Rig Veda 1.134.3: Mandala 1, Sukta 134, Mantra 3
Sukta 1.134
- Rishi
- Gautama Rāhūgaṇa
- Devata
- Vāyu
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shringara (love)
वायुर्युङ्क्ते रोहिता वायुररुणा वायू रथे अजिरा धुरि वोळ्हवे वहिष्ठा धुरि वोळ्हवे । प्र बोधया पुरंधिं जार आ ससतीमिव । प्र चक्षय रोदसी वासयोषसः श्रवसे वासयोषसः ॥
vāyúr yuṅkte róhitā vāyúr aruṇā́ vāyū́ ráthe ajirā́ dhurí voḷhávē váhiṣṭhā dhurí voḷhávē | prá bodhayā púraṃdhiṃ jārá ā́ sasatīm iva | prá cakṣaya ródasī vāsayóṣasaḥ śrávase vāsayóṣasaḥ ||
വായു ചുവന്ന കുതിരകളെ യോജിപ്പിക്കുന്നു; വായുവേ കപിശ (അരുൺ) കുതിരകളെയും. രഥത്തിൽ അവർ അതിവേഗികൾ; ധുരിയിൽ വഹിക്കാൻ ഏറ്റവും ഉത്തമർ. ഹേ വായു, പുരന്ധി (സമൃദ്ധി/പൂർണ്ണത)യെ ഉണർത്തുക—ഉത്സുകയായ പ്രിയയെ പ്രിയൻ ഉണർത്തുന്നതുപോലെ. ദ്യാവാ-പൃഥിവിയെ വിശാലദർശനത്തിലാക്കുക; ശ്രവസ് (ശ്രവണ-ശക്തി)യും യശസ്സും വർധിക്കാനായി ഉഷസ്സുകൾക്ക് വസ്ത്രം/ആവരണം അണിയിക്കുക, ഉഷസ്സുകൾക്ക് ആവരണം അണിയിക്കുക.
Word by Word
- वायुः
- Vāyu (Wind-god)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot वायु- (प्रातिपदिक)
- युङ्क्ते
- yokes, harnessesVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपदRole क्रियाRoot युज् (युजँ)
- रोहितौ
- the two bay/red horsesNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन (अश्वौ)Role कर्मRoot रोहित- (प्रातिपदिक)
- वायुः
- VāyuNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot वायु-
- अरुणौ
- the two tawny/reddish horsesNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन (अश्वौ)Role कर्मRoot अरुण- (प्रातिपदिक)
- वायुः
- VāyuNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot वायु-
- रथे
- on the chariotNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot रथ- (प्रातिपदिक)
- अजिरा
- swift (ones)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (अश्वान्/वहनीयान्; वैदिक प्रयोग)Role कर्मRoot अजिर- (प्रातिपदिक)
- धुरि
- on the yoke-pole / in the yokeNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot धुर्/धुरा- (प्रातिपदिक)
- वोळ्हवे
- to be carried / for conveyingVerbal (Infinitive)तुमर्थे दत्तिव्/इन्फिनिटिव् (वैदिक -वे)Role प्रयोजनRoot वह् (वहँ) → वोळ्हव्- (कृदन्त/इन्फिनिटिव्-रूप)
- वहिष्ठा
- most conveying / best at bearingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (अश्वान्/वहनीयान्; वैदिक)Role कर्मRoot वहिष्ठ- (वह् + इष्ठ, अतिशय)
- धुरि
- in the yokeNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot धुर्/धुरा-
- वोळ्हवे
- to be carried / for conveyingVerbal (Infinitive)तुमर्थे -वेRole प्रयोजनRoot वह् → वोळ्हव्- (इन्फिनिटिव्)
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinableनिपातRole क्रियाविशेषणRoot प्र (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- बोधय
- awaken! rouse!Verbलोट्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद (आज्ञार्थ)Role क्रियाRoot बुध् (बुधँ) → बोधय- (णिच्)
- पुरंधिम्
- Purandhi (personified Abundance/Plenty)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot पुरंधि- (प्रातिपदिक)
- जारः
- lover, wooerNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (सम्बोधनार्थेऽपि सम्भवः)Root जार- (प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- towards, hitherIndeclinableनिपातRole क्रियाविशेषणRoot आ (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- ससतीम्
- eager/impetuous (woman)Adjective (participle-like)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (पुरंधिम् विशेषणम्)Root सस्/संस्? (प्रातिपदिक: ससती-)
- इव
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-निपातRole सम्बन्ध (उपमा)Root इव
- प्र
- forthIndeclinableनिपातRole क्रियाविशेषणRoot प्र
- चक्षय
- make visible! show!Verbलोट्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot चक्ष् (चक्षँ) → चक्षय- (णिच्)
- रोदसी
- the two worlds (heaven and earth)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग (वैदिक द्वन्द्व), द्वितीया, द्विवचनRole कर्मRoot रोदसी- (द्विवचन-प्रातिपदिक; द्यावापृथिव्यौ)
- वासय
- cause to shine/appear; clothe; make dwellVerbलोट्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot वस् (वसँ निवासे/आच्छादने) → वासय- (णिच्)
- उषसः
- the dawnsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (वैदिक; ‘dawns’)Role कर्मRoot उषस्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- श्रवसे
- for fame, for renownNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot श्रवस्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- वासय
- cause to shine/appearVerbलोट्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot वस् → वासय- (णिच्)
- उषसः
- the dawnsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot उषस्-
Sandhi Notes
- मुख्य संधि-विच्छेद: वायुर्युङ्क्ते → वायुः + युङ्क्ते
- रोहिता → रोहितौ (द्विवचन-रूप, अश्वद्वयम्)
- वायुररुणा → वायुः + अरुणौ
- वायू रथे → वायुः + रथे (पदपाठे विसर्गः)
- वोळ्हवे = वैदिक इन्फिनिटिव् (-वे) ‘वह्’ धातोः
- ससतीमिव → ससतीम् + इव
- वासयोषसः → वासय + उषसः. (स्वरचिह्नाः पदपाठे भिन्नरूपेण व्यवस्थिताः; अत्र पद-रूपाणि संधिविच्छेदानुसारं दत्तानि।)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Vāyu yokes red and tawny steeds to his chariot, swift and best for bearing. He is asked to awaken plenitude like a lover rousing the eager beloved, to make heaven and earth wide-seeing, and to clothe the Dawns for fame/hearing.
