Rig Veda 1.104.7: Mandala 1, Sukta 104, Mantra 7
Sukta 1.104
- Rishi
- Kutsa Āṅgirasa
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
अधा मन्ये श्रत्ते अस्मा अधायि वृषा चोदस्व महते धनाय । मा नो अकृते पुरुहूत योनाविन्द्र क्षुध्यद्भ्यो वय आसुतिं दाः ॥
ádhā manye śrát te asmai adhāyi vṛ́ṣā codasva mahaté dhánāya | mā́ no ákṛte puruhūta yónāv índra kṣúdhyadbhyo váya āsutíṃ dāḥ ||
แล้วข้าพเจ้าก็เห็นว่า ศรัทธาได้ถูกวางไว้ในพระองค์เพื่อเขา; โอ้พฤษภา โปรดเร่งเราสู่ทรัพย์อันยิ่งใหญ่. โอ้ผู้ถูกอัญเชิญเนืองนิตย์ อย่าทอดเราไว้ในครรภ์ที่ยังไม่ก่อรูป; โอ้อินทรา โปรดประทานแก่พลังที่หิวโหยซึ่งลมหายใจแห่งชีวิตและการคั้นโสม (suti)—โภชนะแห่งเครื่องบูชา.
Word by Word
- अधा
- then, thereuponIndeclinableअव्ययRole Adhikaraṇa (वाक्य-सम्बन्ध/काल-क्रम)Root अध (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
- मन्ये
- I think, I deemVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचनRole Kartā (अहं)Root √मन् (मन्यते)
- श्रत्
- truly, indeed (assuredly)Indeclinableअव्ययRoot श्रत् (अव्यय/निपात; ‘श्रद्धा/श्रत्’)
- ते
- of you, yourPronounषष्ठी, एकवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)Root त्वद् (युष्मद्-प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्मै
- to this one (to him)Pronounचतुर्थी, एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot अयम्/इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अधायि
- was placed/establishedVerbलुङ् (अorist), कर्मणि (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole Karma (कर्मणि-प्रयोग; ‘श्रत् ते’ इत्यस्य स्थापनम्)Root √धा
- वृषा
- the Bull (mighty one)Noun (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (सम्बोधनार्थे/कर्तृ-विशेषण)Root वृषन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- चोदस्व
- impel, urgeVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole Kartā (त्वम्)Root √चुद् (चोदयति)
- महते
- for great (gain)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (अर्थतः ‘धन’ इत्यस्य), चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole Sampradāna (उद्देश्य/प्रयोजन)Root महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- धनाय
- for wealth, for prizeNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot धन (प्रातिपदिक)
- मा
- do notIndeclinableअव्यय (निषेध)Root मा (निषेध-अव्यय)
- नः
- of us, ourPronounषष्ठी (एन्क्लिटिक; ‘our’) / कर्तरि-सम्बन्धRole SambandhaRoot अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अकृते
- in the unmade/undone (state), without accomplishmentAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot अकृत (न-कृत; प्रातिपदिक)
- पुरुहूत
- O much-invoked oneNoun (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole SambodhanaRoot पुरुहूत (प्रातिपदिक; इन्द्र-विशेषण)
- योनौ
- in the womb/seat, in the abodeNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole SambodhanaRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- क्षुध्यद्भ्यः
- to the hungry onesParticiple (adjectival)पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी/पञ्चमी, बहुवचन (प्रयोगे दान-सम्प्रदानः)Role SampradānaRoot √क्षुध् (क्षुध्यति) → क्षुध्यत् (वर्तमान-कृदन्त)
- वयः
- strength, vital powerNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (अत्र दान-वस्तु; द्वितीया)Role KarmaRoot वयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- आसुतिम्
- pressed (Soma) draught, libationNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot आसुति (प्रातिपदिक)
- दाः
- giveVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole Kartā (त्वम्)Root √दा (ददाति)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (pada-splitting): श्रत्ते → श्रत् + ते (final -t before enclitic te)
- अस्मा अधायि → अस्मै + अधायि (RV often shows अस्मा for अस्मै before vowel)
- चोदस्व महते → चोदस्व + महते (no further change)
- मा नो अकृते → मा + नः + अकृते
- पुरुहूत योना → पुरुहूत + योनौ (underlying loc. sg. योनौ; pada text often shows yoṇā/yonā by phonetic/metrical variant)
- क्षुध्यद्भ्यो वय → क्षुध्यद्भ्यः + वयः
- वय आसुतिं → वयः + आसुतिम् (visarga lost before vowel in saṃhitā)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The speaker thinks faith has been placed in Indra; he asks the Bull to impel them toward great treasure; he asks not to leave them in an ‘unmade womb’; and to give to the hungry powers life-force and the pressing/oblation.
