Rig Veda 8.86.4: Mandala 8, Sukta 86, Mantra 4
Sukta 8.86
- Rishi
- Viśvaka
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
उत त्यं वीरं धनसामृजीषिणं दूरे चित्सन्तमवसे हवामहे । यस्य स्वादिष्ठा सुमतिः पितुर्यथा मा नो वि यौष्टं सख्या मुमोचतम् ॥
uta tyaṃ vīraṃ dhana-sām ṛjīṣiṇaṃ dūre cit santam avase havāmahe | yasya svādiṣṭhā su-matiḥ pitur yathā mā no vi yauṣṭaṃ sakhyā mumocatam ||
และวีรบุรุษผู้นั้น—เจ้าแห่งความอุดม ผู้ขับเคลื่อนอย่างเที่ยงตรง—แม้อยู่ไกลเราก็ยังร้องเรียกเพื่อขอความคุ้มครอง ผู้ซึ่งความดำริอันหวานที่สุดและเที่ยงธรรมดุจบิดา: ขออย่าให้มิตรภาพของเราหลวมและกระจัดกระจาย; ขออย่าปลดสายใยสหายร่วมรบ.
Word by Word
- उत
- and, alsoIndeclinableसमुच्चय/उपपद-अव्ययRoot उत
- त्यम्
- that (him)Pronounपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग? (प्रयोगतः पुं.), द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वीरम्
- hero, championNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot वीर
- धनसाम्
- of riches, of prizesNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive) / विशेषण-सम्बन्धRoot धन (धनस्)
- ऋजीषिणम्
- possessing the (soma-)pressings / with the pressing-stones (epithet)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole Karma (विशेषण of वीरम्/त्यम्)Root ऋजीषिन्
- दूरे
- far awayAdverb (frozen loc.)सप्तमी एकवचन-रूपेण अव्ययीभावRole AdhikaraṇaRoot दूर
- चित्
- evenIndeclinableअवधारण/अपि-अर्थRoot चित्
- सन्तम्
- being, existingParticipleपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (वर्तमान-कर्तरि कृदन्त)Role Karma (विशेषण of त्यम्/वीरम्)Root अस् (√अस्) → सन्त् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- अवसे
- for help, for aidNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचनRole Sampradāna (purpose/benefit)Root अवस्
- हवामहे
- we call upon, we invokeVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole KriyāRoot √ह्वा (ह्वयति) / Vedic: हवामहे
- यस्य
- whosePronounपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- स्वादिष्ठा
- sweetest, most pleasantAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (of implied ‘is’ with सुमतिः)Root स्वादु → स्वादिष्ठ (तमप्-प्रत्यय, superlative)
- सुमतिः
- good thought, good favor, benevolenceNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot सु- + मति
- पितुः
- of a fatherNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root पितृ
- यथा
- as, likeIndeclinableउपमान/प्रकार-वाचकRoot यथा
- मा
- do notIndeclinable (prohibitive particle)निषेध (prohibition)Root मा
- नः
- us, for usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी बहुवचन (enclitic)Role Sampradāna/सम्बन्ध (context: ‘us’)Root अस्मद्
- वि
- apart, asunderPreverbउपसर्गRoot वि
- यौष्टम्
- may you not separate/undoVerbआशीर्लिङ्/विधिलिङ् (Vedic precative/aorist-injunctive usage), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole Kriyā (prohibited by मा)Root √युज्/√यौ (Vedic) → यौष्ट (aorist/precative stem)
- सख्याम्
- friendship, companionshipNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot सख्य
- मुमोचतम्
- you two have released/let goVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचनRole KriyāRoot √मुच् (मोचति) → मुमोच (perfect)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (pada-wise): उत | त्यम् | वीरम् | धनसाम् | ऋजीषिणम् | दूरे | चित् | सन्तम् | अवसे | हवामहे || यस्य | स्वादिष्ठा | सुमतिः | पितुः | यथा | मा | नः | वि | यौष्टम् | सख्याम् | मुमोचतम् । Notable: (1) दू॒रे चि॒त्सन्त॒म् = दूरे + चित् + सन्तम् (चित् + सन्तम् → चित्सन्तम् by final -t + s-)
- (2) मा नो॒ = मा + नः (enclitic)
- (3) वि यौष्टम् kept as preverb + verb (no external sandhi)
The meaning
Outer meaning
We call for help that Hero, the straight-driving lord of riches, though he is far away; whose sweetest good mind is like a father’s—may he not loosen our fellowship, may he not release our bond of comradeship.
