Rig Veda 10.64.2: Mandala 10, Sukta 64, Mantra 2
Sukta 10.64
- Devata
- The gods collectively as the sole source of true ‘marḍ’
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
क्रतूयन्ति क्रतवो हृत्सु धीतयो वेनन्ति वेनाः पतयन्त्या दिशः । न मर्डिता विद्यते अन्य एभ्यो देवेषु मे अधि कामा अयंसत ॥
kratūyánti krátavo hṛtsú dhītáyo vénanti venā́ḥ patáyanty ā́ díśaḥ | ná marḍitā́ vidyate anyá ebhyo devéṣu me ádhi kā́mā ayaṃsata ||
Kehendak-kehendak karya bergerak pada waktunya di dalam hati; pikiran-pikiran ilham merindu, dan hasrat-hasrat terbang ke segala penjuru. Tiada pemberi kegembiraan lain yang didapati melampaui mereka ini: kepada para dewa hasrat-aspirasiku telah kutetapkan.
Word by Word
- क्रतूयन्ति
- they act with resolve / they exercise willVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, बहुवचनRole Kriyā (मुख्य क्रिया)Root क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक) + √यम् (यच्छति/यम) (denominative: क्रतूयति)
- क्रतवः
- the resolves / intentionsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक)
- हृत्सु
- in the heartsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot हृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- धीतयः
- the thoughts / hymnic insightsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot धीति (प्रातिपदिक; from √धी ‘to think’)
- वेनन्ति
- they desire / they seekVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, बहुवचनRole KriyāRoot √वन्/वेन (वेनति) ‘to desire/seek, to strive for’
- वेनाः
- the seekers / inspired ones (venas)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot वेन (प्रातिपदिक)
- पतयन्त्याः
- flying / speedingParticiple (Adjective) used substantivelyस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot √पत् ‘to fly’ → पतयन्ती (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ-स्त्री) (प्रातिपदिक: पतयन्ती)
- दिशः
- the directionsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (apposition to पतयन्त्याः)Root दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- notIndeclinableनिषेधRoot न
- मर्डिता
- a pardoner / one who shows mercyParticiple (Adjective)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (predicate adjective)Role Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (of implied ‘is’)Root √मृड्/मर्ड् ‘to be gracious/forgive’ → मर्डित (PPP) (प्रातिपदिक: मर्डित)
- विद्यते
- is found / existsVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole KriyāRoot √विद् (विद्यते) ‘to be found/exist’
- अन्यः
- anotherPronoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- एभ्यः
- than these / from thesePronounपुं/नपुं, पञ्चमी/षष्ठी, बहुवचन (here: ablative)Role ApādānaRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- देवेषु
- among the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- मे
- myPronounषष्ठी, एकवचन (enclitic)Role सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अधि
- upon / over; in additionIndeclinable (preverb/preposition)उपसर्ग/निपातRoot अधि
- कामाः
- desiresNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot काम (प्रातिपदिक)
- अयंसत
- they have reached/extended themselves (towards)Verbलुङ् (aorist), आत्मनेपद, 3 पुरुष, बहुवचनRole KriyāRoot √यम् ‘to extend/offer/strive’ with preverb आ- (आयंसते/आयंसत)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution: (1) पतयन्त्या दिशः → पतयन्त्याः दिशः (gen./nom. pl. of fem. present participle; here taken as nom. pl. agreeing with दिशः). (2) देवेषु मे अधि → देवेषु मे अधि (no further sandhi; मे enclitic). (3) कामा अयंसत → कामाः अयंसत (visarga before vowel). Accent marks in the saṃhitā text are not reproduced in the pada forms here
- analysis is morphological after sandhi-splitting
The meaning
Outer meaning
The wills (kratavaḥ) and thoughts (dhītayaḥ) move in season within the heart; desires (venāḥ) long and fly to the directions. No other giver of gladness is found beyond these gods; upon the gods my aspirations have been set.
