Rig Veda 4.8.3: Mandala 4, Sukta 8, Mantra 3
Sukta 4.8
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Gāyatrī
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
स वेद देव आनमं देवाँ ऋतायते दमे । दाति प्रियाणि चिद्वसु ॥
sá véda devá ā́-namaṃ devā́n ṛtāyaté damé | dā́ti priyā́ṇi cíd vásu ||
वो देवता जानता है कि झुकना क्या होता है। जो लोग सच में रहते हैं, उनके घर देवता आते हैं। वो प्यारी चीज़ें भी देता है।
Word by Word
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot तद् (स-आदेशः)
- वेद
- knowsVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परस्मैपदम्), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot √विद् (विदँ ज्ञाने)
- देवः
- the godNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (वेद इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन)Root देव (प्रातिपदिकम्)
- आनमम्
- the bowing/obeisant oneAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot आनम (प्रातिपदिकम्; √नम् ‘नमने’ इत्यस्मात्)
- देवान्
- the godsNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role कर्मRoot देव (प्रातिपदिकम्)
- ऋतायते
- strives/acts for ṛta (cosmic order)Verbलट्, आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot ऋताय (प्रातिपदिकम्; ‘ऋत’ + √या/यत् भावे), अथवा √यत् (यतँ प्रयत्ने) इत्यस्य देवनामधात्वर्थ-प्रयोगः
- दमे
- in the house/homeNounपुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role अधिकरणRoot दम (प्रातिपदिकम्)
- दाति
- givesVerbलट्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot √दा (डादाने/दाने)
- प्रियाणि
- dear (things), beloved giftsAdjective (substantivized)नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role कर्मRoot प्रिय (प्रातिपदिकम्)
- चित्
- evenIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role सम्बन्ध/निपातार्थ (अपि/एव-भावः)Root चित् (निपातः)
- वसु
- wealth, good (treasure)Noun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (कर्मरूपेण)Role कर्म (दाति इत्यस्य)Root वसु (प्रातिपदिकम्)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: सः | वेद | देवः | आनमम् | देवान् | ऋतायते | दमे | दाति | प्रियाणि | चित् | वसु । Sandhi: (1) स वेद = सः + वेद (विसर्ग-लोपः पदान्ते) । (2) देव आ॒नमं = देवः + आनमम् (विसर्ग-लोपः) । (3) दे॒वाँ ऋ॑ताय॒ते = देवान् + ऋतायते (नकारस्य परसवर्ण/अनुस्वार-प्रवृत्तिः; संहितायां ‘देवाँ’ लेखनम्) । (4) चि॒द्वसु = चित् + वसु (तकारस्य दकारादेशः परे घोषे ‘व’ इत्यादौ; चिद् वसु) ।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni knows the act of reverent bowing and how to bring the gods into the house of the one who follows ṛta; he grants even cherished riches.
Inner meaning
The divine Fire knows the true inner ‘namas’ (ānama)—the bending of ego and the alignment of the being toward Truth. Where the seeker lives by ṛta (right law), Agni brings the gods into the ‘home’ (dame): the settled inner dwelling of consciousness. Then the plenitudes are not random gains but ‘beloved’ (priyāṇi)—those fulfillments that match the soul’s need and the divine intention.
Universal truth
Receptivity is created by humility and truthfulness; when life is organized by right order, higher powers enter the inner home and the right enjoyments follow naturally.
Themes
Reverence and alignment, Divine indwelling, Gifts of plenitude, Rita-practice
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.1 (Agni as the first in the sacrifice—theme of inner priesthood), RV 4.4 (Agni’s guidance and protection—traditional Vāmadeva set)
Family tradition
Gautama tradition emphasizes the right inner attitude (namas) and the descent of divine powers into the human dwelling.
Significance
Vāmadeva’s vision frequently turns ‘house’ and ‘sacrifice’ into symbols of the organized inner life where the gods can reside.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- Gṛhapati (lord of the house—implied by dame), Hotṛ, Dūta, Jātavedas
- Related deities
- Aditi (wideness), Mitra-Varuṇa (ṛta guardians), Indra
Cosmic role
Installs the gods in the human habitation; maintains the link of offering and response; guardian of the home-fire.
Inner power
Power of consecration: makes the being a fit vessel; converts reverence into effective receptivity.
