Rig Veda 7.47.2: Mandala 7, Sukta 47, Mantra 2
Sukta 7.47
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Āpaḥ / Apāṃ Napāt
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
तमूर्मिमापो मधुमत्तमं वोऽपां नपादवत्वाशुहेमा । यस्मिन्निन्द्रो वसुभिर्मादयाते तमश्याम देवयन्तो वो अद्य ॥
tám ū́rmim ā́po mádhumattamaṃ vo’pā́ṃ napād avatu āśuhemā́ | yásmin índro vásubhir mā́dayāte tám aśyāma deváyanto vo adyá ||
હે આપઃ, તમારો તે ઊર્મિ—સૌથી વધુ મધુમંત—ને અપાં નપાત્, સુવર્ણ ગતિમાં ત્વરિત, તમારે માટે રક્ષે. જેમાં ઇન્દ્ર વસુઓ સાથે મદે છે—તેને અમે, દેવયંતો, તમારાથી આજે પ્રાપ્ત કરીએ.
Word by Word
- तम्
- him/that (one)Pronounपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग? (सन्दर्भे पुं.), द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ऊर्मिम्
- wave, billowNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot ऊर्मि (प्रातिपदिक)
- इमाः
- thesePronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- आपः
- watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot आप्/अप् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘waters’)
- मधुमत्तमम्
- most honey-sweet, sweetestAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (तम्/ऊर्मिम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role KarmaRoot मधुमत् (प्रातिपदिक) + तमप् (सुपरलटिव)
- वः
- of you / for youPronounषष्ठी बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role SampradānaRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अपाम्
- of the watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी बहुवचनRole SambandhaRoot आप्/अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
- नपात्
- offspring/son (epithet: ‘Child of the Waters’)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot नपात् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अवत्
- may (he) help/protectVerbलोट् (आशीर्लिङ्/आज्ञार्थे), प्रथमपुरुष एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root अव् (धातु)
- व
- indeed/andIndeclinableनिपात (पादपूरण/अन्वयार्थ)Root व (निपात)
- आशुहेमा
- swift-golden / quickly gleaming (epithet)Adjective (epithet)(रूपम् अव्यक्तम्/वैदिक-विशेष), प्रथमा एकवचन, ‘अपां नपात्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्Role KartāRoot आशु-हेमन्? (पदसमूह; वैदिक समास/बहुव्रीहि-प्राय)
- यस्मिन्
- in whom/whereinPronounपुं/नपुं, सप्तमी एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- वसुभिः
- with the Vasus (gods)/with richesNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
- मादयते
- rejoices, is exhilaratedVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन, आत्मनेपदRole (क्रिया)Root मद् (धातु)
- तम्
- him/that (one)Pronounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अश्याम
- may I attain/reachVerbविधिलिङ् (आशीर्लिङ्), उत्तमपुरुष एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root अश्/अश्नोति (धातु ‘to reach/attain’)
- देवयन्तः
- seeking the gods, devoutParticiple/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot देवयन्त् (कृदन्त; √देवय्/देव ‘to seek the gods, be devout’)
- वः
- of you / for youPronounषष्ठी बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role SampradānaRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अद्य
- today, nowIndeclinableकालवाचक-अव्ययRole AdhikaraṇaRoot अद्य (अव्यय)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-निरसन): तम् ऊर्मिम् इमाः आपः मधुमत्तमम् वः | अपाम् नपात् अवत् व आशुहेमा | यस्मिन् इन्द्रः वसुभिः मादयते | तम् अश्याम देवयन्तः वः अद्य || 1) तमूर्मिम् → तम् + ऊर्मिम् (म् + ऊ → मū)
- 2) मिमा॑पो → इमाः + आपः (आः + आ → आ; संहितायां दीर्घसन्धि)
- 3) वोऽपाम् → वः + अपाम् (वः + अ → वोऽ; अवग्रह)
- 4) नपा॑दवत्वाशु॒हेमा॑ → नपात् + अवत् + व + आशुहेमा (त् + अ → द; अवत् + व इति निपात-संयोग)
- 5) यस्मि॒न्निन्द्रो॒ → यस्मिन् + इन्द्रः (न् + इ → न्नि)
- 6) तम॑श्याम → तम् + अश्याम (म् + अ → म)
The meaning
Outer meaning
O Waters, may Apāṃ Napāt, swift and golden-moving, protect for you that wave most rich in sweetness. That wave in which Indra rejoices with the Vasus—may we god-seekers attain it today through you.
