Rig Veda 4.4.8: Mandala 4, Sukta 4, Mantra 8
Sukta 4.4
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
अर्चामि ते सुमतिं घोष्यर्वाक्सं ते वावाता जरतामियं गीः । स्वश्वास्त्वा सुरथा मर्जयेमास्मे क्षत्राणि धारयेरनु द्यून् ॥
arcā́mi te sumatíṃ ghóṣy arvā́k sáṃ te vāvā́tā jaratām iyáṃ gī́ḥ | sváśvā́s tvā suráthā marjayemā́sme kṣatrā́ṇi dhārayér ánu dyū́n ||
मैं तुम्हारी सही गाइडेंस के लिए गाता हूँ, ज़ोर से और पास से। यह गाना पुराना हो रहा है, फिर भी तुम्हारे लिए चलता रहता है। तुम्हारे पास अच्छे घोड़े और अच्छा रथ है, हम तुम्हे साफ चमका देंगे। तुम हमारे लिए दिन भर शक्ति रखो।
Word by Word
- अर्चामि
- I praise / I worshipVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुषः? → उत्तमपुरुषः एकवचनम् (अर्चामि)Root √अर्च् (अर्चति)
- ते
- of you / yourPronounषष्ठी एकवचनम् (enclitic)Role सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root त्वद् (युष्मद्-प्रातिपदिक)
- सुमतिम्
- good thought; favor; benevolenceNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot सुमति- (सु + मति)
- घोष्य
- to be proclaimed / resoundingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग? (here as adjective to अर्वाक्), प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role विशेषणRoot घोष्य- (√घुष्/घोष् + य, कृत्-प्रत्ययः; ‘to be sounded/proclaimed’)
- अर्वाक्
- hither, towards usIndeclinableदिक्-अव्ययम्Role अधिकारण/दिशा-निर्देशRoot अर्वाक् (अव्यय/दिक्शब्दः)
- सम्
- together; completelyIndeclinableउपसर्गःRoot सम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- ते
- for you / to youPronounचतुर्थी एकवचनम् (enclitic) अथवा षष्ठी; here with ‘सम् … जरतामि’ → चतुर्थीRole सम्प्रदानRoot त्वद् (युष्मद्-प्रातिपदिक)
- वावाता
- O strongly-blowing one (epithet)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनम् (as epithet/name)Role सम्बोधन/विशेष्य (addressed deity)Root वावात- (intensive/reduplicated from √वा ‘to blow’)
- जरतामि
- I chant / I celebrateVerbलट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुषः एकवचनम्Root √जर्/√जॄ (जरति/जरयति ‘to sing/recite; to make old’—Vedic: ‘to chant, celebrate’)
- इयम्
- thisPronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (of implied ‘is/comes’ with गीः) / deicticRoot इदम्
- गीः
- song; hymn; chantNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Vedic nom. sg. in -īḥ)Role कर्तृ/विषयRoot गी- (from √गै ‘to sing’)
- स्वश्वाः
- having good horsesAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृ (with मर्जयेम)Root स्वश्व- (सु + अश्व)
- त्वा
- youPronounद्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot त्वद् (युष्मद्)
- सुरथाः
- having good chariotsAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृ (with मर्जयेम)Root सुरथ- (सु + रथ)
- मर्जयेम
- may we cleanse / purify / adornVerbविधिलिङ्/लोट्? → here optative (विधिलिङ्), उत्तमपुरुषः बहुवचनम्Root √मृज् (मार्जति)
- अस्मे
- for usPronounचतुर्थी बहुवचनम् (Vedic form अस्मे = अस्मभ्यः)Role सम्प्रदानRoot अस्मद्
- क्षत्राणि
- powers; dominions; sovereigntiesNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचनम्Role कर्मRoot क्षत्र-
- धारयेः
- may you hold / sustainVerbविधिलिङ्, मध्यमपुरुषः एकवचनम्Root √धृ (धारयति)
- अनु
- along; following; throughIndeclinableअव्ययम्Root अनु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- द्यून्
- daysNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचनम्Role अधिकारण/काल-परिमाण (acc. of extent)Root द्यु-
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (pada-splitting): अर्चामि | ते | सुमतिम् | घोष्य | अर्वाक् | सम् | ते | वावाता | जरतामि | इयम् | गीः || स्वश्वाः | त्वा | सुरथाः | मर्जयेम | अस्मे | क्षत्राणि | धारयेः | अनु | द्यून् । Notable: घोष्य॒र्वाक् → घोष्य + अर्वाक्
- सं ते → सम् + ते
- जरतामि॒यं → जरतामि + इयम्
- इयं गीः kept separate
- अस्मे is Vedic dative plural (= अस्मभ्यः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
I sing aloud and near your right guidance; this song, even as it grows old, keeps sounding to you. May we polish you as having good steeds and a good chariot; may you hold for us powers of mastery through the days.
Inner meaning
The rishi offers persistent aspiration and invocation (gīḥ that ‘keeps sounding’). Even if the outer personality feels aged or repetitive, the true mantra renews contact with Agni’s sumati. ‘Polishing’ Agni means refining the inner will—making it clear, effective, and well-equipped: good horses (svaśvāḥ) are purified life-energies; good chariot (suratha) is the harmonized instrument of action. Then Agni sustains kṣatrāṇi—powers of mastery, courage, and effective governance of the nature—through all days (anu dyūn).
Universal truth
Persistent sincere expression refines the will; when vital energies and action are disciplined, mastery becomes a continuous state rather than an occasional victory.
Themes
Invocation and mantra-vibration, Purification (mṛj), Sustained mastery
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.4.6, RV 4.4.7, RV 4.4.9, RV 4.4.10
Family tradition
The Vāmadeva tradition often treats hymn as a living force (gīḥ) that can be renewed and made effective through purification (marjana) and right equipment (aśva/ratha symbolism).
