Rig Veda 5.83.10: Mandala 5, Sukta 83, Mantra 10
Sukta 5.83
- Rishi
- Atri
- Devata
- Parjanya
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
अवर्षीर्वर्षमुदु षू गृभायाकर्धन्वान्यत्येतवा उ । अजीजन ओषधीर्भोजनाय कमुत प्रजाभ्योऽविदो मनीषाम् ॥
ávārṣīr várṣam úd u ṣū́ gṛbhā́yā́ka dhánvāny áty etavā́ u | ájījano óṣadhīr bhójanāya kám ut prá-jābhyo ’vido manīṣā́m ||
Du hast regnen lassen; du hast den Regen emporgehoben, damit er fest gehalten werde, sodass die dürre Weite überschritten werden kann. Du hast die Oṣadhīs, die Heilkräuter, zur Speise hervorgebracht; und welche Eingebung des Verstehens hast du für die Geschlechter gefunden?
Word by Word
- अवर्षीः
- thou didst rain / thou pouredst (rain)Verbलुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपद, 2nd person singularRoot √वृष् (वर्षति) / caus. √वृष्
- वर्षम्
- rainNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot वर्ष (prātipadika)
- उदु
- up/ forth indeedIndeclinableनिपात (उद्/उत् ‘up, forth’ + उ emphatic)Root उत् + उ (particle cluster)
- षु
- indeed, surelyIndeclinableनिपात (emphatic/asseverative)Root षु (particle)
- गृभाय
- seize! grasp!Verbलोट् (imperative), परस्मैपद, 2nd person singularRoot √गृह्/गृभ् (गृह्णाति/गृभ्णाति)
- अकर्धन्वानि
- the parched (ones/places)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (agreeing with an implied neut. plural object, e.g., ‘(fields/places)’)Role KarmaRoot कर्धन्व (prātipadika; RV ‘dry/lean, parched’)
- अत्येतवा
- pass over! go beyond!Verbलोट् (imperative), परस्मैपद, 2nd person singular; Vedic ending -वा (for -तु/-त)Root अति + √इ (एति) → ‘अत्येतु’ (to pass over) ; RV form
- उ
- indeed, andIndeclinableनिपात (enclitic emphasis)Root उ (particle)
- अजीजनः
- thou didst cause to be born / thou producedstVerbलुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपद, 2nd person singularRoot √जन् (जनयति) causative
- ओषधीः
- plants, herbsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot ओषधि (prātipadika)
- भोजनाय
- for nourishment, for foodNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot भोजन (prātipadika)
- कम्
- what? (how?)Pronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (used adverbially: ‘what?/how?’)Role KarmaRoot क (interrog./indef. pronoun stem)
- उत
- and, alsoIndeclinableनिपात (and, also, moreover)Root उत (particle)
- प्रजाभ्यः
- for the creatures, for offspringNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचन (here: dative ‘for the creatures/offspring’)Role SampradānaRoot प्रजा (prātipadika)
- अविदः
- thou didst find / procureVerbलुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपद, 2nd person singularRoot √विद् (वेद/विन्दति) ‘to find/obtain’
- मनीषाम्
- thought, wisdom, insightNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot मनीषा (prātipadika)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolved as: अवर्षीः वर्षम् उदु षु गृभाय अकर्धन्वानि अत्येतवा उ । अजीजनः ओषधीः भोजनाय । कम् उत प्रजाभ्यः अविदः मनीषाम् । Notable: ‘उदु’ = उत्/उद् + उ (particle cluster)
- ‘अत्येतवा’ is a Vedic imperative formation with -वा
- ‘प्रजाभ्योऽविदः’ = प्रजाभ्यः + अविदः (visarga before vowel)
The meaning
Outer meaning
You have rained; you have raised up the rain to be well-held so that dry places may be crossed. You have produced herbs for nourishment; what thought/inspiration have you found for the generations?
Inner meaning
Parjanya’s action is twofold: (1) release and (2) containment/holding in right measure. The rain is not only poured; it is also ‘lifted’ and made firmly held—meaning the descending force becomes stable in the system, not wasted. Thus the ‘dry places’ (dhanvāni) in the being—arid zones of consciousness, barren habits, fatigue, depression—can be crossed beyond. From this right descent arise ‘herbs’ (oṣadhīḥ): subtle healings and restorative powers, practical supports for the embodied life. The closing question points to manīṣā: inspired intelligence. The divine rain awakens in the lineage (prajā) a new understanding—how to live and grow by the right circulation of force.
Universal truth
True grace both descends and establishes itself; it enables us to traverse inner deserts and generates healing capacities and wiser understanding for those who come after.
Themes
Fulfilment and gratitude, Fertility to knowledge, Continuity of the lineage of consciousness
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri Ātreya
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- RV 5.83.1-10
Family tradition
Ātreya hymns often combine force (rain) with right measure (holding) and resultant healing and understanding.
Significance
Atri’s vision here is integrative: descent must be assimilated (su gṛbhāya), then it yields healing (oṣadhi) and illumined intelligence (manīṣā) for the future.
The deity
- Devata
- Parjanya
- Epithets
- varṣin (rainer), dhārayitṛ (holder/supporter, implied by su gṛbhāya), oṣadhi-janayitṛ (producer of healing herbs)
- Related deities
- Apas (waters), Aśvins (healers, thematic), Soma (nourishing delight, thematic)
Cosmic role
Brings rain and sustains life; enables crossing of drought; causes vegetation and nourishment.
Inner power
Descent that becomes stable power; converts aridity into growth and healing; awakens inspired intelligence for collective evolution.
In ritual
Where it is used
Rain and fertility rites; recitation for nourishment and healing; prayers for community prosperity.
