Rig Veda 2.35.4: Mandala 2, Sukta 35, Mantra 4
Sukta 2.35
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Apāṃ Napāt
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
तमस्मेरा युवतयो युवानं मर्मृज्यमानाः परि यन्त्यापः । स शुक्रेभिः शिक्वभी रेवदस्मे दीदायानिध्मो घृतनिर्णिगप्सु ॥
tám asmerā́ yuvatáyo yúvānaṃ marmṛjyámānāḥ pári yánty ā́paḥ | sá śukrébhiḥ śíkvabhī revád asmé dīdā́yā́nidhmó ghṛtánirṇig apsú ||
Um ihn ziehen die lächelnden jungen Wasser, den Jungen reinigend. Er leuchtet uns mit hellen, kundigen Kräften, reich an Wonne — eine unangefachte Flamme, mit ghee-gleichem Glanz, in den Wassern.
Word by Word
- तम्
- him/that (one)Pronounपुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्मे
- for us two / to usPronounचतुर्थी/षष्ठी द्विवचनम् (वैदिकः रूपभेदः)Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ईराः
- impulses/instigations (i.e., swift movements)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot ईरा (स्त्री-प्रातिपदिक; ‘प्रेरणा/गतिः’ इत्यर्थे; वैदिके ‘ईर्’ धातोः सम्बन्धः)
- युवतयः
- young womenNounस्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot युवती (स्त्री-प्रातिपदिक)
- युवानम्
- the young oneNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot युवन् (पुं-प्रातिपदिक)
- मर्मृज्यमानाः
- being cleansed/purifiedVerb (participle)वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि शानच्-प्रत्ययः; स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot मृज् (धातु; ‘मार्जने/शोधने’)
- परि
- aroundIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot परि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- यन्ति
- they go/moveVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Role KriyāRoot या (धातु; ‘गत्यर्थे’)
- आपः
- the watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot अप्/आप् (स्त्री-प्रातिपदिक)
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- शुक्रेभिः
- with bright/pure (ones/things)Adjective/Nounतृतीया बहुवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot शुक्र (पुं/नपुं-प्रातिपदिक)
- शिक्वभिः
- with the skilled/adept (singers/priests)Noun/Adjectiveतृतीया बहुवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot शिक्वन् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘कुशल/प्रवीण/स्तुतिकर’ इत्यर्थे, वैदिक)
- रेवत्
- richly, splendidlyAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् (क्रियाविशेषणवत् प्रयोगः)Role Kriyā-viśeṣaṇaRoot रेवत् (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक; ‘धनवत्/समृद्ध’)
- अस्मे
- for us two / to usPronounचतुर्थी/षष्ठी द्विवचनम् (वैदिकः रूपभेदः)Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- दीदाय
- has shone/has flashedVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परोक्श), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role KriyāRoot दीदाय (धातु-रूपम्; √दा/√दी ‘दीप्तौ/दाने’ इत्यस्य वैदिक-परिप्रयोगः; अत्र ‘दीप्तौ’)
- अनिध्मः
- without fuelAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot अनिध्म (प्रातिपदिक; ‘इन्धनरहित’)
- घृतनिर्णिक्
- having a ghee-bright covering/gleamNoun (compound epithet)स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (बहुव्रीहिः/कर्मधारयः-प्रायः, विशेषणवत्)Role KartāRoot घृत-निर्णिज्/निर्णिक् (समास; ‘घृत’ + ‘निर्णिज्/निर्णिक्’ = ‘आवरण/दीप्ति/वस्त्र’)
- अप्सु
- in the watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्गे सप्तमी बहुवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot अप्/आप् (स्त्री-प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सम्भाव्यः): तम् + अस्मे + ईराः + युवतयः + युवानम् + मर्मृज्यमानाः + परि + यन्ति + आपः । सः + शुक्रेभिः + शिक्वभिः + रेवत् + अस्मे + दीदाय + अनिध्मः + घृतनिर्णिक् + अप्सु ॥ मुख्य-सन्धयः: (1) तमस्मे॑रा = तम् + अस्मे + ईराः (म् + अ → म; अस्मे + ईराः → अस्मेईराः, संहितायां दीर्घ/संयोग-समायोजनम्). (2) य॒न्त्याप॑: = यन्ति + आपः (इ + आ → या; यन्त्यापः). (3) रे॒वद॒स्मे = रेवत् + अस्मे (त् + अ → द्, जश्त्व). (4) दी॒दाया॑नि॒ध्मो = दीदाय + अनिध्मः (अ-आ संधिः; संहितायां दीदायानिध्मः). (5) घृ॒तनि॑र्णिग॒प्सु = घृतनिर्णिक् + अप्सु (क् + अ → ग्, जश्त्व; तथा संहितायां घृतनिर्णिगप्सु). स्वर-टिप्पणी: उदात्त/स्वरित चिह्नाः संहितापाठानुसारं
- पदपाठे प्रायः स्वर-चिह्न-परिवर्तनं दृश्यते।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Around him the smiling young Waters move, cleansing the young one. He shines for us with bright, skilful powers, rich in delight—an unfed flame with ghee-like radiance within the waters.
