Rig Veda 4.40.3: Mandala 4, Sukta 40, Mantra 3
Sukta 4.40
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Dadhikrāvan
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
उत स्मास्य द्रवतस्तुरण्यतः पर्णं न वेरनु वाति प्रगर्धिनः । श्येनस्येव ध्रजतो अङ्कसं परि दधिक्राव्णः सहोर्जा तरित्रतः ॥
utá smā́sya drávatas turaṇyatáḥ párṇaṃ ná vér ánu vā́ti pragardhínaḥ | śyenásyeva dhrájató aṅkásaṃ pári dadhikrā́vṇaḥ sahó ūrjá tári-trataḥ ||
Et certes, lorsqu’il court dans son élan rapide, le vent le suit comme une feuille en plein vol, poussée par le Fort. Comme la plume frémissante du faucon, l’énergie et la force puissantes de Dadhikrāvan l’enveloppent tout autour, lorsqu’il franchit au-delà.
Word by Word
- उत
- and, alsoIndeclinableconj./particleRoot उत
- स्म
- indeed, justIndeclinableparticle (emphatic)Root स्म
- अस्य
- of him/itsPronounmasc./neut. genitive singularRole सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)Root इदम् (अस्- pronominal stem)
- द्रवतस्
- of (him) running, speedingAdjective/Participlemasc. genitive singular (present participle stem in -at)Role विशेषण (of ‘अस्य’)Root द्रवत् (from √द्रु/द्रव् ‘run, flow’)
- तुरण्यतः
- of (him) rushing, impetuousAdjective/Participlemasc. genitive singular (present participle)Role विशेषण (of ‘अस्य’)Root तुरण्यत् (from √तुर् ‘hasten, overcome’)
- पर्णम्
- a leaf, wing-featherNounneut. nominative/accusative singularRole उपमान (in simile with ‘न’)Root पर्ण
- न
- like, asIndeclinableparticle of comparisonRoot न
- वेर्
- away, asideIndeclinableparticle/adverb (Vedic)Root वेर् (Vedic form; adverbial/particle, ‘apart/away’)
- अनु
- along, afterIndeclinablepreverb/adverbRoot अनु
- वाति
- blowsVerbpresent indicative, 3rd person singular, parasmaipadaRole क्रियाRoot √वा (वाति)
- प्रगर्धिनः
- the eager/impetuous one (wind)Noun/Adjectivemasc. nominative singular (stem in -in)Role कर्तृ (agent of वाति)Root प्र-गर्धिन् (from √गर्ध् ‘be eager/greedy, desire’)
- श्येनस्य
- of an eagle/falconNounmasc. genitive singularRole सम्बन्ध (genitive in simile)Root श्येन
- इव
- likeIndeclinableparticle of comparisonRoot इव
- ध्रजतः
- of (one) quivering, vibratingAdjective/Participlemasc. genitive singular (present participle)Role विशेषण (of ‘श्येनस्य’)Root ध्रजत् (from √ध्रज्/ध्रञ्ज् ‘shake, quiver’)
- अङ्कसम्
- hook, bend; (here) curved part/turnNounneut. accusative singularRole कर्म (object with ‘परि’ + implied motion/placement)Root अङ्कस
- परि
- aroundIndeclinablepreverb/adverbRoot परि
- दधिक्राव्णः
- of Dadhikrāvan (the divine steed)Nounmasc. genitive singularRole सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)Root दधिक्रावन् (proper name)
- सहः
- might, forceNounneut. nominative/accusative singularRole कर्म/विशेष्य (with ‘ऊर्जा’ as coordinate)Root सहस्
- ऊर्जा
- with vigor, by strengthNounfem. instrumental singular (Vedic -ā instr.)Role करण (means: ‘with vigor/strength’)Root ऊर्ज्/ऊर्जा
- तरित्रतः
- from/than the overcomer, the crosserNoun/Adjectivemasc. ablative singular (Vedic -तः)Role अपादान (source/point of comparison: ‘from/than the crosser’)Root तरित्र (from √तॄ ‘cross, overcome’)
Sandhi Notes
- Resolved padapāṭha-style segmentation: उ॒त स्मा॑स्य॒ → उत् स्म अस्य
- द्रव॑तस्तुरण्य॒तः → द्रवतस् तुरण्यतः
- प॒र्णं न वेरनु॑ → पर्णम् न वेर् अनु
- प्रग॒र्धिन॑: → प्रगर्धिनः
- श्ये॒नस्ये॑व → श्येनस्य इव
- ध्रज॑तो → ध्रजतः
- अङ्क॒सं परि॑ → अङ्कसम् परि
- दधि॒क्राव्ण॑: → दधिक्राव्णः
- स॒होर्जा → सहः ऊर्जा
- तरि॑त्रतः → तरित्रतः. Accent marks in the saṃhitā are not reproduced in the pada forms above
The meaning
Outer meaning
As he runs in swift urge, the wind follows him like a leaf in flight, driven by the strong one. Like a falcon’s quivering feather, the mighty energy and force of Dadhikrāvan surround him as he crosses beyond.
