Rig Veda 10.37.6: Mandala 10, Sukta 37, Mantra 6
Sukta 10.37
- Rishi
- Kumāra Ātreya
- Devata
- Sūrya
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
तं नो द्यावापृथिवी तन्न आप इन्द्रः शृण्वन्तु मरुतो हवं वचः । मा शूने भूम सूर्यस्य संदृशि भद्रं जीवन्तो जरणामशीमहि ॥
táṃ no dyā́vā-pṛthivī́ tán na ā́pa índraḥ śṛṇvantu marúto hávaṃ vácaḥ | mā́ śū́ne bhūma sū́ryasya saṃ-dṛ́śi bhadráṃ jī́vanto jaráṇām aśīmahi ||
आसमान, धरती, पानी, इंद्र और मरुत सब हमारी पूजा सुन लें। सूर्य के सामने हम खाली न रह जाएं। उनकी रोशनी में जीते हुए हम बड़ी उम्र तक जियें।
Word by Word
- तम्
- him / that (one)Pronounपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्म (स्तुत्य/आह्वेय-विषयः)Root तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- of us / ourPronounषष्ठी बहुवचनम् (एन्क्लिटिक) = ‘our’Role सम्बन्ध (स्वाम्य/सम्बन्धः)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- द्यावापृथिवी
- Heaven-and-EarthNoun (compound)स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा द्विवचनम् (समास-एकशब्दत्वेन)Role कर्तृ (शृण्वन्तु इत्यस्य)Root द्यावापृथिवी (द्वन्द्व-समासः: द्यौः + पृथिवी)
- तत्
- that (prayer/call)Pronounनपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्म (शृण्वन्तु इत्यस्य; हवं/वचः इत्यर्थे)Root तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- of us / ourPronounषष्ठी बहुवचनम् (एन्क्लिटिक) = ‘our’Role सम्बन्धRoot अस्मद्
- आपः
- the WatersNounस्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृ (शृण्वन्तु इत्यस्य)Root आप् (स्त्री-प्रातिपदिक; pluralia tantum)
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNoun (deity)पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (शृण्वन्तु इत्यस्य)Root इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- शृण्वन्तु
- let them hearVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे) परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot श्रु (धातु)
- मरुतः
- the MarutsNoun (deities)पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृ (शृण्वन्तु इत्यस्य)Root मरुत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- हवम्
- call, invocationNounपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्म (शृण्वन्तु इत्यस्य)Root हव (प्रातिपदिक) / √हू (धातु-संबन्धः ‘आह्वान’)
- वचः
- word, utteranceNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (वेदे प्रायः ‘वचः’ = acc.sg.)Role कर्म (शृण्वन्तु इत्यस्य)Root वचस् (प्रातिपदिक) / √वच्
- मा
- do notIndeclinableनिषेधः (prohibitive particle)Role सम्बन्ध (निषेध-प्रयोगः)Root मा (निषेध-अव्यय)
- शूने
- in emptiness, in deprivationAdjective (used substantively)नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम् (लोके/स्थितौ)Role अधिकरण (भूम इत्यस्य)Root शून (प्रातिपदिक ‘रिक्त/वञ्चित’)
- भूम
- may we be / may we becomeVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे) परस्मैपदम्, उत्तमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; ‘भवेम’ इत्यर्थः (वेदे संक्षिप्त-रूपः)Role क्रियाRoot भू (धातु)
- सूर्यस्य
- of the SunNounपुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (संदृशि इत्यस्य)Root सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- संदृशि
- in the sight/presenceNounस्त्रीलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम्Role अधिकरण (भूम इत्यस्य; ‘सूर्यस्य संदृशि’ = in the sight/presence of the Sun)Root संदृश् (स्त्री-प्रातिपदिक; ‘दर्शन/दृष्टि/उपस्थिति’)
- भद्रम्
- good, auspicious (thing)Adjective (used predicatively)नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (फल/प्रार्थ्य-वस्तु)Role कर्म (अशीमहि इत्यस्य)Root भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- जीवन्तः
- livingParticiple (adjectival)पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृ (अशीमहि इत्यस्य; ‘we, living’)Root जीवत् (वर्तमान-कृदन्त; √जीव्)
- जरणाम्
- old ageNounस्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (वेदे -ām रूपं; ‘जराम्’ इत्यर्थः)Role कर्म/प्राप्य (अशीमहि इत्यस्य; ‘to old age’)Root जरणा (स्त्री-प्रातिपदिक; ‘जरा/वृद्धावस्था’)
- अशीमहि
- may we attain / may we reachVerbलिट्/आशीर्लिङ्-प्रयोगसदृशः (वेदे प्रार्थना-अर्थे), आत्मनेपदम्, उत्तमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot अश् (धातु; ‘प्राप्नु/अश्नुते’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: तं | नः | द्यावापृथिवी | तत् | नः | आपः | इन्द्रः | शृण्वन्तु | मरुतः | हवम् | वचः || मा | शूने | भूम | सूर्यस्य | संदृशि | भद्रम् | जीवन्तः | जरणाम् | अशीमहि || 1) द्यावा-पृथिवी इति द्वन्द्वः, संहितायां ‘द्यावापृथिवी’ (द्विवचन-प्रथमा) एकपदत्वेन। 2) तन्नः = तत् + नः (तद्-कारस्य नकारे परे संधिः; लेखने ‘तन्नः’). 3) तन्न आप = तत् + नः + आपः
- संहितायां ‘तन्न आप’ इति विच्छेदः। 4) मा शूने: निषेध ‘मा’ + सप्तमी ‘शूने’। 5) जरणाम्: वैदिक-रूपम्, सामान्यतः ‘जराम्’ (द्वितीया एकवचनम्) इत्यर्थे।
The meaning
Outer meaning
May Heaven-and-Earth, the Waters, Indra, and the Maruts hear our call. Let us not be in emptiness before the Sun’s sight; living in the auspiciousness of his vision, may we reach full age and ripeness.
