Rig Veda 7.73.4: Mandala 7, Sukta 73, Mantra 4
Sukta 7.73
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
उप त्या वह्नी गमतो विशं नो रक्षोहणा सम्भृता वीळुपाणी । समन्धांस्यग्मत मत्सराणि मा नो मर्धिष्टमा गतं शिवेन ॥
úpa tyā́ vahnī́ gamato víśaṃ no rakṣoháṇā sámbhṛtā vīḷúpāṇī | sám andhā́ṃsy agmat matsarā́ṇi mā́ no mardhiṣṭam ā́ gataṃ śivéna ||
अग्नि के दोनों रूप, हमारे पास आओ, हमारी जान के पास। तुम दुश्मनों को मारने वाले हो, हाथ में शक्ति लिए हो। अंधेरा और अहंकार दोनों चले जाओ। हमें मत कुचलो, शक्ति और शांति लेकर आओ।
Word by Word
- उप
- near, towardsIndeclinableअव्ययRoot उप (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- त्या
- those two (f.)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया/प्रथमा द्विवचनम् (वेद. रूप)Role Karma (गत्यर्थे) / सहचर-निर्देशRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वह्नी
- the two bearers/impellers (often: the two fire-priests/agents)Nounपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा द्विवचनम् (वेद. द्विवचन-रूप)Role KartāRoot वह्नि- (प्रातिपदिक)
- गमतः
- let (them) go/comeVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे), परस्मैपदम्, तृतीया-पुरुषः, द्विवचनम्Root गम् (धातु)
- विशम्
- the clan/settlement, peopleNounस्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot विश्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- of us, ourPronounषष्ठी बहुवचनम् (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्बन्धRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- रक्षोहणा
- slayers of demons/evil spiritsAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा द्विवचनम् (वह्नी इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषणत्वेन)Root रक्षस्-हन् (समास-प्रातिपदिक)
- सम्भृता
- well-equipped, fully furnishedAdjective/Participleभूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा द्विवचनम् (वह्नी इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषणत्वेन)Root सम्-भृ (धातु) → सम्भृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- वीळुपाणी
- with strong/firm hands (well-armed)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा द्विवचनम् (वह्नी इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषणत्वेन)Root वीळु-पाणि (समास-प्रातिपदिक; पाणि- ‘hand’)
- सम्
- together, completelyIndeclinableअव्ययRoot सम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- अन्धांसि
- darknesses, obscuritiesNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया बहुवचनम्Role KarmaRoot अन्ध- (प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्मत
- went, came uponVerbलुङ् (अोरिस्ट), परस्मैपदम्, तृतीया-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्Root गम् (धातु)
- मत्सराणि
- hostilities, enmities (jealous attacks)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया बहुवचनम्Role KarmaRoot मत्सर- (प्रातिपदिक)
- मा
- do notIndeclinableनिषेध (prohibitive)Root मा (निषेध-अव्यय)
- नः
- usPronounद्वितीया बहुवचनम् (एन्क्लिटिक)Role KarmaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- मर्धिष्टम्
- most violently, to the utmost harmAdjective (superlative) / verbal adj.नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (क्रियाविशेषणवत्: ‘अत्यन्तम्’)Role Karma/क्रियाविशेषणRoot मृध्/मर्ध् (धातु) → मर्धिष्ट (कृदन्त/विशेषण; superlative)
- मा
- do notIndeclinableनिषेध (prohibitive)Root मा (निषेध-अव्यय)
- गतम्
- going, approachParticipleभूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (निषेधेन सह: ‘गमनम्’)Role KarmaRoot गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त)
- शिवेन
- with auspiciousness, benignlyNoun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot शिव- (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सम्भाव्य): उप | त्या | वह्नी | गमतः | विशम् | नः | रक्षोहणा | सम्भृता | वीळुपाणी || सम् | अन्धांसि | अग्मत | मत्सराणि | मा | नः | मर्धिष्टम् | मा | गतम् | शिवेन || 1) ‘उप त्या’ इति संहितायां ‘उप॒ त्या’ (स्वर-चिह्न सहित) । 2) ‘समन्धांसि’ = ‘सम् + अन्धांसि’ (म् + अ → म् अ; लेखने ‘समन्धांसि’)
- 3) ‘अग्मत’ वेदिक-लुङ् (aorist) ‘गम्’ धातोः। 4) ‘रक्षोहणा, सम्भृता, वीळुपाणी’ इति त्रयः विशेषणपदानि ‘वह्नी’ (द्विवचन) इत्यस्य।
The meaning
Outer meaning
The two flame-bearers (Aśvins) should come near to our people, slayers of hostile beings, well-equipped and strong-handed; let blind darkness and intoxications depart; do not crush us—come with auspicious, healing power.
