Rig Veda 4.2.15: Mandala 4, Sukta 2, Mantra 15
Sukta 4.2
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Tr̥ṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
अधा मातुरुषसः सप्त विप्रा जायेमहि प्रथमा वेधसो नॄन् । दिवस्पुत्रा अङ्गिरसो भवेमाद्रिं रुजेम धनिनं शुचन्तः ॥
adhā́ mātúr uṣásaḥ saptá víprā jā́yemahi prathamā́ védhaso nṝ́n | divás putrā́ áṅgiraso bhavemā́driṃ rujema dháninaṃ śucántaḥ ||
แล้วแต่นั้น ขอให้เราทั้งหลายถือกำเนิดจากมารดา—อุษัส (อรุณรุ่ง)—เป็นเจ็ดวิปรา ผู้ได้รับแรงบันดาลใจ เป็นปฐมในหมู่ผู้รังสรรค์มนุษย์ ขอให้เราเป็นอังคิรส บุตรแห่งสวรรค์; ส่องประกายด้วยความบริสุทธิ์ ขอให้เราทลายศิลาและปลดปล่อยทรัพย์ที่ถูกกักไว้ภายใน
Word by Word
- अधा
- then, thereafterIndeclinableअव्यय (काल/क्रम-सूचक)Role Adhikaraṇa (काल/क्रम-निर्देशक)Root अध (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक) अथ/अध
- मातुः
- of the motherNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)Root मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- उषसः
- of Uṣas (Dawn)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (वैदिक रूप)Role Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)Root उषस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- सप्त
- sevenAdjectiveसंख्या, (नपुंसक/सर्वलिङ्ग-प्रयोग), बहुवचनार्थेRole Viśeṣaṇa (विप्राः इत्यस्य)Root सप्तन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
- विप्राः
- inspired seers/priestsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (जाये-महि)Root विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- जायेमहि
- may we be born / may we ariseVerbलोट् (वैदिक: आशिषि/विधिलिङ्-सदृश प्रयोग), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole Kriyā (मुख्य क्रिया)Root जन् (धातु) → जायते
- प्रथमा
- first, foremostAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (नॄन् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; वैदिके पदच्छेदे प्रथ॒मा)Role Viśeṣaṇa (नॄन् इत्यस्य)Root प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
- वेधसः
- wise ones, ordainers (seers)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (वैदिक रूप; ‘वेधस्’ = कवी/विधाता/ज्ञानी)Role Apposition/Viśeṣaṇa (नॄन्/विप्राः इत्यर्थे समनाधिकरण)Root वेधस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- नॄन्
- men, heroesNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole Karma (जायेमहि—‘नॄन्’ इव/नॄन् प्रति; समनाधिकरणे लक्ष्य-भावः)Root नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- दिवः
- of heavenNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (द्यौः), षष्ठी, एकवचन (वैदिक: दिवः)Role Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)Root द्यौ/दिव् (प्रातिपदिक)
- पुत्राः
- sonsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (भवेम)Root पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- अङ्गिरसः
- Aṅgirases (Angiras seers)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Apposition (पुत्राः इत्यस्य समनाधिकरण)Root अङ्गिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- भवेम
- may we becomeVerbलोट् (वैदिक: आशिषि/विधिलिङ्-सदृश), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole Kriyā (मुख्य क्रिया)Root भू (धातु)
- अद्रिम्
- the rock, stoneNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (रुजेम)Root अद्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
- रुजेम
- may we break, shatterVerbलोट् (वैदिक: आशिषि/विधिलिङ्-सदृश), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole Kriyā (मुख्य क्रिया)Root रुज् (धातु) / रुज (भेदने)
- धनिनम्
- rich, treasure-holdingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (अद्रिम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role Viśeṣaṇa (अद्रिम् इत्यस्य)Root धनिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- शुचन्तः
- shining, pure, blazingAdjective/Participleवर्तमान-कर्तरि शतृ, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (भवेम/रुजेम इत्यस्य कर्तरि विशेषणम्)Root शुच् (धातु) → शुचन्त् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (वैदिक): अधा | मातुः | उषसः | सप्त | विप्राः | जायेमहि | प्रथमा | वेधसः | नॄन् || दिवः | पुत्राः | अङ्गिरसः | भवेम | अद्रिम् | रुजेम | धनिनम् | शुचन्तः । 1) मातुरु॒षसः = मातुः + उषसः (विसर्ग-लोपः/उकारादौ संयोगः)
- 2) दिवस्पुत्राः = दिवः + पुत्राः (विसर्गस्य स्-आदेशः ‘दिवस्’ + ‘पुत्राः’)
- 3) भवे॒माद्रिम् = भवेम + अद्रिम् (ए + अ → एऽ/एमा-; संहितायां ‘माद्रि’ इव)
The meaning
Outer meaning
May we be born as the seven inspired seers from Mother Dawn, first among the wise fashioners of men. May we become the Angirases, sons of Heaven; shining, may we break the stone and release the wealth it holds.
