Rig Veda 5.36.4: Mandala 5, Sukta 36, Mantra 4
Sukta 5.36
- Rishi
- Atri
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Jagati
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
एष ग्रावेव जरिता त इन्द्रेयर्ति वाचं बृहदाशुषाणः । प्र सव्येन मघवन्यंसि रायः प्र दक्षिणिद्धरिवो मा वि वेनः ॥
eṣá grā́veva jaritā́ ta indrā́yarti vā́caṁ bṛhád āśuṣāṇáḥ | prá savyéna maghavan yáṁsi rāyáḥ prá dakṣiṇíd harivo mā́ ví venaḥ ||
นักขับร้องผู้นี้ดุจศิลาบีบคั้น (กราวะ) ขับถ้อยคำอันยิ่งใหญ่ไปสู่ท่าน—โอ้พระอินทระ—ด้วยความกระตือรือร้นในพิธีบูชา. โอ้ผู้เอื้อเฟื้อ โปรดแผ่ทรัพย์แก่เราทั้งด้วยซ้ายและด้วยขวา; โอ้เจ้าแห่งม้าสีน้ำตาลแดง อย่าหันเหจากเราเลย.
Word by Word
- एषः
- this (one)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ग्रावा
- a pressing-stoneNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (उपमान/विशेषण-भावे) अथवा Adhikaraṇa (उपमेय-निर्देशे)Root ग्रावन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययम्Root इव
- जरिता
- the singer/praiserNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot जरितृ (प्रातिपदिक) अथवा √जृ (स्तु/गिर्-प्रयोगे) कर्तरि तृच्
- ते
- to you / of youPronounषष्ठी, एकवचनम् (एन्क्लिटिक) अथवा चतुर्थी, एकवचनम्; अत्र प्रायः षष्ठीRole Sampradāna (यदि चतुर्थी) / सम्बन्ध (यदि षष्ठी)Root त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role सम्बोधनRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- ईयर्ति
- sets in motion, impels, sends forthVerbलट्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role KriyāRoot √ईर् (ईरयति/ईयर्ति)
- वाचम्
- speech, hymnNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
- बृहदा
- mightily, in a lofty wayAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया/सप्तमी एकवचन-रूपम्; अत्र क्रियाविशेषण-भावे (instrumental/locative adverbial)Role Karaṇa/Adhikaraṇa (क्रियाविशेषणत्वेन)Root बृहन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
- आशुषाणः
- eager, swiftly strivingParticipleपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; वर्तमान/परिप्रवृत्त-भावःRole Kartā (एषः/जरिता इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root √श्वस्/शु (शीघ्र-प्रवृत्तौ) → आशु-; कृदन्त: आशुषाण (परस्मै/आत्मने?; अत्र वर्तमान-कृदन्तः)
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinable (preverb)उपसर्ग/निपातRoot प्र
- सव्येन
- with the left (hand/side)Adjective/Nounनपुंसकलिङ्गम्/पुंलिङ्गम्, तृतीया, एकवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot सव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- मघवन्
- O bountiful oneNoun (epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role सम्बोधनRoot मघवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- यंसि
- you extend, you bestowVerbलट्, परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role KriyāRoot √यम् (यच्छति/यंसि)
- रायः
- of wealthNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः (वैदिके), षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root राय्/रायि (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्र
- forthIndeclinable (preverb)उपसर्ग/निपातRoot प्र
- दक्षिणित्
- possessing/giving the dakṣiṇā (fee), right-handedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (हरिवः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषणत्वेन)Root दक्षिणित् (प्रातिपदिक; वैदिक-विशेषरूप, ‘दक्षिणा-युक्त/दक्षिणा-प्रदाता’)
- हरिवः
- O you of the tawny steedsNoun (epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role सम्बोधनRoot हरिवस् (प्रातिपदिक; इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम् ‘हरि-युक्त’)
- मा
- do notIndeclinableनिषेध (prohibitive particle)Root मा
- वि
- apart, asunderIndeclinable (preverb)उपसर्गRoot वि
- वेनः
