Rig Veda 4.45.2: Mandala 4, Sukta 45, Mantra 2
Sukta 4.45
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Aśvinau / Dawn-associated movement of the Aśvins
- Chandas
- Jagatī or Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
उद्वां पृक्षासो मधुमन्त ईरते रथा अश्वास उषसो व्युष्टिषु । अपोर्णुवन्तस्तम आ परीवृतं स्वर्ण शुक्रं तन्वन्त आ रजः ॥
úd vāṁ pṛkṣā́so mádhu-manta īrate ráthā aśvā́sa uṣáso vyùṣṭiṣu | apó-ūrṇuvántas táma ā́ parī́vṛtaṁ svàr na śukráṁ tanvántā ā́ rájaḥ ||
ഉഷസ്സിന്റെ വ്യുഷ്ടി-ക്ഷണങ്ങളിൽ നിങ്ങളുടെ മധുമയ പൃക്ഷാസ (അശ്വങ്ങൾ)യും രഥങ്ങളും മേലോട്ടു നീങ്ങുന്നു. അവ ചുറ്റും മൂടിയിരുന്ന തമസ്സിനെ അഴിച്ചുമാറ്റുന്നു; സ്വർണ്ണസമമായ ശുക്ര (തേജസ്സുള്ള) പ്രകാശത്തെ രജഃ (അന്തരിക്ഷം) മുഴുവൻ വിരിച്ചിടുന്നു.
Word by Word
- उत्
- up, forthIndeclinableउपसर्ग (preverb)Root उत् (उपसर्ग) / ud-
- वाम्
- you two (as object)Pronounद्वितीया/षष्ठी द्विवचन (enclitic form)Role KarmaRoot युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक) / yuṣmad-
- पृक्षासः
- the refreshers/strengthenersNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot पृक्षा- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘sprinkling/refreshing, strengthening’)
- मधुमन्तः
- honeyed, sweetAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन (पृक्षासः-विशेषण)Role KartāRoot मधुमन्त्- (प्रातिपदिक) < मधु
- ईरते
- move, are set in motionVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमा पुरुष, बहुवचनRoot ईर् (धातु) / īr ‘to set in motion, to impel’
- रथाः
- chariotsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot रथ- (प्रातिपदिक)
- अश्वासः
- horsesNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot अश्व- (प्रातिपदिक)
- उषसः
- of DawnNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन (gen. sg. of उषस्)Role SambandhaRoot उषस्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- व्युष्टिषु
- in the dawningsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी बहुवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot व्युष्टि- (प्रातिपदिक) < वि+उष् ‘to dawn, shine forth’
- अपोर्णुवन्तः
- uncovering, openingParticipleवर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), परस्मैपदी, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot अप + उर्णु (धातु) / ūrṇu ‘to uncover, open, unroll’
- तमः
- darknessNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot तमस्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- towards, untoIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- परीवृतम्
- enveloped, wrapped aroundParticipleभूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (तमः-विशेषण)Role KarmaRoot परि + वृत् (धातु) / vṛt ‘to cover, enclose’
- स्वः
- sunlight, heaven’s lightNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Vedic form स्वः)Role KarmaRoot स्वर्/स्वस् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘sunlight, heaven’)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा/सम्बन्धार्थक निपात (‘as/like’)Root न (अव्यय)
- शुक्रम्
- bright, radiantAdjective/Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (स्वः-विशेषण)Role KarmaRoot शुक्र- (प्रातिपदिक)
- तन्वन्तः
- spreading, extendingParticipleवर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), परस्मैपदी, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot तन् (धातु) / tan ‘to stretch, spread’
- आ
- towards, forthIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- रजः
- the expanse/space (the airy region)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot रजस्- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘space, region; dust/mist’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (Vedic sandhi resolution): उद्वाम् → उत् + वाम्. अपोर्णुवन्तः → अप + उर्णुवन्तः (उर्णु-धातोः शतृ). परीवृतम् → परि + आवृतम्/ईवृतम् (परि+वृत्, क्त). स्व१॒॑र्ण → स्वः + न (निपात ‘like/as’)
- RV orthography writes स्वर्ण here, not ‘gold’. Accent marks in the saṃhitā are retained in the citation but not re-applied per pada in this table
The meaning
Outer meaning
In the breakings of Dawn, the Aśvins’ honey-laden steeds and chariots rise upward; they uncover the darkness that has wrapped all around and spread a bright heaven-like radiance across the midspace.
