Rig Veda 7.35.11: Mandala 7, Sukta 35, Mantra 11
Sukta 7.35
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Viśvadevāḥ with Sarasvatī
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace)
शं नो देवा विश्वदेवा भवन्तु शं सरस्वती सह धीभिरस्तु । शमभिषाचः शमु रातिषाचः शं नो दिव्याः पार्थिवाः शं नो अप्याः ॥
śáṃ no devā́ viśvádevā bhavantu śáṃ sárasvatī sahá dhī́bhir astu | śám abhi-sā́caḥ śám u rāti-sā́caḥ śáṃ no divyā́ḥ pārthivā́ḥ śáṃ no apyā́ḥ ||
ขอความสงบสันติจงมีแก่เรา: ขอเทพทั้งปวง (Viśvadevāḥ) จงเป็นความสงบสันติ; ขอสรัสวตี (Sarasvatī) จงสถิตพร้อมด้วยปัญญาอันดลใจของเราและเป็นความสงบสันติ. ขอความสงบสันติ: อำนาจที่กดทับเราจงสงบ; ขอความสงบสันติ: อำนาจที่นำของทานมาจงสงบ. ขอความสงบสันติมีแก่เรา: เหล่าแห่งฟ้าและแห่งดิน; ขอความสงบสันติมีแก่เรา: เหล่าแห่งน้ำและห้วงลึก.
Word by Word
- शम्
- auspiciously; for welfareIndeclinableअव्यय (मङ्गलार्थे ‘well, auspiciously’)Root शम् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक) / √शम् (शमुँ) ‘शमयति’
- नः
- of us; for usPronounषष्ठी (gen.), बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (possessor/for us)Root अस्मद्
- देवाः
- the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot देव
- विश्वदेवाः
- the All-gods (Viśvedevās)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (देवाः इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन)Root विश्व-देव (समास: कर्मधारय/बहुव्रीहि-प्राय)
- भवन्तु
- may (they) be; may (they) becomeVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, बहुवचनRoot √भू (भवति)
- शम्
- auspiciously; for welfareIndeclinableअव्ययRoot शम् (अव्यय) / √शम्
- सरस्वती
- SarasvatīNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot सरस्वती
- सह
- together withIndeclinableसह (साकं-अर्थे) + तृतीया-सम्बन्धRole सहकारक/सङ्गतिRoot सह
- धीभिः
- with (our) thoughts/prayers/insightsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करण (सह इत्यनेन सह) / सहचरRoot धी
- अस्तु
- may (she) beVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRoot √अस् (अस्ति)
- शम्
- auspiciously; for welfareIndeclinableअव्ययRoot शम् (अव्यय) / √शम्
- अभिषाचः
- the afflicters; hostile bewitchersNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot अभि-षाच (प्रातिपदिक: ‘afflicting, bewitching’)
- शम्
- auspiciously; for welfareIndeclinableअव्ययRoot शम् (अव्यय) / √शम्
- रातिषाचः
- the gift-harmers; those who spoil bountyNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot राति-षाच (प्रातिपदिक: ‘one who harms the gift/boon’; ‘gift-destroying’)
- शम्
- auspiciously; for welfareIndeclinableअव्ययRoot शम् (अव्यय) / √शम्
- नः
- of us; for usPronounषष्ठी (gen.), बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (for us)Root अस्मद्
- दिव्याः
- heavenly; celestialAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (देवाः इत्यर्थे) / विशेषणRole कर्तृ (पार्थिवाः/अप्याः इत्यादीनां सह) / विशेषणRoot दिव्य
- पार्थिवाः
- earthly; terrestrialAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (देवाः/शक्तयः इत्यर्थे) / विशेषणRoot पार्थिव
- शम्
- auspiciously; for welfareIndeclinableअव्ययRoot शम् (अव्यय) / √शम्
- नः
- of us; for usPronounषष्ठी (gen.), बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (for us)Root अस्मद्
- अप्याः
- watery; belonging to the watersAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (देवाः/शक्तयः इत्यर्थे) / विशेषणRoot अप्य (अप् ‘जल’ + य) / अप्य
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolved as: शं नः देवाः विश्वदेवाः भवन्तु | शं सरस्वती सह धीभिः अस्तु | शम् अभिषाचः शम् रातिषाचः | शं नः दिव्याः पार्थिवाः शं नः अप्याः || Notable: (1) शं + नः → शं नः (no change)
- (2) सह governs instrumental: सह धीभिः
- (3) शम् + अभिषाचः → शम् अभिषाचः (anusvāra retained before vowel in saṃhitā)
- (4) शं नः अप्याः: hiatus kept
The meaning
Outer meaning
Peace for us from all the gods; peace: may Sarasvatī be with our thoughts; peace from the powers that press upon us and those that bring gifts; peace from the heavenly, earthly, and watery/depth powers.
