Rig Veda 4.56.3: Mandala 4, Sukta 56, Mantra 3
Sukta 4.56
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Dyāvāpṛthivī with an implied creator power
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
स इत्स्वपा भुवनेष्वास य इमे द्यावापृथिवी जजान । उर्वी गभीरे रजसी सुमेके अवंशे धीरः शच्या समैरत् ॥
sá ít svapā́ bhuvaneṣv āsa yá imé dyāvāpṛthivī́ jajā́na | urvī́ gabhīré rájasī suméke avaṃśé dhīráḥ śácyā sám airat ||
అతడే—స్వపా (సుకర్ముడు)—భువనములలో ఉన్నాడు; ఈ ద్యావా-పృథివీని జనింపజేసినవాడూ అతడే. విశాలమూ గంభీరమూ, సుమేక (సుస్థిర)మైన రెండు రజస్సు-ప్రదేశాలు; అవంశే (అవిచ్ఛిన్న పరంపరలో) ధీరుడు తన శచ్యా (ప్రభావశక్తి)తో వాటిని సమైరత్—సమరసపరిచాడు.
Word by Word
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- इत्
- indeed, justIndeclinableनिपातः (अव्ययम्)Root इत् (निपात)
- स्वपाः
- good protector; well-working/skillful (protector)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (सः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root सु- + पा (√पा ‘to protect’) → स्वपा (प्रातिपदिक)
- भुवनेषु
- in the worldsNounनपुंसकलिङ्गम्, सप्तमी, बहुवचनम्Role अधिकरणRoot भुवन (प्रातिपदिक)
- आस
- wasVerbलिट् (परोक्षभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Root √अस् ‘to be’
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot यद् (संबन्ध-सर्वनाम)
- इमे
- these (two)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग-द्विवचनम् (द्यावापृथिव्यौ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्), प्रथमा, द्विवचनम्Role कर्म (जजान इत्यस्य)Root इदम् (सर्वनाम)
- द्यावापृथिवी
- Heaven and EarthNounस्त्रीलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा, द्विवचनम्Role कर्मRoot द्यावा-पृथिवी (द्वन्द्व-समास, प्रातिपदिक)
- जजान
- begot, generatedVerbलिट् (परोक्षभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Root √जन् ‘to beget, produce’
- उर्वी
- wide, vastAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा, द्विवचनम् (रजसी इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root उर्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
- गभीरे
- deepAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा, द्विवचनम् (रजसी इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root गभीर (प्रातिपदिक)
- रजसी
- the two realms/spaces (mid-regions)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा, द्विवचनम्Role कर्म (समैरत् इत्यस्य; ‘the two regions/spaces’)Root रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- सु-मेके
- well-fixed, firmly setAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा, द्विवचनम् (रजसी इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root सु + मेक (प्रातिपदिक; ‘stake/peg; fixed point’, वैदिक) → सुमेक
- अवंशे
- in the lineage/branch (of descent)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role अधिकरणRoot अव-वंश (प्रातिपदिक; ‘descent/lineage; branch’, वैदिक)
- धीरः
- the wise oneNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (समैरत् इत्यस्य)Root धीर (प्रातिपदिक)
- शच्या
- with power/skillNounस्त्रीलिङ्गम्, तृतीया, एकवचनम्Role करणRoot शची (प्रातिपदिक; ‘power, skill’), instr. sg.
- समैरत्
- set in order; fitted/arranged; impelledVerbलुङ् (अorist), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Root सम् + √ईर्/√इर् (वैदिक ‘to set in motion, to impel; to fit/arrange’)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (padapāṭha-style): स इत् स्वपाः भुवनेषु आस । यः इमे द्यावापृथिवी जजान । उर्वी गभीरे रजसी सुमेके । अवंशे धीरः शच्या समैरत् । Notes: (1) स इत्स्वपा॒ → सः + इत् + स्वपाः (visarga lost before vowel; enclitic इत्). (2) भुव॑नेष्वास॒ → भुवनेषु + आस (u + ā → vā by external sandhi). (3) य इ॒मे → यः + इमे (visarga before vowel). (4) सु॒मेके॑ is taken as su-meke (prefix सु- + मेक-), no further sandhi. (5) Accent marks in the saṃhitā are not reproduced per-word here
- forms are given in resolved pada shape
The meaning
Outer meaning
He, the perfect worker, was present in the worlds—he who brought forth Heaven and Earth. Wide and deep are the two regions, well-fixed; in the unbroken line the seer, by effective power, set them in harmony.
