Rig Veda 7.35.8: Mandala 7, Sukta 35, Mantra 8
Sukta 7.35
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Śānti with Sūrya and cosmic directions as invoked powers
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
शं नः सूर्य उरुचक्षा उदेतु शं नश्चतस्रः प्रदिशो भवन्तु । शं नः पर्वता ध्रुवयो भवन्तु शं नः सिन्धवः शमु सन्त्वापः ॥
śáṃ naḥ sū́rya urucákṣā́ úd etu śáṃ naś cátasraḥ prádiśo bhavantu | śáṃ naḥ पर्वताः dhruváyo bhavantu śáṃ naḥ síndhavaḥ śám u sántv ā́paḥ ||
எங்களுக்கு சாந்தி உண்டாக—உருசக்ஷாஃ (விரிந்த பார்வையுடைய) சூரியன் உதயமாகட்டும்; எங்களுக்கு சாந்தி உண்டாக—நான்கு திசைகளும் சாந்திமயமாகட்டும். எங்களுக்கு சாந்தி உண்டாக—மலைகள் துருவ (அசையாத) சாந்தியாக நிலைக்கட்டும்; எங்களுக்கு சாந்தி உண்டாக—சிந்தவः (நதிகள்) சாந்தியாகட்டும்; ஆபः (நீர்) கூட சாந்தியாகட்டும்.
Word by Word
- शम्
- auspiciously; for well-beingIndeclinableअव्यय (मङ्गलार्थे)Role विशेषणभावे (क्रियाविशेषणम्)Root शम् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक; PIE *ḱem- ‘quiet, auspicious’)
- नः
- for us; to usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक ‘नः’)Role सम्प्रदान (हितार्थे ‘for us’)Root अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
- सूर्यः
- the SunNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- उरुचक्षाः
- wide-seeing; far-seeingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (सूर्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ-विशेषणम्Root उरु-चक्षस् (बहुव्रीहि-प्रातिपदिक; उरु ‘wide’ + चक्षस् ‘eye/sight’)
- उदेतु
- may (he) riseVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ/आशीर्लिङ्ग-सदृश), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot उद्-इ (धातु √इ ‘to go’ with preverb उद्)
- शम्
- auspiciouslyIndeclinableअव्ययRole क्रियाविशेषणम्Root शम् (अव्यय)
- नः
- for usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्प्रदानRoot अस्मद्
- चतस्रः
- fourNumeral/Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ-विशेषणम् (प्रदिशाम्)Root चतुर् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
- प्रदिशः
- the (four) directions/quartersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot प्र-दिश् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘direction/quarter’)
- भवन्तु
- may they be; may they becomeVerbलोट्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot भू (धातु √भू ‘to be, become’)
- शम्
- auspiciouslyIndeclinableअव्ययRole क्रियाविशेषणम्Root शम् (अव्यय)
- नः
- for usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्प्रदानRoot अस्मद्
- पर्वताः
- mountainsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
- ध्रुवयः
- firm; steadfastAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (पर्वतानां विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ-विशेषणम्Root ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक; ‘fixed, firm’)
- भवन्तु
- may they beVerbलोट्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot भू (√भू)
- शम्
- auspiciouslyIndeclinableअव्ययRole क्रियाविशेषणम्Root शम् (अव्यय)
- नः
- for usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्प्रदानRoot अस्मद्
- सिन्धवः
- rivers; streamsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot सिन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
- शम्
- auspiciouslyIndeclinableअव्ययRole क्रियाविशेषणम्Root शम् (अव्यय)
- उ
- indeed; evenIndeclinableनिपातRole सम्बन्धक/बलवर्धक (emphasis)Root उ (निपात/अव्यय; emphatic/asseverative)
- सन्तु
- may they beVerbलोट्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot अस् (धातु √अस् ‘to be’)
- आपः
- the watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (वैदिके बहुधा), प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot आप्/अप् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘waters’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (RV-पदपाठानुसार): शम् | नः | सूर्यः | उरुचक्षाः | उदेतु | शम् | नः | चतस्रः | प्रदिशः | भवन्तु | शम् | नः | पर्वताः | ध्रुवयः | भवन्तु | शम् | नः | सिन्धवः | शम् | उ | सन्तु | आपः । 1) न॒श्चत॑स्रः = नः + चतस्रः (विसर्ग/ओकार-लोपः; संहितायां ‘नश्’)
- 2) न॒श्चत॑स्रः प्र॒दिशो॑: ‘चतस्रः’ स्त्री
- प्रथ
- बहु
- ‘प्रदिशः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्
- 3) सिन्ध॑व॒: शमु॑ = सिन्धवः + शम् + उ (शम् + उ → शमु; उ निपातः)
- 4) स॒न्त्वाप॑: = सन्तु + आपः (उकारस्य स्वरसन्धिः; संहितायां ‘त्वा’ इव दृश्यते)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Peace for us: may Sūrya of wide vision arise; peace: may the four directions be auspicious; peace: may the mountains be steadfast; peace: may the rivers be peace, and the waters be peace.
