Rig Veda 4.39.2: Mandala 4, Sukta 39, Mantra 2
Sukta 4.39
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Dadhikrāvan
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
महश्चर्कर्म्यर्वतः क्रतुप्रा दधिक्राव्णः पुरुवारस्य वृष्णः । यं पूरुभ्यो दीदिवांसं नाग्निं ददथुर्मित्रावरुणा ततुरिम् ॥
maháś carkarmi árvataḥ kratúprā dadhikrā́vṇaḥ puruvā́rasya vṛ́ṣṇaḥ | yáṃ pūrúbhyo dīdivā́ṃsaṃ nā́gníṃ dádathur mitrā́varuṇā táturim ||
অশ্বৰূপ দধিক্ৰাৱণৰ মহিমা মই ঘোষণা কৰোঁ—বহুধনসম্পন্ন সেই বৃষ, যি সংকল্পক শক্তিৰে পূৰ্ণ কৰে। যাক বহু জনসমূহলৈ দীপ্ত অগ্নিৰ দৰে উজ্জ্বল, দ্ৰুত বিজয়ী ৰূপে, হে মিত্র-বৰুণ, তোমালোক দান কৰিলা।
Word by Word
- महत्
- greatAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (विशेषणरूपेण)Role Karma (कर्मधारय-विशेषणम्) / विशेष्य-सम्बन्धRoot महत् (प्रातिपदिक) < मह् (वृद्धौ) / PIE *megʰ-
- चर्कर्मि
- I have made / I have fashionedVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचनRole Kartā (अहं)Root √कृ (करणे) → चर्कर्मि (परिपूर्ण/इंटेन्सिव्-रूप, 1st sg.)
- अर्वतः
- of the steed / of the horseNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole Sambandha (सम्बन्ध-षष्ठी)Root अर्वत् (प्रातिपदिक) < √ऋ/अर् (गत्यर्थ) (अश्व/रथ-सम्बन्ध)
- क्रतुप्राः
- filling/fulfilling the resolve (wise in purpose)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (दधिक्राव्णः विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषणम्) / विशेष्य-सम्बन्धRoot क्रतु-प्रा (समास; प्रा < √प्रा/प्र (पूरणे/प्रापणे) ‘पूरक/पूरयिता’)
- दधिक्राव्णः
- of Dadhikrāvan (Dadhikrā)Noun (proper/epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole Sambandha (सम्बन्ध-षष्ठी)Root दधिक्रावन् (प्रातिपदिक; दधि+क्रावन्, देव/अश्व-नाम)
- पुरुवारस्य
- of the much-protecting / much-givingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (वृष्णः विशेषणम्)Role Sambandha (विशेषण-षष्ठी) / विशेष्य-सम्बन्धRoot पुरुवार (प्रातिपदिक; पुरु+वार ‘बहु-आवरण/बहु-रक्षा/बहु-दान’—एपिथेट)
- वृष्णः
- of the bull (the strong one)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole Sambandha (सम्बन्ध-षष्ठी)Root वृषन् (प्रातिपदिक) < √वृष् (वर्षणे/बलवत्त्वे)
- यम्
- whomPronounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- पूरुभ्यः
- to the PūrusNounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, बहुवचनRole SampradānaRoot पूरु (प्रातिपदिक; जन/वंश-नाम)
- दीदिवांसम्
- shining, radiantParticiple (Adjective)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (यम् विशेषणम्)Root √दीदिव्/√दीप् (दीप्तौ) → दीदिवांस् (परफेक्ट्-एक्टिव् पार्टिसिपल्)
- न
- notIndeclinableअव्ययRoot न (निपात)
- अग्निम्
- Agni (fire-god)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (यम् के अपोजिशन/विशेष्य)Root अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- ददथुः
- you two have given / bestowedVerbलिट् (परफेक्ट), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचनRole Kartā (मित्रावरुणौ)Root √दा (दाने)
- मित्रावरुणा
- Mitra and VaruṇaNoun (dual deity)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole KartāRoot मित्रावरुण (द्वन्द्व-समास; मित्र + वरुण)
- ततुरिम्
- the swift one / the overcomerNoun/Adjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (यम्/अग्निम् विशेषणम्)Role Karma (विशेषणम्)Root ततुरि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘शीघ्र/वेगवान्’—एपिथेट) < √तृ/√तर् (तरणे/अतिक्रमे) (वेदिक रूप)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धि-विग्रह): महश्चर्कर्म्यर्वतः → महत् चर्कर्मि अर्वतः
- क्रतु॒प्रा द॑धि॒क्राव्ण॑: → क्रतुप्राः दधिक्राव्णः
- पुरु॒वार॑स्य॒ वृष्ण॑: → पुरुवारस्य वृष्णः
- यं पू॒रुभ्यो॑ → यम् पूरुभ्यः
- दीदि॒वांसं॒ नाग्निं → दीदिवांसम् न अग्निम्
- द॒दथु॑र्मित्रावरुणा → ददथुः मित्रावरुणा
- ततु॑रिम् (असन्धित)
The meaning
Outer meaning
I proclaim the greatness of the steed Dadhikrāvan, the bull of many treasures who fills the will with power. Him, shining like Fire, Mitra and Varuṇa have given to the many peoples as the swift overcomer.
