Rig Veda 4.20.8: Mandala 4, Sukta 20, Mantra 8
Sukta 4.20
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
ईक्षे रायः क्षयस्य चर्षणीनामुत व्रजमपवर्तासि गोनाम् । शिक्षानरः समिथेषु प्रहावान्वस्वो राशिमभिनेतासि भूरिम् ॥
īkṣé rāyáḥ kṣáyasya carṣaṇīnā́m utá vrajám apa-vartā́si gónām | śikṣā-naráḥ sam-ithéṣu pra-hā́vān vásvo rāśím abhi-netā́si bhū́rim ||
أنتَ تُبصر وتُدبّر الوفرة (rāyas) والمقامَ الثابت (kṣaya) لأقوام البشر؛ وأنتَ الذي يردّ—ويُطلق—الحظيرةَ المغلقة لأشعّة النور (go). مُدرِّبًا الرجلَ الطامح في المعارك، ضاربًا المعيقين، تقودنا إلى الكومة العظيمة من الغنى.
Word by Word
- ईक्षे
- I behold / I look uponVerbलट् (वर्तमाने), उत्तमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम्Root ईक्ष् (īkṣ) धातु
- रायः
- of wealthNounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (genitive) / अधिकरण-सम्बन्धRoot राय्/राय (प्रातिपदिक: रयि-/राय-)
- क्षयस्य
- of dwelling/abode; of possessionNounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root क्षय (प्रातिपदिक) < √क्षि (kṣi) ‘to dwell/settle; to possess’
- चर्षणीनाम्
- of the peoples / of menNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root चर्षणि (प्रातिपदिक)
- उत
- and; alsoIndeclinableसमुच्चय/विकल्पार्थक अव्ययRoot उत
- व्रजम्
- the pen/enclosure (cattle-pen)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot व्रज (प्रातिपदिक)
- अपवर्ता
- the opener/turner-away (one who releases)Noun (agent)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्ताRoot अपवर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक) < √वृत्/√वर्त् ‘to turn’ with अप-
- असि
- thou artVerbलट्, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Root √अस् (as) धातु
- गोनाम्
- of cows / of cattleNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- शिक्षानरः
- man-instructing / trainer of menAdjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्ता (विशेषणम्)Root शिक्षानर (प्रातिपदिक; बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय-समास: ‘शिक्षा’ + ‘नर’)
- समिथेषु
- in battles / in encountersNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, बहुवचनम्Role अधिकरणRoot समिथ (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्रहावान्
- mighty striker / smiterAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्ता (विशेषणम्)Root प्रहावन् (प्रातिपदिक) < √हू/√हा ‘to strike/drive’ with प्र- (Vedic epithet)
- वस्वः
- of wealth; of treasureNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
- राशिम्
- heap; mass; storeNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot राशि (प्रातिपदिक)
- अभिनेता
- leader; bringer; conductorNoun (agent)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्ताRoot अभिनेतृ (प्रातिपदिक) < √नी (nī) ‘to lead’ with अभि-
- असि
- thou artVerbलट्, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Root √अस् (as) धातु
- भूरिम्
- abundant; muchAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (अत्र ‘राशिम्’ विशेषयति)Role कर्म (विशेषणम्)Root भूरि (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: ईक्षे | रायः | क्षयस्य | चर्षणीनाम् | उत | व्रजम् | अपवर्ता | असि | गोनाम् || शिक्षानरः | समिथेषु | प्रहावान् | वस्वः | राशिम् | अभिनेता | असि | भूरिम् || प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) चर्षणी॒नामु॒त → चर्षणीनाम् + उत (म् + उ → मु)
- (2) गोना॑म् → गोनाम् (स्वरचिह्न-रहित लेखन)
- (3) प्र॒हावा॒न्वस्वो॑ → प्रहावान् + वस्वः (न् + व → न्व)
- (4) रा॒शिम॑भिने॒ता → राशिम् + अभिनेता (म् + अ → मअ, संधौ ‘म’ परे स्वरः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
You oversee the riches and the dwelling of the peoples; you turn back/open the pen of the cows. Training the man in battles, striking down, you lead to a great heap of wealth in abundance.
