Rig Veda 5.83.8: Mandala 5, Sukta 83, Mantra 8
Sukta 5.83
- Rishi
- Atri
- Devata
- Parjanya
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
महान्तं कोशमुदचा नि षिञ्च स्यन्दन्तां कुल्या विषिताः पुरस्तात् । घृतेन द्यावापृथिवी व्युन्धि सुप्रपाणं भवत्वघ्न्याभ्यः ॥
mahā́ntaṃ kóśam úd acā ní ṣiñca syándantāṃ kulyā́ ví-sitāḥ purástāt | ghṛténa dyā́vā-pṛthivī́ vy ùndhi su-prapā́ṇaṃ bhavatu aghnyā́bhyaḥ ||
عظیم برتن سے نیچے پانی بہاؤ، کھلے ہوئے نالے آگے بہتے رہیں۔ صاف گھی سے آسمان اور زمین کو ملاؤ، غیر مارے گئی قوتوں کے لیے، بڑھنے والی شعاعی توانائیوں کے لیے ایک کامل پیے کا ہو۔
Word by Word
- महत्
- a great (one)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot महत् (प्रातिपदिक) < √मंह्/मह् ‘to be great’ (adj. stem)
- कोशम्
- container, reservoir, caskNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot कोश (प्रातिपदिक)
- उदचा
- raised up, upliftedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (कोशम् इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्मRoot उद्-√अञ्च् (अञ्चति) / उद्-अञ्च् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- नि
- down, intoIndeclinableउपसर्गः (√सिच् सह)Root नि (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- षिञ्च
- pour! sprinkle!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot √सिच् (सिञ्चति)
- स्यन्दन्ताम्
- let (them) flowVerbलोट्, तृतीयपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपदRole क्रियाRoot √स्यन्द् (स्यन्दते)
- कुल्याः
- channels, water-coursesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot कुल्या (प्रातिपदिक)
- विषिताः
- set loose, released, driven forthAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (कुल्याः इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृRoot वि-√सि/√से (विष्यति/सेते) → विषित (कृदन्त, भूतकृदन्त)
- पुरस्तात्
- from the front; forth, forwardIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role अधिकारणRoot पुरस् + तात् (अव्ययीभाव)
- घृतेन
- with ghee; with clarified butterNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
- द्यावापृथिवी
- Heaven and EarthNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (द्वन्द्वः), द्वितीया, द्विवचनRole कर्मRoot द्यावा-पृथिवी (द्वन्द्व-समास; द्यौ/द्याव् + पृथिवी)
- व्युन्धि
- moisten! bedew!Verbलोट्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot वि-√उन्ध् (उन्धति) / √उन्ध् ‘to moisten, wet, sprinkle’
- सुप्रपाणम्
- well-watered; having good drinkAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (अभ्यः इत्यस्य कर्म/विशेष्यभावेन)Role कर्मRoot सु-प्रपाण (समास; सु + प्रपाण ‘good watering/abundant drink’)
- भवतु
- let it be; may it becomeVerbलोट्, तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot √भू (भवति)
- अघ्न्याभ्यः
- for the cows (the inviolable ones)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, बहुवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot अघ्न्या (प्रातिपदिक; ‘cow’, lit. ‘not to be slain’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: महत् | कोशम् | उदचा | नि | षिञ्च | स्यन्दन्ताम् | कुल्याः | विषिताः | पुरस्तात् || घृतेन | द्यावापृथिवी | व्युन्धि | सुप्रपाणम् | भवतु | अघ्न्याभ्यः || 1) महान्तं → महत् (नपुंसक-द्वितीया-एकवचन; RV-पदपाठे प्रायः महत्). 2) कोशम्+उदचा → कोशम् उदचा (सन्धिः न आवश्यकः). 3) नि षिञ्च: उपसर्ग ‘नि’ + लोट् ‘षिञ्च’ (√सिच्)
- ‘ष्’ छान्दस-रूपम्. 4) द्यावा-पृथिवी: द्वन्द्वसमासः
- पदपाठे द्यावापृथिवी इति संयुक्तम्. 5) व्युन्धि: वि+उन्धि (उपसर्ग-सन्धिः: वि + उन्धि → व्युन्धि)
The meaning
Outer meaning
A prayer to Parjanya (rain/thunder power): pour from the great vessel; let the opened channels flow; anoint Heaven and Earth with ghee-like richness; may there be an excellent drink for the “un-slain” cows (prospering, unharmed herds/powers).
