Rig Veda 4.26.4: Mandala 4, Sukta 26, Mantra 4
Sukta 4.26
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Śyena/Soma-bringing power
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
प्र सु ष विभ्यो मरुतो विरस्तु प्र श्येनः श्येनेभ्य आशुपत्वा । अचक्रया यत्स्वधया सुपर्णो हव्यं भरन्मनवे देवजुष्टम् ॥
prá su ṣá vibhyo marúto vír astu prá śyénaḥ śyénebhya āśu-pátvā | acakráyā yát svadháyā suparṇó havyáṃ bháran mánave deva-júṣṭam ||
Niechaj on wyruszy, oddzielony od was, o Maruci; niechaj sokół wyruszy spośród sokołów, szybki w locie. Gdy, bez koła, własną mocą, pięknoskrzydły niósł ofiarę dla Manu - ofiarę umiłowaną przez bogów.
Word by Word
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot प्र (उपसर्ग) / प्र (अव्यय)
- सु
- well, swiftly, excellentlyIndeclinableअव्यय (तीव्रता/शोभा-बोधक)Root सु (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
- षु
- quickly, indeed (Vedic particle)Indeclinableअव्यय (वेदिक-निपात; शीघ्रता/प्रेरणा)Root षु (अव्यय)
- विभ्यः
- from the cleavers/splitters; from the (host) ‘vibhis’ (Marut-like beings)Nounपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (वेदिक), पञ्चमी/षष्ठी बहुवचनRole Apādāna (abl.) / सम्बन्ध (gen.)Root वि (उपसर्ग) + भि (धातु, भिनत्ति/भिनद् ‘to split, pierce’) → विभि- (प्रातिपदिक) / अथवा ‘विभि’ (वेदिक-नाम)
- मरुतः
- the MarutsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot मरुत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- विः
- apart, widely (particle)Indeclinableवेदिक-निपात (विभाग/विस्तार)Root वि (उपसर्ग) / विः (अव्यय/निपात, वेदिक)
- अस्तु
- let there be / may it beVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRoot अस् (धातु ‘to be’)
- प्र
- forthIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot प्र (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- श्येनः
- the falcon/eagleNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot श्येन (प्रातिपदिक)
- श्येनेभ्यः
- to/for the falcons; from the falconsNounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी/पञ्चमी बहुवचनRole Sampradāna (dat.) / Apādāna (abl.)Root श्येन (प्रातिपदिक)
- आशुपत्वा
- swift-winged / flying swiftlyAdjective (indeclinable formation used adverbially)क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (भाव/रीति) — ‘swift-flying(ly)’Root आशु (प्रातिपदिक ‘swift’) + पत् (धातु ‘to fly’) → आशुपत् (बहुव्रीहि/तत्पुरुष) + -त्वा (अव्ययीभाव/तुमुन्-सदृश क्त्वा)
- अचक्रया
- without a wheel; wheel-less (as means)Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (विशेषण-रूपेण) अथवा नपुंसक-बहुवचनस्य साधारण-प्रयोग; यहाँ तृतीया एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot अ- (नञ्) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक ‘wheel’) → अचक्र (adj.)
- यत्
- which, what (that)Pronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन (सापेक्ष) — यहाँ द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- स्वधया
- by (his) own power/impulse; by svadhāNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot स्वधा (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुपर्णः
- the fair-winged one (bird)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot सुपर्ण (प्रातिपदिक; सु+पर्ण)
- हव्यम्
- the oblation, offeringNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot हव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- भरन्
- carrying, bearingVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन (सुपर्णः इति कर्तरि)Role Kartā (as qualifier of agent) / क्रियाविशेषणRoot भृ (धातु ‘to bear, carry’) → भरत्/भरन् (शतृ-प्रत्यय)
- मनवे
- to Manu (for mankind)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवजुष्टम्
- favored/approved by the godsAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (हव्यम् इति विशेषण)Role Karma (qualifier)Root देव (प्रातिपदिक) + जुष्ट (√जुष् ‘to enjoy, favor’ क्त) → देवजुष्ट (adj.)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: प्र | सु | षु | विभ्यः | मरुतः | विः | अस्तु | प्र | श्येनः | श्येनेभ्यः | आशुपत्वा | अचक्रया | यत् | स्वधया | सुपर्णः | हव्यम् | भरन् | मनवे | देवजुष्टम् । (1) ‘विरस्तु’ = ‘विः + अस्तु’ (वेदिक-निपात ‘विः’ + लोट् ‘अस्तु’)
- (2) ‘यत्स्वधया’ = ‘यत् + स्वधया’ (त् + स् संयोग)
- (3) ‘आशुपत्वा’ को वेदिक प्रयोग में ‘आशु-पत्’ (swift-flying) से क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययवत् माना गया।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Let him go forth apart from you, O Maruts; let the falcon go forth from among falcons, swift-winged—when, wheel-less, by his own power, the fair-wing bore the offering for Manu, an oblation beloved of the gods.