Inner meaning
The verse describes the inner mechanics of aspiration. Kratu—effective will for works—begins to align with ṛtu (right season/right time) within the heart: the seeker’s will becomes rhythmic and true. Dhīti—illumined thoughts—stir in the heart, and venāḥ—yearnings/desires—take wing toward the ‘quarters,’ meaning the many fields of life and consciousness. The rishi then makes a decisive yogic statement: there is no true ‘marḍitā’ (gladdener/grace-giver) outside the gods—i.e., outside higher powers of consciousness. Therefore his kāmāḥ (aspirations) are set upon the devas: the desires are being converted into aspiration toward the Divine.
Universal truth
When will and thought become aligned with right timing, desire transforms into aspiration; lasting gladness comes from higher consciousness, not from outer objects.
Themes
Inner sacrifice, Aspiration, Heart-centered will, Devotion
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 10.64.1 (opening inquiry)
Significance
A classic Vedic psychological observation: the heart is the laboratory where will, thought, and desire are re-timed (ṛtu-yanti) and redirected toward the gods—this is the inner sacrifice in motion.
The deity
- Devata
- The gods collectively (as the sole true source of marḍ/grace)
- Epithets
- deveṣu (in the gods)
- Related deities
- Agni (kratu leader), Indra (illumined dhīti), Soma (delight/mayaḥ), Ādityas (ṛta/ṛtu alignment)
Cosmic role
Devas are the luminous powers that uphold and distribute truth, force, harmony, and delight in the cosmos.
Inner power
They are the higher faculties/forces that alone can give lasting gladness by transforming the heart’s will and desire into aligned aspiration.
In ritual
Where it is used
Reflective stotra within a hymn; also apt for consecration of intention before offerings or work.
क्र॒तू॒यन्ति॒ क्रत॑वो हृ॒त्सु धी॒तयो॒ वेन॑न्ति वे॒नाः प॒तय॒न्त्या दिश॑: । न म॑र्डि॒ता वि॑द्यते अ॒न्य ए॑भ्यो दे॒वेषु॑ मे॒ अधि॒ कामा॑ अयंसत ॥
ऋ॒तु॒ऽयन्ति॑ । क्रत॑वः । हृ॒त्ऽसु । धी॒तयः॑ । वेन॑न्ति । वे॒नाः । प॒तय॑न्ति । आ । दिशः॑ । न । म॒र्डि॒ता । वि॒द्य॒ते॒ । अ॒न्यः । ए॒भ्यः॒ । दे॒वेषु॑ । मे॒ । अधि॑ । कामाः॑ । अ॒यं॒स॒त॒ ॥
ṛtu-yanti | kratavaḥ | hṛt-su | dhītayaḥ | venanti | venāḥ | patayanti | ā | diśaḥ | na | marḍitā | vidyate | anyaḥ | ebhyaḥ | deveṣu | me | adhi | kāmāḥ | ayaṃsata
44
Likely 4 × 11; verify by scan (noting saṃhitā sandhi and possible resolution of clusters).
Energetic, descriptive movement in first half (flying desires), concluding with firm resolve (aspirations set).
Mobilizes aspiration and then gathers it into a decisive consecration toward the divine.
- क्रतु (kratu)
- Literal: will, resolve, power of work. Symbolic: effective spiritual will organizing action (Agni-led inner sacrifice)
- ऋतु-यन्ति (ṛtu-yanti)
- Literal: move in season/according to right time. Symbolic: alignment with ṛta; right rhythm and maturity in sādhanā
- हृत्सु (hṛtsu)
- Literal: in the hearts. Symbolic: the psychic-emotional center where will and thought are purified
- धीति (dhīti)
- Literal: inspired thought. Symbolic: illumined intelligence receiving higher light
- वेन (vena) / वेनाः (venāḥ)
- Literal: desire, longing. Symbolic: yearning-energy that can rise as aspiration toward the divine
- पतयन्ति दिशः (patayanti diśaḥ)
- Literal: fly to the directions. Symbolic: aspiration extending to all planes/fields; seeking the divine in all quarters
- मर्डिता (marḍitā)
- Literal: gladdener, giver of comfort. Symbolic: true grace that brings deep gladness and release from suffering
- देवेषु… कामाः अयंसत (deveṣu… kāmāḥ ayaṃsata)
- Literal: my desires have been set upon the gods. Symbolic: conversion of desire into Godward aspiration; consecration of motive-force
Internalization of the sacrifice: aligning kratu and dhī in the heart; used as a declaration of exclusive orientation toward the gods
Before meditation, before beginning a task, or when redirecting desire into aspiration; also as morning resolve.
