Rig Veda 10.128.4: Mandala 10, Sukta 128, Mantra 4
Sukta 10.128
- Devata
- Viśve Devāḥ
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Karuna (compassion)
मह्यं यजन्तु मम यानि हव्याकूतिः सत्या मनसो मे अस्तु । एनो मा नि गां कतमच्चनाहं विश्वे देवासो अधि वोचता नः ॥
máhyaṁ yajantu máma yā́ni havyā́kūtiḥ satyā́ mánaso me astu | éno mā́ ní gāṁ katámac canā́haṁ víśve devāso ádhi vocatā naḥ ||
ขอให้เครื่องบูชาที่เป็นของข้าพเจ้าถูกบูชาเพื่อข้าพเจ้าเถิด; ขอให้เจตนาแห่งใจของข้าพเจ้า (ฮัวยากูติ) เป็นความจริงแท้. ขออย่าให้ความผิดบาปมาถึงข้าพเจ้า ไม่ว่าโดยประการใดเลย; โอเทพทั้งปวง โปรดกล่าวแทนเรา และประกาศเหนือเรา (เพื่อความชอบธรรมของเรา).
Word by Word
- मह्यम्
- to/for mePronounद्वितीया/चतुर्थी एकवचन (दत्तिव्/सम्प्रदानार्थे) — ‘to/for me’Role सम्प्रदानRoot अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
- यजन्तु
- let them worship/offerVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ) परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole (क्रिया) — कर्तृ ‘they’ (अव्यक्त) ; कर्म ‘offer/worship’Root यज्
- मम
- of me / myPronounषष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
- यानि
- which (things)Pronoun (relative)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्म (यजन्तु) / सम्बन्ध (हव्यानि) संदर्भेRoot यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
- हव्यानि
- offerings (oblation-things)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्म (यजन्तु) — ‘offerings’Root हव्य (प्रातिपदिक; √हु ‘to offer’ से)
- आकूतिः
- intention / resolveNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्ता (अस्तु) — ‘intention’Root आकूति (प्रातिपदिक; आ-√कू/कव् ‘to intend/plan’)
- सत्या
- trueAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (आकूतिः इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्ता-विशेषणRoot सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- मनसः
- of (the) mindNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (आकूतेः) — ‘of mind’Root मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- मे
- myPronounषष्ठी एकवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्बन्धRoot अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्तु
- let it beVerbलोट् (आशीर्लिङ्ग/आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया) — ‘let it be’Root अस्
- एनः
- sin / guilt / evilNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (नि-गाम्) — ‘sin/evil’Root एनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- मा
- do notIndeclinableनिषेधार्थक अव्यय (लोट्/विधिलिङ् सह)Role (क्रिया-निषेध)Root मा (निषेध)
- नि
- down/into; (as preverb)Indeclinableउपसर्ग (गाम्/गच्छ् इत्यस्य)Role (क्रिया-विशेषक)Root नि (उपसर्ग)
- गाम्
- go / comeVerbलोट्, परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन (वेदिक रूप: गाम् = गच्छ)Role (क्रिया) — कर्ता ‘त्वम्’ (अध्याहृत)Root गम्
- कतमः
- which (one)?Pronoun/Adjective (interrogative)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्ता (गाम्) — ‘which one (of them)’Root कतम (प्रातिपदिक)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थक अव्ययRole समुच्चयRoot च
- न
- notIndeclinableनिषेधार्थक अव्ययRole (क्रिया-निषेध)Root न
- अहम्
- IPronounप्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्ता (वोचता) — ‘I’Root अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
- विश्वे
- allAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (देवासः इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्ता-विशेषणRoot विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवासः
- the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्ता (वोचता) — ‘the gods’Root देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- अधि
- over / concerningIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्यय; ‘over, concerning’ (वच् सह: ‘pronounce upon/for’)Role (क्रिया-विशेषक)Root अधि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- वः