Inner meaning
Śraddhā is established in Indra: the will to trust illumination. Indra as Vṛṣā (Bull) is the virile force of the illumined mind that drives the being toward ‘mahat dhana’—the great treasure of light, power, and bliss. ‘Akṛta yoni’ is an unformed matrix: a state where the new consciousness has not yet been shaped, leaving the seeker vulnerable to regression. The ‘hungry powers’ are parts of the nature that crave sustenance; the prayer is to give them ‘vayaḥ’ (life-force, strength) and ‘āsuti’ (the pressing/outpouring—Soma as delight) so they are converted and nourished by the offering rather than turning hostile.
Universal truth
Faith must be energized into movement toward a higher treasure. Transitional formlessness is dangerous; the lower parts must be fed with a higher nourishment so they cooperate in transformation.
Themes
faith and empowerment, spiritual wealth (dhana), Soma extraction and nourishment
The seer
- Rishi
- Kutsa Āṅgirasa
- Lineage
- Āṅgirasa
- Other hymns
- RV 1.104, RV 1.105
Family tradition
Āṅgirasa seers emphasize śraddhā, the finding of treasure (dhana), and the shaping of the inner being as a fit vessel for the gods.
Significance
Kutsa links faith with formation: the new birth must be ‘made’ (kṛta) by divine force; otherwise the seeker remains in a precarious womb-state.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Vṛṣā (Bull), Puruhūta (much-invoked)
- Related deities
- Soma, Agni, Bṛhaspati
Cosmic role
Impeller toward the vast treasure; protector and fulfiller of the sacrifice; giver of strength and Soma-ecstasy.
Inner power
Dynamic drive of illumined mind that shapes a new foundation (yoni) and feeds lower nature with higher delight.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing context; prayer for dhana and strength during offerings
अधा॑ मन्ये॒ श्रत्ते॑ अस्मा अधायि॒ वृषा॑ चोदस्व मह॒ते धना॑य । मा नो॒ अकृ॑ते पुरुहूत॒ योना॒विन्द्र॒ क्षुध्य॑द्भ्यो॒ वय॑ आसु॒तिं दा॑: ॥
अध॑ । म॒न्ये॒ । श्रत् । ते॒ । अ॒स्मै॒ । अ॒धा॒यि॒ । वृषा॑ । चो॒द॒स्व॒ । म॒ह॒ते । धना॑य । मा । नः॒ । अकृ॑ते । पु॒रु॒ऽहू॒त॒ । योनौ॑ । इन्द्र॑ । क्षुध्य॑त्ऽभ्यः । वयः॑ । आ॒ऽसु॒तिम् । दाः॒ ॥
adha | manye | śrat | te | asmai | adhāyi | vṛṣā | codasva | mahate | dhanāya | mā | naḥ | akṛte | puru-hūta | yonau | indra | kṣudhyat-bhyaḥ | vayaḥ | āsutim | dāḥ
44
4 × ~11
Ascending push—imperatives (codasva, dāḥ) create propulsion.
Stimulates aspiration and forward drive; helps break inertia in the ‘unmade’ phase.
