Rig Veda 5.62.1: Mandala 5, Sukta 62, Mantra 1
Sukta 5.62
- Devata
- Mitra-Varuṇa
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
ऋतेन ऋतमपिहितं ध्रुवं वां सूर्यस्य यत्र विमुचन्त्यश्वान् । दश शता सह तस्थुस्तदेकं देवानां श्रेष्ठं वपुषामपश्यम् ॥
ṛténa ṛtám ápi-hitaṃ dhrúváṃ vāṃ sū́ryasya yátra vi-mucánty áśvān | dáśa śatá sahá tasthús tád ékaṃ devā́nāṃ śréṣṭhaṃ vápūṣām ápaśyam ||
ด้วย ṛta (ระเบียบจักรวาล/สัจธรรม) ṛta จึงถูกสถาปนา มั่นคงเพื่อท่านทั้งสอง ณ ที่ซึ่งสุริยะปลดม้าของตนออกไป ที่นั่นสิบและร้อยยืนพร้อมกัน; ข้าพเจ้าได้เห็น “องค์เดียว” นั้น—ผู้เลิศที่สุดในบรรดารูปภาวะแห่งเทพทั้งหลาย: ความกลมกลืนสูงสุดแห่งแสงที่เป็นระเบียบ.
Word by Word
- ऋतेन
- by/with ṛta (cosmic order, truth)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचनRole करणRoot ऋत (प्रातिपदिक) < √ऋ (गतौ/ऋ- ‘to go, to fit’; ‘cosmic order, truth’)
- ऋतम्
- ṛta (the true/orderly thing)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot ऋत (प्रातिपदिक)
- अपिहितम्
- covered, concealedParticiple (Adjective) / Verbalनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (ऋतम् इति विशेष्यस्य)Role कर्म (विशेषणरूपेण)Root अपि-√धा (धातु √धा ‘to place’; उपसर्ग अपि) → ‘to cover, conceal’
- ध्रुवम्
- fixed, firm, steadfastAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (ऋतम् इति विशेष्यस्य)Role कर्म (विशेषणरूपेण)Root ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक) < √धृ (धारणे) ‘to hold, be firm’
- वाम्
- of/for you twoPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी द्विवचन (वैदिके ‘वाम्’ = ‘of you two/for you two’)Role सम्प्रदान (अर्थे ‘for you two’) / सम्बन्ध (अर्थे ‘of you two’)Root युष्मद् (सर्वनाम) द्विवचन-रूप (युवाम्)
- सूर्यस्य
- of the SunNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- यत्र
- whereIndeclinableस्थानवाचक अव्ययRole अधिकरणRoot यत्र (अव्यय, य-प्रश्न/सम्बन्ध)
- विमुचन्ति
- they release/let looseVerbलट् (वर्तमाने), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot वि-√मुच् (धातु √मुच् ‘to release’; उपसर्ग वि)
- अश्वान्
- horsesNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- दश
- tenNumeralअव्ययवत् (संख्यावाचक)Role विशेषण (संख्या)Root दशन्/दश (संख्या-शब्द)
- शता
- hundredsNumeral (Noun)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचनRole कर्ताRoot शत (प्रातिपदिक; ‘hundred’)
- सह
- together, along withIndeclinableसह-योगार्थक अव्ययRole सहकारक/सहयोगRoot सह (अव्यय)
- तस्थुः
- they have stood / stoodVerbलिट् (परोक्श/परफेक्ट), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot √स्था (तिष्ठति) ‘to stand’
- तत्
- thatPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (अत्र ‘तदेकम्’ इति समास/समुच्चयार्थे)Role विशेषण/सम्बन्धRoot तद् (सर्वनाम)
- एकम्
- one (single)Numeral (Adjective)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (तत् इति सह)Role विशेष्य-विशेषणभावRoot एक (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवानाम्
- of the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- श्रेष्ठम्
- best, most excellentAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (तदेकम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्म (विशेषणरूपेण)Root श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; superlative of √श्रि/श्रय? ‘excellent, best’)
- वपुषाम्
- of forms/bodies/appearancesNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अपश्यम्
- I sawVerbलङ् (अनद्यतन भूत), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √पश् (दर्शने) ‘to see’
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धिविग्रह): ऋतेन | ऋतम् | अपिहितम् | ध्रुवम् | वाम् | सूर्यस्य | यत्र | विमुचन्ति | अश्वान् || दश | शता | सह | तस्थुः | तत् | एकम् | देवानाम् | श्रेष्ठम् | वपुषाम् | अपश्यम् । प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) ऋतम्+अपिहितम् → ऋतमपिहितम् (अ + अ = अ)
- (2) विमुचन्ति+अश्वान् → विमुचन्त्यश्वान् (इ + अ → य्-अ)
- (3) तस्थुः+तत् → तस्थुस्तत् (विसर्गः + त् → स्)
- (4) एकम्+देवानाम् → एकं देवानाम् (म् + द् पूर्वे अनुस्वार/परसवर्ण-प्रवृत्तिः; संहितायां ‘एकं’)
The meaning
Outer meaning
By ṛta is ṛta established, firm for you two, where the Sun releases his horses. Ten and a hundred stand together there; that One, most excellent among the forms of the gods, I beheld.
