Rig Veda 8.22.11: Mandala 8, Sukta 22, Mantra 11
Sukta 8.22
- Rishi
- Sobharī Kāṇva
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Chandas
- Trishtubh/Jagatī mix
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Karuna (compassion)
यदध्रिगावो अध्रिगू इदा चिदह्नो अश्विना हवामहे । वयं गीर्भिर्विपन्यवः ॥
yád adhrígāvo adhrígū idā́ cíd áhno aśvinā hávām̐he | vayáṃ gī́rbhir vipanyávaḥ ||
अगर हम छोटे लोग भी हैं, तो भी अश्विन भाइयों को बुलाते हैं। अभी इस वक्त हम उन्हे पुकारते हैं। हम अपनी आवाज़ से उन्हे जगाते हैं। अपने गानों से उन्हे बुलाते हैं।
Word by Word
- यत्
- when / thatIndeclinableसम्बन्ध/कालवाचक अव्यय (यदा/यत् = ‘when/that’)Role Adhikaraṇa (काल-सम्बन्ध) / सम्बन्धसूचकRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) अथवा यत् (सम्बन्ध-अव्यय)
- अध्रिगावः
- (we) having/with firm (strong) cows; i.e., with sturdy cattleNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग (समूह/विशेषणवत्), प्रथमा बहुवचनRole Kartā (हवामहे इत्यस्य कर्तृ-समूहः ‘we’ के साथ)Root अध्रि-गाव (बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय-समास; गो ‘cow’)
- अध्रिगू
- O two strong-with-cows / firm-cow(-possessing) onesNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन (अश्विनौ के विशेषणरूपेण)Role सम्बोधन/विशेषण (अश्विनौ के प्रति)Root अध्रि-गु (समास; गु/गो ‘cow’)
- इदा
- here, nowIndeclinableदेश/कालवाचक अव्ययRole Adhikaraṇa (देश/काल) / क्रियाविशेषणRoot इद्/इदम् (अव्यय-प्रयोग; ‘here/now’)
- चित्
- even, indeedIndeclinableनिपात; बल/अपि-अर्थ (‘even/indeed’)Role सम्बन्ध-निपात (उपपद-बलवर्धक)Root चित् (अव्यय; निपात)
- अह्नः
- of the dayNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी: ‘of the day’)Root अहन् (प्रातिपदिक ‘day’)
- अश्विना
- O Aśvins (you two)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन द्विवचन (Vedic: -ā as voc. du.)Role सम्बोधनRoot अश्विन् (देवनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- हवामहे
- we invoke / we call uponVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रिया (यज्ञीय आह्वान) ; कर्ता = वयम्Root √ह्वा (ह्वयति/हवते) ‘to call, invoke’
- वयम्
- wePronounप्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- गीर्भिः
- with hymns / with songsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचनRole Karaṇa (करण: ‘with hymns’)Root गीर्/गिर् (स्त्री. ‘hymn, song, praise’)
- विपन्यवः
- praising, laudatory (singers)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन (वयम् का विशेषण)Role Kartā-विशेषणRoot वि-पन्य (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक; √पन्/पण्य ‘to praise/admire’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (sandhi-resolved): यत् | अध्रिगावः | अध्रिगू | इदा | चित् | अह्नः | अश्विना | हवामहे | वयम् | गीर्भिः | विपन्यवः । विशेष: ‘अश्विना’ = सम्बोधन-द्विवचन (Vedic voc. du. ending -ā)
- ‘अह्नो’ (संहितापाठ) → ‘अह्नः’ (पदपाठ) षष्ठी-एकवचन
- ‘यदध्रि…’ में यत् + अध्रि… संधि से ‘यदध्रि…’।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Even if we are ‘Adhrigāvas/Adhrigūs’ (humble/insufficient), still at this time of day we call the Aśvins; we are praisers with hymns.
Inner meaning
The rishi admits human inadequacy—our faculties may be ‘unfirm’ (adhri-) in holding the truth or sustaining practice—yet the call is made now, in the living moment (idā cid ahnaḥ). The offering is gīr (inspired speech): mantra as a tool of awakening. Even imperfect seekers can invoke the harmonizing powers if they persist in the illumining word.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress does not require prior perfection; sincere invocation in the present moment, supported by true speech and aspiration, draws help that gradually makes the being firm.
Themes
invocation, power of speech, humility and persistence, Aśvin responsiveness
The seer
- Rishi
- Sobharī Kāṇva
- Lineage
- Kāṇva
- Other hymns
- RV 8.22.10, RV 8.22.12
Family tradition
Kāṇva hymns often include self-reflection and humility, turning limitation into a stronger call for divine intervention.
Significance
This verse models the yogic attitude: acknowledge instability without self-condemnation; invoke in the present; rely on mantra (gīr) to build inner firmness.
The deity
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Epithets
- swiftly-invoked twins, helpers at the right hour
- Related deities
- Uṣas (the hour of awakening), Sarasvatī (gīr/word-power; conceptual)
Cosmic role
Responders to timely calls, especially at transitions; they uplift the insufficient and restore capacity.
