Rig Veda 7.39.3: Mandala 7, Sukta 39, Mantra 3
Sukta 7.39
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Vasus / Viśve Devāḥ
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
ज्मया अत्र वसवो रन्त देवा उरावन्तरिक्षे मर्जयन्त शुभ्राः । अर्वाक्पथ उरुज्रयः कृणुध्वं श्रोता दूतस्य जग्मुषो नो अस्य ॥
jmayā́ átra vásavo ranta devā́ urā́v antárikṣe marjayanta śubhrā́ḥ | arvā́k pathá uru-jráyaḥ kṛṇudhvaṃ śrótā dūtásya jagmúṣo no asyá ||
ここ地の界にて、ヴァス（Vasus）なる神々が歓び憩わんことを。輝ける者たちは、広き中空において清めをなす。広く歩む者たちよ、われらのために下りゆく道を広くせよ。われらより汝らのもとへ来たりし使者の声を聴け。
Word by Word
- ज्मया
- on/with the earth; on the groundNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचन (वेदिक रूप: ज्मया = ‘भूम्या’)Role अधिकारण (स्थान/आधार-अर्थे) अथवा करण (सह/साधन-अर्थे)Root ज्मि-/ज्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘भूमि/पृथ्वी’)
- अत्र
- hereIndeclinableदेशवाचक अव्ययRole अधिकारणRoot अत्र (अव्यय)
- वसवः
- the Vasus (a class of gods)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
- रन्त
- rejoiced; took delightVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद; 3 पुरुष बहुवचनRole (क्रिया)Root रम् (धातु)
- देवाः
- the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (वसवः के विशेषण/अप्पोज़िशन)Root देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- उराव्
- in the wide (expanse)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन (वेदिक: उराव् = उरौ ‘in the wide [space]’)Role अधिकारणRoot उरु (प्रातिपदिक)
- अन्तरिक्षे
- in the mid-air; atmosphereNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचनRole अधिकारणRoot अन्तरिक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
- मर्जयन्त
- they cleansed; they made brightVerbलङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपद; 3 पुरुष बहुवचनRole (क्रिया)Root मृज् (धातु)
- शुभ्राः
- bright; shiningAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन (कर्तृ-सम्बन्धी)Role कर्तृ (देवाः/वसवः के विशेषण)Root शुभ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- अर्वाक्
- hither; towards usIndeclinableदिशावाचक अव्यय ‘towards here/downwards’Role (क्रियाविशेषण)Root अर्वाक् (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थक)
- पथः
- paths; waysNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया बहुवचन (वेदिक: पथः = पथान्)Role कर्मRoot पथ्/पथ (प्रातिपदिक)
- उरुज्रयः
- wide-going; far-rangingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (आह्वानिताः ‘you’ के विशेषण)Root उरु-ज्रय (समास; उरु ‘wide’ + ज्रय ‘running/going’)
- कृणुध्वम्
- make; prepareVerbलोट् (imperative), आत्मनेपद; 2 पुरुष बहुवचनRole (क्रिया)Root कृ (धातु)
- श्रोत
- hear; listenVerbलोट् (imperative), परस्मैपद; 2 पुरुष बहुवचन (वेदिक संक्षिप्त रूप)Role (क्रिया)Root श्रु (धातु)
- दूतस्य
- of the messengerNounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root दूत (प्रातिपदिक)
- जग्मुषः
- who has come; having arrivedParticipleपरिपूर्ण/भूतकृदन्त (perf. act. ptc.); पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (दूतस्य विशेषण)Root गम् (धातु) → जग्मुस् (कृदन्त/परिपूर्ण)
- नः
- of us; ourPronounषष्ठी बहुवचन (enclitic)Role सम्बन्धRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- अस्य
- of this; of himPronounषष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-निरसन): ज्मया | अत्र | वसवः | रन्त | देवाः | उराव् | अन्तरिक्षे | मर्जयन्त | शुभ्राः | अर्वाक् | पथः | उरुज्रयः | कृणुध्वम् | श्रोत | दूतस्य | जग्मुषः | नः | अस्य । विशेष: ‘उराव्’ = सप्तमी ‘उरौ’ (वेदिक रूप)
- ‘पथः’ = द्वितीया बहुवचन ‘पथान्’ (वेदिक)
- ‘श्रोत’ = लोट् 2pl का संक्षिप्त/वेदिक रूप
- ‘जग्मुषः’ = गम्-धातोः परिपूर्ण कृदन्त (perf. act. ptc.) षष्ठी एकवचन।
The meaning
Outer meaning
May the Vasus, the gods, delight here on earth; shining, they purify in the wide mid-world. Make broad the downward path for us, O wide-striding ones; hear our messenger who has come to you.