Inner meaning
The seeker calls the supporting powers: Dyāvā-Pṛthivī (higher and lower consciousness as a stable field), Āpaḥ (flowing life-energies and purifying currents), Indra (illumined mind-force), Maruts (dynamic energies that clear and strengthen). The ‘void’ (śūna) is inner meaninglessness, loss of direction, or a lapse into subconscient blankness. ‘Before Sūrya’s vision’ means under the gaze of truth-consciousness; to live in its bhadra (auspicious harmony) is to mature (jaraṇā) into a completed, integrated being.
Universal truth
Human growth needs a total support-system: stability, purification, illumination, and dynamic force. When life is lived under the light of truth, it ripens rather than fragments.
Themes
Solar invocation, Protection from inner barrenness, Integral vision, Full term of life as ripening of consciousness
The seer
- Rishi
- Kumāra Ātreya (traditional attribution for RV 10.37; verse aligns with Ātreya tone of integrated support)
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- RV 10.37 (sūkta), RV 5.54-5.58 (Marut hymns; thematic support of force)
Family tradition
Ātreyas often invoke multiple cosmic powers to support a unified inner sacrifice—stability (Heaven/Earth), flow (Waters), illumination (Indra), and force (Maruts).
Significance
Represents integral aspiration: not a solitary illumination but a coordinated awakening of all powers necessary for a full, ripe life in truth.
The deity
- Devata
- Sūrya (central), with invoked supports: Dyāvāpṛthivī, Āpaḥ, Indra, Maruts
- Epithets
- sūryasya saṃdṛśi (in the Sun’s seeing), bhadra-darśana (auspicious vision; implied)
- Related deities
- Mitra–Varuṇa, Savitar, Uṣas, Aśvins
Cosmic role
Sūrya as the overseer of truth in manifestation; the others as sustaining pillars and forces of the cosmic order.
Inner power
A field of supported illumination: stability (Dyāvā-Pṛthivī), purification (Āpaḥ), victorious clarity (Indra), and energizing transformation (Maruts).
In ritual
Where it is used
General invocatory verse in solar hymn; suitable for āyus (life-span) and well-being intentions
तं नो॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी तन्न॒ आप॒ इन्द्र॑: शृण्वन्तु म॒रुतो॒ हवं॒ वच॑: । मा शूने॑ भूम॒ सूर्य॑स्य सं॒दृशि॑ भ॒द्रं जीव॑न्तो जर॒णाम॑शीमहि ॥
तम् । नः॒ । द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी इति॑ । तत् । नः॒ । आपः॑ । इन्द्रः॑ । शृ॒ण्व॒न्तु॒ । म॒रुतः॑ । हव॑म् । वचः॑ । मा । शूने॑ । भू॒म॒ । सूर्य॑स्य । स॒म्ऽदृशि॑ । भ॒द्रम् । जीव॑न्तः । ज॒र॒णाम् । अ॒शी॒म॒हि॒ ॥
tam | naḥ | dyāvāpṛthivī iti | tat | naḥ | āpaḥ | indraḥ | śṛṇvantu | marutaḥ | havam | vacaḥ | mā | śūne | bhūma | sūryasya | sam-dṛśi | bhadram | jīvantaḥ | jaraṇām | aśīmahi
44
4 pādas × 11 syllables (typical for this verse; minor variation possible by recension)
Noble, resonant; combines invocation with a concluding benediction.
Creates a sense of protection and completeness; the final pāda lands with a mature, blessing-like cadence.
