Rig Veda 1.119.10: Mandala 1, Sukta 119, Mantra 10
Sukta 1.119
- Rishi
- Kakṣīvān Dairghatamasa
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
युवं पेदवे पुरुवारमश्विना स्पृधां श्वेतं तरुतारं दुवस्यथः । शर्यैरभिद्युं पृतनासु दुष्टरं चर्कृत्यमिन्द्रमिव चर्षणीसहम् ॥
yuváṃ pédave puru-vā́ram aśvinā spṛdhā́ṃ śvetáṃ tarutā́raṃ duvasyathaḥ | śáryair abhí-dyuṃ pṛ́tanāsu duṣṭáraṃ carkṛ́tyam índram iva carṣaṇī-sáham ||
अश्विन भाई, तुम दोनों पेदु को इज्जत देते हो। एक सफेद ताकत देते हो जो दूसरों पर जीत लेती है। यह ताकत ऐसे चमकती है जैसे हथियार चमक रहे हों। लड़ाई में इससे पार करना मुश्किल है। यह बड़े काम करती है, जैसे इंद्र लोगों को संभालता है।
Word by Word
- युवाम्
- you twoPronounद्वितीया/प्रथमा? द्विवचन (वैदिके प्रायः प्रथमा-द्विवचनम् ‘युवाम्’ = ‘you two’)Role कर्तृRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- पेदवे
- to PeduNoun (Proper name)चतुर्थी एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot पेदु (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
- पुरुवारम्
- much-desired / very choiceAdjectiveद्वितीया एकवचन (पुंलिङ्ग) — ‘अश्वम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्Role कर्मRoot पुरुवार (प्रातिपदिक; विशेषण)
- अश्विनौ
- O Aśvins (you two)Noun (Deity name)प्रथमा द्विवचनRole कर्तृRoot अश्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्पृधाम्
- rivalry; contest; hostile challengeNounद्वितीया एकवचन (स्त्रीलिङ्ग)Role कर्मRoot स्पृध् (स्त्री. प्रातिपदिक)
- श्वेतम्
- whiteAdjectiveद्वितीया एकवचन (पुंलिङ्ग) — ‘(अश्वम्)’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्Role कर्मRoot श्वेत (प्रातिपदिक; विशेषण)
- त॒रुतारम्
- more overcoming; very victoriousAdjective (Kṛdanta)द्वितीया एकवचन (पुंलिङ्ग) — ‘(अश्वम्)’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्Role कर्मRoot तॄ (धातु) → तरुतार (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; तुलनात्मक/अतिशयार्थक)
- दुवस्यथः
- you two serve / honor / bestow serviceVerbलट् (वर्तमान), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचनRole क्रियाRoot दुवस्/दुवस्य (धातु; ‘to serve, honor’)
- शर्यैः
- with missiles / with arrowsNounतृतीया बहुवचन (नपुंसक/पुं—वैदिक-प्रयोगः; करणत्वे)Role करणRoot शर्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘weapon/arrow’ sense in Vedic)
- अभिद्युम्
- radiant; shining forthAdjectiveद्वितीया एकवचन (पुंलिङ्ग) — ‘(इन्द्रम्)’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्Role कर्मRoot अभि + द्युत्/द्युम्न (प्रातिपदिक; ‘splendor, brilliance’)
- पृतनासु
- in battlesNounसप्तमी बहुवचनRole अधिकरणRoot पृतना (स्त्री. प्रातिपदिक)
- दुष्टरम्
- hard to overcomeAdjectiveद्वितीया एकवचन (पुंलिङ्ग) — ‘(इन्द्रम्)’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्Role कर्मRoot दु: + स्तॄ/स्तर (प्रातिपदिक; ‘hard to overcome’)
- चर्कृत्यम्
- mighty in deeds; vigorously actingAdjective (Kṛdanta)द्वितीया एकवचन (पुंलिङ्ग) — ‘(इन्द्रम्)’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्Role कर्मRoot कृ (धातु) → चर्कृत्य (कृदन्त; intensive/reduplicated formation, ‘well-made/active-doer’)
- इन्द्रम्
- IndraNoun (Deity name)द्वितीया एकवचन (पुंलिङ्ग)Role कर्मRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- like; asIndeclinableअव्ययRoot इव (निपात)
- चर्षणीसहम्
- conqueror of peoples; overpowering menAdjective (Compound)द्वितीया एकवचन (पुंलिङ्ग) — ‘(इन्द्रम्)’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्Role कर्मRoot चर्षणी (प्रातिपदिक ‘men/peoples’) + सह (प्रातिपदिक ‘conquering/withstanding’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (वैदिक-सन्धि-विच्छेद): युवं → युवाम् (प्रथमा-द्विवचन-प्रयोगः)
- पुरुवारम्+अश्विनौ (पदसीमा)
- स्पृधाम्+श्वेतम् (अनुस्वार-परः)
- तरुतारं+दुवस्यथः
- शर्यैरभिद्युम् → शर्यैः + अभिद्युम् (विसर्ग/रेफ-सन्धिः)
- पृतनासु+दुष्टरम्
- चर्कृत्यमिन्द्रमिव → चर्कृत्यम् + इन्द्रम् + इव
- चर्षणीसहम् (समासः: चर्षणी- + सह). उच्चारण-स्वराः (उदात्त/स्वरित) मन्त्रपाठानुसारं, पदविश्लेषे अर्थ/रूपनिर्णये न बाधकाः।
The meaning
Outer meaning
The Aśvins honor Pedu by granting him the horse Śveta—an overcomer in rivalries—brilliant with weapons, difficult to cross in battles, a doer of strong deeds, like Indra who supports/masters the peoples.
