Rig Veda 8.41.4: Mandala 8, Sukta 41, Mantra 4
Sukta 8.41
- Devata
- Varuṇa
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
यः ककुभो निधारयः पृथिव्यामधि दर्शतः । स माता पूर्व्यं पदं तद्वरुणस्य सप्त्यं स हि गोपा इवेर्यो नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥
yaḥ kakubho ni-dhārayaḥ pṛthivyām adhi darśataḥ | sa mātā pūrvyaṃ padaṃ tad varuṇasya saptyaṃ sa hi gopā iveryo nabhantām anyake same ||
যিজনে পৃথিৱীৰ ওপৰত জগতৰ চাৰিখন দিশ স্থিৰ কৰি থৈ গ’ল—দৰ্শনযোগ্য ঋষি-দৰ্শীজন—সেয়াই প্ৰাচীন পদ; সেয়াই বৰুণৰ সপ্ত্য, সাতগুণ অশ্ব-শক্তি। কিয়নো তেওঁ গোপালৰ দৰে অনুসন্ধেয়—অন্য এক সমতাত পোহৰবোৰ উজ্জ্বল হওক।
Word by Word
- यः
- who (he who)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ककुभः
- the quarters/directionsNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः (वेदे प्रायः), द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role KarmaRoot ककुभ् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘ककुभ्’ = दिशा/ककुभ् ‘quarters, peaks’)
- निधारयः
- you have set/held firmlyVerbलिट् (परोक्सभूत/परफेक्ट्), मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role (क्रियापद)Root नि-धृ (धातु: धृ ‘to hold, support’)
- पृथिव्याम्
- on/in the earthNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
- अधि
- upon, overIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot अधि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- दर्शतः
- visible, splendidAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (सम्बोधन/विशेषण-रूपेण) अथवा नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (वेदे रूप-प्रयोगः)Role Kartā (यः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्) / (वैकल्पिकं: कर्मविशेषणम्)Root दृश् (धातु) → दर्शत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक ‘visible, splendid’)
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- माता
- motherNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (सः इत्यस्य समानाधिकरणम्) / (विधेय-नाम)Root मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- पूर्व्यम्
- ancient, primevalAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role Karma (पदम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root पूर्व्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘ancient, former’)
- पदम्
- step; place; stationNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot पद (प्रातिपदिक)
- तत्
- thatPronounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role Karma/ (सम्बन्ध-निर्देशः)Root तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वरुणस्य
- of VaruṇaNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role (सम्बन्धः)Root वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
- सप्त्यम्
- sevenfold; belonging to the team (of seven)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role Karma (तत्/पदम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root सप्त्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘connected with seven/steeds’; also ‘of the team/steed’)
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- हि
- indeed, forIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role (सम्बन्ध/निपात)Root हि (निपात)
- गोपाः
- protector, herdsmanNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (वेदे: प्रथमा-एकवचने ‘गोपाः’ इति रूपप्रयोगः) / वैकल्पिकं: प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role Kartā (उपमा-वाक्ये) / (यः/सः इत्यस्य विधेयः)Root गोपा (प्रातिपदिक; गो + पा ‘protector of cows’)
- इव
- likeIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role (उपमा)Root इव (अव्यय)
- ईर्यः
- to be impelled/roused; activeAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (यः/सः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root ईर्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘to be set in motion/impelled’, from √ईर ‘to move, impel’)
- नभन्ताम्
- let them burst forth/shine; let them ariseVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), तृतीयपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम्Role (क्रियापद)Root √नभ् (धातु; ‘to burst forth/shine?’—वेदे ‘नभ्’/‘नभ्’ प्रयोगः) अथवा √नभ् ‘to cloud/cover’ (सन्दिग्ध-धात्वर्थः)
- अन्यके
- elsewhere; in another (place)Adjective/Pronoun-likeपुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसके, सप्तमी, एकवचनम् (वेदे रूप-प्रयोगः) अथवा लोके ‘अन्यकेषु’ अपेक्षितम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot अन्यक (प्रातिपदिक; ‘another, different’)
- समे
- in the level place; in samenessNoun/Adjective (substantivized)नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot सम (प्रातिपदिक; ‘even, level’)
Sandhi Notes
- पाठे सन्धि-विच्छेदः (यथासम्भवम्): पृथिव्यामधि → पृथिव्याम् + अधि। तद्वरुणस्य → तत् + वरुणस्य। गोपा इवेर्यः → गोपा(ः) + इव + ईर्यः (इव + ईर्यः इति संहितायाम् ‘इवेर्यः’)। नभन्तामन्यके → नभन्ताम् + अन्यके।
The meaning
Outer meaning
He set the quarters (directions) upon the earth, visible to the seer. That is the ancient station, the sevenfold ‘steed-force’ of Varuṇa; he is to be sought like a herdsman. Refrain: may the lights shine in another sameness.
