Rig Veda 4.16.2: Mandala 4, Sukta 16, Mantra 2
Sukta 4.16
- Devata
- Indra
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
अव स्य शूराध्वनो नान्तेऽस्मिन्नो अद्य सवने मन्दध्यै । शंसात्युक्थमुशनेव वेधाश्चिकितुषे असुर्याय मन्म ॥
áva sya śūrā́dhvano nā́nte’ asmín no adyá sávane mandadhyái | śáṃsāty u̱kthám uśánāiva vedhā́ś cikitúṣe asuryā́ya mánma ||
আজ সোম-সৱনত আমাৰ আনন্দৰ বাবে এই পথৰ অন্তত বীৰজন যেন আমাৰ পৰা নপৰে, যেন ঘাটতি নকৰে। উশনা-সদৃশ বেদা (জ্ঞাতা) উক্থ-স্তোত্ৰ উচ্চাৰে; বিচক্ষণজনৰ বাবে, আৰু আত্মশক্তিৰ অধিপতি ‘অসুৰ্য’ৰ বাবে, প্ৰেৰিত মনন।
Word by Word
- अव
- down; forth (preverb/emphasis)Indeclinableउपसर्ग/निपातRoot अव (उपसर्ग) / अव (अव्यय)
- स्य
- of him/itsPronounपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग? षष्ठी एकवचन (enclitic gen. sg.)Role सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root स (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- शूरात्
- from the heroNounपुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी एकवचनRole ApādānaRoot शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
- अध्वनः
- of the path/journeyNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root अध्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like; asIndeclinableउपमा/निषेध-निपात (here: comparative ‘like’)Root न (अव्यय)
- अन्ते
- at the endNounपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्मिन्
- in thisPronounपुं/नपुं, सप्तमी एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot अयम्/इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- of us/ourPronounषष्ठी बहुवचन (enclitic gen. pl.)Role सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अद्य
- todayIndeclinableकालवाचक-अव्ययRole AdhikaraṇaRoot अद्य (अव्यय)
- सवने
- at the pressing/oblation (soma-pressing)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot सवन (प्रातिपदिक)
- मन्दध्यै
- to gladden; for exhilarationVerbal noun (infinitival) / Kṛdantaदातिव्/चतुर्थी-एकवचन infinitive-type (Vedic -ध्यै)Role प्रयोजन (purpose)Root मन्दधि (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; from √मन्द्/मद् ‘to be glad, exhilarate’ + धि/धा-formation)
- शंसाति
- praises; proclaimsVerbलट्, परस्मैपद, प्र.पुरुष, एकवचनRole Kartā (implicit subject)Root √शंस् (स्तुति/कथन)
- उक्थम्
- hymn; recitation (uktha)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot उक्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
- उशना
- Uśanā (Uśanas/Kavi)Proper nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (of implied comparison)Root उशनस्/उशना (ऋषि-नाम, प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- like; asIndeclinableउपमान-निपातRoot इव (अव्यय)
- वेधाः
- the wise one; seerNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Vedic nom. sg. -āḥ)Role KartāRoot वेधस्/वेधा (प्रातिपदिक; ‘wise one, seer’)
- चिकितुषे
- to the discerning oneParticiple (perfect active) used substantivelyपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot √चित् (to perceive/notice) with reduplication ‘चिकित्’ (perfect/participle base)
- असुर्याय
- to the lordly/mighty oneAdjective/Nounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot असुर्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘asurya’ = lordly/Asura-related, mighty)
- मन्म
- thought; hymn; formulationNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot मन्मन्/मन्म (प्रातिपदिक; ‘thought, hymn, intention’)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolved as: अव + स्य
- शूरात् + अध्वनः
- न + अन्ते
- अन्ते + अस्मिन् (written नान्तेऽस्मिन् with avagraha)
- नः + अद्य
- सवने + मन्दध्यै
- शंसा॑ति + उक्थम्
- उशना + इव
- वेधाः + चिकितुषे
- असुर्याय + मन्म. Accent marks in the saṃhitā text are retained on the surface forms but do not change the lexical segmentation
The meaning
Outer meaning
May the hero not fall short at the end of this path for us today at the Soma pressing, for our exhilaration. The inspired knower, like Uśanā, proclaims the hymn—an awakened thought for the discerning one, for the asuryā (lordly spiritual power).
