Rig Veda 6.4.5: Mandala 6, Sukta 4, Mantra 5
Sukta 6.4
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism)
नितिक्ति यो वारणमन्नमत्ति वायुर्न राष्ट्र्यत्येत्यक्तून् । तुर्याम यस्त आदिशामरातीरत्यो न ह्रुतः पततः परिह्रुत् ॥
ní-tikti yó vāraṇám ánnám átti vāyúr na rā́ṣṭry áty ety aktū́n | tuyā́rma yás ta ādiśā́m arā́tīr átyo na hrutáḥ pátataḥ pari-hrút ||
Der, der mit scharfem Sinn die erwählte Speise verzehrt und, wie Vāyu, in seiner Herrschaft die Nächte überschreitet; der Schnelle, der nach deiner Weisung die Feindseligkeiten umkreist — wie ein ungefangnes Ross, fliegt er an allem vorbei, was ihn packen wollte.
Word by Word
- निति॑क्ति
- (the) sharpening / whetting (power)Noun (f.)स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot नि-तिज्/तिक्ष् (√तिज्/√तिक्ष् ‘to sharpen, whet’; kṛdanta base) अथवा प्रातिपदिक ‘निति॑क्ति-’ (RV-विशेष)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वा
- orIndeclinableविकल्पार्थक निपातRoot वा
- अरणम्
- harmlessness / non-injury (as object)Noun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot अरण (प्रातिपदिक)
- अन्नम्
- foodNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
- अत्ति
- eatsVerbलट्; प्र.पुरुष; एकवचनRoot √अद् (अद् ‘to eat’)
- वा
- orIndeclinableविकल्पार्थक निपातRoot वा
- वायुः
- Wind (Vāyu)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- notIndeclinableनिषेधRoot न
- राष्ट्रि
- dominion / realm (as object)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot राष्ट्रि (प्रातिपदिक; RV-विशेष)
- अत्येति
- passes beyond, overcomesVerbलट्; प्र.पुरुष; एकवचनRoot अति-√इ (√इ ‘to go’ with preverb अति)
- अक्तून्
- nights / dark timesNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot अक्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
- तुर्याम
- the fourth (state/step)Adjective (used substantively)(सम्भाव्य) नपुंसक/पुं; द्वितीया एकवचन (अव्यक्त-लिङ्ग; पदपाठ-आधारित)Role कर्मRoot तुर्य (प्रातिपदिक ‘fourth’; RV-विशेष प्रयोग)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot यद्
- त
- you (as object) / thatPronoun(एन्क्लिटिक) द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- आदिशाम्
- of the directions / of the assignmentsNoun (f.)स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी बहुवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot आ-√दिश् (√दिश् ‘to point out, assign’) → ‘आदिशा’ (kṛdanta/nominal base)
- अरातीः
- hostilities / foesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot अराति (प्रातिपदिक)
- अत्यः
- a steedNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot अत्य (प्रातिपदिक ‘steed’)
- न
- likeIndeclinableउपमानार्थक निपातRoot न
- ह्रुतः
- checked / turned asideParticipleपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि (क्त)Role कर्तृRoot √ह्रु/√ह्र (RV; ‘to be startled/checked/deflected’) → क्त-प्रत्यय
- पततः
- of (one) flyingParticipleपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचन (gen. of the flying one)Role सम्बन्धRoot √पत् (पत् ‘to fly, fall’) → शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- परिह्रुत्
- deflected all around / swerving awayAdjective/Participleपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot परि-√ह्रु/√ह्र (RV) → क्त/क्विप्-प्राय रूप ‘परिह्रुत्’ (प्रातिपदिक-वत्)
Sandhi Notes
- संधि-विच्छेद (पद-आधारित): निति॑क्ति | यो | वा | अरणम् | अन्नम् | अत्ति | वा | वायुः | न | राष्ट्रि | अत्येति | अक्तून् || तुर्याम् | यः | त | आदिशाम् | अरातीः | अत्यः | न | ह्रुतः | पततः | परिह्रुत् । प्रमुख संधयः: (1) वायुः + न → वायुर् न (रेफ-संधि)
- (2) न + राष्ट्रि → न राष्ट्रि (संधि नहीं; पद-सीमा)
- (3) अत्यः + न → अत्यो न (ओ-आदेश: अ + न)
- (4) ह्रुतः + पततः → ह्रुतः पततः (विसर्ग यथावत्, पद-सीमा)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni keenly consumes the chosen food; like the wind he overpasses the nights in his mastery. Swift, by your direction he circles around hostilities—like an uncaught horse flying past what would seize.
