Rig Veda 7.101.2: Mandala 7, Sukta 101, Mantra 2
Sukta 7.101
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Parjanya
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
यो वर्धन ओषधीनां यो अपां यो विश्वस्य जगतो देव ईशे । स त्रिधातु शरणं शर्म यंसत्त्रिवर्तु ज्योतिः स्वभिष्ट्यस्मे ॥
yó várdhana óṣadhīnām yó apā́ṃ yó víśvasya jágato devá ī́śe | sá tridhā́tu śaraṇáṃ śárma yaṃsat trivártu jyótiḥ sv-abhiṣṭy àsmé ||
वो पौधों को बढ़ाता है, पानी का मालिक है, और सारी दुनिया पर राज करता है। वो तीन चीज़ों से बना आसरा दे हमें। वो अंदर से रोशनी भरे जो तीन तरफ घूमती है। हमारा भला करे।
Word by Word
- यः
- who (he who)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (सम्बन्ध-उपवाक्ये) / विशेष्यःRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वर्धनः
- the increaser, promoterNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ/विशेषण-भावः (यः … वर्धनः)Root वर्धन (प्रातिपदिक; √वृध् ‘to grow, increase’)
- ओषधीनाम्
- of the plants / herbsNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root ओषधि (प्रातिपदिक)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (सम्बन्ध-उपवाक्ये)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अपाम्
- of the watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root अप्/आप् (प्रातिपदिक)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (सम्बन्ध-उपवाक्ये)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- विश्वस्य
- of all, of the wholeAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे (जगतः इत्यस्य), षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- जगतः
- of the moving world / of the universeNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root जगत् (प्रातिपदिक; √गम्/√जग् ‘to move’)
- देवः
- the godNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (ईशे इत्यस्य)Root देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- ईशे
- rules, is lord overVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot √ईश् (to rule, possess)
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (यंसत् इत्यस्य)Root तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- त्रिधातु
- threefold / having three constituentsAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (शरणम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्म (यंसत्—किं? शरणम्)Root त्रिधातु (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + धातु)
- शरणम्
- refugeNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
- शर्म
- comfort, protection, blissNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्म (यंसत्—किं? शर्म)Root शर्मन्/शर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
- यंसत्
- may he grant / let him bestowVerbविधिलिङ्/आशीर्लिङ् (Vedic injunctive-like usage), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot √यम् (to give, grant, bestow; ‘यंस्’ as Vedic present/aorist stem)
- त्रिवर्तु
- threefold-turning / having three coursesAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (ज्योतिः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्म (यंसत्—किं? ज्योतिः)Root त्रिवर्तु (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + वर्तु)
- ज्योतिः
- light, radianceNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्वभिष्टि
- with good help / with favorable aidNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया, एकवचनम् (करण-भावः)Role करणRoot स्वभिष्टि (प्रातिपदिक; स्व + भिष्टि)
- अस्मे
- for us / to usPronounसप्तमी (वैदिके दत्तिवत् प्रयोगः), बहुवचनम्Role सम्प्रदान/अधिकरण (to/for us) بحسب वैदिकप्रयोगःRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: यः वर्धनः ओषधीनाम् यः अपाम् यः विश्वस्य जगतः देवः ईशे । सः त्रिधातु शरणं शर्म यंसत् त्रिवर्तु ज्योतिः स्वभिष्टि अस्मे ॥ 1) ‘यो वर्धन’ → ‘यः वर्धनः’ (ओ/अन्त्य-स्वरः + व्; विसर्गः पदान्ते)
- 2) ‘यो अपाम्’ → ‘यः अपाम्’ (पदपाठे विसर्ग)
- 3) ‘देव ईशे’ संहितायां ‘देव ईशे’ (स्वर-सन्धिः; पदपाठे पृथक्)
- 4) ‘यंसत्त्रिवर्तु’ → ‘यंसत् त्रिवर्तु’ (त् + त् संयोगः)
- 5) ‘स्वभिष्ट्य१स्मे’ → ‘स्वभिष्टि अस्मे’ (इ + अ)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Parjanya—who makes plants grow, rules the waters, and governs all moving existence—is invoked to give a secure threefold-founded refuge (shelter and bliss) and to establish in us a Light that moves in three turnings, bringing right attainment.
Inner meaning
Parjanya is read as the generative, descending force of the Divine (the rain of power) that increases the ‘plants’—the soul’s growing faculties and luminous formations. ‘Waters’ are the streaming currents of consciousness (inspiration, intuition, delight) under a divine lordship. The prayer asks for a stable inner refuge built on a triple foundation (often experienced as body–life–mind, or the three worlds of consciousness), and for a ‘three-turning light’: an illumination that repeatedly cycles through revelation, assimilation, and effective action—establishing a sure inner success (svabhiṣṭi) in the being.