Inner meaning
The twin powers of swift divine aid (Aśvins) equip the seeker (Pedu) with a “white” force of purified prāṇa and luminous dynamism (Śveta-aśva). This force crosses inner rivalries (spṛdhāḥ: competing impulses, doubts, and cravings), endures and conquers battles of the nature (pṛtanāsu), and performs “strong works” (carkṛtya) like Indra—i.e., the illumined mind-force that breaks the Coverer and leads the human energies (carṣaṇi) into a larger harmony.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress requires not only aspiration but also a granted instrument: a clarified, luminous life-force directed by higher intelligence. When the inner helpers are invoked, they transform conflict into capacity, giving the practitioner a steady, bright power that can endure trials and accomplish the soul’s work.
Themes
bestowal of victorious force, inner conquest, luminous power, Indra-like strength
The seer
- Rishi
- Kakṣīvān Dairghatamasa
- Lineage
- Dīrghatamas (Āṅgirasa-related tradition; commonly linked with the Kakṣīvān line)
- Other hymns
- RV 1.116, RV 1.117, RV 1.118, RV 1.120, RV 1.121
Family tradition
A seer-poet associated with hymns to the Aśvins and Indra; his voice often blends practical boon-language with inner journey motifs—aid, passage, rescue, and right equipment for the path.
Significance
Kakṣīvān’s Aśvin hymns repeatedly present the Divine Helpers as rescuers who also “equip” the seeker—granting inner instruments (energy, clarity, protection) needed to cross difficult passages. Here the gift of Śveta signifies a consecrated life-force placed at the service of the soul’s progress.
The deity
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Epithets
- Dasrā (wondrously skilled), Nāsatyā (true, beneficent), Yuvānā (ever-youthful), Śubhaspatī (lords of brilliance/auspiciousness)
- Related deities
- Uṣas, Sūrya, Indra, Agni, Soma
Cosmic role
Twin powers who bring dawn-like helps: healing, rescue, safe passage, and timely interventions; mediators between Night and Dawn, limitation and expansion.
Inner power
Rapid harmonizing force that joins illumination with effective action—turning aspiration into workable energy and protection in transitional states.
In ritual
Where it is used
Aśvin invocation in Soma-related and morning/transition rites; also used as a praise-verse in offerings seeking aid, protection, and victory.
यु॒वं पे॒दवे॑ पुरु॒वार॑मश्विना स्पृ॒धां श्वे॒तं त॑रु॒तारं॑ दुवस्यथः । शर्यै॑र॒भिद्युं॒ पृत॑नासु दु॒ष्टरं॑ च॒र्कृत्य॒मिन्द्र॑मिव चर्षणी॒सह॑म् ॥
यु॒वम् । पे॒दवे॑ । पु॒रु॒ऽवार॑म् । अ॒श्वि॒ना॒ । स्पृ॒धाम् । श्वे॒तम् । त॒रु॒तार॑म् । दु॒व॒स्य॒थः॒ । शर्यैः॑ । अ॒भिऽद्यु॑म् । पृत॑नासु । दु॒स्तर॑म् । च॒र्कृत्य॑म् । इन्द्र॑म्ऽइव । च॒र्ष॒णि॒ऽसह॑म् ॥
yuvam | pedave | puru-vāram | aśvinā | spṛdhām | śvetam | tarutāram | duvasyathaḥ | śaryaiḥ | abhi-dyum | pṛtanāsu | dustaram | carkṛtyam | indram-iva | carṣaṇ i-saham
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables (with Vedic resolution/expansion possible)
Forward-driving, martial yet expansive; suited to narratives of victory and crossing.
Builds confidence and momentum; the cadence supports a felt sense of ‘mounting’ energy—apt for invoking strength to overcome inner contest.
