Rig Veda 10.39.4: Mandala 10, Sukta 39, Mantra 4
Sukta 10.39
- Devata
- Aśvins
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
युवं च्यवानं सनयं यथा रथं पुनर्युवानं चरथाय तक्षथुः । निष्टौग्र्यमूहथुरद्भ्यस्परि विश्वेत्ता वां सवनेषु प्रवाच्या ॥
yuváṃ cyávānaṃ sanáyaṃ yáthā ráthaṃ púnar yúvānaṃ caráthāya takṣathuḥ | níṣ ṭaugryám ūhathur adbhyás pári víśvet tá vām sávanesu pra-vā́cyā ||
ஓ அஶ்வினர்களே! ரதத்தை மீண்டும் செதுக்கி அமைப்பதுபோல், முதிர்ந்த ச்யவானனை நீங்கள் மறுபடியும் இளமையாக்கி பயணத்திற்குத் தகுதியாக்கினீர். மேலும் எல்லாத் திசைகளிலும் சூழ்ந்த நீர்களிலிருந்து துக்ர்யனை நீங்கள் வெளியே தூக்கி மீட்டீர்—உங்கள் இச் செயல்கள் எல்லா ஸவனங்களிலும் (ஸோமப் பிழிவுகளிலும்) புகழ்ந்து அறிவிக்கப்பட வேண்டியவை.
Word by Word
- युवाम्
- you twoPronounद्विवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (युष्मद्-प्रयोगः; ‘you two’)Role कर्तृRoot युव (प्रातिपदिक)
- च्यवानम्
- Cyavāna (the sage)Noun (proper name)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot च्यव (प्रातिपदिक; च्यवन-)
- सनयम्
- old age; senescenceNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे भेदः), द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (उपमान/उपमेय-सम्बन्धे)Root सनय (प्रातिपदिक)
- यथा
- as, just asIndeclinableउपमानार्थक-अव्ययRoot यथा
- रथम्
- a chariotNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
- पुनः
- againIndeclinableअव्ययRoot पुनः
- युवानम्
- youngAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (परिणाम/अवस्था)Root युवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- चरथाय
- for (his) going/moving aboutNounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदान (उद्देश्य)Root चरथ (प्रातिपदिक; ‘going, course, movement’)
- तक्षथुः
- you two fashioned, madeVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/पूर्वकाल), परस्मैपद, उत्तम? (न), मध्यम? (न) → प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole क्रियाRoot तक्ष्
- निः
- out, forthIndeclinable (preverb)उपसर्गRoot निः
- तौग्र्यम्
- Tugrya’s (son) / Taugra (Bhujyu)Noun (proper name/epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot तौग्र्य (प्रातिपदिक; तुग्र-सम्बद्धः)
- ऊहथुः
- you two carried/broughtVerbलिट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole क्रियाRoot वह्/ऊह् (वैदिक; ‘to carry/bring, convey’)
- अद्भ्यः
- from the watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, बहुवचनRole अपादानRoot अप् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘water’)
- परि
- around; away fromIndeclinable (preverb/postposition)उपसर्ग/उपपदRoot परि
- विश्वे
- all (gods/men)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (देवा इति अव्यक्तम्)Role कर्तृ (स्तुत्य-सम्बन्धे)Root विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- इत्
- indeed, justIndeclinable (particle)निपात (एव/खलु-अर्थे)Root इत्
- ता
- those twoPronounद्विवचन, प्रथमा (स्त्री/नपुं; वैदिके ‘those two’)Role कर्तृ (प्रवाच्या इत्यस्य)Root तद् (सर्वनाम)
- वाम्
- of you twoPronounषष्ठी, द्विवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root युष्मद्
- सवनेषु
- in the Soma-pressings/offeringsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole अधिकरणRoot सवन (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्रवाच्या
- to be proclaimed/praisedAdjective (gerundive) / verbal nounणीयत्/य-प्रत्ययार्थकः (वैदिक), प्रथमा, द्विवचन (ता इति सह)Role विधेय (स्तुत्य/उक्तव्यत्व)Root प्र + वच् (कृदन्त-आधारः)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धि-विग्रह): युवं→युवाम् (द्विवचन-प्रयोगः)
- पुनर्युवानम्→पुनः युवानम्
- चरथाय तक्षथुः (सन्धि-रहित)
- निष्टौग्र्यम्→निः तौग्र्यम्
- अद्भ्यस्परि→अद्भ्यः परि
- विश्वेत्ता→विश्वे इत् ता
- वां सवनेषु (सन्धि-रहित)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The Aśvins made the old Cyavāna young again as one repairs a chariot, and they rescued Tugrya from the encompassing waters; these deeds are to be proclaimed at all Soma pressings.
Inner meaning
Cyavāna is the ‘fallen/declining’ part of the being—aged habit, fatigue, or a consciousness that has slipped from its higher poise. The Aśvins ‘rebuild the chariot’ (the embodied instrument) so the soul-force can journey again. Tugrya in the waters signifies consciousness submerged in the inconscient/subconscient flood; the Twins draw it out from surrounding obscurity. The mantra affirms the possibility of radical renewal and emergence from engulfing inner conditions.
Universal truth
No decline is final: the powers that govern transition can refashion the instrument and lift consciousness out of drowning states; renewal is a law of the spirit.
Themes
rejuvenation, rescue-from-waters, praise-at-savana
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 1.116-1.118 (Aśvin rescue legends; thematic parallels)
Significance
The mantra uses well-known Aśvin ‘itihāsa’ motifs as symbolic proof: what is told as marvel is also a psychological law—renewal of the instrument and rescue from the waters of obscurity.
