/वर्णन), पुल्लिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग-सामान्य (युगल-कर्तृ)Role KartāRoot √भिक्ष् ‘याचने’
- अच्छा॑
- towardsIndeclinableअव्ययRole Adhikaraṇa (गत्यर्थ-उपपद: ‘towards’)Root अच्छा (निपात)
- समु॒द्रम्
- the sea / oceanNounपुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीयाRole Karma (गन्तव्य)Root समुद्र-
- र॒थ्ये॑
- as on a chariot-road / like a chariot (in course)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (उपमान-विशेषण; ‘रथ्यं’ इव—वैदिके दीर्घ/स्वरभेद)Role Karaṇa (उपमान-प्रकारेण)Root रथ्य- (रथ + यत्; ‘रथ-सम्बन्धी/रथ-मार्गीय’)
- इव
- likeIndeclinableअव्ययRoot इव
- याथः
- you two go / you two proceedVerbलट्/लुङ्-प्रयोगसम्भवः; रूपतः 2nd person dual, परस्मैपद (वैदिक ‘याथः’ = ‘you two go/went’)Role KartāRoot √या ‘गत्यर्थे’
- स॒मा॒रा॒णे
- in the encounter / in the confluence (of the streams)Noun (locative) / verbal-nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्विवचन, सप्तमी (स्थाने/अवस्थायाम्)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot सम्-आ-√रि/√अर्? (समाराण- ‘संयुद्ध/प्रतिस्पर्धा/समागम’ अर्थे; वैदिक पद)
- ऊ॒र्मिभिः
- with waves / surgesNounपुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, तृतीयाRole KaraṇaRoot ऊर्मि-
- पिन्व॑माने
- (you two) swelling / being made to swellVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शानच्), आत्मनेपद, द्विवचन, प्रथमाRole Kartā (सह-कर्तृ: नद्यौ)Root √पिव्/√पिन् ‘प्रीणने/वर्धने’ (पिन्वते)
- अ॒न्या
- one (of the two)Pronoun/Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमाRole KartāRoot अन्य-
- वाम्
- of you two / you twoPronounद्विवचन, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध) / द्वितीया (कर्म) — अत्र ‘you two’ (gen./acc.)Role Sampradāna/Adhikaraṇa (सम्बन्धार्थे: ‘of you two’)Root युष्मद् (द्वितीया/षष्ठी द्विवचन: वाम्)
- अ॒न्याम्
- the other (one)Pronoun/Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीयाRole KarmaRoot अन्य-
- अपि
- also / furtherIndeclinableअव्ययRoot अपि
- एति
- goes / approachesVerbलट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole KartāRoot √इ ‘गत्यर्थे’
- शुभ्रे
- O bright/gleaming (two)Adjective (vocative)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्विवचन, सम्बोधन (हे शुभ्रे—‘O bright ones’)Role SambodhanaRoot शुभ्र-
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सम्भाव्य): इन्द्रे॑षिते | प्रस॒वम् | भिक्ष॑माणे | अच्छा॑ | समु॒द्रम् | र॒थ्ये॑व (= रथ्ये + इव) | याथः | स॒मा॒रा॒णे | ऊ॒र्मिभिः | पिन्व॑माने | अ॒न्या | वाम् | अ॒न्याम् | अपि | एति | शुभ्रे । मुख्य संधि: रथ्ये॑व = रथ्ये + इव (ए + इ → एव)
- अन्यत्र स्पष्ट संधि-परिवर्तन न्यून।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Impelled by Indra, requesting the forward drive, the two rivers go to the ocean like chariots on a road; swelling with waves as they rush together, one bright stream approaches the other.
Inner meaning
Under Indra’s impulsion (illumined mind guiding the movement), the twin currents ask for ‘prasava’—the forward release/propulsion of their energy. They move toward the ocean (samudra) which, inwardly, is the vastness of consciousness where separate streams unite. As waves rise (ūrmibhiḥ), the energies intensify; the bright currents draw together, indicating integration—emotion and life-force, or two complementary movements of consciousness, seeking union in a single, greater flow.
Universal truth
Right guidance turns scattered energies into coordinated movement. When inner forces are propelled toward vastness, they naturally converge and integrate, creating a fuller and more powerful life-current.
Themes
River hymn, Guidance by Indra, Confluence/unification, Ordered movement
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Kauśika
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 3.33.1-13
Family tradition
Vision of guided movement—crossings and unions under divine leadership; the journey motif becomes inner integration.
Significance
Shows that the ‘waters’ do not merely flow; they ask, are guided, and unite—suggesting conscious collaboration of inner energies with higher mind.
The deity
- Devata
- Vipāṭ and Śutudrī (under Indra’s impulsion)
- Epithets
- Śubhre (bright)
- Related deities
- Indra, Sindhu, Āpas
Cosmic role
Converging streams moving toward the oceanic totality; carriers of nourishment and ordered motion.
Inner power
Coordinated currents of prāṇa and emotion-intelligence aligning to a higher aim.
In ritual
Where it is used
Water invocations and journey/crossing hymns; also in praise sequences acknowledging Indra’s governance of waters.
