Rig Veda 6.49.10: Mandala 6, Sukta 49, Mantra 10
Sukta 6.49
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya
- Devata
- Rudra
- Chandas
- Tr̥ṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Raudra (fury) and Shanta (peace)
भुवनस्य पितरं गीर्भिराभी रुद्रं दिवा वर्धया रुद्रमक्तौ । बृहन्तमृष्वमजरं सुषुम्नमृधग्घुवेम कविनेषितासः ॥
bhúvanasya pitáraṃ gī́rbhir ābhī́ rudráṃ divā́ vardháyā rudrám aktáu | bṛhántam ṛṣvám ajáraṃ susúmnam ṛ́dhag huvema kavínā iṣitā́saḥ ||
हम अपनी बातों से रुद्र को मज़बूत करते हैं। वो दुनिया का बाप है। दिन में भी और रात में भी। हम उसे बुलाते हैं क्योंकि वो बड़ा है, ऊँचा है, कभी बुढ़ा नहीं होता। वो खुशी देता है। रिशि की सोच से हम उसे पुकारते हैं।
Word by Word
- भुवनस्य
- of the world / of existenceNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)Root भुवन- (भू ‘to be’ > भुवन ‘world, being’)
- पितरम्
- fatherNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्म (object of ‘we invoke/praise’)Root पितृ-
- गीर्भिः
- with hymnsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया; बहुवचनRole करण (instrument)Root गीर्- (स्त्री) ‘hymn, song, praise’
- आभी
- towards; unto (in invocation)Indeclinableअव्ययRole उपपद/प्रयोग-निर्देशक (direction/intensifier with verb of calling)Root आ + भी (अव्यय/उपसर्गीय प्रयोग)
- रुद्रम्
- RudraNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्म (object of ‘we invoke/praise’)Root रुद्र-
- दिवा
- by dayNoun (used adverbially)स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचन (अव्ययीभाव/क्रियाविशेषणवत्)Role अधिकारण (time: ‘by day’)Root दिव्/द्यौ- (स्त्री) ‘day/sky’
- वर्धय
- increase / strengthen (you)Verbलोट् (imperative); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative)Role क्रिया (addressed action)Root वृध् ‘to grow, increase’ (causative)
- रुद्रम्
- RudraNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्म (object of ‘strengthen’)Root रुद्र-
- अक्तौ
- at nightNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचनRole अधिकारण (time: ‘at night’)Root अक्ति- (स्त्री) ‘night’ (RV usage) / ‘anointing’ (later) — here ‘night’
- बृहन्तम्
- the greatAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्म (qualifier of Rudra as object)Root बृहन्त्- (adj. from √बृह्/बृंह् ‘to grow, be great’)
- ऋष्वम्
- lofty, exaltedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्म (qualifier)Root ऋष्व- (adj.)
- अजरम्
- unagingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्म (qualifier)Root अजर- (a- + जर ‘aging’)
- सुषुम्नम्
- most gracious / very benevolentAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्म (qualifier)Root सुषुम्न- (सु- + सुषुम्न) ‘very gracious/benign; bringing good ease’
- ऋधक्
- severally; each one (in turn)Indeclinableअव्ययRole क्रियाविशेषण (manner: ‘severally/each in turn’)Root ऋधक् (अव्यय)
- हुवेम
- may we invokeVerbविधिलिङ्/लिङ् (optative); उत्तमपुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot हू ‘to call, invoke’
- कविनेṣितासः
- we, guided/impelled by the sage (kavi) / having a poet as leaderNoun (compound, bahuvrīhi/tatpuruṣa sense) used adjectivallyपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (subject of ‘huvema’)Root कवि- ‘sage/poet’ + नेषितृ- (from √नी ‘to lead/guide’, ‘impeller/leader’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (sandhi-resolved): भुवनस्य | पितरम् | गीर्भिः | आभी | रुद्रम् | दिवा | वर्धय | रुद्रम् | अक्तौ | बृहन्तम् | ऋष्वम् | अजरम् | सुषुम्नम् | ऋधक् | हुवेम | कविनेṣितासः । प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) गीर्भिरा॒भी = गीर्भिः + आभी (विसर्ग-लोपः/रकारादेशः)
- (2) रु॒द्रं दिवा॑ = रुद्रम् + दिवा (अनुस्वार/म् + द्)
- (3) रु॒द्रम॒क्तौ = रुद्रम् + अक्तौ (म् + अ)
- (4) सुषु॒म्नमृध॑क् = सुषुम्नम् + ऋधक् (म् + ऋ)
- (5) क॒विने॑षि॒तास॑: = कवि + नेषितासः (समास/सन्धि; i + n)
The meaning
Outer meaning
With these utterances we strengthen Rudra, Father of the worlds, by day and night; we call him vast, lofty, unaging, bestowing happy grace; inspired by the seer, we invoke him each in our own way.
