Rig Veda 7.74.5: Mandala 7, Sukta 74, Mantra 5
Sukta 7.74
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Chandas
- Gāyatrī
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
अधा ह यन्तो अश्विना पृक्षः सचन्त सूरयः । ता यंसतो मघवद्भ्यो ध्रुवं यशश्छर्दिरस्मभ्यं नासत्या ॥
ádhā ha yánto aśvinā pṛ́kṣaḥ sacanta sū́rayaḥ | tā́ yaṃsato maghávadbhyo dhrúvaṃ yáśaś chárdir asmábhyaṃ nā́satyā ||
अधा ह यन्तो अश्विना पृक्षः सचन्त सूरयः। ता यंसतो मघवद्भ्यो ध्रुवं यशश्छर्दिरस्मभ्यं नासत्या॥
Word by Word
- अधा
- then, thereafterIndeclinableनिपात (काल/अनुक्रम सूचक)Root अधा (avyaya)
- ह
- indeed, surelyIndeclinableनिपात (एव/खलु-अर्थे)Root ह (avyaya)
- यन्तः
- going, proceedingAdjective (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), प्रथमा बहुवचन (पुं.)Role KartāRoot या (धातु) → यत् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- अश्विना
- O Aśvins (the twin horsemen)Noun (proper, dual deity)संबोधन/प्रथमा द्विवचन (पुं.)Role SambodhanaRoot अश्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- पृक्षाः
- strong, vigorous (helpers/companions)Adjectiveप्रथमा बहुवचन (पुं.)Role KartāRoot पृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
- सचन्त
- they accompany, they joinVerbलङ्/लिट्? (वैदिक प्रयोगे: injunctive/imperf.-like), प्रथम पुरुष बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRole KriyāRoot सच् (धातु)
- सूरयः
- patrons, chiefs, generous menNounप्रथमा बहुवचन (पुं.)Role KartāRoot सूरि (प्रातिपदिक)
- ता
- those two (them)Pronounद्वितीया द्विवचन (पुं./स्त्री. देवताद्वय-सूचक)Role KarmaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम)
- यंसतः
- they extend, they grantVerbवर्तमान, तृतीया? (न), द्वितीय? (न) → 3rd person द्विवचन, आत्मनेपद (वैदिक रूप: यंसते/यंसतः)Role KriyāRoot यम् (धातु)
- मघवद्भ्यः
- to the bountiful/generous onesNoun/Adjectiveचतुर्थी बहुवचन (पुं.)Role SampradānaRoot मघवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- ध्रुवम्
- firm, sure, steadfastAdjectiveद्वितीया एकवचन (नपुं.)Role KarmaRoot ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
- यशः
- glory, fameNounद्वितीया एकवचन (नपुं.)Role KarmaRoot यशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- छर्दिः
- shelter, protectionNounद्वितीया एकवचन (नपुं.)Role KarmaRoot छर्दिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्मभ्यम्
- to usPronounचतुर्थी बहुवचनRole SampradānaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- नासत्या
- O Nāsatyas (Aśvins)Noun (proper, dual epithet)संबोधन द्विवचन (पुं.)Role SambodhanaRoot नासत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: अधा | ह | यन्तः | अश्विना | पृक्षाः | सचन्त | सूरयः | ता | यंसतः | मघवद्भ्यः | ध्रुवम् | यशः | छर्दिः | अस्मभ्यम् | नासत्या । प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) यशः + छर्दिः → यशश्छर्दिः (विसर्गस्य श्-आदेशः, ततः छ्-आगम/संयोगः)
- (2) छर्दिः + अस्मभ्यम् → छर्दिरस्मभ्यम् (विसर्गस्य र्-आदेशः स्वरादौ)
The meaning
Outer meaning
As the Aśvins go forth, the seers join them with thriving strengths. The hymn asks them to grant the generous steadfast glory and protective shelter, and to establish that protection for us too.
Inner meaning
When the divine Helpers move in the consciousness, the ‘sūrayaḥ’ (illumined seers within) align with them; our faculties begin to cooperate with the higher movement. ‘Pṛkṣaḥ’ suggests vigorous growth—energies that become fertile when joined to the Aśvin guidance. The prayer asks for dhruva yaśas (stable spiritual attainment) and chardiḥ (a covering/shelter)—a steady protective envelope of grace that prevents relapse into old patterns.
Universal truth
True progress is collective within: higher help and awakened faculties must join. Lasting attainment requires both illumination (glory) and protection (a stable field that guards the gain).
Themes
boon-request, stability, collective-seers, protection
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 7.88 (Varuṇa—law and protection), RV 7.75 (Uṣas—illumination)
Family tradition
The Vasiṣṭha vision often seeks stability (dhruva) and protection (chardiḥ) as necessary complements to illumination.
Significance
Vasiṣṭha’s spirituality is not only ecstatic but stabilizing: he prays for secure establishment of gains in the being.
The deity
- Devata
- Aśvinau (Nāsatyā)
- Epithets
- Nāsatyā, Aśvinā
- Related deities
- Indra (illumination), Varuṇa (law/protection), Uṣas (awakening)
Cosmic role
Truth-acting twin powers who assist the journey and secure the traveler’s well-being.
