Rig Veda 7.38.7: Mandala 7, Sukta 38, Mantra 7
Sukta 7.38
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Collective divine powers
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
शं नो भवन्तु वाजिनो हवेषु देवताता मितद्रवः स्वर्काः । जम्भयन्तोऽहिं वृकं रक्षांसि सनेम्यस्मद्युयवन्नमीवाः ॥
śáṃ no bhavantu vājíno háveṣu deva-tātā mitá-dravaḥ svarkā́ḥ | jambháyanto ’híṃ vṛ́kaṃ rákṣāṃsi sá-nemi asmad yuyavann ámīvāḥ ||
قوی ہستیاں ہماری پکار میں ہمارے بھلے کے لیے ہوں - دیو پرور، اپنی آمد میں متوازن، سورج جیسی روشنی کے حامل۔ سانپ جیسی طاقت اور بھیڑیا جیسے نگلنے والے اور دشمن قوتوں کو کچلتے ہوئے، اتحاد کے ایک پہیے کے ساتھ وہ ہم سے دور تکلیفیں بھگا دیں۔
Word by Word
- शम्
- auspiciously; for welfareIndeclinableअव्यय (उपपद/निपात)Role विशेषण-भाव (मङ्गलार्थे)Root शम् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक ‘शम्’ = कल्याणम्)
- नः
- to us; ourPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी? बहुवचनस्य एन्क्लिटिक-रूपम् (नः = ‘our/to us’ वैदिके उभयार्थकं)Role सम्प्रदान (to us) / सम्बन्ध (of us) प्रसङ्गानुसारम्Root अस्मद्
- भवन्तु
- may they be; let them becomeVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे/आशीर्लिङर्थे), परस्मैपदम्, 3 पुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot भू
- वाजिनः
- the prize-winning/strong ones; racers (epithet of gods/Maruts)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृ (भवन्तु इत्यस्य)Root वाजिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- हवेषु
- in the calls/invocationsNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, बहुवचनम्Role अधिकरण (in the invocations/calls)Root हव (प्रातिपदिक ‘हव’/‘हवस्’ = आह्वान/हविः-सम्बद्धम्)
- देवताता
- divine power/quality; godhead (as accompanying their aid)Noun (abstract) / Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (वाजिनः इत्यस्य विशेषणभावे ‘देवताता’ = देवतास्वरूपा/देवसम्बद्धा [स्तुतिः/शक्ति:])Role कर्तृ-विशेषण/भाववाचक-सम्बन्धRoot देवताता (प्रातिपदिक; देवता-ताता = देवत्व/देवसम्बन्धः)
- मितद्रवः
- of measured/steady speed; controlled-rushingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृ-विशेषण (वाजिनः)Root मित-द्रव (कर्मधारय; मित = मित/नियत, द्रव = दौड/वेग)
- स्वर्काः
- heaven-bright; radiantAdjective/Nounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृ-विशेषण (वाजिनः)Root स्वर्क (प्रातिपदिक; स्वः-र्क = स्वर्गीय-प्रकाश/दीप्ति)
- जम्भयन्तः
- crushing; smitingVerb (participle)वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), परस्मैपदीय-भावः, पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृ (वाजिनः) सह क्रियाविशेषण-भावेRoot जम्भय् (धातु; caus. of जभ्/जम्भ् ‘to crush’)
- अहिम्
- the serpent (Ahi)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्म (जम्भयन्तः)Root अहि (प्रातिपदिक)
- वृकम्
- the wolf (metaphor for a devourer/foe)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्म (जम्भयन्तः)Root वृक (प्रातिपदिक)
- रक्षांसि
- the demons/evil spirits; harmful beingsNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role कर्म (जम्भयन्तः)Root रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- सनेमि
- well-wheeled; having rims (of chariots)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम् (वाजिनः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot स-नेमि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘with felly/rim’, i.e., well-wheeled)
- अस्मत्
- from usPronounपञ्चमी, बहुवचनम्Role अपादान (from us)Root अस्मद्
- युयवन्
- may they drive away; keep offVerbलोट्/आशीर्लिङ्-सम्भाव्य (वैदिक injunctive/imperative usage), परस्मैपदम्, 3 पुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Role क्रिया (वाजिनः कर्तारः)Root यु (धातु ‘to separate/keep away’)
- अमीवाः
- diseases; afflictionsNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role कर्म (युयवन्)Root अमीवा (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (वैदिक-सन्धि-निरसनम्): शम् | नः | भवन्तु | वाजिनः | हवेषु | देवताता | मितद्रवः | स्वर्काः || जम्भयन्तः | अहिम् | वृकम् | रक्षांसि | सनेमि | अस्मत् | युयवन् | अमीवाः || 1) ‘जम्भयन्तोऽहिम्’ = जम्भयन्तः + अहिम् (विसर्गस्य ओऽ-आदेशः)
- 2) ‘सनेम्यस्मत्’ = सनेमि + अस्मत् (इ-आ संधिः: इ + अ → य)
The meaning
Outer meaning
A benediction: may the strong, god-supported powers aid us when we invoke them; may they crush the serpent, the wolf-like devourer, and hostile beings, and drive away illness/affliction from us.