Inner meaning
Uṣas as Mother is the recurring illumination that gives birth to the ‘seven’ inspired powers (sapta viprāḥ)—a complete set of faculties of awakened consciousness. To be ‘first among the vedhas’ is to become a true former of the human being from within. Becoming Angirases (fire-born seers) means entering the lineage of inner discovery: with Agni’s flame we break the ‘stone’ (adri) of obstruction/inconscience and release the hidden riches (dhanin) of light, force, and delight imprisoned in the subconscient. ‘Śucantaḥ’ signals purification: only a cleansed nature can liberate the inner wealth.
Universal truth
Illumination repeatedly births higher faculties; through purified aspiration one can break the hard crust of ignorance and free the hidden abundance of consciousness.
Themes
Angirasa myth, breaking the rock, birth of inspired faculties
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 4.1.16-20 (Agni-Angirasa themes), Rig Veda 4.2.1-3, Rig Veda 4.3 (illumination motifs)
Family tradition
Aṅgiras mythic complex is central: discovery of hidden light/wealth by the seer-fires; Dawn and Heaven motifs support inner awakening.
Significance
This verse explicitly links personal sādhanā to the primordial Angirasa work: awakening (Uṣas) births integral faculties, which then break the obstruction and release inner riches—an archetype of yogic transformation.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (with Uṣas/Angirasa complex)
- Epithets
- Angiras (mythic function), divas putra (son of Heaven—associated lineage), śuci (pure—implied)
- Related deities
- Uṣas, Bṛhaspati (breaker of the cave), Indra (slayer of coverer), Sarasvatī (inspired word)
Cosmic role
Agni as the discoverer-fire that opens the hidden worlds; Uṣas as awakener; Heaven as source of higher light.
Inner power
Flame of aspiration and revelation that, born from illumination, breaks subconscious resistance and frees the rays/wealth of knowledge.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni hymn used in śrauta praise; mythic Angirasa motifs often accompany Soma/Agni recitations about winning light/wealth
अधा॑ मा॒तुरु॒षस॑: स॒प्त विप्रा॒ जाये॑महि प्रथ॒मा वे॒धसो॒ नॄन् । दि॒वस्पु॒त्रा अङ्गि॑रसो भवे॒माद्रिं॑ रुजेम ध॒निनं॑ शु॒चन्त॑: ॥
अध॑ । मा॒तुः । उ॒षसः॑ । स॒प्त । विप्राः॑ । जाये॑महि । प्र॒थ॒माः । वे॒धसः॑ । नॄन् । दि॒वः । पु॒त्राः । अङ्गि॑रसः । भ॒वे॒म॒ । अद्रि॑म् । रु॒जे॒म॒ । ध॒निन॑म् । शु॒चन्तः॑ ॥
adha | mātuḥ | uṣasaḥ | sapta | viprāḥ | jāyemahi | prathamāḥ | vedhasaḥ | nṝn | divaḥ | putrāḥ | aṅgirasaḥ | bhavema | adrim | rujema | dhaninam | śucantaḥ
44
4 x ~11
Uplifting and mythic; strong lift in the first half, decisive ‘breaking’ cadence in the second
Inspires aspiration and a sense of lineage; culminates in a cathartic release image (rock split).