Inner meaning
The twin powers of swift aid (Aśvins) set the life-forces (aśvāḥ) and the dynamic movement (ratha) ascending at the moments of inner awakening (uṣasaḥ vyuṣṭiṣu). Their action “unwraps” the enveloping subconscient inertia (tamaḥ parīvṛtam) and extends the supramental gleam (svar…śukram) through the intermediate field (rajaḥ = antarikṣa), i.e., the vital-mental zone where obscurity and mixed motives usually prevail. The verse describes the yogic transition: from covered consciousness to a spread of luminous guidance in the mid-region of being.
Universal truth
Awakening is not merely a passive dawn; it is an active ascent of energies guided by higher powers. When the will to progress is yoked to delight and right movement, obscurity is peeled away and a stable radiance can be established in the ‘in-between’ layers of life and mind.
Themes
dawn-dispels-darkness, illumination, Aśvin-speed, inner-unveiling
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.1, RV 4.18, RV 4.26, RV 4.27
Family tradition
Vāmadeva is a principal seer of Maṇḍala 4; his hymns frequently turn ritual images into an ascent of consciousness—light won, paths opened, and powers yoked for inner journey.
Significance
Vāmadeva’s vision emphasizes the progressive conquest of obscurity by luminous powers; he often speaks as one who has ‘become wide’ in consciousness, using dawn/light motifs to mark stages of realization.
The deity
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Epithets
- Nā́satyā, Dasrā, swift riders, dawn-awakened helpers
- Related deities
- Uṣas, Sūrya, Agni, Soma, Indra
Cosmic role
Twin physicians and rescuers who bring timely aid, restore wholeness, and initiate transitions from night to day—opening the way for the solar powers.
Inner power
Twofold effective force in sādhanā: (1) rapid intervention that removes obstruction, (2) harmonizing movement that yokes energies to the right ascent.
In ritual
Where it is used
Aśvina-śastra / early-morning Soma context (general Aśvin invocation)
उद्वां॑ पृ॒क्षासो॒ मधु॑मन्त ईरते॒ रथा॒ अश्वा॑स उ॒षसो॒ व्यु॑ष्टिषु । अ॒पो॒र्णु॒वन्त॒स्तम॒ आ परी॑वृतं॒ स्व१॒॑र्ण शु॒क्रं त॒न्वन्त॒ आ रज॑: ॥
उत् । वा॒म् । पृ॒क्षासः॑ । मधु॑ऽमन्तः । ई॒र॒ते॒ । रथाः॑ । अश्वा॑सः । उ॒षसः॑ । विऽउ॑ष्टिषु । अ॒प॒ऽऊ॒र्णु॒वन्तः॑ । तन्मः॑ । आ । परि॑ऽवृतम् । स्वः॑ । न । शु॒क्रम् । त॒न्वन्तः॑ । आ । रजः॑ ॥
ut | vām | pṛkṣāsaḥ | madhu-mantaḥ | īrate | rathāḥ | aśvāsaḥ | uṣasaḥ | vi-uṣṭi ṣu | apa-ūrṇuvantaḥ | tanmaḥ | ā | pari-vṛtam | svaḥ | na | śukram | tanvantaḥ | ā | rajaḥ
48
4 padas × 12 syllables (approx.; requires pada-by-pada scansion in a critical text)
Forward-driving, spacious cadence suited to motion and ascent imagery.
Builds a sense of lifting and widening; the long Jagatī line supports a sustained visualization of darkness being peeled away and light spreading through the mid-region.
