Rig Veda 6.69.1: Mandala 6, Sukta 69, Mantra 1
Sukta 6.69
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja
- Devata
- Indra-Viṣṇu
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
सं वां कर्मणा समिषा हिनोमीन्द्राविष्णू अपसस्पारे अस्य । जुषेथां यज्ञं द्रविणं च धत्तमरिष्टैर्नः पथिभिः पारयन्ता ॥
saṃ vāṃ kármaṇā sám iṣā́ hinomīndrā́viṣṇū ápasaspāré asyá | juṣéthāṃ yajñáṃ dráviṇaṃ ca dhattam áriṣṭair naḥ pathíbhiḥ pāráyantā ||
Dengan kerja dan daya kerinduan pemujaan aku menghimpunkan kalian, wahai Indra dan Viṣṇu, di tebing jauh dari usaha ini. Berkenanlah pada yajña dan letakkan pada kami kepenuhan; seberangkan kami melalui jalan-jalan yang tidak dapat dipatahkan.
Word by Word
- सम्
- together, completelyIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot सम् (उपसर्ग) / सम् (अव्यय)
- वाम्
- you two (as object)Pronounद्वितीया/षष्ठी द्विवचन (एन्क्लिटिक रूप)Role KarmaRoot युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
- कर्मणा
- by (ritual) action, by deedNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- सम्
- togetherIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot सम् (उपसर्ग) / सम् (अव्यय)
- इषा
- with refreshment/strength; with oblation-nourishmentNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (वेदिक)Role KaraṇaRoot इष्/इषा (प्रातिपदिक) अथवा इष् (धातु) → इषा
- हिनोमि
- I impel, I set in motionVerbलट् (वर्त्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole KartāRoot हि (धातु) ‘प्रेरणे/गत्यर्थे’
- इन्द्राविष्णू
- O Indra and ViṣṇuNoun (dual deity name)पुंलिङ्ग (देवनाम), सम्बोधन द्विवचनRole SampradānaRoot इन्द्र + विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक-द्वन्द्व)
- अपसः
- of the work/riteNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन (वेदिक रूप: अपसः = अपसस्)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot अपस् (प्रातिपदिक) ‘कार्य/कर्म’
- पारे
- at the far end; beyondNounपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक (प्रयोगानुसार), सप्तमी एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot पार (प्रातिपदिक) ‘पार/अन्त’
- अस्य
- of thisPronounषष्ठी एकवचनRole SambandhaRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- जुषेथाम्
- may you two enjoy/favourVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचन, आत्मनेपदRole KartāRoot जुष् (धातु) ‘सेवने/प्रीतौ’
- यज्ञम्
- the sacrificeNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
- द्रविणम्
- wealth, bountyNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot द्रविण (प्रातिपदिक)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चयRoot च (अव्यय)
- धत्तम्
- place/give (you two)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपदRole KartāRoot धा (धातु) ‘धारणे/स्थापने’
- अरिष्टैः
- with uninjured/safeAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot अरिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) ‘अहिंसित/अनिष्ट-रहित’
- नः
- of us/ourPronounषष्ठी बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role SambandhaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- पथिभिः
- by paths, along pathsNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot पथि/पथिन् (प्रातिपदिक) ‘मार्ग’
- पारयन्ता
- carry (us) across; lead safely overVerb (causative) / participial finite (Vedic injunctive-like imperative)आज्ञार्थ/विधिलिङ्-सदृश वेदिक प्रयोग, मध्यमपुरुष?; वस्तुतः 3rd dual imperative sense ‘let them/you two carry across’ (द्विवचन, परस्मैपद)Role KartāRoot पॄ/पारय् (धातु-प्रयोग: causative of √पॄ ‘to carry across’)
Sandhi Notes
- सं वां → सम् वाम् (अनुस्वारस्य परसवर्णः/मकारः)
- समिषा → सम् + इषा (म् + इ → मि)
- हिनोमीन्द्राविष्णू → हिनोमि + इन्द्राविष्णू (इ + इ → ई)
- अपसस्पारे → अपसः + पारे (विसर्ग-लोपः पदान्ते, सन्धौ ‘अपसः पारे’)
- जु॒षेथां य॒ज्ञं → जुषेथाम् + यज्ञम् (म् + य)
- धत्तमरिष्टैर्नः → धत्तम् + अरिष्टैः + नः (म् + अ; अरिष्टैः + नः → अरिष्टैर्नः विसर्गस्य ‘र्’ आदेशः)
- पथिभि: पारयन्ता → पथिभिः + पारयन्ता (विसर्गः ‘ः’)
The meaning
Outer meaning
With works and with the force of food/impulse (iṣā), the singer urges Indra and Viṣṇu into union at the far shore of this labor. They are asked to enjoy the sacrifice, grant wealth, and carry the worshippers across by uninjured paths.
