Rig Veda 4.23.8: Mandala 4, Sukta 23, Mantra 8
Sukta 4.23
Rishi: Vāmadeva Gautama (traditional attribution for RV 4.23)
Devata: Ṛta / Satya principle (impersonal divine law), with implied Indraic force of truth-utterance
Chandas: Triṣṭubh (probable; verse-level verification needed)
Samhita Patha (Devanagari)
ऋतस्य हि शुरुधः सन्ति पूर्वीॠतस्य धीतिर्वृजिनानि हन्ति । ऋतस्य श्लोको बधिरा ततर्द कर्णा बुधानः शुचमान आयोः ॥
Transliteration
ṛtásya hí śuru-dháḥ sánti pūrvī́ḥ | ṛtásya dhītír vṛjinā́ni hanti | ṛtásya ślókō badhirā́ tatarda kárṇā budhānā́ḥ śucámāna āyóḥ ||
Translation
まことに真理（ṛta）に属するは、いにしえの堅固なる砦。真理の思惟は、曲がりたるものどもを打ち倒す。真理の言霊（ślóka）は聾を貫き、耳を目覚まし、生命力（āyu）の金属のごとき忍耐のうちに清める。
Word by Word
ऋतस्यof ṛta (cosmic order / truth)
ऋतस्य:
सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootऋत (प्रातिपदिक) < √ऋ (गतौ/ऋ- ‘to go, to fit’; ‘cosmic order, truth’)
हिindeed, for
हि:
—
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (निपात)
शुरुधःdefences / strongholds
शुरुधः:
कर्तृ (of ‘सन्ति’)
TypeNoun
Rootशुरुध् (प्रातिपदिक; RV) (सम्भवतः ‘शु-’ + √रुध् ‘to obstruct/hold back’ → ‘barrier/defence/stronghold’)
सन्तिare
सन्ति:
—
TypeVerb
Root√अस् (भू-सत्तायाम्)
पूर्वीःmany/ancient, former
पूर्वीः:
विशेषण (of ‘शुरुधः’)
TypeAdjective
Rootपूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
ऋतस्यof ṛta
ऋतस्य:
सम्बन्ध
TypeNoun
Rootऋत (प्रातिपदिक)
धीतिḥthought, insight, prayerful vision
धीतिḥ:
कर्तृ (of ‘हन्ति’)
TypeNoun
Rootधीति (प्रातिपदिक) < √धी (धी- ‘to think, perceive’)
वृजिनानिcrookednesses, sins, harms
वृजिनानि:
कर्म (of ‘हन्ति’)
TypeNoun
Rootवृजिन (प्रातिपदिक)
हन्तिstrikes down, destroys
हन्ति:
—
TypeVerb
Root√हन् (हिंसायाम्)
ऋतस्यof ṛta
ऋतस्य:
सम्बन्ध
TypeNoun
Rootऋत (प्रातिपदिक)
श्लोकःproclamation, hymn, fame
श्लोकः:
कर्तृ (of ‘ततर्द’)
TypeNoun
Rootश्लोक (प्रातिपदिक) < √श्रु/√श्लोक? (RV ‘fame/renown, proclamation, hymn-utterance’)
बधिराःthe deaf (ones)
बधिराः:
कर्म (of ‘ततर्द’)
TypeAdjective (used substantively)
Rootबधिर (प्रातिपदिक)
ततर्दhas pierced/overcome
ततर्द:
—
TypeVerb
Root√तृद्/√तर्द् (भेदन-आघातयोः ‘to pierce, thrust, overcome’)
कर्णाःears
कर्णाः:
कर्म (of implied ‘(कर्णान्) …’) / object with participle
TypeNoun
Rootकर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
बुधानःawakening, becoming aware
बुधानः:
कर्तृ-विशेषण (agent described as ‘awakening/understanding’)
TypeParticiple (Adjective) / Kṛdanta
Rootबुधान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) < √बुध् (अवबोधने)
शुचमानःshining, purifying
शुचमानः:
कर्तृ-विशेषण
TypeParticiple (Adjective) / Kṛdanta
Rootशुचमान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) < √शुच् (दीप्तौ/शोचने ‘to shine, be bright/pure’)
आयोःof life, of lifetime
आयोः:
सम्बन्ध/अधिकारण (contextual)
TypeNoun
Rootआयु (प्रातिपदिक)
Ritual Application
Philosophical Concepts
Vedic Cosmology
Natural Symbolism
Academic Analysis
Cross References
Yogic Application
Chanting Notes
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