Inner meaning
The Vasus are foundational divine powers that build and stabilize existence (vasu = good/wealth/substance). The seer asks them to ‘delight’ in the earth-plane—i.e., to establish themselves in embodied life, not remain remote. Their shining purification occurs in the ‘wide mid-world’ (antarikṣa): the vital-mental field where energies mix and must be clarified. The prayer to ‘make broad the downward path’ (arvāk pathaḥ) is crucial in Aurobindonian terms: not only ascent to the gods, but descent of their powers into the human instrument. The “messenger” (dūta) is typically Agni (or the inspired call carried by Agni): the inner priest-force that travels between planes. The mantra asks the gods to listen to this messenger—our aspiration made effective by inner fire.
Universal truth
Spiritual realization is incomplete without descent: higher powers must widen the channel into embodied life, purifying the intermediate vital-mental field so the divine can ‘delight’ and act on earth.
Themes
Descent of gods, Purification, Vasus, Messenger (Agni/Mantra)
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa)
- Other hymns
- RV 7.39.1-2 (preparation and arrival), RV 7.18 (victory and establishment)
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha’s vision frequently insists on the establishment of divine order in the earthly and intermediate planes, not merely heavenly attainment.
Significance
He articulates a key integral movement: purification of the mid-world and widening of the descent-path so the gods can ‘delight’ in embodied existence.
The deity
- Devata
- Vasus / Viśve Devāḥ (with messenger Agni implied)
- Epithets
- śubhrāḥ (bright), urujrayaḥ (wide-striding)
- Related deities
- Agni (dūta, messenger), Indra (widening paths, victory), Uṣas (illumination that follows purification)
Cosmic role
Vasus: maintain cosmic stability and the ‘goods’ of existence; as luminous purifiers they uphold harmony across earth and mid-world.
Inner power
Stabilizing clarity that purifies the vital-mental nature and enables descent of higher force into life.
In ritual
Where it is used
General Viśve Devāḥ / Vasus invocation within a sacrifice; prayer for purification and protection of the rite’s middle region
ज्म॒या अत्र॒ वस॑वो रन्त दे॒वा उ॒राव॒न्तरि॑क्षे मर्जयन्त शु॒भ्राः । अ॒र्वाक्प॒थ उ॑रुज्रयः कृणुध्वं॒ श्रोता॑ दू॒तस्य॑ ज॒ग्मुषो॑ नो अ॒स्य ॥
ज्म॒याः । अत्र॑ । वस॑वः । र॒न्त॒ । दे॒वाः । उ॒रौ । अ॒न्तरि॑क्षे । म॒र्ज॒य॒न्त॒ । शु॒भ्राः । अ॒र्वाक् । प॒थः । उ॒रु॒ऽज्र॒यः॒ । कृ॒णु॒ध्व॒म् । श्रोता॑ । दू॒तस्य॑ । ज॒ग्मुषः॑ । नः॒ । अ॒स्य ॥
jmayāḥ | atra | vasavaḥ | ranta | devāḥ | urau | antarikṣe | marjayanta | śubhrāḥ | arvāk | pathaḥ | uru-jrayaḥ | kṛṇudhvam | śrotā | dūtasya | jagmuṣaḥ | naḥ | asya
44
4 × ~11
Expansive and directive; the third pāda’s ‘make broad the path’ naturally swells in recitation.
Opens a felt sense of space in the chest and midline; encourages receptivity to descent and confidence in divine support.
