Rig Veda 7.80.3: Mandala 7, Sukta 80, Mantra 3
Sukta 7.80
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Uṣas
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
अश्वावतीर्गोमतीर्न उषासो वीरवतीः सदमुच्छन्तु भद्राः । घृतं दुहाना विश्वतः प्रपीता यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥
áśvāvatīr gómatīr na uṣā́so vī́ravatīḥ sádám ucchantu bhadrā́ḥ | ghṛtáṃ dúhānā viśvátáḥ prá-pītā yūyáṃ pāta svastí-bhiḥ sádā naḥ ||
われらのために暁たちが常に昇れ——吉祥にして善く、馬の速き力を備え、牛の光（光線と知）を備え、英雄の勢いを備えて。四方より集めてギー（ghṛta、清澄な供物）を搾り出し、満ち満ちている。汝ら、常に安寧の調和をもってわれらを護れ。
Word by Word
- अश्वावतीः
- having horsesAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (उषासः-विशेषणम्)Root अश्व-वत् (प्रातिपदिक: अश्व ‘horse’ + वत् ‘possessing’)
- गोमतीः
- rich in cowsAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (उषासः-विशेषणम्)Root गो-मत् (प्रातिपदिक: गो ‘cow’ + मत् ‘possessing’)
- नः
- of us / ourPronounषष्ठी (एन्क्लिटिक), बहुवचनRole Sampradāna/सम्बन्ध (अस्माकम्)Root अस्मद्
- उषासः
- the DawnsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot उषस्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- वीरवतीः
- having heroes/sonsAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (उषासः-विशेषणम्)Root वीर-वत् (प्रातिपदिक: वीर ‘hero/son’ + वत् ‘possessing’)
- सदम्
- alwaysIndeclinableअव्ययRole Adhikaraṇa (काल-अर्थे)Root सदम् (अव्यय/निपात; ‘always, continually’)
- उच्छन्तु
- may they shine forth / ariseVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, तृतीया पुरुष, बहुवचनRole KriyāRoot उद्-√शा/शि (Vedic: ‘to shine, rise’; here ‘उच्छ्’ as present stem)
- भद्राः
- auspicious, graciousAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (उषासः-विशेषणम्)Root भद्र- (प्रातिपदिक)
- घृतम्
- gheeNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (दुहाना-क्रियायाः)Root घृत- (प्रातिपदिक)
- दुहाना
- milking (yielding)Participleवर्तमान कृदन्त (शानच्), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (उषास्-सम्बद्धम्; सामूहिक-बहुवचनेऽपि काव्ये एकवचनम्)Role Kartā (उषास्-विशेषणम्)Root √दुह् (to milk) + शानच् (मध्यम/आत्मनेपद वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- विश्वतः
- from every side / on all sidesIndeclinableअव्यय (दिशा/पर्यायार्थे)Role Adhikaraṇa (दिशि/परितः)Root विश्व- + तस् (अव्ययीभाव/तसिल्)
- प्रपीता
- having drunk fully / well-satedParticipleभूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (उषास्-विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (उषास्-विशेषणम्)Root प्र-√पा (to drink) + क्त (भूतकृदन्त); Vedic: ‘drunk/imbibed, having drunk’
- यूयम्
- you (all)Pronounप्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot युष्मद्
- पात
- protectVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यम पुरुष, बहुवचनRole KriyāRoot √पा (to protect)
- स्वस्तिभिः
- with well-being(s), with blessingsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot स्वस्ति- (प्रातिपदिक)
- सदा
- alwaysIndeclinableअव्ययRole Adhikaraṇa (काल-अर्थे)Root सदा (अव्यय)
- नः
- usPronounद्वितीया (एन्क्लिटिक), बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot अस्मद्
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: अश्वावतीः गोमतीः नः उषासः वीरवतीः सदम् उच्छन्तु भद्राः । घृतम् दुहाना विश्वतः प्रपीता । यूयम् पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥ 1) ‘गोमतीर्न’ = गोमतीः + नः (विसर्गलोपः, रकारादेशः/रेफः पदान्ते)
- 2) ‘वीरवतीः:’ इत्यत्र पदान्त-विसर्गः (संहितायां चिह्नितः)
- 3) ‘सदमुच्छन्तु’ = सदम् + उच्छन्तु (मकारस्य परसवर्ण-सन्धिः; उ-आदौ संयोगः)
- 4) ‘प्रपीता यूयम्’ इत्यत्र सन्धि-विशेषः न
The meaning
Outer meaning
May the Dawns rise for us always, auspicious—bringing horses, cows, and heroes; milking ghee from every side, fully filled—may you protect us always with well-being.
