Rig Veda 2.27.13: Mandala 2, Sukta 27, Mantra 13
Sukta 2.27
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Ādityas
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
शुचिरपः सूयवसा अदब्ध उप क्षेति वृद्धवयाः सुवीरः । नकिष्टं घ्नन्त्यन्तितो न दूराद्य आदित्यानां भवति प्रणीतौ ॥
śúcir apáḥ sū́-yavasā ádabdha úpa kṣeti vṛ́ddha-vayāḥ su-vī́raḥ | nákiṣ ṭáṃ ghnanty ántito ná dūrā́d yá ādityā́nāṃ bhávati prá-nītau ||
طاهرٌ في مياهه، غنيٌّ بالغذاء القويم، غيرُ مُصابٍ؛ يقيمُ قريبًا—مكتملَ النماء، مفعمًا بقوّةٍ بطوليّة. لا أحدَ يقدر أن يضربه، لا من قريبٍ ولا من بعيد، مَن يكونُ في قيادةِ الآديتيّات (Ādityas).
Word by Word
- शुचिः
- pure, brightAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (विशेषणरूपेण ‘यः’ इत्यस्य)Root शुचि- (प्रातिपदिक) < √शुच् (दीप्तौ/शौच)
- अपः
- watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role KarmaRoot अप्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- सूयवसाḥ
- having good pasture/abundant fodderAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (विशेषणरूपेण)Root सु-यवस्- (प्रातिपदिक; सु + यवस् ‘fodder/grass’)
- अदब्धः
- unharmed, unassailableAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (विशेषणरूपेण)Root अ-दब्ध- (प्रातिपदिक; न-उपहतः) < √दभ् (हिंसायाम्/दम्भे)
- उप
- near, towardsIndeclinableअव्ययम्Root उप (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- क्षेति
- dwells, abidesVerbलट् (वर्तमाने), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role KriyāRoot √क्षि (निवासे)
- वृद्धवयाः
- of mature strength/ageAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (विशेषणरूपेण)Root वृद्ध-वयस्- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘of grown age/strength’)
- सुवीरः
- having good heroes/strong offspringAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (विशेषणरूपेण)Root सु-वीर- (प्रातिपदिक)
- नकिः
- no oneIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role Kartā (निषेधवाचकः कर्तृ-प्रत्ययः)Root नकिस् (निपात/अव्यय; ‘no one’)
- तम्
- himPronounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम)
- घ्नन्ति
- they strike/killVerbलट् (वर्तमाने), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Role KriyāRoot √हन् (हिंसायाम्) → घ्न (प्रत्यय-रूप)
- अन्तितः
- from nearby, at close rangeIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role Adhikaraṇa (देश/परिसर-निर्देशः)Root अन्तितस् (अव्यय; ‘from near/nearby’)
- न
- notIndeclinableअव्ययम्Root न (निषेध-अव्यय)
- दूरात्
- from afarIndeclinable (adverbial case-form)नपुंसकलिङ्ग/अव्ययीभाववत्, पञ्चमी, एकवचनम् (अव्ययार्थे)Role Apādāna (दूरत्व-निर्गम/स्थान-निर्देशः)Root दूर (प्रातिपदिक)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम)
- आदित्यानाम्
- of the ĀdityasNounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्Role Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)Root आदित्य- (प्रातिपदिक)
- भवति
- becomes/isVerbलट् (वर्तमाने), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role KriyāRoot √भू (सत्तायाम्)
- प्रणीतौ
- in the guidance/leading (protection)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role Adhikaraṇa (अवसर/अवस्था)Root प्र-नीति- (प्रातिपदिक; प्र + √नी ‘to lead’ → ‘guidance/leading’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धिविग्रहः): शुचिः | अपः | सूयवसाः | अदब्धः | उप | क्षेति | वृद्धवयाः | सुवीरः || नकिः | तम् | घ्नन्ति | अन्तितः | न | दूरात् | यः | आदित्यानाम् | भवति | प्रणीतौ || 1) शुचिः + अपः: विसर्गः परे स्वरादौ स्थितः, लेखने ‘शुचिरपः’ इति संहितारूपम्। 2) नकिः + तम्: संहितायां ‘नकिष्टम्’ (स् + त → ष्ट्) इति। 3) दूरात् + यः: संहितायां ‘दूराद्यः’ (त् → द्, परे य-कारे) इति वैदिक-संहितानियमः।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Pure in his waters, rich in good nourishment, unharmed, he dwells near—mature in growth, full of heroic force. None can strike him from near or far who is under the leading of the Ādityas.
