Rig Veda 2.31.7: Mandala 2, Sukta 31, Mantra 7
Sukta 2.31
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Viśvedevāḥ
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
एता वो वश्म्युद्यता यजत्रा अतक्षन्नायवो नव्यसे सम् । श्रवस्यवो वाजं चकानाः सप्तिर्न रथ्यो अह धीतिमश्याः ॥
etā́ vo vaśmy údyatā yajatrā́ átakṣann ā́yavo návyase sám | śravasyávo vā́jaṃ cakānā́ḥ saptír ná rathyó áha dhī́tim aśyāḥ ||
Kata-kata ini kuanyam dan kutegakkan bagi kalian, wahai yang patut dipuja; para ṛṣi telah menempanya kembali menjadi selaras yang baru. Mengharap kemasyhuran ilham dan mendambakan vāja (kelimpahan daya), semoga kami meraih dhīti (pikiran-terarah)—laksana kuda yang terpasang baik, layak bagi kereta—cepat di jalan perjalanan.
Word by Word
- ए॒ता
- these twoPronoun/Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; द्विवचनRole Kartā (कर्तृ-सम्बन्धः; कर्तृपदस्य विशेषणम्)Root एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वः
- of/for you (your)Pronounषष्ठी (सम्बन्ध); बहुवचनRole Sampradāna/Relation (सम्बन्धः: ‘of/for you’)Root युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- वश्मि
- a garment/covering (vesture)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole Karma (कर्म)Root वश्मि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘वश’/‘वश्म’ इत्यस्य वैदिकरूपम्)
- उद्यताः
- raised, held upAdjective/Participleपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) अर्थे ‘उद्यत’Role Kartā (कर्तृपदस्य विशेषणम्)Root उद्-यत (कृदन्त; √यत् ‘प्रयत्न/उद्यमे’)
- यजत्राः
- worthy of worshipAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole Kartā (कर्तृपदस्य विशेषणम्)Root यजत्र (प्रातिपदिक; √यज्)
- अतक्षन्
- they fashioned, they hewedVerbलुङ् (अorist); परस्मैपद; 3 पुरुष; बहुवचनRole Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)Root √तक्ष् (तक्षति)
- आयवः
- the living ones / men (clans)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole Kartā (कर्तृ)Root आयु (प्रातिपदिक) / ‘आयव’ वैदिक बहुवचन-रूप
- नव्यसे
- for the new (anew)Adjectiveदत्तिव/चतुर्थी; एकवचन (नपुंसक/पुं—प्रयोगानुसार ‘for the new [work/rite]’)Role Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)Root नव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- सम्
- together, completelyIndeclinableअव्ययRole Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; ‘together/fully’)Root सम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- श्रवस्यवः
- seeking fameAdjective/Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole Kartā (कर्तृपदस्य विशेषणम्)Root श्रवस्यु (प्रातिपदिक; desiderative adj. from श्रवस् ‘fame’)
- वाजम्
- prize, strength, victoryNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole Karma (कर्म)Root वाज (प्रातिपदिक)
- चकानाः
- rejoicing, desiringParticipleपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन; परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट-मध्यम-भावकृदन्तRole Kartā (कर्तृपदस्य विशेषणम्)Root √कन्/कन् (वैदिक; ‘to be pleased/desire’, perf. mid. ptcp.)
