Rig Veda 2.24.14: Mandala 2, Sukta 24, Mantra 14
Sukta 2.24
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Brahmaṇaspati
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Raudra (fury) and Vira (heroism)
ब्रह्मणस्पतेरभवद्यथावशं सत्यो मन्युर्महि कर्मा करिष्यतः । यो गा उदाजत्स दिवे वि चाभजन्महीव रीतिः शवसासरत्पृथक् ॥
bráhmaṇas-páter abhavad yathā́vaśaṃ satyó manyúr máhi kármā kariṣyatáḥ | yó gā́ ud-ā́jat sá divé ví cā́bhajam mahī́va rītíḥ śávasā asarat pṛ́thak ||
Z Brahmanaspatiego powstała, zgodnie z jego mistrzostwem, prawdziwa wściekłość, gotowa dokonać potężnego dzieła. On, który popędził w górę Promienie, rozdzielił je dla nieba; jak rozległy kanał powodziowy jego siła popłynęła naprzód, oddzielając ścieżki od zamętu.
Word by Word
- ब्रह्मणस्पतेः
- of BrahmaṇaspatiNounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)Root ब्रह्मणस्-पति (प्रातिपदिक) < ब्रह्मन् + पति
- अभवत्
- became; came to beVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष; एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot भू (धातु)
- यथा
- as; just asIndeclinableअव्ययRole प्रकार/उपमान (manner/comparison)Root यथा (अव्यय)
- अवशम्
- according to (his) will; at willAdjective (used adverbially)नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन (क्रियाविशेषणवत्)Role क्रियाविशेषण (manner)Root अवश (प्रातिपदिक)
- सत्यः
- true; realAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनRole विशेषण (of subject)Root सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- मन्युः
- wrath; ardor; spirited resolveNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनRole कर्तृ (subject)Root मन्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
- महि
- greatly; mightilyIndeclinableअव्ययRole क्रियाविशेषण (degree)Root महि (अव्यय)
- कर्म
- deed; actNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचनRole कर्म (object)Root कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अकरिष्यतः
- (they) will do; will accomplishVerbलृट्/परिप्रास-भविष्यत् (future); परस्मैपद; तृतीया-पुरुष; द्विवचन (Vedic ending -तः)Role क्रियाRoot कृ (धातु)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनRole कर्तृ (relative subject)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- गाः
- cowsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-बहुवचनRole कर्म (object)Root गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- उदाजत्
- drove up/out; brought forthVerbलुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष; एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot अज् (धातु) with उद्- (उपसर्ग)
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनRole कर्तृ (subject)Root तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- दिवे
- for heaven; to the skyNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी-एकवचनRole सम्प्रदान (dative/purpose)Root द्यौ/दिव् (प्रातिपदिक)
- वि
- apart; asunder; forthIndeclinableअव्ययRole क्रियाविशेषण (preverb)Root वि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- च
- andIndeclinableअव्ययRole समुच्चयRoot च (अव्यय)
- अभजत्
- apportioned; distributedVerbलुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष; एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot भज् (धातु) with आ- (उपसर्ग)
- मही
- the great (earth); the vast oneNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनRole कर्तृ/उपमान-आधार (as subject of simile)Root मही (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- like; asIndeclinableअव्ययRole उपमानRoot इव (अव्यय)
- रीतिः
- stream; course; flowingNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनRole कर्तृ (subject)Root रीति (प्रातिपदिक) < √री (to flow) / noun of course
- शवसा
- by strength; with mightNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-एकवचनRole करण (instrument)Root शवस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- असरत्
- flowed; ranVerbलुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष; एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot सृ (धातु) with आ- (उपसर्ग)
- पृथक्
- apart; separatelyIndeclinableअव्ययRole क्रियाविशेषण (manner)Root पृथक् (अव्यय)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (sandhi resolution): ब्रह्मणस्पतेः | अभवत् | यथा | अवशम् | सत्यः | मन्युः | महि | कर्म | अकरिष्यतः || यः | गाः | उदाजत् | सः | दिवे | वि | च | अभजत् | मही | इव | रीतिः | शवसा | असरत् | पृथक् || प्रमुख-सन्धयः: ब्रह्मणस्पतेरभवत् → ब्रह्मणस्पतेः + अभवत् (विसर्ग-सन्धि: एः + अ-)
- यथावशम् → यथा + अवशम् (आ + अ → आ)
- करिष्यतः/अकरिष्यतः is Vedic future with dual ending -तः
- उदाजत् is ud- + aorist of √अज्
- चाभजत् → च + अभजत् (अ + अ → आ in saṃhitā, written with avagraha/without depending on tradition)
The meaning
Outer meaning
From Brahmaṇaspati arose, according to his mastery, a true wrath to accomplish a great work. He drove upward the cows and distributed them for heaven; like a great flood-channel his force ran forth, separating things apart.
