Rig Veda 4.21.6: Mandala 4, Sukta 21, Mantra 6
Sukta 4.21
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Indra, with strong ritual-psychological presence of Hotṛ/Vahni in the verse imagery
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
धिषा यदि धिषण्यन्तः सरण्यान्त्सदन्तो अद्रिमौशिजस्य गोहे । आ दुरोषाः पास्त्यस्य होता यो नो महान्त्संवरणेषु वह्निः ॥
dhíṣā yádi dhiṣaṇyántaḥ saraṇyā́n sádanto ádrim auśijásya góhe | ā́ duróṣāḥ pāstyásya hótā yó no mahā́nt saṃ-váraṇēṣu váhniḥ ||
धिषा यदि धिषण्यन्तः सरण्यान् सदन्तो अद्रिमौशिजस्य गोहे । आ दुरोषाः पास्त्यस्य होता यो नो महान्त् संवरनेषु वह्निः ॥
Word by Word
- धिषा
- by/with inspiration (thought, insight)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचनRole करणRoot धिषा- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘धिष्/धिष्’ बुद्धि-प्रेरणा)
- यदि
- if/whenIndeclinableसम्बन्ध/शर्तसूचक अव्ययRoot यदि (अव्यय)
- धिषण्यन्तः
- the inspired/impelling onesAdjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot धिषण्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘प्रेरक/प्रज्ञावान्’)
- सरण्यान्
- the swift/approachable onesAdjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot सरण्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘सरणीय/शीघ्रगामी/आश्रयणीय’)
- सदन्तः
- sitting down, taking their seatsVerb (present participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot √सद् (सीदति ‘to sit, settle’)
- अद्रिम्
- the stone/pressing-stone (or rock)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot अद्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
- औशिजस्य
- of AuśijaNoun (patronymic/epithet)पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root औशिज (प्रातिपदिक; उशिज्-सम्बन्धी/औशिज ‘of Uśij/descendant of Uśij’)
- गोहे
- in the cows’ enclosure / at the cow-stallNoun (locative compound form)नपुंसक/पुं (स्थानीय); सप्तमी एकवचन (स्थाने)Role अधिकरणRoot गो- + √हा/√हन्? (गोहे = गो-हे ‘in the cow-pen/at the cow’s place’; RV idiom)
- आ
- towards, hitherIndeclinableआगमन/आभिमुख्य सूचकRoot आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- दुरोषाः
- the hard-dwelling/strong onesNoun/Adjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot दुरोष (प्रातिपदिक; ‘दुर्-ओष’ कठिन-आवास/दुर्ग-आश्रय; RV epithet)
- पास्त्यस्य
- of the dwelling/householdNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root पास्त्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘गृह/निवास, household’)
- होता
- the Hotṛ-priest (invoker)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot होतृ (प्रातिपदिक; from √हु ‘to sacrifice, invoke’)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- of us/ourPronounषष्ठी बहुवचन (enclitic)Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- महान्
- greatAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषण)Root महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- संवरणेषु
- in the enclosures/coveringsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी बहुवचनRole अधिकरणRoot संवरण (प्रातिपदिक; ‘आवरण/आच्छादन, enclosure’)
- वह्निः
- the bearer (Agni), the carrierNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘carrier’, esp. Agni as bearer)
Sandhi Notes
- मुख्य संधि-विच्छेद: सर॒ण्यान्त्सद॑न्तो → सरण्यान् + सदन्तः (न् + स → न्त्स; पदान्ते ‘न्’ परे ‘स’ इत्यत्र ‘न्त्स’ लेखन)
- अन्यत्र: अद्रि॑मौशि॒जस्य॒ → अद्रिम् + औशिजस्य (म् + औ → मौ)
- ‘यो नो’ → यः + नः (विसर्ग-लोप/पद-संयोग)
The meaning
Outer meaning
When by inspired intelligence the seekers become capable, seated in the swift paths, they press the stone of the Auśija for finding the Light. Then comes the Hotṛ of the home, wide in his dwelling, the great bearer-flame for us in the enclosing regions.
