Rig Veda 10.39.5: Mandala 10, Sukta 39, Mantra 5
Sukta 10.39
- Devata
- Aśvins
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
पुराणा वां वीर्या प्र ब्रवा जनेऽथो हासथुर्भिषजा मयोभुवा । ता वां नु नव्याववसे करामहेऽयं नासत्या श्रदरिर्यथा दधत् ॥
purāṇā́ vām vīryā̀ prá bravā jáne 'thó ha āsathuḥ bhiṣájā mayó-bhuvā | tā́ vām nú návyāv ávase karāmahe 'yáṃ nāsatyā śrád arír yáthā dádhat ||
मैं लोगों को तुम्हारे पुराने काम बताता हूँ, तुमने कितनी बहादुरी दिखाई है। तुम डॉक्टर हो जो खुशी देते हो। अभी भी वही पुरानी ताकत नए तरीके से काम आती है। नसत्य भाई, इस यज्ञ में भरोसा रखो जो दिल से दिया जाता है।
Word by Word
- पुराणा
- ancient, of oldAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचनम् (वीर्या इति नपुंसक-बहुवचनस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्म (ब्रवीमि इत्यस्य)Root पुराण (प्रातिपदिक) < पुरा
- वाम्
- of you two / yourPronounषष्ठी/द्वितीया द्विवचनम् (एन्क्लिटिक रूपम्)Role सम्बन्ध (वीर्या—‘your deeds’)Root युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- वीर्या
- heroic deeds, powersNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचनम्Role कर्म (प्र ब्रवामि—‘I proclaim’)Root वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinableअव्ययम्Root प्र (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- ब्रवामि
- I proclaim, I speakVerbलट्, उत्तमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role क्रियाRoot ब्रू (धातु)
- जने
- among the peopleNounपुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम्Role अधिकारण (लोक/जनसमूहे)Root जन (प्रातिपदिक)
- अथो
- and also, moreoverIndeclinableअव्ययम्Root अथ + उ (निपात-संयोग)
- हासथुः
- you two laughedVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट), मध्यमपुरुषः, द्विवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role क्रियाRoot हस् (धातु)
- भिषजा
- with healing, as physiciansNounपुंलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम्Role करण (साधन/उपायः)Root भिषज् (प्रातिपदिक)
- मयोभुवा
- bringing delight/welfareAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम् (भिषजा इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role करणRoot मयोभू (प्रातिपदिक; मयस् + भू)
- ता
- those (deeds)Pronounनपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचनम् (वीर्या इत्यर्थे ‘तानि’)Role कर्म (करामहे इत्यस्य)Root तद् (सर्वनाम)
- वाम्
- of you twoPronounषष्ठी द्विवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (ता—‘those of you two’)Root युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- नु
- now, indeedIndeclinableअव्ययम्Root नु (निपात)
- नव्याः
- new (hymns/praises)Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (स्तुतयः/गीरः इत्यध्याहारः)Role कर्म (करामहे—‘we make/compose’)Root नव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- अववसे
- for aid, for assistanceNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे चतुर्थी एकवचनम्Role सम्प्रदान (उद्देश्यः—‘for help’)Root अववस् (प्रातिपदिक; अव + वस् ‘aid, favor’)
- करामहे
- we make, we perform/composeVerbलट्, उत्तमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम्Role क्रियाRoot कृ (धातु)
- अयम्
- this (one)Pronounपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्ता (दधत् इत्यस्य)Root इदम् (सर्वनाम)
- नासत्या
- O Nāsatyas (Aśvins)Nounपुंलिङ्गे सम्बोधन एकवचनम् (सम्बोधन-प्रयोगः)Role सम्बोधनRoot नासत्य (प्रातिपदिक; अश्विनौ)
- श्रद्
- faith, trust (as an adverbial particle)Indeclinableअव्ययम्Root श्रद् (निपात; ‘श्रद्धा’ का अव्यय-रूप)
- अरिः
- a patron, benefactor (or: an enemy, depending on context)Nounपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्ता (दधत् इत्यस्य)Root अरि (प्रातिपदिक)
- यथा
- as, just asIndeclinableअव्ययम्Root यथा (अव्यय)
- दधत्
- he places, bestowsVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role क्रियाRoot धा (धातु)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धि-विग्रह): पुराणा वाम् वीर्या प्र ब्रवामि जने । अथो हासथुः भिषजा मयोभुवा । ता वाम् नु नव्याः अववसे करामहे । अयम् नासत्या श्रद् अरिः यथा दधत् ॥ मुख्य-सन्धयः: (1) जनेऽथो = जने + अथो (ए/अ संधि, अवग्रह). (2) करामहेऽयम् = करामहे + अयम् (ए/अ संधि, अवग्रह). (3) नासत्या श्रद॒रिर् = नासत्या + श्रद् + अरिः
- श्रद् अव्ययम्, ततः अरिः (द् + अ → दअ; पदपाठे ‘श्रद् अरिः’)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The poet proclaims the Aśvins’ ancient heroic deeds; they have been joyful healers. Those same powers, ever new, are fashioned into help now, so the Nāsatyas may place faith in the offering that gives truly.
Inner meaning
The mantra bridges tradition and present sadhana: the ‘ancient powers’ are perennial capacities of divine action in the human instrument. Though old in essence, they are ‘ever new’ in application—each moment of aspiration re-forms help. ‘Śrad’ (faith) is not mere belief but a force that establishes reality in the offering (ari): the self-giving movement of the nature. The seeker asks that the Aśvins confirm and seal this faith-force so the inner sacrifice becomes effective.
Universal truth
Spiritual power is timeless yet freshly applicable; faith becomes real when embodied as sincere self-offering, and divine help responds to that truth of giving.
