Rig Veda 4.40.2: Mandala 4, Sukta 40, Mantra 2
Sukta 4.40
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Dadhikrāvan
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
सत्वा भरिषो गविषो दुवन्यसच्छ्रवस्यादिष उषसस्तुरण्यसत् । सत्यो द्रवो द्रवरः पतंगरो दधिक्रावेषमूर्जं स्वर्जनत् ॥
satvā́ bhariṣó gaviṣó duvanyásac chravasyā́d íṣa uṣásas turaṇyásat | satyó dravó dravarás pataṅgaró dadhikrā́vā íṣam ūrjáṃ svàr janat ||
বলৱান সত্তা, সমৃদ্ধি বহনকাৰী, গৱিষ (উজ্জ্বল গাই/কিৰণ) অন্বেষণকাৰী—সি কাম্য শ্ৰৱস্য (খ্যাতি) জয় কৰে; উষাসকলৰ প্ৰেৰণা, গতি-দ্ৰুত। দৌৰত সত্য, দৌৰকাৰীৰ মাজত দৌৰকাৰী, পাখিধাৰী উৰণকাৰী—দধিক্ৰাৱণ আমাৰ ভিতৰত ঊৰ্জা, পোষণ আৰু স্বৰ্-জ্যোতি (অন্তৰ আকাশ-আলোক) জন্মায়।
Word by Word
- सत्वा
- the strong one; the vigorous (steed/hero)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot सत्वन् (प्रातिपदिक; < √अस् ‘to be’ → सत् ‘being’)
- भरिषः
- the bearer; carrierNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (apposition to सत्वा)Root भरिष् (प्रातिपदिक; < √भृ ‘to bear, carry’)
- गविषः
- seeker of cows (booty)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (apposition)Root गविष् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘desire for cows/spoil’; < गो + √इष् ‘to seek’)
- दुवन्यसत्
- he assailed/pressedVerbलङ् (इम्परफेक्ट); परस्मैपद; 3 पुरुष; एकवचनRole KriyāRoot √दु (दुनोति/दुवति ‘to hurt, press, assail’) + य-प्रत्यय (दुवन्य-)
- अच्छ्रवस्यात्
- towards/for glory (from/for the sake of fame)Indeclinable + Nounअच्छ = अव्यय; श्रवस्यात् = नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (श्रवस्य) पञ्चमी एकवचन (Vedic ablative in -āt)Role Apādāna (goal/source nuance with motion/effort) / Adhikaraṇa (directional)Root अच्छ (अव्यय ‘towards’) + श्रवस्य (प्रातिपदिक ‘fame, glory’; < श्रवस्)
- इषः
- refreshments; invigorating powersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot इष् (प्रातिपदिक ‘refreshment, strength, food’; < √इष् ‘to invigorate’)
- उषसः
- of DawnNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचनRole Sambandha (genitive)Root उषस् (प्रातिपदिक ‘dawn’)
- तुरण्यसत्
- he sped on / he rushedVerbलङ् (इम्परफेक्ट); परस्मैपद; 3 पुरुष; एकवचनRole KriyāRoot √तुर्/√तॄ (Vedic ‘to hasten, overcome’) → तुरण्य- (adj. ‘swift, impetuous’)
- सत्यः
- true; faithfulAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (apposition/epithet)Root सत्य (प्रातिपदिक ‘true’; < सत्)
- द्रवः
- the runner; the running oneNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (apposition)Root द्रव (प्रातिपदिक ‘running, course, speed’; < √द्रु/√द्रव् ‘to run’)
- द्रवरः
- the swift runnerNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (apposition)Root द्रवर (प्रातिपदिक ‘swift, runner’; < √द्रु/√द्रव्)
- पतंगरः
- the winged one; the flyerNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (apposition)Root पतंगर (प्रातिपदिक; ‘flying/moving one’, esp. ‘bird/winged’; < पतंग)
- दधिक्रावेषम्
- Dadhikrāvan’s impetuous rush (his onset)Compound Nounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot दधिक्रावन् (प्रातिपदिक; name of the divine steed) + एष (प्रातिपदिक ‘impulse, rush’; < √इष्)
- ऊर्जम्
- strength; nourishmentNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot ऊर्ज् (प्रातिपदिक ‘strength, nourishment’)
- स्वः
- heaven; the light-worldIndeclinable (Vedic nominal adverb)अव्ययRole Adhikaraṇa (goal/direction) / Karma (as object with √जन् in causative sense)Root स्वर्/स्वः (अव्यय/नाम ‘heaven, light’)
- अजनत्
- he generated; he brought forthVerbलङ् (इम्परफेक्ट); परस्मैपद; 3 पुरुष; एकवचनRole KriyāRoot √जन् (to be born, produce) — causative nuance in Vedic context ‘to generate, bring forth’
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (Vedic sandhi resolution): सत्वा | भरिषः | गविषः | दुवन्यसत् | अच्छ्रवस्यात् | इषः | उषसः | तुरण्यसत् || सत्यः | द्रवः | द्रवरः | पतंगरः | दधिक्रावेषम् | ऊर्जम् | स्वः | अजनत् । प्रमुख संधि: (1) अच्छ्रवस्यात् = अच्छ + श्रवस्यात् (अच्छ + श्र- → च्छ्र-)
- (2) दधिक्रावेषम् = दधिक्रावन् + एषम् (समास/संधि; -न् + ए- → -ए-)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Strong, bringing abundance, seeking the cows, he wins desired fame; he is the impulsion of the Dawns, swift. True in his running, a runner among runners, a winged flier—Dadhikrāvan generates nourishment, force, and heaven-light.
