Rig Veda 7.46.2: Mandala 7, Sukta 46, Mantra 2
Sukta 7.46
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Rudra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Bhayankara
स हि क्षयेण क्षम्यस्य जन्मनः साम्राज्येन दिव्यस्य चेतति । अवन्नवन्तीरुप नो दुरश्चरानमीवो रुद्र जासु नो भव ॥
sá hí kṣáyeṇa kṣámyasya jánmanaḥ sā́mrājyena divyásya cétati | ávan návántīr úpa no dúraś carān amīvó rudra jā́su no bhava ||
കാരണം അവൻ ഭൗമജന്മത്തിന്റെ സ്ഥിരവാസം (ക്ഷയ) വഴിയും ദിവ്യ സാമ്രാജ്യാധിപത്യത്തിലൂടെയും അറിയുന്നവൻ ആകുന്നു. രക്ഷക സഹായങ്ങളോടെ ഞങ്ങളോടടുത്തുവരിക; ഞങ്ങളുടെ വാതിലുകൾ ചുറ്റി സഞ്ചരിക്ക. ഹേ രുദ്ര, ഞങ്ങൾക്ക് ഹാനിയില്ലാത്തവനായി ഇരിക്ക; വേഗത്തിൽ ഞങ്ങളുടെ അഭയം ആകുക.
Word by Word
- सः
- he (that one)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- हि
- indeed, forIndeclinableनिपातःRoot हि (निपात)
- क्षयेण
- by (his) dwelling/abodeNounपुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, एकवचनम्Role करणRoot क्षय (प्रातिपदिक; √क्षि/क्षय् ‘to dwell/abide’, ‘dwelling’)
- क्षम्यस्य
- of the earthly (one/realm)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्धRoot क्षम्य (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक; ‘of the earth/terrestrial’, from क्षम ‘earth’)
- जन्मनः
- of birth, of originNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्धRoot जन्मन् (नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्रातिपदिक; from √जन् ‘to be born’)
- साम्राज्येन
- by sovereignty, by overlordshipNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, तृतीया, एकवचनम्Role करणRoot साम्राज्य (नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्रातिपदिक; ‘sovereignty’)
- दिव्यस्य
- of the heavenly, divineAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम् (विशेष्यापेक्षया)Role सम्बन्धRoot दिव्य (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक; from दिव् ‘heaven’)
- चेतति
- perceives, takes heedVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमा-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot √चित् (चेतति; ‘to perceive/notice/think’)
- अवन्
- protecting, helperParticiple (adjectival) / agentiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (रुद्रस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ (विशेषणरूपेण)Root अवन् (कृदन्त; present participle/agent-noun from √अव् ‘to protect, help’)
- अवन्तीः
- protecting (fem. ones), protectressesParticiple (fem.)स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृ (उपसर्ग-क्रियायाः)Root अवन्ती (कृदन्त-स्त्री; from √अव् ‘to protect’)
- उप
- towards, nearIndeclinable (preverb)उपसर्गःRoot उप (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- नः
- to us / of usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचनम् (एन्क्लिटिक ‘नः’)Role सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध (प्रसङ्गानुसारम्)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- दुरश्चरान्
- hard-to-avoid (evils/dangers)Adjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role कर्मRoot दुरश्चर (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक; ‘hard to ward off/overcome’, from दुर् + √चर्/आचर्)
- अमीवः
- disease, afflictionNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (निषेध/अपेक्षया—‘अमीवः’ as the afflicter)Root अमीव (प्रातिपदिक; ‘disease, affliction’)
- रुद्र
- O RudraNoun (proper) संबोधनपुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role सम्बोधनRoot रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- जासु
- among (our) families/kinsNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, बहुवचनम्Role अधिकरणRoot जा (स्त्रीलिङ्ग-प्रातिपदिक; ‘family/kin, race’; loc. pl. जासु)
- नः
- to us / of usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचनम् (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्धRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- भव
- be (become)Verb (imperative)लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot √भू (भव)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धिविग्रह): स हि क्षयेण क्षम्यस्य जन्मनः साम्राज्येन दिव्यस्य चेतति । अवन् अवन्तीः उप नः दुरश्चरान् अमीवः रुद्र जासु नः भव ॥ मुख्य-सन्धयः: (1) सः + हि → स हि (विसर्गलोपः पदान्ते) । (2) अवन् + अवन्तीः → अवन्नवन्तीः (नकारस्य परसवर्ण/अनुनासिक-संयोगः; पदपाठे पृथक्) । (3) अवन्तीः + उप → अवन्तीरुप (दीर्घ-ई + उ → ईरु, स्वर-सन्धिः) ।
The meaning
Outer meaning
He is aware through the settled dwelling of earthly birth and through the sovereign mastery of the divine. Come near to us with protecting helps; move around our doors. O Rudra, be for us without harm; be swiftly our refuge.
