Rig Veda 2.25.4: Mandala 2, Sukta 25, Mantra 4
Sukta 2.25
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Brahmaṇaspati
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
तस्मा अर्षन्ति दिव्या असश्चतः स सत्वभिः प्रथमो गोषु गच्छति । अनिभृष्टतविषिर्हन्त्योजसा यंयं युजं कृणुते ब्रह्मणस्पतिः ॥
tásmā arṣanti divyā́ asaścátaḥ sá sátvabhiḥ prathamó góṣu gacchati | anibhṛṣṭa-tavíṣir hánty ójasā yaṃ-yáṃ yújaṃ kṛṇuté bráhmaṇas-pátiḥ ||
उसके पास देवता की नदिया बिना रुके बहने लगती हैं। अपनी शक्तियों के साथ वो किरणों में सबसे आगे निकल जाता है। जिस ओज को कोई कुचल नहीं सकता, उसे वो मार करता है, जिसके लिए ब्रह्मणस्पति हर साथी शक्ति बनाता है।
Word by Word
- तस्मै
- to himPronounपुं/नपुं, चतुर्थी एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अर्षन्ति
- they flow/streamVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole (क्रिया)Root ऋष् (गत्यर्थ/स्रवणार्थ) धातु
- दिव्याः
- heavenly, divineAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (अर्षन्ति) / विशेषणRoot दिव्य (दिव्-सम्बन्धी) प्रातिपदिक
- असश्चतः
- not deviating, unerring (not separating)Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (अर्षन्ति) / विशेषणRoot असश्चत् (न- + सश्च्/सच् ‘to accompany, cling’; बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय-प्राय विशेषण) प्रातिपदिक
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृ (गच्छति) / (हन्ति) / (कृणुते)Root तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सत्वभिः
- with strengths/powersNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचनRole करणRoot सत्व (सत्-भाव/बल/सत्त्व) प्रातिपदिक
- प्रथमः
- first, foremostAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृ (गच्छति) / विशेषणRoot प्रथम प्रातिपदिक
- गोषु
- among the cows; in the herdsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी बहुवचनRole अधिकरणRoot गो प्रातिपदिक
- गच्छति
- goes, comesVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root गम् धातु
- अनिभृष्टतविषिः
- of unopposed mightAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृ (हन्ति) / विशेषणRoot अनिभृष्ट-तविषि (न- + निभृष्ट ‘checked/overpowered’ + तविषि ‘force, might’; बहुव्रीहि) प्रातिपदिक
- हन्ति
- strikes, slaysVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root हन् धातु
- ओजसा
- with mightNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचनRole करणRoot ओजस् प्रातिपदिक
- यम्
- whomPronounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्म (कृणुते) / सम्बन्ध (युजम्) निर्देशRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- यम्
- whomeverPronounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (पुनरुक्ति: ‘यं-यं’ = ‘whomever’)Role कर्म (कृणुते)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- युजम्
- an ally, yoked companionNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्म (कृणुते)Root युज् (नाम) ‘yoke-fellow, ally’ प्रातिपदिक
- कृणुते
- makes (for himself), appointsVerbलट् (आत्मनेपद), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root कृ धातु
- ब्रह्मणस्पतिः
- Brahmaṇaspati (Lord of prayer)Noun (Proper/Deity)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृ (कृणुते) / (गच्छति) / (हन्ति)Root ब्रह्मणस्-पति (समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) प्रातिपदिक
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (sandhi-resolved): तस्मै | अर्षन्ति | दिव्याः | असश्चतः | सः | सत्वभिः | प्रथमः | गोषु | गच्छति | अनिभृष्टतविषिः | हन्ति | ओजसा | यम्-यम् | युजम् | कृणुते | ब्रह्मणस्पतिः । 1) तस्मा॑ → तस्मै (चतुर्थी एकवचन; वैदिक दीर्घ/स्वर-चिह्न सहित)
- 2) अस॒श्चत॒: → असश्चतः (प्रथमा बहुवचन; विसर्ग-लोप/पदांत-रूप)
- 3) यंयं॒ → यम् यम् (पुनरुक्त सर्वनाम; ‘whomever’)
- 4) ब्रह्म॑ण॒स्पति॑: → ब्रह्मणस्पतिः (पदांत विसर्गः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
To him the divine streams flow, unbroken; with his powers he goes first among the cows (rays). With energy that cannot be crushed he strikes with might—he for whom Brahmaṇaspati makes every yoke-fellow power.
Inner meaning
When Brahmaṇaspati is active in the seeker, higher currents of consciousness (‘divine streams’) descend continuously without interruption. The seeker, supported by gathered powers (satva), becomes foremost in the realm of illumination (goṣu)—able to receive and move among the rays of knowledge. His energy is unassailable (anibhṛṣṭa-taviṣ), capable of striking down resistances without losing inner poise.
Universal truth
Sustained spiritual influx comes when the being is organized and sincere; then illumination becomes a lived environment, and resilience becomes natural.
Themes
Divine-influx, Illumination-firstness, Invincible-force, Yoking-allies
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Lineage
- Bhārgava (traditional)
- Other hymns
- RV 2.3 (divine waters motifs, thematic), RV 2.23 (Brahmaṇaspati)
Family tradition
The Maṇḍala 2 vision often depicts the descent of divine waters and the winning of cows as illumination; the rishi links these to inner strength and right word.
Significance
Gṛtsamada presents a yoga of receptivity plus force: grace flows continuously when the being is made strong and coherent.