Inner power
They stabilize wavering faculties and convert imperfect aspiration into effective movement toward light.
In ritual
Where it is used
General āhvāna (invocation) to Aśvins; can accompany dawn recitation or Soma context.
यदध्रि॑गावो॒ अध्रि॑गू इ॒दा चि॒दह्नो॑ अ॒श्विना॒ हवा॑महे । व॒यं गी॒र्भिर्वि॑प॒न्यव॑: ॥
यत् । अध्रि॑ऽगावः । अध्रि॑गू॒ इत्यध्रि॑ऽगू । इ॒दा । चि॒त् । अह्नः॑ । अ॒श्विना॑ । हवा॑महे । व॒यम् । गीः॒ऽभिः । वि॒प॒न्यवः॑ ॥
yat | adhri-gāvaḥ | adhrigūity adhri-gū | idā | cit | ahnaḥ | aśvinā | havāmahe | vayam | gīḥ-bhiḥ | vipanyavaḥ
44
Likely 4 pādas with Trishtubh-like cadence (~11) but with irregularity due to epithet compounds; recensional variation affects count.
Compact, confessional, direct—less expansive than full Jagatī.
Creates intimacy and sincerity; good for ‘calling despite imperfection’—a stabilizing psychological effect.
- adhri-gāvaḥ / adhrigū
- Literal: those with unfirm cows / unfirm (obscure epithet). Symbolic: a consciousness not yet steady in holding rays of knowledge; wavering faculties
- idā cit ahnaḥ
- Literal: even now, at this time of day. Symbolic: the decisive ‘now’ of practice; immediacy of aspiration
- havāmahe
- Literal: we call/invoke. Symbolic: active turning of the will toward higher aid
- gīrbhiḥ
- Literal: with hymns/words. Symbolic: mantric speech as formative power
- vipanyavaḥ
- Literal: reverent praisers/admiring. Symbolic: those who seek and cherish the illumining word, cultivating discernment
Daily-time invocation (daytime) of the Aśvins; fits recurring calls across savanas.
At dawn or at a chosen ‘practice hour’ (the daily appointed time).
Recitation as a call, followed by offering (water, light, or breath) in modern adaptation.
A mantra for days of low confidence: chant to re-enter practice without waiting to ‘feel ready’.
: √hū ‘to call’ (PIE *ḱeuH- ‘to call’ is sometimes proposed; uncertain). (gī́r): ‘song, speech’; √gṛ/√gai ‘to sing’ (cf. Germanic sing via different root; but Indo-European poetic speech is cognate-rich). (vipanyá): from vi- + √pan ‘to admire, praise, bargain’; semantic shift to ‘celebrate, laud’.
mantra (gīr) as force of realization, divine accessibility regardless of human limitation, invocation as alignment
Calling ‘at this time of day’ reflects ṛta as rhythm—spiritual life aligned with regular cycles.
Honest self-assessment (we may be adhrigū) joined to truthful aspiration.
Formation by speech: gīr shapes consciousness toward firmness and light.
Mantra-yoga orientation within Vedic symbolism; vāc as shakti.
dawn/morning (explicitly ‘at this time of day’)
Daily hour = inner rhythm; dawn = awakening; ‘cows’ (go) implied by -gāvaḥ = rays of knowledge not yet well-held.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is ‘the call that compels presence’: even from an imperfect human condition (adhrigu-), the inspired word can reach the divine twins. The efficacy lies in gīr as a formative power.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The prominence of poetic speech (gīr) and formal invocation (havāmahe) reflects the Indo-European sacral-poetic economy where correct utterance mediates divine-human exchange; the plural middle voice underscores participatory action rather than command.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi positions the community as ‘vipanyavaḥ’—those who intensify consciousness through praise—implying that the Aśvins respond not to status but to sincerity and the disciplined vibration of mantra.
Invoke help ‘now’ without waiting for perfection; let mantra stabilize wavering attention.
Viśuddha (speech/mantra)
Gentle nāḍī-śodhana 6 cycles, then chant once per exhale to anchor regularity.
Humble receptivity with steady aspiration.
If the mind feels unsteady, do not force intensity. Keep the hour, chant clearly, and offer your sincerity; ask the Aśvins to make the ‘cows’ (rays) firm in you.
Chant gently with a slight lift on ‘havāmahe’ and a settled cadence on ‘gīrbhir vipanyavaḥ’.
yád adhri-gā́vo | adhrigū́ | idā́ cit | áhno || aśvinā́ | havā́mahe || vayáṃ | gī́rbhir | vipanyávaḥ.
adhri-: keep dh + r conjunct clear., idā: long ā., ahnaḥ: h is voiced breath; final ḥ light., gīrbhiḥ: long ī; bh aspirated., vipanyavaḥ: ny cluster clean; final ḥ light.
Soft, sincere, slightly inward; prioritize clarity over volume.
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