Rig Veda 4.1.3: Mandala 4, Sukta 1, Mantra 3
Sukta 4.1
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
सखे सखायमभ्या ववृत्स्वाशुं न चक्रं रथ्येव रंह्यास्मभ्यं दस्म रंह्या । अग्ने मृळीकं वरुणे सचा विदो मरुत्सु विश्वभानुषु । तोकाय तुजे शुशुचान शं कृध्यस्मभ्यं दस्म शं कृधि ॥
sákhe sákhāyam abhy ā́ vavṛtsv āśúṃ ná cakráṃ rathyèva ráṃhyā́smábhyaṃ dasma ráṃhyā | ágne mṛḷīkáṃ váruṇe sácā vido marútsu viśvá-bhānuṣu | tokā́ya tujé śuśucāna śáṃ kṛdhy asmábhyaṃ dasma śáṃ kṛdhi ||
अग्नि, तुम दोस्त हो, अपने दोस्त वरुण के पास जाओ। जल्दी आओ, जैसे गाड़ी का पहिया तेज़ चलता है। हमारे लिए जल्दी लाओ। अग्नि, वरुण की कृपा हमारे लिए लाओ। मरुत देव भी साथ हों, जो रोशनी फैलाते हैं। हमारे बच्चों और हमारे काम के लिए शांति बनाओ। हमें शांति दो।
Word by Word
- सखे
- O friendNounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot सखि- (प्रातिपदिक)
- सखायम्
- (your) friend / companionNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot सखि- (प्रातिपदिक)
- अभि
- towards, untoIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot अभि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- आ
- hither, toIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- ववृत्स्व
- turn/come (to us), choose (us)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (वृणु/वर्तते-परम्परा), वैदिक रूप: ववृत्स्वRole क्रियाRoot √वृत् (वर्तने/वरणे)
- आशुम्
- swiftAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole विशेषण (चक्रम्) / कर्मRoot आशु- (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमानार्थेRoot न (अव्यय)
- चक्रम्
- wheelNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot चक्र- (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ/√चक्र् इत्यादि से निष्पन्न)
- रथ्या
- on the chariot-road, fit for a chariotAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचन (इव के साथ साधन/प्रकार)Role करण/प्रकारRoot रथ्य- (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- as if, likeIndeclinableउपमानार्थेRoot इव (अव्यय)
- रंह्या
- with speed, swiftlyAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचनRole करण/प्रकारRoot रंह्य- (प्रातिपदिक; रंह् ‘वेग’)
- अस्मभ्यम्
- to usPronounचतुर्थी; बहुवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- दस्म
- O wondrous one (skilled/marvellous)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot दस्म- (प्रातिपदिक)
- रंह्या
- swiftlyAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचन (क्रियाविशेषणवत्)Role करण/प्रकारRoot रंह्य- (प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि- (प्रातिपदिक)
- मृळीकम्
- mercy, graceNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot मृळीक- (प्रातिपदिक)
- वरुणे
- O VaruṇaNounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot वरुण- (प्रातिपदिक)
- सचा
- together with, in company withIndeclinableसह/समं-अर्थेRoot सचा (अव्यय)
- विदः
- know/obtain (for us), findVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot √विद् (ज्ञाने/लाभे)
- मरुत्सु
- among the MarutsNounपुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; बहुवचनRole अधिकरणRoot मरुत्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- विश्वभानुषु
- among the all-radiant ones (the Maruts)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; बहुवचनRole अधिकरणRoot विश्वभानु- (प्रातिपदिक; विश्व+भानु)
- तोकाय
- for offspring/childrenNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी; एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot तोक- (प्रातिपदिक)
- तुजे
- for strength/impulse (vigour)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी; एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot तुज्- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘वेग/प्रेरणा/बल’)
- शुशुचान
- O blazing oneParticipleपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (वैदिक तीव्र/पुनरुक्त-आधारित रूप)Role सम्बोधनRoot √शुच् (दीप्तौ/शोचने) → शुशुचान् (परिपूर्ण/दीप्त)
- शम्
- well, auspiciouslyIndeclinableकल्याणार्थे (क्रियाविशेषणवत्)Root शम् (अव्यय/नपुंसक-प्रातिपदिक ‘कल्याण’)
- कृधि
- make, doVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot √कृ (करणे)
- अस्मभ्यम्
- for usPronounचतुर्थी; बहुवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- दस्म
- O wondrous oneAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot दस्म- (प्रातिपदिक)
- शम्
- well, auspiciouslyIndeclinableकल्याणार्थेRoot शम् (अव्यय/नपुंसक-प्रातिपदिक)
- कृधि
- make (it), grantVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot √कृ (करणे)
Sandhi Notes
- मुख्य संधि-विच्छेद: सखे सखायम् (सम्बोधन + द्वितीया)
- अभ्या → अभि + आ
- ववृत्स्व (वैदिक लोट्-रूप, उपसर्गाभ्यां अभि+आ सह)
- रथ्येव → रथ्या + इव
- रंह्यास्मभ्यम् → रंह्या + अस्मभ्यम्
- वरुणे सचा → वरुणे + सचा
- विदो → विदः (लोट् 2sg, पदपाठे विसर्ग)
- शुशुचान शं → शुशुचान् + शम्
- कृध्यस्मभ्यम् → कृधि + अस्मभ्यम् (इकार-लोप/यण्-निरास प्रकारे संहिता)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni is addressed as friend: turn toward your friend and come swiftly like a wheel on the road. Find for us Varuṇa’s grace together with the Maruts of universal light. For our offspring and our striving, make peace and well-being.
