Rig Veda 7.54.2: Mandala 7, Sukta 54, Mantra 2
Sukta 7.54
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Vāstoṣpati
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
वास्तोष्पते प्रतरणो न एधि गयस्फानो गोभिरश्वेभिरिन्दो । अजरासस्ते सख्ये स्याम पितेव पुत्रान्प्रति नो जुषस्व ॥
vā́stoḥ pate pra-táraṇo na edhi gaya-sphā́no góbhir áśvebhir indo | ajárāsas te sakhyé syāma pitḗva putrā́n práti no juṣasva ||
हे घर के मालिक, तुम हमारे आगे बढ़ाने वाले हो। तुम हमारे लिए जीवन बढ़ाने वाले हो, रोशनी और ताकत के साथ। तुम्हारी दोस्ती में हम कभी बूढ़े नहीं होंगे। जैसे बाप अपने बेटे को कबलता है, वैसे हमें कबलो।
Word by Word
- वास्तोष्पते
- O Lord of the dwelling (house-protector)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन-एकवचनRole सम्बोधन (आह्वान)Root वास्तोष्पति- (प्रातिपदिक; वास्तु + पति)
- प्रतर॑णः
- the rescuer / ferrier acrossAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (वास्तोष्पते इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role सम्बोधन-विशेषणRoot प्र-तॄ (धातु) → प्र-तरण- (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; ‘पार कराने वाला’)
- नः
- of us / ourPronounषष्ठी-बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्बन्ध (our)Root अस्मद्
- एधि
- be (for us), prosperVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यम-पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रिया (आशीः/आज्ञा)Root इध् (धातु; ‘वर्धने/दीप्तौ’)
- गयस्फानः
- life-giving, prosperity-bestowingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (वास्तोष्पते इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role सम्बोधन-विशेषणRoot गयस्फान- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘समृद्धि/जीवन-बल देने वाला’)
- गोभिः
- with cowsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया-बहुवचनRole करणRoot गो-
- अश्वेभिः
- with horsesNounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-बहुवचनRole करणRoot अश्व-
- इन्दो
- O Indu (Soma)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन-एकवचनRole सम्बोधन (आह्वान)Root इन्दु-
- अजरासः
- unagingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन (वयं इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ (वयं) का विशेषणRoot अ-जर- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘अवृद्ध/अक्षय’)
- ते
- of you / yourPronounषष्ठी-एकवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्बन्ध (thy)Root युष्मद्
- सख्ये
- in friendshipNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot सख्य-
- स्याम
- may we beVerbविधिलिङ् (सम्भावना/आशीः); उत्तम-पुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रिया (वयं)Root अस् (धातु)
- पिता
- a fatherNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनRole उपमान (इव-सम्बन्ध)Root पितृ-
- इव
- likeIndeclinableअव्यय (उपमा)Role उपमान-सूचकRoot इव
- पुत्रान्
- sonsNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot पुत्र-
- प्रति
- towardsIndeclinableअव्यय (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद; ‘प्रति’)Role दिशा/सम्बन्ध (towards)Root प्रति
- नः
- usPronounद्वितीया-बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role कर्मRoot अस्मद्
- जुषस्व
- take pleasure in / accept / be gracious toVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यम-पुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole क्रिया (आह्वान)Root जुष् (धातु; ‘प्रीतौ/सेवने’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-निरसन): वास्तोष्पते (= वास्तु + ओष्?; व्यवहारतः ‘वास्तु + पति’ → वास्तोष्पति, सम्बोधन एकवचन ‘वास्तोष्पते’)
- प्रतर॑णो न (= प्रतर॑णः + नः; विसर्ग-लोपः/ओ-आदेशः पदसंहितायाम्)
- गोभिरश्वे॑भिः (= गोभिः + अश्वेभिः; विसर्ग-सन्धिः ‘ः + अ’ → ‘र’)
- पुत्रान्प्रति (= पुत्रान् + प्रति; न् + प् → न्प्)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Vāstoṣpati is asked to be a leading deliverer, to increase life with cows and horses, O Indu; may the worshippers be unaging in his friendship, and may he accept them like a father his sons.