Inner meaning
The inner Fire has a sharp discerning taste (nitikti): it takes in only what is fit (vāraṇam annam)—the right energies and offerings of consciousness. Like Vāyu moving through nights (aktūn), it traverses periods of obscurity and fatigue without being trapped. Guided by the divine command (te ādiśām), this force outmaneuvers arāti (hostile movements: doubt, depression, attack of lower impulses). The ‘horse not caught’ is liberated vital energy—swift, unobstructed, refusing capture by habit and fear.
Universal truth
Spiritual power must be selective and swift: it assimilates what is true, moves through darkness, and avoids entanglement with hostility. Freedom is not passivity but intelligent speed under inner guidance.
Themes
overcoming darkness, protection, swift progress, hostility-avoidance
The seer
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja (Bārhaspatya)
- Lineage
- Bharadvāja
- Other hymns
- RV 6.4.3, RV 6.4.6
Family tradition
Dynamic Bharadvāja strain: Agni as swift force that masters darkness and hostility through discerning assimilation and right movement.
Significance
Shows the practical psychology of sādhanā: select the right ‘food’, keep moving through ‘nights’, and do not let hostile formations seize the vital force.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (swift, discriminative, hostile-dispelling)
- Epithets
- Nitikti (keen), Turyāma (swift), Rāṣṭrya (sovereign)
- Related deities
- Vāyu, Indra (slayer of obstruction)
Cosmic role
Moves through darkness like wind; protects the sacrificer; ensures the offering reaches the gods by avoiding obstruction.
Inner power
Discernment + speed under guidance; converts intake into force and evades entanglement with adverse impulses.
In ritual
Where it is used
Protective/expulsive Agni praise within fire rites; overcoming obstacles in the rite
निति॑क्ति॒ यो वा॑र॒णमन्न॒मत्ति॑ वा॒युर्न राष्ट्र्यत्ये॑त्य॒क्तून् । तु॒र्याम॒ यस्त॑ आ॒दिशा॒मरा॑ती॒रत्यो॒ न ह्रुत॒: पत॑तः परि॒ह्रुत् ॥
निऽति॑क्ति । यः । वा॒र॒नम् । अन्न॑म् । अत्ति॑ । वा॒युः । न । राष्ट्री॑ । अति॑ । ए॒ति॒ । अ॒क्तून् । तु॒र्यामः॑ । यः । ते॒ । आ॒ऽदिशा॑म् । अरा॑तीः । अत्यः॑ । न । ह्रुतः॑ । पत॑तः । प॒रि॒ऽह्रुत् ॥
ni-tikti | yaḥ | vāranam | annam | atti | vāyuḥ | na | rāṣṭrī | ati | eti | aktūn | tuyārmaḥ | yaḥ | te | ādiśām | arātīḥ | atyaḥ | na | hrutaḥ | patataḥ | pari-hrut
44
4×11 (approx.)
Quick, kinetic imagery; energetic turns matching ‘overpassing nights’ and ‘uncaught horse’.
Energizes and sharpens; helpful when dullness or inner attack is felt.
