Rig Veda 8.47.2: Mandala 8, Sukta 47, Mantra 2
Sukta 8.47
- Devata
- Ādityas
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
विदा देवा अघानामादित्यासो अपाकृतिम् । पक्षा वयो यथोपरि व्यस्मे शर्म यच्छतानेहसो व ऊतयः सुतयो व ऊतयः ॥
vidā́ devā́ aghā́nām ādityāso apā́kṛtim | pakṣā́ váyo yáthopári vy àsmé śárma yacchatānéhaso va ūtáyaḥ su-ūtáyaḥ va ūtáyaḥ ||
ຮູ້ຈັກການປົດປ່ອຍຈາກຄວາມເສຍຫາຍ, ໂອ ອາທິຕະທັງຫຼາຍ, ຈົ່ງຂັບໄລ່ຄວາມຊົ່ວຮ້າຍອອກໄປ. ຄືກັບປີ້ນົກເປັນເຄື່ອງມືໃຫ້ນົກຍົກຂຶ້ນສູງ, ດັ່ງນັ້ນ ຈົ່ງປັດຕັດໃຫ້ພວກເຮົາຄວາມສະຫງົບທີ່ເປັນທີ່ພັກພ່າຍໃຈ. ໂອ ຜູ້ບໍ່ຜິດພາດທັງຫຼາຍ, ການປ້ອງກັນຂອງທ່ານ - ການປ້ອງກັນທີ່ດີຂອງທ່ານ - ແມ່ນທີ່ພັກພ່າຍໃຈຂອງພວກເຮົາ.
Word by Word
- विदा
- knowingly; with knowledgeIndeclinableअव्यय (Vedic particle/adverbial form)Role Adhikaraṇa (manner/means: ‘by knowing/knowingly’)Root विद् (√vid ‘to know/find’) / विदा (avyaya ‘with knowledge/knowing’)
- देवाः
- the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot देव (prātipadika)
- अघानाम्
- of evils; of sinsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Vedic usage), षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole Sambandha (genitive: ‘of evils/sins’)Root अघ (prātipadika)
- आदित्याः
- the ĀdityasNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (apposition to देवाः)Root आदित्य (prātipadika)
- अपाकृतिम्
- removal; driving awayNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot अपाकृति (prātipadika; apa-ā-√kṛ ‘removal, driving away’)
- पक्षाः
- wingsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (metaphorical subject)Root पक्ष (prātipadika)
- वयः
- a bird; fowl (collective)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (collective)Role Kartā (in apposition/collective with पक्षाः)Root वयस् (prātipadika)
- यथा
- as; just asIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययRole Adhikaraṇa (comparative manner)Root यथा
- उपरि
- above; upwardsIndeclinableदेश-अव्ययRole AdhikaraṇaRoot उपरि
- वि
- apart; forth (intensifier with verb)Indeclinableउपसर्गRoot वि (prefix/preverb)
- अस्मे
- for us; to usPronounउभयलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी/षष्ठी, एकवचन (Vedic enclitic form)Role Sampradāna (dative sense: ‘for us’)Root अस्मद् (pronoun)
- शर्म
- shelter; protection; comfortNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot शर्मन् (prātipadika)
- यच्छत
- grant (you all)!Verbलोट् (imperative), मध्यम? → actually 2nd pl. parasmaipada: यच्छतRole Kriyā (main verb); governs कर्म ‘शर्म’ and सम्प्रदान ‘अस्मे’Root यम् (√yam ‘to give/extend, grant’; Vedic: ‘bestow’)
- अनेहसः
- unharming; untroublingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (qualifying implied ‘उतयः’)Role Kartā (as qualifier of the subject ‘aids’)Root अनेहस् (prātipadika; a-neh-as ‘untroubled, unharmed’)
- वः
- of you; yourPronounषष्ठी, बहुवचन (enclitic)Role SambandhaRoot युष्मद् (pronoun)
- ऊतयः
- helps; protectionsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot ऊति (prātipadika)
- सुतयः