Inner meaning
Varuṇa establishes the ‘quarters’—the ordered orientations of consciousness—upon the embodied field (pṛthivī as the foundation of the physical being). The ‘ancient station’ is the original poise of truth in us (pūrvyam padam), and Varuṇa’s ‘sevenfold’ power (saptyam) indicates a complete, many-rayed movement of force (often linked with the seven rays, seven rivers, seven planes). He is ‘gopā’ not as cattle-keeper but as guardian of the rays of knowledge (go = light): the inner herdsman who preserves and guides illuminations. Seeking him restores orientation and wholeness.
Universal truth
A life without inner orientation scatters. When consciousness is aligned to a true inner axis, the many powers of life become coordinated and protected, and illumination becomes stable.
Themes
Cosmic architecture, Varuṇa’s ordinance, Sevenfold power, Protection
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 8.41.3, Rig Veda 8.41.5, Rig Veda 8.41.6, Rig Veda 8.41.7
Significance
The seer emphasizes Varuṇa as the power that gives orientation and integral completeness (sevenfold) to embodied existence.
The deity
- Devata
- Varuṇa
- Epithets
- Order-setter, Seer-visible (darśata), Sevenfold-powered (saptya), Gopā (guardian of light)
- Related deities
- Mitra, Adityas, Sūrya, Agni
Cosmic role
Establishes cosmic directions and measures; sustains the sevenfold completeness of the world-order.
Inner power
Gives the seeker inner bearings; guards and gathers the scattered rays of understanding into a coherent whole.
In ritual
Where it is used
Invocations for establishing order and right boundaries in the sacrifice; Varuṇa hymns used for purification and truth-alignment.
यः क॒कुभो॑ निधार॒यः पृ॑थि॒व्यामधि॑ दर्श॒तः । स माता॑ पू॒र्व्यं प॒दं तद्वरु॑णस्य॒ सप्त्यं॒ स हि गो॒पा इ॒वेर्यो॒ नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥
यः । क॒कुभः॑ । नि॒ऽधा॒र॒यः । पृ॒थि॒व्याम् । अधि॑ । द॒र्श॒तः । सः । माता॑ । पू॒र्व्यम् । प॒दम् । तत् । वरु॑णस्य । सप्त्य॑म् । सः । हि । गो॒पाःऽइ॑व । इर्यः॑ । नभ॑न्ताम् । अ॒न्य॒के । स॒मे॒ ॥
yaḥ | kakubhaḥ | ni-dhārayaḥ | pṛthivyām | adhi | darśataḥ | saḥ | mātā | pūrvyam | padam | tat | varuṇasya | saptyam | saḥ | hi | gopāḥ-iva | iryaḥ | nabhantām | anyake | same
44
4 × ~11
Architectonic, ‘setting-in-place’ feel; balanced stresses that suggest orientation.
Grounding and centering; helps the mind feel ‘placed’ and rightly directed.
