Rig Veda 7.61.2: Mandala 7, Sukta 61, Mantra 2
Sukta 7.61
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Mitra–Varuṇa
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace)
प्र वां स मित्रावरुणावृतावा विप्रो मन्मानि दीर्घश्रुदियर्ति । यस्य ब्रह्माणि सुक्रतू अवाथ आ यत्क्रत्वा न शरदः पृणैथे ॥
prá vāṃ sá mitrāvaruṇāv ṛtā́vā vípro mánmāni dīrghá-śrud iyarti | yásya bráhmāṇi sukratū avā́tha ā́ yát krátvā ná śáradaḥ pṛṇáithe ||
मित्र और वरुण, तुम दोनों सच्चे हो। रिशि तुम्हारे लिए अपने विचार भेजता है जो दूर तक सुनाई देते हैं। जिसके शब्द भगवान तुम रखते हो, उसका भला होता है। तुम अपनी शक्ति से उसके जीवन को भरते हो जैसे बरसों में फसल आती है।
Word by Word
- प्र
- forth; forward (preverb)Indeclinableउपसर्ग/निपातRoot प्र (उपसर्ग) / प्र (अव्यय)
- वाम्
- you two (acc./dat.)Pronounद्वितीया/चतुर्थी द्विवचन (एन्क्लिटिक रूप)Role कर्म/सम्प्रदान (सन्दर्भानुसार)Root युष्मद्
- सः
- he; that onePronounपुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्ताRoot तद्
- मित्रावरुणौ
- Mitra and Varuṇa (the two)Noun (dual deity name)पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा द्विवचनRole सम्बोधन/कर्ता (सः … मित्रावरुणौ = ‘he, (namely) Mitra and Varuṇa’)Root मित्र-वरुण (समास: द्वन्द्व)
- ऋतावा
- possessing ṛta; true to cosmic orderAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा द्विवचन (वेदिक रूप: -आ = -औ)Role विशेषण (मित्रावरुणौ)Root ऋतावन् (प्रातिपदिक: ऋत + वन्)
- विप्रः
- inspired poet/seerNounपुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्ताRoot विप्र
- मन्मानि
- thoughts; hymns; devout intentionsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग द्वितीया बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot मन्मन्
- दीर्घश्रुत्
- far-/long-hearing; of wide renown/hearingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचनRole विशेषण (विप्रः)Root दीर्घश्रुत् (समास: दीर्घ + श्रुत्)
- ईयर्ति
- sets in motion; impels; sends forthVerbलट्, परस्मैपद, प्र.पुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot ईर् (ईरयति/ईयर्ति)
- यस्य
- whosePronounपुं/नपुं षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root यद्
- ब्रह्माणि
- sacred formulations; prayersNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचनRole कर्म (अवाथ = ‘help’ takes acc.)Root ब्रह्मन्
- सु-क्रतू
- of good resolve/power; wise in actionAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा द्विवचनRole विशेषण (मित्रावरुणौ)Root सुक्रतु (समास: सु + क्रतु)
- अवाथ
- you two have helped/protectedVerbलिट् (वेदिक परोक्ष/परफेक्ट), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचनRole क्रियाRoot अव् (अवति) / अव (to help, protect)
- आ
- towards; unto; up to (preverb)Indeclinableउपसर्ग/निपातRoot आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- यत्
- when; that whichPronoun/Conjunctionनपुंसकलिङ्ग प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (यत् = ‘when/that which’)Role सम्बन्ध/अव्ययीभाव-प्राय (clausal link)Root यद्
- क्रत्वा
- by (your) resolve/powerNounपुंलिङ्ग तृतीया एकवचनRole करणRoot क्रतु
- न
- notIndeclinableनिषेधRoot न (अव्यय)
- शरदः
- autumns; yearsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग द्वितीया बहुवचन (वेदिक: -ः = -स्)Role कर्मRoot शरद्
- पृणैथे
- you two fill; make fullVerbलट्, परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचनRole क्रियाRoot पॄ/पृ (पृणाति ‘to fill, make full’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-निरसन): प्र | वाम् | सः | मित्रावरुणौ | ऋतावा | विप्रः | मन्मानि | दीर्घश्रुत् | ईयर्ति | यस्य | ब्रह्माणि | सुक्रतू | अवाथ | आ | यत् | क्रत्वा | न | शरदः | पृणैथे । 1) वां॒ = वाम् (युष्मद् एन्क्लिटिक द्विवचन)
- 2) मित्रावरुणावृ॒तावा॒ → मित्रावरुणौ + ऋतावा (औ + ऋ- संधि: औ + ऋ → आवृ; लेखन: -वरुणावृतावा-)
- 3) दीर्घ॒श्रुदि॑यर्ति → दीर्घश्रुत् + ईयर्ति (त् + ई- संधि: त् + ई → दीर्घश्रुदीयर्ति; पाठे ‘श्रुदि-’)
- 4) यत्क्रत्वा॒ → यत् + क्रत्वा (त् + क्)
- 5) श॒रद॑: = शरदः (वेदिक विसर्ग-लेखन; मूलतः शरदस्, acc.pl.)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The inspired seer sends forward to Mitra and Varuṇa—lords of ṛta—his far-heard thoughts; they protect his sacred formulations, and by their will they fill out the seasons’ measure.
