Rig Veda 4.2.17: Mandala 4, Sukta 2, Mantra 17
Sukta 4.2
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Tr̥ṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
सुकर्माणः सुरुचो देवयन्तोऽयो न देवा जनिमा धमन्तः । शुचन्तो अग्निं ववृधन्त इन्द्रमूर्वं गव्यं परिषदन्तो अग्मन् ॥
su-kármāṇaḥ su-rúco deva-yánto’ yó ná devā́ jánimā dhámantaḥ | śucánto agníṃ vavṛdhánta índram ū́rvaṃ gavyáṃ pari-sádanto agman ||
ಸುಕರ್ಮಿಗಳು, ಸುರುಚಿಗಳು (ಪ್ರಕಾಶಮಯರು), ದೇವಯಂತರು—ದೇವಮುಖರಾಗಿರುವ ಅವರು—ಶಕ್ತಿಶಾಲಿ ಉಸಿರಿನಿಂದ ದೇವರಂತೆ ತಮ್ಮ ಜನ್ಮವನ್ನು ಹೊಡೆದು ರೂಪಿಸಿದರು. ತಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಶುದ್ಧಿಗೊಳಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಅವರು ಅಗ್ನಿಯನ್ನು ವೃದ್ಧಿಪಡಿಸಿದರು, ಇಂದ್ರನನ್ನು ದೃಢಪಡಿಸಿದರು; ಜ್ಞಾನಕಿರಣರೂಪವಾದ ಗವ್ಯಗಳ ವಿಶಾಲ ಗೋಶಾಲೆ (ಊರ್ವ) ಸುತ್ತಲು ಹೋಗಿ ಕುಳಿತರು.
Word by Word
- सु॒कर्मा॑णः
- of good deeds / well-workingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot सु-कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) < कर्मन् (√कृ ‘to do’)
- सु॒रुचः॑
- bright, splendidAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot सु-रुच् (प्रातिपदिक) < रुच् (√रुच् ‘to shine, be bright’)
- देव॒यन्तः॑
- seeking/worshipping the godsParticiple (verbal adjective)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; शतृ-प्रत्यय (present act. ptcp.)Role KartāRoot देवय् (denom. √देव ‘to seek/worship the gods’) → देवयन्त् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- अयः
- ironNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (here with न as उपमा: ‘like iron’)Role KaraṇaRoot अयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-निपातRoot न
- दे॒वाः
- the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- जनिमा॑
- birth, origin, generationNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot जनिमन्/जनिमा (प्रातिपदिक) < √जन् ‘to be born, produce’
- धम॑न्तः
- blowing, kindling (by blowing)Participle (verbal adjective)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययRole KartāRoot √धम् ‘to blow, kindle (by blowing)’ → धमन्त् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- शु॒चन्तः॑
- shining, blazing; being pureParticiple (verbal adjective)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययRole KartāRoot √शुच् ‘to shine; be pure; burn’ → शुचन्त् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- अ॒ग्निम्
- Agni (fire)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- ववृ॒धन्त॑
- they increased, made growVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परोक्श), 3 पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRole KartāRoot √वृध् ‘to grow, increase’ (reduplicated perfect/pluperfect stem ववृध्)
- इन्द्र॑म्
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऊ॒र्वम्
- broad, wide, ampleAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (गव्यं विशेषण) अथवा नपुंसक द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot ऊर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- गव्य॑म्
- bovine wealth; pertaining to cowsAdjective/Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot गव्य (प्रातिपदिक) < गो ‘cow’
- परि॒षद॑न्तः
- sitting around, surroundingParticiple (verbal adjective)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययRole KartāRoot परि-√सद् ‘to sit around; to surround, beset’ → परिषदन्त् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- अग्मन्
- they went, they cameVerbलुङ् (अorist), 3 पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRole KartāRoot √गम् ‘to go’
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: सुकर्माणः सुरुचः देवयन्तः | अयः न देवाः जनिमा धमन्तः || शुचन्तः अग्निम् ववृधन्त इन्द्रम् | ऊर्वम् गव्यम् परिषदन्तः अग्मन् || 1) देवयन्तोऽयोः: देवयन्तः + अयः → देवयन्तोऽयः (विसर्ग-लोप/ओऽ-आदेशः: -अः + अ- → -ओऽ-)
- 2) इन्द्र॑मू॒र्वम्: इन्द्रम् + ऊर्वम् (अनुस्वार/मकार-सन्धिः; पदान्त -म् परे स्वरादौ)
- 3) परिषदन्तो अग्मन्: परिषदन्तः + अग्मन् → परिषदन्तोऽग्मन् (विसर्ग-लोप/ओऽ-आदेशः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The god-seekers, bright and doing good works, “forge” their divine birth like the gods; purifying themselves they increase Agni and strengthen Indra, and they gather around the wide cattle-pen.
