Rig Veda 4.38.2: Mandala 4, Sukta 38, Mantra 2
Sukta 4.38
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Aśvins
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
उत वाजिनं पुरुनिष्षिध्वानं दधिक्रामु ददथुर्विश्वकृष्टिम् । ऋजिप्यं श्येनं प्रुषितप्सुमाशुं चर्कृत्यमर्यो नृपतिं न शूरम् ॥
utá vā́jinaṃ puruniṣṣídhvānaṃ dadhikrā́m u dadathur viśvákṛṣṭim | ṛjipyáṃ śyénam pruṣitápsum āśúṃ carkṛ́tyam aryó nṛpátiṃ na śū́ram ||
तुमने दधिक्रवन नाम का घोड़ा दिया जो बहुत तेज़ था। वो हर जगह जाता है और सब लोग उसको जानते हैं। वो बाज़ की तरह सीधा उड़ता है, जल्दी से पहुँचता है। थकता नहीं, चलता रहता है। ऐसा है जैसे कोई बहादुर राजा हो।
Word by Word
- उत
- and / alsoIndeclinableसमुच्चय/विकल्पार्थक निपातRoot उत
- वा
- orIndeclinableविकल्पार्थक निपातRoot वा
- वाजिनम्
- the swift/steed (winner of prizes)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot वाजिन् (प्रातिपदिक) < वाज
- पुरुनिष्षिध्वानम्
- much-resounding / loudly whinnyingAdjective (Participle)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (वाजिनम् इति विशेषणम्)Role KarmaRoot पुरु-निष्-√सिध् (कृदन्त: निष्षिध्वान) / निष्षिध्वान् (प्रातिपदिक)
- दधिक्राम्
- Dadhikrāvan (the divine steed)Proper Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot दधिक्रावन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- ददथुः
- they two gaveVerbलिट् (परिप्रास/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचनRoot √दा (दाने)
- विश्वकृष्टिम्
- to/for all peoples (all mankind)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot विश्व-कृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऋजिप्यम्
- straight-flying / swiftAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (श्येनम् इति विशेषणम्)Role KarmaRoot ऋजिप्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- श्येनम्
- the falconNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot श्येन (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्रुषितप्सुम्
- sprinkled with waters / dewyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (श्येनम् इति विशेषणम्)Role KarmaRoot प्रुषित-अप्सु (बहुव्रीहि प्रातिपदिक)
- आशुम्
- swiftAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (श्येनम् इति विशेषणम्)Role KarmaRoot आशु (प्रातिपदिक)
- चर्कृत्यम्
- well-made / fashioned (fit for action)Adjective (Kṛdanta)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (श्येनम् इति विशेषणम्)Role KarmaRoot √कृ (करणे) → चर्कृत्य (कृदन्त/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
- अर्यः
- a noble (Arya)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (उपमान-कर्ता)Root अर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- नृपतिम्
- a lord of men, kingNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (उपमेय/उपमान-संबद्ध)Root नृ-पति (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- likeIndeclinableउपमावाचक निपातRoot न
- शूरम्
- a hero, brave oneNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (उपमेय/उपमान-संबद्ध)Root शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सम्भाव्य): उत | वा | वाजिनम् | पुरुनिष्षिध्वानम् | दधिक्राम् | ददथुः | विश्वकृष्टिम् || ऋजिप्यम् | श्येनम् | प्रुषितप्सुम् | आशुम् | चर्कृत्यम् | अर्यः | नृपतिम् | न | शूरम् || 1) दधि॒क्रामु॑ → दधिक्राम् (अन्त्य -म्, पदान्ते अनुस्वार/मकार-लेखन)
- 2) ददथुर्वि॒श्वकृ॑ष्टिम् → ददथुः | विश्वकृष्टिम् (विसर्ग-सन्धि: -ः + व-)
- 3) प्रु॑षि॒तप्सु॑मा॒शुं → प्रुषितप्सुम् | आशुम् (पदान्त -म् + आद्य स्वर)
- 4) च॒र्कृत्य॑म॒र्यो → चर्कृत्यम् | अर्यः (पदान्त -म् + अ-)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The Aśvins gave the racer Dadhikrāvan, manifold in achievements, belonging to all peoples—straight-flying like a falcon, speckled and swift, tirelessly circling—like a noble lord of men, like a hero.