- सप्तिः
- a steedNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole Kartā (उपमान-कर्तृ)Root सप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- likeIndeclinableउपमा-निपातRole Upamā-dyotakaRoot न (अव्यय)
- रथ्यः
- fit for the chariotAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole Kartā (उपमानस्य विशेषणम्)Root रथ्य (प्रातिपदिक; रथ-सम्बद्ध)
- अह
- indeed, surelyIndeclinableअव्यय (उद्गार/निपात)Role Discourse particleRoot अह (अव्यय; वैदिक निपात)
- धीतिम्
- thought, hymn, inspirationNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole Karma (कर्म)Root धीति (प्रातिपदिक; √धी ‘to think’)
- अश्याः
- may you attainVerbविधिलिङ्/आशीर्लिङ् (optative); परस्मैपद; 2 पुरुष; एकवचन (आशीर्वाद/प्रार्थना)Role Kriyā (प्रार्थनात्मक क्रिया)Root √अश् (अश्नोति/अश्नुते ‘to reach, attain’)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (padapāṭha-style): एता | वः | वश्मि | उद्यताः | यजत्राः | अतक्षन् | आयवः | नव्यसे | सम् | श्रवस्यवः | वाजम् | चकानाः | सप्तिः | न | रथ्यः | अह | धीतिम् | अश्याः । प्रमुख-सन्धयः: वश्मि+उद्यताः → वश्म्युद्यताः (इ/उ संधि: इ + उ → यु)
- अतक्षन्+आयवः → अतक्षन्नायवः (न् + आ → न्ना)
- नव्यसे+सम् → नव्यसे सम् (पदविरामे संधि न)
- रथ्यः+अह → रथ्यो अह (विसर्ग-सन्धि: ः + अ → ओ)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The poet sets forth these words for the adorable gods; the seers have newly fashioned them into harmony. Seeking fame and force, may we attain inspired thought like a well-yoked chariot-steed, swift on the road.
Inner meaning
Mantra is a crafted vehicle: the rishi ‘shapes’ (takṣ) speech into a new harmony (sam) so the consciousness can travel swiftly. The goal is not mere praise but dhīti—right inspired thinking—carrying vāja (plenitude of force) and śravas (the true recognition/fame of the soul’s victory). The ‘steed fit for the chariot’ is disciplined vital energy harnessed to the will and guided by illumined thought, enabling rapid progress on the inner path.
Universal truth
Right speech and right rhythm shape the mind; disciplined energy yoked to inspiration becomes swift progress. What is newly and consciously fashioned in us becomes the vehicle of our journey.
Themes
Mantric craftsmanship, Attainment of vision, Victory-force discipline
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Lineage
- Bhārgava
- Other hymns
- RV 2.16 (Indra and the gaining of vāja), RV 2.23 (Bṛhaspati and inspired speech)
Family tradition
Bhārgava craftsmanship of mantra: emphasis on takṣ (fashioning) speech as an effective yogic instrument.
Significance
The rishi models sādhana as art: inspiration must be given form and rhythm so it can carry force and realization.
The deity
- Devata
- Viśvedevāḥ
- Epithets
- yajatrāḥ (adorable), āyavaḥ (moving/active seers—contextual)
- Related deities
- Sarasvatī (inspired speech), Bṛhaspati (lord of mantra), Indra (force of achievement)
Cosmic role
Collective harmony of divine powers responding to rightly formed speech and aspiration.
Inner power
Integrated support: multiple faculties of higher consciousness converge when the mantra is newly and sincerely shaped.
In ritual
Where it is used
Concluding/summary verse emphasizing fashioned mantra and attainment of dhīti; fits the ‘closing aspiration’ role in a hymn sequence.
ए॒ता वो॑ व॒श्म्युद्य॑ता यजत्रा॒ अत॑क्षन्ना॒यवो॒ नव्य॑से॒ सम् । श्र॒व॒स्यवो॒ वाजं॑ चका॒नाः सप्ति॒र्न रथ्यो॒ अह॑ धी॒तिम॑श्याः ॥
ए॒ता । वः॒ । व॒श्मि॒ । उ॒त्ऽय॑ता । य॒ज॒त्राः॒ । अत॑क्षन् । आ॒यवः॑ । नव्य॑से । सम् । श्र॒व॒स्यवः॑ । वाज॑म् । च॒का॒नाः । सप्तिः॑ । न । रथ्यः॑ । अह॑ । धी॒तिम् । अ॒श्याः॒ ॥
etā | vaḥ | vaśmi | ut-yatā | yajatrāḥ | atakṣan | āyavaḥ | navyase | sam | śravasyavaḥ | vājam | cakānāḥ | saptiḥ | na | rathyaḥ | aha | dhītim | aśyāḥ
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4 pādas × ~11 syllables
Energetic forward movement; suitable for ‘setting forth’ and the image of swift travel.
Stimulates aspiration and mental clarity; gives a sense of harnessing energy into a guided stride.
