Rig Veda 8.41.6: Mandala 8, Sukta 41, Mantra 6
Sukta 8.41
- Devata
- Varuṇa with Trita as associated figure
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
यस्मिन्विश्वानि काव्या चक्रे नाभिरिव श्रिता । त्रितं जूती सपर्यत व्रजे गावो न संयुजे युजे अश्वाँ अयुक्षत नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥
yasmin viśvāni kāvyā cakre nābhir iva śritā | tritaṃ jūtī saparyata vraje gāvo na sam-yuje yuje aśvān ayukṣata nabhantām anyake same ||
Pada-Nya segala karya ilham (kāvya) ditegakkan, terpaut bagaikan pada pusat (nābhi) yang menghimpun; Trita, dalam gerak yang pantas, berbakti kepada-Nya; di kandang, seperti lembu untuk dipasangkan, mereka memasangkan kuda-kuda pada kuk—moga cahaya-cahaya bersinar dalam keserupaan yang lain.
Word by Word
- यस्मिन्
- in whichPronounपुं/नपुं; सप्तमी एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- विश्वानि
- all thingsAdjective (substantivized)नपुंसक; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- काव्यानि
- poetic works / sacred compositionsNounनपुंसक; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot काव्य (प्रातिपदिक) < कवि
- चक्रे
- has made / fashionedVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट); आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष एकवचनRole Kartā (implicit subject)Root कृ (धातु)
- नाभिः
- the nave (hub)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā/Upamāna (in simile)Root नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- likeIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययRoot इव
- श्रिता
- resting / placed / supportedParticipleभूतकृदन्त (क्त); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (of ‘is resting/placed’ in sense)Root श्रि (धातु) → श्रित (कृदन्त)
- त्रितम्
- TritaProper nounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot त्रित (प्रातिपदिक; देव/ऋषि-नाम)
- जूती
- with speed / with impetuous aidNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot जूति (प्रातिपदिक)
- सपर्यत
- worship / serveVerbलोट्/विधिलिङ्-प्रयोग (आशीर्लिङ्-सदृश आज्ञार्थ); परस्मैपद; मध्यमपुरुष बहुवचनRole KartāRoot सपर्य् (धातु)
- व्रजे
- in the enclosure / penNounपुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot व्रज (प्रातिपदिक)
- गावः
- cowsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- likeIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययRoot न
- संयुजे
- at the yoking / in the harnessingNoun (action/occasion)स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot संयुज् (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-आधार) < युज्
- युजे
- at the yoking (time)Noun (purpose/occasion)स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot युज् (धातु) → युज्/युजि (कृदन्त/नाम)
- अश्वान्
- horsesNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- अयुक्षत
- they yokedVerbलुङ् (अorist); परस्मैपद; तृतीयपुरुष बहुवचनRole KartāRoot युज् (धातु) + अ (अग्म) → अयुक्षत
- नभन्ताम्
- let them resound / cry outVerbलोट्; आत्मनेपद; तृतीयपुरुष बहुवचनRole KartāRoot नभ्/नम्भ् (धातु) (वेद. ‘to burst forth/cry out/resound’)
- अन्यके
- in another (place/way)Adjective (substantivized)पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot अन्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
- समे
- in the meeting / together / in the same (assembly)Noun/Adjective used adverbiallyनपुंसक; सप्तमी एकवचन (locative of circumstance)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot सम (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (pada-style): यस्मि॒न्विश्वा॑नि → यस्मिन् + विश्वानि
- काव्या॑ च॒क्रे → काव्यानि + चक्रे (neut. pl. object)
- नाभि॑रिव → नाभिः + इव
- त्रि॒तं जू॒ती → त्रितम् + जूती
- व्र॒जे गावो॒ → व्रजे + गावः
- सं॒युजे॑ यु॒जे → संयुजे + युजे
- अश्वाँ॑ अयुक्षत → अश्वान् + अयुक्षत
- नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे → नभन्ताम् + अन्यके + समे. Accent marks retained as in saṃhitā
- pada-forms given without explicit accent marking
The meaning
Outer meaning
In whom all inspired works are set, held together like a navel. Trita in swift movement served him; in the pen, like cows for yoking, they yoked the horses to the yoke—may the lights shine in another sameness.
Inner meaning
Varuṇa is the central ‘navel’ (nābhi)—the integrative center where all inspirations (kāvyā) are gathered and coordinated. Trita, a symbolic figure of the ‘third’ or the inner being that moves swiftly between planes, serves this central law-consciousness: he is the active mediator who executes the order. The ‘pen’ (vraja) is the contained field of practice where rays of knowledge (cows) are brought together; then the vital energies (horses) are yoked—disciplined and directed—to the work (yuj). Psychologically: collect inspirations into a single center, then harness vital force to carry the illumination into action.
Universal truth
Inspiration becomes effective only when integrated around a center and supported by disciplined energy. True order gathers, yokes, and directs; it does not scatter.
Themes
Integration, Trita motif, Yoking energies, Inner discipline
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 8.41.3, Rig Veda 8.41.4, Rig Veda 8.41.5, Rig Veda 8.41.7
Significance
The seer reveals a practical yoga: gather inspiration into a central coherence (nābhi), then yoke the life-force (aśva) under the law (Varuṇa) with the help of an inner mediator (Trita).
The deity
- Devata
- Varuṇa (with Trita as associated helper-figure)
- Epithets
- Nābhi-like binder, Center of kāvya, Law-consciousness served by Trita
- Related deities
- Agni (inner fire, often linked with Trita motifs), Indra (force of action once yoked), Mitra
Cosmic role
Binds and coordinates the many works and movements of the world; provides the hub of order.
