Rig Veda 2.39.3: Mandala 2, Sukta 39, Mantra 3
Sukta 2.39
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
शृङ्गेव नः प्रथमा गन्तमर्वाक्छफाविव जर्भुराणा तरोभिः । चक्रवाकेव प्रति वस्तोरुस्रार्वाञ्चा यातं रथ्येव शक्रा ॥
śṛ́ṅgeva naḥ prathamā́ gántam arvā́k śaphā́viva járbhurāṇā tárō-bhiḥ | cakravā́keva práti vástor usrā́rvā́ñcā yātaṃ rathyéva śakrā ||
तुम हमारे पास पहले आओ, जैसे जानवर के दो सींग आगे बढ़ते हैं। जैसे पाँव तेज़ी से चलते हैं और कूदते हैं, तुम भी ऐसे ही आओ। जैसे सुबह के वक़्त चकवा पक्षी वापस आता है, तुम भी हमारे पास आओ। तुम दोनों ताकतवाले हो और रास्ते पर चल के आते हो।
Word by Word
- शृङ्गा
- (like) two hornsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; द्विवचनRole उपमान (तुलना-निर्देश) / विशेषण-भावRoot शृङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) < PIE *ḱerh₂- ‘horn’
- इव
- like, asIndeclinableउपमानार्थक अव्ययRole सम्बन्ध/उपमान-चिह्नRoot इव (निपात)
- नः
- of us, ourPronounषष्ठी; बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्बन्ध (अस्माकम्) / लाभार्थ-सम्बन्धRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- प्रथमा
- first, foremostAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole विशेषण (गमनस्य/आगमनस्य) / क्रियाविशेषणार्थRoot प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
- गन्तम्
- (you) two who come / to be approachedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; द्विवचन (युगल-देवता-सम्बोधन/उद्देश्य)Role कर्म (यौ—‘you two’ as goal of invocation) / विधेय-विशेषणRoot गम् (धातु) → गन्तृ/गन्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- अर्वाक्
- hither, towards hereIndeclinableदिशावाचक अव्ययRole अधिकारण (दिशा/गति-निर्देश)Root अर्वाक् (अव्यय/दिशावाचक)
- छफौ
- two hoovesNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; द्विवचनRole उपमान (तुलना-निर्देश)Root छफ (प्रातिपदिक) ‘hoof’
- इव
- likeIndeclinableउपमानार्थक अव्ययRole सम्बन्ध/उपमान-चिह्नRoot इव (निपात)
- जर्भुराणौ
- you two, bustling/quick-movingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; द्विवचनRole कर्तृ (यौ—आगच्छतः) / विशेषणRoot जर्भुर (प्रातिपदिक; ‘quick-moving/active’, Vedic)
- तरोभिः
- with (their) wooden (parts) / with shaftsNounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; बहुवचनRole करणRoot तरु (प्रातिपदिक) ‘tree/wood; (also) oar/shaft’ (Vedic usage varies)
- चक्रवाकौ
- like two cakravāka birdsNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; द्विवचनRole उपमान (तुलना-निर्देश)Root चक्रवाक (प्रातिपदिक) ‘cakravāka-birds’
- इव
- likeIndeclinableउपमानार्थक अव्ययRole सम्बन्ध/उपमान-चिह्नRoot इव (निपात)
- प्रति
- towards, in response toIndeclinableप्रत्यर्थक/अभिमुख्यार्थक अव्ययRole अधिकारण/दिशा (अभिमुखता)Root प्रति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- वस्तोः
- of the night / of the resting-timeNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (रात्रेः/वास-कालस्य)Root वस्तु/वस्तु (प्रातिपदिक) ‘dwelling; night; time of rest’ (Vedic: ‘night’)
- उस्राः
- the ruddy (dawn-)rays / dawn-cowsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (उद्गमन/प्रकाशन) / विषयRoot उसर/उस्र (प्रातिपदिक) ‘reddish; dawn-cows/rays’
- अर्वाञ्चा
- you two, hitherward-facingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; द्विवचनRole कर्तृ-विशेषण (यौ—आगच्छतः)Root अर्वाञ्च् (प्रातिपदिक/विशेषण) ‘hitherward’
- यातम्
- go/come (you two)!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यमपुरुष; द्विवचनRole क्रिया (आह्वान/आज्ञा)Root या (धातु) ‘to go’
