Rig Veda 4.55.4: Mandala 4, Sukta 55, Mantra 4
Sukta 4.55
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Aryaman, Varuṇa, Agni, Indra-Viṣṇu
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
व्यर्यमा वरुणश्चेति पन्थामिषस्पतिः सुवितं गातुमग्निः । इन्द्राविष्णू नृवदु षु स्तवाना शर्म नो यन्तममवद्वरूथम् ॥
vy aryamā varuṇaś ceti panthām iṣas patiḥ suvitaṃ gātum agniḥ | indrāviṣṇū nṛ-vad u ṣu stavānā śarma no yantam ama-vad varūtham ||
لِيُبَيِّنْ أريامَن وفَرونَةُ الطريقَ؛ ولْيَقُدْنا أَغني، سيّدُ دافعِ القُربان (إِشا)، إلى مَعبَرٍ حسن. إندرا وفيشنو، الممدوحان بقوّةِ الرجال، اجلبا لنا السَّكينة—حِصنًا واقيًا، ودِرعًا حاميًا نافذَ الأثر.
Word by Word
- वि
- apart, forth (prefix)Indeclinableउपसर्ग (prefix)Root वि (उपसर्ग)
- अ॒र्य॒मा
- Aryaman (Āditya deity)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot अर्यमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- वरुणः
- VaruṇaNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चय-अव्ययRoot च
- इति
- thusIndeclinableउद्धरण/समाप्ति-अव्ययRoot इति
- पन्थाम्
- path, wayNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot पथिन्/पन्था (प्रातिपदिक)
- इषस्पतिः
- lord of refreshment/impulse (epithet)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot इषस्-पति (समास; प्रातिपदिक)
- सुवितम्
- good passage, good guidance/prosperityNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot सु-वित (प्रातिपदिक)
- गातुम्
- going, course; a way to goNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot गातु (प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्निः
- Agni (fire-god)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्राविष्णू
- Indra and ViṣṇuNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole KartāRoot इन्द्र-विष्णु (द्वन्द्व-समास; प्रातिपदिक)
- नृवत्
- in manly fashion; with heroesAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग (क्रियाविशेषणवत्), एकवचन (अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग/क्रियाविशेषण)Root नृवत् (प्रातिपदिक; नृ + वत्)
- उ
- indeedIndeclinableनिपात (emphatic)Root उ
- षु
- verily, justIndeclinableनिपात (emphatic/strengthening)Root षु
- स्तवाना
- being praised / while being hymnedVerbवर्तमान कृदन्त (शानच्), आत्मनेपदी; प्रथमा, द्विवचन, पुंलिङ्ग (इन्द्राविष्णू-विषयक)Role KartāRoot स्तु (धातु)
- शर्म
- shelter, comfortNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot शर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- for us / of usPronounषष्ठी, बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- यन्तम्
- going, coming; bestowing (as one who goes/advances)Verbवर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), द्वितीया, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्गRole KarmaRoot यम् (धातु)
- अमवत्
- mightily, with strengthAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग (क्रियाविशेषणवत्), एकवचन (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)Root अमवत् (प्रातिपदिक; अम + वत्)
- वरूथम्
- protection, defenseNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot वरूथ (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-निरसन): व्य॑र्य॒मा → वि + अ॒र्य॒मा (उपसर्ग ‘वि’ + नाम)
- वरु॑णश्चेति → वरुणः + च + इति (विसर्ग-लोपः, च-आगमः)
- पन्था॑मि॒षस्पति॑: → पन्थाम् + इषस्पतिः (अन्त्य-अम् + इ- आरम्भे संधिः)
- सुवि॒तं गा॒तुम॒ग्निः → सुवितम् + गातुम् + अग्निः (म् + ग/अ परे सामान्य-सन्धि)
- इन्द्रा॑विष्णू → इन्द्र + विष्णू (द्वन्द्व, द्विवचन-रूप)
- नृ॒वदु॒ षु → नृवत् + उ + षु (त् + उ परे तकारस्य दकारादेशः/सन्धि-प्रभावः; निपात-द्वयम्)
- स्तवा॑ना → स्तवाना (शानच्-कृदन्त)
- यन्त॒मम॑व॒द्वरू॑थम् → यन्तम् + अमवत् + वरूथम् (त् + अ परे संधिः; अमवत् विशेषणवत्)
The meaning
Outer meaning
May Aryaman and Varuṇa make clear the path; may Agni, lord of the offering-impulse, lead us to the good passage. Indra and Viṣṇu, praised with manly strength, bring us peace—effective protective defense.
