Rig Veda 1.161.2: Mandala 1, Sukta 161, Mantra 2
Sukta 1.161
- Rishi
- Rbhus
- Devata
- Rbhus / gods commissioning the Rbhus
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
एकं चमसं चतुरः कृणोतन तद्वो देवा अब्रुवन्तद्व आगमम् । सौधन्वना यद्येवा करिष्यथ साकं देवैर्यज्ञियासो भविष्यथ ॥
ékaṃ camasáṃ catúraḥ kṛṇotana tád vo devā́ abruvan tád va ā́gamam | sáudhanvanā yád yévā kariṣyátha sā́kaṃ deváir yajñíyāso bhaviṣyatha ||
Ek cup ko chaar bana do. Devataon ne tumse yahi kaha aur yahi hua. Sudhanvan ke bete, agar tum yeh kar doge, toh devataon ke saath puja ke layak ban jaoge.
Word by Word
- एकम्
- one (single)Adjective/Numeralनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्म (कृणोतन इति) / विशेष्य-विशेषणभावेRoot एक (प्रातिपदिक)
- चमसम्
- cup, ladle (soma-cup)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot चमस (प्रातिपदिक)
- चतुरः
- fourAdjective/Numeralपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन (चमसान् इत्यध्याहार्यं) / वैदिके प्रायः रूप-स्वातन्त्र्यम्Role कर्म (कृणोतन इति) / संख्या-विशेषणम्Root चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
- कृणोतन
- make!; fashion!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदRole (वाक्यस्य क्रिया) —Root कृ (धातु)
- तत्
- thatPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्म/विषय (अब्रुवन् इति)Root तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वः
- to you; for youPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक) — ‘of you/for you’Role सम्प्रदान (अब्रुवन्—‘to you’) / सम्बन्धRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- देवाः
- the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- अब्रुवन्
- said; spokeVerbलङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदRole (वाक्यस्य क्रिया) —Root ब्रू (धातु)
- तत्
- thatPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्म/विषय (आगमम् इति)Root तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वः
- to you; for youPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक) — ‘to you/for you’Role सम्प्रदान (आगमम्—‘came to you’) / सम्बन्धRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- आगमम्
- came; arrivedVerbलङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole (वाक्यस्य क्रिया) —Root गम् (धातु) + आ- (उपसर्ग)
- सौधन्वनाः
- O Saudhanvanas (name/epithet of the addressed group)Noun (vocative) / Epithetपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन बहुवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot सौधन्वन (प्रातिपदिक; ‘सुधन्वन्’/‘सुधन्वा’ इत्यादि-सम्बद्ध, कुल/गण-नाम)
- यत्
- what; that which; ifPronoun/Conjunctionनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक ‘that which/if’Role कर्म/विषय (करिष्यथ इति) / सम्बन्धRoot यद् (सर्वनाम)
- एव
- indeed; justIndeclinableअव्ययRoot एव (निपात)
- करिष्यथ
- you will do; you will makeVerbलृट् (भविष्यत्), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदRole (वाक्यस्य क्रिया) —Root कृ (धातु)
- साकम्
- together (with)Indeclinableअव्ययRole सह/सङ्ग (सहकारक-अर्थे) / करणभावेRoot साकम् (अव्यय)
- देवैः
- with the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचनRole करण/सह (साकम् इत्यर्थेन) / सहकारकRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- यज्ञियासः
- worthy of sacrifice; fit for worshipAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्तृ-विशेषण (भविष्यथ इति) / विधेयविशेषणRoot यज्ञिय (प्रातिपदिक; यज्ञ + -इय)
- भविष्यथ
- you will becomeVerbलृट् (भविष्यत्), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदRole (वाक्यस्य क्रिया) —Root भू (धातु)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धिविग्रह): एकं चमसं चतुरः कृणोतन । तत् वः देवाः अब्रुवन् तत् वः आगमम् । सौधन्वनाः यत् एव करिष्यथ साकं देवैः यज्ञियासः भविष्यथ ॥ मुख्यसन्धयः: (1) तद्वो → तत् + वः (द् + व → द्व्; पदे ‘तत्’ रूपेण) । (2) अब्रुवन्तद्व → अब्रुवन् + तत् + वः (न् + त् संयोग; पुनः तत्+वः = तद्वः) । (3) आगमम्: आ-उपसर्गयुक्त ‘गम्’ धातोः लङ् 1sg रूपम्
- पूर्वपदे तद्वः इत्यत्र विसर्गादि नास्ति। (4) यद्येवा → यत् + एव (त् + ए → द्ये वैदिक-सन्धि/पदपाठे यत् एव) ।
The meaning
Outer meaning
The gods told you: ‘Make the one cup into four.’ O sons of Sudhanvan, if you do this, you will be worthy of sacrifice together with the gods.