Inner meaning
The soul calls the inner Fire as intimate companion (sakhe) to turn toward the psychic being (sakhāyam). The swift wheel suggests rapid, smooth movement of force when the path is cleared—Agni’s response to sincere aspiration. Varuṇa’s ‘mṛḻīka’ is the softening mercy that loosens inner constriction; the Maruts are the dynamic energies of the Truth that make illumination active and pervasive (‘viśvabhānu’). ‘Tokāya’ is not only physical offspring but the continuations of consciousness—new formations of right living; ‘tuje’ is the effort/impulsion of sadhana. The mantra asks that the blazing purification lead not to harshness but to śam—settled peace and integrative well-being.
Universal truth
True transformation is both swift and kind: when aspiration is sincere, the helping force comes quickly; when truth-law and dynamic energies support it, the result is peace that protects growth and future unfoldings.
Themes
friendship with the divine, swift descent of power, integration of law (Varuṇa) and force (Maruts), peace after inner battle
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.1.1-20 (Agni hymn sequence context), RV 4.2 (allied invocations)
Family tradition
In Vāmadeva’s hymns, Agni is repeatedly invoked as close companion and swift helper, while the Ādityas and Maruts supply law and force for integral transformation.
Significance
Highlights the relational yoga of the Veda: the divine is addressed as friend, not abstraction; progress is a collaboration of will (Agni), law (Varuṇa), and energy (Maruts).
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (primary), with Varuṇa and Maruts as allied powers
- Epithets
- sakha (friend), dasma (wonder-worker), śuśucāna (blazing/purifying), viśvabhānu (applied to Maruts: universal-luminous)
- Related deities
- Indra (often leader of Maruts), Mitra (with Varuṇa), Soma (supports delight that stabilizes peace)
Cosmic role
Agni carries offerings and awakens the journey; Varuṇa grants releasing grace and right order; Maruts provide the storm-force of illumination that breaks inertia and spreads light.
Inner power
Agni: swift response, purification; Varuṇa: healing release and ethical-spiritual clarity; Maruts: energizing, penetrating illumination through all layers.
In ritual
Where it is used
Invocation for swift arrival of Agni and allied deities; prayers for welfare of household and community.
सखे॒ सखा॑यम॒भ्या व॑वृत्स्वा॒शुं न च॒क्रं रथ्ये॑व॒ रंह्या॒स्मभ्यं॑ दस्म॒ रंह्या॑ । अग्ने॑ मृळी॒कं वरु॑णे॒ सचा॑ विदो म॒रुत्सु॑ वि॒श्वभा॑नुषु । तो॒काय॑ तु॒जे शु॑शुचान॒ शं कृ॑ध्य॒स्मभ्यं॑ दस्म॒ शं कृ॑धि ॥
सखे॑ । सखा॑यम् । अ॒भि । आ । व॒वृ॒त्स्व॒ । आ॒शुम् । न । च॒क्रम् । रथ्या॑ऽइव । रंह्या॑ । अ॒स्मभ्य॑म् । द॒स्म॒ । रंह्या॑ । अग्ने॑ । मृ॒ळी॒कम् । वरु॑णे । सचा॑ । वि॒दः॒ । म॒रुत्ऽसु॑ । वि॒श्वऽभा॑नुषु । तो॒काय॑ । तु॒जे । शु॒शु॒चा॒न॒ । शम् । कृ॒धि॒ । अ॒स्मभ्य॑म् । द॒स्म॒ । शम् । कृ॒धि॒ ॥
sakhe | sakhāyam | abhi | ā | vavṛtsva | āśum | na | cakram | rathyāiva | raṃhyā | asmabhyam | dasma | raṃhyā | agne | mṛḷīkam | varuṇe | sacā | vidaḥ | marut-su | viśva-bhānuṣu | tokāya | tuje | śuśucāna | śam | kṛdhi | asmabhyam | dasma | śam | kṛdhi
44
4 × ~11
Kinetic and rolling; the ‘wheel’ simile fits triṣṭubh’s driving gait.
