Rig Veda 5.62.2: Mandala 5, Sukta 62, Mantra 2
Sukta 5.62
- Devata
- Mitra-Varuṇa
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
तत्सु वां मित्रावरुणा महित्वमीर्मा तस्थुषीरहभिर्दुदुह्रे । विश्वाः पिन्वथः स्वसरस्य धेना अनु वामेकः पविरा ववर्त ॥
tát su vāṃ mitrā́varuṇā mahi-tvám ī́rmā tasthuṣī́r áha-bhir duduhre | víśvāḥ pinvathaḥ svásarasya dhénā ánu vā́m ékaḥ pavír ā́ vavarta ||
मित्र और वरुण, यह तुम्हारी बड़ी ताकत है। नदियाँ जो टिक के खड़ी हैं, उनमें दिन-भर पानी निकलता रहता है। तुम खुद-बहने वाले सरोवर को भर देते हो। तुम्हारे पीछे वो एक साफ करने वाला चलता रहता है, जो इंसान को सच की तरफ ले जाता है।
Word by Word
- तत्
- that (deed/act/thing)Pronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सु
- well, indeedIndeclinableअव्ययRoot सु (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- वाम्
- of you two / to you twoPronounषष्ठी/द्वितीया, द्विवचन (एन्क्लिटिक रूप)Role SampradānaRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- मित्रावरुणा
- O Mitra and VaruṇaNoun (dual deity name)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, द्विवचनRoot मित्र + वरुण (देव-नाम)
- महित्वम्
- greatness, majestyNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot महित्व (महत्-भाव; प्रातिपदिक)
- ईर्मा
- set (it) in motion / impel (you two)!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपदRoot ईर् (धातु; ‘to set in motion/raise’)
- तस्थुषीः
- (the) standing (ones), those that standParticiple (perfect, standing)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot स्था (धातु) → तस्थुष् (परिपूर्ण/परस्मै) + स्त्री-प्रातिपदिक तस्थुषी
- अहभिः
- with days / by daysNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot अहन् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘day’)
- दुदुह्रे
- they two milked / have milkedVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; आत्मनेपदRoot दुह् (धातु; ‘to milk’)
- विश्वाः
- all (things)Adjective (substantivized)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot विश्व (सर्व/समस्त; प्रातिपदिक)
- पिन्वथः
- you two make abound / invigorateVerbलट् (वर्तमान), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपदRoot पिव्/पिन्व् (धातु; ‘to swell, make abound, invigorate’)
- स्वस॑रस्य
- of the sisterNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot स्वसर् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘sister’)
- धेनाम्
- the milch-cowNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot धेनु (प्रातिपदिक; ‘milch-cow’)
- अनु
- along, after, according toIndeclinableअव्ययRoot अनु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- वाम्
- of you two / for you twoPronounषष्ठी/द्वितीया, द्विवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role SampradānaRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- एकः
- one (single)Adjective (substantivized)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot एक (प्रातिपदिक)
- पविः
- a purifier / sieve / bladeNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot पवि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘sieve/strainer; blade; purifier’)
- आ
- towards, untoIndeclinableअव्ययRoot आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- ववर्त
- has turned / rolled (has come to revolve)Verbलिट् (परिपूर्ण), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदRoot वृत् (धातु; ‘to turn, roll, revolve’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-विग्रह): तत्सु → तत् + सु
- वां मित्रावरुणा → वाम् + मित्रावरुणा (एन्क्लिटिक सर्वनाम)
- महित्वमीर्मा → महित्वम् + ईर्मा
- तस्थुषीरहभिः → तस्थुषीः + अहभिः
- विश्वाः पिन्वथः → विश्वाः + पिन्वथः
- स्वस॑रस्य धेना → स्वसरस्य + धेनाम्
- अनु वामेकः → अनु + वाम् + एकः
- पविरा → पविः + आ
- (पविः + आ) ववर्त → पविरा ववर्त (विसर्ग-लोप/रकारादेशः वैदिके)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Mitra and Varuṇa’s greatness is praised: the standing streams are “milked” by the days; they fill all the cows of a self-flowing source; a single purifier follows them, turning again and again.
