Rig Veda 10.181.3: Mandala 10, Sukta 181, Mantra 3
Sukta 10.181
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Dhātṛ / Savitṛ / Viṣṇu
- Chandas
- Anuṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
तेऽविन्दन्मनसा दीध्याना यजुः ष्कन्नं प्रथमं देवयानम् । धातुर्द्युतानात्सवितुश्च विष्णोरा सूर्यादभरन्घर्ममेते ॥
té ’vindan mánasā dīdhyā́nā yájuḥ skannáṃ prathamáṃ deva-yā́nam | dhā́tur dyutā́nāt savitúś ca víṣṇor ā́ sū́ryād abharan gharmám eté ||
नरशंस हमें पूजा के शुरू में रखें। पूजा के बाद भी हमें शांति मिले। वो बुरी बातें और बुरी सोच को दूर करें। जो यज्ञ कर रहा है, उसको अच्छा करें और शांति दें।
Word by Word
- ते
- theyPronounपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अविन्दन्
- they found / obtainedVerbलुङ् (अorist) परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः बहुवचनम्Role (क्रिया)Root √विद् (विन्दति ‘to find, obtain’)
- मनसा
- with the mindNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम्Role करणRoot मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- दीध्याना
- meditating, intent in thoughtParticiple (Adjective)वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्तः, पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (कर्तृ-समनाधिकरणम् ‘ते’)Role कर्तृ (विशेषणम्)Root √ध्यै/√ध्या (to think, meditate) → दीध्याना- (intensive/iterative present participle)
- यजुः
- the Yajus-formula (sacrificial formula)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot यजुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्कन्नम्
- poured out / shedParticiple (Adjective)भूतकाले क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः, नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (यजुः इति विशेष्यस्य)Role कर्म (विशेषणम्)Root √स्कन्द् (to leap/fall; ‘to be poured/spilled’) → स्कन्न- (PPP)
- प्रथमम्
- firstAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (यजुः इति)Role कर्म (विशेषणम्)Root प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवयानम्
- god-leading / leading to the godsNoun (used adjectivally) / Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (यजुः इति)Role कर्म (विशेषणम्)Root देव-यान (प्रातिपदिक; ‘way/vehicle to the gods’)
- धातुः
- of the Creator/EstablisherNounपुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root धातृ/धातु (प्रातिपदिक; ‘establisher/creator’; also ‘foundation’)
- द्युतानात्
- from the Shining OneNoun (epithet) / Adjective used substantivelyपुंलिङ्गे पञ्चमी एकवचनम्Role अपादानRoot द्युतान (प्रातिपदिक; ‘shining one’, epithet) + abl.
- सवितुः
- of SavitarNounपुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root सवितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चय-अव्ययम्Role (सम्बन्धक)Root च
- विष्णोः
- of ViṣṇuNounपुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- forth, towards (here: ‘from/out’)Preverb / Indeclinableउपसर्गः (√भृ इत्यस्य सह) / दिशार्थकःRole (क्रियाविशेषणम्)Root आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- सूर्यात्
- from the SunNounपुंलिङ्गे पञ्चमी एकवचनम्Role अपादानRoot सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- अभरन्
- they broughtVerbलुङ् (aorist) परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः बहुवचनम्Role (क्रिया)Root √भृ (to bear, bring)
- घर्मम्
- the gharma (hot oblation)Nounपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot घर्म (प्रातिपदिक; ‘hot drink/oblation; gharma’)
- एते
- these (ones)Pronounपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धि-निरसनम्): तेऽविन्दन् → ते अविन्दन्
- दीध्यानाऽ यजुः → दीध्याना यजुः
- यजुः ष्कन्नम् → यजुः स्कन्नम् (ष् = स्क्-समूहस्य वैदिक-लेखनम्)
- विष्णो॒रा → विष्णोः आ (विसर्ग-लोपः + आ-उपसर्गः)
- अभरन्घर्मम् → अभरन् घर्मम्. अन्यत्र ‘धातुर्द्युतानात्’ इति धातुः + द्युतानात् (विसर्गः परे द्-कारे लुप्यते/सन्ध्यते) इति ग्रहणीयम्
The meaning
Outer meaning
They found with kindled mind the first Yajus that had fallen, opening the path of the gods. From Dhātṛ’s shining, from Savitṛ and Viṣṇu, they brought the Gharma from the Sun.
