Rig Veda 10.5.2: Mandala 10, Sukta 5, Mantra 2
Sukta 10.5
- Rishi
- Dīrghatamas Āucathya
- Devata
- R̥ta / hidden cosmic powers
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
समानं नीळं वृषणो वसानाः सं जग्मिरे महिषा अर्वतीभिः । ऋतस्य पदं कवयो नि पान्ति गुहा नामानि दधिरे पराणि ॥
samānáṃ nīḷáṃ vṛ́ṣaṇo vásānāḥ sáṃ jagmiré mahiṣā́ arvatī́bhiḥ | ṛtásya padáṃ kaváyo ní pānti guhā́ nā́māni dadhire párāṇi ||
Im selben Nest sich kleidend, sind die mächtigen Männlichen mit ihren Rossen zusammengekommen. Die Kavi hüten den Tritt der Ṛta; im Verborgenen haben sie die höchsten Namen niedergelegt.
Word by Word
- समानम्
- the sameAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्म (विशेष्य-नीळम्) / विशेषणRoot समान- (प्रातिपदिक) < सम (PIE *sem- ‘one, same’)
- नीळम्
- nest; resting-place (lair)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot नीळ- (प्रातिपदिक)
- वृषणः
- the bulls; the vigorous onesNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot वृषन्- (प्रातिपदिक) < √वृष् ‘to rain, be strong’
- वसानाः
- wearing; clothedParticiple (Adjective)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्रकार), प्रथमा बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग (वृषणः इति सह)Role कर्तृ (कर्तृ-विशेषण)Root √वस् (वस्/वस) ‘to wear, clothe’ → वसान (कृदन्त)
- सम्
- togetherIndeclinableउपसर्गः (√गम् इत्यस्य)Root सम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- जग्मिरे
- they have gone; they came togetherVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपदRole क्रियाRoot √गम् ‘to go’
- महिषाः
- buffaloes; mighty onesNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (वृषणः इत्यस्य समन्वय/अप्पोजिशन)Root महिष- (प्रातिपदिक)
- अर्वतीभिः
- with mares; with swift onesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचनRole करणRoot अर्वती- (प्रातिपदिक) < अर्वत् ‘steed, horse’
- ऋतस्य
- of ṛta (cosmic order/truth)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root ऋत- (प्रातिपदिक)
- पदम्
- the step; track; placeNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot पद- (प्रातिपदिक)
- कवयः
- the seers; poetsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot कवि- (प्रातिपदिक)
- नि
- down; inIndeclinableउपसर्गः (√पा इत्यस्य)Root नि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- पान्ति
- they protect; they guardVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot √पा ‘to protect’
- गुहा
- in secret; hiddenlyIndeclinableअव्यय (स्थान/प्रकारवाचक)Role अधिकारण (गुप्ते/अन्तः)Root गुहा (अव्यय/निपात; ‘in secret’) < गुह्/गुह्य ‘hidden’
- नामानि
- namesNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्म (दधिरे इत्यस्य)Root नामन्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- दधिरे
- they have placed; they setVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपदRole क्रियाRoot √धा ‘to put, place’
- पराणि
- far; remote; beyondAdjective (used substantively)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा बहुवचन (अत्र ‘नामानि’ इति कर्मणि विशेषणम् → द्वितीया बहुवचन)Role कर्म (नामानि इत्यस्य विशेषण)Root पर- (प्रातिपदिक) → पराणि (नपुंसक बहुवचन; ‘remote/other’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (RV-पदपाठानुसार): समानं | नीळं | वृषणः | वसानाः | सम् | जग्मिरे | महिषाः | अर्वतीभिः || ऋतस्य | पदं | कवयः | नि | पान्ति | गुहा | नामानि | दधिरे | पराणि || प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) वृषणो वसानाः → वृषणः + वसानाः (विसर्ग-लोपः/ओ-आदेशः पदसंहितायाम्)
- (2) सं जग्मिरे → सम् + जग्मिरे (अनुस्वार/नासिक्य-सन्धिः)
- (3) कवयो नि → कवयः + नि (विसर्ग-लोपः)
- (4) गुहा नामानि → गुहा + नामानि (स्वर-संहितामात्रा; विशेष सन्धि न आवश्यक)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Wearing the same nest, the mighty males have come together with their mares. The seers guard the step of R̥ta; in secrecy they have placed the supreme names.
