Rig Veda 7.72.2: Mandala 7, Sukta 72, Mantra 2
Sukta 7.72
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
आ नो देवेभिरुप यातमर्वाक्सजोषसा नासत्या रथेन । युवोर्हि नः सख्या पित्र्याणि समानो बन्धुरुत तस्य वित्तम् ॥
ā́ no devébhi rupá yātam arvā́k sajóṣasā nāsatyā ráthena | yuvór hí naḥ sakhyā́ pitryā́ṇi samā́nō bándhur utá tásya vittám ||
ഹേ നാസത്യന്മാരേ, ദേവന്മാരോടൊപ്പം, ഏകമനസ്സോടെ, നിങ്ങളുടെ രഥത്തിൽ ഞങ്ങളിലേക്കു സമീപത്തുനിന്ന് വരുവിൻ. നിങ്ങളോടുകൂടെ ഞങ്ങളുടെ പിതൃപരമ്പരാഗത സഖ്യതയുണ്ട്; ബന്ധം ഒരേതാണ്, ആ ബന്ധുത്വത്തിന്റെ സത്യം നിങ്ങൾ നന്നായി അറിയുന്നു.
Word by Word
- आ
- hither, towardsIndeclinableउपसर्ग/निपातRoot आ (उपसर्ग) / ā (preverb)
- नः
- to us / for usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी?; बहुवचन; एन्क्लिटिक (gen./dat. pl.)Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद्
- देवेभिः
- with the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot देव
- उप
- near, up toIndeclinableउपसर्ग/निपातRoot उप (उपसर्ग) / upa (preverb)
- यातम्
- come (you two)!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यमपुरुष; द्विवचन; परस्मैपदRole (आह्वाने) क्रियाRoot या (याति)
- अर्वाक्
- hitherwardIndeclinableदिशावाचक अव्ययRole AdhikaraṇaRoot अर्वाक् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय)
- सजोषसा
- in concord, together, harmoniouslyAdjective/Adverbialनपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचन (instrumental of manner)Role KaraṇaRoot सजोषस् (sa-joṣas)
- नासत्या
- O Nāsatyas (Aśvins)Noun (dual deity name)पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; द्विवचनRole SambodhanaRoot नासत्य (अश्विनौ-नाम)
- रथेन
- with (your) chariotNounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot रथ
- युवोः
- of you twoPronounषष्ठी; द्विवचनRole Sambandha (genitive)Root युष्मद्
- हि
- for, indeedIndeclinableनिपातRoot हि
- नः
- our / to usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी; बहुवचन; एन्क्लिटिक (gen./dat. pl.)Role Sambandha (genitive) / Sampradāna (contextual)Root अस्मद्
- सख्या
- friendshipNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole Kartā (as subject-noun of ‘is’ understood)Root सख्य (सखि-भाव)
- पित्र्याणि
- ancestral, of the fathersAdjective (substantivized)नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; बहुवचनRole Viśeṣaṇa (of सख्या) / appositionalRoot पित्र्य (पितृ-सम्बन्धी)
- समानः
- common, the sameAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole Kartā (predicate adjective with बन्धुः)Root समान
- बन्धुः
- kin, bond, relationNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole Kartā (subject-noun of ‘is’ understood)Root बन्धु
- उत
- and alsoIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थ निपातRoot उत
- तस्य
- of that (bond/kinship)Pronounषष्ठी; एकवचन; (पुं/नपुं)Role Sambandha (genitive)Root तद्
- वित्तम्
- known, recognized; (the) knowledge/recognitionKṛdanta (past passive participle used as noun)नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचनRole Kartā (predicate noun: ‘is known/recognized’) / or Karma (if ‘know!’ implied)Root विद् (√विद् ‘to know/find’) → वित्त (PPP/nominal)
Sandhi Notes
- Resolved sandhi/pada-splitting: आ + नः
- देवेभिः + उप (visarga before vowel)
- उप + यातम्
- अर्वाक् (independent)
- सजोषसा (manner-instr.)
