Rig Veda 8.86.2: Mandala 8, Sukta 86, Mantra 2
Sukta 8.86
- Rishi
- Viśvaka
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Karuna (compassion)
कथा नूनं वां विमना उप स्तवद्युवं धियं ददथुर्वस्यइष्टये । ता वां विश्वको हवते तनूकृथे मा नो वि यौष्टं सख्या मुमोचतम् ॥
kathā́ nū́naṃ vāṃ vímanā úpa stavad yuváṃ dhíyaṃ dadathur vásya iṣṭáye | tā́ vāṃ víśvako hávate tanū-kṛ́the mā́ no ví yauṣṭaṃ sakhyā́ mumócatam ||
Как же ныне смятённый умом приблизится и восхвалит вас, если вы двое не даруете озарённой мысли для стремления к лучшему уделу? Потому Вишвака призывает вас для устроения телесного существа: не разлучайте нас, не распускайте узы дружбы.
Word by Word
- कथा
- how? in what way?Indeclinableअव्यय (प्रश्नार्थक)Role Adhikaraṇa (प्रकार/रीति-प्रश्न)Root कथा (प्रातिपदिक) / किम्-प्रश्न (कथम्-सम्बद्ध)
- नूनम्
- now; indeedIndeclinableकाल/निश्चयार्थक अव्ययRole Adhikaraṇa (काल/निश्चय)Root नूनम् (अव्यय)
- वाम्
- of you two / you twoPronounषष्ठी/द्वितीया द्विवचन (एन्क्लिटिक रूप वाम् = युवयोः/युवाम्)Role Sampradāna (युवयोः प्रति) / सम्बन्धRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- विमनाḥ
- one whose mind is troubled; despondentAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (स्तवद्-क्रियायाः कर्ता)Root वि-मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- उप
- near; towardsIndeclinableअव्यय (उपसर्गार्थे ‘निकटम्/प्रति’)Role Adhikaraṇa (निकटता/प्रत्यभिमुखता)Root उप (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- स्तवत्
- praisedVerbलङ् (अद्यतनभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole KriyāRoot √स्तु (स्तवति)
- युवम्
- you twoPronounप्रथमा, द्विवचनRole Kartā (ददथुः-क्रियायाः कर्ता)Root युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- धियम्
- thought; insight; hymn-intelligenceNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (ददथुः)Root धि (प्रातिपदिक)
- ददथुः
- you two giveVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचनRole KriyāRoot √दा (ददाति)
- वस्यै
- for wealth; for good (treasure)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग (वसु), चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole Sampradāna (इष्टये हेतु-सम्बद्ध दत्तेः प्रयोजनम्)Root वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
- इष्टये
- for the sacrifice; for the desired riteNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole Sampradāna/Prayojana (उद्देश्य)Root इष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
- ता
- those two (you two)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole Karma (हवते)Root तद् (सर्वनाम)
- वाम्
- you twoPronounद्वितीया द्विवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role Karma (हवते—आह्वानस्य विषयः)Root युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- विश्वकः
- Viśvaka (a singer/poet, proper name)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (हवते)Root विश्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
- हवते
- calls; invokesVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole KriyāRoot √ह्वे (ह्वयति/हवते)
- तनूकृथे
- O body-makers (fashioners of the body; healers)Noun (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, द्विवचनRole Sambodhana (आह्वान)Root तनू-कृत् (प्रातिपदिक; बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय-समास)
- मा
- do notIndeclinableनिषेधार्थक अव्यय (आज्ञार्थे/विधिलिङ्-निषेध)Role (निषेध-प्रयोगः)Root मा (निषेध-अव्यय)
- नः
- of us; ourPronounषष्ठी बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक ‘नः’ = अस्माकम्) / कर्तृ-सम्बन्धRole सम्बन्ध (सख्या-सम्बन्धः)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- वि
- apart; asunderIndeclinableउपसर्ग (विभाग/वियोग/विशेषार्थ)Role (क्रियाविशेषणम्)Root वि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- यौष्टम्
