Rig Veda 10.73.11: Mandala 10, Sukta 73, Mantra 11
Sukta 10.73
- Rishi
- Priyamedha Ṛṣis
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Karuna (compassion) and Vira (heroism)
वयः सुपर्णा उप सेदुरिन्द्रं प्रियमेधा ऋषयो नाधमानाः । अप ध्वान्तमूर्णुहि पूर्धि चक्षुर्मुमुग्ध्यस्मान्निधयेव बद्धान् ॥
váyaḥ suparṇā́ úpa sedur índraṃ priyámedhā ṛ́ṣayo nā́dhamānāḥ | ápa dhvā́ntam ūrṇuhi pū́rdhi cákṣur mumúgdhy asmā́n nidháyeva baddhā́n ||
เราดุจนกปีกงามแห่งวิญญาณ ได้เข้าไปนั่งใกล้อินทรา—เหล่าฤษีผู้มีปัญญาอันเป็นที่รัก เพียรพยายามไต่สูงขึ้นไป ขอพระองค์คลี่ความมืดออกไป; เติมเต็มนัยน์ตาให้เห็นแจ้ง; โปรดปลดเรา ผู้ถูกมัดไว้ดุจทรัพย์สมบัติที่เก็บซ่อนไว้.
Word by Word
- वयः
- birds (lit. winged ones)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot वयस् (प्रातिपदिक) < PIE *h₂weh₁- ‘life-force/strength’ (semantic)
- सुपर्णाः
- fair-winged (birds)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot सुपर्ण (प्रातिपदिक: सु- + पर्ण ‘wing/feather’)
- उप
- near, towardsIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot उप
- सेदुः
- they sat down/approachedVerbलिट् (परस्मै), प्र. 3, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot √सद् (सीदति) ‘to sit, settle, approach’
- इन्द्रम्
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्रियमेधाः
- the Priyamedha (seers)/dear-mindedNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (वयः सुपर्णाः … इत्यस्य विशेषण/समनाधिकरण) अथवा कर्तृ (ऋषयः)Root प्रियमेध (प्रातिपदिक; ऋषिनाम/विशेषण: ‘whose wisdom/rite is dear’)
- ऋषयः
- seersNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-निपातRoot न
- आधमानाः
- blowing/impelling (with inspiration), strivingParticipleवर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्), आत्मनेपदी, प्रथमा, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्गRole कर्तृ (ऋषयः)Root √ध्मा (ध्माति) ‘to blow, puff; (fig.) to be inspired/impelled’
- अप
- away, offIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot अप
- ध्वान्तम्
- darknessNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot ध्वान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऊर्णुहि
- remove/roll away (uncover)Verbलोट् (परस्मै), मध्यम 2, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √वृ (ऊर्णोति/ऊर्णुते) ‘to cover, veil; (with अप) remove the covering’
- पूरधि
- fill, make fullVerbलोट् (परस्मै), मध्यम 2, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √पॄ (पूरयति) ‘to fill, make full’
- चक्षुः
- (our) eye, sightNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- मुमुग्धि
- release, set freeVerbलोट् (परस्मै), मध्यम 2, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √मुच् (मुञ्चति) ‘to release, set free’ (Vedic: with redup./intensive nuance)
- अस्मान्
- usPronounत्रिलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- निधये
- for a deposit/treasureNounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदान (उपमेय-प्रयोगे ‘निधये इव’)Root निधि (प्रातिपदिक: नि- + धि ‘deposit/treasure’)
- इव
- as if, likeIndeclinableउपमा-निपातRoot इव
- बद्धान्
- bound, fetteredParticipleभूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्म (अस्मान् इत्यस्य विशेषण)Root √बन्ध् (बध्नाति) ‘to bind’
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (pada-wise): वय॑: → वयः (visarga)
- सुप॒र्णा → सुपर्णाः (nom.pl.)
- उप॑ सेदुः इन्द्रं → उप | सेदुः | इन्द्रम्
- प्रि॒यमे॑धा॒ ऋष॑यः → प्रियमेधाः | ऋषयः
- नाध॑मानाः → न | आधमानाः
- अप॑ ध्वा॒न्तमू॑र्णु॒हि → अप | ध्वान्तम् | ऊर्णुहि
- पू॒र्धि चक्षु॑ः → पूरधि | चक्षुः
- मुमु॒ग्ध्य१॒॑स्मान् → मुमुग्धि | अस्मान्
- नि॒धये॑व → निधये | इव. (Accents retained in source but not encoded per-word here.)