Inner meaning
The one camasa is the single, limited human capacity to hold delight/knowledge. The divine command is to multiply capacity: make the one vessel into four—symbol of a fourfold consciousness (e.g., physical, vital, mental, and the higher/psychic; or four functional powers of the being) each able to receive and offer. The R̥bhus (inner craftsmen) are invited to accomplish this inner siddhi; then the human becomes yajñiya—fit for the sacrifice—participating ‘together with the gods’, i.e., in conscious collaboration with higher powers rather than as an unconscious performer.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress often means increasing capacity: from a single narrow receptivity to a multiple, well-formed receptivity that can collaborate with higher forces.
Themes
Rbhus craftsmanship, Initiation by divine command, Fourfold order
The seer
- Rishi
- R̥bhus (Saudhanvanas)
- Lineage
- Saudhanvana
- Other hymns
- RV 1.110–1.111, RV 1.161, RV 4.33–4.35
Family tradition
R̥bhu lineage as archetype of perfection through skill, exactness, and inspired workmanship
Significance
This is the core R̥bhu injunction: expand and perfect the vessel of consciousness so the human can participate in the divine yajña as a co-worker.
The deity
- Devata
- R̥bhus (as inner craftsmen) under the commission of the Devas
- Epithets
- Saudhanvanāḥ (sons of Sudhanvan), Yajñiyāsaḥ (becoming sacrifice-worthy)
- Related deities
- Agni (ritual fire enabling transformation), Indra (patron of accomplished powers), Soma (delight contained and offered in the cup)
Cosmic role
Powers that perfect forms, multiply capacities, and make the human instrument fit for divine functioning.
Inner power
Skill of transformation: precise, patient reforming of consciousness-structures.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma-yajña context involving cups; mythic instruction to R̥bhus
एकं॑ चम॒सं च॒तुर॑: कृणोतन॒ तद्वो॑ दे॒वा अ॑ब्रुव॒न्तद्व॒ आग॑मम् । सौध॑न्वना॒ यद्ये॒वा क॑रि॒ष्यथ॑ सा॒कं दे॒वैर्य॒ज्ञिया॑सो भविष्यथ ॥
एक॑म् । च॒म॒सम् । च॒तुरः॑ । कृ॒णो॒त॒न॒ । तत् । वः॒ । दे॒वाः । अ॒ब्रु॒व॒न् । तत् । वः॒ । आ । अ॒ग॒म॒म् । सौध॑न्वनाः । यदि॑ । ए॒व । क॒रि॒ष्यथ॑ । सा॒कम् । दे॒वैः । य॒ज्ञिया॑सः । भ॒वि॒ष्य॒थ॒ ॥
ekam | camasam | caturaḥ | kṛṇotana | tat | vaḥ | devāḥ | abruvan | tat | vaḥ | ā | agamam | saudhanvanāḥ | yadi | eva | kariṣyatha | sākam | devaiḥ | yajñiyāsaḥ | bhavi ṣyatha
44
4 x 11 (approx.)
Directive and energetic; the imperative ‘kṛṇotana’ gives a strong forward thrust.
