Rig Veda 5.78.2: Mandala 5, Sukta 78, Mantra 2
Sukta 5.78
- Rishi
- Atri
- Devata
- Ashvins
- Chandas
- Gāyatrī
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
अश्विना हरिणाविव गौराविवानु यवसम् । हंसाविव पततमा सुताँ उप ॥
aśvínā hariṇā́v iva gaurā́v ivā́nu yávasam | haṃsā́v iva patatamā́ sutā́m̐ úpa ||
ஓ அஶ்வினௌ! மான்-நிறம் கொண்ட இரு குதிரைகள் போல, ஒளிரும் இரு காளைகள் போல மேய்ச்சல் (யவஸ்) பின்தொடர்ந்து, இரு அன்னங்கள் போல பறந்து—எங்களுக்காகப் பிழிந்த சோமம் (ஸுத) அருகே வாருங்கள்.
Word by Word
- अश्विना
- O Aśvins (you two)Noun (dual vocative)पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (Vocative); द्विवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अश्विन्- (प्रातिपदिक) / अश्व (IE *h₁éḱwos) + -इन्
- हरिणा
- (like) two tawny ones / two antelopesNoun/Adjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; द्विवचनRole कर्तृ (उपमा-कर्तृ) / विशेष्यRoot हरिण- (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- like, asIndeclinableअव्ययRole उपमान-निर्देशकRoot इव (निपात)
- गौरौ
- (like) two bright/white ones; two bullsNoun/Adjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; द्विवचनRole कर्तृ (उपमा-कर्तृ) / विशेष्यRoot गौर- (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- like, asIndeclinableअव्ययRole उपमान-निर्देशकRoot इव (निपात)
- अनु
- along, after, followingIndeclinable (preverb/adverb)अव्ययRole क्रिया-विशेषणRoot अनु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- यवसम्
- pasture, grass, fodderNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot यवस- (प्रातिपदिक)
- हंसौ
- (like) two swansNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; द्विवचनRole कर्तृ (उपमा-कर्तृ)Root हंस- (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- like, asIndeclinableअव्ययRole उपमान-निर्देशकRoot इव (निपात)
- पततमा
- most flying, flying best/fastestAdjective (superlative)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; द्विवचन (अश्विनौ/हंसौ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot पत् (धातु, 1P) + तम (तमप् प्रत्यय) → पतत्म/पतत्मा (वैदिक)
- सुतान्
- the pressed (Soma-drops), pressed offeringsNoun/Adjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot सु (धातु ‘to press/express (Soma)’) + त (क्त) → सुत- (प्रातिपदिक)
- उप
- towards, near, up toIndeclinable (preverb/adverb)अव्ययRole क्रिया-विशेषणRoot उप (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धि-विग्रह): अश्विना | हरिणा इव | गौरौ इव | अनु | यवसम् | हंसौ इव | पततमा | सुतान् | उप । 1) हरिणाविव = हरिणा + इव (आ + इ → आव्). 2) गौराविव = गौरौ + इव (औ + इ → आव्). 3) हंसाविव = हंसौ + इव (औ + इ → आव्). 4) सुताँ उप = सुतान् + उप
- वैदिके ‘न्’ परे उकारादौ प्रायः अनुस्वार/नासिक्य-चिह्नेन (ँ) लिख्यते
- अर्थतः द्वितीया बहुवचन ‘सुतान्’ एव।
The meaning
Outer meaning
O Aśvins, like two tawny animals/steeds, like two bright bulls following the pasture, fly like two swans toward the pressed Soma.
Inner meaning
The mantra layers images of force and guidance: hariṇau (tawny, swift) suggests quick vital energies disciplined for divine movement; gaurau (bright bulls) suggests strong luminous powers that follow ‘yavasam’—the pasture, i.e., the field of nourishment. Psychologically, the Aśvins are asked to bring both speed and strength, following the true nourishment of the being (right food for consciousness), and to descend as haṃsa—pure soul-flight—toward the prepared Soma-delight.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress needs both swiftness and strength, but both must follow the right nourishment (values, truth, practices). Then delight can be received and integrated.
Themes
zoomorphic-simile, invocation, strength-and-speed, Soma
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri (Ātreya)
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- RV 5.78.1, RV 5.78.3
Family tradition
Atri’s Aśvin refrains often stack vivid animal symbols to encode psychological energies—speed, strength, purity—needed for the descent of help.
Significance
The seer teaches by images: the divine powers are invited not only as healers but as regulators of force and nourishment in the seeker.
