Rig Veda 3.53.17: Mandala 3, Sukta 53, Mantra 17
Sukta 3.53
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra / Viśvāmitras
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Tr̥ṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
स्थिरौ गावौ भवतां वीळुरक्षो मेषा वि वर्हि मा युगं वि शारि । इन्द्रः पातल्ये ददतां शरीतोररिष्टनेमे अभि नः सचस्व ॥
sthiráu gā́vau bhavatāṃ vīḷúr akṣó méṣā ví varhi mā́ yugáṃ ví śāri | índraḥ pātalyè dadatāṃ śárītoḥ áriṣṭa-neme abhí naḥ sacasva ||
ขอให้กำลังทั้งสองที่เทียมอยู่มั่นคง ขอให้เพลาแข็งแรง อย่าให้สายรั้งลื่น อย่าให้แอกแตกสลาย ขอให้อินทระ (Indra) ประทานความมั่นคงบนทางขรุขระ โอ้ผู้มีขอบล้อไม่แตก (arīṣṭa‑nemi) จงเข้าร่วมกับเรา และเคลื่อนไปพร้อมเราเถิด
Word by Word
- स्थिरौ
- firm, steady (two)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-द्विवचनRole विशेषण (कर्तृपदस्य) / कर्ता-सम्बन्धीRoot स्थिर- (प्रातिपदिक) < √स्था (स्थिरत्वे)
- गावौ
- the two cows/oxenNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-द्विवचनRole कर्तृ (भवताम् इत्यस्य)Root गो- (प्रातिपदिक)
- भवताम्
- may you two beVerbलोट् (आशीर्लिङ्/आज्ञार्थ); मध्यमपुरुष; द्विवचन; परस्मैपदRole विधेय (आशीर्वाद/आज्ञा)Root √भू (भवति)
- वीळुः
- firm, unshaken (one)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनRole कर्तृ (अक्षः इत्यस्य विशेषण/समनाधिकरण)Root वीळु- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘दृढ/स्थिर’ अर्थे, RV-प्रयोग)
- अक्षः
- the axleNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनRole कर्तृ (भवताम्-आशीर्वादस्य समन्वयः)Root अक्ष- (प्रातिपदिक)
- मेषाः
- the ram (as draught/ritual animal)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (RV-प्रयोगे ‘मेषः’/‘मेषाः’ रूपभेदः)Role कर्तृ (आज्ञार्थक क्रियायाः)Root मेष- (प्रातिपदिक)
- वि
- apart, asunderIndeclinableउपसर्गRole क्रियाविशेषणRoot वि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- वर्हि
- lift/raise (it) up; heaveVerbलोट्; मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole विधेय (आज्ञा)Root √वृह्/√वर्ह् (वर्धने/उत्क्षेपे; RV-प्रयोग) अथवा √वृ (वरणे) — ‘वर्हि’ इति आज्ञार्थ रूप
- मा
- do notIndeclinableनिषेध (prohibitive)Role क्रियानिषेधRoot मा (निषेध-अव्यय)
- युगम्
- the yokeNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचनRole कर्म (वि-शारि इत्यस्य)Root युग- (प्रातिपदिक)
- वि
- apart, awayIndeclinableउपसर्गRole क्रियाविशेषणRoot वि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- शारि
- split/come apart; loosenVerbलोट्; मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole विधेय (आज्ञा/निषेध-मा सह)Root √शॄ/√शर् (क्षरणे/विघटने; RV-प्रयोग) — ‘शारि’ इति आज्ञार्थ रूप
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNoun (Proper)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनRole कर्तृ (ददताम् इत्यस्य)Root इन्द्र- (प्रातिपदिक)
- पातल्ये
- in/at Pātalya (a place)Nounनपुंसक/पुं (स्थानवाचक); सप्तमी-एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot पातल्य- (प्रातिपदिक; स्थान/अधिष्ठान-नाम)
- ददताम्
- may (they) two giveVerbलोट्; तृतीयपुरुष; द्विवचन; परस्मैपदRole विधेय (आशीर्वाद)Root √दा (दाने)
- शरीतोः
- of the two swift/flowing onesNounपुं/नपुंसक; षष्ठी-द्विवचनRole सम्बन्ध (अभि/सचस्व इत्यस्य)Root शरीतृ-/शरीत- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘वेग/प्रवाह’ सम्बन्धि, RV-प्रयोग)
- अरिष्टनेमे
- O you whose wheel-rim is uninjuredAdjective (compound)पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन-एकवचनRole सम्बोधन (सचस्व इत्यस्य)Root अरिष्ट-नेमि- (समास; अरिष्ट ‘अविघ्न/अक्षत’ + नेमि ‘रथचक्र-परिधि/नेमि’)
- अभि
- towards, uponIndeclinableउपसर्ग/पूर्वपदRole क्रियाविशेषणRoot अभि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- नः