Inner meaning
The verse seals peace in perception and environment: Sūrya urucakṣā is the wide-seeing illumined consciousness rising in us; the four quarters are the totality of the being (all-sidedness) becoming harmonized—no part left in conflict. Mountains are the steadfast supports—firm will and stable higher principles. Rivers and waters are the flow of energies and emotions; when they are ‘śam’, the life-current becomes purified, nourishing, and non-turbulent.
Universal truth
When the sun of wide vision rises, all sides of life align; stability becomes natural, and the emotional-energy currents flow in peace—this is wholeness.
Themes
Nature-praise (innerized), Orientation/Wholeness, Śānti formula
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha (traditional for Maṇḍala 7)
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 7.35, RV 7.63 (Sūrya-related in Mandala 7 milieu), RV 7.86
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha’s peace is cosmic and all-sided—extending from inner vision (Sūrya) to the total field (quarters) and the stable/flowing aspects of nature (mountains/waters).
Significance
A yogic ‘environmental śānti’: establish wide vision, integrate all sides, steady the foundations, and pacify the flows of emotion and energy.
The deity
- Devata
- Sūrya (urucakṣā) with cosmic directions, mountains, rivers, and waters invoked as harmonizing powers under Śam
- Epithets
- urucakṣā (wide-seeing)
- Related deities
- Uṣas (dawn illumination), Varuṇa (waters and law), Vāyu (movement)
Cosmic role
Sūrya reveals and orders; directions structure space; mountains stabilize; waters and rivers circulate life and purification.
Inner power
Illumination that integrates (Sūrya), totality and balance (quarters), steadfast poise (mountains), purified emotional-energy flow (waters).
In ritual
Where it is used
Śānti invocation for space (dik) and environment; suitable as protective/auspicious recitation at dawn or before journeys.
शं न॒: सूर्य॑ उरु॒चक्षा॒ उदे॑तु॒ शं न॒श्चत॑स्रः प्र॒दिशो॑ भवन्तु । शं न॒: पर्व॑ता ध्रु॒वयो॑ भवन्तु॒ शं न॒: सिन्ध॑व॒: शमु॑ स॒न्त्वाप॑: ॥
शम् । नः॒ । सूर्यः॑ । उ॒रु॒ऽचक्षाः॑ । उत् । ए॒तु॒ । शम् । नः॒ । चत॑स्रः । प्र॒ऽदिशः॑ । भ॒व॒न्तु॒ । शम् । नः॒ । पर्व॑ताः । ध्रु॒वयः॑ । भ॒व॒न्तु॒ । शम् । नः॒ । सिन्ध॑वः । शम् । ऊँ॒ इति॑ । स॒न्तु॒ । आपः॑ ॥
śam | naḥ | sūryaḥ | uru-cakṣāḥ | ut | etu | śam | naḥ | catasraḥ | pra-diśaḥ | bhavantu | śam | naḥ | parvatāḥ | dhruvayaḥ | bhavantu | śam | naḥ | sindhavaḥ | śam | oṃ iti | santu | āpaḥ
48
4 × ~12 syllables
Broad, panoramic rhythm—like sunrise spreading across horizons.
Expands awareness outward and inward simultaneously; settles emotions (water imagery) while strengthening steadiness (mountains).