Inner meaning
Mitra (harmonising light) and Varuṇa (vast law/truth) govern the inner order where the steady currents of consciousness (īrmā tasthuṣīḥ) yield their essence progressively through the “days” (regular cycles of practice and awakening). From the self-born, self-flowing spring of being (svasarasya), the rays of knowledge (dhenaḥ, “cows”) are filled. The “single purifier” (ekaḥ pavīḥ)—the one-pointed discerning will/intelligence that separates true from false—revolves after them, repeatedly sharpening the nature toward ṛta/satya (Truth-Right).
Universal truth
Spiritual growth is rhythmic and lawful: steady inner currents yield their nectar through time and persistence; illumination is replenished from a self-sustaining source when life is aligned to truth; discernment must repeatedly return to purify and re-orient the being.
Themes
mitra-varuna-sovereignty, purification, inner-nourishment
The seer
- Rishi
- Śyāvāśva (traditional attribution for RV 5.62 within the Śyāvāśva hymns of Maṇḍala 5)
- Lineage
- Aṅgirasa (Śyāvāśva lineage)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 5.61, Rig Veda 5.62, Rig Veda 5.63
Family tradition
Book 5 is largely Atri/related seer-families; hymn 5.62 is commonly placed in the Śyāvāśva cycle where the seer voices a disciplined, law-aligned vision of the Adityas.
Significance
The seer’s emphasis is on ṛta: the inner life becomes fruitful when governed by the twin sovereignty of harmony (Mitra) and truth-bound wideness (Varuṇa), producing a steady purification and return to the source.
The deity
- Devata
- Mitra–Varuṇa (Ādityas)
- Epithets
- ṛtāvṛdhā (increasing ṛta), samrājā (joint sovereigns), dhṛtavrata (holders of the Law), mahobhiḥ (with vast powers)
- Related deities
- Aryaman, Bhaga, Aditi, Sūrya, Uṣas
Cosmic role
Guardians of ṛta (cosmic order) who uphold heaven-and-earth, regulate the waters and days, and ensure the right functioning of worlds.
Inner power
In the sādhaka they establish ethical-spiritual law, wideness, clarity, mutuality, and the power of self-purification through discernment.
In ritual
Where it is used
Aditya/Mitra-Varuṇa praise within Soma and daily recitation contexts (general stotra/śastra usage rather than a single fixed act)
तत्सु वां॑ मित्रावरुणा महि॒त्वमी॒र्मा त॒स्थुषी॒रह॑भिर्दुदुह्रे । विश्वा॑: पिन्वथ॒: स्वस॑रस्य॒ धेना॒ अनु॑ वा॒मेक॑: प॒विरा व॑वर्त ॥
तत् । सु । वा॒म् । मि॒त्रा॒व॒रु॒णा॒ । म॒हि॒ऽत्वम् । ई॒र्मा । त॒स्थुषीः॑ । अह॑ऽभिः । दु॒दु॒ह्रे॒ । विश्वाः॑ । पि॒न्व॒थः॒ । स्वस॑रस्य । धेनाः॑ । अनु॑ । वा॒म् । एकः॑ । प॒विः । आ । व॒व॒र्त॒ ॥
tat | su | vām | mitrāvaruṇā | mahi-tvam | īrmā | tasthuṣīḥ | aha-bhiḥ | duduhre | viśvāḥ | pinvathaḥ | svasarasya | dhenāḥ | anu | vām | ekaḥ | paviḥ | ā | vavatar
Triṣṭubh (likely; standard for many Aditya hymns in Book 5)
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables each
Firm, stately, law-bearing cadence; forward-driving yet measured.
Creates a sense of ordered wideness and moral elevation; supports sustained attention and repeated inward ‘return’ (āvṛtti) to the truth-current.
