Rig Veda 10.59.5: Mandala 10, Sukta 59, Mantra 5
Sukta 10.59
- Devata
- Asunīti
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
असुनीते मनो अस्मासु धारय जीवातवे सु प्र तिरा न आयुः । रारन्धि नः सूर्यस्य संदृशि घृतेन त्वं तन्वं वर्धयस्व ॥
asunī́te máno asmā́su dhāraya jī́vātave sú prá tirā na ā́yuḥ | rārā́ndhi naḥ sū́ryasya saṃdṛ́śi ghṛténa tváṃ tanvā́ṃ vardhayasva ||
ഹേ അസുനീത (പ്രാണത്തിന്റെ നേതാവേ), ജീവിക്കാനായി മനസ്സിനെ ഞങ്ങളിൽ ദൃഢമായി നിലനിർത്തേണമേ; ഞങ്ങളുടെ ആയുസ്സിനെ സുന്ദരമായ പഥത്തിലൂടെ മുന്നോട്ട് കടത്തേണമേ. സൂര്യന്റെ സന്ദർശനത്തിൽ ഞങ്ങളെ സ്ഥാപിക്കേണമേ; ഘൃതം—ശുദ്ധ തേജസ്സുള്ള സമൃദ്ധി—കൊണ്ട് ഞങ്ങളുടെ തനു (ദേഹധാരി സത്ത) വർദ്ധിപ്പിച്ച് ബലപ്പെടുത്തേണമേ.
Word by Word
- असुनीते
- O Asunīti (guide/restorer of the life-breath)Noun (vocative) / epithetस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधन (addressed deity)Root असु-नीति (प्रातिपदिक; असु ‘प्राण’ + नीति ‘नेतृ/नेतृत्व/मार्गदर्शन’)
- मनः
- mindNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (object of धारय)Root मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्मासु
- in us / among usPronounसप्तमी, बहुवचनRole अधिकारण (locus: ‘in/among us’)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- धारय
- hold, keep, sustainVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot धृ (धातु)
- जीवातवे
- for living, to liveInfinitive-like dative (purpose)चतुर्थी, एकवचन (प्रयोजनार्थ)Role प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदान (for the purpose of living)Root जीव् (धातु) → जीवातु (कृदन्त/नामधातु-आधार) / ‘जीवातु’
- सु
- well, whollyIndeclinableअव्ययRole विशेषण-भाव (intensifier)Root सु (अव्यय)
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinable (preverb)अव्ययRole क्रियाविशेषण (with तिरा/तिरा)Root प्र (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- तिरा
- across, beyond (successfully through)Indeclinableअव्ययRole क्रियाविशेषणRoot तिरस्/तिरा (अव्यय; ‘across, beyond’)
- नः
- us / ourPronoun (enclitic)षष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचन (enclitic ‘nas’)Role सम्बन्ध/सम्प्रदान (our / for us; contextually ‘for us’)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- आयुः
- life, lifespanNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (subject of implied ‘अस्तु/वर्धताम्’ with तिरा)Root आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- रारन्धि
- grant, arrange, bestowVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद (Vedic injunctive/imperative form)Role क्रियाRoot रन्ध् (धातु; ‘to set in order/arrange, make ready, grant’)
- नः
- to usPronoun (enclitic)चतुर्थी, बहुवचन (context: ‘to/for us’)Role सम्प्रदानRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- सूर्यस्य
- of the SunNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- संदृशि
- in the presence/sightNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकारण (in the sight/presence)Root संदृश्/संदृशि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘sight, presence, view’)
- घृतेन
- with ghee (clarified butter)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करण (instrument)Root घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
- त्वम्
- youPronounप्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्ताRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- तन्वम्
- body, personNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (object of वर्धयस्व)Root तनू (प्रातिपदिक)
- वर्धयस्व
- increase, strengthenVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपदRole क्रियाRoot वृध् (धातु)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (sandhi-resolved): असुनीते | मनः | अस्मासु | धारय | जीवातवे | सु | प्र | तिरा | नः | आयुः || रारन्धि | नः | सूर्यस्य | संदृशि | घृतेन | त्वम् | तन्वम् | वर्धयस्व || Notes: (1) ‘सु प्र तिरा’ are separate avyayas
- in saṃhitā they cluster as a single adverbial complex. (2) ‘न॒ आयुः’ = ‘नः आयुः’ (enclitic नः before vowel; saṃhitā shows nasalization/avagraha-less junction). (3) ‘संदृशि’ is a locative singular noun ‘in the sight/presence’. (4) Accents are retained as given in the mantra text
- pada analysis here focuses on morphological segmentation
The meaning
Outer meaning
A prayer to Asunīti to steady the mind within us for continued living, to carry our lifespan safely forward, to establish us in the Sun’s vision, and to increase the body with ghṛta (clarified richness).