Inner meaning
The vipra’s manmāni are not mere thoughts but inspired formations that can travel far in consciousness (dīrghaśrut). Mitra–Varuṇa safeguard these inner ‘brahma’ (word-power/true formulation) so that the soul’s growth proceeds in right rhythm—season by season—by their sukratu (perfect will).
Universal truth
True growth is rhythmic and law-governed. When aspiration is formulated in truth and protected by a higher will, development matures in its proper time rather than by impatience or force.
Themes
seer’s offering, mantra efficacy, maturation in time, divine protection of brahman
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa lineage)
- Other hymns
- RV 7.61, RV 7.62, RV 7.66, RV 7.86
Family tradition
A tradition of mantra as effective inner speech (brahma) guarded by ṛta-devatās; emphasis on disciplined, time-respecting growth.
Significance
Vasiṣṭha models the yogic act of ‘sending’ inspired formations upward and receiving divine protection so the sadhana ripens in right season.
The deity
- Devata
- Mitra–Varuṇa
- Epithets
- ṛtāvā, sukratū
- Related deities
- Savitṛ (impeller of rhythms), Soma (bliss that matures), Agni (carrier of offerings)
Cosmic role
Regulators of cosmic and moral order; they uphold the efficacy of true speech and the lawful rhythm of time (seasons).
Inner power
Protection of mantra-formation and steady maturation of consciousness; they prevent distortion, haste, and false growth.
In ritual
Where it is used
Praise/invocation of Mitra–Varuṇa in Soma rites; recitation to secure protection of brahma (prayer)
प्र वां॒ स मि॑त्रावरुणावृ॒तावा॒ विप्रो॒ मन्मा॑नि दीर्घ॒श्रुदि॑यर्ति । यस्य॒ ब्रह्मा॑णि सुक्रतू॒ अवा॑थ॒ आ यत्क्रत्वा॒ न श॒रद॑: पृ॒णैथे॑ ॥
प्र । वा॒म् । सः । मि॒त्रा॒व॒रु॒णौ॒ । ऋ॒तऽवा॑ । विप्रः॑ । मन्मा॑नि । दी॒र्घ॒ऽश्रुत् । इ॒य॒र्ति॒ । यस्य॑ । ब्रह्मा॑णि । सु॒क्र॒तू॒ इति॑ सुऽक्रतू । अवा॑थः । आ । यत् । क्रत्वा॑ । न । श॒रदः॑ । पृ॒णैथे॑ ॥
pra | vām | saḥ | mitrāvaruṇau | ṛta-vā | vipraḥ | manmāni | dīrgha-śrut | iyarti | yasya | brahmāṇi | sukratūitisu-kratū | avāthaḥ | ā | yat | kratvā | na | śaradaḥ | pṛṇaithe
44
4×11 syllables (approx.)
Measured, processional rhythm—well-suited to themes of order, protection, and seasonal measure.
Instills patience and confidence in gradual unfolding; supports clear articulation of intention (saṅkalpa-like).
