Rig Veda 2.27.15: Mandala 2, Sukta 27, Mantra 15
Sukta 2.27
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Ādityas / complementary divine powers
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
उभे अस्मै पीपयतः समीची दिवो वृष्टिं सुभगो नाम पुष्यन् । उभा क्षयावाजयन्याति पृत्सूभावर्धौ भवतः साधू अस्मै ॥
ubhḗ asmai pīpayataḥ samīcī́ divó vṛ́ṣṭiṃ su-bhágo nā́ma púṣyan | ubhā́ kṣáyāv ā́-jáyan yā́ti pṛ́tsūbhāv árdhau bhavataḥ sādhū́ asmai ||
ఆ రెండు శక్తులు అతనిని సమ్యక్ పరస్పర సమన్వయంతో పోషించుగాక; ద్యులోక వర్షాన్ని వృద్ధి చేయుగాక. ‘సుభగ’ అనే నామముగల (దేవి) పుష్యన్—సమృద్ధిని పుష్టి చేయుగాక. రెండు నివాసస్థానాలను జయించి, అతడు యుద్ధాలలో బహుమతిని చేరువవుతాడు; అతనికి ఆ రెండు భాగాలూ సాధకమై, సమర్థమై, సిద్ధమై ఉండుగాక.
Word by Word
- उभे
- both (two, f.)Adjective/Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृ (सहकर्तृ-समुच्चय)Root उभ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्मै
- to himPronounपुं/नपुं, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- पीपयतः
- (the two) cause to drink / make swell, refreshVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot पा (धातु) → पीपय (णिच्-प्रेरणार्थक, पुनरुक्त-आदेश)
- समीची
- concordant, well-directedAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot समीचि (प्रातिपदिक; सम्+अञ्च् ‘to go/turn’)
- दिवः
- of heavenNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root दिव्/द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक)
- वृष्टिम्
- rainNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot वृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक; √वृष्)
- सुभगः
- the fortunate oneAdjective/Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot सुभग (प्रातिपदिक)
- नाम
- by name / indeedIndeclinableअव्ययRole सम्बन्ध/उपपद (emphatic ‘indeed/by name’)Root नाम (अव्यय)
- पुष्यन्
- PūṣanNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (सुभगः इति विशेष्य)Root पूषन् (देवनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- उभा
- both (two, m.)Adjective/Pronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृRoot उभ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- क्षयावौ
- the two dwellings/abodesNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृ-विशेषण (उभा इत्यस्य)Root क्षयावु/क्षयाव (प्रातिपदिक; द्वन्द्व/युग्म-नाम, ‘two abodes/households’)
- अजयन्
- they conqueredVerbलङ् (इम्पर्फेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot जि (धातु) ‘to conquer’
- याति
- he goes/comesVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot या (धातु)
- पृत्सु
- in battlesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole अधिकरणRoot पृत्/पृत्स् (प्रातिपदिक)
- उभा
- bothAdjective/Pronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृRoot उभ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वर्धौ
- two prosperities/increasesNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृ-विशेषण (उभा इत्यस्य)Root वर्धि/वर्ध (प्रातिपदिक; ‘growth, prosperity’)
- भवतः
- you two become / areVerbलट्, मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot भू (धातु)
- साधू
- good, effectiveAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्मै
- for himPronounपुं/नपुं, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धिविच्छेद): उभे | अस्मै | पीपयतः | समीची | दिवः | वृष्टिम् | सुभगः | नाम | पुष्यन् || उभा | क्षयावौ | अजयन् | याति | पृत्सु | उभा | वर्धौ | भवतः | साधू | अस्मै || 1) ‘समीची’ इति स्त्री-द्विवचनं ‘उभे’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्। 2) ‘सुभगः नाम पुष्यन्’ = ‘Pūṣan, (who is) fortunate by name/indeed’. 3) ‘क्षयावौ’ द्विवचन-रूपं युग्मवाचक-प्रातिपदिकस्य
- मन्त्रभाषायां ‘two abodes/households’ इत्यर्थे। 4) ‘अजयन्’ (लङ् 3pl) + ‘याति’ (लट् 3sg) इति मन्त्रशैली—विविधकाल-प्रयोगः (historic present) सम्भवः।
The meaning
Outer meaning
May the two nourish him in right mutuality, fostering the rain of heaven; ‘Well-Fortune’ by name increases. Winning both dwellings, he goes to the prize in the battles; may both halves become for him effective and accomplished.
