Rig Veda 1.183.2: Mandala 1, Sukta 183, Mantra 2
Sukta 1.183
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
सुवृद्रथो वर्तते यन्नभि क्षां यत्तिष्ठथः क्रतुमन्तानु पृक्षे । वपुर्वपुष्या सचतामियं गीर्दिवो दुहित्रोषसा सचेथे ॥
suvṛ́dratho vartate yánn abhí kṣā́ṃ yát tiṣṭhathaḥ krátumantā́ ánu pṛkṣé | vápur vapuṣyā́ sacatām iyáṃ gī́r divó duhitrá uṣásā sacethe ||
നിങ്ങളുടെ സുവൃത (സുന്ദരമായി തിരിയുന്ന) രഥം ഭൂമിയിലൂടെ സഞ്ചരിക്കുന്നു; നിങ്ങൾ നിലകൊള്ളുമ്പോൾ, ഹേ ക്രതുമന്ത (സങ്കൽപശക്തിയുള്ള) ദ്വയം, നിങ്ങൾ സിഞ്ചനവും വർധനവും അനുഗമിക്കുന്നു. ഈ ഗീർ (സ്തുതി) നിങ്ങളുടെ സൗന്ദര്യത്തോടു ചേർന്നിരിക്കട്ടെ; ഹേ ദിവോ ദുഹിത്രി ഉഷസ്സേ, നീയും അവരോടൊപ്പം സഹചരിയാകുക.
Word by Word
- सु-वृद्रथः
- having a strong/good chariotAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (विशेषणरूपेण कर्तृसम्बन्धः)Root सु- + वृद्रथ (प्रातिपदिक) < वृद्/वर्ध् ‘to grow, be strong’ + रथ
- वर्तते
- moves/turns/proceedsVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम्Role KriyāRoot √वृत् (वर्तते) ‘to turn, proceed, exist’
- यत्
- when/thatIndeclinableसम्बन्ध-उपपद (relative particle)Root यद् (सम्बन्धबोधक सर्वनाम)
- नभि
- the navel/hubNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (वेदिके रूपम्; ‘नाभिम्’)Role KarmaRoot नभि (प्रातिपदिक) ‘navel, hub’
- क्षाम्
- the earthNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role Karma (गत्यर्थे/व्याप्त्यर्थे)Root क्षाम्/क्षाम् (प्रातिपदिक) ‘earth, ground’
- यत्
- when/thatIndeclinableसम्बन्ध-उपपद (relative particle)Root यद् (सम्बन्धबोधक सर्वनाम)
- तिष्ठथः
- you two standVerbलट्, मध्यमपुरुषः, द्विवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role KriyāRoot √स्था (तिष्ठति) ‘to stand’
- क्रतुमन्ता
- you two, endowed with resolve/wisdomAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, द्विवचनम्Role Kartā (सम्बोधन/विशेषणरूपेण ‘युवाम्’)Root क्रतु-मन्त् (प्रातिपदिक) ‘possessing will/resolve, wise’
- अनु
- along, in accordanceIndeclinableउपसर्गभावः/क्रियाविशेषणम्Root अनु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) ‘along, after’
- पृक्षे
- I join/attach myselfVerbलट्, उत्तमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम्Role KriyāRoot √पृच्/पृक्ष् (वेदिक) ‘to mix, join; to be in contact’
- वपुः
- form/beautyNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक) ‘form, beauty, body’
- वपुष्या
- with beauty/with a fair formAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गः, तृतीया, एकवचनम् (करणे)Role KaraṇaRoot वपुष्य (प्रातिपदिक) ‘beautiful, having beauty’
- सचताम्
- let the two accompany/be togetherVerbलोट्, प्रथमपुरुषः, द्विवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम् (वेदिक आज्ञार्थः)Role KriyāRoot √सच् (सचते) ‘to accompany, be together’
- इयम्
- thisPronounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम)
- गीः
- hymn/songNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (वेदिक ‘गीः’)Role Kartā (इयम् गीः)Root गीर्/गिर् (प्रातिपदिक) ‘song, hymn, voice’
- दिवः
- of heavenNounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role Sambandha (genitive)Root दिव् (प्रातिपदिक) ‘sky, heaven; day’
- दुहितृ
- daughterNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (उषसः विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन)Root दुहितृ (प्रातिपदिक) ‘daughter’
- उषसा
