Rig Veda 4.39.5: Mandala 4, Sukta 39, Mantra 5
Sukta 4.39
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Mitra-Varuṇa as bestowers
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
इन्द्रमिवेदुभये वि ह्वयन्त उदीराणा यज्ञमुपप्रयन्तः । दधिक्रामु सूदनं मर्त्याय ददथुर्मित्रावरुणा नो अश्वम् ॥
índram ivéd ubháye ví hvayanta udī́rāṇā yajñám upaprayántaḥ | dadhikrā́m u sū́danaṃ mártyāya dadáthur mitrā́varuṇā no aśvám ||
ਇੰਦਰ ਨੂੰ ਬੁਲਾਉਂਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਜਿਵੇਂ, ਦੋਵੇਂ ਪਾਸੇ ਉੱਠ ਕੇ ਯਜ੍ਞ ਵੱਲ ਅੱਗੇ ਵਧਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਆਹਵਾਨ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਹੇ ਮਿਤ੍ਰ-ਵਰੁਣ, ਤੁਸੀਂ ਮਰਤ੍ਯ ਯਾਤਰਾ ਲਈ ਸਾਨੂੰ ਦਧਿਕ੍ਰਾਵਣ—ਵਿਜੈ ਵੱਲ ਧੱਕਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਪ੍ਰੇਰਕ ਅਸ਼ਵ—ਬਖ਼ਸ਼ਿਆ ਹੈ।
Word by Word
- इन्द्रम्
- Indra (as object of calling)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- like, asIndeclinableअव्ययRoot इव (निपात)
- इद्
- indeed, justIndeclinableअव्यय (निश्चय/एव-अर्थे)Root इद् (निपात)
- उभये
- both (of you two)Adjective/Pronounपुंलिङ्ग (मित्रावरुणयोः), प्रथमा विभक्ति, द्विवचनRole कर्तृRoot उभय (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वि
- apart, forth (intensifier with verb)Indeclinableउपसर्गRoot वि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- ह्वयन्ते
- they call/invokeVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम पुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot √ह्वा (ह्वयति)
- उदीराणाः
- raising/uttering (aloud)Participleवर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-समकक्ष), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (ह्वयन्ते-कर्तृविशेषण)Root उद् + √ईर् (ईरयति/ईरते) → उदीराण (कृदन्त)
- यज्ञम्
- the sacrificeNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
- उप
- towards, nearIndeclinableउपसर्गRoot उप (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- प्रयन्तः
- going forth/approachingParticipleवर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (ह्वयन्ते-कर्तृविशेषण)Root प्र + √इ (एति) → प्रयन्त् (कृदन्त)
- दधिक्राम्
- Dadhikrāvan (the divine steed)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot दधिक्रावन् (प्रातिपदिक; अश्वदेवता)
- सूदनम्
- victorious/impelling, winningAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (दधिक्राम्-विशेषण)Role कर्म (विशेष्य-समन्वयात्)Root सूदन (प्रातिपदिक; √सू/सूद् ‘to drive/impel, to win’ से)
- मर्त्याय
- for the mortalNounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- ददथुः
- you two have givenVerbलिट् (परोक्श/परफेक्ट), परस्मैपद, प्रथम पुरुष, द्विवचनRole क्रियाRoot √दा (ददाति)
- मित्रावरुणा
- Mitra and VaruṇaNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृRoot मित्र + वरुण (द्वन्द्व-समास प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- our, to usPronounषष्ठी (एन्क्लिटिक), बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (स्वाम्य/सम्बन्ध)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- अश्वम्
- a horseNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-विग्रह): इन्द्रम् इव इद् उभये वि ह्वयन्ते उदीराणाः यज्ञम् उप प्रयन्तः । दधिक्राम् सूदनम् मर्त्याय ददथुः मित्रावरुणा नः अश्वम् ॥ मुख्य सन्धयः: (1) इन्द्रम्+इव → इन्द्रमिव (म् + इ = मि) (2) इव+इद् → इवेद् (अव्यय-सन्धि) (3) ह्वयन्त+उदीराणाः → ह्वयन्त उदीराणाः (पदविराम) (4) यज्ञम्+उप → यज्ञमुप (म् + उ = मु) (5) उप+प्रयन्तः → उपप्रयन्तः (उपसर्ग-संयोग) (6) दधिक्राम्+सूदनम् → दधिक्रामु सूदनम् (म् + स = म्/अनुस्वार-प्रयोग; संहितायां ‘मु’) (7) ददथुः+मित्रावरुणा → ददथुर्मित्रावरुणा (ः + म = र्-आदेशः) (8) वरुणा+नः → वरुणा नो (आ + न = ओ)
The meaning
Outer meaning
As if invoking Indra, both sides call out while rising and advancing toward the yajña. Mitra and Varuṇa grant to us, for the mortal, Dadhikrāvan—the impelling horse that drives toward victory.
