Rig Veda 6.71.4: Mandala 6, Sukta 71, Mantra 4
Sukta 6.71
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja
- Devata
- Savitṛ
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
उदु ष्य देवः सविता दमूना हिरण्यपाणिः प्रतिदोषमस्थात् । अयोहनुर्यजतो मन्द्रजिह्व आ दाशुषे सुवति भूरि वामम् ॥
úd u ṣyá deváḥ savitā́ damū́nā híraṇyapāṇiḥ prátidoṣam asthāt | áyo-hanur yajató mandrájihva ā́ dāśúṣe suvati bhū́ri vāmám ||
وہ دیو ساوتر اٹھتا ہے، گھر میں رہنے والا؛ سنہری ہاتھوں والا ہر شام کھڑا رہتا ہے۔ لوہے کے جبڑے والا، پوجنیک، جوشیلا زبان والا، وہ دینے والے کو بھلائیاں پہنچاتا ہے۔
Word by Word
- उदु
- up, forth (indeed)Indeclinableनिपात/उपसर्ग-संयुक्त अव्यय; ‘उद्’ = ‘ऊर्ध्वम्/उत्थानम्’ सूचक, ‘उ’ = पदपूरण/उद्बोधनRoot उद् (उपसर्ग) + उ (उ) (निपात) → ‘उदु’ (निग्रह/प्रग्रह)
- ष्य
- indeed, surelyIndeclinableवैदिक निपात; बल/निश्चय/उद्बोधनार्थकRoot स्य (निपात; वैदिक रूप ‘ष्य’)
- देवः
- the godNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक) < √दिव् ‘दीप्तौ’
- सविता
- Savitar (the Impeller)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (ऋ-प्रातिपदिक का वैदिक नामरूप: सविता)Role Kartā (देवः सविता = कर्तृसमासार्थ/समानाधिकरण)Root सवितृ (प्रातिपदिक) < √सू/सुव् ‘प्रेरणे/प्रसवे’
- दमूना
- house-abiding, of the homeAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; देवः/सविता-विशेषणRole Kartā (कर्तृविशेषण)Root दमून (प्रातिपदिक; वैदिक विशेषण) < दम ‘गृह/दम’ + ऊन/ऊन (स्वामित्व/सम्बन्ध)
- हिरण्यपाणिः
- golden-handedNoun (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; सविता-विशेषणRole Kartā (कर्तृविशेषण)Root हिरण्य-पाणि (प्रातिपदिक; कर्मधारय) हिरण्य ‘gold’ + पाणि ‘hand’
- प्रतिदोषम्
- each evening, at duskNoun (with preverb) / Adverbial accusativeनपुंसक/पुं (दोष-शब्दः प्रायः पुं); द्वितीया एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे ‘प्रति-दोषम्’ = ‘प्रत्येकं सायं’Role Adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण; accusative of time)Root प्रति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + दोष (प्रातिपदिक) ‘evening’
- अस्थात्
- stood, took his stationVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद; 3rd person एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root √स्था ‘तिष्ठति/स्थितौ’
- अयःहनुः
- iron-jawedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; सविता-विशेषणRole Kartā (कर्तृविशेषण)Root अयस् ‘metal/iron’ + हनु ‘jaw’ (प्रातिपदिक; बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय-प्राय)
- यजतः
- worthy of worshipAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; सविता-विशेषणRole Kartā (कर्तृविशेषण)Root यजत (प्रातिपदिक) < √यज् ‘पूजायाम्/यज्ञे’
- मन्द्रजिह्वः
- with a gladdening/pleasant tongueAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; सविता-विशेषणRole Kartā (कर्तृविशेषण)Root मन्द्र ‘pleasant/chanting’ + जिह्वा ‘tongue’ (प्रातिपदिक; बहुव्रीहि)
- आ
- toward, untoIndeclinableउपसर्ग; √सू/सुव् के साथ ‘आ’ = ‘आभिमुख्येन/समन्तात्/निकटम्’Root आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- दाशुषे
- to the giver (the worshipper who offers)Noun (participle used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी एकवचन (सम्प्रदान)Role SampradānaRoot √दाश्/दश् ‘दान/उपकार’ → दाशुष् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; परिपूर्ण/अतीतार्थ)
- सुवति
- impels, bestowsVerbलट् (present), परस्मैपद; 3rd person एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root √सू/सुव् ‘प्रसवे/प्रेरणे’
- भूरि
- much, abundantIndeclinable (quantifier) / Adjective (indeclinable use)अव्ययवत् प्रयोग; ‘बहु’ अर्थेRole Karma (परिमाण-विशेषण; वामम्-विशेषण)Root भूरि (अव्यय/विशेषण-प्रयोग) < *भू ‘बहुत’ (वैदिक परिमाणशब्द)
- वामम्
- good (boon), благ/benefitNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot वाम (प्रातिपदिक) ‘good/pleasant/boon’
Sandhi Notes
- संहिता-पाठ: ‘उदु ष्य’ इति निपातद्वयम् (उद् + उ; स्य → ष्य वैदिक रूप)
- ‘प्रतिदोषम्’ = प्रति + दोषम् (कालवाचक द्वितीया)
- ‘आ दाशुषे’ में ‘आ’ उपसर्गः √सू/सुव् के साथ
The meaning
Outer meaning
Savitar rises at every dusk, dwelling in the home, with golden hands; with iron jaw, adorable, rapturous-tongued, he impels abundant blessings to the giver.
