Rig Veda 4.4.2: Mandala 4, Sukta 4, Mantra 2
Sukta 4.4
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
तव भ्रमास आशुया पतन्त्यनु स्पृश धृषता शोशुचानः । तपूंष्यग्ने जुह्वा पतंगानसंदितो वि सृज विष्वगुल्काः ॥
táva bhramā́sa āśú-yā patánty ánu spṛśa dhṛṣatá śóśucānaḥ | tapū́ṃṣy agne júhvā pataṅgā́n asam-ditó ví sṛja víṣvag ulkā́ḥ ||
அக்னியே! உன் சுழலும் ஜ்வாலைகள் விரைந்து பறக்கின்றன; துணிவாளனே, எரிந்து ஒளிர்ந்து அவை முன்னே முன்னே தொட்டு செல்கின்றன. அக்னியே! உன் ஜுஹ்வா (ஆஹுதி கரண்டி) மூலம் அந்த எரியும் சிறகுடைய சினங்களை வெளியே எறி; இடையறாது நீ உன் உல்கைகளை எல்லாத் திசைகளிலும் பரப்புவாயாக.
Word by Word
- तव
- of you / yourPronounषष्ठी (gen.), एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitival relation)Root त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- भ्रमासः
- the whirling ones / roaming flamesNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot भ्रम (प्रातिपदिक; ‘भ्रम’/‘भ्रमन्’)
- आशुयाः
- swiftAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (भ्रमासः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ (विशेषण-रूपेण)Root आशु (प्रातिपदिक)
- पतन्ति
- they fly / fallVerbलट् (वर्तमाने), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot पत्
- अनु
- along, afterIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRole क्रियाविशेषणRoot अनु
- स्पृश
- touch (you)!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot स्पृश्
- धृषता
- boldly, with daringAdverbial (Instr. of adj.)नपुंसक/पुं (भावे), तृतीया, एकवचन (क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोगः)Role करण (रीत्या/साधनभावेन)Root धृष् (धृष्णु/धृष्ट-भावः; ‘धृषत्’)
- शोशुचानः
- blazing, flamingParticipleपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (कर्तरि वर्तमानकाले कृदन्तः)Role कर्तृ (अग्नेः विशेषणम्)Root शुच् (Intensive/Desiderative-like redupl.; pres. part.)
- तपूंषि
- heats / burningsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot तप् (तपस्/तपु-; here neut. pl.)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNoun (vocative)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि
- जुह्वा
- with the ladle / with the tongue (of offering)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot जुहू (प्रातिपदिक; ‘ladle/tongue’)
- पतंगान्
- the flying ones / moths (fire-seekers)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot पतंग (प्रातिपदिक)
- असंदितः
- unfettered / unboundAdjective/Participleपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (अग्नेः विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ (विशेषण-रूपेण)Root संदि/सन्द् (√सद्/√सन्ध् in sense ‘bind/fasten’; with privative a-)
- वि
- apart, forthIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRole क्रियाविशेषणRoot वि
- सृज
- release / send forth (you)!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot सृज्
- विष्वक्
- in every directionIndeclinableअव्ययRole क्रियाविशेषणRoot विष्वक् (अव्यय)
- उल्काः
- firebrands / sparksNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (सृज-क्रियायाः फल/निर्गम्य-वस्तु)Root उल्का (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धि-निरासः): तव | भ्रमासः | आशुयाः | पतन्ति | अनु | स्पृश | धृषता | शोशुचानः || तपूंषि | अग्ने | जुह्वा | पतंगान् | असंदितः | वि | सृज | विष्वक् | उल्काः । मुख्य-सन्धयः: (1) पतन्त्यनु = पतन्ति + अनु (इकारस्य यकारादेशः). (2) तपूंष्यग्ने = तपूंषि + अग्ने (इ + अ → य्-अग्ने). (3) पतंगानसं॑दितो = पतंगान् + असंदितः (न् + अ → न्-अ; अनुस्वार/नकार-समायोजनं). (4) वि सृज विष्वगु॒ल्काः = वि + सृज
- विष्वक् + उल्काः (क् + उ → गु (परसवर्ण/संयोग-प्रभावः) इति संहितायाम्)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni’s whirling flames fly swiftly, touching as they blaze. With the ladle he casts forth burning winged sparks; unbroken, he sends firebrands in all directions.
Inner meaning
When the inner Fire is kindled, its movements become rapid, circling, and pervasive—thought-forces and will-forces (bhramāsaḥ) that spread through the being. The ‘winged ones’ (pataṅgān) are swift rays of conscious energy, released by the offering-ladle (juhvā: the act of oblation, self-giving) into all parts of life. ‘Unbroken’ (asaṃditaḥ) indicates an integral, continuous tapas that does not lapse into inertia.
Universal truth
True transformation is not a single flash but a continuous, well-directed diffusion of awakened energy—an offering that releases living sparks of clarity and strength into every corner of one’s nature.
Themes
fierce Agni, protective scattering, tapas-energy, purification of directions
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.1, RV 4.2, RV 4.3, RV 4.4, RV 4.5
Family tradition
A seer-poet whose Agni hymns emphasize effective inner action—Agni not only as light but as distributing power in the system of the sacrifice.
Significance
The imagery of sparks and winged flames reflects Vāmadeva’s vision of consciousness-force that can be intentionally ‘released’ by offering—psychological tapas made operative.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- dhṛṣat (bold), śośucāna (blazing), asaṃdita (unbroken/undivided)
- Related deities
- Vāyu (movement), Indra (illumination), Soma (bliss that supports the fire)
Cosmic role
Distributes divine energy as luminous heat; carries offerings; makes the sacrifice effective in all directions (viśvak).
