Rig Veda 1.71.2: Mandala 1, Sukta 71, Mantra 2
Sukta 1.71
- Rishi
- Parāśara Śāktya
- Devata
- Agni/Angirases complex
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
वीळु चिद्दृळ्हा पितरो न उक्थैरद्रिं रुजन्नङ्गिरसो रवेण । चक्रुर्दिवो बृहतो गातुमस्मे अहः स्वर्विविदुः केतुमुस्राः ॥
vīḷú cid dṛḷhā́ pitaro na uktháir ádrim rujánn áṅgirasaḥ ravéṇa | cakrúr divó bṛható gātúm asmè áhaḥ svàr vivíduḥ ketúm usrā́ḥ
ദൃഢമായി അടഞ്ഞിരുന്നതും നമ്മുടെ പിതാക്കൾ ഉക്തികളാൽ തുറന്നു—അംഗിരസർ നാദത്തോടെ അദ്രി (ശില)യെ പൊട്ടിച്ചു. അവർ നമ്മുടെ വേണ്ടി വിശാല ദ്യൗവിൽ ഒരു പാത ഉണ്ടാക്കി; അഹഃ (ദിവസം)യും സ്വർ (സൂര്യൻ) എന്നതിന്റെ തേജോമയ കേതു കണ്ടെത്തി, പ്രകാശമുള്ള കിരണങ്ങൾ ഉദിച്ചു.
Word by Word
- वीळु
- firm, unyieldingAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन (अव्यक्त-विशेष्ये ‘अद्रिम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role Karma (विशेषणरूपेण कर्मणि)Root वीळु (प्रातिपदिक; ‘दृढ/स्थिर/अचल’)
- चित्
- even, indeedIndeclinableअव्यय; ‘अपि/एव’ अर्थे (उद्ग्राहक/बलवर्धक)Root चित् (अव्यय)
- दृळ्हाः
- strong, steadfastAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन (पितरः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषणरूपेण कर्तरि)Root दृळ्ह (प्रातिपदिक; ‘दृढ’)
- पितरः
- the Fathers (ancestors)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole KartāRoot पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- of us, for usPronounषष्ठी; बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role Sampradāna (हित/सम्बन्ध-प्रयोगः: ‘for us/our’)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- उक्थैः
- with hymns, with praisesNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया; बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot उक्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
- अद्रिम्
- the rock, the stoneNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot अद्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
- रुजन्
- breaking, shatteringVerbवर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन/बहुवचन-सम्बन्धे (कर्तृविशेषणम्: ‘breaking’)Role Kartā (कर्तृविशेषणम्; मुख्यक्रियायाः सह)Root रुज् (धातु; ‘भङ्गे/विदारणे’)
- अङ्गिरसः
- the AṅgirasesNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole KartāRoot अङ्गिरस् (प्रातिपदिक; ऋषिगणनाम)
- रवेण
- with a roar, with soundNounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot रव (प्रातिपदिक)
- चक्रुः
- they made, they fashionedVerbलिट् (परोक्स/परफेक्ट); प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचनRole (मुख्यक्रिया)Root कृ (धातु; ‘करणे’)
- दिवः
- of heavenNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (वेदे ‘दिव्’); षष्ठी; एकवचनRole Apādāna/Adhikaraṇa (सम्बन्धे: ‘of heaven’)Root दिव्/द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक ‘दिव्’)
- बृहतः
- great, loftyAdjectiveपुं/नपुंसक; षष्ठी; एकवचन (दिवः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः)Root बृहत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- गातुम्
- a path, a passageNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot गातु (प्रातिपदिक; ‘मार्ग/गमनस्थान’)
- अस्मे
- for usPronounचतुर्थी; बहुवचन (वेदिक रूप)Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- अहः
- daylight, dayNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचनRole Karma (विविदुः इत्यस्य कर्म)Root अहन्/अहः (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्वः
- heavenly light, heavenIndeclinableअव्यय (उपसर्गवत्/पूर्वपदवत् ‘स्वर्विविदुः’ इत्यत्र)Root स्वर्/स्वः (अव्यय/नाम; ‘स्वर्ग/प्रकाश’)
- विविदुः
- they found, they discoveredVerbलिट् (परोक्स/परफेक्ट); प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचनRole (मुख्यक्रिया)Root विद् (धातु; ‘ज्ञाने/लाभे’), उपसर्गः वि-
- केतुम्
- banner; sign; radianceNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot केतु (प्रातिपदिक)
- उस्राः
- the bright ones (dawns/cows)Noun/Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन (गावः/उषसः अर्थे)Role Kartā (विविदुः इत्यस्य कर्तृ)Root उस्र (प्रातिपदिक; ‘उषा/गावः’—‘ruddy/bright’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: वीळु चित् दृळ्हाः पितरः नः उक्थैः अद्रिम् रुजन् अङ्गिरसः रवेण । चक्रुः दिवः बृहतः गातुम् अस्मे अहः स्वः विविदुः केतुम् उस्राः ॥ मुख्य-सन्धयः: (1) चिद् + दृळ्हाः → चिद्दृळ्हाः (व्यञ्जन-सन्धि: द् + द्)
- (2) उक्थैः + अद्रिम् → उक्थैरद्रिम् (विसर्ग/र्-आदेशः)
- (3) रुजन् + अङ्गिरसः → रुजन्नङ्गिरसः (न् + अ → न्न)
- (4) अङ्गिरसः + रवेण → अङ्गिरसो रवेण (अः + र → ओ)
- (5) चक्रुः + दिवः → चक्रुर्दिवः (विसर्गस्य र्)
- (6) गातुम् + अस्मे → गातुमस्मे (म् + अ)
- (7) स्वः + विविदुः → स्वर्विविदुः (विसर्गस्य र्)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The Angirases, like our fathers, broke open what was firmly closed by hymns and cry, shattering the rock; they made a path to the vast heaven and found the Day, the Sun’s sign, and the shining rays.