- श्रत् / श्रद्धा (śrat/śraddhā)
- Literal: faith, trust. Symbolic: the soul’s assent that opens to higher working
- वृषा (vṛṣā)
- Literal: bull. Symbolic: virile force of illumination; impeller of progress
- महतॆ धनाय (mahate dhanāya)
- Literal: to the great treasure. Symbolic: vast riches of consciousness—light, power, joy
- अकृते योनौ (akṛte yonau)
- Literal: in an unmade womb/matrix. Symbolic: unformed transitional consciousness; unstable inner foundation
- क्षुध्यद्भ्यः (kṣudhyadbhyaḥ)
- Literal: to the hungry. Symbolic: craving parts of the vital/physical needing right nourishment
- वयः (vayaḥ)
- Literal: vigor, life-force. Symbolic: strength that supports growth and right functioning
- आसुतिम् (āsutim)
- Literal: the pressing/outpouring. Symbolic: Soma-flow—delight/essence offered and received
Soma-pressing context explicit (āsuti): prayer that Indra empower the extraction and distribution of essence, and not leave the rite/seeker in an unprepared base.
At moments of invoking Indra’s impulsion and asking for nourishment/strength for participants.
Recite with intention of ‘pressing’ inner Soma—offering delight upward and receiving force downward.
Use when feeling unformed, stuck, or craving: convert craving into aspiration; ask for right nourishment (Soma-delight) rather than compulsive substitutes.
śrat (from śrad/śraddhā complex) + √dhā ‘place’ (adhāyi passive/aorist). √cud ‘to impel’ (codasva). dhána ‘treasure’ from √dhan ‘to run/strike?’ (etymologies vary; in Vedic, dhana is ‘wealth/booty’ elevated here to plenitude). kṣudh ‘hunger’ (kṣudhyat-). āsutí from ā-√su ‘to press out, extract’ (Soma pressing).
śraddhā (installed faith) as operative force, yoni as prepared foundation of becoming, hunger as lack of delight/force in the system
The ‘made womb’ is an ordered foundation aligned to ṛta; the unmade is disorder and risk.
Faith placed in Indra implies commitment to truth-guided action.
Formation (kṛ) of a yoni mirrors cosmic creation: shaping a matrix for the new birth of consciousness.
Yoga of transformation: lower nature must be nourished and reorganized by higher force and delight.
Bull = driving power; womb = formative field of becoming; pressing = extraction of essence (delight) from experience for offering.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The establishment of śraddhā and the request for Soma-essence: a mythologem of ‘installed faith → divine impulsion → great treasure’, where Indra must not leave the seeker in an unformed womb but must feed hungry powers with extracted nectar.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √dhā (PIE *dʰeh₁-) is prominent (adhāyi). √dā (PIE *deh₃-) appears in dāḥ ‘give’. These core IE verbs anchor the verse’s reciprocity: placing faith and receiving gift.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asserts that faith has been placed in Indra and therefore demands the corresponding divine action: impulsion toward great plenitude and the giving of life-force and Soma-essence to what is hungry in the human vessel.
Stabilize faith; invite a shaping force into the ‘unformed’ inner space; feed cravings with higher delight.
maṇipūra (drive/strength) with support to svādhiṣṭhāna (craving/flow)
Kapalabhati light (30–60 strokes) to awaken drive, then slow breathing and chant to ‘shape’ the inner womb.
From formless vulnerability and hunger to formed aspiration with sustained energy and delight.
Name the ‘hungry powers’ (restlessness, desire, fatigue) without shame; ask Indra for vayaḥ (clean strength) and āsuti (inner sweetness). Let the craving become fuel for the offering.
Vedic udātta/anudātta/svarita; keep strong udātta on vocatives vṛṣā, puruhūta, indra.
Mark the imperatives clearly: चोदस्व (codasva), दाः (dāḥ).
: pronounce śrat-te with clear dental t, : a-kṛ-te with crisp kṛ, : kṣu-dhyad-bhyaḥ—do not drop dhy cluster
Uplifting, propulsive, with a steady supportive undertone.
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