- for you / of you (pl.)Pronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक) — ‘of/for you (pl.)’Role सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध (वोचता) प्रसङ्गेRoot युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
- वोचता
- speak / declareVerbलोट्, आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन (वेदिक: ‘वोचत’ = ‘speak!’; -a = पदपूरण/छन्दसि)Role (क्रिया) — कर्ता ‘देवासः’Root वच्
- नः
- us / ourPronounद्वितीया/षष्ठी बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक) — ‘us/our’Role कर्म/सम्बन्ध (वोचता) — ‘speak (to/about) us’Root अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सम्भाव्य): मह्यम् | यजन्तु | मम | यानि | हव्यानि | आकूतिः | सत्या | मनसः | मे | अस्तु || एनः | मा | नि | गाम् | कतमः | च | न | अहम् | विश्वे | देवासः | अधि | वः | वोचता | नः || 1) ‘हव्याकूतिः’ इति संहितायां ‘हव्यानि आकूतिः’ (नपुं. बहु. + स्त्री. एक.) इत्यर्थसम्बन्धेन छन्दसि संक्षेप/समाससदृश-संहिता
- पदपाठानुसारं पृथक् ग्रहणम्। 2) ‘मानी’ = ‘मा नि’ (निषेध + उपसर्ग)। 3) ‘कत॒मच्च॒नाहम्’ = ‘कतमः च न अहम्’ (च + न + अहम् संहितायां)। 4) ‘वोचता’ लोट्-आत्मनेपद बहुवचन
- छन्दसि -a पदपूरणम्/वेदिक रूपभेदः।
The meaning
Outer meaning
He asks that his offerings be offered for him; that the intention (ākūti) of his mind be true. He prays that no guilt/sin (enas) come upon him in any way, and that all the gods speak over/for them.
Inner meaning
The ‘havis’ are the energies and movements the seeker offers into the inner Fire; may they be rightly offered—i.e., integrated into the divine work rather than wasted in ego. The central demand is satyā ākūti: a will/intention of mind aligned with truth, free from self-deception. ‘Enas’ is the stain of false movement—distortion, wrong relation, inner crookedness that brings obscuration and suffering. The prayer ‘viśve devāso adhi vocatā naḥ’ seeks a higher verdict: let the divine powers affirm the right in us, establish the true word and law over our being, so the lower nature cannot accuse or derail the journey.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress depends on true intention and right offering; when inner motives are truthful, the forces of distortion lose their hold and a higher guidance ‘speaks for’ the seeker.
Themes
Purification, Truth (satya), Removal of fault (enaḥ), Divine sanction
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 10.128.1, Rig Veda 10.128.2, Rig Veda 10.128.3, Rig Veda 10.128.5, Rig Veda 10.128.6
Significance
A classic inner-ethical Vedic prayer: truth of intention (satyā ākūti) is made the condition for protection from enas. This aligns strongly with the Aurobindonian emphasis on sincerity as the key to yogic advance.
The deity
- Devata
- Viśve Devāḥ
- Epithets
- Viśve Devāsaḥ (all divine powers)
- Related deities
- Varuṇa (guardian of ṛta, remover of pāśa/bonds), Mitra (harmony and right relation), Agni (carrier of offerings)
Cosmic role
Guardians of R̥ta-Satya who can ratify right intention and protect the sacrifice from fault.
Inner power
Purification through truth: they strengthen sincerity and remove the sense of condemnation by establishing higher guidance.
In ritual
Where it is used
Prayer for correctness of offering and freedom from fault; used where purity and right intent are emphasized.
मह्यं॑ यजन्तु॒ मम॒ यानि॑ ह॒व्याकू॑तिः स॒त्या मन॑सो मे अस्तु । एनो॒ मा नि गां॑ कत॒मच्च॒नाहं विश्वे॑ देवासो॒ अधि॑ वोचता नः ॥
मह्य॑म् । य॒ज॒न्तु॒ । मम॑ । यानि॑ । ह॒व्या । आऽकू॑तिः । स॒त्या । मन॑सः । मे॒ । अ॒स्तु॒ । एनः॑ । मा । नि । गा॒म् । क॒त॒मत् । च॒न । अ॒हम् । विश्वे॑ । दे॒वा॒सः॒ । अधि॑ । वो॒च॒त॒ । नः॒ ॥
mahyam | yajantu | mama | yāni | havyā | ākūtiḥ | satyā | manasaḥ | me | astu | enaḥ | mā | ni | gām | katamat | cana | aham | viśve | devāsaḥ | adhi | vocata | naḥ
44
4 × ~11 syllables
Firm, juridical cadence—like a vow and a plea for right judgment.