Inner meaning
The illumined mind (manasā dīdhyānāḥ) recovers the primal formula of effective action (the ‘first yajus’) that had ‘fallen’ into obscurity—lost to the surface consciousness. This recovered word-power opens the devayāna, the upward way of the gods (higher faculties). Then, drawing on formative stability (Dhātṛ), awakening impulsion (Savitṛ), and expansive pervasion (Viṣṇu), the seekers bring down from Sūrya (the supramental sun of truth) the gharma—concentrated heat/energy of conscious truth—so the work can be done in right light.
Universal truth
When thought becomes luminous and inwardly kindled, it can recover the lost key of right action and speech; this opens an upward path, and the higher truth-energy can be drawn into life as a transforming warmth and clarity.
Themes
Recovery of sacred word, Solar heat of truth, Ascent to the gods
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 10.181.1-4 (context of discovery of hidden yajña powers)
Significance
The verse presents the archetype of the ‘company of seers’ who recover fallen knowledge through concentrated illumination—an inner restoration of mantra and right action.
The deity
- Devata
- Dhātṛ–Savitṛ–Viṣṇu (with Sūrya as source of gharma)
- Epithets
- Dhātṛ (the establisher), Savitṛ (the impeller), Viṣṇu (the wide-pervader), Sūrya (truth-sun)
- Related deities
- Agni, Bṛhaspati, Uṣas
Cosmic role
Dhātṛ fixes the law and form; Savitṛ awakens and drives; Viṣṇu opens the wide steps; Sūrya supplies the solar truth-energy (gharma).
Inner power
Recovery of operative mantra (yajus), opening of the ascending channel, and descent/infusion of solar tapas into the work.
In ritual
Where it is used
Pravargya/gharma thematic resonance; also general shrauta emphasis on yajus and devayāna.
ते॑ऽविन्द॒न्मन॑सा॒ दीध्या॑ना॒ यजु॑: ष्क॒न्नं प्र॑थ॒मं दे॑व॒यान॑म् । धा॒तुर्द्युता॑नात्सवि॒तुश्च॒ विष्णो॒रा सूर्या॑दभरन्घ॒र्ममे॒ते ॥
ते । अ॒वि॒न्द॒न् । मन॑सा । दीध्या॑नाः । यजुतः॑ । स्क॒न्नम् । प्र॒थ॒मम् । दे॒व॒ऽयान॑म् । धा॒तुः । द्युता॑नात् । स॒वि॒तुः । च॒ । विष्णोः॑ । आ । सूर्या॑त् । अ॒भ॒र॒न् । घ॒र्मम् । ए॒ते ॥
te | avindan | manasā | dīdhyānāḥ | yajuḥ | skannam | prathamam | deva-yānam | dhātuḥ | dyutānāt | savituḥ | ca | viṣṇoḥ | ā | sūryāt | abharan | gharmam | ete
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4 pādas of ~11 syllables
Incisive and dynamic; supports ‘finding’ and ‘bringing’ movements.
Builds concentrated mental flame, then releases into a bright, upward-opening cadence.
