Rig Veda 10.164.2: Mandala 10, Sukta 164, Mantra 2
Sukta 10.164
- Rishi
- As per RV 10.164 tradition
- Devata
- Solar/vaivasvata vision and the auspicious ordering of mind
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
भद्रं वै वरं वृणते भद्रं युञ्जन्ति दक्षिणम् । भद्रं वैवस्वते चक्षुर्बहुत्रा जीवतो मनः ॥
bhadráṃ vai váraṃ vṛṇate bhadráṃ yuñjanti dákṣiṇam | bhadráṃ vaivasvaté cákṣur bahutrā́ jīvátó manaḥ ||
लोग अच्छा ही चुनते हैं। वो अच्छे काम में लग जाते हैं। सूर्य के द्वारा जो दृष्टि मिलती है वो बड़ी अच्छी है। जीते हुए इंसान का मन बहुत जगह खुश रहता है।
Word by Word
- भद्रम्
- auspicious, goodAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (वृणते इत्यस्य)Root भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- वै
- indeed, surelyIndeclinableनिपात (अव्यय)Root वै (निपात)
- वरम्
- a choice, boon, the bestNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (वृणते इत्यस्य)Root वर (प्रातिपदिक)
- वृणते
- (one) choosesVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमा, एकवचनRoot √वृ (वृणुते) ‘choose’
- भद्रम्
- auspicious, goodAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (युञ्जन्ति इत्यस्य)Root भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- युञ्जन्ति
- they yoke, harnessVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRoot √युज् ‘yoke, join, harness’
- दक्षिणम्
- the right (side/one); the southern; the dexterousAdjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (युञ्जन्ति इत्यस्य)Root दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
- भद्रम्
- auspicious, goodAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म/विधेय (अस्ति-भावे)Root भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- वै
- indeedIndeclinableनिपात (अव्यय)Root वै (निपात)
- वैवस्वते
- in/for Vaivasvata (son of Vivasvat; Yama)Adjective (patronymic) / Nounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरण (यस्मिन्/यत्र—‘in/for Vaivasvata’)Root वैवस्वत (प्रातिपदिक) < विवस्वत्
- चक्षुः
- eye; sightNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ/विषय (अस्ति-भावे) अथवा विधेयRoot चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- बहुत्रा
- in many places; in many waysIndeclinableदेश/प्रकारवाचक अव्ययRole अधिकरण (स्थान/व्याप्ति)Root बहुत्रा (अव्यय) < बहु + -त्रा
- जीवतः
- of the living (one)Participle (adjectival)पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive: ‘of the living [one]’)Root जीवत् (प्रातिपदिक) < √जीव् ‘live’
- मनः
- mindNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ/विषय (अस्ति-भावे) अथवा विधेयRoot मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: भद्रं वै वरं वृणते | भद्रं युञ्जन्ति दक्षिणम् | भद्रं वै वैवस्वते चक्षुः बहुत्रा जीवतो मनः || 1) वैवस्वते चक्षुः: संधि-रूपे ‘वैवस्वते’ (सप्तमी) + ‘चक्षुः’ (प्रथमा) — विसर्ग/स्वर-संधि विशेषः न
- केवलं पद-संयोगः। 2) जीवतो मनः: ‘जीवतस्’ (षष्ठी एक.) का वैदिक रूप ‘जीवतः’ + ‘मनः’ (प्रथमा) — विसर्ग-लोपादि नहीं, पद-संयोग। 3) उच्चारण-चिह्न (॒, ॑) वैदिक स्वर (अनुदात्त/उदात्त/स्वरित) सूचक हैं
- पद-रूप मूलतः वही रहते हैं।
The meaning
Outer meaning
They choose the good; they yoke the right-hand (dakṣiṇa) power to the good. Auspicious is the seeing in the realm of Vivasvat (the solar); in many places may the mind of the living have its outlook.
Inner meaning
After turning away from Nirṛti, the mind must be yoked to the right power—dakṣiṇa as the discerning, skillful, ‘right-hand’ force of action and offering. Vivasvat is the radiant solar consciousness: the illumined sight that makes choices aligned to the Good (bhadra). The mantra affirms a psychology of right selection and right harnessing—so the mind moves freely and happily across many fields without falling into narrowness.
Universal truth
Freedom is not mere rejection of darkness; it is the positive choosing of the good and the disciplined yoking of one’s powers to that choice, under the guidance of inner light.
Themes
auspiciousness, illumination, right-action, mind-expansion
The seer
- Rishi
- Tradition varies within RV 10.164; exact rishi uncertain
- Other hymns
- RV 10.164.1-6
Family tradition
Auspiciousness (bhadra) and solar seeing themes; likely connected to a protective-illumining praxis rather than elaborate śrauta ritualism.
Significance
The seer outlines a two-step inner discipline: (1) avert Nirṛti (collapse), (2) choose and harness the good under solar vision—an early Vedic yoga of right choice.
The deity
- Devata
- Vivasvat/Sūrya-current (implicit) supporting auspicious mind; with Dakṣiṇa as right power
- Epithets
- Vivasvat (the shining one), Sūrya (solar seer), Bhadra-darśin (sense: giver of auspicious seeing)
- Related deities
- Ādityas (order, vastness), Savitar (impeller, right movement), Indra (illumined intelligence), Bṛhaspati (inspired guidance)
Cosmic role
Illumines the paths of thought and action; establishes auspicious order and right discrimination.