The deity
- Devata
- Aśvins (Nāsatyā)
- Epithets
- Nāsatyā, Dasrā (wondrous), Nāsaṭyā (true saviours)
- Related deities
- Varuṇa (waters/order), Uṣas (dawn emergence), Soma (renewal)
Cosmic role
Agents of restoration and safe passage; they intervene at liminal crises (aging, drowning, perilous transition).
Inner power
Rejuvenating force and emergent power: they rebuild the ‘vehicle’ and lift consciousness out of engulfment.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing praises (savana) highlighting Aśvin feats
यु॒वं च्यवा॑नं स॒नयं॒ यथा॒ रथं॒ पुन॒र्युवा॑नं च॒रथा॑य तक्षथुः । निष्टौ॒ग्र्यमू॑हथुर॒द्भ्यस्परि॒ विश्वेत्ता वां॒ सव॑नेषु प्र॒वाच्या॑ ॥
यु॒वम् । च्यवा॑नम् । स॒नय॑म् । यथा॑ । रथ॑म् । पुनः॑ । युवा॑नम् । च॒रथा॑य । त॒क्ष॒थुः॒ । निः । तौ॒ग्र्यम् । ऊ॒ह॒थुः॒ । अ॒त्ऽभ्यः । परि॑ । विश्वा॑ । इत् । ता । वा॒म् । सव॑नेषु । प्र॒ऽवाच्या॑ ॥
yuvam | cyavānam | sanayam | yathā | ratham | punaḥ | yuvānam | carathāya | takṣathuḥ | niḥ | taugryam | ūhathuḥ | at-bhyaḥ | pari | viśvā | it | tā | vām | savaneṣu | pra-vācyā
44
4 × 11 (probable)
Heroic, narrative drive; strong forward motion like a journey restored.
Energizes resolve; evokes confidence in transformation and rescue.
- च्यवान (cyavāna)
- Literal: the aged seer Cyavāna; ‘fallen/declined’. Symbolic: declining consciousness; fatigue of the instrument; fallen will
- सनय (sanaya)
- Literal: old, ancient. Symbolic: ingrained patterns and time-worn formations
- रथ (ratha)
- Literal: chariot. Symbolic: body-life-mind as vehicle of the soul
- तक्षथुः (takṣathuḥ)
- Literal: you fashioned, carpentered. Symbolic: divine re-formation of the nature; yogic reconstruction
- तौग्र्य (taugrya)
- Literal: Tugrya. Symbolic: the being submerged in the waters of inconscience
- अद्भ्यः (adbhyah)
- Literal: from the waters. Symbolic: from subconscious depths, emotional floods, inertia
- सवनेषु (savaneṣu)
- Literal: at the pressings. Symbolic: at repeated inner ‘pressings’—moments of intense aspiration/distillation
Recited as praise of Aśvin saving acts in Soma pressings; supports the theme of restoration and rescue within the sacrifice.
During Soma rites; recited as exemplary deeds to invite similar aid
Proclamation (pravācya) of divine deeds as part of invocation
For renewal after burnout/illness and for emerging from depression/anxiety (‘waters’); used as a ‘rebuild my chariot’ affirmation.
takṣathuḥ: 2du perfect/aorist from √takṣ ‘fashion, build’ (cognate with ‘textile/tectonic’ family; cf. Latin texere ‘weave/build’ by PIE *(s)teks-). adbhyás: abl. pl. of áp ‘water’. ūhathuḥ: from √vah/√ūh ‘carry, convey’ (RV forms vary).
rebirth/renewal of vitality, rescue from the subconscient waters
Refashioning the chariot is re-establishing right order in the instrument so it can carry the soul’s intention.
The ‘deeds to be proclaimed’ serve satya by making the saving law conscious and repeatable in sadhana.
Re-creation (takṣ) as divine craftsmanship; emergence from waters mirrors creation-from-waters imagery.
Yoga of divine workmanship (Aurobindo: transformation of nature)
dawn (implicit via Aśvin context)
Waters = subconscious/inconscient field; chariot = embodied system; journey = evolutionary movement of consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Rejuvenation (Cyavāna made young) and rescue from waters (Tugrya carried out). Inner sense: the Aśvins restore worn-out faculties and lift the being from engulfing subconscient inertia into right movement.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √takṣ ‘build/fashion’ is a strong Indo-European inheritance (PIE *(s)teks-), showing the archaic craft-metaphor for spiritual refashioning. Water-rescue formulas also align with widespread IE ‘saving from the waters’ motifs.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer’s role is proclamation at savana: speech becomes the vehicle that reactivates divine powers in the rite and in the psyche; the gods’ past acts are recalled to compel present assistance.
Invoke inner rejuvenation and emergence from subconscious engulfment; surrender the ‘vehicle’ to divine re-making.
maṇipūra (renewed strength) and ājñā (guiding insight)
Energizing inhalation with brief hold imagining the ‘chariot’ being rebuilt; long exhale imagining being lifted from waters.
From tamas/engulfment to restored dynamism and forward journeying.
Visualize yourself as a chariot: wheels (habits), reins (mind), horses (vital forces). Offer each to the Aśvins; then visualize being drawn from dark waters into dawn air.
Rigvedic udatta/anudatta/svarita per Śākala (needs accented source for exact).
Let narrative verbs (takṣathuḥ, ūhathur) carry clear emphasis; keep pāda endings clean and unhurried.
‘cyavānam’—palatal ‘cy’ cluster, not ‘ch’., ‘niṣ ṭaugryam’—maintain ṣ and ṭ with retroflex clarity., ‘adbhyas’—pronounce ‘dbhy’ cluster smoothly without extra vowel.
Heroic but controlled; resonant chest voice with clear articulation.
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