The meaning
Outer meaning
As winged birds we have sat near Indra—seers of dear intelligence, striving. Unroll the darkness away; fill the vision; release us who are bound like treasures stored away.
Inner meaning
The seekers identify as ‘winged’ (suparṇāḥ): soul-forces capable of ascent through inner skies. They sit near Indra—near the illumined mind—because they are priyamedhāḥ, lovers of the true intelligence (medhā). Yet they are nādhamānāḥ: laboring, pressing upward against limitation. They ask Indra to ‘unroll’ (ūrṇuhi) the darkness (dhvānta)—as if a covering cloth—revealing the concealed light. ‘Fill the eye’ (pūrdhi cakṣuḥ): not physical sight but the inner vision (dṛṣṭi). ‘Release us bound like a treasure-deposit’ (nidhayeva baddhān): the soul’s riches are locked within the subconscient; liberation is the opening of the inner store.
Universal truth
Human aspiration is an ascent of the soul toward illumination; liberation comes when the inner darkness is removed and the capacity for true seeing is made full—revealing the stored treasure of the spirit.
Themes
unveiling darkness, awakening vision, release of bound riches, seer’s ascent
The seer
- Rishi
- Priyamedha Ṛṣis (collective, per internal epithet; exact Anukramaṇī attribution to be verified)
- Other hymns
- RV 1.39–1.41 (Priyamedha tradition, attribution varies by recension)
Family tradition
Priyamedha lineage is associated in later tradition with hymns of insight and aspiration; here ‘priyamedhāḥ’ functions as both epithet and possible rishi-marker.
Significance
The rishi-voice is explicitly that of striving seers: the mantra is a direct yogic petition for unveiling, vision, and release—highly aligned with Aurobindo’s psychological reading.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Vṛtrahan, Purubhuj (many-helping), Śatakratu
- Related deities
- Uṣas (dawn/illumination), Sūrya (truth-light), Agni (aspiring will)
Cosmic role
Breaks coverings; opens the way for light and the free waters; grants inner sight.
Inner power
Illumined Mind that removes ignorance, completes vision, and liberates the bound energies of the soul.
In ritual
Where it is used
Prayer for illumination and liberation; appropriate to Soma offerings seeking ‘cakṣuḥ’ (vision) and removal of dhvānta
वय॑: सुप॒र्णा उप॑ सेदु॒रिन्द्रं॑ प्रि॒यमे॑धा॒ ऋष॑यो॒ नाध॑मानाः । अप॑ ध्वा॒न्तमू॑र्णु॒हि पू॒र्धि चक्षु॑र्मुमु॒ग्ध्य१॒॑स्मान्नि॒धये॑व ब॒द्धान् ॥
वयः॑ । सु॒ऽप॒र्णाः । उप॑ । से॒दुः॒ । इन्द्र॑म् । प्रि॒यऽमे॑धाः । ऋष॑यः । नाध॑मानाः । अप॑ । ध्वा॒न्तम् । ऊ॒र्णु॒हि । पू॒र्धि । चक्षुः॑ । मु॒मु॒ग्धि । अ॒स्मान् । नि॒धया॑ऽइव । ब॒द्धान् ॥
vayaḥ | su-parṇāḥ | upa | seduḥ | indram | priya-medhāḥ | ṛṣayaḥ | nādhamānāḥ | apa | dhvāntam | ūrṇuhi | pūrdhi | cakṣuḥ | mumugdhi | asmān | nidhayāiva | baddhān
44
4×11
Supplicatory yet strong; a lift in the first half (ascent imagery) and a liberating release in the second.
Elicits upward aspiration, then a cathartic sense of unveiling and freeing.
