Rig Veda 1.180.5: Mandala 1, Sukta 180, Mantra 5
Sukta 1.180
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
आ वां दानाय ववृतीय दस्रा गोरोहेण तौग्र्यो न जिव्रिः । अपः क्षोणी सचते माहिना वां जूर्णो वामक्षुरंहसो यजत्रा ॥
ā́ vāṃ dānā́ya vavṛtīya dasrā gór óhena taugryó ná jivríḥ | apáḥ kṣoṇī́ sacate mā́hinā vāṃ jūrṇó vāṃ ákṣur áṃhaso yajatrā ||
मैं तुम्हारी तरफ जाता हूँ, तुम जो देते हो उसके लिए। रोशनी मुझे खींचती है, जैसे तेज़ दौड़ने वाला इंसान। पानी और धरती तुम्हारे साथ हैं। तुम मुसीबत दूर करते हो और हमारे काम को आसान बना देते हो।
Word by Word
- आ
- hither, towardsIndeclinableउपसर्ग/निपातRoot आ (upasarga) अथवा अव्यय
- वाम्
- to/for you two; of you twoPronounषष्ठी/द्वितीया द्विवचन (वेद. रूप; ‘वाम्’ = ‘युवयोः/युवाम्’)Role SampradānaRoot युष्मद् (द्वि.)
- दानाय
- for giving, for a giftNounदत्तिवचन एकवचन (चतुर्थी), नपुंसकलिङ्गRole SampradānaRoot दान (प्रातिपदिक) < √दा (दान)
- ववृतीय
- has come/has turned (towards)Verbलिट् (परस्मैपद) 3 एकवचन; वेद. injunctive/लिट्-प्रयोगः ‘has turned/has come’Role KartāRoot √वृत्/√वृ (वर्तने/वरणे)
- दस्रा
- O wondrous/skillful ones (Aśvins)Adjective (epithet)प्रथमा द्विवचन, पुंलिङ्गRole KartāRoot दस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- गोरोहेण
- with the cow-mount/with the cow-drawn (vehicle)Nounतृतीया एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक (करण)Role KaraṇaRoot गोरोह (प्रातिपदिक; गो- + रोह ‘mount/vehicle’)
- तौग्र्यः
- Tugra’s (son), the TaugraNoun (proper/epithet)प्रथमा एकवचन, पुंलिङ्गRole KartāRoot तौग्र्य (प्रातिपदिक; patronymic)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableनिपातRoot न (उपमा-निपात)
- जिव्रिः
- Jivri (name/epithet)Noun (proper/epithet)प्रथमा एकवचन, पुंलिङ्गRole KartāRoot जिव्रि (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
- अपः
- the watersNounद्वितीया बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्गRole KarmaRoot अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
- क्षोणी
- the earthNounप्रथमा एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्गRole KartāRoot क्षोणी (प्रातिपदिक)
- सचते
- associates/joinsVerbलट् आत्मनेपद 3 एकवचनRole KartāRoot √सच् (समवाये/सहचर्ये)
- माहिना
- by (your) mightNounतृतीया एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग (करण)Role KaraṇaRoot माहिन्/माहिना (प्रातिपदिक; ‘might, greatness’)
- वाम्
- of you twoPronounषष्ठी/द्वितीया द्विवचन (वेद. रूप) संदर्भे ‘युवयोः’Role SampradānaRoot युष्मद् (द्वि.)
- जूर्णः
- worn out, decayedAdjective/Participleप्रथमा एकवचन, पुंलिङ्गRole KartāRoot जूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) < √जॄ/√जृ (जीर्णे/क्षये)
- वाम्
- of you twoPronounषष्ठी/द्वितीया द्विवचन (वेद. रूप) संदर्भे ‘युवयोः’Role SampradānaRoot युष्मद् (द्वि.)
