Rig Veda 10.31.3: Mandala 10, Sukta 31, Mantra 3
Sukta 10.31
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
अधायि धीतिरससृग्रमंशास्तीर्थे न दस्ममुप यन्त्यूमाः । अभ्यानश्म सुवितस्य शूषं नवेदसो अमृतानामभूम ॥
adhā́yi dhītír ásasṛgram áṃśās tī́rthe ná dasmám úpa yánty ū́māḥ | abhyā́nashma suvitásya śū́ṣaṃ návedaso amṛ́tānām abhūma ||
Natchniona myśl została ustanowiona; części wypłynęły. Jak do brodu, fale zdążają ku cudownemu. Osięgnęliśmy siłę dobrego przejścia; stając się na nowo znającymi, weszliśmy w szerokość nieśmiertelnych.
Word by Word
- अध
- then, thereafterIndeclinableअव्यय (काल/अनन्तरार्थे)Root अध
- आयि
- came/approachedVerbलुङ् (आगमयुक्तः), 3 एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role KriyāRoot इ (एति) + आ- (उपसर्ग)
- धीतिḥ
- thought, inspired insightNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot धी (प्रातिपदिक: धीति-)
- अससृक्
- flowed forth, streamedVerbलिट्/परिपूर्ण-भूतार्थक वैदिक रूप, 3 एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role KriyāRoot सृज् (सृजति) / सृ (सरति) — वैदिक रूप
- रम्
- pleasing, delightfulAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग/अव्ययवत् (पद-विशेषण), एकवचनम्Role ViśeṣaṇaRoot रम् (रमते) / रम्- (प्रातिपदिक) — वैदिक
- अंशाः
- shares/portions (allotments)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
- तीर्थे
- at the ford/passage (ritual crossing-place)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like (as) / not (contextual)Indeclinableअव्यय (उपमा/न्यायार्थे) अथवा निषेधRoot न
- दस्मम्
- the wondrous/skillful oneAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot दस्म (प्रातिपदिक)
- उप
- towards, nearIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot उप
- यन्ति
- they go/approachVerbलट्, 3 बहुवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role KriyāRoot या (याति)
- ऊमाः
- helpers/attendants (Vedic: ‘ūmāḥ’ as supporting powers)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot ऊमा (प्रातिपदिक; वैदिक)
- अभि
- towards, uponIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot अभि
- आनश्म
- I attained/reachedVerbलुङ्, 1 एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role KriyāRoot अश् (अश्नोति) + आ-
- सुवितस्य
- of good passage/prosperityNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role Sambandha (genitive)Root सुवित (प्रातिपदिक)
- शूषम्
- strength, vigorNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot शूष (प्रातिपदिक)
- नवेदसः
- the newly-wise/newly-knowing onesNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot नवेदस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अमृतानाम्
- of the immortalsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्Role Sambandha (genitive)Root अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
- अभूवम्
- I becameVerbलुङ्, 1 एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role KriyāRoot भू (भवति)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (major): अधा॑यि → अध + आयि (अध + आ-इ, vowel coalescence)
- धी॒तिरस॑सृक् → धीतिḥ + अससृक् (visarga before vowel)
- र॒मंशा॑स् → रम् + अंशाः (m + a sandhi)
- उप॑ य॒न्त्यूमा॑: → उप + यन्ति + ऊमाः (yanti + ūmāḥ with vowel contact; pada split)
- अ॒भ्या॑नश्म → अभि + आनश्म (prefix + verb)
- नवे॑दसो → नवेदसः (nom. pl.)
- अ॒मृता॑नामभूम → अमृतानाम् + अभूवम् (m + a sandhi; final anusvāra before vowel). Accent marks retained in source but not re-applied per pada here
The meaning
Outer meaning
The inspired thought is set in place; portions stream forth. Like waves going to a ford, they move toward the wondrous one. We have reached the force of the good passage; becoming new knowers, we have entered the wideness of the immortals.
Inner meaning
Dhīti (inspired cognition) is established—an inner formation of higher thought. The ‘aṃśās’ (portions) are the distributed powers/energies of the being released into movement. Like waves converging to a crossing-place (tīrtha), the life-forces and thoughts move toward the ‘dasmá’—the marvelous divine helper (often Indra/Agni as the effective power). ‘Suvita’ is the right passage—safe leading across inner obstruction. Reaching its śūṣa (driving force), the aspirant becomes navedas—newly knowing—entering amṛtānām…wideness: a broadened immortal consciousness beyond the cramped mortal mind.
Universal truth
When inspiration stabilizes, the scattered energies of life naturally converge toward the higher aid; crossing the inner threshold, knowledge renews and consciousness widens into a more deathless mode of being.
Themes
inner crossing, release of energies, attainment, becoming deathless in consciousness
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 10.31 (hymn complex)
Family tradition
Visionary, experiential diction: dhīti, tīrtha, suvita—suggesting inner journey language typical of late Rigvedic contemplative strands.
Significance
The rishi frames realization as a crossing: inspiration stabilizes, energies converge, and consciousness enters immortal wideness—an archetype of yogic transition.
The deity
- Devata
- Dasmá (the Wondrous Helper) and the Immortals (Amṛtāḥ) collectively
- Epithets
- dasmá (wondrous, skillful), amṛtāḥ (immortals)
- Related deities
- Indra (as dasmá, slayer of obstruction), Agni (guide and leader), Savitṛ (good leading, suvita)
Cosmic role
Opens the ford between mortal limitation and immortal wideness; draws the waves of effort toward a single effective crossing.
Inner power
Grace that organizes scattered movements into a unified surge toward realization; the force of right passage (suvita-śūṣa).