Inner meaning
Multiple strong powers (‘mighty males’) clothe themselves in one common ‘nest’—a shared seat of consciousness where different divine forces harmonize. Their ‘mares’ are dynamic energies (prāṇa/vital powers) that carry these forces in manifestation. The kavayaḥ (seer-minds) guard the ‘pada’ of R̥ta: the precise law/step of right order that must not be violated by egoistic movement. The ‘supreme names’ are mantric keys—essential truths/powers—kept in secrecy (guhā) until the consciousness is ripe; they are placed ‘beyond’ (parāṇi), i.e., in the higher planes, to be brought down by initiation and inner readiness.
Universal truth
Real power is unity in a common consciousness, guided by right order. The deepest truths are not mere information; they are living ‘names’ (essential vibrations) revealed inwardly when the seeker can guard and embody R̥ta.
Themes
esoteric nomenclature, seers as guardians of R̥ta, unity of powers, hidden foundations
The seer
- Rishi
- Dīrghatamas Āucathya
- Lineage
- Aucathya
- Other hymns
- RV 10.5, RV 10.4, RV 10.71
Family tradition
Initiatic seer-poetry: truths are ‘guarded’ and ‘placed in secrecy’, suggesting a disciplined transmission of inner knowledge.
Significance
He emphasizes guardianship of R̥ta and the esoteric nature of the ‘supreme names’—a psychology of revelation: truth descends when the vessel is ready.
The deity
- Devata
- R̥ta / Hidden Cosmic Powers (seer-guarded)
- Epithets
- R̥ta (right order), Parāṇi nāmāni (supreme names—functional)
- Related deities
- Varuṇa (guardian of r̥ta), Mitra (harmony), Agni (revealer), Bṛhaspati (lord of the word)
Cosmic role
R̥ta is the law that holds worlds together; the ‘names’ are archetypal powers that structure manifestation.
Inner power
Discrimination and integrity that keep the seeker aligned; capacity to receive higher mantric truths.
In ritual
Where it is used
Gnostic-ritual bridge: supports the sacrificial worldview where names/powers are ‘set’ in secrecy and accessed by kavayah through mantra
स॒मा॒नं नी॒ळं वृष॑णो॒ वसा॑ना॒: सं ज॑ग्मिरे महि॒षा अर्व॑तीभिः । ऋ॒तस्य॑ प॒दं क॒वयो॒ नि पा॑न्ति॒ गुहा॒ नामा॑नि दधिरे॒ परा॑णि ॥
स॒मा॒नम् । नी॒ळम् । वृष॑णः । वसा॑नाः । सम् । ज॒ग्मि॒रे॒ । म॒हि॒षाः । अर्व॑तीभिः । ऋ॒तस्य॑ । प॒दम् । क॒वयः॑ । नि । पा॒न्ति॒ । गुहा॑ । नामा॑नि । द॒धि॒रे॒ । परा॑णि ॥
samānam | nīḷam | vṛṣaṇaḥ | vasānāḥ | sam | jagmire | mahiṣāḥ | arvatībhiḥ | ṛtasya | padam | kavayaḥ | ni | pānti | guhā | nāmāni | dadhire | parāṇi
48
4 × ~12
Measured and expansive; supports the sense of ordered convergence and guarded secrecy.
Creates a solemn, initiatory mood; encourages careful attention and inwardness.