Inner meaning
The mantra seeks total pacification and right cooperation of all divine powers in the being. Viśvadevāḥ are the totality of functional godheads—every force of consciousness needed for the work. Sarasvatī is the flowing inspiration and right speech/thought that supports dhī (illumined intelligence). ‘Abhiṣācaḥ’ are forces that ‘cling/press upon’—psychologically, intrusive formations, hostile suggestions, or compulsions; ‘rātiṣācaḥ’ are powers that adhere by giving—supportive impulses, helps, and gifts (inner or outer). The rishi asks that both the pressures and the gifts be rendered peaceful—i.e., harmonized, purified, and rightly timed. Finally, he includes the entire vertical and horizontal planes—divine (mental/supramental), earthly (physical-vital), and apyāḥ (waters/depths: subconscient and causal reservoirs)—so peace pervades all levels.
Universal truth
Wholeness comes when every power—above, within, and below—is brought into harmony, and when both challenges and supports are integrated into a single movement of truth.
Themes
All-gods invocation, Sarasvatī and inspiration, Cosmic integration
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa lineage)
- Other hymns
- RV 7.96-7.97 (Sarasvatī), RV 1.3 (Viśvadevāḥ, thematic)
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha frequently invokes Sarasvatī and the collective gods for right speech, right knowledge, and harmony of planes.
Significance
This verse is a map of integrality: peace is demanded not only from beneficent powers but also from pressuring forces, and across all planes of existence.
The deity
- Devata
- Viśvadevāḥ with Sarasvatī (comprehensive Śānti)
- Epithets
- Viśvadevāḥ—totality of gods, Sarasvatī—associated with dhī (inspired thought)
- Related deities
- Bṛhaspati (inspired word), Agni (leader of sacrifice), Indra (illumination), Āpas (waters)
Cosmic role
To coordinate all cosmic functions and harmonize the three realms and the waters (depths) for the success of the sacrifice.
Inner power
Integral orchestration: Sarasvatī supplies illumined intelligence and right expression; the Viśvadevas ensure every faculty and force becomes cooperative and peaceful.
In ritual
Where it is used
Śānti invocation; suitable as a protective recitation before sacred speech (adhyāya), counsel, or important decisions.
शं नो॑ दे॒वा वि॒श्वदे॑वा भवन्तु॒ शं सर॑स्वती स॒ह धी॒भिर॑स्तु । शम॑भि॒षाच॒: शमु॑ राति॒षाच॒: शं नो॑ दि॒व्याः पार्थि॑वा॒: शं नो॒ अप्या॑: ॥
शम् । नः॒ । दे॒वाः । वि॒श्वऽदे॑वाः । भ॒व॒न्तु॒ । शम् । सर॑स्वती । स॒ह । धी॒भिः । अ॒स्तु॒ । शम् । अ॒भि॒ऽसाचः॑ । शम् । ऊँ॒ इति॑ । रा॒ति॒ऽसाचः॑ । शम् । नः॒ । दि॒व्याः । पार्थि॑वाः । शम् । नः॒ । अप्याः॑ ॥
śam | naḥ | devāḥ | viśva-devāḥ | bhavantu | śam | sarasvatī | saha | dhībhiḥ | astu | śam | abhi-sācaḥ | śam | oṃ iti | rāti-sācaḥ | śam | naḥ | divyāḥ | pārthivāḥ | śam | naḥ | apyāḥ
48
4 pādas of ~12 syllables each
Comprehensive and embracing; the cadence supports enumeration of categories (all gods, inspiration, pressures, gifts, realms).
Produces a sense of ‘total coverage’—a protective, all-encompassing calm extending through layers of the psyche.