Inner meaning
When dhiṣā (inspired intelligence) awakens, the practitioners become fit for the work (dhiṣaṇyantaḥ). They take their seat in the swift inner pathways (saraṇyān)—currents of prāṇa and thought that can move toward the higher. They press the inner ‘stone’ (adri = the will/force that presses) of the eager striving (auśija = ardent effort) to discover the Light (gohe = the hidden pen of rays). Then the inner Hotṛ—Agni-function as vahni (carrier flame)—arrives: the flame of aspiration that can bear offerings through the enclosing limitations (saṃvaraṇeṣu) and make a wide home (pāstya) for the divine working.
Universal truth
Illumination is released when intelligence becomes inspired and effort becomes rightly directed; then the inner flame arises as the effective mediator, carrying our energies beyond confinement into a wider dwelling of consciousness.
Themes
Soma-pressing symbolism, Aspiration (uśij) and illumination (go), Carrier-force (vahni), Breaking-enclosures
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.1, RV 4.2, RV 4.4, RV 4.20
Family tradition
Vāmadeva frequently interweaves Indra’s victory with Agni/Hotṛ imagery, showing that illumination (Indra) becomes operative through the mediating flame (Agni) and inspired intelligence (dhiṣā).
Significance
This verse displays a classic Vedic yoga-sequence: readiness (adhikāra), right paths, pressing/extraction of essence, discovery of light, and the arising of the carrier-flame to traverse enclosures.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra (context) with prominent Agni/Hotṛ-Vahni function
- Epithets
- vahni (great bearer-flame), hotṛ (invoker), duroṣa (wide-housed—epithet often of Agni)
- Related deities
- Agni, Soma, Vāyu, Bṛhaspati
Cosmic role
Indra’s light-victory is supported by Agni as mediator; together they enable the release and establishment of illumination within the human habitation.
Inner power
Agni as the effective will that carries aspiration through inner resistances; Indra as the illumined command that directs the conquest.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing (adri) imagery; Hotṛ role explicit—fits Soma-yajña liturgy and Agni/Indra cooperation passages.
धि॒षा यदि॑ धिष॒ण्यन्त॑: सर॒ण्यान्त्सद॑न्तो॒ अद्रि॑मौशि॒जस्य॒ गोहे॑ । आ दु॒रोषा॑: पा॒स्त्यस्य॒ होता॒ यो नो॑ म॒हान्त्सं॒वर॑णेषु॒ वह्नि॑: ॥
धि॒षा । यदि॑ । धि॒ष॒ण्यन्तः॑ । स॒र॒ण्यान् । सद॑न्तः । अद्रि॑म् । औ॒शि॒जस्य॑ । गोहे॑ । आ । दु॒रोषाः॑ । पा॒स्त्यस्य॑ । होता॑ । यः । नः॒ । म॒हान् । स॒म्ऽवर॑णेषु । वह्निः॑ ॥
dhiṣā | yadi | dhiṣaṇyantaḥ | saraṇyān | sadantaḥ | adrim | auśijasya | gohe | ā | duroṣāḥ | pāśtyasya | hotā | yaḥ | naḥ | mahān | sam-varaṇeṣu | vahniḥ
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4 × ~11; energetic consonant clusters create a ‘pressing’ feel.
Compact and forceful; mimics the act of pressing/extracting and then the arrival of the bearer-flame.
Elicits concentration and a sense of inner work; supports a deliberate, effortful but controlled vocal delivery.
- धिषा (dhiṣā)
- Literal: inspired thought, intelligence. Symbolic: intuitive discernment guiding the sadhana
- धिषण्यन्तः (dhiṣaṇyantaḥ)
- Literal: becoming capable/competent. Symbolic: inner readiness—faculties trained for higher action
- सरण्यान् (saraṇyān)
- Literal: swift paths. Symbolic: channels of movement in consciousness—prāṇa/attention pathways
- अद्रिम् (adrim)
- Literal: stone (pressing-stone). Symbolic: the pressing will/force that extracts soma/essence; concentrated effort
- औशिजस्य (auśijasya)
- Literal: of Auśija (eager/impetuous). Symbolic: ardent striving-power; the push of aspiration
- गोहे (gohe)
- Literal: in the cow-pen. Symbolic: the concealed store of rays/knowledge
- दुरोषाः (duroṣāḥ)
- Literal: wide-housed, having broad doors. Symbolic: a consciousness with widened entrances—receptive and spacious
- पास्त्यस्य (pāstyasya)
- Literal: of the dwelling/home. Symbolic: established inner habitation—stable base for the divine
- वह्निः (vahniḥ)
- Literal: bearer, carrier (fire). Symbolic: Agni as carrier of offerings; the will-flame that transports to higher planes
- संवरणेषु (saṃvaraṇeṣu)
- Literal: in enclosures, coverings. Symbolic: limitations of mind-life; subconscient rings of resistance
Soma-pressing imagery (adri) and invocation of Hotṛ/Vahni: integration of aspiration (uśij) and carrying-force (vahni) within the Indra rite
During Soma pressing sequences or hymns describing the release of light and the coming of the priestly fire.
