Rig Veda 2.28.3: Mandala 2, Sukta 28, Mantra 3
Sukta 2.28
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Varuṇa and the Ādityas
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Karuna (compassion)
तव स्याम पुरुवीरस्य शर्मन्नुरुशंसस्य वरुण प्रणेतः । यूयं नः पुत्रा अदितेरदब्धा अभि क्षमध्वं युज्याय देवाः ॥
táva syāma puru-vī́rasya śármann uru-śáṃsasya varuṇa praṇétaḥ | yūyáṃ naḥ putrā́ aditer adabdhā́ abhí kṣamadhvaṃ yújyāya devā́ḥ ||
ಹೇ ವರುಣ, ಪುರುವೀರ—ಅನೇಕ ವೀರರ—ಮತ್ತು ಉರುಶಂಸ—ವಿಶಾಲವಾಗಿ ಸ್ತುತಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟ—ಪ್ರಣೇತ, ನಿನ್ನ ಶರ್ಮನ್ (ಆಶ್ರಯ)ದಲ್ಲಿ ನಾವು ಇರೋಣ. ಹೇ ದೇವಗಳೇ, ಅದಿತಿಯ ಅದಬ್ಧ ಪುತ್ರರೇ, ನಮ್ಮ ಮೇಲೆ ಕ್ಷಮೆ/ಕೃಪೆ ತೋರಿರಿ; ಯುಜ್ಯಕ್ಕಾಗಿ—ಯೋಗ್ಯ ಯೋಗಕ್ಕಾಗಿ—ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಧರಿಸಿ, ಸತ್ಯ ಕಾರ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಶಕ್ತಿಗಳು ಸೇರಲೆಂದು.
Word by Word
- तव
- of you / yourPronounषष्ठी (gen.), एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitival relation)Root त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- स्याम
- may we beVerbविधिलिङ् (optative), उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (we as subject)Root अस् (धातु)
- पुरुवीरस्य
- of the many-heroed (one)Adjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (qualifying the following noun)Root पुरुवीर (प्रातिपदिक; पुरु- + वीर)
- शर्मन्
- in the shelter/protectionNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरण (locus/state: ‘in/under’)Root शर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- उरुशंसस्य
- of the far-famed / widely-praisedAdjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot उरुशंस (प्रातिपदिक; उरु- + शंस)
- वरुण
- O VaruṇaNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्रणेतः
- O leader/guideNoun (agent)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot प्र-नी (धातु) → प्रणेतृ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- यूयम्
- you (pl.)Pronounप्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- for us / of usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचन (enclitic)Role सम्प्रदान (for us) / सम्बन्ध (of us) بحسب प्रयोगRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- पुत्राः
- sonsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (in apposition to ‘you’)Root पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- अदितेः
- of AditiNoun (proper)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot अदिति (प्रातिपदिक)
- अदब्धाः
- unharmed / unassailableAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot अदब्ध (प्रातिपदिक; a- + dabdha)
- अभि
- towards / uponIndeclinableRole उपसर्ग (direction/intensity)Root अभि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- क्षमध्वम्
- be patient / be graciousVerbलोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपदRole क्रिया (addressed to the gods)Root क्षम् (धातु; ‘to be patient/forbear’)
- युज्याय
- for yoking / for union / for fitting (aid)Adjective (gerundive used as noun/qualifier)पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन (dative of purpose)Role सम्प्रदान (purpose: ‘for …’)Root युज्य (प्रातिपदिक; gerundive from युज् ‘to yoke/join’)
- देवाः
- O godsNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा, बहुवचन (vocative form = देवाः)Role सम्बोधनRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution: शर्म॑न्नुरु॒शंस॑स्य = शर्मन् + उरुशंसस्य (final -न् + initial vowel u-; written as -न्नु-)
- अदितेरदब्धा = अदितेः + अदब्धाः (visarga before vowel drops; eḥ + a- → e + a-, with RV orthography showing -er-)
- Other words are already padic or simple junctions (e.g., वरुण प्रणेतः is vocative apposition)
The meaning
Outer meaning
May we be in Varuṇa’s shelter, leader of the wide-praised and many-heroed. You unbetrayable sons of Aditi, bear with us and uphold us for right yoking, O gods.