Inner meaning
The ‘fathers’ (pitaro) are the ancestral seers—powers of the awakened soul in us—who use the inspired Word (uktha) and the soul’s cry (rava) to break the inner obstruction (adri, the rock of resistance). This is the classic Angirasa act: shattering the cover that holds back the rays/cows of knowledge. By this breakthrough they create a passage into the wide heaven (bṛhat divah): the large, luminous consciousness above the narrow mind. They discover ‘Day’ (ahaḥ) and ‘svar’—the supramental light-token (ketu) and the usrāḥ, the shining rays of dawn-knowledge.
Universal truth
Progress requires a decisive inner breakthrough: truth is not manufactured but uncovered. The Word of insight and the soul’s call can break entrenched resistance, revealing a wider consciousness and its inherent light.
Themes
Angirasa myth, finding the cows (rays), opening the rock, Satyam R̥tam Bṛhat
The seer
- Rishi
- Parāśara Śāktya
- Lineage
- Śāktya (Parāśara lineage)
- Other hymns
- RV 1.71.1, RV 1.71.3, RV 1.71.4, RV 1.71.5
Family tradition
This hymn-sequence aligns Parāśara with the Angirasa mythos—Agni as the Angirasa power rediscovering the hidden light.
Significance
The rishi’s vision presents liberation as discovery: the concealed ‘Day’ and ‘rays’ are released when the Word and inner ardor break the seal of resistance.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni–Angirasa complex
- Epithets
- Angiras, breaker of the rock (adri-ruj), finder of the rays (usrā-vivid)
- Related deities
- Indra (slayer of Vṛtra), Sarasvatī (inspired word), Uṣas (dawn rays), Bṛhaspati (lord of the Word)
Cosmic role
Agni as the divine force in the sacrifice that opens the hidden treasures of light; Angirases as powers of that flame working through the Word.
Inner power
Mantric will that pierces subconscious obstruction and reveals supramental guidance (ketu).
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni praise in soma and fire liturgies; recited as a mythic precedent for successful offering and illumination.
वी॒ळु चि॑द्दृ॒ळ्हा पि॒तरो॑ न उ॒क्थैरद्रिं॑ रुज॒न्नङ्गि॑रसो॒ रवे॑ण । च॒क्रुर्दि॒वो बृ॑ह॒तो गा॒तुम॒स्मे अह॒: स्व॑र्विविदुः के॒तुमु॒स्राः ॥
वी॒ळु । चि॒त् । दृ॒ळ्हा । पि॒तरः॑ । नः॒ । उ॒क्थैः । अद्रि॑म् । रुज॑न् । अङ्गि॑रसः । रवे॑ण । च॒क्रुः । दि॒वः । बृ॒ह॒तः । गा॒तुम् । अ॒स्मे इति॑ । अह॒रिति॑ । स्वः॑ । वि॒वि॒दुः॒ । के॒तुम् । उ॒स्राः ॥
vīḷu | cit | dṛḷhā | pitaraḥ | naḥ | ukthaiḥ | adrim | rujan | aṅgirasaḥ | raveṇa | cakruḥ | divaḥ | bṛhataḥ | gātum | asme iti | ahariti | svaḥ | vividuḥ | ketum | usrāḥ
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4 × 11 syllables; strong caesura supports ‘breaking’ imagery.
Hammering, forceful, declarative; suited to rupture and release.