- नासत्या (voc. du.)
- रथेन. Second hemistich: युवोः + हि
- नः
- सख्या + पित्र्याणि (agreement/apposition)
- समानः + बन्धुः
- उत
- तस्य
- वित्तम्. Finite verb ‘अस्ति’ is understood with ‘सख्या… समानो बन्धुः… (अस्ति)’
- accent marks in the saṃhitā text are not reproduced in the pada forms here
The meaning
Outer meaning
The poet asks the Nāsatyas to come to them together with the gods, in harmony, in their chariot. He says there is ancestral friendship with them; the bond is one, and the Aśvins know it.
Inner meaning
The call is for a collective descent: not isolated help but help “with the gods”—with the whole harmony of higher powers. Sajoṣasā indicates inner consent and concord: the seeker’s parts and the divine powers must agree in one rhythm. ‘Ancestral friendship’ (pitryāṇi sakhyā) points to an ancient, deep relation between the human soul and the divine Helpers—memory in the psychic being of its origin and companions. The ‘one bond’ is the underlying unity (ekatva) between human aspiration and divine response; the Aśvins ‘know’ (vittam) this truth, meaning the divine already holds the secret of our kinship and can awaken it in us.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress is easiest when we align with the whole harmony of higher forces; our deepest relationship with the divine is ancient and intrinsic, not newly invented.
Themes
Ancestral continuity, Communion with gods, Harmony (sajoṣas), Aśvins
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa)
- Other hymns
- RV 7.72.1, RV 7.71.6
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha frequently emphasizes concord with the gods and the continuity of the spiritual lineage—an inner ‘ancestry’ of ṛta and truth.
Significance
He points to the psychic continuity of the seeker: the bond with the divine is primordial, and harmony (sajoṣasā) is the key to receiving help.
The deity
- Devata
- Aśvinau (Nāsatyā)
- Epithets
- Nāsatyā, Aśvinā
- Related deities
- Viśve Devāḥ (all gods), Uṣas, Agni
Cosmic role
Mediators who can arrive with the whole divine company; establish concord and auspicious beginnings.
Inner power
Power of harmonization and re-connection: they awaken the ancient soul-bond and bring supportive influences together.
In ritual
Where it is used
Invitation to Aśvins with the company of gods in soma rites; also general prayer for concord
आ नो॑ दे॒वेभि॒रुप॑ यातम॒र्वाक्स॒जोष॑सा नासत्या॒ रथे॑न । यु॒वोर्हि न॑: स॒ख्या पित्र्या॑णि समा॒नो बन्धु॑रु॒त तस्य॑ वित्तम् ॥
आ । नः॒ । दे॒वेभिः॑ । उप॑ । या॒त॒म् । अ॒र्वाक् । स॒ऽजोष॑सा । ना॒स॒त्या॒ । रथे॑न । यु॒वोः । हि । नः॒ । स॒ख्या । पित्र्या॑णि । स॒मा॒नः । बन्धुः॑ । उ॒त । तस्य॑ । वि॒त्त॒म् ॥
ā | naḥ | devebhiḥ | upa | yātam | arvāk | sa-joṣasā | nāsatyā | rathena | yuvoḥ | hi | naḥ | sakhyā | pitryāṇi | samānaḥ | bandhuḥ | uta | tasya | vittam
48
4×12 syllables (approx.)
Expansive, relational cadence; suited to themes of concord and kinship.
Encourages wideness and belonging; softens separative ego-sense into a feeling of alliance with higher powers.
