Rig Veda 8.57.3: Mandala 8, Sukta 57, Mantra 3
Sukta 8.57
- Devata
- Aśvins
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
पनाय्यं तदश्विना कृतं वां वृषभो दिवो रजसः पृथिव्याः । सहस्रं शंसा उत ये गविष्टौ सर्वाँ इत्ताँ उप याता पिबध्यै ॥
panā́yyaṃ tád aśvinā kṛtáṃ vāṃ vṛṣabhó divó rájasaḥ pṛthivyā́ḥ | sahásraṃ śáṃsā uta yé gáviṣṭau sárvāṃ ít tā́n úpa yātā píbadhyai ||
अश्विन भाइयों, तुमने जो काम किया है वो बहुत बढ़िया है। आसमान और धरती दोनों जगह तुम्हारी ताकत है। हज़ारों लोग तुम्हारी तारीफ करते हैं। जो लोग रोशनी ढूंढते हैं वो भी तुम्हारे पास आते हैं। सबके पास जाओ और सोम रस पियो।
Word by Word
- पनाय्यम्
- praiseworthy, admirableAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन (कर्मपद/विशेष्यसामानाधिकरण्ये)Role KarmaRoot पनाय्य- (प्रातिपदिक; √पन्/√पण् ‘स्तुतौ/प्रशंसायाम्’ इत्यस्य य-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषणम्)
- तत्
- thatPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचनRole KarmaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अश्विना
- O AśvinsNoun (dual deity name)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन द्विवचनRole (Address)Root अश्विन्- (प्रातिपदिक; अश्विनौ देवौ)
- कृतम्
- done, madeParticiple (past passive)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘तत्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्Role (Predicate/qualifier of object)Root √कृ (करणे) → कृत (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)
- वाम्
- for you two / of you twoPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी द्विवचन (वेदे ‘वाम्’ = ‘युवयोः/युवाभ्याम्’ प्रसङ्गानुसारम्)Role SampradānaRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- वृषभः
- the bull (mighty one)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot वृषभ- (प्रातिपदिक)
- दिवः
- of heavenNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole Adhikaraṇa (genitive of sphere/source)Root द्यौ/दिव्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- रजसः
- of the mid-space/regionNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole Adhikaraṇa (genitive of realm/space)Root रजस्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- पृथिव्याः
- of the earthNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole Adhikaraṇa (genitive of place)Root पृथिवी- (प्रातिपदिक)
- सहस्रम्
- a thousandNumeral/Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनRole Karma (count/measure)Root सहस्र- (प्रातिपदिक)
- शंसाः
- praisesNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot शंस- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘स्तुति/प्रशंसा’)
- उत
- and, alsoIndeclinableअव्ययRole (Connector)Root उत (निपात)
- ये
- whoPronoun (relative)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम)
- गविष्टौ
- in the quest for cattle / in the cattle-raidNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot गविष्टि- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘गवेषणा/युद्धे गवां लब्धिः’)
- सर्वान्
- allAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot सर्व- (प्रातिपदिक)
- इत्
- indeed, justIndeclinableअव्ययRole (Emphasis)Root इत् (निपात; एव/खलु-अर्थे)
- तान्
- thosePronounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम)
- उप
- near, towardsIndeclinable (preverb)अव्ययRole (Preverb)Root उप (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- यात
- come (you two)!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचनRole (Predicate)Root √या (गत्यर्थे) → यात (लोट्/आज्ञार्थे; वेदेषु द्विवचन-आदेशः)
- पिबध्यै
- to drinkVerbal noun (infinitive)तुमर्थक-अव्यय (इन्फिनिटिव)Role PrayojanaRoot √पा (पाने) → पिबध्यै (तुमर्थे दै-प्रत्ययान्त; वेदिक-इन्फिनिटिव)
Sandhi Notes
- पाठे ‘सर्वाँ॒ इत्ताँ’ इति दृश्यते
- पदच्छेदे ‘सर्वान् इत् तान्’ (न् + इ → न् इ; ‘तान्’ इत्यस्य दीर्घस्वर-लेखनं मन्त्रलिप्यां) । ‘उप याता’ इति संहितायां ‘उप’ उपसर्गः ‘यात’ (लोट्, म.पु. द्वि.) इत्यनेन सह। ‘पिबध्यै’ वेदिक-इन्फिनिटिवः (√पा) ‘पिब’ धातुरूप-आधारः।
The meaning
Outer meaning
The poet praises the admirable work of the Aśvins, mighty across heaven and earth, and invites them to come to all the singers and seekers of “cows/rays” to drink Soma.
