Rig Veda 6.49.5: Mandala 6, Sukta 49, Mantra 5
Sukta 6.49
- Devata
- Aśvins
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Shringara (love)
स मे वपुश्छदयदश्विनोर्यो रथो विरुक्मान्मनसा युजानः । येन नरा नासत्येषयध्यै वर्तिर्याथस्तनयाय त्मने च ॥
sá me vápūś chadayad aśvínor yó rátho virúkmān mánasā yujānáḥ | yéna narā nā́satyā iṣayádhyai vartír yā́thas tánayāya tmáne ca ||
તે તેજસ્વી વપુ (રૂપ) મને ઢાંકી રક્ષે—અશ્વિનોનો રથ, સોનાની ઝળહળથી દીપતો, મનથી જોડાયેલો (યુજાયેલો). જેના દ્વારા, હે નાસત્યાઓ, હે નરોના સ્વામી, તમે અમારી અભિલાષાને ત્વરિત કરવા આવો—સંતાન (ભવિષ્ય) માટે અને અંતરમાં રહેલા આત્મા માટે પણ.
Word by Word
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् (स-आदेशः) सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक
- मे
- for me / to mePronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी, एकवचनम् (एन्क्लिटिक)Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक
- वपुः
- form, body, appearanceNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot वपुस् (नपुंसकलिङ्ग प्रातिपदिक)
- छदयत्
- covered, concealedVerbलङ् (इम्पर्फेक्ट्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role KriyāRoot छद् (छादनॆ) धातु
- अश्विनोः
- of the AśvinsNoun (proper) / Dual deity-nameपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, द्विवचनम्Role SambandhaRoot अश्विन् (देवनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- यः
- which / whoPronoun (relative)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot यद् (य-आदेशः) सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक
- रथः
- chariotNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
- विरुक्मात्
- from the gleaming/golden (one); from the radiant (chariot)Adjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्गः/नपुंसकलिङ्गः, पञ्चमी, एकवचनम्Role ApādānaRoot वि-रुक्म (बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय-प्रातिपदिक)
- मनसा
- with the mindNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, तृतीया, एकवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- युजानः
- yoking, harnessingParticipleवर्तमानकाले, आत्मनेपदम्, शतृ-प्रत्ययः (युज् → युजान), पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot युज् (योजने) धातु
- येन
- by whichPronoun (relative)नपुंसकलिङ्गः, तृतीया, एकवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot यद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक
- नरा
- the two men (the Aśvins)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, द्विवचनम् (वैदिके दीर्घ-आ)Role KartāRoot नर (प्रातिपदिक)
- नासत्य
- O Nāsatyas (Aśvins)Noun (proper)पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा, द्विवचनम् (सम्बोधनार्थे प्रयोगः)Role SambodhanaRoot नासत्य (देवनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ईषयध्यै
- to set in motion / to speedVerbal noun (infinitive)तुमर्थे दै-प्रत्ययान्तः (वैदिक-इन्फिनिटिव्), अव्ययवत्Role PrayojanaRoot ईष् (ईषणॆ/प्रेरणे) धातु
- वर्तिः
- a course, track, pathNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot वर्ति (स्त्रीलिङ्ग प्रातिपदिक; ‘मार्ग/वृत्ति’)
- याथः
- you two have gone / you two goVerbलिट् (परफेक्ट्, वैदिक), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः, द्विवचनम्Role KriyāRoot या (गत्यर्थे) धातु
- तनयाय
- for the son / offspringNounपुंलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी, एकवचनम्Role SampradānaRoot तनय (प्रातिपदिक)
- त्मने
- for oneselfNounपुंलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी, एकवचनम्Role SampradānaRoot त्मन् (आत्मन्-सम्बद्ध प्रातिपदिक; वैदिक रूप)
- च
- andIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role SamuccayaRoot च (निपात)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (major): वपु॑श्छदयत् → वपुः + छदयत् (विसर्गः + छ → श्छ)
- अश्विनो॒र्यो → अश्विनोः + यः (विसर्ग-लोपः)
- विरुक्मा॒न्मनसा → विरुक्मात् + मनसा (त् + म → न्म; वैदिके ‘-ान्’ लेखनम्)
- नासत्येष॒यध्यै → नासत्य + ईषयध्यै (अ + ई → ए)
- व॒र्तिर्या॒थः → वर्तिः + याथः (विसर्ग-लोपः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
May the radiant form—the golden chariot of the Aśvins yoked by the mind—cover and protect me. By it, O Nāsatyas, may you come to speed our aspiration, for the child and for the self within.
