Rig Veda 2.27.3: Mandala 2, Sukta 27, Mantra 3
Sukta 2.27
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Ādityas
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
त आदित्यास उरवो गभीरा अदब्धासो दिप्सन्तो भूर्यक्षाः । अन्तः पश्यन्ति वृजिनोत साधु सर्वं राजभ्यः परमा चिदन्ति ॥
tá ādityā́sa urávo gabhīrā́ adábdhāso dípsanto bhū́ry-akṣāḥ | antáḥ paśyanti vṛjinóta sādhú sárvaṃ rājábhyaḥ paramā́ cíd ánti ||
आदित्य देवता बहुत बड़े हैं और गहरे हैं। इनसे कोई धोखा नहीं दे सकता। यह सब जगह नज़र रखते हैं और बचाते हैं। यह अंदर तक देख सकते हैं, जो सही है और जो गलत है, सब पता चल जाता है। यह राजा जैसी सोच रखते हैं, सब कुछ समझते हैं।
Word by Word
- ते
- they (those)Pronounपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- आदित्याः
- ĀdityasNounपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- उरवः
- broad, wideAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (आदित्याः इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृRoot उरु (प्रातिपदिक)
- गभीराः
- deep, profoundAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (आदित्याः इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृRoot गभीर (प्रातिपदिक)
- अदब्धासः
- unbeguiled, uninjured, unassailableAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (आदित्याः इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृRoot अदब्ध (प्रातिपदिक; न-उपसर्गयुक्तः)
- दिप्सन्तः
- seeking to harm (the wicked), intent on catchingParticipleवर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययः; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (आदित्याः इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृRoot दिप्स् (धातु; desiderative sense ‘to wish to harm/deceive’)
- भूरि
- much, abundantIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role विशेषण (अव्यय-विशेषणम्)Root भूरि (अव्यय/निपात; परिमाणवाचक)
- अक्षाः
- many-eyed (having many eyes)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (आदित्याः इति विशेषणम्; ‘many-eyed’)Role कर्तृRoot अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
- अन्तः
- within, inwardlyIndeclinableअव्ययम् (क्रियाविशेषणम्)Role अधिकारण (भावे)Root अन्तर् (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थे)
- पश्यन्ति
- they seeVerbलट् (वर्तमानकालः), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot दृश् (पश्य-आदेशः)
- वृजिनोत
- of the evil, of the crooked (sin)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्गे (वा पुंलिङ्गे) षष्ठी एकवचनम् (वृजिनस्य = of the crooked/evil)Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root वृजिन (प्रातिपदिक)
- तत्
- thatPronounनपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- साधु
- right, goodAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (तत् इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्मRoot साधु (प्रातिपदिक; गुणवाचक)
- सर्वम्
- all, everythingAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (तत्/साधु इत्यस्य समाहारः ‘everything’)Role कर्मRoot सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- राजभ्यः
- to the kings, to rulersNounपुंलिङ्गे चतुर्थी बहुवचनम्Role सम्प्रदानRoot राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- परमा
- the highest (goal)Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (गत्यर्थे ‘परमां [गतिम्]’ इति; गत्यादि-शब्दः लुप्तः)Role कर्मRoot परम (प्रातिपदिक)
- चित्
- evenIndeclinableअव्ययम् (अपि/एव-अर्थे)Role निपातRoot चित् (निपात)
- अन्ति
- they reach/attainVerbलट् (वर्तमानकालः), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot अन् (धातु; ‘to breathe/ live’ → ‘to be near’; RV usage: ‘to reach/attain’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (sandhi-resolved): ते | आदित्याः | उरवः | गभीराः | अदब्धासः | दिप्सन्तः | भूरि | अक्षाः || अन्तः | पश्यन्ति | वृजिनोत् | तत् | साधु | सर्वम् | राजभ्यः | परमा | चित् | अन्ति || प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) त आ॑दित्याः → ते + आदित्याः (ए/ओ-स्वर-सन्धिः)
- (2) गभी॒रा अद॑ब्धासः → गभीराः + अदब्धासः (अः + अ → आ)
- (3) भूर्य॒क्षाः → भूरि + अक्षाः (इ + अ → य)
- (4) वृजि॒नोत सा॒धु → वृजिनोत् + तत् + साधु (त् + त् संयोग; पाठे ‘त’ दीर्घ/प्रगृह्य-प्रभावेन)
- (5) पर॒मा चि॒दन्ति → परमा + चित् + अन्ति (त् + अ → द्-अनुस्वार/संधि-प्रभावः; संहितायां ‘चिदन्ति’)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The Ādityas are vast and deep, cannot be deceived, wish to protect, and have many eyes. They see within both crooked and straight; they know the whole, and even reach what is supreme—kings among rulers.
