Rig Veda 2.41.5: Mandala 2, Sukta 41, Mantra 5
Sukta 2.41
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Mitra–Varuṇa
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
राजानावनभिद्रुहा ध्रुवे सदस्युत्तमे । सहस्रस्थूण आसाते ॥
rājānāv anabhí-druhā dhruvé sádasy uttamé | sahásra-sthūṇā āsāte ||
राजानावनभिद्रुहा ध्रुवे सदसि उत्तमे आसाते; सहस्रस्थूणौ इव समर्थितौ—आत्मपरिषदि स्थिरराज्यशक्ती।
Word by Word
- राजानौ
- two kings (the two sovereigns)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-द्विवचनRole KartāRoot राजन् (प्रातिपदिक) < √राज् (दीप्तौ/राज्ये)
- अनभिद्रुहा
- not injuring/hostile (harmless)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-द्विवचन (राजानौ इति विशेषणम्)Role KartāRoot अन- + अभिद्रुह् (प्रातिपदिक; from √द्रुह् ‘to harm, be hostile’ with अभि)
- ध्रुवे
- in the fixed/firm (place/state)Adjective (used substantively/locatively)नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
- सदसि
- in the assembly (sacrificial session)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot सदस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- उत्तमे
- in the highest/bestAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-एकवचन (सदसि इति विशेषणम्)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; superlative of उद्/उत् + तम)
- सहस्रस्थूणाः
- (those) of a thousand pillars / thousand-pillared (ones)Noun (compound) / Adjective used substantivelyपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचनRole KartāRoot सहस्र- + स्थूणा (प्रातिपदिक)
- आसाते
- they two sit/are seatedVerbलट् (वर्तमान); आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष; द्विवचनRole (क्रिया)Root √आस् (उपवेशने/आसने) — Vedic middle
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: राजानौ | अनभिद्रुहा | ध्रुवे | सदसि | उत्तमे | सहस्रस्थूणाः | आसाते । विशेषम्: ‘राजानावनभिद्रुहा’ इत्यत्र संहितायां राजानौ + अनभिद्रुहा → राजानावनभिद्रुहा (स्वर-संहितासहित)
- ‘सदस्युत्तमे’ इत्यत्र सदसि + उत्तमे → सदस्युत्तमे (इकारस्य यकारादेशः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The two kings, not betraying, sit firmly in the highest seat of the assembly, on a throne supported by a thousand pillars.
Inner meaning
Mitra and Varuṇa are established as the twin sovereign principles in the inner ‘assembly’ (sadas)—the council of faculties. Unbetraying (anabhidruhā) indicates integrity: no inner falsehood or self-division. The ‘thousand pillars’ are the many supports of consciousness—numerous true perceptions, stable nerves, and ordered habits—upholding a high, unwavering seat of discernment and law.
Universal truth
Inner sovereignty arises when truth and harmony preside over the whole being. Integrity stabilizes the inner government; many small supports (disciplines, insights, right movements) uphold the highest seat of decision.
Themes
Divine kingship, Cosmic law and stability, Inner assembly (sadas) symbolism
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Lineage
- Bhārgava (traditional association)
- Other hymns
- RV 2.28 (Varuṇa’s law and release), RV 2.29 (Mitra–Varuṇa wideness and protection), RV 2.27 (Ādityas and ṛta)
Family tradition
Gṛtsamada’s Āditya hymns often portray inner polity: the gods as rulers in the ‘sadas’ of consciousness, establishing law and harmony as a stable regime.
Significance
This verse is a psychological image of the perfected inner government: the seeker’s faculties become an assembly ruled by truth and concord, supported by many pillars of right perception.
The deity
- Devata
- Mitra–Varuṇa
- Epithets
- Rājānau (two kings), Anabhidruhā (unbetraying), Dhruva (firm—implied)
- Related deities
- Aryaman, Bhaga, Aditi (source of the Ādityas)
Cosmic role
Sovereigns of cosmic law, social and moral order, and the vast sky; maintain stability of the worlds.
Inner power
Power to establish inner integrity, ethical clarity, and stable peace; capacity to hold the being in a high, unwavering seat of truth.