अव॑र्षीर्व॒र्षमुदु॒ षू गृ॑भा॒याक॒र्धन्वा॒न्यत्ये॑त॒वा उ॑ । अजी॑जन॒ ओष॑धी॒र्भोज॑नाय॒ कमु॒त प्र॒जाभ्यो॑ऽविदो मनी॒षाम् ॥
अव॑र्षीः । व॒र्षम् । उत् । ऊँ॒ इति॑ । सु । गृ॒भा॒य॒ । अकः॑ । धन्वा॑नि । अति॑ऽए॒त॒वै॒ । ऊँ॒ इति॑ । अजी॑जनः । ओष॑धीः । भोज॑नाय । कम् । उ॒त । प्र॒ऽजाभ्यः॑ । अ॒वि॒दः॒ । म॒नी॒षाम् ॥
avarṣīḥ | varṣam | ut | oṃ | iti | su | gṛbhāya | akaḥ | dhanvāni | ati-etavai | oṃ iti | ajījanaḥ | oṣadhīḥ | bhojanāya | kam | uta | pra-jābhyaḥ | avidaḥ | manīṣām
44
4 × ~11 syllables
Alternation of descent and stabilization; concluding interrogative gives reflective lift.
First three quarters energize and ‘water’ the system; final question turns awareness inward toward insight (manīṣā).
- वर्ष (varṣa)
- Literal: rain. Symbolic: descent of force/knowledge/bliss that renews the being
- सु गृभाय (su gṛbhāya)
- Literal: to be well-grasped/held. Symbolic: stable assimilation; capacity to contain higher force without leakage or disturbance
- धन्वानि (dhanvāni)
- Literal: dry places, deserts. Symbolic: arid psychological zones; lack of joy/meaning/energy
- ओषधीः (oṣadhīḥ)
- Literal: herbs, healing plants. Symbolic: healing powers, restorative disciplines, subtle remedies arising after descent
- मनीषा (manīṣā)
- Literal: inspired thought, wisdom. Symbolic: illumined understanding awakened in the collectivity/lineage
Thanksgiving and reflective closure: acknowledging fulfilled rain and asking for enduring guidance/inspiration for the community’s continuity.
After rains begin (thanksgiving) or when seeking stable rainfall; also for health and food abundance intentions.
Offerings with water/ghṛta; blessing of herbs/food; communal recitation.
Meditation for stabilizing spiritual experiences and turning them into tangible healing habits; good for burnout/aridity phases.
√gṛbh ‘grasp’ emphasizes stabilization of the descending force (not merely receiving but holding). aka ‘dryness’ and dhanvan ‘desert’ become psychological symbols for inert or barren states. √jan ‘beget’ links rain to generation of capacities (oṣadhīḥ). √vid ‘find/know’ + manīṣā ‘inspired thought’ shifts from physical rain to cognitive-spiritual acquisition: the descent yields intelligence for future generations.
Overcoming inner aridity (aka/dhanvan), Transmission to progeny (prajā), Manīṣā as inspired intelligence (truth-thought)
Rain is both poured and ‘held’—the ṛta of measure, containment, and timely distribution.
Manīṣā as truth-born insight for generations; knowledge that supports right living.
From waters to vegetation: manifestation of life-supporting forms from the descending force.
Integral yoga resonance: experiences must be assimilated and embodied, yielding healing and wisdom.
monsoon and post-monsoon growth
Rain = grace/force; holding = assimilation; desert = inner dryness; herbs = healing capacities; nourishment = sustaining ananda in life.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Rain as both fulfilment and enabling passage: it allows one to ‘cross the deserts’ and generates herbs for nourishment. The verse then pivots to a higher mythic register—rain as the giver of manīṣā (inspired intelligence) for the generations, i.e., fertility culminating in knowledge.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √jan (beget) is a core IE root (PIE *ǵenh₁-; cf. Lat. gignere, Eng. kin). √vid ‘know’ is equally central (PIE *weyd-; cf. Lat. videre ‘see’, Eng. wit). The verse’s semantic ascent from physical fertility to cognition mirrors an archaic IE tendency to yoke ‘seeing/knowing’ with ‘light/rain’ imagery.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi recognizes Parjanya’s gift as something to be held (gṛbhāya) and internalized (bhojanāya). He then asks for the deeper boon: an enduring manīṣā—right-inspired intelligence that can guide the collective becoming (prajā), making the rain’s gift not transient but evolutionary.
Assimilate descent: feel a cool rain of force, then ‘hold’ it in the body as steady warmth/clarity; invite healing responses to emerge naturally.
svadhisthana (waters/flow) and anahata (healing, nourishment)
Inhale 4–6 counts imagining cool descent; gentle hold 2 counts (su gṛbhāya); exhale 6–8 counts spreading nourishment through ‘dry places’.
Quiet, embodied receptivity; reflective insight at the end.
After chanting, scan the body for ‘dry zones’ (numbness, tightness, fatigue) and breathe the ‘rain’ there; journal one manīṣā (insight) that arose—keep it simple and actionable.
Keep Vedic accents intact; allow a slight reflective lift on the interrogative close (…avido manīṣām).
Give clarity to the sequence of actions: avarṣīḥ → ud u → su gṛbhāya → atyetavā; soften at bhojanāya; end with questioning wonder.
avarṣīḥ: vṛṣ (retroflex ṣ) and long īḥ, gṛbhāya: vocalic ṛ in gṛ; bh aspirated, dhanvāni: ‘nv’ cluster; long ā, oṣadhīḥ: retroflex ṣ; long īḥ, manīṣām: long ī; retroflex ṣ
Cooling, steady; contemplative at the end.
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