Rig Veda 3.56.2: Mandala 3, Sukta 56, Mantra 2
Sukta 3.56
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- The One sustaining ṛta
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
षड्भाराँ एको अचरन्बिभर्त्यृतं वर्षिष्ठमुप गाव आगुः । तिस्रो महीरुपरास्तस्थुरत्या गुहा द्वे निहिते दर्श्येका ॥
ṣáḍbhārā́m̐ éko ácaran bibharty ṛtáṃ várṣiṣṭham úpa gā́va ā́guḥ | tísro mahī́r úparās tasthur átyā guhā́ dvé níhite dárśy ékā ||
Der Eine, der sich bewegt, trägt die sechs Bürden und die überreichste ṛta; die Kühe nahen ihm. Drei weite obere Bereiche stehen fest; zwei sind in der geheimen Höhle verborgen, einer ist sichtbar.
Word by Word
- षट्
- sixNoun (Numeral)नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन (संख्याविशेषणरूपेण)Role विशेषण (कर्म/कर्मधारय-सम्बन्धः) — ‘भारान्’ इतिRoot षष् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
- भारान्
- burdens, loadsNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot भार (प्रातिपदिक)
- एकः
- one (single one)Noun/Adjective (Numeral)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
- अचरन्
- moved, wentVerbलङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमा पुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रिया (कर्तृ-सम्बन्धः ‘एकः’)Root चर् (धातु)
- बिभर्ति
- bears, supportsVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमा पुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot भृ (धातु)
- ऋतम्
- ṛta (cosmic order, truth)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot ऋत (प्रातिपदिक)
- वर्षिष्ठम्
- most excellent, highestAdjective (Superlative)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (ऋतम् इति विशेषणम्)Role विशेषणRoot वृश्/वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक ‘वर्षिष्ठ’ = अतिशय-श्रेष्ठ)
- उप
- towards, nearIndeclinableअव्ययRole उपपद/क्रियाविशेषण (आगुः इति सह)Root उप (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- गावः
- cowsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- आगुः
- came, have comeVerbलिट् (परोक्षभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथमा पुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot गम् (धातु) + आ (उपसर्ग) → आ-गम्
- तिस्रः
- threeNoun (Numeral)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (महीः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
- महीः
- great (ones); great goddesses/regionsNoun/Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot मही (प्रातिपदिक) / मह् (गुणवाचक-आधार)
- उपराः
- upper, higherAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन (महीः इति विशेषणम्)Role विशेषणRoot उपर (प्रातिपदिक)
- तस्थुः
- stood, have stoodVerbलिट् (परफेक्ट), प्रथमा पुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot स्था (धातु)
- अत्याः
- swift (mares/ones), surpassingNoun/Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्तृ/विशेषण (तस्थुः इति सह; ‘महीः’ इत्यस्य सहसम्बन्धः)Root अत्य (प्रातिपदिक) / अति (उपसर्ग) + य (गत्यर्थ) (व्युत्पत्त्यनुसारेण)
- गुहा
- in a cave, in concealmentNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन (अधिकरणे)Role अधिकारणRoot गुहा (प्रातिपदिक)
- द्वे
- twoNoun (Numeral)स्त्रीलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचनRole कर्तृ (निहिते इति सह)Root द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
- निहिते
- placed, depositedParticiple (Past Passive)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन (द्वे इति सह)Role कर्तृ-विशेषण (स्थित्यर्थे)Root धा (धातु) + नि (उपसर्ग) → नि-धा; क्त (निहित)
- दर्शि
- visible, to-be-seenAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (एका इति सह)Role विशेषणRoot दर्शि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘दर्शि’ = दर्शनशील/दृश्य)
- एका
- oneNoun/Adjective (Numeral)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृ (निहिते इत्यस्य अवशिष्ट-सम्बन्धः: ‘द्वे … निहिते’; तयोः एका दर्शि)Root एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धिविग्रह): षड्भाराँ → षट् + भारान् (ट् + भ् → ड्भ्; ‘भारान्’ वैदिके ‘भाराँ’ इति अनुनासिक-लोप/प्लुत्यादि-पाठभेदः)
- अचरन्बिभर्ति → अचरन् + बिभर्ति (न् + ब् संयोगः)
- बिभर्त्यृतम् → बिभर्ति + ऋतम् (इ + ऋ → यृ)
- उप गाव आगुः → उप + गावः + आगुः (विसर्गलोपः/पदसंहिता)
- महीरुपराः → महीः + उपराः (ः + उ → रु)
- तस्थुरत्या → तस्थुः + अत्याः (ः + अ → र्; संहितायां ‘र’)
- गुहा द्वे → गुहायाम् (सप्तमी) ‘गुहा’ इति वैदिक-रूपेण
- निहिते दर्श्येका → निहिते + दर्शि + एका (इ + ए → ये; संहितायां ‘दर्श्येका’)
The meaning
Outer meaning
One, moving, bears six burdens and the most abundant ṛta; the cows come near to it. Three vast upper realms stand firm; two are hidden in the secret, one is visible.