Inner meaning
The ‘path’ is the inner journey of sacrifice and transformation; the prayer is that Indra (heroic illumined mind-force) not fail at the decisive culmination—when resistance is strongest and the seeker needs the final opening. The rishi/knower (vedhāḥ) utters the mantra with the precision of Uśanā Kāvya, symbol of luminous discernment and effective spiritual craft. The hymn becomes manma—an inspired mental formation—offered to the cikituṣ (the one who perceives), i.e., the awakened consciousness in us and in the deity, for asuryā: the sovereign spiritual potency that can govern the being.
Universal truth
At turning points, progress depends on sustained higher courage and clear knowledge. Inspired speech and right thought-formation support the decisive breakthrough into sovereign inner mastery.
Themes
Sustained divine support, Inspired speech, Discernment and spiritual power
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 4.16.1, Rig Veda 4.16.3
Significance
The seer emphasizes the ‘critical end of the path’—a classic yogic moment: perseverance plus right mantra-knowledge (Uśanā-like discernment) to secure the descent of sovereign power (asuryā).
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Śūra (heroic), Cikituṣ (discerning, awakened)
- Related deities
- Soma, Agni, Bṛhaspati, Uṣanā Kāvya (as archetype of inspired intelligence)
Cosmic role
Leads the march toward the light; ensures victory at decisive thresholds; sustains joy in the Soma-session.
Inner power
Heroic clarity—intelligence that does not collapse under pressure; sovereign mastery (asuryā) establishing rule of spirit over nature.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-focused Soma-session recitation (general)
अव॑ स्य शू॒राध्व॑नो॒ नान्ते॒ऽस्मिन्नो॑ अ॒द्य सव॑ने म॒न्दध्यै॑ । शंसा॑त्यु॒क्थमु॒शने॑व वे॒धाश्चि॑कि॒तुषे॑ असु॒र्या॑य॒ मन्म॑ ॥
अव॑ । स्य॒ । शू॒र॒ । अध्व॑नः । न । अन्ते॑ । अ॒स्मिन् । नः॒ । अ॒द्य । सव॑ने । म॒न्दध्यै॑ । शंसा॑ति । उ॒क्थम् । उ॒शना॑ऽइव । वे॒धाः । चि॒कि॒तुषे॑ । अ॒सु॒र्या॑य । मन्म॑ ॥
ava | sya | śūra | adhvanaḥ | na | ante | asmin | naḥ | adya | savane | mandadhyai | śaṃsāti | uktham | uśanāiva | vedhāḥ | cikituṣe | asuryāya | manma
44
4 × ~11 syllables
Resolute, exhortative; a cadence of endurance and completion.
Strengthens will to persist; stabilizes mind at thresholds; evokes a sense of ‘finishing the journey’ with help from above.
- शूर (śūra)
- Literal: hero. Symbolic: Indra as courageous illumined force; also the heroic part of the seeker
- अध्वन् (adhvan)
- Literal: path, journey. Symbolic: the inner evolutionary passage of consciousness
- अन्त (anta)
- Literal: end, limit. Symbolic: critical threshold where resistance concentrates before opening
- सवन (savana)
- Literal: Soma pressing/session. Symbolic: a concentrated practice-period where delight/essence is extracted and offered
- मन्दध्यै (mandadhyai)
- Literal: for exhilaration/gladdening. Symbolic: for the uplift of consciousness into joy and power
- वেধाः (vedhāḥ)
- Literal: wise one, disposer, knower. Symbolic: the seer-mind that arranges inner movements according to ṛta
- उशना (uśanā)
- Literal: Uśanā Kāvya. Symbolic: luminous craft, discriminating intelligence that finds the effective mantra
- चिकितुषे (cikituṣe)
- Literal: to the discerning/understanding one. Symbolic: awakened perception; the inner witness that recognizes truth
- असुर्या (asuryā)
- Literal: lordly power (of Asura). Symbolic: sovereign spiritual force (not demonic): mastery, governance by spirit
Soma-session exhortation: ensures Indra’s sustained presence through the rite (‘not fall short at the end’); supports continuity across pressings.