Inner meaning
The Aśvins (twin powers of swift, luminous help) are invoked for their accomplished action in both the higher mind (heaven/rajas) and the embodied field (earth). The “seekers of the cows” are seekers of illumining rays of knowledge; the call is for the descending aid to reach every part of the being so that Soma—inner delight and immortalizing bliss—may be tasted and distributed through the whole nature.
Universal truth
When the higher assisting powers are welcomed, their effective force can act simultaneously in thought and life, turning aspiration and praise into a universal receptivity where the delight of consciousness becomes drinkable for all parts of us.
Themes
ray-seeking, divine-help, praise-and-invitation
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 8.57 (Aśvin hymn context), Rig Veda 1.3; 1.22 (Aśvin invitations to Soma, thematic parallels)
Family tradition
Likely Kāṇva/Angirasa-associated style (Book 8 contains many Kāṇva hymns), but this verse’s rishi is not explicit in the provided metadata.
Significance
The seer-voice represents the aspiring human consciousness calling the swift divine helpers to act in both the mental and earthly strata, so the Soma-delight can be concretely realized.
The deity
- Devata
- Aśvins
- Epithets
- Nāsatyā (truth-helpers), Dasrā (wondrous doers), swift riders, physicians of the soul and life
- Related deities
- Uṣas, Sūrya, Agni, Indra, Soma
Cosmic role
Twin dawn-forerunners and restorers who bring rapid aid, healing, right arrangement, and safe passage between planes (heaven–midworld–earth).
Inner power
Quick intuitive discernment coupled with effective vital action—help that translates light into workable transformation.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma offering/invitation to Aśvins (Aśvina-graha / morning pressing context, broadly)
प॒नाय्यं॒ तद॑श्विना कृ॒तं वां॑ वृष॒भो दि॒वो रज॑सः पृथि॒व्याः । स॒हस्रं॒ शंसा॑ उ॒त ये गवि॑ष्टौ॒ सर्वाँ॒ इत्ताँ उप॑ याता॒ पिब॑ध्यै ॥
प॒नाय्य॑म् । तत् । अ॒श्वि॒ना॒ । कृ॒तम् । वा॒म् । वृ॒ष॒भः । दि॒वः । रज॑सः । पृ॒थि॒व्याः । स॒हस्र॑म् । शंसाः॑ । उ॒त । ये । गवि॑ष्टौ । सर्वा॑न् । इत् । तान् । उप॑ । या॒त॒ । पिब॑ध्यै ॥
panāyyam | tat | aśvinā | kṛtam | vām | vṛṣabhaḥ | divaḥ | rajasaḥ | pṛthivyāḥ | sahasram | śaṃsāḥ | uta | ye | gaviṣṭau | sarvān | it | tān | upa | yāta | pibadhyai
Likely Triṣṭubh (common in Book 8; 4 pādas of ~11 syllables)
44
4 x 11 (approx.)
Forward-driving, expansive cadence suited to invocation and movement (yātam / upa yāta).
Energizes aspiration and summons a sense of swift descent of help; good for dynamic concentration rather than purely quietude.
