Rig Veda 4.11.4: Mandala 4, Sukta 11, Mantra 4
Sukta 4.11
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
त्वद्वाजी वाजम्भरो विहाया अभिष्टिकृज्जायते सत्यशुष्मः । त्वद्रयिर्देवजूतो मयोभुस्त्वदाशुर्जूजुवाँ अग्ने अर्वा ॥
tvád vājī vā́jambharo vihāyā abhiṣṭikṛ́j jāyate satyáśuṣmaḥ | tvád rayír devájūto mayobhús tvád āśúr jūjuvā́ṃ agne árvā ||
จากพระองค์บังเกิดผู้ชนะผู้แบกพลังแห่งความอุดม (वाजी) เคลื่อนไปในห้วงกว้าง เป็นผู้ก่อให้เกิดความช่วยเหลือแห่งชัย (अभिष्टि) ผู้มีกำลังแท้จริง. จากพระองค์มาทรัพย์ (रयि) อันให้ความรื่นรมย์ ถูกเหล่าเทวะขับเคลื่อน; จากพระองค์มาม้าศึกอันรวดเร็วแห่งพลัง (अर्वा) ผู้เร่งรุดก้าวหน้าไม่หยุดยั้ง โอ อัคนี.
Word by Word
- त्वत्
- from youPronounपुं/स्त्री/नपुं; पञ्चमी (अपादान); एकवचनRole ApādānaRoot त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वाजी
- the prize-winner / racerNounपुं; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole KartāRoot वाजिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- वाजम्
- prize, strengthNounपुं; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot वाज (प्रातिपदिक)
- भरः
- bringing/bearingAdjectiveपुं; प्रथमा; एकवचन (वाजी इति विशेषणम्)Role KartāRoot भृ (धातु) → भर (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, ‘bearing/bringing’)
- विहायाः
- having left aside; departingAdjectiveपुं; पञ्चमी; एकवचन (त्वत् इत्यस्य सह; ‘from (you) who set aside…’/‘from you, after leaving…’)Role ApādānaRoot वि + हा (धातु) → विहाय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, ‘leaving/setting aside’)
- अभिष्टिकृत्
- maker of help/succourNounपुं; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole KartāRoot अभि + स्ति (स्ति/स्था-सम्बद्ध) + कृ (धातु) → अभिष्टि-कृत् (समासान्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- जायते
- is born / arisesVerbलट्; आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRole KartāRoot जन् (धातु)
- सत्यशुष्मः
- whose might is trueAdjectiveपुं; प्रथमा; एकवचन (अभिष्टिकृत् इति विशेषणम्)Role KartāRoot सत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + शुष्म (प्रातिपदिक) (बहुव्रीहि)
- त्वत्
- from youPronounपुं/स्त्री/नपुं; पञ्चमी; एकवचनRole ApādānaRoot त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- रयिः
- wealth, bountyNounपुं; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole KartāRoot रयि (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवजूतः
- impelled by the godsAdjectiveपुं; प्रथमा; एकवचन (रयिः इति विशेषणम्)Role KartāRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक) + जूत (√जु/जव् ‘to impel/drive’ से क्त) (तत्पुरुष)
- मयोभुः
- bringing joy; beneficentAdjectiveपुं; प्रथमा; एकवचन (रयिः इति विशेषणम्)Role KartāRoot मयस्/मय (प्रातिपदिक ‘delight’) + भू (धातु) → मयो-भू (कृदन्त/समास)
- त्वत्
- from youPronounपुं/स्त्री/नपुं; पञ्चमी; एकवचनRole ApādānaRoot त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- आशुः
- swiftAdjectiveपुं; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole KartāRoot आशु (प्रातिपदिक)
- जूजुवान्
- hastening; speedingParticipleपुं; प्रथमा; एकवचन (आशुः इति विशेषणम्)Role KartāRoot √जु (धातु ‘to hasten/impel’) → जूजुवस्/जूजुवान् (परिप्रसारित-परफेक्ट/इंटेन्सिव-भाव, क्तवत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुं; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole (सम्बोधन)Root अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- अर्वा
- the steed, horseNounपुं; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole KartāRoot अर्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (padapāṭha-style): त्वद्वाजी → त्वत् + वाजी
- वाजम्भरः → वाजम् + भरः
- विहाया → विहायाः (pāñcamī sg. of विहाय-)
- अभिष्टिकृज्जायते → अभिष्टिकृत् + जायते
- त्वद्रयिः → त्वत् + रयिः
- देवजूतः (no external sandhi)
- मयोभुः (no external sandhi)
- त्वदाशुः → त्वत् + आशुः
- जूजुवाँ अ → जूजुवान् + (following vowel)
- अग्ने अर्वा (no sandhi beyond pausa). Accents as in saṃhitā are not re-marked on the resolved padas
The meaning
Outer meaning
From Agni is born the bringer of plenitude-force moving in wide spaces, a maker of victorious help with true power; from him comes bliss-giving wealth urged by the gods; from him the swift steed of energy pressing forward.
