Rig Veda 5.5.9: Mandala 5, Sukta 5, Mantra 9
Sukta 5.5
- Rishi
- Atri
- Devata
- Tvaṣṭṛ
- Chandas
- Gāyatrī
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
शिवस्त्वष्टरिहा गहि विभुः पोष उत त्मना । यज्ञेयज्ञे न उदव ॥
śivás tvaṣṭar ihā́ gahi vibhúḥ póṣa utá tmanā́ | yajñé-yajñe na úd ava ||
يا تڤَشْتَرْ، أقبلْ إلينا مُبارَكًا—واسعَ القدرة في النماء والرزق، وبذاتِك؛ ومن يَجْنَةٍ إلى يَجْنَةٍ ارفعْنا إلى العُلا وارعَنا.
Word by Word
- शिवः
- auspicious, graciousAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole विशेषण (कर्तृपदस्य)Root शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
- त्वा
- you (as object)Pronounद्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अष्टारि-हा
- slayer of the Aṣṭāri (a demon/foe)Noun/Adjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (सम्बोधनार्थे प्रयुक्तः)Root अष्टारि-हन् (प्रातिपदिक; हन्-समासान्त)
- गहि
- come!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot गम् (धातु)
- विभुः
- all-pervading, mightyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole विशेषण (सम्बोधितस्य)Root विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
- पोषः
- nourishment, prosperityNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ/विशेष्य (सम्बोधितस्य गुणः)Root पोष (प्रातिपदिक)
- उत
- and, alsoIndeclinableअव्ययRole समुच्चय/अन्वयRoot उत (निपात)
- त्मना
- by oneself; with one’s own powerNoun (instrumental of manner/means)पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करण (स्वयमेव/स्वशक्त्या)Root त्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘स्व’/‘आत्मन्’ अर्थे)
- यज्ञे-यज्ञे
- in each sacrificeNoun (reduplicated distributive)पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; आवृत्त्या ‘प्रत्येकं यज्ञे’Role अधिकरणRoot यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- of us; ourPronounषष्ठी (एन्क्लिटिक), बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (अस्माकम्)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- उदव
- help (us) up/out; raise, aidVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot उद् + अव (धातु ‘अव’/‘अवति’ ‘to help, favor’; उपसर्ग ‘उद्’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: शिवः त्वा अष्टारि-हा गहि | विभुः पोषः उत त्मना | यज्ञे-यज्ञे नः उदव || 1) शिवस् + त्वा → शिवस्त्वा (विसर्ग-सन्धि: स्/ः + त्)
- 2) यज्ञे यज्ञे → यज्ञेयज्ञे (पुनरुक्ति/वितरणार्थ समासवत् संहिता)
- 3) नः + उदव → न उदव (एन्क्लिटिक ‘नः’ परतः स्वरारम्भे संहिता; पाठे ‘न॒ उद॑व’)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The verse calls Tvaṣṭṛ to come here as auspicious, broad in power of increase, and to raise and foster us in every sacrifice.
Inner meaning
Tvaṣṭṛ is the divine Fashioner: the power that shapes forms, organs, capacities, and harmonies. Psychologically, he is the force that refashions our nature—mind, life, and body—so the divine intention can be embodied. “Śivaḥ” indicates his beneficent, harmonious action (not violent change). “Yajñe-yajñe” stresses progressive transformation through repeated offerings: each inner sacrifice refines the instrument, lifting (ud ava) the being upward toward a higher type.
Universal truth
Lasting growth is crafted, not accidental. Through repeated sincere practice, a shaping intelligence reorganizes our habits into a more harmonious and capable life.
Themes
divine fashioner, nourishment and increase, upliftment, formation of the vessel
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 1.20 (Tvaṣṭṛ), RV 3.55 (Tvaṣṭṛ themes), RV 10.53 (Tvaṣṭṛ in creation context)
Family tradition
Atri hymns often integrate multiple deities as functions of inner work; invoking Tvaṣṭṛ fits the concern for shaping the human vessel for higher light.
Significance
The seer seeks not only illumination but a remade nature—an instrument capable of holding and expressing the divine order.
The deity
- Devata
- Tvaṣṭṛ
- Epithets
- śivaḥ (auspicious), vibhuḥ (wide/mighty), poṣa (nourisher/increaser)
- Related deities
- Viśvakarman (universal craftsman), Prajāpati (lord of creatures), Agni (force that works the change)
Cosmic role
Divine artisan of forms; shaper of bodies and capacities; ensures harmony in manifestation.
Inner power
Plastic power (forming force) that reorganizes mental-vital-physical patterns into a higher harmony; supports embodied realization.
In ritual
Where it is used
Invocatory verse in a multi-deity sequence; suitable where increase, formation, and well-being are sought in rite.
