Rig Veda 4.18.2: Mandala 4, Sukta 18, Mantra 2

Sukta 4.18

Rishi: Vāmadeva Gautama (traditional attribution for RV 4.18)

Devata: Indra (with the birth-myth context; implicit dialogue with the divine power aiding the emergence)

Chandas: Triṣṭubh (probable for RV 4.18; verify against pada count in critical edition)

Samhita Patha (Devanagari)

नाहमतो निरया दुर्गहैतत्तिरश्चता पार्श्वान्निर्गमाणि । बहूनि मे अकृता कर्त्वानि युध्यै त्वेन सं त्वेन पृच्छै ॥

Transliteration

nā́ham áto nír ayā dúr-gahā́ etát tiraścátā pārśvā́n nír-gamāni | bahū́ni me á-kṛtā́ kartvā́ni yúdhyai tvéna sám tvéna pṛ́cchai ||

Translation

I do not go out from here, from this hard-to-pass confinement, by a straight passage; I must emerge sideways from the flank. Many works remain yet unaccomplished for me; to fight them out I seek union with you and question you in that oneness.

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Word by Word

• न: not
• न: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्तृ
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अहम्

• अतः: from here; therefore
• अतः: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः

• निरयाः: from the underworld/hell
• निरयाः: अपादान
• Type: Noun
• Root: निरय

• दुर्गहै: in a hard-to-grasp/hostile place
• दुर्गहै: अधिकरण
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्गह

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (सम्बन्धे) / विषय
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्

• तिरश्चता: crosswise; sideways
• तिरश्चता: करण (रीत्या)
• Type: Adjective (used adverbially)
• Root: तिरश्च

• पार्श्वात्: from the side
• पार्श्वात्: अपादान
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व

• निर्गमाणि: going out; emerging
• निर्गमाणि: कर्म/विषय (गमनस्य)
• Type: Verb (participle)
• Root: नि√गम्

• बहूनि: many
• बहूनि: कर्म/विषय
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु

• मे: of me; my
• मे: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्

• अकृतानि: not done; unaccomplished
• अकृतानि: विशेषण (कर्त्वानि इति)
• Type: Adjective (past passive participle)
• Root: कृ (कृत) + अ-

• कर्त्वानि: things to be done; tasks
• कर्त्वानि: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्त्व (from √कृ)

• युध्यै: to fight
• युध्यै: प्रयोजन
• Type: Verb (infinitive)
• Root: √युध्

• त्वेन: with you
• त्वेन: सह/करण
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: त्व (त्वम्) / त्व- (वेद. instrumental of 2nd person)

• सम्: together; completely
• सम्: —
• Type: Preverb/Indeclinable
• Root: सम्

• त्वेन: with you
• त्वेन: सह/करण
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: त्व (त्वम्)

• पृच्छै: may I ask; I would ask
• पृच्छै: कर्तृ (अहम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √प्रच्छ्