Rig Veda 9.106.3: Mandala 9, Sukta 106, Mantra 3
Sukta 9.106
- Devata
- Indra
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
अस्येदिन्द्रो मदेष्वा ग्राभं गृभ्णीत सानसिम् । वज्रं च वृषणं भरत्समप्सुजित् ॥
asyéd índro mádeṣv ā́ grābháṃ gṛbhṇīta sānasím | vájraṃ ca vṛ́ṣaṇaṃ bharat sám apsujít ||
อินทราในความปีติอันเมามายของโสมะนี้ ย่อมฉวย “การยึดกุมเพื่อชัยชนะ” (grābha) อันนำสู่ความสำเร็จ (sānasi) เขานำมารวมกันทั้งวัชระสายฟ้า (vajra) และพลังดุจโคผู้ (vṛṣaṇa)—ผู้พิชิตในสายน้ำ (apsujit) ผู้ประสานฤทธิ์เดชกับการเคลื่อนไหวอันเที่ยงธรรม เพื่อชัยชนะแห่งแสงสว่าง
Word by Word
- अस्य
- of this (Soma)Pronounपुं/नपुं, षष्ठी (Gen.), एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (Genitival relation)Root इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → अस्य (षष्ठी) रूप
- इत्
- indeed, justIndeclinableनिपात (emphatic particle)Root इत् (निपात)
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- मदेषु
- in the exhilarations / intoxicationsNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Loc.), बहुवचनRole अधिकरणRoot मद (प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- towards, untoIndeclinableउपसर्ग (towards, unto)Root आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- ग्राभम्
- a grasp / seizure (object to be taken)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचनRole कर्मRoot ग्राभ (प्रातिपदिक; ‘seizing, grasp’ / ‘handle’)
- गृभ्णीत
- let him seize / may he takeVerbलोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot ग्रह् (धातु) → गृभ्णी- (वेदिक वर्तमान-प्रत्यय)
- सानसिम्
- the gain / the prizeNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (वेदिक), द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचनRole कर्म (apposition to ग्राभम्)Root सानसि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘winning, gain, prize’)
- वज्रम्
- the thunderboltNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचनRole कर्मRoot वज्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चय (and)Root च (समुच्चय-अव्यय)
- वृषणम्
- the bull(-like one) / the mighty (weapon)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचनRole कर्म (co-ordinate with वज्रम्)Root वृषण (प्रातिपदिक; ‘bull, virile one’)
- भरत्
- let him bear / bringVerbलोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचन (वेदिक छन्दसि ‘भरत्’)Role क्रियाRoot भृ (धातु) → भरत्
- सम्
- together, completelyIndeclinableउपसर्ग (together, fully)Root सम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- अप्सु
- in the watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Loc.), बहुवचनRole अधिकरणRoot अप् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘water’)
- जित्
- victorious; winning (in/over) the watersAdjective/Participleकृदन्त (क्विप्/कृत्), प्रथमा एकवचन (इन्द्रः-विशेषणम्) अथवा समासाङ्ग (अप्सुजित्)Role कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot जि (धातु) → जित् (कृदन्त; ‘conquering, victorious’)
Sandhi Notes
- अस्य + इत् → अस्येत् (वेदिक संधि; इद्/इत्-निपातः)
- इन्द्रः + मदेषु + आ → इन्द्रो मदेष्वा (विसर्ग-लोपः; ‘मदेषु’ + ‘आ’ = ‘मदेष्वा’)
- सम् + अप्सु + जित् → समप्सुजित् (सम्-उपसर्गस्य म् + अ → म; ‘अप्सु’ लोकेटिव-बहुवचन; ‘जित्’ कृदन्तः, समास/पदसंयोगः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
In the ecstasies born of this Soma, Indra seizes a winning grasp; he brings together the thunderbolt and the bull-force; as the conqueror in the waters he achieves victory.
Inner meaning
When the delight (Soma) is received, the illumined Mind (Indra) takes hold of the decisive inner ‘grip’—the power to seize truth and not let it slip back into confusion. Indra unites vajra (the discriminating, truth-striking force) with vṛṣaṇa (the impelling, virile energy of effective action). ‘Conquering in the waters’ points to victory within the subconscious/life-waters where resistances hide; illumination and force are fused so the light can be won and stabilized.
Universal truth
True transformation needs a double power: clear discrimination that breaks falsehood, and steady vital force that executes the truth. Inner victory is secured most decisively where consciousness is obscure and fluid—the ‘waters’ of the subconscient and life.
Themes
Indra victory, Vajra power, Soma ecstasy, Conquest in waters, Integration (Sam)
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 9.106.1-7 (same sūkta context: Soma’s purification empowering Indra)
Significance
The anonymity fits the impersonal nature of Soma hymns: the ‘seer’ is the awakened consciousness itself witnessing how delight, when purified, becomes a universal power that equips the illumined mind for inner conquest.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra (empowered by Soma)
- Epithets
- apsujit (conqueror in the waters), vṛṣan (bull-like, forceful), vajrī (wielder of the thunderbolt, implied)
- Related deities
- Soma, Agni, Bṛhaspati, Uṣas
Cosmic role
Breaker of obstructions; establisher of the luminous order by releasing the hidden light.
Inner power
Illumined intelligence that both discriminates (vajra) and energizes right action (vṛṣaṇa).