- उषसः (uṣasaḥ)
- Literal: Dawn. Symbolic: illumination; awakening of consciousness
- मातुः (mātuḥ)
- Literal: of the mother. Symbolic: the generative power of awakening that births new being
- सप्त (sapta)
- Literal: seven. Symbolic: completeness of powers; integral set of inner faculties
- विप्राः (viprāḥ)
- Literal: inspired seers. Symbolic: illumined discernments/voices of the soul
- वेधसः (vedhasaḥ)
- Literal: fashioners, wise creators. Symbolic: formative intelligence shaping the human instrument
- दिवः पुत्राः (divaḥ putrāḥ)
- Literal: sons of Heaven. Symbolic: born of higher consciousness (dyu) rather than lower nature
- अङ्गिरसः (aṅgirasaḥ)
- Literal: Angirases. Symbolic: flame-souls who discover hidden light; inner pioneers
- अद्रिम् (adrim)
- Literal: stone, rock. Symbolic: hard obstruction; knot of inconscience/subconscient
- धनिनम् (dhaninam)
- Literal: wealth-bearing (stone). Symbolic: the subconscient holding imprisoned riches
- शुचन्तः (śucantaḥ)
- Literal: shining, pure. Symbolic: purified being radiating clarity
Angirasa motif in Soma/Agni hymns: invoked for the ‘breaking of the rock’—release of hidden riches (light, cows) through sacrificial ardour.
When invoking Agni’s pioneering power and the birth of inspired speech/vision
Recitation with offerings; symbolic ‘opening’ of obstructions to prosperity and light
Chant at the start of a new learning phase or after stagnation: invoke Dawn’s rebirth of faculties; visualize breaking the ‘stone’ of inertia to release inner resources.
uṣás (dawn) from √vas/√uṣ ‘to shine’ (PIE *h₂eus- ‘dawn’, cf. Greek Ēōs, Latin Aurora). áṅgiras: name linked to fire/ardour; traditional mythic lineage of fire-seers. adrí ‘rock’ used symbolically for the obstruction covering light; ruj- ‘break’ (violent opening).
awakening, hidden light in the subconscient, pioneering consciousness
To be true ‘vedhas’ is to shape life according to ṛta; the Angirasa act restores right order by releasing light.
Hidden wealth is truth-light concealed by the stone of ignorance; Satya emerges through purification.
Birth of higher humanity from Dawn; liberation of concealed riches from the rock/cave.
Psychological cosmology: evolution from inconscience to illumination via inner fire (Aurobindonian reading).
dawn
Dawn = awakening; stone = subconscious blockage; heaven = higher mind/supramental light (in seed); rays/wealth = released knowledge-force-joy.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Angirasa myth: the seven seers, born from Dawn, become ‘sons of Heaven’ and break the rock to release the hidden wealth—inner liberation of light/knowledge from obstruction.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- uṣás reflects PIE *h₂eus- ‘dawn’ with broad Indo-European mythic continuity (Eos/Aurora). This supports comparative mythology of Dawn as mother of awakening and renewal.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi aspires to become an Angirasa-like agent of Agni: not merely praising, but participating in the divine action—breaking inner obstruction to manifest the divine riches.
Invoke inner Dawn: feel a fresh light rising behind thoughts; call forth the ‘seven’ faculties (listening, discernment, courage, clarity, delight, steadiness, wideness).
Ajna (dawn-light) descending to Anahata (purity/śuci) and Manipura (breaking force)
Gentle sunrise practice: inhale imagining rosy dawn filling brow; exhale imagining a rock of inertia cracking at the navel center.
Awakening, luminous resolve
Write one ‘stone’ habit; chant; then take one concrete step to ‘crack’ it (small consistent action) while keeping the feeling of dawn-renewal.
Keep the rising energy through the first two pādas; emphasize the decisive consonants in ‘adriṃ rujema’.
Mark pāda breaks after ‘viprā’ and ‘nṝn’; let the final pāda land firmly on ‘śucantaḥ’.
uṣasaḥ: retroflex ṣ; short aḥ at end, sapta: crisp ‘pt’ cluster, aṅgirasaḥ: nasal ‘ṅ’ before g; light final ḥ, adriṃ: dental d; light anusvāra, rujema: ‘ru’ clear; ‘je’ voiced, śucantaḥ: ś not s; keep ‘nt’ clear
Bright, dawn-like; firm on ‘rujema’
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