Inner meaning
The Aśvins are invoked as carriers of a ‘flame-force’—the practical energetic help that supports Agni’s ascent in the being. ‘Rakṣas’ are inner distortions and hostile formations that obstruct clarity. ‘Blind darknesses’ are subconscient obscurity; ‘matsarāṇi’ are ego-intoxications (jealousy, arrogance, restless excitation). The prayer is for cleansing and gentle healing: divine force must not overwhelm the immature parts but arrive as śiva—benign, harmonizing.
Universal truth
True help is both powerful and compassionate: it removes obscurity and egoic intoxication without breaking the human instrument, restoring strength with kindness.
Themes
protection, exorcism-of-hostiles, healing-arrival, inner-purification
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa lineage)
- Other hymns
- RV 7.12, RV 7.60, RV 7.74
Family tradition
Book 7 seers emphasize protection of ṛta and removal of hostile forces; a tradition of mantra as effective spiritual medicine.
Significance
Vasiṣṭha’s vision seeks not only victory over darkness but a balanced transformation—force that heals the instrument while purifying it.
The deity
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Epithets
- vahnī (as carriers), rakṣohaṇā, vīḻupāṇī, śivā (benign helpers)
- Related deities
- Agni, Uṣas, Soma, Rudra (healing aspect)
Cosmic role
Guardians at transitions (night→dawn), rescuers in danger, restorers of health and right functioning.
Inner power
Nervous and vital harmonizers: they bring swift correction, remove toxic formations, and re-align energies to the soul’s intention.
In ritual
Where it is used
Protective Aśvin invocation; apotropaic (warding) usage within soma/dawn rites
उप॒ त्या वह्नी॑ गमतो॒ विशं॑ नो रक्षो॒हणा॒ सम्भृ॑ता वी॒ळुपा॑णी । समन्धां॑स्यग्मत मत्स॒राणि॒ मा नो॑ मर्धिष्ट॒मा ग॑तं शि॒वेन॑ ॥
उप॑ । त्या । वह्नी॒ इति॑ । ग॒म॒तः॒ । विश॑म् । नः॒ । र॒क्षः॒ऽहना॑ । सम्ऽभृ॑ता । वी॒ळुपा॑णी॒ इति॑ वी॒ळुऽपा॑णी । सम् । अन्धां॑सि । अ॒ग्म॒त॒ । म॒त्स॒राणि॑ । मा । नः॒ । म॒र्धि॒ष्ट॒म् । आ । ग॒त॒म् । शि॒वेन॑ ॥
upa | tyā | vahnī iti | gamataḥ | viśam | naḥ | rakṣaḥ-hanā | sam-bhṛtā | vīḷupāṇī itivīḷu-pāṇī | sam | andhāṃsi | agmata | matsarāṇi | mā | naḥ | mardhiṣṭam | ā | gatam | śivena
44
4 × ~11 syllables
Energetic and protective; strong beats suit ‘rakṣas-slaying’ and clearing movements.
Creates a felt shield and a cleansing push; then softens on ‘śivena’ into reassurance.
