Rig Veda 7.75.8: Mandala 7, Sukta 75, Mantra 8
Sukta 7.75
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Uṣas
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
नू नो गोमद्वीरवद्धेहि रत्नमुषो अश्वावत्पुरुभोजो अस्मे । मा नो बर्हिः पुरुषता निदे कर्यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥
nū́ no gómad vī́ravad dhehi rátnam uṣo áśvāvát puru-bhójo asmē | mā́ no bárhiḥ puruṣátā nidē ka yūyáṃ pāta svastí-bhiḥ sádā naḥ ||
ఇప్పుడు మా లో గో-సంపద, వీర-సంపద గల రత్నాన్ని స్థాపించు, ఓ ఉషస్సా—అశ్వ-సంపదతో, మాకు పురు-భోజ (విస్తృత ఆనందభోగం) కలిగించేది. మా బర్హిస్ (యజ్ఞాసనం) ఎవరికి నిందకు కారణం కాకూడదు; నీవు సదా స్వస్తి-రూప క్షేమాలతో మమ్మల్ని కాపాడు.
Word by Word
- नू
- now, indeedIndeclinableनिपात (काल/प्रबोधनार्थ) अव्ययRoot नु
- नः
- to us / for usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी? बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक ‘नः’ = अस्माकम्/अस्मभ्यम्; यहाँ दत्तिवाचक)Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद्
- गोमत्
- rich in cowsAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (रत्नम् विशेषण)Role KarmaRoot गोमत् (गो + मतुप्)
- वीरवत्
- rich in heroes/menAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (रत्नम् विशेषण)Role KarmaRoot वीरवत् (वीर + मतुप्)
- धेहि
- place, bestowVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRoot धा (√धा)
- रत्नम्
- treasure, giftNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot रत्न
- उषः
- O Uṣas (Dawn)Noun (deity)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (Vedic voc. of उषस्)Root उषस्
- अश्वावत्
- rich in horsesAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (रत्नम् विशेषण)Role KarmaRoot अश्वावत् (अश्व + मतुप्)
- पुरुभोजः
- of abundant bounty, bountifulAdjective/Epithetपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (उषस्-सम्बोधन के साथ विशेषण/उपाधि)Role KartāRoot पुरुभोजस् (पुरु + भोजस्)
- अस्मे
- to usPronounचतुर्थी, बहुवचन (Vedic ‘अस्मे’ = अस्मभ्यम्)Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद्
- मा
- do notIndeclinableनिषेधार्थ निपात (prohibitive)Root मा
- नः
- our / of usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक; यहाँ ‘our’)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot अस्मद्
- बर्हिः
- sacrificial grass, barhisNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot बर्हिस्
- पुरुषता
- by/through human agency; by menNoun (abstract)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (करण/हेतुवाचक)Role KaraṇaRoot पुरुषता
- निदे
- in reproach, in blameNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Vedic loc. ‘निदे’)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot निदा (नि + √दा/दिह्?; ‘निदा’ = निन्दा/अपवाद)
- कर्यूयम्
- harm, injury, mischiefNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot कर्यू (कर्/कृ-सम्बद्ध प्रातिपदिक; ‘कर्यू’ = कार्य/कर्म, कृत्य/उपद्रव/हानि-भाव)
- पात
- protectVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRoot पा (√पा ‘to protect’)
- स्वस्तिभिः
- with well-being, with blessingsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot स्वस्ति
- सदा
- alwaysIndeclinableकालवाचक अव्ययRoot सदा
- नः
- usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक; यहाँ ‘us’)Role KarmaRoot अस्मद्
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (Vedic sandhi resolved): नू | नः | गोमत् | वीरवत् | धेहि | रत्नम् | उषः | अश्वावत् | पुरुभोजः | अस्मे || मा | नः | बर्हिः | पुरुषता | निदे | कर्यूयम् | पात | स्वस्तिभिः | सदा | नः । मुख्य संधि/रूप-टिप्पणी: (1) गोमद्वी॒रव॑त् = गोमत् + वीरवत् (द् + व् संयोग; लेख्यरूप ‘गोमद्-’). (2) अश्वा॑वत्पुरु॒भोजो॑ = अश्वावत् + पुरुभोजः (त् + प् संयोग; विसर्ग-लोप/परिवर्तन). (3) अ॒स्मे = अस्मद्-प्रातिपदिक का वैदिक चतुर्थी बहुवचन (अस्मभ्यम्). (4) निदे = ‘निदा’ (निन्दा/अपवाद) का वैदिक सप्तमी एकवचन. (5) ‘नः’ एन्क्लिटिक सर्वनाम: प्रसंगानुसार षष्ठी/चतुर्थी
- यहाँ ‘नू नः … धेहि’ में दत्तिवाचक ‘to us’, तथा ‘मा नः …’ में ‘our/of us’. स्वर: मूल पाठ में उदात्त/स्वरित चिह्न हैं
The meaning
Outer meaning
O Dawn, place in us a treasure rich in cows (wealth), heroes, horses, and wide enjoyments. Let none blame our ritual seat; protect us always with well-being.