- do not separate (us); do not put asunderVerbआज्ञार्थ (लोट्), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचनRole KriyāRoot √युज्/√यु (वेदिक: यौष्टि ‘to separate/keep apart’)
- सख्याम्
- friendship; allianceNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (मु॒मोचतम्—‘सख्यं’)Root सख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- मुमोचतम्
- you two released; let go; abandonedVerbलङ् (अद्यतनभूत), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचनRole KriyāRoot √मुच् (मोचयति/मुच्यते)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धि-विग्रह): कथा नूनम् वाम् विमनाः उप स्तवत् युवम् धियम् ददथुः वस्यै इष्टये । ता वाम् विश्वकः हवते तनूकृथे । मा नः वि यौष्टम् सख्याम् मुमोचतम् ॥ मुख्य-सन्धयः: (1) नूनं वां → नूनम् + वाम् (अनुस्वार/मकार-सन्धि). (2) वस्यैष्टये → वस्यै + इष्टये (स्वर-सन्धि: ए + इ → एऽ/एइ; संहितायां ‘एष्ट’ लेखन). (3) मा नो → मा + नः (ओ-रूपः संहितायाम्). (4) वि यौष्टम्: उपसर्ग ‘वि’ पृथक्
- संहितायां संयुक्तोच्चारणम्
The meaning
Outer meaning
The poet asks: how could a troubled-minded person come near and praise you unless you grant illumined thought for seeking a better state? Repeats the refrain: Viśvaka calls you to shape the embodied being; do not sever friendship.
Inner meaning
When the mind is ‘vimanā’ (disturbed, disheartened, scattered), it cannot truly approach the divine by its own power. The Aśvins must grant ‘dhī’—the illumined intelligence that chooses the better (vasyas). This dhī is the inner remedy: it reorients aspiration and makes praise (stuti) authentic. The refrain again anchors the integral aim: shaping the embodied being and maintaining the living bond of guidance.
Universal truth
In confusion we need not more effort but clearer light. Higher guidance gives the discriminating intelligence that naturally seeks the better and restores relationship with the healing powers within.
Themes
gift of inspiration, inner aspiration, friendship bond refrain
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvaka
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 8.86.1
Family tradition
Book 8 seer; precise gotra not securely attestable in common metadata for this hymn fragment.
Significance
Viśvaka articulates a key psychological law: illumined thought (dhī) is a gift of the higher powers; it is the condition for right aspiration and embodied transformation.
The deity
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Epithets
- Aśvinā, Dasrā (context from 8.86.1), Bhiṣajā (context), Mayo-bhuvā (context)
- Related deities
- Sarasvatī (dhī/vāc), Indra (illumined mind), Agni (aspiring will)
Cosmic role
Givers of remedies and right orientation; they restore the seeker from mental disturbance to a forward-moving aspiration.
Inner power
Bestowers of dhī—luminous discernment that chooses the better and rebuilds faith and functional harmony.
In ritual
Where it is used
Aśvin praise within Soma/dawn contexts; suitable for petitions for clarity and healing
क॒था नू॒नं वां॒ विम॑ना॒ उप॑ स्तवद्यु॒वं धियं॑ ददथु॒र्वस्य॑इष्टये । ता वां॒ विश्व॑को हवते तनूकृ॒थे मा नो॒ वि यौ॑ष्टं स॒ख्या मु॒मोच॑तम् ॥
क॒था । नू॒नम् । वा॒म् । विऽम॑नाः । उप॑ । स्त॒व॒त् । यु॒वम् । धिय॑म् । द॒द॒थुः॒ । वस्यः॑ऽइष्टये । ता । वा॒म् । विश्व॑कः । ह॒व॒ते॒ । त॒नू॒ऽकृ॒थे । मा । नः॒ । वि । यौ॒ष्ट॒म् । स॒ख्या । मु॒मोच॑तम् ॥
kathā | nūnam | vām | vi-manāḥ | upa | stavat | yuvam | dhiyam | dadathuḥ | vasyaḥ-iṣṭaye | tā | vām | viśvakaḥ | havate | tanū-kṛthe | mā | naḥ | vi | yauṣṭam | sakhyā | mumocatam
48
4 × ~12 syllables with repeated refrain line
Expansive and reasoning; carries a reflective question into a steady devotional close.
Supports inquiry turning into surrender; the repeated refrain creates reassurance and continuity.
