Rig Veda 5.75.5: Mandala 5, Sukta 75, Mantra 5
Sukta 5.75
- Rishi
- Atri
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
बोधिन्मनसा रथ्येषिरा हवनश्रुता । विभिश्च्यवानमश्विना नि याथो अद्वयाविनं माध्वी मम श्रुतं हवम् ॥
bódhin manasā rathyé iṣirā́ havanaśrutā́ | víbhiś cyávānam aśvinā ní yātho ádvayāvinaṃ mā́dhvī mama śrutáṃ hávam ||
ഹേ അശ്വിനൗ, ജാഗ്രതയുള്ള മനസ്സുള്ളവരേ, രഥമാർഗത്തിൽ വേഗികളേ, ഹ്വാനം കേൾക്കുന്നവരേ—നിങ്ങളുടെ ശക്തികളാൽ നിങ്ങൾ ച്യവാനനെ, അദ്വയാവിൻ (അഖണ്ഡൻ)നെ, യഥാസ്ഥിതിയിലാക്കുന്നു. എന്റെ മധുര ഹ്വാനം കേൾക്കുവിൻ.
Word by Word
- बोधि
- be aware; wake up; take noticeVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, 2 पुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root √बुध् (बोधने)
- मनसा
- with (your) mindNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot मनस् (प्रा.)
- रथ्ये
- on the chariot-path; in the chariot-wayAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकारणRoot रथ्य (प्रा.; रथ-सम्बन्धी)
- इषिरा
- swift, vigorous (you two)Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (अश्विनौ-विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृRoot इषिर (प्रा.)
- हवनश्रुता
- hearers of the invocationAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (अश्विनौ-विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृRoot हवन-श्रुत (प्रा.; तत्पुरुष)
- विभिः
- with birds (as helpers/means)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot वि (प्रा.; ‘पक्षी’/‘विहग’ इत्यर्थे वैदिकः)
- च्यवानम्
- Chyavāna (the sage)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot च्यवन (प्रा.; √च्यु ‘चलने/पतने’ से क्त/न-प्रत्ययान्त)
- अश्विना
- O AśvinsNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, द्विवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अश्विन् (प्रा.)
- नि
- down; into; firmlyIndeclinableउपसर्ग/निपातRole (क्रियाविशेषणम्)Root नि
- याथः
- you two go/comeVerbलट्, परस्मैपद, 2 पुरुष, द्विवचनRole (क्रिया)Root √या (गतौ)
- अद्वयाविनम्
- the one possessing non-duality; the undeceived/without duplicityAdjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot अद्वयाविन् (प्रा.; ‘अद्वया’ + ‘विन्’)
- माध्वी
- honey-sweet; mead-likeAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (हवम्-विशेषणम्, वैदिके लिङ्ग-व्यत्ययः)Role कर्मRoot माध्वी (प्रा.; मधु-सम्बन्धिनी)
- मम
- myPronounषष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- श्रुतम्
- heard; heededAdjective/Participleनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (हवम्-विशेषणम्)Role कर्मRoot √श्रु (श्रवणे) → श्रुत (कृदन्त)
- हवम्
- invocation; callNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot हव (प्रा.; √ह्वे/√हू ‘आह्वाने’ से)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धिविच्छेद): बोधि + मनसा | रथ्ये + इषिरा | हवनश्रुता | विभिः + च्यवानम् + अश्विना | नि + याथः | अद्वयाविनम् | माध्वी + मम + श्रुतम् + हवम् । प्रमुखसन्धयः: रथ्ये॑षि॒रा = रथ्ये इषिरा (ए + इ → एऽ/ए, संहितायाम् ‘एषि’ लेखनम्)
- विभि॒श्च्यवा॑नम् = विभिः च्यवानम् (विसर्ग/ः + च → श्च)
- नि या॑थो॒ = नि याथः (पदपाठे याथः; संहितायां अन्त्यः ‘ः’ ओकाराभासः/विसर्ग-प्रकृति)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The Aśvins are described as awake-minded, swift on the chariot-road, hearers of the call. With their powers they set right (restore) Cyavāna, the undivided one; the poet asks them to hear the honeyed invocation.
Inner meaning
This recalls the Cyavāna legend: the Aśvins rejuvenate and restore. Psychologically, ‘Cyavāna’ represents a fallen or decayed part of the nature (cyu = to slip/fall) that has lost its integral poise. The Aśvins, by their multiple capacities (vibhiḥ), re-establish it in non-division (advayāvin)—a state where the being is not split between higher aspiration and lower habit. ‘Awake in mind’ signals that these powers work through quickened awareness and prompt right decision, not through trance alone.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress includes rejuvenation: the divine can restore what has declined and make the divided self whole again when we call with wakeful sincerity.
Themes
Rejuvenation myth (Cyavāna), Awakened mind, Healing and integration
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri (Ātreya)
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- RV 5.75
Family tradition
The Ātreyas frequently emphasize practical divine interventions—healing, rejuvenation, restoration—indicating a yoga of transformation rather than escape.
Significance
Atri’s insight: the divine helpers do not only give light; they repair the fallen powers of nature and reconstitute integral unity (advaya) in embodied life.
The deity
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Epithets
- Havanaśrutā (hearers of the call), Iṣirā (swift)
- Related deities
- Soma (rejuvenation/bliss), Agni (will that effects change)
Cosmic role
Healers and restorers who renew life, correct decline, and re-establish right function in time.
Inner power
Rejuvenating force acting through awakened mind and skillful means; integration of divided parts into a single harmonious movement.
