Rig Veda 1.160.5: Mandala 1, Sukta 160, Mantra 5
Sukta 1.160
- Rishi
- As RV 1.160
- Devata
- Dyāvā-Pṛthivī as the dual cosmic Parents, givers of bṛhat and kṣatra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
ते नो गृणाने महिनी महि श्रवः क्षत्रं द्यावापृथिवी धासथो बृहत् । येनाभि कृष्टीस्ततनाम विश्वहा पनाय्यमोजो अस्मे समिन्वतम् ॥
té no gṛṇāné mahinī́ máhi śrávaḥ kṣatráṃ dyāvāpṛthivī dhāsatho bṛhát | yénā́bhi kṛṣṭī́s tátanāma viśvā́hā panā́yyam ójo asmē sám invatam ||
जब हम दोनों की स्तुति करते हैं, तो आप दोनों हमें बड़ा बनाते हैं। आप हमें बड़ी बड़ाई देते हैं और राज्य की ताकत देते हैं। आप आसमान और धरती हो। उस ताकत से आप लोगों को फैलाते हो। वही ताकत हमारे अंदर भी डाल दो और उसें स्ट्रॉन्ग बना दो।
Word by Word
- ते
- they (those two/these; here: the two deities addressed)Pronounपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- of us / for usPronounषष्ठी बहुवचनम् (एन्क्लिटिक)Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- गृणाने
- being praised / while being sung toParticiple (Adjective)वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्रकारः), द्विवचन/बहुवचन-सम्बोधन/प्रथमा-सम्भाव्य; यहाँ संबोधनार्थे (हे गृणाने)Role SambodhanaRoot गृ (स्तुति/गायने) → गृण् (धातु)
- महिनी
- O great (two) / mighty (two)Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्गे द्विवचनम् (संबोधन/प्रथमा)Role SambodhanaRoot महीन (प्रातिपदिक; ‘महान्/महती’ भाव)
- महि
- greatly / mightilyIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role KaraṇaRoot महि (अव्यय; ‘महदर्थे’)
- श्रवः
- fame, gloryNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (वैदिके प्रायः ‘श्रवः’)Role KarmaRoot श्रवस् (नपुंसकलिङ्ग प्रातिपदिक)
- क्षत्रम्
- sovereign power, dominionNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot क्षत्र (नपुंसकलिङ्ग प्रातिपदिक)
- द्यावापृथिवी
- Heaven-and-Earth (the pair)Noun (Dual compound)स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा/संबोधन द्विवचनम् (समास-रूपेण)Role KartāRoot द्यावापृथिवी (द्वन्द्व-समास; द्यौ/द्याव् + पृथिवी)
- धासथः
- you two place/establishVerbलट् (वर्तमान), मध्यमपुरुषः, द्विवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role KriyāRoot धा (धातु) ‘स्थापने/धारणे’
- बृहत्
- great, loftyAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (श्रवः/क्षत्रम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role KarmaRoot बृहन्त् (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
- येन
- by whichPronounतृतीया एकवचनम् (नपुंसक/पुं; साधारण-प्रयोगः)Role KaraṇaRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अभि
- towards, overIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role UpapadaRoot अभि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- कृष्टीः
- peoples, communitiesNounस्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया बहुवचनम्Role KarmaRoot कृष्टि (स्त्रीलिङ्ग प्रातिपदिक)
- ततानाम
- we have stretched/spreadVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट), उत्तमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role KriyāRoot तन् (धातु) ‘विस्तारे’
- विश्वहा
- always, at all timesIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot विश्वहा (अव्यय; विश्व + हा ‘सर्वदा’)
- पनाय्यम्
- praiseworthy, admirableAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (ओजः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role KarmaRoot पनाय्य (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक; √पण्/पन् ‘स्तुतौ/व्यवहारे’ से ‘प्रशंसनीय’)
- ओजः
- strength, vigorNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot ओजस् (नपुंसकलिङ्ग प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्मे
- in us / among usPronounसप्तमी बहुवचनम् (वैदिक-रूप; ‘अस्मासु’)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सम्
- together, fullyIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role UpapadaRoot सम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- इन्वतम्
- impel, strengthen (you all / you two addressed as plural in blessing)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role KriyāRoot इन्/इन्व् (धातु) ‘प्रेरणे/बलवर्धने’
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (main): ते नो॑ → ते + नः
- गृणा॒ने → गृणाने (accent retained)
- महिनी॒ महि॒ → महिनी + महि
- श्रव॑: → श्रवः
- द्या॑वापृथिवी → द्यावापृथिवी (dvandva compound, no split in pada-text)
- धासथो → धासथः (o = visarga sandhi before b-)
- बृ॒हत् unchanged
- येना॒भि → येन + अभि
- कृ॒ष्टीस्त॒तना॑म → कृष्टीः + ततानाम
- वि॒श्वहा॑ unchanged
- प॒नाय्य॒मोजो॑ → पनाय्यम् + ओजः
- अ॒स्मे समि॑न्वतम् → अस्मे + सम् + इन्वतम्
The meaning
Outer meaning
Heaven and Earth, as we praise you, establish for us vast greatness—fame and kingly power; with that by which you spread out the peoples always, set that admirable force in us and make it grow together.