Inner meaning
The seekers (devayantaḥ) by disciplined works (sukarmāṇaḥ) and clarity of consciousness (surucaḥ) “forge” a new inner birth—an awakened divine becoming—through concentrated breath/force (dhamantaḥ). Purification (śucantaḥ) intensifies Agni, the inner Will and priest of the sacrifice, and fortifies Indra, the illumined Mind that breaks obstruction. Thus they arrive at and “sit around” (pariṣadantaḥ) the wide enclosure (ūrva) of the luminous herds (gavyam)—the recovered rays of knowledge/light held in the subconscient until released.
Universal truth
Spiritual birth is not accidental; it is forged by conscious aspiration, purification, and sustained inner force. When will (Agni) and illumined intelligence (Indra) are strengthened together, hidden knowledge and powers (the luminous cows) are recovered and organized into a stable inner order.
Themes
forging the being, Agni-Indra alliance, recovery of the cows (rays)
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.1, RV 4.2, RV 4.3, RV 4.4, RV 4.5
Family tradition
Vāmadeva hymns of Mandala 4 emphasize the progressive kindling of Agni, the release of light (go), and the formation of the divine birth through inner sacrifice.
Significance
Vāmadeva is a paradigmatic seer of transformation: he presents yajña as an inner process where aspiration, purification, and illumination collaborate to create a new consciousness (janimā) and recover hidden light.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (with Indra co-invoked)
- Epithets
- inner Hotṛ (implied), leader of works (karmā), illuminer (suruci-context)
- Related deities
- Indra, Uṣas, Soma
Cosmic role
Agni mediates between human and divine worlds, carrying the offering; Indra opens the luminous plenitudes by defeating obstruction.
Inner power
Agni: will-to-transform and consecrating discernment; Indra: lightning of insight, victorious force of illumination.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni-kindling and praise in the Agniṣṭoma/Soma-sacrifice context; also general Agni-stuti in śrauta settings.
सु॒कर्मा॑णः सु॒रुचो॑ देव॒यन्तोऽयो॒ न दे॒वा जनि॑मा॒ धम॑न्तः । शु॒चन्तो॑ अ॒ग्निं व॑वृ॒धन्त॒ इन्द्र॑मू॒र्वं गव्यं॑ परि॒षद॑न्तो अग्मन् ॥
सु॒ऽकर्मा॑णः । सु॒ऽरुचः॑ । दे॒व॒ऽयन्तः॑ । अयः॑ । न । दे॒वाः । जनि॑म । धम॑न्तः । शु॒चन्तः॑ । अ॒ग्निम् । व॒वृ॒धन्तः॑ । इन्द्र॑म् । ऊ॒र्वम् । गव्य॑म् । प॒रि॒ऽसद॑न्तः । अ॒ग्म॒न् ॥
su-karmāṇaḥ | su-rucaḥ | deva-yantaḥ | ayaḥ | na | devāḥ | janima | dhamantaḥ | śucantaḥ | agnim | vavṛdhantaḥ | indram | ūrvam | gavyam | pari-sadantaḥ | agman
44
4 pādas × ~11 syllables
Forward-driving, expansive cadence suited to heroic inner effort and breakthrough.
Builds energetic aspiration; supports a sense of forging/pressing forward, then settling into a wide luminous space (ūrvaṃ gavyam).
