Rig Veda 2.28.5: Mandala 2, Sukta 28, Mantra 5
Sukta 2.28
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Varuṇa
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Karuna (compassion)
वि मच्छ्रथाय रशनामिवाग ऋध्याम ते वरुण खामृतस्य । मा तन्तुश्छेदि वयतो धियं मे मा मात्रा शार्यपसः पुर ऋतोः ॥
ví mac chrathāya raśanā́m ivā́ga ṛdhyā́ma te varuṇa khā́m ṛtásya | mā́ tántuś chedi váyataḥ dhíyaṃ me mā́ mā́trā śāri apásaḥ purā́ ṛtóḥ ||
Löse von mir die Schuld wie einen Riemen; so mögen wir gedeihen in deinem weiten Raum der Wahrheit, o Varuṇa. Nicht werde der Faden meines webenden Denkens durchschnitten; nicht breche das Maß des Werkes, ehe die Ṛta erfüllt ist.
Word by Word
- वि
- apart, asunder (prefix: ‘forth/away’)Indeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot वि (उपसर्ग) / प्र (अव्यय)
- मच्छ्रथाय
- for loosening (me), for unbindingNoun (infinitival dative) / verbal-nounचतुर्थी एकवचन (उद्देश्य/प्रयोजन) — ‘(to) loosening/untying’Role सम्प्रदान (प्रयोजन-दातिव) / हेत्वर्थRoot श्रथ (धातु) / श्रथ (प्रातिपदिक: ‘बंधन/शिथिलता’)
- रशनाम्
- reins, straps, bondsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot रशना (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययRoot इव
- आ
- towards, unto (prefix: ‘to/near’)Indeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot आ (उपसर्ग) / आ (अव्यय)
- अग
- lead (me), bring (me)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot अञ्च्/अग् (धातु; गत्यर्थ)
- ऋध्याम
- may I thrive / may I attain successVerbविधिलिङ्/आशीर्लिङ्, उत्तमपुरुष एकवचन, परस्मैपद (प्रार्थना) — ‘may I prosper/succeed’Role क्रियाRoot ऋध् (धातु; समृद्धौ/सिद्धौ)
- ते
- of you, yourPronounषष्ठी एकवचन (सम्बन्ध) / दत्तिव-सम्भव (वेदे) — यहाँ ‘of/for you’Role सम्बन्धRoot त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वरुण
- O VaruṇaNoun (deity name)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
- खाम्
- the opening, the space (a ‘gap’/release)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot खा (प्रातिपदिक; ‘ख/आकाश/छिद्र’)
- ऋतस्य
- of ṛta (cosmic order/truth)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot ऋत (प्रातिपदिक)
- मा
- do notIndeclinableनिषेध (prohibitive particle)Root मा
- तन्तुः
- the thread, cordNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृ (छेदि-क्रियायाः) / विषयRoot तन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
- छेदि
- be cut / get severedVerbलुङ् (आorist; injunctive/prohibitive use with मा), तृतीयपुरुष एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot छिद् (धातु; छेदने)
- वयतः
- of life(-span), of ageNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग (वेदे), षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot वय (प्रातिपदिक; ‘वय/जीवन-काल/यौवन’)
- धियम्
- my thought/prayer, insightNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot धि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘thought, prayer, insight’)
- मे
- my, of mePronounषष्ठी एकवचन (सम्बन्ध)Role सम्बन्धRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- मा
- do notIndeclinableनिषेध (prohibitive particle)Root मा
- मात्रा
- the measure/limitNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृ/विषय (शार्य-क्रियायाः)Root मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक; ‘measure, limit’)
- शार्य
- be damaged / be loosened / be impairedVerbलोट्/लुङ्-प्रयोग (prohibitive with मा): तृतीयपुरुष एकवचन, आत्मनेपद/मध्यवर्ती वेद-रूपRole क्रियाRoot शॄ/शृ (धातु; हिंसने/क्षये) अथवा शर् (क्षरणे) — वेद. ‘to be broken/loosened’
- अपसः
- of the work(s), of the rite(s)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन (वेदे: -अस्) / अथवा प्रथमा बहुवचन (सन्दर्भानुसार); यहाँ ‘of the work/rite’Role सम्बन्धRoot अपस् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘work, deed, rite’)
- पुरः
- before, in frontIndeclinable (adverbial) / noun-formअव्ययार्थ ‘before, in the presence/front’Role अधिकरण (स्थान/समय) / क्रियाविशेषणRoot पुरस् (अव्ययीभाव/प्रातिपदिक; ‘in front, before’)
- ऋतोः
- of the season / of the proper timeNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot ऋतु (प्रातिपदिक; ‘season, proper time’)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (main): मच्छ्र॑थाय = मत् + श्रथाय (final -t of मत् assimilates before श् → च्छ् in RV orthography)
- रश॒नामि॒वाग॑ = रशनाम् + इव + आ + अग (म् + इ → मि; इव + आ → इवा; then आ + अग kept as separate preverb + verb)
- खामृ॒तस्य॑ = खाम् + ऋतस्य (म् + ऋ → मृ)
- तन्तु॑श्छेदि॒ = तन्तुः + छेदि (visarga before छ → श्छ)
- मात्रा॑ शार्य॒पस॑: = मात्रा + शार्य + अपसः (pada-split; accent retained from saṃhitā)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The poet asks Varuṇa to loosen sin from him as one loosens a strap, to let him prosper in Varuṇa’s wide realm of Ṛta (Truth/Right Order). He prays that the thread of his thought-weaving not be cut and that the measure of his work not break before the fulfillment of Ṛta.