Inner meaning
Parjanya is invoked as the force that releases the held waters of consciousness. The “great vessel” is the abundant store of the higher planes; the “opened channels” are the nadīs/paths of receptivity in mind-life-body. The outpouring is asked to move “in front” (purastāt): as a leading wave of illumination guiding the being. The “ghee” is clarified essence—purified delight/substance of offering—by which the higher (Dyauḥ: illumined mind) and lower (Pṛthivī: embodied nature) are harmonized. The “aghnyāḥ” (not-to-be-slain cows) are the inviolate rays/energies of increase—luminous knowledges that must not be violated by falsehood, haste, or vital distortion; they are to be perfectly nourished by the divine drink (suprapāṇam).
Universal truth
When higher abundance is released through purified channels, the whole being—above and below—gets anointed with a clarified essence, and the luminous powers of growth are sustained. True increase comes from purity of flow and right receptivity, not from force.
Themes
Abundance, Consecration/anointing, Cow-as-light symbolism, Ordered flow
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri Ātreya
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- RV 5.83, RV 5.84, RV 5.85, RV 5.86, RV 5.87
Family tradition
Atri lineage in Maṇḍala 5; hymns often unite outer nature-powers with inner ascent and purification.
Significance
Atri’s vision frequently emphasizes purification (clarified essence), right order (ṛta), and the release of hidden luminocities—keynotes aligned with an inner yajña where powers descend and are assimilated.
The deity
- Devata
- Parjanya
- Epithets
- stanayan (thundering), varṣin (rainer), prajābhyaḥ hitakṛt (benefactor of beings, implied)
- Related deities
- Indra (breaker of the cover), Maruts (storm-powers), Apas (waters), Dyāvāpṛthivī (receivers/field)
Cosmic role
Rain- and thunder-power that releases the waters, fertilizes Earth, and restores circulation between Heaven and Earth.
Inner power
Force of dynamic descent: breaks inner drought, opens channels, and pours energizing clarity that nourishes the rays of knowledge and growth.
In ritual
Where it is used
Rain-invocation and prosperity prayers within śrauta soma/seasonal rites; also general well-being supplication.
म॒हान्तं॒ कोश॒मुद॑चा॒ नि षि॑ञ्च॒ स्यन्द॑न्तां कु॒ल्या विषि॑ताः पु॒रस्ता॑त् । घृ॒तेन॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी व्यु॑न्धि सुप्रपा॒णं भ॑वत्व॒घ्न्याभ्य॑: ॥
म॒हान्त॑म् । कोश॑म् । उत् । अ॒च॒ । नि । सि॒ञ्च॒ । स्यन्द॑न्ताम् । कु॒ल्याः । विऽसि॑ताः । पु॒रस्ता॑त् । घृ॒तेन॑ । द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी इति॑ । वि । उ॒न्धि॒ । सु॒ऽप्र॒पा॒नम् । भ॒व॒तु॒ । अ॒घ्न्याभ्यः॑ ॥
mahāntam | kośam | ut | aca | ni | siñca | syandantām | kulyāḥ | vi-sitāḥ | purastāt | ghṛtena | dyāvāpṛthivī iti | vi | undhi | su-prapānam | bhavatu | aghnyābhyaḥ
44
4 pādas × ~11 syllables (triṣṭubh cadence; minor textual variation possible)
Forward-driving, expansive; suited to invoking release and movement.
Creates a sense of opening and descent—like gates unsealed—supporting visualization of flow through the inner channels.
