Rig Veda 3.8.6: Mandala 3, Sukta 8, Mantra 6
Sukta 3.8
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Vanaspati with attendant gods
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
यान्वो नरो देवयन्तो निमिम्युर्वनस्पते स्वधितिर्वा ततक्ष । ते देवासः स्वरवस्तस्थिवांसः प्रजावदस्मे दिधिषन्तु रत्नम् ॥
yā́n vo náro devayánto nimimyúr vánaspate svádhitir vā tatákṣa | té devā́saḥ sváravas tasthivā́ṃsaḥ prajā́vad asmé didhiṣantu rátnaṃ ||
हे पेड़ों के स्वामी, जो लोग भगवान को ढूंढते हैं उन्होंने तुम्हे नाप के काटा है। या फिर उस चमकती कुल्हाड़ी ने तुम्हे बनाया है। वो सब देवता अपनी रोशनी में खड़े हैं। उनकी दुआ है कि तुम्हे ऐसे धन मिले जिससे आगे पैदल बढ़े।
Word by Word
- यान्
- whom/which (those)Pronounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) / य- (relative pronoun stem)
- वः
- of you (your)Pronounषष्ठी (genitive) / enclitic; बहुवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- नरः
- menNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot नर (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवयन्तः
- worshipping the gods, god-seekingAdjective/Participleपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन; वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययRole कर्तृ (विशेषणम्)Root देवयन्त् (देवय् + शतृ; from denom. verb देवयति ‘to worship/seek the gods’)
- निमिम्युः
- they fashioned, they builtVerbपरस्मैपद; 3 पुरुष; बहुवचन; (Vedic) perfect/aorist-like: ‘they fashioned/constructed’Role क्रियाRoot √मा (मि) ‘to measure; to form/build’ with नि-; (Vedic perfect/aorist-type form)
- वनस्पते
- O Lord of the wood (tree; wood-deity)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot वनस्पति (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्वधितिः
- the axeNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ (विकल्पे)Root स्वधिति (प्रातिपदिक)
- वा
- orIndeclinableविकल्पार्थक अव्ययRole समुच्चय/विकल्पRoot वा (अव्यय)
- ततक्ष
- he/it fashioned, hewedVerbपरस्मैपद; 3 पुरुष; एकवचन; लिट् (perfect) / Vedic perfectRole क्रियाRoot √तक्ष् ‘to hew, fashion, carpenter’
- ते
- they (those)Pronounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot तद् (सर्वनाम)
- देवासः
- the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (अप्पोजिशन to ते)Root देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्वरवः
- possessing svar (light/heavenly radiance)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषणम्)Root स्वरवत् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘having svar/sunlight/voice’; Vedic stem)
- तस्थिवांसः
- having stood, standing firmParticipleपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन; लिट्-कृदन्त (क्तवांस्/वांस्-type) ‘having stood’Role कर्तृ (विशेषणम्)Root √स्था ‘to stand’ → तस्थिवांस् (perfect active participle)
- प्रजावत्
- with offspring, progeny-richAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग (adverbial accusative) / अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोग; एकवचनRole विशेषण (फल-विशेषणम्)Root प्रजावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्मे
- to us / for usPronounचतुर्थी/सप्तमी (Vedic loc.-dat.); बहुवचन; encliticRole सम्प्रदानRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- दिधिषन्तु
- let them bestowVerbपरस्मैपद; 3 पुरुष; बहुवचन; लोट् (imperative) on desiderative: ‘let them wish to place/bestow’Role क्रियाRoot √धा ‘to place, bestow’ with desiderative stem दिधिष-
- रत्नम्
- treasure, giftNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (pada-vibhāga): यान् + वः + नरः + देवयन्तः + निमिम्युः + वनस्पते + स्वधितिः + वा + ततक्ष । ते + देवासः + स्वरवः + तस्थिवांसः + प्रजावत् + अस्मे + दिधिषन्तु + रत्नम् ॥ Notable: यान्वो → यान् वः
- म्युर्वनस्पते → म्युः वनस्पते
- स्वधितिर्वा → स्वधितिः वा
- देवासः स्वरवः (visarga before sibilant retained in saṃhitā)
- अस्मे is Vedic enclitic loc./dat. plural
The meaning
Outer meaning
The god-seeking men have measured out the wooden structure, or the shining axe has shaped it. May the gods, standing in their own radiance, place in us a treasure rich in progeny—an abundance that generates.
