Rig Veda 4.33.8: Mandala 4, Sukta 33, Mantra 8

Sukta 4.33

Rishi

Vāmadeva Gautama

Devata

Rbhus

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)

Samhita Patha (Devanagari)

रथं ये चक्रुः सुवृतं नरेष्ठां ये धेनुं विश्वजुवं विश्वरूपाम् । त आ तक्षन्त्वृभवो रयिं नः स्ववसः स्वपसः सुहस्ताः ॥

Recitation with translationRig Veda 4.33.8

Transliteration

ráthaṃ yé cakrúḥ su-vṛ́taṃ nareṣṭhā́ṃ yé dhénuṃ viśvá-juvaṃ viśvá-rūpām | tá ā́ takṣantv ṛbhávo rayím naḥ svávasas svápasaḥ su-hástāḥ ||

Translation

रिभु ने एक अच्छी रथ बनायी थी जो इंसान के काम आती थी। उन्होंने एक गाय भी बनायी जो हर तरह की शक्ति रखती थी। वो लोग हमारे लिए धन्य और समृद्धि पैदा करें। उनके हाथ में काम करने की कला थी, वो अपने काम में माहिर थे।

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Word by Word

रथम्

chariotNoun · पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म · Root रथ (प्रातिपदिक)

ये

who (those who)Pronoun · पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ · Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

चक्रुः

they madeVerb · लिट् (परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRole (क्रिया) · Root कृ (धातु)

सुवृतम्

well-turned, well-madeAdjective · पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (रथम् इति विशेष्यस्य)Role कर्म (विशेषणरूपेण) · Root सु-वृत (कृदन्त/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक; वृत < √वृ/√वृत् ‘to turn/roll, be well-rounded’)

नरेष्ठाम्

best among men, most excellentAdjective · स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (रथम् इति विशेष्यस्य; वैदिके ‘-आम्’ = -ām)Role कर्म (विशेषणरूपेण) · Root नर-इष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; इष्ठ = श्रेष्ठतम)

ये

whoPronoun · पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ · Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

धेनुम्

cowNoun · स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म · Root धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)

विश्वजुवम्

all-swift, swift in every wayAdjective · स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (धेनुम् इति विशेष्यस्य)Role कर्म (विशेषणरूपेण) · Root विश्व-जुव (प्रातिपदिक; जुव ‘swift, impetuous’)

विश्व-रूपाम्

of all forms, manifoldAdjective · स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (धेनुम् इति विशेष्यस्य)Role कर्म (विशेषणरूपेण) · Root विश्व-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)

ते

theyPronoun · पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ · Root तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

आ

towards, forth; (as preverb)Indeclinable · उपसर्गः (√तक्ष् इत्यस्य)Role (क्रियाविशेषण/उपसर्ग) · Root आ (उपसर्ग/निपात)

तक्षन्तु

let them fashion, let them carveVerb · लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRole (क्रिया) · Root तक्ष् (धातु)

ऋभवः

the Rbhus (divine artisans)Noun · पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ · Root ऋभु (प्रातिपदिक)

रयिम्

wealthNoun · पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म · Root रयि (प्रातिपदिक)

नः

to us / for usPronoun · षष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक ‘नः’ = ‘our/to us’)Role सम्प्रदान (प्रायः ‘to us’) · Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

स्ववसः

having good wealth, well-endowedAdjective · पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (ऋभवः इति विशेष्यस्य)Role कर्तृ (विशेषणरूपेण) · Root सु-वास (प्रातिपदिक; वास ‘good dwelling/wealth’, ‘goodly’)

स्वपसः

of good workmanship, skillfulAdjective · पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (ऋभवः इति विशेष्यस्य)Role कर्तृ (विशेषणरूपेण) · Root सु-पस् (प्रातिपदिक; पस् ‘work, skill’)

सुहस्ताः

with good hands, deft-handedAdjective · पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (ऋभवः इति विशेष्यस्य)Role कर्तृ (विशेषणरूपेण) · Root सु-हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)

Sandhi Notes

• पदच्छेद (वैदिक-सन्धि-निरसन): रथं | ये | चक्रुः | सुवृतम् | नरेष्ठाम् | ये | धेनुम् | विश्वजुवम् | विश्वरूपाम् | ते | आ | तक्षन्तु | ऋभवः | रयिम् | नः | स्ववसः | स्वपसः | सुहस्ताः । मुख्य-सन्धयः: (1) त आ → ते आ (तद्-प्रथमा बहु. ‘ते’ + निपात ‘आ’)
• (2) तक्षन्तु-ऋभवः → तक्षन्त्वृभवः (उ + ऋ = व्-आगमः; वैदिके ‘-न्तु’ + स्वरादि ‘ऋ-’ इत्यत्र संधि)
• (3) रयिं नः → रयिं नः (अनुस्वार/इकारान्त-समाप्ति; विशेष सन्धि न)
• स्वर/उदात्तचिह्नाः पाठे दृश्यन्ते (॒, ॑) किन्तु पदच्छेदे मूलरूपाणि एव दत्तानि।

The meaning

Outer meaning

The Rbhus, divine artisans, fashioned a well-made chariot fit for men and a cow that moves with all impulses and bears all forms; may they now carve for us rayi—wealth/fullness—being self-powered, right-working, and skill-handed.

Inner meaning

The “chariot” is the perfected inner vehicle of the journey (integrated mind–life–body) made fit to carry the seeker through the human path. The “cow” is the luminous consciousness that yields inexhaustible rays of knowledge, moving with all energies (viśvajuva) and manifesting as many forms of insight (viśvarūpa). The Rbhus symbolize the yogic power of exact formation: they “carve” (takṣ) our nature into a vessel capable of holding abundance of being (rayi) through self-mastery (svavasaḥ), right execution (svapasaḥ), and skilled application (suhastāḥ).

Universal truth

Spiritual progress is not only an inflow of light but an art of formation: the higher powers shape our instruments so illumination can move, act, and manifest in many forms without distortion.

Themes

crafting the vehicle, universal dynamism, spiritual wealth, skillful hands

The seer

Rishi

Vāmadeva Gautama

Lineage

Gautama

Other hymns

RV 4.1, RV 4.26, RV 4.27, RV 4.33, RV 4.34

Family tradition

Vāmadeva is a principal seer of Maṇḍala 4, known for hymns that turn ritual images into inner yogic processes—especially the formation of the instruments for divine action.

Significance

Vāmadeva’s vision often emphasizes transformation: the human being is re-made by higher powers into a fit vessel for illumination and right works.

The deity

Devata

Rbhus (Ṛbhu, Vibhvā/Vibhvan, Vāja)

Epithets

su-hastāḥ (skill-handed), su-vṛta (well-formed makers), takṣaṇ (fashioners/carvers)

Related deities

Indra, Agni, Soma, Varuṇa

Cosmic role

Divine artisan-powers who perfect forms, renew the worn, and establish the right functioning of the worlds and faculties.

Inner power

The capacity in consciousness to refine, harmonize, and make exact the instruments—turning aspiration into workable realization.

In ritual

Where it is used

R̥bhu-stotra within Soma-yajña sequences (praise/invocation of artisan powers)

Accents and Padapatha

Chandas Analysis

Key Symbols

Ritual Application

Etymology

Philosophical Concepts

Vedic Cosmology

Natural Symbolism

Academic Analysis

Yogic Application

Chanting Notes