Inner power
Solar clarity that enables right choice (vara) and right yoking (yuj) of faculties; transforms mind into a many-sided, beneficent instrument.
In ritual
Where it is used
Auspicious invocation for right choice and clear vision; protective blessing for mind and journey
भ॒द्रं वै वरं॑ वृणते भ॒द्रं यु॑ञ्जन्ति॒ दक्षि॑णम् । भ॒द्रं वै॑वस्व॒ते चक्षु॑र्बहु॒त्रा जीव॑तो॒ मन॑: ॥
भ॒द्रम् । वै । वर॑म् । वृ॒ण॒ते॒ । भ॒द्रम् । यु॒ञ्ज॒न्ति॒ । दक्षि॑णम् । भ॒द्रम् । वै॒व॒स्व॒ते । चक्षुः॑ । ब॒हु॒ऽत्रा । जीव॑तः । मनः॑ ॥
bhadram | vai | varam | vṛṇate | bhadram | yuñjanti | dakṣiṇam | bhadram | vaivasvate | cakṣuḥ | bahu-trā | jīvataḥ | manaḥ
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4 × ~11; parallelism ‘bhadraṃ… bhadraṃ… bhadraṃ…’ creates mantraic symmetry
Benign, affirming, balanced; the repeated ‘bhadram’ stabilizes the mind.
Creates a field of auspiciousness; calms anxiety and strengthens discernment and right intention.
- भद्र (bhadra)
- Literal: auspicious, gracious good. Symbolic: the harmonious truth-force; what supports growth and right becoming
- वर (vara)
- Literal: choice, boon; the ‘best’ to be chosen. Symbolic: conscious selection of the higher movement
- युञ्जन्ति (yuñjanti)
- Literal: they yoke, harness. Symbolic: discipline/integration of energies for a chosen aim (yoga in seed-form)
- दक्षिण (dakṣiṇa)
- Literal: right-hand; also offering/gift; skill. Symbolic: right discernment and effective force; the power that executes the good
- वैवस्वत (vaivasvata)
- Literal: belonging to Vivasvat (solar). Symbolic: solar plane of illumination; luminous seeing that orders mind
- चक्षुस् (cakṣus)
- Literal: eye, vision. Symbolic: inner sight, intuitive perception
Benedictive/protective recitation to secure auspicious choice, right action (dakṣiṇā as inner competence), and illumined vision
Morning recitation for orientation; before study, decision-making, travel, or beginning a new undertaking.
Offer water/light (simple arghya to the sun in later practice); then chant as sankalpa for right choice.
Decision meditation: chant, then write the ‘bhadra’ choice and one ‘dakṣiṇa’ (right action) to yoke energy to it.
bhadrá- 'fortunate, good' frames the verse as a program of right choice and right yoking. dakṣiṇá- is both 'right' and 'skillful/auspicious' (root √dakṣ 'to be able, competent'); psychologically it is the effective faculty that aligns action with the good. vaivasvata links to Vivasvat (solar consciousness): cákṣus becomes illuminated seeing—vision under truth-light.
choice of the good (śreyas-like orientation), illumined mind (solar seeing as truth-consciousness)
Choosing bhadra and yoking dakṣiṇa is aligning human action with r̥ta.
Vaivasvata-cakṣus: truth-seeing through the solar principle of illumination.
Right becoming through conscious selection and disciplined harnessing of powers.
Ethico-psychological Veda; bridges to Upaniṣadic emphasis on vidyā (right knowledge) guiding life.
morning (natural fit with solar seeing)
Sun = inner illumination; yoking = integrating energies; right-hand power = skillful discernment and effective action.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is solar illumination as ethical-psychological guidance: choosing the bhadra (good) and yoking dakṣiṇā (competent right power) so that vision becomes vaivasvata—sun-derived, truth-bearing.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √yuj 'to yoke' is a classic Indo-European root (cf. Latin iugum, English yoke) used metaphorically for inner harnessing. The semantic pairing of 'right' with 'auspicious/skillful' (dakṣiṇa) reflects an old symbolic mapping of directionality to value.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi articulates a discipline: right choice and right yoking invite solar vision. The devatā is the luminous power that answers by clarifying perception and stabilizing auspicious movement of mind.
Choose the good (bhadra), harness right power (dakṣiṇa), abide in solar clarity (vaivasvata cakṣus).
Ājñā (clarity/choice) and Maṇipūra (effective ‘right-hand’ power of action)
Gentle sūrya-bhedana (right-nostril inhale) for 5–9 breaths, then chant once; finish with quiet open awareness.
Clear, benevolent, wide; readiness to act rightly without strain.
After chanting, ask: ‘What is bhadra here?’ Then: ‘What is my dakṣiṇa—one precise right action?’ Hold the solar light above the brow, and let the mind look ‘bahutrā’—beyond the single track.
Let each ‘bhadram’ receive gentle udātta prominence; keep the chant even and luminous rather than forceful.
Slight rhythmic emphasis on the three ‘bhadram’ phrases; broaden and brighten on ‘vaivasvate cakṣur’.
bhadraṃ: bh is aspirated; final ṃ nasal, vṛṇate: vocalic ṛ; avoid ‘vrin’, yuñjanti: palatal ñj cluster; keep nasal clear, dakṣiṇam: kṣ cluster; retroflex ṇ, vaivasvate: articulate vai-vas-va-te distinctly, bahutrā: aspirated th; long ā
Warm, clear, slightly bright (solar) tone; minimal harshness.
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