Rig Veda 8.85.8: Mandala 8, Sukta 85, Mantra 8
Sukta 8.85
- Rishi
- Kṛṣṇa
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Chandas
- Anuṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
त्रिवन्धुरेण त्रिवृता रथेना यातमश्विना । मध्वः सोमस्य पीतये ॥
tri-vandhuréṇa tri-vṛ́tā ráthenā́ yātam aśvinā | mádhvaḥ sómasya pītáye ||
ಹೇ ಅಶ್ವಿನೌ, ತ್ರಿವಂಧುರ, ತ್ರಿವೃತ ರಥದಲ್ಲಿ ಬನ್ನಿರಿ—ಸುಸಂಯೋಜಿತ ಗತಿಯನ್ನುಳ್ಳದು—ಮಧುಮಯ ಸೋಮಪಾನಕ್ಕಾಗಿ.
Word by Word
- त्रिवन्धुरेण
- with a three-‘vándhura’ (three-part/three-yoked)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-एकवचनम् (करणे)Role करणRoot त्रि-वन्धुर (प्रातिपदिक; वन्धुर ‘रथस्य वन्धुरः/युगबन्धनम्, रथाङ्गविशेषः’)
- त्रिवृता
- with the three-enclosed/threefold (one)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-एकवचनम् (करणे)Role करणRoot त्रि-वृत (प्रातिपदिक; √वृत् ‘आवरणे/वर्तने’ → वृत ‘enclosed/covered; having turns’)
- रथेन
- with the chariotNounपुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-एकवचनम्Role करणRoot रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- hither, towardsIndeclinableउपसर्गः (गत्यर्थे, ‘towards/hither’)Root आ (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- यातम्
- come (you two)!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे) मध्यमपुरुषः द्विवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role (क्रिया) —Root √या (गत्यर्थे) + (आ)
- अश्विना
- O Aśvins (you two)Noun (proper/deity epithet)पुंलिङ्गे सम्बोधन-द्विवचनम्Role सम्बोधनRoot अश्विन् (प्रातिपदिक; अश्विनौ—देवताद्वयम्)
- मध्वः
- of honey/sweetnessNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे षष्ठी-एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
- सोमस्य
- of SomaNounपुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- पीतये
- for drinkingNoun (action noun)स्त्रीलिङ्गे चतुर्थी-एकवचनम् (सम्प्रदानार्थे)Role सम्प्रदानRoot पीति (प्रातिपदिक; √पा ‘पाने’ → पीति ‘drinking’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: त्रिवन्धुरेण | त्रिवृता | रथेन | आ | यातम् | अश्विना | मध्वः | सोमस्य | पीतये । 1) ‘रथेना’ इति संहितायां ‘रथेन आ’ → ‘रथेना’ (अ + आ = आ; दीर्घसन्धिः). 2) ‘मध्वः’ वैदिकरूपेण मधु-शब्दस्य षष्ठी एकवचनम् (मधोः/मध्वः प्रकारः). 3) ‘यातम्’ लोट् मध्यम-द्विवचनम्
- ‘आ’ उपसर्गः क्रियायाः पूर्वं पृथक् पदम्।
The meaning
Outer meaning
A call to the Aśvins to come on a chariot described as ‘three-seated/three-supported’ and ‘three-turning/threefold,’ for the drinking of honeyed Soma.
Inner meaning
The Aśvins are invoked to move through the triple framework of our being—body, life, mind (or the three worlds)—in a perfectly ordered motion. The ‘threefold chariot’ is the integrated instrument; their coming signifies harmonization across the triple nature so that Soma-delight can be received in all parts without imbalance.
Universal truth
Spiritual realization becomes stable when it descends and organizes the whole being in a threefold harmony; delight is complete when mind, life, and body turn together toward truth.
Themes
triplicity, divine arrival, Soma-delight
The seer
- Rishi
- Kṛṣṇa (contextual; attribution uncertain for the excerpt)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 8.85.7-9
Family tradition
Book 8 Aśvin cycles often preserve older family collections; exact lineage for this verse cannot be asserted from the excerpt alone.
Significance
The seer emphasizes ‘triple order’—a key to integral transformation: not escape from nature, but a harmonized revolution of the whole instrument.
The deity
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Epithets
- Aśvinā (dual), Nāsatyā (truthful helpers—adjacent context)
- Related deities
- Uṣas, Sūrya, Soma, Agni
Cosmic role
Bearers of swift aid who traverse the three realms; restorers of wholeness; ushers of dawn-like right arrangement.
