Rig Veda 10.69.5: Mandala 10, Sukta 69, Mantra 5
Sukta 10.69
- Rishi
- Vādhryaśva
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism)
भवा द्युम्नी वाध्र्यश्वोत गोपा मा त्वा तारीदभिमातिर्जनानाम् । शूर इव धृष्णुश्च्यवनः सुमित्रः प्र नु वोचं वाध्र्यश्वस्य नाम ॥
bhávā dyumnī vādhryaśvóta gopā́ mā tvā tārīd abhimātír janānām | śū́ra iva dhṛṣṇúś cyávanāḥ sumitrás prá nu vócaṃ vādhryaśvásya nā́ma ||
روشن بنو، اے وادھریاشو، اور کرنوں کے نگہبان بنو، لوگوں کی دشمنی تم پر غالب نہ ہو۔ ایک ہیرو کی طرح، طاقتور اور استوار، نیک دل لوگوں کا اچھا دوست، میں اب وادھریاشو کے نام اور روح کا اعلان کرتا ہوں۔
Word by Word
- भवा
- be; becomeVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (सम्बोधन-आदेश) कर्तृ-प्रवर्तनRoot भू (धातु)
- द्यु॒म्नी
- O glorious/bright oneAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot द्यु॒म्नि- (प्रातिपदिक; द्युम्न ‘तेजस्/यशस्’)
- वाध्र्यश्वः
- Vādhryaśva (a man/poet)Noun (Proper name)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot वाध्र्यश्व- (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
- उत
- and; alsoIndeclinableअव्ययRole समुच्चय/अन्वयRoot उत (निपात)
- गोपा
- protector; herdsmanNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (वाध्र्यश्वस्य विशेषण/समनाधिकरण)Root गोपा- (प्रातिपदिक; गो + पा ‘पालक’)
- मा
- do notIndeclinableनिषेधार्थक अव्ययRole (निषेध) क्रियाविशेषणRoot मा (निषेध)
- त्वा
- youPronounद्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot त्वद् (सर्वनाम)
- तारीत्
- let (it) not overcome/crossVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot तॄ (धातु; ‘तरति’)
- अभिमातिः
- hostility; oppressionNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot अभिमाति- (प्रातिपदिक)
- जनानाम्
- of men; of peopleNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root जन- (प्रातिपदिक)
- शूरः
- a hero; valiantNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot शूर- (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- like; asIndeclinableउपमानार्थक अव्ययRole उपमान-सम्बन्धRoot इव (निपात)
- धृष्णुः
- bold; daringAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषण)Root धृष्णु- (प्रातिपदिक)
- च्यवनः
- CyavanaNoun (Proper name)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (समनाधिकरण)Root च्यवन- (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
- सुमित्रः
- good-friended; having good alliesAdjective/Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषण/समनाधिकरण)Root सुमित्र- (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्र
- forth; forwardIndeclinableअव्यय (प्रवृत्त्यर्थ/प्रकर्ष)Role क्रियाविशेषणRoot प्र (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- नु
- now; indeedIndeclinableअव्यय (अनुनय/समय/अधुना)Role क्रियाविशेषणRoot नु (निपात)
- वोचम्
- I spoke; I shall proclaimVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot वच् (धातु)
- वाध्र्यश्वस्य
- of VādhryaśvaNoun (Proper name)पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root वाध्र्यश्व- (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
- नाम
- nameNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot नामन्- (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-निरसन): भवा | द्युम्नी | वाध्र्यश्वः | उत | गोपा | मा | त्वा | तारीत् | अभिमातिः | जनानाम् | शूरः | इव | धृष्णुः | च्यवनः | सुमित्रः | प्र | नु | वोचम् | वाध्र्यश्वस्य | नाम । 1) ‘वाध्र्यश्वो॒त’ = वाध्र्यश्वः + उत (विसर्ग-लोप/सन्धि). 2) ‘गो॒पा मा’ इति पदसंयोगः
- सन्धि-परिवर्तनं नास्ति। 3) ‘त्वा॑ तारीत्’—त्वा (द्वितीया) + लोट् ‘तारीत्’ (तॄ) ‘मा’ इत्यनेन निषेधः। 4) ‘अभिमा॑ति॒र्जना॑नाम्’ = अभिमातिः + जनानाम् (विसर्ग-लोप/रेफ-प्रदर्शनः संहितायाम्). 5) ‘प्र नु’ निपातद्वयम्। 6) ‘वो॑चं’ = वोचम् (लुङ् 1sg)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Become luminous, O Vādhryaśva, and be a protector of the cows; let not the hostile attack of men overtake you. Like a hero, forceful and steadfast—Cyavana, a good friend—I now proclaim the name of Vādhryaśva.