Inner meaning
The guardian of the inner dwelling is invoked not only to protect but to ‘lead farther across’ (prataraṇaḥ): to guide the being through transitions and difficulties into a more luminous stability. ‘Gayasphāna’ is life-expanding—he increases the joy and substance of living. The gifts are ‘gobhiḥ’ and ‘aśvebhiḥ’: not cattle and horses outwardly, but rays of knowledge (go) and powers of movement/action (aśva). The epithet ‘indu’ colors Vāstoṣpati with Soma-nature: a delight-force that makes the dwelling blissful and growthful. Friendship with this power makes the seeker ‘ajarāsaḥ’—unaging: not merely long-lived, but inwardly fresh, protected from the wearing down of consciousness. The father-son image expresses intimate belonging: the indwelling guardian accepts the aspiring parts of us when they turn toward him.
Universal truth
True security is dynamic: it carries us forward. When knowledge-light and right vital energy increase, life becomes more whole and less subject to inner decay; the divine presence relates to us with intimate care when we sincerely turn toward it.
Themes
Household prosperity (inner/outer), Light-knowledge recovery, Dynamic force and protection, Friendship with the indwelling power
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa)
- Other hymns
- RV 7.54.1, RV 7.54.3, RV 7.53.3
Family tradition
Aurobindo’s reading often highlights Vasiṣṭha’s emphasis on protection that enables progress—rakṣā that becomes a vehicle for growth.
Significance
The mantra bridges ‘home’ and ‘journey’: the dwelling is not static; it is a base from which consciousness crosses beyond limitations, supported by light (go) and force (aśva) and sweetened by delight (indu).
The deity
- Devata
- Vāstoṣpati (Indu-colored)
- Epithets
- prataraṇa (deliverer/guide), gayasphāna (life-increaser), indu (delight-drop)
- Related deities
- Soma (Indu), Agni (household leader), Pūṣan (path-maker, thematic)
Cosmic role
Presiding genius of habitation who also guides safe passage and prosperity; ensures the home is a living, growing field.
Inner power
Guidance through inner transitions; infusion of delight; increase of knowledge and right vital force within the embodied system.
In ritual
Where it is used
Household protection and prosperity prayer (Vāstoṣpati)
वास्तो॑ष्पते प्र॒तर॑णो न एधि गय॒स्फानो॒ गोभि॒रश्वे॑भिरिन्दो । अ॒जरा॑सस्ते स॒ख्ये स्या॑म पि॒तेव॑ पु॒त्रान्प्रति॑ नो जुषस्व ॥
वास्तोः॑ । प॒ते॒ । प्र॒ऽतर॑णः । नः॒ । ए॒धि॒ । ग॒य॒ऽस्फानः॑ । गोभिः॑ । अश्वे॑भिः । इ॒न्दो॒ इति॑ । अ॒जरा॑सः । ते॒ । स॒ख्ये । स्या॒म॒ । पि॒ताऽइ॑व । पु॒त्रान् । प्रति॑ । नः॒ । जु॒ष॒स्व॒ ॥
vāstoḥ | pate | pra-taraṇaḥ | naḥ | edhi | gaya-sphānaḥ | gobhiḥ | aśvebhiḥ | indo iti | ajarāsaḥ | te | sakhye | syāma | pitāiva | putrān | prati | naḥ | juṣasva
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4 × ~11; energetic imperatives and relational close
More dynamic than 7.54.1; the rhythm ‘moves’ (aśva-energy) while keeping a protective frame.
Energizes safely—awakens forward movement without agitation, especially effective when chanted with steady breath.
