Rig Veda 10.94.7: Mandala 10, Sukta 94, Mantra 7
Sukta 10.94
- Devata
- Grāvāṇaḥ and the yoking-assemblage as sacralized powers
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
दशावनिभ्यो दशकक्ष्येभ्यो दशयोक्त्रेभ्यो दशयोजनेभ्यः । दशाभीशुभ्यो अर्चताजरेभ्यो दश धुरो दश युक्ता वहद्भ्यः ॥
daśā́vanibhyo dáśakakṣyebhyo dáśayoktrebhyo dáśayojanebhyaḥ | daśā́bhīśubhyo arcatā́jarebhyo dáśa dhúro dáśa yuktā́ váhad-bhyaḥ ||
จงสรรเสริญสายรัดสิบเส้น สายคาดสิบสาย แอกสิบชุด เครื่องผูกสิบประการ; จงสรรเสริญบังเหียนสิบเส้น—ผู้ไม่รู้ชรา. คานแอกมีสิบ และผู้ถูกเทียมผู้แบกพาไปก็มีสิบ.
Word by Word
- दशा॑वनिभ्यः
- from the ten protectors / from the tenfold guardiansNoun (collective/epithet)पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (प्रयोगानुसार), पञ्चमी विभक्ति, बहुवचनRole Apādāna (—भ्यः ‘से/से अलग’)Root दशा॑वनि- (प्रातिपदिक; दश + आवनि ‘रक्षा/सहाय’)
- दश॑कक्ष्येभ्यः
- from the ten girths/bands (ten straps)Nounपुं/नपुं, पञ्चमी, बहुवचनRole ApādānaRoot दशकक्ष्य- (प्रातिपदिक; दश + कक्ष्य ‘पट्टा/घेरा/पट्टी’)
- दश॑योक्त्रेभ्यः
- from the ten yokes/fasteningsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, बहुवचनRole ApādānaRoot दशयोक्त्र- (प्रातिपदिक; दश + योक्त्र ‘जुआ/बंधन’ < √युज्)
- दश॑योजनेभ्यः
- from the ten yojanas / ten joiningsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, बहुवचनRole ApādānaRoot दशयोजन- (प्रातिपदिक; दश + योजन ‘योजन/जोड़/दूरी’ < √युज्)
- दशा॑भीशुभ्यः
- from the ten reinsNounपुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, बहुवचनRole ApādānaRoot दशाभीशु- (प्रातिपदिक; दश + अभीशु ‘लगाम/रेन’)
- अर्चत
- praise! / worship!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यम पुरुष, बहुवचनRole (मुख्य क्रिया) —Root √अर्च् (स्तुतौ/पूजायाम्)
- अजरेभ्यः
- from the unaging ones / from the undecayingAdjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, बहुवचनRole ApādānaRoot अजर- (प्रातिपदिक; a- + जर ‘बुढ़ापा’)
- दश
- tenNumeralअव्यय (गणना/विशेषण-प्रयोग)Root दश (संख्या)
- धुरः
- yoke-poles / loads / draught-shaftsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (रूप: धुरः)Role Karma (वह् के साथ ‘धुरः वहद्भ्यः’ = ‘धुराएँ वहन करने वाले’)Root धुर्/धुरा- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘जुए का भार/धुरा’)
- दश॑
- tenNumeralअव्ययRoot दश (संख्या)
- युक्ताः
- yoked / harnessedParticiple (past passive)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (वहद्भ्यः के साथ समन्वय: ‘युक्ताः … वहद्भ्यः’)Root √युज् (योजने) → युक्त (कृदन्त)
- वहद्भ्यः
- to/for (or from) the bearers, the carriersParticiple (present active)पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी/पञ्चमी, बहुवचन (रूप: —भ्यः)Role Sampradāna/Apādāna (संदर्भानुसार; यहाँ ‘उन वहन करने वालों/वाहकों’ के लिए/से)Root √वह् (वहने) → वहत् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (संधि-निरसन): दशा॑वनिभ्यः | दश॑कक्ष्येभ्यः | दश॑योक्त्रेभ्यः | दश॑योजनेभ्यः | दशा॑भीशुभ्यः | अर्चत | अजरेभ्यः | दश | धुरः | दश | युक्ताः | वहद्भ्यः । प्रमुख संधि: अर्चता॒जरे॑भ्यः = अर्चत + अजरेभ्यः (त् + अ → त् अ, पदसंहिता में ‘ता’ दीर्घ/संहिता-रूप). अन्य पद प्रायः समास-रूप (दश- + X) हैं
- ‘दश धुरो दश’ में संहिता-रूप ‘धुरो’ = पद ‘धुरः’ (ऋग्वैदिक संहिता-परिवर्तन)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Praise the ten straps, ten girths, ten yokes, ten bindings; praise the ten reins, the unaging ones; ten yoke-poles, ten yoked bearers that carry.