Inner meaning
Dadhikrā is the powerful vital dynamism that increases kratu—effective will and intelligent resolve. ‘Bull of many treasures’ indicates abundant inner riches released when energy is rightly directed. Shining like Agni means this force is not blind impulse but luminous, purifying drive. Mitra-Varuṇa (harmony and vast law) bestow this power to ‘many peoples’—to the many parts of the being—so that every layer can participate in swift overcoming of resistance.
Universal truth
True power is a gift of harmony and law: when energy is illumined and ethically ordered, it strengthens will and yields abundant inner riches for all parts of life.
Themes
bestowal-by-cosmic-law, empowered-will, shining-force, victorious-overcoming
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.1-4.6 (Agni as inner leader), RV 4.23-4.24 (truth and wideness themes)
Family tradition
Gautama line emphasizes the marriage of force and truth—Indra-like victory supported by Varuṇa’s law and Mitra’s harmony.
Significance
The seer frames dynamism as a regulated divine gift: power must be illumined (Agni-like) and governed by harmony and law (Mitra-Varuṇa).
The deity
- Devata
- Dadhikrāvan (bestowed by Mitra-Varuṇa)
- Epithets
- vṛṣan (bull), puruvāras (many-treasured), kratuprā (will-filler), taturi (overcomer)
- Related deities
- Mitra, Varuṇa, Agni
Cosmic role
Mediator between luminous order (Mitra-Varuṇa) and effective action in the manifest worlds.
Inner power
Illumined prāṇa that becomes tapas: it intensifies will without disorder and brings treasures of capacity.
In ritual
Where it is used
Praise verse within Dadhikrā cycle; suitable for consecrating will and action before rites or contests.
म॒हश्च॑र्क॒र्म्यर्व॑तः क्रतु॒प्रा द॑धि॒क्राव्ण॑: पुरु॒वार॑स्य॒ वृष्ण॑: । यं पू॒रुभ्यो॑ दीदि॒वांसं॒ नाग्निं द॒दथु॑र्मित्रावरुणा॒ ततु॑रिम् ॥
म॒हः । च॒र्क॒र्मि॒ । अर्व॑तः । क्र॒तु॒ऽप्राः । द॒धि॒ऽक्राव्णः॑ । पु॒रु॒ऽवार॑स्य । वृष्णः॑ । यम् । पू॒रुऽभ्यः॑ । दी॒दि॒ऽवांसम् । न । अ॒ग्निम् । द॒दथुः॑ । मि॒त्रा॒व॒रु॒णा॒ । ततु॑रिम् ॥
mahaḥ | carkarmi | arvataḥ | kratu-prāḥ | dadhi-krāvṇaḥ | puru-vārasya | vṛṣṇaḥ | yam | pūru-bhyaḥ | dīdi-vāṃsam | na | agnim | dadathuḥ | mitrāvaruṇā | taturi m
44
4 × ~11
Heroic proclamation; strong caesuras suited to ‘mahaś carkarmi’.
Energizes resolve; the cadence supports a sense of lawful power—firm, not frantic.