Inner meaning
Dadhikrāvan is the embodied dynamism that bears plenitude (bhariṣaḥ) and seeks the ‘cows’ (go-iṣaḥ)—the rays of knowledge. He secures śravas (true renown: the soul’s recognized attainment) and becomes the very impulsion within illuminations (iṣa uṣasaḥ): the energy that makes dawn effective in life. His movement is satya—straight, faithful to truth; he is drava/dravara—swift progressive force; and pataṃgara—winged ascent, the life-force learning to fly beyond heaviness. He generates iṣ (refreshing delight/impulse), ūrj (strength/nourishment), and svar (inner heaven, luminous consciousness).
Universal truth
When energy is aligned with truth, it becomes not restless motion but a winged progress that discovers knowledge and builds lasting nourishment and inner light.
Themes
speed and victory, generation of inner light, knowledge-recovery, force and nourishment
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.26-27 (Vāmadeva’s exalted realizations), RV 4.40.1, RV 4.40.3
Family tradition
Gautama hymns often link ‘go’ (cows) to light and knowledge, and ‘svar’ to inner heaven—classic Angirasa discovery symbolism.
Significance
This verse is a compact psychology of right dynamism: truth-aligned speed becomes a creator of sustenance and inner sky.
The deity
- Devata
- Dadhikrāvan
- Epithets
- satvā (strong being), bhariṣa (bearer of plenitude), go-iṣa (seeker of rays), pataṃgara (winged flier)
- Related deities
- Uṣas, Indra (victory), Angirasa (discovery)
Cosmic role
Transforms illumination (Uṣas) into effective progress; leads energies to recover hidden light and establish svar.
Inner power
Truth-guided prāṇa that discovers knowledge (go), builds stable strength (ūrj), and opens luminous consciousness (svar).
In ritual
Where it is used
Hymn of praise to the swift divine steed-power; supports rites seeking victory, abundance, and illumination.
सत्वा॑ भरि॒षो ग॑वि॒षो दु॑वन्य॒सच्छ्र॑व॒स्यादि॒ष उ॒षस॑स्तुरण्य॒सत् । स॒त्यो द्र॒वो द्र॑व॒रः प॑तंग॒रो द॑धि॒क्रावेष॒मूर्जं॒ स्व॑र्जनत् ॥
सत्वा॑ । भ॒रि॒षः । गो॒ऽइ॒षः । दु॒व॒न्य॒ऽसत् । श्र॒व॒स्यात् । इ॒षः । उ॒षसः॑ । तु॒र॒ण्य॒ऽसत् । स॒त्यः । द्र॒वः । द्र॒व॒रः । प॒त॒ङ्ग॒रः । द॒धि॒ऽक्रावा॑ । इष॑म् । ऊर्ज॑म् । स्वः॑ । ज॒न॒त् ॥
satvā | bhariṣaḥ | go--iṣaḥ | duvanya-sat | śravasyāt | iṣaḥ | uṣasaḥ | turaṇya-sat | satyaḥ | dravaḥ | dravaraḥ | pataṅgaraḥ | dadhi-krāvā | iṣam | ūjarm | svaḥ | janat
44
4×11 (approx.)
