Rig Veda 4.31.4: Mandala 4, Sukta 31, Mantra 4
Sukta 4.31
- Devata
- Indra
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
अभी न आ ववृत्स्व चक्रं न वृत्तमर्वतः । नियुद्भिश्चर्षणीनाम् ॥
abhī́ na ā́ vavṛtsva cakráṃ na vṛttám árvataḥ | niyúdbhiś carṣaṇīnā́m ||
われらに向き直り、動く車輪のごとくわれらへと転がり来たれ、騎乗の者よ。諸民を駆り立てる「ニユト」(niyút、衝動の牽引)をもって軛(くびき)されて来たれ——神なる力が速やかに、秩序正しく到来するために。
Word by Word
- अभी
- towards, upon, overIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषणार्थेRoot अभि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- नः
- for us / ourPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी? एकवचन-बहुवचन? (एन्क्लिटिक) → सामान्यतः षष्ठी बहुवचन (gen. pl.) ‘of us/our’Role Sampradāna (हितार्थे) / सम्बन्धRoot अस्मद्
- आ
- hither, towards; inIndeclinableउपसर्ग; ‘आ-’ (आगमन/समन्तात्)Root आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- ववृत्स्व
- turn/roll (yourself) hither; come roundVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (वैदिक) — ‘turn/roll (thyself) hither’Role Kartā (त्वम्) / क्रियाRoot √वृत् (वर्तते/वर्तयति) / √वृ (आवरणे) — वैदिक रूप ‘ववृत्स्व’
- चक्रम्
- wheelNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (उपमेय/उपमान-प्रयोगे) / क्रियाविशेषणोपमायाम्Root चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) < √चक्र/√क्रम्? (परम्परया ‘wheel’)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-निपातRoot न (अव्यय)
- वृत्तम्
- turned, rolled (round)Adjective (used substantively) / Past participleनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘turned/rolled’Role Karma (उपमानस्य विशेषणम्)Root वृत्त (कृदन्त/विशेषण) < √वृत् (वर्तने) क्त
- अर्वतः
- of the steed/horseNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी) — ‘of the steed’Root अर्वत् (प्रातिपदिक) ‘steed/horse’
- नियुद्भिः
- with yoked teams; with harnessed steedsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (वैदिके बहुधा), तृतीया, बहुवचनRole Karaṇa (साधनम्) / सहचर्यRoot नियुत् (प्रातिपदिक) ‘yoking, team; (esp.) yoked steeds’
- चर्षणीनाम्
- of the peoples, of menNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (वैदिक), षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी) — ‘of the peoples/men’Root चर्षणि (प्रातिपदिक) ‘men, peoples’
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: अ॒भी | नः | आ | ववृत्स्व | चक्रम् | न | वृत्तम् | अर्वतः | नियुद्भिः | चर्षणीनाम् । Sandhi/phonetics: (1) ‘अभी नः’ इति निपात+एन्क्लिटिक सर्वनाम
- संधि-परिवर्तनं न विशेषम्। (2) ‘आ ववृत्स्व’— ‘आ’ उपसर्गः क्रियायोगे। (3) ‘चक्रं न वृत्तम्’— उपमा-निपात ‘न’। (4) ‘नियुद्भिः चर्षणीनाम्’— विसर्गादि न
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra is asked to turn toward the worshippers and come rolling like a moving wheel, as a rider, yoked with niyuts (impulsions/teams) that drive the peoples.
Inner meaning
The seeker calls the divine dynamism: Indra must ‘turn’ (ā vavṛtsva) the higher force toward our field. Like a wheel’s continuous motion, the descent should be unbroken and rhythmic—an ordered momentum. The niyuts are the controlled impulsions/energies that harness vital force to the illumined mind, enabling collective parts of the nature (‘peoples’, carṣaṇī) to move together rather than scatter.
Universal truth
True progress requires not only inspiration but a steady, ordered momentum—energies yoked to intelligence so the whole nature advances in harmony.
Themes
Invocation of chariot, Speed and order, Harnessed energies, Indra’s arrival
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama (traditional attribution for RV 4.31)
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 4.16, Rig Veda 4.18, Rig Veda 4.20
Family tradition
Vāmadeva often describes the gods’ arrival as a movement/turning—suggesting the yoga of calling down and establishing rhythmic progress in the nature.
Significance
The rishi’s imagery of wheel and yoking points to integral discipline: energies must be harnessed to illumination for sustained transformation.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- rider/driver (arvat-), swift-coming (implied), yoked with niyuts
- Related deities
- Maruts (impulsions/forces often allied to Indra), Sūrya (goal of luminous consciousness)
Cosmic role
Mover of the worlds’ forces; brings ordered dynamism that carries the Aryan journey forward.
