Rig Veda 7.91.7: Mandala 7, Sukta 91, Mantra 7
Sukta 7.91
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Indra-Vāyu
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
अर्वन्तो न श्रवसो भिक्षमाणा इन्द्रवायू सुष्टुतिभिर्वसिष्ठाः । वाजयन्तः स्ववसे हुवेम यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥
árvanto na śrávaso bhíkṣamāṇā indrāvāyū suṣṭutíbhir vásiṣṭhāḥ | vājáyantaḥ svávase huvema yūyáṃ pāta svastíbhiḥ sádā naḥ ||
Jak gorliwe rumaki szukające sławy, my Wasiszcie pytamy was dobrze ułożonymi hymnami, o Indro i Waju. Starając się zdobyć pełnię siły dla naszej własnej samokontroli, wzywamy was; chrońcie nas zawsze waszymi harmoniami dobrostanu.
Word by Word
- अर्वन्तः
- swift horses (steeds)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot अर्वन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा/सदृशार्थे निपातRoot न (निपात)
- श्रवसः
- of fame, of gloryNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRoot श्रवस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- भिक्षमाणाः
- begging, seekingVerb (participle)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि शानच् (आत्मनेपद-भावः)Role KartāRoot भिक्ष् (धातु) → भिक्षमाण (शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्यय, वर्तमानकाले)
- इन्द्रवायू
- O Indra and VāyuNoun (dual deity name)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, द्विवचनRole SampradānaRoot इन्द्र-वायु (समास; द्वन्द्व/युग्मदेवता)
- सुष्टुतिभिः
- with good praises, with fine hymnsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot सु-स्तुति (प्रातिपदिक; उपसर्ग ‘सु’ + स्तुति)
- वसिष्ठाः
- the Vasiṣṭhas (Vasiṣṭha’s clan/poets)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; ऋषिनाम)
- वाजयन्तः
- seeking to win prizes; making (us) winVerb (participle)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि शतृRole KartāRoot वाजय् (धातु; denominative/causative sense ‘to make win/bring prize’) → वाजयन्त् (वर्तमानकाले शतृ)
- स्ववसे
- for (our/your) own aid, for self-helpNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot स्ववस् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘own good/aid, self-power’)
- हुवेम
- let us call/invokeVerbलोट् (विधिलिङ्/आज्ञार्थे वैदिक-प्रयोगः), उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRoot हू (धातु)
- यूयम्
- you (all)Pronounप्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- पात
- protect!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRoot पा (धातु ‘to protect’)
- स्वस्तिभिः
- with well-being, with blessingsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot स्वस्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
- सदा
- alwaysIndeclinableकालाव्ययRoot सदा (अव्यय)
- नः
- us; for us / of usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक ‘नः’ = ‘of us/to us’)Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (sandhi-resolved): अर्वन्तः | न | श्रवसः | भिक्षमाणाः | इन्द्रवायू | सुष्टुतिभिः | वसिष्ठाः | वाजयन्तः | स्ववसे | हुवेम | यूयम् | पात | स्वस्तिभिः | सदा | नः । मुख्य सन्धि/संहिता-लक्षण: (1) इन्द्रवा॒यू = इन्द्रवायू (सम्बोधन-द्विवचन; संहिता में दीर्घ-ऊ). (2) सु॑ष्टु॒तिभि॒र्वसि॑ष्ठाः = सुष्टुतिभिः वसिष्ठाः (विसर्ग-लोप/रेफ-आदेश: भिः + व- → भिर्व-). (3) वाजयन्त॒: स्वव॑से = वाजयन्तः स्ववसे (विसर्गः पदान्ते). (4) स्व॒स्तिभि॒: सदा॑ = स्वस्तिभिः सदा (विसर्गः पदान्ते). (5) सदा॑ नः = सदा नः (संहिता में संयोग). स्वर-टिप्पणी: पाठ में उदात्त/स्वरित चिह्न (॑, ॒) संहिता-स्वर दर्शाते हैं
- पदच्छेद में मूल पदरूप वही रहते हैं, केवल संहिता-सन्धि हटाई गई है।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Like steeds begging for fame, we Vasiṣṭhas ask you with well-made praises, O Indra–Vāyu. Striving to win the plenitude of force for our own help, we call you; guard us always with blessings of well-being.