Inner meaning
The ‘Hero’ (vīra) is the divine force that drives straight (ṛjīṣiṇ—going by the right line) toward plenitudes (dhanasām—riches = inner wealth of light, strength, joy). Even when the help seems distant (dūre cit santam), the call bridges the gap: aspiration reaches what appears far in consciousness. His ‘sweetest’ right-mindedness (svādiṣṭhā sumatiḥ) is paternal—protective, steadying, educating the being as a father shapes a child. The refrain again asks that the inner alliance not be scattered: do not let the many parts of the nature fall out of cohesion; keep the comradeship between seeker and the guiding Power.
Universal truth
When guidance feels distant, the straight call of sincerity still reaches it. True help is both powerful and benevolent: it protects unity in the seeker and prevents the dispersal of purpose.
Themes
Invocation-for-aid, Inner-rectitude, Preservation-of-unity, Psychological-interpretation
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 8.86 (refrain sequence)
Family tradition
Maṇḍala 8 is predominantly Kāṇva-associated; this verse shares the refrain and thematic continuity with 8.86.3 where Viśvaka is named.
Significance
The anonymity here highlights a universal yogic stance: the voice of the aspiring human calling the higher Helper even when it seems distant.
The deity
- Devata
- Indeterminate in the verse; likely a helper-power allied to the Aśvins/Ṛta (possible Indra-like ‘hero’ or a general divine protector).
- Epithets
- vīra, ṛjīṣiṇ, dhanasām pati (implied lord of plenitudes)
- Related deities
- Aśvins (shared refrain context), Indra (vīra motif), Savitṛ (right impulsion)
Cosmic role
Brings plenitude and right-direction; acts across distance between human and divine planes.
Inner power
The ‘straight-driving’ discernment and force that keeps aspiration aligned and prevents inner dispersal.
In ritual
Where it is used
General help-invocation within Soma hymn cycles; adaptable as a protective prayer.
उ॒त त्यं वी॒रं ध॑न॒सामृ॑जी॒षिणं॑ दू॒रे चि॒त्सन्त॒मव॑से हवामहे । यस्य॒ स्वादि॑ष्ठा सुम॒तिः पि॒तुर्य॑था॒ मा नो॒ वि यौ॑ष्टं स॒ख्या मु॒मोच॑तम् ॥
उ॒त । त्यम् । वी॒रम् । ध॒न॒ऽसाम् । ऋ॒जी॒षिण॑म् । दू॒रे । चि॒त् । सन्त॑म् । अव॑से । ह॒वा॒म॒हे॒ । यस्य॑ । स्वादि॑ष्ठा । सु॒ऽम॒तिः । पि॒तुः । य॒था॒ । मा । नः॒ । वि । यौ॒ष्ट॒म् । स॒ख्या । मु॒मोच॑तम् ॥
uta | tyam | vīram | dhana-sām | ṛjīṣiṇam | dūre | cit | santam | avase | havāmahe | yasya | svādiṣṭhā | su-matiḥ | pituḥ | yathā | mā | naḥ | vi | yauṣṭam | sakhyā | mumocatam
Jagatī (probable, given hymn’s cadence and refrain pattern)
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4×12 (probable)
Long-breathed invocation with a strong refrain closure.
Builds a sense of reaching across distance, then sealing unity with the refrain.
