Rig Veda 5.36.5: Mandala 5, Sukta 36, Mantra 5
Sukta 5.36
- Rishi
- Atri
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism)
वृषा त्वा वृषणं वर्धतु द्यौर्वृषा वृषभ्यां वहसे हरिभ्याम् । स नो वृषा वृषरथः सुशिप्र वृषक्रतो वृषा वज्रिन्भरे धाः ॥
vṛ́ṣā tvā vṛ́ṣaṇaṃ vardhatu dyáur vṛ́ṣā vṛ́ṣabhyāṃ vahase háribhyām | sá no vṛ́ṣā vṛ́ṣa-rathaḥ su-śipra vṛ́ṣa-krato vṛ́ṣā vajrin bháre dhāḥ ||
ขอเดียุห์ (Dyauḥ) ผู้เป็นพลังดุจโคผู้ (vṛṣā) จงเพิ่มพูนท่าน—ผู้เป็นโคผู้แห่งฤทธิ์เดช. ในฐานะโคผู้ ท่านถูกอัญเชิญให้เคลื่อนไปด้วยม้าคู่ผู้ทรงพลัง สีทองหม่น (hari) ดุจโคผู้. ดังนั้น โอ้ผู้มีรถศึกดุจโคผู้ ผู้มีริมฝีปากงาม ผู้มีเจตจำนงและการกระทำดุจโคผู้ (vṛṣakratu) โอ้ผู้ถือวัชระสายฟ้า (vajrin)—ขอจงสถาปนาแก่เรา ณ สมรภูมิซึ่งความบริบูรณ์อันเต็มเปี่ยม.
Word by Word
- वृषा
- the bull; the mighty oneNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot वृषन् (प्रातिपदिक) < √वृष् (वर्षणे/सेचने; बलवृद्धौ)
- त्वा
- you (as object)Pronounद्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वृषणम्
- the bull; the strong oneNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot वृषन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- वर्धतु
- may (he/it) increase; may strengthenVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root √वृध् (वर्धने)
- द्यौः
- Heaven, the SkyNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (वैदिके प्रायः), प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक)
- वृषा
- the bull; the mighty oneNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot वृषन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- वृषभ्याम्
- with the two bullsNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया द्विवचनRole KaraṇaRoot वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
- वहसे
- you ride; you are borneVerbलट्, आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root √वह् (प्रापणे/वहने)
- हरिभ्याम्
- with the two bay steedsNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया द्विवचनRole KaraṇaRoot हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- to us; for usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वृषा
- the bull; the mighty oneNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot वृषन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- वृषरथः
- whose chariot is bull-like/strong; bull-chariotedNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot वृष-रथ (समास-प्रातिपदिक; कर्मधारय/बहुव्रीहि-भावः)
- सुशिप्र
- O fair-lipped/beautiful-jawed oneAdjective (vocative epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचनRole (सम्बोधन)Root सु-शिप्र (समास-प्रातिपदिक)
- वृषक्रतो
- O of mighty resolve/powerful willAdjective (vocative epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचनRole (सम्बोधन)Root वृष-क्रतु (समास-प्रातिपदिक)
- वृषा
- the bull; the mighty oneNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot वृषन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- वज्रिन्
- O wielder of the vajraNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचनRole (सम्बोधन)Root वज्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- भरे
- in the battle; in the contestNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot भर (प्रातिपदिक) < √भृ (भरणे/पोषणे)
- धाः
- place; bestow; putVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root √धा (धारणे/स्थापने)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (वैदिक-सन्धि-विग्रह): वृषा त्वा वृषणं वर्धतु द्यौः । वृषा वृषभ्याम् वहसे हरिभ्याम् । सः नः वृषा वृषरथः सुशिप्र वृषक्रतो वृषा वज्रिन् भरे धाः ॥ 1) द्यौः—पदान्त-विसर्गः (द्यौः | वृषा)
- 2) स नो → सः नः (विसर्ग-लोप/एन्क्लिटिक-संयोग)
- 3) वज्रि॒न्भरे → वज्रिन् भरे (न् + भ् संयोगः; पदविभागे पृथक्)
- 4) सुशिप्र, वृषक्रतो, वज्रिन्—सम्बोधन-रूपाणि (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणानि)
The meaning
Outer meaning
May the Bull (heavenly force) increase Indra, the Bull of power; he is borne by two tawny bull-steeds; may he, bull-charioted, fair-lipped, bull in will, establish for us the carried plenitude in battle.
