Rig Veda 2.31.2: Mandala 2, Sukta 31, Mantra 2
Sukta 2.31
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Viśvedevāḥ supporting the divine chariot
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism)
अध स्मा न उदवता सजोषसो रथं देवासो अभि विक्षु वाजयुम् । यदाशवः पद्याभिस्तित्रतो रजः पृथिव्याः सानौ जङ्घनन्त पाणिभिः ॥
ádha smā na údavātā sajoṣaso ráthaṃ devāso abhí víkṣu vāja-yúm | yád āśávaḥ pádyābhis títrataḥ rájaḥ pṛthivyā́ḥ sā́nau jáṅghananta pāṇíbhiḥ ||
Wtedy zaprawdę, dla nas, o bogowie, którzy jesteście jednego zdania, podnieście rydwan, który zdobywa pełnię siły wśród rodów. Gdy szybkie moce, swymi krokami, przemierzają pył na grzbiecie ziemi, uderzają naprzód swymi dłońmi - czyniąc drogę gotową na zwycięstwo podróży.
Word by Word
- अध
- then, nowIndeclinableअव्ययRoot अध (अव्यय)
- स्म
- indeed, justIndeclinableअव्ययRoot स्म (अव्यय)
- नः
- of us / ourPronounषष्ठी (gen.), बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (possessive)Root अस्मद्
- उदवताः
- having water; wateryAdjectiveप्रथमा, बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्गRole विशेषण (कर्तृ-सम्बन्धी)Root उदवत्
- सजोषसः
- in concord; of one mindAdjectiveप्रथमा, बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्गRole विशेषण (कर्तृ-सम्बन्धी)Root सजोषस्
- रथम्
- chariotNounद्वितीया, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्गRole कर्मRoot रथ
- देवासः
- the godsNounप्रथमा, बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्गRole कर्तृRoot देव
- अभि
- towards, uponIndeclinableअव्ययRoot अभि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- विक्षु
- among, in the settlementsIndeclinableअव्ययRole अधिकारण (distributive/locative sense: ‘among’)Root वि + क्षु (अव्यय; ‘apart/among’ sense)
- वाजयुम्
- prize-winning; bringing bootyAdjectiveद्वितीया, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्गRole विशेषण (कर्म-सम्बन्धी)Root वाजयु
- यदा
- whenIndeclinableअव्ययRoot यदा (अव्यय)
- अशवः
- horsesNounप्रथमा, बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्गRole कर्तृRoot अश्व
- पद्याभिः
- with (their) steps/feetNounतृतीया, बहुवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्गRole करणRoot पद्य (न. ‘foot-step/footing’)
- तित्रतः
- they cross over; they passVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमा, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot तृ (धातु; reduplicated pres. stem ति-त्र-)
- रजः
- dust; mist; spaceNounद्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्गRole कर्मRoot रजस्
- पृथिव्याः
- of the earthNounषष्ठी, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्गRole सम्बन्धRoot पृथिवी
- सानौ
- on the ridge/summitNounसप्तमी, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्गRole अधिकारणRoot सानु
- जङ्घनन्त
- they struck; they smoteVerbलङ्/इम्पर्फेक्ट (वेद.), प्रथमा, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot हन् (धातु; intensive/reduplicated stem जङ्घन्-)
- पाणिभिः
- with (their) handsNounतृतीया, बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्गRole करणRoot पाणि
Sandhi Notes
- अध॑ स्मा → अध + स्म
- न॒ उद॑वता → नः + उदवताः (visarga sandhi, o > u before vowel)
- सजोषसो॒ → सजोषसः
- अ॒भि वि॒क्षु → अभि + विक्षु (pada boundary)
- वा॑ज॒युम् unchanged
- यदा॒शव॒: → यदा + अशवः
- पद्या॑भि॒स्तित्र॑तो → पद्याभिः + तित्रतः (visarga before t-)
- रज॑: पृथि॒व्याः → रजः + पृथिव्याः
- सानौ॒ जङ्घ॑नन्त → सानौ + जङ्घनन्त
- पा॒णिभि॑: → पाणिभिः
The meaning
Outer meaning
A call to the gods of one consent to lift up the chariot that wins strength among the clans; the swift powers traverse the dust on earth’s ridge and strike forward with their hands, preparing the path for victory.