- सूर्यः (sūryaḥ)
- Literal: Sun. Symbolic: illumined consciousness; the seeing mind of truth
- उरुचक्षाः (urucakṣāḥ)
- Literal: wide-eyed, wide-seeing. Symbolic: vast perception beyond narrow ego-views
- चतस्रः प्रदिशः (catasraḥ pradiśaḥ)
- Literal: four directions/quarters. Symbolic: all parts and tendencies of the being; comprehensive integration
- पर्वताः (parvatāḥ)
- Literal: mountains. Symbolic: steadfast foundations; stable higher formations of will and knowledge
- ध्रुवयः (dhruvayaḥ)
- Literal: fixed, unwavering. Symbolic: immovable poise (dhruva-śānti) in practice
- सिन्धवः (sindhavaḥ)
- Literal: rivers, streams. Symbolic: currents of life-energy, movement of experiences
- आपः (āpaḥ)
- Literal: waters. Symbolic: subconscious and emotional substance; cleansing, nurturing consciousness
General śānti recitation; also apt at dawn/Prātaḥ-savana as an invocation of right orientation and clarity.
Morning recitation (Sūrya ‘ud etu’); also when seeking harmony in surroundings or community.
Facing east for the first pāda; then mentally extend blessing to four quarters; conclude with a calming offering of breath to the ‘waters’ within.
Use as a ‘field harmonizer’ before work or social interaction: widen vision, bless all directions (all relationships), steady yourself, calm emotional currents.
urú ‘wide’ (PIE *h₁rew- ‘open/space’ debated) + cakṣas from √cakṣ ‘see’ (PIE *kweks- ‘see’ often proposed). diś ‘direction’ from √diś ‘show/point’. dhruvá from √dhṛ ‘hold’ → fixed/steady. síndhu ‘river’ possibly substrate/Indo-Iranian hydronymic; ā́p- ‘water’ is old IE (cf. Latin aqua via different formation; Hittite ḫāpa- ‘river’ often cited).
Total-field integration (quarters as completeness), Stability (dhruva) and flow (sindhu/āpaḥ) as complementary orders, Illumination as right seeing (uru-cakṣas)
Wide-seeing Sūrya is the revealer of ṛta; peace follows when perception aligns with right order.
Urucakṣā implies truth-seeing that dissolves partiality.
Waters as sustaining matrix; mountains as stabilizing axes; directions as spatial manifestation of order.
Vedic cosmopsychology: outer cosmos mirrors inner consciousness-structure.
dawn/sunrise (ud etu)
Sunrise = awakening illumination; directions = all-sided integration; mountains = steady poise; waters/rivers = emotional and energetic flow purified.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The daily cosmic renewal: Sūrya’s arising establishes order in the whole space (four quarters). Mountains (stability) and waters (flow) are invoked to become ‘peace’—a mythic image of the psyche made whole when illumination rises and all currents and supports are harmonized.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The spatial totality ‘four directions’ is a common IE structuring of world-space. √dhṛ → dhruvá ‘fixed’ reflects PIE *dʰer- ‘hold’ (cf. Greek θρόνος ‘seat’ in extended family; English ‘firm’ is separate). √cakṣ ‘see’ aligns with archaic IE vision lexemes; the semantic pairing of ‘wide’ + ‘seeing’ is a traditional Indo-European poetic formula for sovereign/solar perception.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi seeks not mere sunrise but ‘wide vision’: an inner Sūrya whose rising makes all quarters of life concordant. The devas are asked to reorganize the human field—stabilizing what must be stable (parvata/dhruva) and purifying what must flow (sindhu/āpaḥ).
Dawn practice: awaken wide-seeing mind; bless all sides of life; stabilize; calm the emotional waters.
Ājñā (wide vision) + Anāhata (all-sided harmony) with grounding in Mūlādhāra (mountain steadiness).
‘Four quarters’ breathing: inhale (east), hold (south), exhale (west), hold (north) gently—then release into a long exhale imagining waters becoming still.
Widened, integrated peace with steady base.
Chant facing east; after the first pāda, open awareness to 360°; feel a ‘mountain spine’ (upright steadiness); then imagine inner rivers (thoughts/emotions) flowing quietly into a clear lake.
Honor udātta on and other marked syllables; keep ‘ud etu’ slightly lifted to evoke rising; maintain even refrain on ‘śaṃ naḥ’.
Slightly broaden the tone on urucakṣā; articulate pradiśaḥ clearly; let the last pāda soften like water settling.
sūrya: long ū, urucakṣā: ‘cakṣ’ cluster clear; long ā at end, ud etu: separate lightly (ud | etu) without over-pause, catasraḥ: dental t; final ḥ light, pradiśo: palatal ś; long o, dhruvayo: dh aspirated; ‘ru’ clear, sindhavaḥ: dental n; dh aspirated, āpaḥ: long ā; visarga audible but gentle
Bright at the start (sunrise), increasingly soft and cooling toward waters.
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