Rig Veda 10.71.2: Mandala 10, Sukta 71, Mantra 2
Sukta 10.71
- Rishi
- Bṛhaspati / hymn attributed in Anukramaṇī to Bṛhaspati
- Devata
- Vāc, with Bṛhaspati as the inspired power presiding over sacred speech
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
सक्तुमिव तितउना पुनन्तो यत्र धीरा मनसा वाचमक्रत । अत्रा सखायः सख्यानि जानते भद्रैषां लक्ष्मीर्निहिताधि वाचि ॥
saktúm iva títāunā punántaḥ yátra dhīrā́ manásā vā́cam ákrata | átrā sakhā́yaḥ sakhyā́ni jānate bhadráiṣāṃ lakṣmī́r nihitā́dhi vā́ci ||
जैसे आटा छन्नी से साफ किया जाता है, वैसे ही बुद्धि वाले लोग अपने शब्द को साफ करते हैं। अपने मन से सोच के शब्द बनाते हैं। दोस्त अपने दोस्ती के रिश्ते को जानते हैं। उनकी अच्छी किस्मत शब्द में छुपी होती है।
Word by Word
- सक्तुम्
- parched grain/mealNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचनRole कर्म (उपमान-रूपेण) / उपमेय-क्रियायाः विषयःRoot सक्तु- (प्रातिपदिक) < √सञ्ज्/√सच् (PIE *sekʷ- ‘to follow/attach’, semantic development to ‘meal/flour’ in Vedic) [lexical noun]
- इव
- like, asIndeclinableअव्ययRole (उपमा-सूचक)Root इव (निपात) [indeclinable]
- तितउना
- with a sieve/strainerNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-एकवचनRole करणRoot तितउ- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘sieve/strainer’, Vedic) [instrument noun]
- पुनन्तः
- purifying, cleansingVerb (participle)वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot √पू (पवने/शोधने) → पुनन्त् (वर्त. कृदन्त, शतृ)
- यत्र
- whereIndeclinableअव्ययRole अधिकरण (स्थान) / सम्बन्ध-निर्देशकRoot यत्र (अव्यय; य-प्रत्यय) स्थानवाचक
- धीराः
- the wise (men)Adjective (substantive)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot धीरा- (प्रातिपदिक) < √धी (बुद्धौ) / धीर ‘wise’
- मनसा
- with (their) mindNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-एकवचनRole करणRoot मनस्- (प्रातिपदिक) < √मन् (मनने)
- वाचम्
- speech, wordNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचनRole कर्मRoot वाच्- (प्रातिपदिक) < √वच् (वचने)
- अक्रत
- they fashioned/formedVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद; 3 पुरुष; बहुवचन (वेदिक रूप: अक्रत् = ‘they made’)Role (क्रिया)Root √कृ (करणे) → अ-क्रत्
- अत्र
- here, in this (matter)Indeclinableअव्ययRole अधिकरण (स्थान)Root अत्र (अव्यय) स्थानवाचक
- सखायः
- friendsNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot सखि- (प्रातिपदिक) ‘friend’
- सख्यानि
- friendships, bonds of friendshipNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot सख्य- (प्रातिपदिक) ‘friendship, friendly ties’
- जानते
- they know/recognizeVerbलट् (present), आत्मनेपद; 3 पुरुष; बहुवचनRole (क्रिया)Root √ज्ञा (अवबोधने) → जानते
- भद्रा
- auspicious, goodAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (लक्ष्मी-विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ/विशेषण (वाक्ये ‘लक्ष्मीः’ सह)Root भद्र- (प्रातिपदिक) ‘auspicious, good’
- एषाम्
- of these (people), theirPronounषष्ठी-बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → एषाम्
- लक्ष्मीः
- fortune, prosperity (the ‘mark’ of good)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot लक्ष्मी- (प्रातिपदिक) ‘mark, fortune, prosperity’
- निहिता
- placed, depositedVerb (participle)भूतकृदन्त (क्त); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (लक्ष्मी-विशेषणम्)Role (विशेषण; ‘placed’)Root नि-√धा (स्थापने) → निहित (भूतकृदन्त, क्त) → निहिता
- अधि
- upon, inIndeclinableअव्ययRole अधिकरण-सम्बन्ध (उपरि/अधिष्ठान)Root अधि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) ‘upon, over’
- वाचि
- in speech, in the wordNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot वाच्- (प्रातिपदिक) < √वच्
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (Vedic sandhi resolved): सक्तुम् इव तितउना पुनन्तः | यत्र धीराः मनसा वाचम् अक्रत् | अत्र सखायः सख्यानि जानते | भद्रा एषाम् लक्ष्मीः निहिता अधि वाचि || प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) सक्तुमिव = सक्तुम् + इव (म् + इ → मि)
- (2) भद्रैषाम् = भद्रा + एषाम् (आ + ए → ऐ)
- (3) निहिताधि = निहिता + अधि (आ + अ → आ; संहिता-लेखनम्)
The meaning
Outer meaning
As people purify meal through a sieve, so they purify their utterance—where the steady ones, with the mind, fashioned speech. There companions know the bonds of companionship; a gracious fortune of theirs lies hidden in speech.