Energizes the will; evokes a sense of inner cracking-open and expansion upward.
- pitaro
- Literal: fathers/ancestors. Symbolic: foregoing seers; inner ancestral powers of awakening
- ukthaiḥ
- Literal: hymns/utterances. Symbolic: mantric Word; formative truth-speech
- raveṇa
- Literal: cry/roar. Symbolic: soul-force, fervent call, tapas in sound
- adriṃ
- Literal: rock/stone. Symbolic: obstruction, fixed resistance, subconscient seal
- rujan
- Literal: breaking. Symbolic: liberation by force of light and will
- gātum
- Literal: path/way. Symbolic: inner passage, psychic opening to higher planes
- divo bṛhataḥ
- Literal: of the vast heaven. Symbolic: wide luminous consciousness (bṛhat)
- ahaḥ / svar
- Literal: day / sun-world. Symbolic: illumined state / supramental light
- ketum
- Literal: banner, sign, light-token. Symbolic: distinctive mark of truth; guiding illumination
- usrāḥ
- Literal: shining ones, rays. Symbolic: rays of knowledge (cows of light)
Recited as a paradigmatic remembrance of the Angirasa discovery—used to support the rite’s aim: opening obstructions and releasing light (especially in Soma/Agni contexts).
During Agni and Angirasa-themed recitations; whenever ‘opening the way’ and ‘finding light’ is invoked.
Stotra/śastra praise; symbolic ‘opening’ and invocation of successful revelation.
Useful before study/meditation: invoke the breaking of mental rigidity and the release of insight.
adrí ‘rock’ is the standard Vedic obstruction holding the cows/rays; mythic-psychological: compacted inconscience. aṅgirasaḥ are ‘fire-born’ seers; their raveṇa is the vibratory force of mantra. ketu ‘sign’ (PIE *ḱeyt- ‘notice, appear’ possible connection) = perceptible luminous indication. vividuḥ from √vid (PIE *weyd-). bṛhat ‘vast’ ties to the formula satyam ṛtam bṛhat: the wide truth-plane.
mantra as force (rava/uktha), breaking obstruction (adri) as conquest of ignorance, Bṛhat (vastness) as plane of realization
Ṛta is recovered when the cover is broken; the right path (gātu) appears as consciousness aligns with the higher order.
Satya as discovered light (ahaḥ, svar) rather than constructed belief.
Revelation through opening: light pre-exists behind the cover and is released by the divine working.
Aurobindo/Kashyap psychological exegesis: Vala/Vṛtra motifs as inner resistance; Angirasa action as yogic breakthrough.
pre-dawn to dawn (finding Day)
Rock = subconscious fixation; cry/word = tapas and mantra; path = opening to higher mind; rays = knowledges released.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Angirasa ‘opening of the rock’ and ‘finding of the cows/rays’: the archetypal recovery of hidden light by mantra-force, creating a path into the vast heaven (bṛhat div). Psychologically, it is the breakthrough of the sealed subconscient to release illumination.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- vividuḥ (√vid) continues PIE *weyd- ‘see/know’. pitaraḥ continues PIE *ph₂tḗr. The ‘path’ gātu relates to motion roots (√gam/√gā) with broad IE parallels. The dawn/light discovery complex is a shared Indo-European poetic inheritance, though developed uniquely in Vedic Angirasa myth.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer positions himself as heir to the ‘fathers’ who first realized the light; by recounting their act, he invokes the same Angirasa-Agni power to replicate the breakthrough in the present sacrifice and in the seeker’s consciousness.
Break the ‘rock’ of habitual thought; invoke the mantric Word to release intuitive rays.
ajna
Kapalabhati-light or firm rhythmic breathing for 1–3 minutes, then chant slowly to stabilize.
From constricted mind to wide luminous awareness (bṛhat).
Begin with a clear intention: ‘Let the cover break.’ Chant with emphasis on adriṃ rujan. After chanting, sit silently and note the first ‘ketu’—a small but distinct guidance-light—without forcing.
Maintain udātta prominence on key nouns/verbs (uktháiḥ, adríṃ, ruján, cakrúḥ, vivíduḥ); follow śākhā recitation for svarita transitions.
Let the second pāda strike strongly (adriṃ rujann…); keep clear caesura after each 4–5 syllables typical of triṣṭubh.
vīḻu: pronounce retroflex ḻ distinctly (Vedic), dṛḻhā: retroflex ḍh + ḻh cluster; do not simplify, aṅgiraso: nasal ṅ before g, cakrur: short, crisp r at end, usrāḥ: long ā; ṣ is retroflex
Forceful, resonant, ‘breaking’ tone; firm breath support.
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