Rig Veda 8.47.5: Mandala 8, Sukta 47, Mantra 5
Sukta 8.47
- Devata
- Ādityas with explicit association to Indra
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
परि णो वृणजन्नघा दुर्गाणि रथ्यो यथा । स्यामेदिन्द्रस्य शर्मण्यादित्यानामुतावस्यनेहसो व ऊतयः सुतयो व ऊतयः ॥
pári no vṛṇajan aghā́ durgā́ṇi rathyò yáthā | syā́med índrasya śármaṇy ādityā́nām utā́vasy anéhaso va ūtáyaḥ su-ūtáyaḥ va ūtáyaḥ ||
हमें अपने आप में ले लो और बुरी चीज़ें दूर रखना। जैसे कोई गाड़ी वाला खराब रास्ता बचा के चलता है, वैसे ही हमारे आस-पास रखो। हम इंद्र की शरण में रहना चाहते हैं। आदित्य देवता भी हमारे साथ हों। तुम्हारी मदद कभी गलत नहीं होती। तुम्हारी अच्छी मदद हमेशा सेफ रखती है।
Word by Word
- परि
- around; completelyIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot परि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- नः
- of us; ourPronounपुं/स्त्री/नपुं, षष्ठी (एन्क्लिटिक), बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)Root अस्मद्
- वृणजन्
- (may he) ward off / removeVerbलोट्/विधिलिङ्-सम्भाव्य वैदिक injunctive/imperative, 3 एकवचन (परस्मैपद), वर्तमान-आदेशार्थRole क्रिया (मुख्य क्रिया)Root वृज् (वृजति) / वृञ्ज् (वृणक्ति)— वैदिक रूप
- अघाः
- evils; sins; harmsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot अघ (प्रातिपदिक)
- दुर्गाणि
- difficult passages; dangersNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्म (अघाः के साथ समन्वय)Root दुर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
- रथ्यः
- a charioteer; one of the chariot-roadAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (उपमेय/उपमान-विशेषण)Role कर्तृ/विशेषण (यथा-उपमा में)Root रथ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- यथा
- as; just asIndeclinableउपमा/तुलना सूचकRoot यथा (अव्यय)
- स्याम
- may we beVerbविधिलिङ्, उत्तम पुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रिया (आशीर्वाद/इच्छा)Root अस् (भू) धातु
- इन्द्रस्य
- of IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- शर्मणि
- in (his) shelter; protectionNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot शर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- आदित्यानाम्
- of the ĀdityasNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- उत
- and; alsoIndeclinableसमुच्चय/अपि-अर्थRoot उत (अव्यय)
- अवस्यने
- for help; for protectionNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन (दातृ/उद्देश्य)Role सम्प्रदानRoot अवस्/अवस्य (प्रातिपदिक) ‘सहायता/रक्षा’
- इह
- hereIndeclinableदेशवाचकRole अधिकरण (स्थान)Root इह (अव्यय)
- असः
- of him; hisPronounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot अस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) / एतद्-सम्बद्ध वैदिक रूप
- वः
- of you (pl.); yourPronounषष्ठी (एन्क्लिटिक), बहुवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot युष्मद्
- ऊतयः
- helps; aidsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ/विधेय (प्रार्थित सहायताएँ)Root ऊति (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुतयः
- pressings; libations (of Soma)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ/विधेय (समन्वय)Root सुति (प्रातिपदिक)
- वः
- of you (pl.); yourPronounषष्ठी (एन्क्लिटिक), बहुवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot युष्मद्
- ऊतयः
- helps; aidsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ/विधेयRoot ऊति (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पाठ-समाधान (मुख्य): परि + नः (एन्क्लिटिक) + वृणजन् + अघाः + दुर्गाणि + रथ्यः + यथा । स्याम + इत् + इन्द्रस्य + शर्मणि + आदित्यानाम् + उत + अवस्यने + इह + असः + वः + ऊतयः । सुतयः + वः + ऊतयः । विशेष: (1) ‘स्यामेद्’ = ‘स्याम् + इत्’ (वैदिक निपात ‘इत्’ बल/निश्चयार्थ), ततः ‘इत् + इन्द्रस्य’ → ‘इदिन्द्रस्य’ (त्/द्-सन्धि)
- (2) ‘शर्मण्यादित्यानाम्’ = ‘शर्मणि + आदित्यानाम्’ (इ/य्-सन्धि)
- (3) ‘उतावस्यनेहसो’ = ‘उत + अवस्यने + इह + असः’ (अ + अ → आ; ए + इ → ए; विसर्ग-सन्धि: असः + वः → असो वः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
A prayer for protection: may the Gods encircle us, ward off harms and difficult passages like a skilled charioteer steering around dangerous roads; may we dwell in Indra’s shelter and in the help of the Ādityas; may their protections be unfailing.
