Rig Veda 7.71.5: Mandala 7, Sukta 71, Mantra 5
Sukta 7.71
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
युवं च्यवानं जरसोऽमुमुक्तं नि पेदव ऊहथुराशुमश्वम् । निरंहसस्तमसः स्पर्तमत्रिं नि जाहुषं शिथिरे धातमन्तः ॥
yuváṃ cyávānaṃ járaso ’mumuktaṃ ní pédava ūhathur āśúm áśvam | níraṃhasas támasas spártam átriṃ ní jā́huṣaṃ śithiré dhātam antáḥ ||
أنتما أطلقتما تشيافانا من قبضةِ الشيخوخة؛ ولِـبِدو أخرجتما الفرسَ السريع. وحرَّرتما أتري من الضيق، من الظلمة؛ وأدخلتما جاهوشا في مأمنٍ، في حالٍ رخوةٍ غيرِ مُصاب.
Word by Word
- युवाम्
- you twoPronounद्विवचनम्, द्वितीया/प्रथमा (प्रयोगे कर्तृ-सम्बोधनवत्; ‘you two’)Role कर्तृRoot युव (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) द्वितीय-पुरुष
- च्यवानम्
- Cyavana (the sage)Noun (proper name) / Kṛdantaपुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीयाRole कर्मRoot च्यव (धातु) → च्यवान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; क्त/क्तवत्-सम्बद्ध) अथवा नाम ‘च्यवन’
- जरसः
- from old ageNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, पञ्चमी (अपादान)Role अपादानRoot जरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अमुमुक्तम्
- released, freedVerb (past passive participle)पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; कर्मणि-भूतकृदन्तः (‘released’)Role कर्म (च्यवानम् विशेषणम्)Root मुच् (धातु) + आ- (उपसर्ग) → अमुमुक्त (कृदन्त; क्त)
- नि
- down, intoIndeclinableउपसर्गः (क्रियाविशेषण)Root नि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- पेदवे
- to Pedu (Pédava)Noun (proper name)पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान)Role सम्प्रदानRoot पेदव (प्रातिपदिक; दाशरथ्य-नामवत्, दत्तिवाचक)
- ऊहथुः
- you two brought / conveyedVerbलिट् (परस्मैपद), उत्तम-पुरुष? नहीं; मध्यम-पुरुष, द्विवचन (युवाम्-सामञ्जस्यात्)Role कर्तृ-क्रियाRoot वह्/ऊह् (धातु; ‘to carry/bring’, वैदिक रूप)
- आशुम्
- swiftAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीयाRole कर्म (अश्वम् विशेषणम्)Root आशु (प्रातिपदिक)
- अश्वम्
- horseNounपुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीयाRole कर्मRoot अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- निः
- out, forthIndeclinableउपसर्गःRoot निस् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) → निः (विसर्ग-सन्धि)
- अंहसः
- from distress/anguishNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, पञ्चमीRole अपादानRoot अंहस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- तमसः
- from darknessNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, पञ्चमीRole अपादानRoot तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्पर्तम्
- contested/assailed; hard-pressedAdjective (PPP) / Kṛdantaपुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीयाRole कर्म (अत्रिम् विशेषणम्)Root स्पर्ध् (धातु) → स्पर्त (कृदन्त; क्त) / ‘स्पर्त’ (विशेषण)
- अत्रिम्
- AtriNoun (proper name)पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीयाRole कर्मRoot अत्रि (प्रातिपदिक; ऋषि-नाम)
- नि
- down, awayIndeclinableउपसर्गःRoot नि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- जाहुषम्
- Jāhuṣa (a man/descendant of Jahuṣa)Noun (proper/epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीयाRole कर्मRoot जाहुष (प्रातिपदिक; नाम/विशेषण ‘जाहुष’)
- शिथिरे
- in loosened/relaxed conditionAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग? (क्रियाविशेषणवत्), एकवचन, सप्तमी/अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः (‘in loosened state’)Role अधिकरण (भावे)Root शिथिर (प्रातिपदिक)
- धातम्
- placed, setVerb (PPP) / Kṛdantaनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; ‘placed/put’ (कर्मणि)Role कर्म (कृत्य-भावः; ‘having placed’)Root धा (धातु) → धात (कृदन्त; क्त) / अथवा ‘धातम्’ (लोट्/विधिलिङ् न; क्त-रूप)
- अन्तः
- within, insideIndeclinable (adverb/preverb)अव्यय; ‘within/inside’Role अधिकरणRoot अन्तर् (अव्यय/उपसर्गीय) → अन्तः
Sandhi Notes
- सन्धि-विच्छेद (मुख्य): जरसोऽमुमुक्तम् = जरसः + अमुमुक्तम् (अः + अ → ‘ओ’/ऽ)
- पे॒दव॑ ऊहथुः = पेदवे + ऊहथुः (ए + ऊ; पदपाठे पृथक्)
- निरंहसः = निः + अंहसः (विसर्ग-सन्धि)
- तमसः स्पर्तम् = तमसः + स्पर्तम् (विसर्गः लोपः/पदपाठानुसार)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The Aśvins freed Cyavāna from old age, brought a swift horse for Pedu, released Atri from distress and darkness, and set Jāhuṣa safely within, unharmed.