- रथ्या
- as by a chariot(-road) / in chariot-fashionAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचन (उपमान-निर्देशे)Role करण/उपमान (यथा रथ्यया)Root रथ्य (प्रातिपदिक) ‘of a chariot; chariot-way’
- इव
- likeIndeclinableउपमानार्थक अव्ययRole सम्बन्ध/उपमान-चिह्नRoot इव (निपात)
- शक्रा
- O you two mighty onesAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; द्विवचन (युगल-देवता)Role सम्बोधनRoot शक्र (प्रातिपदिक) ‘mighty, able’
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (Vedic sandhi resolution): शृङ्गे॑व → शृङ्गा इव
- ग॑न्तम॒र्वाक् → गन्तम् अर्वाक्
- छ॒फावि॑व → छफौ इव
- जर्भु॑राणा॒ → जर्भुराणौ
- च॒क्र॒वा॒केव॒ → चक्रवाकौ इव
- वस्तो॑रुस्रा॒ः → वस्तोः उस्राः
- उस्रा॒र्वाञ्चा॑ → उस्राः अर्वाञ्चा
- र॒थ्ये॑व → रथ्या इव. (स्वरचिह्न/उदात्तादि पाठे यथास्थानं; पदच्छेदे सामान्यरूपेण दर्शितम्।)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The Aśvins are asked to come first to the worshipper: like two horns leading forward, like two hooves leaping swiftly, like cakravāka birds returning toward dawn’s dwelling; come like two mighty ones on the chariot path.
Inner meaning
The seer calls for the first arrival of the twin powers at the beginning of inner awakening. ‘Horns’ suggest the projecting points of force that lead—initiative and forward perception. ‘Hooves’ suggest firm, rapid steps of effective action in the vital. The cakravāka’s return to the dawn-home symbolizes the soul’s instinct to return from separation to the light of consciousness. The Aśvins as śakrā on the rathya path are the strong, swift facilitators of this return: they bring the being back to the ‘dwelling of dawn’—a stable station of illumination.
Universal truth
When awakening begins, what is needed first is a guided forward movement: clear initiative, swift steady action, and the heart’s instinctive return to light—supported by harmonizing divine forces.
Themes
Swift arrival, Return of light, Overcoming obstacles, Twin symbolism
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)
- Lineage
- Bhṛgu (Bhārgava)
- Other hymns
- RV 2.39.1–5 (sequence)
Family tradition
A line of seers of dynamic realization—linking illumination with effective movement in life.
Significance
He invokes speed with right direction—awakening must arrive ‘first’ and lead the rest of nature.
The deity
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Epithets
- Śakrā, Prathamā-gantam (come first), Prātaryāvāṇā (implicit)
- Related deities
- Uṣas, Sūrya
Cosmic role
Harbingers and companions of dawn; swift rescuers who set the chariot of progress in motion.
Inner power
Leading initiative + rapid stabilizing action; drawing consciousness back to its luminous home.
In ritual
Where it is used
Aśvin invitation at dawn; request for first attendance
शृङ्गे॑व नः प्रथ॒मा ग॑न्तम॒र्वाक्छ॒फावि॑व॒ जर्भु॑राणा॒ तरो॑भिः । च॒क्र॒वा॒केव॒ प्रति॒ वस्तो॑रुस्रा॒र्वाञ्चा॑ यातं र॒थ्ये॑व शक्रा ॥
शृण्गा॑ऽइव । नः॒ । प्र॒थ॒मा । ग॒न्त॒म् । अ॒र्वाक् । श॒फौऽइ॑व । जर्भु॑राणा । तरः॑ऽभिः । च॒क्र॒वा॒काऽइ॑व । प्रति॑ । वस्तोः॑ । उ॒स्रा॒ । अ॒र्वाञ्चा॑ । या॒त॒म् । र॒थ्या॑ऽइव । श॒क्रा॒ ॥
śṛṇgāiva | naḥ | prathamā | gantam | arvāk | śaphau-iva | jarbhurāṇā | taraḥ-bhiḥ | cakravākāiva | prati | vastoḥ | usrā | arvāñcā | yātam | rathyāiva | śakrā
44
4×11 syllables
Springing and kinetic; imagery of leaps fits the triṣṭubh drive.