- सुकर्माणः (sukarmāṇaḥ)
- Literal: doers of good works. Symbolic: right inner works: disciplined offering of thought, life-force, and action to the Divine
- सुरुचः (surucaḥ)
- Literal: bright, radiant. Symbolic: clarity and luminous discernment in consciousness
- देवयन्तः (devayantaḥ)
- Literal: seeking the gods/turning godward. Symbolic: aspiration toward higher powers and states
- अयः (ayaḥ)
- Literal: metal, iron. Symbolic: firm substance of being; the tough material of nature shaped by tapas
- धमन्तः (dhamantaḥ)
- Literal: blowing, forging with breath. Symbolic: concentrated prāṇic force/tapas that shapes the new birth
- जनिमा (janimā)
- Literal: birth. Symbolic: inner rebirth into a divine mode of consciousness
- शुचन्तः (śucantaḥ)
- Literal: purifying. Symbolic: catharsis of mind-vital; cleansing obscurations
- अग्निम् (agnim)
- Literal: fire. Symbolic: divine Will, inner priest, leader of the yoga
- इन्द्रम् (indram)
- Literal: Indra. Symbolic: illumined Mind; power that breaks the Coverer
- ऊर्वम् (ūrva/ūrvaṃ)
- Literal: wide, broad enclosure. Symbolic: vast field/space of consciousness where truths can be held securely
- गव्यम् (gavyam)
- Literal: of cows, cattle-pen. Symbolic: domain of the rays of knowledge (go = light-rays)
Ritual forging imagery: intensification of Agni and Indra through purification; supportive to Soma sacrifice and heroic striving.
At the kindling/establishment of the sacred fire and during invocations that strengthen the divine powers for the rite.
Recitation while tending the fire; offering ghee; mental ‘purification’ and resolve of the sacrificer.
Use as a mantra of inner rebirth: before meditation, take a few steady breaths (dhamantaḥ) and invoke strengthening of will (Agni) and clarity (Indra) to ‘gather the rays’ of insight.
dham- ‘blow’ (smith bellows) evokes inner forging; PIE *dʰem-? (breath/blow). Indra’s growth parallels strengthening of force. gávya from go ‘cow’ symbolizes rays/illumined knowledges (root √gam/√gā? go as ‘ray’ in Vedic symbolism).
inner formation (janima) by tapas-like forging, growth of will (Agni) and force (Indra), recovery/containment of rays (go)
Right works (sukarma) and purification align the seeker with R̥ta, enabling the release/ordering of light.
The ‘luminous herds’ are satya-contents of consciousness recovered from concealment.
A new ‘birth’ is fashioned—microcosmic creation through inner sacrifice.
Proto-Vedāntic and yogic psychology (Aurobindonian): transformation of nature by ascent to higher light and descent of power.
Fire = will; breath = tapas/prāṇa shaping consciousness; pen = stable inner field; cows = rays of knowledge gathered and protected.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The smith-forging mythologem applied to spiritual becoming: the aspirants ‘forge’ their divine birth, increase Agni and Indra, and take their seat around the ‘cow-pen’—the recovered field of light/knowledge.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The forging lexicon (dham-) and the ‘cow’ as valuable luminous possession resonates with Indo-European poetic economies where cattle signify wealth and power; Vedic internalizes this as rays/knowledges.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi describes a processual reciprocity: purification and right work cause Agni and Indra to grow within; in return, the divine powers establish the seeker in a spacious possession of light (ūrvam gavyam).
Forge the ‘divine birth’ by uniting steady will (Agni) with illumined intelligence (Indra) and gathering dispersed rays of attention into a wide inner field.
Maṇipūra (Agni/will) with support from Ājñā (Indra/illumination)
Slow, even nasal breathing; emphasize a gentle ‘inner bellows’ feeling on exhale (dhamana) without strain.
Collected, forceful aspiration leading into spacious luminous stillness.
Begin with purification intention; invoke Agni in the navel region as steady flame; then call Indra as a clear, decisive light in the brow; finally rest in a ‘wide pen’ where insights (go) can gather without scattering.
Use Vedic tri-svara (udātta/anudātta/svarita) as per Śākala recension; key lifts often fall on devayantaḥ, agnim, indram, ūrvaṃ, gavyam (consult a svara-marked text for exact accents).
Keep udātta as a clear pitch-rise; svarita as a fall; avoid flattening compounds like devayanto’yo.
Maintain retroflex ṣ in pariṣadantaḥ., Keep ‘agnim’ with clear short a and nasal m., In devayanto ’yo: observe sandhi—’yo begins with a glide; do not insert extra vowel., Hold long vowels: ū in ūrvaṃ, ā in sukarmāṇaḥ.
Bright, steady, slightly forceful (forge-like) without harshness.
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