Inner meaning
This is a coordinated inner guidance mantra. Aryaman represents the power of noble harmony and right companionship; Varuṇa the vast law and purity that releases from crookedness. Together they ‘make clear the path’—straighten the inner way. Agni as iṣas patiḥ is the master of the impulsion to offer: the divine will that converts desire into consecrated force and leads to suvitam gātum, the good crossing—safe passage through difficulty. Indra is the illumined mind-force that breaks obstruction; Viṣṇu is the all-pervading wideness that measures out the steps of ascent. Their joint action yields śarma (peace) and varūtha (protective enclosure): inner calm plus effective defense against hostile suggestions and relapse.
Universal truth
Right progress needs both law and harmony, both aspiration and disciplined offering, both illuminating power and widening steps. Protection is not withdrawal but a dynamic peace that can move forward.
Themes
path-clearing, safe-passage, divine-guidance, protective-peace, heroic-force
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.2, RV 4.3, RV 4.30, RV 4.31, RV 4.42
Family tradition
Maṇḍala 4 frequently coordinates multiple deities as a single inner yoga: Āditya-order (Varuṇa/Aryaman), Agni-will, Indra-light, Viṣṇu-wideness.
Significance
Vāmadeva’s method is integrative: he invokes a ‘team’ of powers to clear the path, lead the will, illumine the mind, and widen the being—an early template for integral sadhana.
The deity
- Devata
- Aryaman, Varuṇa, Agni, Indra-Viṣṇu
- Epithets
- iṣas patiḥ (Agni), nṛvat (with manly force), amavat (effective, strong)
- Related deities
- Mitra (harmony), Bhaga (distribution), Savitṛ (impulsion), Maruts (dynamic energies supporting Indra)
Cosmic role
Ādityas uphold ṛta and social/cosmic harmony; Agni conducts sacrifice; Indra conquers obstruction; Viṣṇu measures worlds and supports expansion.
Inner power
Ethical clarity (Varuṇa), harmonized relations (Aryaman), consecrated will (Agni), luminous breakthrough (Indra), widening and steady steps (Viṣṇu).
In ritual
Where it is used
Guidance mantra for the adhvara: clearing the path and securing safe passage; invokes multiple functional deities for progress and protection.
व्य॑र्य॒मा वरु॑णश्चेति॒ पन्था॑मि॒षस्पति॑: सुवि॒तं गा॒तुम॒ग्निः । इन्द्रा॑विष्णू नृ॒वदु॒ षु स्तवा॑ना॒ शर्म॑ नो यन्त॒मम॑व॒द्वरू॑थम् ॥
वि । अ॒र्य॒मा । वरु॑णः । चे॒ति॒ । पन्था॑म् । इ॒षः । पतिः॑ । सु॒वि॒तम् । गा॒तुम् । अ॒ग्निः । इन्द्रा॑विष्णू॒ इति॑ । नृ॒ऽवत् । ऊँ॒ इति॑ । सु । स्तवा॑ना । शर्म॑ । नः॒ । य॒न्त॒म् । अम॑ऽवत् । वरू॑थम् ॥
vi | aryamā | varuṇaḥ | ceti | panthām | iṣaḥ | patiḥ | suvitam | gātum | agniḥ | indrāviṣṇūiti | nṛ-vat | oṃ iti | su | stavānā | śarma | naḥ | yantam | ama-vat | varūtham
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4 × ~11
Directive and protective; strong propulsion suited to ‘path-clearing’ and ‘leading’.
Energizes resolve while maintaining calm assurance; good before challenging tasks or transitions.