Inner power
Coordinating intelligence that makes the triple nature move as one rhythm—healing splits between thought, feeling, and action.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma rite invitatory to Aśvins; morning pressing associations
त्रि॒व॒न्धु॒रेण॑ त्रि॒वृता॒ रथे॒ना या॑तमश्विना । मध्व॒: सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ ॥
त्रि॒ऽव॒न्धु॒रेण॑ । त्रि॒ऽवृता॑ । रथे॑न । आ । या॒त॒म् । अ॒श्वि॒ना॒ । मध्वः॑ । सोम॑स्य । पी॒तये॑ ॥
tri-vandhureṇa | tri-vṛtā | rathena | ā | yātam | aśvinā | madhvaḥ | somasya | pītaye
32
4 × ~8 syllables; refrain ending
Compact and cyclical; the ‘tri-’ repetitions create a turning feel within the steady beat.
Induces a sense of ordered rotation and integration; helpful for bringing scattered parts into a single cadence.
- त्रिवन्धुर (tri-vandhura)
- Literal: three-seated/three-supports. Symbolic: triple foundation of the being; stability across three planes
- त्रिवृत (tri-vṛta)
- Literal: threefold-turned/three-enclosed. Symbolic: triple movement/cycle of transformation; orderly revolution of consciousness
- रथ (ratha)
- Literal: chariot. Symbolic: organized psycho-physical vehicle
- आ यातम् (ā yātam)
- Literal: come hither. Symbolic: descent of helping powers into present awareness
- मधु/सोम/पीतये
- Literal: honey/Soma/to drink. Symbolic: Ananda taken into consciousness; joy as nourishment
Epiphany/arrival formula for Ashvins in Soma setting; chariot described with ritual-poetic precision.
Dawn/morning offerings; also as a harmonizing invocation before taking sacred food/drink
Calling the deities to the ‘seat’ (sadas) and offering Soma
Use before meditation to ‘seat’ awareness in three centers (head-heart-navel) and invite harmonization before deeper practice.
tri-: ‘three’ (< PIE *tréyes). vandhura: chariot-seat/support; suggests stable placement—psychologically the settled basis for divine action. vṛ́tā: from √vṛt ‘to turn, roll, proceed’ (< PIE *wert- ‘turn’; cf. Latin vertere, English ‘turn’). The triple-turning chariot indicates harmonized movement through multiple planes (often read as physical-vital-mental or earth-midspace-heaven in Vedic symbolism).
tripartite order (three planes / triple way), Rita as ordered movement (vṛt), descent of divine powers into structured consciousness
The ‘threefold chariot’ is ṛta as structure: right order across planes and their movements.
Nāsatya-quality implied: truthfulness that makes the triple movement reliable.
A triple turning that evolves consciousness—orderly revolution rather than chaotic change.
Integral Vedantic tendency: realization must permeate the triple nature.
Dawn
The threefold vehicle is the psycho-physical system; the turning is repeated practice that reorients habits toward light and delight.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘threefold chariot of the Ashvins’—a structured vehicle enabling divine transit. Innerly, it is the ordered instrumentation of consciousness across a triple system; the gods arrive not chaotically but through a harmonized movement that supports transformation by Soma-delight.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The root √vṛt ‘turn’ aligns with PIE *wert- ‘turn’ (Latin vertere, English ‘worth/warden’ are different but related semantic developments in IE; direct ‘turn’ is clear). The prominence of ‘three’ matches widespread IE sacral triplicity in ritual language.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi specifies the mode of descent: the Ashvins are invoked to come by a ‘triple’ ordered vehicle, implying the human system must be made fit across multiple layers. The devatā answers by bringing right movement (Rita) into the seeker’s tripartite being.
Integrate the ‘three seats’: observe body sensations, regulate breath/energy, clarify thought—then rest in sweetness.
Ajna–Anahata–Manipura triad (head-heart-navel alignment)
Three-part breath (dirgha): abdomen → ribs → upper chest, then slow exhale while repeating ‘madhvaḥ somasya pītaye’.
Ordered, harmonized, quietly joyful.
Mentally place the Aśvins as twin guides at the ‘reins’ of attention; feel the triple nature turning together toward the inner sun; let delight spread evenly through all three layers.
Rigvedic accenting as preserved in śākhā recitation; tri- compounds should keep clear accent contrasts (udātta lift where marked).
Give crisp separation to ‘tri-vandhureṇa / tri-vṛtā’; avoid merging the tri- clusters; keep the refrain smooth and slightly softer.
tri-vandhureṇa: dental ‘n’ in -ndh-, aspirate ‘dh’, tri-vṛtā: vocalic ṛ; keep it short and clear, aśvinā: ś palatal; long ā at end (dual voc.), pītaye: long ī; ‘taye’ light
Clear, slightly brighter on the ‘tri-’ phrases; warm on ‘madhu/ soma’.
9
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.
