Rig Veda 4.37.7: Mandala 4, Sukta 37, Mantra 7
Sukta 4.37
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Rbhus as openers of the path
- Chandas
- Anuṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
वि नो वाजा ऋभुक्षणः पथश्चितन यष्टवे । अस्मभ्यं सूरयः स्तुता विश्वा आशास्तरीषणि ॥
ví no vājā ṛbhukṣaṇaḥ patháś citana yáṣṭave | asmábhyaṃ sūrayaḥ stutā́ víśvā ā́śās tarī́ṣaṇi ||
ഹേ വാജകളേ, ഹേ ഋഭുക്ഷണാ, ഞങ്ങളുടെ യജ്ഞാർപ്പണത്തിനായി പാതകൾ വിശാലമാക്കി തുറക്കുക. ഹേ സൂരയഃ (ദർശന-ശക്തികളേ), ഞങ്ങളുടെ സ്തുതിയാൽ പ്രസന്നരായി, പ്രത്യാശയും സാധ്യതയും നിറഞ്ഞ എല്ലാ ദിശകളിലൂടെയും ഞങ്ങളെ കടത്തിവിടുക.
Word by Word
- वि
- apart, forth (prefix)Indeclinableउपसर्ग (क्रियाविशेषक)Root वि- (उपसर्ग)
- नः
- of us / ourPronounषष्ठी (gen.), बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitival)Root अस्मद्
- वाजाः
- prizes, strengths, bountiesNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (स्तुत्य-विषय/कर्ता)Root वाज-
- ऋभुक्षणः
- O Ṛbhukṣan (name/epithet of the Ṛbhus)Noun (proper/epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा, एकवचन (ऋभु-समूह/देवता-विशेष का नाम)Role सम्बोधनRoot ऋभुक्षण-
- पथः
- pathsNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (वैदिक रूप: पथः = पथान्)Role कर्मRoot पथ्/पथ-
- चितन
- perceive/notice; mark outVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यम, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद (वैदिक)Role क्रियाRoot चित्
- यष्टवे
- to worship, to sacrificeVerbal noun (infinitive)तुमर्थे दत्तिव (वैदिक infinitive), चतुर्थी-एकवचन रूप; अर्थ: ‘यष्टुम्’Role प्रयोजन (उद्देश्य)Root यज्
- अस्मभ्यम्
- to usPronounचतुर्थी (dat.), बहुवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot अस्मद्
- सूरयः
- patrons, nobles, benefactorsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्ताRoot सूरि-
- स्तुताः
- praisedParticipleभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) ‘स्तुत’, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot स्तु (√स्तु)
- विश्वाः
- allAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (आशास्-विशेषण)Role विशेषणRoot विश्व-
- आशाः
- hopes, wishesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्म (प्राप्य-वस्तु)Root आशा-
- तरीषणि
- in the act of crossing; in overcomingNoun (action/result)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (वैदिक अमूर्त/क्रियावाचक; ‘तरणे/तरण-कार्ये’)Role अधिकरणRoot तॄ (√तॄ) / तरीषणि-
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (sandhi-resolved): वि | नः | वाजाः | ऋभुक्षणः | पथः | चितन | यष्टवे | अस्मभ्यम् | सूरयः | स्तुताः | विश्वाः | आशाः | तरीषणि । 1) ‘पथश्चितन’ = ‘पथः + चितन’ (विसर्ग-सन्धि: ः + च → श्)
- 2) ‘वि नो’ = ‘वि + नः’ (नः का ओ-कार पूर्वपद-परिणाम/पदपाठ-परंपरा; मूल सर्वनाम ‘नः’)
- 3) ‘आशास्तरीषणि’ = ‘आशाः + तरीषणि’ (विसर्ग लोप/संयोग)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The poet asks Vāja and Ṛbhukṣaṇa to open the paths for worship. Praised seer-powers, they should carry the worshippers across all hopes/directions.
Inner meaning
The ‘paths’ are inner routes of approach—channels in consciousness through which aspiration can rise and divine response can descend. The Rbhus as ‘sūrayaḥ’ (seer-powers) open these ways by refining the instruments and removing confusions that block progress. ‘All hopes/directions’ (viśvā āśāḥ) are the many possibilities of the soul’s journey; the prayer is to be carried across them—beyond indecision and scattered desire—into a sure passage toward the Truth.
Universal truth
Spiritual life advances by opened pathways: when higher powers are invoked and honored, they clear the inner routes and help the seeker cross the field of possibilities into a chosen, true movement.
Themes
Path-opening, Aspiration, Overcoming obstacles
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.5 (path imagery, thematic), RV 4.33–4.37
Family tradition
Vāmadeva often prays for ‘paths’ and wideness—an experiential movement from human limitation to the Vast through divine guidance.
Significance
This verse condenses the practical aim of the hymn: open the inner ways so the offering and the life-journey can proceed securely toward greater consciousness.
The deity
- Devata
- Rbhus (Vāja, Ṛbhukṣaṇa) as openers of the path
- Epithets
- Vāja (winning force), Ṛbhukṣaṇa (effective formative power), sūrayaḥ (seer-powers), stutāḥ (praised)
- Related deities
- Pushan (path-finder, thematic), Indra, Agni
Cosmic role
Guides and facilitators: they clear, shape, and open the routes by which the human ascends and the divine descends.
