Rig Veda 4.34.6: Mandala 4, Sukta 34, Mantra 6
Sukta 4.34
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Rbhus
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
आ नपातः शवसो यातनोपेमं यज्ञं नमसा हूयमानाः । सजोषसः सूरयो यस्य च स्थ मध्वः पात रत्नधा इन्द्रवन्तः ॥
ā́ napātaḥ śávasaḥ yātanópa imáṃ yajñáṃ námasā hūyámānāḥ | sajóṣasaḥ sūrayo yásya ca stha mádhvaḥ pāta ratnadhā́ índravantaḥ ||
Vinde, ó descendentes do Poder; aproximai-vos deste sacrifício, chamado com reverência. Em uníssono, ó luminosos, na presença daquele junto a quem estais, bebei a doçura melíflua; ó portadores de tesouros, fortalecidos por Indra, recebei o deleite.
Word by Word
- आ
- hither, towardsIndeclinableउपसर्ग/निपातRoot आ (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- नपातः
- O descendants/sons (of might)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole Kartā (सम्बोधनार्थक-प्रायः) / संबोधनRoot नपात् (प्रातिपदिक)
- शवसः
- of strength, of mightNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive) / विशेषण-सम्बन्धRoot शवस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- यातन
- come, proceedVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यमपुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot या (धातु) + तन् (आदेश/वेदिक रूप)
- उप
- near, untoIndeclinableअव्ययRoot उप (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- इमम्
- thisPronounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम)
- यज्ञम्
- sacrifice, riteNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
- नमसा
- with reverence, with homageNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- हूयमानाः
- being invoked, being calledParticipleवर्तमान-कर्मणि कृदन्त (शानच्); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole Kartā (वर्णनात्मक) / विशेषणRoot ह्वे (धातु) → √हू (वेदिक) + यमान (शानच्)
- सजोषसः
- in concord, of one accordAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole Kartā (विशेषण) / सहभावRoot स- (सम्) + जोषस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- सूरयः
- patrons, lords (generous men)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole KartāRoot सूरि (प्रातिपदिक)
- यस्य
- whosePronounपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root यद् (सर्वनाम)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चयRoot च (अव्यय)
- स्थ
- you are / you standVerbलट्; मध्यमपुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपद (वेदिक रूप: स्थ = स्थ/स्थः)Role क्रियाRoot अस् (धातु)
- मध्वः
- of sweetness, of meadNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive) / स्रोत-सम्बन्धRoot मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
- पात
- drinkVerbलोट्; मध्यमपुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot पा (धातु)
- रत्नधा
- placing/bringing treasuresAdjectiveबहुव्रीहि/उपपद-समास; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole Kartā (विशेषण)Root रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + धा (धातु)
- इन्द्रवन्तः
- having Indra (as ally), Indra-aidedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole Kartā (विशेषण)Root इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वन्त् (मतुप्)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (pada-wise): यात॒नोपे॒मं → यातन + उप + इमम्
- हू॒यमा॑नाः preserved as kṛdanta from √ह्वे (Vedic √हू) with शानच्
- मध्व॑: → मध्वः (gen. sg. of मधु)
- रत्न॒धा → रत्न-धा (upapada compound ‘treasure-placing’)
- इन्द्र॑वन्तः → इन्द्र-वन्तः (matup/वन् suffix ‘possessing Indra’). Accent marks in the saṃhitā are not reproduced in the pada forms here
The meaning
Outer meaning
Come, O descendants of Power, come near to this sacrifice, called with reverence. In one accord, O luminous ones, in whose presence you stand—drink the honeyed sweetness; O treasure-bearers, strengthened by Indra, drink the delight.
Inner meaning
The Rbhus are invoked as ‘napātaḥ śavasaḥ’—offspring/emanations of Power: capacities born of divine Force (śavas). They are called by namas (reverent surrender), implying that humility opens the channel. ‘Sajoṣasaḥ sūrayaḥ’—united luminous ones—indicates harmonized inner faculties gathered around a higher Presence (yasya ca stha). They are to drink madhu (honeyed soma): refined sweetness of consciousness. ‘Indravantaḥ’ shows that illumined Mind (Indra) supports and strengthens these artisan-forces so they can bear treasure (ratnadhāḥ) into the human system.
Universal truth
When inner powers are unified and supported by illumination, they can assimilate refined delight and convert it into stable treasures—capacities, virtues, and effective works.
Themes
Invocation, Harmony and community of powers, Madhu (delight-essence)
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 4.16 (Indra), Rig Veda 4.18 (force/victory themes), Rig Veda 4.33–4.35 (Rbhus)
Family tradition
Characteristic integration of Indra (illumination) with other divine powers, showing cooperative action in the inner sacrifice.
Significance
Vāmadeva stresses that power must be yoked to light; otherwise force cannot safely carry delight and treasure.
The deity
- Devata
- Rbhus (napātaḥ śavasaḥ), linked with Indra
- Epithets
- napātaḥ śavasaḥ, sūrayaḥ, ratnadhāḥ, indravantaḥ
- Related deities
- Indra, Soma, Agni
Cosmic role
Emanated powers of divine Force that perfect the sacrifice and distribute treasures, operating under the sovereignty of illumined mind (Indra).