- कोश (kośa)
- Literal: vessel, container, store. Symbolic: reservoir of higher abundance; store of subtle energies/knowledge held above the ordinary mind
- कुल्याः (kulyāḥ)
- Literal: channels, streams, irrigation rills. Symbolic: opened pathways of receptivity (inner channels/nadīs; psychological conduits for descent of force)
- घृत (ghṛta)
- Literal: clarified butter, ghee. Symbolic: clarified essence: purified delight/substance; luminous richness that anoints and harmonizes planes
- द्यावापृथिवी (dyāvāpṛthivī)
- Literal: Heaven-and-Earth. Symbolic: higher mind and embodied nature; the full field of consciousness to be unified
- अघ्न्याः (aghnyāḥ)
- Literal: not to be slain (cows). Symbolic: inviolable rays of Light/Knowledge and powers of increase that must be protected from falsehood and misuse
- सुप्रपानम् (suprapāṇam)
- Literal: excellent drink, good draught. Symbolic: right enjoyment/assimilation of the descending force—delight that strengthens the luminous energies
Prosperity and cattle-protection prayer; rain as ‘ghṛta-like’ nourishment ensuring plenty of milk/food and sustaining sacrificial economy.
Times of drought, onset of rains, agricultural seasons; also as a support hymn in offerings to storm powers.
Recitation with oblations (ājya/ghṛta) and water symbolism; mental ‘opening of channels’ as part of intention.
Use as a meditation-mantra for removing inner dryness, unblocking emotional/mental stagnation, and inviting a clear nourishing descent of force.
kośa ‘container/treasury’ frames rain as stored abundance; √syand ‘flow’ gives the streaming image; ghṛta (from √ghṛ ‘to shine/sprinkle’, semantic field of ‘bright/unctuous’) supports the inner sense of luminous essence; aghnyā ‘not to be killed’ (a- + √han ‘slay’) denotes sacrosanct ‘cows’—symbolically the inviolable light-forces that nourish consciousness.
Essence (ghṛta) as delight/light-substance, Dyāvāpṛthivī polarity, Preservation of luminous energies (aghnyāḥ)
The opened channels and right flow enact ṛta: proper movement of energies from above to below.
Aghnyāḥ implies protection of truth-powers; falsehood ‘kills’ the rays by distortion.
Fertilization and renewal: descent of waters/essence that re-creates vitality and knowledge in the field of nature.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: descent-ascent interplay; harmonizing higher mind and embodied nature.
unspecified
monsoon/renewal season (implied)
Rain = descending force; channels = nadīs/receptive pathways; ghee = clarified delight/essence; heaven-earth = mind-body unity; cows = rays of knowledge and increase.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The storm-cloud as a great treasury (kośa) releasing waters into channels; the rain is ‘ghṛta-like’, a consecrating essence that nourishes the sacred cows. Inner myth: the descent of clarified delight/light feeds the inviolable rays of knowledge and the life-powers that support sacrifice and growth.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The ‘cow’ as a central sacred image is pan-Indo-European (wealth/light/abundance symbolism). The dual compound dyāvāpṛthivī is an archaic pairing comparable to IE sky-earth dyads. Flow-verbs (√syand) and container metaphors are common in IE storm hymns.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asks not merely for rain, but for a consecrated substance that sustains higher values (aghnyāḥ). The speech directs the descent to become nourishment for the luminous and preservable forces, not a chaotic inundation.
Visualize a ‘great vessel’ above the head pouring a clear golden flow through the central channel and branching nāḍīs, anointing mind and body.
sahasrara→ajna→anahata (descent of clarity into feeling and embodiment)
Slow inhalation imagining opening channels; long exhalation imagining the flow ‘in front’ clearing the way; brief natural kumbhaka to ‘hold’ the essence.
Receptive descent (śakti-pāta-like), calm wideness with luminous nourishment.
Before chanting, set intention: ‘Let the channels open.’ After chanting, sit 3–5 minutes sensing subtle flow; avoid mental strain—keep a soft, downward receptive attention.
Use standard Ṛgvedic accenting: preserve udatta on marked syllables; avoid flattening into song-like melody unless trained in sāman adaptation.
Keep a clear lift on key verbs (ni ṣiñca, syandantām, vy undhi) to emphasize action of descent and anointing; maintain pāda breaks after purastāt.
kośam: long ‘o’ (ko–) and clear ‘ś’ (palatal), syandantām: ‘sy’ cluster clean; nasal ‘-ntām’ sustained lightly, kulyāḥ: ‘ly’ glide; visarga audible before pause, dyāvāpṛthivī: preserve long vowels; avoid collapsing into one word—articulate dyāvā | pṛthivī, aghnyābhyaḥ: ‘ghn’ cluster; do not say ‘agni’—it is aghnyāḥ (a-ghnya)
Full, descending tone; emphasize a ‘pouring’ continuity across syllables.
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