Rig Veda 10.61.5: Mandala 10, Sukta 61, Mantra 5
Sukta 10.61
- Rishi
- Same hymn complex
- Devata
- Implicit hero-power sustaining the work
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
प्रथिष्ट यस्य वीरकर्ममिष्णदनुष्ठितं नु नर्यो अपौहत् । पुनस्तदा वृहति यत्कनाया दुहितुरा अनुभृतमनर्वा ॥
práthīṣṭha yásya vīrákarmam iṣṇád anuṣṭhítaṃ nú naryó ápauhat | púnas tádā́ vṛhati yát kanā́yā duhítur ā́ anubhṛ́tam anarvā́ ||
इसका काम बहुत पक्का है, मज़बूत है और सही चल रहा है। पुरुष की ताकत रास्ते में जो रुकावटें हैं, उनको हटा देती है। फिर से वो इसको बड़ा करता है। जो कुछ लड़की से, बेटी से आया था, वो गिरने नहीं देता। यह शक्ति काम को वापस ला देती है।
Word by Word
- प्रथि॑ष्टः
- most broad / most expansiveAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole विशेषण (कर्तृपदस्य)Root प्रथ् (विस्तारे) / प्रथिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) सुपरलेटिव
- यस्य॑
- whosePronounपुं/नपुं, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वी॒रक॑र्म
- heroic deed / manly actNoun (compound)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (पद-रूपे अव्यक्त)Role कर्म/विशेष्य (सन्दर्भानुसार)Root वीर + कर्मन् (समास-प्रातिपदिक)
- मि॒ष्णत्
- striking / assailingVerbal adjective (participle)वर्तमान-कर्तरि शतृ, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (नपुं/पुं सन्दर्भानुसार)Role विशेषण (वीरकर्मणः)Root मिष् (हिंसायाम्/क्षेपे) → मिष्णत् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- अनु॑ष्ठितम्
- performed / carried outVerbal adjective (past passive participle)क्त (भूतकर्मणि), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole विशेषण (वीरकर्मणः)Root स्था (तिष्ठति) + अनु- (उपसर्ग) → अनु-स्था; क्त
- नु
- now / indeedIndeclinableनिपातRoot नु
- नर्यः
- the manly one / the heroAdjective/Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot नर्य (नर-सम्बन्धी, प्रातिपदिक)
- अपौ॑हत्
- drove away / removedVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, 3 एकवचनRole क्रिया (कर्तृ = नर्यः)Root ऊह्/वह् (अप-ऊह्/अप-वह् ‘to remove, drive away’)
- पुनः
- againIndeclinableअव्ययRoot पुनः
- तत्
- thatPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot तद् (सर्वनाम)
- आ
- back / towardsIndeclinable (preverb) / particleउपसर्ग/निपातRoot आ
- वृ॑हति
- pulls out / tears awayVerbलट्, परस्मैपद, 3 एकवचनRole क्रिया (कर्तृ = अनर्वा)Root वृह् (उद्घाते/उन्मथने)
- यत्
- which / whatPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (वृहतिः)Root यद् (सर्वनाम)
- क॒नायाः
- of the maidenNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot कना (प्रातिपदिक; ‘girl/maiden’)
- दुहि॒तुः
- of the daughterNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot दुहितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- towards / backIndeclinable (preverb) / particleउपसर्ग/निपातRoot आ
- अनु॑भृतम्
- brought along / carried afterVerbal adjective (past passive participle)क्त (भूतकर्मणि), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (यत् … अनु॑भृतम्)Root भृ (धारणे) + अनु-; क्त
- अन॒र्वा
- Anarvan (the vigorous one)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (वृहतिः)Root अनर्वन् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘not sluggish’, epithet; also used as a name/epithet)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-विग्रह): प्रथि॑ष्टः | यस्य॑ | वीरक॑र्म | मि॒ष्णत् | अनु॑ष्ठितम् | नु | नर्यः | अपौ॑हत् || पुनः | तत् | आ | वृ॑हति | यत् | क॒नायाः | दुहि॒तुः | आ | अनु॑भृतम् | अन॒र्वा || 1) ‘अपौहत्’ = अप + ऊहत्/औहत् (अप-उह्/वह् धातोः लुङ् 3sg; संधौ ‘अप’ + ‘औहत्’)
- 2) ‘यत्कनाया’ इति संहितायां यत् + कनायाः (त् + क = त्क)
- 3) ‘दुहितुरा’ इति संहितायां दुहितुः + आ (विसर्गलोपः, उकारस्य दीर्घ/गुण-प्रभावः; पदे पृथक् ‘दुहितुः | आ’)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Broad-based is his heroic work, set in motion and firmly executed; the manly power drives away obstruction. Again he enlarges what had been carried from the maiden/daughter; the unfallen force restores it.
