Rig Veda 2.33.9: Mandala 2, Sukta 33, Mantra 9
Sukta 2.33
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Rudra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Raudra (fury) and Vira (heroism)
स्थिरेभिरङ्गैः पुरुरूप उग्रो बभ्रुः शुक्रेभिः पिपिशे हिरण्यैः । ईशानादस्य भुवनस्य भूरेर्न वा उ योषद्रुद्रादसुर्यम् ॥
sthirébhir áṅgaiḥ pururū́pa ugró babhrúḥ śukrébhiḥ pipiśé híraṇyaiḥ | ī́śānād asyá bhúvanasya bhū́rer ná vā u yoṣad rudrā́d asúryam ||
Với các chi thể vững bền, nhiều hình tướng và đáng kinh sợ, Đấng nâu đỏ ấy được điểm trang bằng vàng rực sáng. Là Chúa tể của thế giới rộng lớn này, không ai có thể ngăn cản Rudra khỏi quyền lực tối thượng; trước sức mạnh asurya của Ngài, bóng tối cũng không thể đứng vững.
Word by Word
- स्थिरेभिः
- with firm (limbs)Adjectiveपुं./नपुं., तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot स्थिर- (प्रातिपदिक)
- अङ्गैः
- with limbsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot अङ्ग- (प्रातिपदिक)
- पुरुरूपः
- many-formedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot पुरु-रूप- (प्रातिपदिक; बहुव्रीहि)
- उग्रः
- fierceAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot उग्र- (प्रातिपदिक)
- बभ्रुः
- brown, tawnyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot बभ्रु- (प्रातिपदिक)
- शुक्रेभिः
- with bright (ornaments)Adjectiveपुं./नपुं., तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot शुक्र- (प्रातिपदिक)
- पिपिशे
- has adorned/arrayed (himself)Verbपरस्मैपद-रूप (मध्यपद-समाप्ति), परोक्ष/परफेक्ट, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRoot √पिश् (पिशँ/पिश्) ‘to adorn, form, fashion; smear/polish’
- हिरण्यैः
- with gold (golden ornaments)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot हिरण्य- (प्रातिपदिक)
- ईशानात्
- from the ruler/lordParticiple/Adjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन (ablative)Role अपादानRoot ईशान- (कृदन्त; √ईश् ‘to rule, possess’)
- अस्य
- of thisPronounपुं./नपुं., षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- भुवनस्य
- of the world/beingNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot भुवन- (प्रातिपदिक; √भू)
- भूरेः
- of the abundant/mighty oneAdjective (used substantively)पुं./नपुं., षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot भूरि- (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- notIndeclinableनिषेधRoot न (निपात)
- वै
- indeedIndeclinableअवधारण/खलु-अर्थRoot वै (निपात)
- उ
- verily, evenIndeclinableउपपादक/अनुनासिक-निपातRoot उ (निपात)
- योषत्
- may he grant/allow; may it please (him)Verbविधिलिङ्/आशीर्लिङ् (वेदिक प्रयोग), 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRoot √युष्/योष् (वेद. ‘to grant, allow, be willing/pleased’)
- रुद्रात्
- from RudraNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचनRole अपादानRoot रुद्र- (प्रातिपदिक)
- असुर्यम्
- the non-solar darkness; sunless (gloom)Noun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot असुर्य- (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-विग्रह): स्थिरेभिरङ्गैः → स्थिरेभिः + अङ्गैः
- पुरुरूप उग्रो → पुरुरूपः + उग्रः
- बभ्रुः शुक्रेभिः → (सन्धि-रहित) बभ्रुः + शुक्रेभिः
- पिपिशे हिरण्यैः → पिपिशे + हिरण्यैः
- ईशानादस्य → ईशानात् + अस्य
- भुवनस्य भूरेः → भुवनस्य + भूरेः
- न वा उ → न + वै + उ
- योषद्रुद्रादसुर्यम् → योषत् + रुद्रात् + असुर्यम्. (स्वरचिह्न पाठानुसार; पदरूपे सामान्यीकृतम्)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Rudra is described as firm-limbed, many-formed, terrible, tawny, adorned with shining gold. As lord of the wide world, none can withhold his sovereign might; no darkness can stand before his asuric power.