Inner meaning
Savitṛ is present not only at dawn but at transitions—‘pratidoṣam’ (each dusk) symbolizes the liminal hour when consciousness can either sink into inertia or be gathered into inwardness. As ‘damūnā’ (dweller in the home), he inhabits the inner house (the heart-being) and stands there with golden hands—ready to shape our life with luminous action. ‘Iron jaw’ suggests unyielding strength that breaks and grinds resistance; ‘mandrajihva’ is the ecstatic, inspired Word that tastes Soma and utters it as joy. To the ‘dāśuṣ’ (the giver—one who offers), Savitṛ impels ‘bhūri vāmam’—abundant felicities: inner joy, right conditions, and progressive realizations.
Universal truth
At every transition, a higher power can turn decline into progress—if we become givers (offer our energies), the divine impulsion converts daily endings into renewed felicity.
Themes
Transition guardianship, Indwelling solar power, Mantric speech-force, Bestowal to the giver
The seer
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja (Bārhaspatya)
- Lineage
- Bharadvāja
- Other hymns
- RV 6.71.1, RV 6.71.2, RV 6.71.3
Family tradition
Bharadvāja’s solar hymns frequently map daily rhythms to inner discipline—especially transitions (dawn/dusk) as yogic opportunities.
Significance
Shows Savitṛ as the indwelling master of thresholds: he converts the ordinary ‘evening’ into an inner station of consecration and blessing.
The deity
- Devata
- Savitṛ (Savitar)
- Epithets
- damūnā (indwelling), hiraṇyapāṇi (golden-handed), ayohanuh (iron-jawed), mandrajihva (rapturous-tongued), yajata (adorable)
- Related deities
- Agni (household fire/inner flame), Uṣas (dawn awakening), Sūrya, Indra (breaker of obstruction)
Cosmic role
Guardian of transitions and rhythms; bestower of auspicious movement and prosperity to those aligned with sacrifice.
Inner power
Indwelling impulsion that protects at liminal moments, breaks resistance, and pours delight and right conditions into the offering life.
In ritual
Where it is used
Evening (dusk) Savitṛ invocation; compatible with sandhyā-like transition prayers in later practice and with śrauta timing awareness around day’s rites.
उदु॒ ष्य दे॒वः स॑वि॒ता दमू॑ना॒ हिर॑ण्यपाणिः प्रतिदो॒षम॑स्थात् । अयो॑हनुर्यज॒तो म॒न्द्रजि॑ह्व॒ आ दा॒शुषे॑ सुवति॒ भूरि॑ वा॒मम् ॥
उत् । ऊँ॒ इति॑ । स्यः । दे॒वः । स॒वि॒ता । दमू॑नाः । हिर॑ण्यऽपाणिः । प्र॒ति॒ऽदो॒षम् । अ॒स्था॒त् । अयः॑ऽहनुः । य॒ज॒तः । म॒न्द्रऽजि॑ह्वः । आ । दा॒शुषे॑ । सु॒व॒ति॒ । भूरि॑ । वा॒मम् ॥
ut | oṃ iti | syaḥ | devaḥ | savitā | damūnāḥ | hiraṇya-pāṇiḥ | prati-doṣam | asthāt | ayaḥ-hanuḥ | yajataḥ | mandra-jihvaḥ | ā | dāśuṣe | suvati | bhūri | vāmam
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4 pādas of 11 syllables
Strong and transitional: the opening rise is followed by a steady ‘standing’ (asthāt) and then a generous outflow to the giver.
Stabilizes at the day’s edge; transforms fatigue into consecrated calm and receptivity to blessing.
