Rig Veda 4.2.5: Mandala 4, Sukta 2, Mantra 5
Sukta 4.2
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
गोमाँ अग्नेऽविमाँ अश्वी यज्ञो नृवत्सखा सदमिदप्रमृष्यः । इळावाँ एषो असुर प्रजावान्दीर्घो रयिः पृथुबुध्नः सभावान् ॥
gómāṃ agne ’vímāṃ aśvī́ yajñó nṛvát-sakhā sádham íd apra-mṛ́ṣyaḥ | iḷā́vān eṣó asura prajā́vān dīrghó rayíḥ pṛthu-búdhnas sabhā́vān ||
Wahai Agni, yajña ini menjadi kaya dengan sinar (go), kaya dengan daya pembentuk (avi), kaya dengan tenaga pantas (aśva); yang mulia menjadi sahabatnya, dan pada tempat duduknya ia tidak terkalahkan. Inilah keperkasaan-Mu, wahai Asura yang bercahaya: yajña yang sarat dengan Iḷā, sarat daya peranakan; ia mengurniakan rayi yang panjang, beralas luas, dan membawa kemakmuran.
Word by Word
- गोमाँ
- possessing cows, rich in cattleAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role विशेषणम् (कर्तृपदस्य)Root गोमन्त् (प्रातिपदिक) < गो (गौः) + -मन्त्
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन एकवचनम्Role सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- अविमाँ
- possessing sheepAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role विशेषणम् (कर्तृपदस्य)Root अविमन्त् (प्रातिपदिक) < अवि (sheep) + -मन्त्
- अश्वी
- possessing horsesAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role विशेषणम् (कर्तृपदस्य)Root अश्विन्/अश्विमन्त् (वेदिक प्रातिपदिक; ‘having horses’) < अश्व + -इन्/-मन्त्
- यज्ञः
- the sacrificeNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) < √यज्
- नृवत्
- with men/warriors; man-attendedAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; यज्ञस्य विशेषणम्Role विशेषणम् (कर्तृपदस्य)Root नृवत् (अव्ययीभाव/विशेषण; ‘with men, manly’) < नृ + वत्
- सखा
- a friend/companionNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (यज्ञस्य समनाधिकरणम्)Root सखि/सखा (प्रातिपदिक)
- सदम्
- always, at every sittingIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role अधिकारण (काल/नित्यत्वार्थे)Root सदम् (अव्यय) < सद् ‘seat/assembly’
- इद्
- indeed, justIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role निपात (एव/खलु-बलार्थक)Root इद् (निपात)
- अप्रमृष्यः
- not to be neglected/overlookedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा एकवचनम्; -य (gerundive/future passive participle) ‘not to be neglected’Role विशेषणम् (यज्ञस्य)Root अ-प्र-मृष्य (कृदन्त) < √मृष्/मृश् ‘to neglect/overlook, forget’ + प्र + अ (निषेध)
- इळावाँ
- possessing Iḷā (nourishment/Idā-invocation)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role विशेषणम् (एषः/यज्ञः)Root इळावन्त् (प्रातिपदिक) < इळा + -वन्त्
- एषः
- this (one)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ/निर्देशRoot एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- असुर
- O Asura (mighty lord)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन एकवचनम्Role सम्बोधनRoot असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्रजावान्
- having offspring/progenyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role विशेषणम् (एषः/यज्ञः)Root प्रजावन्त् (प्रातिपदिक) < प्रजा + -वन्त्
- दीर्घः
- long, enduringAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role विशेषणम् (रयिः)Root दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
- रयिः
- wealth, bountyNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ/फल (स्तुत्यर्थे ‘wealth’)Root रयि (प्रातिपदिक)
- पृथुबुध्नः
- broad-based, having a wide foundationAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role विशेषणम् (रयिः)Root पृथुबुध्न (प्रातिपदिक) < पृथु + बुध्न
- सभावान्
- having an assembly; socially supported/with companionsAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role विशेषणम् (रयिः/एषः)Root सभावन्त् (प्रातिपदिक) < सभा + -वन्त्
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धिविग्रह): गोमाँ अ॒ग्नेऽवि॑माँ अ॒श्वी → गोमाँ अग्ने अविमाँ अश्वी (एऽ = ए + अ)
- नृवत्सखा → नृवत् सखा (व्यञ्जनसन्धि)
- सदमिदप्रमृष्यः → सदम् इद् अप्रमृष्यः (द् + अ)
- इळावाँ एषो → इळावाँ एषः (ओ = अः, पदान्त-रूप)
- प्रजावा॑न्दी॒र्घो → प्रजावान् दीर्घः (न् + द्)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The sacrifice is rich in cows, sheep, horses; it has noble comrades and is invincible in its seat. This is Agni’s might: a sacrifice full of Iḷā, full of progeny, yielding long and broad-based wealth fit for the assembly.