Inner meaning
“Sin” (āgas) is read as inner deviation—knotting of the nature by fear, falsehood, and self-division. Varuṇa, lord of Ṛta-Satya, is invoked to widen the inner space (khā) where the soul can move freely in truth. The ‘weaving-thought’ (dhī as a living formation) is the continuous yogic construction of right seeing and right becoming; the seeker prays that this subtle continuity (tantu) not snap and that the right measure (mātrā) of the sādhanā-work (apasaḥ) not collapse prematurely, before the consciousness is stabilized in Ṛta.
Universal truth
Spiritual growth requires both release from inner error and protection of continuity: liberation (untying) and perseverance (unbroken thread). Truth is not merely an idea but a space of being; one must be held in its wideness until the work of transformation is complete.
Themes
Release from fault, Continuity of inner progress, Weaving metaphor for thought, Right measure of work
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Lineage
- Bhārgava
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 2.23 (Bṛhaspati), Rig Veda 2.24 (Bṛhaspati), Rig Veda 2.28 (Varuṇa series), Rig Veda 2.33 (Rudra)
Family tradition
Bhṛgu-line seers; hymns often emphasize ethical-spiritual law (ṛta), inner clarity, and the right ordering of life-force under divine governance.
Significance
Gṛtsamada’s voice frequently moves from outer rite to inner rectitude: a disciplined aspiration to be held in Ṛta, with prayer for release from inner fault and for the steady continuation of the soul’s constructive vision (dhī).
The deity
- Devata
- Varuṇa
- Epithets
- Samrāṭ (sovereign), Rājan (king), Asura (mighty lord, archaic), Ṛtāva (knower/keeper of Ṛta)
- Related deities
- Mitra, Aryaman, Indra, Agni, Uṣas
Cosmic role
Guardian of Ṛta and Satya; upholder of cosmic law, moral order, and vastness; measurer who sets firm boundaries so harmony can exist.
Inner power
Power of truth-consciousness that detects deviation, restores right order, widens the being, and binds the nature to the soul’s law until it becomes spontaneous truth.
In ritual
Where it is used
Varuṇa appeasement/śānti prayers within soma and non-soma contexts; recited in expiatory or truth-affirming invocations.
वि मच्छ्र॑थाय रश॒नामि॒वाग॑ ऋ॒ध्याम॑ ते वरुण॒ खामृ॒तस्य॑ । मा तन्तु॑श्छेदि॒ वय॑तो॒ धियं॑ मे॒ मा मात्रा॑ शार्य॒पस॑: पु॒र ऋ॒तोः ॥
वि । मत् । श्र॒थ॒य॒ । र॒श॒नाम्ऽइ॑व । आगः॑ । ऋ॒ध्याम॑ । ते॒ । व॒रु॒ण॒ । खाम् । ऋ॒तस्य॑ । मा । तन्तुः॑ । छे॒दि॒ । वय॑तः । धिय॑म् । मे॒ । मा । मात्रा॑ । शा॒रि॒ । अ॒पसः॑ । पु॒रा । ऋ॒तोः ॥
vi | mat | śrathaya | raśanām-iva | āgaḥ | ṛdhyāma | te | varuṇa | khām | ṛtasya | mā | tantuḥ | chedi | vayataḥ | dhiyam | me | mā | mātrā | śāri | apasaḥ | purā | ṛtoḥ
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables each
Grave, forward-driving cadence with room for emphasis on key imperatives (mā…mā).
Stabilizes the mind in a firm ethical-spiritual resolve; supports a feeling of ‘held continuity’—an unbroken inner thread.