Recite, then consciously offer one’s kratu (will) and kāma (desire) into the inner fire (Agni) as consecration.
A practical mantra for habit change: observe desires ‘flying outward,’ then set them upon higher aims—truth, peace, service, clarity.
krátu- ‘will, intelligence in action’ (central RV term). dhī- ‘thought, vision’ from √dhī ‘think/meditate’ (PIE *dʰeyh₁- ‘think’). √pat ‘fly’ PIE *pet- (cf. Greek pétomai). √yam ‘stretch, restrain, direct’ PIE *yem- (cf. Latin emō? uncertain; but Indo-Iranian clear). mṛḍ/marḍ ‘make glad’ is Vedic-specific but parallels the semantic of ‘softening/grace’.
kratu (effective will), dhī (inspired vision), kāma as aspiration (not mere desire), exclusive refuge in the gods
‘ṛtu-yanti’ signals that inner movements become lawful and timely—an alignment with ṛta.
Dhīti in the heart tends toward truth-vision; the resolve ‘no other gladdener’ is a satya-choice.
Inner creation: wills and thoughts shape destiny; redirecting desire re-creates the life-course.
Yoga of transformation: desire is not merely suppressed but converted and consecrated to the divine powers.
ṛtu as symbolic of proper seasonality (not a specific season)
Seasonality = right timing of growth; directions = many life-fields; flight = outward dispersion of desire that can be turned upward/inward.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘heart as altar’ mythologem: kratu and dhī operate within the heart, and aspiration flies outward to seek the gods. The mythic geography (directions) becomes psychological space—regions of experience to be illumined.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √pat ‘fly’ is a strong PIE inheritance (*pet-). √dhī aligns with the IE thinking-root (*dʰeyh₁-). The metaphor of thought/desire as motion is a shared Indo-European poetic feature.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi declares a single-pointed reliance: only the gods are true ‘marḍitā’ (givers of inner gladness). Human aspiration (kāma) is ‘set upon’ them, indicating consecration of desire into spiritual seeking.
Observe will, thought, and desire in the heart; align them to right rhythm and set aspiration on the divine.
Anahata (heart)
On inhale, feel ‘kratavo hṛtsu’; on exhale, watch ‘venāḥ patayanti diśaḥ’ and gently draw them back to the heart; end with a firm, quiet affirmation on ‘deveṣu me adhi kāmāḥ’.
Collected aspiration; energized steadiness.
Use when scattered: name your outward-flying desires, then choose one divine quality (truth, peace, strength, joy) and ‘set’ the desire-energy upon it as aspiration; repeat until the heart feels rhythmic (ṛtu).
Rigvedic accenting; emphasize rhythmic movement in first half and firm resolve in second. Exact udatta positions require a svara text.
First pāda slightly quicker to mirror ‘movement’; slow and firm on ‘na marḍitā vidyate…’ and settle on ‘deveṣu’.
: ‘ṛ-tu-yan-ti’ (vocalic ṛ), : ‘kra-ta-vo’ (clear ‘kr’), : ‘hṛt-su’ (no extra vowel), : ‘dhī-ta-yo’ (long ī), : ‘ve-nan-ti’, : ‘pa-ta-yan-tyā’ (ty cluster), : ‘mar-ḍi-tā’ (retroflex ḍ), : ‘a-yaṃ-sa-ta’ (anusvāra before s)
Energized clarity; articulate consonants; end with calm conviction.
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