Inner meaning
The sweetest wave of consciousness is guarded by Apāṃ Napāt—the ‘Child of the Waters’, the hidden fire in the waters: the luminous soul-energy within the flow that makes it divine, not merely vital. When that inner fire is active, Indra (illumined mind) can ‘rejoice’ together with the Vasus (powers of right substance, harmony, and wealth of being). The seeker asks to reach that state today: a protected, swift, golden movement of purified delight and illumination.
Universal truth
The highest sweetness in life is not sensation but a protected inner current lit by the soul-fire. When that is present, illumination and harmonious powers cooperate, and one can attain a stable joy that supports right living.
Themes
Nature-praise as inner psychology, Purification and sweetness (madhu), Indra’s delight with the Vasus (harmonized powers), Attainment of the ‘wave’ (ūrmi) of bliss-consciousness
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 7.47.1, RV 7.47.3
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha’s water-hymns often connect purification with inner fire and illumination—showing the integrated Vedic yoga: flow (āpaḥ) + flame (apāṃ napāt) + light (indra).
Significance
Vasiṣṭha points to a guarded sweetness: delight that is protected by the soul-fire and therefore supports illumination rather than dispersing into desire.
The deity
- Devata
- Āpaḥ / Apāṃ Napāt (with Indra and Vasus associated)
- Epithets
- Apāṃ Napāt, Āśu-hema (swift-golden), Madhumattama (linked to the wave)
- Related deities
- Agni (hidden fire), Indra, Vasus, Āpaḥ
Cosmic role
Apāṃ Napāt is the luminous principle concealed in the waters—fire-in-water that safeguards and intensifies the purifying flow; Indra is the illumined mind that enjoys and uses that nectar; Vasus stabilize and enrich manifestation.
Inner power
Awakening of the inner flame within the emotional-vital currents, converting them into a golden, protected delight that feeds higher understanding.
In ritual
Where it is used
Invocations around waters and Apāṃ Napāt in purification/offerings; supportive of soma-related symbolism (nectar for Indra).
तमू॒र्मिमा॑पो॒ मधु॑मत्तमं वो॒ऽपां नपा॑दवत्वाशु॒हेमा॑ । यस्मि॒न्निन्द्रो॒ वसु॑भिर्मा॒दया॑ते॒ तम॑श्याम देव॒यन्तो॑ वो अ॒द्य ॥
तम् । ऊ॒र्मिम् । आ॒पः॒ । मधु॑मत्ऽतमम् । वः॒ । अ॒पाम् । नपा॑त् । अ॒व॒तु॒ । आ॒शु॒ऽहेमा॑ । यस्मि॑न् । इन्द्रः॑ । वसु॑ऽभिः । मा॒दया॑ते । तम् । अ॒श्या॒म॒ । दे॒व॒ऽयन्तः॑ । वः॒ । अ॒द्य ॥
tam | ūrmim | āpaḥ | madhumat-tamam | vaḥ | apām | napāt | avatu | āśu-hemā | yasmin | indraḥ | vasu-bhiḥ | mādayāte | tam | aśyāma | deva-yantaḥ | vaḥ | adya
44
4 x ~11 syllables
Bright, quick turns (āśuhemā) within a steady Triṣṭubh frame—suggesting swift protected movement.
Energizes while keeping clarity; evokes a sense of golden current rising through the system.
- अपां नपात् (apāṃ napāt)
- Literal: offspring/child of the waters. Symbolic: hidden fire in the waters; soul-flame within consciousness-flow
- अवतু (avatu)
- Literal: may he protect. Symbolic: guarding of the subtle attainment from disturbance
- आशुहेमा (āśuhemā)
- Literal: swift-golden. Symbolic: rapid luminous movement; quickened brightening of consciousness
- मधुमत्तमम् (madhumattamam)
- Literal: most honeyed/sweet. Symbolic: highest delight (ananda) in the flow
- इन्द्रः मादयाते (indraḥ mādayāte)
- Literal: Indra exults. Symbolic: illumined mind rejoices in the nectar of experience
- वसु॑भिः (vasubhiḥ)
- Literal: with the Vasus. Symbolic: with harmonizing powers of right substance, stability, and wealth of being
- देवयन्तः (devayantaḥ)
- Literal: god-seeking. Symbolic: aspiration oriented to the Divine
- अश्या॒म (aśyāma)
- Literal: may we attain. Symbolic: realization; arriving at the experiential state
Water-invocation and purification contexts; ancillary recitation in Soma rites and in lustration (ācamana/prokṣaṇa) sequences where the Waters and their inner fire are invoked for protection and sweetness (madhu) in the offering and the practitioner.