Energizes will to expand capacity; evokes a sense of commissioning and readiness for work.
- एकं चमसम् (ekaṃ camasam)
- Literal: one cup. Symbolic: single limited capacity of consciousness
- चतुरः कृणोतन (caturaḥ kṛṇotana)
- Literal: make (it) four. Symbolic: fourfold expansion of capacity; differentiated receptivity
- देवाः अब्रुवन् (devā abruvan)
- Literal: the gods said. Symbolic: higher inspirations/commands arising from above-mind
- सौधन्वनाः (saudhanvanāḥ)
- Literal: sons of Sudhanvan. Symbolic: inner artisan powers descended from ‘good bow/firm aim’: concentrated skill of will
- यज्ञियासः (yajñiyāsaḥ)
- Literal: worthy of sacrifice. Symbolic: fit instrument for divine work; purified and capable nature
- साकं देवैः (sākaṃ devaiḥ)
- Literal: together with the gods. Symbolic: conscious collaboration with higher powers
Mythic charter for ritual innovation/refinement: making one cup four; inwardly: one consciousness differentiated into a fourfold functional harmony (e.g., mind-life-body-soul integration)
During narratives/praises of R̥bhus; in contexts emphasizing skillful preparation and fitness for yajña
Consecration of vessels; affirmation of becoming yajñiya
A mantra for capacity-building: study, creativity, and sādhanā—asking for a fourfold, balanced receptivity rather than one-sided growth.
kṛṇotana from √kṛ ‘to do, make’ (PIE *kwer- ‘do, make’). catúr- ‘four’ from PIE *kʷetwóres (Lat. quattuor, Gk. téttares). yajñíya- from yajñá (√yaj ‘to worship, sacrifice’) denotes fitness for sacred exchange.
unity-to-multiplicity (one to four) as manifestation principle, yajña as reciprocal exchange between human and divine, becoming (bhaviṣyatha) through right work
‘Make one into four’ implies right proportioning and differentiation—order rather than mere multiplication.
Fidelity to the higher injunction; becoming yajñiya by truth in work.
Differentiation from unity: one becomes many without losing essence—an archetype of manifestation.
Integral psychology: expansion/differentiation of consciousness to collaborate with higher planes.
Vessel = capacity; fourfoldness = stable, balanced system able to hold higher influx.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘one made four’ transformation: a single vessel is refashioned into a fourfold form. Inner sense: the integral essence of consciousness is to be articulated into a complete fourfold functioning, enabling shared participation with the gods (sākam devaiḥ).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- catúraḥ continues PIE *kʷetwóres with clear Indo-European cognates (quattuor, téttares). The archaic numeral supports the inherited poetic-symbolic use of number as cosmic order.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The gods set a task; the Rbhus must realize it by skill (inner tapas of craft). The reciprocity is explicit: successful transformation makes them yajñiya—admitted into divine company and capable of a higher exchange.
Visualize one inner cup at the heart becoming four balanced vessels: body steadiness, vital purity, mental clarity, psychic openness.
anahata
4-part breath (inhale–hold–exhale–hold) to embody ‘caturaḥ’; keep it gentle and even.
Empowered receptivity; organized readiness.
Chant 4 times, each time dedicating to one layer: (1) body discipline, (2) vital calm, (3) mental light, (4) psychic sincerity; conclude with a silent offering of the day’s work ‘together with the gods’.
Vedic accents per śākhā; imperatives like kṛṇotana should be clean and slightly energized; keep tad vo devā abruvan clearly segmented.
Mark the command: ekaṃ camasaṃ / caturaḥ kṛṇotana; then soften into the promise: sākaṃ devair yajñiyāso bhaviṣyatha.
Keep ṛ in kṛṇotana clear (kṛ- not kri-), Pronounce saudhanvanāḥ with distinct dhv (not softened), Maintain long ā in devāḥ, Do not swallow final -tha in bhaviṣyatha
Bright, directive, confident; avoid harshness.
4
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