Inner meaning
A single conscious Power (the One—often the solar Truth-force in Aurobindo/Kashyap readings) moves through manifestation carrying the ‘six burdens’: the sixfold foundation of embodied existence (commonly the six directions/expanses or six supports of the world; psychologically, the six fields of nature that must be upheld and harmonized). This One bears ‘the richest ṛta’—the plenitude of right order—and draws near the ‘cows’ (rays of knowledge) to the seeker. The ‘three upper realms’ are the higher planes of consciousness (e.g., mind–supermind gradations in Vedic terms: dyauḥ/ṛtam/satya as triad); of these, two are still hidden in the cave (guhā) of the being, while one becomes visible as awakening illumination.
Universal truth
Behind complexity there is a single sustaining consciousness. As we align with truth, knowledge naturally approaches; higher possibilities exist, but much remains hidden until inner discovery opens the secret cave.
Themes
mystic cosmology, hidden knowledge (guhā), recovery of light (cows), unity principle
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Gāthin / Viśvāmitra lineage
- Other hymns
- RV 3.62.10, RV 3.33, RV 3.56 (entire sūkta)
Family tradition
Viśvāmitra hymns often encode a progressive unveiling: from law (ṛta) to light (go) to the hidden truth in the cave (guhā).
Significance
The seer’s vision is integrative: one Truth-power upholds many domains and draws knowledge toward the aspiring consciousness.
The deity
- Devata
- The One Truth-Sustainer (implicit solar/ṛta principle; Savitṛ-like in function)
- Epithets
- ekaḥ (the One), ṛta-bhṛt (bearer of ṛta, implied), varṣiṣṭha-ṛta (richest ṛta)
- Related deities
- Savitṛ, Sūrya, Varuṇa, Agni
Cosmic role
Carries the sixfold world-order and upholds the higher realms; mediates the descent/approach of the rays of knowledge.
Inner power
A unifying truth-force that can hold life’s complexity without distortion and can reveal hidden planes within the being.
In ritual
Where it is used
Mystic/cosmic verses used to support contemplative portions of soma liturgy; also relevant to teachings on hidden/manifest realms (guhā vs darśi)
षड्भा॒राँ एको॒ अच॑रन्बिभर्त्यृ॒तं वर्षि॑ष्ठ॒मुप॒ गाव॒ आगु॑: । ति॒स्रो म॒हीरुप॑रास्तस्थु॒रत्या॒ गुहा॒ द्वे निहि॑ते॒ दर्श्येका॑ ॥
षट् । भा॒रान् । एकः॑ । अच॑रन् । बि॒भ॒र्ति॒ । ऋ॒तम् । वर्षि॑ष्ठम् । उप॑ । गावः॑ । आ । अ॒गुः॒ । ति॒स्रः । म॒हीः । उप॑राः । त॒स्थुः॒ । अत्याः॑ । गुहा॑ । द्वे इति॑ । निहि॑ते॒ इति॒ निऽहि॑ते । दर्शि॑ । एका॑ ॥
ṣaṭ | bhārān | ekaḥ | acaran | bibharti | ṛtam | varṣiṣṭham | upa | gāvaḥ | ā | aguḥ | tisraḥ | mahīḥ | uparāḥ | tasthuḥ | atyāḥ | guhā | dve iti | nihiteitini-hite | darśi | ekā
44
4 × 11 syllables (approx.; triṣṭubh norm)
Forward-moving, exploratory; balances mystery (guhā) with affirmation (ekaḥ).
Induces a sense of being carried by a larger order; invites inward listening for what is still hidden.
