Rig Veda 7.33.8: Mandala 7, Sukta 33, Mantra 8
Sukta 7.33
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Vasiṣṭhas as lineage of seers
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
सूर्यस्येव वक्षथो ज्योतिरेषां समुद्रस्येव महिमा गभीरः । वातस्येव प्रजवो नान्येन स्तोमो वसिष्ठा अन्वेतवे वः ॥
sū́ryasya-iva vakṣátho jyótir eṣāṁ samudrásya-iva mahimā́ gabhīráḥ | vā́tasya-iva pra-javó nā́nyena stómo vasiṣṭhā ánv-etave vaḥ ||
जैसे सूरज अपनी रोशनी लेके आगे बढ़ता है, वैसे ही इनकी रोशनी है। जैसे समुंदर में बड़ी गहराई है, वैसे ही इनका बड़ा है। जैसे हवा तेज़ चलती है, वैसे ही यह स्तोत्र है। यह स्तोत्र वसिष्ठ रिशियों तक पहुँचने के लिए है, कोई दूसरा रास्ता नहीं।
Word by Word
- सूर्यस्य
- of the SunNounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययRole (उपमान-सूचक)Root इव
- वक्षथः
- the expanse (breadth)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ/विशेष्य (उपमेय-रूपेण)Root वक्षथ (प्रातिपदिक; ‘वक्षस्/वक्षथ’ = विस्तार/प्रसार/विस्तीर्णता)
- ज्योतिः
- light, radianceNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ/विशेष्यRoot ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- एषाम्
- of these (of them)Pronounषष्ठी; बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- समुद्रस्य
- of the oceanNounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययRole (उपमान-सूचक)Root इव
- महिमा
- greatness, majestyNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ/विशेष्यRoot महिमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- गभीरः
- deepAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole विशेषणRoot गभीर (प्रातिपदिक)
- वातस्य
- of the windNounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root वात (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययRole (उपमान-सूचक)Root इव
- प्रजवः
- impetus, swift rushNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ/विशेष्यRoot प्र-जव (प्रातिपदिक; ‘वेग/प्रेरित-वेग’)
- न
- notIndeclinableनिषेध-अव्ययRole (निषेध)Root न
- अन्येन
- by another (by anyone else)Pronoun/Adjectiveपुं/नपुं; तृतीया; एकवचनRole करण (तृतीया)Root अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्तोमः
- hymn of praiseNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ/विशेष्यRoot स्तोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- वसिष्ठाः
- the Vasiṣṭhas (Vasiṣṭha’s clan/poets)Noun (proper name/plural)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (स्तुतिकर्तारः)Root वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
- अन्वेतवे
- to follow, to go afterVerb (infinitive)तवेन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (इन्फिनिटिव्): ‘अनु + एतुम्’Role प्रयोजन (उद्देश्य)Root अनु-इ (धातु: इ ‘to go’) → अन्वेतु (इच्छार्थ/गन्तुम्) ; इन्फिनिटिव्-रूप
- वः
- for you / of youPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी; बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध (प्रसङ्गानुसार)Root युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: सूर्यस्य इव वक्षथः ज्योतिः एषाम् | समुद्रस्य इव महिमा गभीरः | वातस्य इव प्रजवः न अन्येन | स्तोमः वसिष्ठाः अन्वेतवे वः || मुख्य-सन्धयः: (1) सूर्यस्येव = सूर्यस्य + इव (स्वर-सन्धि/एव-रूप) (2) ज्योतिरेषाम् = ज्योतिः + एषाम् (विसर्ग-लोपः/रेफादेशः: ः + ए → र्) (3) समुद्रस्येव = समुद्रस्य + इव (4) वातस्येव = वातस्य + इव (5) नान्येन = न + अन्येन (स्वर-सन्धि: अ + अ → आ)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The hymn is compared to three great movers: the Sun that bears forward light, the Ocean whose greatness is vast and deep, and the Wind whose drive is irresistible; so this praise-song goes straight to the Vasiṣṭhas and reaches them by no other way.