Inner meaning
The ‘two’ are complementary powers in the yoga—commonly read as Heaven and Earth (dyāvā-pṛthivī) or two allied divine forces (e.g., will and knowledge, clarity and force). When they nourish the seeker in right mutuality (samīcī), the descent of higher influence (‘rain of heaven’) increases inner well-being (subhaga—good fortune as a conscious power). ‘Both dwellings’ signify mastery of inner and outer life, or the higher and lower planes integrated. Then the seeker advances to the ‘prize’ in battles—victory in inner conflicts—because both halves of the nature become sādhū: effective, accomplished, harmonized.
Universal truth
Lasting progress comes from balance of complementary powers and an active receptivity to higher descent; integration makes one victorious in life’s conflicts.
Themes
Prosperity, Descent of force, Integration of polarities, Victory
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Lineage
- Bhārgava (traditional)
- Other hymns
- RV 2.27, RV 2.28
Family tradition
The Gṛtsamada Āditya hymn emphasizes harmony and right arrangement; this verse highlights integration and descent as the basis of victory.
Significance
A seer-teaching on yoga of integration: not one-sided asceticism, but mutuality of complementary powers so the whole nature becomes sādhū (effective for the divine work).
The deity
- Devata
- Complementary divine powers (often Dyāvā-Pṛthivī implied) within an Āditya-protected order
- Epithets
- samīcī (right mutuality), subhaga (well-fortune)
- Related deities
- Dyāvā-Pṛthivī, Ādityas, Parjanya (rain motif), Indra (victory in battles)
Cosmic role
Heaven and Earth (or paired powers) sustain creation through reciprocal nourishment and the descent of divine influences (rain).
Inner power
Integration: capacity to reconcile dualities in the psyche and receive higher force into embodied life.
In ritual
Where it is used
General prosperity and victory prayer within Āditya praise; also fits rites invoking harmony of heaven-earth and successful outcomes
उ॒भे अ॑स्मै पीपयतः समी॒ची दि॒वो वृ॒ष्टिं सु॒भगो॒ नाम॒ पुष्य॑न् । उ॒भा क्षया॑वा॒जय॑न्याति पृ॒त्सूभावर्धौ॑ भवतः सा॒धू अ॑स्मै ॥
उ॒भे इति॑ । अ॒स्मै॒ । पी॒प॒य॒तः॒ । स॒मी॒ची इति॑ स॒म्ऽई॒ची । दि॒वः । वृ॒ष्टिम् । सु॒ऽभगः॑ । नाम॑ । पुष्य॑न् । उ॒भा । क्षयौ॑ । आ॒ऽजय॑न् । या॒ति॒ । पृ॒त्ऽसु । उ॒भौ । अर्धौ॑ । भ॒व॒तः॒ । सा॒धू इति॑ । अ॒स्मै॒ ॥
ubhe iti | asmai | pīpayataḥ | samīcī itisam-īcī | divaḥ | vṛṣṭim | su-bhagaḥ | nāma | puṣyan | ubhā | kṣayau | ājayan | yāti | pṛt-su | ubhau | ardhau | bhavataḥ | sādhū iti | asmai
44
4 × ~11
Balanced, antiphonal feel (ubhe/ubhā/ubhau repetition) giving symmetry
Encourages integration and steadiness; the repeated ‘two/both’ imprints wholeness and balance in the listener.