Inner meaning
The Maruts are the dynamic life-forces (storm-powers) that often accompany Indra; here the mantra differentiates a special movement: the Śyena, the swift supramental-seeking flight, breaks away from the general turbulence of the vital energies. “Wheel-less” indicates not moving by ordinary mechanical means (habitual mind-vital circuits), but by svadhā—innate power of the soul’s truth-nature. The Suparṇa (fair-wing) carries the havyam: the offering is the purified aspiration/consecration that makes the human (Manu = the mental being) fit for the gods. Thus the higher delight (Soma) is approached by a movement beyond the usual vital storm.
Universal truth
True spiritual ascent requires a distinct inner faculty that can disengage from collective impulses and move by intrinsic truth-power, carrying a sincere offering that the higher consciousness accepts.
Themes
Soma-bringing falcon, intuition-flight, self-powered movement, offering legitimacy
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.27.1-5 (Śyena/Soma motifs), RV 4.20 (inner sacrifice themes)
Family tradition
In this Śyena cycle (RV 4.26–4.27), Vāmadeva uses mythic imagery to describe inner ascent and the bringing of Soma (divine Ananda) into the human system.
Significance
The seer distinguishes between general energetic movements (Maruts) and a higher, self-moved flight (Śyena), reflecting a refined yogic psychology.
The deity
- Devata
- Śyena (Soma-bringing power)
- Epithets
- suparṇa (fair-winged), āśupatvan (swift-flying), śakuna (sky-bird)
- Related deities
- Soma, Indra, Maruts, Agni
Cosmic role
Mediator movement between heaven and earth; brings the divine offering/delight from higher planes to the human sphere.
Inner power
Aspiring, discerning consciousness capable of swift ascent and safe descent with the ‘nectar’ of higher experience.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma-yajña narratives and invocations around Soma’s acquisition/bringing; recited in contexts celebrating Soma’s divine origin.
प्र सु ष विभ्यो॑ मरुतो॒ विर॑स्तु॒ प्र श्ये॒नः श्ये॒नेभ्य॑ आशु॒पत्वा॑ । अ॒च॒क्रया॒ यत्स्व॒धया॑ सुप॒र्णो ह॒व्यं भर॒न्मन॑वे दे॒वजु॑ष्टम् ॥
प्र । सु । सः । विऽभ्यः॑ । म॒रु॒तः॒ । विः । अ॒स्तु॒ । प्र । श्ये॒नः । श्ये॒नेभ्यः॑ । आ॒शु॒ऽपत्वा॑ । अ॒च॒क्रया॑ । यत् । स्व॒धया॑ । सु॒ऽप॒र्णः । ह॒व्यम् । भर॑त् । मन॑वे । दे॒वऽजु॑ष्टम् ॥
pra | su | saḥ | vi-bhyaḥ | marutaḥ | viḥ | astu | pra | śyenaḥ | śyenebhyaḥ | āśu-patvā | acakrayā | yat | svadhayā | su-parṇaḥ | havyam | bharat | manave | deva-juṣṭam
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4 × ~11 syllables
A strong, leaping rhythm that mimics flight—propulsive with clear caesuras.
Elicits uplift and separation from lower turbulence; gives a sense of ‘taking wing’ inwardly.
