Rig Veda 8.2.20: Mandala 8, Sukta 2, Mantra 20
Sukta 8.2
- Rishi
- Kaṇva
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Anuṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Karuna (compassion) and Shanta (peace)
मो ष्वद्य दुर्हणावान्त्सायं करदारे अस्मत् । अश्रीर इव जामाता ॥
mó ṣv adyá duḥ-háṇāvān tsāyáṃ karad ā́re asmát | aśrīrá iva jāmātā́ ||
Niech dziś zła, trudna do zniesienia siła nie uczyni nas dalekimi wieczorem, jak bezradość zięć trzymany na dystans; raczej zachowaj naszą komunię bliską i szczęśliwą.
Word by Word
- मा
- do notIndeclinableनिषेधार्थक अव्यय (prohibitive ‘do not’)Root मा (निषेध) / mā (prohibitive particle)
- सु
- indeed, just, nowIndeclinableनिपात; बल/शीघ्रता/अनुनयार्थक (emphatic/urgent particle)Root सु (उपसर्ग/निपात) / su (particle)
- अद्य
- today, nowIndeclinableकालवाचक अव्ययRole Adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)Root अद्य (प्रातिपदिक) / adya
- दुर्हणावान्
- having ill intent / maliciousAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘-वान्’ (वतुप्) प्रत्ययान्त विशेषणRole Kartā (कर्ता) — (अन्तर्भूतः कर्ता/वर्ण्यः पुरुषः)Root दुर्हणा (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (मतुप्/वतुप्)
- सायम्
- in the eveningIndeclinableकालवाचक अव्ययRole Adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)Root सायम् (प्रातिपदिक) / sāyam
- करत्
- may he do / let him makeVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे) / वैदिक-आशीर्लिङ्-सदृश प्रयोग; परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root कृ (धातु)
- अरे
- O! (hey!)Indeclinableसम्बोधनार्थक निपात (vocative interjection)Role Sampradāna/ संबोधन (address)Root अरे (सम्बोधन-निपात) / are
- अस्मत्
- from usPronounपञ्चमी, एकवचन/बहुवचन-प्रयोगेऽपि ‘अस्मत्’ रूपम्; ‘from us’ (ablative)Role Apādāna (अपादान)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अश्रीः
- a luckless/wretched oneNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (वेदे ‘अश्रीः’ = ‘unfortunate/wretched one’)Role Kartā (कर्ता) — उपमान/वर्ण्यःRoot अश्री (प्रातिपदिक) < अ- + श्री
- इव
- like, asIndeclinableउपमानवाचक अव्ययRoot इव (निपात) / iva
- जामाता
- son-in-lawNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (कर्ता) — उपमेयः/वर्ण्यःRoot जामातृ (प्रातिपदिक) / jāmātṛ
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: मा | सु | अद्य | दुर्हणावान् | सायम् | करत् | अरे | अस्मत् | अश्रीः | इव | जामाता । 1) ‘मो ष्व’ = ‘मा सु’ (निषेध ‘मा’ + निपात ‘सु’; वैदिक उच्चारण/संहितायां ‘मा’ + ‘सु’ → ‘मो षु/ष्व’ प्रकारः)
- 2) ‘दुर्हणा॑वान्त्सा॒यं’ = ‘दुर्हणावान् सायम्’ (अन्त्य -न् + आरम्भ स- : संहितायां नकारस्य परसवर्ण/अनुस्वार-प्रवृत्त्या ‘-न्त्स-’ लेखन/उच्चारण)
- 3) ‘करदा॒रे’ = ‘करत् अरे’ (त् + अ- संधौ तकारस्य दकारादेशः; ततः ‘दरे’ इति संहिता-रूपम्)
- 4) ‘अस्मत् । अ॒श्री॒र’ = ‘अस्मत् अश्रीः’ (त् + अ- संधिः; पदान्त-व्यञ्जनस्य संहितायां संयोग/विसर्गाभाव-प्रकारेण प्रवाहः; अर्थतः ‘अस्मत्’ पञ्चमी ‘from us’)
The meaning
Outer meaning
A prayer that the hard-to-bear hostile power not drive the worshipper far away by evening, like a joyless son-in-law kept at a distance.
Inner meaning
The ‘duḥ-hanāvān’ is the oppressive resistance—fatigue, doubt, hostile suggestions, relapse of the subconscient—that by the end of the day can separate the seeker from the inner Presence. The mantra asks Indra to prevent this distancing, so that communion remains near, warm, and fortunate (not like an unwelcome relation kept outside the house of consciousness).
Universal truth
Without vigilance, resistance accumulates and creates distance from one’s highest aim; spiritual life requires repeated reconnection so that the ‘evening’ of energy does not end in separation.
Themes
avoid estrangement, maintain divine proximity, inner fortune (śrī), temporal vigilance
The seer
- Rishi
- Kaṇva
- Other hymns
- RV 8.2 (hymn context)
Family tradition
Kāṇva hymns often speak candidly of inner obstacles and the need for Indra’s sustained companionship.