- ककुभः (kakubhaḥ)
- Literal: quarters/directions. Symbolic: orientations and domains of consciousness; ordered perspectives
- पृथिवी (pṛthivī)
- Literal: earth. Symbolic: the embodied foundation; physical consciousness as a base for order
- पदं (padaṃ)
- Literal: step; station; place. Symbolic: a settled poise/state of consciousness; the true ground
- सप्त्यं (saptyaṃ)
- Literal: sevenfold; of seven (steeds). Symbolic: complete integral power—seven rays/forces of ordered manifestation
- गोपा (gopā)
- Literal: cowherd/guardian of cows. Symbolic: guardian of the rays of knowledge and their right increase
- इऱ्यः (iryaḥ)
- Literal: to be sought/desired. Symbolic: the inner aspiration toward the law-consciousness
Spatial-order and guardianship emphasis; suitable for rites seeking stability of the ‘quarters’ (cosmic alignment) and protection of possessions/energies.
When seeking stability, ethical clarity, or correction of disorder; also suitable at the start of practice to ‘set the quarters’ inwardly.
Recite while mentally ‘placing’ the directions within: front/back/left/right/above/below as ordered fields of awareness.
A pre-meditation orientation: feel the body as pṛthivī, set the inner compass, invoke Varuṇa as protector of insight (go).
kakubh: ‘side, quarter’ (spatial division). ni-dhārayaḥ from √dhṛ ‘hold’ (PIE *dher- ‘hold, support’). pṛthivī: ‘broad one’ from √pṛth ‘broad’ (PIE *pl̥th2u-; cf. English ‘forth’? broader set includes Greek πλατύς platys). saptya: from sapta ‘seven’ (PIE *septm̥). gopā: ‘cow-guardian’ go + √pā ‘protect’ (PIE *peh2- ‘protect, pasture’).
cosmic structuring, sevenfoldness (sapta), guardianship (gopā)
Quarters and measures are expressions of ṛta; Varuṇa’s saptyam is ṛta’s completeness.
Seeking Varuṇa like a gopā implies sincerity and guardianship of truth in thought/speech.
World built by setting directions and stations; manifestation as measured order.
Vedic integralism: cosmic architecture mirrored in psychological orientation.
Earth = stable base; directions = faculties and domains arranged around a central witnessing; sevenfold = full spectrum of inner powers.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem of ‘cosmic architecture’: Varuṇa establishes the quarters upon the earth, fixing the spatial order. The ‘sevenfold’ (saptya) hints at a complete, multi-stream power (often linked with seven rays/streams/steps), and Varuṇa as gopā guards the luminous herds.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- sapta ‘seven’ is direct PIE *septm̥. √dhṛ ‘hold’ (ni-dhārayaḥ) aligns with PIE *dher- ‘hold’ (Greek thronos ‘seat’ in extended family; Germanic ‘durable’ semantics). go-pā uses √pā ‘protect’ from PIE *peh2- ‘protect/pasture’ (Latin pasco ‘feed’ in related pastoral field).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi seeks Varuṇa not as abstract law but as a herdsman-guardian of inner rays. By recognizing the ‘ancient station’ (pūrvyam padam) of order, the seeker aligns with the devatā’s established cosmos and receives stable protection.
Establish inner orientation and invoke the guardian of truth to collect scattered thoughts.
Maṇipūra (order/structure) and Ājñā (orientation/clarity)
Box-breath 4-4-4-4 while sensing six directions plus center (sevenfold).
Collected, aligned, orderly awareness.
Before japa, map awareness to directions; then rest in the center as Varuṇa’s ‘ancient station’; let insights be ‘guarded’—no leakage into distraction.
Tri-svara as per recension; confirm with a svara-text for precise udātta placements.
Emphasize kakúbho, pṛthivyām, pū́rvyam pádām, saptýam, gopā́.
: ka-ku-bhaḥ with aspirated bh, : pṛ-thi-vyām (ṛ is vocalic r), : sap-tyam (cluster pty), : go-pā (long ā)
Clear, steady, slightly firm (architectonic).
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