Rig Veda 6.67.11: Mandala 6, Sukta 67, Mantra 11
Sukta 6.67
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja tradition
- Devata
- Mitra–Varuṇa
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
अवोरित्था वां छर्दिषो अभिष्टौ युवोर्मित्रावरुणावस्कृधोयु । अनु यद्गावः स्फुरानृजिप्यं धृष्णुं यद्रणे वृषणं युनजन् ॥
avór itthā́ vā́m chardíṣo abhíṣṭau yuvór mitrāvaruṇāv áskṛdhoyu | ánu yád gā́vaḥ sphurā́n ṛjípyam dhṛ́ṣṇuṃ yád ráṇe vṛ́ṣaṇaṃ yunájan ||
हम तुमसे मदद माँगते हैं, हे मित्र और वरुण। तुम हमेशा साथ देते हो। जब प्रकाश की किरणें निकलती हैं और सीधा रास्ता ले के लड़ाई में जीतने वाली ताकत जुती हुई होती है।
Word by Word
- अवोः
- help, protectionNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot अव (प्रा.)
- इत्था
- thus, in this wayIndeclinableअव्ययRole AdhikaraṇaRoot इत्था
- वाम्
- of you two / you twoPronounषष्ठी/द्वितीया; द्विवचन (एन्क्लिटिक) रूपRole SampradānaRoot युष्मद्
- छर्दिषः
- of shelter, of protectionNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचन (वैदिक रूप) / अथवा प्रथमा बहुवचन (सन्दर्भानुसार)Role ApādānaRoot छर्दिस्
- अभिष्टौ
- in (our) desired aid/assistanceNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचन (वैदिक) / लोके ‘अभिष्टौ’ = ‘अभिष्टौ (स्थाने)’Role AdhikaraṇaRoot अभिष्टि
- युवोः
- of you twoPronounषष्ठी; द्विवचनRole SampradānaRoot युष्मद्
- मित्रावरुणौ
- Mitra and VaruṇaNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; द्विवचनRole KartāRoot मित्र + वरुण
- अस्कृधोयु
- unfailing, not deceivingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; द्विवचन (सम्बोधन/विशेषणरूपेण)Role KartāRoot अ-स्कृध (प्रा.)
- अनु
- along, afterIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRole AdhikaraṇaRoot अनु
- यत्
- when/that whichPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन (सम्बन्धसूचक) / यदा-र्थेRole AdhikaraṇaRoot यद्
- गावः
- cowsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole KartāRoot गो
- स्फुरान्
- quivering, dartingAdjectiveवर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-सम्भव); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot स्फुर (धातु) / स्फुर (कृदन्ताधार)
- ऋजिप्यम्
- the straight-running (steed/one), ‘Ṛjipya’Nounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot ऋजिप्य (प्रा.)
- धृष्णुम्
- bold, daringAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot धृष्णु (प्रा.)
- यत्
- when/that whichPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन (सम्बन्धसूचक) / यदा-र्थेRole AdhikaraṇaRoot यद्
- रणे
- in battleNounपुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot रण
- वृषणम्
- the bull/strong oneNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot वृषण (प्रा.)
- युनजन्
- they yoked, they harnessedVerbलङ् (इम्परफेक्ट); 3 पुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपदRole KartāRoot युज्
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धिविच्छेद): अवोः इत्था वाम् छर्दिषः अभिष्टौ युवोः मित्रावरुणौ अस्कृधोयु । अनु यत् गावः स्फुरान् ऋजिप्यम् धृष्णुम् यत् रणे वृषणम् युनजन् । 1) ‘अवोरि॒त्था’ = ‘अवोः + इत्था’। 2) ‘मित्रावरुणा॒वस्कृ॑धोयु’ = ‘मित्रावरुणौ + अस्कृधोयु’ (द्विवचन-समास/सन्धि)। 3) ‘यद्गावः’ = ‘यत् + गावः’। 4) ‘स्फु॒रानृ॑जि॒प्यं’ = ‘स्फुरान् + ऋजिप्यम्’। 5) ‘यद्रणे’ = ‘यत् + रणे’।
The meaning
Outer meaning
We call for your protection and shelter, O Mitra and Varuṇa, unfailing helpers; when the cows (rays) follow and yoke the straight-going, impetuous, victorious bull in the battle.