- Marutaḥ
- Literal: Maruts, storm-gods. Symbolic: dynamic life-forces; energies of action that can aid or agitate
- śyenaḥ
- Literal: falcon. Symbolic: swift ascending power of consciousness that seizes higher delight/knowledge
- āśupatvā
- Literal: swift-winged/swift-flight. Symbolic: rapid yogic movement of aspiration and discernment
- acakrayā
- Literal: wheel-less. Symbolic: not driven by habitual mechanisms; free movement of inner consciousness
- svadhayā
- Literal: by own power, innate law. Symbolic: intrinsic soul-force; self-existent truth-energy
- suparṇaḥ
- Literal: fair-winged. Symbolic: purified luminous movement capable of bearing the offering upward/downward
- havyam
- Literal: oblation. Symbolic: consecrated will/aspiration offered to the higher powers
- Manu
- Literal: Manu, archetypal man. Symbolic: the mental being; human law of thought that can be divinized
- devajuṣṭam
- Literal: beloved/accepted by the gods. Symbolic: psychic sincerity that is received by higher consciousness
Mythic allusion used in Soma rites: legitimizing Soma as ‘deva-juṣṭa’ and emphasizing swift conveyance of offering
During Soma sequences or recitations recalling the mythic bringing of Soma for the sacrifice of Manu.
Mantric recollection to sanctify Soma as devajuṣṭa and to align the sacrificer’s offering with divine acceptance.
Chant before meditation to detach from restless energies and establish a self-moved aspiration (svadhā) toward higher joy.
śyéna- ‘falcon’ is the Soma-bringer myth figure: psychologically, the swift intuition that fetches the nectar of delight/illumination. suparṇá ‘fair-winged’ intensifies the symbolic flight of inspired mind. svadhā́ ‘own-law/power’ (sva- ‘self’ + dhā ‘place’): innate capacity of consciousness to move without external machinery (acakráyā). √bhṛ ‘bear/bring’ (PIE *bʰer-): carrying the offering/essence to Manu (archetypal mind) so it becomes deva-juṣṭa (acceptable to higher powers).
svadhā (self-law, intrinsic power), intuition as carrier of essence (śyena symbolism), divine acceptance (deva-juṣṭa)
The Śyena’s ‘right flight’ is movement according to Ṛta—true pathways (ṛtasya panthāḥ) rather than impulsive currents.
The offering becomes devajuṣṭa when aligned with truth-intention.
Bridging worlds: descent of higher substance (Soma/Ananda) into human mentality (Manu).
Integral Yoga-style ascent/descent symbolism (Aurobindo): higher planes accessed and brought into embodied life.
Storm = restless prāṇic field; falcon = concentrated upward current of consciousness; sky = higher mind/supramental ranges.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Soma-bringing Śyena myth: a swift bird brings the divine offering to Manu. Inner sense: intuition (śyena) by its own law (svadhā) fetches the nectar-essence and delivers it to the human mind-principle (Manu), making the offering acceptable to the gods.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √bhṛ ‘bear’ is PIE *bʰer- (Eng. bear, Lat. ferō). The sva- reflexive formation in svadhā is a common IE strategy (self-). The poetic parallelism and separative ablatives (vibhyaḥ, śyenebhyaḥ) are typical of archaic Indo-European syntax in hymnic style.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The Rishi invokes a specialized divine function—swift conveyance of the offering/essence—distinguishing it even from the Marut host. The devata is not merely praised but positioned as the indispensable inner faculty that makes sacrifice effective by delivering its distilled power to the human archetype.
Cultivate the ‘Śyena’ faculty: a single-pointed upward movement that carries your aspiration as an offering.
viśuddha (purified expression/offer) and ājñā (directed flight of awareness)
Inhale gently (count 4), exhale longer (count 6) while chanting; feel ‘wheel-less’ ease on exhale.
From agitated prāṇa to self-directed luminous aspiration.
Begin by observing the ‘Marut’ turbulence (thought-winds). On ‘vi astu’ consciously step aside. On ‘svadhayā suparṇaḥ’ feel an effortless lift; offer one clear intention (havyam) to the higher consciousness; rest in receptivity.
Tri-svara; keep lift on ‘pra’ openings; allow svarita fall on phrase endings.
Mark the double ‘pra’ as energetic launches; pause slightly after ‘maruto vir astu’.
śyenaḥ: palatal ś + ye; keep ‘e’ clear, suparṇaḥ: pronounce ṇ retroflex, not dental n, svadhayā: keep dh aspirated, not ‘d’
Bright and airy, like a steady wind becoming a clear flight.
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