- द्यावापृथिवी (dyāvāpṛthivī)
- Literal: Heaven and Earth. Symbolic: higher and lower planes held in harmony; stable foundation for growth
- आपः (āpaḥ)
- Literal: waters. Symbolic: purifying energies; life-flow; clarity and plasticity
- इन्द्र (indra)
- Literal: Indra. Symbolic: divine mind-force; illumination that conquers obscurity
- मरुतः (marutaḥ)
- Literal: Maruts. Symbolic: storm-powers; dynamic energies that break resistance and purify
- शूने (śūne)
- Literal: in the void/emptiness. Symbolic: inner blankness, despair, loss of meaning; subconscient gap
- संदृशि (saṃdṛśi)
- Literal: in the sight/presence. Symbolic: living under the direct regard of truth-consciousness
- भद्रम् (bhadram)
- Literal: auspicious good. Symbolic: harmonious right-being; sattwic felicity under light
- जराणाम् (jaraṇām)
- Literal: aging, full term. Symbolic: ripeness, completion, integrated maturity of the being
Solar hymns used in daily recitation and in Sūrya-related prayoga; broadly applicable in pravargya/agnicayana solar contemplations (non-exclusive; exact śrauta viniyoga varies by tradition).
Morning prayer; also at life-transition moments (new work, travel, recovery)
Calling witnesses/supporting powers; seeking auspicious living and full-term fruition
Chant as a ‘wholeness’ prayer: ask for support of body (earth), mind (heaven), energies (waters), clarity (Indra), and courage (Maruts).
Key terms: √ (śru) ‘to hear’ → (3pl impv.) indicates a requested divine receptivity, not mere audition. (śūna) ‘empty, void’ (loc. ) suggests absence of plenitude/ṛta-support. - (sam-√dṛś) ‘to see together/fully’ → (loc.) implies integral vision; in inner sense, the Truth-seeing of Sūrya. √/√? aśīmahi is from √ ‘to attain, reach’ (1pl opt.), aspiration for fulfilled lifespan/consummation ( from √/ ‘to grow old, ripen’).
Ṛta (right order as harmony of planes: dyāvā-pṛthivī and waters), Satyam/Truth-seeing (Sūrya as seer), Pūrṇatā (plenitude) vs. śūna (void)
Implicit: multiple deities cooperate when the movement is aligned to ṛta.
Living ‘before the Sun’s vision’ = living transparently in truth.
Sustenance and maturation (ripening) rather than initial creation; the world-process as growth into fullness.
Integral Vedic yoga: coordinated divine powers shaping human completeness.
Morning
A stable inner environment where energies flow чистly, mind is illumined, and dynamic forces clear resistance—preventing lapses into inner emptiness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘Sun’s seeing’ as the decisive power that rescues the human from śūna (inner void) and establishes bhadra (harmonious well-being). The mythic pattern is not combat but alignment: multiple cosmic powers (Dyāvāpṛthivī, Waters, Indra, Maruts) are summoned to support Sūrya’s revelatory vision, enabling the aspirant’s ripening (jaraṇā) rather than collapse into barrenness.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √ ‘hear’ (PIE *ḱleu̯- ‘hear, be famed’; cf. Greek κλύω, English ‘loud’ via semantic shifts, and ‘listen’ cognate network) underlies the requested divine hearing as effective response. √ ‘see’ relates to PIE *derk- ‘to see’ (cf. Greek δέρκομαι). The pairing of hearing (śru) and seeing (dṛś) encodes a total cognition: reception of the mantra and revelation of truth-light.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- Reciprocity is framed as ‘hearing’ and ‘vision’: the rishi offers havam-vacaḥ (invocation and inspired word), and the devatās answer by sustaining the seeker within Sūrya’s sam-dṛś (integral seeing), preventing inner depletion (śūna) and granting completed growth (jaraṇā). The exchange is thus mantric speech for truth-conscious illumination and protected maturation.
Wholeness under the ‘Sun’s gaze’: sit as if seen by truth; invite support from stability, flow, clarity, and force.
Sahasrāra/Ājñā (truth-seeing) with grounding in Mūlādhāra (earth) and flow in Svādhiṣṭhāna (waters)
4-part breath awareness: feel (1) grounding, (2) widening, (3) cleansing flow, (4) energizing uplift—then rest in clear seeing
Integrated, protected, meaningful presence (not śūna).
If you feel inner emptiness, recite slowly and name the supports inwardly: ‘stability, flow, clarity, force’; then offer the day to the Sun’s truth-seeing.
Maintain Rigvedic accents; keep invocatory list (dyāvāpṛthivī… āpaḥ… indraḥ… marutaḥ) clearly segmented.
Slight pause after each invoked power; emphasize ‘mā śūne bhūma’ as a heartfelt turning away from void; soften into ‘bhadraṃ jīvantaḥ…’.
dyāvāpṛthivī: keep long ā vowels; don’t swallow the conjunct pṛ., saṃdṛśi: clear anusvāra ‘ṃ’ before dṛ., jaraṇām aśīmahi: keep retroflex ṇ in jaraṇām; long ī in aśīmahi., maruto: dental t, not retroflex.
Warm, prayerful, grounding.
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