Inner meaning
The prayer seeks ‘chardiṣ’—a covering shelter of consciousness—granted by harmony and vast law. When the ‘gāvaḥ’ (rays of knowledge) begin to follow (anu), they yoke an inner force: ṛjipya (straight-going, right-directed energy), dhṛṣṇu (bold, daring), vṛṣaṇam (virile power) in the ‘raṇa’—the battle-field of the being where obscurity and habit resist transformation. Mitra–Varuṇa are invoked as unfailing allies so that the illumined rays can harness the warrior-force of right action without deviation.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress requires both illumination (rays of knowledge) and disciplined force (right-directed energy). Protection and law are needed so power does not become egoic; then the inner battle can be won.
Themes
Protection, Release-of-light, Inner-battle, Yoking-of-force
The seer
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja (Bārhaspatya tradition)
- Lineage
- Bharadvāja
- Other hymns
- RV 6.47 (Indra: victory and protection), RV 6.67 (Mitra–Varuṇa), RV 6.68 (Indra–Varuṇa)
Family tradition
Hymns often integrate illumination (go/rays) with force and protection, framing sadhana as a battle guided by law.
Significance
Bharadvāja’s yoga is practical: invoke protection, receive light, yoke force rightly, and face the inner battle with disciplined courage.
The deity
- Devata
- Mitra–Varuṇa
- Epithets
- askṛdhoyu (unfailing helpers), protectors (chardiṣaḥ)
- Related deities
- Indra (battle and victory), Bṛhaspati (right word), Aditi (protective wideness)
Cosmic role
Guardians who provide shelter and right boundaries so the cosmic and human battle does not fall into chaos; they ensure victory is according to ṛta.
Inner power
They supply a calm protective envelope and ethical-vast regulation so that illumined force (ṛjipya vṛṣan) can act without distortion.
In ritual
Where it is used
Protective invocation within Mitra–Varuṇa praise; used to secure the rite and the sacrificer’s journey.
अ॒वोरि॒त्था वां॑ छ॒र्दिषो॑ अ॒भिष्टौ॑ यु॒वोर्मि॑त्रावरुणा॒वस्कृ॑धोयु । अनु॒ यद्गाव॑: स्फु॒रानृ॑जि॒प्यं धृ॒ष्णुं यद्रणे॒ वृष॑णं यु॒नज॑न् ॥
अ॒वोः । इ॒त्था । वा॒म् । छ॒र्दिषः॑ । अ॒भिष्टौ॑ । यु॒वोः । मि॒त्रा॒व॒रु॒णौ । अस्कृ॑धोयु । अनु॑ । यत् । गावः॑ । स्फु॒रान् । ऋ॒जि॒प्यम् । धृ॒ष्णुम् । यत् । रणे॑ । वृष॑णम् । यु॒नज॑न् ॥
avoḥ | itthā | vām | chardiṣaḥ | abhiṣṭau | yuvoḥ | mitrāvaruṇau | askṛdhoyu | anu | yat | gāvaḥ | sphurān | ṛjipyam | dhṛṣṇum | yat | raṇe | vṛṣaṇam | yunajan
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4×11
Martial yet controlled; the second half accelerates with action-epithets.
Energizes courage while keeping it within a calm frame—protection first, then battle-force.
- chardiṣ
- Literal: shelter, protection. Symbolic: covering peace; protective wideness preventing collapse into lower reactions
- askṛdhoyu
- Literal: unfailing in help. Symbolic: steady grace; reliable support of higher law
- gāvaḥ
- Literal: cows. Symbolic: rays of light/knowledge; illuminations that ‘follow’ the seeker
- ṛjipya
- Literal: straight-going. Symbolic: right-directed will/energy; force aligned with ṛta
- dhṛṣṇu
- Literal: bold, impetuous. Symbolic: courageous life-force needed to break resistance
- raṇa
- Literal: battle. Symbolic: inner struggle against ignorance, fear, and habit-energy
- vṛṣaṇa
- Literal: bull, strong male. Symbolic: victorious power of action; purified vital strength yoked to truth
Protective invocation; suitable for rites seeking safe passage and right ordering (ṛta) in conflict; also aligns with Soma-pressing hymns where ‘cows/rays’ and ‘yoking’ imagery accompanies the release of illumination.