Inner meaning
The stoma (mantric offering) is an inner force of aspiration. Like Sūrya, it carries forward illumination; like Samudra, it holds depth and wideness of consciousness; like Vāta, it impels the being with a concentrated life-force toward the goal. The verse affirms that true invocation reaches the seer-powers through the direct path of sincerity and luminous will, not through mental contrivance.
Universal truth
When aspiration is luminous (light-bearing), vast (wide and deep), and steadfastly driven (irresistible impetus), it finds its rightful spiritual response without detours; the straight path is the alignment of will, knowledge, and force.
Themes
nature-symbolism, mantra-power, illumination-vastness-force
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha (Vasiṣṭhas)
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 7.1, RV 7.2, RV 7.18, RV 7.33
Family tradition
Saptaṛṣi lineage; custodians of ṛta-centered kingship counsel and mantric clarity (notably linked with Sudās/Tr̥tsu traditions in RV 7).
Significance
Vasiṣṭha represents the established (vasu-stha) poise of the seer: a stable wideness where illumination, law, and inspired speech can act together.
The deity
- Devata
- Vasiṣṭhas (seer-lineage) with invoked powers of Sūrya–Samudra–Vāta
- Epithets
- Light-bearer (Sūrya-like), Deep-vast (Samudra-like), Irresistibly impelling (Vāta-like)
- Related deities
- Sūrya, Vāyu/Vāta, Āpas (waters), Bṛhaspati (as lord of mantra)
Cosmic role
Sūrya governs revelation of truth; Samudra symbolizes the containing infinity; Vāta governs movement and dissemination—together enabling the hymn to ‘arrive’ as effective force.
Inner power
Illumination (jyoti), wideness (mahimā), and dynamic tapas (prajavá) unified into a single straight aspiration.
In ritual
Where it is used
Mantra as effective speech-force: suitable in Soma settings where stoma is central; also as reflective instruction on how mantra should carry light, depth, and impetus.
सूर्य॑स्येव व॒क्षथो॒ ज्योति॑रेषां समु॒द्रस्ये॑व महि॒मा ग॑भी॒रः । वात॑स्येव प्रज॒वो नान्येन॒ स्तोमो॑ वसिष्ठा॒ अन्वे॑तवे वः ॥
सूर्य॑स्यऽइव । व॒क्षथः॑ । ज्योतिः॑ । ए॒षा॒म् । स॒मु॒द्रस्य॑ऽइव । म॒हि॒मा । ग॒भी॒रः । वात॑स्यऽइव । प्र॒ऽज॒वः । न । अ॒न्येन॑ । स्तोमः॑ । व॒सि॒ष्ठाः॒ । अनु॑ऽएतवे । वः॒ ॥
sūryasya-iva | vakṣathaḥ | jyotiḥ | eṣām | samudrasya-iva | mahimā | gabhīraḥ | vātasya-iva | pra-javaḥ | na | anyena | stomaḥ | vasiṣṭhāḥ | anu-etave | vaḥ
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables (Triṣṭubh cadence; occasional Vedic resolution possible)
Forward-driving, declarative, with strong mid-line lift—well-suited to comparisons and affirmations.
Builds momentum and confidence; the listener feels ‘carried’ by the mantra toward wideness and light.
- सूर्य (sūrya)
- Literal: Sun. Symbolic: Illumined consciousness; the power that carries forward the rays of knowledge
- ज्योतिः (jyotiḥ)
- Literal: Light. Symbolic: Inner illumination, clarity of discernment
- समुद्र (samudra)
- Literal: Ocean. Symbolic: Vastness and depth of being; the wide consciousness that can contain greatness
- महिमा (mahimā)
- Literal: Greatness. Symbolic: Spiritual amplitude; largeness of the soul-nature
- गभीर (gabhīra)
- Literal: Deep. Symbolic: Depth of inner poise; profound foundation of consciousness
- वात (vāta)
- Literal: Wind. Symbolic: Life-force/prāṇa as dynamic drive; irresistible movement of the yoga
- प्रजव (prajavá)
- Literal: Impulsion, rushing forward. Symbolic: Concentrated tapas/effort that overcomes inertia
- स्तोम (stoma)
- Literal: Hymn of praise. Symbolic: Mantric formulation as an offering-force that opens contact with higher powers
- अन्वेतवे (anvetave)
- Literal: To follow after, to reach. Symbolic: The seeking movement of consciousness toward the seer-state
Mantra as effective speech-force: suitable in Soma settings where stoma is central; also as reflective instruction on how mantra should carry light, depth, and impetus.
