Rig Veda 5.80.3: Mandala 5, Sukta 80, Mantra 3
Sukta 5.80
- Rishi
- Atri
- Devata
- Uṣas
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
एषा गोभिररुणेभिर्युजानास्रेधन्ती रयिमप्रायु चक्रे । पथो रदन्ती सुविताय देवी पुरुष्टुता विश्ववारा वि भाति ॥
eṣā́ góbhir aruṇébhir yujānā́ asredhantī́ rayím áprāyu cakre | pathó rádantī suvitā́ya devī́ puru-stutā́ viśva-vārā́ ví bhāti ||
ఈ ఉషస్సు అరుణ ‘గోవులు’—ఉషాకిరణాలను—యోకుతుంది; అచలంగా నిలిచి, క్షయములేని రయి, అవినాశీ సంపదపూర్ణతను నిర్మిస్తుంది. సుగతికై మార్గాలను విప్పుతూ, దేవీ—పురుష్టుతా (అత్యంత స్తుతింపబడినది), విశ్వవారా (సర్వవాంఛిత వరదాయిని)—పూర్ణ ప్రకాశంతో విభాసిస్తుంది.
Word by Word
- एषा
- this (she)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → एषा
- गोभिः
- with cows / with rays (lit. cows)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- अरुणेभिः
- with ruddy (reddish) onesAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (गोभिः सह विशेषणम्)Role करणRoot अरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
- युजानā
- yoking / harnessingVerb (participle)वर्तमानकाले, आत्मनेपद, शानच्-प्रत्यय, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot युज् (धातु) → युजानā (शानच्)
- अस्र॑ेधन्ती
- not slackening / unfailingVerb (participle)वर्तमानकाले, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (कर्तरि वर्तमान-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)Role कर्तृRoot स्रिध्/स्रेद् (धातु; ‘to fail, be slack’) + अ- (निषेध)
- रयिम्
- wealthNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot रयि (प्रातिपदिक)
- अप्रायुः
- unfailing / not deficientAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (रयिम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्—‘अप्रायुम्’ अपेक्षितं; वैदिके विशेषणस्य विभक्तिव्यत्यय/पदपाठ-परम्परा सम्भवति)Role (विशेषणम्) कर्म-सम्बन्धीRoot अ- + प्रायु (प्रातिपदिक; ‘foregoing, failing, deficient’) → अप्रायु
- चक्रे
- has made / has fashionedVerbलिट् (परस्मैपद-परिपाट्या ‘परिपूर्ण’), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot कृ (धातु)
- पथः
- pathsNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (वैदिक रूप: पथः = पथान्)Role कर्मRoot पथ्/पथ (प्रातिपदिक)
- रदन्ती
- cleaving / opening (lit. gnawing)Verb (participle)वर्तमानकाले, परस्मैपद, शतृ-प्रत्यय, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot रद् (धातु; ‘to gnaw, bite, tear/open’) → रदन्ती
- सुविताय
- for good passage / for welfareNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot सु-वित (प्रातिपदिक; ‘good passage, welfare, good going’) → सुवित
- देवी
- the goddessNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
- पुरुष्टुता
- much-praisedAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (देवी इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ (विशेषणम्)Root पुरु-स्तुत (प्रातिपदिक; ‘much-praised’) → स्तु (धातु) से निष्पन्न
- विश्ववारा
- all-lovely / bestowing all boonsAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (देवी इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ (विशेषणम्)Root विश्व-वार (प्रातिपदिक; ‘all-choosing / all-beloved / of all boons’) → वर (√वृ ‘to choose’/‘excellent’)
- वि
- apart, forth, widelyIndeclinableउपसर्गःRole क्रियाविशेषणRoot वि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- भाति
- shinesVerbलट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot भा (धातु)
Sandhi Notes
- संधि-विच्छेद (पदक्रम): एषा | गोभिः | अरुणेभिः | युजाना | अस्र॑ेधन्ती | रयिम् | अप्रायुः | चक्रे || पथः | रदन्ती | सुविताय | देवी | पुरुष्टुता | विश्ववारा | वि | भाति । मुख्य-संधयः: (1) अरुणेभिः + युजाना → अरुणेभिर्युजाना (विसर्ग/रकारादेशः)
- (2) युजाना + अस्र॑ेधन्ती → युजानास्र॑ेधन्ती (आ + अ = आ; संहितायाम् दीर्घः)
- (3) अप्रायुः + चक्रे → अप्रायुःचक्रे (विसर्गः पूर्वपदे स्थितः; संहितायां जिह्वामूलीय/उपध्मानीय-प्रसङ्गः न)
- (4) देवी + पुरुष्टुता → देवीपुरुष्टुता (स्वर-संहितामात्रम्)
- (5) विश्ववारा + वि → विश्ववारावि (आ + वि इति संहितासंयोगः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
She yokes her ruddy cows (rays); unwavering, she fashions the plenitude (rayi) that does not waste away. Clearing paths for a happy journey, the goddess—much praised, bringing all desirable boons—shines forth.