Recitation accompanying pressing/offerings; symbolically ‘calling’ the carrier-flame to bear the offering.
As a meditation on ‘inner pressing’: disciplined practice that extracts essence and brings the flame of will through psychological confinements.
dhiṣā/dhiṣaṇā from √dhī ‘to perceive/think’ with specialized sense of inspired faculty; saraṇi from √sṛ ‘to flow, run’—channels; adri ‘stone’ (pressing) is ritual tool and inner firmness; vahni from √vah ‘to carry’ (PIE *weǵʰ- ‘convey’, cf. Latin vehō). saṃ-√vṛ ‘to cover/enclose’ indicates constrictive formations.
Dhiṣā (inspired intelligence) enabling right action, Go-finding as recovery of illumination, Enclosures (saṃ-varaṇa) as subconscient coverings
saraṇyān (right-moving paths) imply movement aligned with ṛta rather than wandering desire.
Discovery of go (light) is discovery of truth-vision concealed by coverings.
From enclosure to habitation: the divine fire establishes a wider ‘home’ once light is found and carried.
Integral Vedic psychology: aspiration (Agni) + illumination (Indra) + inspired discernment (dhiṣā) as a unified ascent.
Stone = concentrated will; paths = nāḍī/attention currents; house = embodied system; enclosure = subconscious resistance; flame = transformative will.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘pressing to find the cows’: through inspired intelligence and seated striving, the essence is released (adri/pressing) for the recovery of illumination (go). The Hotṛ/Vahni then bears the achieved force through the enclosing limitations.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- vahni from √vah ‘carry’ aligns with PIE *weǵʰ- (Latin vehō, English ‘way’ is different but ‘vehicle’ is from Latin). √sṛ ‘flow’ is an old IE motion-root with broad reflexes. The ritual lexicon around pressing and offering is Indo-Iranian shared in structure (though not always in identical terms).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi maps an inner technology: dhiṣā makes the seekers fit; aspiration presses out essence; illumination is found; then the carrying divine force (vahni/hotṛ-function) supports the human through enclosures. Indra’s help is approached via this ordered inner rite—an enactment of ṛta in practice.
‘Press’ the mind into still intensity to extract the essence; watch for the first emergence of inner light; then rest in the carrier-flame of aspiration.
maṇipūra (fire/will) with ājñā (dhiṣā/insight)
Kapalabhati-light or bhastrikā-mild only if appropriate; otherwise steady ujjāyī to feel ‘pressing’ and ‘carrying’ along the spine.
Concentrated ardor moving toward a sudden widening and warmth.
Begin with a firm intention (adri). Hold attention in the navel flame; let insight (dhiṣā) guide the movement upward through a chosen inner path; when light appears, do not chase—let the vahni ‘carry’ it into the whole field.
Tri-svara; keep the long compounds (dhiṣaṇyantaḥ, saṃvaraṇeṣu) carefully articulated; use a slight lift on ‘gohe’ and ‘vahniḥ’ to mark revelation and arrival.
Pause after gohe; then begin ‘ā duroṣāḥ…’ as a new movement (arrival). Keep ‘mahān’ given weight.
Articulate dhiṣā with clear dh + i, and ṣ retroflex., In saṃvaraṇeṣu, keep anusvāra as a light nasal before v., In auśijasya, pronounce au-śi-ja-sya distinctly., Keep vahniḥ with clear h aspiration.
Grounded, concentrated, slightly warmer tone in the second half (arrival of vahni).
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