Rig Veda 3.57.4: Mandala 3, Sukta 57, Mantra 4
Sukta 3.57
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Rodasī / sacrificial powers
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
अच्छा विवक्मि रोदसी सुमेके ग्राव्णो युजानो अध्वरे मनीषा । इमा उ ते मनवे भूरिवारा ऊर्ध्वा भवन्ति दर्शता यजत्राः ॥
ácchā vivakmi ródasī suméke grā́vṇo yujānó adhvaré manīṣā́ | imā́ u te mánave bhū́rivārā ūrdhvā́ bhavanti darśatā́ yajatrā́ḥ ||
अच्छा विवक्मि रोदसी सुमेके, ग्राव्णो युजानो अध्वरे मनीषा। इमा उ ते मनवे भूरिवाराः ऊर्ध्वा भवन्ति दर्शता यजत्राः॥
Word by Word
- अच्छा
- towards, hitherIndeclinableअव्यय (दिशा/गति-प्रवृत्त्यर्थे ‘towards’)Role Adhikaraṇa (दिशा/प्रवृत्ति-निर्देश) / उपसर्गार्थRoot अञ्च् (गत्यर्थ) / अव्यय ‘अच्छा’
- विवक्मि
- I speak forth, I proclaimVerbलट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole Kartā (अहं) — वचनक्रियाRoot वच् (वदने) + वि-
- रोदसी
- Heaven and Earth (the two worlds)Noun (dual) / Devatā-nameस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन (द्वन्द्वार्थे ‘Heaven-and-Earth’)Role Karma (स्तुत्य/उद्देश्य) — ‘I address/praise Heaven and Earth’Root रोदसी (प्रातिपदिक; द्यावापृथिव्यौ)
- सु-मेके
- well-fixed, firmly set (two)Adjective(रोदसी-विशेषण) स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचनRole Karma (विशेषणरूपेण)Root मेका/मेक (प्रातिपदिक; ‘स्तम्भ/आधार/स्थिर’ इत्यर्थे, वेदिक) + सु-
- ग्राव्णः
- of the pressing-stoneNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी) — ‘of the press-stone’Root ग्रावन् (प्रातिपदिक; सोमपेषण-शिला ‘press-stone’)
- युजानः
- yoking, harnessing, engagingParticipleवर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्), आत्मनेपद-प्रयोगः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (विवक्मि-कर्तृ-विशेषण) — ‘while yoking/engaging’Root युज् (योजने)
- अध्वरे
- in the rite, in the sacrificeNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole Adhikaraṇa (स्थान/अवसर) — ‘in the sacrifice’Root अध्वर (प्रातिपदिक; यज्ञ)
- मनीषा
- with inspired thought, with insightNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (करणे) अथवा प्रथमा एकवचन (वेदिक-स्वातन्त्र्ये); अत्र करणत्वं युक्तम्Role Karaṇa — ‘by/with inspired thought’Root मनीषा (प्रातिपदिक; ‘बुद्धि/प्रज्ञा/कवित्व’)
- इमाः
- thesePronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (भवन्ति-कर्तृ) — ‘these (things)’Root इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- उ
- indeed, andIndeclinableनिपात (अनुनासिक/अन्वर्थ-बलार्थ)Role (सम्बोधन/अन्वय-बल)Root उ (निपात)
- ते
- your, thyPronounषष्ठी, एकवचन (तव) / दत्तिवैकल्प्ये; अत्र षष्ठी ‘thy’Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी) — ‘thy’Root युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- मनवे
- for ManuNoun (proper) / Devatā-ancestorपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole Sampradāna — ‘for Manu’Root मनु (प्रातिपदिक; ‘Manu’)
- भूरि-वाराः
- rich in gifts/boonsAdjective (compound)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इमाः-विशेषणRole Kartā (विशेषण) — ‘abounding in boons’Root भूरि (अव्यय/विशेषण ‘much’) + वार (प्रातिपदिक; ‘choice/gift/boon’ वेदिक)
- ऊर्ध्वाः
- upright, risingAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इमाः-विशेषणRole Kartā (विशेषण) — ‘raised/upward’Root ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- भवन्ति
- become, come to beVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदRole (अकर्मक; कर्तृ = इमाः)Root भू (सत्तायाम्)
- दर्शताः
- splendid, worthy to be seenAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इमाः-विशेषणRole Kartā (विशेषण)Root दर्शत (प्रातिपदिक; ‘visible, splendid’)
- यजत्राः
- worthy of worship, venerableAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इमाः-विशेषणRole Kartā (विशेषण)Root यजत्र (प्रातिपदिक; ‘worshipful, fit for sacrifice’) < यज्
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: अच्छा | विवक्मि | रोदसी | सुमेके | ग्राव्णः | युजानः | अध्वरे | मनीषा | इमाः | उ | ते | मनवे | भूरिवाराः | ऊर्ध्वाः | भवन्ति | दर्शताः | यजत्राः । प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) ‘इमा उ ते’ = इमाः + उ + ते (विसर्ग/अः लोपः, पदान्त-स्वर-समायोजन)
- (2) ‘भूरि॑वारा’ = भूरि + वाराः (समास/संधि; दीर्घ/स्वर-समायोजन)
- (3) ‘ग्राव्णो॑ युजा॒नो’ = ग्राव्णः + युजानः (पदसंयोगे विसर्ग-लोप/अनुस्वार-प्रवृत्ति पाठभेदानुसार)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The seer addresses Heaven-and-Earth (Rodasī), the well-established pair, and speaks—yoking the pressing-stone in the sacrifice with inspired thought. The offerings, rich in gifts, rise upward, visible and worthy of worship.