Inner meaning
The “vājinaḥ” are inner divine energies of victorious progress (vāja) that answer the soul’s call. They are “devatātā”—nourished by the gods—i.e., powers aligned with the higher consciousness; “mitadravaḥ”—measured in onset—suggesting disciplined force rather than rajasic impulsion; “svarkāḥ”—bearers of svar (illumining light). Their work is to break the subconscious resistance (“ahi”, the coiling obstruction), the life-force devourer (“vṛka”, the wolfish appetite), and chaotic hostile formations (“rakṣāṃsi”). “sanemi” (with one rim/one wheel) indicates unified movement of the being—integrated mind-life-body—so that afflictions (amīvāḥ) are expelled.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress requires luminous, disciplined energies that unify the personality and actively remove inner resistances and distortions; health and harmony follow when the being moves as one wheel under the guidance of truth-light.
Themes
Rakṣas-expulsion, Inner victory, Healing, Light vs darkness
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa lineage)
- Other hymns
- RV 7.1, RV 7.2, RV 7.18, RV 7.33, RV 7.39
Family tradition
The Vasiṣṭhas are archetypal seers of ṛta (Truth-Order) and of harmonizing divine powers in the human journey; their hymns often stress right measure, protection, and the victorious movement of light.
Significance
Vasiṣṭha’s vision emphasizes the disciplined conquest of inner obstruction through alignment with ṛta and the cooperative action of multiple divine powers (viśve devāḥ) within the seeker.
The deity
- Devata
- Vājinaḥ / Viśve Devāḥ (collective divine helpers of vāja)
- Epithets
- devatātā, mitadravaḥ, svarkāḥ, urujrayaḥ (wide-striding, implied in the hymn’s movement)
- Related deities
- Indra (victory over Vṛtra), Agni (leader of inner sacrifice), Maruts (dynamic powers), Viśve Devāḥ
Cosmic role
They are the assisting cosmic forces that uphold order, protect the sacrifice, and bring the light of svar into the human field while repelling hostile powers.
Inner power
Coordinated energies of aspiration, courage, discernment, and luminous action that establish harmony and remove inner affliction.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma-related invocation/protection within a collective offering sequence (Viśve Devāḥ context)
शं नो॑ भवन्तु वा॒जिनो॒ हवे॑षु दे॒वता॑ता मि॒तद्र॑वः स्व॒र्काः । ज॒म्भय॒न्तोऽहिं॒ वृकं॒ रक्षां॑सि॒ सने॑म्य॒स्मद्यु॑यव॒न्नमी॑वाः ॥
शम् । नः॒ । भ॒व॒न्तु॒ । वा॒जिनः॑ । हवे॑षु । दे॒वऽता॑ता । मि॒तऽद्र॑वः । सु॒ऽअ॒र्काः । ज॒म्भय॑न्तः । अहि॑म् । वृक॑म् । रक्षां॑सि । सऽने॑मि । अ॒स्मत् । यु॒य॒व॒न् । अमी॑वाः ॥
śam | naḥ | bhavantu | vājinaḥ | haveṣu | deva-tātā | mita-dravaḥ | su-arkāḥ | jambhayantaḥ | ahim | vṛkam | rakṣāṃsi | sa-nemi | asmat | yuyavan | amīvāḥ
44
4 pādas × ~11 syllables
Forward-driving, martial yet measured cadence; suited to invocation and protective force.
Builds confidence and energetic clarity; supports a feeling of unified advance and expulsive purification.
