Rig Veda 2.28.9: Mandala 2, Sukta 28, Mantra 9
Sukta 2.28
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Varuṇa
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
पर ऋणा सावीरध मत्कृतानि माहं राजन्नन्यकृतेन भोजम् । अव्युष्टा इन्नु भूयसीरुषास आ नो जीवान्वरुण तासु शाधि ॥
pára ṛṇā́ sāvīr ádha mát-kṛtāni mā́haṃ rājan anyá-kṛtena bhójam | avy-uṣṭā́ ín nu bhū́yasīr uṣā́sa ā́ no jīvā́n varuṇa tā́su śā́dhi ||
મારા કરેલા ઋણ-બોજને દૂર કરી દે, અને પછી મારા દોષોને પણ; હે રાજન, બીજાએ કરેલા કર્મ માટે હું ભોગ ન ભોગવું. અમારા માટે ઉષાઓ (પ્રભાતો) વધુ ને વધુ અવિરોધિત રહે; હે વરુણ, અમને જીવન તરફ દોરી દે—એ જાગૃતિઓમાં અમને યોગ્ય સિદ્ધિમાં સ્થાપિત કર.
Word by Word
- पर
- away, off; forthIndeclinableअव्यय (उपसर्ग/निपात)Root पर (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक) अथवा √पॄ (पूरणे) से व्युत्पन्न
- ऋणाः
- debts, obligationsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot ऋण (प्रातिपदिक)
- सावीः
- drive away, remove (you should remove)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदRoot √सू (सवने/प्रसवे) ; सावीः = लोट्/आशीर्लिङ् रूप (वेदिक)
- अध
- then, and thenIndeclinableअव्ययRoot अध (निपात)
- मत्कृतानि
- (sins/deeds) done by meNoun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (कृत-प्रत्ययान्त ‘कृत’)Role KarmaRoot मत् (अस्मद्-षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध) + कृत (√कृ) ; प्रातिपदिक: मत्कृत
- मा
- do notIndeclinableनिषेध-निपात (प्रायः लोट्/विधिलिङ् के साथ)Root मा (निषेध)
- अहम्
- IPronounउत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- राजन्
- O king (Varuṇa)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRoot राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अन्यकृतेन
- by what is done by another; through another’s deedNoun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (करणे)Role KaraṇaRoot अन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत (√कृ) ; प्रातिपदिक: अन्यकृत
- भोजम्
- may I suffer/partake (the consequence)Verbविधिलिङ् (इच्छा/सम्भावना), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदRoot √भुज् (भोगे/पालने) ; भोजम् = 1sg opt./subj. (वेदिक) अथवा injunctive
- अव्युष्टाः
- not yet dawned; undawnedAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (उषासः के विशेषण)Role Kartā (विशेषण)Root अ- (नञ्) + व्युष्ट (√वस्/√उष् ‘प्रभाते/उषसि’) ; प्रातिपदिक: अव्युष्ट
- इत्
- indeed, justIndeclinableअव्यय (एव/ही/खलु अर्थ-प्रबलक)Root इद्/इत् (निपात)
- नु
- now, indeedIndeclinableअव्यय (अधुना/खलु)Root नु (निपात)
- भूयसीः
- more, manyAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (उषासः के विशेषण)Role Kartā (विशेषण)Root भूयस् (तुलनात्मक-प्रातिपदिक ‘more’)
- उषासः
- dawnsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot उषस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- to, toward; hitherIndeclinableअव्यय (उपसर्ग/निपात)Root आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- नः
- to us; for usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- जीवान्
- living, aliveAdjective/Participleपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (नः/अस्मान् के कर्म-विशेषण रूपेण)Role Karma (फल-विशेषण)Root √जीव् (जीवने) ; वर्तमान कृदन्त: जीवन्
- वरुण
- O VaruṇaNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRoot वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
- तासु
- in those (dawns)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम)
- शाधि
- set in order, make (it) right; grant/ordainVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदRoot √शास् (शासने/अनुशासने)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-विग्रह): पर | ऋणाः | सावीः | अध | मत्कृतानि | मा | अहम् | राजन् | अन्यकृतेन | भोजम् | अव्युष्टाः | इत् | नु | भूयसीः | उषासः | आ | नः | जीवान् | वरुण | तासु | शाधि । मुख्य सन्धि: (1) ‘अव्युष्टाः इन्नु’ = अव्युष्टाः + इत् + नु (इत् → इन् उच्चारण/संहिता-रूप)
- (2) ‘आ नो’ = आ + नः (विसर्ग-लोप/संहिता)
- (3) ‘जीवान्वरुण’ = जीवान् + वरुण (न् + व → न्व)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The poet asks that the debts/burdens be cast away and then the faults made by him; he asks not to suffer for another’s wrongdoing. He prays that the Dawns be more unwithheld, and asks Varuṇa to bring them to life and set them to right accomplishment within those Dawns.