- निति॑क्ति (nitikti)
- Literal: sharpness; keen taste. Symbolic: discriminative assimilation; tapas in perception
- वा॒रणम् (vāraṇam)
- Literal: chosen; select. Symbolic: right offering/energy chosen by discernment
- अन्नम् (annam)
- Literal: food. Symbolic: what the consciousness takes in and converts into force
- वा॒युः (vāyuḥ)
- Literal: wind. Symbolic: life-breath; free movement of prāṇa and mind
- अक्तून् (aktūn)
- Literal: nights. Symbolic: periods of obscurity, tamas, unconsciousness
- राष्ट्र्य (rāṣṭry)
- Literal: in sovereignty; ruling power. Symbolic: mastery over the field of nature; organized dominion
- तु॒र्याम (turyāma)
- Literal: swift; we would speed. Symbolic: urgency of progress; dynamic aspiration
- आ॒दिशाम् (ādiśām)
- Literal: by direction/command. Symbolic: inner guidance; higher will ordering movement
- अरा॑तीः (arātīḥ)
- Literal: hostilities; harms. Symbolic: adverse forces: doubt, desire, inertia, attack
- अत्यः (atyaḥ)
- Literal: horse. Symbolic: vital energy and force of action
- ह्रुतः (hrutaḥ)
- Literal: caught, seized. Symbolic: ensnared by habit, fear, or hostile suggestion
- परिह्रुत् (parihṛt)
- Literal: circling around; avoiding capture. Symbolic: skillful bypassing of obstacles; strategic movement
Protective and overcoming aspect: invoked to pass beyond dark periods and evade/overcome hostile forces; relevant in rites seeking safeguarding of the sacrificer and successful completion of offerings.
During transitions, night vigils, or when seeking protection from adverse influences in ritual work.
Offerings with protective intent; circumambulation symbolism echoed by ‘parihṛt’.
Use when facing anxiety, negativity, or procrastination: chant to regain selective focus and swift forward motion.
√ad ‘eat’ (atti) indicates assimilation; in Vedic inner reading, ‘food’ becomes force-substance taken into consciousness. (vāyu) from √vā ‘blow’ (PIE *h₂weh₁- ‘blow’). (aktú) ‘night’ (dark time). (arā́ti) ‘harm/hostility’ often ‘miserliness’ (a-rāti: lack of giving), symbolically the obstructing, withholding forces. √hṛ ‘to take/seize’ (hruta) with pari-hrut ‘evading seizure’. (turyā́ma) from √tur ‘to hasten/overcome’.
assimilation of right nourishment (anna as inner force), overcoming obstruction (arāti), sovereign mastery (rāṣṭrī)
Right movement through nights is ṛta in action—progress that does not deviate into entanglement.
Selection of the true ‘food’ implies commitment to satya in intake (thoughts, impressions).
Transformation of darkness by persistent motion and discerning fire.
Yoga of works/energy: disciplined vital force guided by higher will.
night (symbolic)
Prāṇa-force moving through tamas; vital energy freed from capture; selective assimilation of impressions.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The swift divine power that passes beyond nights and eludes hostile seizure, like an uncatchable steed. Inner sense: Agni as the keen discriminating energy that assimilates the right force and outstrips the dark, obstructive movements (arāti) by a sovereign swiftness.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vā ‘blow’ (vāyu) is a clear IE root for wind/breath. √hṛ ‘take’ has broad IE parallels in ‘grasp/take’ semantics, though direct cognates vary; the preverb system (pari-) is an inherited Indo-European strategy for aspectual nuance.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi relies on Agni’s ordinance (ā-diś) as guidance for overcoming: the human follows the divine direction; Agni, in return, enables swift passage through darkness and protection from hostile forces that would seize and bind the progress.
Train selective intake: let Agni ‘consume’ only what strengthens aspiration; practice moving awareness through dullness without bargaining with it.
manipura
kapālabhāti (mild) or 3 rounds of brisk exhale emphasis to cut tamas; follow with steady nasal breathing.
Alert, mobile, protected dynamism.
When negativity arises, do not wrestle—circle it (parihṛt): return to breath + mantra, keep moving; choose one right action as the ‘vāraṇam annam’.
Keep sharp udātta on nitikti and turyāma; maintain momentum through vāyur na… ati ety aktūn.
Avoid dragging in the second half; the sense is ‘swiftly bypassing’.
nitikti: crisp t+k+t cluster; do not insert extra vowel, vāraṇam: retroflex ṇ clear, rāṣṭry: ṣṭr cluster precise; light vowel support if needed, parihṛt: keep hṛ with ṛ coloring, final t crisp
Focused, cutting, mobile—more ‘wind’ than ‘roar’.
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