The deity
- Devata
- Brahmaṇaspati
- Epithets
- Receiver of divine streams, First among the rays, Uncrushable in force
- Related deities
- Sarasvatī (streams of inspiration), Agni, Indra
Cosmic role
He establishes the continuous flow between the divine planes and the human offering; he leads the seeker into the domain of light (cows/rays).
Inner power
A steady truth-force that both receives (streams) and acts (smites), combining receptivity and mastery.
In ritual
Where it is used
Invocations for uninterrupted flow of blessings and successful attainment of ‘cows/wealth’ in the rite.
तस्मा॑ अर्षन्ति दि॒व्या अ॑स॒श्चत॒: स सत्व॑भिः प्रथ॒मो गोषु॑ गच्छति । अनि॑भृष्टतविषिर्ह॒न्त्योज॑सा॒ यंयं॒ युजं॑ कृणु॒ते ब्रह्म॑ण॒स्पति॑: ॥
तस्मै॑ । अ॒र्ष॒न्ति॒ । दि॒व्याः । अ॒स॒श्चतः॑ । सः । सत्व॑ऽभिः । प्र॒थ॒मः । गोषु॑ । ग॒च्छ॒ति॒ । अनि॑भृष्टऽतविषिः । ह॒न्ति॒ । ओज॑सा । यम्ऽय॑म् । युज॑म् । कृ॒णु॒ते । ब्रह्म॑णः । पतिः॑ ॥
tasmai | arṣanti | divyāḥ | asaścataḥ | saḥ | satva-bhiḥ | prathamaḥ | goṣu | gacchati | anibhṛṣṭa-taviṣiḥ | hanti | ojasā | yam-yam | yujam | kṛṇute | brahmaṇaḥ | patiḥ
48
4 × 12; flowing first pāda, assertive second, emphatic compound in third, refrain closure.
Alternation of flow (streams) and удар (strike) gives balanced dynamism.
Induces a sense of being ‘fed from above’ while strengthening resolve; stabilizes nervous energy.
- दि॒व्या अर्षन्ति (divyā arṣanti)
- Literal: divine streams flow. Symbolic: descending currents of higher consciousness
- असश्चतः (asaścataḥ)
- Literal: unbroken, not stopping. Symbolic: continuous grace/influx when the channel is purified
- सत्वभिः (satvabhiḥ)
- Literal: with powers/energies. Symbolic: collected inner strengths, right qualities (courage, clarity, steadiness)
- गोषु (goṣu)
- Literal: among cows. Symbolic: among rays of illumination/knowledge
- अनिभृष्टतविषिः (anibhṛṣṭa-taviṣīḥ)
- Literal: of uncrushable force. Symbolic: resilience of the spiritual will
- हन्ति ओजसा (hanti ojasā)
- Literal: smites with strength. Symbolic: decisive overcoming of obstruction by spiritual vigor
For establishing uninterrupted divine influx (divyāḥ arṣanti) and precedence in illumination (prathamo goṣu), granting invincible force against opposition.
During sequences seeking uninterrupted prosperity and protection; also as a strengthening refrain within the hymn.
Recitation accompanying offerings; symbolic welcoming of divine streams.
Use when seeking continuity in practice: before japa/meditation sessions to invite steady influx and build resilience.
(arṣ-) from √ṛṣ ‘to flow, move swiftly’; (satva) from sat ‘being’ → ‘real strength/essence-power’; (taviṣi) ‘impetuous force’ (Vedic strength term); (asaścata) from a- + √sac ‘to follow/attach’ → ‘not deviating/unsticking’ → steady, unbroken.
Unbroken influx of grace/force, Satva as essential power, Invincibility (anibhṛṣṭa)
Unbroken streams suggest ṛta’s continuous current when aligned with truth.
Foremost among rays implies priority of knowledge/truth over impulse.
Descent of higher waters into mind-life; manifestation of illumination as ‘cows’.
Symbolic Vedism: waters as planes/streams of consciousness; cows as knowledge.
dawn (implied by rays/illumination)
Waters = higher consciousness currents; rays = illuminations; uncrushable force = stabilized will-force.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘first among the cows/rays’: precedence in illumination granted by uninterrupted divine streams. This is the mythic motif of the chosen or empowered seeker who reaches the light-realms first because the gods’ currents flow to him unbroken.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- Flow-verbs (√ṛṣ) and strength-terms (satva/taviṣi) are part of an archaic IE poetic register linking vitality to streaming motion. The privative formation a- + participial/adjectival bases (asaścata, anibhṛṣṭa) is a common inherited morphological strategy.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi frames attainment as a consequence of divine alignment: when Brahmaṇaspati yokes the right inner allies, the seeker becomes a vessel for unbroken streams and gains precedence in illumination, with uncrushable force against resistance.
Receive the ‘divine streams’ from above the head into the heart; then rest in the field of rays (clear perceptions) without interruption.
sahasrara
slow_meditative
Receptive luminosity with resilient steadiness.
Chant slowly; on the first pāda, imagine a continuous shower of light descending. On the second, feel yourself ‘walking among rays’—clear, simple perceptions. On the third, offer one persistent resistance to be struck down by calm strength.
Rigvedic accents; let the first pāda ‘flow’ with smooth pitch, then firm up on the second and third; refrain steady.
Mark the caesura after asaścataḥ; emphasize prathamo goṣu gacchati; articulate the compound anibhṛṣṭa-taviṣīḥ carefully.
Compound clarity: a-ni-bhṛṣ-ṭa-ta-vi-ṣiḥ (do not swallow syllables)., Keep goṣu as go-ṣu (ṣ)., Maintain vowel length in divyā, prathamo.
Smooth on the ‘streams’ line; firm and grounded on the ‘strike’ line.
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