- अक्षु
- axle (of a chariot)Nounप्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्गRole KarmaRoot अक्षु (प्रातिपदिक)
- रंहसः
- from speed/haste; of swiftnessNounषष्ठी एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्गRole ApādānaRoot रंहस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- यजत्रा
- O worshipful onesAdjective (vocative)सम्बोधन द्विवचन, पुंलिङ्गRoot यजत्र (प्रातिपदिक) < √यज्
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-विच्छेद): आ | वाम् | दानाय | ववृतीय | दस्रा | गोरोहेण | तौग्र्यः | न | जिव्रिः || अपः | क्षोणी | सचते | माहिना | वाम् | जूर्णः | वाम् | अक्षु | रंहसः | यजत्रा । प्रमुख सन्धयः: ‘आ वाम्’ (स्वर-सन्धि), ‘गोरोहेण’ = गो-रोहेण (समास), ‘अक्षु रंहसः’ (पद-सीमा पर विसर्ग/अनुस्वार-नियम नहीं; पृथक् पद)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The speaker turns toward the Aśvins’ giving, drawn by the uplifting of the Cow/Light like swift Taugrya. Waters and earth accompany their greatness; by them the pressing force is sharpened against distress.
Inner meaning
The seeker turns (vavṛtīya) toward the Aśvins as the indispensable helpers in ascent. ‘Goḥ oheṇa’—the uplifting/impulsion of the Light—draws the being upward, as Taugrya the swift is drawn onward (image of rapid rescue/transport). The cosmic supports—waters (consciousness-currents) and earth (stable embodied field)—join their greatness, meaning the whole nature (fluid and solid) can be integrated into the yoga. ‘Akṣu’ as the sharpened edge/pressing force: the inner will and discernment are honed so that distress (aṃhas) is cut through; the Aśvins make the instrument keen and effective.
Universal truth
Progress requires both ascent (uplift by light) and integration (waters and earth together). True help sharpens our capacity to act rightly against suffering, not by violence but by precision and harmony.
Themes
rescue motif (Taugrya), uplift of light, healing from distress
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 1.180.1, Rig Veda 1.180.2, Rig Veda 1.180.3, Rig Veda 1.180.4, Rig Veda 1.180.6, Rig Veda 1.180.7
Significance
The seer speaks as a practitioner who experiences illumination as an actual ‘uplifting force’ and asks for the sharpening of the inner instrument against aṃhas—an experiential, yogic petition.
The deity
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Epithets
- Dasrā, Yajatrā (worthy of sacrifice), Sahāyau (helpers, implied)
- Related deities
- Soma (pressing, sweetness), Agni (will), Indra (force against obstruction)
Cosmic role
They lift the seeker by light and provide swift transition; they harmonise the elements (waters and earth) into a unified support for progress.
Inner power
Ascent + integration + precision: uplifting by knowledge-rays, stabilising embodiment, and sharpening the will/discernment to cut distress.
In ritual
Where it is used
General Aśvin praise for aid, speed, and rescue; suitable in morning offerings
आ वां॑ दा॒नाय॑ ववृतीय दस्रा॒ गोरोहे॑ण तौ॒ग्र्यो न जिव्रि॑: । अ॒पः क्षो॒णी स॑चते॒ माहि॑ना वां जू॒र्णो वा॒मक्षु॒रंह॑सो यजत्रा ॥
आ । वा॒म् । दा॒नाय॑ । व॒वृ॒ती॒य॒ । द॒स्रा॒ । गोः । ओहे॑न । तौ॒ग्र्यः । न । जिव्रिः॑ । अ॒पः । क्षो॒णी इति॑ । स॒च॒ते॒ । माहि॑ना । वा॒म् । जू॒र्णः । वा॒म् । अक्षुः॑ । अंह॑सः । य॒ज॒त्रा॒ ॥
ā | vām | dānāya | vavṛtīya | dasrā | goḥ | ohena | taugryaḥ | na | jivriḥ | apaḥ | kṣoṇī iti | sacate | māhinā | vām | jūrṇaḥ | vām | akṣuḥ | aṃhasaḥ | yajatrā
44
4 × ~11
Energetic turning-motion in the first pāda; broadening cadence with ‘āpaḥ kṣoṇī’ then a keen, cutting close.
Invokes uplift and readiness; leaves a crisp sense of ‘edge’—useful for breaking inertia.
