Rig Veda 8.74.14: Mandala 8, Sukta 74, Mantra 14
Sukta 8.74
मां चत्वार आशवः शविष्ठस्य द्रवित्नवः । सुरथासो अभि प्रयो वक्षन्वयो न तुग्र्यम् ॥
mā́ṃ catvā́ra āśávaḥ śáviṣṭhasya dravitnávaḥ | suráthāso abhí práyo vakṣán váyo ná tugryám ||
พลังอันรวดเร็วสี่ประการของผู้ทรงฤทธิ์ยิ่ง ผู้มั่งคั่งด้วยแรงผลักแห่งการเคลื่อนที่ ผูกเทียมดีดุจราชรถอันสง่า พาข้าพเจ้าไปสู่ความอุดมอันหล่อเลี้ยง—ดุจม้าแกร่งพาผู้แสวงหาจุดหมายไกล
A verse suited to the 'carrying' motif: bringing offerings/bringing the sacrificer’s aspiration forward; can accompany chariot/horse imagery in soma procession symbolism.
fourfold powers (structural wholeness), impetus of movement (dynamic tapas)
Surathāsaḥ implies energies aligned to ṛta—right arrangement and direction.
The divine Force organizes multiplicity (four powers) into a single forward movement toward plenitude.
Integral-yogic reading: multiple parts of nature become instruments of one conscious Force.
Horses/chariots = energized faculties and life-force; nourishment = sustaining spiritual substance (strength/joy) that feeds the inner fire.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The chariot/horse-borne advance: divine powers as steeds carrying the seeker toward prayaḥ (nourishing plenitude). Mythically it echoes the gods’ swift chariots; psychologically it is the acceleration of inner faculties toward sustenance and victory.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vah 'carry' is a clear IE inheritance (Latin vehō; Avestan vaz-). ratha 'chariot' is Indo-Iranian shared (Avestan raθa-). The formula 'X na Y' comparative simile is a common archaic poetic device.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi positions himself as the one to be borne (mām ... vakṣan): surrender plus demand. The devatā’s strength becomes practical assistance—energies that transport the human toward inner nourishment rather than merely granting external gifts.
Offer your energies to be ‘well-yoked’; feel four supportive currents carrying you toward inner nourishment.
Manipura (propulsion) integrated with Svadhisthana (flow/nourishment).
4-4-6 breathing (inhale-hold-exhale) for four rounds, then chant once feeling each ‘swift power’ align on the exhale.
Supported movement; confident steadiness.
Name four inner supports (e.g., aspiration, sincerity, calm endurance, surrender). On each repetition, feel one support ‘take the reins’ and carry you forward.
Without accent text, keep a steady rise through ‘catvāra āśavaḥ…’ and a settling cadence on ‘abhi prayo vakṣan…’.
Give clear stress to numerals and carriers: catvā́raḥ, ā́śavaḥ, śaviṣṭhásya, suráthāsaḥ, práyaḥ.
catvāraḥ: dental t, long ā, āśavaḥ: long ā; ś clear, śaviṣṭhasya: ṣṭh cluster articulated, dravitnavaḥ: v soft; avoid inserting extra vowel, surathāsaḥ: su-ra-thā with long ā, vakṣan: kṣ crisp
Steady, carrying, confident; avoid harshness.
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