Inner meaning
The Aśvins are swift twin powers of healing, right enjoyment, and effective transition—bringing aid at the turning points of the journey. Their ‘chariot yoked by mind’ is the luminous, rightly directed vital-mental dynamism that can carry the seeker safely. ‘Cover and protect’ indicates a sheath of sattvic force guarding the practitioner from disorder while energies are being accelerated. ‘For the child’ points to the nascent soul-growth/future formation (new consciousness being born); ‘for the self within’ indicates the inner being (tmán) that must be served, not the surface ego.
Universal truth
In periods of change and acceleration, we need a balanced, skilful, protective force that heals, harmonises, and hastens progress without breakdown; true help serves the emerging future of the soul and the inmost self.
Themes
twin helpers, protection, healing assistance, swift coming, aspiration
The seer
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja tradition; specific seer uncertain
- Lineage
- Bharadvāja
- Other hymns
- RV 1.3 (Aśvins), RV 1.46 (Aśvins), RV 8.5 (Aśvins)
Family tradition
The Bharadvāja corpus frequently invokes swift divine helpers (Aśvins) for protection, right movement, and the safe arrival of new states.
Significance
Aśvins represent practical divine aid: they convert aspiration into effective movement, especially at dawn-like transitions and in healing passages.
The deity
- Devata
- Aśvins (Nāsatyas)
- Epithets
- nāsatyā (truthful/effective), narā (lords of man), virukmān-ratha (golden chariot)
- Related deities
- Uṣas, Sūrya, Soma, Indra
Cosmic role
Twin horsemen of dawn and transition; healers and restorers; bring swift assistance and safe passage.
Inner power
Harmonising vital-mental energy; healing of fractures in the nature; rapid but balanced progress.
In ritual
Where it is used
Aśvin invocation for protection and successful movement; often associated with dawn and beginnings
स मे॒ वपु॑श्छदयद॒श्विनो॒र्यो रथो॑ वि॒रुक्मा॒न्मन॑सा युजा॒नः । येन॑ नरा नासत्येष॒यध्यै॑ व॒र्तिर्या॒थस्तन॑याय॒ त्मने॑ च ॥
सः । मे॒ । वपुः॑ । छ॒द॒य॒त् । अ॒श्विनोः॑ । यः । रथः॑ । वि॒रुक्मा॑न् । मन॑सा । यु॒जा॒नः । येन॑ । न॒रा॒ । ना॒स॒त्या॒ । इ॒ष॒यध्यै॑ । व॒र्तिः । या॒थः । तन॑याय । त्मने॑ । च॒ ॥
saḥ | me | vapuḥ | chadayat | aśvinoḥ | yaḥ | rathaḥ | virukmān | manasā | yujānaḥ | yena | narā | nāsatyā | iṣayadhyai | vartiḥ | yāthaḥ | tanayāya | tmane | ca
44
4 x ~11 syllables
Swift, protective cadence—invocation with a ‘covering’ closure in each pāda.
Creates a felt shield and uplift; good for anxiety, transition, travel, or beginning new phases of practice.
