Rig Veda 3.8.3: Mandala 3, Sukta 8, Mantra 3
Sukta 3.8
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Vanaspati
- Chandas
- Anuṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
उच्छ्रयस्व वनस्पते वर्ष्मन्पृथिव्या अधि । सुमिती मीयमानो वर्चो धा यज्ञवाहसे ॥
ucchrā́yasva vanaspate várṣman pṛthivyā́ ádhi | su-mítī mīyámāno várco dhā yajñá-vāhase ||
ఓ వనస్పతే, భూమి యొక్క శిఖరంపై పైకి లేచి నిలువు. సుమితి (సద్-సమన్వయం)తో కొలవబడి/విన్యసింపబడి, యజ్ఞవాహ (అగ్ని) కొరకు వర్చస్ (తేజస్సు)ను స్థాపించు.
Word by Word
- उच्छ्रयस्व
- rise up; be raisedVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole (क्रिया) —Root उद्-श्रि (श्रि) धातु
- वनस्पते
- O lord of the forest (tree/wood; sacrificial post)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधन (आह्वान)Root वनस्-पति (प्रातिपदिक: वनस्पति)
- वर्ष्मन्
- on the height/summitNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot वर्ष्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- पृथिव्याः
- of the earthNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
- अधि
- upon; overIndeclinableअव्यय; स्थान/अधिष्ठान-वाचकRole अधिकरण (उपपद-सम्बन्ध)Root अधि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- सुमिती
- good measure/wise intent; good understandingNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्ता (मीयमानः इत्यस्य)Root सु-मति (प्रातिपदिक: सुमति)
- मीयमानः
- being measured; measuring (oneself)Participleवर्तमान कृदन्त (शानच्), प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्गRole कर्ता (वाच्य-कर्तृभावः)Root मा (माने/मितौ) धातु
- वर्चः
- splendour; brillianceNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot वर्चस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- धा
- place; bestowVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole (क्रिया) —Root धा (धारणे) धातु
- यज्ञवाहसे
- for the sacrifice-bearer (one who carries the offering)Noun/Adjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot यज्ञ-वाह (प्रातिपदिक: यज्ञवाह)
Sandhi Notes
- उच्छ्रयस्व = उत्/उद् + श्रयस्व (उद्-उपसर्गः; ‘श्रि/श्रय’ धातोः लोट्-आत्मनेपद)
- वर्ष्मन्पृथिव्या = वर्ष्मन् + पृथिव्याः (नकार-सन्धिः; पदच्छेदे ‘वर्ष्मन् पृथिव्याः’)
- सुमिती मीयमानो = सुमिती + मीयमानः (पादान्ते ‘-ो’ इति संहितारूपं; पदच्छेदे ‘मीयमानः’)
- धा यज्ञवाहसे = धा + यज्ञवाहसे (पदविभागः; ‘यज्ञवाहसे’ चतुर्थी एकवचन)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Rise up, O Vanaspati, on the height of the earth. Measured in right proportion, place splendor for the bearer of the sacrifice.
Inner meaning
The inner support (Vanaspati) is urged to ascend upon the ‘height of Earth’—to lift embodied nature into a higher poise. ‘Measured in right harmony’ (sumitī mīyamānaḥ) indicates a disciplined formation: energies proportioned by ṛta. Then ‘splendor’ (varcas) is to be placed for the yajñavāhā—whatever in us carries the sacrifice forward (the will, the aspiring mind, the life-force).
Universal truth
True spiritual power is not excess but right measure: when the embodied instrument is uplifted and harmonized, it becomes radiant and capable of carrying the work of transformation.
Themes
upright axis, right measure, splendor installation, grounded ascent
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Viśvāmitra (Gāthin lineage)
- Other hymns
- RV 3.8.1, RV 3.8.2
Family tradition
Emphasis on measure, order, and victorious ascent; establishing luminous power through disciplined formation.
Significance
The seer’s practical psychology: uplift first, then harmonize, then radiate—an inner engineering of the sacrifice.
The deity
- Devata
- Vanaspati
- Epithets
- Yajñavāhana (bearer/support of sacrifice, implied)
- Related deities
- Agni, Pṛthivī
Cosmic role
Axis/support rising from earth; gives stability and radiance to the sacrificial action.
Inner power
Capacity to elevate the physical base and to establish varcas (radiant energy) through right proportion.
