Rig Veda 8.13.30: Mandala 8, Sukta 13, Mantra 30
Sukta 8.13
- Devata
- Primarily Indra-context hymn
- Chandas
- Likely Trishtubh/Jagatī-family
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
अयं दीर्घाय चक्षसे प्राचि प्रयत्यध्वरे । मिमीते यज्ञमानुषग्विचक्ष्य ॥
ayáṃ dīrghā́ya cákṣase prā́ci prayáty adhvaré | mimī́te yajñám ānuṣág vicákṣya ||
हा (अग्नि/ऋत्विज) दीर्घदृष्टीसाठी अध्वर-यज्ञात पुढे जातो. विवेकी होऊन, तो मानवी परंपरेच्या अखंड प्रवाहात यज्ञाला पावलोपावली मोजून रचतो.
Word by Word
- अयम्
- this (one)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (वाक्य-प्रवर्तक/निर्देशक) अथवा विशेष्य-निर्देशःRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- दीर्घाय
- for long (life), for longevityAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी, एकवचनम् (दीर्घाय [आयुषे] इति दत्तिः) अथवा पुंलिङ्गे चतुर्थी एकवचनम्Role Sampradāna (उद्देश्य/हितार्थ) — ‘for long (life)’Root दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
- चक्षसे
- for vision, for seeingNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी, एकवचनम्Role Sampradāna (उद्देश्य) — ‘for sight/vision’Root चक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक) अथवा √चक्ष् (देखने) से निष्पन्न ‘चक्षस्’
- प्राचि
- eastward, to the eastAdjective (directional) / Adverbial useस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (अध्वर-गमनस्य दिशि ‘eastward’)Role Adhikaraṇa (दिशा/देश-निर्देशः) — ‘eastward’Root प्राञ्च्/प्राच् (दिक्-विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
- प्रयति
- advance, forward courseNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (क्रियायाः कर्तृ-भावः) — ‘the forward movement/advance’Root प्रयति (प्रातिपदिक; ‘प्रयतिः’ = प्रयत्न/प्रवृत्ति/प्रस्थान) अथवा √यत् (प्रयत्न) से भाव
- अध्वरे
- in the sacrifice, in the ritualNounपुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्) — ‘in the sacrifice/rite’Root अध्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
- मिमीते
- measures out, apportionsVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; पुनरुक्त-आभ्यासः (मि-मी-ते) = ‘measures out’Role Kriyā (मुख्य-क्रिया)Root √मा (माने/मितौ ‘to measure, mete out’)
- यज्ञम्
- the sacrifice, offeringNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role Karma (कर्म) — ‘the sacrifice’Root यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) < √यज् (यजने ‘to worship, sacrifice’)
- अनुषक्
- successively, in due orderIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्) — ‘in sequence/continuously’Root अनुषक् (अव्यय; ‘in due order, successively, along’)
- विचक्ष्य
- having observed, having looked aroundGerund (absolutive)अव्ययम् (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष) — ‘having looked/considered’Role Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (पूर्वकर्म/पूर्वक्रिया) — ‘having observed’Root वि-√चक्ष् (देखने/निरीक्षणे) से क्त्वा/ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (resolved): अयम् | दीर्घाय | चक्षसे | प्राचि | प्रयति | अध्वरे | मिमीते | यज्ञम् | अनुषक् | विचक्ष्य । विशेषः: (1) ‘दीर्घाय चक्षसे’ इति द्वे चतुर्थ्यौ—हितार्थ/उद्देश्य-निर्देशः। (2) ‘प्राचि’ दिशावाचक-विशेषणं, अत्र क्रियाविशेषणवत् ‘पूर्वाभिमुखम्’। (3) ‘विचक्ष्य’ = वि + चक्ष् + ल्यप् (अव्ययकृदन्त), ‘मिमीते’ क्रियायाः पूर्वकर्म-भावः।
The meaning
Outer meaning
This one goes forward in the sacrifice toward far-reaching vision; discerning, he measures out the yajña in human continuity step by step.
Inner meaning
‘This one’ can be read as the inner yajamāna/priestly consciousness (or Indra’s guided power in us) that advances in the adhvara— the journey of offering. The aim is dīrghāya cakṣase: a long-ranging vision, the wide seeing of the illumined mind. Vicakṣya (discerning) he ‘measures’ (mimīte) the sacrifice—sets right proportion, rhythm, and stages of practice—ānuṣak, in human continuity: the ascent is built patiently through our embodied life, not by a single leap. This is the psychology of integral progress: exactness, sequence, and continuity.
Universal truth
True spiritual growth is progressive and measurable: a disciplined unfolding that builds a stable, far-reaching vision through consistent practice in ordinary human life.
Themes
Measured sacrifice, Discernment, Progressive practice, Vision-growth
The seer
- Rishi
- Kāṇva tradition (probable); specific rishi not securely identified from the verse alone
- Lineage
- Kāṇva (probable)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 8.13 (hymn context)
Family tradition
Kāṇva hymns often emphasize practical progression in the sacrifice-as-journey, aligning human effort with divine illumination.
Significance
The rishi articulates a yogic method: advance toward higher vision, but ‘measure’ the path—right steps, right rhythm, sustained continuity.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra (context) / the inner yajña-agent under Indra’s illumination
- Epithets
- Vicakṣaṇa (discerning; functional epithet), Prayātṛ (the forward-goer; functional)
- Related deities
- Agni (priestly will and measure), Sarasvatī (discerning flow of inspiration; thematic)
Cosmic role
As Indra’s movement in man, the power advances the sacrifice toward the luminous world and sets its measures.