Inner meaning
Rudra is the intense purifying force that both wounds and heals—breaking what is false so a truer formation can arise. To ‘strengthen Rudra with hymns’ is to consciously ally with the transforming power through mantric speech, in all states (day/night = waking/sleep, clarity/obscurity). As ‘bhuvanasya pitā’ he is the originating master of our worlds (planes of being). ‘Suṣumnam’ signals his power to grant auspicious ease and rightness after purification—grace that opens the central path of harmony. ‘Kavineṣitāsaḥ’ indicates invocation guided by seer-intuition: each part of the being calls Rudra according to its need, yet toward one purification.
Universal truth
Lasting peace is not sentimental; it is the fruit of a conscious alliance with the transforming truth-force that works in light and darkness alike, removing inner disorder and granting auspicious grace.
Themes
Rudra as protector-healer, Expansion of consciousness, Auspicious grace
The seer
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya (assumed)
- Lineage
- Bharadvāja
- Other hymns
- RV 2.33 (Rudra, by Gṛtsamada—related), RV 6.74 (Rudra themes), RV 1.114 (Rudra)
Family tradition
Bharadvāja vision integrates fierce and gentle divine functions—invoking Rudra not only for protection but for auspicious transformation (suṣumnam).
Significance
This approach reframes Rudra as a necessary ally in yoga: the purifier who grants grace when invoked with seer-guidance across all states of consciousness.
The deity
- Devata
- Rudra
- Epithets
- bhuvanasya pitā (father of the worlds), bṛhantam (vast), ṛṣvam (lofty), ajaram (unaging), suṣumnam (giver of auspicious grace)
- Related deities
- Agni (purifying fire), Indra (slayer of resistance), Soma (healing bliss), Maruts (storm powers)
Cosmic role
Storm and healing deity; lord of vital forces; purifier and protector; father-source of manifested worlds.
Inner power
Intense truth-force that purges impurity, breaks inner falsehood, and then bestows healing grace and widening.
In ritual
Where it is used
Rudra pacification/propitiation and protection; strengthening the deity through praise day and night.
भुव॑नस्य पि॒तरं॑ गी॒र्भिरा॒भी रु॒द्रं दिवा॑ व॒र्धया॑ रु॒द्रम॒क्तौ । बृ॒हन्त॑मृ॒ष्वम॒जरं॑ सुषु॒म्नमृध॑ग्घुवेम क॒विने॑षि॒तास॑: ॥
भुव॑नस्य । पि॒तर॑म् । गीः॒ऽभिः । आ॒भिः । रु॒द्रम् । दिवा॑ । व॒र्धय॑ । रु॒द्रम् । अ॒क्तौ । बृ॒हन्त॑म् । ऋ॒ष्वम् । अ॒जर॑म् । सु॒ऽसु॒म्नम् । ऋध॑क् । हु॒वे॒म॒ । क॒विना॑ । इ॒षि॒तासः॑ ॥
bhuvanasya | pitaram | gīḥ-bhiḥ | ābhiḥ | rudram | divā | vardhaya | rudram | aktau | bṛhantam | ṛṣvam | ajaram | su-sumnam | ṛdhak | huvema | kavinā | iṣitāsaḥ
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4 × ~11
Majestic and forceful with solemn repetition (rudram… rudram) giving incantatory power.
Awakens courage to face inner darkness; produces a cleansing intensity followed by relief and wideness.