- वीर (vīra)
- Literal: hero. Symbolic: divine force of courageous action in consciousness
- ऋजीषिन् (ṛjīṣiṇ)
- Literal: straight-driving/straight-going. Symbolic: movement of will aligned to ṛta; directness that cuts through confusion
- धनसाम् (dhanasām)
- Literal: of riches/plenitudes. Symbolic: inner wealth—powers, wideness, luminous capacities
- दूरे (dūre)
- Literal: far away. Symbolic: seemingly inaccessible higher state; distance between ordinary mind and illumined mind
- सुमति (sumati)
- Literal: good mind, right-mindedness. Symbolic: luminous discernment and benevolent guidance
- पितुर्यथा (pitur yathā)
- Literal: like a father’s. Symbolic: protective, formative wisdom that holds the seeker together
General invocation for avas (help) and preservation of sakhyā (allied harmony); usable as a supportive verse in Soma contexts where the bond of companions and the deity’s protective mind are emphasized.
When seeking aid from a higher power ‘even if far’; before journeys, decisions, or inner transitions.
Calling (havāmahe) and reaffirming fellowship (sakhyā).
Use when feeling spiritually ‘far’: chant to restore alignment and trust in benevolent guidance.
Key terms: vīra- ‘heroic force’ (PIE *uihro- ‘man, hero’), used psychologically as conquering energy. dhana- from √dhan ‘to bestow/obtain’, here ‘plenitudes of being’ rather than mere material wealth. ṛjīṣiṇ- built on ṛju ‘straight’ (from √ṛj/ṛju ‘to make straight’), connoting rectitude of movement/impulse. su-mati- ‘good thinking’ (su- ‘well’ + mati ‘thought, intention’ from √man ‘to think’), indicating luminous guidance. mumoce-/mumocatam from √muc ‘release, free’; vi-yauṣṭam reflects separative vi- with a verb of unyoking/loosening (semantic opposition to √yuj ‘yoke, join’), hence ‘do not break our joined fellowship’.
Rita (rectitude/straightness implied by ṛjīṣiṇ-), Sakhyā (unity of powers; concord in the being), Paternal protection as archetype of sustaining consciousness
ṛjīṣiṇ expresses movement along ṛta—right line of progress.
Sumati as truth-guided mentality that does not betray the seeker.
Bringing down ‘riches’ from higher planes into human nature.
Integral-psychological Vedic exegesis (gods as powers; riches as inner plenitudes).
A long reach of aspiration toward a higher guidance, returning with a cohesive force that keeps the being unified.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘far-yet-present helper’ mythologem: the divine Hero stands beyond ordinary reach (dūre cit santam) yet is summonable by the call (havāmahe). The mythic action is not combat but the preservation of alliance—preventing the rupture (vi-) of sakhyā, the inner confederacy needed for victory and growth.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- vīra- aligns with Indo-European ‘man/hero’ formations (cf. Latin vir), carrying the archaic heroic register into a spiritualized context. The semantics of joining vs. loosening (implicit √yuj vs. vi-yauṣṭam) mirrors an old IE poetic polarity: binding/ordering vs. dispersal, corresponding to ṛta (order) vs. its negation.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- Reciprocity is framed as guardianship: the seer offers the call and (implicitly) praise, while the Devatā is asked to respond with ‘sweetest right-mindedness’ (svādiṣṭhā su-matiḥ) like a father—i.e., not merely granting boons, but maintaining cohesion of the seeker’s inner comradeship so the work can continue.
Call the ‘straight-driving’ higher will; feel it aligning thought, speech, and action into one line.
Ajna (right discernment/sumati) and Anahata (paternal protection/faith)
Bhrāmarī 5 rounds to soothe, then slow exhale chanting to ‘reach the far’.
Clear, aligned, quietly brave.
On ‘dūre cit’, notice where you feel distance from your ideal; on the refrain, gather scattered energies back into one friendship with the inner Guide.
Rigvedic accents as per śākala; keep the verb ‘havāmahe’ as the energetic lift; refrain as a steady cadential seal.
Do not rush ‘dūre cit santam’; allow a slight pause before ‘avase havāmahe’.
: clear ṛ at start; ‘ṣ’ retroflex sibilant, : keep long ‘ā’; ‘ṣṭh’ cluster articulated, : light ‘r’ in pitur; avoid ‘pituryathā’ slur
Bright, calling tone in first half; protective firmness in refrain.
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