Rig Veda 7.68.5: Mandala 7, Sukta 68, Mantra 5
Sukta 7.68
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
चित्रं ह यद्वां भोजनं न्वस्ति न्यत्रये महिष्वन्तं युयोतम् । यो वामोमानं दधते प्रियः सन् ॥
citrám ha yád vāṃ bhójanaṃ nvásti ní atráye máhiṣvantaṃ yuyotam | yó vām omā́naṃ dádhate priyáḥ sán ||
విచిత్రమైనదే మీ పోషణ/భోజనం; అది ఇప్పుడు ఇక్కడ ఉంది. మహాబలమైన పీడకుణ్ని తరిమివేస్తూ, దానిని అత్రి కోసం మీరు స్థాపించారు. మీ రక్షణ-అనుగ్రహం (ఓమాన్) స్థాపించేవాడు మీకు ప్రియుడవుతాడు.
Word by Word
- चित्रम्
- bright, splendid, wondrousAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (यद्-सम्बन्धे ‘भोजनम्’ विशेषणम्)Root चित्र- (प्रातिपदिक) < √cit/√citr (प्रकाशने/विचित्रकरणे) (निघण्टु-परम्परा)
- ह
- indeed, surelyIndeclinableनिपात (उपपद-बलवर्धक/खलु-अर्थे)Root ह (निपात)
- यत्
- which, that whichPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (सम्बन्ध-प्रत्ययः)Role Karma (यद्…तद्-सम्बन्धः; ‘भोजनम्’ इत्यस्य निर्देशः)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वाम्
- of you two / for you twoPronounषष्ठी/द्वितीया, द्विवचन (वेदिक-रूप ‘वाम्’ = युवयोः/युवाम्)Role Sampradāna/सम्बन्ध (भोजनस्य ‘युवयोः’)Root युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- भोजनम्
- nourishment, bounty, sustenanceNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (अस्ति इत्यस्य विषयः)Root भोजन- (प्रातिपदिक) < √भुज् (पालने/भोगे) / √भुज् (अशने) (संज्ञा)
- नु
- now, indeedIndeclinableनिपात (अधुना/खलु/एव-अर्थे)Root नु (निपात)
- अस्ति
- is, existsVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (अस्ति = ‘there is’)Root √अस् (भुवि/सत्तायाम्)
- नि
- down, away; (as preverb)Indeclinableउपसर्ग (अवधारणे/अधोभावे; ‘युयोतम्’ इत्यनेन योगः)Root नि (उपसर्ग)
- अत्रये
- to/for AtriNoun (proper) / Dativeपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole Sampradāna (अत्रये = ‘for Atri’)Root अत्रि- (प्रातिपदिक; ऋषि-नाम)
- महिष्वन्तम्
- possessing a mighty bull/steed; powerfulAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (युयोतम्—कं? महिष्वन्तम्)Root महिष्वन्त- (प्रातिपदिक) < महिष् + -वन्त (मतुप्)
- युयोतम्
- drive away / remove (you two)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचनRole Kriyā (आज्ञा); कर्म = ‘महिष्वन्तम्’Root √यु (योजने/वियोजने) — वेदिक रूप; (युयोत् = ‘वियोजयत्/अपनयत्’)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (दधते इत्यस्य)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वाम्
- of you twoPronounषष्ठी/द्वितीया, द्विवचन (वेदिक ‘वाम्’)Role Sampradāna/सम्बन्ध (वामोमानम् = ‘your (two) …’)Root युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ओमानम्
- help, favor, supportNounपुं/नपुंसक (वेदे चल), द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (दधते—किम्? ओमानम्)Root ओमान- (प्रातिपदिक; वेदिक) < √अव्/√ऊ (रक्षणे/सहाय्ये) (अर्थः: उपकार/सहाय्य/अनुग्रह)
- दधते
- they place/hold; they bestowVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन (आत्मनेपद)Role Kriyā; कर्ता = ‘यः’Root √धा (धारणे/स्थापने)
- प्रियः
- dear, beloved; friendlyAdjective/Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā-विशेषण/सम्बन्ध (यः… सन् = प्रियः)Root प्रिय- (प्रातिपदिक)
- सन्
- beingParticipleवर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā-विशेषण (यः… सन्)Root √अस् (सत्तायाम्) → सन्त् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धि-विग्रह): चित्रं ह यद् वाम् भोजनं नु अस्ति नि अत्रये महिष्वन्तम् युयोतम् । यो वाम् ओमानम् दधते प्रियः सन् ॥ 1) यद्वाम् → यद् + वाम् (व्यञ्जन-सन्धि: द् + व्)
- 2) न्वस्ति → नु + अस्ति (उकार-लोप/संयोग; वेदिक संधि)
- 3) न्यत्रये → नि + अत्रये (इकारस्य यकारादेशः: नि + अ… → न्य…)
- 4) वामोमानम् → वाम् + ओमानम् (अ + ओ/ओ-आरम्भे संधि; अनुस्वार-परः ओ-)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Wondrous is the nourishment the Aśvins provide; they placed it for Atri and drove away a mighty oppressor. Whoever establishes their protection becomes dear to them.