- पनाय्यम् (panāyyam)
- Literal: admirable, praiseworthy. Symbolic: that which is inwardly beautiful because it is in harmony with ṛta (right working)
- अश्विना (aśvinā)
- Literal: the two Aśvins. Symbolic: twin divine helpers: swift illumination + swift vital efficacy, bringing integral healing and progress
- वृषभः (vṛṣabhaḥ)
- Literal: bull, powerful one. Symbolic: irresistible force of divine action/energy that breaks resistance
- दिवः रजसः (divo rajasaḥ)
- Literal: the wide midspaces of heaven. Symbolic: the luminous ranges of mind and higher mentality where clarity spreads
- पृथिव्याः (pṛthivyāḥ)
- Literal: of the earth. Symbolic: the embodied nature; physical-vital foundation to be transformed
- गविष्टौ (gaviṣṭau)
- Literal: in the seeking of cows. Symbolic: quest for rays of knowledge/illumination (go = light) rather than outer cattle
- शंसाḥ (śaṃsāḥ)
- Literal: praises, recitations. Symbolic: mantric affirmations that open receptivity and align the being
- सोम (soma) / पिबध्यै (pibadhyai)
- Literal: Soma / for drinking. Symbolic: nectar of bliss-consciousness to be received and made active in the system
Invitation to Soma drinking; praise-stanza supporting the offering sequence.
Morning or early offering sequences where Aśvins are invited to partake first/early
Recitation during offering and invitation (āhvāna) to approach and drink Soma
Use as an invocation before meditation to call swift inner assistance and to open all parts of the being to the ‘nectar’ of calm joy.
(gaviṣṭi): go ‘cow’ from √gā ‘to shine/go’—in RV often ‘ray/cow of light’; iṣṭi from √iṣ ‘seek/desire’ → ‘quest for rays/knowledge’. : from √vṛṣ ‘to rain, be virile/strong’—power that pours and fecundates; innerly, force that releases abundance.
go as rays/knowledge, abundance (vṛṣan-force), praise as formative speech (śaṃs)
The ‘admirable work’ of the Aśvins signifies action aligned with ṛta—right functioning across planes.
Nāsatya-quality: help that is true, exact, and effective.
Descent of higher powers into earth-nature to make it capable of delight (Soma).
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (henotheistic symbolism moving toward unity of planes and transformation of nature).
Dawn to early morning (Aśvins’ typical advent)
Heaven/rajas = higher mind’s wideness; earth = embodied field; rays/cows = illuminations; Soma = bliss-substance that can permeate the system.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘quest for cows’ reframed as seekers of rays: the mythic recovery of light/knowledge. The Aśvins’ admirable deeds empower this quest across heaven, midspace, and earth—totality of planes.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- go ‘cow’ is PIE *gʷōus (Greek bous, Latin bos). The semantic RV extension from ‘cow’ to ‘ray/illumination’ is a distinctly Vedic poetic development using inherited lexemes for inner realities.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer multiplies praise (sahasraṃ śaṃsāḥ) as a means of intensifying contact, and asks the Twins to draw near to all ray-seekers—divine assistance is distributed to those engaged in the inner gaviṣṭi (pursuit of light).
Invite swift assisting powers to harmonize mind and body; open to descending delight (Soma).
Ājñā (illumined discernment) with support to Anāhata (joy)
Gentle 4-4 or 6-6 equal breathing while mentally repeating ‘upa yāta… pibadhyai’ to feel approach and reception.
Dynamic receptivity—quiet alertness with upward aspiration and downward openness.
Begin with gratitude for ‘admirable work’ already done in your life; then widen the call to ‘all parts’ (sarvān) and receive a subtle sweetness in the heart-breath as Soma.
Use Vedic tri-svara approach (udātta/anudātta/svarita) as per śākhā tradition; if not available, chant with gentle rising on invocatory verbs (upa yāta, pibadhyai) and settle on cadences.
Keep clear stress on: panāyyaṃ / aśvinā / vṛṣabho / gaviṣṭau / upa yāta / pibadhyai.
aśvinā: ‘śv’ cluster clean, short i, vṛṣabho: retroflex ṛ, ṣ, gaviṣṭau: ‘viṣ’ with retroflex ṣ; au diphthong, pibadhyai: aspirate ‘dh’ and glide ‘yai’
Bright, inviting, slightly energetic; end-lines with a soft offering tone.
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