Inner meaning
‘Debts’ (ṛṇā) are karmic/psychological burdens—unresolved obligations, residues, and constrictions that bind the being. The prayer is for removal of both inherited/ambient burdens and one’s own formations of fault (matkṛtāni). The seeker also asks to be freed from collective contagion—suffering for ‘another’s doing’ (anyākṛta). Uṣas (Dawn) here becomes the symbol of repeated inner awakenings; the plea is for more frequent, unobstructed illuminations (avyuṣṭāḥ…bhūyasīḥ). In those dawn-openings, Varuṇa is asked to ‘set us to accomplishment’ (śādhi): establish right action and orderly progress so the awakened light becomes lived transformation.
Universal truth
Healing requires clearing both personal error and accumulated burdens, and refusing unjust identification with others’ wrongdoing. Repeated awakenings must be consolidated into right action; illumination must become accomplishment.
Themes
Removal of debts and self-made faults, Appeal for just discernment, Increase of dawn-illumination, Life and right accomplishment
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Lineage
- Bhārgava
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 2.28.9 (closing movement toward dawn/renewal)
Family tradition
Bhārgava vision integrates law (Varuṇa) with illumination (Uṣas imagery) and practical accomplishment (apas).
Significance
The seer completes penitence with a forward-looking psychology: purification of burdens, disentanglement from collective wrong, and an insistence on repeated dawn-awakenings that become stable right doing.
The deity
- Devata
- Varuṇa
- Epithets
- Rājan (King), Varuṇa
- Related deities
- Uṣas, Mitra, Savitar
Cosmic role
Balancer of accounts (debts) and restorer of right order; grants renewed life and guards the conditions for illumination to recur.
Inner power
Power that clears binding residues, distinguishes true responsibility from false guilt, and establishes right action within awakened states.
In ritual
Where it is used
Varuṇa expiation and renewal; also suitable in morning recitations due to Uṣas imagery.
पर॑ ऋ॒णा सा॑वी॒रध॒ मत्कृ॑तानि॒ माहं रा॑जन्न॒न्यकृ॑तेन भोजम् । अव्यु॑ष्टा॒ इन्नु भूय॑सीरु॒षास॒ आ नो॑ जी॒वान्व॑रुण॒ तासु॑ शाधि ॥
परा॑ । ऋ॒णा । सा॒वीः॒ । अध॑ । मत्ऽकृ॑तानि । मा । अ॒हम् । रा॒ज॒न् । अ॒न्यऽकृ॑तेन । भो॒ज॒म् । अवि॑ऽउष्टाः । इत् । नु । भूय॑सीः । उ॒षसः॑ । आ । नः॒ । जी॒वान् । व॒रु॒ण॒ । तासु॑ । शा॒धि॒ ॥
parā | ṛṇā | sāvīḥ | adha | mat-kṛtāni | mā | aham | rājan | anya-kṛtena | bhojam | av i-uṣṭāḥ | it | nu | bhūyasīḥ | uṣasaḥ | ā | naḥ | jīvān | varuṇa | tāsu | śādhi
44
4×11 (approx.)
Conclusive and renewing; the dawn-invocation gives an upward, brightening movement.
Feels like cleansing followed by fresh morning clarity; supports resolve to live differently after insight.
