Rig Veda 8.35.17: Mandala 8, Sukta 35, Mantra 17
Sukta 8.35
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
क्षत्रं जिन्वतमुत जिन्वतं नॄन्हतं रक्षांसि सेधतममीवाः । सजोषसा उषसा सूर्येण च सोमं सुन्वतो अश्विना ॥
kṣatráṃ jinvatam uta jinvatam nṝ́n hatáṃ rakṣā́ṃsi sédhatam amī́vāḥ | sajóṣasā uṣásā sū́ryeṇa ca sómaṃ sunvató aśvinā ||
अश्विनी कुमार, तुम राजा और वीर लोगों की ताकत बढ़ा दो। बुरी ताकें मारो और बिमारी भगाओ। सुबह और सूरज के साथ मिल के, जो सोम पीता है उसका प्याला पियो।
Word by Word
- क्षत्रम्
- sovereign power, dominionNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot क्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक) < क्षि/क्षद् (पालने/क्षये इत्यादि; ‘क्षत्र’ = शासन-बल) व्युत्पत्तिः
- जिन्वतम्
- strengthen (you two)!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपदRole (क्रिया; कर्ता = अश्विना) कर्म = क्षत्रम्Root जिव्/जिन्व् (धातु; ‘to quicken, strengthen, set in motion’)
- उत
- and, alsoIndeclinableसमुच्चय/अन्वर्थक अव्ययRoot उत
- जिन्वतम्
- strengthen (you two)!Verbलोट्, मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपदRole (क्रिया; कर्ता = अश्विना) कर्म = नॄन्Root जिव्/जिन्व्
- नॄन्
- men, heroesNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- हतम्
- slay (you two)!Verbलोट्, मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपदRole (क्रिया; कर्ता = अश्विना) कर्म = रक्षांसिRoot हन् (धातु; ‘to slay’)
- रक्षांसि
- demons, harmful spiritsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- सेधतम्
- repel (you two)!Verbलोट्, मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपदRole (क्रिया; कर्ता = अश्विना) कर्म = अमीवाःRoot सिध्/सेध् (धातु; ‘to ward off, repel, restrain’)
- अमीवाः
- diseases, afflictionsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (RV-प्रयोगे), द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot अमीवा (प्रातिपदिक; ‘disease, affliction’)
- सजोषसा
- in concord, harmoniouslyAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, द्विवचन (अश्विनौ इति द्वयोरन्वयः)Role करण/सहकार (सहभाव-निर्देशः)Root सजोषस् (प्रातिपदिक; sa- + joṣa ‘delight/accord’)
- उषसा
- with the two DawnsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, द्विवचनRole करण/सहकारRoot उषस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- सूर्येण
- with the SunNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करण/सहकारRoot सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चय अव्ययRoot च
- सोमम्
- Soma (the pressed drink)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुन्वतः
- of the one who presses (Soma)Participle (Adjectival)शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त), षष्ठी, एकवचन (पुं/नपुं), ‘सुन्वत्’ = ‘pressing’Role सम्बन्ध (genitive: of the presser)Root सु (धातु; ‘to press (Soma)’) → शतृ-प्रत्यय ‘सुन्वत्’
- अश्विना
- O Aśvins (you two)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, द्विवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अश्विन् (प्रातिपदिक; द्विदेवता)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धि-विग्रह): क्षत्रम् | जिन्वतम् | उत | जिन्वतम् | नॄन् | हतम् | रक्षांसि | सेधतम् | अमीवाः | सजोषसा | उषसा | सूर्येण | च | सोमम् | सुन्वतः | अश्विना । प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) जिन्वतम्+उत → जिन्वतमुत (m+u संयोग/अनुस्वार-लोप-प्रकारः पदपाठे पृथक्) (2) जिन्वतम्+नॄन् → जिन्वतं नॄन् (अन्त्य m → अनुस्वारः ‘ं’ परे नकारादि) (3) हतम्+रक्षांसि → हतं रक्षांसि (m → ‘ं’ परे र्) (4) सेधतम्+अमीवाः → सेधतममीवाः (m+a संधिः; पदपाठे पृथक्) (5) सजोषसा+उषसा → सजोषसा उषसा (स्वर/पदविभागः; संधि-परिवर्तनं न आवश्यकम्) (6) उषसा+सूर्येण → उषसा सूर्येण (पदविभागः) (7) सोमम्+सुन्वतः → सोमं सुन्वतः (m → ‘ं’ परे स्)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Aśvins are invoked to increase kṣatra (protective ruling power) and strengthen men; to strike down rakṣasas (harmful beings) and repel illness; and, in harmony with Dawn and Sun, to drink the pressed Soma.