Inner meaning
The verse shifts to exhortation and self-naming: the seer calls the practitioner-aspect ‘Vādhryaśva’ to become dyumnī (full of light) and gopā (guardian of the cows). In inner symbolism, ‘cows’ are rays of knowledge; thus the call is to protect the gained illuminations from being stolen by abhimāti—hostile mental-vital formations (from within or from the collective). ‘Śūra… dhṛṣṇu… cyavanaḥ’ describes the needed temperament: heroic, daring, unshaken—yet ‘sumitra’: friendly to the right, not violent. Proclaiming the ‘name’ is affirming the soul-sign (nāma) of this force in oneself: a stable identity in the path, not swayed by opposition.
Universal truth
To keep spiritual insight, one must guard it. Illumination requires courage and steadiness, but also right-hearted friendliness; then one’s true vocation (name) stands revealed and firm.
Themes
inner victory, protection from hostile forces, guardianship of the Rays (go), name-proclamation / self-manifestation
The seer
- Rishi
- Vādhryaśva (self-referential proclamation within the cycle)
- Other hymns
- RV 10.69.1, RV 10.69.2, RV 10.69.3, RV 10.69.4, RV 10.69.6
Family tradition
Book 10 personal/proclamatory style: the rishi affirms his spiritual identity and mission amid opposition.
Significance
The rishi models ‘naming’ as yogic affirmation: to stand in one’s dharma-force (vādhryaśva) and protect the rays (go) from hostile pulls.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (implied field of force across the hymn)
- Epithets
- Gopā (protector, by function), Dyumat (luminous, by effect)
- Related deities
- Indra (slayer of Vṛtra/hostility), Sarasvatī/Bṛhaspati (guardians of right speech/knowledge)
Cosmic role
Agni’s victory-field: the divine Will establishes luminous guardianship and repels hostile forces that steal light.
Inner power
Protective courage and steadfast energy that preserves illumination in the mind and life.
In ritual
Where it is used
Protective and victory-themed recitation within Agni rites; also self-affirmation in battle/contest contexts (outer)
भवा॑ द्यु॒म्नी वा॑ध्र्यश्वो॒त गो॒पा मा त्वा॑ तारीद॒भिमा॑ति॒र्जना॑नाम् । शूर॑ इव धृ॒ष्णुश्च्यव॑नः सुमि॒त्रः प्र नु वो॑चं॒ वाध्र्य॑श्वस्य॒ नाम॑ ॥
भव॑ । द्यु॒म्नी । वा॒ध्रि॒ऽअ॒श्व॒ । उ॒त । गो॒पाः । मा । त्वा॒ । ता॒री॒त् । अ॒भिऽमा॑तिः । जना॑नाम् । शूरः॑ऽइव । घृ॒ष्णुः । च्यव॑नः । सु॒ऽमि॒त्रः । प्र । नु । वो॒च॒म् । वाध्रि॑ऽअश्वस्य । नाम॑ ॥
bhava | dyumnī | vādhri-aśva | uta | gopāḥ | mā | tvā | tārīt | abhi-mātiḥ | janānām | śūraḥ-iva | ghṛṣṇuḥ | cyavanaḥ | su-mitraḥ | pra | nu | vocam | vādhri-aśvasya | nāma
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4 pādas × ~11 syllables
Assertive and declarative; suited to exhortation and proclamation of name.
Builds confidence and protective strength; helpful when facing doubt or external pressure.