Inner meaning
Dyāvā-Pṛthivī are not merely physical sky and earth but the two great Parents: the higher luminous consciousness and the embodied field of manifestation. When invoked, they establish bṛhat—vastness of being—and kṣatra—sovereign mastery (not ego-rule, but inner governance by truth). The power by which they ‘spread the peoples’ (kṛṣṭīḥ)—i.e., organize the multiplicity of our movements—can be turned inward: may that panāyya ojas (admirable strength) be implanted in us and integrated (sam invatam), so all parts grow together under a single harmony.
Universal truth
Human fullness comes when the higher and lower principles cooperate: vastness and mastery arise, and the many parts of life integrate into a single growing power.
Themes
Prayer for vastness and mastery, Heaven-Earth as parents, Growth of inner strength (ojas)
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 1.159 (Dyāvā-Pṛthivī), RV 1.185 (Dyāvā-Pṛthivī), RV 6.70 (Dyāvā-Pṛthivī)
Significance
The seer’s emphasis is integrality: invoking the cosmic Parents to establish vastness and sovereignty, and to harmonize the multiplicity of inner movements into one growing power.
The deity
- Devata
- Dyāvā-Pṛthivī (Heaven and Earth)
- Epithets
- Mahinī (the mighty ones), Bṛhat-dhātrī (establishers of vastness, by sense)
- Related deities
- Agni (child/mediator between the parents), Indra (sovereign illumination supporting kṣatra), Aditi (infinite wideness, thematic)
Cosmic role
Cosmic parents who uphold the worlds and provide the field and support for growth, order, and expansion.
Inner power
Widening (bṛhat) and governing strength (kṣatra): the capacity to hold many movements without fragmentation.
In ritual
Where it is used
Praise/invocation to Dyāvā-Pṛthivī in śrauta settings; used to affirm cosmic support and prosperity/power
ते नो॑ गृणा॒ने म॑हिनी॒ महि॒ श्रव॑: क्ष॒त्रं द्या॑वापृथिवी धासथो बृ॒हत् । येना॒भि कृ॒ष्टीस्त॒तना॑म वि॒श्वहा॑ प॒नाय्य॒मोजो॑ अ॒स्मे समि॑न्वतम् ॥
ते । नः॒ । गृ॒णा॒ने इति॑ । म॒हि॒नी॒ इति॑ । महि॑ । श्रवः॑ । क्ष॒त्रम् । द्या॒वा॒पृ॒थि॒वी॒ इति॑ । धा॒स॒थः॒ । बृ॒हत् । येन॑ । अ॒भि । कृ॒ष्टीः । त॒तना॑म । वि॒श्वहा॑ । प॒नाय्य॑म् । ओजः॑ । अ॒स्मे इति॑ । सम् । इ॒न्व॒त॒म् ॥
te | naḥ | gṛṇāne iti | mahinī iti | mahi | śravaḥ | kṣatram | dyāvāpṛthivī iti | dhāsathaḥ | bṛhat | yena | abhi | kṛṣṭīḥ | tatanāma | viśvahā | panāyyam | ojaḥ | asme iti | sam | invatam
44
4 x 11 (approx.)
Expansive and invoking; the meter naturally ‘widens’ through longer cadence.
Creates a felt wideness in chest and head; supports confident affirmation of inner sovereignty.