Inner meaning
When the being is purified in its ‘waters’ (the flow of life-energy, emotions, and subtle currents) and fed by right sustenance (sūyavasā—true nourishment), it becomes unassailable. Under the guidance (praṇīti) of the Ādityas—truth-governance—one dwells ‘near’ the Divine presence, grows to ripeness, and gains heroic energy (suvīra) for inner battles. Attacks from within (near: impulses, doubts) or from outside (far: circumstances, hostile suggestions) cannot wound the protected consciousness.
Universal truth
Purity plus right nourishment under truth-guidance yields resilience. A life led by truth becomes inwardly safe, strong, and steadily mature.
Themes
Protection through guidance, Purity, Inviolability
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Lineage
- Bhārgava (traditional)
- Other hymns
- RV 2.27, RV 2.28, RV 2.29
Family tradition
The Gṛtsamada cycle often trains the seeker in protection through ṛta: purity, right growth, and being led by the solar law-powers.
Significance
Represents the ‘disciplined maturation’ path: purification of the waters of life and establishment under a higher guidance that makes the being inwardly secure.
The deity
- Devata
- Ādityas
- Epithets
- yajatrāḥ (adorable, worthy of worship), praṇītā (leaders), ṛta-pāḥ (protectors of ṛta, implied)
- Related deities
- Mitra, Varuṇa, Aryaman, Bhaga, Savitar, Indra
Cosmic role
Lead beings along the path of right order; protect from transgression and hostile forces; uphold moral and cosmic law.
Inner power
Guiding intelligence and ethical light that purifies life-currents and confers inviolable steadiness.
In ritual
Where it is used
Protective invocations to Ādityas within śrauta contexts; also suitable as an anuvāka-like protective recitation
शुचि॑र॒पः सू॒यव॑सा॒ अद॑ब्ध॒ उप॑ क्षेति वृ॒द्धव॑याः सु॒वीर॑: । नकि॒ष्टं घ्न॒न्त्यन्ति॑तो॒ न दू॒राद्य आ॑दि॒त्यानां॒ भव॑ति॒ प्रणी॑तौ ॥
शुचिः॑ । अ॒पः । सु॒ऽयव॑साः । अद॑ब्धः । उप॑ । क्षे॒ति॒ । वृ॒द्धऽव॑याः । सु॒ऽवीरः॑ । नकिः॑ । तम् । घ्न॒न्ति॒ । अन्ति॑तः । न । दू॒रात् । यः । आ॒दि॒त्याना॑म् । भव॑ति । प्रऽनी॑तौ ॥
śuciḥ | apaḥ | su-yavasāḥ | adabdhaḥ | upa | kṣeti | vṛddha-vayāḥ | su-vīraḥ | nakiḥ | tam | ghnanti | antitaḥ | na | dūrāt | yaḥ | ādityānām | bhavati | pra-nītau
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4 × ~11 syllables
Strong, protective cadence with emphatic negatives (nakiṣ… na… na…)
Induces a felt sense of shielded space and firm composure; strengthens resolve against inner/outer disturbances.
