Rig Veda 4.33.3: Mandala 4, Sukta 33, Mantra 3
Sukta 4.33
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Rbhus
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
पुनर्ये चक्रुः पितरा युवाना सना यूपेव जरणा शयाना । ते वाजो विभ्वाँ ऋभुरिन्द्रवन्तो मधुप्सरसो नोऽवन्तु यज्ञम् ॥
púnar yé cakrúḥ pitárā yúvānā sánā yū́peva jarāṇā́ śáyānā | té vājó víbhvā̃ ṛbhúr índravanto mádhupsaraso no ’vantu yajñám ||
ஜீर्णமான தூணைப் போல முதுமையுடன் கிடந்த இரு பிதர்களை மீண்டும் இளமையாக்கியவர்கள்—வாஜ, விப்வான், ரிபு எனும் அந்த ரிபுக்கள்—இந்திர-வலத்தால் நிறைந்தும் மதுரஸம் சொட்டியும், எங்கள் யஜ்ஞத்தை காத்தருள்வாராக.
Word by Word
- पुनः
- againIndeclinableअव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण)Role Adhikaraṇa (काल/पुनरावृत्ति-निर्देश)Root पुनर् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक) अथवा पुनस्
- ये
- who (those who)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- चक्रुः
- they have made/didVerbलिट् (परोक्ष), प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role (क्रिया) —Root कृ (धातु)
- पितरा
- the two parentsNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, द्विवचनम् (वैदिक रूप)Role KarmaRoot पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- युवाना
- youngAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, द्विवचनम् (पितरा इति विशेषणम्)Role Karma (विशेषणत्वेन)Root युवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- सना
- from of old, long agoIndeclinableअव्यय (कालवाचक)Role Adhikaraṇa (काल)Root सना (अव्यय)
- यूपा
- on the sacrificial postNounपुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot यूप (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- as, likeIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययRoot इव (अव्यय)
- जराणा
- aged, wornAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, द्विवचनम् (शयानौ इति विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषणत्वेन)Root जर (प्रातिपदिक; ‘old age/decay’ से) / जरत्-भाव
- शयानौ
- lying, restingParticipleवर्तमानकृदन्तः (शानच्), पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, द्विवचनम्Role KartāRoot शी (धातु) → शय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- ते
- theyPronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वाजः
- prize, strength, winning powerNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (ते इत्यस्य विशेष्य/सम्बन्धः—‘वाजः’ इति स्तुति-नाम)Root वाज (प्रातिपदिक)
- विभ्वान्
- mighty, all-capableAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (वाजः इति विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषणत्वेन)Root विभ्वन् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘all-pervading/mighty’)
- ऋभुः
- R̥bhu (the artisan-god)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (वाजः/विभ्वान् इत्यस्य समन्वयेन स्तुत्य-कर्ता/देवः)Root ऋभु (प्रातिपदिक; देव-नाम)
- इन्द्रवन्तः
- having Indra (as ally), Indra-aidedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम् (ते इति विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषणत्वेन)Root इन्द्रवत् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘Indra-possessing/with Indra’)
- मधुप्सरसः
- sweet-dropping, honey-sprinklingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम् (ते इति विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषणत्वेन)Root मधुप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक; मधु+प्सरस्, ‘honey-sprinkling/with sweet drops’)
- नः
- for us, ourPronounषष्ठी (एन्क्लिटिक), बहुवचनम्Role Sampradāna (हित-सम्बन्धः: ‘for us/our’)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अवन्तु
- let them help/protectVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role (क्रिया) —Root अव् (धातु) ‘to help/protect’
- यज्ञम्
- the sacrifice, ritualNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- संधि-विग्रहः: पुनर्ये → पुनः + ये (विसर्ग-रेफः)
- यूपेव → यूपा + इव (आ+इ → ए)
- नोऽवन्तु → नः + अवन्तु (विसर्गः + अ → ऽ). शेषं पदच्छेदे यथारूपम्।
The meaning
Outer meaning
The Ṛbhus—Vāja, Vibhvā, and Ṛbhu—who restored the two Parents to youth though they lay aged like a worn sacrificial post, are invoked to protect the yajña, being full of Indra’s power and dripping with sweetness.
