Rig Veda 5.47.2: Mandala 5, Sukta 47, Mantra 2
Sukta 5.47
- Rishi
- Atri
- Devata
- Poetic/cosmic: the ‘paths’ and the immortal center as focal reality
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
अजिरासस्तदप ईयमाना आतस्थिवांसो अमृतस्य नाभिम् । अनन्तास उरवो विश्वतः सीं परि द्यावापृथिवी यन्ति पन्थाः ॥
ajirā́sas tád apa ī́yamānā ātásthivāṃso amṛ́tasya nā́bhim | anantā́sa urávo viśvátas sīm pári dyā́vā-pṛthivī́ yanti pánthāḥ ||
அவர்கள் மிக வேகமாய், அந்த இலக்கை நோக்கிச் செல்கிறார்கள்; அம்ருதத்தின் நாபி-ஸ்தலத்தில் தங்கள் நிலையைப் பெற்றுள்ளனர். முடிவற்றதும் விரிந்ததும் ஆன பாதைகள் எங்கும் செல்கின்றன—த்யாவா-பிருதிவியைச் சுற்றி வளைத்து; அவையே பரந்த ‘ऋत’ ஒழுங்கில் பயணிக்கும் வழிகள்.
Word by Word
- अजिरासः
- the swift onesAdjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot अजिर (प्रातिपदिक) < PIE *h₂eǵ- ‘drive, lead’ (semantic: swift)
- तत्
- thatPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अपः
- watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्म (तत्-विशेषण/सम्बन्ध)Root अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
- ईयमानाः
- going, movingVerb-participleपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (कर्तरि)Role कर्तृ (अजिरासः का विशेषण)Root ईय्/इ (धातु: इ ‘to go’)
- आतस्थिवांसः
- having taken their stand, having reachedVerb-participleपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (अजिरासः का विशेषण)Root स्था (धातु: स्था ‘to stand’) + आ- (उपसर्ग)
- अमृतस्य
- of immortality / of the immortal (nectar)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (नाभिम् के साथ)Root अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
- नाभिम्
- navel; hub; central pointNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
- अनन्तासः
- endless, unbounded (ones)Adjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
- उरवः
- broad, wide (ones)Adjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (अनन्तासः का विशेषण/समन्वय)Root उरु (प्रातिपदिक)
- विश्वतः
- from all sides, on every sideIndeclinableअव्यय (दिशा/परिमाण: ‘from all sides’)Role अधिकरण (दिशा/परिसर)Root विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + -तस् (तसिल्-अव्यय)
- सीम्
- them/it (enclitic), indeedParticle/Pronoun-like indeclinableअव्यय (प्रायः ‘him/it/there’ बलवर्धक/अनुवृत्ति)Role कर्म/सम्बन्ध (अनुवृत्त-सर्वनाम; ‘it/them’)Root सीम् (निपात/अव्यय; एन्क्लिटिक)
- परि
- aroundPreverb/Indeclinableअव्ययRole अधिकरण (परिवेष्टन-अर्थे)Root परि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- द्यावापृथिवी
- Heaven and EarthNoun (compound)स्त्रीलिङ्ग (द्वन्द्व-एकवचन-रूप), द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (परि के साथ: ‘around heaven-and-earth’)Root द्यावापृथिवी (द्वन्द्व-समास: द्यौ/दिव् + पृथिवी)
- यन्ति
- they goVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot या (धातु: या ‘to go’)
- पन्थाः
- paths, waysNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot पथ्/पन्था (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-विग्रह): अजिरासः तत् अपः ईयमानाः आतस्थिवांसः अमृतस्य नाभिम् । अनन्तासः उरवः विश्वतः सीम् परि द्यावापृथिवी यन्ति पन्थाः ॥ मुख्य सन्धयः: (1) तद् + अपः → तदपः (द् + अ = द)
- (2) आतस्थिवांसः (आ-उपसर्ग + तस्थिवांसः, √स्था का परिपूर्ण कृदन्त)
- (3) विश्वतः + सीम् (सन्धि नहीं, पद-सीमा पर निपात)
- (4) परि + द्यावापृथिवी (उपसर्ग/अव्यय-योग)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Swift-moving, they go toward that goal and stand at the navel of immortality. Endless and wide, the paths move everywhere around Heaven and Earth.
Inner meaning
The ‘swift ones’ (ajirāsaḥ) are inner movements—energies of thought, life, or rays of consciousness—that press toward a destined objective (tad-apaḥ: that work/goal). They establish themselves at the ‘navel of immortality’—the central point where the immortal consciousness (amṛta) is contacted and from which true life is organized. From that center, ‘paths’ (panthāḥ) become vast and endless: channels of ascent/descent and circulation of forces that pervade the whole field of higher and lower nature (Dyāvā-Pṛthivī). The verse maps an inner topology: once the immortal center is found, multiple ways open and the being becomes wide, mobile, and universally connected.
Universal truth
When consciousness finds its immortal center, life ceases to be a single narrow route; many wide pathways of growth and service open, integrating higher and lower dimensions of existence.
Themes
cosmogony, journey paths, immortal center, vast order
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- RV 5.47.1, RV 5.47.3
Family tradition
Ātreya vision often locates a central ‘truth-seat’ (nābhi/sadana) from which right movement proceeds.
Significance
Atri here gives a yogic cartography: find the immortal center, then allow the many paths of force and knowledge to widen the being.
The deity
- Devata
- Cosmic Paths (Panthāḥ) oriented to Amṛta; with Dyāvā-Pṛthivī as field
- Epithets
- anantāsaḥ (endless), uravaḥ (wide)
- Related deities
- Sūrya/Savitṛ (as impellers along paths), Agni (as guide on the path), Soma (as amṛta/bliss), Dyāvā-Pṛthivī
Cosmic role
They are the ordered channels by which energies and souls traverse the cosmos, linking heaven and earth around an immortal axis.
