Rig Veda 6.51.5: Mandala 6, Sukta 51, Mantra 5
Sukta 6.51
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja
- Devata
- Ādityas with Dyāvā-Pṛthivī and Agni invoked relationally
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace)
द्यौष्पितः पृथिवि मातरध्रुगग्ने भ्रातर्वसवो मृळता नः । विश्व आदित्या अदिते सजोषा अस्मभ्यं शर्म बहुलं वि यन्त ॥
dyáuḥ pitáḥ pṛ́thivi mā́tar ádhru g ágne bhrātar vasavo mṛḷátā naḥ | víśva ādityā adite sajóṣā asmábhyaṃ śárma bahuláṃ ví yanta ||
आसमान हमारा बाप है, धरती हमारी माँ है, यह कभी फेल नहीं होते। अग्नि हमारा भाई है, और वसु देवता हैं, हमपे मेहरबानी करो। सारे आदित्य और अदिति, सब मिलकर हमारे लिए शांति और सुरक्षा बनाओ। हमें हर तरफ से बचाओ और आगे बढ़ने दो।
Word by Word
- द्यौः
- O HeavenNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Sambodhana (सम्बोधन-प्रयोगः; रूपतः प्रथमा)Root द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक) < दिव् (द्युतौ) इति व्युत्पत्तिः
- पितः
- O FatherNounपुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम् (पितर्-शब्दः; सम्बोधन-रूपम्)Role SambodhanaRoot पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- पृथिवि
- O EarthNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम् (वेदे -i-सम्बोधनः)Role SambodhanaRoot पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
- मातर्
- O MotherNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम् (मातर्-शब्दः)Role SambodhanaRoot मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- अध्रुक्
- O undeceiving / non-injuring oneAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम् (अग्नेः विशेषणम्)Role SambodhanaRoot अध्रुक् (प्रातिपदिक; न-ध्रु/ध्रुच्-सम्बद्धः, ‘अहिंसक/अद्रोही/अप्रद्रुह्’ इत्यर्थे)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role SambodhanaRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- भ्रातर्
- O BrotherNounपुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role SambodhanaRoot भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- वसवः
- O Vasus (gods)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, बहुवचनम्Role SambodhanaRoot वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
- मृळत
- be gracious / show mercyVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Role (क्रिया) —Root मृळ् (सुखायने/अनुकम्पायाम्; वेद. ‘to be gracious, to pity’)
- नः
- to us / for usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी-एकवचनस्य एन्क्लिटिक-रूपम्; अत्र दत्तिः/हितार्थे (दत्तिवत्) ‘to us/for us’Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- विश्वे
- allAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, बहुवचनम् (आदित्यान् विशेषयति)Role SambodhanaRoot विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- आदित्याः
- O ĀdityasNounपुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, बहुवचनम्Role SambodhanaRoot आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- अदिते
- O AditiNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role SambodhanaRoot अदिति (प्रातिपदिक)
- सजोषाः
- in concord / of one accordAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, बहुवचनम् (देवान् विशेषयति)Role SambodhanaRoot सजोषस्/सजोषा (अव्ययीभाव-प्रातिपदिक; सह + जोष ‘together in accord/with one mind’)
- अस्मभ्यम्
- to usPronounचतुर्थी, बहुवचनम्Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- शर्म
- shelter / protectionNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot शर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- बहुलम्
- abundantAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (शर्म विशेषणम्)Role Karma (विशेषण-रूपेण)Root बहुल (प्रातिपदिक)
- वि
- forth / apart (intensifier)Indeclinableउपसर्गः (यन्त इत्यस्य)Root वि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- यन्त
- go / bestow / grant (lit. ‘go forth’)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Role (क्रिया) —Root या (गत्यर्थे)
Sandhi Notes
- संहिता-पाठः: द्यौ॒ष्पित॒: = द्यौः + पितः (विसर्गस्य प्-पूर्वे लोप/रूपपरिवर्तनं; संहितायां ‘द्यौष्पितः’)
- मात॒रध्रु॒गग्ने॑ = मातर् + अध्रुक् + अग्ने (र् + अ → रा/र-अनुसन्धानं; पदविभागे ‘मातर् | अध्रुक् | अग्ने’)
- भ्रातर्वसवो = भ्रातर् + वसवः (र् + व → र्व)
- विश्व॑ आदित्या = विश्वे + आदित्याः (पदपाठे ‘विश्वे’)
- स॒जोषा॑ = सजोषाः (सम्बोधन-बहुवचन)
- अस्मभ्यं॒ शर्म॑ बहु॒लं वि य॑न्त = अस्मभ्यम् | शर्म | बहुलम् | वि | यन्त (उपसर्ग ‘वि’ क्रियायाः सह)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Heaven is our Father, Earth our Mother, unfailing; Agni our brother—O Vasus, be gracious to us. O all Ādityas, O Aditi, in one accord, extend for us wide peace and shelter.
