Rig Veda 7.36.5: Mandala 7, Sukta 36, Mantra 5
Sukta 7.36
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Rudra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
यजन्ते अस्य सख्यं वयश्च नमस्विनः स्व ऋतस्य धामन् । वि पृक्षो बाबधे नृभिः स्तवान इदं नमो रुद्राय प्रेष्ठम् ॥
yájante asya sakhyáṃ váyaś ca namasvínaḥ svá ṛtásya dhā́man | ví pṛ́kṣo bābadhe nṛ́bhiḥ stávāna idáṃ námo rudrā́ya préṣṭham ||
ຜູ້ປະຕິບັດການບູຊານັບຖືຄວາມສຳພັນອັນເປັນມິດຂອງພຣະອົງແລະການເພີ່ມພູນຊີວິດ, ຢູ່ໃນທີ່ສະຖິຕິຂອງ ຣຕ. ພະລັງງານແຫ່ງການເສີມຂະຫຍາຍອອກໄປໄກເມື່ອຖືກສັນລະເສີນໂດຍມະນຸດ: ນີ້ແມ່ນການຄຳນົມອັນເປັນທີ່ຮັກທີ່ສຸດຕໍ່ ຣຸດຣະ, ພະລັງທີ່ເຮັດໃຫ້ການມີຢູ່ຕື່ນຮັບຢ່າງເຂັ້ມຂົ້ນ.
Word by Word
- यजन्ते
- they worship / they sacrificeVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्र. 3, बहुवचनRole (क्रिया)Root यज्
- अस्य
- of him / of this (one)Pronounपुं/नपुं, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक: अस्य-रूप)
- सख्यम्
- friendship, allianceNounनपुंसक, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot सख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- वयः
- vital strength / vigor (life-force)Nounनपुंसक, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (यजन्ते इति सह)Root वयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चय-अव्ययRole (समुच्चय)Root च
- नमस्विनः
- the reverent ones / worshippersNoun/Adjectiveपुं, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot नमस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्वः
- indeed / of themselvesIndeclinableनिपात (बलार्थ/स्वयम्-अर्थे) — ‘स्वयम्/नूनम्’ इत्यर्थे वैदिकप्रयोगःRole (निपात)Root स्व (अव्यय/निपात; वैदिक)
- ऋतस्य
- of ṛta (cosmic order, truth)Nounनपुंसक, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root ऋत (प्रातिपदिक)
- धामन्
- in the abode / stationNounनपुंसक, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot धामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- वि
- apart, forth, widelyIndeclinableउपसर्गRole (क्रियाविशेषक)Root वि
- पृक्षः
- the strong one / the vigorous (hero)Nounपुं, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot पृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक; वैदिक)
- बाबधे
- has become manifest / has grown strongVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परोक्श), आत्मनेपद, प्र. 3, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root बाध्
- नृभिः
- by men / with heroesNounपुं, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्तवानः
- being praised / praisingParticipleपुं, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि/आत्मनेपद-भावे ‘स्तूयमानः/स्तुवन्’Role कर्तृ (पृक्षः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root स्तु (धातु) → स्तवान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- इदम्
- thisPronounनपुंसक, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम)
- नमः
- obeisance, homageNounनपुंसक, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- रुद्राय
- to RudraNounपुं, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्रेष्ठम्
- most dear / most excellentAdjectiveनपुंसक, द्वितीया, एकवचन (नमः/इदम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्म (विशेषण)Root प्रेष्ठ (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक; ‘प्रिय’ का अतिशय)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: यजन्ते | अस्य | सख्यम् | वयः | च | नमस्विनः | स्वः | ऋतस्य | धामन् || वि | पृक्षः | बाबधे | नृभिः | स्तवानः | इदम् | नमः | रुद्राय | प्रेष्ठम् || 1) नमस्विनः स्वः: विसर्गः ‘स्वः’ इति निपात-रूपेण स्थितः (स्वर/पाठभेदेषु ‘स्व’ अपि दृश्यते)
- 2) ऋतस्य धामन्: षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः + सप्तमी-अधिकरणम्
- 3) इदं नमो रुद्राय: ‘इदम्’ + ‘नमः’ (द्वितीया/प्रथमा-नपुंसक) — ‘this homage (is) to Rudra’
The meaning
Outer meaning
The worshippers honor his comradeship and vital increase in the home of ṛta. The strengthening force spreads wide when praised by men; this is the dearest homage to Rudra.