- the two Dawns (Dawn-pair)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, द्विवचनम् (वेदिक; उषसौ/उषसा = ‘the two Dawns’, i.e., Dawn & her companion)Role Kartā (युगलदेवता)Root उषस् (प्रातिपदिक) ‘Dawn’
- सचेथे
- you two accompany/are unitedVerbलट्, मध्यमपुरुषः, द्विवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम्Role KriyāRoot √सच् (सचते) ‘to accompany, be together’
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धिविग्रह): सुवृद्रथो वर्तते यन्-नभि क्षाम् यत्-तिष्ठथः क्रतुमन्ता अनु पृक्षे । वपुः वपुष्या सचताम् इयम् गीः दिवः दुहितृः उषसा सचेथे ॥ 1) ‘यन्नभि’ = ‘यत् + नभि’ (त् + न → न्न)
- 2) ‘यत्तिष्ठथः’ = ‘यत् + तिष्ठथः’ (त् + त → त्त)
- 3) ‘गीर्दिवो’ = ‘गीः + दिवः’ (विसर्गसन्धि: ः + द → र् + द)
- 4) ‘दुहित्रोषसा’ = ‘दुहितृः + उषसा’ (विसर्गलोपः/रुत्व-प्रवृत्ति; पदपाठे ‘दुहितृः उषसा’)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The Aśvins’ well-turning chariot moves over the earth; when they stand, they, full of will, follow the sprinkling and increase. The hymn joins them in beauty; Dawn, daughter of Heaven, accompanies them.
Inner meaning
The ‘well-turning’ movement is the right circulation of energies in the embodied life (kṣāṃ). When the twin powers ‘take their stand’ in the being, the will (kratu) becomes effective and follows pṛkṣa—sprinkling, refreshment, and growth: a descent of subtle nourishment that increases inner light and strength. Uṣas joins them: illumination accompanies the swift helpers, meaning that true transformation comes with dawn-like clarity, not merely with force.
Universal truth
Rightly guided inner movement across earthly life, stabilized by awakened will, invites a nourishing descent that increases consciousness; illumination naturally accompanies authentic help.
Themes
Dawn accompaniment, Beauty/form as vehicle of truth, Right movement in embodiment
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 1.183.1, Rig Veda 1.183.3, Rig Veda 1.183.4, Rig Veda 1.183.5
Significance
The seer emphasizes establishment (tiṣṭhathaḥ) and growth (pṛkṣa), marking a yogic sequence: descent of helpers → stabilization → nourishment → illumination.
The deity
- Devata
- Aśvinau (with Uṣas)
- Epithets
- kratumantā (possessing will), suvṛd-ratha (of well-turning chariot), divo duhitā (Uṣas: daughter of Heaven)
- Related deities
- Uṣas, Sūrya, Agni
Cosmic role
Aśvins regulate the transitional movement from night to day; Uṣas unveils forms and paths with light.
Inner power
Aśvins: swift harmonization and healing; Uṣas: revelation and awakening of faculties; together they bring effective, beautiful transformation.
In ritual
Where it is used
Morning Aśvin invocation; dawn-linked recitation
सु॒वृद्रथो॑ वर्तते॒ यन्न॒भि क्षां यत्तिष्ठ॑थ॒: क्रतु॑म॒न्तानु॑ पृ॒क्षे । वपु॑र्वपु॒ष्या स॑चतामि॒यं गीर्दि॒वो दु॑हि॒त्रोषसा॑ सचेथे ॥
सु॒ऽवृत् । रथः॑ । व॒र्त॒ते॒ । यन् । अ॒भि । क्षाम् । यत् । तिष्ठ॑थः । क्रतु॑ऽमन्ता । अनु॑ । पृ॒क्षे । वपुः॑ । व॒पु॒ष्या । स॒च॒ता॒म् । इ॒यम् । गीः । दि॒वः । दु॒हि॒त्रा । उ॒षसा॑ । स॒चे॒थे॒ इति॑ ॥
su-vṛt | rathaḥ | vartate | yan | abhi | kṣām | yat | tiṣṭhathaḥ | kratu-mantā | anu | pṛkṣe | vapuḥ | vapuṣyā | sacatām | iyam | gīḥ | divaḥ | duhitrā | uṣasā | sacetheiti
44
4 × ~11
Rolling, ‘turning’ rhythm mirroring the well-turning chariot; steady and expansive.