Inner meaning
The Aśvins bestow the inner ‘racer’—Dadhikrāvan as a power of victorious movement and swift progress in the yoga. ‘Viśvakṛṣṭi’ indicates universality: this dynamic force can serve every part of the nature. The falcon image points to an aspiration that flies straight toward the light (ṛjipya), swift and discerning; ‘carkṛtya’ (ever-circling) suggests persistent practice—returning again and again to the true movement until the whole being is conquered. Like a noble ruler (nṛpati) and hero (śūra), this power governs the life-force and leads it under dharma/ṛta.
Universal truth
Divine help often comes as an installed capacity: a disciplined, swift, and persistent energy that can move straight toward the goal while governing the lower impulses. Progress is not only insight but also a bestowed dynamism that makes realization workable.
Themes
Swift force, Heroic governance, Universal aid
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.38.1 (fields, settlement, crushing force), RV 4.38.3–4.38.4 (Dadhikrāvan’s movement imagery)
Family tradition
Within the Gautama corpus, the Aśvins are often invoked as installers of capacities (speed, healing, right functioning) rather than merely givers of external boons.
Significance
The seer’s emphasis here is on the divine gift of ‘effective progress’—a force that makes the path practicable and victorious.
The deity
- Devata
- Aśvins (bestowers) with Dadhikrāvan (bestowed power)
- Epithets
- Nāsatyā, vājin (as quality of the gift), śyena-like (falcon-swift)
- Related deities
- Vāyu (wind/impulse of life), Indra (victorious illumination), Uṣas (awakening)
Cosmic role
Aśvins: quick rescuers and harmonizers; they ‘install’ right functioning. Dadhikrāvan: emblem of victorious speed and right-directed movement in the cosmic journey.
Inner power
Aśvins: rapid correction and energizing; Dadhikrāvan: disciplined prāṇa-force that can move straight, swift, and tirelessly in pursuit of the Light.
In ritual
Where it is used
Aśvin praise; potentially used when seeking speed, success, and right functioning in the rite and journey (contextual).
उ॒त वा॒जिनं॑ पुरुनि॒ष्षिध्वा॑नं दधि॒क्रामु॑ ददथुर्वि॒श्वकृ॑ष्टिम् । ऋ॒जि॒प्यं श्ये॒नं प्रु॑षि॒तप्सु॑मा॒शुं च॒र्कृत्य॑म॒र्यो नृ॒पतिं॒ न शूर॑म् ॥
उ॒त । वा॒जिन॑म् । पु॒रु॒निः॒ऽसिध्वा॑नम् । द॒धि॒ऽक्राम् । ऊँ॒ इति॑ । द॒द॒थुः॒ । वि॒श्वऽकृ॑ष्टिम् । ऋ॒जि॒प्यम् । श्ये॒नम् । प्रु॒षि॒तऽप्सु॑म् । आ॒शुम् । च॒र्कृत्य॑म् । अ॒र्यः । नृ॒ऽपति॑म् । न । शूर॑म् ॥
uta | vājinam | puruniḥ-sidhvānam | dadhi-krām | oṃ iti | dadathuḥ | viśva-kṛṣtim | ṛjipyam | śyenam | pruṣita-psum | āśum | carkṛtyam | aryaḥ | nṛ-patim | na | śūram
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables; allows rich simile-chain (racer → falcon → hero).
Kinetic and soaring; alternating lift (falcon-flight) and drive (racer-speed).
Energizes the listener; supports visualization of straight ascent and sustained practice.