Inner power
Disciplined will guided by discerning intelligence, capable of sustained progressive transformation.
In ritual
Where it is used
General yajña progression verse within Indra hymn; could accompany transitions in Soma rite or sequencing of offerings.
अ॒यं दी॒र्घाय॒ चक्ष॑से॒ प्राचि॑ प्रय॒त्य॑ध्व॒रे । मिमी॑ते य॒ज्ञमा॑नु॒षग्वि॒चक्ष्य॑ ॥
अ॒यम् । दी॒र्घाय॑ । चक्ष॑से । प्राचि॑ । प्र॒ऽय॒ति । अ॒ध्व॒रे । मिमी॑ते । य॒ज्ञम् । आ॒नु॒षक् । वि॒ऽचक्ष्य॑ ॥
ayam | dīrghāya | cakṣase | prāci | pra-yati | adhvare | mimīte | yajñam | ānuṣak | v i-cakṣya
44
4 pādas × ~11 syllables (approx.)
Processional and progressive; the cadence supports ‘step-by-step’ unfolding.
Encourages patient momentum and precise self-regulation; good for steadying restless energy.
- अध्वर (adhvara)
- Literal: sacrifice/ritual; ‘unhurtful’ journey. Symbolic: The inner path of offering that avoids distortion and violence to the being
- दीर्घाय चक्षसे (dīrghāya cakṣase)
- Literal: for long-reaching sight. Symbolic: Wide, future-bearing vision; higher seeing consciousness
- प्राचि प्रयति (prāci prayati)
- Literal: goes forward eastward/forward. Symbolic: Advances toward the dawn-direction of illumination
- मिमीते (mimīte)
- Literal: measures out. Symbolic: Establishes right proportion, stages, and law of practice
- आनुषक् (ānuṣak)
- Literal: in human sequence/continuity. Symbolic: Stepwise integration into embodied life, day by day
- विचक्ष्य (vicakṣya)
- Literal: discerning, seeing clearly. Symbolic: Discriminative wisdom guiding force
Rite as measured progression: emphasizes correct ‘mā’ (measure) and continuous practice (ānuṣak) in Soma-sacrifice setting.
At points emphasizing orderly performance and forward movement of the rite.
Recitation to support correct ‘measuring’ and successful continuity of the sacrifice.
A mantra for consistent sādhanā: use when building a daily practice routine or recovering continuity after breaks.
चक्षस्/√cakṣ ‘to see’ (PIE *kʷek̂- ‘see’ debated; Indo-Iranian continuity strong). √mā ‘to measure’ (PIE *meh₁-; cf. ‘measure’), central to rita as right proportion. अध्वर: traditionally ‘sacrifice’; etymologically interpreted as a rite ‘not crooked/not harming’ (a-dhvara), supporting the inner sense of a straight path. प्राचि ‘eastward/forward’ links ritual orientation to psychological dawnward progress.
Rita as measure and proportion (√mā), Progressive ascent (pra-√i), Discernment (vicakṣya) as instrument of truth
‘Measuring out’ the yajña is the human enactment of ṛta—right law embodied as method.
Far-reaching vision is satya-dṛṣṭi: seeing that holds truth over time.
Orderly manifestation: the cosmos and the inner life are built by measure, sequence, and discerning force.
Yoga of works/Integral Yoga (Aurobindo resonance): transformation through continuous offering and right method.
Dawn-direction implied (east)
East is awakening illumination; journey is the sādhanā-process; measure is inner discipline and harmonious proportion.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The yajña as a ‘measured path’ leading to extended vision: not a single dramatic exploit but the archetype of rita-by-measure—progress through proportion. Innerly, the mythic action is the building of consciousness by exact steps, so sight becomes ‘long’ (dīrgha) and stable.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √mā ‘measure’ is a clear IE inheritance (PIE *meh₁-). The verse’s semantics—measure → order → right action—reflects an old Indo-European sacral ideology where cosmic order is maintained by correct proportion and articulated speech/act.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer aligns himself with the divine method: the devata’s help is effective when the human agent ‘measures’ the work with discernment. The reciprocity is operational—Indra’s force supports, but the rishi must maintain right proportion and continuous practice.
Sustain forward movement toward wider seeing while keeping exact measure in practice.
Ajna (vision) with support from Muladhara (continuity/steadiness)
Even-count breathing (e.g., 6-6) while mentally repeating the mantra; feel each cycle as a ‘measured step’.
Steady, methodical ascent—quiet effort without strain.
Choose one practice (japa, breath, offering of actions) and ‘measure’ it: fixed time, clear stages, daily continuity; periodically lift attention to the ‘far-reaching vision’ as the aim.
Rigvedic accenting as per śākha; exact udatta positions require a svara text.
Slight emphasis on ‘dīrghā́ya cákṣase’ (aim) and ‘mimī́te’ (method). Keep flow through ‘ānuṣág’.
dīrghāya: keep long ī and ā, cakṣase: pronounce kṣ as cluster (k+ṣ), prāci: long ā; palatal c, vicakṣya: again clear kṣ; do not reduce
Calm, even, precise.
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