Inner meaning
The hymn sacralizes the ‘apparatus’ of the pressing as a symbolic map of inner discipline. ‘Ten’ suggests a complete set of powers—often read psychologically as the full instrumentation of the human being (senses and faculties) that must be harnessed. The ‘unaging’ reins are enduring principles of control: steady aspiration, discrimination, and remembrance. The bearers that carry are the coordinated energies that can support the descent of Soma-delight into life.
Universal truth
Transformation is not vague inspiration; it needs a complete, well-ordered inner instrumentation. When all parts are rightly yoked, the journey of consciousness becomes possible and stable.
Themes
enumeration, harness-and-order, ṛta-technology, Soma-ritual
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 10.94.5, Rig Veda 10.94.6, Rig Veda 10.94.8, Rig Veda 10.94.9
Significance
A technical seer of inner yajña: he enumerates the ‘tenfold’ harnessing as a contemplative inventory—turning ritual parts into a psychology of integral control.
The deity
- Devata
- Grāvāṇaḥ and the yoking-assemblage (sacralized harness of the Soma-work)
- Epithets
- ajára (unaging) reins (as enduring powers), daśa-yukta (tenfold yoked, implied)
- Related deities
- Soma, Indra, Agni
Cosmic role
They represent the cosmic principle of yoking: binding multiplicity into ordered movement for the release of Soma.
Inner power
The power of integration (saṃyama): attention, restraint, and coordinated force.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing; praise of implements/harnessing
दशा॑वनिभ्यो॒ दश॑कक्ष्येभ्यो॒ दश॑योक्त्रेभ्यो॒ दश॑योजनेभ्यः । दशा॑भीशुभ्यो अर्चता॒जरे॑भ्यो॒ दश॒ धुरो॒ दश॑ यु॒क्ता वह॑द्भ्यः ॥
दशा॑वनिऽभ्यः॑ । दश॑कक्ष्येभ्यः । दश॑ऽयोक्त्रेभ्यः । दश॑ऽयोजनेभ्यः । दशा॑भीशुऽभ्यः । अ॒र्च॒त॒ । अ॒जरे॑भ्यः । दश॑ । धुरः॑ । दश॑ । यु॒क्ताः । वह॑त्ऽभ्यः ॥
daśāvani-bhyaḥ | daśakakṣyebhyaḥ | daśa-yoktrebhyaḥ | daśa-yojanebhyaḥ | daśābhīśu-bhyaḥ | arcata | ajarebhyaḥ | daśa | dhuraḥ | daśa | yuktāḥ | vahat-bhyaḥ
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4 x ~11 syllables; enumerative cadence
Litany-like, counting rhythm; steady and organizing.
Creates mental order and completeness; good for stabilizing scattered practice through structured repetition.
