Rig Veda 10.67.2: Mandala 10, Sukta 67, Mantra 2
Sukta 10.67
- Rishi
- Aṅgirasa/Ayāsya stream
- Devata
- Indra-associated revelation cycle
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
ऋतं शंसन्त ऋजु दीध्याना दिवस्पुत्रासो असुरस्य वीराः । विप्रं पदमङ्गिरसो दधाना यज्ञस्य धाम प्रथमं मनन्त ॥
ṛtáṃ śáṃsanta ṛjú dīdhyānā divás putrā́so ásurasya vīrā́ḥ | vípraṃ padám aṅgíraso dádhānā yajñásya dhā́ma prathamáṃ mananta ||
ഋതം (സത്യ-ക്രമം) പാടിപ്പറഞ്ഞുകൊണ്ടും ഉള്ളിൽ നേരായ ദീപ്തി ജ്വലിപ്പിച്ചുകൊണ്ടും, ദ്യൗവിന്റെ പുത്രന്മാർ—അസുരന്റെ വീരന്മാർ—പ്രചോദിതന്റെ (വിഫ്രന്റെ) പദം ധരിച്ചു. അങ്ഗിരസർ ഋഷിയുടെ പാദചിഹ്നം സ്ഥാപിച്ച്, യജ്ഞത്തിന്റെ ആദ്യ ധാമം (നിവാസം/ആധാരം) മനസ്സിൽ ധരിച്ചു.
Word by Word
- ऋतम्
- truth; cosmic orderNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot ऋत (प्रातिपदिक) < √ऋ (ऋ-गतौ/ऋ-क्रमणे; ‘right order, truth’)
- शंसन्त
- they proclaim; they praiseVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot √शंस् (स्तुतौ/आख्याने)
- ऋजु
- straight; rightlyAdjective (used adverbially)अव्ययीभाव/क्रियाविशेषणवत् प्रयोगः (रूपम्: प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन नपुंसक-आकार)Role विशेषण (क्रियाविशेषण)Root ऋजु (प्रातिपदिक)
- दीध्याना
- meditating; intent in thoughtParticipleवर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्रकार), प्रथमा बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग (दिवस्पुत्रासः…वीराः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृविशेषणRoot √ध्यै/√ध्या (चिन्तायाम्) → दीध्य (intensive/reduplicated base)
- दिवः
- of heavenNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (वैदिके), षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root दिव् (प्रातिपदिक: ‘sky, heaven’)
- पुत्रासः
- sonsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्ताRoot पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- असुरस्य
- of the Asura (lord)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
- वीराः
- heroesNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्ता (apposition to दिवः पुत्रासः)Root वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
- विप्रम्
- the inspired sage; poetNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- पदम्
- step; place; stationNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्म (दधानाḥ इत्यस्य)Root पद (प्रातिपदिक)
- अङ्गिरसः
- the AṅgirasesNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्ताRoot अङ्गिरस् (प्रातिपदिक; ऋषिगण/वंश)
- दधाना
- placing; establishing; holdingParticipleवर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (शानच्), प्रथमा बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग (अङ्गिरसः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृविशेषणRoot √धा (धारणे/स्थापने) → दधा- (reduplicated present base)
- यज्ञस्य
- of the sacrificeNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
- धाम
- abode; seat; ordinanceNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (वैदिके -न्/शून्य-प्रत्ययान्त रूपम्)Role कर्मRoot धामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्रथमम्
- first; at firstAdjective (used adverbially)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (क्रियाविशेषणवत्)Role विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषणRoot प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
- मनन्त
- they thought; they conceivedVerbलङ् (वैदिक इम्परफेक्ट्), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot √मन् (अवबोधने/चिन्तायाम्)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (sandhi-resolved): ऋतम् | शंसन्त | ऋजु | दीध्याना | दिवः | पुत्रासः | असुरस्य | वीराः | विप्रम् | पदम् | अङ्गिरसः | दधाना | यज्ञस्य | धाम | प्रथमम् | मनन्त । प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) दिवस्+पुत्रासः → दिवः पुत्रासः (विसर्गसन्धिः; पदपाठे ‘दिवः’)
- (2) पुत्रासो असुरस्य → पुत्रासः असुरस्य (ओ/अः-परिवर्तनः पदपाठानुसारः)
- (3) पदम्+अङ्गिरसः → पदम् अङ्गिरसः (अनुस्वार/मकारान्तस्य परसवर्णः; संहितायां ‘पदमङ्गिरसः’)
- (4) धाम+प्रथमम् → धाम प्रथमम् (संहितायां ‘धाम प्रथ…’)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Proclaiming ṛta and kindling straight, the sons of Heaven—heroes of the Asura—held the inspired station. The Aṅgirases, establishing the sage’s step, conceived the first home of the sacrifice.