Inner meaning
The Ṛbhus are the divine artisans of consciousness: powers of skill (ṛbhu/ṛbhukṣaṇa) that can renew the fundamental dual principles (‘two Parents’: Heaven–Earth, or Mind–Life) when they have become inert, habitual, and ‘aged’. The ‘worn post’ suggests a fixed, rigid support of old formations. By Indra-force (illumined mind) and honeyed rasa (soma-like delight), these powers safeguard the inner sacrifice—our offering of works, attention, and will—so the yoga does not relapse into mechanical routine.
Universal truth
Renewal is possible even when the foundations of life feel exhausted: right skill allied to illumination and delight can re-youth the primal supports of existence and protect the transformative work.
Themes
rejuvenation, overcoming inertia, delight in work, protection of yajña
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.1, RV 4.26, RV 4.27, RV 4.33
Family tradition
Gautama-Aṅgirasa line; hymns often emphasize inner illumination, truth-speaking, and the crafting of the sacrifice as a progressive yoga.
Significance
Vāmadeva’s vision frequently turns ritual images into a psychology of transformation: the gods are powers of consciousness; the yajña is the disciplined ascent from obscurity to truth and wideness.
The deity
- Devata
- Ṛbhus (Vāja, Vibhvā, Ṛbhu)
- Epithets
- ṛbhavaḥ (the skillful ones), indravantaḥ (possessed of Indra-force), madhupsarasaḥ (honey-sweet, delight-bearing)
- Related deities
- Indra, Tvaṣṭṛ, Agni, Soma
Cosmic role
Divine artisans who perfect forms, multiply capacities, and restore harmony by right measure and luminous workmanship.
Inner power
The yogic faculty of ‘right formation’: precise discernment, patient refinement, and creative transformation of mind-life instruments so they can hold more delight and light.
In ritual
Where it is used
Ṛbhu-related praises within Soma-yajña sequences (general Śrauta usage; also recitational stotras/śastras by tradition).
पुन॒र्ये च॒क्रुः पि॒तरा॒ युवा॑ना॒ सना॒ यूपे॑व जर॒णा शया॑ना । ते वाजो॒ विभ्वाँ॑ ऋ॒भुरिन्द्र॑वन्तो॒ मधु॑प्सरसो नोऽवन्तु य॒ज्ञम् ॥
पुनः॑ । ये । च॒क्रुः । पि॒तरा॑ । युवा॑ना । सना॑ । यूपा॑ऽइव । ज॒र॒णा । शया॑ना । ते । वाजः॑ । विऽभ्वा॑ । ऋ॒भुः । इन्द्र॑वन्तः॑ । मधु॑ऽप्सरसः । नः॒ । अ॒व॒न्तु॒ । य॒ज्ञम् ॥
punaḥ | ye | cakruḥ | pitarā | yuvānā | sanā | yūpāiva | jaraṇā | śayānā | te | vājaḥ | vi-bhvā | ṛbhuḥ | indravantaḥ | madhu-psarasaḥ | naḥ | avantu | yajñam
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables each
Forward-driving, declarative cadence suited to heroic accomplishment and decisive invocation.
Builds confidence and upward momentum; supports a felt sense of renewal and protection around the inner work.