Inner meaning
The Aśvins (swift twin powers of vital-mental healing and right functioning) are asked to intensify kṣatra as inner mastery—courage, governance of the nature, and capacity to act rightly. They also increase nṝn (the ‘men’ in us: active soul-forces and faculties). The hostile ‘rakṣāṃsi’ are the obscuring, perverting impulses that attack the sacrifice (sādhana); ‘amīvāḥ’ are disturbances—psychic and nervous afflictions. In accord with Uṣas (awakening illumination) and Sūrya (truth-light of the mind), the Aśvins are invited to partake of Soma (bliss-essence) generated by the seeker’s pressing—i.e., the purified delight released by aspiration and offering.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress requires (1) strengthening inner sovereignty and energetic faculties, (2) active rejection of obscuration and disorder, and (3) aligning the life-force with awakening and truth-light so that a higher delight can be received and assimilated.
Themes
mastery, heroic energy, protection and healing, Soma offering
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 8.35 (Aśvin hymn cluster; traditional attribution often to Śyāvāśva for much of the hymn)
Significance
Even when the seer is not securely named, the mantra bears the Śyāvāśva-type aspiration: a practical yoga of swift help—healing, right movement, and the opening to Soma through Dawn and Sun (illumination and truth).
The deity
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Epithets
- Nā́satyā (true helpers), Dasrā (wondrous doers), Madacyutā (pourers/releasers of rapture)
- Related deities
- Uṣas, Sūrya, Agni, Indra, Soma
Cosmic role
Twin powers that arrive swiftly at the call, restoring harmony, rescuing from distress, and facilitating the transition from darkness to light at the junctions of day (dawn/twilight).
Inner power
Swift rectification in the nervous-vital being; healing of distortions; bringing effective force that aligns aspiration (pressing Soma) with illumination (Uṣas) and truth (Sūrya).
In ritual
Where it is used
Aśvin Soma-invitation within Soma-yajña sequences; also suitable as a healing/protection invocation
क्ष॒त्रं जि॑न्वतमु॒त जि॑न्वतं॒ नॄन्ह॒तं रक्षां॑सि॒ सेध॑त॒ममी॑वाः । स॒जोष॑सा उ॒षसा॒ सूर्ये॑ण च॒ सोमं॑ सुन्व॒तो अ॑श्विना ॥
क्ष॒त्रम् । जि॒न्व॒त॒म् । उ॒त । जि॒न्व॒त॒म् । नॄन् । ह॒तम् । रक्षां॑सि । सेध॑तम् । अमी॑वाः । स॒ऽजोष॑सौ । उ॒षसा॑ । सूर्ये॑ण । च॒ । सोम॑म् । पि॒ब॒त॒म् । अ॒श्वि॒ना॒ ॥
kṣatram | jinvatam | uta | jinvatam | nṝn | hatam | rakṣāṃsi | sedhatam | amīvāḥ | sa-joṣasau | uṣasā | sūryeṇa | ca | somam | pibatam | aśvinā
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4 pādas of ~12 syllables each (Jagatī norm)
Forward-driving, expansive cadence suited to invocation and swift arrival.
Builds energetic confidence (kṣatra) and a sense of rapid clearing; supports a ‘march’ of aspiration culminating in Soma-reception.
- क्षत्रम् (kṣatram)
- Literal: dominion, royal power, protective rule. Symbolic: inner sovereignty; power to govern nature and protect the sacrifice
- जिन्वतम् (jinvatam)
- Literal: increase, quicken, invigorate. Symbolic: intensify awakening forces; energize sādhana
- नॄन् (nṝn)
- Literal: men, strong persons. Symbolic: active soul-powers; effective faculties in mind-life-body
- रक्षांसि (rakṣāṃsi)
- Literal: harmers, demons. Symbolic: obscuring and perverting forces attacking consciousness
- सेधतम् (sedhatam)
- Literal: drive away, repel, ward off. Symbolic: inner rejection; defensive discrimination (viveka) and protection
- अमीवाः (amīvāḥ)
- Literal: illnesses, afflictions. Symbolic: psychic-vital disturbances; inertia, anxiety, nervous disorder
- उषसा (uṣasā)
- Literal: with Dawn. Symbolic: with awakening illumination and new beginnings in consciousness
- सूर्येण (sūryeṇa)
- Literal: with the Sun. Symbolic: with truth-light, clarity, right vision
- सोमम् (somam)
- Literal: Soma drink. Symbolic: divine Ananda/bliss-essence distilled by aspiration
- अश्विना (aśvinā)
- Literal: O Aśvins. Symbolic: twin healers: swift harmonizers of prāṇa and mind, bringers of right movement
Petition for strengthening kṣatra (mastery) and nṛ (heroic energies) alongside protection; Aśvin Soma communion.