Inner meaning
The inner ‘wood’ (formed substance of nature) is measured and shaped: aspiration (devayantaḥ) gives proportion and right limit; the bright axe (svadhiti) is discriminating force that cuts away excess and fashions a fit support. When the being is thus rightly formed, the luminous powers (devāsaḥ svaravaḥ) can stand firmly in their own light within us and establish the ratna—an inner treasure of prajā: generative capacities, new births of right thoughts, right forces, right joys.
Universal truth
Spiritual growth needs both devotion and precision: aspiration measures; discernment shapes. When the vessel is well-made, higher powers can inhabit it, and inner abundance becomes self-renewing.
Themes
ritual construction as inner formation, bestowal of treasure (ratna), generativity (prajāvat)
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 3.7, RV 3.8, RV 3.9, RV 7.33
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha hymns often stress right formation (takṣ-) and right measure (mā-) as conditions for divine descent.
Significance
As seer of harmony, Vasiṣṭha presents the path as craftsmanship of the soul-instrument—measuring, shaping, then receiving the divine ‘treasure’.
The deity
- Devata
- Vanaspati (and luminous gods)
- Epithets
- vanaspati, svaravas (radiant/crying svar), devāsaḥ (the shining powers)
- Related deities
- Tvaṣṭṛ (divine fashioner), Viśve Devāḥ, Agni
Cosmic role
Vanaspati is the formed support; the gods are the indwelling powers that confer abundance when the support is correctly fashioned.
Inner power
Power of formation in substance (wood/body-nature) and the descent of luminous forces into that formation.
In ritual
Where it is used
Consecration/setting of Vanaspati or yūpa elements; invocation for prosperity/fruitfulness from the gods after preparation.
यान्वो॒ नरो॑ देव॒यन्तो॑ निमि॒म्युर्वन॑स्पते॒ स्वधि॑तिर्वा त॒तक्ष॑ । ते दे॒वास॒: स्वर॑वस्तस्थि॒वांस॑: प्र॒जाव॑द॒स्मे दि॑धिषन्तु॒ रत्न॑म् ॥
यान् । वः॒ । नरः॑ । दे॒व॒ऽयन्तः॑ । नि॒ऽमि॒म्युः । वन॑स्पते । स्वऽधि॑तिः । वा॒ । त॒तक्ष॑ । ते । दे॒वासः॑ । स्वर॑वः । त॒स्थि॒ऽवांसः॑ । प्र॒जाऽव॑त् । अ॒स्मे इति॑ । दि॒धि॒ष॒न्तु॒ । रत्न॑म् ॥
yān | vaḥ | naraḥ | deva-yantaḥ | ni-mimyuḥ | vanaspate | sva-dhitiḥ | vā | tatakṣa | te | devāsaḥ | svaravaḥ | tasthi-vāṃsaḥ | prajāvat | asme iti | didhiṣantu | ratnam
44
4 × ~11 syllables
Craftsmanlike, strongly segmented; supports imagery of measuring and shaping.
Creates a feeling of precise building culminating in a blessing—well-suited to sankalpa (intent) and receptivity.
- devayantaḥ
- Literal: god-seeking. Symbolic: aspiration turned upward; the will to align with higher consciousness
- nimimyuḥ
- Literal: they measured out. Symbolic: right proportion, discipline, and ordering of life
- svadhiti
- Literal: axe. Symbolic: discriminating intelligence that cuts ignorance and shapes character
- tatakṣa
- Literal: has fashioned. Symbolic: deliberate formation of the inner instrument
- svaravas
- Literal: having the cry of svar / standing in radiance. Symbolic: powers established in luminous vibration; truth-sound and light
- ratnam
- Literal: treasure. Symbolic: attainment: stable inner wealth of light, force, joy
- prajāvat
- Literal: rich in progeny. Symbolic: generative fullness—capacity to produce higher movements repeatedly
Consecration/installation of sacrificial wood or post; request for ‘ratna’ and ‘prajā’ as the rite is materially shaped (takṣ) and ritually measured (mā).