- दश (daśa)
- Literal: ten. Symbolic: completeness of the instrumental nature; total coordination
- अवनि (avani)
- Literal: strap/band. Symbolic: supports that hold practice steady (discipline)
- कक्ष्य (kakṣya)
- Literal: girth. Symbolic: containment; boundaries that prevent leakage of energy
- योक्त्र (yoktra)
- Literal: yoke-strap. Symbolic: linking of faculties to one aim
- योजन (yojana)
- Literal: binding/fastening. Symbolic: integration; making the parts cooperate
- अभीशु (abhīśu)
- Literal: rein. Symbolic: governing intelligence/attention directing energies
- अजरेभ्यः (ajarebhyaḥ)
- Literal: unaging. Symbolic: timeless principles of self-mastery
- धुरः (dhuraḥ)
- Literal: yoke-poles. Symbolic: central axis of intention
- वहत्भ्यः (vahatbhyaḥ)
- Literal: to the carriers. Symbolic: supporting forces that bear the work in life
Soma pressing/yoking imagery: enumerative praise of the apparatus; ritually, a consecration of the means of extraction and offering.
During preparation/yoking of the press and its supports (symbolic accompaniment)
Consecration by naming; ensuring completeness and right arrangement.
Use as a checklist-mantra before meditation: mentally ‘yoke’ senses, breath, speech, mind, and will into one aligned movement.
daśa: ‘ten’ (PIE *deḱm̥). yoktra/yojana: from √yuj (PIE *yeug-). abhīśu: ‘rein’ (governing line) from √īś/īśa ‘to rule’ association possible; indicates control/leadership of energies. arc: √arc ‘praise’ (connected with ṛc ‘hymn’). ajara: a- + √jar ‘age, wear out’—the harnessing principles are ‘unaging’ because they are laws of ordered force (ṛta) applicable always.
number symbolism (10 as completeness of a system), ṛta as unaging law of right arrangement, governance of energies (reins/abhīśu)
Counting and arrangement enact ṛta—order as a spiritual power.
World-building by right linking: the cosmos holds by bonds; the yogin recreates that order inwardly.
Sāṃkhya-Yoga resonance (instrumentation and control), read through Vedic symbolism.
Harness = disciplined senses and energies; carriers = stabilized life-force supporting higher consciousness in action.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The sacralization of the harness: listing ‘ten’ elements of yoking that are ‘unaging’. Mythically, it is the revelation that order (ṛta) is a technology of consciousness—multiple controls and bindings integrate raw force into a bearer of the offering.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- daśa from PIE *deḱm̥ and √yuj from PIE *yeug- are core IE inheritances. The verse is an IE-style catalog (enumeration) of equipment/powers—comparable to other IE poetic lists that ritualize the means of action.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi’s praise (arcata) confers consciousness upon the apparatus itself, treating it as Devata-like. The reciprocal movement is: by honoring the laws and instruments of yoking as ‘unaging’, the practitioner gains stable mastery over energies that ‘carry’ the Soma-offering (inner delight) to Indra.
Saṃyama: integrate ‘tenfold’ instrumentation (senses, prāṇa, mind-movements) into one harness.
Square breathing (4-4-4-4) while mentally counting ‘ten’ cycles; each count ‘binds’ one faculty to the inner fire.
Collected, orderly, poised for deeper descent of Soma-bliss.
Before japa, name inwardly what must be yoked: speech, sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell, breath, emotion, thought, will—offer each as a ‘rein/strap’ to the divine Driver.
Maintain even svara; keep udatta on repeated ‘daśa-’ openings; avoid rushing the enumeration.
Slight pause after each ‘daśa…bhyaḥ’ phrase to preserve the counting clarity.
daśa: dental ś (not retroflex ṣ), yo (yoktrebhyaḥ): cluster ktr clean, abhīśubhyaḥ: long ī, śu soft, ajarebhyaḥ: j as ‘j’, not ‘z’, vahatbhyaḥ: tbh cluster articulated lightly
Steady, metronomic, clear articulation; devotional but restrained.
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