During water offerings, cleansing acts, or hymns to Apāṃ Napāt; also before inner work requiring protected energy.
Offer water/ghṛta with recitation; invoke protection of the ‘sweet wave’ from disturbance.
Chant when seeking to transform emotional energy into luminous joy; especially useful before study, creative work, or decision-making to invite Indra’s clear joy with the Vasus’ stability.
ū́rmi- ‘wave’ (√ūr/var ‘to rise, swell’ > surge). madhu ‘honey/sweetness’ from PIE *médʰu (cognate: English ‘mead’), extended here as bliss/Ananda; madhumat-tama- superlative ‘most honeyed’. napāt ‘offspring’ (PIE *nepōt- ‘grandson/nephew’), in Apāṃ Napāt: the ‘child of the waters’, a hidden fire/luminosity within the flowing life-forces. avatu from √av ‘to protect, favor’. mādayāte (middle) from √mad ‘to be glad, intoxicated’—psychologically: intensification of delight and force. deváyant- present participle from √div/dev ‘to shine; to revere’—orientation toward luminous powers.
Ṛta (right movement/order) as the lawful flow of the waters, Madhu (sweetness) as Ananda/bliss-substance, Divine protection (√av) as sustaining grace in the path
The protected wave is the right-flow (ṛta) guarded by the inner fire so it does not degrade into disorderly desire.
Golden swiftness as truth’s quick movement when obstacles are removed.
Fire concealed in waters: unity of opposites; emergence of luminous order from fluid potential.
Integral Vedism: Apāṃ Napāt as psychic/soul-fire within life; Indra as illumined mind; Vasus as stabilizing cosmic powers.
unspecified
unspecified
Waters = life-consciousness; fire in waters = soul-force; golden swiftness = quickened luminous transformation; Indra+Vasus = illumined joy stabilized into right living.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘hidden fire/child within the waters’ (Apāṃ Napāt) who safeguards the most ‘honeyed wave’. Mythically, luminosity is concealed in the waters; psychologically, a secret divine energy within the life-flows protects and releases a surge of bliss in which Indra (illumined force) can rejoice with the Vasus (harmonized riches/powers).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- madhu (PIE *médʰu) retains the inherited Indo-European sacral beverage/sweetness semantic field (cf. ‘mead’), elevated here from physical sweetness to bliss. napāt reflects PIE *nepōt- ‘descendant’, a conservative kinship term repurposed for divine emanation (‘offspring of the waters’).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi approaches the Waters as mediating powers and asks their inner deity (Apāṃ Napāt) to ‘protect’ the sought wave; in return, the human side offers aspiration (deváyantaḥ) and a will to attainment (aśyāma). The reciprocity is: divine safeguarding and opening of the bliss-current, answered by human turning toward the luminous order and immediate realization (‘today’).
Feel a calm inner flow (waters), then kindle the subtle ‘child of the waters’—a warm, golden flame within the flow—so delight becomes protected and luminous.
Inhale imagining cool flow up the spine; exhale imagining a warm golden spark spreading through the chest and forehead (balanced cooling + kindling).
Luminous steadiness; joyful clarity; protected intensity.
If emotions are turbulent, first settle (āpaḥ), then invoke Apāṃ Napāt to ‘guard’ the sweetness; finally offer the clarified joy to Indra (clear understanding) and the Vasus (stable right action).
Tri-svara; highlight udātta on apāṃ napāt, avatu, indro, vasubhiḥ, aśyāma.
Keep ‘apāṃ napāt’ as a single dignified unit; do not over-speed ‘āśuhemā’—let it feel swift yet clear.
: nasal ‘āṃ’ clearly, : long ā; final ‘t’ crisp, : long ā; ‘śu’ clear; ‘he’ voiced aspirate ‘h’, : long ā in mā; ‘yā’ length, : ‘su’ light; final ḥ soft
Bright but controlled; let ‘golden’ quality be felt through clear vowels.
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