Rig Veda 2.13.4: Mandala 2, Sukta 13, Mantra 4
Sukta 2.13
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Karuna (compassion)
प्रजाभ्यः पुष्टिं विभजन्त आसते रयिमिव पृष्ठं प्रभवन्तमायते । असिन्वन्दंष्ट्रैः पितुरत्ति भोजनं यस्ताकृणोः प्रथमं सास्युक्थ्यः ॥
prajā́bhyaḥ púṣṭiṃ vi-bhájanta āsate rayím iva pṛṣṭháṃ pra-bhávantam āyáte | asínvan dáṃṣṭraiḥ pitúr atti bhójanam yás tā́kṛṇoḥ prathamáṃ sá āsy ukthyáḥ ||
Sila ay nakaupo na nagkakaloob ng pagkakakulay sa mga nagkakatao, tulad ng paglalagay ng yaman sa isang pagsasandigang likod na kayang magtaglay at magpalago nito. Ang hindi nabusog ay kumakain ng pagkain ng ama gamit ang kanyang mga ngipin, siya na unang bumuo ng mga kapangyarihang ito; siya nga ang tunay na paksa ng himno.
Word by Word
- प्रजाभ्यः
- for (the) offspring/creaturesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी/षष्ठी; बहुवचनRole सम्प्रदान (हितार्थे) / सम्बन्धRoot प्रजा (प्र-√जन्) प्रातिपदिक
- पुष्टिम्
- nourishment, prosperityNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot पुष्टि (√पुष्) प्रातिपदिक
- विभजन्तः
- distributing, apportioningVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ); प्रथमा; बहुवचन; पुंलिङ्गRole कर्तृ (आसते इत्यस्य)Root वि-√भज्
- आसते
- they sit/abideVerbलट्; प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदRole क्रियाRoot √आस्
- रयिम्
- wealthNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole उपमान-आश्रय (इव-युक्ते)Root रयि प्रातिपदिक
- इव
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययRole सम्बन्ध (उपमा)Root इव
- पृष्ठम्
- back, ridge (upper surface)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot पृष्ठ प्रातिपदिक
- प्रभवन्तम्
- coming forth, swelling/aboundingVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ); द्वितीया; एकवचन; पुंलिङ्गRole विशेषण (पृष्ठम्)Root प्र-√भू (प्रभव) प्रातिपदिक
- आयते
- he goes/approachesVerbलट्; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole क्रियाRoot √या (आ-√या)
- असिन्वन्
- not pressing out / not setting in motion (Vedic epithet; contextually ‘unrelenting’)Adjective/Participleवर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-सम); प्रथमा; एकवचन; पुंलिङ्गRole विशेषण (यः)Root a-√सिव्/√स्यू? (निषेध-पूर्वक कृदन्त; वैदिक रूप)
- दंष्ट्रैः
- with (his) fangs/teethNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया; बहुवचनRole करणRoot दंष्ट्रा प्रातिपदिक
- पितुः
- of the fatherNounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot पितृ प्रातिपदिक
- अत्ति
- eats, devoursVerbलट्; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot √अद्
- भोजनम्
- food, enjoymentNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot भोजन (√भुज्/√भुज् ‘to enjoy/eat’) प्रातिपदिक
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot यद् (सर्वनाम)
- ताकृणोः
- you made, you fashionedVerbवैदिक लुङ्/इञ्जङ्क्तिव-प्राय; मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot √कृ (त-आगम/वैदिक रूप; 2nd sg injunctive/imperf.-like)
- प्रथमम्
- first, at firstAdjective (used adverbially)नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन (क्रियाविशेषणवत्)Role विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषणRoot प्रथम प्रातिपदिक
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ/सम्बन्ध (उक्त्यः इत्यस्य)Root तद् (सर्वनाम)
- अस्य
- of him/thisPronounपुं/नपुंसक; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम)
- उक्थ्यः
- worthy of hymns; hymn-recipientAdjective/Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole विशेषण/नाम (सः)Root उक्थ्य (उक्थ-सम्बद्ध) प्रातिपदिक
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (समाधान): प्रजाभ्यः | पुष्टिम् | विभजन्तः | आसते | रयिम् इव | पृष्ठम् | प्रभवन्तम् | आयते || असिन्वन् | दंष्ट्रैः | पितुः | अत्ति | भोजनम् | यः | ता कृणोः | प्रथमम् | सः | अस्य | उक्थ्यः || 1) रयिमिव = रयिम् + इव (म् + इ → मि)
- 2) प्रभवन्तमायते = प्रभवन्तम् + आयते (म् + आ → मा)
- 3) असिन्वन्दंष्ट्रैः = असिन्वन् + दंष्ट्रैः (न् + द → न्द)
- 4) पितुरत्ति = पितुः + अत्ति (विसर्ग-लोपः; उ + अ संधिः)
- 5) यस्ताकृणोः = यः + ता + कृणोः (विसर्ग-लोपः; ता इति वैदिक-प्रयोगः)
- 6) सास्युक्थ्यः = सः + अस्य + उक्थ्यः (सः+अस्य → सास्य; ततः +उक्थ्यः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Powers distribute nourishment to the progenies/becomings; wealth is placed upon a supporting back that can bear and increase it. The unsated one eats with his teeth the father’s food. He who first shaped those powers is the true subject of the hymn.