Encourages inner honesty and moral clarity; stabilizes the mind into a truthful resolve.
- ह॒व्या (havyā)
- Literal: offerings. Symbolic: energies, thoughts, actions offered into the inner sacrifice
- आकू॑तिः (ākūtiḥ)
- Literal: intention, resolve. Symbolic: direction of consciousness; the formative will behind thought and act
- स॒त्या (satyā)
- Literal: true. Symbolic: aligned with the Truth-consciousness; free from ego-twist
- मनसः (manasaḥ)
- Literal: of the mind. Symbolic: mental instrument that must become transparent to higher light
- एनः (enaḥ)
- Literal: guilt/sin, fault. Symbolic: inner deviation, obscuration, falsehood that creates bondage
- अधि वोचत (adhi vocata)
- Literal: speak over/upon. Symbolic: establish higher judgment and guidance; the divine word governing the being
Apotropaic/justificatory: removal of fault (enaḥ) and securing divine sanction
Before offering sequences or when seeking expiation/protection from ritual or moral fault.
Recited to sanctify intention (saṅkalpa) and to ask divine ratification of the rite.
Use as a ‘sincerity check’ mantra before meditation or important actions: align intention, release guilt, invite higher guidance.
ākūti from ā + √kū/√ku (to intend, to aim—Vedic usage) signals formative intention; satya relates to sat ‘being’ (√as) → truth as accordance with being. enaḥ denotes the inner ‘crookedness’ that breaks ṛta; adhi + √vac is the gods’ ‘over-speech’—a higher affirmation that sets the seeker in right standing.
satya intention as prerequisite for effective yajña, enaḥ as deviation from ṛta, divine speech as higher law/affirmation
Right sacrifice is right order enacted; false intention breaks ṛta and invites enas.
Explicit: satyā ākūti is the heart of the verse.
Truth as creative power: when intention is true, the divine word can shape the being.
Ethical-spiritual Veda leading toward Upanishadic satya as foundation of realization.
Offering-fire = transformative will; smoke-less rising = pure aspiration; ‘fault’ = inner shadow that veils light.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The myth of rectification: truth-intention (satyā ākūtiḥ) prevents the descent of enaḥ (fault) and invites the gods’ authoritative word (adhi-vac) that establishes the seeker in the right order—ṛta expressed as satya in mind and speech.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- satya from sat (being) reflects PIE *h₁es- ‘to be’. √vac ‘speak’ continues PIE *wekʷ- ‘voice/speak’ (cf. Latin vox). √gam ‘go’ is PIE *gʷem- (cf. Greek baínō is different; but *gʷem- appears in several IE branches).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The Rishi seeks alignment: he offers not only oblations but a truthful mental formation; the gods respond by ‘speaking over’ him—granting protection from inner error and establishing his work as legitimate in the cosmic order.
Sincerity (satyā ākūti) and inner offering: place all movements into the fire of will without self-justification.
Ājñā (truth-discernment) and Anāhata (sincere resolve).
On inhale: ‘ākūtiḥ satyā’; on exhale: ‘eno mā ni gām’—releasing fault and self-condemnation.
Clean, upright, transparent mind; receptive to higher guidance (‘adhi vocata’).
Before practice, ask: ‘Is my intention true?’ Chant once, then sit quietly and let any mixed motives surface without judgment; offer them into Agni inwardly.
Tri-svara; give clear udātta emphasis on ‘satyā’ and ‘viśve devāsaḥ’.
Pause slightly after ‘satyā manaso me astu’ to let the resolve settle; keep ‘eno mā’ firm and uncluttered.
havyākūtiḥ: break as havya-ākūtiḥ; long ā, satyā: palatal ty, long ā, eno: long e (ē) quality, ni gām: keep nasalization light; long ā in gām, vocata: ca is ‘cha’ (palatal)
Steady, truthful, almost vow-like; avoid excessive ornamentation.
1
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