Inner meaning
When Agni leads the inner yajña, it becomes rich in ‘cows’ (rays of knowledge), ‘sheep’ (formative, sustaining powers), and ‘horses’ (swift life-energies). The sacrifice gains noble companions (higher impulses and faculties) and becomes unassailable in its established poise (sadam apramṛṣyaḥ). This is the true Asura-power of Agni: luminous lordship that brings Iḷā (revelation/inspired speech), prajā (creative fertility of consciousness), and a long-enduring plenitude (dīrgho rayiḥ) broad-based (pṛthubudhnaḥ) suitable for the inner assembly (sabhā).
Universal truth
Rightly kindled will transforms life into a fruitful, illumined offering, generating stable abundance—knowledge, energy, and creative capacity—grounded enough to sustain collective inner harmony.
Themes
symbolic wealth, invincibility of yajña, collective harmony (sabhā)
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 4.2.4, Rig Veda 4.2.6
Family tradition
Emphasizes the fruits of inner yajña: illumination (go), energy (aśva), stability (sadam), and inspired revelation (Iḷā).
Significance
Shows the ‘result-language’ of the Veda: the true wealth is psychological-spiritual—rays, energies, creative powers—secured by invincible consecration.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (and yajña as his manifested working)
- Epithets
- asura (sovereign), iḷāvān (full of revelation)
- Related deities
- Iḷā (as goddess/power of revelation), Sarasvatī (inspired flow, thematic), Indra (heroic comradeship, thematic)
Cosmic role
Makes the sacrifice fruitful; brings increase, protection, and right foundations for the divine work in the worlds.
Inner power
Master will that generates illumination, stable energy, and creative expansion; establishes an unassailable inner seat.
In ritual
Where it is used
Praise of the yajña’s fruits in Agni rites; could accompany offerings seeking prosperity and strength
गोमाँ॑ अ॒ग्नेऽवि॑माँ अ॒श्वी य॒ज्ञो नृ॒वत्स॑खा॒ सद॒मिद॑प्रमृ॒ष्यः । इळा॑वाँ ए॒षो अ॑सुर प्र॒जावा॑न्दी॒र्घो र॒यिः पृ॑थुबु॒ध्नः स॒भावा॑न् ॥
गोऽमा॑न् । अ॒ग्ने॒ । अवि॑ऽमान् । अ॒श्वी । य॒ज्ञः । नृ॒वत्ऽस॑खा । सद॑म् । इत् । अ॒प्र॒ऽमृ॒ष्यः । इळा॑ऽवान् । ए॒षः । अ॒सु॒र॒ । प्र॒जाऽवा॑न् । दी॒र्घः । र॒यिः । पृ॒थु॒ऽबु॒ध्नः । स॒भाऽवा॑न् ॥
go--mān | agne | avi-mān | aśvī | yajñaḥ | nṛvat-sakhā | sadam | it | apra-mṛṣyaḥ | iḷāvān | eṣaḥ | asura | prajāvān | dīrghaḥ | rayiḥ | pṛthu-budhnaḥ | sabhāvān
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4 × ~11
Strong declarative movement; enumerative richness with a stabilizing close.
Instills confidence and grounded abundance; reinforces the sense of an established, invincible practice.