Inner meaning
When the inner powers are ‘sajōṣas’ (in concord), they raise the consciousness-vehicle to a level where it can win vāja (plenitude of force/attainment) in all the ‘clans’—the many parts of the being (mind, life, body, subconscient). The ‘swift ones’ are the active energies (vital dynamisms) that must cross the rajas (the obscure dust of mixed nature) on the ‘ridge of earth’ (the bodily plane). ‘Striking with hands’ signifies practical execution: will and action carve a path in dense habit-nature, making the way ready for the inner victory.
Universal truth
Progress is not only vision but coordinated execution: aligned inner forces lift the journey, and persistent action clears the inertia of embodied life.
Themes
Victory-force, Path-making, Collective divine action
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)
- Lineage
- Bhārgava
- Other hymns
- RV 2.20 (Indra), RV 2.23 (Bṛhaspati), RV 2.28 (Varuṇa)
Family tradition
A seer of ‘effective formation’: hymns often stress how divine forces organise human faculties into victorious action.
Significance
He articulates the yoga of integration—raising the inner chariot and clearing embodied resistance so higher force can act in the ‘clans’ of the nature.
The deity
- Devata
- Viśvedevāḥ (All-Gods)
- Epithets
- sajōṣas (unanimous), devāsaḥ (shining ones)
- Related deities
- Mitra, Varuṇa, Indra, Maruts, Ādityas, Vasus, Rudras
Cosmic role
The totality of divine powers working together to uphold the sacrifice and the world-order.
Inner power
A harmonised orchestration of many inner faculties—illumination, force, joy, stability—so the being moves as one instrument.
In ritual
Where it is used
Collective deva-invocation in soma rites and general śrauta recitation for success (vāja) and communal well-being.
अध॑ स्मा न॒ उद॑वता सजोषसो॒ रथं॑ देवासो अ॒भि वि॒क्षु वा॑ज॒युम् । यदा॒शव॒: पद्या॑भि॒स्तित्र॑तो॒ रज॑: पृथि॒व्याः सानौ॒ जङ्घ॑नन्त पा॒णिभि॑: ॥
अध॑ । स्म॒ । नः॒ । उत् । अ॒व॒त॒ । स॒ऽजो॒ष॒सः॒ । रथ॑म् । दे॒वा॒सः॒ । अ॒भि । वि॒क्षु । वा॒ज॒ऽयुम् । यत् । आ॒शवः॑ । पद्या॑भिः । तित्र॑तः । रजः॑ । पृ॒थि॒व्याः । सानौ॑ । जङ्घ॑नन्त । पा॒णिऽभिः॑ ॥
adha | sma | naḥ | ut | avata | sa-joṣasaḥ | ratham | devāsaḥ | abhi | vikṣu | vāja-yum | yat | āśavaḥ | padyābhiḥ | titrataḥ | rajaḥ | pṛthivyāḥ | sānau | jaṅghananta | pāṇi-bhiḥ
44
4×11 (approx.)
Energetic, stride-like rhythm matching ‘steps’ and traversal imagery.
Invokes collective strength; stimulates resolve to act through resistance rather than merely contemplate.