Inner meaning
The ‘nourishment’ is the sustaining force—healing energy and luminous vitality—given by the Aśvins to the seeker (Atri as a representative of the human aspirant). The ‘mighty oppressor’ is the heavy obstructing power (a form of Vṛtra-like resistance) that suppresses progress. The mantra teaches reciprocity: when one ‘establishes their protection’—i.e., consciously accepts, remembers, and builds an inner alliance with these divine helpers—one becomes ‘dear’ (priyaḥ), meaning the being becomes receptive and harmonized with the divine working.
Universal truth
True help becomes effective when we cooperate with it: by remembrance, consent, and right habits, we allow protective and healing forces to remove inner oppression and sustain our growth.
Themes
Atri episode, divine rescue, nourishment and protection, driving away obstruction
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Vasiṣṭha-gotra)
- Other hymns
- RV 7.18 (Vasiṣṭha and victory/protection themes), RV 7.60 (Mitra-Varuṇa: ṛta and protection)
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha’s hymns often show divine action as both grace and law: help arrives, but receptivity and right relation (‘being dear’) matter.
Significance
This verse frames the Aśvin help as inner sustenance and removal of oppression—an experiential yoga of protection and healing.
The deity
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Epithets
- providers of wondrous nourishment (implied), protectors (omāna-dātā, implied)
- Related deities
- Indra (slayer of obstruction), Soma (nourishment/bliss), Agni (inner leader)
Cosmic role
Restorers of life-force and health; rescuers from oppression; mediators who make divine energies digestible to the human system.
Inner power
They strengthen the vital being with luminous prāṇa and remove heavy tamasic pressure; they establish a protective field around aspiration.
In ritual
Where it is used
Aśvin praise within Soma ritual; also general protective/healing invocation
चि॒त्रं ह॒ यद्वां॒ भोज॑नं॒ न्वस्ति॒ न्यत्र॑ये॒ महि॑ष्वन्तं युयोतम् । यो वा॑मो॒मानं॒ दध॑ते प्रि॒यः सन् ॥
चि॒त्रम् । ह॒ । यत् । वा॒म् । भोज॑नम् । नु । अस्ति॑ । नि । अत्र॑ये । महि॑ष्वन्तम् । यु॒यो॒त॒म् । यः । वा॒म् । ओ॒मान॑म् । दध॑ते । प्र्यः॒ । सन् ॥
citram | ha | yat | vām | bhojanam | nu | asti | ni | atraye | mahiṣvantam | yuyotam | yaḥ | vām | omānam | dadhate | pryaḥ | san
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4 × ~11 syllables; emphatic caesura supports ‘citraṃ ha yad…’.
Measured strength; a ‘protective’ steadiness with a decisive expulsion beat on yuyotam.
Builds confidence and groundedness; supports the feeling of being nourished and guarded.