Inner meaning
Agni generates in the seeker a vājī/vājambhara: the carrier of ‘vaja’—plenitude, effective force—able to move in the wide inner spaces (vihāyāḥ) without shrinking into fear or narrowness. This power is abhiṣṭikṛt (victory-help maker) because it is satya-śuṣma (true force, not ego-driven strain). The rayi (wealth) is mayobhu (bliss-bearing): inner resources that carry joy because they are devajūta—impelled by higher powers, not by desire. The āśu arvā (swift steed) is the disciplined life-energy that keeps pressing forward in sadhana.
Universal truth
When will is purified, strength becomes true and helpful; resources become joyful and guided by higher intelligence; and life-energy turns into a steady, swift instrument for progress.
Themes
Plenitude-force (vāja), Spiritual wealth (rayi), Swift progress (āśu arvā)
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.11.2, RV 4.11.3, RV 4.11.5
Family tradition
Vāmadeva’s diction frequently links Agni with vāja (plenitude) and rayi (wealth) as inner attainments—strength, joy, and capacity produced by the fire of aspiration.
Significance
He presents a psychology of empowerment: Agni does not only purify; he builds instruments—heroic force, bliss-wealth, and swift energy—for the divine work.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- satyaśuṣma (true-force), abhiṣṭikṛt (victory-helper), source of vāja and rayi
- Related deities
- Indra (victory and force), Aśvins (swift help), Viśve Devāḥ
Cosmic role
Giver of strength and wealth; awakener of victorious movements; harmonizer with the gods’ impulsion.
Inner power
Transforms vital energy into swift disciplined force; brings joy-bearing resources and true strength.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni praise for gaining vāja (victorious plenitude) and rayi (wealth) in iṣṭi/Soma settings.
त्वद्वा॒जी वा॑जम्भ॒रो विहा॑या अभिष्टि॒कृज्जा॑यते स॒त्यशु॑ष्मः । त्वद्र॒यिर्दे॒वजू॑तो मयो॒भुस्त्वदा॒शुर्जू॑जु॒वाँ अ॑ग्ने॒ अर्वा॑ ॥
त्वत् । वा॒जी । वा॒ज॒म्ऽभ॒रः । विऽहा॑याः । अ॒भि॒ष्टि॒ऽकृत् । जा॒य॒ते॒ । स॒त्यऽशु॑ष्मः । त्वत् । र॒यिः । दे॒वऽजू॑तः । म॒यः॒ऽभुः । त्वत् । आ॒शुः । जू॒जु॒ऽवान् । अ॒ग्ने॒ । अर्वा॑ ॥
tvat | vājī | vājam-bharaḥ | vi-hāyāḥ | abhiṣṭi-kṛt | jāyate | satya-śuṣmaḥ | tvat | rayiḥ | deva-jūtaḥ | mayaḥ-bhuḥ | tvat | āśuḥ | jūju-vān | agne | arvā
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4×11 syllables (approx.)
Kinetic and martial; many compounds create a ‘packed’ forward thrust.
Builds momentum and courage; supports disciplined energy in practice.