- शुचिः (śuciḥ)
- Literal: pure, bright. Symbolic: clarified consciousness; sincerity and transparency in the nature
- अपः (apaḥ)
- Literal: waters. Symbolic: life-flows: emotions, prāṇic currents, subtle energies that must be purified
- सूयवसाः (sūyavasāḥ)
- Literal: with good grass/nourishment. Symbolic: right food for the soul—true thoughts, sattwic impressions, uplifting influences
- अदब्धः (adabdhaḥ)
- Literal: unharmed, unassailable. Symbolic: invulnerable poise; integrity not breached by falsehood
- उप क्षेति (upa kṣeti)
- Literal: dwells near. Symbolic: abides close to the inner Presence; lives in proximity to truth-consciousness
- वृद्धवयाः (vṛddhavayāḥ)
- Literal: mature in age/growth. Symbolic: ripened inner formation; stable spiritual adulthood
- सुवीरः (suvīraḥ)
- Literal: with good heroes/heroic force. Symbolic: strong life-force and courageous faculties for inner conquest
- प्रणीता (praṇītā)
- Literal: leading, guidance. Symbolic: the higher leading of truth-powers directing the journey
Protective assurance (rakṣā) for one established under Āditya guidance; supports rites emphasizing purity (śuci) and inviolability (adabdha).
For protection, purification, and right leading during rites or journeys
Recitation seeking purity and invulnerability under divine guidance
Use before difficult conversations, travel, or intense sadhana: affirm purity of ‘waters’ and invoke truth-guidance against near/far disturbances.
apaḥ ‘waters’: in Vedic symbolism, flowing energies/clarities; √ap ‘water’ is archaic. yavas: ‘fodder/nourishment’ from √yu/√yav semantic fields; inner sense as sustaining substance of practice. kṣeti: √kṣi ‘dwell’ → stable abiding in a state. vṛddha: √vṛdh ‘grow’ (PIE *werdʰ-) → maturation. su-vīra: vīra ‘hero’ (strength of soul) + su- ‘good’. pra-nītau: pra- + √nī ‘lead’ (PIE *h₁ney- ‘lead’) → being carried forward by divine guidance; protection is a consequence of this inner leading.
Purification and clarity (śuci, apah), Divine guidance (pra-nīti) as protective law, Maturation (vṛddha) as spiritual ripeness
Ādityas protect by restoring the law of right movement in the waters of life.
Purity (śuci) as satya in the emotional/prāṇic sheath.
Sustenance through right nourishment; maturation as a cosmic process under solar law.
Integral Vedic yoga: purification → guidance → invulnerability → heroic capacity.
Waters = emotional/prāṇic flow; nourishment = sattwic inputs and right delight; Sun = truth-light that immunizes the nature.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘protected one under divine leading’ motif: whoever enters the Ādityas’ prānīti becomes unassailable. Mythically, it is the sanctuary created by ṛta—harm cannot reach across that boundary.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vṛdh (grow) is PIE *werdʰ- (cf. English ‘worth’ in distant semantic drift, German werden ‘become’ from related field). √nī ‘lead’ is PIE *h₁ney- (cf. Latin dūcere is different root, but Greek νέω/νή leads in different ways; closer: Sanskrit naya ‘leading’).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi frames an inner ethical-spiritual condition: protection is not arbitrary favor but the natural result of being ‘in the leading’ of the Ādityas—i.e., consenting to their order and purification.
Purify the ‘waters’ (emotional field) and rest under truth-guidance
Svadhisthana (waters/emotions) refined upward toward Ajna (guidance)
Nadi-śodhana style gentle alternate-nostril breathing (non-straining), then one recitation on a long exhale
Clear, protected, quietly heroic
During meditation, feel a luminous solar presence above the brow guiding the flow of emotions below; let disturbances arise and pass without ‘striking’ the center.
Tri-svara with emphatic articulation on negatives: nakiṣ… na… na…; keep udātta peaks crisp on śúciḥ, ádabdhaḥ, práṇītau.
Do not rush the compound clusters; keep caesura after each pāda; let the protective negations land firmly.
śuciḥ: palatal ś, not s, kṣ in kṣeti: clean ‘kṣ’ cluster, ādityānām: long ā, clear dental t, Avoid nasalizing too much in nakiṣ; keep it sharp
Even, protective, slightly hushed but firm
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