Inner meaning
The life-force harnesses vibrant energies (rohitā/aruṇā) and becomes the swift carrier of consciousness. The ‘lover’ image indicates intimate awakening: prāṇa touches the soul’s receptivity and stirs ‘puraṃdhi’—the plenitude of right discernment and abundance of inner faculties. As Vāyu moves rightly, the two worlds (rodasī: mind and life / heaven and earth) widen in perception, and Uṣas (illumination) is ‘clothed’—stabilized and made present in the being—so that śravas (inner hearing, inspired receptivity, true renown) can grow.
Universal truth
When life-energy is consciously yoked, it awakens inner abundance and widens our whole field of awareness; illumination then becomes a stable atmosphere, and we begin to ‘hear’ truth more deeply.
Themes
Vāyu’s chariot and steeds, Awakening motif (lover imagery), Dawn-illumination, Expansion of vision
The seer
- Rishi
- Gautama Rāhūgaṇa
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 1.134.1, RV 1.134.2, RV 1.134.4, RV 1.134.5, RV 1.134.6
Family tradition
A seer-line attentive to the psychology of illumination: widening of consciousness (uru) and the role of inspired speech and hearing.
Significance
The rishi uses intimate and aesthetic imagery (lover-beloved, clothing the dawns) to show that prāṇa is not merely force but can become a sensitive instrument for awakening abundance and stable illumination.
The deity
- Devata
- Vāyu
- Epithets
- yoker of steeds (yuṅkte), ajira (swift), vahiṣṭha (best carrier)
- Related deities
- Uṣas, Rodasī (Dyāvā-Pṛthivī), Indra, Maruts
Cosmic role
Regulator of atmospheric currents; brings dawn-forces, supports the manifestation of light between heaven and earth.
Inner power
Breath-life that widens awareness and awakens inner plenitude; the carrier that makes illumination inhabitable.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma offerings to Vāyu/Indra-Vāyu; recited in invitatory sequences for the deity’s arrival.
वा॒युर्यु॑ङ्क्ते॒ रोहि॑ता वा॒युर॑रु॒णा वा॒यू रथे॑ अजि॒रा धु॒रि वोळ्ह॑वे॒ वहि॑ष्ठा धु॒रि वोळ्ह॑वे । प्र बो॑धया॒ पुरं॑धिं जा॒र आ स॑स॒तीमि॑व । प्र च॑क्षय॒ रोद॑सी वासयो॒षस॒: श्रव॑से वासयो॒षस॑: ॥
वा॒युः । यु॒ङ्क्ते॒ । रोहि॑ता । वा॒युः । अ॒रु॒णा । वा॒युः । रथे॑ । अ॒जि॒रा । धु॒रि । वोळ्ह॑वे । वहि॑ष्ठा । धु॒रि । वोळ्ह॑वे । प्र । बो॒ध॒य॒ । पुर॑म्ऽधिम् । जा॒रः । आ । स॒स॒तीम्ऽइ॑व । प्र । च॒क्ष॒य॒ । रोद॑सी॒ इति॑ । वा॒स॒य॒ । उ॒षसः॒ । श्रव॑से । वा॒स॒य॒ । उ॒षसः॑ ॥
vāyuḥ | yuṅkte | rohitā | vāyuḥ | aruṇā | vāyuḥ | rathe | ajirā | dhuri | voḷhave | vahiṣṭhā | dhuri | voḷhave | pra | bodhaya | puram-dhim | jāraḥ | ā | sasatīm-iva | pra | cakṣaya | rodasī iti | vāsaya | uṣasaḥ | śravase | vāsaya | uṣasaḥ
48
4×12 syllables (approx.).