- सुपर्णाः (suparṇāḥ)
- Literal: good-winged birds. Symbolic: soul-powers of ascent; movements of consciousness that can rise
- उप सेदुः (upa seduḥ)
- Literal: sat near. Symbolic: took inner refuge; gathered around the illumined mind-force
- प्रियमेधाः (priyamedhāḥ)
- Literal: dear/pleasant intelligence. Symbolic: love of truth-intelligence; clarified discerning mind
- नाधमानाः (nādhamānāḥ)
- Literal: toiling, striving. Symbolic: aspiration under pressure; tapas of ascent
- ध्वान्तम् (dhvāntam)
- Literal: darkness. Symbolic: covering ignorance; subconscient obstruction
- ऊर्णुहि (ūrṇuhi)
- Literal: unroll/uncover. Symbolic: remove the veil; unveil hidden light
- चक्षुः (cakṣuḥ)
- Literal: eye/vision. Symbolic: inner seeing; intuitive perception
- निधयेव (nidhayeva)
- Literal: like a treasure-deposit. Symbolic: the soul’s wealth concealed in the depths
- बद्धान् (baddhān)
- Literal: bound. Symbolic: tied by limitation, habit, subconscious knots
Prayer for illumination and liberation; appropriate to Soma offerings seeking ‘cakṣuḥ’ (vision) and removal of dhvānta
At dawn meditation or before study/recitation seeking clarity
Āvāhana-like inward calling of Indra; mental offering of effort (tapas) for inner sight
A short daily mantra for removing mental fog, strengthening intuition, and releasing stored emotional knots.
suparṇa ‘good-winged’ is a standard image for soaring consciousness. ūrṇuhi ‘unroll’ expresses unveiling as a textile metaphor—darkness as a covering. mumugdhi from √muc ‘release’ ties back to the Namuci ‘non-releaser’ theme; here Indra is asked to free the bound inner riches (nidhayaḥ). medhā denotes luminous intelligence (not mere intellect), fitting the psychological ascent.
inner vision (cakṣuḥ), liberation (√muc), hidden treasure-potentials (nidhi)
Unveiling darkness restores r̥ta in perception—right seeing and right movement.
‘Fill the vision’ is a movement toward satya-darśana (truth-seeing).
Revelation: the world is already rich (nidhi) but concealed; creation is an unveiling.
Vedic yoga of revelation (dṛṣṭi) anticipating Upanishadic ‘avidyā’ removal
dawn (implied by darkness being unrolled)
Wings = ascending consciousness; darkness = ignorance; dawn/sun = emergence of truth-vision; treasure = soul’s latent powers.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘unveiling and release’ mythologem: darkness is a rolled covering to be unrolled; the seers are bound like stored treasures to be freed. It is the classic Vedic liberation of hidden light/wealth from constriction.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √muc ‘release’ belongs to an IE freeing semantic field; √pṝ ‘fill’ relates to PIE *pleh₁- ‘fill’ (English ‘full’). cakṣuḥ ‘eye/vision’ aligns with Indo-Iranian ocular lexemes; √vid knowledge roots occur elsewhere in the hymn, reinforcing IE cognitive vocabulary.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishis approach Indra as ‘suparṇāḥ’—aspiring faculties that can perch near the god-power. They ask not for outer goods but for inner operations: removal of ignorance, fullness of vision, and release of bound inner riches—Indra as liberator and illuminator within.
Prayer for unveiling: sit, feel yourself as ‘suparṇa’ (winged consciousness) near Indra at the brow; ask for removal of dhvānta; let inner sight fill; sense bound energies releasing from the depths.
Ājñā (vision) with support from Anāhata (aspiration)
Slow 4–6 breathing with a gentle pause after inhale; on exhale, inwardly repeat ‘apa dhvāntam ūrṇuhi’.
From striving aspiration to clear seeing and release.
If mind is dull or oppressed, recite 9 or 27 times, then sit silently watching for a subtle brightening behind the forehead and a loosening in the chest/solar plexus.
Rigvedic svara with strong udātta on invocatory and imperative words (índram, ápa, dhvā́ntam, pū́rdhi, cakṣúḥ, mumugdhi).
Make the imperatives crisp: ‘apa… ūrṇuhi | pūrdhi… | mumugdhi…’. Keep clear pāda breaks for the threefold request.
suparṇā: retroflex ‘ṇ’; lengthen ā, nādhamānāḥ: aspirate ‘dh’; long ā’s steady, dhvāntam: ‘dhv’ cluster clean; nasal ‘nt’ distinct, ūrṇuhi: retroflex ‘ṇ’; ‘u’ short in -hi, pūrdhi: long ‘ū’; ‘rdh’ cluster careful, mumugdhi: repeat ‘mu’ evenly; ‘gdhi’ articulated, nidhayeva: ‘dh’ aspirate; sandhi smooth, baddhān: double ‘ddh’ with light hold; long ā
Supplicatory, inward, luminous; let the tone brighten on ‘pūrdhi cakṣuḥ’.
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