In ritual
Where it is used
Āditya-focused recitation within Soma and other śrauta contexts emphasizing ṛta and protection
राजा॑ना॒वन॑भिद्रुहा ध्रु॒वे सद॑स्युत्त॒मे । स॒हस्र॑स्थूण आसाते ॥
राजा॑नौ । अन॑भिऽद्रुहा । ध्रु॒वे । सद॑सि । उ॒त्ऽत॒मे । स॒हस्र॑ऽस्थूणे । आ॒सा॒ते॒ इति॑ ॥
rājānau | anabhi-druhā | dhruve | sadasi | ut-tame | sahasra-sthūṇe | āsāteiti
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Dignified and architectural—like pillars; strong caesuras that ‘seat’ the meaning.
Induces steadiness and inner uprightness; helps the mind feel ‘seated’ rather than restless.
- राजानौ (rājānau)
- Literal: two kings. Symbolic: twin sovereign powers of harmony and truth-law governing the being
- अनभिद्रुहा (anabhi-druhā)
- Literal: not betraying, not treacherous. Symbolic: integrity; undivided sincerity; freedom from inner duplicity
- ध्रुवे (dhruve)
- Literal: firm, fixed. Symbolic: steadfast poise; stable center of consciousness
- सदसि उत्तमे (sadasi uttame)
- Literal: in the highest seat/assembly. Symbolic: in the highest inner council—higher mind/inner tribunal of truth
- सहस्रस्थूणे (sahasra-sthūṇe)
- Literal: with a thousand pillars. Symbolic: multitude of supporting truths, disciplines, and luminous nerves upholding stability
- आसाते (āsāte)
- Literal: they sit. Symbolic: established presence; settled governance rather than intermittent visit
Soma-yajña / sadas setting imagery; supports enthronement praise in Soma liturgy
When invoking Mitra–Varuṇa for stability, truth, and right order in the rite and community
Praise (stuti) establishing the deities’ sovereign seat
Chant when seeking integrity in decisions, steadiness in practice, or rebuilding inner order after confusion or relapse.
rājānau: from rājan- (root √rāj 'to rule, shine')—sovereignty as luminous ordering. anabhi-druhā: dru(h) √druh 'harm/betray' with abhi- intensifier; negated indicates unwavering fidelity of cosmic law. dhruvá: from √dhru 'fixed' (cf. dhruva 'pole star')—symbol of immovable truth. sadas: ritual hall/assembly; inwardly the organized field where thought, will, and sensation convene.
Ṛta as stable sovereignty, Dharma-like non-betrayal (ethical truthfulness as cosmic principle)
The ‘highest seat’ symbolizes ṛta enthroned; cosmic order mirrored as inner order.
Unbetrayingness is Satya-in-action: truth lived, not merely thought.
Worlds stand by pillars; likewise consciousness stands by supports of truth—microcosm mirrors macrocosm.
Vedic political symbolism as inner psychology; anticipates dharma as inner alignment with truth.
Pillars = supports of awareness and discipline; highest seat = higher mind/inner judge; firm sitting = stable samādhāna.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The enthronement of cosmic sovereigns in the sadas: Mitra–Varuṇa as twin kings preside over the order of the world. Psychologically, they preside over the inner polity—establishing a stable, non-deceptive governance in the seeker’s nature.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √rāj connects to PIE *h₃reǵ- ('to rule, straighten') seen in Latin rēx, Sanskrit rājā—rule as 'straightening' order. dhruvá relates to PIE *dher- ('hold, support') semantic field (firmness/support), though the exact mapping is debated; the inherited idea of 'fixed/held' stability is clear.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer recognizes their trustworthy sovereignty (anabhi-druhā) and invites their seated presence in the 'highest assembly'—a request that the divine governance occupy the summit of consciousness and rule the movements below.
Establish the ‘inner council’: let truth and harmony preside over thoughts, speech, and impulses.
Ājñā (inner governance) with Viśuddha (truth)
Box breathing (4-4-4-4) to create ‘pillars’ of steadiness; then silent witnessing.
Seated, impartial, steady; ethical clarity.
After chanting, contemplate one area of life needing integrity; choose one ‘pillar’ practice (truthful speech, regular meditation time, clean intention) and keep it unwavering for 21 days.
Triṣṭubh with clear pāda segmentation; keep accents crisp on rājānau, dhruve, sahasrasthūṇe where marked in the text tradition.
Let ‘dhruve sadasy uttame’ be steady and slightly broadened; avoid clipping long compounds like sahasra-sthūṇe.
anabhi-druhā: keep 'bh' aspirated; 'ruhā' with long ā, dhruve: aspirated dh, consonant cluster dhr- clear, sahasrasthūṇe: articulate sthū- with long ū; retroflex ṇ, āsāte: long ā at start
deep, stable, resonant
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