Inner meaning
The ‘sons of Heaven’ are the luminous powers born of higher consciousness. ‘Heroes of the Asura’ points to the true Asura as Lord of divine being (not later demonic sense): mighty powers of the Spirit. They ‘kindle straight’ (ṛju dīdhyānāḥ): the will-to-light is made direct, without crookedness of desire. Holding the ‘vipra-pada’ (inspired station/step), the Aṅgirasa forces found the foundational plane where yajña (inner sacrifice: self-offering of works, life, mind) can first be firmly based—an inner ‘home’ (dhāma) in consciousness.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress begins when aspiration becomes straight and truth-speaking; then the inner sacrifice finds its first stable foundation—a settled place in the being where practice can endure and grow.
Themes
Establishing the sacrifice, Angirasa lineage, Truth-proclamation, Foundation of spiritual practice
The seer
- Rishi
- Aṅgirasa stream (collective seer-powers; Ayāsya context)
- Lineage
- Aṅgirasa
- Other hymns
- RV 10.67 (sūkta), RV 10.68, RV 4.1–4.3, RV 4.50
Family tradition
The Aṅgirases are archetypal discoverers of hidden light, establishing the path/step (pada) of inspired knowledge and the first seat of yajña.
Significance
Represents the collective inner powers that turn aspiration into a stable discipline: truth-speaking (ṛta-śaṃs) + straight kindling (ṛju dīdhyāna) + foundation of yajña (dhāma).
The deity
- Devata
- Operative powers of Ṛta and Yajña within the Indra–Bṛhaspati revelation cycle
- Epithets
- ṛtasya gopā (protector of ṛta—implicit function), vipra (inspired), divas putra (heaven-born—collective)
- Related deities
- Indra, Bṛhaspati, Agni
Cosmic role
Establishes the first ordered field where divine action can descend and work through sacrifice.
Inner power
Integrity (straightness), inspired discernment, and the capacity to found a stable inner practice.
In ritual
Where it is used
General śastra-style praise connected with Aṅgirasa/Indra-Bṛhaspati cycle; applicable where ṛta and yajña foundations are invoked.
ऋ॒तं शंस॑न्त ऋ॒जु दीध्या॑ना दि॒वस्पु॒त्रासो॒ असु॑रस्य वी॒राः । विप्रं॑ प॒दमङ्गि॑रसो॒ दधा॑ना य॒ज्ञस्य॒ धाम॑ प्रथ॒मं म॑नन्त ॥
ऋ॒तम् । शंस॑न्तः । ऋ॒जु । दीध्या॑नाः । दि॒वः । पु॒त्रासः॑ । असु॑रस्य । वी॒राः । विप्र॑म् । प॒दम् । अङ्गि॑रसः । दधा॑नाः । य॒ज्ञस्य॑ । धाम॑ । प्र॒थ॒मम् । म॒न॒न्त॒ ॥
ṛtam | śaṃsantaḥ | ṛju | dīdhyānāḥ | divaḥ | putrāsaḥ | asurasya | vīrāḥ | vipram | padam | aṅgirasaḥ | dadhānāḥ | yajñasya | dhāma | prathamam | mananta
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4 × ~11 syllables
Sober, architectural rhythm—well-suited to ‘founding’ and ‘establishing’ themes.
Creates steadiness and rectitude; supports disciplined aspiration and ethical clarity (ṛju).