Inner power
Discernment + craftsmanship that turns aspiration into a navigable path; power to harmonize competing impulses and reveal the next right step.
In ritual
Where it is used
Path-opening prayer within the hymn; could accompany transitions in the rite (invocation to proceed)
वि नो॑ वाजा ऋभुक्षणः प॒थश्चि॑तन॒ यष्ट॑वे । अ॒स्मभ्यं॑ सूरयः स्तु॒ता विश्वा॒ आशा॑स्तरी॒षणि॑ ॥
वि । नः॒ । वा॒जाः॒ । ऋ॒भु॒क्ष॒णः॒ । प॒थः । चि॒त॒न॒ । यष्ट॑वे । अ॒स्मभ्य॑म् । सू॒र॒यः॒ । स्तु॒ताः । विश्वाः॑ । आशाः॑ । त॒री॒षणि॑ ॥
vi | naḥ | vājāḥ | ṛbhukṣaṇaḥ | pathaḥ | citana | yaṣṭave | asmabhyam | sūrayaḥ | stutāḥ | viśvāḥ | āśāḥ | tarīṣaṇi
32
4 × ~8 syllables
Clear, directive, prayerful
Creates a sense of guidance and forward orientation; suitable for daily invocation before practice.
- पथः (pathaḥ)
- Literal: paths. Symbolic: inner channels of sadhana; routes of ascent and descent in consciousness
- चितन (citana)
- Literal: perceive/arrange/open (imperative nuance). Symbolic: make the ways visible and workable; organize the inner movement
- यष्टवे (yaṣṭave)
- Literal: to worship/offer. Symbolic: to perform inner sacrifice—offering intention, ego, and energy to the Divine
- सूरयः (sūrayaḥ)
- Literal: seers. Symbolic: luminous powers of insight that guide and ferry consciousness
- आशाः (āśāḥ)
- Literal: hopes, directions. Symbolic: ranges of possibility; branching movements of desire and aspiration
- तरीषणि (tarīṣaṇi)
- Literal: carry across. Symbolic: ferrying through the difficult passage—crossing limitation and uncertainty
A prayer for unobstructed progress of the rite and the inner journey; used to remove obstacles and widen the path of offering.
At the start of offering or when seeking unobstructed progress
Recitation to ‘open’ the ritual and inner channels; mental consecration of the way
Chant before meditation or travel/major decisions as an invocation for clear inner direction and safe passage through uncertainty.
√tṛ 'cross' (tarīṣaṇi) from PIE *terh₁- 'cross over' (cf. Latin trans via *tr̥h₂?; English through is related to *terh₁ in some accounts). √cit 'perceive/arrange' (citana) indicates intelligent ordering—key to Rbhu symbolism (craft/formation).
crossing beyond limitation (tṛ), opening of the way (vi…pathaḥ)
‘Open the paths’ is fundamentally a request to align movement with ṛta—the true order of progress.
Crossing all ‘hopes’ implies moving from many possibilities to the truth-direction.
Evolution as way-making: higher powers open routes for consciousness to grow beyond its current limits.
Yoga of works and inner sacrifice: right offering opens right movement.
Path = nāḍī/channel of ascent; crossing = passing beyond limitation; directions/hopes = branching desires and options in life-mind.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The 'opening of the paths' by divine powers so the sacrificer may cross over all limiting directions. It is the journey-myth: the gods create passable ways through the inner worlds for the act of offering and ascent.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √tṛ 'cross' aligns with PIE *terh₁ 'cross over' (broadly reflected in Indo-European crossing/through semantics). The imperative + purpose infinitive (citana…yaṣṭave) is a compact Vedic syntactic strategy to encode action + teleology.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi requests practical inner guidance: the devatās must not only be praised but must actively 'open' and 'order' the paths. Praise (stuti) is the activating call; the response is widened access to all fields of aspiration (āśāḥ).
Ask for inner pathways to open: clarity of next step, removal of subtle resistance, and guidance through choices into the truth-movement.
ajna (direction) and muladhara (safe passage/grounding)
3 slow breaths; on inhale ‘open’, on exhale ‘offer’; then chant once, sit in silence 2 minutes
From seeking to guided openness; a calm forward orientation
Form one sincere intention (yaṣṭave). Chant, then watch for the ‘opened path’ as a simple, unobstructed next action. Avoid multiplying desires; let the seer-powers carry you across scattered hopes.
Tri-svara; maintain clear udātta on vocatives (vājā, ṛbhukṣaṇaḥ) as per accent tradition.
Slight lift on ‘vi no’ (opening); gentle emphasis on ‘pathaḥ’; soften and lengthen at ‘tarīṣaṇi’ to evoke crossing.
vi no: keep short i in vi, dental n in no, ṛbhukṣaṇaḥ: aspirate khṣ cluster carefully (kṣaṇa), yaṣṭave: retroflex ṣṭ, not ‘st’, āśāḥ: long ā, clear ś
clear, guiding, prayerful
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