- एकः (ekaḥ)
- Literal: the One. Symbolic: unitive consciousness/power sustaining the many; the inner Sun of truth
- अचरन् (acaran)
- Literal: moving. Symbolic: dynamic presence of the One in evolution; truth-force active in life
- षड् भारान् (ṣaḍ bhārān)
- Literal: six burdens. Symbolic: sixfold foundation/expanses; psychologically the load of nature’s six domains to be carried into harmony
- ऋतम् वर्षिष्ठम् (ṛtam varṣiṣṭham)
- Literal: most abundant/strongest truth-order. Symbolic: plenary rightness; the richest truth-consciousness that can govern life
- गावः (gāvaḥ)
- Literal: cows. Symbolic: rays of light/knowledge that ‘come near’ when truth is upheld
- तिस्रः महीः उपराः (tisraḥ mahīḥ uparāḥ)
- Literal: three vast upper realms. Symbolic: three higher planes/expanses of consciousness above ordinary mind
- गुहा (guhā)
- Literal: cave, secret place. Symbolic: the inner heart-depth/subconscient where higher truths are concealed
- दर्शि एका (darśi ekā)
- Literal: one visible. Symbolic: the first manifest illumination accessible to waking consciousness
Mystic/cosmic verses used to support contemplative portions of soma liturgy; also relevant to teachings on hidden/manifest realms (guhā vs darśi)
Recited in contemplative sequences on ṛta/sun/truth; suitable where the ‘One’ sustaining order is invoked (general).
Mantric contemplation accompanying offering: ‘may the One uphold our sixfold nature and bring the rays of knowledge near.’
A mantra for integration: use when overwhelmed—recollect the One that can carry the ‘six burdens’ and reorder life by truth.
bhāra from √bhṛ ‘to bear’ → load/support. ṛta from √ar/ṛ ‘to fit, move rightly’ (semantic: right order). varṣiṣṭha from √vṛṣ ‘rain, pour’ → abundant outpouring (truth as ‘raining’). go ‘cow’ as ray/illumination (√gā ‘to go’ → that which moves; Vedic symbol: light that moves out of the hidden). guhā from √guh ‘to hide’ → secret seat. darśi from √dṛś ‘to see’ → visible/manifest.
one and many, hidden vs manifest reality, ṛta as abundant outpouring
Ṛta is not abstract; it is ‘borne’ by the One as an active sustaining power.
The hidden/visible distinction suggests progressive manifestation of satya from secrecy to revelation.
Layered cosmos: three upper realms; partial concealment of truth within manifestation.
Vedic unitarianism leading toward Upaniṣadic ‘ekaṃ sat’ intuition; compatible with integral yoga’s graded planes.
dawn-to-midmorning (suggested by ‘visible’ emergence of light)
Sun=truth-consciousness; cows=rays of knowledge; cave=heart-depth/subconscient; upper realms=higher mind/illumined planes.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- A cosmological-revelatory mythologem: ‘the One bears the burdens and holds abundant ṛta; the cows approach; realms are three above, two hidden, one visible.’ Inner sense: the single conscious principle sustains multiple supports of existence; illuminations (cows) move toward it when ṛta pours abundantly. Reality is stratified: much is hidden in the cave of being; only one level is immediately seen.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √bhṛ ‘bear’ is PIE *bher-. √dṛś ‘see’ corresponds to PIE *derk-/ *drew? (Sanskrit dṛś is part of the IE seeing lexicon; compare Greek dérkomai ‘see’). The ‘cow as light’ is an Indo-Iranian poetic inheritance (Avestan gāu- also participates in symbolic fields), reflecting shared metaphorical diction.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The r̥ṣi functions as revealer of layered reality: he points the seeker from the visible ‘one’ to the two hidden in guhā and the three upper widenesses. The devatā (the One sustaining ṛta) responds by drawing the ‘cows’ (illumining knowledges) toward the consciousness that bears the order.
Feel the ‘One mover’ as a steady presence carrying your whole nature; invite the rays of knowledge to approach.
hṛdaya (heart-cave) and ājñā (vision/‘darśi’)
Inhale: ‘ekaḥ’; exhale: ‘ṛtam’; pause gently to sense the hidden ‘two’ becoming nearer.
Integrative awareness; a calm center that can hold multiple demands.
When conflicting impulses arise, return to the One: unify intention, then let knowledge ‘come near’ naturally; do not force revelation—let the hidden become visible by steadiness.
Triṣṭubh with standard Vedic accents; emphasize udātta on ekaḥ, ṛtam, gāvaḥ, guhā to mark the mantra’s pivots.
Keep consonant clusters clean in ṣaḍbhārām̐; avoid swallowing final nasals; let caesura breathe after key nouns.
(ṣaḍ-bhārāṃ): retroflex ṣ, clear ḍbh cluster, nasalized āṃ, (ṛtaṃ): vocalic ṛ, light ‘t’, (uparāḥ): clear ‘raḥ’ ending, (darśy ekā): ‘darśy’ with palatal śy glide; long ā in ekā
Luminous, slightly uplifted; allow a sense of mystery on ‘guhā’.
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