Inner meaning
The ‘true wrath’ (satyo manyuḥ) is not human anger but the fierce tapas of the Word-power when it confronts obstruction: an uncompromising energy to execute the great work of liberation. Brahmaṇaspati raises the ‘cows’—the rays of knowledge (go)—from the lower confinement into the higher consciousness (dive), then apportions them rightly to the heaven of mind, establishing clear tracks of understanding. His force moves like a mighty channel (mahīva rītiḥ): a directed current that cuts through confusion, separating true paths from the entanglement of mixed impulses.
Universal truth
Transformation requires not only peace but a truthful intensity that breaks inertia; when knowledge is lifted and rightly distributed, life becomes ordered and the ways become clear.
Themes
Finding-the-cows, Force-of-Word, Truth-ardour, Ordering-of-flows
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Lineage
- Bhārgava
- Other hymns
- RV 2.23.2-4, RV 2.24.1-3
Family tradition
In the Gṛtsamada hymns, Brahmaṇaspati’s power is often depicted as opening, breaking, and releasing—dynamic rather than merely priestly.
Significance
The seer highlights ‘satya-manyu’—a crucial Aurobindonian motif: divine ardor as a purifier and liberator that retrieves the hidden lights.
The deity
- Devata
- Brahmaṇaspati
- Epithets
- īśāna (lord/mastery, implied by yathāvaśam), satya-manyu (possessing true ardor), go-udāj (raiser of the cows/lights, functional)
- Related deities
- Indra (releaser of cows/lights), Agni (tapas and will), Sarasvatī/Vāc (stream of inspired speech)
Cosmic role
Breaker of coverings through the Word; releaser and distributor of the rays; establisher of ordered paths in the heavens of mind.
Inner power
A force of mantric discernment and tapas that cuts channels in consciousness, lifts illumination, and organizes it into stable understanding.
In ritual
Where it is used
Brahmaṇaspati hymns used for opening ways, victory over obstruction, and successful completion of work in soma/yajña settings.
ब्रह्म॑ण॒स्पते॑रभवद्यथाव॒शं स॒त्यो म॒न्युर्महि॒ कर्मा॑ करिष्य॒तः । यो गा उ॒दाज॒त्स दि॒वे वि चा॑भजन्म॒हीव॑ री॒तिः शव॑सासर॒त्पृथ॑क् ॥
ब्रह्म॑णः । पतेः॑ । अ॒भ॒व॒त् । य॒था॒ऽव॒शम् । स॒त्यः । म॒न्युः । महि॑ । कर्म॑ । क॒रि॒ष्य॒तः । यः । गाः । उ॒त्ऽआज॑त् । सः । दि॒वे । वि । च॒ । अ॒भ॒ज॒त् । म॒हीऽइ॑व । री॒तिः । शव॑सा । अ॒स॒र॒त् । पृथ॑क् ॥
brahmaṇaḥ | pateḥ | abhavat | yathāvaśam | satyaḥ | manyuḥ | mahi | karma | kariṣyataḥ | yaḥ | gāḥ | ut-ājat | saḥ | dive | vi | ca | abhajat | mahī-iva | rītiḥ | śavasā | asarat | pṛthak
44
4 x ~11 syllables
Strong, cutting movement—well-suited to ‘manyu’ and the imagery of channeling force.
Awakens decisive purification; helps the listener feel a clean separation from confusion and a surge of upward clarity.