Inner meaning
The mantra describes the discipline required for true mantra-speech. Like sifting flour, the seers filter their expression—removing coarse mixture, ego, and impulsive noise—until the word becomes subtle and fit. The ‘dhīrāḥ’ are those steady in vision; with manas they ‘make’ (akrata) vāc—mind becomes an instrument of a deeper seeing rather than a chatterer. In that purified field, true fellowship arises: companions recognize real companionship (sakhyāni) because they share a common truth-vibration. The ‘bhadrā lakṣmīḥ’ (gracious felicity) hidden in speech is the mantra-śakti: when speech is purified, it carries harmony, luck, beauty, and right success as an inner consequence.
Universal truth
Communication becomes creative and harmonizing when purified by discernment. Communities cohere not by opinion but by shared truthfulness of speech. The hidden ‘fortune’ of language is its power to reveal, unite, and bless—when it is sifted free of distortion.
Themes
Vāc (Word) theology, psychology of mantra, initiation into true speech, inner purification, companionship of seekers/powers
The seer
- Rishi
- Bṛhaspati (as rishi in Anukramaṇī for RV 10.71; Angirasa current)
- Lineage
- Aṅgirasa
- Other hymns
- RV 10.71 (entire hymn), RV 4.50, RV 2.23
Family tradition
Angirasas as discoverers of hidden light and formulators of mantra; emphasis on purification and right utterance.
Significance
Bṛhaspati as seer signifies that the ‘sieve’ is not merely moral censorship but inspired discrimination: speech becomes a vessel of revelation and a basis for true sangha (sakhya) among seekers.
The deity
- Devata
- Vāc (the Word) under the presidency of Bṛhaspati
- Epithets
- bhadrā (gracious), nihitā (hidden/secret)
- Related deities
- Sarasvatī, Agni, Soma
Cosmic role
Vāc is the creative power that manifests knowledge and order; Bṛhaspati governs her inspired, truth-bearing form.
Inner power
Purified speech that carries mantra-śakti: clarity, harmony, and unifying resonance.
In ritual
Where it is used
Brahman (priestly) reflection on correct speech and mantra formation; recitation in teaching/recitation settings; also relevant to yajña where precision of vāc is crucial.
सक्तु॑मिव॒ तित॑उना पु॒नन्तो॒ यत्र॒ धीरा॒ मन॑सा॒ वाच॒मक्र॑त । अत्रा॒ सखा॑यः स॒ख्यानि॑ जानते भ॒द्रैषां॑ ल॒क्ष्मीर्निहि॒ताधि॑ वा॒चि ॥
सक्तु॑म्ऽइव । तित॑ऽउना । पु॒नन्तः॑ । यत्र॑ । धीराः॑ । मन॑सा । वाच॑म् । अक्र॑त । अत्र॑ । सखा॑यः । स॒ख्यानि॑ । जा॒न॒ते॒ । भ॒द्रा । ए॒षा॒म् । ल॒क्ष्मीः । निहि॑ता । अधि॑ । वा॒चि ॥
saktum-iva | tita-unā | punantaḥ | yatra | dhīrāḥ | manasā | vācam | akrata | atra | sakhāyaḥ | sakhyāni | jānate | bhadrā | eṣām | lakṣmīḥ | nihitā | adhi | vāci
11
4 × 11
Even, workmanlike cadence mirroring ‘sifting’ and ‘shaping’; then opens into a communal, harmonious tone.
Promotes mental clarity and self-editing; helpful for mantra-japa practitioners and teachers of speech.
- सक्तु (saktu)
- Literal: meal/flour. Symbolic: raw material of expression—mixed motives, impressions, half-formed thoughts
- तितउना (titauṇā)
- Literal: with a sieve. Symbolic: discernment and inner filtering; viveka applied to speech
- पुनन्तः (punantaḥ)
- Literal: purifying. Symbolic: refining consciousness so words carry truth-force
- धीराḥ (dhīrāḥ)
- Literal: steadfast/wise. Symbolic: those established in inner vision and calm intelligence
- मनसा (manasā)
- Literal: with the mind. Symbolic: mind as shaping instrument under a higher light, not as restless thinker
- वाचम् अक्रत (vācam akrata)
- Literal: made/formed speech. Symbolic: conscious crafting of mantra—speech as deliberate revelation
- सखायः / सख्यानि (sakhāyaḥ/sakhyāni)
- Literal: friends/friendships. Symbolic: communion of seekers through shared truth-vibration
- भद्रा लक्ष्मीः (bhadrā lakṣmīḥ)
- Literal: auspicious fortune/felicity. Symbolic: mantra’s blessing-power; harmony and right success born of true speech
- निहिता अधि वाचि (nihitā adhi vāci)
- Literal: hidden within speech. Symbolic: latent spiritual potency in the Word
Recitation context: hymns on Vāc/Brahmanaspati used as reflective stotra-like material in soma-liturgies and in priestly instruction on correct/true speech (general Śrauta usage rather than a single fixed rite).
