Rig Veda 1.101.4: Mandala 1, Sukta 101, Mantra 4
Sukta 1.101
- Rishi
- Kutsa Āṅgirasa
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
यो अश्वानां यो गवां गोपतिर्वशी य आरितः कर्मणिकर्मणि स्थिरः । वीळोश्चिदिन्द्रो यो असुन्वतो वधो मरुत्वन्तं सख्याय हवामहे ॥
yó áśvānāṁ yó gávāṁ gópatir vaśī́ yá ā́ritaḥ kármaṇi-kármaṇi sthiráḥ | vīḷóś cid índro yó ásunvato vadhó marútvantaṁ sakhyā́ya havāmahe ||
جو گھوڑوں کا مالک ہے اور گائوں کا مالک، ریوڑوں کا آقا، جو ہر کام میں درست طور پر پکا کھڑا ہے، اندر جو دبانے والوں کا بھی قاتل ہے، اس اندر کو مروتوں کے ساتھ ہم دوستی کے لیے پکارتے ہیں۔
Word by Word
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अश्वानाम्
- of horsesNounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- गवाम्
- of cowsNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- गोपतिः
- lord/guardian of cattleNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot गो-पति (समासः; पति-प्रातिपदिक)
- वशी
- masterful, controllingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot वशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- आरितः
- set in motion / impelledParticipleपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; भूतकर्मणि (क्त)Role KartāRoot √ऋ (ऋ गतौ) / √अर् (गतौ) + क्त (कृदन्त)
- कर्मणि
- in (each) actNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- कर्मणि
- in (each) actNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्थिरः
- firm, steadfastAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
- वीळोः
- of the strong one / of the firm (foe)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot वीळु (प्रातिपदिक; ‘दृढ/कठिन’ इत्यर्थे; RV-प्रयोगः)
- चित्
- evenIndeclinableअव्ययम्Root चित् (अव्यय)
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- असुन्वतः
- of the non-pressing (non-offering) oneAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम् (शतृ-प्रातिपदिकस्य षष्ठी)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot अ-सुन्वत् (नञ्-समासः; सुन्वत् = √सु ‘सोम-प्रसवने’ शतृ)
- वधः
- slaying, destructionNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot वध (प्रातिपदिक)
- मरुत्वन्तम्
- accompanied by the MarutsAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot मरुत्वन्त् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘मरुत्-युक्त’)
- सख्याय
- for friendshipNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी, एकवचनम्Role SampradānaRoot सख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- हवामहे
- we invoke/callVerbलट्, उत्तमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्Role KartāRoot √ह्वे (ह्वयति/ह्वयते ‘आह्वाने’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धिविच्छेदः): यः | अश्वानाम् | यः | गवाम् | गोपतिः | वशी | यः | आरितः | कर्मणि कर्मणि | स्थिरः | वीळोः | चित् | इन्द्रः | यः | असुन्वतः | वधः | मरुत्वन्तम् | सख्याय | हवामहे । विशेषम्: (1) कर्मणिकर्मणि इति समास/पुनरुक्ति-प्रयोगः—पदपाठे कर्मणि कर्मणि। (2) वीळोश्चित् = वीळोः + चित् (विसर्ग-सन्धिः: ः + च → श्च)। (3) इन्द्रो यो = इन्द्रः + यः (विसर्ग-लोपः/सन्धिः)।
The meaning
Outer meaning
We call Indra with the Maruts for friendship—Indra who is lord of horses and cows, master of the herds; firm and rightly set in every work; and slayer even of the one who does not press Soma.
Inner meaning
Horses (aśvāḥ) are the vital energies that carry action; cows (gāvaḥ) are rays of knowledge. Indra as their gopati and lord means the illumined Mind governs both dynamism and illumination—directing action by knowledge. ‘Firm in every work’ indicates stable executive power: the capacity to apply truth consistently in each circumstance. The ‘unpressing’ (asunvat) is the part of us that refuses to extract the inner delight/essence (Soma)—preferring inertia or dry mental routine; Indra ‘slays’ it by breaking that refusal and compelling the offering of inner substance.
Universal truth
True mastery is governance of energy and knowledge together, applied steadily in all works; spiritual progress requires refusing the refusal—breaking the inner habit that will not offer its essence to transformation.
Themes
lordship of cows and horses, ethical polarity (sunvat/asunvat), steadfastness in works
The seer
- Rishi
- Kutsa Āṅgirasa
- Lineage
- Āṅgirasa
- Other hymns
- RV 1.101.1-3 (same refrain), RV 1.80-1.84 (Indra as giver of cows/horses, thematic)
Family tradition
Indra hymns linking victory to practical governance of energies (aśva) and illuminations (go), and to Soma as inner delight-offering.
Significance
A practical yogic verse: mastery over prāṇa and knowledge, steadiness in works, and insistence on offering inner delight rather than living dryly.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra (Marutvant)
- Epithets
- gopati (lord of cows), vaśī (master), sthira (firm), vadha of asunvat (slayer of the unpressing)
- Related deities
- Maruts, Soma, Agni
Cosmic role
Giver and governor of powers (light and force); enforcer of the sacrificial law—Soma must be pressed/offered.
Inner power
Executive clarity that directs energy by knowledge; breaks inertia and compels sincere offering of inner essence.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra invocation in Soma rite; emphasizes Soma pressing and Indra’s support for those who offer.