Inner meaning
Heaven-and-Earth are the two foundational planes—higher mind (dyu) and embodied consciousness (pṛthivī)—made ‘well-fixed’ when the being is rightly poised. The ‘pressing-stone’ (grāvan) is the concentrated force that expresses Soma: the pressure of tapas and aspiration that releases delight and illumination. By manīṣā (inspired intelligence), the yogin yokes this force in the inner adhvara (the journey-sacrifice). Then the energies/offerings (imāḥ… bhūrivārāḥ) rise upward: awakened movements of the nature ascend toward higher consciousness, becoming ‘visible’ (darśatāḥ) as realizations and ‘yajatrāḥ’ as fit for consecration.
Universal truth
When higher and lower nature are harmonized, and aspiration presses out the essence, the best movements in us naturally rise—becoming clear, luminous, and consecrated to the Good.
Themes
Ritual as inner ascent, Stabilizing the field, Sacrificial instrumentation
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Gāthina (Viśvāmitra lineage)
- Other hymns
- RV 3.57, RV 3.58, RV 3.59
Family tradition
A seer of harmonizing opposites (dyāvā-pṛthivī) and establishing wideness; emphasizes inspired thought (manīṣā) as a yogic instrument.
Significance
Shows the inner mechanics of Vedic yoga: stabilize the planes, apply tapas (grāvan), and allow the offering-energies to rise as luminous realizations.
The deity
- Devata
- Rodasī (Dyāvā-Pṛthivī)
- Epithets
- sumeke (well-fixed), ubhe (the two, implied), mātārā (two mothers, common epithet in RV context)
- Related deities
- Soma, Agni, Indra, Aditi
Cosmic role
The universal dyad that supports all manifestation; provides the stable field for the sacrifice and ascent.
Inner power
Capacity to hold consciousness steady between height and depth; establishes a balanced vessel so delight/illumination can be expressed and lifted upward.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma-pressing (conceptual) invocation within śrauta sacrifice
अच्छा॑ विवक्मि॒ रोद॑सी सु॒मेके॒ ग्राव्णो॑ युजा॒नो अ॑ध्व॒रे म॑नी॒षा । इ॒मा उ॑ ते॒ मन॑वे॒ भूरि॑वारा ऊ॒र्ध्वा भ॑वन्ति दर्श॒ता यज॑त्राः ॥
अच्छ॑ । वि॒व॒क्मि॒ । रोद॑सी॒ इति॑ । सु॒मेके॒ इति॑ सु॒ऽमेके॑ । ग्राव्णः॑ । यु॒जा॒नः । अ॒ध्व॒रे । म॒नी॒षा । इ॒माः । ऊँ॒ इति॑ । ते॒ । मन॑वे । भूरि॑ऽवाराः । ऊ॒र्ध्वाः । भ॒व॒न्ति॒ । द॒र्श॒ताः । यज॑त्राः ॥
accha | vivakmi | rodasī iti | sumeke itisu-meke | grāvṇaḥ | yujānaḥ | adhvare | manīṣā | imāḥ | oṃ iti | te | manave | bhūri-vārāḥ | ūrdhvāḥ | bhavanti | darśatāḥ | yajatrāḥ
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables
Balanced yet propulsive; supports the theme of yoking and upward rise.
