Rig Veda 2.27.6: Mandala 2, Sukta 27, Mantra 6
Sukta 2.27
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Ādityas
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
सुगो हि वो अर्यमन्मित्र पन्था अनृक्षरो वरुण साधुरस्ति । तेनादित्या अधि वोचता नो यच्छता नो दुष्परिहन्तु शर्म ॥
sugó hí vo aryaman mitra pánthā anṛkṣaró varuṇa sādhúr ásti | ténādityā́ ádhi vocatā no yácchatā no duḥ-parihántu śárma ||
अर्यमन और मित्र, तुम्हारा रास्ता अच्छा है। वरुण, तुम्हारा रास्ता पक्का है, कहीं से नहीं टूटता। आदित्य देवता, उस रास्ते पर हमें चलाओ और संभालो। हमें ऐसी जगह दे जहाँ कोई तकलीफ न हो, सब ठीक रहे।
Word by Word
- सुगः
- easy to go on, good (path)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole विशेषण (पन्थाः-सम्बन्धि)Root सु-ग (प्रातिपदिक: सुग) अथवा सु + गम् (अर्थ-निर्माण)
- हि
- indeed, forIndeclinableनिपातRole सम्बन्ध/हेतु-सूचकRoot हि
- वः
- of you, yourPronounषष्ठी (सम्बन्धे), बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (पन्थाः—‘your’)Root युष्मद्
- अर्यमन्-मित्र
- O Aryaman and MitraNoun (Vocative compound)सम्बोधन, एकवचन (द्वन्द्व-समास/समुच्चयार्थक सम्बोधन)Role सम्बोधनRoot अर्यमन् (देवनाम) + मित्र (देवनाम)
- पन्थाः
- pathNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ/विषय (अस्ति-सम्बन्धि)Root पथ्/पन्थन् (प्रातिपदिक: पन्था)
- अनृक्षरः
- without harm/obstacle, uninjuringAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole विशेषण (पन्थाः-सम्बन्धि)Root अन्- + ऋक्षर (प्रातिपदिक: ऋक्षर ‘harm/obstacle’, नकारार्थक उपसर्ग)
- वरुण
- O VaruṇaNounसम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot वरुण (देवनाम)
- साधुः
- straight, right, goodAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole विशेषण/विधेय (पन्थाः-सम्बन्धि)Root साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्ति
- isVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole अस्ति-क्रियाRoot अस्
- तेन
- by that, therebyPronounतृतीया, एकवचन (नपुंसक/पुं-समासार्थे)Role करणRoot तद्
- आदित्याḥ
- the ĀdityasNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (वोचत)Root आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक; देवगण)
- अधि
- over, upon, concerningIndeclinable (preverb/preposition)उपसर्ग/अव्ययRole अधिकारण/उपरि-भावRoot अधि
- वः
- you (pl.)Pronounद्वितीया (कर्मणि), बहुवचनRole कर्म (वोचत—‘speak to/for you’)Root युष्मद्
- वोचत
- let (them) speak, may (they) proclaimVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot वच्
- नः
- of us, ourPronounषष्ठी (सम्बन्धे), बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (शर्म—‘our’)Root अस्मद्
- यच्छत
- grant, bestowVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot यम्
- नः
- to usPronounचतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान), बहुवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot अस्मद्
- दुष्परिहन्तु
- let them ward off all-around with difficulty (i.e., repel the hard-to-ward-off)Verb (with preverbs)लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), तृतीयपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot दुस्- + परि + हन्
- शर्म
- shelter, protection, comfortNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (यच्छत—‘grant shelter’)Root शर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक: शर्म)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-निरसन): सुगः हि वः अर्यमन्-मित्र पन्थाः अनृक्षरः वरुण साधुः अस्ति । तेन आदित्याः अधि वः वोचत नः यच्छत नः दुष्परिहन्तु शर्म । प्रमुख सन्धयः: (1) सुगो हि → सुगः हि (विसर्ग-सन्धि) (2) वो अर्यमन्… → वः अर्यमन्… (ओ→अः; पदान्त ‘वः’ का रूप) (3) मित्र पन्था → मित्र पन्थाः (आः/अन्त्य-दीर्घ) (4) अनृक्षरो वरुण → अनृक्षरः वरुण (ओ→अः) (5) साधुरस्ति → साधुः अस्ति (विसर्ग-सन्धि) (6) तेना॑दित्या → तेन आदित्याः (आ-आ संधि; दीर्घ) (7) अधि वोचता → अधि वः वोचत (वः + व-; पदच्छेदानुसार) (8) नो यच्छता → नः यच्छत (विसर्ग/ओ-रूप) (9) नो दुष्परिहन्तु → नः दुष्परिहन्तु (ओ→अः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The path of Aryaman and Mitra is good; Varuṇa’s is firm and right, not failing. By that path, Ādityas, speak over us and govern us; grant shelter that drives away hard besetments.