यो अश्वा॑नां॒ यो गवां॒ गोप॑तिर्व॒शी य आ॑रि॒तः कर्म॑णिकर्मणि स्थि॒रः । वी॒ळोश्चि॒दिन्द्रो॒ यो असु॑न्वतो व॒धो म॒रुत्व॑न्तं स॒ख्याय॑ हवामहे ॥
यः । अश्वा॑नाम् । यः । गवा॑म् । गोऽप॑तिः । व॒शी । यः । आ॒रि॒तः । कर्म॑णिऽकर्मणि । स्थि॒रः । वी॒ळोः । चि॒त् । इन्द्रः॑ । यः । असु॑न्वतः । व॒धः । म॒रुत्व॑न्तम् । स॒ख्याय॑ । ह॒वा॒म॒हे॒ ॥
yaḥ | aśvānām | yaḥ | gavām | go--patiḥ | vaśī | yaḥ | āritaḥ | karmaṇi-karmaṇi | sthiraḥ | vīḷoḥ | cit | indraḥ | yaḥ | asunvataḥ | vadhaḥ | marutvantam | sakhyāya | havāmahe
44
4 pādas × ~11 syllables
Workmanlike, steady beat; mirrors the theme of firmness in every action.
Grounds the listener; strengthens resolve to act consistently and to keep the inner offering alive.
- अश्व (aśva)
- Literal: horse. Symbolic: Vital energy; force of action and movement
- गो (go/gāvaḥ)
- Literal: cow. Symbolic: Rays of light/knowledge; illuminations
- गोपति (gopati)
- Literal: lord of cows/herdsman. Symbolic: Guardian and organizer of inner illuminations
- वशी (vaśī)
- Literal: masterful, controlling. Symbolic: Self-mastery; sovereignty over nature
- कर्मणि-कर्मणि स्थिर (karmaṇi-karmaṇi sthira)
- Literal: firm in each work. Symbolic: Consistency of right action; stable will in practice
- असुन्वत् (asunvat)
- Literal: not pressing (Soma). Symbolic: Refusal to extract delight/essence; inertia, non-offering
- वध (vadha)
- Literal: slaying, destruction. Symbolic: Decisive removal of obstructive habit-patterns
Soma context: contrast between sunvat (right participant) and asunvat (withholder); reinforces necessity of offering and inner receptivity.
During Soma pressing sequences; also in contexts stressing right performance of works (karma).
Recite alongside Soma pressing/offerings; inwardly renew the will to ‘press’ the essence of experience into delight and offer it upward.
For disciplined daily practice: chant before work to align energy (aśva) and insight (go); use as a reminder to keep devotion/joy (Soma) present.
aśva ‘horse’ from PIE *h₁éḱwos; go ‘cow’ from PIE *gʷōus (both strong IE inheritances). go-pati ‘lord of cows’ indicates guardianship of light/wealth. vaśī from √vaś ‘to will, control’ (mastery). sunvat ‘pressing Soma’ from √su ‘to press’; a-sunvat negates participation in the soma-ecstasy (inner: refusal of delight/truth).
discipline of works (karmaṇi-karmaṇi sthiraḥ), guardianship of light (go as rays), right participation in soma (sunvat) vs refusal (asunvat)
‘Firm in every work’ is ṛta applied as consistent right action; refusal to press Soma is refusal of ṛta’s exchange.
Knowledge-rays (go) must guide action-horses (aśva): satya informing karma.
Sustaining the cosmic circulation of delight and power through offering; integration of knowledge and force in manifestation.
Karma-yoga archetype within Veda: right work powered by delight and governed by illumination.
Horses = prāṇic dynamism; cows = illuminations; pressing Soma = extracting bliss from experience; slaying non-pressing = ending dryness/inertia.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra as guardian-lord of the luminous herds (cows/rays) and dynamic energies (horses), and as the force that removes the ‘non-pressing’ refusal. Inner sense: the divine will protects and organizes energies and illuminations, but strikes down the inertia that will not offer itself to the transforming ecstasy (Soma).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- aśva/go preserve prominent PIE animal terms (*h₁éḱwos, *gʷōus) that become poetic symbols across IE. The lord-of-herds motif is widely shared in IE sacral kingship imagery; Vedic intensifies it into a psychology of powers (energies/lights).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- Friendship with Indra is conditioned by collaboration: the human must be ‘sunvat’—one who presses/offers the soma (inner offering of delight and aspiration). Indra’s reciprocity includes both protection of luminous gains and stern removal of inner refusal.
Unite knowledge and energy: let an insight (go) choose the direction, then move the life-force (aśva) steadily; offer the felt essence as Soma upward.
maṇipūra (effective action) and ājñā (guiding knowledge)
Moderate breath with emphasis on long exhale; on exhale feel ‘pressing’ experience into a subtle sweetness in the chest.
Steady, capable, service-oriented.
Choose one action today to do ‘karmaṇi-karmaṇi sthiraḥ’—without wavering. If dryness appears, ‘press Soma’: find a grain of gratitude/joy and offer it inwardly before continuing.
Maintain triṣṭubh steadiness; emphasize udatta on key nouns (aśvānām, gavām, índraḥ) and keep the refrain consistent across verses.
Clear compound articulation: karmaṇi-karmaṇi; slight pause before ‘marutvantaṃ…’.
gopatir: pronounce ‘go-pa-tir’ with light ‘ti’., karmaṇi: retroflex ṇ; do not dentalize., vīḻoś cid: keep ḻ/ḷ sound as in your recensional training; avoid turning into plain l if following Śākala’s phonetics., asunvato: keep ‘su’ short; avoid ‘soo’.
Grounded, steady, workmanlike; firm on ‘sthiraḥ’.
3
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.