- द्यावापृथिवी (dyāvāpṛthivī)
- Literal: Heaven and Earth. Symbolic: higher consciousness and embodied nature as twin parents
- महि श्रवः (mahi śravaḥ)
- Literal: great fame/hearing. Symbolic: wide receptivity and luminous recognition; expansion of consciousness
- क्षत्रम् (kṣatram)
- Literal: kingly power. Symbolic: inner sovereignty; mastery of nature by truth
- बृहत् (bṛhat)
- Literal: the vast. Symbolic: spacious being; wideness of mind/heart
- कृष्टीः (kṛṣṭīḥ)
- Literal: peoples/communities. Symbolic: the many powers and movements in us
- ओजः (ojaḥ)
- Literal: force, vigor. Symbolic: concentrated spiritual strength; effective energy
- पनीय्यम् (panāyyam)
- Literal: admirable, worthy of praise. Symbolic: pure force aligned with the divine intention
- सम् इन्वतम् (sam invatam)
- Literal: impel/grow together. Symbolic: integration: unified growth of all parts of the being
Invocation to the cosmic Parents for establishing ‘kṣatra’ and ‘bṛhat’—supports for the sacrificer’s inner rule and wideness; suitable for rites emphasizing stability and expansion (foundational invocations in soma/agnic contexts)
In hymns to the cosmic parents within soma/fire rituals; also in blessings for strength and expansion
Stotra-like praise; invoking support, stability, and increase of ojas
A mantra for integration and steadiness when life feels scattered: invoke ‘vastness’ and ‘inner governance’ so all parts cooperate.
kṣatrá- ‘dominion’ (from √kṣi ‘to rule, possess’ semantic field), in Vedic often denotes inner sovereignty. bṛhát from √bṛh ‘to grow, expand’ → wideness. ójas- ‘vigor’ possibly linked to strength/juice semantics; in Vedic psychology it is concentrated potency of consciousness. invatam from √inv ‘to impel, invigorate’.
bṛhat (vastness) as expansion of consciousness, kṣatra as inner sovereignty, integration (sam) of powers of being
The parents establish conditions for ṛta: right distribution and harmony among the many ‘peoples’ (powers).
Kṣatra becomes truthful mastery when founded on the higher light (Dyauḥ) and grounded in stable embodiment (Pṛthivī).
Sustaining creation: the field (earth) and the luminous canopy (heaven) enable multiplicity to expand without disorder.
Integral Vedism: wideness + mastery + integration of parts (sam-invata).
Sky = higher mind/light; Earth = stable embodiment; horizon = meeting point where spirit informs life; peoples = inner faculties and impulses.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘two Parents bestow the Vast’ mythologem: Heaven and Earth establish bṛhat (wideness) and kṣatra (sovereign power). Inwardly, the higher and lower principles consent to found a stable, expansive field where the soul’s mastery can grow.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- bṛhát from √bṛh ‘grow/expand’ parallels IE expansion semantics (cf. English ‘broad’ ultimately from PIE *bʰerǵʰ- is debated; closer are Indo-Iranian developments). The prayer-formula with dual address (dyāvā-pṛthivī) preserves archaic IE sky-earth pairing common in early Indo-European poetics.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi hymns the dual powers to receive not material dominion but inner kṣatra—mastery over the multiplicity (kṛṣṭīḥ) within. The Devata reciprocates by ‘establishing’ and ‘increasing’ ojas integrally (sam), i.e., harmonized strength rather than fragmented impulse.
Invoke the ‘two parents’ within: widen above (sky-mind) and ground below (earth-body); let a sovereign calm organize the many movements.
muladhara
Inhale feel wideness above the head; exhale feel grounding into the base; then rest in the middle with quiet strength.
Wide, stable, integrated presence.
Recite 12 times: first 4 for widening, next 4 for inner sovereignty (kṣatra), last 4 for integration of scattered parts into one ojas.
Vedic accents per śākhā; sustain clarity on vocative dyāvāpṛthivī and on key boons śravaḥ, kṣatram, ojaḥ.
Let the cadence ‘open’ on bṛhat; keep consonants crisp in gṛṇāne and sam invatam.
Keep long ī in pṛthivī, Retroflex ṇ in gṛṇāne, Avoid turning kṣatra into kh; pronounce kṣ as a cluster, Hold visvāhā with clear long ā
Broad, calm, expansive; slightly lower pitch to emphasize grounding.
12
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