- मित्रावरुणा (mitrāvaruṇā)
- Literal: Mitra and Varuṇa. Symbolic: Twin powers of harmony/clarity (Mitra) and vast truth/law (Varuṇa) establishing right order in consciousness
- महि-त्वम् (mahitvam)
- Literal: greatness. Symbolic: The sovereign capacity of Truth to organise and widen the being
- ईर्मा (īrmā)
- Literal: streams, currents. Symbolic: Steady movements of consciousness/force in the inner life
- अहभिः (ahabhiḥ)
- Literal: by the days. Symbolic: By cycles of time, repeated practice, successive awakenings
- दुदुह्रे (duduhre)
- Literal: are milked. Symbolic: Essence is drawn out—sap of experience becomes nourishment
- स्वसरस्य (svasarasya)
- Literal: self-flowing. Symbolic: Self-existent source of inspiration (inner fountain of truth)
- धेनाः (dhenāḥ)
- Literal: milk-cows. Symbolic: Rays/powers of knowledge yielding delight and strength
- पविः (paviḥ)
- Literal: purifier, sieve; also thunderbolt edge. Symbolic: Discriminative purifier that separates truth from mixture; sharpener of the nature
- आ ववर्त (ā vavarta)
- Literal: turns/returns. Symbolic: Recurrent self-correction; spiral movement of purification
Supports Soma/clarification symbolism (paví) and the progressive ‘days’ that milk out realization; suitable for invocations seeking orderly increase and purification.
Invocations to establish ṛta and protection; often near water/clarification themes in Soma settings.
Recitation to invite the Adityas, affirm law, and ‘purify’ the offering/intent.
Use as a mantra for daily truth-alignment: morning or pre-meditation recitation to invoke harmony + vast law, and to renew discernment.
√duh ‘to milk’ yields the recurrent RV image of extracting essence from established powers; psychologically, experience ‘milks’ latent streams into conscious yield. pinvathaḥ from √pī/√pinv ‘to swell, fill, make abound’ (PIE *peh₂- ‘to fill’). svásara ‘self-flowing’ (sva + √sṛ ‘to flow’, PIE *srew-). paví-: ‘purifier, sharp edge’ (also of Soma-filter/weapon-edge); from √pū ‘purify’ and/or semantic of sharpening—here the single clarifying movement that follows Mitra-Varuṇa’s law.
progressive realization through time, purification/discrimination (paví), self-flowing source (svasara)
Strong: the ‘standing streams’ yielding by days implies lawful unfolding under Aditya governance.
Purification and sharpening toward truth through pavī (discernment).
Self-flowing source as self-existent spring of being from which knowledge-powers are filled.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian): cosmic powers as psychological functions leading to supramental truth.
day (ahaḥ) as repeated illumination-cycle
Waters = flowing consciousness; cows/milk = rays and nourishment of knowledge; days = stages of practice; purifier = discriminative intelligence returning to the source.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Cosmic milking by Time: the days ‘milk’ the standing streams, yielding essence under Mitra-Varuṇa’s sovereignty. The ‘single paví’ is the mythic purifier/edge that turns in accordance with their law.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √sṛ ‘flow’ aligns with PIE *srew- (Latin fluere is different root; but Greek ῥέω is cognate). The milking metaphor is widespread in IE poetics as extraction of essence; Vedic formalizes it with √duh and dhénā.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi acknowledges their ‘mahitva’ as the law that makes inner abundance possible: the devatā’s gift is regulated increase and purification; the human role is to align with the turning paví (discriminative clarity).
Align mind and life to truth: feel a steady inner current; let discernment ‘turn back’ repeatedly to the source whenever mixture arises.
ajna (discernment) with support of vishuddha (truth-speaking)
nāḍī-śodhana (gentle alternate-nostril) before chanting; then natural breath with slight lengthening of exhale on ‘pavīr ā vavarta’.
Quiet, wide, law-governed awareness; inward clarity that repeatedly self-corrects.
During japa, contemplate (1) the self-flowing spring above the head/within the heart, (2) rays of knowledge filling the mind, (3) a single sharp purifier in the forehead separating truth from impulse; end with a resolve to act in harmony (Mitra) and truth (Varuṇa).
Use Vedic svara as marked in the Saṃhitā: observe udātta on accented syllables (e.g., vām, mitrāvaruṇā, viśvāḥ, ekaḥ), anudātta elsewhere, and svarita where indicated by the accent marks in your text.
Keep the udātta slightly higher and clearer; avoid stress-accent like modern speech—let pitch, not volume, carry the accent.
: retroflex ṇ in (varuṇā), : long ī; do not clip, : keep ‘sva-sa-ra-sya’ distinct; no ‘sh’, : aspirate dh; long āḥ, : short iḥ at end; crisp v
Clear, steady, slightly resonant; emphasize purity over force.
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