Rig Veda 5.4.11: Mandala 5, Sukta 4, Mantra 11
Sukta 5.4
- Rishi
- Atri
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
यस्मै त्वं सुकृते जातवेद उ लोकमग्ने कृणवः स्योनम् । अश्विनं स पुत्रिणं वीरवन्तं गोमन्तं रयिं नशते स्वस्ति ॥
yásmai tváṃ sukṛ́te jā́taveda u lokám agne kṛṇávaḥ syonám | aśvínam sá putríṇaṃ vīrávantaṃ gómantaṃ rayíṃ naśate svastí ||
ഹേ ജാതവേദസ് അഗ്നേ! സുകൃതം ചെയ്യുന്നവനുവേണ്ടി നീ ശ്യോനമായ (ക്ഷേമകരമായ) ലോക-സ്ഥാനം ഒരുക്കുന്നു; അവൻ സ്വസ്തിയിൽ അശ്വിന-ശക്തി (വേഗഗതി), പുത്രസമ്പത്ത്, വീരബലം, ഗോമന്തം (ഗോ-സമ്പത്ത്) എന്നും റയി (സമൃദ്ധി/ധനം) എന്നും പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു.
Word by Word
- यस्मै
- to whomPronounपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (दत्तिव), एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → यस्-
- त्वम्
- thouPronounउत्तमपुरुष-प्रयोगे (2nd person), प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सुकृते
- to the well-deserving / to the meritoriousNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot सु-कृत (प्रातिपदिक; ‘well-done/merit’)
- जातवेदः
- O Jātavedas (Agni)Noun (proper epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole सम्बोधन (addressed) / कर्तृ-संबन्धीRoot जात-वेदस् (प्रातिपदिक; अग्नि-नाम)
- उ
- indeed / andIndeclinableनिपात (emphatic/connecting)Root उ (निपात)
- लोकम्
- world; realmNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNoun (vocative)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- कृणवः
- thou makestVerbलट् (वर्तमान), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; वैदिक-रूप ‘कृणवः’ = ‘करोषि’Role क्रियाRoot कृ (धातु)
- स्योनम्
- pleasant; safeAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (लोकम् इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्म (विशेषण-रूपेण)Root स्योन (प्रातिपदिक; ‘pleasant, secure, kindly’)
- अश्विनम्
- a horse (or: the Aśvin/horseman)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (प्राप्य-वस्तु)Root अश्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- पुत्रिणम्
- having sons; with offspringAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (अश्विनम् इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्म (विशेषण-रूपेण)Root पुत्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- वीरवन्तम्
- abounding in heroesAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (अश्विनम्/रयिम् इत्यादि विशेषणम्)Role कर्म (विशेषण-रूपेण)Root वीर-वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- गोमन्तम्
- rich in cattleAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (रयिम् इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्म (विशेषण-रूपेण)Root गो-मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- रयिम्
- wealthNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot रयि (प्रातिपदिक)
- नशते
- attains; reachesVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole क्रियाRoot नश् (धातु; ‘to reach, attain’)
- स्वस्ति
- well-being; auspiciouslyIndeclinableमङ्गलार्थक-अव्ययRoot स्वस्ति (अव्यय/निपात; ‘well-being’)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (pada-style): यस्मै | त्वम् | सुकृते | जातवेदः | उ | लोकम् | अग्ने | कृणवः | स्योनम् || अश्विनम् | सः | पुत्रिणम् | वीरवन्तम् | गोमन्तम् | रयिम् | नशते | स्वस्ति || Notable: (1) जातवेद उ = जातवेदः + उ (visarga before vowel in saṃhitā)
- (2) लोकमग्ने = लोकम् + अग्ने (m + a → ma)
- (3) कृणवः is Vedic present 2sg of √कृ (classical करोषि)
The meaning
Outer meaning
For the doer of good, Agni makes a pleasant world-space. That person attains well-being: swift horses, sons, heroes, cows, and wealth (rayi).
Inner meaning
To one who is ‘sukṛta’ (aligned action), Agni opens a wide and happy inner world-room (lokam… syonam): a stable plane of consciousness. From that wideness arise the swift life-force (aśvinam: dynamic energies), generative powers (putriṇam: creative continuities), heroic strengths (vīravantam: courageous soul-force), light-cows (gomantam: rays of knowledge), and rayi (integral plenitude). ‘Svasti’ is the settled harmony of being in right order.
Universal truth
Right inner action creates inner space; in that wideness, energies, knowledge, courage, creativity, and abundance naturally assemble as signs of a harmonized consciousness.
Themes
fruits of right action, creation of a secure world (syona loka), illumination (go), strength and continuity (vīra, putra)
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- RV 5.4.7, RV 5.4.8, RV 5.4.10
Family tradition
Ātreya vision links ethical-spiritual right-doing (sukṛta) with inner wideness and plenitude (rayi) granted by Agni.
Significance
Atri presents ‘boons’ as symbols of inner attainments: knowledge-rays, heroic strength, swift energies, and a secure consciousness-space.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (Jātavedas)
- Epithets
- Jātavedas
- Related deities
- Aśvins (swift help, symbolic resonance with aśvinam), Indra (heroic force), Soma (blissful plenitude)
Cosmic role
Builder of worlds (loka-kṛt) in consciousness; giver of well-being and plenitude to the aligned seeker.
Inner power
Creates inner wideness and stability; releases knowledge-rays and heroic energies.