- ṛtāvā
- Literal: possessing ṛta. Symbolic: aligned with truth-order; powers that regulate right becoming
- vipra
- Literal: inspired sage. Symbolic: the awakened mind receiving intuition
- manmāni
- Literal: thought-formations. Symbolic: inspired mental forms carrying aspiration and truth
- dīrghaśrut
- Literal: far-heard. Symbolic: mantra that reaches across planes/time; resonance in the subtle being
- brahmāṇi
- Literal: sacred formulations/prayers. Symbolic: word of power that shapes consciousness
- sukratū
- Literal: of good/beautiful will and action. Symbolic: perfect executive will of the divine powers
- kratvā
- Literal: by will-power. Symbolic: conscious force that accomplishes inner change
- śaradaḥ
- Literal: autumns/seasons/years. Symbolic: measures of maturation; cycles of inner ripening
Mantra of offering the hymn-thought (manman) and brahman to Mitra–Varuṇa; typical of Soma praise sequences emphasizing mantra efficacy and divine protection.
During stotra sequences or as a protective prayer for the efficacy of the rite and its timing.
Offering of speech (stuti) and request for guardianship over the formulation and its fruit across time.
Use before study/teaching/creative work: formulate a clear intention, recite, and commit to steady practice over weeks/months (śaradaḥ as maturation cycles).
ṛtāvān from ṛta + -vān ‘possessing’. manman ‘thought-hymn’ from √man ‘think’. dīrgha-śrut ‘far-heard’ (śru ‘hear’) indicates mantra efficacy spreading. su-kratu ‘good will/effective intention’ (su- + kratu). pṛṇ- from √pṛ ‘to fill, satisfy’ (PIE *pleh₁- ‘fill’ cf. Greek plḗrēs ‘full’, Latin plēnus). śarad ‘season/year’ marks ripening cycles; psychologically, stages of maturation.
ṛta, mantra as far-reaching force, kratu as executive will shaping maturation
Ṛta is not only moral order but temporal rhythm; the gods ‘fill’ the seasons by will.
Brahma (true formulation) is protected when aligned with satya; otherwise it becomes mere mental noise.
Becoming unfolds by measured cycles; consciousness ripens through successive ‘seasons’.
Yoga of mantra and will (Aurobindonian): inspired mind + divine governance = lawful transformation.
all seasons (śaradaḥ as cycles)
Inner practice matures in cycles; inspiration must be protected to become realization.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is ‘the far-reaching mantra’ upheld by the gods of ṛta: the seer projects manman and brahman, and Mitra–Varuṇa protect it and, through kratu, ‘fill the seasons’—i.e., ensure the right ripening of the seeker’s growth in time.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √śru ‘hear’ (śrut) is PIE *ḱleu̯- ‘hear’ (cf. Greek klúō, Latin clueō). √pṛ ‘fill’ corresponds to PIE *pleh₁- (fullness family). These inherited roots support the verse’s semantic of ‘heard far’ and ‘made full’.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi sends forth the mantric thought; the devatā are guarantors of its truth and fruition. The exchange is: inspired formulation offered → divine protection → maturation and fullness over the cycles of time under divine kratu.
Formulate a single ‘true thought’ (manman) and offer it upward; rest in the sense of being protected by ṛta.
viśuddha (truth in speech)
4-4-6 breathing (inhale-hold-exhale) while mentally ‘sending’ the intention on exhale.
From scattered thought to inspired, protected clarity; from impatience to rhythmic perseverance.
Write one sentence of aspiration (brahma as formulation). Chant once slowly, then sit 7 minutes observing whether the thought remains ‘far-heard’ (resonant) without strain. Recommit weekly—let the ‘seasons’ fill.
Maintain Śākala svara: clear udātta lifts on key invocatory words (mitrāvaruṇau, ṛtāvā, vipraḥ), with controlled svarita descents.
Give a slight forward push on pra vāṃ; keep even pacing to reflect seasonal measure; clear caesura at |.
mitrāvaruṇau: long ā; final -au as diphthong, ṛtāvā: vocalic ṛ crisp; long ā, vipro: avoid ‘b’; keep ‘v’, dīrghaśrut: conjunct śr; final -t clear, brahmāṇi: retroflex ṇ, sukratū: long ū, śaradaḥ: retroflex ṣ not here; it is śa-ra-daḥ with visarga audible
Measured, composed, ‘truth-speaking’ tone; avoid rushing.
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