Inner meaning
Uṣas is asked to establish (dhehi) an inner ‘ratna’—a realized treasure of illumination (gomad), courageous soul-force (vīravat), and effective life-energy for action (aśvāvat). ‘Purubhojaḥ’ becomes the wideness of inner enjoyment: a broad, harmonious capacity to receive and use divine gifts. The ‘barhis’ (offering-seat) is the prepared consciousness; the prayer is that this inner altar not fall into self-reproach, doubt, or hostile judgment (nide), but be guarded by swasti—harmonies of well-being.
Universal truth
True prosperity is an integrated gain: knowledge, courage, and energy held in harmony. Protecting the inner altar (one’s practice and sincerity) from blame and discouragement sustains steady progress.
Themes
boon-request, protection-prayer, illumination-and-heroism
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇi lineage, Maṇḍala 7)
- Other hymns
- RV 7.75.1-9, RV 7.76.1-5, RV 7.77
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha hymns often convert ritual vocabulary into an ethic of inner rightness: the ‘seat’ (barhis) is to be kept pure, protected, and blame-free through alignment with truth and divine harmony.
Significance
Vasiṣṭha’s prayer is integrative: illumination must bring strength and effective life-force, guarded by swasti so progress is stable and not derailed by inner negativity.
The deity
- Devata
- Uṣas
- Epithets
- uṣo (voc.), gomat (giver of rays/wealth), aśvāvat (giver of energies), purubhojaḥ (wide-bestowing)
- Related deities
- Savitṛ, Bhaga (enjoyment/distribution), Indra (heroic power)
Cosmic role
Initiates the day’s movement; distributes boons; sets the world into ordered activity.
Inner power
Bestows integrated capacities—clarity (go), courage (vīra), energy (aśva)—and protects the practice with harmonizing peace.
In ritual
Where it is used
Morning offerings and invocations to Uṣas for prosperity and protection; used as a benedictory prayer around the altar/barhis.
नू नो॒ गोम॑द्वी॒रव॑द्धेहि॒ रत्न॒मुषो॒ अश्वा॑वत्पुरु॒भोजो॑ अ॒स्मे । मा नो॑ ब॒र्हिः पु॑रु॒षता॑ नि॒दे क॑र्यू॒यं पा॑त स्व॒स्तिभि॒: सदा॑ नः ॥
नु । नः॒ । गोऽम॑त् । वी॒रऽव॑त् । धे॒हि॒ । रत्न॑म् । उषः॑ । अश्व॑ऽवत् । पु॒रु॒ऽभोजः॑ । अ॒स्मे इति॑ । मा । नः॒ । ब॒र्हिः । पु॒रु॒षता॑ । नि॒दे । कः॒ । यू॒यम् । पा॒त॒ । स्व॒स्तिऽभिः॑ । सदा॑ । नः॒ ॥
nu | naḥ | go--mat | vīra-vat | dhehi | ratnam | uṣaḥ | aśva-vat | puru-bhojaḥ | asme iti | mā | naḥ | barhiḥ | puruṣatā | nide | kaḥ | yūyam | pāta | svasti-bhiḥ | sadā | naḥ
44
4 × ~11 syllables; prayerful imperative cadence (dhehi, pāta).
Supplicatory yet firm; balanced petitions across pādas.
Creates a sense of ‘installation’ (dhehi) of inner treasure and a protective seal (pāta) around the practitioner.