- पितरा (pitarā)
- Literal: the two Parents. Symbolic: the primal dual supports (Heaven–Earth; Mind–Life; Purusha–Prakriti in operative duality)
- युवाना (yuvānā)
- Literal: young, rejuvenated. Symbolic: renewed capacities of consciousness; fresh receptivity and force
- यूप इव (yūpa iva)
- Literal: like a sacrificial post. Symbolic: rigid support-structure of old habit; fixed mental-vital formation
- जराणा शयाना (jarāṇā śayānā)
- Literal: lying aged. Symbolic: powers fallen into inertia/tamas; dormant faculties
- इन्द्रवन्तः (indravantaḥ)
- Literal: possessing Indra. Symbolic: filled with illumined mind-force; victorious discernment
- मधुप्सरसः (madhupsarasaḥ)
- Literal: dripping/surging with honey-sweetness. Symbolic: rasa of soma-delight; sweetness of fulfilled consciousness
- यज्ञम् (yajñam)
- Literal: sacrifice/ritual offering. Symbolic: inner offering of will, works, aspiration, and self-giving
Invokes Rbhus’ renewing power to sustain yajña; ritually resonates with renewal/reconsecration motifs in Soma cycles and the re-making of implements.
During Soma pressing sessions or hymnic invocations to artisan-deities for ‘perfecting’ the rite.
Recitation to invite protection and right formation of the offering; consecration of vessels and the work.
Use before meditation or sādhanā to invoke renewal of tired faculties and to ‘re-consecrate’ daily practice when it becomes mechanical.
yū́pa- 'sacrificial post' from √yup (to fasten/attach) conveys fixity; used as simile for rigid aged formation. yúvan- 'young' from PIE *h₂yuHn̥ 'young' (cf. Latin iuvenis). mádhu 'honey/sweet' from PIE *médʰu (cf. English mead). vāja- from √vaj/√vaj 'to be strong, vigorous' → 'plenitude of force'.
renewal of the foundations of consciousness, ānanda (madhu) as sweetness of perfected work
The Ṛbhus embody ṛta as right measure and right making—restoring order by perfect workmanship.
Renewal is grounded in truth-power: the right seeing and right word that can re-form life.
Re-creation/renovation: the cosmos is not only made once; it is continually re-fashioned toward higher harmony.
Proto-Vedāntic and yogic reading (Aurobindo/Kashyap): gods as powers of consciousness; sacrifice as inner ascent.
From rigidity and fatigue (aged post) to renewed elasticity (youth) through illumined skill and delight.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The rejuvenation myth: the Rbhus restore youth to the aged cosmic Parents. Inner sense: the powers of perfection renew the mind-body supports grown rigid and inert, making them again fit for the divine work; thus the yajña (conscious offering) is protected.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- mádhu reflects PIE *médʰu (mead/honey), a common Indo-European symbol of sweetness/delight. yúvan- reflects PIE *h₂yuHn̥. Such inherited lexicon supports continuity of imagery: sweetness as divine delight; youth as renewed potency.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi appeals to the Rbhus as renewers of the very bases of existence. The reciprocity is protective: the human offers yajña; the Rbhus maintain and rejuvenate the supporting powers so the offering can proceed in freshness and delight.
Rejuvenation of the ‘two supports’ (mind and life-force) by invoking skill, illumination, and sweetness in practice.
Anāhata (sweetness/rasa) with support from Ājñā (illumination/Indra).
Moderate nāḍī-śodhana for 6–8 rounds, then silent repetition on natural breath.
From tamasic heaviness to clarified, workable steadiness with a taste of delight.
Offer one fatigued faculty (attention, will, or emotion) into the inner fire; imagine it ‘re-made’—not by force, but by right shaping and luminous patience.
Use Rigvedic accenting: maintain udatta as the raised tone, anudatta as lowered, svarita as falling; follow padapāṭha word-division for clarity.
Keep ‘punar’ lightly initiating; emphasize the divine agents ‘te vājo vibhvān ṛbhuḥ’; do not over-stress enclitics like ‘no’.
ṛ in ṛbhu is a vocalic ‘r’ (short), not ‘ri’., vibhvām̐: nasalization on final ‘ām̐’—soft anusvāra., madhupsarasaḥ: articulate the compound with clear ‘dhup-sa-ra-saḥ’., yūpeva: glide ‘yūp-ēva’ without breaking the sandhi.
Clear, bright, slightly resonant (chest-to-head balance) to evoke protection and renewal.
9
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.