Inner meaning
Rudra knows both domains: the kṣamya janman (our embodied, earthly becoming with its habits) and the divya sāmrājya (the sovereign range of divine consciousness). Therefore he can guard the threshold where inner and outer meet—‘doors’ symbolizing the senses, the entrances of consciousness. The prayer asks his protecting forces to circulate around these thresholds, preventing the entry of amīva (inner disorder, illness, hostile formations). ‘Anamīva’ is not only physical health but freedom from the psychic affliction of fear, confusion, and corrosive impulses; ‘jāsu’ asks for immediate refuge—swift intervention of grace-force.
Universal truth
A true protector is one who understands both our human limitations and the divine law. Protection is the right guarding of thresholds—what we allow into mind, speech, and life—so healing can act quickly and safely.
Themes
apotropaic-protection, rudra-benign-aspect, guarding-the-thresholds
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa lineage)
- Other hymns
- RV 7.46.1, RV 2.33 (Rudra, thematic), RV 1.114 (Rudra, thematic)
Family tradition
The Vasiṣṭha approach to Rudra is intimate and practical: not abstract awe alone, but safeguarding the household/being—especially at its ‘doors’ (threshold symbolism).
Significance
This verse is a classic threshold-prayer: invoking Rudra’s fierce capacity while explicitly asking for his harmless, healing mode—an early formulation of ‘ugra’ held within ‘śiva’.
The deity
- Devata
- Rudra
- Epithets
- knower of earth and heaven (implicit), protector with helps (avantīḥ), anamīva (harmless/healing), swift refuge (jāsu)
- Related deities
- Agni (guardian fire), Viśve Devāḥ (protective powers), Mitra-Varuṇa (order/guardianship)
Cosmic role
Guardian at boundaries; healer who wards off disorder; sovereign-linked power that can operate in human life.
Inner power
Protective vigilance and swift purification at the sense-gates; healing force that prevents hostile entry and restores balance.
In ritual
Where it is used
Protective rites and household safeguarding; Rudra appeasement for health and averting harm
स हि क्षये॑ण॒ क्षम्य॑स्य॒ जन्म॑न॒: साम्रा॑ज्येन दि॒व्यस्य॒ चेत॑ति । अव॒न्नव॑न्ती॒रुप॑ नो॒ दुर॑श्चरानमी॒वो रु॑द्र॒ जासु॑ नो भव ॥
सः । हि । क्षये॑ण । क्षम्य॑स्य । जन्म॑नः । साम्ऽरा॑ज्येन । दि॒व्यस्य॑ । चेत॑ति । अव॑न् । अव॑न्तीः । उप॑ । नः॒ । दुरः॑ । च॒र॒ । अ॒न॒मी॒वः । रु॒द्र॒ । जासु॑ । नः॒ । भ॒व॒ ॥
saḥ | hi | kṣayeṇa | kṣamyasya | janmanaḥ | sām-rājyena | divyasya | cetati | avan | avantīḥ | upa | naḥ | duraḥ | cara | anamīvaḥ | rudra | jāsu | naḥ | bhava
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4 x 11 syllables (approx.)
More supplicatory and protective than martial; circular movement suggested by ‘upa… duraś carā’.
Creates a felt perimeter of safety; calms fear while maintaining alertness.