Inner meaning
The ‘ruddy cows’ are the rays of illumination yoked to the dawn’s chariot: the light-forces are organized and harnessed for the journey of consciousness. Dawn creates ‘rayi’—not merely material wealth, but plenitude of energy, joy, and capacity that does not diminish when it is founded on light. ‘Clearing paths’ is the removal of inner obstructions (doubts, inertia, subconscient knots) so the being can move in ‘suvitā’—a happy/right going. Praise (puruṣṭutā) is not flattery but the soul’s consenting aspiration that allows the boons of light to manifest fully.
Universal truth
When illumination is harnessed and made practical, it generates an imperishable plenitude and clears the way for joyful progress. Gratitude and aspiration help stabilize and multiply the gifts of awakening.
Themes
removal of obstacles, bestowal of plenitude, illumination through rays
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri (Ātreya tradition)
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- RV 5.80.1–4
Family tradition
Atri’s dawn-vision often uses ‘go’ imagery as rays/knowledges and ‘rayi’ as plenitude born of illumination rather than mere possession.
Significance
The seer emphasizes practical transformation: dawn’s rays are yoked and become a stable wealth; illumination is meant to be embodied as capacity and right movement.
The deity
- Devata
- Uṣas
- Epithets
- Aruṇā (ruddy, implied), Asredhantī (unfaltering), Puruṣṭutā (much praised), Viśvavārā (all-boon-bringing)
- Related deities
- Sūrya, Savitar, Soma (as bliss that can accompany rayi)
Cosmic role
She deploys rays, opens the ways, and brings increasing plenitude into the world-order.
Inner power
Harnessed illumination: organized rays of knowledge that become stable strength and joy.
In ritual
Where it is used
Dawn praise; supportive of rites seeking abundance and smooth progress (symbolic ‘path-clearing’).
ए॒षा गोभि॑ररु॒णेभि॑र्युजा॒नास्रे॑धन्ती र॒यिमप्रा॑यु चक्रे । प॒थो रद॑न्ती सुवि॒ताय॑ दे॒वी पु॑रुष्टु॒ता वि॒श्ववा॑रा॒ वि भा॑ति ॥
एषा । गोभिः॑ । अ॒रु॒णेभिः॑ । यु॒जा॒ना । अस्रे॑धन्ती । र॒यिम् । अप्र॑ऽआयु । च॒क्रे॒ । प॒थः । रद॑न्ती । सु॒वि॒ताय॑ । पु॒रु॒ऽस्तु॒ता । वि॒श्वऽवा॑रा । वि । भा॒ति॒ ॥
eṣā | gobhiḥ | aruṇebhiḥ | yujānā | asredhantī | rayim | apra-āyu | cakre | pathaḥ | radantī | suvitāya | puru-stutā | viśva-vārā | vi | bhāti
48
4 x ~12 syllables
Workmanlike and luminous—suggesting ‘yoking’ and ‘path-clearing’ as steady action.
Supports steadiness and confidence; good for dispelling hesitancy and preparing for action.