- विमनाः (vimanāḥ)
- Literal: troubled/dispirited-minded. Symbolic: scattered consciousness; depression, doubt, or divided will
- उप स्तवत् (upa stavat)
- Literal: would approach and praise. Symbolic: turning inward with sincere aspiration
- धियम् (dhiyam)
- Literal: thought, insight. Symbolic: illumined intelligence (dhī) that receives truth
- ददथुः (dadathuḥ)
- Literal: you two give. Symbolic: grace/infusion of higher light into mind
- वस्यःइष्टये (vasya iṣṭaye)
- Literal: for desiring the better. Symbolic: the will toward progressive good; aspiration for higher state
- तनूकृथे / सख्या
- Literal: for shaping the body / friendship. Symbolic: integral embodiment + sustained alliance with inner helpers
Refrain hymn in Ashvin cycle; emphasizes need for dhī (illumined thought) to perform praise/rite effectively.
When seeking guidance, especially at beginnings (dawn) or transitions in rite and life
Stuti + praśna (question) + petition; reaffirming bond with deities
A mantra for times of anxiety, doubt, or low motivation—asking for dhī (clear insight) and renewed friendship with the inner guides.
vímanāḥ: vi- + manas; psychological dispersion—mind pulled apart from unity (opposite of sam-manā). dhī: inspired thought/vision (key Vedic faculty of illumination). √dā ‘give’ marks the gods as givers of dhī, not merely receivers of offerings. vásyaḥ: comparative of vasu/vas ‘good’—‘the better’, implying an ascent in being. iṣṭi: from √yaj/√iṣ? in ritual lexicon ‘seeking/desire/rite’; here best read as inner aspiration/quest for a higher state.
dhī (illumined intelligence) as prerequisite for true worship, psychological dispersion (vi-manā) vs. integrated consciousness, aspiration toward the ‘better’ (vasyaḥ)
Choosing ‘vasyas’ (the better) is the ethical-psychological expression of ṛta—moving in the right direction.
Dhī is the mind’s capacity to receive satya; without it, praise is mechanical.
Evolution by selection of the better under guidance of illumined intelligence; embodiment shaped by repeated right choices.
Integral-psychological hermeneutic: dhī as supramental/illumined mind in seed-form.
Dawn
As dawn clears night-confusion, dhī clears vimanā (disturbed mind), enabling forward aspiration toward the better.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘granting of dhī by the gods’: the hymn states that right praise is impossible for a dispersed mind unless the Ashvins bestow illumined thought. Mythically, the Twins are not only healers of the body but healers of consciousness by giving dhī that enables ascent toward the better.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The comparative vásyaḥ (‘better’) reflects inherited IE comparative morphology. The vi- prefix indicating separation (vi-manāḥ) is a productive Indo-Iranian/IE preverb system used to encode psychological states through spatial metaphors (‘apart’ → ‘distracted’).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi confesses a dependence: human praise requires divine bestowal of dhī. The Ashvins are positioned as initiators of inner capability; the rishi’s role is to approach (upa-) and praise once the mind is unified and illumined, sustaining sakhyā (friendship) through continued aspiration.
Ask for dhī: sit with the question ‘what is the better movement now?’ and wait for a quiet, luminous answer.
Ajna (clarity) supported by Anahata (friendship/trust)
Box breathing 4-4-4-4 for 6 rounds, then chant once slowly; end with silent listening at the brow.
Reflective quiet leading to clear orientation.
Name the disturbance (vimanā) without drama; invoke the Aśvins; request dhī for vasyas-iṣṭi (the will for the better). Conclude by reaffirming the bond—resolve one small right action that embodies the received clarity.
Rigvedic accenting per recension; keep the interrogative opening (‘kathā nūnam…’) naturally rising, then settle into the refrain’s steady cadence.
Let the question sound genuine (not theatrical). Slightly emphasize ‘dhiyam’ and ‘vasyas-iṣṭaye’ as the inner pivot; keep the refrain even and consoling.
kathā: aspirated th; long ā, nūnam: long ū, vimanāḥ: keep ‘vi-’ separate; long ā; visarga light, dhiyaṃ: palatal ‘dh’ + y; nasal ‘ṃ’, vasyaiṣṭaye: articulate the sandhi; keep ‘ṣṭ’ cluster crisp
Soothing, introspective; clear diction on the question, warm reassurance on the refrain.
3
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.
