Rig Veda 4.5.9: Mandala 4, Sukta 5, Mantra 9
Sukta 4.5
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Agni / the Light of Ṛta
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
इदमु त्यन्महि महामनीकं यदुस्रिया सचत पूर्व्यं गौः । ऋतस्य पदे अधि दीद्यानं गुहा रघुष्यद्रघुयद्विवेद ॥
idám u tyán máhi mahā́m anī́kaṃ yád usríyā sácata pū́rvyaṃ gáuḥ | ṛtásya padé ádhi dī́dyānaṃ guhā́ raghú-syad raghú-yad viveda ||
ഇതുതന്നെ ആ മഹത്തായ, വിശാലമായ ശക്തിമുഖം—ആദിഗോ (പ്രാചീന പശു) ഉസ്രിയകളുമായി (കിരണങ്ങളുമായി) സഹചരിക്കുമ്പോൾ. ഋതത്തിന്റെ പദത്തിൽ ജ്വലിച്ച്, ഗുഹയിൽ നിഹിതമായ അതിനെ, വേഗമുള്ള അന്വേഷകൻ വേഗമുള്ള മുന്നേറ്റത്തിലൂടെ കണ്ടെത്തുന്നു—സത്യത്തിന്റെ പ്രകാശാസനം പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു.
Word by Word
- इदम्
- thisPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- उ
- indeed, surelyIndeclinableनिपात (अर्थ-प्रबलक/अनुस्मारक)Root उ (निपात)
- तत्
- thatPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- महि
- greatly, mightilyIndeclinableअव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण)Root महि (अव्यय; मह्/महान्-सम्बद्ध)
- महामनीकम्
- great-faced/bright-formed (great appearance)Noun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot महामनीक (प्रातिपदिक; महा- + मनीक)
- यत्
- whichRelative pronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- उस्रिया
- with the ruddy/bright (dawn-like) oneAdjective (f.)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot उस्रिया (प्रातिपदिक; ‘उषस्/उसर्’ से—प्रभात/दीप्ति-सम्बद्ध)
- सचत
- has accompanied, has joinedVerbलिट् (परोक्श/परफेक्ट), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRoot सच् (धातु)
- पूर्व्यम्
- primeval, ancientAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot पूर्व्य (प्रातिपदिक; पूर्व)
- गौः
- the Cow (radiant cow; often dawn/light)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऋतस्य
- of Ṛta (cosmic order/truth)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRoot ऋत (प्रातिपदिक)
- पदे
- in the step/placeNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot पद (प्रातिपदिक)
- अधि
- upon, overIndeclinableउपसर्ग/पूर्वसर्ग (अर्थ: ‘ऊपर/पर/अधिष्ठान’)Root अधि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- दीद्यानम्
- shining, blazingParticipleवर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्रकार), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot दीद्यत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √दीद्/√दीप् ‘दीप्तौ’)
- गुहा
- in concealment, in a cave/hidden placeIndeclinable (locative sense)अव्यय (अर्थ: ‘गुहायाम्/गुप्ते’)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot गुहा (अव्यय/नाम; ‘गुह्’ से ‘गुह्य-स्थान’)
- रघुष्यत्
- hastening, speedingParticipleवर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot रघुष्यत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √रघ्/रंह् ‘शीघ्रगमन’)
- रघुयत्
- going swiftlyParticipleवर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot रघुयत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; रघु + √या ‘गत्यर्थ’)
- विवेद
- has found, has discovered/knownVerbलिट् (परफेक्ट), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRoot √विद् (धातु; ‘ज्ञाने’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-निरसन): इदमु त्यत् → इदम् उ तत् (उ + तत् = उतत्, संहितायाम् ‘उ त्यन्’ इति)
- यदु॒स्रिया → यत् उस्रिया (त् + उ = दु/द्-आदेशः वैदिके)
- सचत पूर्व्यं गौः → सचत पूर्व्यम् गौः
- ऋतस्य प॒दे अधि → ऋतस्य पदे अधि
- दीद्यानं गुहा → दीद्यानम् गुहा
- रघुष्यद्रघुयद्विवेद → रघुष्यत् रघुयत् विवेद (त् + र = द्र; त् + व = द्व इत्यादि संधि-प्रभावः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
This is that great, vast face of power when the primeval Cow joins the Rays. Shining on the station of Ṛta, hidden in the cave, the swift seeker discovers it by swift advance.
Inner meaning
The ‘great face’ (mahām anīkam) is the manifestation of divine light-power—Agni as luminous truth-force. When the primeval Cow (pūrvyā gauḥ: original luminous consciousness or foundational Light) consorts with the rays (usriyāḥ), the hidden truth becomes a blazing presence. It stands upon the ‘station of ṛta’ (ṛtasya pade): a stable plane of truth-order. Though concealed in the cave of the being, it is found by the raghuyat—one who advances swiftly through aspiration and right effort, not by impatience but by concentrated momentum.
Universal truth
Truth is real and established (a ‘station’), but it can be hidden within. When foundational light joins active illuminations, a great clarity appears. Discovery belongs to the persistent seeker who advances with concentrated swiftness.
Themes
Discovery of ṛta-seat, Cow/ray revelation, Ascent by swift force, Truth-consciousness manifestation
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.1 (Agni’s greatness), RV 4.2 (illumination motifs), RV 4.4 (truth and fire themes)
Family tradition
The Gautama-Vāmadeva stream is strongly associated with the discovery of hidden light and the establishment of ṛta as a realized plane (pada).
Significance
This verse crystallizes the ‘cave’ yoga: illumination is not absent but concealed; the seer’s swiftness is a spiritual intensity that finds the truth-seat.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni / Light of Ṛta
- Epithets
- Mahān (great), Dīdyāna (shining), Jātavedas
- Related deities
- Sūrya (solar truth), Uṣas (dawn), Indra (illumined mind)
Cosmic role
Establishes and reveals the station of ṛta; brings the primeval light into active rays for the worlds.
