Rig Veda 7.100.6: Mandala 7, Sukta 100, Mantra 6
Sukta 7.100
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Vishnu
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
किमित्ते विष्णो परिचक्ष्यं भूत्प्र यद्ववक्षे शिपिविष्टो अस्मि । मा वर्पो अस्मदप गूह एतद्यदन्यरूपः समिथे बभूथ ॥
kím ít te viṣṇo paricákṣyaṃ bhūt prá yád vavákṣe śipiviṣṭó asmi | mā́ várpo asmáda ápa gūha etád yád anyárūpaḥ samithé babhū́tha ||
Was bleibt an dir, o Viṣṇu, noch zu schauen, da ich offen ausgesprochen habe: »Ich bin Śipiviṣṭa«? Verbirg vor uns nicht diese deine Gestalt — dass du im Kampf von anderer Erscheinung wirst; verhülle dies nicht.
Word by Word
- किम्
- what?Pronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- इत्
- indeed; thenIndeclinableनिपात (अव्यय)Root इत् (निपात)
- ते
- of you; yourPronounषष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- विष्णो
- O ViṣṇuNounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
- परि
- around; fullyIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot परि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- चक्ष्यम्
- to be seen; visible; worth seeingAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot चक्ष्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √चक्ष्/√चक्ष् ‘to see, show’)
- भूत्
- became; wasVerbलुङ् (अorist); 3 पुरुष; एकवचनRoot √भू (भवति)
- प्र
- forth; forwardIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot प्र (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- यत्
- that whichPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot यद् (सर्वनाम)
- ववक्षे
- I have borne/carried; I have broughtVerbलिट् (परफेक्ट); 1 पुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRoot √वक्ष्/√वह् (वेदिक; ‘to carry/bring/drive’, reduplicated perfect)
- शिपिविष्टः
- Śipiviṣṭa (a name/epithet of Viṣṇu)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole Kartā (विशेषणरूपेण)Root शिपिविष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; विष्णोः विशेषण)
- अस्मि
- I amVerbलट् (वर्तमान); 1 पुरुष; एकवचनRoot √अस् (अस्ति)
- मा
- do notIndeclinableनिषेधार्थक अव्ययRoot मा (निषेध)
- वर्पः
- form; appearanceNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot वर्पस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्मत्
- from mePronounपञ्चमी; एकवचनRole ApādānaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- अप
- awayIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot अप (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- गूहः
- hide! conceal!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); 2 पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRoot √गूह् (गूहते ‘to hide’)
- एतत्
- thisPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot एतद् (सर्वनाम)
- यत्
- that whichPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot यद् (सर्वनाम)
- अन्यरूपः
- of another form; in a different guiseAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole Kartā (विशेषणरूपेण)Root अन्य-रूप (समास; प्रातिपदिक)
- समिथे
- in the battle; in the encounterNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot समिथ (प्रातिपदिक)
- बभूथ
- you have become; you wereVerbलिट् (परफेक्ट); 2 पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRoot √भू (भवति)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution: किमित्ते → किम् + इत् + ते
- परि॒चक्ष्यं॑ → परि + चक्ष्यम्
- भू॒त्प्र → भूत् + प्र
- यद्व॑व॒क्षे → यत् + ववक्षे
- शि॑पिवि॒ष्टो अ॑स्मि → शिपिविष्टः + अस्मि
- अ॒स्मदप॑ → अस्मत् + अप
- ए॒तद्यद॒न्यरू॑पः → एतत् + यत् + अन्यरूपः. Accent marks in the prompt are preserved in the source but not encoded per-pada here
- analysis is morphological
The meaning
Outer meaning
The seer asks what more can be seen about Vishnu since he has openly said ‘I am Śipiviṣṭa’; he asks Vishnu not to hide that form by which he becomes another in battle.
Inner meaning
The mantra turns from proclamation to intimate demand for revelation. The seeker has invoked the radiant pervader, but now asks for experiential disclosure: ‘Do not hide your form from us.’ ‘Battle’ (samiti) is the inner conflict against the Coverer—resistances, habitual formations, and obscuring forces. Vishnu’s ‘other form’ (anyarūpa) is the divine capacity to transform modes of consciousness: to meet each resistance not only by force but by a change of poise, a new light, a new strategy of truth. The rishi asks for that transformative secret—how the Infinite assumes forms to conquer ignorance without being limited by form.
Universal truth
The Divine conquers not merely by opposing darkness, but by transforming the field—changing the level of consciousness so the conflict is resolved from a higher law.
Themes
mystery of form, divine transformation, revelation request, inner battle
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 7.100.5, RV 7.100.7
Family tradition
Mantric realism: speech as power that compels revelation; dialogic intimacy with the godhead.
Significance
Vasiṣṭha’s yoga is not content with concept; it presses for direct unveiling (apāvaraṇa) and for the divine method of transformation in the inner battle.
The deity
- Devata
- Vishnu (transformative Śipiviṣṭa)
- Epithets
- Śipiviṣṭa, Anyarūpa (many-formed/other-formed), Pervader in battle
- Related deities
- Indra (battle and illumination), Agni (leader in sacrifice/battle within), Sarasvatī (revealing word)
Cosmic role
Assumes forms across planes to maintain ṛta against forces of obstruction; supports the gods in the cosmic contest.
Inner power
Transformational intelligence of consciousness: the ability to shift standpoint, widen, and illumine so resistance collapses.
In ritual
Where it is used
Praise-prayer within Vishnu hymn cycle; may accompany offerings seeking victory/protection in conflict.