In ritual
Where it is used
Benediction verse within Agni sequences; prayer for welfare and prosperity
यस्मै॒ त्वं सु॒कृते॑ जातवेद उ लो॒कम॑ग्ने कृ॒णव॑: स्यो॒नम् । अ॒श्विनं॒ स पु॒त्रिणं॑ वी॒रव॑न्तं॒ गोम॑न्तं र॒यिं न॑शते स्व॒स्ति ॥
यस्मै॑ । त्वम् । सु॒ऽकृते॑ । जा॒त॒ऽवे॒दः॒ । ऊँ॒ इति॑ । लो॒कम् । अ॒ग्ने॒ । कृ॒णवः॑ । स्यो॒नम् । अ॒श्विन॑म् । सः । पु॒त्रिण॑म् । वी॒रऽव॑न्तम् । गोऽम॑न्तम् । र॒यिम् । न॒श॒ते॒ । स्व॒स्ति ॥
yasmai | tvam | su-kṛte | jāta-vedaḥ | oṃ iti | lokam | agne | kṛṇavaḥ | syonam | aśvinam | saḥ | putriṇam | vīra-vantam | go--mantam | rayim | naśate | svasti
44
4×11 (approx.)
Expansive and beneficent; enumerative cadence for blessings.
Produces a widening feeling in chest and mind; supports confidence in a protected, prosperous inner state.
- लोक (loka)
- Literal: world, realm, space. Symbolic: plane/room of consciousness; inner wideness
- स्योन (syona)
- Literal: pleasant, comfortable, secure. Symbolic: peaceful settled poise; secure foundation for growth
- सुकृत (sukṛta)
- Literal: doer of good. Symbolic: one whose will and works follow ṛta; consecrated actor
- अश्विन (aśvinam)
- Literal: having horses/swift. Symbolic: swift vital energies, effective force of action
- पुत्रिण (putriṇam)
- Literal: having sons. Symbolic: productive powers; continuities and ‘offspring’ of consciousness
- वीरवन्त (vīravantam)
- Literal: having heroes. Symbolic: courage, soul-force, victorious capacities
- गोमन्त (gomantam)
- Literal: having cows. Symbolic: rich in rays of light/knowledge
- रयि (rayi)
- Literal: wealth. Symbolic: integral plenitude of being
- स्वस्ति (svasti)
- Literal: well-being. Symbolic: harmonious right-state; auspicious settled order
Phala-śruti style assurance: describes the fruits accruing to the sukṛt (right-doer) through Agni’s favor—well-being, strength, illumination, continuity.
Concluding or boon-request portion of a rite; for svasti (well-being).
Recitation for blessings; may accompany final offerings and auspicious gestures.
Use as a ‘widening’ mantra when feeling constricted—invoke inner space, then affirm energies/knowledge/courage as arriving.
loka- ‘space/world’ from √lok ‘see’ (field of vision/experience) → inwardly, a formed domain of consciousness. syona- ‘pleasant/secure’ (often of a resting place) → psychological ‘safe ground’ in the journey. go- ‘cow’ as ‘ray’ is supported by Vedic usage where go is recovered light/illumination; go-mant ‘possessing rays’. √naś ‘reach/attain’ (naśate) is an old attainment verb (cf. Avestan nas-).
ṛta expressed as sukṛta (right works), illumination as go (rays of knowledge), svasti as stable right-being
Sukṛta indicates alignment with ṛta; svasti is the felt harmony of ṛta established in life.
Gomant (light-cows) symbolizes the possession of true knowledge (satya-dṛṣṭi).
Agni as world-maker: creation of ‘loka’ as an inner formation of consciousness.
Integral psychological Vedism: ‘worlds’ are states of consciousness; boons are inner powers.
dawn (svasti/awakening resonance)
Space = wideness of being; horses = swift life-force; cows = rays of illumination; sun = truth-light.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Agni ‘makes a world’ (lokaṃ kṛṇavaḥ) for the sukṛt: the mythic act of world-fashioning and establishment of a safe seat, followed by the granting of symbolic riches—horses (dynamic energies), sons (continuity/emanations), heroes (conquering powers), cows (rays of light/knowledge), and rayi (plenitude).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √kṛ ‘make’ is an inherited do/make verb across Indo-European. go- ‘cow’ is a classic IE pastoral inheritance (cf. English cow, Greek bous with sound change patterns), while its Vedic semantic extension to ‘ray’ shows poetic innovation within inherited diction. svasti is a compound expressing ‘good-being’ (su- + asti ‘is’), paralleling IE well-being formulas.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi frames Agni as the architect of an auspicious inner world for the right-doer; the reciprocity is ethical-spiritual: alignment with good/right action (sukṛta) invites Agni’s constructive power, yielding illumination and force as stable well-being (svasti).
Invoke Agni to create a ‘syona loka’—a pleasant inner room; then invite swift energy, courage, knowledge-rays, and plenitude to settle there.
Anāhata (wideness/śarman) and Viśuddha (loka as space/ākāśa quality)
Open-chest breathing: slow inhale imagining inner space expanding; exhale imagining svasti settling like a gentle warmth.
Widened, harmonious, quietly joyful.
After chanting, sit 2–3 minutes sensing an inner ‘room’ behind the heart. Mentally place one quality at a time into that space: courage (vīra), clarity (go), swift force (aśva), creative continuity (prajā), and integral abundance (rayi).
Triṣṭubh; keep blessing-words (syonam, svasti) with softened, settled intonation while maintaining Vedic accents.
Gentle emphasis on ‘lokam… syonam’; slightly brighter enumeration on aśvinam/putriṇam/vīravantam/gomantam; restful cadence on ‘svasti’.
: ‘syo’ as palatal glide (syo), not ‘siyon’., : nasal ‘n’ before ‘t’ clear; do not drop the ‘m’., : long ī in vīra sustained.
Soft, benevolent, expansive; avoid sharp consonantal attack.
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