- उभे (ubhe)
- Literal: the two, both. Symbolic: complementary powers (heaven/earth; knowledge/force; inner/outer) that must cooperate
- पीपयतः (pīpayataḥ)
- Literal: may they cause to swell/nourish. Symbolic: increase of energies and capacities through mutual support
- समीची (samīcī)
- Literal: in right direction, mutually fitting. Symbolic: harmonious reciprocity; balance and right relation between dual powers
- दिवो वृष्टिम् (divo vṛṣṭim)
- Literal: rain of heaven. Symbolic: descent of higher light, force, and bliss into the lower nature
- सुभगः (subhagaḥ)
- Literal: well-fortuned, auspicious. Symbolic: the power of fortunate harmony that grows when descent is received
- उभा क्षयौ (ubhā kṣayau)
- Literal: both dwellings. Symbolic: possession of both planes—inner realization and outer life-order; or heaven/earth established in the being
- पृत्सु (pṛtsu)
- Literal: in battles. Symbolic: inner struggles against resistance, ignorance, and division
- उभौ अर्धौ (ubhau ardhau)
- Literal: both halves. Symbolic: mind and life; higher and lower nature; masculine/feminine currents—made whole
- साधू (sādhū)
- Literal: effective, accomplished, good. Symbolic: integrated functioning of the whole being; powers become successful instruments
Benediction for prosperity and victory; ‘rain of heaven’ aligns with Soma ideology of descent of plenitude; used as blessing for successful struggle and stable abodes.
When seeking auspicious increase, integration, and success in contest/effort
Recitation accompanying offerings for prosperity and victory
Use when feeling divided (mind vs life, inner vs outer): recite to invoke mutuality and a ‘rain’ of higher help into daily action.
pīpayataḥ: causative/intensive from √pī ‘swell, be full’ → nourish into fullness. samīcī: sam- ‘together’ + √añc ‘turn, move’ → mutually aligned movement. vṛ́ṣṭi: from √vṛṣ ‘rain, shower’ → descent of abundance; psychologically, the ‘rain’ of higher force. su-bhága: su- + bhaga ‘portion, allotment, delight’ (PIE *bʰag- ‘share’) → fortunate share as inner felicity. kṣáya: dwelling/abode; can symbolize inner and outer stations, or heaven/earth, or subjective/objective fields. pṛt: battle/strife; inner conflict with hostile forces. ardhau: two halves = complementary polarities needing harmony (e.g., knowledge and force, light and life).
Complementarity and integration (ubhe/ubhau ardhau), Bhaga (fortunate portion) as divine allotment, Victory in inner battle (pṛtsu)
samīcī expresses ṛta as right relation between complementary cosmic principles.
Truth manifests as balanced functioning, not fragmentation.
Creation sustained by heaven’s descent and earth’s receptivity; victory arises from integrated worlds.
Integral yoga emphasis on descent (rain) and integration (both halves made sādhū).
rainy season motif (symbolic)
Rain = descent of higher consciousness; heaven/earth = higher mind and embodied life; battles = inner conflicts where integration wins.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘two complementary powers’ that nourish and grant rain, enabling the hero to win both abodes and prevail in battles. Mythically, it is integration producing abundance and victory—wholeness (both halves) as the condition for success.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- bhaga ‘share/portion’ continues PIE *bʰag- (cf. Slavic bogŭ ‘god’ via ‘dispenser of shares’ in some analyses; Iranian baga-). The duality language (ubhe/ubhau) reflects an old IE poetic habit of paired complements.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asks the divine to harmonize complementary forces in the human (samīcī), so that the ‘rain’ of higher plenitude descends and the seeker wins stable stations and victory in struggle—spiritual prosperity as integrated functioning.
Reconcile inner dualities; invite descent of higher help into the embodied life
Sahasrara (descent) to Muladhara (embodiment); balance through Anahata (harmonizing center)
‘Downward shower’ visualization on inhale from crown to heart/navel; steady exhale grounding into the base
Integrated, supported, quietly victorious
Contemplate your ‘two halves’ (mind-life or inner-outer). On each ‘ubhe/ubhā/ubhau,’ feel them align. Then imagine a fine rain of light descending, making the whole nature sādhū—able and effective.
Tri-svara; keep the repeated dual-forms (ubhe/ubhā/ubhau) clearly articulated; let udātta peaks mark the symmetry.
Maintain equal weight across pādas to preserve balance; avoid accelerating—symmetry is the point.
ubhe: short u, clear bh, samīcī: long ī, palatal c, vṛṣṭim: retroflex ṛ and ṣṭ cluster, pṛtsu: retroflex ṛ, clear ts
Balanced, resonant, centered
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