At dawn-leaning invocations; moments of calling swift aid and protection before/within pressing offerings
Recitation to invite Aśvins to partake of Soma; protective intent against hostile influences and illness
Use as a morning protection-and-alignment chant: strengthen inner sovereignty, reject intrusions, then sit in receptivity to calm bliss (Soma) with dawn-light visualization.
kṣatra from √kṣi ‘to rule, possess, have power’ (sovereignty). nṛ ‘man, hero’ often indicates the active human instrument; innerly, the capacities that execute the divine intention. The verse parallels 8.35.16 but shifts from brahman/dhi (word/insight) to kṣatra/nṛ (mastery/action), showing integral development: knowledge-force and governing-force both needed.
inner sovereignty (kṣatra), instrumental human force (nṛ), purification by expelling obscuration and disorder
Aśvins restore ṛta by correcting disorder in the life-force and protecting the sacrifice from hostile powers.
Sūrya signifies truth-illumination that makes the Soma-delight rightly receivable.
Daily re-creation: emergence from concealment into dawn and sun—renewal of consciousness.
Proto-Vedāntic / integral-psychological reading (Aurobindo-Kashyap): deities as powers of consciousness in the inner yajña.
Dawn / early morning transition
Dawn = first opening of illumination; Sun = established truth-consciousness; Soma = distilled bliss and inspiration received by purified nerves and mind.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Aśvins empower sovereignty and heroic force while removing demonic obscuration and illness, then drink the offered Soma. Innerly, the verse asks for a disciplined ruler-energy within (kṣatra) and a strengthened human instrument (nṛ), so the journey proceeds with mastery rather than dispersion.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The sovereignty lexicon (kṣatra) and heroic ‘man’ term (nṛ) reflect ancient IE social categories transposed into cosmic-psychological powers. The parallelism with 8.35.16 is a typical Vedic compositional technique (variation within a fixed frame).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The presser’s Soma is the offered delight; the Aśvins reciprocate by establishing inner governance and strengthening the active faculties, while guarding the sacrifice from obscuring forces—making the seeker’s action an expression of ṛta rather than egoic impulse.
Strengthen inner sovereignty (kṣatra) and invoke swift harmonizing help; practice rejection of intrusive thoughts/impulses; open to dawn-like clarity and settled truth-light, then receive quiet bliss.
Manipura (will/governance) moving upward to Ajna (clarity/truth-light)
Moderate nāḍī-śodhana for 6–12 rounds, then 12 slow recitations with natural kumbhaka after exhale (comfortable)
From rajasic turbulence → to clarified, luminous steadiness with a subtle ananda-tone.
Chant at sunrise; on ‘hataṃ rakṣāṃsi’ feel a decisive inner no; on ‘sajoṣasā uṣasā sūryeṇa’ visualize dawn turning into full sun in the brow; end by resting in the heart’s sweetness (Soma).
Mixed udatta/anudatta/svarita per Rigvedic accent; key lifts typically on invocatory verbs (jinvatam, hatam, sedhatam, pibatam) and deity vocative (aśvinā).
Keep udātta as clear rise; avoid flattening the refrain ‘sajoṣasā uṣasā sūryeṇa ca’—let it flow as a single luminous phrase.
kṣa in kṣatraṃ: crisp consonant cluster (k+ṣa), Differentiate nṝn (long ṝ) from nṛn, rakṣāṃsi: retroflex ṣ; nasalized āṃ, sedhatam: dental dh, not retroflex, aśvinā: short a- at start; ś as palatal
Clear, steady, slightly bright (dawn-like); firm emphasis on rejection verbs (hataṃ, sedhatam).
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