Inner power
Diffusive power of awakened will—sending sparks of clarity, courage, and purification into mind, life, and body.
In ritual
Where it is used
Kindling and strengthening Agni; imagery fits moments of offering where ghee is poured and sparks rise.
तव॑ भ्र॒मास॑ आशु॒या प॑त॒न्त्यनु॑ स्पृश धृष॒ता शोशु॑चानः । तपूं॑ष्यग्ने जु॒ह्वा॑ पतं॒गानसं॑दितो॒ वि सृ॑ज॒ विष्व॑गु॒ल्काः ॥
तव॑ । भ्र॒मासः॑ । आ॒शु॒ऽया । प॒त॒न्ति॒ । अनु॑ । स्पृ॒श॒ । धृ॒ष॒ता । शोशु॑चानः । तपूं॑षि । अ॒ग्ने॒ । जु॒ह्वा॑ । प॒त॒ङ्गान् । अस॑म्ऽदितः । वि । सृ॒ज॒ । विष्व॑क् । उ॒ल्काः ॥
tava | bhramāsaḥ | āśu-yā | patanti | anu | spṛśa | dhṛṣatā | śośucānaḥ | tapāūṃṣi | agne | juhvā | pataṅgān | asam-ditaḥ | vi | sṛja | viṣvak | ulkāḥ
44
4 x ~11 syllables
Swirling yet forceful; a kinetic rhythm matching ‘bhrama’ and ‘vi sṛja’.
Activates circulation of energy; helpful to break stagnation and spread clarity through the system.
- भ्रमासः (bhramāsaḥ)
- Literal: whirlings, circlings (of flame). Symbolic: dynamic rotations of force—energies of will/thought spreading and reorganizing the field
- आशुया (āśuyā)
- Literal: swiftly. Symbolic: quick responsiveness of awakened consciousness
- धृषता (dhṛṣatā)
- Literal: boldly. Symbolic: fearless engagement with inner impurities and obstacles
- शोशुचानः (śośucānaḥ)
- Literal: blazing, shining intensely. Symbolic: self-luminous intensity of tapas
- जुह्वा (juhvā)
- Literal: ladle; also the act/instrument of offering. Symbolic: the will to self-offer; the conscious channel that releases divine force
- पतङ्गान् (pataṅgān)
- Literal: winged ones; birds/insects. Symbolic: winged rays—swift messengers of illumination moving through mind and life
- उल्काः (ulkāḥ)
- Literal: firebrands, glowing embers. Symbolic: projected seeds of transformation—localized intensities that ignite change in specific parts
Agni’s fierce protective action during rite; scattering sparks/firebrands to repel hostile presences and purify the space
During āhuti sequences; protective/energizing recitation as the fire catches strongly.
Oblation with juhū; fanning/stoking; consecrating the space in all directions.
As a practice for ‘energizing diffusion’: after lighting a lamp/candle, chant to spread awakened attention through the day’s activities.
√sṛj ‘release, send forth’ → sṛja. bhramāsaḥ from √bhram ‘to whirl’. pataṅga ‘flying/winged’ (often sun-bird; here sparks) supports the inner image of swift luminous energies. juhū is both ritual ladle and symbolically the offering-tongue; thus the act is an outward casting of tapas-forces.
tapas (burning force), purification by dispersion of heat
The ‘sending out in every direction’ suggests ṛta as harmonious pervasion rather than narrow concentration.
Unbroken fire = continuity of truth-force without relapse into unconscious habit.
Emanation of many sparks from one fire—one consciousness expressing as multiple powers.
Integral/psychological Veda: one Flame differentiating into many functional energies.
Sparks = discrete insights/impulses of right action; winged movement = swift circulation of prāṇa and thought; ladle = intentional self-offering.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Agni’s sparks as winged emissaries: the fire sends out unbroken burning forces in all directions. Psychologically, concentrated will/ardor disperses luminous energies that purify and protect the whole field of consciousness.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √sṛj ‘let go/send’ aligns with PIE *sel-/ *sregʰ- type release/flow semantics (Indo-Iranian is clearer than direct one-to-one). The poetic ‘winged’ fire is an inherited IE trope where natural forces are personified as swift agents.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi invokes Agni’s dynamic agency: not merely to burn in place but to project forces outward. The human will (through offering/ladle) becomes the channel for Agni’s directional purification.
Visualize a central flame at the navel/heart sending winged sparks of light through the limbs and around the head; each spark carries a clear intention.
Manipura (ignition) → Ajna (directed rays)
Kapalabhati-light or bhastrika-mild (if suitable) for 30–60 seconds, then quiet breath while chanting softly.
Bright kinetic clarity; distributed attention without losing the center.
On ‘juhvā’ feel a deliberate offering of restlessness; on ‘vi sṛja viśvak ulkāḥ’ send calm, luminous force into habitual weak zones.
Maintain steady triṣṭubh flow; lift slightly on śośucānaḥ and vi sṛja; keep compounds clear (viśvak ulkāḥ).
Articulate clusters: bhramāsaḥ (bhra-mā-saḥ), pataṅgān (pa-taṅ-gān), asaṃditaḥ (a-saṃ-di-taḥ).
Keep ‘śo’ in śośucānaḥ long and clear, Do not nasalize wrongly: asaṃditaḥ has ‘ṃ’ before d, Ulkāḥ: pronounce ul-kāḥ with clear l-k
Luminous, quick, slightly higher resonance to match ‘winged’ imagery.
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