Inner meaning
Indra governs the true rāyas (plenitudes) and kṣaya (stable inner dwelling/settled peace) of the human being. He is ‘apavartā’—the reverser of the closed enclosure—who opens the ‘vraja’ of the cows: the hidden rays of knowledge imprisoned in the subconscient. He ‘trains the man’ (śikṣānaraḥ) through inner conflicts (samitheṣu), giving skill in spiritual warfare; he strikes down obstructing formations and leads consciousness to a vast accumulation (rāśi) of vasu—true riches of being, light, force, and delight.
Universal truth
The divine intelligence not only gives experiences; it educates the seeker through inner struggles, releases hidden knowledge, and establishes a stable inner home with abundant capacities.
Themes
Indra-as-liberator, Recovery-of-light (go), Inner-discipline, Victory-over-obstruction
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.18 (opening, victory motifs), RV 4.26-4.27 (vision and attainment), RV 4.28
Family tradition
Gautama-Vāmadeva hymns frequently use the ‘cows in the pen’ symbolism for hidden knowledge recovered by Indra’s force.
Significance
Vāmadeva presents sādhanā as both liberation and education: Indra opens the inner caves and also trains the aspirant in the art of inner battle.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- apavartā (opener/releaser), abhinetā (leader), prahāvān (smiting force), puruhūta (much-invoked)
- Related deities
- Bṛhaspati (opener of the caves), Sarasvatī (inspired flow), Agni (inner priest and will)
Cosmic role
Guardian and distributor of plenitudes; opener of the luminous herds; leader of the Aryan (aspiring) journey.
Inner power
Illumined mind-force that releases knowledge, disciplines the seeker, and leads toward stable abundance.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-stotra in Soma rites; especially apt where ‘opening’ and ‘winning’ are thematically invoked.
ईक्षे॑ रा॒यः क्षय॑स्य चर्षणी॒नामु॒त व्र॒जम॑पव॒र्तासि॒ गोना॑म् । शि॒क्षा॒न॒रः स॑मि॒थेषु॑ प्र॒हावा॒न्वस्वो॑ रा॒शिम॑भिने॒तासि॒ भूरि॑म् ॥
ईक्षे॑ । रा॒यः । क्षय॑स्य । च॒र्ष॒णी॒नाम् । उ॒त । व्र॒जम् । अ॒प॒ऽव॒र्ता । अ॒सि॒ । गोना॑म् । शि॒क्षा॒ऽन॒रः । स॒म्ऽइ॒थेषु॑ । प्र॒हाऽवा॒न् । वस्वः॑ । रा॒शिम् । अ॒भि॒ऽने॒ता । अ॒सि॒ । भूरि॑म् ॥
īkṣe | rāyaḥ | kṣayasya | carṣaṇīnām | uta | vrajam | apa-vartā | asi | gonām | śikṣānaraḥ | sam-itheṣu | prahāvān | vasvaḥ | rāśim | abhi-netā | asi | bhūrim
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4 × ~11; didactic/leading tone fits Triṣṭubh’s marching rhythm.
Directive and progressive—like a leader guiding through stages.
Encourages disciplined courage; evokes the sense of being led from conflict to release and abundance.
- rāyaḥ
- Literal: riches. Symbolic: plenitudes: powers of light, force, joy, wideness
- kṣaya
- Literal: dwelling, abode. Symbolic: stable inner settlement in peace and truth-consciousness
- vraja
- Literal: pen/enclosure. Symbolic: sealed subconscient storehouse where light is held back
- go (gonām)
- Literal: cows. Symbolic: rays of light/knowledge
- apavartā
- Literal: one who turns back/opens. Symbolic: reverser of obstruction; liberator of imprisoned light
- samitheṣu
- Literal: in battles. Symbolic: inner contests with inertia, desire, ignorance
- prahāvān
- Literal: striking/smiting. Symbolic: active force that breaks resisting formations
- vasu rāśi
- Literal: heap of wealth. Symbolic: accumulated true substance: enduring spiritual riches
Indra-invocation in Soma sacrifice contexts (general: pressing and offering sequences where Indra is called for victory and ‘release of the cows’/lights); also adaptable to śastra/uktha recitation segments
In praise sequences asking for release of goods and victory; also in rites seeking prosperity and protection.