Inner meaning
These are the wide and profound truth-powers in consciousness: not fooled by surface appearances, they guard the inner being. “Many-eyed” is multi-dimensional awareness; they perceive the hidden motive behind acts and thoughts. They discern vṛjina (crookedness: falsity, self-deception) and sādhu (straightness: right movement) from within, not by outer show. Because they are rooted in the supreme truth-plane, they can lead the seeker beyond partial mental judgments to a comprehensive, integral seeing.
Universal truth
True governance (in self or society) requires depth, breadth, and incorruptible inner vision: seeing motives, not just actions; holding the whole; aligning with what is highest.
Themes
all-seeing gods, truth and rectitude, guardianship of ṛta
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada (Āṅgirasa)
- Lineage
- Āṅgirasa
- Other hymns
- RV 2.24, RV 2.26, RV 2.28
Family tradition
Āṅgirasa seers often stress illumination that breaks concealment; here the emphasis is on truth-vision that cannot be deceived and sees within.
Significance
Gṛtsamada’s psychology is ethical and illuminative: he invokes divine kingship as inner governance—discernment that distinguishes crookedness from straightness at the root.
The deity
- Devata
- Ādityas
- Epithets
- uravaḥ (wide), gabhīrāḥ (deep), adabdhāsaḥ (undeceivable), bhūryakṣāḥ (many-eyed), rājabhyaḥ (kings among rulers)
- Related deities
- Savitar, Sūrya, Agni, Soma
Cosmic role
All-seeing regulators of order who guard beings and worlds; their sight penetrates hidden disorder and restores alignment with the supreme law.
Inner power
The faculty of integral discernment (viveka at cosmic scale): to detect falsehood within, protect the psychic truth, and open the being upward to the supreme.
In ritual
Where it is used
Protective and truth-invoking recitation to Ādityas; often aligned with rites seeking moral purity and safeguarding.
त आ॑दि॒त्यास॑ उ॒रवो॑ गभी॒रा अद॑ब्धासो॒ दिप्स॑न्तो भूर्य॒क्षाः । अ॒न्तः प॑श्यन्ति वृजि॒नोत सा॒धु सर्वं॒ राज॑भ्यः पर॒मा चि॒दन्ति॑ ॥
ते । आ॒दि॒त्यासः॑ । उ॒रवः॑ । ग॒भी॒राः । अद॑ब्धासः । दिप्स॑न्तः । भू॒रि॒ऽअ॒क्षाः । अ॒न्तरिति॑ । प॒श्य॒न्ति॒ । वृ॒जि॒ना । उ॒त । सा॒धु । सर्व॑म् । राज॑ऽभ्यः । प॒र॒मा । चि॒त् । अन्ति॑ ॥
te | ādityāsaḥ | uravaḥ | gabhīrāḥ | adabdhāsaḥ | dipsantaḥ | bhūri-akṣāḥ | antariti | paśyanti | vṛjinā | uta | sādhu | sarvam | rāja-bhyaḥ | paramā | cit | anti
44
4 x ~11 syllables
Grave, expansive cadence—suited to describing vastness and depth.
Induces a broadened, deepened awareness; the listener feels ‘seen through’—encouraging sincerity and inner truthfulness.
