Rig Veda 8.42.5: Mandala 8, Sukta 42, Mantra 5
Sukta 8.42
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
यथा वामत्रिरश्विना गीर्भिर्विप्रो अजोहवीत् । नासत्या सोमपीतये नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥
yáthā vāṃ átrir aśvinā gī́rbhir vípro ájohavīt | nā́satyā sóma-pītaye nábhantām anyaké samé ||
جیسے اتری نے ایک بار تمہیں، اے اشون، الہامی گیتوں سے پکارا, ویسے ہی میں تمہیں، اے ناستیا، سوم پینے کے لیے پکارتا ہوں۔ دوسری حرکتیں ایک ہی ہم آہنگی میں چمکیں۔
Word by Word
- यथा
- as, just asIndeclinableसम्बन्ध/उपमानार्थक अव्यय (यथा = ‘जैसे’)Root यथा (अव्यय)
- वाम्
- you two (Aśvins)Pronounद्वितीया/षष्ठी द्विवचन (enclitic) ‘you two’ / ‘of you two’ (contextually: ‘you two’)Role Karma (of the verb of calling) / SambandhaRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- अत्रिः
- Atri (the seer)Noun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot अत्रि (ऋषिनाम)
- अश्विना
- O AśvinsNoun (proper, dual deity-name)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन द्विवचन (Vedic vocative dual)Role Sampradāna (addressee) / SambodhanaRoot अश्विन् (देवनाम)
- गीर्भिः
- with hymns/utterancesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot गिर् (स्त्री)
- विप्रः
- the inspired poet/seerNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (apposition to अत्रिः)Root विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- अजोहवीत्
- called/invokedVerbलुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपद, 3rd person एकवचन; Vedic intensive aorist: ‘he called repeatedly/earnestly’Root √ह्वे/ह्वा (आह्वाने) with preverb आ-; intensive/iterative stem johav- (Vedic)
- नासत्या
- O Nāsatyas (Aśvins)Noun (proper, dual deity-epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन द्विवचनRole Sampradāna (addressee) / SambodhanaRoot नासत्य (देवनाम)
- सोमपीतये
- for the drinking of SomaNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचन (दातृ/प्रयोजनार्थ)Role Sampradāna / PrayojanaRoot सोमपीति (स्त्री) / सोम-पीति (समास)
- नभन्ताम्
- let the two hasten/press onVerbलोट् (imperative), आत्मनेपद, 3rd person द्विवचनRoot √नभ् (नभने/हिंसायाम्—Vedic: ‘to press on, hasten, strive’)
- अन्यके
- in another (place/occasion)Adjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन (locative)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot अन्यक (प्रातिपदिक; Vedic ‘other, another’)
- समे
- in the same (assembly/meeting/occasion)Noun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन (locative)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot सम (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution: (1) वा॒मत्रि॑रश्विना → वाम् + अत्रिः + अश्विना (enclitic वाम् + vowel-initial अत्रिः; then अत्रिः + अश्विना with external sandhi)
- (2) गी॒र्भिर्विप्रो॒ → गीर्भिः + विप्रः (visarga before voiced consonant → र्)
- (3) अजो॑हवीत् is a single Vedic verbal form (intensive aorist of √ह्वे with ā-)
- (4) नास॑त्या॒ सोम॑पीतये → नासत्या + सोमपीतये (no further split)
- (5) नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे → नभन्ताम् + अन्यके + समे (final -म् + vowel-initial gives straightforward external sandhi in saṃhitā)
The meaning
Outer meaning
As Atri once invoked the Aśvins with hymns, so the speaker calls the Nāsatyas for Soma-drinking; may the other movements shine in equal concord.
Inner meaning
Atri represents the archetypal seer who, in a crisis of obscuration, called the twin helpers and received swift restoration. The mantra aligns the present aspiration with that ancestral yogic precedent: the same inner call (gīrbhiḥ) can summon the same powers. Soma-drinking is the assimilation of delight and luminous vitality; the refrain seeks that all secondary movements of the nature become evenly illumined—no part left in shadow or excess, but a balanced integration under the Aśvins’ healing speed.
Universal truth
Spiritual help follows a law of resonance: when one repeats the true call made by the seers, the same assistance becomes present. Tradition is not memory alone but repeatable inner technology.
Themes
Invocation-Exemplum, SeerLineage, SomaRitual
The seer
- Lineage
- Atri gotra (by reference; the invoked precedent is Atriya)
- Other hymns
- RV 5.74-5.78 (Atri/Atriya and Aśvin themes), RV 1.116-1.120 (Aśvin rescue narratives, incl. Atri-related legends)
Family tradition
Atriya tradition is closely linked with Aśvin rescue motifs; the hymn uses Atri as a legitimizing lineage of invocation.
Significance
Invokes the power of remembered realization: aligning oneself with the ṛṣi’s successful call strengthens faith (śraddhā) and opens the same channel of response.