Inner meaning
Indra (illumined mind) and Viṣṇu (all-pervading wideness/steps of consciousness) are invoked together for the completion of the ‘work’ (apas/karman) of transformation. ‘With works and with iṣā’ means: by right action and by the upward driving energy of aspiration (not mere physical food), the seeker compels a harmonized descent. ‘At the far shore of this labor’ is the goal-state beyond the present effort—where sādhanā becomes spontaneous being. The prayer asks them to accept the inner yajña (self-offering), establish draviṇa (plenitude of substance and power), and lead across by ariṣṭa paths—unbroken ways of progress protected from inner fracture, relapse, or hostile forces.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress needs both illumined force and widening consciousness. When aspiration is joined with right work, a protected path opens, carrying life safely across trials toward fulfillment.
Themes
Invocation to Indra-Viṣṇu, Safe passage, Work and aspiration, Boons: draviṇa
The seer
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja
- Lineage
- Bārhaspatya
- Other hymns
- RV 6.69 (Indra-Viṣṇu), RV 1.154 (Viṣṇu’s strides; thematic kinship), RV 6.17 (Indra’s power in works)
Family tradition
Bharadvāja’s hymns often pair Indra with a widening deity (Viṣṇu/Varuṇa) to ensure that power is not narrow, and wideness is not inert—yielding effective progress.
Significance
The seer emphasizes an integral path: action (karma) and aspiration (iṣā) aligned with illumination and wideness, culminating in a safe crossing to the farther shore of accomplishment.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra-Viṣṇu
- Epithets
- apasaḥ pāre (at the far shore of the work), ariṣṭa-pathin (leaders by unbroken paths; implied)
- Related deities
- Agni, Bṛhaspati, Maruts, Varuṇa
Cosmic role
Indra conquers obstruction and releases light; Viṣṇu measures out the worlds with his strides, establishing wide stations for consciousness.
Inner power
Victorious clarity (Indra) acting within vast, progressive expansion (Viṣṇu) so the being advances without contraction or fall.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma-yajña / general śrauta invocation to Indra-Viṣṇu for protection of the rite’s course and for ‘draviṇa’ (means, plenitude) and safe passage along ariṣṭa paths.
सं वां॒ कर्म॑णा॒ समि॒षा हि॑नो॒मीन्द्रा॑विष्णू॒ अप॑सस्पा॒रे अ॒स्य । जु॒षेथां॑ य॒ज्ञं द्रवि॑णं च धत्त॒मरि॑ष्टैर्नः प॒थिभि॑: पा॒रय॑न्ता ॥
सम् । वा॒म् । कर्म॑णा । सम् । इ॒षा । हि॒नो॒मि॒ । इन्द्रा॑विष्णू॒ इति॑ । अप॑सः । पा॒रे । अ॒स्य । जु॒षेथा॑म् । य॒ज्ञम् । द्रवि॑णम् । च॒ । ध॒त्त॒म् । अरि॑ष्टैः । नः॒ । प॒थिऽभिः॑ । पा॒रय॑न्ता ॥
sam | vām | karmaṇā | sam | iṣā | hinomi | indrāviṣṇūiti | apasaḥ | pāre | asya | juṣethām | yajñam | draviṇam | ca | dhattam | ariṣṭaiḥ | naḥ | pathi-bhiḥ | pārayantā
44
4 x ~11
Energetic and purposeful; strong ‘work’ cadence with a resolving ‘crossing’ close
Motivates action aligned with aspiration; gives a sense of forward path and protection, calming anxiety about obstacles.
