Rig Veda 10.67.8: Mandala 10, Sukta 67, Mantra 8
Sukta 10.67
- Rishi
- Aṅgirasa/Bṛhaspati cycle
- Devata
- Bṛhaspati and gopati principle
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
ते सत्येन मनसा गोपतिं गा इयानास इषणयन्त धीभिः । बृहस्पतिर्मिथोअवद्यपेभिरुदुस्रिया असृजत स्वयुग्भिः ॥
te satyéna mánasā gopátiṃ gā́ iyānā́sa iṣaṇayanta dhībhíḥ | bṛ́haspátir mithó-avadyapebhir úd usríyā asṛjata svayúgbhiḥ ||
वो लोग सच्चे मन के साथ गायों के मालिक के पास गए। अपनी बुद्धि से उन्होंने गायों को आगे बढ़ाया। बृहस्पति ने अपनी ताकत से मिल कर, बिना किसी दोष के, उन चमकदार गायों को ऊपर की तरफ निकाला।
Word by Word
- ते
- theyPronounपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सत्येन
- by truth / with truthNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- मनसा
- with (their) mindNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- गोपतिम्
- the lord/guardian of cowsNounपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot गोपति (प्रातिपदिक)
- गाः
- cowsNounस्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया बहुवचनम्Role KarmaRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- इयानासः
- having gone/approachedParticiple (Adjective)पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (ते इयानासः = they, having gone/approached)Role KartāRoot या (धातु) → इयान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, परिपूर्ण/परिप्रसारित भूतकृदन्तः)
- इषणयन्त
- they impelled / set in motionVerbलङ् (अद्यतनभूत), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot इष् (धातु) / इषणय् (णिच्-प्रयोगः, causative)
- धीभिः
- with insights / prayersNounस्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot धी (प्रातिपदिक)
- बृहस्पतिः
- BṛhaspatiNoun (Proper/Deity)पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot बृहस्पति (प्रातिपदिक)
- मिथः
- mutually / apart / in alternationIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role AdverbialRoot मिथस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
- अवद्यपेभिः
- with reproaches / with blameworthy (words)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot अवद्यप (प्रातिपदिक; RV-विशेषः, ‘निन्द्य/दोषयुक्त’ अथवा ‘अपवाद/अपशब्द’ इत्यर्थे)
- उत्
- up, forthIndeclinable (Preverb)अव्ययम् (क्रियायोगे)Role AdverbialRoot उत् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- उस्रियाः
- the ruddy ones (cows / rays)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया बहुवचनम्Role KarmaRoot उस्रिया (प्रातिपदिक; ‘उषस्-सम्बद्धा’, RV में ‘गावः/किरणाः’ इत्यर्थे)
- असृजत
- he released / let looseVerbलङ् (अद्यतनभूत), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot सृज् (धातु)
- स्वयुग्भिः
- with his own teams/yokesAdjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot स्वयुग्भ (प्रातिपदिक; स्व-युग् ‘having one’s own yoke/teams’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धिविच्छेद): ते | सत्येन | मनसा | गोपतिम् | गाः | इयानासः | इषणयन्त | धीभिः || बृहस्पतिः | मिथः | अवद्यपेभिः | उत् | उस्रियाः | असृजत | स्वयुग्भिः || मुख्य-सन्धयः: (1) मिथोअवद्यपेभिः → मिथः + अवद्यपेभिः (ओ + अ = ओ, विसर्ग-लोपः/पररूपम्) । (2) उदु॒स्रिया॑ः → उत् + उस्रियाः (त् + उ → दु; ‘उद्’ रूपेण) ।
The meaning
Outer meaning
They, with a truth-filled mind, moving toward the Lord of the cows, urged the cows onward by their thoughts. Bṛhaspati, by mutual faultless participations, released the shining herds upward with his self-yoked powers.