- of us / for usPronounषष्ठी-बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्बन्ध/सम्प्रदान (रक्षण-सहाय्ये)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- सचस्व
- join (us), accompany, aidVerbलोट्; मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole विधेय (प्रार्थना)Root √सच् (समवाये/सहाय्ये)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सम्भाव्य): स्थिरौ | गावौ | भवताम् | वीळुः | अक्षः | मेषाः | वि | वर्हि | मा | युगम् | वि | शारि | इन्द्रः | पातल्ये | ददताम् | शरीतोः | अरिष्टनेमे | अभि | नः | सचस्व । मुख्य सन्धि/संयोग: (1) ‘स्थिरौ गावौ’—औ + ग् (विसर्गादि न)
- (2) ‘वीळुः अक्षः’—उः + अ (पदपाठे पृथक्)
- (3) ‘मा युगम्’—निषेध ‘मा’ पृथक्
- (4) ‘अरिष्टनेमे अभि’—ए + अ (पदपाठे पृथक्)
- (5) ‘अभि नः’—अव्यय + एन्क्लिटिक सर्वनाम। स्वर-टिप्पणी: संहितापाठे उदात्त/स्वरित चिह्न (॒ ॑) यथास्थानं
The meaning
Outer meaning
A chariot-prayer: may the two ‘cows’/draft-animals be firm, the axle strong; let not the traces slip nor the yoke break. May Indra grant stability on a rough path; O unbroken-naved one, accompany us.
Inner meaning
The chariot is the yoga of movement in life. The two ‘cows’ are yoked energies (often read as the dual powers in us—will and knowledge, or prāṇa and mind) that must be steady; the axle is the central poise (inner axis) that bears the journey. Traces and yoke are disciplines and harmonizations; if they slip, the being loses alignment. The ‘uneven path’ (pātalye/śarītoḥ) is the mixed terrain of life and sādhanā. Indra, the illumined mind, is invoked as ariṣṭanemi—unbroken-naved—whose wheel (consciousness) does not fracture; he must ‘join’ and move with us, making the journey stable.
Universal truth
Progress requires stable energies, sound alignment, and a central poise; otherwise even good powers scatter. Divine illumination is not only for insight but for steady execution through uneven conditions.
Themes
Safe progress, Inner discipline and integration, Indra as companion-force
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra
- Other hymns
- RV 1.164 (riddle hymn; chariot/wheel symbolism appears in RV corpus), RV 3.33 (guidance through difficult passage), RV 3.53.18 (strength prayer)
Family tradition
Practical spirituality: not only vision but the right harnessing of forces for the divine work in life.
Significance
Viśvāmitra often turns cosmic powers into yogic mechanics: the inner journey needs right yoking, stable axis, and Indra’s illumined governance.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Ariṣṭanemi (unbroken-naved), Maghavan (contextual), Vṛtrahan (contextual)
- Related deities
- Agni (leader of sacrifice), Soma (bliss that sustains), Rudra (protector on dangerous paths)
Cosmic role
Lord of victorious movement; maintains the integrity of the ‘wheel’ of action and breaks obstacles on the path.
Inner power
Steadying illumination that keeps energies yoked, prevents slippage, and grants sure progress through uneven life-terrain.
In ritual
Where it is used
Chariot/blessing style verse within Indra hymn; could function as a protective prayer for journeys and for the sacrificer’s ‘movement’ in rite
स्थि॒रौ गावौ॑ भवतां वी॒ळुरक्षो॒ मेषा वि व॑र्हि॒ मा यु॒गं वि शा॑रि । इन्द्र॑: पात॒ल्ये॑ ददतां॒ शरी॑तो॒ररि॑ष्टनेमे अ॒भि न॑: सचस्व ॥
स्थि॒रौ । गावौ॑ । भ॒व॒ता॒म् । वी॒ळुः । अक्षः॑ । मा । ई॒षा । वि । व॒र्हि॒ । मा । यु॒गम् । वि । शा॒रि॒ । इन्द्रः॑ । पा॒त॒ल्ये॒ इति॑ । द॒द॒ता॒म् । शरी॑तोः । अरि॑ष्टऽनेमे । अ॒भि । नः॒ । स॒च॒स्व॒ ॥
sthirau | gāvau | bhavatām | vīḷuḥ | akṣaḥ | mā | īṣā | vi | varhi | mā | yugam | vi | śāri | indraḥ | pātalye iti | dadatām | śarītoḥ | ariṣṭa-neme | abhi | naḥ | sacasva
44
4 pādas × ~11 syllables
Compact and directive; fits a protective ‘journey-blessing’ tone.
