Rig Veda 3.55.15: Mandala 3, Sukta 55, Mantra 15
Sukta 3.55
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- The discriminating sovereignty of Ṛta that distinguishes straight vs divergent movements
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
पदे इव निहिते दस्मे अन्तस्तयोरन्यद्गुह्यमाविरन्यत् । सध्रीचीना पथ्या सा विषूची महद्देवानामसुरत्वमेकम् ॥
padé iva níhite dasmé antás táyor anyád gúhyam āvír anyát | sadhrīcīnā́ pathyā́ sā́ víṣūcī mahád devānām asura-tvám ékam ||
जैसे दो निशानियाँ पाँव की रखी हैं, एक छुपी है, एक साफ दिख रही है। एक सीधा रास्ता है, दूसरा अलग जाता है। भगवान लोगों का एक बड़ा राज है।
Word by Word
- प॒दे
- in (two) footprints/stepsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; द्विवचनRole अधिकारणRoot पद-
- इव
- as, likeIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययRoot इव
- निहिते
- placed, depositedParticiple (Adjective)भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; द्विवचनRole विशेषण (अधिकारणसंबद्ध)Root नि-धा (√धा)
- दस्मे
- wondrous, marvelousAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; द्विवचनRole विशेषण (पदे/निहिते)Root दस्म-
- अन्तः
- within, insideIndeclinable (Adverb/Preverb)अव्यय; स्थानवाचकRole अधिकारणRoot अन्तर्
- तयोः
- of those twoPronounषष्ठी; द्विवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root तद्
- अन्यत्
- one (of the two), the otherPronoun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्तृ/कर्म (सन्दर्भानुसार)Root अन्य-
- गुह्यम्
- hidden, secretAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचनRole विशेषण (अन्यत्)Root गुह्य- (√गुह्/गूह् ‘to hide’)
- आविः
- openly, manifestlyIndeclinableअव्ययRoot आविस्
- अन्यत्
- the other (one)Pronoun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्तृ/कर्म (सन्दर्भानुसार)Root अन्य-
- सध्रीचीनाः
- going together, convergent, in the same directionAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole विशेषण (पथ्याः)Root सध्रीचीन- (सध्रीच् + -ईन)
- पथ्याः
- paths, coursesNoun/Adjective (f.)स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (वर्ण्य-वस्तु)Root पथ्या- (पथ्य/पथ्यā)
- सा
- that (one), she/itPronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ (सम्बन्धसूचक)Root तद्
- विषूची
- divergent, going apartAdjective (f.)स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole विशेषण (सा)Root विषूची-
- महत्
- greatAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचनRole विशेष्य/विशेषण (असुरत्वम्)Root महत् (मह्)
- देवानाम्
- of the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root देव-
- असुरत्वम्
- asura-hood; lordly power/sovereigntyAbstract Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्तृ/कर्म (सन्दर्भानुसार)Root असुरत्व- (असुर + -त्व)
- एकम्
- one, singleNumeral/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचनRole विशेषण (असुरत्वम्)Root एक-
Sandhi Notes
- पदे इव (no sandhi)
- निहिते दस्मे (agreement with पदे: loc. dual n.)
- अन्तस्तयोः = अन्तः + तयोः (visarga sandhi: अः + त → स्त)
- अन्यद्गुह्यम् = अन्यत् + गुह्यम् (final -त् before voiced g becomes -द्)
- आविरन्यत् = आविः + अन्यत् (visarga before vowel: अः → र्; RV orthography shows आविर-)
- सध्रीचीनाः पथ्याः (no external sandhi)
- महद्देवानाम् = महत् + देवानाम् (t + d → dd)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Like two footprints placed within the wondrous: of the two, one is hidden and the other manifest. One is the straight path, the other diverges; one is the vast lordship of the gods.
Inner meaning
Two movements exist within the ‘wondrous’ (dasma)—the divine working in us: one concealed (guhyam), one revealed (āviḥ). Psychologically, this is the double track of consciousness: the inner intention/power that is still veiled in the subconscient, and the outer expression that is visible. Likewise, there is a straight-going path (sadhṛcīnā pathyā) aligned with ṛta, and a divergent movement (viṣūcī) that scatters energy into desire, fear, and surface habit. The mantra is a diagnostic: discern which footprint you are following. The refrain asserts that even this discrimination is held under the one sovereign divine governance—there is a higher unity that can convert divergence into straightness.
Universal truth
Human life constantly presents two tracks: alignment and deviation. Growth requires discrimination—seeing what is hidden behind actions and choosing the straight rhythm of truth.
Themes
Discernment, Right path (Ṛta), Hidden and manifest, Ethics of consciousness
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Gāthina
- Other hymns
- RV 3.34 (Indra’s victory over obstruction), RV 3.26 (Agni as discerner and priest), RV 3.62.10
Family tradition
Emphasis on discernment and inner conquest: finding the straight path of ṛta amid mixed forces.
Significance
A seer of practical yoga: not only vision but discrimination between true and false movements in the psyche.
The deity
- Devata
- Sovereignty of Ṛta as discriminating power
- Epithets
- Dasma (wondrous), Pathyā (of the path)
- Related deities
- Varuṇa (law of ṛta), Mitra (harmony), Indra (illumined mind that chooses), Agni (inner will that executes the straight path)
Cosmic role
Ṛta distinguishes and holds together: it reveals the right track and exposes divergence as disorder.