In ritual
Where it is used
Threshold/transition verse: marking successful establishment of inspiration and attainment of 'good passage'—applicable to moments of crossing in rite (from preparation to offering) and in inner progression.
अधा॑यि धी॒तिरस॑सृग्र॒मंशा॑स्ती॒र्थे न द॒स्ममुप॑ य॒न्त्यूमा॑: । अ॒भ्या॑नश्म सुवि॒तस्य॑ शू॒षं नवे॑दसो अ॒मृता॑नामभूम ॥
अधा॑यि । धी॒तिः । अस॑सृग्रम् । अंशाः॑ । ती॒र्थे । न । द॒स्मम् । उप॑ । य॒न्ति॒ । ऊमाः॑ । अ॒भि । आ॒न॒श्म॒ । सु॒वि॒तस्य॑ । शू॒षम् । नवे॑दसः । अ॒मृता॑नाम् । अ॒भू॒म॒ ॥
adhāyi | dhītiḥ | asasṛgram | aṃśāḥ | tīrthe | na | dasmam | upa | yanti | ūmāḥ | abhi | ānaśma | suvitasya | śūṣam | navedasaḥ | amṛtānām | abhūma
11
4 pādas of ~11 syllables; flowing caesuras mirror ‘waves’ imagery.
Surging and transitional; strong forward momentum with a sense of crossing/arrival.
Elicits an inner ‘gathering’ and movement; supports meditative transition from scattered to unified awareness.
- धीति (dhīti)
- Literal: inspired thought. Symbolic: higher cognition descending/formed in mind
- अंश (aṃśa)
- Literal: portion, share. Symbolic: distributed powers of the being; faculties offered into the work
- तीर्थ (tīrtha)
- Literal: ford, crossing. Symbolic: threshold-state; passage from ignorance to knowledge
- ऊर्मि (ūrmī)
- Literal: wave. Symbolic: movements of life-energy and thought surging toward realization
- दस्म (dasmá)
- Literal: wondrous, skillful (one). Symbolic: marvelous divine helper—effective power that enables crossing
- सुवित (suvita)
- Literal: good passage, good leading. Symbolic: right guidance; safe inner transition
- शूष (śūṣa)
- Literal: impulse, force. Symbolic: driving energy of progress; spiritual impetus
- नवेदस (navedas)
- Literal: new-knowers. Symbolic: renewed consciousness; fresh gnosis
- अमृतानाम् (amṛtānām)
- Literal: of the immortals. Symbolic: planes/powers of deathless consciousness
Threshold/transition verse: marking successful establishment of inspiration and attainment of 'good passage'—applicable to moments of crossing in rite (from preparation to offering) and in inner progression.
Recited for guidance at transitions: beginning a sādhanā phase, before travel/threshold events, or when seeking clarity and momentum.
Recitation as ‘inner tīrtha’: a brief sankalpa, then japa while visualizing crossing from turbulence to calm wideness.
Use as a mantra for navigating change: stabilize inspiration (dhīti), allow energies to converge, and trust the ‘good passage’ rather than forcing outcomes.
dhīti from √dhī 'think, perceive' (in Vedic often 'inspired thought'). √sṛj 'let go, send forth' (asasṛgram) indicates release. tīrtha from √tṛ 'cross' + -tha 'place'—crossing-place; psychologically a threshold. suvita 'good going' from su- + √i/√vī 'go'. amṛta 'deathless' from a- + √mṛ 'die'.
threshold-crossing (tīrtha, suvita), inspiration established (dhīti), immortality (amṛta)
Implied: true knowledge renews (navedas) when the passage is rightly taken.
Emergence into wideness: consciousness expands from formed inspiration into immortal space.
Integral-psychological Vedism: ascent via inspired mind to immortal planes (amṛta).
Waves = restless life-movements; ford = decisive inner crossing; wideness = vast consciousness beyond ego.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ford (tīrtha) as mythic threshold: waves of force move toward the 'wondrous one' and the seeker attains suvita (good passage), becoming 'new knowers' among the immortals—an initiation-crossing motif.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √tṛ 'cross' is IE (cf. English through as semantic field; Latin trans as functional parallel). amṛta (a- + √mṛ) uses inherited negation + mortality root (cf. Latin mors). The verse uses spatial crossing to encode ontological transition.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The r̥ṣi reports a realized state: inspiration is established, energies released, and the divine helper (dasmá) is approached. The devatā grants suvita and śūṣa, enabling entry into the amṛta-domain; the reciprocity is achievement through aligned movement.
Feel inspiration settle in the head/heart; let scattered energies become one current toward the inner ‘gate’.
viśuddha (true speech/inspiration) and ājñā (inner seeing)
Ujjāyī light (or 4-7-8 gentle) to mimic wave-like movement settling into a steady flow.
Transitional absorption—moving from agitation to wide, quiet clarity.
1) Sit and note mental ‘waves’. 2) On each exhale, let them converge toward a single point (dasmá). 3) Sense a threshold opening (tīrtha). 4) Rest in ‘wideness’ after the final pāda.
Follow Saṃhitā svara marks; keep a gentle rise on dhīti and dasmá; allow cadence to ‘open’ on amṛtānām abhūma.
Mark the transition at the caesura: ‘tīrthe na | dasmam upa yanty ūmāḥ’. Let the final pāda broaden in tone.
dhītiḥ: long ī; do not shorten, asasṛgram: articulate sṛ (vocalic ṛ) cleanly, ūmāḥ: long ū; nasalization minimal, amṛtānām: clear ṛ; long ā in -nām
Flowing, wave-like legato with clear consonants at pāda ends.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