Gives a sense of bracing stability—useful before action, travel, or difficult inner work.
- गावौ (gāvau)
- Literal: two cows (draft animals). Symbolic: paired yoked energies/faculties needed for the inner journey
- अक्षः (akṣaḥ)
- Literal: axle. Symbolic: central axis of poise; steady inner support
- ईषा (īṣā)
- Literal: trace/pole (draft gear). Symbolic: discipline/connection that transmits will to action
- युगम् (yugam)
- Literal: yoke. Symbolic: harmonizing bond uniting powers under one aim
- इन्द्रः (indraḥ)
- Literal: Indra. Symbolic: illumined mind that governs and stabilizes action
- अरिष्टनेमे (ariṣṭaneme)
- Literal: with unbroken nave/rim. Symbolic: unfractured wholeness of consciousness; unbroken rhythm of progress
- सचस्व (sacasva)
- Literal: accompany, join. Symbolic: divine presence moving with one’s efforts
Protective/progressive formula for safe movement of the ‘chariot’—used as a prayer for unhindered advance in the work (yajña/journey).
Before undertaking a rite requiring sustained effort; symbolically before ‘setting forth’ in the sacrifice
Recitation as protective stabilization; mental yoking of powers
Use before important tasks, travel, or when practice feels unstable—chant to ‘re-yoke’ energies and restore the axis
Imagery of chariot-gear as inner yoga of forces: yuga ‘yoke’ (√yuj ‘join’) → integration; akṣa ‘axle’ as axis; sacasva (√sac) as Indra’s accompanying presence. pātalye is obscure; retained as technical/locative expression indicating difficult ground; interpretively ‘the lower/uneven levels’ of consciousness.
Integration (yuj/yoga), Steadfastness (sthira), Protection in transition across lower levels (pātalye)
Right order appears as right ‘fit’ of parts—yoke, axle, traces—symbol of ṛta in action.
Truth must be carried by stable force; otherwise it does not arrive in life.
Life as a journey of the chariot of the being; cosmic powers ensure its intact movement.
Vedic yoga of works: illumination must organize the instruments of action
Chariot = embodied life; axle = inner spine/axis of poise; yoke = integration; rough path = mixed prakṛti with resistances.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The chariot of the journey: a mythologem of the soul’s advance where Indra ensures the vehicle (integrated energies) stays intact. The ‘unbroken wheel’ signifies invulnerable progress through difficult strata.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- yugá from √yuj corresponds to IE *yeug- ‘yoke/join’ (Latin iugum, English yoke). akṣa corresponds to IE *h₂eḱs- ‘axle’ (Latin axis). The shared chariot lexicon is a hallmark of Indo-European poetic inheritance.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asks Indra not for abstract blessing but for companionship and technical stability: Indra is the divine force that keeps the seeker’s integrated instrument from disjoining under strain, enabling steady advance in the work.
Alignment practice: steady the paired energies and establish the inner axis; invite Indra to accompany action.
Suṣumnā axis (symbolic); Maṇipūra (will in action)
Box breathing 4-4-4-4 for 5 rounds; then chant with emphasis on steadiness
Collected, integrated, action-ready poise
Visualize your life-force and mind as the two yoked powers; feel the spine as axle; repeat the mantra until you sense ‘no slippage’—a quiet, firm coordination. Then begin work.
Use RV accenting; keep each pāda clearly segmented; avoid rushing consonant clusters.
Make the protective prohibitions crisp: ‘mā …’ clauses; then broaden on ‘indraḥ … dadatām’ and conclude with a welcoming ‘abhi naḥ sacasva’.
: aspirate not needed; clear ‘sth’ cluster, : retroflex ḷ, not plain l, : hard g; short u, : retroflex ṣṭ; keep ‘ne’ clear
Steady, grounded, slightly lower register
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