Inner meaning
Repeated illuminations (plural Uṣasaḥ) are invoked to bring: (1) aśvāvatī—swift vital energies for right action; (2) gomatī—rays of knowledge and luminous perceptions; (3) vīravatī—heroic soul-forces that can face resistance. ‘Milking ghee’ signifies extracting refined essence (clarified richness) from all experiences, and being ‘fully filled’ indicates a completeness of nourishment in consciousness. The prayer culminates in a protective harmony (svasti) that stabilizes the gains of awakening.
Universal truth
When illumination becomes continuous, life receives energy, knowledge, and courage; experience yields its refined essence; and well-being arises as an inner harmony that protects progress.
Themes
boons as inner powers, protection formula, light as nourishment, heroic force
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa lineage)
- Other hymns
- RV 7.80.1–2 (awakening and leading light), RV 7.81.1–2 (vision, waters, sun’s release of lights)
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha’s dawn-hymns often culminate in practical boons understood inwardly: energy, knowledge, and protection by harmony (svasti).
Significance
The seer seeks not a single illumination but a stable rhythm of awakenings that nourish and protect the whole being.
The deity
- Devata
- Uṣas (plural Dawns)
- Epithets
- bhadrāḥ (auspicious), aśvāvatīḥ (bringing swift forces), gomatīḥ (bringing rays of knowledge), vīravatīḥ (bringing heroic energies)
- Related deities
- Sūrya, Agni, Indra (as heroic power)
Cosmic role
Regular renewer of life; bestower of riches and protection at the threshold of day.
Inner power
A sustaining series of illuminations that integrate force, knowledge, and courage into a harmonious well-being.
In ritual
Where it is used
Morning benediction; also fits protective recitation before travel/work.
अश्वा॑वती॒र्गोम॑तीर्न उ॒षासो॑ वी॒रव॑ती॒: सद॑मुच्छन्तु भ॒द्राः । घृ॒तं दुहा॑ना वि॒श्वत॒: प्रपी॑ता यू॒यं पा॑त स्व॒स्तिभि॒: सदा॑ नः ॥
अश्व॑ऽवतीः । गोऽम॑तीः । नः॒ । उ॒षसः॑ । वी॒रऽव॑तीः । सद॑म् । उ॒च्छ॒न्तु॒ । भ॒द्राः । घृ॒तम् । दुहा॑नाः । वि॒श्वतः॑ । प्रऽपी॑ताः । यू॒यम् । पा॒त॒ । स्व॒स्तिऽभिः॑ । सदा॑ । नः॒ ॥
aśva-vatīḥ | go--matīḥ | naḥ | uṣasaḥ | vīra-vatīḥ | sadam | ucchantu | bhadrāḥ | ghṛtam | duhānāḥ | viśvataḥ | pra-pītāḥ | yūyam | pāta | svasti-bhiḥ | sadā | naḥ
44
4 x ~11 syllables
Blessing-like, with a steady rise; suitable for prayer and protection.
Builds confidence and fullness; leaves a settled auspicious resonance (svasti) after recitation.