- रत्नम् (ratnam)
- Literal: treasure, jewel. Symbolic: realized inner gain: stable light, strength, and joy
- गोमत् (gomat)
- Literal: rich in cows. Symbolic: rich in rays/insights; luminous understanding
- वीरवत् (vīravat)
- Literal: rich in heroes. Symbolic: soul-force, courage, victorious will
- अश्वावत् (aśvāvat)
- Literal: rich in horses. Symbolic: vital energies disciplined for right action
- पुरुभोजः (purubhojaḥ)
- Literal: wide in enjoyment. Symbolic: wideness of receptivity; many-sided harmonious fruition
- बर्हिः (barhiḥ)
- Literal: sacrificial grass/seat. Symbolic: prepared inner ground of offering—collected attention and purity
- निदे (nide)
- Literal: to blame/reproach. Symbolic: inner self-condemnation, doubt, hostile voices
- स्वस्तिभिः (svastibhiḥ)
- Literal: with well-beings/benedictions. Symbolic: harmonizing forces that keep the being safe, aligned, and progressing
Concluding dawn petition: ratna + protection (svasti); suitable as a closing prayer in morning rite sequences
At dawn; as part of Uṣas praise and protective closing sentiments.
Invocation for boons; protective request against blame/inauspiciousness around the ritual ground.
Use as a morning intention-setting: ‘Place in me clarity, courage, energy; protect my practice from self-criticism and distraction.’
gomat: go ‘cow/ray’ (PIE *gʷōus) + -mat ‘possessing’ → ‘possessing illuminations’. vīra from √vīr ‘man/hero’ connected to strength; psychologically ‘heroic soul-force’. barhis: offering-seat; inner sense: prepared field of receptivity. svasti: su- ‘good’ + √as ‘be’ → ‘good being’, harmony of existence.
svasti (harmonious well-being), ratna (essential boon), protection (√pā)
A blame-free barhis symbolizes action aligned to ṛta—right preparation and right offering.
Truthfulness of intention safeguards the inner altar from ‘nide’ (reproach).
Distribution of boons at dawn: the cosmos renews capacities each day.
Integral yogic ethic: prosperity as growth of consciousness, force, and harmony.
Dawn
Cows=rays of knowledge; horses=vital dynamism; barhis=collected mind-heart as offering-ground; swasti=inner equilibrium.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘gift-and-guard’ closure: Dawn is asked to deposit the ratna (treasure of light, hero-force, dynamic energies) and to protect the sacrifice-seat from reproach—ensuring the offering remains in harmony (svasti).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- svasti is built on √as ‘be’ (PIE *h₁es-). go (cow) is PIE *gʷōus. √pā ‘protect’ relates to PIE *peh₂- ‘protect/pasture’, showing inherited protective-sacral vocabulary.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- A mature reciprocity: the rishi maintains the barhis (field of offering) and requests Dawn’s ratna and continual safeguarding; the devatā’s role is both to bestow inner resources and to preserve the integrity of the seeker’s practice against discordant forces.
Install the ‘ratna’: visualize three gifts entering—light (go), courage (vīra), energy (aśva)—then seal with a feeling of swasti around the heart and head.
Maṇipūra (vīrya/force) integrated with Ājñā (clarity)
4-4-6 breathing (inhale-hold-exhale) for 7 rounds; on exhale, mentally repeat ‘pāta svastibhiḥ’.
Protected receptivity; steady, capable readiness for action.
If self-blame arises, return to the image of a clean barhis (inner seat): simplify, offer again, and resume without harshness.
Vedic accentuation as per śākhā; emphasize imperatives ‘dhehi’ and ‘pāta’ with clear udātta lifts where marked in pada recitation.
Maintain even pacing; let pāda breaks be clean after ‘asme’ and ‘nide’; keep ‘svastibhiḥ’ flowing without clipping consonants.
(gomad): final ‘d’ soft, not ‘t’, (vīravat): long ī, (aśvāvat): ‘śv’ cluster clean, (barhiḥ): aspirate ‘h’, not ‘bari’, (svastibhiḥ): ‘sv’ conjunct; short i in -bhiḥ
Warm, benedictory, steady resonance (as a protective prayer).
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