Significance
The seer models perseverance: the mantra ‘grows old’ but does not lose power; by repeated offering, the inner fire becomes a perfected instrument of mastery.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- sumati-dātṛ (giver of right guidance—implied), svāśva (well-horsed—invoked), suratha (well-charioted—invoked)
- Related deities
- Indra (kṣatra/force), Maruts (vital energies), Sarasvatī (speech)
Cosmic role
Forger of the divine journey; purifier who perfects the instruments of action; supporter of kṣatra (effective power).
Inner power
Purifying will that organizes energies into a coherent force for spiritual progress.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni praise accompanying offerings and recitation; also suitable as a consecration for ‘equipment’ (ratha/aśva) symbolism in rites
अर्चा॑मि ते सुम॒तिं घोष्य॒र्वाक्सं ते॑ वा॒वाता॑ जरतामि॒यं गीः । स्वश्वा॑स्त्वा सु॒रथा॑ मर्जयेमा॒स्मे क्ष॒त्राणि॑ धारये॒रनु॒ द्यून् ॥
अर्चा॑मि । ते॒ । सु॒ऽम॒तिम् । घोषि॑ । अ॒र्वाक् । सम् । ते॒ । व॒वाता॑ । ज॒र॒ता॒म् । इ॒यम् । गीः । सु॒ऽअश्वाः॑ । त्वा॒ । सु॒ऽरथाः॑ । म॒र्ज॒ये॒म॒ । अ॒स्मे इति॑ । क्ष॒त्राणि॑ । धा॒र॒येः॒ । अनु॑ । द्यून् ॥
arcāmi | te | su-matim | ghoṣi | arvāk | sam | te | vavātā | jaratām | iyam | gīḥ | su-aśvāḥ | tvā | su-rathāḥ | marjayema | asme iti | kṣatrāṇi | dhārayeḥ | anu | dyūn
44
4 × ~11
Resonant and exhortative; suitable for voiced proclamation (ghoṣi).
Energizes the will while keeping a disciplined structure; good for strengthening resolve.
- अर्चामि (arcāmi)
- Literal: I praise/sing. Symbolic: active aspiration and invocation that awakens the inner force
- घोषि (ghoṣi)
- Literal: aloud/resounding. Symbolic: clear, fearless affirmation of the inner aim
- गीः (gīḥ)
- Literal: song/hymn. Symbolic: mantric vibration that sustains contact with the divine
- मर्जयेमा (marjayemā)
- Literal: may we polish/cleanse. Symbolic: purification and refinement of will and instrument
- स्वश्वाः (svaśvāḥ)
- Literal: having good horses. Symbolic: well-directed vital energies (aśva) serving the soul’s intention
- सुरथाः (surathāḥ)
- Literal: having a good chariot. Symbolic: right organization of mind-life-body for the journey
- क्षत्राणि (kṣatrāṇi)
- Literal: powers of rule/strength. Symbolic: inner mastery, courage, executive force
Stotra of approach and empowerment; mantra as sustaining vibration across days (daily agnihotra ethos)
During stotra/uktha sequences; anytime refinement/purification is intended.
Recite while tending the fire, symbolically ‘polishing’—clarifying intention and purifying energies.
Use before work or disciplined practice: chant to align vital energy (‘horses’) and executive action (‘chariot’) with inner guidance.
√arc ‘to praise/sing’. √ghuṣ ‘sound’ in. √mṛj ‘wipe, cleanse, polish’ supports the psychological ‘purification/refinement’. kṣatrá (from √kṣi ‘to rule/dwell’ or ‘power’) indicates mastery/sovereignty in the being; aśva/ratha imagery encodes controlled energies and organized progress.
Mantra as śabda-force shaping consciousness, Kṣatra as mastery aligned to ṛta
Polishing and right chariot indicate ordering of forces according to Ṛta.
Resounding song as truthful affirmation sustaining the divine contact.
Perfection of the instrument: the divine fire refines matter/energy for higher action.
Integral yoga symbolism: purification of vital and organization of action as part of ascent.
through days (anu dyūn)
Sound = mantra vibration; horses = vital drives; chariot = integrated personality; fire = purifier of energies.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The hymn as a living force that ‘resounds’ and ‘polishes’ the god: speech refines Agni, and Agni in turn sustains kṣatra—mastery—through time.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- aśva ‘horse’ reflects PIE *h₁éḱwos (Lat. equus), a key IE poetic symbol for energy and speed; ratha ‘chariot’ belongs to the shared Indo-Iranian chariot complex central to IE heroic-poetic diction.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi offers enduring voiced praise; Agni is asked to reciprocate by stabilizing the seeker’s powers of mastery and effective action day after day.
Refine the will: offer speech and energy into Agni; harness ‘horses’ (vital impulses) to the ‘chariot’ (disciplined action).
manipura
ujjāyī light + silent repetition of arcāmi / sumatim on exhale to ‘polish’ inner heat
collected force, courageous clarity
After chanting, review one habitual impulse; ‘polish’ it by offering it to the inner fire and re-assigning it to a conscious purpose for the day.
Tri-svara; emphasize clear udātta lifts on arcāmi, sumatim, marjayemā, kṣatrāṇi; keep pāda-end cadences clean.
Let ghoṣy arvāk be voiced distinctly (audible ‘calling near’); sustain the long vowels in vāvātā and dhārayer.
ghoṣy: aspirate gh, keep ṣ retroflex, vāvātā: long ā; avoid turning v into w too strongly, marjayemā: clear rj cluster, kṣatrāṇi: kṣ cluster, retroflex ṇ, long ā
clear, ringing, slightly heroic; avoid harshness—keep steady tone
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