Rig Veda 7.49.1: Mandala 7, Sukta 49, Mantra 1
Sukta 7.49
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Āpaḥ
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
समुद्रज्येष्ठाः सलिलस्य मध्यात्पुनाना यन्त्यनिविशमानाः । इन्द्रो या वज्री वृषभो रराद ता आपो देवीरिह मामवन्तु ॥
samudrá-jyeṣṭhāḥ salilásya mádhyāt punānā́ yánty aní-viśamānāḥ | índro yā́ vajrī́ vṛṣabhó rarā́da tā́ ā́po devī́r ihá mām avantu ||
سمندر میں سب سے بڑے، پانیوں کے بیچ سے، پاک کرتے ہوئے، وہ بغیر کسی مقید جگہ کے چلتے ہیں۔ جن پانیوں کو اندر، بجلی کا مالک، بیل، نے گونجایا ہے - وہ دیوی پانیاں مجھے یہاں بچائیں۔
Word by Word
- समुद्र
- (in/connected with) the oceanNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनRole Adhikaraṇa (संबन्ध/आधार-निर्देशः) — ‘समुद्रे’ इत्यर्थे वैदिक-प्रयोगःRoot समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) < सम्-उद्-√दृ/द्रु (निघण्टु-व्युत्पत्त्यनुसारं) स्थिर-प्रातिपदिक
- ज्येष्ठाः
- eldest, most eminentAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनRole Kartā (विशेषणम्) — आपः (देवीः) इत्यस्य विशेषणम्Root ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) < ज्यायस्/ज्येष्ठ (श्रेष्ठ/वरिष्ठ)
- सलिलस्य
- of the waters, of the floodNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचनRole Sambandha (षष्ठी) — ‘of the water/flood’Root सलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
- मध्यात्
- from the midstNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी एकवचनRole Apādāna — ‘from the middle’Root मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- पुनानाः
- purifying themselves / being purifiedParticiple (Adjective-like)स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; वर्तमान-कालिकः शानच्-प्रत्ययः (आत्मनेपदीय-भावः)Role Kartā (विशेषणम्) — आपः इत्यस्यRoot √पू (पूञ् पवने/शोधने) → पुनान (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- यन्ति
- they go, they flowVerbलट् (वर्तमान); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचनRole Kriyā (कर्तृ-क्रिया) — आपः गच्छन्तिRoot √या (या गतौ)
- अनिविशमानाः
- not settling/halting (ever-moving)Participle (Adjective-like)स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; वर्तमान-कालिकः शानच्-प्रत्ययः; नकार-निषेधः (अन-)Role Kartā (विशेषणम्) — आपः इत्यस्यRoot अन्- + नि-√विश् (विश् प्रवेशने/निवेशने) → निविशमान (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (अग्राम्य-कर्तृ) — ‘इन्द्रः … रराद’Root इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- याः
- which, those (f.)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनRole Kartā/Pratiyogin (सम्बन्ध-निर्देशः) — ‘those (waters) which…’Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वज्री
- the wielder of the thunderboltNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (विशेषणम्) — इन्द्रस्यRoot वज्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक) < वज्र + इन्
- वृषभः
- bull (mighty one)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (विशेषणम्) — इन्द्रस्यRoot वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
- रराद
- has bestowed, grantedVerbलिट् (परोक्श/परिपूर्ण-भूत); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRole Kriyā — ‘granted/bestowed’Root √रा/√रद् (वैदिकः: दाने/प्रदान-भावे ‘to grant/bestow’) → रराद (परिपूर्ण-रूप)
- ताः
- those (f.)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनRole Kartā (अन्वय-ग्रहणम्) — ‘those (waters)’Root तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- आपः
- the watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनRole Kartā — ‘the waters’Root आप्/आपस् (प्रातिपदिक; वैदिक-बहुवचन-प्रयोगः)
- देवीः
- goddesses, divineNoun/Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनRole Kartā (विशेषणम्) — आपःRoot देवी (प्रातिपदिक) < देव + ई
- इह
- hereIndeclinableअव्ययRole Adhikaraṇa (देश) — ‘here’Root इह (अव्यय)
- माम्
- mePronounद्वितीया एकवचनRole Karma — ‘me’ (object of अवन्तु)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- अवन्तु
- may they protect/helpVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ/आशीर्लिङ्ग-प्राय); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचनRole Kriyā — ‘may they protect’Root √अव् (अव रक्षणे/पालने)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (वैदिक-सन्धि-निरसनम्): समुद्रज्येष्ठाः → समुद्र + ज्येष्ठाः (समास/सन्निधि; ‘समुद्रे ज्येष्ठाः’ इत्यर्थे)
- मध्यात्पुनाना → मध्यात् + पुनानाः (त् + प् संयोगः)
- यन्त्यनि… → यन्ति + अनिविशमानाः (इ + अ → य्-आगमः/यण्-सन्धिः: इअ → य)
- इन्द्रो या → इन्द्रः + याः (ः + य → ओ (विसर्ग-सन्धिः) तथा याः स्त्री-बहु)
- रराद ता → रराद + ताः (द् + त् संयोगः)
- देवीरिह → देवीः + इह (ः + इ → र् (विसर्ग-सन्धिः): ईरि)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The divine Waters, eldest in the ocean, arise from the middle of the flood, purifying as they flow without settling; the Waters that Indra the thunderbolt-bearer has made resound—may they protect me here.