- समानं नीळम् (samānaṃ nīḻam)
- Literal: the same nest/seat. Symbolic: a unified plane of consciousness; common inner home
- वृषणः (vṛṣaṇaḥ)
- Literal: strong males, bulls. Symbolic: potent divine forces (mind-will powers)
- वसानाः (vasānāḥ)
- Literal: clothing themselves. Symbolic: taking a form/covering; entering a shared sheath of manifestation
- महिषाः (mahiṣāḥ)
- Literal: great ones, mighty. Symbolic: large cosmic powers acting together
- अर्वतीभिः (arvatībhiḥ)
- Literal: with mares. Symbolic: dynamic life-energies that carry the powers in action
- ऋतस्य पदम् (ṛtasya padam)
- Literal: step/track of R̥ta. Symbolic: law of right movement; stable stage of realization
- कवयः (kavayaḥ)
- Literal: seers, poets. Symbolic: illumined faculties guarding truth in consciousness
- गुहा (guhā)
- Literal: cave, secrecy. Symbolic: secret heart-depth; occult inner chamber
- नामा॑नि (nāmāni)
- Literal: names. Symbolic: essential vibrations/powers; mantric keys
- परा॑णि (parāṇi)
- Literal: supreme, beyond. Symbolic: higher planes (para) where the truths are stored
Gnostic-ritual bridge: supports the sacrificial worldview where names/powers are ‘set’ in secrecy and accessed by kavayah through mantra
Likely recited in reflective/gnostic portions of a rite; thematically fits moments of ‘guarding’ and ‘naming’ powers (e.g., pravara/śastra contexts).
Use for vows of integrity: guard the inner law (ṛtasya padam) and keep speech aligned; invite revelation of the ‘supreme names’ through silence.
(nīḷa) ‘nest/seat’ possibly from nī- ‘down/in’ + √/√ (li/lī) ‘cling, adhere’ in sense of ‘resting place’ (etymology debated). (kavi) from root √/√ (ku/kav) ‘to see/poetically know’ (Vedic semantic). (para) ‘beyond, supreme’ from PIE *per- ‘forward/beyond’ (broadly).
R̥ta (cosmic order), secret names (nāma) as essences/powers, guarding the station of truth
Central: seers guard the step of r̥ta as the condition for higher revelation.
Supreme names correspond to satya-vibrations; truth as power, not concept.
Powers converge into one seat; archetypal names placed in the beyond to be manifested through r̥ta.
Proto-Upaniṣadic: secrecy of highest knowledge; name as power; r̥ta as law of being.
Nest = stable inner seat; mares = mobilized prāṇa; cave = secret heart-depth; guarding = vigilant awareness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The guarding of ‘ṛtasya padam’ and the placing of ‘supreme names’ in secrecy: an esoteric myth of hidden divine names/powers preserved by seers. Psychologically, it indicates that stable truth-action is protected by inner vision, and the deepest realities are held in the cave of consciousness until one is ready.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- padam again reflects PIE *ped- ‘step’. The ‘name’ (nāman) is a classic IE category (PIE *h₁nōmn̥; Latin nōmen, English name), and the Vedic idea that names are powers echoes a widespread IE sacral linguistics.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi foregrounds the kavayah as mediators: the devatā’s essential ‘names’ are not public but entrusted to seer-guardians. The reciprocity is custodial: seers protect the truth-station; the hidden powers grant access and mastery as consciousness ripens.
Establish the ‘same nest’: settle into a unified inner seat; guard r̥ta by truthfulness and right movement; then listen inwardly for the ‘names’—essential intuitions.
Ajñā (discernment/guarding) and Anāhata (guhā/heart-cave)
Nadi-śodhana (alternate nostril) to unify currents (‘mares’) into one seat; end in silent retention (comfortable) to ‘guard’ the threshold.
Quiet vigilance; receptive secrecy.
Practice a ‘gatekeeper’ awareness: before speech/action ask—does this keep r̥ta? If yes, proceed; if not, return to the common seat and wait for the higher name/intuition.
Rigvedic svara; keep a dignified rise on ‘ṛtasya padam’ and a softer, inward tone on ‘guhā nāmāni’.
Let the first pāda gather/converge; hold a slight pause after ‘arvatībhiḥ |’; then chant the second half more quietly, as if ‘guarding’ a secret.
: retroflex ḷ (ḻ/ḷ) as in nīḻa; avoid plain l, : ‘ṣ’ retroflex, : vocalic ṛ clear, : ‘h’ voiced, not silent, : long ā, retroflex ṇ
Solemn, inward, controlled resonance.
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