- devebhiḥ
- Literal: with the gods. Symbolic: with the full range of higher powers of consciousness, not a single isolated influence
- sajoṣasā
- Literal: in one accord, consenting together. Symbolic: inner unanimity; harmonized parts of the being receptive to the descent
- ratha
- Literal: chariot. Symbolic: vehicle of coordinated divine action in the seeker
- sakhyā pitryāṇi
- Literal: ancestral friendships. Symbolic: psychic memory of the soul’s ancient alliance with the divine
- samāno bandhuḥ
- Literal: the bond is the same/one. Symbolic: essential unity between human and divine in the truth of being
- vittam
- Literal: you know/you have found. Symbolic: divine gnosis of the true relation; power to reveal it to the human
Invocation stressing solidarity with other devatās and continuity with the Fathers; used where ancestral lineage and continuity of sacrifice are emphasized.
At times requiring collective harmony—communal rites, beginnings, reconciliations, protective invocations.
Āhvāna (invitation) + smṛti (recall) of ancient bond to intensify presence.
Use before group meditation or difficult conversations: chant to establish sajoṣa (inner and outer accord) and remember shared deeper bond.
sajóṣasā: sa- ‘together’ + jóṣas ‘delight, pleasure, concord’ (from √juṣ ‘enjoy/accept’) → ‘in harmonious accord’. pitryā́ṇi: ‘of the fathers/ancestors’ (pitṛ́). bándhu: ‘bond/kin’ (binding relation; from √bandh ‘bind’). vittám: 2nd pl/dual? here ‘(you) know’ from √vid ‘know’ (PIE *weyd-).
ancestral transmission (pitrya sakhyā), bandhu as inner correspondence/connection, vid (knowledge) as recognition of kinship in ṛta
Sajoṣasā is ṛta in relationship—right order as harmony among powers.
The ‘one bond’ is a satya of unity underlying apparent separations.
The gods act together as a coordinated cosmos; the human is invited into that cosmic harmony.
Toward Upaniṣadic unity: many powers, one bond; an integral-theistic unity.
Dawn/morning (Aśvin context)
Approach from near = immediacy of grace when receptivity is harmonized; ‘with the gods’ = many inner faculties aligning.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem of inherited alliance: the Aśvins are not new visitors but ancient kin-friends of the sacrificer’s lineage (pitryāṇi sakhyā). Inner sense: the seeker claims continuity with prior realizers (‘Fathers’), invoking the same assisting powers that guided earlier journeys of consciousness.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vid ‘know’ (vittam) is a strong PIE inheritance (*weyd-). bándhu from √bandh ‘bind’ reflects a widespread IE semantic of binding/connection. The social vocabulary of friendship/kinship (sakhyā, bandhu) is characteristic of archaic hymn language where cosmic relations are expressed through human relational terms.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi grounds his right to call the devatā in an established bond (bandhu) and ancestral friendship (pitrya sakhyā). This is a Vedic mode of ‘contract’: the gods are invoked through remembered reciprocity across generations, and their knowledge (vittam) is appealed to as witness of that covenant.
Establish sajoṣa: bring mind, life, and body into consent; invite a collective descent of higher powers.
Anāhata (bond/kinship) with Sahasrāra (descent of ‘the gods’ as higher influences)
Coherence breathing (5–6 breaths/min) for 3 minutes; then chant once, sit and feel ‘one bond’ as a thread through the spine.
Unified receptivity; relational wideness rather than solitary striving.
After chanting, recall one ‘ancestral’ spiritual value you have always known (truth, compassion, courage). Let that be the felt bond; invite the Aśvins to make it active today.
Jagatī: sustain long vowels; keep udatta peaks clear on ā…yātam, sajoṣasā, sakhyā, bandhuḥ, vittam (exact svara requires pada-svara).
Let ‘ā no…upā yātam’ be a clear call; soften into the kinship lines; end ‘uta tasya vittam’ with calm certainty.
arvāk: final k crisp; do not add vowel, sajoṣasā: jo-ṣa with retroflex ṣ; long ā at end, pitryāṇi: cluster ‘try’ clean; long āṇi with retroflex ṇ, samāno: long ā, bandhur: keep -dh- voiced aspirate, vittam: double t clear, short vowel i
Gentle, inclusive, harmonizing; avoid sharp attack.
3
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