- सजोषसः (sajōṣasaḥ)
- Literal: of one accord. Symbolic: Integration of inner powers; absence of inner civil war
- रथं ... वाजयुम् (rathaṃ ... vājayum)
- Literal: the chariot that wins vāja. Symbolic: The yoga-vehicle oriented to plenitude: strength, clarity, effective power
- विक्षु (vikṣu)
- Literal: among the clans/peoples. Symbolic: Across the many ‘tribes’ within: faculties, impulses, tendencies
- आशवः (āśavaḥ)
- Literal: the swift ones. Symbolic: Dynamic vital forces/energies capable of rapid movement when purified
- रजः (rajaḥ)
- Literal: dust, mist. Symbolic: Obscurity and friction of the lower nature; mixed impulses
- पृथिव्याः सानौ (pṛthivyāḥ sānau)
- Literal: on earth’s ridge. Symbolic: The bodily/physical base where transformation must be secured
- पाṇिभिः (pāṇibhiḥ)
- Literal: with hands. Symbolic: Concrete will-in-action; practical shaping of conduct and habit
Collective deva-invocation for forward movement and winning of vāja; broadly compatible with Soma pressing sequences where ‘vāja’ (victorious force) is a recurrent aim.
When seeking support of all powers for victory, prosperity, and successful completion of the rite.
Stuti/āhvāna to ‘raise’ the chariot—symbolically lifting the rite and sacrificer into effective momentum.
Use before demanding work or during lethargy: align intentions, then act steadily to clear ‘dust’ (confusion/inertia).
vāja- from √vaj ‘to be strong/impel, speed’: hence ‘plenitude of force’ and ‘victory’. rajas- ‘space, mist, dust’ (PIE *h₁regʰ-? uncertain; Indo-Iranian shows ‘hazy expanse’): symbolically the obscuring medium. jaṅghananta from intensive/desiderative of √han/√ghañ? (onomatopoetic/iterative sense ‘to strike repeatedly’): conveys rhythmic force in action.
vāja as fullness of force, overcoming obscurity (rajas) by ordered advance, collective consent (sajoṣas) as condition for success
The gods’ unanimity mirrors ṛta: right coordination of forces produces victorious movement.
Truth must be embodied; it becomes effective when it ‘strikes forward with hands.’
Path-making through dense matter: consciousness carving channels in the physical plane.
Integral psychology of the Veda: transformation includes the bodily ridge (pṛthivī-sānu).
Dust = obscurity of lower nature; earth ridge = physical base; steps/hands = disciplined practice and action shaping the path.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The gods as path-makers who raise the victory-chariot into the human field (vīkṣu). The swift ones crossing ‘rajas’ depict the mythic overcoming of an obscuring medium so the journey can win vāja (plenitude of force).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- vāja aligns with the IE poetics of ‘prize/strength’ linked to speed and victory; the semantic continuum ‘strength–speed–winning’ is pan-IE. The social term vīkṣu ‘clans/settlements’ reflects early IE sociopolitical organization encoded in ritual speech.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi requests an upward raising (ut avata) of the inner vehicle; the gods respond by entering the human multiplicity (vīkṣu) and converting dispersed life-movements into a single victory-current (vāja-yúm) through harmonized consent (sajoṣas).
Integration and execution: gather scattered parts, then move through resistance with steady steps.
Maṇipūra (will/force) grounded into Mūlādhāra (earth-base).
4-4-6 breathing (inhale-hold-exhale) for steadiness; then chant on a firm, even exhale.
Collected force with practical readiness; ‘path-making’ awareness in the body.
After chanting, do one concrete action aligned with your intention (a small ‘hand-strike’ into habit), repeating daily to clear rajas.
Maintain clear udātta on accented syllables; keep svarita as a controlled glide, not a separate beat.
Let the second pāda accelerate slightly to match ‘swift powers’; pause lightly at pāda ends to preserve triṣṭubh swing.
ud avatā: separate ud-a-va-tā (no swallowing of d), vājayum: long ā; soft j, titrataḥ: crisp t sounds; avoid ‘th’, jaṅghananta: nasal ṅ + gh; keep conjunct clear
Firm, rhythmic, stride-like; grounded resonance.
3
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