- do not waver/stray; do not fail (in granting)Verbलोट्/विधिलिङ्-प्रायः, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; निषेध ‘मा’ सह: ‘do not …’Role KriyāRoot √वन्/√वे (वेने/वेनति; ‘to desire/strive’), अथवा √विन् (to find) — वैदिके ‘वेन’ = ‘to long for/seek’
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सम्भाव्य): एषः ग्रावा इव जरिता ते इन्द्र ईयर्ति वाचम् बृहदा आशुषाणः । प्र सव्येन मघवन् यंसि रायः । प्र दक्षिणित् हरिवः मा वि वेनः ॥ मुख्य-सन्धि-विच्छेदाः: (1) एष ग्रावेव → एषः ग्रावा इव (विसर्ग-लोपः, इव-पूर्वे) (2) त इन्द्रेयर्ति → ते इन्द्र ईयर्ति (एन्क्लिटिक ‘ते’ + सम्बोधन ‘इन्द्र’; इन्द्र + ईयर्ति इत्यत्र स्वर-सन्धि/यण्-प्रभावः पदपाठे पृथक्) (3) बृहदा॑शुषाणः → बृहदा आशुषाणः (अ + आ संधिः) (4) मघव॒न्यंसि → मघवन् यंसि (न् + य → न्य्) (5) दक्षि॒णिद्ध॑रिवो → दक्षिणित् हरिवः (त् + ह → द्ध्; वैदिक-सन्धि) (6) वे॑नः पदान्ते ‘ः’ = तिङन्त-रूपस्य पदान्त-विसर्ग/उदात्त-चिह्नानुसारम्।
The meaning
Outer meaning
The singer, like a pressing-stone, drives a great utterance to Indra, eager in offering; may Indra extend riches by left and right and not turn away.
Inner meaning
The jaritā becomes grāva-iva: like the pressing-stone that releases Soma, the disciplined will of the seeker presses speech until it becomes bṛhat vāc—wide, potent mantric word. This word is not mere praise; it is a force that compels the descent of rāyaḥ (riches: lights, powers, fulfillments). ‘Left and right’ indicates the totality of energies—intuitive/receiving and active/executing—both must be blessed. The plea ‘mā vi venaḥ’ is inward: do not let the illumined Mind withdraw when the being is still imperfect; remain turned toward us.
Universal truth
When speech is pressed into sincerity and wideness, it becomes power; true invocation brings balanced abundance—receptive insight and effective action together.
Themes
Mantric propulsion (īr), Soma-press symbolism, Prayer for uninterrupted favor
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri Ātreya (traditional attribution for RV 5.36)
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- RV 5.36.2, RV 5.36.3, RV 5.36.5
Family tradition
Atri’s hymns emphasize the efficacy of vāc (inspired speech) as a force that ‘drives’ realization, paralleling Soma-pressing as inner extraction.
Significance
Illustrates Aurobindonian key: mantra as active power (not description), capable of opening and enlarging consciousness (bṛhat).
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- maghavan, harivaḥ
- Related deities
- Soma, Agni, Sarasvatī (vāc principle, by resonance)
Cosmic role
Giver of plenitudes and opener of the luminous herds; balances and distributes powers to the human instrument.
Inner power
Illumined force that responds to true mantra and establishes a two-sided completeness: inner receptivity and outer effectiveness.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing and stotra addressed to Indra; grāvā simile is explicitly Soma-rite imagery.
ए॒ष ग्रावे॑व जरि॒ता त॑ इ॒न्द्रेय॑र्ति॒ वाचं॑ बृ॒हदा॑शुषा॒णः । प्र स॒व्येन॑ मघव॒न्यंसि॑ रा॒यः प्र द॑क्षि॒णिद्ध॑रिवो॒ मा वि वे॑नः ॥
ए॒षः । ग्रावा॑ऽइव । ज॒रि॒ता । ते॒ । इ॒न्द्र॒ । इय॑र्ति । वाच॑म् । बृ॒हत् । आ॒शु॒षा॒णः । प्र । से॒व्येन॑ । म॒घ॒ऽव॒न् । यंसि॑ । रा॒यः । प्र । द॒क्षि॒णित् । ह॒रि॒ऽवः॒ । मा । वि । वे॒नः॒ ॥
eṣaḥ | grāvāiva | jaritā | te | indra | iyarti | vācam | bṛhat | āśuṣāṇaḥ | pra | sevyena | magha-van | yaṃsi | rāyaḥ | pra | dakṣiṇit | hari-vaḥ | mā | vi | venaḥ
48
4×12 (approx.)
Expansive and declarative; supports ‘bṛhat’ (wideness).
Encourages a feeling of widening chest and voice; good for affirmations of abundance and non-withdrawal of guidance.