Inner meaning
Behind the duality of higher and lower stands a creative Conscious Power (the ‘perfect worker’, svapā) that establishes the polarity as a workable field for evolution. ‘Wide and deep’ indicates vastness (expansion) and profundity (inward depth) of consciousness. The dhīra (seer) by śacī (effective, skillful power) harmonizes the two—meaning the illumined will-intelligence can reconcile spiritual heights with life’s foundation, preventing a split between meditation and action.
Universal truth
A true creator-force does not deny either height or depth; it founds both and then composes them into a single workable harmony. Real mastery is skill-in-action that unites ideals and embodiment.
Themes
Cosmogony, Establishing the worlds, Harmony of wide and deep spaces
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.1, RV 4.2, RV 4.26, RV 4.58
Family tradition
Maṇḍala 4 seer-poet; often articulates the hidden worker (Agni/Indra/Creator power) arranging the worlds for the soul’s progress.
Significance
Vāmadeva’s dhīra-vision emphasizes effective spiritual action (śacī) rather than mere contemplation—an integral harmonizing of planes.
The deity
- Devata
- Dyāvāpṛthivī with an implied Creator/Worker (svapā)
- Epithets
- svapā, dhīraḥ (seer-worker)
- Related deities
- Viśvakarman, Prajāpati, Indra (as harmonizing mind-power), Agni (as executive will)
Cosmic role
The creator-force establishes Heaven-and-Earth and fixes the two rajas (regions) in stable harmony for the play of worlds.
Inner power
Executive consciousness: the power that ‘sets in tune’ higher illumination and embodied life, enabling integral realization.
In ritual
Where it is used
Cosmological praise within śrauta recitation; supportive verse for establishing right order before/within offerings.
स इत्स्वपा॒ भुव॑नेष्वास॒ य इ॒मे द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी ज॒जान॑ । उ॒र्वी ग॑भी॒रे रज॑सी सु॒मेके॑ अवं॒शे धीर॒: शच्या॒ समै॑रत् ॥
सः । इत् । सु॒ऽअपाः॑ । भुव॑नेषु । आ॒स॒ । यः । इ॒मे इति॑ । द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी इति॑ । ज॒जान॑ । उ॒र्वी इति॑ । ग॒भी॒रे इति॑ । रज॑सी॒ इति॑ । सु॒मेके॒ इति॑ सु॒ऽमेके॑ । अ॒वं॒शे । धीरः॑ । शच्या॑ । सम् । ऐ॒र॒त् ॥
saḥ | it | su-apāḥ | bhuvaneṣu | āsa | yaḥ | ime iti | dyāvāpṛthivī iti | jajāna | urvī iti | gabhīre iti | rajasī iti | sumeke itisu-meke | avaṃśe | dhīraḥ | śacyā | sam | airat
44
4 × ~11
Architectonic and expansive; suited to cosmological statements and acts of ‘setting’ and ‘fixing’.
Elicits a sense of vastness and ordered power; supports contemplation of a harmonizing creator-force.