- वाजिनः (vājinaḥ)
- Literal: strong/steed-like winners; possessors of vāja. Symbolic: dynamic divine energies that carry the seeker toward plenitude and victory
- हवेषु (haveṣu)
- Literal: in calls/invocations. Symbolic: moments of aspiration and conscious turning to the Divine
- देवताता (devatātā)
- Literal: god-nurtured/god-supported. Symbolic: powers sustained by higher consciousness, not by ego-force
- मितद्रवः (mitadravaḥ)
- Literal: measured in running/onset. Symbolic: controlled, right-timed energy; tapas under measure
- स्वर्काः (svarkāḥ)
- Literal: sun-bright; belonging to svar. Symbolic: bearers of illumination, truth-rays in the mind
- अहिम् (ahim)
- Literal: serpent. Symbolic: Vṛtra-like coiling resistance; subconscious obstruction
- वृकम् (vṛkam)
- Literal: wolf. Symbolic: devouring vital desire, predatory impulse that consumes clarity
- रक्षांसि (rakṣāṃsi)
- Literal: harmful beings/demons. Symbolic: hostile thought-forms and chaotic forces opposing the inner sacrifice
- सनेमि (sanemi)
- Literal: with one wheel-rim. Symbolic: unified movement of the being; integral harmony
- अमीवाः (amīvāḥ)
- Literal: illness/afflictions. Symbolic: psychic-vital-mental disturbances; suffering produced by disharmony
Protective and healing petition within yajña; expulsion of rakṣas and amīvāḥ (standard rakṣo-han function in Soma rites)
During invitatory and protective verses around offerings; also as a general śānti-prayer within the rite.
Calling the divine helpers, affirming their protective crushing of obstacles, and establishing well-being.
Use as a protective meditation/mantra before practice or travel: invoke disciplined luminous energies; visualize a single wheel of unity driving out anxiety, compulsion, and fatigue.
vā́ja ‘strength, prize, plenitude’ from √vaj/√vāj ‘be strong, speed’; hence vājinaḥ are energies of victorious force. svar (in svarkā́ḥ) denotes solar/luminous realm; psychologically the clarity of illumined mind. jambh- ‘crush/bite’ gives an image of decisive force against obstructive coils (ahi) and devouring impulses (vṛka). yuyav- from √yu ‘separate’ frames healing as separation from affliction.
Discipline of force (mita-dravaḥ) as ṛta in action, Victory of light over obstruction, Healing as separation (√yu) from disorder
The ‘measured onset’ and ‘sun-bright’ quality indicate action aligned with ṛta rather than chaotic impulse.
Afflictions are expelled when consciousness stands in truth-light (svar) rather than in covering (ahi/rakṣas).
Emergence of light and harmony through the conquest of obstruction and the unification of movement (sanemi).
Proto-Vedāntic / integral yoga reading (Aurobindo): many gods as powers of one Consciousness acting in the being.
unspecified
unspecified
Sun-light = illumination; serpent/wolf = subconscious and vital predation; wheel = integrated self-movement around the psychic center.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- A compressed ‘dragon/wolf’ combat mythologem: hostile powers (ahi, vṛka, rakṣas) are crushed and expelled so that śam (inner peace) and svar (luminous clarity) can establish themselves—battle as inner purification.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- vṛ́ka ‘wolf’ is a classic IE word (PIE *wĺ̥kʷos; cf. Latin lupus with different root, but Germanic *wulfaz, Slavic vьlkъ). The preservation of vṛka in Vedic supports archaic IE predator lexicon used mythopoetically.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asks that divine force be both strong and measured (mita-dravaḥ), i.e., power governed by ṛta; the devatā’s reciprocity is protection through active removal of inner/outer afflictions, enabling the sacrificer’s stable well-being.
Invoke disciplined luminous energies to unify the being; consciously expel compulsions, fears, and fatigue as ‘afflictions’.
Maṇipūra (will-force) with support from Ājñā (illumination/discernment)
Measured exhale with silent intention on ‘jambhayanto’ (crushing) and a steady inhale on ‘svarkāḥ’ (receiving light).
Dynamic quietude: calm strength (śānta-vīra) with alert clarity.
Before meditation, feel the psyche as the hub; let mind-life-body become ‘one wheel’. Offer disturbances to the inner Fire; affirm that hostile patterns are driven out by truth-light.
Triṣṭubh recitation with standard Vedic accents (udātta/anudātta/svarita) following śākala tradition; preserve udātta peaks on key invocatory words (e.g., śáṃ, vājínaḥ, svárkāḥ).
Keep the udātta as a clear rise; svarita as a fall-glide; avoid flattening compound accents (devatātā, mitadravaḥ).
(śaṃ): anusvāra as nasalized ‘m’, (vājino): long ā; soft ‘j’, (devatātā): dental ‘t’ (not retroflex), (mitadravaḥ): cluster dr; keep short i in mita, (svarkāḥ): pronounce ‘svar’ with clear ‘v’, (jambhayantaḥ): aspirated bh; final ḥ audible, (rakṣāṃsi): retroflex ṣ; long ā, (yuyavan): articulate repeated yu-yu evenly
Firm, protective, and bright; avoid harshness—‘measured force’.
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