- वाजी (vājī)
- Literal: winner of prize; vigorous one. Symbolic: effective force that wins realization
- वाजम्भर (vājambhara)
- Literal: bringer/bearer of plenitude. Symbolic: carrier of divine efficacy; fullness in action
- विहायाः (vihāyāḥ)
- Literal: in the wide spaces. Symbolic: movement in widened consciousness
- अभिष्टिकृत् (abhiṣṭikṛt)
- Literal: maker of help/victory. Symbolic: power that secures inner conquest over resistance
- सत्यशुष्म (satyaśuṣma)
- Literal: true-strength. Symbolic: force aligned with truth, not rajasic push
- रयि (rayi)
- Literal: wealth. Symbolic: inner riches: capacities, supports, joy-substance
- देवजूत (devajūta)
- Literal: impelled by the gods. Symbolic: moved by higher guidance; inspired impetus
- मयोभु (mayobhu)
- Literal: bliss-giving. Symbolic: ananda-bearing energy/result
- आशु अर्वा (āśu arvā)
- Literal: swift steed. Symbolic: swift, trained vital energy for onward movement
Prayer for vāja and rayi (force and fullness) in yajña; supports the sacrificer’s capacity to advance swiftly in the work.
When seeking strength, success, and right impulsion in the rite; also in sequences invoking Agni’s boons.
Stuti requesting empowerment and supportive wealth.
Chant before demanding work, training, or long-term projects to convert scattered energy into swift, true force.
vāja: not merely ‘prize/food’ but ‘plenitude of force’—linked to √vaj ‘be strong, vigorous’ (and the semantic field of strength/impetus). rayi: ‘wealth’ as fullness, abundance (psychologically felicity and capacity). mayas ‘delight’ (mayaḥ-bhū ‘becoming delight’). arvant ‘steed’ (arvā) as carrier-power. jūjuvān: intensive/reduplicated from √ju ‘hasten, impel’, expressing persistent forward drive.
Satya-powered force (satyáśuṣma), Rayi as fullness of being, Divine impulsion (devajūta)
True strength moves in ṛta—wide, ordered progress rather than cramped struggle.
satyaśuṣma indicates force that is inherently aligned with truth-consciousness.
‘Birth’ of powers from Agni reflects manifestation of faculties through tapas.
Integral yoga psychology: transformation of the vital into an instrument of the soul.
Wide spaces = expanded awareness; horse = vital energy; treasure = inner resources; fire = transformer.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘birth of powers’ mythologem: from Agni arise vāja-bearing energy, victorious help, blissful wealth, and the swift steed. Inner sense: the awakened flame generates capacities—force, aid, delight, and forward-moving life-energy.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- arvā ‘steed’ relates to the IE horse lexicon (though Sanskrit aśva is the more direct PIE *h₁éḱwos cognate); the ‘horse as force-carrier’ image is pan-IE. satya ‘true’ is Indo-Iranian (cf. Avestan haiθiia). Reduplicated intensives like jūjuvān are archaic Indo-European-style morphological strategies for iterative intensity.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi approaches Agni as the generative source of inner faculties. The offerings invite Agni to ‘birth’ in the human a true-force (satyáśuṣma), a blissful fullness (rayi), and the swift carrier-energy (arvā) needed to advance the soul’s journey.
Generate ‘true strength’ and disciplined forward energy by offering restlessness into Agni.
Maṇipūra (power) with support to Svādhiṣṭhāna (vital energy purified).
Bhastrikā-light (gentle, if suitable) for 20–30 breaths, then chant once; otherwise steady diaphragmatic breathing with emphasis on long exhale.
Dynamic steadiness—force without agitation.
Feel the difference between rajasic push and satya-śuṣma: chant, then act from quiet determination; if agitation arises, return to the inner flame and re-offer it.
Standard Vedic accenting; compounds should be articulated without swallowing vowels.
Mark pāda pauses clearly; give slight emphasis to satyaśuṣma and mayobhu as ‘truth’ and ‘bliss’ pivots.
: vā-jam-bha-raḥ, keep bh aspirated, : a-bhi-ṣṭi-kṛt, retroflex ṣṭ, : sat-ya-śuṣ-maḥ, retroflex ṣ, : de-va-jū-taḥ, long ū, : jū-ju-vā̃, nasalization on ā̃
Firm, rhythmic, energizing; avoid harshness—keep ‘true force’ quality.
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