Inner meaning
There exists a ‘good path’ (suga panthā) in consciousness: the straight movement of right relation (Aryaman), harmony (Mitra), and vast truth-law (Varuṇa). It is ‘non-leaking’ (anṛkṣara): it does not lose force through doubt, falsehood, or dispersion. The prayer asks the Ādityas to place their word and rule over the seeker—i.e., establish higher guidance as the governing principle of mind and life. The ‘shelter’ (śarma) is an inner protection-field that repels hostile pressures and hard-to-escape entanglements (duṣparihantu).
Universal truth
A reliable way through life is alignment with harmony, noble right relation, and truth. When higher guidance governs, protection naturally arises and persistent difficulties lose their grip.
Themes
safe passage, law and guidance, protective peace, repelling adversity
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada (Āṅgirasa)
- Lineage
- Āṅgirasa
- Other hymns
- RV 2.27.2, RV 2.27.5, RV 2.28
Family tradition
This culminates the sequence: from offering and purity → all-seeing guardianship → world-upholding order → help in fear → the clear unfailing path.
Significance
Gṛtsamada frames yoga as walking a divinely governed path: integrity (anṛkṣara), rightness (sādhu), and refuge (śarma) under the Ādityas’ law.
The deity
- Devata
- Ādityas (Aryaman, Mitra, Varuṇa)
- Epithets
- suga (good), sādhu (right), anṛkṣara (unfailing), śarma-dā (shelter-giving, implied)
- Related deities
- Aditi, Savitar, Bhaga
Cosmic role
Provide the lawful path of order and protection; govern beings by truth-word and harmony.
Inner power
They install a stable inner discipline and guidance: harmonious mind (Mitra), noble strength of right relation (Aryaman), and vast truth that seals leaks of energy (Varuṇa).
In ritual
Where it is used
Prayer for safe passage and protection; could be used in journeys and in rites seeking well-being under Mitra-Varuṇa.
सु॒गो हि वो॑ अर्यमन्मित्र॒ पन्था॑ अनृक्ष॒रो व॑रुण सा॒धुरस्ति॑ । तेना॑दित्या॒ अधि॑ वोचता नो॒ यच्छ॑ता नो दुष्परि॒हन्तु॒ शर्म॑ ॥
सु॒ऽगः । हि । वः॒ । अ॒र्य॒म॒न् । मि॒त्र॒ । पन्थाः॑ । अ॒नृ॒क्ष॒रः । व॒रु॒ण॒ । सा॒धुः । अस्ति॑ । तेन॑ । आ॒दि॒त्याः॒ । अधि॑ । वो॒च॒त॒ । नः॒ । यच्छ॑त । नः॒ । दुः॒ऽप॒रि॒हन्तु॑ । शर्म॑ ॥
su-gaḥ | hi | vaḥ | aryaman | mitra | panthāḥ | anṛkṣaraḥ | varuṇa | sādhuḥ | ast i | tena | ādityāḥ | adhi | vocata | naḥ | yacchata | naḥ | duḥ-parihantu | śarma
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4 x ~11 syllables
Assured, directive cadence; ‘path’ mantra with steady forward momentum.
Instills confidence and ethical clarity; supports disciplined continuity (non-leaking effort).