Recitation as invocation for opening obstructions and leading to wealth/plenitude.
A practical mantra for seekers: chant before study/creative work (release of ‘go’ = insights) and before difficult conversations/actions (training in ‘inner battle’).
Key roots: √īkṣ ‘to see, behold’ (vision as power of knowledge); √vṛt with prefixes apa- ‘away/back’ + vartā ‘turner’ (release/opening of what is closed); √śikṣ ‘to train, discipline’ (forming the adhāra, the human vessel); √han with pra- (in prahāvān) ‘to smite forth’—dynamic removal of obstruction; √nī (netā) ‘to lead’—guidance toward ṛta-realization. go- ‘cow’ in RV often denotes ‘light-ray/illumination’ (that which ‘goes’/advances), hence ‘recovered cows’ = recovered knowledge from darkness.
Ṛta (ordered truth in action through right victory), Increase of being (bhūri as integral abundance), Inner battle (samiti as psychological conflict)
Indra ‘governs’ (īkṣe) the ordered distribution of plenitudes; opening the pen restores ṛta by releasing what is rightfully for the ascent.
Vasu as ‘true substance’ (not mere appearance) aligns with satya.
Hidden light released from enclosure; evolution as recovery of the lost rays.
Aurobindonian: cows = illumining thoughts; cave/pen = subconscient; Indra/Bṛhaspati dynamics of revelation.
Enclosure = inner knots/complexes; cows = rays of insight; battle = tapas in life; heap = integrated abundance of realized capacities.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘opening of the pen of the cows’ (vrajam apavartā asi gonām): the classic Indra-myth of releasing the hidden lights/knowledges from confinement by obstructing powers. Psychologically, it is the breaking open of subconscient limitation so the rays of illumination can return into the conscious being.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- netā (from √nī ‘lead’) aligns with PIE *neih₁- ‘to lead’ (cf. Latin nītor?; more securely English ‘nigh’ is different; but Indo-Iranian has strong continuation in Sanskrit naya-, Avestan nay-). The ‘cows’ as ‘lights’ is a specifically Indo-Iranian poetic equation: Sanskrit go-/Avestan gao- ‘cow’ participates in inherited pastoral lexicon, while the metaphorical extension to ‘rays/illumination’ shows an Indo-European poetics where wealth/herds map to powers of plenty and light.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi positions Indra as both inner pedagogue (śikṣā-naraḥ) and victorious force (prahāvān): the deity is not merely petitioned for external goods but invoked as the active power that trains the human instrument through inner conflict and then leads (abhi-netā) toward concentrated spiritual riches (vasvo rāśim). The reciprocity is: praise/vision (īkṣe) offered as conscious alignment, answered by Indra’s releasing and guiding action.
Release imprisoned knowledge and establish an inner home of stability; accept training through inner conflicts.
anāhata (inner dwelling/settlement) with ājñā (insight)
Alternate-nostril breathing 5 rounds, then chant once per exhale focusing on ‘apavartāsi gonām’.
Disciplined, courageous, progressively widening clarity.
Recall a recurring inner obstruction as a ‘closed pen’. Invoke Indra to reverse it. During meditation, notice small ‘rays’ (insights) emerging; do not chase them—let them gather into a ‘heap’ by steady practice and right action.
Standard Vedic accenting; keep clarity on compound clusters; pāda 2 (‘vrajam apavartāsi gonām’) should be articulated cleanly to preserve meaning.
Slightly emphasize ‘apavartāsi’ (the turning/opening action) and ‘abhinetāsi’ (the leading).
īkṣe: long ī; kṣ consonant cluster (kṣ)., kṣaya: pronounce kṣa-ya distinctly., apavartāsi: keep ‘varta’ with retroflex ṭ only if present—here it is vart; articulate ‘pv’ smoothly., gonām: long ō; nasal m at end., abhinetāsi: clear ‘bh’ aspiration; long ē in ‘netā’., bhūrim: long ū; roll lightly into ‘rim’.
Guiding and firm; energetic but controlled.
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