Inner meaning
Asunīti is the conductor of prāṇa (life-force) who can re-seat the wandering mind (manas) in the embodied field so the inner sacrifice continues. “Vision of the Sun” is entry into sūrya-dṛṣṭi—clear illumined consciousness. Ghṛta is the luminous, purified substance of thought (Aurobindo/Kashyap: clarified intelligence/psychic richness) that nourishes and increases the subtle body (tanū) and stabilizes the nervous-vital sheath for sādhanā.
Universal truth
Life is sustained when mind is held in right relation to breath; true longevity is continuity in truth-consciousness (Sun-vision). Purified understanding (ghṛta) strengthens embodiment so higher light can be borne without collapse or dispersion.
Themes
Restoration of vitality, Mind stabilization, Embodied strengthening, Illumined perception
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 10.59.6, Rig Veda 10.59.7, Rig Veda 10.59.8, Rig Veda 10.59.9
Significance
The seer speaks from a healing/renewal intention: reintegration of mind–breath–body into the solar (truth) vision. The anonymity fits a universal, remedial prayer usable by any aspirant.
The deity
- Devata
- Asunīti (with Sūrya invoked as the goal of vision)
- Epithets
- asunīte (life-breath leader), prāṇa-dhātrī (implied: establisher of breath), sūrya-saṃdṛk-pradā (implied: giver of solar vision)
- Related deities
- Sūrya, Āyu (life), Vāta (breath/wind, by functional proximity)
Cosmic role
Regulates the currents of life (asu/prāṇa) so the human being remains in right order and can receive the solar illumination.
Inner power
Breath-guidance that steadies mind, prolongs conscious vitality, and prepares the embodied instrument for higher seeing.
In ritual
Where it is used
Healing/renewal prayer for restoration of vitality and protection of life-force (āyuḥ)
असु॑नीते॒ मनो॑ अ॒स्मासु॑ धारय जी॒वात॑वे॒ सु प्र ति॑रा न॒ आयु॑: । रा॒र॒न्धि न॒: सूर्य॑स्य सं॒दृशि॑ घृ॒तेन॒ त्वं त॒न्वं॑ वर्धयस्व ॥
असु॑ऽनीते । मनः॑ । अ॒स्मासु॑ । धा॒र॒य॒ । जी॒वात॑वे । सु । प्र । ति॒र॒ । नः॒ । आयुः॑ । र॒र॒न्धि । नः॒ । सूर्य॑स्य । स॒म्ऽदृशि॑ । घृ॒तेन॑ । त्वम् । त॒न्व॑म् । व॒र्ध॒य॒स्व॒ ॥
asu-nīte | manaḥ | asmāsu | dhāraya | jīvātave | su | pra | tira | naḥ | āyuḥ | rarandhi | naḥ | sūryasya | sam-dṛśi | ghṛtena | tvam | tanvam | vardhayasva
44
4 pādas × ~11 syllables (typical triṣṭubh cadence)
Forward-driving, steady, exhortative; suited to ‘carrying’ (tirā) the life-force onward.
Creates a stabilizing pressure in the breath and chest, supporting dhāraṇā (holding) of mind and a luminous uplift toward solar clarity.