Significance
The seer’s psychology is practical: the battle is daily (‘adya’), and the fall often comes at the end of the day-cycle (‘sāyam’).
The deity
- Devata
- Indra (implied)
- Epithets
- vṛtrahan (slayer of resistance), maghavan (giver)
- Related deities
- Agni, Soma
Cosmic role
Maintains the victory of light against forces that conceal and separate.
Inner power
Protective luminous mind-force that keeps the seeker in nearness to the Divine Presence and prevents relapse into distance.
In ritual
Where it is used
Protective petition within Indra praise; could accompany offerings seeking removal of adversity.
मो ष्व१॒॑द्य दु॒र्हणा॑वान्त्सा॒यं क॑रदा॒रे अ॒स्मत् । अ॒श्री॒र इ॑व॒ जामा॑ता ॥
मो इति॑ । सु । अ॒द्य । दुः॒ऽहना॑वान् । सा॒यम् । क॒र॒त् । आ॒रे । अ॒स्मत् । अ॒श्री॒रःऽइ॑व । जामा॑ता ॥
mo iti | su | adya | duḥ-hanāvān | sāyam | karat | āre | asmat | aśrīraḥ-iva | jāmātā
32
4 × ~8 syllables
Conversational yet firm; a cautionary, protective rhythm.
Stabilizes; good for guarding the mind at transitions (end of day, end of work session).
- अद्य (adya)
- Literal: today. Symbolic: the immediate field of practice; present-moment yoga
- दुःहना॑वान् (duḥ-hanāvān)
- Literal: hard-to-bear, ill-bearing. Symbolic: pressure of resistance: inertia, grief, hostile force
- सायम् (sāyam)
- Literal: by evening. Symbolic: end of a cycle—when vigilance drops and habits return
- आरे अस्मत् (āre asmat)
- Literal: far from us. Symbolic: loss of contact with the inner Guide/Force
- अश्रीरः इव जामाता (aśrīraḥ iva jāmātā)
- Literal: like a joyless/unwelcome son-in-law. Symbolic: a relation without sweetness—forced, distant contact; spiritual dryness and estrangement
Prayer against estrangement from divine help during the rite’s temporal cycle (day/evening); maintaining nearness of Indra’s presence
In sequences where the sacrificer seeks Indra’s protection from hostile forces; adaptable to evening sandhyā-style reflection (non-technical).
Prayer to avert inauspicious influence; inwardly, refusal of separation and reaffirmation of closeness.
Use as an ‘anti-relapse’ mantra at day’s end to prevent spiritual dryness, discouragement, or drifting into old habits.
duḥ- + hanā- (uncertain formation) conveys ‘bad/ill’ + ‘bearing/enduring’ → ‘hard to bear’; taken psychologically as an oppressive state. √kṛ ‘do/make’ (PIE *kwer-/*ker- ‘make’ broadly). śrī as splendor/felicity; aśrīra ‘without śrī’ = devoid of fortunate radiance.
nearness vs. distance as states of communion, śrī as inner felicity/splendor, obstruction as painful endurance
The mantra resists being pushed ‘far’—a movement away from ṛta’s straight path.
Staying near is staying with truth of aspiration rather than the false suggestion of incapacity.
Aurobindonian psychological interpretation: hostile forces as formations in the subconscient and collective inconscience.
evening
Evening symbolizes the waning of conscious clarity; the prayer is to keep the inner light close when outer light fades.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem of distance from the god as misfortune: the hostile condition would push the seeker ‘far away’. The social simile (joyless son-in-law) encodes the psychological reality of estranged communion.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The day-part adverbs and temporal framing reflect inherited Indo-European ritual time-consciousness. √kṛ ‘make’ is a major IE verb; the prohibitive construction continues archaic Indo-Iranian modality.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi negotiates intimacy: he fears a condition that separates the human from Indra’s sustaining force. The request is for continued proximity—an inner state where the divine can act without obstruction.
Evening recollection: notice where consciousness was pushed ‘far’; call back the presence of Indra as steady luminous protector.
anāhata (nearness/communion)
Lengthened exhale (e.g., 4-8) while repeating the second half; let ‘āre asmat’ dissolve into spacious release.
From scattered fatigue to gathered inwardness and guarded peace.
Chant at sunset or after work; then sit 5 minutes, feeling a protective ring of light around the mind and heart; end with a clear intention for the next cycle.
Observe udatta marks where present; keep the cadence even across the simile ‘aśrīra iva jāmātā’.
Slight lift on accented syllables; pause lightly at ‘sāyam’ to mark the turning-point of the day.
(duḥ-hanāvān): clear visarga duḥ; avoid swallowing ḥ, (sāyam): long ā, (āre): long ā; flap r, (jāmātā): long ā in both syllables
Protective, low and steady; like an evening vow.
9
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.