Before or during offerings when seeking protection and successful ‘yoking’ of forces (symbolically, chariot/horse yoking; psychologically, energy alignment).
Recitation as a protective call; may accompany oblation and the formal request for avas (help).
A mantra for inner conflict: anxiety, addiction, anger. Use to invoke shelter first, then harness courage and right-directed action.
áva- ‘aid’ underlies avór (gen./abl. sense ‘for help’). chardíṣ- ‘shelter’ is a protective ‘covering’ (root notion: conceal/cover → protect). √yuj ‘yoke’ is PIE *yeug- (cf. Latin iugum). gā́vaḥ ‘cows’ (go-) in Vedic symbolic lexicon often denotes rays/knowledges ‘released’ and ‘moving’ (sphurā́n) toward the seeker. raṇá ‘battle’ becomes the psychological arena where forces are harnessed.
Inner battle between knowledge and obscurity, Rightness/straightness (ṛju) as ethical-cognitive alignment, Divine protection (ava, chardiṣ)
The ‘straight-going’ force is energy aligned with ṛta; Mitra–Varuṇa ensure battle is fought in right order.
Implicit: protection is grounded in truth-law; courage must be yoked to rightness.
Ongoing conquest of chaos by ordering powers; illumination harnesses force to extend the domain of ṛta.
Psychological Veda: inner battle as progressive manifestation of ordered consciousness.
Rays of dawn-like knowledge yoke vital strength; ‘battle’ is the struggle in the subtle nature to establish harmony and law.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘following of the cows’ (gāvaḥ) as the movement of illuminations and their yoking of a victorious power: a classic Vedic mythologem where the recovery/arrival of ‘cows’ signifies the advent of light/knowledge enabling triumph in the inner raṇa (battle).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √yuj (yunajan) reflects PIE *yeug- ‘join/yoke’, foundational to later ‘yoga’ semantics. ṛjú ‘straight’ corresponds to IE notions of rightness/rectitude (compare Latin rectus conceptually, though from different root; the semantic convergence is a common IE poetic mapping: straight = right). The verse uses formulaic ‘yád... yád...’ repetition, an inherited Indo-European structuring device for layered conditions.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi seeks chardiṣ (shelter) and ava (aid), while depicting the gods’ action as enabling the yoking of inner powers through arriving illuminations. The reciprocity: the seeker’s invocation (abhiṣṭau) opens the channel; the devatā respond by establishing protection and aligning the forces of victory within the aspirant.
First establish an inner shelter (calm wideness), then yoke energy to a single straight intention.
maṇipūra (disciplined force) supported by anāhata (harmonizing protection)
Two-stage: 6 slow breaths with long exhale (shelter), then 12 brisk kapalabhāti strokes (battle readiness), then chant once and sit.
Protected dynamism—calm center with courageous outward action.
In difficulty, repeat ‘chardiṣo abhiṣṭau’ mentally to regain shelter; then act on the ‘straight-going’ next step (ṛjipya) without drama.
Chant with steady triṣṭubh; keep the opening protective appeal slightly lower, then lift energy in the action epithets (ṛjipyaṃ dhṛṣṇuṃ… vṛṣaṇam).
Pause after ‘abhiṣṭau’; accelerate slightly through the descriptive cluster; land firmly on ‘yunajan’ (yoking) to seal intention.
chardiṣo: retroflex ḍiṣ; clear ‘ṣ’, askṛdhoyu: vocalic ṛ; keep ‘dh’ aspirated, sphurān: ‘sph’ cluster clean; long ā, ṛjipyaṃ: vocalic ṛ; ‘jip’ crisp, dhṛṣṇum: vocalic ṛ; retroflex ṣṇ cluster
Protected vigor—strong but not harsh; keep resonance in chest and throat.
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