Inner meaning
The hymn establishes a complete inner family of supports: the higher consciousness (Dyauḥ) as father-principle, the foundational embodied nature (Pṛthivī) as mother-principle, and Agni as the intimate brother—divine will and inner priest who mediates. The Vasus stabilize the material-vital basis. The Ādityas and Aditi are invoked to pour a ‘many-sided shelter’ (bahulaṃ śarma): a wide peace that protects the growth of the soul across all parts of the being.
Universal truth
Human life becomes secure and progressive when it is harmonized with the higher and lower foundations and guided by the inner fire; true protection is wide peace born of truth and unity.
Themes
universal protection, peace and shelter, integration of cosmic supports, grace (mṛḷ)
The seer
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja
- Lineage
- Bharadvāja-gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 6.9 (Agni), RV 6.50 (universal gods), RV 6.52 (Ādityas)
Family tradition
Bharadvāja hymns frequently integrate cosmic supports (Heaven-Earth), Agni’s inner work, and Āditya protection into a single yoga of wholeness.
Significance
This verse is a complete ‘integral invocation’—linking transcendence (Dyauḥ), embodiment (Pṛthivī), transformative will (Agni), stabilizing forces (Vasus), and truth-governance (Ādityas/Aditi) to secure śarma for the sādhanā.
The deity
- Devata
- Ādityas (Aditi) with Dyāvā-Pṛthivī and Agni invoked relationally
- Epithets
- sajoṣāḥ (in one accord), mṛḻatā (be gracious), bahulaṃ śarma (many-sided peace)
- Related deities
- Indra (illumination-force), Sūrya (truth-light)
Cosmic role
Dyāvā-Pṛthivī uphold the worlds; Agni mediates sacrifice/transformation; Vasus stabilize; Ādityas govern ṛta and protection; Aditi is the infinite womb of these powers.
Inner power
A complete protection system: foundation + ascent + transforming fire + stabilizing forces + truth-governance, culminating in wide peace.
In ritual
Where it is used
General protective and peace-seeking invocation; suitable in śrauta contexts as well as household recitation for well-being.
द्यौ॒३॒॑ष्पित॒: पृथि॑वि॒ मात॒रध्रु॒गग्ने॑ भ्रातर्वसवो मृ॒ळता॑ नः । विश्व॑ आदित्या अदिते स॒जोषा॑ अ॒स्मभ्यं॒ शर्म॑ बहु॒लं वि य॑न्त ॥
द्यौः॑ । पितः॑ । पृ॒थि॑वि । मातः॑ । अध्रु॑क् । अग्ने॑ । भ्रा॒तः॒ । व॒स॒वः॒ । मृ॒ळत॑ । नः॒ । विश्वे॑ । आ॒दि॒त्याः॒ । अ॒दि॒ते॒ । स॒ऽजोषाः॑ । अ॒स्मभ्य॑म् । शर्म॑ । ब॒हु॒लम् । वि । य॒न्त॒ ॥
dyauḥ | pitaḥ | pṛthivi | mātaḥ | adhruk | agne | bhrātaḥ | vasavaḥ | mṛḷata | naḥ | vi śve | ādityāḥ | adite | sa-joṣāḥ | asmabhyam | śarma | bahulam | vi | yanta
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4 x ~11; balanced invocatory structure with familial vocatives.
Grounded and embracing; alternates firm naming with a generous concluding request.
Creates a felt sense of safety and completeness; settles the nervous system into trust and wideness.