Inner meaning
The Āpaḥ are currents of conscious-force and purification emerging from the depth (samudra) of being. They move dynamically (aniviśamānāḥ: not fixing in one formation), cleansing the nature as they pass. Indra’s vajra is the illumined mind-force that breaks the obstruction and releases these purifying streams; their “resounding” is the awakened vibration of truth in the nerves and mind. The seeker asks that these living currents guard the embodied consciousness “here” (iha)—in the field of daily life.
Universal truth
True purification is not stagnation but a progressive flow of clarity and renewal arising from the depths of existence; illumination releases and amplifies that flow, which then becomes a protective power in life.
Themes
Waters as protectors, Purification and healing, Primal oceanic source, Indra’s empowerment of the currents
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 7.1 (Agni as inner priest), RV 7.2 (Agni and the sacrifice of consciousness), RV 7.89 (Varuṇa and release from sin/falsehood), RV 7.95–7.96 (Sarasvatī as inspiration and flow)
Family tradition
Seer-family of Maṇḍala 7; guardians of ṛta (right order) and the harmonizing power of the Word.
Significance
Vasiṣṭha’s vision often joins cosmic order (ṛta/Varuṇa) with inner purification and protection; here he reveals the Waters as conscious, divine agencies released by Indra’s illumination.
The deity
- Devata
- Āpaḥ (Divine Waters)
- Epithets
- देवीः (devīḥ, divine), शुचयः (śucayaḥ, bright/pure), पावकाः (pāvakāḥ, purifying)
- Related deities
- Indra, Varuṇa, Soma, Agni (Vaiśvānara), Sarasvatī
Cosmic role
Bearers of cleansing, healing, and renewal; mediators between the oceanic source and the manifest worlds through their flowing movement.
Inner power
Psychic and subtle purification—washing away obscurations, restoring right vibration, and protecting the embodied seeker.
In ritual
Where it is used
Āpaḥ-sūkta recitation in water-related rites and purification (prokṣaṇa/ācamana contexts in later practice)
स॒मु॒द्रज्ये॑ष्ठाः सलि॒लस्य॒ मध्या॑त्पुना॒ना य॒न्त्यनि॑विशमानाः । इन्द्रो॒ या व॒ज्री वृ॑ष॒भो र॒राद॒ ता आपो॑ दे॒वीरि॒ह माम॑वन्तु ॥
स॒मु॒द्रऽज्ये॑ष्ठाः । स॒लि॒लस्य॑ । मध्या॑त् । पु॒ना॒नाः । य॒न्ति॒ । अनि॑ऽविशमानाः । इन्द्रः॑ । या । व॒ज्री । वृ॒ष॒भः । र॒राद॑ । ताः । आपः॑ । दे॒वीः । इ॒ह । माम् । अ॒व॒न्तु॒ ॥
samudra-jyeṣṭhāḥ | salilasya | madhyāt | punānāḥ | yanti | ani-viśamānāḥ | indraḥ | yā | vajrī | vṛṣabhaḥ | rarāda | tāḥ | āpaḥ | devīḥ | iha | mām | avantu
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4 pādas of ~11 syllables each
Forward-driving, expansive cadence suited to invocation and protective prayer.