- दमूना (damūnā)
- Literal: dweller in the house/home. Symbolic: indwelling guide in the heart; the divine presence in the inner home
- प्रतिदोषम् (pratidoṣam)
- Literal: at every dusk/evening. Symbolic: transitional states; moments where consciousness shifts and must be guarded and uplifted
- हिरण्यपाणिः (hiraṇyapāṇiḥ)
- Literal: golden-handed. Symbolic: luminous power acting through our faculties; consecrated works
- अयोहनुः (ayohanuh)
- Literal: iron-jawed. Symbolic: unyielding force that breaks resistance and digests obstacles
- यजतः (yajataḥ)
- Literal: worthy of worship, adorable. Symbolic: the divine that receives offering and returns increase
- मन्द्रजिह्वः (mandrajihvaḥ)
- Literal: rapturous/pleasing-tongued. Symbolic: ecstatic inspired speech; mantra-force expressing delight
- दाशुषे (dāśuṣe)
- Literal: to the giver/offerer. Symbolic: to the one who offers self and works—inner sacrifice
- सुवति (suvati)
- Literal: impels, sets in motion. Symbolic: divine propulsion of progress and blessings
- भूरि वामम् (bhūri vāmam)
- Literal: much that is pleasant/fair. Symbolic: abundant felicity—joy, harmony, favorable inner conditions
Evening (doṣā) Savitṛ invocation; supports daily ritual transitions and the protection/impulsion of the sacrificer’s offering-life.
At dusk/evening; before rest, before evening offerings, or at the closing of work.
Recitation to consecrate the transition and invite auspiciousness; offering attitude (dāśuṣ) is central.
Evening meditation mantra: release the day as an offering; invite Savitṛ to digest resistances and grant restful felicity and renewed impulsion for tomorrow.
damūnā ‘house-dweller’ makes Savitar an intimate indwelling power, not distant astronomy. prátidoṣam (each dusk) marks cyclical guardianship across transitions. áyas ‘iron’ + hanu ‘jaw’ symbolizes irresistible formative force that ‘bites through’ resistance—psychologically, a firm discriminative power. mandra-jihva highlights inspired speech-tone, the mantra-force. dāśuṣ is the giver/offerer: the reciprocity of yajña—offering opens the channel for Savitar’s impulsion of vāma (felicities).
indwelling divinity (damūnā), irresistible formative force (ayo-hanu), reciprocity of offering and grace (dāśuṣ → vāma)
Dusk is a junction in ṛta’s cycle; Savitṛ ensures the passage is orderly and auspicious.
Mandrajihva implies inspired truth-speech; golden hands imply truth-guided action.
Renewal through cycles: endings become sources of new blessings when aligned with sacrifice.
Vedic integral discipline of rhythms: using daily cycles as supports for inner transformation.
dusk
Dusk = inward turning and assimilation; home = heart-center; golden hands = illumined faculties; iron jaw = power to break and digest subconscious resistance.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Savitṛ taking his station at dusk as an indwelling guardian who impels blessings toward the giver. The inner action is the deity’s presence at psychological ‘twilights’—moments of change—where firm power (iron jaw) and inspired speech (mandra-jihva) carry the seeker through obscurity into renewed movement and felicity.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √sthā ‘stand’ is PIE *steh₂- (cf. Latin stō, English stand). áyas ‘metal’ is Indo-Iranian (Avestan aiiah-). The repeated ud u ṣyá formula is a traditional Indo-Aryan poetic deictic pattern marking epiphanic appearance.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi frames a clear reciprocity: to the dāśuṣ (one who gives/offers), Savitar ‘impels’ abundance. The devotee’s offering-life invites the deity’s intimate presence (damūnā) at critical thresholds, ensuring progress and the reception of vāma as inner felicity and right circumstances.
Use dusk as a conscious threshold: offer the day, gather energies inward, invite digestion of resistance and infusion of quiet joy.
Heart (home/indwelling) and Solar plexus (digestive ‘iron jaw’ transformative power).
Evening exhale-lengthening (e.g., 4-in/6-out) while feeling the ‘iron jaw’ digest tensions; end with a few natural breaths in the heart space.
Assimilative calm; inwardly luminous repose.
At sunset: (1) recall the day without judgment, (2) offer it (dāśuṣ), (3) feel Savitṛ standing within as steady presence, (4) let blessings be ‘impelled’ as quiet gratitude and readiness for renewal.
Triṣṭubh; open with a clear rising call on ‘úd u’; keep ‘pratidoṣam asthāt’ steady and grounded; let the final pāda open generously.
Emphasize the transition word ‘pratidoṣam’; keep compounds (hiraṇyapāṇiḥ, mandrajihvaḥ) clean; slight pause after |.
damūnā: long ū, hiraṇyapāṇiḥ: retroflex ṇ; long ā, pratidoṣam: dental t, long o, ayohanur: ‘ayo’ smooth, h aspirate, mandrajihva: ndra cluster clear; jihvā with hv, dāśuṣe: long ā, retroflex ṣ
Warm, evening-soft but steady; end with a gentle expansive cadence.
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