- अर्यमा (Aryamā)
- Literal: Aryaman (noble friend). Symbolic: harmonizing power; right relations and inner nobility
- वरुण (Varuṇa)
- Literal: Varuna. Symbolic: vast law, purity, release from falsehood; ethical/spiritual straightness
- पन्थाम् (panthām)
- Literal: path. Symbolic: inner way of practice and ascent
- इषः पतिः (iṣas patiḥ)
- Literal: lord of iṣ (impulse/refreshment). Symbolic: Agni as master of the offering-impulse; will that consecrates desire
- सुवितं गातुम् (suvitaṃ gātum)
- Literal: good passage/going. Symbolic: safe crossing into a higher state; right movement in consciousness
- इन्द्राविष्णू (Indrāviṣṇū)
- Literal: Indra and Vishnu. Symbolic: illumined force + all-pervading wideness; power that breaks obstacles and measures the ascent
- शर्म (śarma)
- Literal: peace, happiness. Symbolic: deep inner ease and settled confidence
- वरूथम् (varūtham)
- Literal: protective covering/defense. Symbolic: spiritual safeguard; field of protection against adverse forces
Guidance mantra for the adhvara: clearing the path and securing safe passage; invokes multiple functional deities for progress and protection.
As a protective and guidance prayer; also fits shrauta contexts invoking multiple deities for safe progress of rite and sacrificer.
Recite before travel, new undertakings, or meditation; optionally with a small fire/lamp (Agni) offering.
A ‘safe passage’ mantra for life transitions (new job, move, exam) and for inner transitions (breaking habits, entering deeper meditation).
panthā ‘path’ is central to RV’s spiritual journey metaphor. su-vita ‘good passage’ (su- ‘good’ + vita from √i/√vī? in traditional parsing; in RV usage: safe crossing/way). Agni as iṣas pati: iṣ ‘impulse/nourishment’ (offering-energy) governed by the divine will. Varuṇa/Aryaman ‘make the path clear’ (vi…ceti): discrimination and lawful order enable progress. Indra-Viṣṇu combine force and wide pervasion/stride, granting śarman and varūtha.
ṛta-guided progress (Varuṇa/Aryaman), iṣ (offering-impulse), śarman/varūtha (peace/protection)
Aryaman-Varuṇa clear the path in accord with ṛta; suvitá is ṛta in motion.
Protection comes from alignment with truth-law (Varuṇa) and truthful will (Agni).
Ascent through measured steps (Viṣṇu) supported by conquering force (Indra).
Yoga of coordinated powers: ethics (Varuṇa), harmony (Aryaman), will (Agni), illumination (Indra), wideness (Viṣṇu).
Path = inner method; Fire = consecrated will; Defense = protective field of consciousness; Steps = progressive widenings.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘clearing of the path’ mythologem: cosmic guardians (Aryaman-Varuṇa) reveal the way, Agni leads through the good passage, and Indra-Viṣṇu secure peace and defense. Psychologically, discrimination and law clear the inner road; will (Agni) conducts; force and wideness stabilize the attainment.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- panthā ‘path’ aligns with PIE *pent(h)- ‘path’ (cf. Greek póntos ‘sea’ possibly related via ‘way/crossing’, and Germanic *fand- debated; the ‘path’ root is widely reconstructed). √ag ‘drive’ is not here, but √cit ‘perceive’ (ceti) belongs to inherited cognition vocabulary. su- is the inherited IE ‘good’ prefix (cf. Greek eu-).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi orchestrates a functional coalition: each devatā supplies a specific inner necessity—clarity of direction (Aryaman/Varuṇa), leading will and offering-energy (Agni), and victorious, widening power (Indra-Viṣṇu). Praise (stavānā) is the human contribution that aligns the instrument so the gods can ‘bring’ (yantam) śarman and varūtha.
Invoke a clear inner path: straighten intention (Varuṇa), harmonize relations (Aryaman), kindle consecrated will (Agni), call illumined force (Indra), widen and step forward (Viṣṇu).
Maṇipūra (Agni-will) + Ājñā (Indra-illumination)
Brisk 6-6 breathing for 12 cycles, then chant; feel exhale as offering (iṣ).
Dynamic steadiness—calm power moving forward.
Before action, offer the motive into Agni; ask Varuṇa to remove crookedness, Aryaman to restore harmony; then act with Indra’s clarity and Viṣṇu’s wideness.
Use RV accentuation; keep compound names (indrāviṣṇū) smoothly joined with correct sandhi.
Accentuate ‘panthām’ and ‘suvitam gātum’ as intention-points; maintain Triṣṭubh drive.
: palatal ‘ry’ cluster clean, : retroflex ṇ, : short i; visarga lightly aspirated, : retroflex ṣṇ in viṣṇū; long ū at end
Firm, protective, slightly resonant in chest (for guidance/protection).
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