Recitation in praise/invocation contexts; suitable for sākta-like inner offering or study/upanayana-style svādhyāya.
Stuti (praise) as āhuti of speech—establishing contact with the seer-force and its guidance.
Use as a pre-meditation sankalpa: align illumination (sun), wideness (ocean), and life-force (wind) so intention reaches its aim directly.
vakṣathaḥ (from √vah 'carry, convey') supports the sense 'carrier/impeller'. gabhīra from √gabh 'to plunge, be deep'. pra-java from √ju/√jav 'speed, impel'. stoma from √stu 'praise'—in Vedic, praise is also a shaped power of speech (vāc) that effects inner movement.
Satyam-Ritam-Bṛhat (truth-order-vast), Vāc as power (mantra efficacy), Prāṇa/force (vāta imagery)
The ‘no other path’ suggests the straightness of ṛta: alignment rather than workaround.
Sūrya/jyoti as satya-revelation—truth that carries itself forward.
Emergence of light and movement from vastness (ocean/waters) as a perennial cosmogonic motif.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: ascent through light, wideness, force.
Dawn-to-noon movement implied (sun driving light forward)
Illumination (sun) held in wideness (ocean) propelled by prāṇic tapas (wind) as the effective mantra-force.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The hymn (stoma) is equated with cosmic powers: sun-bearing light, oceanic depth, and wind-like impetus. The mythic action is the transposition of nature’s grand operations into the efficacy of inspired speech; inwardly, mantra becomes the vehicle that carries illumination, depth of being, and forward movement.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- sūrya ties to the solar lexicon ultimately connected with PIE *sóh₂wl̥ (sun) (via later Indo-Iranian developments). √vah 'carry' has PIE *weǵh- 'convey' (cf. English way, vehicle via Latin vehere). √h₁weh₁-? for wind/breath complex appears across IE; Vedic vāta is from √vā 'blow' with broad IE cognacy (cf. Latin ventus).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer-lineage (Vasiṣṭhas) are the recipients and also the living medium of these cosmic qualities. The hymn seeks them not as external patrons but as embodiments of illumined speech; the relationship is apprenticeship to a tradition of realized vāc.
Unify three movements: see clearly (jyoti), widen silently (samudra), then act/aspire steadily (vāta-prajavá).
Ājñā (illumination) with support from Anāhata (wideness)
Gentle vāyu-sādhana: inhale ‘widen’, exhale ‘offer/advance’—keep breath smooth and forward-moving.
Collected aspiration with expansive poise (samādhi-adjacent, not trance).
Before japa, recall a sun in the brow, an ocean in the heart, and a wind in the spine; chant once, pause, feel the ‘straight path’ of the call.
Follow śākala-style Vedic accents: maintain udātta lift on accented syllables; svarita as falling glide; anudātta as low/level—exact svara requires a śikṣā source for RV 7.33.
Keep each pāda as a single breath-unit if possible; mark the comparative ‘-iva’ phrases with clear articulation and slight emphasis, without breaking cadence.
sūryásyeva: keep ‘rya’ conjunct clean, no extra vowel, vakṣatho: retroflex ‘ṣ’ and aspirated ‘th’ distinct, samudrásyeva: light ‘d’ and clear ‘dr’ cluster, gabhīraḥ: long ī; final ḥ lightly released, anvetave: pronounce ‘nv’ smoothly, not ‘nəv’
Bright, forward, and steady; avoid heaviness—let it ‘carry’ like wind.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