Universal truth
Growth in life and consciousness is not random: it depends on a higher ordering Power that can ‘rain’ clarity and force into the system. When the being is founded on a stable triple basis, illumination becomes rhythmic and repeatable—returning in cycles until knowledge becomes embodied and effective.
Themes
Divine governance, Protection/refuge, Light as attainment, Cosmic order in three planes
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa lineage)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 7.1–7.104 (Vasiṣṭha maṇḍala core), Rig Veda 7.88 (Varuṇa-related contemplative hymn), Rig Veda 7.89 (prayer for release and protection)
Family tradition
Saptaṛṣi; royal priestly tradition associated with harmonizing cosmic order (ṛta) in the human being and polity; hymns often stress inner rightness, protection, and the establishment of light.
Significance
Vasiṣṭha’s voice frequently seeks a settled inner law (ṛta) and a protected, luminous state; here he frames Parjanya as a divine governor whose ‘rain’ becomes inner illumination and secure refuge.
The deity
- Devata
- Parjanya
- Epithets
- deva (divine power), īśa (lord), vardhana (increaser)
- Related deities
- Indra (release of waters/light), Varuṇa (ṛta and cosmic governance), Soma (sweetness, delight in the waters), Agni (inner sacrifice that receives the descent)
Cosmic role
Rain-bringer and regulator of waters; nourisher of vegetation and life; distributor of generative energy across the worlds.
Inner power
Descending dynamis that fertilizes the mind and life with inspiration and growth; the ‘rain’ of force that makes inner formations thrive and establishes triple-cycling illumination.
In ritual
Where it is used
Rain/fruitfulness invocations; also general protection and prosperity prayers in śrauta settings.
यो वर्ध॑न॒ ओष॑धीनां॒ यो अ॒पां यो विश्व॑स्य॒ जग॑तो दे॒व ईशे॑ । स त्रि॒धातु॑ शर॒णं शर्म॑ यंसत्त्रि॒वर्तु॒ ज्योति॑: स्वभि॒ष्ट्य१॒॑स्मे ॥
यः । वर्ध॑नः । ओष॑धीनाम् । यः । अ॒पाम् । यः । विश्व॑स्य । जग॑तः । दे॒वः । ईशे॑ । सः । त्रि॒ऽधातु॑ । श॒र॒णम् । शर्म॑ । यं॒स॒त् । त्रि॒ऽवर्तु॑ । ज्योतिः॑ । सु॒ऽअ॒भि॒ष्टि । अ॒स्मे इति॑ ॥
yaḥ | vardhanaḥ | oṣadhīnām | yaḥ | apām | yaḥ | viśvasya | jagataḥ | devaḥ | īśe | saḥ | tri-dhātu | śaraṇam | śarma | yaṃsat | tri-vartu | jyotiḥ | su-abhiṣṭi | asme iti
44
4 padas × ~11 syllables
Firm, forward-driving cadence suited to invocation and establishment of power.
Builds a steady ascent of emphasis (lordship → refuge → light), leaving the listener with a grounded, confident luminosity.
- वर्धन (vardhana)
- Literal: increaser, enhancer. Symbolic: the divine augmenter of inner faculties; the power that makes consciousness grow
- ओषधी (oṣadhī)
- Literal: plants, herbs. Symbolic: living soul-forces and capacities that can be nourished into maturity (qualities, virtues, powers)
- आपः (āpaḥ)
- Literal: waters. Symbolic: streams of consciousness—intuition, inspiration, delight, inner currents of life
- ईशे (īśe)
- Literal: rules, is lord. Symbolic: sovereign governance of the movements of nature and the inner nature
- त्रिधातु (tridhātu)
- Literal: threefold-founded, having three bases. Symbolic: a stable foundation in three planes (e.g., mind–life–body; or three worlds) enabling integral security
- शरण (śaraṇa)
- Literal: refuge, shelter. Symbolic: psychic protection; inward reliance on the Divine order
- शर्म (śarma)
- Literal: bliss, comfort, happiness. Symbolic: settled inner peace and delight that accompanies right order
- त्रिवर्तु ज्योतिः (trivartu jyotiḥ)
- Literal: light with three turnings. Symbolic: illumination cycling through three movements—seeing, harmonizing, effecting (knowledge→integration→expression)
- स्वभिष्टि (svabhiṣṭi)
- Literal: good attainment, successful reaching. Symbolic: sure inner accomplishment; the right arriving of consciousness at its goal
Used as a protective and prosperity-formula within rain-invocation sequences; ζητούμενον: increase of oṣadhīs and establishment of ‘jyotis’ (auspicious clarity) in the community.