- स्वपा (svapā)
- Literal: good/own worker; perfect worker. Symbolic: conscious-force (cit-śakti) that accomplishes the work rightly
- भुवनेषु (bhuvaneṣu)
- Literal: in the worlds. Symbolic: across planes/states of consciousness
- जजान (jajāna)
- Literal: brought forth, generated. Symbolic: manifestation of higher and lower principles in experience
- रजसी (rajasī)
- Literal: the two spaces/regions. Symbolic: upper and lower luminous ranges; mental and vital-physical fields
- उर्वी गभीरे (urvī gabhīre)
- Literal: wide and deep. Symbolic: widening and deepening of awareness
- सुमेके (sumeke)
- Literal: well-fixed, well-set. Symbolic: stable establishment of inner foundations
- अवंशे (avaṃśe)
- Literal: in the unbroken line/lineage. Symbolic: continuous thread of consciousness; unbroken aspiration
- धीरः (dhīraḥ)
- Literal: seer, steady wise one. Symbolic: inner witness-intelligence capable of harmonization
- शच्या (śacyā)
- Literal: by effective power/skill. Symbolic: spiritual efficacy; power of right arrangement (a form of śakti)
Cosmogonic recollection supporting the stability of the rite and the inner ordering of worlds
When affirming the cosmic foundations and the efficacy of the rite’s ordering intelligence.
Recited as stuti to strengthen the ‘setting in harmony’ of the ritual space and intention.
Use before complex tasks: recite to invoke ‘svapā’—skillful, calm execution that keeps ideals and practical steps aligned.
svapā́ from su- + apas ‘work’ (apas from √āp ‘to attain/work’), ‘good in work’. rajas (dual) as ‘luminous regions/expanses’ (not ‘dust’ here), often the midspaces between heaven and earth. śacī ‘power, effectiveness’ (Indra’s śacī also) from √śak ‘to be able’ (semantic field of capacity). sam-√īr (airat) ‘to set in motion/raise/arrange together’ gives sense of harmonizing establishment.
Cosmic workmanship (svapā), Harmonization (sam-airat), Seer-power (dhīra, śacī)
Implicit: the ‘well-fixed’ harmony of the two regions is an act of ṛta-establishment.
Truth as stable foundation (sumeka) and continuous thread (avaṃśa).
Creation as the generation and tuning of complementary poles (Heaven/Earth) into a workable system.
Integral/psychological Vedism: creator as conscious-force arranging planes for evolution.
‘Wide and deep’ = expansion and inwardization; ‘two spaces’ = higher/lower ranges of consciousness; ‘well-fixed’ = stable concentration and embodied steadiness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The craftsman-creator mythologem: a ‘good-worker’ power begets Heaven and Earth and harmonizes the two regions. Innerly, it is the formation of stable higher-lower order in the practitioner through effective spiritual capacity (śacī).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The epithet ‘good-worker’ (su-apas) parallels IE praise formulas for divine craftsmanship. The root √śak (ability) is widely IE (cf. English ‘can’ via Germanic in the same semantic domain of capacity/ability, though not direct cognate line), while Indo-Iranian preserves a strong ‘power/ability’ lexicon in śacī/śak.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi invokes the creator-power as precedent and support: as the worlds were rightly set, so may the inner worlds of the seeker be harmonized—establishing a stable field for truth-consciousness.
Contemplate the ‘perfect worker’ within: the quiet executive intelligence that aligns mind and body; rest as the dhīra and allow harmonization.
ājñā (ordering intelligence) with anāhata (harmonizing center)
Box breathing (equal inhale/hold/exhale/hold) to embody ‘sumeka’ (well-fixed).
Widened, ordered awareness; sense of inner architecture becoming coherent.
After recitation, scan for mismatch between aspiration and habit; choose one concrete action that expresses the higher truth in the lower life today—this is śacī in practice.
Tri-tone Vedic accentuation per Śākala; exact contour depends on the recensional markings in the provided saṃhitā text.
Keep the cadence steady across the four pādas; let the cosmological nouns (dyāvāpṛthivī, rajasī) be clearly articulated without rushing.
: pronounce sv- cluster cleanly, : eṣv as eṣv, not ‘eshiv’, : long ā; vocalic ṛ in pṛ-, : bh voiced aspirate, : short a; clear j, : long ī, : ś + cya cluster; avoid ‘shakya’ (it is śacyā)
Broad, even, ‘architectural’ tone; avoid excessive emoting.
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