- ऋणा (ṛṇā)
- Literal: debts, dues. Symbolic: binding residues/obligations; karmic-psychological burdens
- परा सावीः (parā sāvīḥ)
- Literal: cast away, send off. Symbolic: release and purification; decisive removal
- मत्कृतानि (matkṛtāni)
- Literal: done by me. Symbolic: one’s own formations of error; ego-created knots
- अन्यकृतेन (anyakṛtena)
- Literal: by another’s deed. Symbolic: collective/ambient wrong; imposed guilt or inherited patterns
- उषासः (uṣāsaḥ)
- Literal: dawns. Symbolic: illumining awakenings; recurring openings of consciousness
- अव्युष्टाः (avyuṣṭāḥ)
- Literal: not withheld, not delayed. Symbolic: unobstructed descent/arrival of light
- जीवान् (jīvān)
- Literal: living, to life. Symbolic: restoration of soul-force and right vitality
- शाधि (śādhi)
- Literal: set right, accomplish. Symbolic: establish right practice; consolidate illumination into effective transformation
Expiation and restoration: removal of debts/faults; prayer for renewed dawns (awakenings) and life; suitable for rites of release and renewal
At dawn or before beginning important truthful work; after confession/atonement practices.
Morning recitation facing east; offer water (arghya) or simple inner offering of sincerity and resolve.
For releasing guilt (personal and inherited), and for establishing a ‘fresh start’ through consistent daily awakenings (habits aligned to truth).
ṛṇá ‘debt’ from √ṛ ‘to go’ with sense of ‘obligation/what is owed’; in Vedic moral-psychological field: binding burden. śādh- √śādh ‘to accomplish, set right’ (cf. śādhi ‘make us succeed’). uṣás again from PIE *h₂ews-. anyá ‘other’ from PIE *h₂enyo-.
Ṛṇa (debt/bondage) as karmic-ethical burden, Justice (not suffering for another’s deed), Renewed awakenings (uṣas) as progressive illumination, Śādhi (right accomplishment within the dawns)
Right order includes right accounting of responsibility: remove debts and faults so the being can move in Ṛta.
Truth differentiates: ‘my doing’ vs ‘another’s doing’; clarity of responsibility is satya in practice.
Dawns as repeated creation-moments; each awakening renews the world of consciousness.
Ethical-yogic renewal; anticipates later emphasis on dawn-meditation and purification (śuddhi) before right action.
dawn
Uṣas = illumination/awakening; repeated dawns = recurring openings needed until transformation stabilizes; life = recovered prāṇa and psychic consent.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is ‘release from bonds (ṛṇa/enas) and return of dawns’: Varuṇa as moral-cosmic judge removes binding debts and personal faults, and the Dawns return in greater measure—symbolizing renewed illuminations that restore life and right accomplishment.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- uṣás continues PIE *h₂ews-; anyá continues PIE *h₂enyo-. The ethical-legal lexicon (ṛṇa, rājan, śādh) shows a shared IE tendency to express cosmic order in juridical metaphors (debt, king, judgment).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi appeals to Varuṇa’s justice and mercy: remove what binds, discriminate responsibility, and then actively ‘set us right’ within the coming dawns. The devatā is not only forgiver but also the power that organizes future awakenings into effective transformation.
Release burdens and inherited guilt; invite repeated dawn-like awakenings; commit to one right action that embodies the new clarity.
Ājñā (illumination)
Morning nāḍī-śodhana (6–12 rounds) then chant; visualize dawn light filling the forehead and chest.
Renewed clarity with moral discrimination; quiet joy of beginning again.
Write down: (1) what is mine to correct, (2) what is not mine to carry. Then, at dawn, take one measurable step (mātrā) to embody truth in action.
Triṣṭubh; brighten tone on ‘uṣāsaḥ’; keep ‘ṛṇā’ and ‘ṛ’ sounds precise.
Sustain the opening release command ‘parā ṛṇā sāvīḥ’; lift gently on ‘uṣāsaḥ’ to mirror dawn-rise; conclude firmly on ‘śādhi’.
(ṛṇā): vocalic ṛ + retroflex ṇ, (bhūyasīḥ): long ū and īḥ; keep visarga light but audible, (avyuṣṭāḥ): ‘vyu’ cluster; retroflex ṣṭ
Clearing at start, then luminous and hopeful through the dawn phrase.
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