Seasonal rites around rains/monsoon; offerings seeking fertility of fields and well-being; can accompany soma-related recitations where ‘waters’ and ‘sweetness’ are central.
Recitation with oblations (ghee/grain) into fire; water-libations; prayers for growth of oṣadhīs.
Use as a meditation mantra for stabilizing the being (tridhātu) and invoking rhythmic illumination (trivartu jyotiḥ) before study, creative work, or healing practice.
√vṛdh ‘to grow/increase’ → vardhana-. √īś ‘to own, be master’ → īśe (3sg. pres.). tri-dhātu: tri- ‘three’ + dhātu ‘placing/foundation’ (√dhā ‘to set’), indicating a threefold established order. √yam ‘to stretch/hold’ → yaṃsat (optative/aoristic wish-form in Vedic idiom). tri-vartu: tri- + vartu ‘turning/course’ (from √vṛt ‘to turn’), suggesting cyclic movement of light through levels.
Īśitva (divine mastery), Tri-dhātu (threefold foundation), Jyotis (truth-light), Śarma (felicity)
Parjanya’s governance of waters and growth is a function of ṛta—right distribution and timing of force.
Light established ‘in us’ aligns inner perception with satya (truth) through repeatable cycles of clarity.
Nourishment and formation: life-forms and faculties arise by descent of ordered power (rain/waters).
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindo-Kashyap style): cosmic powers as movements of consciousness; threefold foundation as integral instrumentation.
unspecified
monsoon/renewal season (implied by Parjanya and oṣadhī growth)
Rain = descent of force; waters = flowing consciousness; plants = growing inner capacities; threefold foundation = stable integration of planes; light = awakened intelligence and guidance.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Parjanya as sovereign of waters and increaser of plants—storm power as cosmic ruler. Inner sense: the same force that governs the life-waters establishes a threefold secure order (tri-dhātu) and installs a triple-moving light in the aspirant, turning nature’s cycles into conscious attainment.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vṛdh ‘grow’ continues PIE *werdʰ- ‘to grow’ (cf. Latin vertere is different; but Germanic ‘worth’ is from *werþ-, separate; still, *werdʰ- is widely accepted for growth). √vṛt ‘turn’ is classic PIE *wert- (cf. Latin vertere, English ‘wart/ward’ are different roots; but ‘convert’ etc. show *wert-). The tri- formations preserve an archaic Indo-European fondness for triadic cosmic structuring.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The Rishi recognizes Parjanya not as a local weather-agent but as īśa of jagat; therefore the request is inward: refuge (śaraṇa), felicity (śarma), and jyotis (illumination). The hymn models surrender to governance and asks that governance be reproduced as ordered consciousness in ‘us’ (asmé).
Invoke the descending ‘rain of force’ to nourish inner growth; establish a stable triple foundation and invite rhythmic illumination.
Anāhata (heart as refuge) with ascent to Ājñā (light of guidance).
Gentle nāḍī-śodhana or slow 4-4-6 breathing while contemplating ‘waters’ descending and ‘light’ stabilizing.
Quiet receptive concentration (śānta receptivity) with luminous clarity.
Begin with sensing the heart as śaraṇa (refuge). On inhalation, feel āpaḥ (cool, clear currents) descending; on exhalation, feel oṣadhīs (inner faculties) opening. End by holding a steady inner ‘trivartu jyotiḥ’—clarity that repeats and deepens.
Vedic tri-svara (udātta/anudātta/svarita) as per śākhā tradition; preserve udātta peaks on key invocatory words (e.g., īśe, jyotiḥ) and observe svarita falls on combined accents.
Keep each Triṣṭubh pāda clearly separated; slight lift on invocatory relative clauses (yo ... yo ... yo ...), then a settled, granting tone on sa ... yaṃsat.
Maintain retroflex ṣ in oṣadhīnāṃ (o-ṣa-dhī-), Keep long vowels: jyótiḥ (jyo-tiḥ) with clear ‘o’ glide, Articulate conjuncts: tridhātu (tri-dhā-tu), trivartu (tri-var-tu), Soften visarga in jyotiḥ before following sound according to recitation style
Steady, resonant, rain-like flow; avoid harshness—aim for a nourishing timbre.
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