- uṣāsaḥ (plural)
- Literal: dawns. Symbolic: successive awakenings; repeated descents of light
- aśvāvatīḥ
- Literal: possessing horses. Symbolic: swift vital force; effective dynamic energy
- gomatīḥ
- Literal: possessing cows. Symbolic: rays of light/knowledge; illumined perceptions
- vīravatīḥ
- Literal: possessing heroes. Symbolic: courageous soul-powers; strong faculties
- ghṛtam
- Literal: ghee/clarified butter. Symbolic: refined essence; clarified richness of consciousness
- duhānāḥ
- Literal: milking. Symbolic: drawing out the essence from life and practice
- svastibhiḥ
- Literal: with well-being/auspiciousness. Symbolic: harmonizing protection; integrative peace-force
- pāta
- Literal: protect. Symbolic: guard the gains of sādhanā from relapse into obscurity
Auspicious dawn-prayer for protection (svasti) and the coming of energies (aśva, vīra) and illuminations (go) supportive of the day’s sacrificial work.
At dawn; or whenever invoking auspicious protection and integrated strength.
Recitation as āśīrvāda (blessing); optionally followed by silent offering of breath to inner Agni.
Use as a ‘daily protection and empowerment’ mantra: energy (aśva), clarity (go), courage (vīra), and harmony (svasti).
aśva- ‘horse’ from PIE *h₁éḱwos (Lat. equus). go- ‘cow’ from PIE *gʷōus (Gk. boûs). In Vedic symbolism, both become inner powers: aśva as kinetic energy; go as light/knowledge (root √gā ‘to go’ supports ‘ray’ as moving light). ghṛtá from √ghṛ ‘to shine/sprinkle’ and ritual ghee becomes ‘luminous essence’. √duh ‘milk’ is used for extracting subtle nourishment from the planes of being.
plenitude (rādhas/ghṛta), integral well-being (svasti), universal influx (viśvataḥ)
The plural dawns indicate rhythmic recurrence—ṛta as dependable spiritual renewal.
Knowledge-rays (go) support truthful perception; svasti stabilizes it in life.
Nourishment of the worlds through luminous essence; manifestation sustained by recurring illumination.
Integral Yoga psychology: transformation requires repeated descents of light that also protect and integrate.
dawn
From the ‘milking’ of experience comes clarified essence; recurring dawns bring integrated strength and well-being.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Dawn as the giver of ‘cows and horses’: an inherited mythic complex where divine light releases luminous ‘cows’ (rays/knowledges) and energizing ‘horses’ (forces). The verse internalizes the myth: the seeker asks for illuminations and dynamic powers necessary for the inner journey.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The dual IE prestige lexemes *h₁éḱwos (aśva) and *gʷōus (go) remain central, showing continuity of poetic wealth imagery. Vedic then resemanticizes them into psychological powers while retaining the archaic formulaic style (X-vatīḥ epithets).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi seeks a sustained influx (‘sadam’) rather than a single gift: dawn’s repeated rising should continuously supply energy, illumination, and heroic capacity, and also maintain protective harmony (svasti) throughout the day’s inner and outer actions.
Invoke a balanced triad: energy (vital), knowledge (mind), courage (soul); then rest in svasti as integrative peace.
Manipūra (dynamic energy) + Ājñā (clarity) + Anāhata (courage/heart-force)
4-4 breathing for 7 cycles; on inhale feel ‘aśva-go-vīra’ powers entering; on exhale settle into ‘svasti’.
Integrated sattva: luminous, capable, protected.
After chanting, briefly scan: body (energy), mind (clarity), heart (courage). Offer any imbalance to the Dawns; end with a minute of quiet gratitude.
Triṣṭubh cadence; keep pāda breaks clear; traditional svara as per recension—use gentle udātta lift and controlled svarita fall.
Emphasize the triplet: aśvāvatīḥ gomatīḥ vīravatīḥ; then soften into the blessing: yūyaṃ pāta svastibhiḥ.
aśvāvatīḥ: long ā; v consonant clear, gomatīḥ: hard g; long ī at end, ghṛtaṃ: vocalic ṛ; do not say ‘gri’, prapītāḥ: retroflex ṭ; long āḥ ending
Warm and blessing-like; broaden tone on ‘svastibhiḥ’.
3
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