Inner meaning
In the domain of ṛta (sve ṛtasya dhāman), seekers cultivate friendship with the divine Power (sakhyam) and the growth of life-force (vayaḥ) through namas (self-offering). When the inner ‘strengthener’ (pṛkṣaḥ: nourishing/fortifying energy) is praised—i.e., consciously affirmed—it expands through the being. Rudra here is the intense awakener: he purifies, sharpens, and makes the consciousness vividly alive.
Universal truth
When devotion is grounded in inner truth and order, vitality grows without disorder; sincere praise and surrender awaken a purifying power that expands strength and clarity.
Themes
Rudra homage, Inner friendship with the divine, Vital increase aligned with ṛta, Transformative purification
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Other hymns
- RV 7.46 (Rudra hymn), RV 7.86 (Varuṇa/ṛta themes), RV 7.88
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha hymns often reconcile force and harmony: fierce powers (Rudra) are placed within ṛta so they become healers rather than destroyers.
Significance
The seer frames Rudra not as mere storm-god but as a conscious power whose ‘fierceness’ is the intensity needed for awakening and purification.
The deity
- Devata
- Rudra
- Epithets
- रुद्र (Rudra), प्रेष्ठ (preṣṭha, dearest)
- Related deities
- Maruts (Rudra’s hosts), Agni (purifying fire), Soma (healing bliss)
Cosmic role
Rudra governs the fierce purifying energies in nature and the body; he heals by removing what is obstructive or diseased.
Inner power
Intensifier of awareness; purifier of speech, nerves, and vital; awakens the ‘true vibration’ within ṛta.
In ritual
Where it is used
Rudra-invocation in mixed hymns; used for protection, healing, and averting harm while maintaining ṛta.
यज॑न्ते अस्य स॒ख्यं वय॑श्च नम॒स्विन॒: स्व ऋ॒तस्य॒ धाम॑न् । वि पृक्षो॑ बाबधे॒ नृभि॒: स्तवा॑न इ॒दं नमो॑ रु॒द्राय॒ प्रेष्ठ॑म् ॥
यज॑न्ते । अ॒स्य॒ । स॒ख्यम् । वयः॑ । च॒ । न॒म॒स्विनः॑ । स्वे । ऋ॒तस्य॑ । धाम॑न् । वि । पृक्षः॑ । बा॒ब॒धे॒ । नृऽभिः॑ । स्तवा॑नः । इ॒दम् । नमः॑ । रु॒द्राय॑ । प्रेष्ठ॑म् ॥
yajante | asya | sakhyam | vayaḥ | ca | namasvinaḥ | sve | ṛtasya | dhāman | v i | pṛkṣaḥ | bābadhe | nṛ-bhiḥ | stavānaḥ | idam | namaḥ | rudrāya | preṣṭham
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4 × ~11 syllables
Expansive yet firm; supports the sense of ‘spreading wide’ (vi … bābadhe).
Elicits wakeful intensity without agitation; stabilizes devotion in a truthful inner space.
- सख्यम् (sakhyam)
- Literal: friendship, comradeship. Symbolic: intimate alliance with the divine force; companionship of the higher consciousness
- वयः (vayaḥ)
- Literal: vital vigor, growth, youth. Symbolic: increase of prāṇa and life-energy under ṛta
- नमस्विनः (namasvinaḥ)
- Literal: those full of homage. Symbolic: souls practicing surrender, self-offering, reverent alignment
- ऋतस्य धामन् (ṛtasya dhāman)
- Literal: in the abode of ṛta. Symbolic: plane/state of right order where growth is harmonious
- पृक्षः (pṛkṣaḥ)
- Literal: nourishing/strengthening force (also ‘sprinkling’). Symbolic: inner fortifier—energy that consolidates and widens the being
- रुद्र (rudra)
- Literal: Rudra, the howler. Symbolic: fierce grace: purifier, awakener, remover of inner sickness/falsehood
Protective/appeasing invocation; Rudra praised for beneficence through fierce purification; adaptable in Soma rites and general propitiation.