- अश्विना (aśvinā)
- Literal: the two Aśvins, horsemen. Symbolic: twin divine powers of swift help—illumination and vital efficacy working together in the seeker
- पे॒दवे (pedave)
- Literal: to Pedu (name of a patron/hero). Symbolic: the aspiring soul/personality that offers and seeks right equipment for the journey
- श्वे॒तम् (śvetam)
- Literal: white, bright; Śveta (horse-name). Symbolic: purified luminous prāṇa/energy; bright dynamism aligned to the Light
- अश्व (aśva) [implied]
- Literal: horse. Symbolic: vital energy, force of action that carries consciousness forward
- स्पृ॒धाम् (spṛdhām)
- Literal: rivalry, contest. Symbolic: inner conflict among impulses; competitive movements of desire and doubt
- तरु॒तारम् (tarutāram)
- Literal: overcomer, surpasser. Symbolic: capacity to cross resistance; victorious momentum in sādhanā
- शर्यैः (śaryaiḥ)
- Literal: with weapons/arrows. Symbolic: sharp powers of discernment and decisive will used against obscurity
- पृत॑नासु (pṛtanāsu)
- Literal: in battles. Symbolic: life-situations and inner struggles where forces clash
- दु॒ष्टरम् (duṣṭaram)
- Literal: hard to cross, difficult to overcome. Symbolic: stubborn knots of habit and subconscient resistance
- च॒र्कृत्य॑म् (carkṛtyam)
- Literal: doer of strong deeds. Symbolic: effective transformative action; tapas in works
- इन्द्रमिव (indram iva)
- Literal: like Indra. Symbolic: like the illumined Mind-force that breaks limitation and releases the Light
- चर्षणीसह (carṣaṇī-saha)
- Literal: supporter/overpowerer of the peoples. Symbolic: mastery that organizes the many human energies into a higher unity
Aśvin praise; also functions as a blessing for victory/strength in Soma contexts
Often in morning contexts or at points of transition (journey, healing, contest), where Aśvin help is sought.
Recitation during offering (āhuti) or praise (stuti) to invite the Aśvins’ swift arrival and bestowal of support.
Use as a mantra for energizing clarity before challenging tasks; recite to consecrate prāṇa to a luminous purpose and reduce inner friction (conflicting impulses).
śvetá ‘white, bright’; tarutā́ra is an intensive/comparative-like formation from √tṝ ‘cross/overcome’ (cf. PIE *terh₁-). spṛdh ‘rivalry’ denotes contention; dyu ‘sky/light’ (PIE *dyew- ‘sky, daylight’, cf. Zeus, Jupiter). The verse maps martial imagery to inner conquest: the luminous ‘white’ force overcomes rival impulses and becomes difficult for darkness to traverse.
Inner battle of light vs. obstruction, Dyu/Svar as luminous consciousness, Vāja-like plenitude implied by puru-vāra (many-booned)
The Aśvins’ gift aligns the seeker’s life-force with ṛta, converting rivalry into coordinated movement.
True help that does not flatter desire but strengthens right action and discernment.
Emergence of ordered power from conflict—victory of luminous energy over obstructing forces in the human field.
Proto-Vedāntic / integral-psychological reading (Aurobindo/Kashyap): deities as powers of consciousness active in the inner yajña.
dawn/early transition (Aśvin hour)
At the ‘dawn’ of practice, purified prāṇa becomes the carrier of the will; discernment becomes the weapon; life’s struggles become the arena where consciousness learns mastery.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Aśvins bestow a victorious, luminous power (Śveta) to Pedu, Indra-like in battle and support. Innerly: divine twins grant a pure force that traverses and conquers rivalries of the nature and sustains the human energies in the struggle for light.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- dyu (in abhí-dyuṃ) continues PIE *dyew- ‘sky/daylight’ (Zeus/Jupiter cognate set). tarutā́ra from √tṝ aligns with PIE *terh₁- ‘cross/overcome’. These inherited roots reinforce an archaic IE poetic grammar: daylight-power and crossing/overcoming as victory metaphors.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi recollects a boon as paradigmatic: the gods ‘honour/foster’ the seeker by installing in him a conquering luminous energy. The reciprocity is aspirational—human praise invites not only healing but empowerment for the inner war.
Invoke the twin help: (1) clear perception and (2) swift effective energy. Visualize a white, steady current rising through the system and organizing scattered impulses.
anahata (harmonizing prāṇa) and ajna (illumined direction)
Nadi-śodhana style alternate-nostril breathing (gentle), then a few rounds of equal inhale/exhale to ‘whiten’ and steady prāṇa.
Dynamic calm—quiet center with ready force for action.
Before work or a difficult conversation, chant once slowly, then sit 2–3 minutes: feel conflicting movements settle; let one luminous intention lead. Offer the day’s actions as ‘strong works’ under the higher mind (Indra principle).
Follow śākhā-specific udātta/anudātta/svarita from the pada text; key lifts often occur on deity-names and action-verbs. For app guidance, mark udātta on: aśvinā, śvetam, tarutāram, indram (approx.; verify with a recorded śākhā).
Keep a steady triṣṭubh gait; slightly emphasize compound peaks (carṣaṇī-sahám) and victory terms (tarutā́ram, duṣṭáram).
aśvinā: ‘śv’ cluster clean, not ‘swinā’, śvetam: pronounce ‘śve’ as ‘shve’ with clear ‘v’, spṛdhām: vocalic ṛ—short, crisp, pṛtanāsu: retroflex ṇ in ‘nā’, carṣaṇīsaham: retroflex ṣ; keep compound flowing without breaking
Bright, steady, slightly heroic; avoid harshness—strength with clarity.
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