Inner meaning
A mantra of concentrated vṛṣan-force: the ascending luminous heaven (dyauḥ) feeds Indra’s might—i.e., higher mental light increases the divine Mind’s power in us. The two haris are twin dynamic energies (prāṇic powers) that carry the illumined force. Indra is vṛṣakratu: the will that is potent, fertile, victorious. ‘Battle’ (bhara) is the inner struggle against resistance and inertia; the prayer is to establish in that conflict the ‘carried plenitude’—the gains of consciousness that must be held and made stable, not merely touched.
Universal truth
True power is strengthened by higher light and right energies; in the inner conflict, what matters is not momentary inspiration but stable establishment of the gained plenitude.
Themes
Indra-invocation, Strength-and-increase, Inner battle (knowledge vs. obstruction), Divine will in action (kratu), Chariot/steeds symbolism
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri Ātreya (likely for the hymn)
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- RV 5.36, RV 5.37
Family tradition
Mandala 5 Indra hymns of the Atri family frequently intensify Indra’s ‘vṛṣan’ aspect—power that is increased by heaven-light and Soma-delight.
Significance
Represents the Vedic method of ‘increasing the god’ within: the higher power grows by invocation and by alignment with luminous consciousness (dyauḥ).
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- vṛṣā, vṛṣarathaḥ, suśipra, vṛṣakratu, vajrin
- Related deities
- Dyauḥ (as luminous heaven principle), Maruts (force-multipliers), Soma
Cosmic role
Champion of the gods; establishes victorious order by breaking obstructions and distributing plenitudes.
Inner power
Potent will + illumined intelligence; ability to make spiritual gains stable under pressure.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra stotra within Soma/strength-invoking sequences; also used in rites seeking victory and protection.
वृषा॑ त्वा॒ वृष॑णं वर्धतु॒ द्यौर्वृषा॒ वृष॑भ्यां वहसे॒ हरि॑भ्याम् । स नो॒ वृषा॒ वृष॑रथः सुशिप्र॒ वृष॑क्रतो॒ वृषा॑ वज्रि॒न्भरे॑ धाः ॥
वृषा॑ । त्वा॒ । वृष॑णम् । व॒र्ध॒तु॒ । द्यौः । वृषा॑ । वृष॑ऽभ्याम् । व॒ह॒से॒ । हरि॑ऽभ्याम् । सः । नः॒ । वृषा॑ । वृष॑ऽरथः । सु॒ऽशि॒प्र॒ । वृष॑क्रतो॒ इति॒ वृष॑ऽक्रतो । वृषा॑ । वज्रि॒न् । भरे॑ । धाः॒ ॥
vṛṣā | tvā | vṛṣaṇam | vardhatu | dyauḥ | vṛṣā | vṛṣa-bhyām | vahase | hari-bhyām | saḥ | naḥ | vṛṣā | vṛṣa-rathaḥ | su-śipra | vṛṣakrato itivṛṣa-krato | vṛṣā | vajrin | bhare | dhāḥ
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4 pādas of ~11 syllables
Martial, compact, driving—classic Indra meter.
Builds courage and firmness; helpful for ‘establishing’ (dhāḥ) strength in adversity.
- वृषा (vṛṣā)
- Literal: bull. Symbolic: abounding force; victorious potency
- द्यौः (dyauḥ)
- Literal: heaven/sky. Symbolic: luminous mind-plane that increases higher power
- हरिभ्याम् (haribhyām)
- Literal: by the two tawny steeds. Symbolic: dual life-energies yoked to illumination
- वृषरथः (vṛṣarathaḥ)
- Literal: bull-charioted. Symbolic: power carried by a strong, disciplined movement
- सुशिप्र (suśipra)
- Literal: fair-lipped. Symbolic: beautiful/true expression; harmonious mantra-bearing speech
- वृषक्रतो (vṛṣakrato)
- Literal: bull in will/resolve. Symbolic: effective divine will that accomplishes
- वज्रिन् (vajrin)
- Literal: wielder of the thunderbolt. Symbolic: decisive force that breaks the Coverer-resistance
- भरे (bhare)
- Literal: in battle. Symbolic: inner struggle for transformation
- धाः (dhāḥ)
- Literal: set/establish. Symbolic: make stable; fix the realization in the being
Soma offering context (general Indra-Soma praise); suitable for Indra’s invocation in Soma-yajña sequences (e.g., Agniṣṭoma framework), emphasizing strength for the ‘battle’ (bhara) against obstruction.