Inner power
Unified luminous craftsmanship: transforming raw energies into refined sweetness and stable capacities.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma invitation: deities called to the yajña to drink madhu/soma
आ न॑पातः शवसो यात॒नोपे॒मं य॒ज्ञं नम॑सा हू॒यमा॑नाः । स॒जोष॑सः सूरयो॒ यस्य॑ च॒ स्थ मध्व॑: पात रत्न॒धा इन्द्र॑वन्तः ॥
आ । न॒पा॒तः॒ । श॒व॒सः॒ । या॒त॒न॒ । उप॑ । इ॒मम् । य॒ज्ञम् । नम॑सा । हू॒यमा॑नाः । स॒ऽजोष॑सः । सू॒र॒यः॒ । यस्य॑ । च॒ । स्थ । मध्वः॑ । पा॒त॒ । र॒त्न॒ऽधाः । इन्द्र॑ऽवन्तः ॥
ā | napātaḥ | śavasaḥ | yātana | upa | imam | yajñam | namasā | hūyamānāḥ | sa-joṣasaḥ | sūrayaḥ | yasya | ca | stha | madhvaḥ | pāta | ratna-dhāḥ | indra-vantaḥ
44
4×11
Summoning and cohesive; the repeated imperatives ‘yātana…pāta’ create a strong intake rhythm.
Generates unity and empowered sweetness; helpful for drawing scattered parts into concord under a clear intention.
- napātaḥ śavasaḥ
- Literal: descendants/sons of power. Symbolic: emanated faculties born of divine Force; empowered capacities in sādhanā
- namasā
- Literal: with reverence, bowing. Symbolic: surrender/consent that opens receptivity
- sajoṣasaḥ
- Literal: in one accord. Symbolic: integration of parts of the being; non-conflict in the nature
- sūrayaḥ
- Literal: luminous ones. Symbolic: illumined faculties; clarity-bearing powers
- madhu / madhvaḥ
- Literal: honey, sweetness. Symbolic: refined Ananda; sweet essence of experience
- ratnadhāḥ
- Literal: treasure-bearers. Symbolic: powers that hold and deliver spiritual riches into life
- indravantaḥ
- Literal: having Indra/with Indra’s strength. Symbolic: supported by illumined mind-force; victorious intelligence
Soma invitation with reverence (namasā) and communal harmony (sajoṣas); inner application: aligning forces harmoniously and calling in delight-essence (madhu) under Indra’s empowering.
At moments of calling deities near (upāhvāna) and offering soma; thematically compatible with any savana.
Reverent invocation, seating in one accord, offering honeyed soma.
Use when seeking integration (sajoṣa) and clarity (Indra) before important action; also before group meditation for harmony.
napāt: ‘descendant/offspring’ (emanational theology: powers as births of Power). śavas: might/force; inner energy. madhu: honey/sweetness; in Veda often the essence of delight/truth (madhu-vidyā horizon). indra-vant: ‘with Indra’—Indra as enabling power for manifestation and victory.
Emanation (napāt) of powers from Power, Harmony (sajoṣas) as condition for reception, Indra as enabling force
Sajoṣa (one accord) is a psychological form of ṛta—right relation among parts of being.
Reverent calling (namas) aligns with truth of dependence on the higher Presence.
Emanation: powers born of Force; refinement: honeyed delight distilled and assimilated.
Aurobindonian: Indra as illumined mind guiding the transformation of force into conscious delight.
Honey = sweet essence of consciousness; power = dynamic tapas in life-force; treasure = consolidated realizations and capacities.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘sons of Power’ arriving in harmony to drink madhu under Indra’s support. Mythic drink becomes inner assimilation of sweetness—delight/truth-essence—possible only when the powers are concordant (sajoṣas) and Indra’s force is present.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The kinship term napāt is a common IE strategy for defining divine emanations (genealogical metaphor without Purāṇic genealogy). The imperative ‘drink!’ combined with ‘being invoked’ shows performative ritual language—an inherited sacral-poetic function.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi invokes with namas (reverent self-offering) and asks for harmonious descent. The devatā are approached as living forces that can be ‘called’ and can ‘drink’—i.e., take their share and, by that exchange, empower the mortal’s ascent.
Unify the being (sajoṣa) and invite illumined guidance (Indra) so that delight can be safely assimilated.
Ājñā (Indra/illumination) harmonizing with Anāhata (sweet unity)
Inhale 6 with the thought ‘ā’ (invocation), exhale 6 with ‘pāta’ (assimilation), 12 cycles; then chant once slowly.
Luminous cohesion; sweet clarity.
Start with a bow (namas) inwardly; feel all parts agree to one aim. While chanting madhu/madhvaḥ, sense sweetness spreading through the chest and head; end by invoking Indra’s clear light to govern the gained force.
Udatta on ā (invocation), napātaḥ, śavasaḥ, yajñam, madhvaḥ, ratnadhāḥ, indravantaḥ; keep a gentle svarita descent after each peak to evoke ‘drinking/assimilation’.
Give clear calls on ā…yātana…upa; soften on namasā hūyamānāḥ (reverent tone); broaden and sweeten on madhvaḥ pāta.
napātaḥ: keep ‘pā’ long; final ḥ light, śavasaḥ: ‘ś’ palatal; ‘v’ not ‘w’, hūyamānāḥ: long ‘ū’ and long ‘ā’; nasal ‘mā’ clear, indravantaḥ: cluster ‘ndr’ clean; ‘vantaḥ’ with light final ḥ
Luminous, unified, slightly sweetened tone on madhu phrases; avoid forceful shouting.
7
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