Inner meaning
The seeker’s powers on “both sides” (the active and receptive movements of the being; or the dual currents of prāṇa and mind) call to the Indra-force (illumined Mind) as a model of victorious awakening. As the inner sacrifice is raised (udīrāṇāḥ) and the consciousness advances toward offering (upaprayantaḥ), Mitra–Varuṇa (harmony and vast law) bestow Dadhikrāvan: the swift, victorious life-force/steed that carries the embodied soul through mortal limitation toward conquest of obscurity.
Universal truth
Progress becomes sure when aspiration is organized by truth and harmony: the law of right relation (Mitra) and the law of vast order (Varuṇa) can release a swift inner power that carries human effort beyond resistance into victory.
Themes
mobilization, divine gift, progress on the path, harmonized governance
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.1, RV 4.26, RV 4.27, RV 4.39, RV 4.40
Family tradition
Gautama lineage; Vāmadeva hymns often voice the soul’s ascent through illumined force and right order.
Significance
Vāmadeva is a seer of inner transformation: he frequently interprets the gods as powers of consciousness, emphasizing victory over limitation through truth (ṛta) and luminous force.
The deity
- Devata
- Mitra–Varuṇa (bestowers); Dadhikrāvan as gifted power; Indra as comparison-model
- Epithets
- Mitra (the harmonizer), Varuṇa (the vast upholder of ṛta), Dadhikrāvan (swift impeller, conquering steed), Indra (model of victorious illumination)
- Related deities
- Indra, Agni, Uṣas, Sūrya
Cosmic role
Mitra–Varuṇa establish the right law and wideness in which the journey of the soul can proceed; they release the effective force (Dadhikrāvan) that drives the sacrifice toward victory (jaya).
Inner power
Ethical-psychic alignment (truth, right relation, wideness) that unlocks swift prāṇic dynamism and courageous forward motion in sādhanā.
In ritual
Where it is used
Praise/invocation connected with Dadhikrāvan hymns; used as a supportive recitation for movement, victory, and auspicious beginning of undertakings.
इन्द्र॑मि॒वेदु॒भये॒ वि ह्व॑यन्त उ॒दीरा॑णा य॒ज्ञमु॑पप्र॒यन्त॑: । द॒धि॒क्रामु॒ सूद॑नं॒ मर्त्या॑य द॒दथु॑र्मित्रावरुणा नो॒ अश्व॑म् ॥
इन्द्र॑म्ऽइव । इत् । उ॒भये॑ । वि । ह्व॒य॒न्ते॒ । उ॒त्ऽईरा॑णाः । य॒ज्ञम् । उ॒प॒ऽप्र॒यन्तः॑ । द॒धि॒ऽक्राम् । ऊँ॒ इति॑ । सूद॑नम् । मर्त्या॑य । द॒दथुः॑ । मि॒त्रा॒व॒रु॒णा॒ । नः॒ । अश्व॑म् ॥
indram-iva | it | ubhaye | vi | hvayante | ut-īrāṇāḥ | yajñam | upa-prayantaḥ | dadhi-krām | oṃ iti | sūdanam | martyāya | dadathuḥ | mitrāvaruṇā | naḥ | aśvam
44
4 padas of ~11 syllables each (Triṣṭubh norm; minor variations possible)
Forward-driving, martial-steady cadence suited to movement/advance imagery.
Creates a sense of rising momentum—good for energizing aspiration and coordinating breath with inner ‘advance to yajña’.