At pressing/offerings where Indra is invoked for victory and exhilaration
Recitation of uktha alongside Soma offering; intention for Indra’s sustaining presence
Use during difficult phases (fatigue, doubt): chant before a key task or during a ‘last mile’ of practice to invoke endurance and discerning power.
adhvan ‘path’ (journey motif). mandadhyai from √mand ‘to rejoice, be exhilarated’ (Soma-joy). asurya from asura (older Vedic: ‘lordly, possessing vital spirit’ from √as ‘to be/breathe’ in some analyses), later demonized in post-Vedic strata—here positive as spiritual potency. cikituṣe from √cit with intensive/perfect nuance ‘one who has clearly perceived’.
adhvan (path of realization), asuryā (spiritual lordship/life-power), manman (inspired thought as formative power)
‘Not falling short at the end’ implies the right completion of the ordained movement (ṛta) through sustained tapas.
Manma (inspired thought) must be true in vibration to reach the discerning consciousness.
Formation of effective thought (manma) as a creative act enabling spiritual sovereignty.
Aurobindonian psychological exegesis: mantra as formative power; asuryā as spiritual lordship.
daytime Soma-session (implied)
Path = stages of inner growth; end = threshold to a wider consciousness; Soma-session = concentrated inner work extracting delight and power.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The hero-god must not ‘fall short’ at the end of the path: continuity of divine force through the whole sacrificial journey. Innerly, the truth-force must endure through the full process, not merely flash at the beginning; inspired speech (uktha/manma) sustains that endurance and awakens asuryā—spiritual lordship.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √cit ‘perceive’ relates to PIE *ḱeyt-/*ḱei- ‘notice, observe’ (cognate fields in ‘cite’/‘conscious’ via later developments are indirect but semantically aligned). √mand has Indo-Iranian ritual parallels for exhilaration. The archaic positive asura/asuryā reflects an early Indo-Iranian religious lexicon later reinterpreted.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi acts as vedhāḥ—one who ‘disposes’ the right thought and hymn—so Indra’s heroic power remains steady through the rite. The exchange is: sustained praise and precise inspired formulation; in return, sustained divine force and the growth of inner lordship (asuryā) in the practitioner.
Persist through the ‘end-phase’ of a practice cycle; invoke heroic clarity and sovereign inner governance.
Maṇipūra (heroic will) integrated with Ājñā (discernment)
Brisk-energetic 3-part breath (inhale-chest, inhale-clavicle, exhale slow) for 7 rounds, then chant once slowly to ‘seal’ resolve
Steady, determined, discriminating.
When nearing completion of a goal, reduce dispersion: one mantra, one intention. Offer the ‘manma’—a single clear thought of truth—and ask for asuryā: the spirit’s rule over habit.
Udatta peaks typically on key nouns/verbs (śūra, savane, śaṃsāti); exact svara requires śākhā notation.
Keep ‘ava sya śūrādhvano’ compact and firm; lengthen slightly on ‘adya savane’ to mark the present moment; articulate ‘asuryāya manma’ with clarity.
śūrādhvano: maintain long ū; dhv as a cluster (not ‘duv’), uśanāiva: glide -āi- smoothly, cikituṣe: palatal c, short i, retroflex ṣ at end
Steady, resolute, slightly elevated pitch on invocatory segments; calm finish.
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