- gobhiḥ aruṇebhiḥ
- Literal: with ruddy cows. Symbolic: with dawn-rays; luminous knowledges in dynamic form
- yujānā
- Literal: yoking. Symbolic: organizing and harnessing inner forces for the path
- asredhantī
- Literal: unfaltering. Symbolic: steadfast illumination not derailed by resistance
- rayim aprāyu
- Literal: plenitude not wasting away. Symbolic: imperishable inner wealth: energy, joy, capacity grounded in light
- patho radantī
- Literal: clearing/opening paths. Symbolic: removing inner obstacles; creating clear channels for progress
- suvitāya
- Literal: for good going. Symbolic: right, glad movement of life under guidance
- viśvavārā
- Literal: all-desiring/all-boon-bringing. Symbolic: the light-power that fulfills true soul-needs
- vi bhāti
- Literal: shines forth widely. Symbolic: full manifestation of consciousness-light
Morning praise; invoked for unobstructed progress (path-clearing) and for rayi as sustaining plenitude for the sacrificer.
Morning; especially when beginning a sequence requiring orderly movement and success.
Recitation with offerings to Agni/Soma contextually; inwardly ‘yoke’ attention to the light.
Chant before starting an important task to invoke steady clarity, imperishable energy, and obstacle-free progress.
go (plural gobhiḥ) from √gā ‘to go’ also denotes ‘ray’ in Vedic symbolism: that which ‘goes’ forth from the sun/dawn as light/knowledge. rayí- from √rā/√ri ‘to give, bestow’ → wealth as bestowed fullness (psychologically: increase of being). suvitá from su- + √i ‘go’ → right movement/ease, inner felicity. asredhantī from √sredh ‘to fail’ → steadfastness of the dawning force.
rays as knowledge (go), rayi as fullness of being, suvita as right passage
Unfaltering dawn and cleared paths mirror the reliability of ṛta in the cosmos and in sadhana.
Rays (go) as knowledges imply truth-contents becoming active forces.
Manifestation through rays: light differentiates into many knowledges that build plenitude.
Aurobindonian symbolic psychology: rays of knowledge organized into effective life-force and abundance.
dawn
Rays = illumined perceptions; yoking = concentration; path-clearing = removing psychological blocks; rayi = stable inner wealth.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The yoking of the ‘cows’ (rays) by Dawn: the light-powers are harnessed to bring plenitude and open the path—an archetype of releasing/organizing luminous energies for the journey of consciousness.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The metaphor of cattle/rays is an inherited Indo-Iranian poetic device where ‘cows’ signify luminous goods; while not securely PIE-wide, it parallels broader IE patterns of ‘wealth’ and ‘light’ as movable possessions. √yuj ‘yoke’ is widely IE (Latin iungō, English yoke < *yeug-).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi praises Uṣas as the active organizer of inner forces: through invocation, the seeker aligns with her steadfast action—opening passages and establishing a non-wasting plenitude (apra-āyu rayi) in the being.
‘Yoke the rays’: gather scattered attention into a coherent luminous focus; then let that focus clear the day’s path.
Ājñā (focused light) flowing into Maṇipūra (effective power)
On inhale, visualize drawing in ruddy rays; on exhale, visualize clearing a path ahead. 6–12 cycles.
Collected, luminous, capable; a poised readiness for right action.
After chanting, name one inner obstacle (fear, doubt, inertia) and offer it to the dawn-light; then take one concrete step—‘suvitāya’—with steady pace.
Rigvedic accents; give clear lift to ‘gobhir aruṇebhir’ and ‘rayim aprāyu’.
Articulate consonant clusters cleanly (yujānā, asredhantī). Keep the line flowing—no hard stops mid-pāda.
gobhiḥ: bh aspirated; visarga light, aruṇebhiḥ: retroflex ṇ; bh again aspirated, yujānā: j soft; long ā, asredhantī: sr cluster; dh aspirated; long ī, aprāyu: long ā; avoid turning y into ‘ee’, radantī: dental d; long ī, viśvavārā: long ā twice
Bright and steady, with a sense of harnessed force.
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