किमित्ते॑ विष्णो परि॒चक्ष्यं॑ भू॒त्प्र यद्व॑व॒क्षे शि॑पिवि॒ष्टो अ॑स्मि । मा वर्पो॑ अ॒स्मदप॑ गूह ए॒तद्यद॒न्यरू॑पः समि॒थे ब॒भूथ॑ ॥
किम् । इत् । ते॒ । वि॒ष्णो॒ इति॑ । प॒रि॒ऽचक्ष्य॑म् । भू॒त् । प्र । यत् । व॒व॒क्षे । शि॒पि॒ऽवि॒ष्टः । अ॒स्मि॒ । मा । वर्पः॑ । अ॒स्मत् । अप॑ । गू॒हः॒ । ए॒तत् । यत् । अ॒न्यऽरू॑पः । स॒मि॒थे । ब॒भूथ॑ ॥
kim | it | te | viṣṇo iti | pari-cakṣyam | bhūt | pra | yat | vavakṣe | śipi-viṣṭaḥ | asmi | mā | varpaḥ | asmat | apa | gūhaḥ | etat | yat | anya-rūpaḥ | samithe | babhūtha
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4 x ~11
Interrogative drive with sharp turns; suitable for a pressing question and demand for unveiling.
Energizes inquiry and sincerity; evokes a feeling of ‘calling the hidden presence forward’.
- परिचक्ष्यम् (paricakṣyam)
- Literal: to be looked around at, examined. Symbolic: mere outer seeing vs. inner revelation
- मा वर्पः … गूहः (mā varpaḥ… gūhaḥ)
- Literal: do not hide the form. Symbolic: do not withhold experiential presence; remove veils
- अन्यरूपः (anyarūpaḥ)
- Literal: of another form. Symbolic: transformative manifestation; shifting consciousness to overcome resistance
- समिथे (samithe)
- Literal: in battle/assembly. Symbolic: inner struggle of yoga; confrontation with ignorance
- शिपिविष्टः अस्मि (śipiviṣṭo asmi)
- Literal: I am Śipiviṣṭa. Symbolic: identity/adhyāropa of the seeker with the invoked radiance; mantra as self-assumption of light
Meditative inquiry hymn-line; used to invoke Vishnu’s revealed form and strategic help in conflict (inner samithi)
When seeking divine aid in contests (outer or inner), asking for the god’s manifest support.
Recitation as supplication (praśna + yācñā) before/after offering; emphasis on unveiling.
Use during periods of inner resistance: chant, then journal/reflect on what ‘other form’ (new approach, new consciousness) is required rather than brute effort.
: gerundive from pari-√cakṣ ‘to look around, observe’ → ‘to be observed’. : perfect of √vac ‘speak’ with intensive nuance in RV usage. : ‘form, beauty, appearance’ (semantic field ‘shape/covering’). : √guh ‘hide, conceal’. : anya ‘other’ + rūpa ‘form’ (rūpa from √rūp ‘shape’). : ‘battle/encounter’ (from sam-√idh? debated; conventional meaning ‘battle’ in RV).
divine concealment and revelation, identity through mantra (asmi formula), transformation as mode of victory
The ‘battle’ is the restoration of ṛta within the human system; Vishnu’s changing form is ṛta’s adaptive intelligence.
Truth reveals itself by removing concealment; Satya is not hidden when the seeker is ready.
The One becomes many-formed to act in the worlds; manifestation is strategic for evolution.
Aurobindonian: victory through transformation and ascent, not suppression.
Form = mode of consciousness; hiding = veil of ignorance; battle = tapasya confronting subconscious resistance.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘god of many forms in battle’ mythologem: Vishnu assumes another appearance (anyarūpa) in the conflict. Psychologically, the higher consciousness conquers not only by force but by changing the mode of being—transforming the terms of the struggle.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The theme of concealment/revelation uses √guh ‘hide’, an Indo-Iranian shared root (cf. Avestan gu- ‘hide’ in related forms). The emphasis on rūpa ‘form’ and verbal ‘become’ (babhūtha, √bhū) is a common IE metaphysical-poetic strategy: reality as manifested becoming (PIE *bʰuH- ‘become, grow’).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi moves from praise to intimate dialogue: he claims a mantric identification (‘śipiviṣṭo asmi’) and therefore asks for unveiled knowledge of the deity’s varpas. The reciprocity becomes transformative instruction—Vishnu is asked to disclose the secret of his battle-form to guide the seeker’s own victory.
Ask for unveiling: ‘Do not hide your form.’ Sit with the felt sense of a veil; invite a shift of standpoint (anyarūpa) rather than forcing the mind.
Ājñā (vision/revelation)
Inhale: ‘mā varpaḥ’; exhale: ‘apa gūhaḥ’—feel the veil dissolving; then rest in silence.
Alert, courageous inquiry moving toward luminous clarity.
When stuck, pause effort. Chant once with full sincerity, then wait: notice the smallest shift—widening, quieting, new perspective. Act from that ‘other form’ rather than from the old reactive pattern.
Interrogative opening ‘kim it’ with clear udātta rise; keep emphatic stress on ‘mā’ (prohibitive) and ‘anyarūpaḥ’.
Make the question audible in the first pāda; slight pause after ‘asmi’; strong cadence into ‘samithe babhūtha’.
(kim it te): link sandhi smoothly, (paricakṣyam): kṣ conjunct, ‘cy’ cluster clear, (gūha): long ū, (anyarūpaḥ): palatal ny, long ū
Clear, intent, slightly forceful without strain
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