Inner meaning
The purified life-movements (yuvatayaḥ āpaḥ) joyfully circle the youthful divine flame, washing away obscurations. Apāṃ Napāt shines with śukra energies—clear, luminous faculties that are also śikva (skilful, effective): powers that can act in life without losing purity. He is anidhma—self-kindled, not dependent on external fuel—indicating an inner fire sustained by the soul, with ghṛta-nirṇij (ghee-like sheen): a smooth, integrative radiance that harmonizes the vital waters rather than burning them.
Universal truth
True spiritual power is self-sustaining and purifying: when the life-force becomes glad and clear, it naturally cleanses around the inner flame, and action becomes skilful, luminous, and rich in delight.
Themes
Purification, Hidden fire revealed, Delight-rich radiance (revat)
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Lineage
- Bhārgava (traditional)
- Other hymns
- RV 2.35.3, RV 2.35.5, RV 2.1
Family tradition
The seer’s hymns often highlight purification and the emergence of a self-sustaining inner fire that can govern life.
Significance
This verse is a compact psychology of transformation: glad vital energies cleanse around the psychic fire, which then radiates skilful luminous power into life.
The deity
- Devata
- Apāṃ Napāt
- Epithets
- yuvānam (youthful), anidhma (self-kindled), ghṛtanirṇij (ghee-radiant), revad (rich in delight)
- Related deities
- Agni (self-kindled inner fire), Soma (delight/nectar), Uṣas (illumination)
Cosmic role
The hidden fire that shines within waters, sustaining itself and giving luminous efficacy to the world-process.
Inner power
Psychic fire that purifies the vital and bestows skilful luminous action; transforms life-energy into a vehicle of delight.
In ritual
Where it is used
Water-purification and fire symbolism within śrauta; praise of Apāṃ Napāt in sequences connected to āpas and Agni.
तमस्मे॑रा युव॒तयो॒ युवा॑नं मर्मृ॒ज्यमा॑ना॒: परि॑ य॒न्त्याप॑: । स शु॒क्रेभि॒: शिक्व॑भी रे॒वद॒स्मे दी॒दाया॑नि॒ध्मो घृ॒तनि॑र्णिग॒प्सु ॥
तम् । अस्मे॑राः । यु॒व॒तयः॑ । युवा॑नम् । म॒र्मृ॒ज्यमा॑नाः । परि॑ । य॒न्ति॒ । आपः॑ । सः । शु॒क्रेभिः॑ । शिक्व॑ऽभिः । रे॒वत् । अ॒स्मे इति॑ । दी॒दाय॑ । अ॒नि॒ध्मः । घृ॒तऽनि॑र्निक् । अ॒प्ऽसु ॥
tam | asmerāḥ | yuvatayaḥ | yuvānam | marmṛjyamānāḥ | pari | yanti | āpaḥ | saḥ | śukrebhiḥ | śikva-bhiḥ | revat | asme iti | dīdāya | anidhmaḥ | ghṛta-nirnik | ap-su
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4 × ~11
Bright and energetic; the middle epithets create a sparkling cluster of power-words.
Energizes while purifying; gives a felt sense of inner brightness that does not agitate—‘cool fire’ within waters.