- रुद्र (rudra)
- Literal: the howler, fierce one. Symbolic: transforming purifier; force that breaks resistance and heals
- भुवनस्य पितरम् (bhuvanasya pitaram)
- Literal: father of the worlds. Symbolic: originating master of our planes of consciousness
- गीर्भिः (gīrbhiḥ)
- Literal: with utterances. Symbolic: mantric speech as means of conscious alliance
- दिवा / अक्तौ (divā/aktau)
- Literal: by day / at night. Symbolic: in waking and in the obscure subconscient; constant sādhanā
- वर्धय (vardhaya)
- Literal: strengthen, increase. Symbolic: make the transforming power active and supported in us
- बृहन्तम् (bṛhantam)
- Literal: vast. Symbolic: all-pervading wideness of the truth-force
- ऋष्वम् (ṛṣvam)
- Literal: lofty, exalted. Symbolic: uplifted intensity; high-reaching aspiration
- अजरम् (ajaram)
- Literal: unaging. Symbolic: timeless power beyond decay; enduring purification
- सुसुम्नम् (suṣumnam)
- Literal: of good grace, auspicious. Symbolic: benign outcome of purification; harmony and central ease
- कविनेṣितāsaḥ (kavineṣitāsaḥ)
- Literal: impelled by the seer. Symbolic: guided by intuitive mind; invocation from inner truth
Rudra-invocation for protection and auspiciousness; suitable in rites seeking appeasement and healing power, and as inner ‘night-and-day’ guardianship prayer.
Protective rites, healing contexts, and transitions; also as a general invocation for purification and auspiciousness.
Recitation with offerings and requests for suṣumnam (benign grace) rather than harm.
Use during illness, grief, fear, or major life change: invoke the purifier for healing transformation and protection through the night of uncertainty.
rudra possibly from √rud ‘to cry/howl’ (outer storm aspect) but inwardly the intense force that can heal and make whole when rightly approached. bṛhant from √bṛh ‘to grow, expand’—wideness. sumná ‘grace’ relates to well-disposition; su-sumná intensifies benevolent protection.
Bṛhat (vastness of consciousness), Sumná (grace), Continuity of sādhanā (day/night)
Rudra’s purification restores Ṛta in the worlds of the being.
Invocation is ‘kavineṣitā’—truth-guided, not desire-driven.
Rudra as father-source: the worlds arise from and are upheld by a primordial power that can also re-create through purification.
Yoga of transformation (tapas + grace); aligns with Upaniṣadic movement toward the timeless (ajaram) and auspicious (śivam) outcome.
day and night explicitly
Storm = cleansing upheaval; day/night = conscious/subconscious work; herbs = restorative grace after inner surgery.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The strengthening and appeasing of Rudra through hymn—transforming the formidable power into ‘su-sumná’ (benign grace). Psychologically: the intense force (often disruptive) is increased and mastered by right speech and seer-guidance, becoming a vast, protective father-power in the being.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- bṛhánt- from √bṛh corresponds to PIE *bʰerǵʰ- ‘to rise, high, exalt’ (seen in notions of height/loftiness across IE). pitár- aligns with PIE *ph₂tḗr. These inherited terms frame Rudra as both exalted vastness and paternal origin.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi’s speech is not mere praise but a force that ‘vardhaya’—increases the god’s effective presence. Rudra reciprocates not by outer gifts first, but by becoming ‘susumná’—a settled grace guarding the being through day and night.
Invoke Rudra as the purifier: allow a strong, honest seeing of what must be removed; then receive suṣumnam as a calm central channel of ease and protection.
Ājñā (truth-seeing) with Suṣumṇā-nāḍī imagery; also Anāhata for healing grace
3-part breathing: inhale ‘widen’ (bṛhantam), hold gently ‘lofty’ (ṛṣvam), exhale ‘release’ impurities; end with natural breath in stillness.
Transformative intensity leading to quiet auspiciousness.
Chant at dusk or before sleep (aktau): offer fears and resistances; ask specifically for one healing change; rest in silence imagining a clear central channel (suṣumnā) lit by grace.
Not fully derivable; keep strong emphasis on repeated rudram; use a controlled rise-fall to reflect raudra → śānta arc.
Clear duplication: rudraṃ divā vardhaya rudram aktau; pause after aktau |; sustain long vowels in bṛhantam, ajaram.
rudram: flap ‘r’ lightly; keep ‘dr’ conjunct crisp, bṛhantam: vocalic ṛ; aspirate ‘bh’, ṛṣvam: vocalic ṛ; ṣ retroflex, huvema: ‘hv’ conjunct; do not say ‘huvema’ with extra vowel, kavineṣitāsaḥ: keep retroflex ṣ; long ā in tā
Deep, steady, slightly intense at first, softening into calm by the final pāda.
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