Before/after formal recitation; as a reminder to purify articulation and intention.
Mental and vocal preparation; aligning the group in a shared vibration.
A pre-chant ‘speech purification’ mantra: pause, sift motivations, speak only what is clear and kind; ideal before group chanting or mindful communication practice.
Key terms: (1) (vāc-) from √vac ‘to speak, utter’; in RV also the revelatory power that carries thought into manifestation. (2) (dhīrāḥ) from dhī ‘vision, inspired thought’ (often linked with √dhī/√dhyai ‘to think, contemplate’); denotes stabilized insight rather than intellect alone. (3) (punantaḥ) pres. act. ptc. nom. pl. from √pū ‘to purify, cleanse’; suggests a repeated inner action of clarification. (4) (akrata) 3pl. inj./aor. of √kṛ ‘to make, form’; here ‘to shape’ Vāc—mind giving form to truth. (5) (titāunā) instr. sg. of titāu- ‘sieve’ (tool of separation), supporting the imagery of discernment (viveka) applied to speech. (6) (lakṣmīḥ) from √lakṣ ‘to mark, perceive a sign’; early sense ‘auspicious sign/felicity’—not later goddess-only usage; here the “good mark” of true speech.
Vāc as revelation-force, inner purification (pū-), truth-selection/discernment, harmony of faculties (sakhyāni), Lakṣmī as auspicious sign of alignment with Ṛta
The ‘sieve’ is ṛta applied to language—right measure separating true from mixed.
Purified vāc becomes a carrier of satya; distortion is ‘unsifted’ mixture.
Speech as creative technology: refined articulation brings auspicious order (lakṣmī) into manifestation.
Mantra-psychology leading toward Upaniṣadic vāc as brahman-power; integral yoga emphasis on right speech as sadhana.
Sifting = discrimination; flour = raw mental substance; purification = refinement of consciousness; hidden fortune = latent spiritual power in sound.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is the ‘purification and fashioning of Vāc’: inspired seers sift and refine the Word as a craftsman refines substance, producing speech that can carry Ṛta. The ‘hidden Lakṣmī in speech’ is the mythic motif of a concealed power/boon lodged within mantra, revealed only by purification.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vac ‘speak’ continues PIE *wekʷ- ‘to speak/voice’ (cf. Latin vox ‘voice’, English ‘voice’ via PIE *wekʷ-/*wokʷ-). √kṛ ‘make’ reflects PIE *kwer-/*ker- ‘to do, make’ (broadly paralleled by productive ‘make/do’ roots across IE). √pū ‘purify’ aligns with IE notions of cleansing/clarifying (semantic field comparable to Latin pūrus ‘pure’, though direct etymology is debated); the verse’s morphology (participles, instrumentals) encodes action-by-means: purification (punantaḥ) done ‘with a sieve’ (titāunā), i.e., discernment as instrument.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer does not merely praise Vāc but collaborates with her: mind (manas) is the shaping power that ‘makes’ the Word, while Vāc holds a concealed felicity (lakṣmī) that becomes available when speech is purified. The reciprocity is: the rishi offers disciplined discernment and inner clarity; the Devatā yields revelation, harmony among companions (sakhyāni), and the auspicious ‘mark’ of right speech aligned with Ṛta.
‘Sift the word before it is spoken’: watch the pre-verbal impulse; refine it until it is clear, kind, and true.
vishuddha (speech purification) with support from ajna (discernment)
Silent inhale: ‘punantaḥ’; silent exhale: ‘vācam’; then 2 minutes observing the urge-to-speak without acting.
Sattvic clarity; quiet unity with others.
Practice ‘inner sieving’: before speaking, feel the heart-intention; if mixed, let it settle; speak only when the word feels ‘light’ and precise. In group practice, attune to a shared rhythm—companionship through truth-vibration.
Rigvedic accentuation; keep steady triṣṭubh pacing; avoid sing-song—let it feel like careful ‘work’.
Slight emphasis on ‘punantaḥ’ and ‘vācam akrata’; soften at ‘nihitādhi vāci’ to suggest ‘hidden within’.
saktum iva: keep ‘m’ nasal before space; ‘iva’ short i, titauṇā: keep diphthong ‘au’; retroflex ṇ, dhīrā: long ī; do not clip, manasā: short a’s; clear dental s, vācam: long ā; ‘c’ palatal, lakṣmīḥ: ‘kṣ’ conjunct; long īḥ
Clear, precise, slightly subdued; articulate consonant clusters carefully.
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