- vājinam (वाजिनम्)
- Literal: racer, winner, vigorous one. Symbolic: victorious life-energy capable of sustained progress
- Dadhikrām (दधिक्राम्)
- Literal: Dadhikrāvan (divine steed/force). Symbolic: power of swift right-going movement in consciousness
- puruniṣṣidhvānam (पुरुनिःसिध्वानम्)
- Literal: accomplishing many perfections. Symbolic: multifaceted mastery—skill applied to many inner tasks
- viśvakṛṣṭim (विश्वकृष्टिम्)
- Literal: of all peoples/tribes. Symbolic: usable by the whole nature; integrative dynamism
- ṛjipyam (ऋजिप्यम्)
- Literal: straight-flying. Symbolic: direct aspiration, aligned will
- śyena (श्येनम्)
- Literal: falcon. Symbolic: swift upward mind/aspiration that seizes light
- pruṣitapsum (प्रुषितप्सुम्)
- Literal: speckled. Symbolic: variegated capacities; many powers coordinated
- āśum (आशुम्)
- Literal: swift. Symbolic: quick responsiveness to truth-impulse
- carkṛtyam (चर्कृत्यम्)
- Literal: circling, revolving tirelessly. Symbolic: persistent sadhana; repeated return to the right movement
- nṛpatiṃ… śūram (नृपतिं… शूरम्)
- Literal: lord of men, hero. Symbolic: governing power over the life-forces; courageous mastery
Praise of Aśvins’ gift of victorious speed and right-going force; can function as an invocation for success in contests/rites and for swift effective progress of the sacrifice.
Transitional/dawn invocations; also in sequences lauding Aśvin benefactions.
Recitation to invite the Aśvins’ gift of victorious movement and accomplishment.
Use before study, training, or disciplined practice: to invoke straight aspiration, quick learning, and tireless repetition without fatigue.
Dadhikrāvan is a celebrated Vedic figure (often horse/deity of speed and victory). śyena (falcon) is a standard symbol of swift mind/vision and sometimes Soma-bringer; here it intensifies the image of rapid, right-going force (ṛjipya). arya (noble) indicates inner alignment with the upward law; nṛpati as governing principle in the human collectivity.
right-going alignment (ṛjipya → ṛta), universalization (viśvakṛṣṭi)
ṛjipya (straight) signals alignment with ṛta; the ‘racer’ moves in the right track.
The falcon’s straight flight symbolizes truth-seeking without deviation.
Evolution by installed dynamism: the gods place in man a force that accelerates the ascent and organizes the many powers.
Yoga of works and force (Aurobindonian): right-directed prāṇa as instrument of ascent.
dawn (Aśvin association)
Horse = prāṇic force; falcon = aspiring mind; circling = repeated practice/return; swiftness = responsiveness to the truth-impulse.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The gift of Dadhikrāvan—the divine racer—figured as falcon-swiftness and heroic rulership. Mythically it is the bestowal of a victory-power that moves straight in ṛta and acts universally; psychologically it is the installation of a rapid, tireless, right-circling energy of realization.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- arya reflects an Indo-Iranian cultural term (*arya-) with broad Indo-European social/ethical parallels. nṛ-pati 'man-lord' uses an old compound pattern (cf. Greek anēr 'man' parallels for 'man' lexeme though not cognate to nṛ). The intensive/iterative formation carkṛtyam shows archaic derivational resources used to depict repeated dynamic action.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi anchors trust in the Aśvins by citing their established gifts: they can install in the seeker a swift, right-going, heroic governing energy (nṛpati-like) that leads the human nature. The devatā’s outer gift (racer/falcon) becomes the inner instrument for mastery and progress.
‘Straight flight’ practice: feel a single intention rising from heart to brow like a falcon; then energize the belly-center as the ‘racer’ that carries it into action.
Ajna (straight vision) with Manipura (drive)
Kapalabhati (light, 30–60 strokes) then quiet inhalation/exhalation; chant on exhale imagining falcon-flight on the sound.
Alert, uplifted, streamlined.
Choose one sadhana goal; commit to ‘carkṛtya’—repeat the right movement daily without drama. Let speed be clean, not restless.
Maintain Triṣṭubh swing; keep udātta prominence on key images (vājinam, dadhikrām, śyenam, āśum).
Do not rush the simile cluster; articulate each epithet as a step of ascent (ṛjipyam → śyenam → āśum → carkṛtyam).
puruniṣṣidhvānam: hold the retroflex ṣṣ; avoid simplifying to ‘sidh’, dadhikrām: aspirate ‘dh’; keep long ā, pruṣitapsum: retroflex ṣ; ‘ps’ cluster clear, carkṛtyam: roll ‘rkṛ’ carefully; vocalic ṛ short
Bright, swift, slightly rising through the falcon epithets.
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