Inner meaning
The seeker asks for a surrounding force of the Truth-Powers (Ādityas) so the consciousness can bypass inner “hard passages” (durgāṇi): knots of habit, fear, and obscurity. Indra’s “śarman” is the luminous wideness and assurance of the illumined mind that protects the ascent. The refrain “anehaso va ūtayaḥ / su-ūtayaḥ” becomes a mantra of steady inner guardianship: help that does not injure, does not mislead, and does not recoil under pressure.
Universal truth
Progress in any transformation requires both discernment (steering through difficult terrain) and a higher protective order (truth, harmony, vastness) that prevents relapse into harm. True protection is not mere avoidance; it is guidance into a wider, safer consciousness.
Themes
Protection on the path, Obstacle removal, Guided progress
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 8.47 (entire hymn, Āditya-protection refrain)
Family tradition
Maṇḍala 8 often preserves Kāṇva-associated hymn-streams, but this verse alone is insufficient to assign a secure rishi/gotra.
Significance
The seer-voice here is that of the struggling but aspiring human (nara/jana) invoking the Truth-Powers for a safe passage through inner difficulty—an archetypal yogic petition for guidance and guarding during transformation.
The deity
- Devata
- Ādityas with explicit support of Indra
- Epithets
- anehasaḥ (harmless/unerring), su-ūtayaḥ (good helps), śarma (shelter) bestowers
- Related deities
- Aditi, Mitra, Varuṇa, Aryaman, Indra
Cosmic role
Upholders of ṛta (right order) and satya (truth); guardians of moral and cosmic law; stabilizers of the worlds and protectors of the path.
Inner power
Forces of truth-consciousness that widen the being, enforce clarity, and prevent distortion; Indra’s aspect supplies illumination and victorious discrimination.
In ritual
Where it is used
Protection and well-being prayers within Soma-related liturgy or general invocatory sequences to Ādityas
परि॑ णो वृणजन्न॒घा दु॒र्गाणि॑ र॒थ्यो॑ यथा । स्यामेदिन्द्र॑स्य॒ शर्म॑ण्यादि॒त्याना॑मु॒ताव॑स्यने॒हसो॑ व ऊ॒तय॑: सु॒तयो॑ व ऊ॒तय॑: ॥
परि॑ । नः॒ । वृ॒ण॒ज॒न् । अ॒घा । दुः॒ऽगाणि॑ । र॒थ्यः॑ । य॒था॒ । स्याम॑ । इत् । इन्द्र॑स्य । शर्म॑णि । आ॒दि॒त्याना॑म् । उ॒त । अव॑सि । अ॒ने॒हसः॑ । वः॒ । ऊ॒तयः॑ । सु॒ऽऊ॒तयः॑ । वः॒ । ऊ॒तयः॑ ॥
pari | naḥ | vṛṇajan | aghā | duḥ-gāṇi | rathyaḥ | yathā | syāma | it | indrasya | śarmaṇi | ādityānām | uta | avasi | anehasaḥ | vaḥ | ūtayaḥ | su-ūtayaḥ | vaḥ | ūtayaḥ
Likely Triṣṭubh (common in Maṇḍala 8 prayers and protection verses), but not fully determinable from excerpt alone
44
Probable 4 pādas × ~11 syllables (Triṣṭubh-like cadence); refrain extends with repeated pāda-like segments
Forward-driving with a firm midline caesura; the refrain creates a protective ‘ring’ through repetition.
Builds confidence and containment: the main line petitions, the refrain seals the mind in assurance through rhythmic recurrence.