Energizes aspiration while keeping a stable frame; produces a ‘swift help’ feeling—momentum without agitation.
- सखे / सखायम् (sakhe / sakhāyam)
- Literal: O friend / toward the friend. Symbolic: intimacy of the divine helper with the psychic being
- चक्रं (cakram)
- Literal: wheel. Symbolic: swift, continuous movement of force; rhythmic progress on the path
- रथ्या (rathyā)
- Literal: road/path. Symbolic: the prepared inner way (disciplined life and practice)
- दस्म (dasma)
- Literal: wonder-worker. Symbolic: the divine capacity to do what the ego cannot—alchemical change
- मृळी॒क (mṛḻīka)
- Literal: grace, mercy. Symbolic: softening release from inner bonds; healing wideness
- मरुत्सु (marutsu)
- Literal: among the Maruts. Symbolic: in the play of dynamic truth-forces (energies of illumination)
- विश्वभानु (viśvabhānu)
- Literal: universal lights. Symbolic: all-pervading illuminations that leave no part obscure
- शम् (śam)
- Literal: peace, auspicious well-being. Symbolic: integrated harmony of mind-life-body under the soul’s rule
- तुज (tuja)
- Literal: impulsion/striving. Symbolic: yogic effort, tapas in action
Invocation for swift arrival of assisting powers; used where protection, harmony, and successful energizing (Maruts) are sought in the rite.
During early offerings or when seeking auspiciousness (śam) and protection for continuity (tokāya).
Recitation with oblations; calling Marut-force for strengthening the rite.
Chant before demanding work or practice session: invoke swift inner support, then end with the intention ‘śam kṛdhi’—make peace in my system.
raṃhyā from √raṃh/raṃhā 'to hasten' emphasizes rapid descent of divine force. mṛḷīká- (mercy/grace) is a key term for healing release; psychologically, it is the soothing alignment after inner conflict. tujá- relates to √tuj 'to impel, strike, be strong'—the soul’s striving in the battle for light. śuśucāna (intensive/reduplicated) from √śuc 'shine, burn' indicates heightened purifying flame.
grace/mercy (mṛḷīka), inner striving (tuj), harmony (śam)
Implicit through Varuṇa’s grace—peace arises when effort conforms to ṛta.
Truth becomes experiential as universal light (viśvabhānu) and as peaceful integration (śam).
Formation of new ‘offspring’—new states and capacities born from purified striving.
Yogic-psychological Veda: gods as faculties; tokāya as continuity of consciousness and works.
Wheel = rhythmic progress; road = disciplined path; storm-winds = energizing prāṇa and thought-force that clears obscurity.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythic pattern is the 'swift coming of the divine allies'—Agni as friend calls friend, bringing Varuṇa’s gracious order and the Maruts’ radiant force. Psychologically, it is the rapid mobilization of inner powers to secure peace (śam) for growth (tokā) and for the soul’s effort (tuj).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √kṛ 'make' reflects PIE *kwer-/*ker- 'do, make' (broadly comparable to Greek kórē? not direct; better internal Indo-Iranian evidence). √śuc 'shine/burn' has Indo-Iranian parallels (Avestan suxš- 'burn/shine'). toká- 'offspring' relates to PIE *dʰeh₁-? uncertain; but the semantic field 'beget/produce' is strongly PIE via √jan elsewhere in the hymn.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The r̥ṣi addresses Agni as an intimate collaborator: not a distant god but a ‘friend’ who can quickly reconfigure the inner state by calling in Varuṇa’s grace and the Maruts’ luminous energies, culminating in śam—felt as settled well-being in the practitioner.
Invoke Agni as inner friend; request Varuṇa’s mṛḻīka (healing release) and Marut-energy (bright force) to make effort peaceful and fruitful.
Manipura (Agni/drive) harmonized into Anahata (śam, well-being)
Brisk-then-settle: 12 slightly stronger exhales (kapālabhāti-light, if appropriate), then slow breathing; chant once per breath, ending with a long exhale on ‘śaṃ kṛdhi’.
Energized clarity moving toward calm strength.
When effort becomes strained, repeat ‘śaṃ kṛdhi’ mentally; feel the Marut-force brighten the field while Varuṇa widens and softens constriction.
Three-tone Vedic; maintain crisp udātta rises especially on vocatives (sakhe, agne). Exact svara needs a svara-pāṭha source.
Let the first pāda feel ‘swift’—slightly more forward; soften and lengthen on ‘mṛḻīkaṃ… śaṃ kṛdhi’ to embody peace.
sakhe: final ‘e’ clear, not diphthongized, abhy ā vavṛtsva: keep sandhi clean; avoid adding extra vowels, śuśucāna: both ‘śu’ syllables light and clear, mṛḻīkam: retroflex ḻ (Vedic ‘ḷ’) if trained; otherwise careful ‘li’ without over-rolling
Bright, forward, then gently soothing in the last line.
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