- प्रतर॑णः (prataraṇaḥ)
- Literal: one who helps cross over; farther-leading. Symbolic: guiding force through inner passages and crises toward wider consciousness
- गयस्फानः (gayasphānaḥ)
- Literal: life-increasing, life-swelling. Symbolic: augmentation of prāṇa and joy; strengthening of the life-force under harmony
- गोभिः (gobhiḥ)
- Literal: with cows. Symbolic: with rays of light/knowledge (illumining perceptions)
- अश्वेभिः (aśvebhiḥ)
- Literal: with horses. Symbolic: with vital energies and powers of action/movement
- इन्दो (indo/indu)
- Literal: Soma, bright drop. Symbolic: delight-principle that sweetens and sustains the inner dwelling
- अजरा॑सः (ajarāsaḥ)
- Literal: unaging. Symbolic: freedom from inner fatigue/decay; perennial freshness of consciousness
Prosperity and protection prayer for the settled household/inner dwelling; request for light (go) and force (aśva) as supports of well-being.
At settling into a home, before journeys, or when seeking renewed vitality and harmony in the household.
Recite with offerings to the household fire or lamp; optionally sprinkle water at thresholds as symbolic protection.
Chant to stabilize a living/work space and to invoke ‘light and energy’ for constructive action; useful before starting a new project.
- (pra-taraṇa) from √ ‘to cross over’ (taraṇa ‘crossing’). (gaya) ‘life, vital existence’ + sphāna from √ ‘to swell, expand’. (go) from PIE *gʷou- ‘cow’ but RV symbolism extends to ‘ray/light’ (by association with brightness and ‘finding cows’ = finding lights). (aśva) from PIE *h₁eḱwos ‘horse’ → dynamic force/energy in RV inner reading.
Crossing beyond obstacles (taraṇa), Increase of life-force (gaya-sphāna), Light and Force as twin aids (go/aśva)
Implicit: right movement (aśva) must be guided by right light (go) to remain protected.
Fatherly acceptance implies sincerity and truth in turning toward the indwelling power.
The dwelling as a microcosm where delight, light, and force are cultivated for evolution.
Integral yoga psychology: knowledge (go) + force (aśva) + delight (soma) integrated under a protecting presiding consciousness.
Cows = illuminations; horses = dynamic prāṇa; Soma = bliss-substance; dwelling = embodied field where these are organized.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘crossing’ (taraṇa) and ‘increase of life’ (gaya-sphāna) mythologem: the guardian of the dwelling becomes a ferrier through peril and a giver of growth. Inner sense: the indwelling deity leads the being across disorder into stable habitation, increasing life by light (go) and force (aśva).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- aśva reflects PIE *h₁eḱwos (Latin equus, Old Irish ech). go reflects PIE *gʷou- (Greek bous, Latin bos). taraṇa from √tṝ ‘cross’ aligns with Indo-European ‘through/cross’ semantic fields, though direct cognates are less clear than for *h₁eḱwos/*gʷou-.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The relationship is familial and contractual: the rishi offers orientation and friendship (sakhya), and the devatā responds like a father—accepting, protecting, and granting enduring vitality and resources (symbolically light and force).
Invoke ‘light and force with delight’ into the inner home; cultivate protected dynamism.
Maṇipūra (right force) supported by Anāhata (friendship/belonging)
Inhale imagining cool Soma-like brightness rising; exhale distributing it through belly and limbs as steady action-power.
Energized calm; joyful steadiness.
Chant, then visualize two streams entering: golden-white rays (go) into the forehead/heart, and warm steady currents (aśva) into the navel/legs; seal with a feeling of being ‘accepted like a son’—safe to act from within protection.
Tri-svara; keep ‘vāstoṣ pate’ bright; let ‘indo’ ring with a clear, luminous tone.
Emphasize the forward-leading sense in ‘prataraṇo na edhi’; soften into intimacy on ‘piteva putrān’.
prataraṇaḥ: roll the internal rhythm pra-ta-ra-ṇaḥ cleanly., gaya-sphānaḥ: keep sph aspirated (s + ph)., aśvebhih: ś palatal; bhih with light aspiration.
Bright, confident, and affectionate at the close.
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