- vahnī
- Literal: bearers/conveyers; also fire-bearers. Symbolic: carriers of the flame of aspiration; forces that transport the inner Agni through the system
- rakṣohaṇā
- Literal: slayers of rakṣas. Symbolic: powers that destroy inner hostility, falsehood, and obstructing impulses
- sambhṛtā
- Literal: well-equipped, well-provided. Symbolic: fully furnished with means—complete divine resources for the work
- vīḻupāṇī
- Literal: strong-armed/strong-handed. Symbolic: effective executive force; capacity to act in life and body
- andhāṃsi
- Literal: darknesses, blind obscurities. Symbolic: subconscient ignorance; unlit zones of mind and vital
- matsarāṇi
- Literal: intoxications/jealousies. Symbolic: ego-excitations, competitive envy, self-importance that distort perception
- mardhiṣṭam
- Literal: crush, press down severely. Symbolic: overwhelming pressure of force that the nature cannot yet bear
- śivena
- Literal: with auspiciousness/benignity. Symbolic: healing grace; harmonizing power that restores rather than shocks
Protective invocation within Soma rite; apotropaic (rakṣo-han) and healing (śiva) orientation.
At the approach of dawn; also when seeking protection from harmful influences
Calling the Aśvins near; requesting removal of darkness and hostile forces
Suitable for protection/clearing before meditation, travel, healing sessions, or when dealing with anxiety, addiction-like ‘intoxications,’ and negativity.
: ‘carrier, conveyor’ often of fire/energy; linked to √vah ‘to carry’ (PIE *wegh-). : rakṣas ‘harmful/guarding demon-force’ + √han ‘to slay’ (PIE *gʷhen-). : ‘blind, dark’ (semantic of obscuration). : from √mad ‘to be intoxicated’ with competitive/jealous excitation. : √mṛdh ‘to crush, oppress, injure’—here prayed to be withheld. : ‘auspicious, benign’—a harmonizing power rather than mere ‘good luck’.
removal of obscuration (andhāṃsi), control of ego-intoxication (matsara), benign descent (śiva)
Removal of ‘andhāṃsi’ restores the right working of consciousness in ṛta.
Clearing intoxication returns speech and perception to truth.
Transformation by purification: darkness and ego-distortion are expelled so a new dawn-order can manifest.
Yoga-psychological reading (Aurobindo/Kashyap): rakṣas as inner adverse formations.
pre-dawn to dawn
Fire = aspiration and will; darkness = subconscient inertia; dawn-sun = emerging illumination and health of the being.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Aśvins as protectors who slay hostile forces and dispel darkness: a rescue/exorcism mythologem. Psychologically, hostile ‘rakṣas’ are invasive patterns; ‘blindnesses’ are obscurations; ‘matsara’ is ego-turbulence. The twins arrive with ‘śiva’—restorative harmony.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vah ‘carry’ (vahnī) continues PIE *wegh- (cf. Latin vehere, English way/vehicle family). √han ‘slay’ continues PIE *gʷhen- (cf. Greek pheínō ‘kill’, Sanskrit han-). The apotropaic compound rakṣo-hanā is a productive archaic formation typical of early Indo-European poetic diction.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi requests not only help but a specific mode of help: forceful against hostiles (rakṣo-hanā, vīḷu-pāṇī) yet gentle toward the seeker (mā no mardhiṣṭam… śivena). The reciprocity is ethical-psychological: divine power must be assimilable, not overwhelming.
Inner clearing: release obscurity and ego-intoxication; invite swift healing force with gentleness.
maṇipūra (vital fire regulation) and anāhata (benign healing)
Exhale-focused cleansing: inhale 4, exhale 6 while mentally offering ‘andhāṃsi’ and ‘matsara’ outward; end with soft inhale on ‘śivena’.
Protected vigilance; then receptive calm.
Name one ‘darkness’ and one ‘intoxication’ you wish to drop; chant once slowly, then sit 2–3 minutes feeling a cool, skilled healing force working through the nerves.
Use saṃhitā svara marks; keep emphatic udātta on key invocatory words (उप॒, वह्नी॑, रक्षो॒हणा॒).
Make pāda 1–2 slightly stronger (protective call), pāda 3 cleansing, pāda 4 soften on शि॒वेन॑.
vīḻupāṇī: pronounce ḻ as retroflex lateral (often rendered as ḷ); keep long ī., rakṣohaṇā: kṣ as conjunct (k+ṣ), not ‘x’., mardhiṣṭam: ṣṭ as retroflex cluster; do not simplify., andhāṃsi: nasalization on āṃ.
firm, protective, then gentler at the close.
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