Inner meaning
The seeker asks to live in Varuṇa’s śarman—protective peace and shelter—because Varuṇa is praṇetā, the inner leader who guides the many-heroed forces (puruvīra) and is widely affirmed (uruśaṃsa). Then the prayer widens from Varuṇa to the Ādityas, sons of Aditi: powers of infinite truth who are adabdha—incorruptible, not deceived by our confusions. ‘Abhi kṣamadhvam’ is a plea for patient holding: bear with our transitional imperfection while we seek yujyāya—right yoking, the true joining of our energies to the divine work. Psychologically, it is the integration of mind, life, and body under a higher guidance so the yoga becomes effective.
Universal truth
Human growth requires both guidance and protection, and also a patient, incorruptible truth-force that can uphold us while we learn right integration. Spiritual progress is the art of right yoking: aligning all parts of life with a higher purpose.
Themes
Divine protection, Integration of the gods’ powers in the seeker, Appeal to Ādityas as guardians of ṛta
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)
- Lineage
- Bhṛgu (Bhārgava)
- Other hymns
- RV 2.27 (Āditya invocations), RV 2.28 (Varuṇa and ṛta sequence)
Family tradition
Bhārgava hymns often invoke multiple divine powers as coordinated supports—reflecting an integrative yoga of many faculties under truth.
Significance
The rishi moves from personal reliance on Varuṇa to a collective reliance on the Ādityas, indicating that inner transformation needs a constellation of truth-powers, not a single force alone.
The deity
- Devata
- Varuṇa and the Ādityas (sons of Aditi)
- Epithets
- Praṇetā (leader), Uruśaṃsa (wide-praised), Adabdha (unbetrayable, of the Ādityas)
- Related deities
- Mitra, Aryaman, Bhaga, Aṃśa, Savitar (as yoker/impeller, thematic)
Cosmic role
Varuṇa leads and protects the order; the Ādityas collectively maintain truth, wideness, and right relations in cosmos and society.
Inner power
Protective peace (śarman), incorruptible discernment, patient upholding, and the power to integrate energies for effective yoga.
In ritual
Where it is used
Āditya/Varuṇa hymn usage in śrauta recitations; also suitable as a protective prayer before undertaking rites or journeys.
तव॑ स्याम पुरु॒वीर॑स्य॒ शर्म॑न्नुरु॒शंस॑स्य वरुण प्रणेतः । यू॒यं न॑: पुत्रा अदितेरदब्धा अ॒भि क्ष॑मध्वं॒ युज्या॑य देवाः ॥
अव॑ । स्या॒म॒ । पु॒रु॒ऽवीर॑स्य । शर्म॑न् । उ॒रु॒ऽशंस॑स्य । व॒रु॒ण॒ । प्र॒ने॒त॒रिति॑ प्रऽनेतः । यू॒यम् । नः॒ । पु॒त्राः॒ । अ॒दि॒तेः॒ । अ॒द॒ब्धाः॒ । अ॒भि । क्ष॒म॒ध्व॒म् । युज्या॑य । दे॒वाः॒ ॥
ava | syāma | puru-vīrasya | śarman | uru-śaṃsasya | varuṇa | pranetarit ipra-netaḥ | yūyam | naḥ | putrāḥ | aditeḥ | adabdhāḥ | abhi | kṣamadhvam | yujyāya | devāḥ
44
4×11 syllables
Supplicatory yet strong; the second half has a communal cadence (‘yūyaṃ naḥ… devāḥ’) that feels like a collective vow.
Conveys protection and solidarity; psychologically it strengthens the sense of being upheld by higher laws and powers.