In ritual
Where it is used
Household Agni (gārhapatya) and invitations to devatās; general Agni praise
स वे॑द दे॒व आ॒नमं॑ दे॒वाँ ऋ॑ताय॒ते दमे॑ । दाति॑ प्रि॒याणि॑ चि॒द्वसु॑ ॥
सः । वे॒द॒ । दे॒वः । आ॒ऽनम॑म् । दे॒वान् । ऋ॒त॒ऽय॒ते । दमे॑ । दाति॑ । प्रि॒याणि॑ । चि॒त् । वसु॑ ॥
saḥ | veda | devaḥ | ānamam | devān | ṛta-yate | dame | dāti | priyāṇi | cit | vasu
24
3×8 (probable)
Balanced and intimate; suited to ‘home’ imagery and the gesture of namas.
Encourages inward bowing and quiet receptivity; supports a sense of the heart as a sanctum.
- देवः (devaḥ)
- Literal: the god. Symbolic: the shining Power within—Agni as conscious Force
- आनमम् (ānamam)
- Literal: bowing, inclination. Symbolic: ego-surrender; right inner attitude that opens reception
- ऋतायते (ṛtāyate)
- Literal: to one who moves by ṛta. Symbolic: one whose thought, will, and act follow truth-order
- दमे (dame)
- Literal: in the house/home. Symbolic: the inner settled field—heart-mind as dwelling fit for the gods
- दाति…वसु (dāti…vasu)
- Literal: gives riches. Symbolic: bestows wideness, capacities, and supports of the yoga
- प्रियाणि (priyāṇi)
- Literal: beloved, dear. Symbolic: harmonious fulfillments aligned with the psychic being
Affirms reverence and ṛta-alignment as conditions for divine presence and gifts; suitable in hymns that link ethical/inner posture with ritual efficacy.
Domestic offerings, daily kindling, consecration of the inner/outer home.
Offer with namas; invite devas to the hearth; seek priyāṇi vasūni (chosen boons).
Use as a ‘consecration mantra’ before work/home life: a brief bow inward, then invite clarity, harmony, and protection into the space.
ā-nama ‘incline/bow’ expresses the necessary inner gesture of surrender that allows the divine entry. ṛta-yate indicates an active alignment with Ṛta (not merely ‘truthful’ but ‘one who lives/strives by Ṛta’). dame ‘house’ is both ritual home and psychological ‘inner dwelling’ where gods are invited to abide.
namas (reverent surrender), Ṛta as lived order, vasu as inner plenitude
Explicit: the gods come to the one who is ṛtāyate—living the right law.
Truth lived (not merely known) becomes a magnet for divine presence.
Making a ‘home’ for the gods: embodiment as a temple through right order.
Integral yoga hermeneutic: ethical-psychological alignment (ṛta) enables descent of higher consciousness.
Hearth-fire = steady aspiration; home = integrated personality; bowing = surrender that opens channels for descent.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘gods entering the home’ through Agni when the sacrificer lives by Ṛta: the rite becomes an indwelling of powers. Psychologically, when the being is ordered by Truth and made humble (ānama), Agni can install the divine forces within, resulting in beloved plenitudes (vasu).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The semantic of ‘home/house’ (dame) as the site of sacral presence is widely IE (domus, etc.), where the sacred is hosted. The verb of giving (dā) aligns with PIE *deh₃- ‘give’ (cf. Latin dōnō), reflecting inherited reciprocity: offering/reverence ↔ divine gift.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The r̥ṣi frames a conditional reciprocity: the human adopts ṛta-yoga (ṛtayate) and the gesture of surrender (ānama); Agni responds by bringing in the gods and dispensing vasu. The relationship is pedagogical—Agni teaches the correct inner posture and rewards it with stable divine presence.
Practice of inner namas: soften the forehead/heart, relinquish insistence, align with ṛta; feel the inner home becoming luminous.
Anāhata (reverence) with support to Viśuddha (truth-speaking as ṛta in life)
Exhale slightly longer than inhale (1:2) while repeating ānamam; then natural breathing while resting in ‘dame’.
Receptive quietude; sense of protected inner space.
Before any major action: (1) bow the ego, (2) recall the law of truth, (3) invite the higher powers to ‘enter the home’, (4) accept only ‘priyāṇi’—what deepens the soul’s harmony.
Notated svaras not provided; keep Vedic accent principle—udātta prominence where traditionally marked; avoid sing-song smoothing.
Let ‘ṛtāyate’ carry a clear emphasis; pause lightly after ‘dame’.
ṛ in ṛtāyate is vocalic ‘ri’ (short, crisp), not ‘ra’., ānamam: sustain initial long ā; keep ‘nam’ dental, not retroflex., priyāṇi: ‘pr’ conjunct clean; long ā audible.
Soft, devotional, inward; like offering breath into a hearth.
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