इन्द्रे॑षिते प्रस॒वं भिक्ष॑माणे॒ अच्छा॑ समु॒द्रं र॒थ्ये॑व याथः । स॒मा॒रा॒णे ऊ॒र्मिभि॒: पिन्व॑माने अ॒न्या वा॑म॒न्यामप्ये॑ति शुभ्रे ॥
इन्द्रे॑षिते॒ इतीन्द्र॑ऽइषिते । प्र॒ऽस॒वम् । भिक्ष॑माणे॒ इति॑ । अच्छ॑ । स॒मु॒द्रम् । र॒थ्या॑ऽइव । या॒थः॒ । स॒मा॒रा॒णे इति॑ स॒म्ऽआ॒रा॒णे । ऊ॒र्मिऽभिः॑ । पिन्व॑माने॒ इति॑ । अ॒न्या । वा॒म् । अ॒न्याम् । अपि॑ । ए॒ति॒ । शु॒भ्रे॒ इति॑ ॥
indreṣiteitīndra-iṣite | pra-savam | bhikṣamāṇeiti | accha | samudram | rathyāiva | yāthaḥ | samārāṇe itisam-ārāṇe | ūrmi-bhiḥ | pinvamāneiti | anyā | vām | anyām | api | eti | śubhreit i
48
4 × ~12 syllables
Processional, road-like movement; long lines that suggest onward travel and convergence.
Creates a felt sense of being carried forward; supports visualization of energies moving toward unity.
- इन्द्रेषिते (indreṣite)
- Literal: impelled by Indra. Symbolic: guided by illumined intelligence rather than blind impulse
- प्रसवम् (prasavam)
- Literal: impulsion, forward driving. Symbolic: release of blocked energy; initiation of progressive movement
- समुद्रम् (samudram)
- Literal: ocean. Symbolic: infinite consciousness; the one vast in which all currents meet
- रथ्या इव (rathyā iva)
- Literal: like (on) a chariot-road. Symbolic: ordered, r̥ta-aligned path of movement
- ऊर्मिभिः (ūrmibhiḥ)
- Literal: with waves. Symbolic: surging intensities of prāṇa/feeling as transformation accelerates
- शुभ्रे (śubhre)
- Literal: bright, pure. Symbolic: purified currents of consciousness moving without mixture of obscurity
River-pacification and safe crossing; invoking Indra’s governance over the waters’ movement
When invoking safe movement and auspicious convergence; thematically in rites emphasizing ‘prasava’ (forward release).
Stuti and request for impulsion; harmonizing forces for successful passage.
Use when seeking integration—balancing work/rest, mind/heart, discipline/joy; helpful before major decisions to align forces.
indreṣite is instrumental/locative sense ‘by Indra-impelled’ (iṣita from √iṣ). prasava from pra-√sū ‘impel, set flowing’ (also used for ‘release’). pinvamāne from √pinv ‘to cause to swell, make abundant’ (related to nourishment/expansion). samudra ‘gathering of waters’ (sam-udra) → totality. rathyā ‘chariot-road’ marks ordered motion (ṛta-like).
Prasava (divine impulsion) as evolutionary push, Convergence into unity (integration of forces), Indra as governor of dynamic energies
The ‘rathyā’ image indicates movement on the right track—energies guided by r̥ta rather than chaos.
Brightness (śubhra) implies truth-purity in the converging currents.
Many streams seeking the One; manifestation returning to the vast source.
Integral yoga reading: convergence of parts of nature into a higher unity under illumined mind.
Guided energies (waters) move along an ordered path toward vast consciousness; intensification (waves) precedes union.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Waters driven by Indra toward the oceanic fullness: the paired streams swell and converge, a mythic figure for guided energies uniting into a greater wholeness.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √iṣ ‘impel’ is Indo-Iranian and supports a common poetic theme of ‘divine impulsion’. samudrá as ‘gathering’ parallels inherited cosmological imagery of waters as totality. The chariot-road simile reflects an Indo-European formula linking movement, order, and the path (cf. poetic ‘way’ as cosmic order).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer recognizes the rivers’ motion as not random but Indra-directed (indreṣite): by naming the divine impulsion (prasava), he aligns human passage with the higher governance of energies.
Offer the day’s energies to a higher guidance (Indra) and feel them moving toward the ‘ocean’ of wide awareness.
Ājñā guiding the flow into Anāhata (harmonious union) and Svādhiṣṭhāna (waters).
Alternate-nostril breathing (nāḍī-śodhana) to enact ‘one approaches the other’; finish with both-nostril slow exhale into spacious awareness.
Integrated flow-state; widening toward quiet vastness.
When inner parts conflict, mentally repeat indreṣite… and visualize two bright streams converging; choose the ‘rathyā’—the most orderly next step.
Keep Jagatī’s long breath-lines; preserve udatta on indreṣite, prasavam, samudram, śubhre.
Slight rhythmic emphasis on rathyeva yāthaḥ to evoke ‘road-motion’; keep smooth linking across sandhi.
indreṣite: pronounce ṣ clearly (retroflex), bhikṣamāṇe: kṣ cluster clean; long āṇe, samārāṇe: long ā, rolled r, ūrmibhiḥ: long ū; bh as aspirated voiced
Even, flowing, sustained; avoid percussive stops except for kṣ/ṭ clusters.
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