Rig Veda 2.28.2: Mandala 2, Sukta 28, Mantra 2
Sukta 2.28
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Varuṇa
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
तव व्रते सुभगासः स्याम स्वाध्यो वरुण तुष्टुवांसः । उपायन उषसां गोमतीनामग्नयो न जरमाणा अनु द्यून् ॥
táva vraté su-bhágāsaḥ syāma svā́dhyo varuṇa tuṣṭuvā́ṃsaḥ | upā́yana uṣásāṃ gó-matīnām agnáyo ná jaramāṇā ánu dyū́n ||
वरुण, हम तेरे नियम के साथ चलेंगे। हम खुश रहेंगे और अपना काम ठीक से करेंगे। तुझे हम हमेशा याद करेंगे। सुबह की रोशनी हमारे पास आए, जैसे गाय का दूध। हम आग की तरह हमेशा जलते रहें, दिन के साथ चलते रहें, बूढ़े न हो।
Word by Word
- तव
- of you, yourPronounषष्ठी (gen.), एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitival relation)Root त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- व्रते
- in (your) ordinance/vowNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकारणRoot व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
- सु-भगासः
- fortunate, blessedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (स्याम के)Root सुभग (प्रातिपदिक; सु- + भग)
- स्याम
- may we beVerbविधिलिङ् (optative), उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot अस् (धातु)
- स्वाध्यः
- well-disposed/obedient (to rule)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (सम्बोधनार्थे वरुणस्य विशेषणम्)Role सम्बोधन-विशेषणRoot स्वाध्य (प्रातिपदिक; सु-आ-धि/धा-य > स्वाध्य, ‘well-disposed/obedient’)
- वरुण
- O VaruṇaNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
- तुष्टुवांसः
- praising, having praisedParticiple (Adjective)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (स्याम के)Root तुष्टुवस् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √स्तु ‘to praise’ with reduplication/augment तु- + स्तु, perf. act. ptc.)
- उपायनः
- approaching, coming nearNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ/भाव (अग्नयः के विशेषण/सम्बन्ध)Root उपायन (प्रातिपदिक; उप-आ-√या/यम् ‘approach/coming’ > ‘approach, coming near’)
- उषसाम्
- of the dawnsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot उषस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- गोमतीनाम्
- rich in cows/light (cow-possessing)Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (उषसाम् विशेषणम्)Role सम्बन्धRoot गोमती (प्रातिपदिक; गो + मत्)
- अग्नयः
- the fires (Agni-powers)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-निपातRole सम्बन्ध (उपमा)Root न (अव्यय)
- जरमाणाः
- aging, growing oldParticiple (Adjective)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (अग्नयः विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot जरमाण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √जॄ/जर् ‘to grow old, wear’ → ‘aging’)
- अनु
- along, afterIndeclinableउपसर्ग/क्रियाविशेषणRole दिशा/अनुगमनRoot अनु (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
- द्यून्
- daysNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्म (अनु के)Root द्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (pada-splitting): तव | व्रते | सुभगासः | स्याम | स्वाध्यः | वरुण | तुष्टुवांसः | उपायनः | उषसाम् | गोमतीनाम् | अग्नयः | न | जरमाणाः | अनु | द्यून् । Notable: (1) स्वाध्यो वरुण → स्वाध्यः वरुण (visarga before v- often written as -o in saṃhitā)
- (2) तुष्टुवांस॑: → तुष्टुवांसः (visarga)
- (3) गोम॑तीनाम॒ग्नयो॒ → गोमतीनाम् + अग्नयः (m + a → ma, with nasal assimilation in saṃhitā)
The meaning
Outer meaning
May we be fortunate in Varuṇa’s law, self-disciplined, praising him. May we approach the Dawns rich in cows (rays), and like unfailing fires follow the days without aging.
Inner meaning
Varuṇa’s vrata is the inner law of truth-order; to live in it is to become subhaga—rightly ‘fortunate’ because aligned. Svādhya here is inner right discipline: the being governed from within by a higher rule, not by impulse. The seeker asks to draw near (upāyana) to uṣasāṃ gomatīnām—Dawns rich in ‘cows’, i.e., rays of knowledge and illumination. The final image is yogic endurance: to follow the days (anu dyūn) like agnayaḥ—fires that do not grow old (ajaramaṇa) in the soul. It is continuity of aspiration and flame, not a brief enthusiasm.
Universal truth
Spiritual fortune is not chance but alignment with truth and sustained practice. Illumination comes repeatedly as ‘dawns’ when the inner discipline is steady, and the true fire of aspiration can endure through time without inner fatigue.
Themes
Discipline under divine law, Approach to dawn-illumination, Sustained aspiration without decline
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)
- Lineage
- Bhṛgu (Bhārgava)
- Other hymns
- RV 2.1 (Agni as priest and inner leader), RV 2.27–2.28 (Āditya law and protection)
Family tradition
Bhṛgus are archetypal keepers of the fire; their poetry links outer rite to inner tapas—endurance of Agni across days.
Significance
The rishi teaches longevity of yoga: illumination must be approached by discipline, and the inner fire must remain youthful—ever-renewed by truth.
The deity
- Devata
- Varuṇa (with associative Uṣas and Agni imagery)
- Epithets
- Svādhya (giver/support of right self-discipline), Law-holder (vrata-pati, implied)
- Related deities
- Uṣas, Agni, Mitra (harmonizing aspect of Ādityas), Aditi
Cosmic role
Establishes ordinances by which light and days proceed; supports regularity and integrity in the worlds.
Inner power
Governs conscience and self-rule; opens the way to recurrent illuminations (dawns) and sustains the flame of aspiration through time.
In ritual
Where it is used
Varuṇa hymn recitation; suitable for vows (vrata) and purification intentions within śrauta settings.