Rolling, energetic stride; repeated ‘vāyuḥ’ creates a mantra-like propulsion.
Invokes vigor and widening; repetition builds a breath-synchronized momentum, then opens into expansive vision in later pādas.
- रोहित / अरुण (rohitā/aruṇā)
- Literal: red/tawny steeds. Symbolic: vital energies refined into luminous dynamism (life-force made radiant)
- अजिर (ajira)
- Literal: swift. Symbolic: quick responsiveness of prāṇa to aspiration and guidance
- धुरि वोळ्हवे (dhuri voḻhave)
- Literal: to bear on the pole/yoke. Symbolic: capacity to carry the burden of transformation without collapse
- पुरंधि (puraṃdhi)
- Literal: abundance, plenitude. Symbolic: fullness of inner faculties; right discernment and fruitful receptivity
- जार (jāra)
- Literal: lover. Symbolic: intimate divine touch that awakens the soul-nature
- रोदसी (rodasī)
- Literal: heaven and earth. Symbolic: mind and life (or higher and lower planes) made wide-seeing
- उषसः (uṣasaḥ)
- Literal: dawns. Symbolic: successive illuminations; awakening states
- श्रवस् (śravas)
- Literal: fame, glory; hearing. Symbolic: inner hearing of truth; receptivity to inspiration and mantra
Vāyu praise in Soma sequences; also dawn-linked recitation where Vāyu’s movement is associated with awakening and the coming of Uṣas
At the calling of Vāyu and preparation for Soma reception; also suitable in dawn-linked recitations due to Uṣas imagery.
Yoking/arrival visualization; offering and invocation of widening and awakening.
Use before study/creative work: awaken ‘puraṃdhi’ (inner abundance) and widen the mental field; helpful as a morning breath-mantra.
yuṅkte: √yuj ‘yoke’ (PIE *yeug-). bodhaya: √budh ‘wake’ (PIE *bheudh-). cakṣaya: √cakṣ ‘see’ (PIE *kʷek̂-?; cognacy debated; Sanskrit has strong inherited visual root system). uṣas: dawn (PIE *h₂éusōs, cf. Greek Ēōs, Latin Aurora). puraṃdhi: ‘abundance/plenitude’, often a goddess-like power; here awakened by Vāyu’s movement—psychologically, abundance of right capacities released by harmonised prāṇa.
awakening of plenitude (puraṃdhi), revelation/vision (cakṣ), repeated dawns as progressive illumination
The rightly yoked steeds and ‘best for bearing’ signify prāṇa aligned to ṛta, capable of carrying higher forces.
‘Making heaven and earth see’ suggests truth-vision (dṛṣṭi) awakening across planes.
Illumination (Uṣas) becomes clothed/manifest through the mediating movement of Vāyu.
Integral Yoga resonance: transformation through widening (bṛhat) and stabilized illumination.
dawn
Wind = prāṇa; horses = vital energies; dawn = illumination; clothing = stabilization/embodiment of light in the nature; heaven/earth = higher mind and embodied life.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The awakening of Dawn through the motion of Vāyu: the wind/life-force yokes swift steeds and rouses plenitude like a lover awakening the beloved—an archetype of the soul’s energies stirred toward illumination.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- uṣas is a classic PIE inheritance (*h₂éusōs). √yuj (PIE *yeug-) and √budh (PIE *bheudh-) are robust Indo-European roots preserved with clear semantics, showing the hymn’s deep archaic layer: yoking (discipline) → awakening (arousal of consciousness).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi does not merely describe Vāyu; he commands/requests awakening (bodhaya) and revelation (cakṣaya). Vāyu is asked to convert movement into illumination—turning prāṇic speed into conscious seeing and the dawning of truth.
Widen the field of awareness through breath; awaken inner abundance and receptivity (śravas).
Anahata (expansion, subtle breath)
Ujjāyī-light or soft lengthened exhale; mentally repeat ‘vāyur yuṅkte…’ on inhale, ‘pra bodhayā…’ on exhale.
Expansive, luminous, receptive; a dawn-like clarity.
Feel the breath yoking scattered energies; then invite a tender but firm awakening of the heart’s abundance; rest in widened awareness as if the dawn is being ‘clothed’ within you.
Rigvedic pitch accents; repeated ‘vāyuḥ’ should keep crisp udātta where marked; maintain even pitch steps across repetition.
Use repetition as rhythmic anchor; avoid speeding up mid-verse; give a slight caesura after ‘vāyū rathe’.
rohitā/aruṇā: clear retroflex ṇ in aruṇā, voḻhave (voḷhave): articulate ḷ; if unavailable, keep a clear ‘l’ without turning to ‘r’, puraṃdhiṃ: nasal ‘ṃ’ before dh, rodasī: long ī at end
Bright, wind-like, with clean consonants; keep breath-supported resonance.
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