Rapid adjectival surge—like galloping strides with soaring lift near the end.
Invokes speed with stability; listeners feel energized yet ‘straightened’ toward truth.
- satvā
- Literal: strong being. Symbolic: the forceful formation of life-energy made conscious
- bhariṣaḥ
- Literal: bringing, bearing (abundance). Symbolic: capacity to carry plenitude into the system
- go-iṣaḥ
- Literal: seeking cows. Symbolic: seeking rays of knowledge/illumination
- śravasyāt
- Literal: wins fame. Symbolic: attains recognized spiritual accomplishment; the ‘heard’ truth in consciousness
- iṣa uṣasaḥ
- Literal: impulsion of the dawns. Symbolic: energy that makes illumination operative in life
- satyaḥ dravaḥ
- Literal: true in running. Symbolic: straight movement in accord with truth (ṛta/satya)
- dravaraḥ
- Literal: runner among runners. Symbolic: preeminent progressive force—leader of energies
- pataṃgaraḥ
- Literal: winged flier. Symbolic: vital force transmuted into ascending power
- iṣam ūrjam svar
- Literal: impulse/nourishment/heaven-light. Symbolic: delightful push, stable strength, and luminous consciousness generated within
Praise describing the deity’s qualities; inner application: mantra for generating iṣ/ūrj/svar—impulsion, strength, and luminous consciousness.
In sequences where swift fulfillment and ‘winning’ (vāja) are invoked; thematically aligned with dawn/morning impetus.
Recitation to energize offerings and invoke plenitude and light (svar).
For lethargy or scattered drive: chant to align energy with satya, then act; useful before study (go=rays of knowledge) or athletic effort (disciplined vigor).
go-iṣa ‘cow-seeking’ is a standard Vedic symbol: go as ray/illumination/knowledge (not livestock). satya ‘truth’ (sat ‘being’ from √as) indicates alignment with being-consciousness. drav-/dru ‘to run’ imagery emphasizes speed of realization. pataṅga ‘flyer’ connects to solar/bird symbolism (soaring consciousness). svar (from √svar ‘shine’) is the luminous world; √jan ‘beget’ indicates manifestation within the human field.
satya (truth-being), svar (luminous plane), go as rays/knowledge
The ‘true running’ is ṛta in motion—right speed, right direction.
Explicit: satyo dravaḥ—truth is the criterion of effective dynamism.
Generation (janat) of sustenance and heaven-light within the human vessel.
Integral Yoga reading: transformation of prāṇa into winged ascent; emergence of svar-consciousness.
dawn (implied by uṣasaḥ)
Gallop = progressive prāṇa; dawn = illumination; wings = transmutation of life-force into ascending power; sky = widened luminous consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘cow-seeking’ (go-iṣ) mythologem reframed: the swift divine horse-power seeks and wins the rays of knowledge and begets svar (luminous heaven) along with nourishment and strength in the human vessel.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- satya derives from sat ‘being’ (√as), an IE existential root (PIE *h₁es-). √jan ‘beget’ corresponds to PIE *ǵenh₁- (Gk. gen-, Lat. gignō). The poetic superlative-like intensification dravara shows inherited Indo-Iranian strategies of emphasis.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The Rishi does not merely admire speed; he asks for inner production: the deity’s cosmic movement becomes an alchemy within—manifesting iṣ (impulse), ūrj (strength), and svar (light-plane) as concrete states of consciousness.
Feel a straight, true current rising through the spine: ‘satyaḥ dravaḥ’—speed without deviation. Let it open a wide inner sky (svar).
Manipura (dynamic force) rising to Ajna/Sahasrara (svar—luminous wideness).
Brisk-energetic kapalabhati-light (if suitable) followed by steady nasal breathing; then chant to stabilize truth-guided motion.
Dynamic aspiration with uplift—‘winged’ prāṇa.
When energy surges, refine direction: ask, ‘Is this satya?’ If yes, let it run; if no, slow and realign.
Observe accents (e.g., सत्वा॑, उ॒षस॑स्, स्व॑ः). Keep udatta crisp on marked syllables; allow natural fall on anudātta.
Let the string of epithets flow but articulate each clearly; slight lift on satyo, pataṃgaro, svar.
: pronounce as go-iṣaḥ (two vowels), not ‘gveṣa’, : nasal ṅ before g; keep short a’s, : long ū; rj conjunct
Bright, vigorous, ‘galloping’ articulation with steady pitch discipline.
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