Inner meaning
The seekers compare themselves to ardent horses (arvantaḥ): vital energies eager to run toward śravas—true ‘hearing/fame’, i.e., the soul’s recognized luminous achievement. With suṣṭuti—well-shaped mantra-thought—they ask Indra–Vāyu to convert this eagerness into vajá: a victorious plenitude of force that serves svavasa—self-help in the highest sense, the soul’s own power to carry its evolution. The closing prayer for svasti is not mere safety but harmonized well-being: a steady field where illumination and breath can work without disturbance.
Universal truth
Aspiration must be harnessed by right speech and right invocation; then the divine powers protect the journey with harmony, and force becomes an instrument of self-mastery rather than restlessness.
Themes
Invocation, Protection prayer, Aspiration-as-steed metaphor, Force and well-being
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 7.1 (Agni as priest/leader), RV 7.18 (Indra and victory), RV 7.88 (Varuṇa and ṛta)
Family tradition
The Vasiṣṭhāḥ present themselves explicitly here; their tradition values well-fashioned speech (suṣṭuti) and sustained protection through ṛta-aligned living.
Significance
The seer-family acknowledges aspiration’s raw speed (horse) and insists on mantric shaping and divine guidance to turn it into stable victory and well-being.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra–Vāyu
- Epithets
- Indra (Vṛtra-slayer, implicit), Vāyu (Niyutvān, implicit), Narā (heroes)
- Related deities
- Agni (mantric speech and will), Soma (delight sustaining effort), Aśvins (helpers on the journey, thematic)
Cosmic role
Guardians of the journey of consciousness: Indra protects by illumination and victorious discernment; Vāyu protects by harmonizing life-currents and sustaining breath.
Inner power
Transforms craving for ‘fame’ into aspiration for truth; steadies the vital like a trained horse; establishes svasti—harmonious conditions for growth.
In ritual
Where it is used
Concluding or supportive invocation within Indra–Vāyu Soma sequence; prayer for protection and auspiciousness
अर्व॑न्तो॒ न श्रव॑सो॒ भिक्ष॑माणा इन्द्रवा॒यू सु॑ष्टु॒तिभि॒र्वसि॑ष्ठाः । वा॒ज॒यन्त॒: स्वव॑से हुवेम यू॒यं पा॑त स्व॒स्तिभि॒: सदा॑ नः ॥
अर्व॑न्तः । न । श्रव॑सः । भिक्ष॑माणाः । इ॒न्द्र॒वा॒यू इति॑ । सु॒स्तु॒तिऽभिः॑ । वसि॑ष्ठाः । वा॒ज॒ऽयन्तः॑ । सु । अव॑से । हु॒वे॒म॒ । यू॒यम् । पा॒त॒ । स्व॒स्तिऽभिः॑ । सदा॑ । नः॒ ॥
arvantaḥ | na | śravasaḥ | bhikṣamāṇāḥ | indravāyū iti | sustuti-bhiḥ | vasiṣṭhāḥ | vāja-yantaḥ | su | avase | huvema | yūyam | pāta | svasti-bhiḥ | sadā | naḥ
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4 × ~11 syllables; strong simile opening, prayerful close
Energetic beginning (horse-simile) resolving into a calm protective cadence (svastibhiḥ sadā naḥ).
Channels restlessness into devotion, ending in a felt sheltering peace.