- pressings; soma-libationsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (in apposition to ऊतयः)Root सुति (prātipadika; from √su ‘press’ → ‘pressing/pressed (soma)’, ‘libations’)
- वः
- of you; yourPronounषष्ठी, बहुवचन (enclitic)Role SambandhaRoot युष्मद् (pronoun)
- ऊतयः
- helps; protectionsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot ऊति (prātipadika)
Sandhi Notes
- Resolved/normalized padas (with Vedic sandhi/orthography): दे॑वा → देवाः (visarga in pada)
- अ॒घाना॒मादि॑त्यासो → अघानाम् + आदित्याः (m-final before vowel; -आसो is Saṃhitā form for nom.pl. -आः)
- प॒क्षा वयो॒ → पक्षाः + वयः (nom.pl. + nom.sg. collective)
- यथो॒परि॒ → यथा + उपरि (a+u sandhi → o)
- व्य१॒॑स्मे → वि + अस्मे (i+a sandhi → ya/‘vya’ in Saṃhitā)
- यच्छताने॒हसो॑ → यच्छत + अनेहसः (t + a sandhi; accent retained on अनेहसः)
- शर्म॑ is object of यच्छत
- सु॒तयो॑ व ऊ॒तय॑: repeated refrain: सुतयः वः ऊतयः
The meaning
Outer meaning
O Ādityas, knowing the removal of evils, cast away harm. As wings lift a bird above, spread for us sheltering peace; your unfailing protections are our safeguards.
Inner meaning
The Ādityas are invoked as conscious powers who ‘know’ (vidā) how to remove harmful formations (aghānām apākṛtim). Psychologically, they grant the method of rejection: discern, separate, and cast out the wrong movement. The wing-image (pakṣā vayo) is a symbol of uplift: higher truth-consciousness gives the soul ‘wings’ to rise above lower vibrations. ‘Śarma’ is not mere comfort but a wide peace and safe inner resting-place established by truth and harmony.
Universal truth
Protection is not only defense; it is uplift. True guardianship gives the power to rise above what harms, and establishes peace as a stable inner habitat.
Themes
Removal of evil, Ascent, Protective peace
The seer
Significance
The rishi’s insight emphasizes a practical psychology of protection: knowledge (vidā) that enables removal (apākṛti) and uplift (pakṣa imagery).
The deity
- Devata
- Ādityas.
- Epithets
- devāḥ (shining ones), anehasaḥ (unerring)
- Related deities
- Savitar (impulsion toward right movement), Indra (illumined force that breaks obstacles)
Cosmic role
Truth-guardians who remove disorder and establish peace as a lawful shelter.
Inner power
Discriminative truth-force that rejects harmful movements and grants uplift into a higher poise.
In ritual
Where it is used
General protective and peace-invocation within Vedic recitation; adaptable to household prayer.
वि॒दा दे॑वा अ॒घाना॒मादि॑त्यासो अ॒पाकृ॑तिम् । प॒क्षा वयो॒ यथो॒परि॒ व्य१॒॑स्मे शर्म॑ यच्छताने॒हसो॑ व ऊ॒तय॑: सु॒तयो॑ व ऊ॒तय॑: ॥
वि॒द । दे॒वाः॒ । अ॒घाना॑म् । आदि॑त्यासः । अ॒प॒ऽआकृ॑तिम् । प॒क्षा । वयः॑ । यथा॑ । उ॒परि॑ । वि । अ॒स्मे इति॑ । शर्म॑ । य॒च्छ॒त॒ । अ॒ने॒हसः॑ । वः॒ । ऊ॒तयः॑ । सु॒ऽऊ॒तयः॑ । वः॒ । ऊ॒तयः॑ ॥
vida | devāḥ | aghānām | ādityāsaḥ | apa-ākṛtim | pakṣā | vayaḥ | yathā | upari | vi | asme iti | śarma | yacchata | anehasaḥ | vaḥ | ūtayaḥ | su-ūtayaḥ | vaḥ | ūtayaḥ
Main petition line(s) + appended refrain.
