Rig Veda 8.47.3: Mandala 8, Sukta 47, Mantra 3
Sukta 8.47
- Devata
- Ādityas
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace)
व्यस्मे अधि शर्म तत्पक्षा वयो न यन्तन । विश्वानि विश्ववेदसो वरूथ्या मनामहेऽनेहसो व ऊतयः सुतयो व ऊतयः ॥
vy àsmé adhí śárma tát pakṣā́ váyo ná yantana | víśvāni viśva-vedaso varū́thyā manāmahe 'néhaso va ūtáyaḥ su-ūtáyaḥ va ūtáyaḥ ||
எங்கள்மேல் அந்த அமைதி-ஆதாரமான சர்மத்தை நிறுவுங்கள்; இறக்கைகள் பறவையைச் சுமப்பதுபோல். ஹே விஷ்வவேதஸः (அனைத்தும் அறிந்த) தேவர்களே, உங்கள் எல்லா வரூத்யா (பாதுகாப்பு/காவல்) களையும் நாங்கள் கோட்டையாக மனத்தில் தாங்குகிறோம். ஹே அநேஹஸः (தவறாத/அசையாத)வர்களே, உங்கள் ஊதயः—உங்கள் சு-தயः ஊதயः—எங்களுக்குக் காவலாகும்.
Word by Word
- वि
- apart, forth (prefix)Indeclinableउपसर्ग (क्रियाविशेषक)Root वि (उपसर्ग) / प्रादि
- अस्मे
- for us / among usPronounसप्तमी/चतुर्थी? बहुवचन? (वैदिक रूप: अस्मे = अस्मासु/अस्मभ्यः सन्दर्भानुसार)Role Adhikaraṇa (locative sense: ‘among/for us’) / Sampradāna (if dative sense)Root अस्मद्
- अधि
- upon, over; in additionIndeclinableअव्यय (पूर्वसर्ग/उपपद)Root अधि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- शर्म
- shelter, protection, comfortNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (वैदिक: ‘शर्म’)Role Karma (object of ‘यन्तन’)Root शर्मन्
- तत्
- thatPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनRole विशेषण/निर्देशक (to ‘शर्म’)Root तद्
- पक्षा
- wingsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन (वैदिक रूप: ‘पक्षा’ = पक्षाः)Role Kartā (subject, in simile with ‘वयः’)Root पक्ष
- वयः
- a bird (lit. winged creature)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (collective) / वैदिक प्रयोगRole Kartā (as ‘bird’ in simile)Root वयस्
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-निपातRoot न
- यन्तन
- bring, bestow, grantVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रिया (आह्वान/प्रार्थना); कर्ता = (देवाः/विश्ववेदसः) impliedRoot यम् (यच्छति/यन्ति)
- विश्वानि
- all (things), everythingAdjective (used substantively)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचनRole Karma (object of ‘मनामहे’)Root विश्व
- विश्ववेदसः
- O all-knowing onesAdjective/Noun (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन बहुवचन (वैदिक: -सः = -सः/ -साः voc.pl.)Role सम्बोधन (addressed deities)Root विश्ववेदस् (प्रातिपदिक: विश्व + वेदस्) / √विद्
- वरूथ्याः
- protective, shelteringAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन (agreeing with implied ‘ऊतयः’)Role Kartā/विशेषण (of ‘ऊतयः’ understood)Root वरूथ्य (from वरूथ ‘defence, enclosure’)
- मनामहे
- we invoke/think upon, we pray forVerbलट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपदRole क्रिया; कर्ता = वयम् (we)Root √मन् (मन्यते/मनामहे) / ‘to think, to invoke’
- अनेहसः
- untroubled, unharmingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी बहुवचन (वः के साथ: ‘of you’)Role सम्बन्ध (genitive qualifier of ‘वः’/‘ऊतयः’)Root अनेहस् (a- + नेहस् ‘trouble/need/straitness’)
- वः
- your (of you)Pronounषष्ठी बहुवचन (enclitic)Role सम्बन्ध (genitive: ‘your’)Root युष्मद्
- ऊतयः
- helps, aids, protectionsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole Kartā/प्रार्थ्य-वस्तु (the sought helps)Root ऊति
- सुतयः
- pressings/offerings (of Soma); libationsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole Kartā/प्रार्थ्य-वस्तु (parallel to ‘ऊतयः’)Root सुति
- वः
- yourPronounषष्ठी बहुवचन (enclitic)Role सम्बन्धRoot युष्मद्
- ऊतयः
- helps, aidsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole Kartā/प्रार्थ्य-वस्तुRoot ऊति
Sandhi Notes
- पाठ-समाधान (मुख्य): व्य१॒॑स्मे → वि + अस्मे
- तत्प॒क्षा → तत् + पक्षाः (वैदिक बहुवचन ‘पक्षा’)
- मनामहेऽने॒हसो॑ → मनामहे + अनेहसः (अ + अ = ’)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Place that shelter upon us, as wings carry the bird. O all-knowing ones, we remember all your protections as our fortress; your unfailing protections are our safeguards.
Inner meaning
The prayer asks that peace (śarma) be set ‘upon’ the being—like a protective atmosphere. The wing-image again indicates uplift and coverage: higher powers both raise and shield. ‘Viśva-vedasaḥ’ (all-knowing) points to the Ādityas as comprehensive truth-consciousness that sees through complexity and guards the path. ‘Varūthya’ (fortress) becomes an inner citadel: stable truth, clear conscience, and harmonious law that prevents invasion by anxiety and falsehood.
