Rig Veda 5.79.5: Mandala 5, Sukta 79, Mantra 5
Sukta 5.79
- Rishi
- Syāvāśva Ātreya
- Devata
- Uṣas
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
यच्चिद्धि ते गणा इमे छदयन्ति मघत्तये । परि चिद्वष्टयो दधुर्ददतो राधो अह्रयं सुजाते अश्वसूनृते ॥
yác cid dhí te gaṇā imé chadáyanti magháttaye | pári cid váṣṭayo dadhur dádatō rā́dho áhrayaṃ sujāte aśvasūnṛte ||
جب یہ طاقتوں کے گروہ سخاوت کے لیے تجھے ڈھانپنے لگتے ہیں، تب بھی چاہنے والے تیری دولت کے نہ تھکنے والے عطیے کو چاروں طرف رکھتے ہیں، اے اچھی پیدا ہونے والی، تیز رفتاری اور خوشخبری لانے والی۔
Word by Word
- यत्
- when/that whichIndeclinableसम्बन्ध/निपात-प्रयोगः; यत्-तत्-सम्बन्धे अव्ययवत् (यत् = ‘यदा/यत्…तत्’)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) / यद्-शब्द
- चित्
- even/indeedIndeclinableनिपातः; ‘अपि/एव’ अर्थे (emphatic/‘even’)Root चित् (निपात)
- हि
- for/indeedIndeclinableनिपातः; कारण/निश्चयार्थः (‘for/indeed’)Root हि (निपात)
- ते
- of you/yourPronounषष्ठी एकवचनम् (gen. sg.)Role सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)Root त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- गणाः
- troops/companies (bands)Nounपुंलिङ्गः; प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृ (of छदयन्ति)Root गण (प्रातिपदिक)
- इमे
- thesePronounपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (agreeing with गणाः)Role विशेषण-सम्बन्धः (to गणाः)Root इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- छदयन्ति
- cover/veilVerbलट् (वर्तमान); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः बहुवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot छद् (धातु) ‘आच्छादने/गोपने’
- मघत्तये
- for generosity/bountyNoun (abstract) / epithetस्त्रीलिङ्गः; चतुर्थी एकवचनम् (dat. sg.)Role सम्प्रदान (purpose/for the sake of)Root मघत्तय (प्रातिपदिक; ‘मघवन्-भाव/दानशीलता/उदारता’)
- परि
- around/fullyIndeclinableउपसर्गः/अव्ययम्; ‘around, all about, completely’Root परि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- चित्
- evenIndeclinableनिपातः; ‘even’Root चित् (निपात)
- वष्टयः
- seekers/wooers (those who desire)Noun (agent) / Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः; प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृ (of दधुः)Root वष्टि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘वष्टि’ = ‘desire/seek’, here as agent-noun ‘seekers/wooers’)
- दधुः
- have placed/putVerbलिट् (परोक्श/परफेक्ट); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः बहुवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot धा (धातु) ‘धारणे/स्थापने’
- ददतः
- of the giver (giving)Participleवर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ); षष्ठी एकवचनम् (gen. sg.)—‘of the giving one’Role सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation to राधः)Root दा (धातु) ‘दाने’
- राधः
- bounty/giftNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः; द्वितीया एकवचनम् (acc. sg.)Role कर्म (of दधुः)Root राधस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अह्रयम्
- unfailing/undiminishedAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गः; द्वितीया एकवचनम् (agreeing with राधः)Role विशेषण-सम्बन्धः (to राधः)Root अह्रय (प्रातिपदिक; ‘अ-ह्रय’ = ‘not to be taken away/undiminishing, unfailing’)
- सुजाते
- O well-born oneAdjective (vocative) / epithetसम्बोधन एकवचनम्; स्त्रीलिङ्गे (addressing the goddess/recipient)Role सम्बोधनRoot सुजात (प्रातिपदिक; सु- + जात ‘well-born’)
- अश्वसूनृते
- O Ashva-sūnṛtā (true/good-spoken one)Noun/Adjective (vocative epithet)सम्बोधन एकवचनम्; स्त्रीलिङ्गेRole सम्बोधनRoot अश्वसूनृत (प्रातिपदिक; अश्व + सूनृत ‘having good/true speech’, a Vedic epithet)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: यत् + चित् + हि + ते + गणाः + इमे + छदयन्ति + मघत्तये । परि + चित् + वष्टयः + दधुः + ददतः + राधः + अह्रयम् + सुजाते + अश्वसूनृते । मुख्य-सन्धयः: (1) यत् + चित् → यच्चित् (त् + च् = च्च्)
- (2) चित् + हि → चिद्धि (त् + ह् → द्ध्)
- (3) चित् + वष्टयः → चिद्वष्टयः (त् + व् → द्व्)
- अन्यत्र पदान्त/पदान्तरे विशेष-सन्धि आवश्यकः न।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Even if certain groups/hosts seem to cover (veil) Dawn for the sake of giving bounty, still the seekers arrange all around her tireless gift of abundance—O well-born Dawn, who brings swift energies and the true, glad speech.