Protective/appeasement moments in larger rites; also in contexts seeking vigor and well-being.
Offering with namas (bowing/mental submission); recitation for wideness and strength.
Chant when lethargy, dullness, or inner toxicity is present; use as a ‘wake-up’ prayer before meditation or during healing intention.
Key roots/terms: (1) √yaj 'to worship/sacrifice' → inner offering of energies. (2) sakhya 'friendship' from sakhi 'companion' → the god as ally within the being. (3) vayaḥ: often 'vigor, life-power' (cf. √vī 'to be strong' semantic neighborhood), indicating increase of vital capacity. (4) ṛta-dhāman: the 'station' where truth-order is native. (5) pṛkṣa: in RV often denotes invigorating nourishment/strength; inner sense: force that mixes and strengthens the parts of being. (6) Rudra: from rud- 'to roar/cry' but Vedic Rudra is also healer/purifier; homage to Rudra is acceptance of intense transformative pressure that restores right vibration.
Ṛta as native station (dhāman), Sakhya as divine alliance in yoga of works, Purification through intensity (Rudra)
Explicit: growth and comradeship are established ‘in the home of ṛta’—strength is safe only within right order.
Praise (stava) as truth-affirmation that makes force effective.
Expansion (vi … bābadhe) as a movement of manifestation—widening of consciousness through awakened force.
Integral symbolic Veda: Rudra as conscious transformative Energy rather than merely destructive nature-force.
Wind/howl = prāṇic surge that awakens; sprinkling/nourish = influx that strengthens nerves and mind; home of ṛta = stable inner station of truth.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is Rudra as the fierce-but-beloved purifier whose acceptance (namo) allows strengthening force (pṛkṣa) to expand within the domain of ṛta. The ‘homage’ is not fear-appeasement only; it is consent to transformative pressure that restores right order.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √yaj (sacrifice) is Indo-Iranian (Avestan yaz-), reflecting a shared ritual-poetic heritage. The concept of a ‘station/abode’ (dhāman) as a locus of law/order parallels wider Indo-European sacral geography, but in RV it is internalized as a psychological seat of ṛta.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- Humans as namasvinaḥ offer reverent submission in ṛta’s own dwelling; Rudra reciprocates by allowing pṛkṣa—invigorating strength—to spread. The r̥ṣi frames Rudra not as mere terror, but as the beloved agent of inner rectification.
Invoke Rudra as purifying wakefulness; establish practice ‘in ṛta’—truthful alignment before intensity.
Viśuddha (truthful vibration) and Ājñā (wakeful clarity).
3 rounds: inhale 4, exhale 6; chant on exhale with clear articulation to ‘clean’ the inner channel of speech.
Bright wakefulness with reverence; alert calm.
Begin with namas (a felt bow in the heart); chant imagining a cleansing wind moving through the spine; end with a quiet pause sensing widened strength (vi pṛkṣaḥ).
Approximate udatta emphasis on key nouns/verbs; keep svarita on sandhi transitions (exact śākhā notation not provided).
Mark prominence: yajánte / sakhyám / váyaś / ṛtásya dhā́man / ví / pṛ́kṣo / bābádhe / rudrā́ya / préṣṭham.
ṛta: vocalic ṛ—not ‘rita’., dhāman: long ā; keep final -n light., bābadhe: articulate both b’s; avoid collapsing to ‘babdhe’., rudrāya: dr cluster clear; long ā.
Clear, slightly austere, wakeful; avoid heaviness.
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