तव॑ व्र॒ते सु॒भगा॑सः स्याम स्वा॒ध्यो॑ वरुण तुष्टु॒वांस॑: । उ॒पाय॑न उ॒षसां॒ गोम॑तीनाम॒ग्नयो॒ न जर॑माणा॒ अनु॒ द्यून् ॥
तव॑ । व्र॒ते । सु॒ऽभगा॑सः । स्या॒म॒ । सु॒ऽआ॒ध्यः॑ । व॒रु॒ण॒ । तु॒स्तु॒ऽवांसः॑ । उ॒प॒ऽअय॑ने । उ॒षसा॑म् । गोऽम॑तीनाम् । अ॒ग्नयः॑ । न । जर॑माणाः । अनु॑ । द्यून् ॥
tava | vrate | su-bhagāsaḥ | syāma | su-ādhyaḥ | varuṇa | tustu-vāṃsaḥ | upa-ayane | uṣasām | go--matīnām | agnayaḥ | na | jaramāṇāḥ | anu | dyūn
44
4×11 syllables
A steady marching rhythm; supportive of resolve and continuity (‘anu dyūn’ feel).
Instills disciplined calm and a sense of daily perseverance; the imagery of dawn and fire brightens the inner field.
- vrata
- Literal: vow, law, ordinance. Symbolic: the inner rule of truth-order that disciplines and protects growth
- subhaga
- Literal: fortunate, well-portioned. Symbolic: harmoniously endowed because aligned with ṛta
- svādhya
- Literal: self-placed/one’s own right practice. Symbolic: inner self-discipline; regulated energies under the psychic will
- uṣas
- Literal: dawn. Symbolic: illumination, awakening, fresh openings of consciousness
- go-matī
- Literal: cow-possessing. Symbolic: rich in rays/knowledges (not cattle)
- agni
- Literal: fire. Symbolic: aspiration and divine will leading the inner sacrifice
- jaramāṇa
- Literal: aging, wearing out. Symbolic: psychic fatigue, loss of inner flame through time
- dyu
- Literal: day, heaven/daylight. Symbolic: successive states of conscious clarity; progressive stages of practice
Supports the discipline of vrata in ritual life; recitable in contexts of vrata-observance and purification, and in Soma praise sequences
When establishing or renewing observances; also in morning recitation to invite uṣas-like illumination.
Recite with mental offering of one’s conduct into Varuṇa’s law; optionally accompanied by water-sipping (ācamana) as symbolic purification.
Use as a ‘practice-continuity’ mantra: for daily sadhana consistency, especially at dawn or beginning of day.
vratá- from √vṛ ‘to choose, will, restrain’ → a fixed law/willed order. uṣás- dawn from √vas/√uṣ ‘to shine, burn’ (PIE *h₂ews- ‘dawn’, cf. Eos, Aurora). gó- ‘cow’ from PIE *gʷou-; inner sense as ‘ray/illumination’ is supported by RV usage where go is released by light and linked with dawn/sun. agní- from √ag ‘to drive, move’ / √añj ‘to shine’ (traditional), functioning as will and flame of aspiration.
Vrata (law/vow as inner order), Aging/decay vs. immortal flame (ajarā), Illumination as ‘cows/rays’
Varuṇa’s vrata is ṛta in personal form—order as lived discipline.
Truthfulness as the condition for approaching the Dawns of knowledge.
Dawns and days as cyclical manifestation of light; fire as the sustaining transformative principle.
Yoga of ascent through repeated illuminations; psychological symbolism of Uṣas/Agni per Aurobindo-Kashyap.
dawn (strongly implied)
Dawn = sudden openings of insight; Fire = aspiration/will; Days = successive conscious states; Not aging = sustained psychic freshness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘coming to the Dawns rich in cows’ is the mythic pattern of approaching illumination and recovering rays of knowledge. Varuṇa’s vrata is the overarching law that permits this ascent; Agni-like persistence signifies the immortal aspiration that accompanies successive ‘days’ (states) without inner decline.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- uṣás- is a clear PIE inheritance (*h₂ews-), tying Vedic dawn-poetry to the Indo-European dawn goddess complex. gó- from *gʷou- shows the inherited lexeme that in Vedic becomes polyvalent (animal/ray), enabling mythopoetic semantic extension.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi asks to live ‘in’ Varuṇa’s vrata—accepting divine governance as inner self-discipline (svādhya). In return, Varuṇa grants fortunate being and access to dawn-illumination; praise (tuṣṭuvāṃsaḥ) is the human act that keeps the channel open.
Morning practice: align to inner law, then invite the ‘dawns of knowledge’ to rise in the mind; sustain the inner flame through the day.
maṇipūra (fire of will) with support from ājñā (illumined guidance)
Morning 6–6 breathing (inhale/exhale) while visualizing dawn-light filling the forehead; feel a steady flame at the navel/heart.
Bright, disciplined, forward-moving; resilient aspiration.
Chant at dawn or before work. After chanting, sit briefly and watch for a subtle ‘first light’ of insight; commit to one concrete act of right order (vrata) that day.
Tri-svara; keep the vocative ‘varuṇa’ prominent; let the cadence brighten on ‘uṣasāṃ gomatīnām’.
Mark pāda breaks clearly; energize the third pāda with a slight lift to mirror the ‘approach to dawns’.
svādhyo: long ā; avoid turning dhy into ‘j’, tuṣṭuvāṃsaḥ: retroflex ṭ; nasal ṃ before s, uṣasām: ṣ retroflex; long ā, gomatīnām: long ī; dental n at end, jaramāṇāḥ: clear j, long ā; visarga audible before pause
Warm and steady, like a maintained flame; brighter tone on ‘uṣas’.
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