Inner meaning
In the sadhana, illuminations do not always appear openly; intermediate formations (gaṇāḥ—movements, habitual forces, mixed impulses) can temporarily veil the arising Light so that the being may be made capable of a truer ‘bounty’ (maghattaye: a right plenitude, not mere excitement). Yet the sincere aspirational powers (vaṣṭayaḥ—those who intensely will/desire the Truth) build a protective circumference of receptivity around the emerging illumination, so the gift becomes ‘unwearied’ (ahrayaṃ): steady, not collapsing back into inertia. Dawn is invoked as sujātā (well-born: pure origin in the higher plane) and aśvasūnṛtā (bringing the swift force of right action and the delighted true word).
Universal truth
Growth of consciousness often includes phases where the Light seems hidden; perseverance and rightly-aimed aspiration create the conditions for a stable, generous clarity that yields both effective energy and truthful speech.
Themes
Overcoming coverings, Persistence in sādhanā, Grace as effective fulfilment
The seer
- Rishi
- Syāvāśva Ātreya
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 5.78, Rig Veda 5.79, Rig Veda 5.80, Rig Veda 5.81
Family tradition
Atri lineage; hymns often show a psychological ascent—invocation of Dawn as the awakener of inner seeing and right movement.
Significance
Syāvāśva’s Uṣas-vision emphasizes the disciplined receiving of Light: not merely a natural dawn, but a progressive unveiling that gives energy, truth-speech, and ordered plenitude.
The deity
- Devata
- Uṣas
- Epithets
- duhitā divah (Daughter of Heaven), sujātā (well-born), maghonī (bounteous), aśvasūnṛtā (bringing swift force and glad word)
- Related deities
- Sūrya, Agni, Indra, Aśvins
Cosmic role
She opens the paths for Sūrya, reveals forms, and sets the rhythm of awakening—dispelling darkness and calling the worlds to activity.
Inner power
The awakening illumination that makes the being vigilant, receptive, and truth-oriented; she brings clarity, right impulse, and the sweetness of inspired speech.
In ritual
Where it is used
Morning Uṣas/Sūrya praise within Soma-related recitation cycles (general RV usage; not tied to a single fixed śrauta act).
यच्चि॒द्धि ते॑ ग॒णा इ॒मे छ॒दय॑न्ति म॒घत्त॑ये । परि॑ चि॒द्वष्ट॑यो दधु॒र्दद॑तो॒ राधो॒ अह्र॑यं॒ सुजा॑ते॒ अश्व॑सूनृते ॥
यत् । चि॒त् । हि । ते॒ । ग॒णाः । इ॒मे । छ॒दय॑न्ति । म॒घत्त॑ये । परि॑ । चि॒त् । वष्ट॑यः । द॒धुः॒ । दद॑तः । राधः॑ । अह्र॑यम् । सुऽजा॑ते । अश्व॑ऽसूनृते ॥
yat | cit | hi | te | gaṇāḥ | ime | chadayanti | maghattaye | pari | cit | vaṣṭayaḥ | dadhuḥ | dadataḥ | rādhaḥ | ahrayam | su-jāte | aśva-sūnṛte
48
4 pādas of 12 syllables each
Expansive, flowing, and forward-driving—suited to wide illumination and generous giving.
Creates a sense of widening and steady ascent; supports sustained aspiration rather than brief intensity.