Inner meaning
The seekers (Aṅgirasas as inner faculties) move with a mind established in Satya toward the Gopati—the governing principle of the rays of knowledge. By dhī (inspired thought) they ‘impel’ the rays: illumination is not passive; it is invited and directed by disciplined insight. Bṛhaspati releases the usriyāḥ (luminous herds) upward—an ascent of consciousness—through svayugbhiḥ, self-yoked powers: energies already harmonized to the divine purpose. ‘Mitho-avadyape-bhiḥ’ suggests a shared, mutually flawless participation in the delight/essence (a soma-like communion), indicating collective harmony as a condition for higher release.
Universal truth
Illumination rises when the mind is truthful and the powers of thought work in harmony; the higher light is released by a unified, self-disciplined force and shared inner sincerity.
Themes
Truth-mind impels illumination, Release of rays, Bṛhaspati as liberator, Self-yoked powers
The seer
- Rishi
- Aṅgirasa/Bṛhaspati cycle (collective agents with Bṛhaspati as decisive power)
- Lineage
- Aṅgiras
- Other hymns
- RV 1.62, RV 2.23, RV 2.24, RV 10.67
Family tradition
Seers of the Word and the Dawn-like release: collective aspiration leading to the liberation of rays from below to above.
Significance
The rishi-voice highlights that illumination is a collaborative inner event: many powers of the being become ‘true friends’ under the guidance of the Word-lord.
The deity
- Devata
- Bṛhaspati
- Epithets
- Bṛhaspati (Lord of the Vast / Word), Gaṇānām gaṇapati (conceptual parallel: leader of hosts), Vācaspati (functional)
- Related deities
- Indra, Agni, Soma, Uṣas
Cosmic role
Opener of the hidden; raiser of the luminous herds; establisher of the ascending movement from lower to higher worlds through the power of the Word.
Inner power
The master-mantra in the heart-mind that yokes energies, harmonizes the collective, and releases higher illumination.
In ritual
Where it is used
Bṛhaspati-related recitations in Soma rites; also invoked for success of counsel, learning, and right direction of thought
ते स॒त्येन॒ मन॑सा॒ गोप॑तिं॒ गा इ॑या॒नास॑ इषणयन्त धी॒भिः । बृह॒स्पति॑र्मि॒थोअ॑वद्यपेभि॒रुदु॒स्रिया॑ असृजत स्व॒युग्भि॑: ॥
ते । स॒त्येन॑ । मन॑सा । गोऽप॑तिम् । गाः । इ॒या॒नासः॑ । इ॒ष॒ण॒य॒न्त॒ । धी॒भिः । बृह॒स्पतिः॑ । मि॒थःऽअ॑वद्यपेभिः । उत् । उ॒स्रियाः॑ । अ॒सृ॒ज॒त॒ । स्व॒युक्ऽभिः॑ ॥
te | satyena | manasā | go--patim | gāḥ | iyānāsaḥ | iṣaṇayanta | dhībhiḥ | bṛhaspatiḥ | mithaḥ-avadyapebhiḥ | ut | usriyāḥ | asṛjata | svayuk-bhiḥ
Triṣṭubh (probable; aligns with hymn’s cadence and semantic weight)
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4 × ~11
Ascending, lifting rhythm with ‘ud’ emphasis; suited to ‘release upward’.
Elicits upward aspiration; the listener feels a subtle lift from chest to brow.
- सत्येन मनसा (satyena manasā)
- Literal: with a truthful mind. Symbolic: Mind aligned to truth, free from self-deception
- गोपतिम् (gopatim)
- Literal: lord of the cows. Symbolic: Master principle governing rays/knowledges (inner leader of illumination)
- गाः (gāḥ)
- Literal: cows. Symbolic: Rays/knowledges, illuminations
- धीभिः (dhībhiḥ)
- Literal: with thoughts/insights. Symbolic: Inspired discernment that can ‘impel’ light
- इषणयन्त (iṣaṇayanta)
- Literal: they impelled/urged. Symbolic: Active aspiration directing the movement of illumination
- उद् उस्रियाः (ud usriyāḥ)
- Literal: up the shining ones/herds. Symbolic: Ascent of luminous powers into higher consciousness
- स्वयुग्भिः (svayugbhiḥ)
- Literal: with self-yoked (self-harnessed) powers. Symbolic: Integrated energies naturally aligned to the divine work
Concludes the release sequence: truth-mind and dhī impel the rays; applicable as a mantra of inner ‘release’ and right harnessing in sacrificial recitations.