- uṣasaḥ / vyuṣṭiṣu
- Literal: dawns / breakings of dawn. Symbolic: moments of illumination; repeated inner awakenings
- aśvāsaḥ
- Literal: steeds. Symbolic: life-energies, forces of action made upward-moving
- rathāḥ
- Literal: chariots. Symbolic: organized dynamism; the integrated vehicle of sādhanā
- madhu-mantaḥ
- Literal: honey-full. Symbolic: filled with delight (ānanda) that makes progress sweet and sustainable
- tamaḥ parīvṛtam
- Literal: darkness wrapped around. Symbolic: the Coverer—subconscient/ignorance enveloping consciousness
- svar / śukram
- Literal: heaven-light / bright radiance. Symbolic: supramental or higher luminous consciousness
- rajaḥ
- Literal: midspace, atmosphere. Symbolic: vital-mental intermediate plane where transformation must be extended
Morning pressing and dawn-invocation: describing the Aśvins’ dawn-arrival that dispels darkness and brings luminous space for the rite.
Pre-dawn to dawn sequences; beginnings of rites; moments invoking swift aid and right start.
Inviting the Aśvins’ arrival on their chariot; offering/pressing context implied by the hymn sequence.
Use at the start of meditation or before important work: a short invocation for clearing inertia and establishing luminous direction in the day’s ‘midspace’ (vital-mental field).
madhu-mant ‘full of madhu’ = delight-bearing energies. apa-ūrṇuv- ‘uncover’ (apa ‘away’ + √vṛ/ūrṇu ‘cover’)—classic image of removing ignorance. tamaḥ ‘darkness’ is the obscuring subconscient. svar ‘heaven-light’ is luminous consciousness. √tan ‘stretch’ (tanvantaḥ) = expansion of light across rajas (mid-region), a frequent Vedic symbol for illumining the intermediate being (life-mind).
ignorance as covering (āvaraṇa), illumination (svar/śukra), progressive awakenings (vyuṣṭiṣu)
The ‘paths’ and ‘spreading of light’ indicate restoration of ṛta in the intermediate realm where disorder arises.
svar-śukra as truth-bearing radiance that replaces the cover.
Daily re-creation: dawn as repeated emergence of light from enveloping darkness; extension of heaven-light into the atmosphere.
Proto-Vedāntic / integral yogic reading (Aurobindonian): ascent and transformation of vital-mental by higher light.
dawn
Dawn = opening of awareness; horses/chariot = energized disciplined movement; darkness = subconscient resistance; midspace = vital-mental field to be illumined.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Dawn-unveiling mythologem: divine steeds at dawn unwrap darkness and spread light. Innerly, the Aśvins’ delight-filled energies catalyze repeated awakenings that remove obscuration and extend luminous consciousness through the intermediate nature (rajas).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √tan ‘stretch’ reflects PIE *ten- (Latin tendō, English tend). The cover/uncover metaphor (parivṛta, apa-ūrṇu) uses turning/covering roots with PIE *wert- ‘turn’ (vertō). The dawn/darkness polarity is a pan-Indo-European poetic inheritance.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The r̥ṣi witnesses the gods’ action as an inner process: their arrival equals unveiling. The hymn positions the human as recipient of a widened luminous field in which right action and knowledge can proceed.
Visualize the Aśvins yoking upward-moving energies; feel darkness ‘unwrapping’ from the vital-mental and a bright, calm guidance spreading through the day’s field of action.
ājñā (illumination) with support to anāhata (widening, release)
Nadi-śodhana or gentle 1:1 breathing for 3–7 minutes, then silent repetition of key words: ud… aporṇuvantaḥ… svar…
From tamasic heaviness to awakened, luminous dynamism.
Chant once slowly, then sit and notice where obscurity clings (habit, fear, dullness). On each exhale, ‘unwrap’ it; on each inhale, ‘stretch’ svar-śukra through the midspace of thought and impulse.
Use Vedic three-tone contour: sustain udātta on marked syllables; allow svarita as falling glide; keep anudātta low—follow your śākhā’s recitation if trained.
Lean on the lift in “úd vām…”, keep clarity on consonant clusters (pṛkṣ-, vyuṣ-), and let “svar… śukram” ring brighter with slightly raised pitch.
ṛ in pṛkṣāso: short vocalic ‘ri’, ṣ in pṛkṣ- and ś in śukram: distinguish retroflex ṣ vs palatal ś, vyuṣṭiṣu: pronounce ‘vyush-ti-shu’ with clear ṣṭ, rajaḥ: final ḥ as a soft voiceless echo
Clear, forward, slightly bright; avoid heaviness on tamaḥ.
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.