Builds a sense of moving flow—like waves—supporting inner cleansing and steady courage.
- समुद्र (samudra)
- Literal: ocean. Symbolic: the vast depth of being; the inconscient/subconscient and also the infinite consciousness from which currents arise
- आपः (āpaḥ)
- Literal: waters. Symbolic: streams of consciousness, purification, and healing force; flowing truth-energy
- पुनानाः (punānāḥ)
- Literal: purifying. Symbolic: self-cleansing movement of the inner nature; clarification of mind-vital-body
- अनिविशमानाः (aniviśamānāḥ)
- Literal: not settling/entering to dwell. Symbolic: non-stagnant, progressive spiritual movement; refusal of fixation in habit-formations
- इन्द्रः वज्री (indraḥ vajrī)
- Literal: Indra, wielder of the thunderbolt. Symbolic: divine Mind-power that breaks coverings and releases light and the purifying flow
- वृषभः (vṛṣabhaḥ)
- Literal: bull. Symbolic: abundant force, masterful energy of illumination
- रराद (rarāda)
- Literal: made to resound/roar. Symbolic: awakening of the mantra-vibration of truth; inner sound of released energies
Protective water-hymn used in lustration, healing, and consecratory sprinkling; emphasizes waters as self-purifying and Indra-empowered.
Before or during rites requiring purification; at river/ocean approach; protective recitation for health and safety.
Invocation of Waters; sprinkling/aspersion; consecration of water for use in the sacrifice.
Use as a daily purification chant before meditation/bathing; intention-setting for emotional cleansing and protection.
samudra ‘gathering of waters’ (sam- + √ud/udra), symbolic of original undivided plenitude. punānāḥ from √pū ‘purify’—flow itself is cleansing. ani-viśamānāḥ: viś ‘enter, settle’ with negation—energies not fixed in limited formations. vajrī ‘vajra-bearer’ (Indra), vṛṣabha ‘bull’ as archetype of overflowing force.
Purification as movement (punāna), Non-fixation (ani-viśamāna) as freedom from limiting forms, Indra as energizer of the life-flows
The flowing, purifying Waters restore right order by dissolving inertia and false formations.
Resounding waters signify truth-vibration becoming active in the embodied field.
Emergence of ordered flow from the oceanic depth; manifestation through movement rather than fixation.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: cosmic powers as psychological functions in ascent.
Ocean = depth of being; waters = currents of consciousness that cleanse and protect; movement without settling = progressive sādhanā.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Waters as primeval, ocean-born goddesses who purify by flowing and are made to ‘roar’ by Indra—mythically the storm-lord animates the waters; psychologically the illumined force energizes the life-currents that cleanse and protect the being.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The bull epithet (vṛṣabha) and thunderbolt-bearer motif are part of a wider IE storm-god poetic complex; while Sanskrit vajra is not a simple direct cognate of a single IE term, the formulaic pairing of storm-force + roaring waters matches inherited Indo-European mythopoetics.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi turns to the Waters for immediate personal protection (‘mām avantu’), grounding cosmic imagery (ocean-source, Indra’s roar) into a practical inner need: cleansing and safeguarding the embodied seeker ‘here’.
Invoke inner waters to cleanse thought-waves and emotional residue; feel a luminous current rising from the depths and flowing through the system.
Svādhiṣṭhāna (purification of vital waters) and Anāhata (healing flow into the heart)
Slow exhale-focused breathing (lengthen exhale) while sensing downward release and upward clarity.
Quiet, flowing awareness; non-grasping attention that does not ‘settle’ into rigid thought.
Chant once, then sit 3–5 minutes imagining a clear stream washing the mind; offer habitual formations into the flow and let them dissolve.
Vedic accenting with udatta peaks on key invocatory words; maintain clear rise-fall on accented syllables per śākhā tradition.
Sustain udatta lightly (not forceful), let svarita glide, keep anudatta unweighted; preserve caesura after each pāda.
: keep jy as a tight conjunct (jye-ṣṭhāḥ)., : articulate vi-śa with clear ś (palatal)., : soft j, long ī., : retroflex ṛ, clear ṣ/ś distinction (here ṣ in vṛṣ-).
Liquid, flowing tone; avoid harsh plosives—aim for ‘water-like’ continuity.
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