- मनसा दीध्यानाः (manasā dīdhyānāḥ)
- Literal: thinking/kindling with the mind. Symbolic: illumined mind concentrating until it becomes a flame of insight
- यजुः (yajuḥ)
- Literal: sacrificial formula (Yajus). Symbolic: word of effective will; mantra as operative consciousness
- स्कन्नम् (skannam)
- Literal: fallen, slipped down. Symbolic: lost truth/formula fallen into lower mind/subconscient
- प्रथमं (prathamam)
- Literal: first, original. Symbolic: archetypal principle of right action/speech
- देवयानम् (devayānam)
- Literal: path of the gods. Symbolic: ascending channel to higher powers and states
- घर्मम् (gharmam)
- Literal: heat, hot offering (pravargya). Symbolic: concentrated truth-heat: tapas charged with solar clarity
- सूर्यात् (sūryāt)
- Literal: from the Sun. Symbolic: from the plane of illumined truth-consciousness
Linked to Gharma/Pravargya symbolism (heated offering) and to recovery of yajus-formulas; used as a mantra of restoring the operative word and heat of the sacrifice.
When invoking recovery of right formula and drawing solar heat/clarity into the rite.
Recited to consecrate the operative word (yajus) and the ‘heated offering’ as a symbol of truth-energy.
Use before important speech/action: chant to recover the ‘right formulation’ and invite solar clarity into decision-making.
dīdhyāna from desiderative/intensive of √dhī 'to think, perceive' → kindled thought; skanná from √skand 'to leap, spill, fall' → fallen/spilled; deva-yā́na (deva + yāna from √yā 'go') → path of gods; gharmá from √ghṛ/√gharm 'to heat' → heat/ardor; sū́rya from √svar 'shine' (semantic field) → solar truth-light.
Tapas as conscious heat, Mantra as fallen/recovered power, Deva-yāna as ascent-route of consciousness
Devayāna is the ṛta-path; the recovered yajus restores right alignment of action and speech.
Solar source indicates truth-consciousness as origin of effective power.
Restoration of fallen knowledge and its re-ascent; descent of solar force into embodied work.
Integral/psychological interpretation: mantra as consciousness-force; Sūrya as supramental truth.
midday (symbolic)
Sun = truth-consciousness; heat = tapas/transforming energy; fallen yajus = lost inner knowledge recovered by illumined mind.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The 'fallen word recovered' mythologem: a primordial yajus has 'spilled' into lower levels and is rediscovered by kindled mind, reopening the deva-yāna. The bringing of gharma from the Sun expresses descent of solar truth-heat into the rite and the seeker.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √man (manas) reflects PIE *men- 'think' (cf. Latin mens). √dhī (dīdhyāna) belongs to the cognitive root-field akin to PIE *dʰeh₁-/*dʰeyh₁? (traditional alignments vary), but clearly preserves the Indo-European sacral emphasis on 'kindled thought'. √yā (yāna) continues PIE *h₁ey- 'go'.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer-community (te) collaborates with cosmic powers: through disciplined inner ignition they recover the operative word and re-establish communion with the gods. The devatās are not distant; they are sources of order, impulsion, and vastness that become active when mind is made luminous.
Recover the ‘right word’ (inner formulation) through concentrated luminous mind; draw down solar clarity as tapas for action.
ajna
Bhrāmarī or gentle ujjāyī to steady the mind; then silent pause imagining a sun above the brow pouring warm clarity downward.
Dhyāna with illumined thought (dīdhyāna) leading to a descent of bright, warm truth-force.
1) Focus at brow center; kindle a steady attention. 2) Ask inwardly for the ‘first yajus’—the simplest true formulation. 3) Visualize a small sun above the head; inhale its warmth, exhale into the heart and hands (work). 4) Act only after the inner phrase becomes clear and quiet.
Vedic accenting as marked; emphasize dīdhyānāḥ, devayānam, dhātuḥ, dyutānāt, viṣṇoḥ, sūryāt, gharmam.
Keep pāda breaks clear; slightly lift udatta on key discovery words (avindan, prathamam) and soften into cadence on concluding verbs (abharan).
(dīdhyānāḥ): long ī, aspirated dhy, (devayānam): clear ‘ya’ glide, (gharmam): voiced gh; short a in -mam, (abharan): light ‘bh’ aspiration
Bright, focused, slightly nasal resonance to support mental concentration.
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