- सुगः (sugaḥ)
- Literal: good, easy. Symbolic: luminous, unobstructed progress in sadhana
- पन्थाः (panthāḥ)
- Literal: path. Symbolic: method and movement of consciousness aligned with ṛta
- अनृक्षरः (anṛkṣaraḥ)
- Literal: not dripping/leaking; unfailing. Symbolic: undispersed energy; integrity of practice and truth
- साधुः (sādhuḥ)
- Literal: right, straight. Symbolic: right action and right seeing in accord with ṛta
- अधि वोचत (adhi vocata)
- Literal: speak over (us). Symbolic: establish the higher word/command within; mantra as inner governance
- यच्छत (yacchata)
- Literal: hold, restrain, govern; grant. Symbolic: discipline and guidance that keeps the being on the path
- शर्म (śarma)
- Literal: shelter, refuge. Symbolic: protective peace-field; inner safety in truth
- दुष्परिहन्तु (duṣparihantu)
- Literal: hard to ward off/overcome. Symbolic: persistent hostile habits/pressures that besiege the seeker
Prayer for safe path and protective śarman; suitable for journey/transition rites and for general protection under the Ādityas’ law.
At the start of day, before travel, before undertaking difficult work, or when beset by recurring obstacles.
Recitation as protective invocation; optionally followed by silent resolve to follow the ‘good path’.
A daily ‘path’ affirmation: chant before stepping into challenging environments; use as a protective boundary-setting mantra.
su-ga ‘good-going’ frames the Ādityas’ way as a reliable path of ṛta. panthā ‘path’ is a key Vedic metaphor for spiritual progression. √vac ‘speak’ here is not mere speech but decree/establishing word—Ādityas as lawgivers. śarman ‘shelter’ is protective bliss. duḥ-parihantu: compound built on √han ‘to strike’; psychologically: a protective force that strikes away encircling troubles.
right path (sugá) as ṛta in movement, divine decree (adhi-vac) as establishment of order, śarman as peace/shelter
The ‘right/unfailing path’ is the movement of ṛta in action.
Truth as stability (non-leaking) and rightness (sādhu).
Order manifests as a path laid in becoming, guarded by solar law-powers.
Ethical-yogic: ṛta becomes an inner discipline and protective peace.
morning (practical use; aligns with ‘setting the day on the path’)
Path = inner method and progressive movement; shelter = psychic peace-field; sun = unwavering clarity that prevents ‘leaks’ of force.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘good path’ granted by sovereign gods: a guidance mythologem where the Ādityas establish the right way and provide shelter that repels encircling troubles—spiritual safe-conduct under ṛta.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The ‘path’ metaphor (panthā) is a deep IE poetic structure for life and rite. √vac ‘speak’ as performative decree parallels IE sacral speech where utterance enacts order. √han ‘strike’ in protective compounds reflects inherited martial/protective diction.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi seeks governance and protection: the Ādityas must ‘speak over’ (adhi voc-) the seeker—i.e., establish their law in his consciousness—so that his movement becomes sugá and he abides in śarman, protected from adverse encirclement.
Walk the ‘unfailing path’: integrity of effort, harmony in relation, truth in thought and speech.
mūlādhāra (stability/path)
steady 6-6 breathing (inhale 6, exhale 6) while mentally repeating ‘sugaḥ… panthā’; then chant aloud once.
stable, protected, directed.
Choose one ‘leak’ (distraction, gossip, self-contradiction). After chanting, make a simple vow for the day that seals it; feel a dome of śarma around the body for 1 minute.
Keep a steady, even chant; slight lift on ‘sugaḥ’ and ‘panthā’; firm articulation on ‘anṛkṣaraḥ’.
Two clear invocatory addresses: ‘aryaman mitra’ then ‘varuṇa’; pause after each address; end with a protective cadence on ‘śarma’.
(sugo): ‘su’ short, ‘go’ long ‘o’, (aryaman): light ‘ry’ cluster, final ‘n’ dental, (panthā): aspirate ‘th’, long ‘ā’, (anṛkṣaraḥ): vocalic ‘ṛ’, ‘kṣ’ clear, final visarga audible, (adhi vocata): dental ‘dh’, ‘vo’ not ‘bo’, (duṣparihantu): retroflex ‘ṣ’, aspirate ‘h’, (śarma): ‘ś’ palatal, ‘r’ tap
calm, authoritative, protective
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