- भोजनम् (bhojanam)
- Literal: nourishment/food. Symbolic: sustaining prāṇic and psychic support; restorative energy
- चित्रम् (citram)
- Literal: wondrous. Symbolic: supraphysical, unexpected grace; the marvel of inner aid
- अत्रये (atraye)
- Literal: for Atri. Symbolic: for the seeker/ṛṣi-consciousness in us that aspires for light
- महिṣ्वन्तम् (mahiṣvantaṃ)
- Literal: the mighty/strong one. Symbolic: powerful resistance, oppressive inertia or hostile force
- युयोतम् (yuyotam)
- Literal: you drive away/remove. Symbolic: purification by expulsion of obstruction
- ओमानम् (omānam)
- Literal: protection/guarding favor. Symbolic: the established inner shelter—faithful receptivity to divine guardianship
- प्रियः (priyaḥ)
- Literal: dear/beloved. Symbolic: state of harmony and receptivity; being ‘chosen’ by the working of grace
Mythic exemplum (Atri) within Ashvin Soma hymn; reinforces trust in their power to remove obstruction and grant nourishment
When seeking protection, recovery, or removal of obstacles in the course of the rite.
Stotra/śastra praise; offering with the intent of expelling obstruction.
Chant during illness, fatigue, or psychological oppression; pair with a simple offering gesture (hands at heart → brow) to ‘establish protection’.
Atri is tied to Ashvin rescue myths (restoration, deliverance). bhojana ‘nourishment’ becomes inner sustaining delight/force granted by the Ashvins. mahīṣvant ‘mighty/bull-like’ can represent an obstructive force; yuyotam ‘drive away’ indicates the Ashvins’ protective-exorcistic action. omāna is a favoring protection established by the seeker.
protection as established relation (omāna), removal of obstruction (psychological asuric pressure)
Protection (omāna) is the right boundary that allows ṛta to work in the mixed human field.
Citra nourishment hints at truth-force sustaining life, not mere physical food.
Sustenance and purification: life is upheld by higher powers when aligned.
Integral yoga reading: gods as functional powers; obstruction as subconscious resistance.
Digesting higher energy; expelling inertia/hostility; establishing a protective sheath of right force.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Ashvins’ rescue/support of Atri—granting nourishment and repelling a mighty oppressive force. In inner sense, the Divine Twins restore the seeker’s sustaining delight and drive away the heavy obstruction that blocks progress.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- priyá ‘dear’ reflects PIE *prihₓ- ‘to love’ (Sanskrit priya-, Avestan frya-, Germanic *frijaz ‘free/beloved’ as in English friend). This inherited affective lexicon encodes the reciprocity: establishing divine protection makes one ‘dear’ to the gods.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi uses a mythic precedent (Atri) to anchor present invocation: what the Ashvins did ‘there’ they can do ‘here’. The relationship is sustained by omāna—an established protection—creating intimacy (priya) between human aspirant and divine helpers.
Receive ‘bhojana’ as luminous nourishment: inhale feeling a cool-golden energy filling the chest; exhale letting heaviness (mahiṣvān) leave the body-mind.
Maṇipūra (vital strength/digestion of energy)
Bhrāmarī 7 rounds, then chant once; feel the ‘oppressor’ dissolve in the hum-resonance.
From oppression to empowered calm.
After chanting, sit 2 minutes sensing a protective envelope around the torso. Reaffirm a simple consent: ‘I accept the Aśvin protection and cooperate with it through right action today.’
Three-tone Vedic chant; give clear udātta to citraṃ, bhojanam, atraye, yuyotam, omānam, priyaḥ.
Mark the turn at ‘ni atraye’ with a slight pause; deliver ‘yuyotam’ decisively without rushing.
citraṃ: keep ‘tr’ crisp; nasalize ‘aṃ’., mahiṣvantaṃ: retroflex ṣ; keep ‘vantaṃ’ nasalized at end., omānam: long ā; avoid ‘omanam’ short a., priyaḥ: light visarga; do not drop final aspiration.
Warm, protective, confident; slightly fuller tone on expulsion phrase.
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