- विश्वदेवाः (viśvadevāḥ)
- Literal: all the gods. Symbolic: the complete set of conscious powers needed for integral transformation
- सरस्वती (sarasvatī)
- Literal: Sarasvatī, river-goddess. Symbolic: inspiration, right flow of intuition, illumined speech and discernment
- धीभिः (dhībhiḥ)
- Literal: with thoughts/insights. Symbolic: luminous intelligence; inspired understandings
- अभिषाचः (abhiṣācaḥ)
- Literal: those that cling/press upon. Symbolic: intrusive pressures—compulsions, hostile formations, subconscient insistences
- रातिषाचः (rātiṣācaḥ)
- Literal: those that cling by giving gifts. Symbolic: helpful adherent powers—supports, boons, facilitating impulses
- दिव्याः (divyāḥ)
- Literal: heavenly. Symbolic: higher mind and luminous planes
- पार्थिवाः (pārthivāḥ)
- Literal: earthly. Symbolic: physical-vital nature and its laws
- अप्याः (apyāḥ)
- Literal: of the waters/depths. Symbolic: subconscient/cosmic waters; deep vital and causal reservoirs
General invocation for harmonizing all planes (divine/earth/waters) and for Sarasvatī’s support of dhī in recitation and insight.
Before study/teaching, before mantra-japa, before speaking in assemblies, and during appeasement rites.
Recite with attention on speech and mind; optionally followed by silence to let Sarasvatī ‘settle’ the dhī.
Use before difficult conversations: invoke Sarasvatī for right speech and ask that both external pressures and helpful influences become calm and rightly ordered.
dhī from √dhī ‘think, perceive’ (in Vedic: inspired thought). sarasvatī from sáras ‘flowing’ + -vatī ‘possessing’ → ‘she who has the flow’ (river/inspiration). √sac ‘to accompany, attach’ (PIE *sekʷ- ‘follow’ often proposed; cf. Latin sequor) appears in sāca formations: abhi-sāca, rāti-sāca.
Threefold world (triloka-like distribution in early form), Dhī as inspired cognition, Influence-fields: hostile pressure vs. gift-bearing accompaniment
Peace is the sign of ṛta established across realms and within speech/thought.
Sarasvatī with dhī ensures speech aligns with truth rather than reactive pressure.
Waters as origin-reservoir: peace must penetrate the depths from which formations arise.
Integral yoga hermeneutic: hostile/pressing forces are psychological formations to be transformed, not merely feared.
A calm river of inspiration flowing through mind, stabilizing earth-nature, and pacifying deep subconscious waters while opening to higher planes.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- A totalizing reconciliation mythologem: all divine powers across the three domains are asked to become śam. Sarasvatī is specifically invoked to steady dhī, implying that right speech/insight is the instrument by which the many forces become one harmony.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The √sac formations align with the IE ‘follow/accompany’ root-set (cf. Latin sequor), showing a shared metaphor: forces ‘attach’ to the human. The tripartite cosmic listing (celestial/terrestrial/watery) echoes widespread Indo-European cosmological partitioning.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi positions himself amid many influences (abhi-sācaḥ) and asks that these be transmuted into gift-bearing supports (rāti-sācaḥ). Sarasvatī is the mediatrix: through inspired intelligence (dhī) the surrounding powers are converted into beneficence.
Bring peace to speech-thought: allow inspiration to flow without intrusion; integrate pressures and supports into equanimity.
Viśuddha (speech) and Ājñā (clarity).
Gentle ujjāyī or soft throat-breath; pause after ‘saha dhībhiḥ astu’ to feel the mind clear.
Quiet, lucid receptivity; stable equanimity even under pressure.
Chant, then observe thought-streams: label ‘pressure’ (abhiṣāca) and ‘support’ (rātiṣāca) without reaction; invite Sarasvatī to reorder them into a calm flow.
Maintain correct udātta on deity-names (sarasvatī, viśvadevāḥ) per marked recension; the repeated ‘śam’ should be steady and uniform.
Slight emphasis on ‘saha dhībhiḥ’—keep it connected and fluid to mirror Sarasvatī’s flow.
viśvadevāḥ: ‘śv’ cluster clean; long ‘āḥ’ ending, sarasvatī: roll ‘r’ lightly; ‘sv’ clear; long ‘ī’, dhībhiḥ: long ‘ī’; aspirated ‘bh’, abhiṣācaḥ: retroflex ‘ṣ’; long ‘ā’, rātiṣācaḥ: long ‘ā’ in rāti; retroflex ‘ṣ’, divyāḥ: ‘vy’ conjunct; long ‘āḥ’, pārthivāḥ: aspirated ‘th’; long ‘āḥ’, apyāḥ: ‘py’ conjunct; long ‘āḥ’
Smooth, flowing, prayerful; avoid sharpness to embody śānti.
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