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing/purification (Pavamāna) recitation during Soma-yajña sequences
अ॒स्येदिन्द्रो॒ मदे॒ष्वा ग्रा॒भं गृ॑भ्णीत सान॒सिम् । वज्रं॑ च॒ वृष॑णं भर॒त्सम॑प्सु॒जित् ॥
अ॒स्य । इत् । इन्द्रः॑ । मदे॑षु । आ । ग्रा॒भम् । गृ॒भ्णी॒त॒ । सा॒न॒सिम् । वज्र॑म् । च॒ । वृष॑णम् । भ॒र॒त् । सम् । अ॒प्सु॒ऽजित् ॥
asya | it | indraḥ | madeṣu | ā | grābham | gṛbhṇīta | sānasim | vajram | ca | vṛṣaṇam | bharat | sam | apsu-jit
4 pādas (as indicated by verse structure with caesura-like breaks)
Driving, force-assertive cadence suited to Indra’s ‘seizing’ and ‘bringing together’ of powers.
Builds a felt sense of grip and forward thrust—useful for concentrating will and breaking inertia.
- मदेṣu (madeṣu)
- Literal: in raptures/intoxications. Symbolic: states of heightened consciousness where the soul-force becomes receptive to illumination
- ग्रा॒भम् (grābham)
- Literal: a grasp/hold. Symbolic: the decisive inner seizure of truth; capacity to hold the right movement without relapse
- सान॒सिम् (sānasiṃ)
- Literal: winning, gaining. Symbolic: that which brings attainment—effective realization rather than mere insight
- वज्र (vajra)
- Literal: thunderbolt. Symbolic: Indra’s discerning force that shatters coverings (Vṛtra-like resistances)
- वृषण (vṛṣaṇa)
- Literal: bull, virile power. Symbolic: impelling strength and courage in action; dynamic tapas supporting illumination
- अप्सुजित् (apsujit)
- Literal: conqueror in the waters. Symbolic: victory in the life/subconscient field where obscurity and habitual impulses arise
Indra’s taking of Soma to assume vajra-power; used to invoke Indra’s victorious action supported by Soma.
During the flowing/clarifying of Soma and invocations for Indra’s strengthening
Chanting while Soma is filtered and offered; mentally ‘uniting’ clarity and force as an inner oblation
Use as a mantra for moments requiring decisive inner clarity plus courageous follow-through (breaking habits, fear, procrastination).
√grabh ‘seize’ (Skt. graha ‘grasp’) is an old IE-type ‘grasp’ root family; vajra is Indo-Iranian thunderbolt weapon lexeme; √bhṛ ‘bear’ is IE (Latin ferō). apsu-jit: ap ‘waters’ + jit ‘conquer’—mythically conquest in the waters/atmosphere; psychologically mastery in the vital/subconscient flows.
mada as uplift enabling decisive action, union of force and right potency (sam vajra + vṛṣan), conquest in the ‘waters’ as mastery of the vital/subconscient
Indra’s act ‘brings together’ powers so the right movement can prevail against disorder in the waters.
The ‘winning grasp’ symbolizes holding Satya steadily in consciousness.
Release/establishment of light from within the waters—an archetype of emergence of order from undifferentiated depths.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: ascent of consciousness with transformation of the subconscient.
Waters = subconscious/life-field; thunderbolt = discriminating illumination; bull = dynamic energy; Soma = purified delight that catalyzes the union.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra, exhilarated by Soma, seizes the ‘winning grasp’ and unites vajra with bull-force, as ‘apsu-jit’. Mythically, this is Indra arming for conquest; psychologically, the illumined mind-force, empowered by delight, gains a firm hold on victory and masters the turbulent waters of the vital nature.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √bhṛ ‘bear/bring’ is strongly IE (Latin ferō, English bear). √grabh ‘seize’ belongs to a common ‘grasp’ semantic domain in IE languages, though exact cognates vary. The compound apsu-jit shows productive compounding typical of early IE poetics: domain (waters) + action (conquer).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi presents Soma as the enabling condition for Indra’s decisive grasp. The human offering yields Indra’s arming; Indra’s arming yields the victory that secures the sacrificer’s inner order—especially in the unstable ‘waters’ where obscurity and desire mingle.
Unite ‘clear seeing’ with ‘effective will’: hold one chosen truth firmly and act from it.
Manipura (will/force) harmonized with Ajna (discernment/illumination)
Moderate ujjayi or 4-4-6 breathing while feeling a ‘grip’ at the navel and a ‘flash’ at the brow.
Dynamic concentration (ekāgratā) moving into illumined determination.
Before action, inwardly offer the impulse to Soma (delight/purity), then invoke Indra to ‘grasp’ the right decision; finish by imagining the vajra cutting doubt and the bull-force carrying the decision through.
Not fully reconstructible from provided text; chant in a simple Vedic recitation style maintaining udātta lift on marked syllables per śākhā tradition.
Keep the main lift on ‘índro’ and phrase-emphasis on ‘vájraṃ ca vṛ́ṣaṇam’; do not flatten the cadence at ‘apsujít’.
(asyed): glide ‘y’ softly; keep ‘d’ dental, (gṛbhṇīta): pronounce ‘gṛ’ with vocalic ṛ; cluster ‘bhṇ’ carefully without inserting a vowel, (vṛṣaṇam): vocalic ṛ; retroflex ‘ṣ’, (apsujit): crisp ‘psu’ cluster; ‘j’ as voiced palatal
Firm, bright, slightly forceful (indraic) with clear articulation.
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