- सत्यो मन्युः (satyo manyuḥ)
- Literal: true wrath/ardor. Symbolic: divine tapas, fierce sincerity that destroys falsehood and resistance
- महि कर्म (mahi karma)
- Literal: great work. Symbolic: the soul’s transformative labor: liberation and right formation
- गा: (gāḥ)
- Literal: cows. Symbolic: rays of light/knowledge; illuminations recovered from concealment
- उदाजत् (udājat)
- Literal: drove/raised upward. Symbolic: uplift of knowledge from subconscient to higher mind
- दिवे (dive)
- Literal: to/for heaven. Symbolic: to the luminous mind-plane where truth is organized
- रीतिः (rītiḥ)
- Literal: stream, channel, course. Symbolic: directed current of force/consciousness creating a clear passage
- पृथक् (pṛthak)
- Literal: apart, separately. Symbolic: discernment: separating true from false, path from confusion
Recited to invoke the forceful efficacy of brahman for ‘great works’: release of light (cows) and ordering of energies (rītiḥ), applicable in rites seeking victory over obstruction and illumination.
At moments requiring ‘breaking through’—obstacle removal, commencement of a major rite, or invocations for release of prosperity/illumination.
Recitation with offering; mentally ‘raise’ the cows/lights and dedicate them to the higher mind (dyaus/div).
Use when stuck in mental fog or procrastination: invoke ‘satya-manyu’ as truthful intensity—not anger—then act on one clear step.
(manyu) from √man ‘think’ but in Vedic denotes ‘ardour/vehemence of conscious force’; it is ‘true’ (satya) when governed by higher truth rather than rajasic turbulence. (gāḥ) from PIE *gʷōus ‘cow’—in Vedic poetics frequently symbolizes ‘rays/illumined knowings’ due to shared imagery of nourishment and light. (rītiḥ) from √rī ‘to flow, stream’ → ordered flow/channel; (śavas) ‘strength’ (PIE *k̑euh₁-? uncertain), standard Vedic term for effective power.
Satya (Truth), Manyu as truth-governed ardour, Release of Light/Knowledge (go)
‘Separating apart’ indicates establishment of ṛta—distinct right paths instead of混合 confusion.
Manyu is ‘satya’—purifying intensity aligned with truth, not ego.
Release and distribution of rays: creation as illumination organized into heaven (mind).
Integral yoga hermeneutic: manyu as divine tapas; go as rays; heaven as higher mind.
Stream/channel = directed force of consciousness; heaven = luminous mind-plane; cows = rays of knowledge ascending and being apportioned.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- ‘Finding/releasing the cows’ (go) as the recovery of hidden light-knowledges. Brahmaṇaspati’s satya-manyu is the decisive ardour that breaks concealment and redistributes the rays ‘for heaven’—restoring the luminous order.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- go- ‘cow’ is a classic PIE inheritance (*gʷōus) repurposed in Indo-Iranian poetics into a light-symbol. The verbal imagery of flowing (rītiḥ, asarat) reflects an Indo-European tendency to map power and inspired speech onto river/flood metaphors (cf. poetic ‘flow’ across IE traditions).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi witnesses Brahmaṇaspati’s ‘true ardour’ as a model for inner discipline: vehemence must be satya-governed to accomplish ‘mahi karma’. The deity’s action becomes an inner instruction—release the rays and separate confused movements into ordered channels.
Invoke ‘satya-manyu’ as a clean inner fire that refuses compromise with obscurity; visualize rays rising and arranging themselves into clear understanding.
Maṇipūra (tapas/ardor) ascending to Ājñā (clarity/discernment)
Kapalabhati-light or brisk exhale rounds (if suitable) before chanting; then steady nāḍī-śodhana to ‘separate paths’ and stabilize clarity.
Purified intensity, upward drive, sharp discernment.
When resistance arises, do not indulge anger; convert it into truth-ardor: one pointed intention, one clear utterance, one decisive act—then rest in the opened channel.
Maintain clear udatta on ‘satyó’ and the name-compound; allow svarita to fall cleanly—avoid emotional shouting despite raudra rasa.
Slight emphasis on ‘satyó manyúḥ’ (pivot) and ‘gā udājat’ (release action). Keep pāda breaks crisp.
(yathāvaśam): keep long ā; ‘vaś’ with ś (palatal), (manyuḥ): nasal ‘ny’ cluster, short u, (udājat): clear ud- prefix; long ā, (rītiḥ): long ī; dental t
Intense but controlled; ‘cutting’ clarity rather than loudness.
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