Inner meaning
A catalogue of inner ‘rescues’: Cyavāna is the fallen/declining energy in the seeker—release from jaras is renewal of consciousness from fatigue and degeneration. The swift horse for Pedu is the restored vital force and effective action (āśu aśva) given to the aspiring human. Atri’s release from aṃhas and tamas is liberation from constriction, sin/anguish, and obscurity—opening the trapped seer-mind to light. Jāhuṣa placed ‘within’ in a loosened state suggests the inner being secured in the psychic depth, freed from knots/tensions, protected from shock and harm. The Aśvins act as rapid harmonizers and healers of the embodied journey.
Universal truth
Spiritual help often comes as restoration: renewal from decline, empowerment for right action, deliverance from inner darkness, and establishment of a safe inner poise.
Themes
Rescue-myths, Rejuvenation, Deliverance from darkness, Bestowal of force (aśva)
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa)
- Other hymns
- RV 7.71.4, RV 7.71.6, RV 7.72.1-2
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha hymns frequently portray divine intervention as restoration of ṛta in the human system—healing, widening, and right ordering.
Significance
Here Vasiṣṭha presents the Aśvins as powers that reverse inner decline and free the seer within from darkness—central to an integral psychology of transformation.
The deity
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Epithets
- Aśvinā, Nāsatyā, divine physicians (implied)
- Related deities
- Uṣas, Sūrya, Soma
Cosmic role
Restorers of life and mind; bring timely succor, rescue from peril, and renewal of strength.
Inner power
Therapeutic force of consciousness: quick repair, integration, and release from knots of tamas and aṃhas.
In ritual
Where it is used
Aśvin praise in soma-related liturgies and morning calls; also general protective/healing invocation
यु॒वं च्यवा॑नं ज॒रसो॑ऽमुमुक्तं॒ नि पे॒दव॑ ऊहथुरा॒शुमश्व॑म् । निरंह॑स॒स्तम॑सः स्पर्त॒मत्रिं॒ नि जा॑हु॒षं शि॑थि॒रे धा॑तम॒न्तः ॥
यु॒वम् । च्यवा॑नम् । ज॒रसः॑ । अ॒मु॒मु॒क्त॒म् । नि । पे॒दवे॑ । ऊ॒ह॒थुः॒ । आ॒शुम् । अश्व॑म् । निः । अंह॑सः । तम॑सः । स्पर्त॑म् । अत्रि॑म् । नि । जा॒हु॒षम् । शि॒थि॒रे । धा॒तम् । अ॒न्तरिति॑ ॥
yuvam | cyavānam | jarasaḥ | amumuktam | ni | pedave | ūhathuḥ | āśum | aśvam | ni ḥ | aṃhasaḥ | tamasaḥ | spartam | atrim | ni | jāhuṣam | śithire | dhātam | antari ti
44
4×11 syllables (approx.)
Narrative-heroic flow; each pāda delivers a distinct ‘act of rescue’.
Energizes faith through remembered interventions; supports confidence during difficulty.
- Cyavāna
- Literal: name of a sage. Symbolic: the ‘fallen/declining’ state in us; consciousness slipping into fatigue—renewed by divine aid
- jaras
- Literal: old age, decay. Symbolic: degeneration of energy, dull habit, tamasic weariness
- Pedu
- Literal: name of a patron. Symbolic: the striving human who needs force for the journey
- āśu aśva
- Literal: swift horse. Symbolic: quickened vital energy and effective executive force for sādhanā
- Atri
- Literal: seer Atri. Symbolic: the seer-mind imprisoned in darkness; the inner knower released to vision
- aṃhas
- Literal: distress, sin, tightness. Symbolic: constriction, error-force, pressure of the lower nature
- tamas
- Literal: darkness. Symbolic: ignorance, inertia, subconscious obscurity
- śithira
- Literal: loosened, relaxed. Symbolic: unknotted being—release from inner rigidity and trauma
- antar
- Literal: within. Symbolic: the inner sanctuary/psychic space where one is held safe
Mythic exempla (itihāsa-style) within praise: recited to remind the Aśvins of their healing/rescuing deeds; supports prayers for rejuvenation, deliverance from darkness, and swift force.