Inner meaning
In the inner sacrifice, the awakened Indra-force organizes the distribution of puṣṭi (nourishment) to the evolving parts of the being (prajāḥ = becomings). The ‘supporting back’ is the steady foundation in consciousness (a stable inner ground) that can carry increasing riches of force and knowledge. The ‘unsated one’ indicates the vital/ego appetite that tries to consume what belongs to the Father—i.e., to the originating divine source—appropriating spiritual gains for desire. Indra’s first shaping establishes right governance so nourishment serves growth, not craving.
Universal truth
Spiritual resources must be rightly apportioned to the growing parts of life. Without a stable foundation and higher governance, desire appropriates what should feed evolution; true mastery redirects nourishment from appetite to becoming.
Themes
Nourishment and distribution, Desire-nature vs. source-food, Support/base of consciousness
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada (Gṛtsamāda)
- Lineage
- Bhṛgu (traditional association)
- Other hymns
- RV 2.13, RV 2.12, RV 2.18
Family tradition
Maṇḍala 2 Indra hymns; emphasis on right increase (puṣṭi) and overcoming distortions of desire.
Significance
The seer highlights a subtle psychological battle: even spiritual ‘food’ can be seized by the unsated vital. The Indra-force must govern distribution so the being grows in harmony.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Maghavan (giver of riches), Vṛtrahan (as inner conqueror), R̥tāvā (upholder of right order, implicit)
- Related deities
- Agni, Varuṇa (order), Bṛhaspati (right speech/vision)
Cosmic role
Regulator of increase; ensures the divine riches nourish creation rather than feeding chaos.
Inner power
Discriminating, governing intelligence that curbs the devouring vital and supports true growth.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra praise within Soma rites; general stotra usage
प्र॒जाभ्य॑: पु॒ष्टिं वि॒भज॑न्त आसते र॒यिमि॑व पृ॒ष्ठं प्र॒भव॑न्तमाय॒ते । असि॑न्व॒न्दंष्ट्रै॑: पि॒तुर॑त्ति॒ भोज॑नं॒ यस्ताकृ॑णोः प्रथ॒मं सास्यु॒क्थ्य॑: ॥
प्र॒ऽजाभ्यः॑ । पु॒ष्टिम् । वि॒ऽभज॑न्तः । आ॒स॒ते॒ । र॒यिम्ऽइ॑व । पृ॒ष्ठम् । प्र॒ऽभव॑न्तम् । आ॒ऽय॒ते । असि॑न्वन् । दंष्ट्रैः॑ । पि॒तुः । अ॒त्ति॒ । भोज॑नम् । यः । ता । अकृ॑णोः । प्र॒थ॒मम् । सः । अ॒सि॒ । उ॒क्थ्यः॑ ॥
pra-jābhyaḥ | puṣṭim | vi-bhajantaḥ | āsate | rayim-iva | pṛṣṭham | pra-bhavantam | āyate | asinvan | daṃṣṭraiḥ | pituḥ | atti | bhojanam | yaḥ | tā | akṛṇoḥ | prathamam | saḥ | asi | ukthyaḥ
44
4 x ~11 syllables
Balanced but forceful; good for depicting distribution/order and the sharp image of devouring desire.
Creates clarity and self-observation; the ‘teeth’ image becomes a prompt for vigilance against appropriation by ego.