शि॒वस्त्व॑ष्टरि॒हा ग॑हि वि॒भुः पोष॑ उ॒त त्मना॑ । य॒ज्ञेय॑ज्ञे न॒ उद॑व ॥
शि॒वः । त्व॒ष्टः॒ । इ॒ह । आ॒ । ग॒हि॒ । वि॒ऽभुः । पोषे॑ । उ॒त । त्मना॑ । य॒ज्ञेऽय॑ज्ञे । नः॒ । उत् । अ॒व॒ ॥
śivaḥ | tvaṣṭaḥ | iha | ā | gahi | vi-bhuḥ | poṣe | uta | tmanā | yajñe--yajñe | naḥ | ut | ava
44
4 × ~11 (approx.)
Uplifting and constructive; repeated ‘yajñe-yajñe’ gives iterative momentum.
Elicits confidence in gradual transformation; energizes disciplined repetition.
- शिवः (śivaḥ)
- Literal: auspicious, gracious. Symbolic: harmonizing transformation; benevolent reshaping
- त्वष्टः (tvaṣṭaḥ)
- Literal: Tvaṣṭṛ, the fashioner. Symbolic: formative divine power shaping the instrument of consciousness
- विभुः (vi-bhuḥ)
- Literal: all-pervading, wide, mighty. Symbolic: capacity to act across all parts of nature
- पोषे (poṣe)
- Literal: in increase, nourishment. Symbolic: growth of faculties; strengthening of the adhāra
- उत त्मना (uta tmanā)
- Literal: and by thyself/own being. Symbolic: spontaneous self-existent power of transformation, not dependent on outer means
- यज्ञे-यज्ञे (yajñe-yajñe)
- Literal: in sacrifice after sacrifice. Symbolic: iterative sādhanā; progressive refinement
- उद् अव (ud ava)
- Literal: raise up, help upward. Symbolic: elevation of consciousness; ascent beyond lower formations
Aprī sequence: calling Tvaṣṭṛ to ensure right formation of offerings and the sacrificer’s growth; inner sense: shaping the seeker’s nature into a fit vessel for higher consciousness
During offerings requesting prosperity and right formation; in personal practice, during phases of habit-change and embodiment work.
Calling Tvaṣṭṛ to preside over the shaping of the offering and the sacrificer’s welfare.
Use when rebuilding life-structure (health routines, speech discipline, ethical habits): invoke the ‘fashioner’ to reshape the instrument gently but firmly.
tvaṣṭṛ from √tvaṣ/√tvakṣ ‘to fashion, make’—the maker of forms; psychologically, the power that shapes right embodiment of truth. póṣa ‘increase, thriving’ from √puṣ ‘to prosper, nourish’. vibhú from vi- + √bhū ‘to be’—widely being/pervading. ut-ava: ut ‘up’ + √av ‘to help, protect’—help with an upward motion (elevation).
right embodiment of truth (form shaped by Ṛta), progressive ascent through repeated yajña, auspicious harmony (śiva)
Right formation is formation according to ṛta—harmonious proportion and truthful function.
The true being (tmanā) shapes from within outward; outer change follows inner truth.
Cosmic craftsmanship: manifestation as shaped order, not random emergence.
Vedic evolutionary psychology: the divine works as an artisan within nature to produce a higher type.
Growth as ‘shaping’: repeated practice forms new grooves; the inner artisan refines the vessel to hold greater force.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Fashioner’s descent to shape and nourish: Tvaṣṭṛ as the divine artisan who forms the right body/form for the godward life and lifts the seeker upward in each repeated sacrificial effort.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √puṣ ‘thrive’ has IE parallels in prosperity semantics (nourish/increase as sacred boon). The artisan-divinity motif (a divine smith/fashioner) is broadly IE (cf. Hephaestus-type functions), reflecting inherited mythic roles even where names diverge.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asks not for external goods but for poṣa as inner increase and for uplift (ut-ava) across repeated yajñas. Tvaṣṭṛ’s reciprocity is to shape the seeker’s being (tmanā) into a stronger, more harmonious vessel for the work of Ṛta.
Offer a specific pattern to be reshaped (reactivity, speech, diet, fear) and invite the harmonizing artisan-force to re-form it.
Maṇipūra (will/formation of action) with grounding in Mūlādhāra (embodiment).
Slow diaphragmatic breathing with a slight emphasis on exhale (release old forms); optional kumbhaka after exhale for ‘reset’.
From resolve (saṅkalpa) to plastic receptivity where change can be impressed.
Chant 3 times; after each, silently name the quality to be fashioned. End with a minute of stillness, feeling a benevolent ‘hand’ shaping your inner posture.
Accents marked (śivás, tvaṣṭar-ihā́); preserve udātta rise; keep compounds articulated.
Distinctly separate ‘yajñe-yajñe’ with a light pause; make ‘ud ava’ crisp and upward in intonation.
: conjunct ‘tv’ + retroflex ṣṭ; do not soften to ‘tvashtar’ in chanting, : long ī in ihā, : bh voiced aspirate; final ḥ audible, : long ō, : ‘tm’ cluster clean
Warm, constructive, slightly firm; avoid harshness (śiva quality).
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