- क्षयेण (kṣayeṇa)
- Literal: by dwelling/settled abode. Symbolic: stabilized human condition; established patterns of embodied life
- क्षम्यस्य जन्मनः (kṣamyasya janmanaḥ)
- Literal: of earthly birth. Symbolic: material nature and its habitual formations
- साम्राज्येन दिव्यस्य (sāmrājyena divyasya)
- Literal: by the sovereign mastery of the divine. Symbolic: supreme governance of higher consciousness
- चेतति (cetati)
- Literal: is aware, perceives. Symbolic: conscious knowing that can intervene effectively
- अवन् अवन्तीः (avan avantīḥ)
- Literal: protecting helps. Symbolic: guarding forces, healings, auspicious powers
- दुरः (duraḥ)
- Literal: doors. Symbolic: sense-gates; thresholds of consciousness and life
- अमीव (amīva)
- Literal: illness/harm. Symbolic: inner affliction: hostile movements, fear, distortion
- अनमीवः (anamīvaḥ)
- Literal: without harm. Symbolic: benign aspect of the fierce power; healing without injury
- जासु (jāsu)
- Literal: quickly, at once. Symbolic: swift refuge; immediate descent of protection
Protective/appeasing Rudra formulas, especially for warding off disease and hostile forces; circumambulation imagery ('move about the doors') fits apotropaic usage.
At home thresholds; during illness, anxiety, or before sleep/travel
Recite while mentally ‘circumambulating’ doors/thresholds; may accompany sprinkling water or offering incense/ghee
A daily energetic-boundary practice: chant while visualizing a protective circuit around your home/body and sense-gates (phone/media boundaries included).
kṣaya 'dwelling' from √kṣi 'to dwell'—inner 'settlement' of embodied nature. cetati from √cit 'to perceive' → Rudra as conscious regulator across earthly and divine ranges. amīva 'affliction' (disease/harassment) → anamīva 'benign, non-harming'. duraḥ 'doors' symbolizes thresholds of the being (sense-doors/psychic gates) needing protection.
threshold-guarding (doors of the being), benign transformation of fierce power (anamīva), bridging earthly and divine sovereignty
Protection is ṛta at the threshold—keeping the right influences in and the disorder out.
Rudra’s ‘cetati’ is truth-aware perception spanning planes; it prevents self-deception at the gates.
Sovereign divine mastery entering earthly dwelling: higher order establishing itself in embodied life.
Yoga psychology: guarding the indriya-dvāra (sense-doors) and purifying samskāra patterns with a higher force.
evening/night (protective emphasis)
As a house needs guarded doors, consciousness needs guarded sense-gates; protection is the circulation of awareness and force around vulnerable entry-points.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Rudra as the ambivalent guardian who knows both earthly embodiment and divine sovereignty; the key action is turning him into a protective circumambulating presence at the 'doors'—the liminal points where hostile forces enter.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √kṣi 'dwell' and √car 'move' are old IE verb types; the threshold/door motif is also common in IE ritual language as a liminal protective focus. The semantic polarity of a deity who can harm or heal is likewise widespread in IE storm/fierce-god complexes.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi acknowledges Rudra’s comprehensive awareness (cetati) and asks him to take up guardianship rather than assault: to bring protective powers near and patrol the thresholds, becoming 'anamīva'—a fierce force made beneficent by right invocation.
Guard the sense-doors; invite Rudra’s vigilant protection to prevent entry of harmful impulses and to heal existing disturbances.
muladhara (safety/ground) and ajna (watchful awareness)
Box-breath (4-4-4-4) while visualizing a protective circuit around the body/home on ‘upa… duraś carā’.
Protected calm with alert boundary-awareness.
Before sleep: review the ‘doors’ (sight, hearing, speech, thought). Offer them to Rudra; ask that whatever enters be truth-serving, and whatever harms be kept out.
Vedic accentuation with clear cadences on imperatives (उप… चर).
Chant the first half steadily (statement of Rudra’s awareness), then slightly slower and more protective on ‘avan avantīḥ…’; soften and reassure on ‘anamīvo…’.
‘kṣayeṇa kṣamyasya’—distinct kṣ sounds; avoid ‘ch’ substitution, ‘sāmrājyena’—long ā, clear ‘rāj’, ‘duraś’—short u, clear retroflex ṣ, ‘anamīvaḥ’—long ī, light visarga at end
Low, steady, protective; gentle intensity without harshness.
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