Rig Veda 4.21.6: Mandala 4, Sukta 21, Mantra 6

Sukta 4.21

Rishi: Vāmadeva Gautama (traditional)

Devata: Indra (context), with strong ritual-psychological presence of Hotṛ/Vahni (Agni-function) in the verse imagery

Chandas: Triṣṭubh (probable)

Samhita Patha (Devanagari)

धिषा यदि धिषण्यन्तः सरण्यान्त्सदन्तो अद्रिमौशिजस्य गोहे । आ दुरोषाः पास्त्यस्य होता यो नो महान्त्संवरणेषु वह्निः ॥

Transliteration

dhíṣā yádi dhiṣaṇyántaḥ saraṇyā́n sádanto ádrim auśijásya góhe | ā́ duróṣāḥ pāstyásya hótā yó no mahā́nt saṃ-váraṇēṣu váhniḥ ||

Translation

When by the inspired intelligence (dhiṣā) the seekers become capable, taking their seat in the swift-moving paths, they press the stone of the Ushij (the eager striving) for the finding of the Light (go). Then comes the Hotṛ of the home, wide in his habitation, the great bearer-flame (vahni) for us in the enclosing fields.

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Word by Word

• धिषा: by/with inspiration (thought, insight)
• धिषा: करण
• Type: Noun
• Root: धिषा- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘धिष्/धिष्’ बुद्धि-प्रेरणा)

• यदि: if/when
• यदि: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)

• धिषण्यन्तः: the inspired/impelling ones
• धिषण्यन्तः: कर्तृ
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: धिषण्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘प्रेरक/प्रज्ञावान्’)

• सरण्यान्: the swift/approachable ones
• सरण्यान्: कर्म
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: सरण्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘सरणीय/शीघ्रगामी/आश्रयणीय’)

• सदन्तः: sitting down, taking their seats
• सदन्तः: कर्तृ
• Type: Verb (present participle)
• Root: √सद् (सीदति ‘to sit, settle’)

• अद्रिम्: the stone/pressing-stone (or rock)
• अद्रिम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: अद्रि (प्रातिपदिक)

• औशिजस्य: of Auśija
• औशिजस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun (patronymic/epithet)
• Root: औशिज (प्रातिपदिक; उशिज्-सम्बन्धी/औशिज ‘of Uśij/descendant of Uśij’)

• गोहे: in the cows’ enclosure / at the cow-stall
• गोहे: अधिकरण
• Type: Noun (locative compound form)
• Root: गो- + √हा/√हन्? (गोहे = गो-हे ‘in the cow-pen/at the cow’s place’; RV idiom)

• आ: towards, hither
• आ: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)

• दुरोषाः: the hard-dwelling/strong ones
• दुरोषाः: कर्तृ
• Type: Noun/Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: दुरोष (प्रातिपदिक; ‘दुर्-ओष’ कठिन-आवास/दुर्ग-आश्रय; RV epithet)

• पास्त्यस्य: of the dwelling/household
• पास्त्यस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पास्त्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘गृह/निवास, household’)

• होता: the Hotṛ-priest (invoker)
• होता: कर्तृ
• Type: Noun
• Root: होतृ (प्रातिपदिक; from √हु ‘to sacrifice, invoke’)

• यः: who
• यः: कर्तृ
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• नः: of us/our
• नः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)

• महान्: great
• महान्: कर्तृ (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)

• संवरणेषु: in the enclosures/coverings
• संवरणेषु: अधिकरण
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवरण (प्रातिपदिक; ‘आवरण/आच्छादन, enclosure’)

• वह्निः: the bearer (Agni), the carrier
• वह्निः: कर्तृ
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘carrier’, esp. Agni as bearer)