- Dyauḥ pitā
- Literal: Heaven, the Father. Symbolic: higher mind/spirit principle; luminous origin and guidance
- Pṛthivī mātā
- Literal: Earth, the Mother. Symbolic: embodied foundation; receptivity and stability for growth
- adhruk
- Literal: unfailing, not injuring. Symbolic: reliable support; non-deceptive basis of nature when aligned
- Agni bhrātā
- Literal: Agni, brother. Symbolic: intimate inner will/fire that accompanies and mediates transformation
- Vasus
- Literal: a class of gods (Vasus). Symbolic: powers that fix and support; harmonizers of the physical-vital order
- Viśve Ādityāḥ
- Literal: all Ādityas. Symbolic: collective solar truth-powers governing ethics, harmony, vastness
- Aditi
- Literal: the Infinite. Symbolic: unbounded consciousness; mother of the solar powers
- śarma
- Literal: shelter, peace, happiness. Symbolic: protective peace that allows inner growth
- bahulam
- Literal: abundant, many-sided. Symbolic: integral protection across mind, life, body
Protective and pacificatory prayer; suitable for household and soma contexts emphasizing universal kinship with cosmic powers
Morning or evening; before travel, study, or any undertaking; also as a concluding peace invocation after offerings.
Recitation with offering to Agni (lamp/fire) and inward offering of gratitude to Heaven-Earth; request for śarma.
Excellent as a daily ‘inner shelter’ mantra: chant to establish grounding (Earth), openness (Heaven), and steady will (Agni), then invoke wide peace.
śarman ‘shelter, comfort, peace’ (protective happiness). dyauḥ from PIE *dyew-; pṛthivī from pṛthu ‘broad’ (√pṛth ‘spread’). agni from √ag ‘drive’ or Indo-Iranian fire term (cognate Latin ignis).
cosmic kinship (father/mother/brother), śarman (peaceful shelter), harmonized divine action (sa-joṣāḥ)
Ādityas/Aditi extend protection when the being aligns to ṛta; peace is a consequence of right order.
Unfailing supports (adhruk) and unified action (sajoṣāḥ) reflect satya as reliability and coherence.
Cosmos as a family of supports enabling evolution of consciousness; protection as a condition for growth.
Integral and symbolic Vedism: the universe as a coordinated yoga of powers supporting the soul’s unfolding.
Sky = openness and higher guidance; Earth = grounding stability; Fire = transformative will; ‘shelter’ = inner peace-field protecting growth.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘cosmic family’ mythologem: Heaven-Father, Earth-Mother, Agni-Brother. The universe is intimate kin, and protection is the widening of śarman—peaceful shelter—for the aspirant.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- Heaven-Father is a classic PIE formula (*dyēus ph₂tēr). Agni/ignis is a well-known Indo-European cognate set. The broad-earth epithet pṛthivī reflects inherited ‘broad’ earth imagery.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi invokes not distant rulers but kin-powers: by establishing relation (father/mother/brother), the seeker asks for a lived, enveloping protection—śarman—so the inner journey can proceed without rupture.
Establish ‘cosmic support’: feel sky above (openness), earth below (stability), and Agni in the heart (steady will). Then invite a wide field of śarma around the whole being.
mūlādhāra (grounding/Earth), anāhata (Agni as inner companion), sahasrāra (Heaven openness)
3-stage breath: inhale upward (Heaven), exhale downward (Earth), then breathe into heart-fire (Agni) for 9 cycles.
Grounded peace with gentle widening; safe, integrated presence.
If anxious, chant once slowly focusing on ‘Dyauḥ pitā… Pṛthivī mātā’; then place attention in the heart as ‘Agni bhrātā’; end by resting in ‘bahulaṃ śarma’ as a protective aura.
Observe accents especially in vocatives and key kinship words (pitā, mātā, bhrātā); keep the final request ‘śarma… vi yanta’ flowing and expansive.
Give a gentle, reverent lift on ‘Dyauḥ pitā’ and ‘Pṛthivī mātā’; broaden the tone on ‘bahulaṃ’ to convey wideness.
dyauṣ: pronounce dyauṣ as one syllabic cluster (dyauṣ), not ‘di-yaush’, pṛthivi: clear vocalic ṛ; soft th (aspirated t), mṛḻatā: retroflex ḻ (as in Vedic), approximate as ‘mṛḍatā’ if needed, but keep retroflex quality, sajoṣāḥ: joṣ with retroflex ṣ, vi yanta: separate vi | yanta, do not merge into ‘viyanta’ too tightly
Warm, protective, and steady; slightly softer at the end to settle into peace.
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