Rig Veda 1.113.16: Mandala 1, Sukta 113, Mantra 16
Sukta 1.113
- Rishi
- Kutsa Āṅgirasa
- Devata
- Uṣas
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
उदीर्ध्वं जीवो असुर्न आगादप प्रागात्तम आ ज्योतिरेति । आरैक्पन्थां यातवे सूर्यायागन्म यत्र प्रतिरन्त आयुः ॥
udī́rdhvaṃ jīvó ásur na ā́gād ápa prā́gāt táma ā́ jyótir eti | ā́raik pánthāṃ yā́tave sū́ryā́yā́ganma yátra pratiránta ā́yuḥ ||
سیدھا کھڑا ہو کر ہماری جاندار سانس آئی ہے؛ اندھیرا آگے بھاگ گیا ہے، اور روشنی آتی ہے۔ سورج کے سفر کے لیے ایک راستہ کھل گیا ہے؛ ہم اس جگہ پہنچ گئے ہیں جہاں زندگی برقرار رہتی ہے اور بڑھتی ہے۔
Word by Word
- उद्
- up, forthIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot उद् (उपसर्ग) / अव्यय
- ईर्ध्वम्
- upwards, aloftAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (क्रियाविशेषणवत्) अथवा अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगRoot ऋध्/ईर्ध् (वर्धने) → ईर्ध्व (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- जीवः
- the living (one), living beingNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot जीव (प्रातिपदिक; √जीव् ‘जीवने’)
- असुः
- breath, life-spiritNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (जीवः असुः = समनाधिकरण) अथवा विशेषणभावRoot असु (प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- of us / for usPronounषष्ठी, बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक) अथवा दत्तिवत् प्रयोगःRole सम्बन्ध (Genitive) / Sampradāna (contextual)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- आगात्
- came, has comeVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRoot √गम् (गत्यर्थे) + आ-
- अप
- away, offIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot अप (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot प्र (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- अगात्
- went away, departedVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRoot √गम् (गत्यर्थे) + (अप-प्र- उपसर्गार्थः)
- तमः
- darknessNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Kartā (अगात्) / Karma (contextual)Root तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- towards, hitherIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- ज्योतिः
- lightNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Kartā (एति) / Karma (contextual)Root ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- एति
- goes, comesVerbलट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRoot √इ (गत्यर्थे)
- आरैक्
- left, clearedVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRoot √रिच् (विरचने/वियोजने ‘to leave, to make empty’) + आ-
- पन्थाम्
- path, wayNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot पथिन्/पन्था (प्रातिपदिक)
- यातवे
- to go, for goingVerbal noun (Infinitive)तुमुन् (दातिवत्/चतुर्थी-एकवचनरूप), अव्ययार्थकRole प्रयोजन (purpose) / Sampradāna-likeRoot √या (गत्यर्थे) → यातु (कृदन्त) ; यातवे = तुमुन्-प्रत्यय (infinitive)
- सूर्याय
- for/to the SunNounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole Sampradāna (goal/recipient) अथवा प्रयोजन-निर्देशRoot सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- अगन्म
- we went, we have goneVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचनRoot √गम् (गत्यर्थे)
- यत्र
- whereIndeclinableस्थानवाचक-अव्ययRole AdhikaraṇaRoot यत्र (अव्यय)
- प्रतिरन्ते
- they rest, find reposeVerbलट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRoot √रम् (रमणे/विश्रान्तौ) + प्रति-
- आयुः
- life, lifespanNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (प्रतिरन्ते) (collective/abstract subject) अथवा विषयRoot आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (major): उदीर्ध्वम् → उद् + ईर्ध्वम्
- असुर्नः → असुः + नः
- आगा॒दप॒ → आगात् + अप
- प्रागात् → प्र + अगात्
- तम आ → तमः + आ
- ज्योतिरेति → ज्योतिः + एति
- आरैक्पन्थाम् → आरैक् + पन्थाम्
- सूर्या॒यागन्म → सूर्याय + अगन्म. Accent marks in the prompt are retained in the mantra but pada-forms are given without explicit accent annotation beyond the base forms
The meaning
Outer meaning
Our living breath has risen upright; the darkness has gone forward away, and the light comes. A path has been made for the Sun to travel; we have reached where life is sustained and extended.
Inner meaning
With the coming of Uṣas, prāṇa (‘jīva asu’) stands upright—life-force aligns and ascends, no longer collapsed in tamas. Darkness moves away (the inertia and confusion withdraw), and jyotis (the illumined consciousness) arrives. The ‘path for Sūrya’ is the opening of the higher truth-mind’s course in us; once opened, the solar consciousness can move steadily. Reaching the place ‘where life is sustained’ indicates attaining a stable inner station—greater continuity of awareness and a widening longevity of the soul’s effective life (āyus as conscious duration and force).
Universal truth
When illumination rises, life straightens, obscurity recedes, and a stable pathway opens for higher truth to govern our days—sustaining and extending our real life.
Themes
Transition from Night to Day, Vital renewal, Opening to higher truth (Sūrya), R̥ta-path imagery
The seer
- Rishi
- Kutsa Āṅgirasa
- Lineage
- Āṅgirasa
- Other hymns
- RV 1.113
Family tradition
Āṅgiras seers frequently describe the transition from darkness to light as an opening of paths for the Sun—an archetype of inner liberation and guidance.
Significance
This verse is a compact yoga-formula: upright prāṇa, departure of tamas, arrival of jyotis, opening of the solar path, and establishment in sustained life.
The deity
- Devata
- Uṣas (with Sūrya as consequent power)
- Epithets
- light-bringer (implicit), path-opener (implicit)
- Related deities
- Sūrya, Agni, Indra
Cosmic role
Uṣas prepares the way; Sūrya travels the opened path and illuminates all.