When seeking guidance, clarity of thought, or collective harmony before a rite/undertaking
Recitation with offering to strengthen dhī and align participants to satya
Group meditation/mantra circle: chant to harmonize minds and invite shared illumination; useful before study, teaching, or difficult conversations.
gopati ‘lord of cows’ extends beyond pastoralism: go as ray/knowledge; pati as master. iṣ (√iṣ) ‘impel’ indicates dynamic yoga of forces. svayuk ‘self-yoked’ implies powers harnessed from within (inner discipline). The compound mithaḥ-avadyapebhiḥ is difficult; avadya ‘blameworthy’ with privative sense in compound suggests ‘faultless’; pebhiḥ from √pā/√pib ‘drink’ may hint at shared libation/communion—psychologically, harmonious exchange among powers enabling release.
Satya (truth-consciousness), Dhī (inspired intelligence), Yoga/harnessing (svayuk), Release (sṛj)
Right movement (ṛta) is the ‘urging’ of rays by dhī—illumination follows ordered aspiration.
Truth-filled mind is the gateway condition for gopati-guidance.
Vertical liberation: what is hidden below is raised above—an inner evolution.
Integral Yoga-compatible Vedic psychology: ascent through truth-mind and mantra-force.
Dawn/morning (symbolic ascent of rays)
Cows = illuminations; upward movement = rising consciousness; yoking = integration of energies; gopati = inner guide of knowledge.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The seer-powers, moving with satya-manas, impel the cows/rays toward their lord, and Bṛhaspati releases the shining herds upward. It is the culmination of the ‘cows released’ myth: illumination is not accidental but driven by truth-aligned mind and disciplined inner energies.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- manas (mind) connects to PIE *men- ‘think’. √sṛj ‘release’ is Indo-Iranian and reflects a common IE pattern of verbs for letting-flow/setting-free. The semantic complex ‘yoke’ (yuj in svayuk) is pan-IE (PIE *yeug-; cf. Latin iugum, English yoke).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi-community advances with truth-mind and uses dhī to impel the rays; Bṛhaspati responds by releasing illumination with self-yoked powers. The reciprocity is explicit: human faculties align and act; the divine word-power opens the gates and makes the ascent of light possible.
Truth-mind alignment: silently ask, ‘What is true here?’ then let thoughts become dhī—few, luminous, directive—urging inner light upward.
Ājñā (guided insight) and Anāhata (harmonious collective sincerity)
Inhale: ‘satyena manasā’; exhale: ‘ud usriyāḥ’—feel an upward current on the exhale.
Sattvic concentration with ascending current (ūrdhva-gati).
Reduce mental noise; cultivate shared sincerity in groups; let the ‘self-yoked’ discipline be steady practice (same time, same seat) so illumination can rise reliably.
Tri-svara; sustain udātta on ‘satyéna’, ‘gópatim’, ‘bṛ́haspátiḥ’ (as marked in recitation traditions).
Let ‘ud usriyāḥ’ be a clear lift in pitch and intention; keep ‘svayugbhiḥ’ steady and integrated (no rushing).
gopatim: articulate ‘go’ + ‘patim’ (not ‘gaup-’)., iṣaṇayanta: keep ṣ sound crisp; four syllable feel i-ṣa-ṇa-yan-ta., mithoavadyapebhiḥ: maintain the sandhi flow but mark internal rhythm (mitho | avadya | pebhiḥ)., svayugbhiḥ: pronounce ‘yug’ with hard g; bhih as aspirated.
Clear, uplifted, slightly head-resonant; aim for serenity with an upward pull.
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