Inner meaning
The ‘heroic work’ is the yogic labor of transformation: it must be wide-founded (prathiṣṭa) in the being, not a surface impulse. When the Indraic manly power (narya) is active, it expels resistances (the coverer-forms). Then the same power returns to foster growth of what was ‘borne from the maiden/daughter’: the fresh-born luminous formation (a new intuition, a dawn-knowledge, a nascent right movement) that had emerged but needs nurturing into continuity. ‘Anarvā’ (unfallen/undeviating) is the steady force that does not slip back into old nature.
Universal truth
Real change requires a broad foundation and persistent heroic effort: first remove what blocks, then patiently grow what is newly born until it becomes stable and continuous.
Themes
Heroic persistence, Obstacle-removal, Growth of the work, Continuity of creation
The seer
- Rishi
- Composite/late hymn complex of RV 10.61 (attribution uncertain)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 10.61.4, Rig Veda 10.61.6
Significance
The seer articulates a two-step psychology of progress—purification (driving off obstruction) and cultivation (growing the newborn light). This is central to Sri Aurobindo’s reading of Indraic victory followed by establishment of the gained illumination.
The deity
- Devata
- Indraic Narya (implicit heroic power)
- Epithets
- narya (manly), vīrakarma (hero-worker), anarvā (undeviating)
- Related deities
- Indra, Agni, Bṛhaspati, Uṣas
Cosmic role
Force of victorious action that clears resistances and establishes growth of the luminous creation in the human field.
Inner power
Courageous executive energy that both negates obstruction and positively builds continuity.
In ritual
Where it is used
General: verses of reinforcement for persistence of the rite and removal of obstacles; applicable where continuity (anubhṛta) is desired.
प्रथि॑ष्ट॒ यस्य॑ वी॒रक॑र्ममि॒ष्णदनु॑ष्ठितं॒ नु नर्यो॒ अपौ॑हत् । पुन॒स्तदा वृ॑हति॒ यत्क॒नाया॑ दुहि॒तुरा अनु॑भृतमन॒र्वा ॥
प्रथि॑ष्ट । यस्य॑ । वी॒रऽक॑र्मम् । इ॒ष्णत् । अनु॑ऽस्थितम् । नु । नर्यः॑ । अप॑ । औ॒ह॒त् । पुन॒रिति॑ । तत् । आ । वृ॒ह॒ति॒ । यत् । क॒नायाः॑ । दु॒हि॒तुः । आः । अनु॑ऽभृतम् । अ॒न॒र्वा ॥
prathiṣṭa | yasya | vīra-karmam | iṣṇat | anu-sthitam | nu | naryaḥ | apa | auhat | punariti | tat | ā | vṛhati | yat | kanāyāḥ | duhituḥ | āḥ | anu-bhṛtam | anarvā
44
4×~11 syllables
Sturdy and grounded; strong opening supports the ‘broad-based’ theme.
Instills perseverance; helps the listener feel ‘founded’ and capable of sustained effort.