Induces steadiness and growth-feel; supports receptivity to a ‘sprinkling’ descent and widening clarity.
- सुवृत् (suvṛt)
- Literal: well-turning, well-guided. Symbolic: rightly ordered movement of energies; unobstructed circulation in the being
- क्षाम् (kṣām)
- Literal: earth. Symbolic: physical consciousness; embodied field of practice
- तिष्ठथः (tiṣṭhathaḥ)
- Literal: you stand. Symbolic: the divine powers become established in the adhāra (support)
- क्रतु (kratu)
- Literal: will, resolve, effective intention. Symbolic: conscious will-force aligned to truth
- पृक्षे (pṛkṣe)
- Literal: sprinkling, refreshment, increase. Symbolic: descent of subtle nourishment; growth of inner faculties
- वपुः (vapuḥ)
- Literal: form, beauty, radiance. Symbolic: luminous shaping of consciousness
- उषसा (uṣasā)
- Literal: with Dawn. Symbolic: illumination that accompanies and reveals the path
- दिवो दुहिता (divo duhitā)
- Literal: daughter of Heaven. Symbolic: light born of higher consciousness descending into mind
Morning invocation: links Aśvins with Uṣas; appropriate to prātaḥ-savana and dawn-liturgies where the coming of light and right movement is central.
At dawn; also in contexts seeking healing/increase (puṣṭi)
Invite the Aśvins and Uṣas to accompany the offering and establish will and increase
Morning practice for vitality + clarity: chant before sunrise; set intention (kratu) and invite nourishment (pṛkṣa) into the day.
: su- + √vṛt ‘turn, proceed’ → right-turned movement (Rita-aligned). : intelligent will-power (not mere ‘ritual’), from √kr ‘to do/make’ with sense of effective formation. : dawn from √vas/√uṣ ‘shine/burn’ → awakening illumination; ‘daughter of heaven’ encodes descent of light from higher consciousness.
kratu as intelligent will, Rita as right-turned movement (suvṛt)
‘Well-turning’ implies movement according to ṛta; right cycles and rhythms.
Uṣas reveals; truth becomes visible and actionable.
Increase (puṣṭi) through descent of higher light into earthly life.
Integral-Vedic psychology (illumination + effective will as twin conditions of progress)
dawn
Dew/sprinkling is subtle ananda/prāṇa nourishment; earth is body-consciousness; dawn is awakening perception.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The dawn-arrival complex: the Aśvins’ well-guided chariot moves over earth and is accompanied by Uṣas. Innerly, the embodied nature (kṣām) receives the descent of awakening light; the hymn itself is asked to ‘join’ the divine beauty, making speech a participant in illumination.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- Uṣas corresponds to PIE dawn-goddess *h₂éwsōs (cf. Greek Ēōs, Latin Aurora). The formula ‘daughter of heaven’ is an inherited IE epithet. √vṛt ‘turn’ underlies many IE motion metaphors; right-turning implies ordered cosmic movement.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi offers gīḥ (inspired speech) as a companion to the gods’ beauty and asks that the divine presence establish itself in the earthly field. The devatā is not only invoked to come, but to let the hymn participate in their radiance—speech becoming a channel of dawn.
Receive the ‘sprinkling and increase’: open to subtle nourishment and growth after establishing will.
Maṇipūra (kratu/will) and Ājñā (dawn clarity)
Gentle bhrāmarī 5–7 rounds after chanting to feel inner ‘dew’ and calm increase.
Receptive, widened, quietly luminous.
After chanting, sit and sense the body as ‘earth’; invite a fine descending coolness through the crown to the heart and navel, strengthening resolve without strain.
Maintain clear udātta on marked accents; keep the line flowing to mimic ‘well-turning’.
Emphasize suvṛd/suvṛt and kratumantā; avoid over-stressing enclitics like ‘anu’.
suvṛd: keep ṛ vocalic, not ‘ri’, kratumantā: retroflex ṭ not present—use dental ‘t’ here; keep ‘kr’ cluster tight, uṣasā: pronounce ‘ṣ’ retroflex; long ā at end
Smooth, circulating, slightly softened as if invoking dew-like grace.
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