- वसवः (vasavaḥ)
- Literal: Vasus (a class of gods). Symbolic: foundational powers of harmony, substance, and right enjoyment in life
- ज्मयाः (jmayāḥ)
- Literal: on the earth/earthly. Symbolic: the physical plane and embodied consciousness
- रन्त (ranta)
- Literal: delight, take pleasure. Symbolic: divine enjoyment established in life; consent of nature to the higher
- अन्तरिक्षे (antarikṣe)
- Literal: in the mid-region. Symbolic: vital-mental field where purification is needed
- मर्जयन्त (marjayanta)
- Literal: they cleanse/purify. Symbolic: clarification of energies, removal of mixed motives and obscurity
- शुभ्राः (śubhrāḥ)
- Literal: bright, pure. Symbolic: luminous forces of clarity
- अर्वाक् पथः (arvāk pathaḥ)
- Literal: downward path. Symbolic: descent-channel for higher powers into mind-life-body
- उरुज्रयः (urujrayaḥ)
- Literal: wide-striding. Symbolic: powers that expand consciousness and make room for the divine
- दूतस्य (dūtasya)
- Literal: of the messenger. Symbolic: Agni / the effective force of aspiration and invocation
- श्रोता (śrotā)
- Literal: hear!. Symbolic: divine response to the soul’s call; opening of receptivity above
Invitation for divine presence in the ritual space; purification and opening of the ‘path’ for descent of powers to the yajña
During deity-invitation and transition verses; especially when calling powers to establish themselves ‘here’ and to repel/cleanse obstacles.
Inviting Vasus to the offering-place; asking for purification and for a widened channel of divine approach/return; acknowledging Agni as messenger.
A descent-focused meditation: after a brief ascent (silence/height), consciously invite the higher peace and force to come down into breath, heart, and body; ask for purification of the vital field (reactivity, craving, agitation).
vasu ‘good, wealth-substance’ frames the Vasus as stabilizers of embodied existence. √mṛj ‘to cleanse’ (marjayanta) indicates purification of the antarikṣa (life-field). dūta ‘messenger’ can be Agni (classic envoy) or the mantra itself as speech-envoy; √gam in jagmuṣaḥ marks accomplished arrival—speech has ‘reached’ the gods.
Descent-path (arvāk patha) as divine influx, Purification (mṛj) as inner clarification, Speech as messenger between human and divine
Purification in the mid-world restores right order between planes; the widened path enables lawful exchange (ṛta) between above and below.
‘Bright’ forces establish truth-clarity in the mixed region of life-energy and thought.
The divine is to be enjoyed on earth (jmayā): manifestation, not escape; the mid-world is a field of transformation.
Integral yoga reading: necessity of descent and transformation of the intermediate nature (vital-mental antarikṣa).
Earth = body/physical consciousness; mid-sky = vital-mental; brightness = purification; downward path = descent of higher consciousness into embodiment.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘messenger-to-the-gods’ mythologem: the hymn/Agni as envoy reaches the gods and requests a widened path for their descent; the Vasus purify the mid-world so the divine can inhabit the earthly field—an inner myth of opening channels between planes.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √gam (jagmuṣaḥ) is a central IE root (PIE *gʷem- ‘to go/come’; cf. Greek baínō is different, but Tocharian kām-, etc.; Indo-Iranian preserves gam-/jam-). dūta ‘messenger’ parallels Avestan dūta-, indicating shared Indo-Iranian diplomatic/ritual metaphor.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi sends speech as a completed messenger and asks the gods to respond by opening a descent-path and purifying the life-field; the reciprocity is communicative: human invocation reaches, divine presence returns.
Descent and purification: invite stabilizing luminous powers to inhabit the body and cleanse the vital-mental field.
Anāhata (delight and wideness) and Svādhiṣṭhāna/Manipūra (vital purification)
On inhale, feel wideness in the mid-chest (urujrayaḥ); on exhale, let agitation drain downward/outward; then a gentle inhale ‘from above’ as descent.
Wide, quiet, and receptive—like a clear sky between earth and heaven.
After settling, call the ‘Vasus’ as powers of stable harmony. Offer reactivity and restlessness to be cleansed in the antarikṣa. Conclude by asking for a broader descent-path so higher peace can occupy daily actions.
Triṣṭubh; keep the imperative ‘kṛṇudhvam’ (make!) and ‘śrotā’ (hear!) prominent with clear udātta rise per tradition.
Slight swell on ‘urāv antarikṣe’ to evoke wideness; a firm, directive tone on ‘arvāk pathaḥ… kṛṇudhvam’.
(jmayā): cluster jmy; pronounce as ‘jma-yā’ without inserting extra vowel, (vasavo): v soft; short a, (antarikṣe): kṣ cluster crisp, (marjayanta): rj cluster; keep ‘ya’ clear, (śubhrāḥ): bh aspirated; long āḥ, (arvāk): rv cluster; long ā; final k audible, (urujrayaḥ): ru-ru; jr cluster, (dūtasya): long ū; dental t, (jagmuṣo): ṣ retroflex; o at end
Spacious and resonant; firm imperatives without strain.
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