Inner meaning
When the truth-impelled life-force runs (dravatas, turaṇyataḥ), even the vāyu (moving breath, nervous energy) is compelled to follow—like a leaf swept by a greater current. The imagery of falcon-feather suggests a refined, vibrating intensity: the energies (sahas, ūrjā) become a protective aura around the advancing consciousness. ‘Crossing beyond’ (taritrataḥ) is the passage over inner thresholds where ordinary prāṇa fails; here the force is so organized that it carries the being safely through transitions.
Universal truth
When a greater purposeful force leads, lesser movements fall into line; disciplined energy becomes a shield during transitions and breakthroughs.
Themes
ascent imagery, transcendence, swift force, supporting energy-field
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.40.1-2
Family tradition
Gautama’s visionary style uses precise natural similes (wind/leaf/falcon) to describe inner energetics and transitions.
Significance
Shows how higher impulsion orders prāṇa and mind; the seer describes a yogic physiology of breakthrough—energy becomes a surrounding protection.
The deity
- Devata
- Dadhikrāvan
- Epithets
- strong impeller, swift runner, crossing-beyond force
- Related deities
- Vāyu (as subordinate wind-current), Śyena motif (swift ascent; often linked with Soma/vision in broader RV symbolism)
Cosmic role
Orders the winds (vāyu-currents) and carries the being across transitions; embodies victorious passage.
Inner power
A coherent field of sahas (might) and ūrj (sustaining strength) that stabilizes rapid progress and prevents dispersal.
In ritual
Where it is used
Praise within Dadhikrāvan cycle; supports rites of transition, safe passage, and victorious completion.
उ॒त स्मा॑स्य॒ द्रव॑तस्तुरण्य॒तः प॒र्णं न वेरनु॑ वाति प्रग॒र्धिन॑: । श्ये॒नस्ये॑व॒ ध्रज॑तो अङ्क॒सं परि॑ दधि॒क्राव्ण॑: स॒होर्जा तरि॑त्रतः ॥
उ॒त । स्म॒ । अ॒स्य॒ । द्रव॑तः । तु॒र॒ण्य॒तः । प॒र्णम् । न । वेः । अनु॑ । वा॒ति॒ । प्र॒ऽग॒र्धिनः॑ । श्ये॒नस्य॑ऽइव । ध्रज॑तः । अ॒ङ्क॒सम् । परि॑ । द॒धि॒ऽक्राव्णः॑ । स॒ह । ऊ॒र्जा । तरि॑त्रतः ॥
uta | sma | asya | dravataḥ | turaṇyataḥ | parṇam | na | veḥ | anu | vāti | pra-gardhinaḥ | śyenasya-iva | dhrajataḥ | aṅkasam | pari | dadhi-krāvṇaḥ | saha | ūrjā | taritrataḥ
44
4×11 (approx.)
Swift, airy movement with sharp similes; a sense of wind-chase and wing-quiver.
Induces lightness and speed; helps practitioners feel breath align behind a deeper forward intention.