Inner power
Uṣas initiates awakening; Sūrya establishes a stable truth-governance in the mind.
In ritual
Where it is used
Morning awakening and auspicious opening; recited to invoke light and long life.
उदी॑र्ध्वं जी॒वो असु॑र्न॒ आगा॒दप॒ प्रागा॒त्तम॒ आ ज्योति॑रेति । आरै॒क्पन्थां॒ यात॑वे॒ सूर्या॒याग॑न्म॒ यत्र॑ प्रति॒रन्त॒ आयु॑: ॥
उत् । ई॒र्ध्व॒म् । जी॒वः । असुः॑ । नः॒ । आ । अ॒गा॒त् । अप॑ । प्र । अ॒गा॒त् । तमः॑ । आ । ज्योतिः॑ । ए॒ति॒ । अरै॑क् । पन्था॑म् । यात॑वे । सूर्या॑य । अग॑न्म । यत्र॑ । प्र॒ऽति॒रन्ते॑ । आयुः॑ ॥
ut | īrdhvam | jīvaḥ | asuḥ | naḥ | ā | agāt | apa | pra | agāt | tamaḥ | ā | jyotiḥ | et i | araik | panthām | yātave | sūryāya | aganma | yatra | pra-tirante | āyuḥ
44
4 x ~11
Strongly kinetic with clear directional verbs (ud, apa pra, ā); conveys transition and opening.
Produces a palpable sense of clearing and ascent; suitable for breaking inertia and establishing alertness.
- जीवः असुः (jīvaḥ asuḥ)
- Literal: living breath/life-force. Symbolic: Prāṇa as conscious life-energy that can align upward
- उद् ईर्ध्वम् (ud īrdhvam)
- Literal: up, upright. Symbolic: Aspiration; verticalization of consciousness
- तमः (tamaḥ)
- Literal: darkness. Symbolic: Ignorance, inertia, subconscious resistance
- ज्योतिः (jyotiḥ)
- Literal: light. Symbolic: Illumined knowledge; awakened awareness
- पन्थाम् अरैक् (panthām āraik)
- Literal: a path has been opened. Symbolic: Cleared inner channel for higher guidance
- सूर्याय (sūryāya)
- Literal: for the Sun. Symbolic: For the truth-consciousness to move and rule
- आयुः (āyuḥ)
- Literal: life, longevity. Symbolic: Sustained conscious force; durable spiritual vitality
Morning awakening formula: aligns prāṇa/asu with the coming light; supports the ‘opening of the path’ for the day’s rite and its truth-guidance.
At first light; also at the start of healing/renewal observances.
Recitation with sunrise gazing (safe, indirect) or lamp; pranayama to ‘raise the breath upright’.
Use when recovering from fatigue or low mood: chant to ‘upright’ the prāṇa and clear the inner path.
ásu- ‘life-breath’ (cf. Av. ahu- ‘life’), denotes vital being, not merely respiration. jyótis < √dyut ‘shine’ names the substance of illumination. sū́rya- (solar) is the truth-light; opening his path is an inner yogic image: the dawn clears channels for higher consciousness. pratiránta (prati-√ṛ/√ram nuance) indicates ‘held, sustained, made to endure’ → extension of ā́yuḥ as conscious longevity.
asū (life-force) renewed by illumination, path-opening (panthā) as inner passage, stability/extension of life (āyuḥ)
The Sun’s path is Ṛta made visible—order as a traversable way in consciousness.
Jyotis is the arriving Satya that replaces the false coverings of perception.
Cosmic dawn as continual victory of light; inner creation as re-ordering of life-force around truth.
Yoga of ascent and illumination (Aurobindo): opening channels for higher consciousness to descend and govern.
dawn
Prāṇa rises; tamas withdraws; a clear channel for truth-consciousness opens; stable vitality is established.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘opening of the path for Sūrya’ after the departure of darkness: a myth of cleared passage where higher light can travel. Psychologically, dawn removes inner obstruction so truth-consciousness can move and stabilize life.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- ásu- ‘life’ parallels Indo-Iranian (Av. ahu-), reflecting a shared archaic term for vital existence. The light/dark polarity (tamas/jyotis) is an inherited Indo-European poetic opposition, while ‘path’ (panthā-) aligns with a common Indo-Iranian lexeme for way/track (cf. Av. pantā).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi speaks as a participant (‘we have gone’): human advance follows the devatā’s action. Uṣas first renews asu (life-force), then enables Sūrya (truth-light) to act; the sacrificer’s life becomes capable of endurance (āyuḥ) through that divine opening.
Feel the spine as the ‘path’; let breath rise ‘ud īrdhvam’; invite the solar clarity to travel that path without obstruction.
Suṣumṇā axis (root-to-crown)
Nāḍī-śodhana 6 rounds; then 3 slow inhales imagining ‘ā jyotir eti’ entering the brow and crown.
Clear, upright, luminous alertness; reduced inner noise.
Chant once slowly, then sit in silence 3–5 minutes; notice what ‘darkness’ has moved away and what simple ‘path’ action opens for the day.
Emphasize directional particles with crisp pitch movement: ud, apa pra, ā; sustain udātta on jyotiḥ and sūryāya where marked by tradition.
Keep pāda breaks clean; do not rush ‘apa prāgāt tamaḥ’—let the removal be audible.
(ud īrdhvam): separate ud + īr; clear rdvh cluster, (asuḥ): final ḥ lightly aspirated, (prāgāt): long ā; hard g, (āraik): diphthong ai clear
Firm, clarifying, slightly more forceful than other Uṣas verses.
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