Inner meaning
The ‘firm limbs’ are stable powers of action—Rudra’s force is not chaotic but strongly constituted. ‘Many-formed’ indicates Rudra’s operations across levels: physical, vital, mental—appearing terrible where resistance is strong. The ‘gold’ is luminous truth-energy adorning the force. ‘Īśāna’ presents Rudra as master of the field of becoming; ‘asuryam’ here is sovereign life-power (not demonic), the mighty breath of conscious force that overcomes obscurity. Thus, no inner darkness (tamasic refusal) can ultimately bar the transformative will when it descends as lordly power.
Universal truth
The transforming power is manifold and can appear fearsome, yet it is structured, luminous, and sovereign; when it acts as master, obscurity cannot finally resist.
Themes
divine sovereignty, many-formed power, irresistibility of Rudra
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Lineage
- Bhārgava
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 2.33.1-11
Family tradition
Bhārgava vision often portrays deities as concrete powers with definite attributes, enabling an experiential approach to mantra.
Significance
Here the seer stabilizes Rudra’s image: fierce yet luminous and sovereign—helping the aspirant relate to intensity without fear, recognizing its golden truth-purpose.
The deity
- Devata
- Rudra
- Epithets
- sthirāṅga (firm-limbed), pururūpa (many-formed), ugra (terrible), babhru (tawny), īśāna (lord)
- Related deities
- Viśve Devāḥ (as many-formed powers), Indra (conquest of darkness), Agni (golden light of truth in action)
Cosmic role
Sovereign regulator of transformative energies; his force pervades and governs the wide world-process.
Inner power
Structured, luminous tapas that manifests in many forms to overcome obscurity and establish mastery in the being.
In ritual
Where it is used
Rudra stotra within appeasement rites; also protective recitation against fear/hostility.
स्थि॒रेभि॒रङ्गै॑: पुरु॒रूप॑ उ॒ग्रो ब॒भ्रुः शु॒क्रेभि॑: पिपिशे॒ हिर॑ण्यैः । ईशा॑नाद॒स्य भुव॑नस्य॒ भूरे॒र्न वा उ॑ योषद्रु॒द्राद॑सु॒र्य॑म् ॥
स्थि॒रेभिः॑ । अङ्गैः॑ । पु॒रु॒ऽरूपः॑ । उ॒ग्रः । ब॒भ्रुः । शु॒क्रेभिः॑ । पि॒पि॒शे॒ । हिर॑ण्यैः । ईशा॑नात् । अ॒स्य । भुव॑नस्य । भूरेः॑ । न । वै । ऊँ॒ इति॑ । यो॒ष॒त् । रु॒द्रात् । अ॒सु॒र्य॑म् ॥
sthirebhiḥ | aṅgaiḥ | puru-rūpaḥ | ugraḥ | babhruḥ | śukrebhiḥ | pipiśe | hiraṇyaiḥ | īśānāt | asya | bhuvanasya | bhūreḥ | na | vai | oṃ iti | yoṣat | rudrāt | asuryam
44
4×11
Majestic, descriptive weight in first half; assertive sovereignty in second half.
Builds awe and confidence; strengthens the sense of inner mastery and dispels fear of darkness.