- आगः (āgaḥ)
- Literal: sin, fault, transgression. Symbolic: inner deviation from truth; knots of false movement in nature
- रशना (raśanā)
- Literal: strap, thong. Symbolic: binding habit/compulsion that ties consciousness
- खाम् (khām)
- Literal: space, wide expanse. Symbolic: inner wideness of truth-consciousness; unobstructed field of being
- ऋतस्य (ṛtasya)
- Literal: of Ṛta (cosmic order). Symbolic: right law of becoming; truth in action and harmony
- तन्तुः (tantuḥ)
- Literal: thread. Symbolic: continuity of aspiration and inner formation
- धियम् (dhiyam)
- Literal: thought, vision, intelligence. Symbolic: seer-thought (dhī) that builds the inner sacrifice
- मात्रा (mātrā)
- Literal: measure. Symbolic: right proportion/discipline of sādhanā; exactness of inner work
- अपसः (apasaḥ)
- Literal: works, labors. Symbolic: yogic operations of purification and formation
- पुरा ऋतोः (purā ṛtoḥ)
- Literal: before Ṛta (is fulfilled). Symbolic: before truth is firmly accomplished in the being
Expiatory/purificatory petition: release from enas/āgas; supports vows (vrata) and continuity of sacred work
When seeking release from fault (āgas) and re-establishment in ṛta; also in personal penitential recitation.
Japa/recitation with intention of unbinding and re-consecration to Ṛta.
Use as a daily ‘truth-alignment’ mantra when one feels inner fragmentation or guilt; pair with journaling of one concrete correction aligned to truth.
āgás- ‘fault’ from √añj/√ag? (traditional: ‘sin/offence’), functionally ‘mis-step’ from ṛta. śrath- √śrath ‘loosen’ (unbinding imagery). raśanā ‘strap’ from √raś ‘to bind’ (semantic). tantú- ‘thread’ (PIE *ten- ‘stretch’; cf. Latin tendere) supports the weaving metaphor for dhī (thought). mātrā ‘measure’ from √mā ‘measure’ (PIE *meh₁-).
Ṛta as fulfilled order, Dhī (inspired intelligence) as woven continuity, Measure (mātrā) as right proportion in sādhanā
Explicit: prosperity is sought in the wide space of Ṛta; fulfillment of Ṛta is the completion-goal.
Truth as a lived law; the prayer is to remain intact until truth is accomplished.
World/process as weaving: thought and work are threads measured toward fulfillment.
Proto-Vedāntic and yogic ethics of truth-being; anticipates Upaniṣadic stress on satya and inner continuity (smṛti/niyama).
The strap/thread = binding patterns and continuity of sādhanā; the wide space = inner vastness of truth-consciousness where the soul can move freely.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is ‘unbinding by the law-king’: Varuṇa loosens the bonds of fault as a strap is loosened. The weaving of dhī with a thread/measure frames spiritual practice as a crafted, continuous formation that must not be cut before ṛta is completed.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- tantú- ‘thread’ reflects PIE *ten- ‘stretch’ (tension/tend), and mātrā from √mā reflects PIE *meh₁- ‘measure’. The verse’s craft-metaphors are deeply IE: truth as right measure and continuity.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi acknowledges dependence on Varuṇa for purification (unbinding āgas) while asserting a sustained inner craftsmanship (weaving dhī). The reciprocity is: divine release and space of ṛta granted; human continuity and right measure maintained.
Release inner knots of guilt/fear; enter a wide, quiet field of truth and recommit to a measured, continuous practice.
Viśuddha (truth/ethics of speech and alignment)
Slow exhale-focused breathing (1:2 ratio) while mentally repeating ‘vi…’ (loosening) on exhale; ‘ṛtasya khām’ on inhale as wideness.
Calm, vigilant sincerity; a steadying of will to continue without rupture.
Identify one ‘binding strap’ (habit) and one ‘thread’ (daily practice) to protect; practice exactness (mātrā) rather than strain—continue until the inner law feels natural.
Triṣṭubh with Vedic udatta/anudatta/svarita; preserve pitch rise on key imperatives (, ) and on ṛta-words (, ) as per śākhā tradition.
Lightly emphasize ‘vi’ (release) and both ‘mā’ prohibitives; keep ‘ṛtasya/ṛtoḥ’ clear and steady (do not rush).
Differentiate ṛ from ri: short vocalic ‘r’ in /, Keep retroflex ṭ/ḍ absent here; but maintain dental t in tantuḥ, (dhi) is aspirated: ‘dhiyam’ not ‘diyam’
Low, steady, penitential but confident; minimal vibrato.
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