Inner power
Dynamic illumination: the power to organize impulses into a coherent forward movement of sadhana.
In ritual
Where it is used
Invocation for Indra’s swift arrival with his teams (niyuts) in Soma rites (general)
अ॒भी न॒ आ व॑वृत्स्व च॒क्रं न वृ॒त्तमर्व॑तः । नि॒युद्भि॑श्चर्षणी॒नाम् ॥
अ॒भि । नः॒ । आ । व॒वृ॒त्स्व॒ । च॒क्रम् । न । वृ॒त्तम् । अर्व॑तः । नि॒युत्ऽभिः॑ । च॒र्ष॒णी॒नाम् ॥
abhi | naḥ | ā | vavṛtsva | cakram | na | vṛttam | arvataḥ | niyut-bhiḥ | carṣaṇīnām
44
4×11
Rolling, kinetic cadence echoing ‘wheel’ imagery.
Energizes and organizes; gives a sense of momentum and approach.
- आ ववृत्स्व (ā vavṛtsva)
- Literal: turn toward, roll toward. Symbolic: conversion of consciousness; descent/approach of higher force
- चक्रं न वृत्तम् (cakraṃ na vṛttam)
- Literal: like a wheel in motion. Symbolic: continuous, rhythmic, self-sustaining progress
- अर्वतः (arvataḥ)
- Literal: of the steed/rider. Symbolic: mastery of vital energy; dynamic action-force
- नियुद्भिः (niyudbhiḥ)
- Literal: with niyuts (teams/impulsions). Symbolic: disciplined energies yoked to the divine will; guided vital drives
- चर्षणी॒नाम् (carṣaṇīnām)
- Literal: of the peoples. Symbolic: multiple powers and movements in the being; collective life-forces needing coordination
Invitation of Indra’s chariot/forces to the rite; niyuts are conventional in Indra-invocations at Soma pressing.
At moments calling the deity to ‘come’ and take the offering; also for victory/advance themes.
Āvāhana-style calling; praising the chariot/teams as symbols of power.
Use before action or decision: invoke steady momentum and disciplined energy rather than scattered impulse.
√vṛt 'turn' (PIE *wert- 'turn', cf. Latin vertere). cakra from √cak/√kṛ? conventional from √kṛ 'make' → 'made thing' > wheel; also linked to PIE *kʷekʷlo- (wheel) though Sanskrit cakra is the standard reflex. niyut- from ni-√yuj 'yoke' (PIE *yeug-).
Ṛta as ordered motion (cakra), Harnessing forces (yoking niyuts), Descent of power into the human collective (carṣaṇī)
Wheel-like motion suggests ṛta as rhythmic law sustaining progress.
Worlds move by ordered energies yoked to higher intelligence; harmony of many ‘peoples’ within the one movement.
Integral yoga psychology: coordination of subpersonalities/energies under a higher directive.
Wheel = continuous practice; horse = vital energy; yoking = discipline; ‘peoples’ = many drives/thought-streams coordinated.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra’s wheeled chariot-approach: the god comes as a rolling, ordered force, yoked with his niyuts. Mythically it is the arrival of the thunder-power to the human arena to effect release/victory.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vṛt corresponds to PIE *wert- 'turn' (highly secure). ni-√yuj matches PIE *yeug- 'yoke' (Latin iugum, English yoke). The wheel lexeme participates in the Indo-European 'wheel' complex.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi requests not merely presence but a specific modality: the god must 'turn' toward the sacrificer with yoked energies—disciplined powers that can act within the human multiplicity without dispersion.
Feel Indra ‘turning’ toward you as a descending force; establish a rhythmic, wheel-like continuity of attention.
manipura (dynamic drive) coordinated by ajna (guidance)
Box breathing 4-4-4-4 for 6 rounds, then mantra with smooth, steady cadence.
Collected dynamism; energized steadiness.
Repeat while visualizing a luminous wheel at the navel rising to the brow; offer scattered impulses into a single guided movement; end by choosing one clear next step in life/practice.
Tri-svara; emphasize udātta on marked syllables (e.g.,, ) and maintain rolling continuity across ‘cakraṃ na vṛttam’.
Slight rhythmic push on ‘cakraṃ na vṛttam’; avoid pauses that break the ‘wheel’ feel.
= va-vṛt-sva (cluster -tsv-, keep crisp), = ca-kraṃ (anusvāra as nasalization before k), = ni-yud-bhiḥ (clear d-bh transition), = car-ṣa-ṇī-nām (retroflex ṣ, ṇ; long ī)
Energizing, forward-rolling, controlled.
21
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