- वश्मि (vaśmi)
- Literal: I fashion/shape (words). Symbolic: conscious formation of mantra as a tool of transformation
- उद्यता (udyatā)
- Literal: set forth, raised up. Symbolic: uplifted aspiration offered to higher powers
- यजत्राः (yajatrāḥ)
- Literal: adorable, worthy of worship. Symbolic: powers of the One that answer sincere aspiration
- अतक्षन् (atakṣan)
- Literal: they fashioned (like carpenters). Symbolic: seer-skill that makes speech a working instrument
- नव्यसे (navyase)
- Literal: for the new. Symbolic: renewal of consciousness; fresh formation beyond habit
- सम् (sam)
- Literal: together, into harmony. Symbolic: integration—bringing faculties into a single accord
- श्रवस्यवः (śravasyavaḥ)
- Literal: seeking fame/glory. Symbolic: seeking the soul’s acknowledged victory—truth recognized in life
- वाजम् (vājam)
- Literal: strength, prize, plenitude. Symbolic: force of realization; effective power for the work
- धीतिम् (dhītim)
- Literal: inspired thought. Symbolic: illumined intelligence that guides action
- सप्तिः (saptiḥ)
- Literal: steed. Symbolic: vital energy disciplined and yoked for progress
- रथ्यः (rathyaḥ)
- Literal: fit for the chariot/road. Symbolic: energy made serviceable to the soul’s journey
Concluding/summary verse emphasizing fashioned mantra and attainment of dhīti; fits the ‘closing aspiration’ role in a hymn sequence.
General praise to Viśvedevāḥ in soma and fire offerings; also as a ‘hymn-of-offering’ preface establishing the efficacy of speech.
Recitation accompanying offering and the intention to gain vāja (strength/prize).
Before study/creative work/meditation, recite to ‘shape’ speech and mind: set intention, then proceed with disciplined focus (well-yoked steed).
√takṣ ‘to fashion, carpenter’ (PIE *teks- ‘craft’ → Latin texō ‘weave/build’): mantra as crafted structure. dhīti- from √dhī ‘visionary thought’: not discursive thinking but illumined formulation. sapti- ‘steed’ related to speed/drive semantics in Indo-Iranian; here emblem of controlled vital force yoked to the inner chariot.
mantra as crafted form (takṣ), dhīti as illumined thought, vāja as fullness of force
‘Sam’ indicates alignment—speech and mind brought into ṛta so progress becomes swift and safe.
Dhīti is the satya-bearing intelligence; it is what is to be ‘attained’.
Creation by formation (takṣ): the seer participates in cosmic making by shaping mantra.
Vedic yoga psychology: mantra as a formative power (vak as shakti) that reorganizes consciousness.
Road = inner journey of growth; steed = vital force; chariot = embodied system guided by mind; harmony (sam) = integrated functioning.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem of ‘fashioned speech’ as a vehicle: the hymn itself is a chariot/steed constructed by seers. Victory (vāja) is won by attaining dhīti—illumined thought—through crafted mantra.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √takṣ aligns with PIE *teks- (craft/build), showing a deep IE metaphor where poetic speech is ‘made’ like a chariot. This supports comparative Indo-European poetics (e.g., ‘weaving’ song).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi offers not only praise but a constructed instrument (mantra) to the gods; in return, the sought gift is dhīti (illumined thought) and vāja (full force). The reciprocity is cognitive and transformative rather than material.
Harnessing speech and thought: let mantra-shaping become mind-shaping; aim at dhīti (illumined thought).
Viśuddha (speech/mantra) and Ājñā (dhīti/inner guidance)
Brisk-energetic yet controlled: inhale 4, exhale 6 while reciting mentally; feel the ‘yoking’ on the longer exhale.
Alert, forward-moving concentration with inner harmony.
Speak the mantra as if ‘crafting’ each phrase; then sit for 2–3 minutes watching thought become orderly and swift, without strain—like a trained horse on a clear road.
Triṣṭubh; keep a bright lift on udyatā́ and dhī́tim; maintain even cadence across the four pādas.
Do not rush consonant clusters: śravasyavo, cakānāḥ, rathyo; let the final aśyāḥ land firmly (aspiration fulfilled).
atakṣan: clear kṣ conjunct, śravasyavo: keep ‘śra’ crisp, avoid ‘sra’, vājaṃ: long ā; anusvāra before m lightly nasal, dhītim: long ī
Bright, confident, forward-propelling; avoid heaviness.
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