In ritual
Where it is used
Raising/setting the yūpa or wood support; ensuring right measurement and auspicious radiance for the rite
उच्छ्र॑यस्व वनस्पते॒ वर्ष्म॑न्पृथि॒व्या अधि॑ । सुमि॑ती मी॒यमा॑नो॒ वर्चो॑ धा य॒ज्ञवा॑हसे ॥
उत् । श्र॒य॒स्व॒ । व॒न॒स्प॒ते॒ । वर्ष्म॑न् । पृ॒थि॒व्याः । अधि॑ । सुऽमि॑ती । मी॒यमा॑नः । वर्चः॑ । धाः॒ । य॒ज्ञऽवा॑हसे ॥
ut | śrayasva | vanaspate | varṣman | pṛthivyāḥ | adhi | su-mitī | mīyamānaḥ | varcaḥ | dhāḥ | yajña-vāhase
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4 pādas of ~8 syllables
Compact, mantra-like, directive; a clear ‘instructional’ cadence.
Quickly centers attention; good for repeated japa to establish posture, measure, and radiance.
- उच्छ्रयस्व (uc chrayasva)
- Literal: rise up. Symbolic: uplift of embodied consciousness
- वर्ष्मन् (varṣman)
- Literal: height; summit; eminence. Symbolic: higher poise of the physical being; elevated foundation
- पृथिव्याः (pṛthivyāḥ)
- Literal: of the earth. Symbolic: physical nature as base to be illumined, not rejected
- सुमिती (sumitī)
- Literal: good measure; right harmony. Symbolic: balanced formation of energies under ṛta
- मीयमानः (mīyamānaḥ)
- Literal: being measured. Symbolic: disciplined shaping of the instrument
- वर्चः (varcaḥ)
- Literal: splendor; radiance. Symbolic: luminous force, clarity, spiritual vigor
- यज्ञवाहसे (yajñavāhase)
- Literal: to the bearer of the sacrifice. Symbolic: the inner carrier of transformation—will and life yoked to the divine
Setting up the sacrificial post with correct measure; ensuring varcas for the yajña-vāha (the carrier function of the rite).
At the moment of erecting/positioning the post and aligning it on the ground/altar area.
Physical raising and measuring; invoking splendor for successful yajña.
Use as a ‘posture mantra’ before meditation: sit upright (ucchrayasva), align (sumitī), invite radiance (varcas).
miti ‘measure’ from √mā ‘measure’ implies proportion as a spiritual principle (order in manifestation). varcas from √vṛc/varc ‘shine’ is radiant potency. yajña-vāha ‘sacrifice-carrier’ indicates the vehicle faculty that transports offerings upward—psychologically, the disciplined energy that carries aspiration.
measure/proportion (miti) as ṛta in form, varcas (luminous energy) as spiritual potency, carrying of sacrifice (yajña-vāha) as ascent mechanism
Sumitī mīyamānaḥ directly encodes ṛta as right measure.
Varcas as truth-radiance that naturally accompanies right measure.
Raising the pillar on earth mirrors raising consciousness in matter—microcosmic ascent.
Vedic ṛta-as-measure; aligns with later sāṃkhya-like balance of forces (conceptual).
Earth = body/physical base; pillar = spine/axis; radiance = clarity and strength that carries practice.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘raising of the world-support with right measure’: a myth of cosmic architecture—order (miti) installs splendor (varcas) so the sacrifice can be borne upward; psychologically, disciplined proportion enables luminous potency.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √mā ‘measure’ is PIE *meh₁- (cf. Latin mētior, Greek métron). pṛthivī relates to PIE *pl̥th₂u- ‘broad’. The prominence of ‘measure’ as sacred principle is a shared IE theme (cosmic order as proportion).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi requests not mere elevation but measured elevation: Vanaspati must rise ‘with su-mitī’, placing varcas into the yajña-vāha. The Devata thus becomes the regulated support that turns aspiration into effective ascent.
Right measure and uprightness: align body, breath, and intention; invite varcas.
Suṣumṇā alignment; Maṇipūra (radiant vigor) supported by Mūlādhāra grounding (earth).
4-4-6 breathing (inhale-hold-exhale) while maintaining a tall spine; chant once per exhale.
Collected, poised, luminous.
Repeat 8 or 12 times as you refine posture; after the last repetition, keep the sense of ‘measured harmony’ in thoughts—reduce excess effort, increase steadiness.
Tri-svara; anuṣṭubh allows a steady, even delivery—keep udātta peaks light and consistent.
Do not rush clusters: ‘pṛthivyā adhi’, ‘yajñavāhase’. Keep long vowels clear.
ucchrayasva: articulate cch + r cleanly, vanaspate: ‘va-na-spa-te’ four beats, varṣman: retroflex ṣ, sumitī: short u, long ī at end, mīyamānaḥ: long ī; ‘y’ glide clear
Even, centered, with a slight brightness on ‘varco dhā’.
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