- ऋतम् (ṛtam)
- Literal: truth-order. Symbolic: right law of being; alignment that makes knowledge effective
- ऋजु (ṛju)
- Literal: straight. Symbolic: sincere, direct aspiration; non-distorted will
- दीध्यानाः (dīdhyānāḥ)
- Literal: kindling, meditating, shining. Symbolic: intensifying inner flame of attention and will
- दिवः पुत्रासः (divaḥ putrāsaḥ)
- Literal: sons of Heaven. Symbolic: luminous faculties from higher consciousness
- असुरस्य वीराः (asurasya vīrāḥ)
- Literal: heroes of the Asura. Symbolic: powers of the divine Lordship; strong executors of spiritual will
- विप्रं पदम् (vipraṃ padam)
- Literal: sage’s/inspired step or station. Symbolic: plane of inspired cognition; stable foothold for revelation
- यज्ञस्य धाम (yajñasya dhāma)
- Literal: home of the sacrifice. Symbolic: inner foundation where self-offering becomes constant and ordered
Foundational verse for the ‘yajña’ as inner and outer rite; used conceptually in pravargya/agnicayana-style mythic frames of establishing the sacrifice (exact placement depends on tradition).
At beginnings: opening of rites, consecrations, or when establishing a new sādhana routine (inner ‘first home’).
Recitation to ‘set the seat’ of the sacrifice—inviting straight aspiration and truthful speech.
Use as a daily ‘alignment’ verse before meditation: affirm straightness, truth-speaking, and steady practice.
asura from asu ‘life-breath, vital spirit’ + -ra ‘possessing’: originally ‘lord of life-force’, not later demonized. dhā́man from √dhā ‘to place’: a ‘settled seat’ in consciousness. aṅgiras- linked with fiery/ardent force (traditional etymologies connect with aṅg/añj ‘to anoint, kindle’), marking a family of powers that establish the yajña’s first foundation.
Ṛta (truth-order), Yajña (sacrificial process), Dhāman (plane/seat), Rectitude (ṛju)
Explicit: ṛta is proclaimed; straight kindling is the practical alignment with ṛta.
Truth becomes speech-act (śaṃs) and inner flame (dīdhyāna).
Founding of the first dhāma—creation of a stable inner world for divine work.
Karmayoga prototype: yajña as inner offering grounded in knowledge and right order.
Kindled fire = awakened aspiration; heaven = higher consciousness; ‘home’ = stabilized inner space.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Aṅgirases establish the ‘first home’ of yajña by fixing the vipra’s ‘step/station’. Mythically, it is the founding of the sacrificial order in the worlds—psychologically, the installation of a stable plane where truth (ṛta) can be kindled and lived.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √man (mananta) < PIE *men- ‘think’ (cf. Greek menos ‘mind/force’, Latin mens). √dhā (dadhānāḥ, dhāman) < PIE *dʰeh₁- ‘put, set’ (cf. Greek tithēmi). These roots encode the ‘placing’ of a mental foundation—cognitively and ritually.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer-powers (Aṅgirases, ‘sons of Heaven’) align to ṛta and kindle straight within; by their inspired action they establish yajña’s seat. The devatā-force is not a single god but the operative Truth-order itself, which becomes effective when the rishis found the right station in consciousness.
Straighten intention (ṛju); speak inwardly the truth you aim to embody; establish a stable inner ‘seat’ for practice.
Anāhata (integrity/straightness) supporting Ājñā (inspired discernment).
Even-count breathing (sama-vṛtti) through the verse; pause gently after ‘ṛtam’ and after ‘ṛju’ to feel alignment.
Collected, upright, truth-oriented mind; readiness for deeper revelation.
Chant once slowly, then sit with spine upright; ask: ‘What is the straightest next step (pada) in my yajña today?’ Act on the answer.
Maintain clear udatta on key semantic peaks (ṛtám, dívah, yájñasya), with controlled svarita descents; exact accenting depends on śākha recitation.
Keep ‘ṛtam’ crisp and centered; slightly lengthen the caesura after pāda 2 to convey ‘holding the station’.
ṛju: vocalic ṛ + soft j (not ‘riju’), dīdhyānāḥ: long ī; dhy cluster (dh + y), aṅgirasaḥ: hard g; do not nasalize incorrectly, dhāma: long ā
Even, upright, contemplative—like laying foundations stone by stone.
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