- युवतयः (yuvatayaḥ)
- Literal: young women/maidens. Symbolic: fresh life-energies; purified movements of the vital
- अस्मेराः (asmerāḥ)
- Literal: smiling. Symbolic: gladness as a sign of purification; delight in the life-force
- मर्मृज्यमानाः (marmṛjyamānāḥ)
- Literal: cleansing, polishing. Symbolic: inner purification; refining of the vital nature
- शुक्रेभिः (śukrebhiḥ)
- Literal: with bright/white (powers). Symbolic: luminous faculties; clarified energies
- शिक्वभिः (śikvabhī)
- Literal: with skilful (powers). Symbolic: effective capacities for right action (karma) under light
- अ निध्मः (anidhmaḥ)
- Literal: without fuel. Symbolic: self-existent flame of consciousness; not dependent on outer stimulus
- घृतनिर्णिग् (ghṛtanirṇig)
- Literal: having ghee-like radiance/covering. Symbolic: smooth integrative light; sweetness and harmony in illumination
- अप्सु (apsu)
- Literal: in the waters. Symbolic: within the life-stream and subconscient movements
Purificatory imagery; supports rites where waters cleanse and reveal the inner fire (Soma/purification contexts).
During rites emphasizing purification and the hidden fire principle; also apt before lighting a lamp as inner-symbol act.
Praise/evocation; may accompany sprinkling or consecration of waters.
Chant before daily work to invoke ‘śukra-śikva’—bright, skilful energies—so action stays clear and non-reactive.
marmṛj- intensive of √mṛj ‘cleanse’ indicates repeated purification. an-idhma ‘without fuel’ marks a self-born flame (svayambhū-like motif). ghṛta ‘ghee’ is also ‘clarified essence’; hence ghṛta-nirṇij: a clarified luminous sheath—psychologically, clarified consciousness coating the inner fire.
Self-sustaining inner flame (anidhmaḥ), Purification as prerequisite for revelation, Clarified essence (ghṛta) as luminous consciousness
Skilful luminous energies are the operative form of ṛta in action—right effectiveness without distortion.
Self-kindled fire indicates truth not dependent on outer supports; inner authenticity sustains illumination.
Hidden tapas within waters manifests as radiance and effective power; life becomes a vessel for divine fire.
Integral yoga reading: psychic fire purifies and divinizes the vital.
dawn or early morning (youthful, fresh purification mood)
Waters = vital/subconscient; maidens = fresh purified life-energies; anidhma fire = self-sustained awareness; ghee-radiance = harmonizing luminous delight.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Waters as young maidens cleansing and circling the youthful fire in waters: a myth of purification unveiling the self-sustaining flame. Inwardly, the movements of life purify themselves until the inner will shines without external ‘fuel’—sustained by its own truth.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √mṛj ‘wipe/cleanse’ has Indo-Iranian parallels (Avestan marəz- type). √dī/√dyut again reflects PIE *dyeu- ‘shine’. The compound an-idhma is a characteristically Vedic negative compound expressing metaphysical paradox (fire without fuel), a common IE poetic strategy.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi seeks a beneficent shining ‘for us’ (asmé): the deity’s radiance is requested as practical inner wealth (revat). The waters’ cleansing action mirrors the aspirant’s self-purification that allows the devatā to blaze in the human vessel.
Let the life-force become ‘smiling’ (non-striving gladness) and cleanse around a steady inner flame; cultivate skilful luminous action.
manipura (fire within waters; transformation of vital energy)
Kapalabhati light (30 strokes) to clear dullness, then slow breathing; chant with warmth in the navel region without tension.
bright, clean vitality held by a calm inner flame; readiness for right action.
1) Feel a steady warmth at navel/heart. 2) On chanting ‘anidhmaḥ’, sense self-sustaining light. 3) Offer upcoming actions into that light; resolve to act with clarity (śukra) and skill (śikva) without agitation.
Rigvedic accents; give prominence to epithets ‘śukrebhiḥ śikvabhīḥ’ and ‘anidhmaḥ’.
Articulate consonant clusters cleanly; keep pāda breaks clear to preserve Triṣṭubh swing; brighten tone on ‘dīdāya’.
‘marmṛjyamānāḥ’ with repeated m-r sound; keep vocalic ṛ clear, ‘śukrebhiḥ’ śu-kre-bhiḥ (not śu-kre-bih), ‘ghṛta’ with vocalic ṛ (ghṛ), ‘nirṇig’ with retroflex ṇ and hard ‘g’
bright, energized but controlled; avoid shouting—aim for ‘luminous’ projection.
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