Ascending feel in the wing simile; then settling into the steady refrain.
First part energizes aspiration (rise above); refrain stabilizes into protected peace.
- विदा (vidā)
- Literal: knowing. Symbolic: illumined discernment; knowledge of right method
- अघानाम् (aghānām)
- Literal: of evils/harms. Symbolic: harmful inner formations: fear, falsehood, resentment, inertia
- अपाकृतिम् (apākṛtim)
- Literal: removal, casting away. Symbolic: inner rejection (nirākaraṇa) of wrong movements
- पक्षा (pakṣā)
- Literal: wings. Symbolic: powers of ascent; higher supports of consciousness
- वयः (vayaḥ)
- Literal: bird. Symbolic: the aspiring soul-mind seeking altitude
- शर्म (śarma)
- Literal: shelter, peace. Symbolic: wide peace (śānti) that protects and stabilizes sadhana
Apotropaic/protective stotra; suitable for rites seeking freedom from harm and establishment in śarma.
Morning or before undertaking difficult tasks; also after confession/recognition of error as a prayer for removal.
Recite with water offering (ācamana/sprinkling) as symbolic cleansing; or lamp as truth-light.
A short ‘inner cleansing + uplift’ practice: identify one harmful pattern, offer it to the Ādityas, then repeat the refrain as affirmation of protection.
√vid ‘know’ (vida) is central: protection arises from truth-knowledge. apa-ā-kṛti ‘removal’ from √kṛ ‘do/make’ with preverbs: ‘make away’. pakṣa ‘wing’ (pakṣā́) symbolizes enabling ascent. śarma ‘shelter/bliss’ is a key RV term for inner peace. √yam ‘stretch/hold’ gives yacchata ‘grant/extend’—the Ādityas extend a field of protection.
Knowledge as protection (vid), Transcendence above harm (upari), Śarma as inner peace
Removal of agha is restoration of ṛta in the individual nature.
Knowing (vidā) is satya’s cognitive power—truth that acts as method.
Ascent motif (wings) echoes Vedic upward movement from lower to higher worlds.
Yogic-Vedic ascent: from lower nature to higher truth through discernment and rejection.
day (solar Ādityas)
Wings = supports of higher consciousness; bird = aspiring mind-soul; shelter = established peace-field around the being.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is ‘evil cast away by truth-knowing guardians’ and ‘wings for ascent’: the Ādityas, by their knowledge, remove agha and provide śarma as an enabling field, like wings that carry the being above danger.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vid ‘know’ continues PIE *weyd- (Latin vidēre ‘see’, English wit). The Indo-Iranian ethical polarity of truth/lie underlies agha vs. protective order. pakṣa ‘wing’ is Indo-Iranian; the metaphor of wings for transcendence is widespread IE-poetic.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi appeals to the Ādityas’ very nature—knowledge and rectitude—to effect inner purification (casting away agha) and to establish a wide peace (śarma) that supports ascent beyond limitation.
Practice ‘apākṛti’: consciously cast away a harmful thought-pattern; then invoke ‘pakṣā’—supports for ascent into peace.
Anahata (peace/shelter) supported by Ajna (discernment).
Inhale: feel wings opening (expansion in chest); exhale: release agha (letting go).
Uplifted quietude; spacious protected field.
Name the ‘agha’ silently; on ‘apākṛtim’ imagine it falling away; on ‘pakṣā’ feel upward buoyancy; rest in ‘śarma’ as a wide, stable peace.
Requires the full accented text for precise svara; keep refrain identical each time for mantra-effect.
Slight lift on key verbs (vidā, yacchata) and a firm, even refrain.
apākṛtim: clear ‘kṛ’ with vocalic ṛ, pakṣā: retroflex kṣ, vayo: ‘va-yo’ two clear syllables, śarma: palatal ś, not s, yacchata: double ‘cch’ held lightly
Airy and uplifting in the wing line; grounded and steady in the refrain.
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