Inner power
They create a coherent protective field around the sadhaka and stabilize the awakened movement so it becomes ‘dhruva’.
In ritual
Where it is used
Aśvin praise within dawn/morning liturgy; blessing for patrons (maghavan)
अधा॑ ह॒ यन्तो॑ अ॒श्विना॒ पृक्ष॑: सचन्त सू॒रय॑: । ता यं॑सतो म॒घव॑द्भ्यो ध्रु॒वं यश॑श्छ॒र्दिर॒स्मभ्यं॒ नास॑त्या ॥
अध॑ । ह॒ । यन्तः॑ । अ॒श्विना॑ । पृक्षः॑ । स॒च॒न्त॒ । सू॒रयः॑ । ता । यं॒स॒तः॒ । म॒घव॑त्ऽभ्यः । ध्रु॒वम् । यशः॑ । छ॒र्दिः । अ॒स्मभ्य॑म् । नास॑त्या ॥
adha | ha | yantaḥ | aśvinā | pṛkṣaḥ | sacanta | sūrayaḥ | tā | yaṃsataḥ | maghavat-bhyaḥ | dhruvam | yaśaḥ | chardiḥ | asmabhyam | nāsatyā
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3×8 (expected; confirm)
balanced and petitionary
supports a mood of confident request and consolidation; good for ‘sealing’ a meditation session.
- सू॒रयः (sūrayaḥ)
- Literal: seers, illumined ones. Symbolic: inner illumined faculties; awakened discernment
- पृक्षः (pṛkṣaḥ)
- Literal: thriving, growth, strong nourishment. Symbolic: fertile energies that increase under divine guidance
- मघवद्भ्यः (maghavadbhyaḥ)
- Literal: to the generous/bountiful. Symbolic: to those who give—offer aspiration, works, and ego-surrender
- ध्रुवं यशः (dhruvaṃ yaśaḥ)
- Literal: firm glory. Symbolic: stable realization/attainment that does not waver
- छर्दिः (chardiḥ)
- Literal: covering, shelter. Symbolic: protective grace; a luminous sheath guarding the consciousness
- नासत्या (nāsatyā)
- Literal: the truthful ones (Aśvins). Symbolic: powers that act according to truth and right result
Concluding boon-request: stable glory and protective shelter for the generous and the singer’s group.
in sequences seeking protection and success for sacrificer/patron
recitation for blessing—glory and shelter
Chant after inner work to ‘stabilize’ the gain; use as a protective prayer before sleep or travel.
सूरि: ‘seer, illumined’ from sūrya/svar light field; connected to √svar ‘shine’ (semantic). पृक्ष: often ‘nourishment, increase’; linked to √pṛc/√pṛkṣ ‘to mix, strengthen’ (Vedic semantic: thriving reinforcement). छर्दि: ‘covering, shelter’—protective grace. ध्रुव: ‘fixed’ from √dhru ‘be firm’.
illumination community (sūrayaḥ), stability (dhruva) of attainment, protective grace (chardiḥ)
Protection and glory are not arbitrary gifts but results of alignment with ṛta.
Nāsatyā indicates the power that makes truth effective in life.
Establishing a stable ‘field’ (chardiḥ) in manifestation so higher consciousness can dwell.
Integral yoga resonance: realization must be stabilized in the outer nature.
dawn movement continuing
protective sheath around mind-life-body; steady axis of consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘seers accompany the divine journey’ mythologem: when the Aśvins move, the sūrayaḥ join with pṛkṣa (thriving energies). Inwardly, illumination aligns with divine forces, resulting in stable glory (dhruva yaśas) and a protective covering (chardiḥ).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- dhruva ‘firm’ continues an archaic IE notion of fixity/stability (cf. Sanskrit dhru-, and semantic parallels in other IE ‘firm’ roots). The social-ethical term maghavat ‘bountiful’ is part of an Indo-Iranian gift/reciprocity lexicon central to early IE ritual culture.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi situates himself within a community of sūrayaḥ and maghavat—those who give and those who see. The Aśvins are asked to seal the exchange by granting not transient gains but stable radiance and protective shelter, i.e., enduring conditions for the soul’s progress.
Stabilize illumination; invoke a protective ‘covering’ of grace around the mind and heart.
Sahasrāra (stability of higher influence) with Anāhata (protective warmth)
exhale-lengthening (inhale 4, exhale 8) to induce steadiness before chanting
quiet consolidation; gratitude
On ‘dhruvaṃ yaśaḥ’ feel a steady vertical axis; on ‘chardiḥ’ visualize a soft luminous dome around you, permeable to light but shielding from agitation.
Use śākhā-specific accenting; keep deity-name pitches clear; avoid flattening the cadence in petitions.
Sustain long vowels: dhruvāṃ? (here dhruvaṃ) keep ‘dhru’ clear; articulate ‘chardiḥ’ with audible ḥ.
sūrayaḥ: long ū; final ḥ audible but light, maghavadbhyaḥ: cluster dbhy pronounced smoothly, chardiḥ: retroflex ḍ? (here d), keep ch- aspirated? (ch as affricate), nāsatyā: long ā at end
steady, sealing, protective
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