- śarman
- Literal: shelter, protection, peace. Symbolic: the safe inner poise where truth can work without disturbance
- praṇetā
- Literal: leader, guide. Symbolic: the inner governor that leads consciousness along right paths
- puruvīra
- Literal: many-heroed. Symbolic: abundant soul-forces/powers needed for the battle with ignorance
- uruśaṃsa
- Literal: widely praised. Symbolic: the vast affirmation of truth; a consciousness universally valid
- aditi
- Literal: the infinite, unbinding. Symbolic: infinite consciousness-freedom; the ground of the Ādityas
- ādityāḥ (putrāḥ aditeḥ)
- Literal: sons of Aditi. Symbolic: truth-powers that restore harmony, wideness, and right law
- adabdha
- Literal: unbetrayable, uninjured, not deceived. Symbolic: incorruptible discernment and protection against falsehood
- yujyāya
- Literal: for yoking, for joining. Symbolic: right integration of energies; yoga as correct linkage to the Divine
Protective invocation for right ‘yoking’ (yujya) in sacrifice and inner yoga; suitable in rites seeking divine protection and cohesion of powers
When seeking protection, forgiveness, and right integration for ritual correctness; also in daily practice when stability is needed.
Recitation with mental ‘yoking’ of faculties; can be paired with a simple offering of water (Varuṇa) and flame (Agni) as symbols of purity and will.
Use when feeling scattered: chant to gather and ‘yoke’ mind-life-body to a single higher intention.
Adití- ‘unbound/infinite’ from a- ‘not’ + √dā ‘to bind’ (or *da ‘bind’), hence ‘the unbinding, infinity’. yuj- in yújya- from √yuj ‘to yoke, join’ (PIE *yeug-; cf. Latin iugum, English yoke). śárman ‘shelter’ related to √śṛ ‘to protect’ (semantic field of refuge). pra-ṇetṛ from √nī ‘to lead’ with pra- ‘forward’.
Aditi (Infinite consciousness), Yoga/yoking (integration of powers), Śarman (divine shelter)
Ādityas as guardians of ṛta; ‘right yoking’ is ṛta applied to the individual nature.
Adabdha: truth-power that cannot be deceived by appearances; it supports sincere progress.
Integration as a principle of manifestation—many powers coordinated under one law.
Integral yoga motif: multiple godheads as psychological powers coordinated for transformation.
Protective shelter = inner quietude; Sun-powers = truth-illumination; yoking = harmonizing the being’s movements.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is the Ādityas as ‘sons of Aditi’—guardians of the infinite law—granting shelter and support for ‘yoking’ (yujya), i.e., the joining of human faculties with divine powers so the work proceeds in ṛta.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- yuj- (PIE *yeug-) is a core Indo-European religious-technical verb for joining (yoke/yoga), showing continuity between Vedic inner-ritual language and broader IE sacral diction.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi seeks not only Varuṇa’s personal shelter but the collective upholding by the Ādityas. The gods are asked to ‘bear with’ the human process—implying gradual transformation—so that the seeker’s powers can be rightly integrated (yujya) under divine guidance.
Rest in an inner ‘shelter’ and invite the higher powers to patiently uphold the process of integration.
anāhata (shelter/peace) supporting ājñā (right guidance)
4-7-8 style gentle calming breath (if suitable): inhale 4, hold 7, exhale 8—on exhale feel ‘śarman’ descend as peace.
Protected quietude with a firm intention to align energies.
After chanting, mentally ‘yoke’ three layers: (1) thought to truth, (2) emotion to goodwill, (3) action to service. Ask the Ādityas to keep the linkage steady through the day.
Tri-svara; give clear udātta to vocatives and collective address ‘yūyaṃ’.
First half: steady, sheltering tone; second half: slightly more communal and expansive, without speeding up.
śarmann: pronounce śa-rman with doubled n before pause, uruśaṃsasya: ś retroflex; nasal ṃ before s, praṇetaḥ: retroflex ṇ; clear t, adabdhāḥ: keep dh aspirated, yujyāya: soft y, clear jy cluster
Warm, protective, slightly lower register; end with a gentle firmness on ‘devāḥ’.
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.