- gomān
- Literal: possessing cows. Symbolic: abounding in rays of light/knowledge
- avimān
- Literal: possessing sheep. Symbolic: sustaining, formative powers; quiet strengths that multiply and support
- aśvī
- Literal: possessing horses. Symbolic: swift vital energies for action and progress
- yajñaḥ
- Literal: sacrifice. Symbolic: the conscious offering-process of transformation
- nṛvatsakhā
- Literal: having men as comrades. Symbolic: noble powers/heroic faculties allied to the work
- sadam
- Literal: in the seat/always. Symbolic: stable established poise of the practice
- apramṛṣyaḥ
- Literal: not to be harmed/touched. Symbolic: invincible inner foundation; protected consecration
- iḷāvān
- Literal: possessing Iḷā. Symbolic: revelation, inspired word, intuitive guidance
- asura
- Literal: lord, mighty one. Symbolic: sovereign consciousness-power (not ‘demon’); mastery of luminous force
- prajāvān
- Literal: possessing progeny. Symbolic: creative fertility; generation of new states/capacities
- rayiḥ
- Literal: wealth, plenitude. Symbolic: spiritual abundance: light, force, joy, capacity
- pṛthubudhnaḥ
- Literal: broad-based. Symbolic: wide foundation in being; integral stability
- sabhāvān
- Literal: fit for assembly. Symbolic: harmonious for the inner council of powers
Praise of the well-established sacrifice and its fruits; recited to affirm abundance and stability of the rite (inner/outer).
After establishing Agni and making initial offerings—affirming the rite’s increase
Recitation with ghṛta/oblation, blessing the sacrifice and the sacrificer
Affirmation-mantra for sadhana continuity: invoke light (go), steady supports (avi), and energy (aśva) for daily practice and work-life integration.
go- ‘cow’ from √gā/√gam ‘to go’ and also the Vedic semantic field of ‘ray/light’ (go as that which ‘moves’ and ‘shines’), justifying the inner sense ‘illumination’. rayi- from √rā ‘to give, bestow’ → ‘wealth/plenitude’; psychologically, a bestowed fullness of being. asura in early RV from √as ‘to be’ + ura (vital force) interpretively ‘lord of being/life-power’; in this hymn it is an epithet of sovereign Agni.
rayi as plenitude of being, Iḷā as revelation/true speech-offering, asura as sovereign life-power
A sacrifice aligned with ṛta becomes invincible and fruitful—right order yields right increase.
True ‘wealth’ is truth-founded abundance, not mere acquisition.
Prajā and rayi indicate ongoing creation through conscious offering; broad-based foundation implies integral embodiment.
Integral Vedism: prosperity as spiritual plenitude grounded in revelation and stable will.
Cows = rays of knowledge; sheep = sustaining formative powers; horses = swift energies; seat = stable inner consecration.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘wealth’ generated by yajña: cows/horses/sheep as symbolic resources of illumination, speed, and formative support. Mythically it is prosperity granted by Agni; psychologically it is the stable, inviolable inner sacrifice producing enduring plenitude (rayi) and generative realizations (prajā).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- rayi connects to bestowal semantics (√rā ‘give’) common in Indo-European gift/reciprocity culture. The poetic triad of cattle/horse imagery parallels broader Indo-European prestige metaphors, repurposed here as inner resources.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi affirms Agni’s sovereignty (asura) by describing the yajña as Agni’s effective body in the world. The offering establishes an inviolable seat; Agni returns not mere goods but stable illumination and broad-based fullness suitable for the ‘assembly’—the integrated psyche.
Contemplate the inner yajña becoming ‘gomān aśvī’: more light in mind, more steady supports in life, more clean energy in action.
muladhara (broad base) supporting manipura (energy) and ajna (light)
Slow diaphragmatic breathing with a brief pause after inhale to ‘seat’ the flame (sadam).
Grounded, stable, quietly abundant.
End a session by offering gratitude and sealing the ‘seat’: visualize a steady flame in the center; let rays spread (go), let supportive calm multiply (avi), let clean drive awaken (aśva). Commit to invincibility through consistency (apramṛṣyaḥ).
Maintain Vedic accents; enumerations (gomān… avimān… aśvī) should be clearly separated to preserve meaning.
Slight emphasis on ‘apramṛṣyaḥ’ and ‘asura’ to mark invincibility and sovereignty; keep cadence even.
gomān: long ō-like ‘go’ + mān nasal ending., aśvī: palatal ś, long ī., nṛvat: vocalic ṛ; do not insert extra vowel., iḷā: retroflex ḷ (if your tradition supports it); otherwise a careful ‘ila’ without flattening., pṛthubudhnaḥ: retroflex ṛ; budhna with clear dh.
Warm, steady, grounded resonance.
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