- प्रथि॑ष्ट (prathiṣṭa)
- Literal: broad-based, firmly founded. Symbolic: a stable wide foundation in the whole being (not partial practice)
- वीरकर्म (vīrakarma)
- Literal: heroic work. Symbolic: transformative tapas; courageous inner labor
- इष्णत् (iṣṇat)
- Literal: impelling, setting in motion. Symbolic: aspiration energizing the work
- अनुष्ठितम् (anuṣṭhitam)
- Literal: well carried out. Symbolic: disciplined execution; sustained practice
- नर्यः (naryaḥ)
- Literal: manly/heroic power. Symbolic: Indraic force of right action and victory in consciousness
- अपौहत् (apauhat)
- Literal: drives away. Symbolic: removal of obstruction/resistance (vṛtra-like coverings)
- कनाया (kanāyā)
- Literal: maiden. Symbolic: fresh, unspoiled formation—new intuition or dawn-state
- दुहितुḥ (duhituḥ)
- Literal: daughter. Symbolic: born product of the soul’s movement—new truth-formation to be matured
- अनर्वा (anarvā)
- Literal: not falling, not slipping. Symbolic: undeviating force; steadfast energy that does not relapse
General: verses of reinforcement for persistence of the rite and removal of obstacles; applicable where continuity (anubhṛta) is desired.
Use during long-term discipline (study, meditation, recovery): chant to renew ‘heroic work’ and to shift from fighting obstacles to nurturing gains.
√vṛh ‘grow’ (vṛhati) indicates inner increase, not material expansion. apa-ūh (apauhat) is removal of impediment by displacement. anubhṛta (anu-√bhṛ) is continuity/sustenance—key to psychological integration.
persistence in tapas (anu-sthā), integration/continuity (anu-bhṛ), inner increase (maṃh/vṛh family)
Anuṣṭhita (well-executed) implies action aligned to ṛta, not impulsive effort.
The ‘newborn daughter’ (truth-formation) must be grown into stable satya in life.
Re-creation through repeated enlargement: progress is iterative—clear, then grow.
Vedic evolutionary psychology (progress by conquest and establishment)
Growth = maturation of a new consciousness-state; obstruction = habitual inertia/false movement.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘hero establishes and restores the work’ motif: the forceful agent removes obstruction and re-augments what was carried forward from earlier generative stages (‘maiden/daughter’ as symbolic phases of manifestation).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √bhṛ ‘bear’ (anubhṛtam) reflects PIE *bʰer- ‘carry’ (cf. Greek phérō, Latin ferō). This root underlies the Vedic idea of sustaining the rite/world through ‘bearing’ and continuity.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi describes the devatā as the inner heroic executor: it is invoked not by name but by function—removing what blocks and increasing what has been rightly carried. The reciprocity is functional: steadfast execution of the path invites the unfailing power (anarvā) to uphold continuity.
Stabilize practice: first identify and remove one obstruction, then consciously grow one newly gained clarity.
mūlādhāra (foundation) and maṇipūra (heroic execution)
Brisk-energetic kapalabhāti (gentle) for ‘apauhat’ phase, followed by slow nāḍī-śodhana for ‘vṛhati’ (growth) phase.
Steady tapas moving toward stable sattva.
Journal one recurring resistance; apply a single decisive correction (narya). Then protect the newborn gain with repetition, routine, and quiet nourishment.
Triṣṭubh accents; keep the opening ‘prathiṣṭa’ weighty; lift on vīrakarma and naryaḥ.
Mark caesura naturally after the first 5–6 syllables in each pāda; avoid rushing the ‘punas tad ā vṛhati’ phrase—let it expand.
prathiṣṭa: aspirated ‘th’; retroflex ṣṭ, vīrakarmam: long ī; double m at sandhi may nasalize, apauhat: au diphthong; h lightly voiced, kanāyā: long ā; yā clear
Firm, grounded, sustaining; less ‘supplication’, more ‘execution’.
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