- कर्मणा (karmaṇā)
- Literal: by works. Symbolic: Disciplined action as part of inner sacrifice; tapas in doing
- इषा (iṣā)
- Literal: impulse, refreshment, food. Symbolic: Aspiring energy that feeds the ascent; upward urge of life-force
- हिनोमि (hinomi)
- Literal: I impel, I urge. Symbolic: Active call/pressure of aspiration to unite higher powers
- इन्द्राविष्णू (indrāviṣṇū)
- Literal: Indra and Viṣṇu. Symbolic: Illumination-force + widening/all-pervading steps of consciousness
- अपसः पारे (apasas pāre)
- Literal: at the far shore of the work. Symbolic: Beyond the present effort—attainment, completion, higher station
- यज्ञम् (yajñam)
- Literal: sacrifice. Symbolic: Self-offering; exchange between human and divine consciousness
- द्रविणम् (draviṇam)
- Literal: wealth, substance. Symbolic: Plenitude of power and resources for the divine life
- अरिष्टैः पथिभिः (ariṣṭaiḥ pathibhiḥ)
- Literal: by uninjured/unbroken paths. Symbolic: Protected lines of progress; movements that do not break under resistance
- पारयन्ता (pārayantā)
- Literal: carry across. Symbolic: Guided transition across ignorance to a higher ground
Soma-yajña / general śrauta invocation to Indra-Viṣṇu for protection of the rite’s course and for ‘draviṇa’ (means, plenitude) and safe passage along ariṣṭa paths.
In dual-deity praises associated with success in ritual works and safe completion; also suitable at the close of a rite (‘far shore’ imagery).
Invocation for acceptance of yajña and granting of draviṇa; prayer for safe passage/protection.
Recite before starting important projects or sādhanā commitments: align effort (karma) and aspiration (iṣā), then ask for unbroken progress and protected pathways.
iṣ: ‘impulse, refreshment’ from √iṣ ‘to impel, strengthen’. hinomi: √hi ‘to impel’. pāra/pāray-: from √pṛ/√pṝ? (traditional) but functionally ‘to carry across’ (causative of √pṛ ‘fill’ is different); here pārayantā from √pṛ ‘to cross’ is not correct—better treated as denominative/causative from pāra ‘far shore’ (lexicalized ‘to bring across’). ariṣṭa: a- ‘not’ + riṣṭa (from √riṣ ‘injure’) → uninjured.
integration of works (karma) and aspiration (iṣ), divine guidance along secure paths (ariṣṭa pathi), farther shore (pāra) as attainment
ariṣṭa paths imply movement in ṛta—progress that does not break the law of truth.
Truth as reliable guidance: a path that is ‘uninjured’ because it accords with the deeper order.
Viṣṇu’s ‘far shore’ and paths suggest the measuring-out of worlds/states through progressive steps.
Karma-yoga and integral yoga resonance: work as sacrifice, widened consciousness as goal-condition.
Far shore = higher station beyond struggle; paths = channels of inner movement (nāḍī-like progress lines); crossing = transition through resistance to stable attainment.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘farther shore of the work’ mythologem: the sacrifice/practice is a crossing-journey. Indra provides conquering force; Viṣṇu provides the wide stride/path-finding that establishes safe passage to completion.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- pathi- ‘path’ reflects PIE *pent(h)- ‘path, way’ (Greek pόντος ‘sea’ as ‘way’, German Pfad). ariṣṭa ‘uninjured’ shows productive privative a- + injury-root √riṣ, a common Indo-European morphological strategy (privative prefix).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi ‘impels’ the gods through karma and iṣ—disciplined action and aspiration—creating a channel. The gods repay by accepting the yajña, implanting draviṇa (capacity/means), and conducting the seeker along unbroken paths to attainment.
Unite decisive clarity with widening steps; feel your work as yajña and ask for unbroken progress.
Manipura (power for works) supported by Ajna (clarity) and Anahata (wideness)
Moderate japa while walking meditation (paths motif) or seated with steady 1:2 inhale-exhale ratio
From effortful striving to guided, protected momentum
Set an intention for a specific work; chant once slowly, then 6–12 repetitions; afterward, plan one concrete action (karma) while maintaining a widened awareness (Viṣṇu-step) and clear priority (Indra-light).
Tri-svara; keep strong udātta on indrāviṣṇū and yajñam; the phrase ariṣṭair naḥ pathibhiḥ should be even and protective in tone.
Emphasize the initial saṃ (union) to set intent; let the final pārayantā resolve with a sense of being carried.
indrāviṣṇū: clear long ū at end, ariṣṭaiḥ: retroflex ṣṭ cluster, pathibhiḥ: aspirate th, do not make it dental ‘t’, juṣethām: pronounce ju-ṣe-thām with long ā
Firm, forward, confident; avoid haste; keep a ‘path-like’ continuity across pādas
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