- क्रतुप्राः (kratuprāḥ)
- Literal: filling the kratu (will/intention). Symbolic: Strengthening effective will and right decision
- पुरुवारस्य (puruvārasya)
- Literal: of many treasures. Symbolic: Many inner riches: capacities, insights, joys released by right force
- वृष्णः (vṛṣṇaḥ)
- Literal: bull. Symbolic: Generative potency; masterful strength
- दीदिवांसम् (dīdivāṃsam)
- Literal: shining, blazing. Symbolic: Luminous force; clarity within action
- अग्निम् (agnim)
- Literal: fire. Symbolic: Divine Will and purifier; leader of inner sacrifice
- मित्रावरुणा (mitrāvaruṇā)
- Literal: Mitra and Varuṇa. Symbolic: Harmony and Vast Law that regulate and universalize power
- ततुरिम् (taturim)
- Literal: the overcomer, swift conqueror. Symbolic: Capacity to pass beyond obstacles and inertia
Praise linking Dadhikrā to Mitra-Varuṇa’s law and harmony; suitable where right-governed victory and empowered kratu (will) are sought.
During praise of auxiliary deities/powers connected to movement, success, and protection under ṛta.
Recitation as empowerment of kratu (intention) and invocation of lawful victory.
Use before important decisions: chant to align drive with ethics, harmony, and clarity (Mitra-Varuṇa + Agni).
Key terms: (1) kratu: ‘will, intelligent resolve’—not mere ritual ‘intention’ but the deciding power of consciousness; kratú-prā ‘filling the will’ indicates energizing of resolve. (2) vṛṣan: ‘bull’—symbol of potency and victorious generativity. (3) puru-vāra: ‘many boons/treasures’—spiritual riches (rays, energies, capacities). (4) dīdivāṃs: √div ‘shine’—likened to Agni, i.e., the shining will-force. (5) Mitra-Varuṇa: cosmic powers of harmony (Mitra) and vast law/truth (Varuṇa); they ‘give’ the swift force to humanity—innerly, they bestow right-governed dynamism.
Kratu (effective will), Ṛta/law (Varuṇa) and harmony (Mitra), Spiritual wealth (puru-vāra)
Mitra-Varuṇa’s bestowal indicates power must operate within ṛta, not egoic impulse.
Dīdivāṃsam ‘like Agni’ suggests truth-light within dynamism.
Bestowal of power to ‘many peoples’ mirrors distribution of cosmic energies into multiplicity.
Integral-psychological theism: deities as functional powers coordinating a unified sadhana.
Horse = mobilized life-force; fire = inner will and purification; Mitra-Varuṇa = harmonizing and law-giving principles that guide energy.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘divine gift to humanity’ mythologem: Mitra and Varuṇa bestow the shining swift overcomer upon the many peoples. The hero-force is not self-generated; it descends as a sanctioned power of ṛta (Varuṇa) and harmony (Mitra).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- Mitra/Varuṇa reflect Indo-Iranian and broader IE sovereign-pair patterns (contract/harmony vs. cosmic law). The bull epithet (vṛṣan) is a widespread IE symbol for potency. √div ‘shine’ supports the archaic solar/fire radiance lexicon shared across IE.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi proclaims (carkarmi) greatness and recognizes the source: the swift force is a gift of higher law and harmony. The human reciprocity is praise and alignment of kratu with those cosmic powers, so that the given force becomes a true inner overcomer.
Strengthen kratu: steady resolve guided by harmony (Mitra) and vast law (Varuṇa), lit by Agni’s clarity.
Manipura (will) harmonized by Anahata (Mitra) and clarified by Ajna (Agni-light).
Square breathing (4-4-4-4) to embody law and steadiness; silently feel ‘kratu’ brighten on the hold.
Steady heroic poise; luminous determination.
When restless ambition arises, recall Mitra-Varuṇa as reins: let harmony and truth-law steer your speed; act only after the inner fire becomes clear and quiet.
Triṣṭubh with emphatic udātta on mahaḥ, krátu-, dīdivā́ṃsam, mítrāvaruṇā́; keep svarita clean on following syllables.
Strike ‘mahaś carkarmi’ with proclamation energy; soften slightly at ‘na agnim’ to let the comparison shine; finish ‘taturim’ with decisive closure.
: cluster ‘kratu-prāḥ’ with long āḥ, : ‘puru-vā-ra-sya’ with long vā, : ‘dī-di-vāṃ-sam’ nasal ‘vāṃ’, : clear retroflex ‘ṇ’ in varuṇa
Firm and resonant (chest-supported), yet clear; avoid harshness—this is lawful power.
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