Themes
praise, faith, ever-new divine help
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 10.39.1-14
Significance
The seer’s craft is to convert ‘mythic’ Aśvin deeds into living psychological practice—ancient powers becoming ‘navya’ through present offering and faith.
The deity
- Devata
- Aśvins (Nāsatyā)
- Epithets
- Nāsatyā, Bhiṣajā, Mayobhuvā, Dasrā
- Related deities
- Agni (offering-fire), Soma (delight), Bṛhaspati (affirming word/faith)
Cosmic role
Renewers who keep divine action continuously available across ages; they make tradition a living force.
Inner power
They awaken śrad (effective faith) and stabilize the self-offering so help becomes operative in the nature.
In ritual
Where it is used
Praise and invocation within Soma sacrifice sequences
पु॒रा॒णा वां॑ वी॒र्या॒३॒॑ प्र ब्र॑वा॒ जनेऽथो॑ हासथुर्भि॒षजा॑ मयो॒भुवा॑ । ता वां॒ नु नव्या॒वव॑से करामहे॒ऽयं ना॑सत्या॒ श्रद॒रिर्यथा॒ दध॑त् ॥
पु॒रा॒णा । वा॒म् । वी॒र्या॑ । प्र । ब्र॒व॒ । जने॑ । अथो॒ इति॑ । ह॒ । आ॒स॒थुः॒ । भि॒षजा॑ । म॒यः॒ऽभुवा॑ । ता । वा॒म् । नु । नव्यौ॑ । अव॑से । क॒रा॒म॒हे॒ । अ॒यम् । ना॒स॒त्या॒ । श्रत् । अ॒रिः । यथा॑ । दध॑त् ॥
purāṇā | vām | vīryā | pra | brava | jane | atho iti | ha | āsathuḥ | bhiṣajā | mayaḥ-bhuvā | tā | vām | nu | navyau | avase | karāmahe | ayam | nāsatyā | śrat | ariḥ | yathā | dadhat
44
4 × 11 (probable)
Balanced proclamation and prayer; steady, persuasive cadence.
Strengthens conviction and continuity; supports the formation of ‘faith-force’.
- पुराणा वीर्या (purāṇā vīryā)
- Literal: ancient hero-powers. Symbolic: timeless divine capacities available to consciousness
- भिषजा (bhiṣajā)
- Literal: as physicians. Symbolic: healing action that restores harmony and joy
- मयोभुवा (mayobhuvā)
- Literal: bringing delight. Symbolic: the infusion of ānanda into mind-life-body
- नव्यौ (navyau)
- Literal: ever new. Symbolic: renewed application of the same divine power in present effort
- अवसे (avase)
- Literal: for help. Symbolic: for inner support in transformation
- श्रत् (śrad)
- Literal: faith, trust. Symbolic: effective force of assent that builds the realization
- अरिः (ariḥ)
- Literal: offering, devotee/offerer (contextual). Symbolic: self-giving impulse; the offering-force that ‘gives itself truly’
Praise-to-invocation transition: recalling ancient deeds to activate present help; suitable in Soma pressing recitations.
At savana recitations; when reaffirming divine aid and continuity of tradition
Stuti plus request that the deity accept/confirm the offering
Useful when beginning a practice or renewing commitment: chanting before meditation as a ‘faith-sealing’ invocation.
vīryá: from vīrá ‘hero’ (power of effective action). mayó-bhuvā: mayas ‘delight/ease’ + bhū ‘become’ → ‘bringing delight’. śrát: Vedic form related to śraddhā ‘faith’ (śrad + dhā ‘place heart/trust’). √dhā ‘place’ is pan-IE (cf. Greek τίθημι).
śraddhā (faith as placing the heart/trust), renewal of the eternal powers (nava/ever-new)
True offering (ari) aligned with ṛta invites effective help; faith is the inner assent to ṛta.
‘yathā dadhat’—as it gives truly: satya as sincerity and exactness in self-offering.
The ‘new-making’ (navya) of help: spiritual creation through repeated acts of offering.
Karma-yoga prototype: self-offering empowered by faith leading to transformation.
morning (Aśvin association)
Fire = will that offers; Soma = delight that confirms; dawn = renewal (‘navya’) of practice.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘ancient deeds’ that are ‘ever new’: a key Vedic mythic logic where primordial divine acts are re-enacted in the present rite. Psychologically, remembrance and utterance (prabravā) re-open the channel for healing delight.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The faith-expression śrad + √dhā (‘place trust’) parallels inherited idioms of ‘placing’ belief, using √dhā (PIE *dʰeh₁-) with broad IE cognacy (Greek títhēmi, etc.).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer mediates by speech: proclamation to ‘men’ establishes a communal field; the gods, in turn, are asked to recognize and respond to the sincerity/faith (śrat) embodied in the offering agent (ari).
Convert remembrance of divine help into present confidence; cultivate śraddhā as an active force.
anāhata (faith/trust)
Coherent breathing (5–6 breaths/min) while repeating ‘śrad… dadhat’ mentally to embody sincerity.
Quiet assurance; readiness for self-offering without strain.
Before practice, recall one ‘ancient’ help you have received (a past breakthrough). Then chant, intending that the same power becomes ‘new’ today through truthful offering of effort and attention.
Rigvedic accenting per Śākala tradition (exact svara needs accented text).
Emphasize ‘purāṇā… vīryā’ with dignified lift; soften into ‘avase’ and ‘śrad’ for devotional sincerity.
‘vīryā’—long ī and clear ‘ry’ glide., ‘mayobhuvā’—keep ‘bh’ aspirated; avoid ‘mayo-buva’., ‘śrad’—palatal ś, crisp cluster; do not add a vowel between ś and r.
Calm, devotional, slightly sonorous; let the cadence ‘seal’ the intention.
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