Universal truth
Lasting safety is an inner fortress built of truth and peace; remembrance of the higher law strengthens that fortress against disturbance.
Themes
Mental remembrance, Protective covering, Ascent and guidance
The seer
Significance
The seer stresses ‘manāmahe’—protective remembrance. In yogic terms, constant recollection of the Truth-powers becomes the fortress of the sadhaka.
The deity
- Devata
- Ādityas (addressed as viśva-vedasaḥ).
- Epithets
- viśva-vedasaḥ, anehasaḥ
- Related deities
- Mitra–Varuṇa (as primary Āditya pair), Savitar (right impulsion)
Cosmic role
Omniscient guardians who establish peace and provide a fortress of ṛta.
Inner power
Comprehensive discernment and stabilizing peace that forms an inviolable inner boundary.
In ritual
Where it is used
Protective recitation; suitable as a concluding seal after offerings or prayers.
व्य१॒॑स्मे अधि॒ शर्म॒ तत्प॒क्षा वयो॒ न य॑न्तन । विश्वा॑नि विश्ववेदसो वरू॒थ्या॑ मनामहेऽने॒हसो॑ व ऊ॒तय॑: सु॒तयो॑ व ऊ॒तय॑: ॥
वि । अ॒स्मे इति॑ । अधि॑ । शर्म॑ । तत् । प॒क्षा । वयः॑ । न । य॒न्त॒न॒ । विश्वा॑नि । वि॒श्व॒ऽवे॒द॒सः॒ । व॒रू॒थ्या॑ । म॒ना॒म॒हे॒ । अ॒ने॒हसः॑ । वः॒ । ऊ॒तयः॑ । सु॒ऽऊ॒तयः॑ । वः॒ । ऊ॒तयः॑ ॥
vi | asme iti | adhi | śarma | tat | pakṣā | vayaḥ | na | yantana | viśvāni | viśva-vedasaḥ | varūthyā | manāmahe | anehasaḥ | vaḥ | ūtayaḥ | su-ūtayaḥ | vaḥ | ūtayaḥ
Petition + simile + remembrance + refrain.
A ‘placing’ rhythm (adhi śarma) followed by a carrying motion (pakṣā… yantana), ending in the steady refrain.
Creates a felt ‘covering’ over the head/heart and a mental steadiness through repetition.
- शर्म (śarma)
- Literal: shelter, peace. Symbolic: wide peace as protective atmosphere
- पक्षा (pakṣā)
- Literal: wings. Symbolic: uplift + coverage by higher consciousness
- विश्ववेदसः (viśva-vedasaḥ)
- Literal: all-knowing. Symbolic: integral truth-awareness that guards the whole being
- वरूथ्या (varūthyā)
- Literal: as a defense/fortress. Symbolic: inner citadel of truth-force; stable protection
- मनामहे (manāmahe)
- Literal: we think/hold in mind. Symbolic: smṛti of the Divine powers; sustained recollection as protection
Protective chant emphasizing śarma and varūtha; applicable in rites seeking safeguarding and mental alignment.
End of japa/meditation as a protective closure; or before sleep to establish śarma.
Recite while visualizing a dome of light settling over the body and mind.
Use as a ‘psychic boundary’ mantra for sensitive individuals: establish peace, remember the Truth-powers, and feel a fortress of light.
varūtha ‘defense, shelter’ is linked in sense to Varuṇa’s encompassing protection; from √vṛ/var ‘cover/enclose’ (semantic field). viśva-vedas ‘all-knowing’ from √vid. √man ‘think’ (manāmahe) indicates an inner act: remembrance/concentration as a means of invoking protection.
Śarma as established field, Manas (mind) as instrument of invocation, Varūtha as inner fortress under ṛta
Śarma and varūtha are psychological forms of ṛta—order as protection.
All-knowing (viśva-veda) truth-awareness prevents self-deception.
Not cosmogonic; protective maintenance of the human journey within cosmic law.
Integral-Vedic: protection through remembrance and alignment with truth-consciousness.
day (solar guardians)
Wings = uplift/coverage; fortress = stable inner boundary; peace = subtle atmosphere of protection.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is ‘protective covering as wings’ and ‘fortress of the gods’: the Ādityas establish śarma over the seeker, and their protections become varūtha—an inner citadel against disorder.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vid (vedas) from PIE *weyd-. √man (manāmahe) from PIE *men- ‘think’ (Greek ménos, Latin mens). The metaphor of protection as covering/fortress is a shared IE poetic strategy, but here anchored in Indo-Iranian truth-ethics.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi’s act is interiorized: ‘we hold in mind’ (manāmahe) the divine protections. The Devatā responds by placing śarma ‘upon us’—a reciprocal circuit of concentration and grace.
Build ‘varūtha’: an inner fortress of peace by sustained remembrance (manāmahe) of truth and harmony.
Sahasrara/ajna (truth-awareness) stabilizing anahata (peace).
Box breathing (4-4-4-4) while repeating the refrain to create a stable boundary.
Protected equanimity; reduced reactivity.
At the start, feel peace placed above and around you; then keep a steady recollection of the Truth-powers throughout the day as your fortress.
Precise Vedic accents require the source Saṃhitā; keep the refrain as a fixed cadence.
Slight emphasis on ‘adhi śarma’ (placing peace) and ‘viśvāni’ (all protections).
yantana: dental n, not retroflex, viśva-: palatal ś, vedasaḥ: clear short a, visarga at end, varūthyā: long ū, aspirated ‘thy’ cluster lightly
Soft, covering, continuous—like placing a cloak of peace.
3
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