- गणाः (gaṇāḥ)
- Literal: groups, companies, hosts. Symbolic: formations of forces in the nature—habit-energies, mixed impulses, intermediary movements that can obscure clarity
- छदयन्ति (chadayanti)
- Literal: they cover, veil. Symbolic: temporary concealment of illumination by subconscient or mixed layers
- मघत्तये (maghattaye)
- Literal: for bounty, for largesse. Symbolic: for the true plenitude that comes when the being is prepared to hold it
- वष्टयः (vaṣṭayaḥ)
- Literal: the desiring/longing ones. Symbolic: aspirational powers in the seeker—will-to-know, will-to-rise, will-to-receive
- राधः (rādhaḥ)
- Literal: gift, bounty, wealth. Symbolic: spiritual riches: light, wideness, joy, right capacity
- अह्रयम् (ahrayam)
- Literal: untiring, unwearied. Symbolic: stable continuity of the higher influence (not intermittent flashes)
- सुजाते (sujāte)
- Literal: well-born. Symbolic: illumination arising from the higher Truth-plane, not from mental fabrication
- अश्वसूनृते (aśvasūnṛte)
- Literal: having horses and good speech / bringing swift force and glad word. Symbolic: right vital energy for action (aśva) + truth-speaking inspiration (sūnṛtā)
Acknowledges obstacles/coverings; affirms persistence of aspiration and the unflagging gift
At dawn or early morning recitations; also as a contemplative dawn-invocation.
Recitation to invite auspicious awakening, clarity, and effective energies for the day’s yajña.
Use as a morning mantra for overcoming inner obscurity and stabilizing a luminous, truthful orientation in speech and action.
√chad ‘cover’ (veil of dawn by intervening formations—inner: obscurations). vaṣṭi/vaṣṭayaḥ from √vaś/√vaṣ ‘desire, will’ (inner: aspiration). rādhas ‘gift, grace, abundance’ from √rādh ‘succeed, accomplish, grant’—inner: effective fulfilment. a-hraya ‘not slack’ (negated from hraya ‘languor/delay’).
obscuration vs illumination, aspiration (vaṣṭi), grace/fulfilment (rādhas)
Uṣas restores Ṛta by re-establishing the rhythm of awakening and right movement after the night of obscurity.
Sūnṛtā (true/glad word) points to speech aligned with Satya rather than reactive speech.
Unveiling: the hidden becomes manifest; the ordered world of awareness re-appears through the Dawn-power.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: ascent from obscurity to illumined mind and truth-speech.
dawn
The transition from subconscient inertia to awakened consciousness; the ‘veil’ is psychological resistance, and the ‘gift’ is the stable descent of light, energy, and truth-speaking inspiration.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘covering’ motif: forces (gaṇāḥ) can obscure the goddess’s manifestation, yet the seekers establish her gift all around. Innerly, intermittent obscurations do not negate the steady availability of grace when aspiration remains active.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √dhā ‘place’ is PIE *dʰeh₁- (Greek títhēmi, Latin faciō is different; but ‘do’ in English is from *dʰeh₁- via Germanic). √chad ‘cover’ relates to inherited ‘hide/cover’ semantics across IE though direct cognates are less transparent.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi recognizes resistance (coverings) without conceding defeat; he asserts a cooperation: human ‘vaṣṭayaḥ’ (aspirants) establish the field for Uṣas’s ‘rādhas’ (effective gift) to operate unweariedly.
Witness the ‘veil’ without discouragement; invoke Dawn to stabilize illumination, right energy, and truth-speech.
Ājñā (illumined seeing) with support to Viśuddha (truthful expression)
Gentle nāḍī-śodhana for 6–12 rounds, then silent receptive breathing on ‘Uṣas’ as inner rising light.
Receptive, widening, quietly aspiring (open attention rather than forceful concentration).
When clarity is covered, do not argue with the darkness; surround the moment with aspiration and steadiness. Let speech and action wait for the ‘unwearied gift’—a stable inner yes.
Mixed udātta/anudātta/svarita as per Rigvedic accent; maintain clear udātta lifts on key verbs and vocatives (e.g.,, ).
Let the cadence broaden on Jagatī’s 12-syllable pādas; keep the final vocative ‘ ’ as a steady refrain-like landing.
in : aspirated ‘cha’, not ‘sha’., : pronounce ‘vaṣ-ṭa-yaḥ’ with clear retroflex ṭ., : light ‘h’ and rolled ‘r’ (a-hra-yam)., : ‘aśva-sū-nṛ-te’ with long ū and retroflex ṛ.
Bright, forward, and clear; avoid heaviness—suggest the rising of dawn.
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