The deity
- Devata
- Aśvinau (Nāsatyā)
- Epithets
- Nāsatyā, Aśvinā, rescuers of Atri (implied traditional epithet)
- Related deities
- Uṣas, Soma, Sūrya
Cosmic role
Swift twin powers who restore, heal, and bring dawn-like transitions; patrons of journeys and crossings.
Inner power
Quick corrective intuition and life-energy that repairs imbalance; brings ‘right timing’ in sādhanā.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma invitation to Aśvins; also a ‘model invocation’ referencing an earlier seer.
यथा॑ वा॒मत्रि॑रश्विना गी॒र्भिर्विप्रो॒ अजो॑हवीत् । नास॑त्या॒ सोम॑पीतये॒ नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥
यथा॑ । वा॒म् । अत्रिः॑ । अ॒श्वि॒ना॒ । गीः॒ऽभिः । विप्रः॑ । अजो॑हवीत् । नास॑त्या । सोम॑ऽपीतये । नभ॑न्ताम् । अ॒न्य॒के । स॒मे॒ ॥
yathā | vām | atriḥ | aśvinā | gīḥ-bhiḥ | vipraḥ | ajohavīt | nāsatyā | soma-pītaye | nabhantām | anyake | same
Gāyatrī (probable; same refrain structure as 8.42.4)
24
3 pādas of ~8 syllables (probable)
Narrative prompt (Atri) followed by a stable refrain; mnemonic and chant-friendly.
Builds confidence through lineage-memory, then settles the system into balance with the repeated closing cadence.
- अत्रिः (atriḥ)
- Literal: Atri (seer). Symbolic: the seer-consciousness that calls light in obscurity; archetype of effective invocation
- गीर्भिः (gīrbhiḥ)
- Literal: by songs/utterances. Symbolic: mantric vibration that opens the inner doors
- विप्रः (vipraḥ)
- Literal: inspired seer. Symbolic: the awakened perceiver in the practitioner
- अजो॑हवीत् (ajohavīt)
- Literal: he called/ invoked repeatedly. Symbolic: persistent aspiration; steady summons of higher aid
- सोमपीतये (somapītaye)
- Literal: for Soma-drinking. Symbolic: to receive and enjoy the nectar of bliss-consciousness
- समे (same)
- Literal: in equality. Symbolic: equanimous harmony of the nature
Traditional exemplum (Atri) used to validate present invocation; Soma invitation context.
During Soma offerings or morning invocations where Aśvins are invited first among deities in some sequences.
Recitation as an invitation formula; may accompany offering to Aśvins.
Use when discouraged: recall a prior breakthrough (personal or traditional), chant to re-open the same inner pathway of help and delight.
ajohavīt: intensive/reduplicated aorist from √hū ‘call, invoke’ with preverb a-?; expresses repeated calling. gīr: ‘song, speech’ from √gai ‘sing’.
Mantra as efficacious speech (gīr), Lineage of seers as transmission of inner method
The ‘same’ equality is ṛta in the psychological field—balanced functioning.
Nāsatyā as ‘true ones’—aid that does not deceive; the truth of the ṛṣi-call.
Renewal through recurrence: the ancient call re-creates the saving dawn in the present.
Mantra-yoga principle: sound + intention reproduces realization; integral harmony as goal.
dawn (Aśvin time, implied)
Dawn = awakening; Soma = delight; Atri = inner seer in darkness; Aśvins = swift transition forces.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The paradigmatic seer (Atri) whose call brings the Aśvins—mythic memory functioning as a guarantee of present efficacy: what worked in the archetypal past can work now.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √hū ‘call’ aligns with a broad Indo-European semantic field of invocation/cry; the intensive formation underscores the performative nature of Vedic speech as action.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi aligns his present aspiration with Atri’s successful pattern: sustained mantric calling invites the Aśvins to partake of Soma, meaning the helpers actively participate in the seeker’s delight-and-healing process.
Invoke ‘ancestral success’: let one remembered moment of clarity become the seed of present calling; receive the same delight.
Anahata (faith/śraddhā) leading into Ajna (invocation with clarity).
Gentle ujjāyī for 3 minutes; then chant once per breath cycle, feeling the refrain settle the whole system into ‘same’.
From recollection to living presence; from effort to supported ease.
If agitation arises, repeat the refrain portion alone (‘nāsatyā somapītaye… same’) until the inner movements become even; then return to silent sitting.
Maintain identical svara handling for the refrain as in 8.42.4 and 8.42.6; consistency is part of its power.
Give a gentle emphasis to ‘atriḥ’ and ‘ajohavīt’ (the act of calling), then brighten on ‘nāsatyā’.
(atriḥ): short ‘a’, clear ‘tri’ cluster, (gīrbhiḥ): long ī; ‘rbh’ cluster articulated lightly, (ajohavīt): ‘h’ clearly voiced; long ī at end, (same): short, even, not dragged
Invocatory and clear; end with a level, equanimous tone on ‘same’.
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