- असुनीते (asunīte)
- Literal: leader/conductor of asu (life-breath). Symbolic: governing intelligence of prāṇa; force that re-harmonizes life-energy and mind
- मनः (manaḥ)
- Literal: mind. Symbolic: sense-mind that must be steadied and made a vessel for higher light
- आयुः (āyuḥ)
- Literal: life-span, vitality. Symbolic: continuity of conscious life-force; sustained inner progress
- सूर्यस्य संदृशि (sūryasya saṃdṛśi)
- Literal: in the sight/vision of the Sun. Symbolic: illumined seeing; truth-consciousness and right discernment
- घृत (ghṛta) / घृतेन (ghṛtena)
- Literal: clarified butter. Symbolic: clarified luminous essence of thought; sweetness/brightness that feeds the soul-nature
- तन्वम् (tanvam)
- Literal: body, embodied being. Symbolic: the psycho-physical instrument to be enlarged and made capable
Healing/āyuṣya prayer for restoration of mind, vitality, and embodied strength; often used where breath-life (asu/prāṇa) is ritually reinforced.
During sickness, weakness, convalescence, or before demanding undertakings; also as daily prāṇa-stabilizing recitation
Recitation with intention of ‘holding mind in the breath’; offering of ghee in homa may be paired as an outer analogue of ghṛta
Breath-led meditation: chant while feeling prāṇa steady the mind; use as an affirmation for nervous-system regulation and clarity before work or study.
asu ‘breath, life’ (cf. Avestan ahu- ‘life/existence’ in semantic vicinity); nīte from √ ‘to lead’ (leader/conductor). dhāraya from √ ‘hold, support’ (PIE *dher- ‘hold’). āyu from √/ ‘to go, vital movement’—life as a moving continuity. ghṛta from √ (ghṛ) ‘to shine/sprinkle’ (Vedic semantic field includes ‘bright, clarified’)—hence psychological ‘clarified luminous richness’ that nourishes tanū (embodiment).
Prāṇa/Asu governance, Integration of mind and life-force, Sūrya-darśana as awakening of truth-vision
Asunīti restores right ordering between mind, breath, and embodied life—an ṛta of the microcosm.
Sūrya-saṃdṛś is the orientation to satya: seeing that does not distort.
Re-creation/renewal of the embodied instrument through luminous essence (ghṛta) rather than mere physical repair.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindo): ascent to solar consciousness while perfecting the instrument.
dawn-to-morning (implied by ‘vision of the Sun’ as rising clarity)
Breath becomes the charioteer of mind; ghṛta becomes clarified intelligence; Sun becomes the supramental/illumined seeing.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘return and governance of life’ mythologem: a power (Asunīti) leads the breath-soul back into stable possession of mind and body, culminating in solar vision. It is a re-integration of the human instrument after threat of dispersal.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √dhṛ ‘hold’ reflects PIE *dher- (hold/support). √vṛdh ‘grow’ aligns with PIE *werdh- (grow) (cf. English ‘worth’ is related in some analyses via Germanic developments). The semantic coupling of ‘life’ (āyu) with ‘crossing through’ (√tṛ) echoes an old metaphor: life as a passage across danger.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The speaker petitions Asunīti to act directly within the human vessel—holding mind, carrying life forward, and increasing the body with ghṛta (clarified luminous substance). The reciprocity is intimate: the Devatā is invoked as an inner operator of breath, not merely an external giver.
Seat the mind in the breath; invoke solar clarity at the brow/inner sight.
ājñā (solar vision) and anāhata (breath-mind steadiness)
Slow nāsikā-breath with brief, comfortable kumbhaka after exhale; feel ‘holding’ (dhāraya) without strain.
Collected, luminous steadiness; movement from manas to buddhi-like clarity.
Chant 9 or 27 times; after chanting, sit silently and visualize a calm golden disc above the forehead, letting breath make the mind still and wide.
Use Vedic udātta/anudātta/svarita as per śākhā; key lifts often occur on invocatory vocative (asunīte) and on solar terms (sūryasya).
Keep udātta as a clear raised pitch; svarita as a falling glide; avoid flattening the cadence in triṣṭubh pādas.
: ‘a-su-nī-te’ (long ī), : dhā-ra-ya (aspirated dh), : jī-vā-ta-ve (long ī, ā), : saṃ-dṛ-śi (ṃ before d; retroflex ṛ; ś as palatal), : ghṛ-te-na (gh aspirated; ṛ is vocalic r), : tan-vam (light nasalization before v)
Steady, warm, chest-supported; let the phrase ‘dhāraya’ be especially firm and even.
9
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