- prajābhyaḥ
- Literal: to the progenies/creatures. Symbolic: to the becomings—parts of the nature evolving toward fullness
- puṣṭim
- Literal: nourishment, increase. Symbolic: substance of growth: strengthening light, force, and joy
- vibhajantaḥ
- Literal: distributing, apportioning. Symbolic: right discrimination—allocating energies according to dharma/r̥ta
- rayim
- Literal: wealth. Symbolic: inner riches: knowledge, power, wideness, stability
- pṛṣṭham
- Literal: back, support. Symbolic: the supporting consciousness/steadfast base (adhāra) that bears increase
- prabhavantam
- Literal: increasing, becoming powerful. Symbolic: growth of the inner capacities when rightly supported
- asinvan
- Literal: unsated, not satisfied. Symbolic: the craving vital/ego that cannot be fulfilled by possession
- daṃṣṭraiḥ
- Literal: with teeth. Symbolic: grasping appropriation; violent taking by desire
- pituḥ bhojanam
- Literal: the father’s food. Symbolic: what belongs to the originating Divine—true sustenance meant for the soul’s growth
- prathamam… akṛṇoḥ
- Literal: you made first. Symbolic: Indra’s foundational ordering of powers so distribution follows truth
Indra praise within Soma offerings; supports stotra/śastra praising distribution of puṣṭi and rayi
Recited in sequences praising Indra’s bounties and governance of increase.
Invocation for nourishment (puṣṭi) and right distribution of gains.
Chant before meals or before practice sessions to consecrate ‘food/energy’ to the soul’s growth and reduce compulsive craving.
prajā- from pra- + √jan ‘be born, generate’ (PIE *ǵenh₁- ‘beget’). puṣṭi from √puṣ ‘thrive, prosper’. vi-bhaj from √bhaj ‘apportion, share’ (PIE *bʰag- ‘share, allot’, cf. Slavic bogŭ ‘god’ as ‘dispenser’). pṛṣṭha ‘back’ (supporting surface). asinvan ‘unsated’ from a- + √siv/√sin? (Vedic adjective meaning ‘not filling/satisfying’; philologically difficult; here taken by context with atti ‘eats’ and daṃṣṭra ‘tooth’ as desire-hunger). pitṛ from PIE *ph₂tḗr.
Rita as right measure (vi-bhaj), Transformation of desire into right nourishment
Vibhajana (right apportioning) is r̥ta in action—cosmic order mirrored in inner economy.
True nourishment is what increases being in truth, not what inflames desire.
Increase supported by a stable foundation; misdirection when desire devours the source’s portion.
Integral Yoga/psychological Vedism: transformation of vital appetite into rightly governed force.
Food = energies and experiences; ‘back’ = inner base/steadiness; devouring = compulsive appropriation by the vital.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem of ‘right distribution’ of powers/boons (bhaga-like apportionment) versus the devouring hunger of the lower nature. Indra is implied as the regulator who first established the proper functioning of forces so that nourishment supports growth rather than being seized destructively.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- vi-bhajantaḥ aligns with PIE *bʰag- ‘to apportion’ (a key Indo-European sacral-economic concept). pitṛ continues PIE *ph₂tḗr, preserving archaic kinship sacrality where ‘father’ is also ‘source’.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi points to a psychological economy: the aspirant approaches (āyate) seeking increase; Indra is invoked to convert the ‘unsated’ devouring impulse into a lawful distribution of puṣṭi, so the offered energy becomes growth rather than grasping.
Offer all ‘nourishment’—food, praise, success, energy—upward to the inner ruler; watch where craving tries to seize it.
manipura
moderate breathing with emphasis on long exhale to pacify grasping impulses.
Governed vitality under illumined mind; steady support for growth.
Before action, ask: ‘Is this feeding becoming (prajā) or feeding the unsated?’ Chant once, then act from the supportive back—quiet strength.
Maintain Vedic udatta/anudatta/svarita contours; keep pāda pauses clean to preserve Triṣṭubh balance.
Emphasize puṣṭím, vibhájantaḥ, ráyim, ásinvan, pitúḥ, bhojánam.
prajābhyaḥ: clear ‘bhyaḥ’ cluster, puṣṭim: retroflex ṣṭ, vibhajanta: soft ‘bh’ aspiration, daṃṣṭraiḥ: nasal ‘ṃ’ and retroflex ṣṭr, pituḥ: short i; visarga ḥ light
Clear, instructive tone; slight gravity on the ‘unsated devours’ phrase.
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