- उरवः (uravaḥ)
- Literal: wide, broad. Symbolic: vast consciousness not narrowed by ego or sectarian view
- गभीराः (gabhīrāḥ)
- Literal: deep. Symbolic: depth-vision that reaches causes and subconscious roots
- अदब्धासः (adabdhāsaḥ)
- Literal: not deceivable. Symbolic: incorruptible truth-sense; immunity to self-deception
- दिप्सन्तः (dipsantaḥ)
- Literal: desiring to guard. Symbolic: protective vigilance of inner law over the being
- भूर्यक्षाः (bhūryakṣāḥ)
- Literal: many-eyed. Symbolic: multiple modes of awareness; comprehensive discernment
- अन्तः पश्यन्ति (antaḥ paśyanti)
- Literal: they see within. Symbolic: inner seeing of intention, samskāra, and truth of movement
- वृजिना (vṛjinā)
- Literal: crooked. Symbolic: distortion, falsehood, mixed motive, subconscient resistance
- साधु (sādhu)
- Literal: straight/right. Symbolic: right movement aligned with ṛta
- परमा (paramā)
- Literal: supreme. Symbolic: highest truth-plane; the supramental/ṛta-cit dimension
Used to invoke the Ādityas’ all-seeing guardianship and moral discernment; supports confession/rectification themes in ritual context.
When seeking divine oversight, protection from deception, and establishment of right order before offerings or decisions.
Stotra-like praise; could accompany oblations to solar deities/Ādityas.
Use before introspection/journaling or confession-like inner review: invite the ‘many-eyed’ truth to reveal mixed motives and straighten them.
uru ‘wide’ and gabhīra ‘deep’ describe consciousness-extent. adabdha ‘not deceived’ (a- + dabdhá from √dabh ‘to deceive/harm’) marks infallibility. akṣa ‘eye’ pluralized into ‘many-eyed’ indicates comprehensive awareness. vṛjina ‘crooked’ is moral/psychic deviation; sādhú ‘right’ is aligned with ṛta. anti ‘they reach’ suggests their access to the paramā (supreme) plane—truth beyond surface appearances.
inner sight (antaḥ paśyanti), moral discernment (vṛjina vs sādhu), supreme plane (paramā)
They perceive and correct deviations from ṛta by inner sight.
Truth as undeceivable knowledge that reaches the supreme (paramā).
The cosmos is sustained by conscious seeing powers; order is an act of knowledge.
Integral yoga reading: Ādityas as supramental/ṛta-consciousness forces governing mind and life.
Sky = wideness of consciousness; depth-waters = subconscious and causal depths; solar sight = illumination that detects falsehood.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The all-seeing sovereigns: Ādityas as vigilant kings who perceive inner truth and judge crookedness vs rightness. The mythic ‘many eyes’ becomes a psychological principle of integral awareness within the being.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The ‘eye/seeing’ lexicon (akṣa, paśy-) continues PIE sensory-cognition motifs (PIE *okw- ‘eye’ seen in Lat. oculus etc. though exact cognacy with akṣa is complex; still the semantic field is archaically shared). The moral-spatial metaphor crooked/straight is pan-IE.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi recognizes the Ādityas as inner witnesses: their gaze penetrates the seeker’s interior. This establishes an ethical-psychological contract—alignment with ṛta is required because these powers cannot be ‘deceived’ (adabdha).
Cultivate ‘many-eyed’ awareness: watch thought, motive, and impulse without self-justifying narratives.
ājñā (inner seeing)
box-breath (4-4-4-4) for steadiness, then chant once; sit and observe inner movements as if under a vast sky.
widened witness with depth-perception; sincerity.
After chanting, scan for vṛjina (crooked) patterns—avoidance, blame, exaggeration. Offer them upward; affirm sādhu: one straight corrective act today.
Maintain Vedic accents; if simplified, keep a slight lift on key nouns (ādityāsaḥ, uravaḥ, gabhīrāḥ) and a calm fall at pāda ends.
Do not rush consonant clusters: ‘adabdhāso’, ‘bhūryakṣāḥ’. Keep ‘antaḥ paśyanti’ as a clear pivot phrase.
(uravo): roll/light tap ‘r’, avoid ‘oo-ra’ heaviness, (gabhīrā): aspirate ‘bh’, long ‘ī’, (adabdhāsaḥ): ‘dbh’ cluster—keep ‘d’ dental, ‘bh’ aspirated, (bhūryakṣāḥ): long ‘ū’, ‘kṣ’ as ‘k’+‘ṣ’, (paramā): clear ‘r’, long final ‘ā’
grave, steady, slightly resonant in the head (for ‘seeing’)
3
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