Creates a steady ground (first half) and then a lift (ūrdhvā bhavanti), aiding inner ascent.
- रोदसी (rodasī)
- Literal: Heaven and Earth. Symbolic: upper and lower planes of consciousness, mind and embodiment in harmony
- सु-मेकॆ (sumeke)
- Literal: well-fixed, well-established. Symbolic: stable poise of the being; firm foundation for ascent
- ग्राव्णः (grāvṇaḥ)
- Literal: pressing-stone. Symbolic: tapas/pressure of concentration releasing Soma-essence
- अध्वरे (adhvare)
- Literal: in the sacrifice. Symbolic: inner journey-discipline (yoga as sacrifice)
- मनीषा (manīṣā)
- Literal: inspired thought. Symbolic: intuitive intelligence guiding the inner work
- ऊर्ध्वाः (ūrdhvāḥ)
- Literal: upward. Symbolic: ascent of energies toward higher consciousness
- दर्शताः (darśatāḥ)
- Literal: visible, seen. Symbolic: realization becoming experiential and clear
- यजत्राः (yajatrāḥ)
- Literal: worthy of offering. Symbolic: movements fit to be consecrated to the Divine
Explicit soma-pressing setting: yoking the grāvan in adhvara; mantra supports the upward movement of offerings/aspirations and the stabilization of the ritual field.
During soma-related recitations or hymns to dyāvā-pṛthivī; when establishing the altar-field and the upward movement of offerings.
Yoking the grāvan (pressing) with manīṣā; offering that ‘rises upward’.
Before meditation, ‘fix’ Heaven-and-Earth: align posture (earth) and attention (heaven). Apply gentle inner pressure (focused inquiry) to release clarity and let it rise.
grāvan ‘pressing stone’ from √grah/√grabh ‘to seize’ (instrument that ‘grasps’ soma). adhvara from a-dhvara ‘not crooked/hurting’ (durative debated), Vedic for ‘sacrifice’. ūrdhva from √ṛdh/√vṛdh?; standard ‘upward’. darśata from √dṛś ‘to see’.
ascent (ūrdhva), manifestation (darśata), stability of the worlds (sume-ke)
Rodasī as ‘sumeke’ signifies ṛta as stable cosmic foundation enabling right ascent.
Darśatāḥ: truth becomes seen/experienced rather than inferred.
Manifestation supported by the dyad; essence pressed out and lifted to higher planes.
Integral/psychological Veda: sacrifice as inner ascent through tapas and intuition.
Stability of body-mind axis; concentration as ‘pressing’; uplift of purified energies.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The rite as cosmic yoking: the pressing-stone is harnessed by manīṣā, and offerings/forces rise upward, visible and fit. Mythically, the human act ‘yokes’ cosmic supports (Heaven-Earth) to enable ascent and manifestation.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √dṛś in darśata continues PIE *derk- ‘to see’ (cf. Greek dérkomai). The Heaven/Earth dual is an inherited IE poetic structure. Instrumental ritual vocabulary (yuj ‘yoke’) continues PIE *yeug- (cf. Latin iugum, English yoke).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi acts as mediator: through speech and manīṣā he ‘yokes’ the rite’s instrument to the cosmic pair Rodasī, aiming at an upward transformation where what is offered becomes manifest and acceptable to the gods.
Axis alignment: establish ‘Heaven and Earth’ within; use concentrated pressure to release inner soma (delight/clarity) and let it rise.
Mūlādhāra–Sahasrāra axis (alignment), with lift through Ājñā
Inhale: feel ‘earth’ stability; exhale: lift attention upward; add a gentle kumbhaka as ‘pressing’ to release clarity.
Steady, upright, ascending awareness; clear perception (darśatā).
Sit firmly (sumeke). Apply manīṣā—quiet intuitive inquiry. Feel the ‘press’ of concentration release sweetness/clarity; offer it upward as aspiration, not as strain.
Maintain clear udātta on key invocatory words (acchā, rodasī) and a perceptible lift on ‘ūrdhvā’.
Mark a deliberate rise through the third and fourth pādas to embody ascent; keep first pāda grounded.
Roll the ṛ in grāvṇo (ग्राव्णो) distinctly., Keep d in rodasī dental, not retroflex., Pronounce bhūrivārāḥ with long ū and clear visarga at end of darśatāḥ/yajatrāḥ.
Upright, resonant, slightly brighter in the final pāda.
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