Inner power
Viveka-like discrimination; ability to detect hidden motives and realign action to truth.
In ritual
Where it is used
Ethical-psychological guidance within ritual life: choose the straight path (sadhṛcīnā pathyā) over divergence
प॒दे इ॑व॒ निहि॑ते द॒स्मे अ॒न्तस्तयो॑र॒न्यद्गुह्य॑मा॒विर॒न्यत् । स॒ध्री॒ची॒ना प॒थ्या॒३॒॑ सा विषू॑ची म॒हद्दे॒वाना॑मसुर॒त्वमेक॑म् ॥
प॒देइ॒वेति॑ प॒देऽइ॑व । निहि॑ते॒ इति॒ निऽहि॑ते । द॒स्मे । अ॒न्तरिति॑ । तयोः॑ । अ॒न्यत् । गुह्य॑म् । आ॒विः । अ॒न्यत् । स॒ध्री॒ची॒ना । प॒थ्या॑ । सा । विषू॑ची । म॒हत् । दे॒वाना॑म् । अ॒सु॒र॒ऽत्वम् । एक॑म् ॥
padeivetipade--iva | nihiteitini-hite | dasme | antariti | tayoḥ | anyat | guhyam | āviḥ | anyat | sadhrīcīnā | pathyā | sā | viṣūcī | mahat | devānām | asura-tvam | ekam
44
4 × ~11; balanced antithesis (hidden/manifest; straight/diverging) before the refrain.
Binary, incisive; the meter supports clear contrasts and decision.
Sharpens discernment; creates an inner ‘cut’ between aligned and misaligned impulses.
- पदे इव (pade iva)
- Literal: as if footprints. Symbolic: tracks of consciousness; habitual grooves of movement
- दस्म (dasma)
- Literal: wondrous, skillful (of the divine). Symbolic: the mysterious divine working in the being
- गुह्यम् (guhyam)
- Literal: hidden. Symbolic: subconscient motive/power; unmanifest guidance
- आविः (āviḥ)
- Literal: manifest, visible. Symbolic: expressed action/thought in the surface nature
- सध्रीचीना (sadhṛcīnā)
- Literal: straight-going. Symbolic: aligned movement in ṛta; integrated will
- विषूची (viṣūcī)
- Literal: diverging, scattered. Symbolic: dispersion of energy; deviation into ignorance/desire
Ethical-psychological guidance within ritual life: choose the straight path (sadhṛcīnā pathyā) over divergence
As part of hymns contemplating ṛta and right movement; useful in rites emphasizing correct order and expiation of deviation.
Recited to affirm right path; can accompany a symbolic ‘setting of steps’ or establishing a boundary/order.
Use in self-inquiry: chant, then journal ‘hidden motive vs visible act’ and ‘straight vs diverging’ for one recurring pattern.
: from √guh ‘to hide’. : ‘manifest’ (visible). : from path ‘path’. : vi- ‘apart’ + sūcī (from √suc ‘point/shine’ in later; RV sense ‘separate directions’) → diverging.
Occult vs manifest processes (guhyam/āviḥ), Right path vs deviation (pathyā/viṣūcī), Inner discernment in Ṛta
Implicit: straight path is ṛta-aligned; divergence is ṛta-breach.
Truth includes seeing what is hidden; satya is not surface appearance.
The One works through veiled and unveiled processes; evolution moves from hidden to manifest.
Vedic psychology aligned with later Upaniṣadic discrimination (viveka) without dualistic denial of the world.
Footprints = samskāra tracks; straight path = integrated nervous-mental rhythm; diverging path = scattered prāṇa and thought.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘two paths’ motif: one straight and harmonized with Ṛta, the other divergent; one hidden, one manifest. Mythically it echoes the fork of ways; psychologically it is the choice between aligned truth-movement and dispersive desire-movement.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The path metaphor (path-) is central across IE traditions for moral/spiritual direction. The hidden/manifest opposition (√guh vs āviḥ) mirrors a widespread IE concern with the seen and unseen workings of fate/order.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi seeks guidance in discernment: the devatā’s sovereignty is experienced as the power to distinguish and choose the straight path, integrating hidden processes into conscious alignment rather than letting them diverge unconsciously.
Discern the straight movement: feel where energy becomes scattered; return to the single aligned intention.
ājñā (discernment)
4-6 breathing; on inhale note ‘āviḥ’ (what is visible), on exhale ‘guhyam’ (what is hidden) to sink below surface.
Witness consciousness with discriminative light; reduced identification with divergent impulses.
After chanting, choose one ‘straight’ action for the next hour. If divergence arises, label it ‘viṣūcī’ and gently re-enter the straight rhythm.
Accentuate contrasts with udatta: and; keep ‘sadhṛcīnā pathyā’ flowing straight; mark ‘viṣūcī’ with a slight tonal ‘turn’ without drama.
Make a clear micro-pause between ‘guhyam’ and ‘āviḥ’; another between ‘sadhṛcīnā’ and ‘viṣūcī’ to mirror the bifurcation.
sadhṛcīnā: keep ṛ as a vowel; do not drop it., viṣūcī: retroflex ṣ; long ū., dasme: dental d; short e., āviḥ: final ḥ soft, not a hard ‘h’.
Low, clear, contemplative; slightly firmer on the refrain.
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