- dravatas turaṇyataḥ
- Literal: running, speeding. Symbolic: accelerated sādhanā-movement; concentrated forward drive
- vāti
- Literal: blows (wind). Symbolic: prāṇa/mental-vital currents that respond to higher direction
- parṇam
- Literal: leaf. Symbolic: small surface-mind movements that are easily carried by larger forces
- pragardhinaḥ
- Literal: of the strong impeller. Symbolic: the master-force that drives and orders the currents
- śyenasya
- Literal: of a falcon. Symbolic: swift ascending perception; luminous hunter of truth
- dhrajataḥ aṅkasam
- Literal: quivering feather/wing-piece. Symbolic: fine vibratory intensity; subtle energy-body responsiveness
- sahas ūrjā
- Literal: might and force/nourishment. Symbolic: protective power + sustaining strength surrounding the seeker
- taritrataḥ
- Literal: as he crosses. Symbolic: passage beyond thresholds; transcendence of limiting states
Descriptive praise used to intensify the deity’s presence; inner application: visualization of swift ascent and the surrounding energy that supports transcendence.
When invoking successful ‘crossing’—completion phases or transitions within a rite; also apt at beginnings requiring momentum.
Recited to call protective force and ordered winds for smooth performance.
Use during life transitions (new job, move, recovery): chant to feel lesser anxieties (leaf-mind) carried by a greater purposeful current.
The verse is dense in flight imagery: parṇa (leaf/feather) and śyena (falcon) are classic Vedic symbols for swift ascent of consciousness. pragardhin- (pra- + √gardh ‘to desire strongly, be ardent’) indicates intense drive. √tṛ again marks ‘crossing beyond’—psychologically the passage over limiting formations. The wind following like a leaf suggests effortless, natural propulsion once the divine force is active.
crossing beyond (tṛ), ardor/impulsion (gardh), supporting force (ūrj)
Wind following the runner symbolizes natural alignment of forces when movement is in ṛta.
Implicit: ordered speed arises from truth-guided direction (echoing 4.40.2 satyaḥ dravaḥ).
Transformation of chaotic winds into cooperative currents; creation as organization of energies around a higher aim.
Integral-psychological interpretation: prāṇa and mind become instruments of a deeper force.
Wind = prāṇa currents; leaf = surface mind; falcon-feather = subtle vibrating energy-body; surrounding force = protective coherence in transformation.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘falcon-flight’ mythologem: the soul-force (here figured as Dadhikrāvan’s movement) rises/advances with such speed that wind and feather imagery depict an inspired ascent; the crossing (tṛ) is supported by surrounding energy (ūrj).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- Bird-of-prey imagery as a vehicle for solar/ascensional power is widespread in IE poetics. The repeated √tṛ ‘cross’ continues an inherited metaphor of passage. The simile chaining (X ná Y, X-iva Y) is characteristic of early Indo-European formulaic style.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The Rishi witnesses and internalizes the deity’s mode of action: Dadhikrāvan’s speed becomes a model for the seeker’s own crossing, implying that invoking the Devatā establishes an enveloping field of force enabling transcendence.
Let the ‘greater current’ lead: fix intention in the heart or brow, then feel breath-wind naturally follow without strain—like a leaf behind a runner.
Ajna (direction) guiding Prana flow through Anahata/Manipura (force and courage).
Coherent breathing (5–6 breaths/min) while feeling a forward stream; then a few rounds of faster breathing to sense ‘turaṇyataḥ’, returning to calm stability.
Swift but centered; lightness with protective strength.
In acceleration phases of practice, do not clutch at control; hold direction and let prāṇa align. Feel sahas and ūrj as a surrounding sheath (kavaca) during breakthroughs.
Keep accents per Saṃhitā (e.g., तु॒र॒ण्य॒तः, प्र॒ग॒र्धिन॑:, दधिक्राव्ण॑:).
Emphasize the similes: parṇam na…; śyenasyeva…; pause at the end of each image before concluding with taritrataḥ.
: cluster pr-ga-rdhi-; keep ‘rdh’ clear, : śye-na-sy-eva with clear palatal ś, : aspirate dh; short a’s
Airy but firm; let consonants be crisp to evoke wind/flight.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