- वपुः (vapuḥ)
- Literal: form, radiant body. Symbolic: protective luminous sheath; higher influence taking shape
- छदयत् (chadayat)
- Literal: cover, veil, protect. Symbolic: guarding grace; containment that prevents leakage/disturbance
- अश्विनोः रथः (aśvinoḥ rathaḥ)
- Literal: chariot of the Aśvins. Symbolic: swift harmonising movement of twin divine powers
- विरुक्मान् (virukmān)
- Literal: bright with gold ornaments. Symbolic: pure, sattvic radiance; illumined vitality
- मनसा युजानः (manasā yujānaḥ)
- Literal: yoked by the mind. Symbolic: energies disciplined by clear intention and right thought
- नरा (narā)
- Literal: O two lords/men. Symbolic: twin powers governing human journey (skill and swiftness)
- नासत्या (nāsatyā)
- Literal: the truthful ones. Symbolic: forces that bring true result, not illusionary excitement
- इषयध्यै (iṣayadhyai)
- Literal: to speed/impel the impulse. Symbolic: to intensify aspiration (iṣ) and right seeking
- तनयाय (tanayāya)
- Literal: for the child/offspring. Symbolic: the new birth of consciousness; the future being
- त्मने (tmane)
- Literal: for the self. Symbolic: the inmost person (psychic being) to be safeguarded
Aśvin invocation for swift aid, protection, and healing; also used in rites requesting safe passage, increase, and restoration—here inner protection and the quickening of aspiration.
At openings of rites, journeys, healing intentions; Aśvins are classically invited early (dawn context).
Calling the Aśvins’ chariot; requesting protection and impulsion (iṣ).
Use before starting a new project, during recovery, or when seeking balanced acceleration in sadhana.
aśvin- 'possessing horses' from aśva 'horse' (PIE *h₁eḱwos). nāsatyá- traditionally 'true, not untrue' (na-asatya) or from a root of 'saving/returning' (etymology debated); functionally 'unfailing helpers'. √yuj 'yoke' again marks disciplined joining; manasā yujānaḥ indicates mental harnessing—inner yoga. iṣ- from √iṣ 'to seek, impel, desire' → aspiration/impulse.
mind as yoker of forces (manasā yujāna), iṣ as aspiration, tanaya as future formation of the being
Aśvins embody timely intervention—help that arrives at the right moment in the right way.
Nāsatyas: forces of true result; protection from misleading vital excitations.
Birth of the ‘child’ (new consciousness) safeguarded by divine helpers during transition.
Integral yoga: divine aids as functional powers supporting the birth of higher nature in the embodied being.
dawn (implicit Aśvin domain)
Chariot/horses = vital energies; gold radiance = sattvic illumination; covering = protective consciousness around the practitioner.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Aśvins’ golden chariot that arrives swiftly to protect and to impel the seeker’s striving. In inner terms, the twin powers of luminous help and harmonious action descend as a protective radiance (vapuḥ) and accelerate aspiration (iṣ).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- aśva- (horse) is a strong IE cognate set (*h₁eḱwos: Latin equus, Greek ἵππος via different root; Indo-Iranian preserves *eḱwos clearly). The chariot complex is a hallmark of IE poetic and ritual imagery.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The r̥ṣi seeks a covering protection and a swift intensification of aspiration; the Aśvins respond by 'coming by their course' to aid both the future growth (tanaya) and the inner self (tmán). The exchange is protection and acceleration in return for invocation.
Invoke a protective, luminous movement around the body-mind; ask for balanced acceleration of aspiration without disturbance.
Anāhata (protective warmth) and Svādhiṣṭhāna (vital harmony) guided by Ājñā (mind-yoking).
4–7–8 calming breath for 5 rounds, then soft mental repetition of ‘nāsatyā’ to stabilise truth-sense.
Sheltered openness—safe inner space where new growth can form.
When life-force surges or anxiety rises, imagine the ‘golden chariot’ as a luminous envelope; offer the day’s actions to the inner self (tmán) and the future-being (tanaya).
Keep a gentle uplifting accent on aśvinoḥ, virukmān, nāsatyā, iṣayadhyai; soften at ‘chadayat’ to convey covering.
Do not over-stress; let the cadence feel like a protective wrap around the listener.
: ‘śvi’ with palatal ś; final ‘oḥ’ long with visarga, : ‘ruk’ clear, nasal ending -ān, : ‘yu-jā-naḥ’ with long ā, : ‘i-ṣa-ya-dhyai’ keep ṣ retroflex and dhy cluster intact
Warm, soothing, luminous; slightly nasal resonance can help the ‘covering’ effect.
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