Rig Veda 4.56.4: Mandala 4, Sukta 56, Mantra 4
Sukta 4.56
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Dyāvāpṛthivī
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
नू रोदसी बृहद्भिर्नो वरूथैः पत्नीवद्भिरिषयन्ती सजोषाः । उरूची विश्वे यजते नि पातं धिया स्याम रथ्यः सदासाः ॥
nū rodasī bṛhád-bhir no varū́thaiḥ patnī́vadbhir iṣáyantī sajóṣāḥ | urūcī́ víśve yájaté ní pātāṃ dhiyā́ syāma rathyáḥ sadā́sāḥ ||
Kini semoga Langit-dan-Bumi melindungi kami dengan lindungan mereka yang luas, dengan kuasa bak pasangan suami-isteri yang bergerak seia sekata. Yang bercahaya luas, layak disembah oleh semua, semoga mereka memelihara kami; dan dengan dhī (ilham) semoga kami menjadi layak menempuh perjalanan, sahabat setia di jalan.
Word by Word
- नु
- now; indeedIndeclinableनिपात (emphatic/temporal particle)Root नु
- रोदसी
- the two worlds (Heaven and Earth)Noun (dual) / Deity-nameस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचनRole KartāRoot रोदसी (प्रातिपदिक) < रुद्/रुद्? (वैदिक द्वन्द्व-धारणा: द्यावापृथिव्यौ)
- बृहद्भिः
- with great (mighty)Adjectiveपुं/नपुं, तृतीया बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot बृहन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- for us; ourPronounषष्ठी बहुवचन (enclitic) अथवा दत्तिवाचक-प्रयोगे ‘for us’Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद्
- वरूथैः
- with protections; sheltersNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot वरूथ (प्रातिपदिक)
- पत्नीवत्भिः
- as with spouses; paired (as a couple)Adjectiveपुं/नपुं, तृतीया बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot पत्नीवत् (प्रातिपदिक: पत्नी + वत्)
- इषयन्ती
- impelling; urging onVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (agreeing with रोदसी) / accompanying actionRoot इष् (धातु) / इषयति (णिच्)
- सजोषाः
- in harmony; of one accordAdjectiveपुं/स्त्री, प्रथमा बहुवचन (वैदिक रूप) अथवा विशेषण-प्रयोगः ‘in concord’Role Kartā/Viśeṣaṇa (qualifying the subject)Root सजोषस् (प्रातिपदिक: स- + जोषस्)
- उरूची
- wide-shining; far-radiantAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole ViśeṣaṇaRoot उरूची (प्रातिपदिक)
- विश्वे
- all (of you); all (gods)Adjective (substantivized)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- यजते
- worship; sacrificeVerbलट्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथम पुरुष, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot यज् (धातु)
- नि
- down; in; firmlyIndeclinableउपसर्ग/निपातRoot नि
- पातम्
- protect (you all)!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यम पुरुष, बहुवचनRole Karma (object implied: us) / protective actionRoot पा (धातु) ‘to protect’
- धिया
- with thought; by prayer/insightNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot धी (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्याम
- may we beVerbविधिलिङ्, उत्तम पुरुष, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot अस् (धातु)
- रथ्याः
- fit for the chariot; chariot-worthyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole Viśeṣaṇa (of the speaker-group)Root रथ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- सदासाः
- companions/attendants; those who sit (at the rite)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole Kartā (predicate-noun with स्याम) / ViśeṣyaRoot सदास् (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (major): वरूथैः पत्नीवद्भिः इषयन्ती → वरूथैः | पत्नीवत्भिः | इषयन्ती (visarga before p-, and final -d + bh- gives -dbh- in writing)
- स्य॑ाम र॒थ्य॑ः → स्याम् | रथ्याः (final -म् before r- often shown as anusvāra/म् in pada)
- Accent marks are retained as in saṃhitā but do not change pada segmentation
The meaning
Outer meaning
May Heaven-and-Earth protect us with their vast shelters, with consort-like powers moving in one accord. Wide-shining and worship-worthy for all, may they guard us; and by inspired thought may we become fit for the journey, steadfast companions of the path.
Inner meaning
The two foundational consciousness-powers are invoked as protectors (varūtha) with ‘patnīvat’—not merely paired, but mutually supportive energies whose unity makes progress safe. Their protection is not external luck but the safeguarding of the sādhaka from dispersion and falsehood. ‘By dhiyā’ (inspired thought) we become rathyaḥ—fit for the chariot/way: the inner vehicle (disciplined life-force and mind) becomes capable of carrying the soul forward as ‘steadfast companions’ (sadāsāḥ) of the path.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress needs shelter: stable inner conditions and a harmonized duality (ideal and practice). Inspiration (dhī) must become capacity (fitness for the journey), not remain a passing light.
Themes
Protection by the Two Worlds, Consenting duality, Journey on the path by dhī
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.56.2, RV 4.56.6, RV 4.58
Family tradition
Vāmadeva’s hymns often ask for protection as inner rightness—guarding the sacrifice within and enabling the journey toward illumination.
Significance
The seer frames protection as a function of harmonized dual powers and dhī (inspiration) becoming effective capacity—central to an integral path.
The deity
- Devata
- Dyāvāpṛthivī (Rodasī, the Two Worlds)
- Epithets
- rodasī, urūcī, viśve yajāte (worship-worthy for all), sajoṣāḥ
- Related deities
- Mitra–Varuṇa (protective ṛta), Aditi (vastness), Agni (pathfinder)
Cosmic role
Cosmic parents/supports who shelter beings and keep the path of order open; they sustain the journey of the sacrificer through stable law.
