वृषा यूथेव वंसगः कृष्टीरियर्त्योजसा ।
ईशानो अप्रतिष्कुतः ॥ 8 ॥

Vrisha Yutheva Vamsagah Krishthiriyarty Ojasa.
Ishano Apratishkutah. ॥ 8 ॥

Meaning:

वृषा — Vrisha – The powerful one; the one who showers the rain of grace. The Divine is endowed with immense power. He showers prosperity, protection, happiness, and compassion upon living beings like rain. “Vrisha” represents the divine nature in which power and compassion are united.

यूथा इव — Yutha Iva – Like a herd, like a group. All living beings are like a herd that needs to be guided. It indicates that a human being cannot know the entire path by himself.

वंसगः — Vamsagah – Shepherd; one who guides beautifully. The Divine guides living beings like a compassionate shepherd. He protects, safeguards, and leads them on the right path. Here, the Divine is described as the “shepherd of living beings.”

कृष्टीः — Krishthih – Working people; living beings engaged in worldly life. Human beings involved in agriculture, labour, duty, and the struggles of life. It refers to all those who work and live in the world.

इयर्ति — Iyarti – Causes to reach; guides. The Divine guides a human being towards a higher state. His presence transforms the human being.

ओजसा — Ojasa – Through Ojas; through spiritual strength; through radiance. The presence of the Divine gives a human being inner strength, firmness of mind, spiritual light, and life energy.

ईशानः — Ishanah – The Lord of everything; the Supreme Lord. The Supreme Divine who is the Lord of all prosperity, powers, and worlds.

अप्रतिष्कुतः — Apratishkutah – The one who does not refuse; the one who does not say “No.” The Divine does not reject the sincere prayer of the devotee. His grace is always open.

Explanation:

This mantra is filled with profound spiritual feeling. It is a Vedic prayer that beautifully expresses human weakness, the compassion of the Divine, His nature of guidance, and the inner strength He gives to human beings.

The first word of this mantra, “वृषा  Vrisha,” means the powerful one and the one who showers the rain of grace. The Divine is not merely power; He is power filled with compassion. He showers protection, prosperity, happiness, knowledge, and mental strength upon living beings like rain. His grace spreads equally among all living beings without distinction. The word “Vrisha” expresses together the immense power and immense grace of the Divine.

“यूथा इव  Yutha Iva” means “like a herd.” The human beings living in the world are like a herd wandering without knowing the direction. A person becomes confused because of the difficulties, fears, desires, and sufferings of life. He cannot always know the correct path and act accordingly. The Veda explains this condition through a very simple metaphor.

“वंसगः   Vamsagah” means shepherd or one who guides beautifully. The Divine does not lead living beings by force; He protects and guides them with compassion. Just as a shepherd safely guides his herd, the Divine protects human beings from the wrong path and leads them on the path of truth. When a person stumbles, He stands as his support; when a person becomes weak, He provides protection.

“कृष्टीः   Krishthih” means working people and living beings engaged in worldly life. This mantra is not only for renunciants; it applies to all human beings who work and live in the world. A farmer, a labourer, a householder, a scholar, or an ordinary person — all those who are engaged in the struggles of life are referred to as “Krishthih.” It shows that the Divine is not only the companion of those who have withdrawn from the world; He is also the companion of those who work and live within the world.

“इयर्ति   Iyarti” means guides and leads towards a higher state. The presence of the Divine transforms a human being. His presence elevates a person from within. The mental peace, clarity, and spiritual elevation that cannot be attained through personal effort alone are obtained through divine grace.

“ओजसा  Ojasa” means Ojas, that is, inner life energy, radiance, and spiritual strength. A person who approaches the Divine does not receive merely external strength; he also receives inner light. His mind becomes firm, his thoughts become clear, and courage develops in his life. This Ojas is the spiritual power that protects a person from falling.

“ईशानः  Ishanah” means the Lord of everything, the Supreme Lord. He is the Supreme Divine who is the source of the powers, prosperity, living beings, and knowledge of the world. Nevertheless, He is not a distant and frightening power; He is the compassionate Lord who seeks the welfare of living beings.

“अप्रतिष्कुतः  Apratishkutah” means the one who does not refuse, the one who does not say “No.” The sincere prayer of a devotee never becomes fruitless. The Divine does not withhold His compassion. His grace is always open. When a human being seeks Him, His protection and guidance are assured.

The overall meaning of this mantra reveals a profound truth about human life. A human being may become weak, may lose his way, or may become exhausted through work; but the Divine never abandons him. Like a compassionate shepherd, He guides and protects living beings and gives them inner strength and spiritual light.

Therefore, this mantra calls upon a human being to approach the Divine with confidence: “O Supreme Lord! We are weak human beings. Protect us through Your compassion, guide us on the right path, grant us inner strength and light, and never reject us.” Thus, it stands as a profound devotional prayer.

Conclusion:

This mantra presents the Divine as the compassionate shepherd of all living beings. In worldly life, a human being may become weak, may lose direction, or may become exhausted through work and suffering; but the Divine never abandons him. Through His compassion and immense power, He protects living beings, guides them along the right path, and grants them inner strength and spiritual light.

Even though a human being may be an ordinary living being who works and lives in the world, he is never excluded from divine grace. The presence of the Divine creates courage, clarity, peace, and radiance within the mind. Furthermore, although the Divine is the Lord of everything, He remains a compassionate Supreme Lord who never rejects the sincere prayer of a devotee.

Therefore, the ultimate truth expressed by this mantra is that the protection, guidance, and inner strength of human life are obtained only through divine grace. When a human being trusts in the Divine and approaches His presence, he is led from fear to confidence, from weakness to strength, and from confusion to spiritual light.