Inner meaning
Mitra-Varuṇa (harmony and vast law) are invoked as the guardians of ṛta-satya. In the supramental solar realm—where Sūrya releases his horses (the powers of action and perception)—Truth is founded upon Truth: the higher order establishes the lower order without deviation. ‘Ten and a hundred’ indicate the complete and multiplied powers (totality and plenitude of faculties) standing in unity. The seer beholds ‘that One’—the supreme divine Form behind the many godheads: the One Light organizing all movements.
Universal truth
Order is sustained only by a deeper order: truth must be founded on truth. When consciousness rises to the solar source, the powers of life are released in harmony, and multiplicity stands together in unity—revealing the One behind all forms.
Themes
rita-central, solar-cosmology, one-and-many
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 5.62 (Mitra-Varuṇa hymn)
Family tradition
Book 5 is traditionally Atri-family; this hymn continues the Atri atmosphere of solar truth and right order.
Significance
A vision-mantra of ṛta-satya: the seer witnesses the supramental order where all powers stand together and the One is seen behind the many.
The deity
- Devata
- Mitra-Varuṇa (dual)
- Epithets
- guardians of ṛta (implicit), dhruva-supporting (implicit)
- Related deities
- Sūrya, Aryaman, Bhaga, Savitar
Cosmic role
Mitra: harmony, right relation, luminous agreement; Varuṇa: vastness, law, moral-spiritual order. Together they uphold ṛta in heaven and earth.
Inner power
Capacity for inner truthfulness, right measure, and vast self-governance; they establish stable alignment so the life-powers (aśva) are released in harmony.
In ritual
Where it is used
Invocation to Mitra-Varuṇa in Soma sacrifices and evening/morning offerings (their domain of ṛta and oversight).
ऋ॒तेन॑ ऋ॒तमपि॑हितं ध्रु॒वं वां॒ सूर्य॑स्य॒ यत्र॑ विमु॒चन्त्यश्वा॑न् । दश॑ श॒ता स॒ह त॑स्थु॒स्तदेकं॑ दे॒वानां॒ श्रेष्ठं॒ वपु॑षामपश्यम् ॥
ऋ॒तेन॑ । ऋ॒तम् । अपि॑ऽहितम् । ध्रु॒वम् । वा॒म् । सूर्य॑स्य । यत्र॑ । वि॒ऽमु॒चन्ति॑ । अश्वा॑न् । दश॑ । श॒ता । स॒ह । त॒स्थुः॒ । तत् । एक॑म् । दे॒वाना॑म् । श्रेष्ठ॑म् । वपु॑षाम् । अ॒प॒श्य॒म् ॥
ṛtena | ṛtam | api-hitam | dhruvam | vām | sūryasya | yatra | vi-mucanti | aśvān | daśa | śatā | saha | tasthuḥ | tat | ekam | devānām | śreṣṭham | vapuṣām | apaśyam
Likely Jagatī (common in Mitra-Varuṇa hymns) or Triṣṭubh
4 pādas with long, expansive cadence matching dual-deity grandeur.
Majestic and spacious; conveys law-like stability.
Creates a sense of cosmic order and inner straightening; mind becomes wide and steady.