- अर्वन्तः (arvantaḥ)
- Literal: steeds. Symbolic: eager vital energies seeking direction
- श्रवस् (śravas)
- Literal: fame, glory, renown. Symbolic: luminous attainment; the soul’s victorious recognition in consciousness
- सुस्तुति (suṣṭuti)
- Literal: well-made praise. Symbolic: mantric thought rightly formed—speech aligned to truth
- वाजयन्तः (vājayantaḥ)
- Literal: winning/pressing for vāja (prize). Symbolic: striving to bring down plenitude of force and accomplishment
- स्ववसे (svavase)
- Literal: for one’s own help. Symbolic: true self-aid: inner power aligned with the soul, not ego
- स्वस्ति (svasti)
- Literal: well-being, auspiciousness. Symbolic: harmonious protection; integrated health of mind-life-body supporting sādhanā
Concluding protective refrain within an Indra–Vāyu soma invitation; used as a benedictive closure (svasti) in soma service recitation
Near the end of a set of invocations; also suitable as a protective close
Recitation after offerings/praises, seeking guarding svasti
As a daily protective chant before travel, study, or sādhanā; use as a closing mantra for breath/meditation sessions.
vājáyant-: denom./causative nuance from vāja ‘strength, prize, plenitude’; psychologically the active ‘making of force’ for progress. svávase: sva ‘one’s own’ + avas ‘help, protection, furtherance’ (√av); indicates inner autonomy supported by the gods. svastí: su ‘good’ + asti ‘being’ (√as ‘to be’): ‘good-being’, harmony of existence; hence protective auspice rather than mere luck.
svasti as harmony of being, vāja as plenitude of force for inner conquest, aspiration (bhikṣamāṇāḥ) directed by praise (stuti)
suṣṭuti and svasti reflect ṛta as right speech and right harmony supporting the journey.
śravas as true glory is the manifestation of satya in life—truth made effective.
The human journey: from eager force to ordered accomplishment under divine protection.
Vedic integral psychology: aspiration (vital horse) disciplined by mantra and guided by illumined powers.
Vital eagerness trained and guided by breath and illumination, culminating in stable well-being.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘steeds of aspiration’ mythologem: the singers are compared to chargers seeking śravas (luminous recognition). Innerly, aspiration is harnessed and directed through suṣṭuti (well-shaped mantra) to draw down Indra–Vāyu’s protective harmony (svasti).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- śrávas (fame/hearing) connects to PIE *ḱleu- ‘hear’ (cf. Greek kléos). svastí is a transparent archaic compound (‘good-being’) paralleling other Indo-European ‘well-being’ formulae. √hū ‘call’ reflects ritual address as a performative speech-act.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The Vasiṣṭhas offer crafted praise as a formative power; the gods are asked to reciprocate by sustaining the sacrificers’ movement with vāja (force) and svasti (harmonized being). The relationship is pedagogic and energetic: mantra disciplines aspiration; the gods stabilize and amplify it.
Turn restless seeking into steady aspiration; end with a protective field of harmony (svasti).
Anāhata (protective harmony) with support of Mūlādhāra (steady base) and Ājñā (guided striving).
Brāhmari or soft exhale-humming after chanting to seal ‘svasti’; otherwise slow lengthened exhale to settle the ‘horse’ energy.
Quiet strength, guarded openness.
Chant once with vigor in the first half; soften the voice on svastibhiḥ sadā naḥ. Sit 2 minutes sensing a protective ‘wind-shell’ around the body and a clear light in the mind.
Triṣṭubh with a strong opening lift on arvanto; settle into a blessing cadence on svastibhiḥ sadā naḥ. Exact udatta/anudatta follows śākhā tradition.
Let the simile ‘arvanto na śravaso’ be energetic; keep suṣṭutibhir vasiṣṭhāḥ clearly articulated; slow slightly on the final pāda for sealing protection.
(bhikṣamāṇāḥ): kṣ cluster crisp; long āṇāḥ, (vājayantaḥ): long ā; keep ‘y’ glide, (svastibhiḥ): sv- cluster clear; dental t
Start bright and eager; end soft, blessing-like, and steady.
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