In ritual
Where it is used
Aśvin hymns in Soma context; also healing/rejuvenation thematic use
बो॒धिन्म॑नसा र॒थ्ये॑षि॒रा ह॑वन॒श्रुता॑ । विभि॒श्च्यवा॑नमश्विना॒ नि या॑थो॒ अद्व॑याविनं॒ माध्वी॒ मम॑ श्रुतं॒ हव॑म् ॥
बो॒धित्ऽम॑नसा । र॒थ्या॑ । इ॒षि॒रा । ह॒व॒न॒ऽश्रुता॑ । विऽभिः॑ । च्यवा॑नम् । अ॒श्वि॒ना॒ । नि । या॒थः॒ । अद्व॑याविनम् । माध्वी॒ इति॑ । मम॑ । श्रुत॑म् । हव॑म् ॥
bodhit-manasā | rathyā | iṣirā | havana-śrutā | vi-bhiḥ | cyavānam | aśvinā | ni | yāthaḥ | advayāvinam | mādhvī iti | mama | śrutam | havam
44
4 × ~11
Energetic and corrective; a ‘setting-right’ cadence
Promotes alertness and confidence; supports a decisive inner turning toward wholeness.
- बोधित्मनसा (bodhit-manasā)
- Literal: with awakened mind. Symbolic: wakeful awareness; illumined attentiveness that enables swift help
- रथ्या (rathyā)
- Literal: on the chariot-road. Symbolic: the prepared track of practice; the established path of right movement
- इषिरा (iṣirā)
- Literal: swift, impetuous. Symbolic: rapid effective energy; promptness of divine response
- हवनश्रुता (havana-śrutā)
- Literal: hearers of the invocation. Symbolic: powers responsive to aspiration
- विभिः (vibhiḥ)
- Literal: with powers, with means. Symbolic: multiple faculties/energies applied for healing and integration
- च्यवानम् (cyavānam)
- Literal: Cyavāna (name). Symbolic: the slipped/declined part of the being needing restoration
- नि याथः (ni yāthaḥ)
- Literal: you lead/set down/establish. Symbolic: re-seat the consciousness in its right place; stabilize
- अद्वयाविनम् (advayāvinam)
- Literal: one who has non-duality, undivided. Symbolic: integral unity of being; no split between knowledge, will, and action
Mythic exemplum within an Aśvin invocation: recalling the restoration of Cyavāna to certify the Aśvins’ power in healing/rejuvenation; used to strengthen the efficacy of the call in Soma rites.
When calling for restoration, health, and right adjustment; dawn/transition times
Invocation and offering with emphasis on cure and renewal
Use for recovery from fatigue, depression, or divided will; as an affirmation of reintegration before practice.
bodhit-manasā: bodhi(t) from √budh (to awaken, know) + manas (mind) → awakened mentality. cyavāna is the famed rejuvenated seer in Aśvin myths; name linked to √cyu (to fall, slip) → the ‘declined’ state restored. advayāvin ‘non-dual’ from a-dvaya (not-two) + possessive suffix → integrated consciousness; in inner reading, the restored unity of being.
Awakening (√budh) as rise of consciousness, Healing/rejuvenation as reintegration, Non-division (advaya) as inner wholeness aligned with ṛta
Restoration is return to ṛta—right arrangement after a fall (cyavana).
Advaya points to a truth of unity behind division.
Evolution by repair and renewal: higher powers repeatedly reclaim and re-form the lower nature.
Integral Vedāntic tendency: unity (advaya) realized through transformative action in nature.
dawn (implicit Aśvin time)
Road = grooves of habit/practice; swift movement = quick descent of help; rejuvenation = renewal of prāṇa and bodily consciousness by higher force.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Cyavāna rejuvenation myth: the Aśvins restore the aged/declined seer. In psychological terms, the ‘fallen’ vitality and clarity (cyu-) are re-set (ni yāthaḥ) into an undivided integrality (advayāvin).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √budh (awaken/know) is Indo-European (cf. English ‘bid’ is not cognate, but PIE *bheudh- yields Sanskrit budh-, Greek peúthomai ‘learn’, etc.). √cyu ‘fall/slide’ reflects a widespread IE semantic of slipping/decline. The compound advaya- shows early Indo-Aryan abstraction via negation + numeral (‘not-two’).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The r̥ṣi invokes the Aśvins as awakened and responsive powers; he cites their past act (Cyavāna) as a guarantee of present help. The exchange is: remembrance and praise → renewed descent of healing power that restores unity in the seeker.
‘Awaken the mind; call the swift healers; let the fallen part be restored into unity.’
ājñā (wakeful discernment)
Brisk 3-part breathing: inhale (wakefulness), hold (call), exhale (release decline); then rest in stillness
Alert receptivity; integrative concentration
Identify one ‘fallen’ habit; on each repetition, feel the Aśvins re-seat that energy into a higher alignment rather than suppressing it.
Maintain clear udatta on bodhit-, aśvinā, vibhiḥ, cyavānam, advayāvinam, havam; let svarita glide gently to convey ‘setting right’.
Keep ‘bodhitmanasā’ bright and awake; slow slightly on ‘advayāvinam’ to imprint the sense of unity.
bodhitmanasā: articulate ‘dhit’ and ‘man’ separately (bo-dhit-ma-na-sā), rathyā: aspirate ‘th’ lightly; long ā, havanaśrutā: keep compound clear; retroflex ṛ in śrutā, cyavānam: ‘cy’ palatal; long ā, advayāvinam: ‘dv’ conjunct; long ā in -yā-
awake, steady, confident
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