- ṛtena ṛtam
- Literal: by ṛta, ṛta. Symbolic: truth-order establishing truth-order; higher law founding lower right movement
- apihitam
- Literal: covered, placed upon, enclosed. Symbolic: the lower truth secured within the higher; protected establishment (not lost to disorder)
- dhruvam
- Literal: firm, fixed. Symbolic: stable realization; unshakable truth-consciousness
- sūryasya
- Literal: of the Sun. Symbolic: supramental/illumined source; the revealer consciousness
- vimucanti aśvān
- Literal: release the horses. Symbolic: set free the life-powers and sense-mind energies to run in right order (not driven by desire)
- daśa śatā
- Literal: ten (and) hundred. Symbolic: complete set of powers and their plenitude; totality of faculties in unity
- tad ekam
- Literal: that One. Symbolic: the One Reality behind the many gods; integrative divine principle
- devānāṃ śreṣṭham vapuṣām
- Literal: the best/excellent among the forms of the gods. Symbolic: supreme godhead/Truth-Form (supramental) that coordinates all divine powers
Hymn to Mitra-Varuṇa: supports rites emphasizing ṛta (order), truth-speaking, and cosmic regularity; suitable in contexts of covenant/rightness and solar regulation.
At rites seeking protection of order, truth, right relations; also in transitional times (dawn/evening) where law must be maintained.
Praise and alignment with ṛta; inviting guardianship and firm establishment of the rite.
Chant as a ‘truth-alignment’ mantra before important decisions, vows, or when restoring integrity and order in life and practice.
ṛtá-: from √ṛ ‘to move rightly, fit, rise’; ṛta is ‘that which is properly joined/ordered’, basis of satyam-ṛtam-bṛhat. dhrúva-: ‘fixed’ from √dhru ‘be firm’ (cf. dhruvá ‘pole’). vi-muc: √muc ‘release’ (PIE *meuk- ‘to slip/let go’). áśva: horse, also solar force/ray; PIE *h₁éḱwos (Latin equus, Old Irish ech). ékaṃ: the One as unifying principle; apaśyam marks visionary epistemology rather than inference.
Ṛta (cosmic order), unity (Ekam) behind divine multiplicity, vision (apaśyam) as gnostic seeing
Explicit: ṛta establishes ṛta; the law is self-founded in the truth-plane.
Vision of ‘tad ekam’ as the truth behind forms; stable (dhruva) realization.
Release of horses from the Sun: emanation of powers from the source into ordered activity.
Bridging hymn toward Upaniṣadic monism: many devāḥ as forms of the One (tad ekam).
dawn (symbolically, solar release)
Sun = supramental illumination; horses = dynamic faculties/energies; dhruva station = unwavering inner poise; ‘ten and hundred’ = unified multiplicity of powers.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The enthronement of Ṛta by Ṛta: cosmic order self-establishes and becomes ‘dhruva’ (axis-fixed) in the solar domain where rays are released. The mythic moment is the seer’s vision of the One Form behind the many gods.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- áśva (PIE *h₁éḱwos) and the solar-horse complex is pan-Indo-European. The dual address vāṃ and the paired sovereignty (Mitra-Varuṇa) parallels IE structures of juridical/contractual and magical/sovereign functions.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi is a witness (apaśyam) more than a petitioner: Mitra-Varuṇa are invoked as custodians of ṛta, and the seer’s offering is truthful vision itself—recognition of their fixed law in the solar release of energies.
Align the being to ṛta: feel a vertical axis of truth; then release the ‘horses’ (energies) to move only in that order.
Ājñā (truth-seeing) and Sahasrāra (solar source)
4-4-6 breathing (inhale-hold-exhale) for steadiness; on exhale repeat ‘ṛtena ṛtam’.
Wide, luminous, law-abiding stillness; supramental aspiration.
First establish sincerity (satya) inwardly; then chant once slowly, contemplating the Sun releasing powers. Sit in silence and watch energies align spontaneously when founded on truth.
Chant with expansive phrasing; allow a clear lift on ‘ṛtena ṛtam’ and a luminous emphasis on ‘sūryasya’; culminate with a reverent hush on ‘tad ekam’.
Pāda-feel: ṛtena ṛtam apihitaṃ dhruvaṃ vāṃ | sūryasya yatra vimucanty aśvān || daśa śatā saha tasthus tad ekam | devānāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ vapuṣām apaśyam ||
ṛtena: vocalic ṛ (not ‘ri’), apihitam: clear h, dhruvam: dh aspirated, vimucanti: muc with clear c, aśvān: śv cluster; long ān, śreṣṭham: retroflex ṣṭh cluster carefully
Deep, spacious, reverent; sustain vowels to convey vastness.
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