Inner power
Establishing the immortal center and opening wide, unobstructed inner channels for ascent, descent, and integration.
In ritual
Where it is used
Cosmic/meditative recitation within śrauta framework; can accompany contemplation of nābhi (center) and the ordering of the rite’s spaces.
अ॒जि॒रास॒स्तद॑प॒ ईय॑माना आतस्थि॒वांसो॑ अ॒मृत॑स्य॒ नाभि॑म् । अ॒न॒न्तास॑ उ॒रवो॑ वि॒श्वत॑: सीं॒ परि॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी य॑न्ति॒ पन्था॑: ॥
अ॒जि॒रासः॑ । तत्ऽअ॑पः । ईय॑मानाः । आ॒त॒स्थि॒ऽवांसः॑ । अ॒मृत॑स्य । नाभि॑म् । अ॒न॒न्तासः॑ । उ॒रवः॑ । वि॒श्वतः॑ । सी॒म् । परि॑ । द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी इति॑ । य॒न्ति॒ । पन्थाः॑ ॥
ajirāsaḥ | tat-apaḥ | īyamānāḥ | ātasthi-vāṃsaḥ | amṛtasya | nābhim | anantāsaḥ | uravaḥ | viśvataḥ | sīm | pari | dyāvāpṛthivī iti | yanti | panthāḥ
44
4 × ~11
Swift and expansive; first half accelerates (ajirāsaḥ), second half opens into wideness (anantāsa uravaḥ).
Gives a sense of movement toward a center and then vast release; helpful for overcoming constriction.
- ajirāsaḥ
- Literal: swift ones. Symbolic: quick energies of consciousness—rays, thoughts, prāṇic currents moving toward realization
- tad-apaḥ
- Literal: that work/goal. Symbolic: the destined spiritual objective; the true action to be fulfilled
- amṛtasya nābhi
- Literal: navel of immortality. Symbolic: central immortal point in consciousness (psychic/supramental center) organizing the being
- panthāḥ
- Literal: paths. Symbolic: channels of inner movement—ways of realization and circulation of forces
- pari dyāvāpṛthivī
- Literal: around heaven and earth. Symbolic: pervading both higher mind/spirit and embodied nature
Contemplative cosmological verse within a hymn sequence; supports meditative framing of the rite as access to ‘paths’ leading to immortality
When establishing orientation and right movement in the sacrifice; thematically suited to ‘opening’ portions of recitation.
Contemplative affirmation of the cosmic order and the central axis of immortality.
Use when feeling scattered: chant to recollect the center, then visualize channels opening through the whole being.
ā-√sthā ‘stand upon’ (PIE *steh₂-). nābhi ‘navel/hub’ cognate with Latin umbilicus is different root, but the ‘hub’ metaphor is widespread; Sanskrit nābhi has IE connections (cf. Old High German nab(a) ‘hub’). amṛta ‘not-death’ (a- + mṛta from √mṛ ‘die’, PIE *mer-).
amṛta (immortality), nābhi as central source, vastness/limitlessness (ananta, uru)
The ‘paths’ are the functional expression of ṛta—right movement everywhere.
Standing at the nābhi implies stable truth-position before expansion.
From a central immortal point, multiplicity of movements radiate into the manifested field.
Integral/psychological cosmology: inner center (psychic) enabling universal wideness.
Paths = nāḍīs/streams of consciousness; nābhi = central heart/psychic knot or axis of awareness; heaven/earth = higher/lower planes in the being.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is the ‘navel of immortality’ as a cosmic center from which innumerable paths extend around Heaven and Earth. Innerly, it depicts a central deathless consciousness (amṛta) as the hub; the seeker’s movements (ajirāsaḥ) become aligned paths in the vast order rather than wandering impulses.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- amṛta transparently preserves the privative formation (a- + ‘mortal’) seen widely in Indo-European (negation + adjective). ā-√sthā continues PIE *steh₂-. nābhi as ‘hub’ has IE cognates indicating an inherited metaphor of a central axle-point.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi is not bargaining but mapping: he describes the divine topology—center and paths—so the human consciousness can orient itself. The ‘devatā’ functions as revealed structure (ṛta’s geography), offering a stable center (nābhi) and legitimate routes (panthāḥ) for ascent and integration.
Locate the ‘immortal center’ (amṛtasya nābhi) and allow inner channels to widen and connect all parts of the being.
Anāhata (heart-center as psychic nābhi) or Nābhi/Manipūra (as organizing center)—choose by felt resonance
Box-breath 4-4-4-4 for 7 rounds to stabilize center; then chant letting attention rest at the center and expand outward on ‘anantāsa uravaḥ’.
Centered wideness; integrated mobility without dispersion.
First, feel the goal (tad-apaḥ). Second, rest at the nābhi (still point). Third, visualize wide paths around heaven-and-earth—linking higher aspiration with embodied action.
Vedic accenting; keep the first hemistich slightly quicker, then broaden on ‘anantāsa uravaḥ’. Exact udatta points require an accented text.
Highlight: ajirāsaḥ | amṛtasya nābhim | anantāsaḥ uravaḥ | dyāvāpṛthivī.
(ajirāsaḥ): j soft; long ā, (īyamānāḥ): long ī; y glide, (ātasthivāṃsaḥ): cluster sth; nasal ṃ, (amṛtasya): ṛ clear, (nābhim): bh voiced aspirate, (panthāḥ): th aspirated dental, not retroflex
Clear and spacious; allow expansion in the latter half.
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