Rig Veda 4.20.8: Mandala 4, Sukta 20, Mantra 8

Sukta 4.20

Rishi: Vāmadeva Gautama (traditional attribution for Mandala 4; Sukta 4.20 is Indra-hymn of Vāmadeva)

Devata: Indra

Chandas: Triṣṭubh (probable for RV 4.20; verse-length and cadence consistent)

Samhita Patha (Devanagari)

ईक्षे रायः क्षयस्य चर्षणीनामुत व्रजमपवर्तासि गोनाम् । शिक्षानरः समिथेषु प्रहावान्वस्वो राशिमभिनेतासि भूरिम् ॥

Transliteration

īkṣé rāyáḥ kṣáyasya carṣaṇīnā́m utá vrajám apa-vartā́si gónām | śikṣā-naráḥ sam-ithéṣu pra-hā́vān vásvo rāśím abhi-netā́si bhū́rim ||

Translation

You look upon and govern the plenitude (rāyas) and the abiding dwelling (kṣaya) of the human peoples; and you are the one who turns back (releases) the closed pen of the Rays of Light (go). Training the aspiring man in the battles within, striking down the obstructors, you lead us to the great heap of true riches (vasu) in abundance.

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Word by Word

• ईक्षे: I behold / I look upon
• ईक्षे: —
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईक्ष् (īkṣ) धातु

• रायः: of wealth
• रायः: सम्बन्ध (genitive) / अधिकरण-सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: राय्/राय (प्रातिपदिक: रयि-/राय-)

• क्षयस्य: of dwelling/abode; of possession
• क्षयस्य: सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षय (प्रातिपदिक) < √क्षि (kṣi) ‘to dwell/settle; to possess’

• चर्षणीनाम्: of the peoples / of men
• चर्षणीनाम्: सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर्षणि (प्रातिपदिक)

• उत: and; also
• उत: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत

• व्रजम्: the pen/enclosure (cattle-pen)
• व्रजम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रज (प्रातिपदिक)

• अपवर्ता: the opener/turner-away (one who releases)
• अपवर्ता: कर्ता
• Type: Noun (agent)
• Root: अपवर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक) < √वृत्/√वर्त् ‘to turn’ with अप-

• असि: thou art
• असि: —
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (as) धातु

• गोनाम्: of cows / of cattle
• गोनाम्: सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)

• शिक्षानरः: man-instructing / trainer of men
• शिक्षानरः: कर्ता (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective (epithet)
• Root: शिक्षानर (प्रातिपदिक; बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय-समास: ‘शिक्षा’ + ‘नर’)

• समिथेषु: in battles / in encounters
• समिथेषु: अधिकरण
• Type: Noun
• Root: समिथ (प्रातिपदिक)

• प्रहावान्: mighty striker / smiter
• प्रहावान्: कर्ता (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रहावन् (प्रातिपदिक) < √हू/√हा ‘to strike/drive’ with प्र- (Vedic epithet)

• वस्वः: of wealth; of treasure
• वस्वः: सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु (प्रातिपदिक)

• राशिम्: heap; mass; store
• राशिम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: राशि (प्रातिपदिक)

• अभिनेता: leader; bringer; conductor
• अभिनेता: कर्ता
• Type: Noun (agent)
• Root: अभिनेतृ (प्रातिपदिक) < √नी (nī) ‘to lead’ with अभि-

• असि: thou art
• असि: —
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (as) धातु

• भूरिम्: abundant; much
• भूरिम्: कर्म (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूरि (प्रातिपदिक)