Inner power
Integrative concentration that turns scattered inspirations into a unified force; enables disciplined action.
In ritual
Where it is used
Ritual analog: yoking of horses/chariot and ordering of the sacrificial ‘work’; invoked for successful coordination of acts.
यस्मि॒न्विश्वा॑नि॒ काव्या॑ च॒क्रे नाभि॑रिव श्रि॒ता । त्रि॒तं जू॒ती स॑पर्यत व्र॒जे गावो॒ न सं॒युजे॑ यु॒जे अश्वाँ॑ अयुक्षत॒ नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥
यस्मि॑न् । विश्वा॑नि । काव्या॑ । च॒क्रे । नाभिः॑ऽइव । श्रि॒ता । त्रि॒तम् । जू॒ती । स॒प॒र्य॒त॒ । व्र॒जे । गावः॑ । न । स॒म्ऽयुजे॑ । यु॒जे । अश्वा॑न् । अ॒यु॒क्ष॒त॒ । नभ॑न्ताम् । अ॒न्य॒के । स॒मे॒ ॥
yasmin | viśvāni | kāvyā | cakre | nābhiḥ-iva | śritā | tritam | jūtī | saparyata | vraje | gāvaḥ | na | sam-yuje | yuje | aśvāmn | ayukṣata | nabhantām | anyake | same
44
4 × ~11
Dynamic and kinetic; images of yoking and swift service create forward momentum.
Energizes disciplined action while keeping the mind centered; good for converting insight into will.
- नाभिः (nābhiḥ)
- Literal: navel, hub. Symbolic: integrating center of consciousness; the point of coherence
- काव्या (kāvyā)
- Literal: inspired works/poetic powers. Symbolic: illumined formations—insights, mantric movements, creative truths
- त्रित (trita)
- Literal: Trita (a Vedic figure). Symbolic: the ‘third’ principle/inner mediator; swift executor between planes (often linked with hidden Agni or inner helper)
- जूती (jūtī)
- Literal: swiftly, with speed. Symbolic: rapid movement of the awakened force; decisive execution
- व्रजे (vraje)
- Literal: in the pen/enclosure. Symbolic: disciplined field of sādhanā; contained practice-space
- गावः (gāvaḥ)
- Literal: cows. Symbolic: rays of light/knowledge gathered for the work
- अश्वान् (aśvān)
- Literal: horses. Symbolic: vital energies/powers of action
- युजे (yuje)
- Literal: for yoking. Symbolic: discipline, harnessing; right application of force
Mythic-ritual imagery of yoking; applicable in sequences that ‘yoke’ energies (aśvāḥ) to the rite—inner discipline and coordinated action.
Before undertaking a complex work (ritual or inner), to unify intention and harness energies.
Recite while making a mental ‘yoke’: gather thoughts (cows/rays) into the enclosure, then direct prāṇa (horses) to the chosen aim.
Use before focused study/creative work: 1) center at ‘navel’ (coherence), 2) call Trita (swift inner helper), 3) yoke energy to task.
nābhi: ‘navel’ (center), PIE *h3nobh- (cf. Latin umbilicus is different, but German Nabel). √kṛ (cakre) from PIE *kwer-? (complex), standard Indo-Aryan verb ‘do/make’. jūti from √ju ‘hasten’ (cf. ‘youth’ is separate; but semantic of quickness). yuj ‘yoke’ from PIE *yeug- (Latin iugum, English yoke). aśva ‘horse’ from PIE *h1eḱwos (Latin equus).
centrality (nābhi), integration of works (kāvyā), yoking (yuj) as yoga-like unification
Varuṇa’s order is the binding hub; right action is ‘yoked’ to ṛta.
True inspiration (kāvya) must be held in the center to avoid distortion.
World as coordinated works held by a central principle; manifestation through disciplined energies.
Yogic-psychological reading: concentration (dhāraṇā) + harnessed prāṇa as basis for effective transformation.
Hub = central awareness; enclosure = practice container; cows = rays of insight; horses = prāṇic/vital force directed to purpose.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘yoking’ mythologem: energies (horses) are yoked for a unified action, while the inspired works are held in a central navel. Trita appears as a serving/mediating figure, suggesting a ‘third’ force that helps integrate and harness powers for the ascent.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- yuj/yoke is a transparent PIE inheritance (*yeug-), and aśva reflects PIE *h1eḱwos (equus). The verse preserves a classic Indo-European poetic complex: yoking horses as a metaphor for harnessing powers/vehicles of action.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi depicts the devatā as the inner center (nābhi) where all inspired works cohere; worship (saparyat) becomes the act of yoking energies into that center. The devatā grants integration—turning scattered forces into coordinated movement.
Integrate scattered inspirations into a single center; then harness prāṇa for right action.
Maṇipūra (navel center; will/coordination)
3-part breath: inhale to lower abdomen (gather), hold briefly (bind), exhale with intention (yoke).
Centered dynamism—calm hub with active force.
Begin with attention at navel; let insights collect. Invoke ‘Trita’ as the swift inner doer. Then consciously direct energy to one dharma-task; avoid dispersion into many projects.
Tri-svara; obtain precise svara from a recitation text for RV 8.41.6.
Strike nā́bhir iva, trítaṃ, jūtī́, vrajé, gā́vo, yúje, áśvān clearly; keep the long compound flow intact.
: nā-bhir-i-va (light sandhi), : tri-taṃ (retroflex ṭ not present; plain t), : saṃ-yu-je (anusvāra before y), : a-yuk-ṣa-ta (kṣ conjunct)
Focused and resonant; energetic but not rushed.
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