After shaping/placing wooden supports; during requests for ratna and prajā (increase).
Recitation while measuring, cutting, or installing; followed by offering/oblation.
Before starting a long-term project: ‘measure’ scope, ‘shape’ habits (cut distractions), then invite higher clarity; dedicate results to generative good (prajāvat).
vanaspati ‘lord of the forest/wood’ (vana ‘wood’ + pati ‘lord’ from √pā ‘protect/rule’). ni-√mā ‘measure out, mete’ (nimimyur: perfect-like injunctive/aorist formation; ‘to set limits/form’). sva-dhiti ‘axe’ (dhiti from √dhā ‘place’ or related tool-noun; interpreted as ‘that which sets/cleaves’; traditional tool term). √takṣ ‘to fashion/carpenter’ (tatakṣa; PIE *tetḱ- ‘to shape’ cf. Latin texō ‘weave/build’, Greek téktōn ‘carpenter’). ratna ‘treasure’ (valuable essence/power). prajā from pra-√jan ‘generate forth’.
Ṛta as correct measure and form (ni-mā), formation by discernment (takṣ as shaping consciousness), prajā as generative becoming (not merely biological offspring)
Measuring and shaping are outer signs of ṛta—order and proportion enabling harmony.
The gods ‘stand’ in their own radiance when the instrument is truthful and aligned.
Takṣ- (fashioning) echoes cosmic craftsmanship: creation as shaped order, not chaos.
Integral-Vedic psychology: transformation of prakṛti (formed nature) into a fit seat for higher consciousness.
The body-life as ‘wood’ shaped by discernment; radiance as awakened consciousness; treasure as stable attainment and generativity.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘cosmic carpentry’ mythologem: sacred form is measured and fashioned (ni-mā, takṣ) so that the gods can ‘stand’ in radiance and deposit treasure in the human vessel. The rite mirrors the inner shaping of the being into a fit support.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √takṣ is a strong Indo-European craft root (PIE *tetḱ-), with cognates in Greek téktōn and Latin texō, showing a shared poetic metaphor of ‘building’ order. The semantic bridge from physical crafting to spiritual formation is already active in Vedic usage.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- Humans prepare the support (measure/fashion); the gods respond by stabilizing their presence (tasthivāṃsaḥ) and placing ratna within the aspirant. The exchange is: right formation offered → generative treasure bestowed.
Inner craftsmanship: visualize shaping the ‘vessel’ of nature so higher forces can stand in you as light.
Maṇipūra (shaping will/discipline) with Ājñā (discriminating axe)
Box breathing 4-4-4-4 while mentally ‘measuring’; then longer exhale 4-6 while ‘placing the treasure’ in the heart-space.
Collected, competent, quietly heroic; readiness for descent of luminous powers.
1) Identify one excess habit (to be cut). 2) Choose one proportioning rule (time/food/speech). 3) Chant; feel svadhiti as calm discernment. 4) End with a prayer for prajāvat ratna: generative clarity that benefits others.
Rigvedic accent preserved; emphasize clarity on devayanto, vanaspate, svaravas, prajāvad, ratnam.
Slight lift on vocative vanaspate; keep pāda endings clean with a soft release; maintain triṣṭubh pace without rushing consonant clusters.
vanaspate: clear dental n and retroflex ṣ not present—keep ‘sp’ crisp., svadhitir: pronounce ‘sv’ smoothly; ‘dh’ aspirated., tatakṣa: articulate kṣ as a single cluster, not ‘k-sh’ separated., prajāvad: long ā in prajā; keep -vad light.
Firm, well-articulated, ‘crafted’ diction; confident but reverent.
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