- ubhaye
- Literal: both (sides). Symbolic: the dual movements in sādhanā—active will and receptive openness; or mind and life cooperating in aspiration
- vi hvayante
- Literal: they call/invoke aloud. Symbolic: intense inner summons (āhvāna) to the illumining power
- udīrāṇāḥ
- Literal: rising up, being stirred. Symbolic: uplift of consciousness; awakening of energies for the inner yajña
- yajñam upaprayantaḥ
- Literal: advancing toward the sacrifice. Symbolic: approaching the inner offering where all parts are given to the Divine
- Mitrāvaruṇā
- Literal: Mitra and Varuṇa. Symbolic: harmony/rightness + vast truth-order; ethical-psychic alignment that supports illumination
- Dadhikrām
- Literal: Dadhikrāvan (name). Symbolic: impelling victorious steed—dynamic life-force yoked to truth, carrying the sadhaka forward
- sūdanam
- Literal: driving, impelling; winning. Symbolic: the push of effective force that breaks inertia and leads to conquest
- aśvam
- Literal: horse. Symbolic: vital energy and force of action disciplined for the journey
Mantra of approach to yajña; suitable for moments of ‘pravṛtti’ (setting forth) in rite; inner application: mobilizing divided parts (‘ubhaye’) toward a single aspiration.
During soma-yajña cycles or ancillary recitations; also suitable at the ‘setting in motion’ phase of offerings.
Recited while kindling/raising the sacrificial movement and invoking divine aid for successful passage.
Before meditation or important work: invoke harmony (Mitra), truth-order (Varuṇa), and swift disciplined energy (aśva) for steady progress.
udīrāṇāḥ (ud- + √īr ‘raise, impel’) marks the arousal of energies. sūdana (√sūd) conveys ‘driving to accomplishment’, fitting the inner sense of force that carries consciousness forward. mitrāvaruṇā as a dual compound encodes the Vedic idea that harmony (Mitra) and law/purity (Varuṇa) jointly bestow the right instruments of progress. upa-prayantaḥ (upa + pra + √i ‘go forth, advance’) emphasizes directed movement toward yajña as inner practice.
integration of dualities (ubhaye → one invocation), gift of right force by cosmic law (Mitra-Varuṇa), yajña as self-offering
Mitra–Varuṇa are primary guardians of ṛta; their gift indicates progress becomes lawful and effective when aligned to ṛta.
Truth as right relation and right order enabling force to act without distortion.
The sacrifice as a means of continual world-formation: raising energies and advancing toward higher states.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: gods as functional powers of consciousness.
The ‘horse’ is the mobilized life-energy; ‘rising’ is ascent of consciousness; ‘advance to yajña’ is turning all movements into offering.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘divine gift of the steed’ mythologem: the cosmic governors (Mitra-Varuṇa) bestow the horse-power that enables the mortal to advance toward yajña and victory—an inner version of receiving the right vehicle/energy for the journey.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- aśva again reflects PIE *h₁éḱwos. The dual verbal and nominal forms (dadáthur, mitrā́varuṇā) preserve archaic IE duality. √dā ‘give’ is a core IE root (cf. Gk. didōmi, Lat. dōnum via *deh₃- ‘give’).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The hymn frames progress as a cooperative economy: the human side ‘rises’ and ‘approaches’ with invocation, while the divine regulators respond by granting the exact force (Dadhikrāvan) needed for embodied striving—human aspiration meets divine bestowal.
Unite aspiration with rightness: feel harmony (Mitra) and vast law (Varuṇa) settling the mind; then release a swift forward life-force (Dadhikrāvan) to carry the practice.
Anahata (Mitra—harmony) and Vishuddha (Varuṇa—truth/order) supporting Manipura (horse-force of action).
Moderate ujjāyī or 4-4-6 breathing: inhale ‘rising’ (udīrāṇāḥ), exhale ‘advance to yajña’ (upaprayantaḥ).
Energized collectedness—dynamic calm with forward intent.
Begin by aligning speech and intention to truth; invoke wideness; then concentrate force into one clean forward movement (no scattered effort).
Use Rigvedic accenting: preserve udatta on marked syllables (e.g., -,, ), with adjacent svarita/anudātta per pada tradition.
Chant by padas; keep the udatta slightly raised in pitch, do not over-musicalize; maintain clear caesura after each pada.
is aspirated dental: -- (dadh-i), not retroflex, is conjunct: in (dadhikrām) with long ā, : keep the compound smooth: mi-trā-va-ru-ṇā, : long ī and ā; not clipped
Steady, resonant, forward-driving; avoid breathiness.
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