Inner power
Revelatory brilliance that becomes a stable foothold; energizes swift progress without disorder.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni hymn used in solemn recitations; thematically suited to moments of ‘finding’ and affirmation in the rite.
इ॒दमु॒ त्यन्महि॑ म॒हामनी॑कं॒ यदु॒स्रिया॒ सच॑त पू॒र्व्यं गौः । ऋ॒तस्य॑ प॒दे अधि॒ दीद्या॑नं॒ गुहा॑ रघु॒ष्यद्र॑घु॒यद्वि॑वेद ॥
इ॒दम् । ऊँ॒ इति॑ । त्यत् । महि॑ । म॒हाम् । अनी॑कम् । यत् । उ॒स्रिया॑ । सच॑त । पू॒र्व्यम् । गौः । ऋ॒तस्य॑ । प॒दे । अधि॑ । दीद्या॑नम् । गुहा॑ । र॒घु॒ऽस्यत् । र॒घु॒ऽयत् । वि॒वे॒द॒ ॥
idam | oṃ iti | tyat | mahi | mahām | anīkam | yat | usriyā | sacata | pūrvyam | gauḥ | ṛtasya | pade | adhi | dīdyānam | guhā | raghu-syat | raghu-yat | viveda
44
4 x ~11; strong declarative cadence befitting ‘idam u tyan’ revelation.
Revelatory and expansive; a ‘showing’ rhythm with emphatic openings.
Produces conviction and uplift; supports a felt sense of a real truth-plane being contacted.
- महाम् अनीकम् (mahām anīkam)
- Literal: great face/front, vast aspect. Symbolic: Vast presence of truth-power; luminous manifestation
- उसरिया (usriyāḥ)
- Literal: rays/cows. Symbolic: Illuminations/knowledges
- पूर्व्या गौः (pūrvyā gauḥ)
- Literal: primeval cow. Symbolic: Original light-consciousness; deep source of knowledge
- ऋतस्य पदे (ṛtasya pade)
- Literal: on the step/station of ṛta. Symbolic: Plane/foothold of truth-order in consciousness
- दीद्यानम् (dīdyānam)
- Literal: shining, flaming. Symbolic: Self-luminous truth-force actively present
- गुहा (guhā)
- Literal: cave. Symbolic: Hidden depth of being where light is concealed
- रघुयत् (raghuyat)
- Literal: swift-moving. Symbolic: Concentrated seeker-force; quickened aspiration
- विवेद (viveda)
- Literal: has found/discovered. Symbolic: Realization—finding by inner seeing
Culminating revelation: discovery of the shining seat of ṛta hidden in the cave; recited for illumination and establishment in truth-consciousness
During praise sections that affirm Agni’s greatness and the discovery of light (stotra/śastra sequences).
Recitation to invoke revelation of the hidden truth and fix it in the rite.
Chant when seeking direction: hold the question, then affirm the existence of a ‘truth-seat’; sit for the ‘great face’ of clarity to appear.
anīka 'face, front' from a root meaning 'point/face' (Vedic usage: visible aspect/power). √sac 'accompany, consort'. ṛta from √ar/ṛ 'fit, move rightly' → ordered truth. dīdyāna from √dī 'shine'. viveda from √vid (PIE *weyd-). raghu 'swift, light' emphasizes rapid advance of consciousness.
Ṛta (cosmic order), Ṛtasya pada (station of truth-order), Primeval light (pūrvya gauḥ)
Explicit: the light flames upon the ‘pada’ of ṛta—truth-order as a real plane of being.
Discovery (viveda) implies satya is knowable and stable, not merely conceptual.
From hidden to manifest: primeval source (pūrvyā gauḥ) joining rays to reveal the great aspect.
Upaniṣadic trajectory: truth as a ‘seat/plane’ discovered within; psychological cosmology.
dawn (rays + discovery)
Cow = knowledge-source; rays = active illuminations; cave = inner depth; flame on ṛta-step = stable realization.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The discovery of the shining seat of ṛta hidden in the cave: the cow/ray myth reaches its inner climax—primeval illumination reunites with its rays, revealing the great 'face' of power established on ṛta.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- viveda (√vid) continues PIE *weyd- 'see/know', tying revelation to vision. The spatial 'pada' (step/station) for truth is an Indo-European cognitive metaphor: truth as a place/track to stand on.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi becomes the swift seeker whose advance enables discovery; the devatā’s light is already flaming on ṛta’s station, but hidden—revelation occurs as a meeting of divine presence and human aspiration that breaks concealment.
Visualize a stable ‘truth-platform’ within the heart or above the brow; invite the primeval light to join the active rays of insight; rest in the ‘great face’ of clarity.
Ājñā (vision) with support from Anāhata (cave/heart)
Kapalabhāti mild (30 strokes) to awaken ‘raghu’ swiftness, followed by 2 minutes quiet breathing; then chant.
Illumined certitude—clarity experienced as a plane rather than a thought.
After chanting, take one swift but right step (ṛta-aligned) within 24 hours to embody the discovery.
Requires a svara-marked saṃhitā for exact udatta/svarita mapping; chant with careful adherence to the accents where marked in standard editions.
Emphasize the demonstrative revelation ‘idam u tyan’; give a slight swell on ṛtasya pade; keep guhā softer, then brighten on dīdyānam.
anīkam: long ī, usriyā: śr cluster; keep clear, ṛtasya: vocalic ṛ, dīdyānam: long ī; palatal dy, raghuṣyat/raghuyat: aspirate lightly; keep gh voiced
Bright, confident, upward-moving.
7
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.