The deity
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Epithets
- swift tawny ones (hariṇau), bright strong ones (gaurau), swan-like descendents
- Related deities
- Maruts (vital forces), Indra (victorious mind), Soma
Cosmic role
They govern swift movement and right functioning in the life-force, bringing it into luminous strength.
Inner power
Purification and right direction of prāṇa and vital dynamism; restoring robust, luminous action.
In ritual
Where it is used
Aśvin invitation at Soma offering (general)
अश्वि॑ना हरि॒णावि॑व गौ॒रावि॒वानु॒ यव॑सम् । हं॒सावि॑व पतत॒मा सु॒ताँ उप॑ ॥
अश्वि॑ना । ह॒रि॒णौऽइ॑व । गौ॒रौऽइ॑व । अनु॑ । यव॑सम् । हं॒सौऽइ॑व । प॒त॒त॒म् । आ । सु॒तान् । उप॑ ॥
aśvinā | hariṇau-iva | gaurau-iva | anu | yavasam | haṃsau-iva | patatam | ā | sutān | upa
24
3 × ~8 syllables
Quick and image-rich; a compact mantra with kinetic metaphors.
Energizes the system while keeping it pure and directed; good for overcoming dullness before meditation.
- हरिणौ (hariṇau)
- Literal: two tawny ones (often steeds/antelopes). Symbolic: swift vital energies purified for the divine journey
- गौरौ (gaurau)
- Literal: two bright bulls. Symbolic: strong luminous powers; steadfast force in the nature
- अनु यवसम् (anu yavasam)
- Literal: following the pasture/grass. Symbolic: following the true nourishment—right habit, right field of growth
- हं॒सौ इव (haṃsau iva)
- Literal: like two swans. Symbolic: pure, soul-guided descent
- सु॒तान् उप (sutān upa)
- Literal: to the pressed Soma. Symbolic: to distilled delight/essence prepared by inner discipline
Soma invitation with zoomorphic similes emphasizing speed and strength.
During calls for swift arrival and participation in Soma.
Āvāhana with symbolic imagery of their vehicles/powers.
Chant when needing disciplined energy—before work, study, or practice—asking that force follow the right ‘pasture’ (right inputs).
hariṇa 'tawny' relates to hari 'golden/tawny', a frequent epithet for swift luminous energies. gaura 'bright, shining; bull' links brightness with strength. yávasam 'pasture/fodder' from yáva 'grain' (nourishing substance); symbolically, the sustaining field for growth of powers.
nourishment of inner energies, descent of luminous powers into the sacrificial field
‘anu yavasam’ implies following the right track/food—ṛta as correct alignment of forces.
Brightness (gaura) suggests truth-light in force.
Transforming raw vitality into luminous strength that can receive Soma.
Vedic psychology of energies (prāṇa as symbolic steeds/bulls).
dawn (implicit Aśvin hour)
Pasture = field of right nourishment (sattvic inputs, truth practices); swan = purified consciousness; tawny/bull = prāṇic speed and strength.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Ashvins’ approach is recast through a chain of living symbols (steeds/bulls/swans): a mythic visualization of divine forces taking form as speed, strength, and luminous flight to reach the Soma (the prepared immortalizing delight).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The repeated -āv iva dual similes and dual imperatives preserve archaic Indo-European duality. The animal-power imagery parallels broader PIE poetic diction where horses/bulls encode force and sovereignty.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi intensifies the invitation by offering multiple symbolic 'tracks' for the Ashvins to enter—speed (hariṇa), power (gaura), and luminous traversal (haṃsa). The devatā is welcomed as a force that both nourishes and is nourished by the prepared offering (yavasa / suta).
Discipline and purify vital energy; let it follow right nourishment and descend into delight.
Manipura (vital strength) with Ajna (direction)
Bhrāmarī or gentle Kapālabhāti (if suitable) followed by quiet breathing; then chant to ‘yoke’ energy to purity.
Energized yet clean; prāṇa aligned to aspiration.
Reflect: ‘What is my yavasam—my true nourishment today?’ Choose one right input; chant 9 times; sit and feel prāṇa becoming steady and luminous.
Three-tone; keep imagery words slightly emphasized (hariṇau, gaurau, yavasam, haṃsau).
Maintain a quick but controlled pace; do not blur ‘anu yavasam’—keep ‘anu’ distinct.
: ha-ri-ṇau (retroflex ṇ), : gau-rau (clear diphthong au), : ya-va-sam (short a), : haṃ-sau (nasalization)
Bright, energized, but not loud; keep purity of tone.
9
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