When seeking healing, renewal, release from misfortune, and strength for action; morning/transition times are typical for Aśvins.
Recitation as stuti (praise) recalling divine deeds to invite repetition of that help.
Use during recovery, burnout, depression/tamas, or when rebuilding disciplined action—affirming that decline can be reversed.
cyávāna: from √cyu ‘to fall, move away’ → ‘the fallen/declining one’ (mythic name; psychologically: declining vitality). járas: ‘old age/decay’ (cf. PIE *gerh₂- ‘grow old’). amumuktam: from √muc ‘release’ with reduplicated/strengthened perfect-like formation. āśú: ‘swift’ (root √aś ‘to reach, be swift’). áśva: ‘horse’ (PIE *h₁éḱwos). áṃhas: ‘narrowness, distress; sin as constriction’ (inner sense justified by semantic field of tightness/oppression). támas: ‘darkness’ (ignorance/obscuration). dhātam: √dhā ‘to place, establish’.
release (mokṣa-like motif as loosening of constriction), restoration of vitality (rejuvenation), ignorance as tamas; distress as aṃhas (constriction)
Rescues are restorations of right functioning—replacing constriction with ordered movement.
Atri’s liberation symbolizes truth-seeing released from falsehood/darkness.
Emergence of light and force from confinement; renewal as a cosmic rhythm.
Integral-psychological interpretation: mythic figures encode processes of consciousness evolution.
Dawn-approach (Aśvin time)
Horse = prāṇic-vital drive; darkness = subconscious inertia; loosening = untying of inner knots, restoration of flow.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Aśvin miracles: rejuvenating Cyavāna, gifting Pedu a swift horse, rescuing Atri from darkness and constriction, securing Jāhuṣa within safety. In the inner reading, these are stages of yogic restoration: renewal of decayed life-force, acquisition of swift disciplined energy, liberation of the seer-mind from obscurity, and establishment of the being in an inwardly protected poise.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- áśva is a clear PIE inheritance (*h₁éḱwos). √muc ‘release’ and √dhā ‘place’ are old verbal roots with broad Indo-European parallels (cf. Greek thē- in τίθημι for √dhā). The semantic opposition of támas ‘dark’ vs. release/placement encodes a common Indo-European poetic polarity (darkness/constraint vs. rescue/order).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi invokes remembrance as a mode of compulsion-by-praise: by recounting past acts, he establishes the Aśvins’ identity as healers of decay and breakers of inner darkness. The reciprocity is ethical and psychological: because the Aśvins have once loosened the bonds (aṃhas/tamas), they are called to repeat that saving action in the present sacrificer.
Call the Aśvins to (1) renew tired consciousness, (2) infuse swift vital force, (3) release the inner seer from darkness, (4) establish safety in the heart-depth.
Anāhata (healing integration) and Maṇipūra (restored force/horse)
Brisk-then-calm: 9 rounds of slightly stronger exhale (to break tamas), followed by 6 rounds sama-vṛtti.
From constriction to liberated flow; alert calm with renewed energy.
Identify your ‘jaras’ (decline) and ‘tamas’ (obscurity) before chanting; after chanting, sit and feel the ‘swift horse’ as steady, obedient energy for right action.
Maintain Vedic udatta/anudatta/svarita contours from the recensional tradition; keep strong udatta on key verbs (amumuktam, ūhathur, nīḥ…spartaṃ).
Clear separation of pādas; emphasize ‘nir’ releases with a crisp onset; avoid swallowing consonant clusters.
cyavānam: ‘cya’ as palatal cluster, not ‘cha’, jaraso: light ‘j’, clear ‘r’, ūhathur: long ū; aspirate ‘th’, āśum aśvam: distinguish ś vs s; keep aśva with clear ‘śv’, aṃhasas: nasal ‘ṃ’ before h; do not over-nasalize, śithire: soft ‘śi’, dental ‘t’, light ‘re’
Steady, invigorating, with crisp diction on the ‘release’ phrases.
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