When invoking Indra’s victorious force—especially in contexts of contest, protection, or overcoming obstacles.
Recited with offerings; mentally ‘increase’ Indra by giving energy, attention, and truth-speech.
Chant before difficult tasks or during sustained sādhanā; frame ‘battle’ as overcoming tamas, doubt, and distraction.
Key terms: (1) vṛṣā/vṛṣaṇa- from √vṛṣ ‘to rain, to be strong/virile’; hence ‘bull’ as the pouring potency—psychologically, the descending or impelling force that fertilizes the mind. (2) dyu/dyauḥ from √dyut ‘to shine’; Heaven as luminous wideness (not mere physical sky). (3) hári ‘tawny, golden’—often Indra’s horses; from a color-term tied to brilliance; inner sense: radiant life-energies yoked to the divine Will. (4) krátu from √kṛ ‘to do/make’ with sense of effective will/intelligence; vṛṣa-kratu = forceful, victorious resolve. (5) vájra from √vaj/√vajr (semantic field: ‘hard/strong; thunderbolt’); inner sense: concentrated luminous power that shatters obstruction. (6) √dhā ‘to place, establish’—the settling of the divine gain (rayi/strength) in the seeker.
Kratu (effective will / inspired resolve), Ritam (right order implied through victorious establishment in struggle), Increase of power and wideness (vardh-; dyauḥ as wideness)
Indra’s victory is the restoration of right order against the Coverer.
‘Dhāḥ’—truth must be fixed as lived stability, not passing experience.
Strengthening of divine power by luminous heaven—an upward/downward reciprocity between planes.
Integral yoga reading: higher mind (dyauḥ) feeding the illumined will (Indra) to stabilize realization.
Sky = higher luminous mind; bull = abounding force; horses = prāṇic energies; chariot = disciplined movement of sādhanā.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘Bull Indra’ riding with tawny steeds and wielding the vajra is the standard storm/hero mythologem transposed inward: the divine force, increased by luminous Heaven, is asked to establish victory ‘in the bhara’—the struggle where obstruction is broken and the seeker’s power is founded.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- dyauḥ continues PIE *dyew- ‘sky, daylight’ (cf. Greek Zeus, Latin Iūpiter < *dyēus-pəter). The verb √dhā ‘place’ reflects PIE *dʰeh₁- ‘to put, set’ (cf. Greek títhēmi). These inherited roots support the verse’s archaic cosmopoetic frame: luminous sky and the act of ‘setting/establishing’ boons.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- It is reciprocal and functional: the seer intensifies Indra through praise and the invocation of Heaven’s increase (vardhatu dyauḥ), while Indra is asked to ‘place’ (dhāḥ) the effective gain in the human field ‘in battle’. The relationship is not petition for outer goods alone but a collaboration—divine force is summoned to become operative in the aspirant’s contest for light and mastery.
Invoke victorious will; stabilize gains of practice under pressure.
maṇipūra (will/power) guided by ājñā (illumination).
Brisk kapalabhāti (short rounds) followed by steady 6–6 breathing while repeating ‘vṛṣakrato’ mentally.
Dynamic, courageous, concentrated.
Identify one recurring resistance; chant once with full force, then sit and feel the ‘vajra’ decision; end by resolving one concrete action that fixes the gain.
Rigvedic accents; Triṣṭubh typically benefits from clear udatta peaks on epithets (vṛṣā, vajrin).
Keep pādas punchy; slight caesura after key epithets; avoid dragging long compounds—articulate them cleanly.
/: vocalic ṛ precise; retroflex ṣ, : aspirated ‘dh’ voiced, : ‘bh’yām nasalization minimal, long ā, : ś vs ṣ distinct; ‘pra’ crisp, : ‘jr’ cluster clean
Firm, ringing, martial; steady volume without strain.
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