- ग्रावा (grāvā)
- Literal: pressing-stone. Symbolic: disciplined will that extracts the essence (Soma) from experience
- वाचं बृहत् (vācaṃ bṛhat)
- Literal: a great/wide utterance. Symbolic: mantric speech carrying wideness of consciousness
- आशुषाणः (āśuṣāṇaḥ)
- Literal: eager, impetuous in offering. Symbolic: ardent aspiration (tapas) in the act of giving
- रायः (rāyaḥ)
- Literal: riches. Symbolic: inner wealth: light, strength, harmony, effective capacities
- सव्येन (savyena)
- Literal: by the left (hand/side). Symbolic: receptive, intuitive, inward power
- दक्षिणित् (dakṣiṇit)
- Literal: by the right. Symbolic: active, executive, outward power
- मा वि वेनः (mā vi venaḥ)
- Literal: do not turn away. Symbolic: do not withdraw the higher guidance; keep the channel open
- हरिवः (harivaḥ)
- Literal: lord of tawny steeds. Symbolic: master of harnessed life-energies serving illumination
Stotra accompanying Soma pressing; the singer likened to grāvan emphasizes effective mantra as ‘pressing out’ the divine response
At pressing/offerings when the singer-priest ‘drives forth’ the praise to draw Indra’s presence and gifts.
Chant during pressing/libation; gesture of offering; request for dakṣiṇā/boons (outer) and strength (inner).
Before speaking/teaching/important communication: inwardly ‘press’ speech until it becomes calm, wide, and true; ask for balanced support (insight + execution).
grāvan (pressing stone; ritual instrument, symbol of concentrated pressure extracting Soma); √īr (īrayati ‘set in motion’); bṛhat from √bṛh ‘grow, expand’ (PIE *bʰerǵʰ- ‘rise, high’ debated); √yam ‘stretch/extend’; dakṣiṇa (‘right/skill/gift’) and savya (‘left’) as paired directional symbolism of totality. Symbolic justification: ‘left and right’ suggests complete distribution of Indra’s riches into all parts of the being; vāc bṛhat is the expanding mantra that opens the Vast (Bṛhat).
Bṛhat (the Vast) accessed by great vāc, Rayi as plenitude, Totality of bestowal (left/right)
Left-right balance as right order of forces in the being.
Bṛhat vāc as truth-bearing word that can call down realities.
Extraction of essence (Soma) from the ‘plant’ of life-experience through tapas-like pressure.
Mantra-śakti orientation (Vedic) aligned with Aurobindo: speech as creative force of consciousness.
Pressing-stone = concentrated will; Soma = essence-delight; left/right = receptive and active currents in the subtle body.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The singer as pressing-stone: speech itself becomes the instrument that ‘presses out’ divine riches. The mythic action is extraction-and-bestowal—Soma and vāc cooperate to draw Indra’s plenitude into manifestation.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- vāc (speech) participates in the ancient IE sacrality of the spoken word (cf. Avestan vac-, Latin vox). The verb √yam ‘extend’ is widely IE (cf. Greek teínō ‘stretch’ from *ten-; Sanskrit √tan is closer, but the semantic field of extension is inherited and formulaic in hymns).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi offers an expansive utterance (vāc bṛhat) as a forceful act (īrayati), and asks Indra for a complete outflow of rayi ‘from both sides’—a vivid reciprocity where mantra is the pressure and Indra’s favor is the released abundance; the plea ‘mā vi venaḥ’ safeguards continuity of the relationship.
Transform speech into mantra: from mental noise to wide truth-word.
viśuddha (speech purification) supported by ājñā (illumined direction).
Ujjāyī light or simple 6–6 breathing; on exhale, softly intone a chosen seed (e.g., ‘indra’) to widen vāc.
Widened, clear, steady aspiration.
Before chanting, sit upright; feel speech emerging from a quiet depth; ‘press’ wandering thoughts into a single sincere call; then ask for balanced help (left/right).
Rigvedic accents; emphasize the lift on key invocatory names (indra, maghavan, harivaḥ).
Let ‘bṛhad’ open the vowel fully; keep pāda breaks clean to preserve Jagatī breadth.
: ‘grā’ long; sandhi ‘-eva’ smooth, : palatal ‘y’ clear; avoid ‘iyarti’ becoming ‘yarti’ too abruptly, : retroflex ṣ; long āḥ ending, : ‘kṣi’ conjunct; dental ‘n’, ḥ: visarga light; do not harden to ‘h’
Full, open-throated, resonant; calm strength rather than shout.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