- दानाय (dānāya)
- Literal: for giving, gift. Symbolic: grace that bestows capacities and openings
- दस्रा (dasrā)
- Literal: wondrous ones. Symbolic: powers that accomplish what the divided nature cannot
- गोः ओहेन (goḥ oheṇa)
- Literal: by the lifting/impulsion of the cow. Symbolic: uplift by rays of knowledge; ascent-force of illumination
- तौग्र्यः न जिव्रिः (taugryaḥ na jivriḥ)
- Literal: like Taugrya the swift. Symbolic: the rescued/speeded soul-movement; rapid transition from peril to path
- अपः (apaḥ)
- Literal: waters. Symbolic: currents of consciousness, purification, flow of truth
- क्षोणी (kṣoṇī)
- Literal: earth, broad ground. Symbolic: the embodied basis; stability and wideness in action
- माहिना (māhinā)
- Literal: by greatness. Symbolic: by vastness and power of integration
- अक्षुः (akṣuḥ)
- Literal: axle/eye; sharp edge (contextual). Symbolic: the keen pivot/instrument of will and discernment; the ‘axis’ of right action
- अंहसः (aṃhasaḥ)
- Literal: distress, sin, constriction. Symbolic: pressure of ignorance, suffering, narrowing forces
Invocation for dana (bestowal) and release from aṃhas (constriction); suitable for Aśvina offerings in Soma contexts
Dawn; times of transition, travel, healing, or seeking quick restoration
Invocation for gifts and for overcoming aṃhas; consecration of effort
Use when stuck in heaviness or distress: recite to call uplift (goḥ oheṇa) and sharpen decisive action.
√vṛt (vavṛtīya) ‘turn, roll’ (PIE *wert- ‘to turn’, cf. Lat vertō). aṃhas ‘narrowness, distress’ relates to constriction imagery (cf. Germanic ‘anguish’ ultimately from PIE *h₂enǵʰ- ‘tight’—semantic parallel). √sac (sacate) ‘accompany’ is a common Vedic verb of joining/association. go as ‘light’ continues the Vedic semantic expansion of inherited ‘cow’ to ‘ray/knowledge’.
release from constriction (aṃhas), descent of grace (dāna), integration of higher and lower (waters + earth)
Implied: the elements ‘join’ in right order when the divine integrators act.
Rightly sharpened instrument acts in truth rather than reactive impulse.
Integration of elements to support ascent—microcosmic re-creation of a stable, widened being.
Integral transformation: ascent of light plus descent into embodied stability.
Dawn
Light lifts aspiration; waters cleanse and flow; earth stabilises; sharpening = making will/discernment effective against constriction.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Ashvins as rescuers who ‘haul up’ (ohena) the endangered one (Taugrya motif) is recast as the uplifting of go (light/knowledge) out of constriction (aṃhas). Innerly, the soul turns toward the twin healers for a lifting movement that restores free motion.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- vavṛtīya from √vṛt continues PIE *wert- ‘turn’ (vertō, Wende). The vehicle/pivot imagery (akṣu) is part of an old IE technological-poetic register where motion stands for effective power; such diction is widely shared across IE traditions.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The poet’s ‘turning’ toward the Ashvins is a deliberate inner orientation (yoga of attention): by aligning with their mahimā, the foundations (earth) and flows (waters) cooperate, and constriction is overcome—devotion as a lever that invites divine operation.
Call the uplift of illumination; stabilise it in the body; sharpen the will against narrowing distress.
Ajna (light-guidance) anchored into Muladhara (earth stability) with Manipura (decisive force).
3 rounds: inhale imagining uplift through spine; exhale grounding into pelvic base; then 9 brisk but controlled kapalabhati strokes to ‘sharpen’ (avoid if contraindicated).
Uplifted, grounded, decisive.
Name the constriction (aṃhas) silently; feel a clean edge of will appear—not anger—then act on one precise step aligned with truth.
Vedic accenting; emphasise the turning ‘ā vāṃ’ and the closing ‘aṃhaso’.
Let ‘ā vāṃ dānāya’ open expansively; keep ‘goḥ oheṇa’ light and rising; end with firm closure on ‘yajatrā’.
(dasrā): cluster ‘sr’ clear, (ohena): long ‘o’, soft ‘h’, (taugryaḥ): ‘au’ diphthong; ‘gry’ conjunct, (kṣoṇī): kṣ conjunct; long ī, (aṃhasaḥ): nasal ‘ṃ’ then ‘h’ audible
Uplifting, slightly more forceful than previous; end with a clean, clipped certainty.
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