- द्यु॒म्नी (dyumnī)
- Literal: luminous, radiant. Symbolic: filled with spiritual light and effective clarity
- गोपा (gopā)
- Literal: cow-protector. Symbolic: guardian of rays of knowledge; protector of insights
- अभिमातिः (abhimātiḥ)
- Literal: hostile attack, enmity. Symbolic: adverse formations: doubt, depression, aggression, social/inner resistance
- शूर (śūra)
- Literal: hero. Symbolic: courage of the will in sādhanā
- धृष्णु (dhṛṣṇu)
- Literal: bold, vehement. Symbolic: fearless energy that does not shrink from inner battle
- च्यवनः (cyavanaḥ)
- Literal: unshaken/unyielding; also a seer-name. Symbolic: steadfastness; the power that does not slip from truth-position
- नाम (nāma)
- Literal: name. Symbolic: soul-sign; fixed inner identity in the truth
Agni-stotra context; suitable for Soma sacrifices (Agnistoma) where Agni is kindled and invoked as protector and conqueror of hostile forces; also applicable to protective (rakṣohā) recitations.
When seeking protection of ‘cows/wealth’ and victory over hostility
Recitation with intent of warding off abhimāti; may accompany offerings for protection
Use as a ‘psychic boundary’ mantra before challenging conversations or when guarding one’s practice from negativity.
Key roots: √bhū ‘to become’ indicates inner formation; dyu-/div ‘to shine’ → dyumna as ‘radiant power’; √tṝ ‘to cross’ used negatively as ‘overtake/carry away’ by hostile forces; mati from √man ‘to think’ becomes ‘mental formation’, with abhi- giving ‘assailing/hostile thought’; √vac ‘to utter’ implies mantraic proclamation of nāman, the essential identity. Symbolic justification: go (in gopāḥ) is polyvalent—cow/ray/word of light—hence ‘guardian of rays/knowledges’ rather than cattle-herding.
R̥ta (right order implied by ‘sumitra’ harmony and protection of the rays), inner battle of knowledge vs. hostile mentality (abhi-mati), nāman as essential power/form (mantric identity)
Gopā is the guardian of ṛta’s lights (go).
Nāma as the vibration of one’s true being when aligned to Satya.
Establishing a stable true identity amid forces of obstruction—creation of an inner order.
Yoga of inner battle and protection; aligns with Aurobindo’s ‘hostile forces’ framework.
dawn/daybreak into daylight (becoming luminous)
Light = awakened understanding; cows = rays/insights; hostility = obscuring impulses; heroism = steadfast will.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The protective-heroic mythologem: the seer/hero becomes ‘luminous’ and a ‘gopā’ (guardian of the Rays), resisting abhi-mati (hostile mental assault). This is the inner form of the perennial Vedic battle—Light/knowledge safeguarded against forces that would ‘carry away’ the soul’s gains.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √bhū ‘become’ (PIE *bʰuH-) is central to formation of being; √dyu ‘shine’ (PIE *dyew-) underlies dyumna as radiant power; √man ‘think’ (PIE *men-) in mati shows cognition as a force that can turn hostile (abhi-). √vac ‘speak’ (PIE *wekʷ-) frames the verse as performative utterance—proclamation of nāman as effective speech-act.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi stands as a mediator of power: he exhorts the human vessel (Vādhryaśva as aspirant/hero) to align with the luminous order guarded by Agni. The reciprocity is implicit—by proclaiming the ‘name’ (nāman) in truth, the rishi establishes a channel for Agni’s protective force against hostile mentalities.
Guard the rays: protect today’s insights from hostile inner talk.
ajna (clarity/rays) with support from manipura (heroic steadiness)
brisk_energetic 3-part breathing (diaphragm–ribs–chest) for 5 rounds, then chant once with firm exhale
Steadfast, protected, luminous resolve.
On ‘gopā’, feel you are protecting subtle ‘cows’ (insights) in the mind-field. On ‘mā tvā tārīt…’, reject hostile suggestions. End by silently affirming your true ‘name’—your deepest intention on the path.
Let the cadence be firm; maintain clear udatta lifts on exhortative verbs (bhavā, bhavā) and prohibitive clause (mā… tārīt).
Strong, clean emphasis on ‘गोपा’ and ‘अभिमातिः’; declarative clarity on ‘प्र नु वोचम्… नाम’.
: cluster dhrya—keep it tight (vā-dhrya-śva), : bh voiced; long ā in mātiḥ, : retroflex ṣṇ cluster (dhṛṣ-ṇu), : palatal cy (cya-va-naḥ)
heroic, bright, forward-placed resonance
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