- स्थिरेभिरङ्गैः (sthirebhir aṅgaiḥ)
- Literal: with firm limbs. Symbolic: stable, well-founded powers of action in consciousness
- पुरुरूपः (pururūpaḥ)
- Literal: many-formed. Symbolic: multiform operations of one divine force across planes
- उग्रः (ugraḥ)
- Literal: terrible, fierce. Symbolic: intensity experienced as fearsome by resistance; decisive tapas
- बभ्रुः (babhruḥ)
- Literal: tawny. Symbolic: fiery vital radiance of transformation
- शुक्रेभिः हिरण्यैः (śukrebhiḥ hiraṇyaiḥ)
- Literal: with shining gold. Symbolic: illumined truth-force adorning and guiding the power
- ईशानात् (īśānāt)
- Literal: from/being lord. Symbolic: mastery of the field of becoming; governing consciousness
- भुवनस्य भूरेः (bhuvanasya bhūreḥ)
- Literal: of this wide world. Symbolic: the expansive inner world/field of experience
- असुर्यम् (asuryam)
- Literal: asuric might (sovereign power). Symbolic: lordly life-force, breath-power of conscious being that conquers darkness
Praise emphasizing Rudra’s sovereignty and irresistible power; supports rites where divine mastery is invoked to overcome obstruction and fear.
When affirming Rudra’s sovereignty before requesting boons; in protective contexts to ward off negativity.
Recitation with offerings; emphasis on praising Rudra’s lordship and power.
Use when facing inner fear, compulsions, or ‘dark’ moods; chant to affirm the inevitability of light and mastery.
īśāna: from √īś ‘to own, be master’ (PIE *h₁eis- ‘to desire/seek’ is different; but Indo-Aryan √īś forms a sovereignty lexeme). asuryá: from asura ‘lord’ (connected to PIE *h₂ensu- ‘life-breath’ often proposed; at minimum, early Vedic ‘asura’ = vital lordship). pipiśe: perfect/middle from √piś ‘adorn, shape’; the deity’s splendour as formed manifestation.
īśāna (sovereignty), asura as lordly life-force, overcoming asurya/anti-light (darkness as impotence before divine mastery)
Rudra as īśāna ensures ṛta by governing forces; many-formed action is ordered, not random.
Gold (hiraṇya/śukra) signifies truth-light clothing the force; darkness cannot stand before satya-tapas combined.
Lordship over becoming: the One manifests as many forms to govern and transform the world-process.
Aurobindonian: gods as powers of consciousness; ‘asuryam’ as sovereign life-force of the Divine.
Gold = illumined truth; firm limbs = stable capacities; terrible form = intensity needed to break inertia; tawny = vital fire; lordship = central governing Self-force.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The sovereign storm-lord: Rudra as īśāna whose many forms and terrible splendour cannot be resisted. The mythic idea is the irresistible divine mastery that breaks any withholding of power or light.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- nāma is not present, but hiraṇya ‘gold’ participates in an IE poetic complex where gold = solar/imperishable brilliance. ‘Many-formed’ (puru-rūpa) is a productive Indo-Iranian epithet pattern (multi-aspect deity), comparable to Avestan descriptive compounds.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi magnifies Rudra’s majesty to align the human consciousness with a power greater than fear. By affirming that none can ‘hold back’ Rudra’s asuryam, the hymn builds trust in the divine’s capacity to remove inner obstruction.
Contemplate Rudra as the sovereign master-force in you that can take many forms to remove darkness.
Ājñā (mastery/command) and Maṇipūra (force)
Brisk but controlled ujjāyī for 12 breaths, then chant; feel ‘gold light’ filling the head and chest.
Awe → empowered clarity; sense of inner rulership.
When fear arises, recall ‘īśāna’; visualize a golden armor of truth around the spine and heart; let the mantra install steadiness (sthirebhir aṅgaiḥ).
Triṣṭubh; keep first two pādas descriptive with steady pitch; increase force on ‘īśānād…’ and resolve strongly on ‘asuryam’.
Maintain clear caesura after each pāda; avoid dragging compound clusters; let ‘ugro’ and ‘īśāna’ carry emphasis.
sthirebhir: aspirate ‘th’ clearly, aṅgaiḥ: nasal ‘ṅ’ before g; visarga on aiḥ audible, pipiśe: short i vowels; ś palatal, hiraṇyaiḥ: retroflex ṇ; visarga on aiḥ
majestic, resonant, slightly intensified on ‘ugra’; steady authority on ‘īśāna’.
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