Inner power
Protective harmony: stabilizes the practitioner, widens illumination, and impels aligned progress without inner conflict.
In ritual
Where it is used
Protective prayer within śrauta recitations; may accompany requests for safe passage and successful completion of offerings.
नू रो॑दसी बृ॒हद्भि॑र्नो॒ वरू॑थै॒: पत्नी॑वद्भिरि॒षय॑न्ती स॒जोषा॑: । उ॒रू॒ची विश्वे॑ यज॒ते नि पा॑तं धि॒या स्या॑म र॒थ्य॑: सदा॒साः ॥
नु । रो॒द॒सी॒ इति॑ । बृ॒हत्ऽभिः॑ । नः॒ । वरू॑थैः । पत्नी॑वत्ऽभिः । इ॒षय॑न्ती॒ इति॑ । स॒ऽजोषाः॑ । उ॒रू॒ची इति॑ । विश्वे॒ इति॑ । या॒ज॒ते इति॑ । नि । पा॒त॒म् । धि॒या । स्या॒म॒ । र॒थ्यः॑ । स॒दा॒ऽसाः ॥
nu | rodasī iti | bṛhat-bhiḥ | naḥ | varūthaiḥ | patnīvat-bhiḥ | iṣayantī iti | sa-joṣāḥ | urūcī iti | viśveiti | yājate iti | ni | pātam | dhiyā | syāma | rathyaḥ | sadāsāḥ
44
4 × ~11
Supplicatory yet strong; balanced clauses mirror ‘sajoṣāḥ’ (in accord).
Induces trust and steadiness; supports a protective field around attention and breath.
- वरूथैः (varūthaiḥ)
- Literal: shelters, protections. Symbolic: protective formations of consciousness that prevent fall and confusion
- पत्नीवत् (patnīvat)
- Literal: like spouses/consorts. Symbolic: complementary powers in intimate accord (higher-lower harmony)
- इषयन्ती (iṣayantī)
- Literal: impelling, energizing. Symbolic: dynamic push of aspiration and life-force aligned
- सजोषाः (sajoṣāḥ)
- Literal: in one accord. Symbolic: unified movement of mind and body, above and below
- उरूची (urūcī)
- Literal: wide-shining. Symbolic: broad illumination, not narrow intensity
- धिया (dhiyā)
- Literal: by inspired thought. Symbolic: intuitive discernment guiding action
- रथ्यः (rathyaḥ)
- Literal: fit for the chariot/road. Symbolic: prepared inner instrument for the journey of yoga
- सदासाः (sadāsāḥ)
- Literal: steadfast companions. Symbolic: enduring adherence to the path; faithful inner faculties
Protective verse; aligns the sacrificer with the ‘path’ (ratha imagery) under cosmic guardianship
Before undertaking the main work of the rite; also as a benediction.
Stuti and yācñā (praise + request) for protection; mental ‘installation’ of ṛta-shelter.
Recite before travel, exams, or major life transitions as an inner alignment prayer: ‘make my instrument fit for the journey’.
varūtha ‘defense, shelter’ from √vṛ ‘to cover/protect’. patnīvat ‘having consorts’ implies paired cooperative powers; psychologically, higher and lower nature consenting (sa-joṣ). dhī ‘inspired thought’ central Vedic faculty of revelation. rathya ‘of the chariot-path’ from ratha; symbolically the forward movement of sadhana along the divine way.
Wideness (uru), Protection (varūtha), Dhī (inspired intelligence) as means of progress
Implicit: protection is the shelter of ṛta; harmonious duality prevents the fall into disorder.
Steadfastness (sadāsāḥ) as lived truthfulness over time.
The two worlds as ongoing sustainers of manifestation and human progress.
Psychological Vedism: ‘journey’ as inner evolution; protection as stabilizing consciousness.
Shelter = stable concentration and ethical sincerity; chariot = disciplined mind-life; wide shining = broadened awareness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘cosmic shelter’ mythologem: Heaven and Earth provide vast protections and guard the seeker, enabling the journey (ratha-path). Innerly, the consenting cooperation of higher and lower nature makes spiritual progress possible.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The shelter metaphor from √vṛ ‘cover/protect’ is archaic and widespread; the chariot-path (ratha) is a common IE prestige/ritual technology and poetic symbol for forward motion and victorious progress.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asks for protection so that inspired thought (dhī) can make the community ‘fit for the journey’. The Devata’s gift is not only safety but coordinated impulse (iṣayantī) that turns aspiration into steady progress.
Invoke a protective wideness: feel the ‘sky’ above the head and ‘earth’ beneath the feet; let them come into one accord around the heart-breath.
mūlādhāra (stability) + sahasrāra/ājñā (wideness/illumination) with heart as harmonizer
4-6 breathing (inhale 4, exhale 6) to evoke shelter and calm forward movement.
Protected calm with readiness; steady companionship with the path.
After chanting, formulate one ‘dhī’ (clear inner intention) and one ‘rathya’ action (practical step) so inspiration becomes capacity.
Vedic accenting per Śākala; maintain clear separation of pādas and preserve accentual rises/falls as marked.
Let key invocatory words (rodasī, varūthaiḥ, urūcī, ni pātaṃ, dhiyā) be articulated with slight emphasis while keeping overall evenness.
: long ō; dental d, : bṛ- with vocalic ṛ; dhbh cluster carefully, : long ū; th aspirate, : retroflex ṇ; dbh cluster, : jo long ō; ṣ retroflex, : long ū and ī, : thya cluster clean
Reassuring, steady, slightly deep tone.
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