- परि (pari)
- Literal: around, all-around. Symbolic: a surrounding consciousness; protective circumference of higher forces
- वृणजन् (vṛṇajan)
- Literal: warding off, turning away. Symbolic: active discernment that rejects hostile suggestions
- अघा (aghā)
- Literal: harms, evils. Symbolic: inner falsity, afflictive impulses, hostile formations
- दुर्गाणि (durgāṇi)
- Literal: difficult passages, hard crossings. Symbolic: obstructed states: depression, confusion, addiction-like grooves, subconscient resistance
- रथ्यः (rathyaḥ)
- Literal: charioteer/driver. Symbolic: the governing will/intelligence that guides the life-force safely
- इन्द्रस्य शर्मणि (indrasya śarmaṇi)
- Literal: in Indra’s shelter. Symbolic: in the luminous protection of the illumined mind (Indra) and its confident wideness
- आदित्यानाम् अवसि (ādityānām avasi)
- Literal: in the aid of the Ādityas. Symbolic: support of cosmic Truth, order, harmony, and vastness
- अनेहसः (anehasaḥ)
- Literal: harmless, uninjuring, unerring. Symbolic: help that is pure, non-violent, and cannot mislead the soul
- ऊतयः / सु-ऊतयः (ūtayaḥ / su-ūtayaḥ)
- Literal: helps / good helps. Symbolic: descending supports of the higher consciousness; effective inner protections
Protective prayer for safe passage through ‘durgāṇi’; suitable in transitional rites and Soma recitations seeking obstacle-removal.
During invocations for safeguarding the sacrificer and the rite; also suitable for daily protective recitation
Recitation with intention of ‘pariveṣaṇa’ (encircling protection) and mental offering of fear/obstruction into truth-order
Use as a ‘safe-passage’ mantra before travel, important decisions, or during anxiety; repeat the refrain as a protective affirmation.
durga ‘difficult passage’ (dur + √gam ‘go’) later ‘fort’; here ‘hard-to-go tracks’—psychologically obstacles in sādhanā. rathya ‘charioteer’ from ratha; symbolizes the guiding faculty that steers energies through peril. √vṛṇaj/√vṛj ‘turn aside’ expresses apotropaic action. Indra’s śarma and Ādityas’ avas are complementary: forceful victory (Indra) and lawful protection (Ādityas).
Obstacle-crossing under ṛta-guidance, Indra as victorious force; Ādityas as lawful guardians, Śarma/avas as inner refuge
Ādityas are explicit guardians of ṛta; the ‘safe crossing’ imagery implies alignment with right order to pass obstacles.
Anehasaḥ—help that does not deceive—reflects satya as unerring truth-force.
Widening and safe passage suggest the soul’s movement from constriction to the Vast (bṛhat).
Proto-Vedāntic and yogic reading (Aurobindo/Kashyap): ascent of consciousness aided by Truth-Powers rather than merely external protection.
The ‘road’ is the inner path; the ‘charioteer’ is guiding intelligence/will; the ‘encircling’ is the aura of truth-consciousness that prevents hostile intrusion.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is ‘safe passage through difficult tracks’ under divine enclosure: harms are averted as a skilled charioteer navigates durgāṇi. Psychologically, the seeker asks for a surrounding field of protection so the inner journey avoids wrong turnings and obstacle-knots.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- durga from dur + √gam (PIE *gʷem- ‘go’, cf. Latin venīre ‘come’ from *gʷem). ratha ‘chariot’ is a classic IE cultural lexeme (cf. Old Irish roth ‘wheel’, Latin rota from PIE *rot- ‘wheel’; chariot complex is IE-poetic). Indra is Indo-Aryan theonym; the pairing with Ādityas shows layered divine functions: force plus law.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi seeks a dual shelter: Indra’s śarma (victorious peace after conquest of obstacles) and the Ādityas’ avas (lawful, unerring guardianship). The relationship is that of guided disciple to cosmic mentors: the gods do not merely remove outer dangers but correct the inner trajectory.
Invoke a protective circumference of truth around the mind; offer fears/obstacles into Indra’s light and Ādityas’ order.
Anahata (shelter/śarman) and Ajna (Indra-illumination)
Slow nasal breathing with a soft pause after ‘pari no vṛṇajan’; exhale on the refrain to ‘seal’ protection.
From disturbed/vigilant to steady, wide, and quietly confident.
Before practice, recite once slowly for intention, then repeat the refrain 9–27 times, visualizing a golden ring of light around the body and a clear path opening ahead.
Not fully reconstructible from provided text; chant with Vedic-style udatta emphasis on marked syllables (e.g., parí, ṇo, índrasya, ādityānām) as indicated in the Saṃhitā accents.
Maintain a gentle rise on udatta-marked syllables; keep anudatta low; let svarita fall-glide after a raised accent where applicable.
ṛ in vṛṇajan: light syllabic ‘ri’, durgāṇi: clear ‘dur-gā-ṇi’ with retroflex ṇ, śarmaṇi: palatal ś, not s, ādityānām: long ā and clear dental t
Steady, protective, resonant (not forceful); let the refrain be slightly softer but more continuous.
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