Energizes and ‘calls forward’ the will; helpful when dullness or inertia dominates.
- शृङ्ग (śṛṅga)
- Literal: horn. Symbolic: leading point of force; initiative and forward-directed perception
- शफ (śapha)
- Literal: hoof. Symbolic: firm step of action; effective vital movement
- जर्भुराण (jarbhurāṇa)
- Literal: leaping/moving quickly. Symbolic: energetic progress; breaking inertia
- तरोभिः (tarobhiḥ)
- Literal: with leaps/speeds. Symbolic: impulses of dynamic advance
- चक्रवाक (cakravāka)
- Literal: ruddy goose/paired bird. Symbolic: yearning return to union/light; fidelity to the dawn
- वस्तोः (vastos)
- Literal: dwelling/home. Symbolic: stable station of consciousness; inner home in light
- उस्रा (usrā)
- Literal: dawn, ruddy light. Symbolic: illumination and awakening
- शक्रा (śakrā)
- Literal: mighty ones. Symbolic: effective power that can overcome resistance
- रथ्य (rathya)
- Literal: on the chariot-path. Symbolic: disciplined route of progress; yogic path in action
Dawn-call to the Aśvins to arrive ‘first’ and lead the rite’s opening movements; emphasizes swift overcoming and return of light.
Early morning praise; before commencing offerings/works
Invitatory recitation emphasizing swift arrival and guidance
Use when beginning meditation/work to summon momentum, direction, and a return to clarity (especially after confusion).
tara- : from √tṛ ‘to cross, overcome’ → inner crossings beyond obstruction. cakravāka simile encodes pairedness and return to dawn (usrā), reinforcing Aśvin identity as restorers. śṛṅga ‘horn’ as projecting power suggests initiative of the divine impulse.
Crossing/overcoming (√tṛ) as inner passage beyond darkness, Priority of divine help at beginnings (prathamā)
‘Come first’ indicates priority of right order: illumination leads, action follows.
Return to dawn-home: re-establishing consciousness in its luminous origin.
Yoga of dynamic ascent/return: restoring the being to its station in light.
dawn
Leading edge of aspiration; swift steps of practice; the psyche’s return to illumination.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythic ‘return with dawn’ of the paired helpers: like cakravākas to the dawn-dwelling, the Aśvins come first and swiftly, enabling crossings (tara-) beyond obstruction. Psychologically, it is the quick re-entry of luminous faculties at the threshold of awakening.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √tṛ ‘cross’ corresponds to PIE *terh₁- ‘cross over’ (cf. English through via Germanic developments; Latin trans). The repeated dual imperatives (gantam, yātam) preserve archaic paired-address typical of early IE poetic diction.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi requests precedence and guidance: the Aśvins are asked to arrive before other forces, to lead the transition from night-state to dawn-state in the human consciousness.
Call the ‘first-moving’ force: let aspiration lead (horn), then establish steady action (hoof), then rest in dawn-light (usrā).
Maṇipūra (dynamic will) supporting Ājñā (direction)
3 rounds: inhale ‘arvāk’ (come hither), exhale ‘yātam’ (arrive); then normal breath with mantra
Alert, forward-moving, luminous expectancy
If tamas arises, chant once aloud, then sit: feel a forward ‘point’ in the forehead (direction) and a grounded steadiness in the feet (execution).
Maintain clear udatta lift on key invocatory verbs (gantam/yātam) per tradition; avoid rushing despite kinetic imagery.
Mark pāda breaks distinctly; let the third pāda (cakravāka imagery) soften slightly, then return to strength on ‘śakrā’.
śṛṅgeva: keep ṛṅ nasalization clear (śṛṅ), cakravākeva: articulate ca-kra-vā-ke-va cleanly, usrārvāñcā: keep the cluster -rvāñ- distinct; do not drop nasalization
Bright, ringing, but controlled
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