Rig Veda 4.36.6: Mandala 4, Sukta 36, Mantra 6
Sukta 4.36
- Rishi
- Rbhus cycle poet
- Devata
- Vāja and Rbhus
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
स वाज्यर्वा स ऋषिर्वचस्यया स शूरो अस्ता पृतनासु दुष्टरः । स रायस्पोषं स सुवीर्यं दधे यं वाजो विभ्वाँ ऋभवो यमाविषुः ॥
sá vājý arvā́ sá ṛ́ṣir vacasyáyā sá śū́ro ástā pṛ́tanāsu dúṣṭaraḥ | sá rāyás póṣaṃ sá su-vī́ryaṃ dadhē yáṃ vājó víbhvāṃ ṛbhávo yám ā́viṣuḥ ||
وہ فراوانی کا لے جانے والا، تیز گھوڑا بن جاتا ہے؛ وہ الہامی بات کی طاقت سے رشی بن جاتا ہے؛ وہ بہادر بن جاتا ہے، اندرونی لڑائیوں میں پار کرنے میں مشکل جنگجو۔ وہ اندرونی دولت کے بڑھنے اور سچی بہادری کو رکھتا ہے، جسے واج اور پھیلنے والے ربھو نے ظاہر کیا۔
Word by Word
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → स
- वाज्यर्वा
- the prize-winning/steed-like (swift) oneNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (सः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root वाज्यर्वन् (प्रातिपदिक; वाजिन्/वाज + अर्वन्)
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् → स
- ऋषिः
- seerNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (सः इत्यस्य विधेयः)Root ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
- वचस्यया
- by eloquence / with inspired speechNoun (instrumental abstract)स्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया, एकवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot वचस्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘वचस्’ से)
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् → स
- शूरः
- hero, valiantNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (सः इत्यस्य विधेयः)Root शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्ता
- thrower (of weapons), strikerNoun/Agentपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (सः इत्यस्य विधेयः)Root अस्तृ (प्रातिपदिक; ‘अस्त्र’/‘अस्त’ से ‘फेंकने वाला’)
- पृतनासु
- in battlesNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, बहुवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot पृतना (प्रातिपदिक)
- दुष्टरः
- hard to overcomeAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (सः इत्यस्य विधेयः)Root दुष्टर (प्रातिपदिक; दुर्- + √तॄ/तॄ ‘to cross’ → ‘hard to overcome’)
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् → स
- रायः
- of wealthNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role Sambandha (सम्बन्ध-षष्ठी)Root राय्/रायि (प्रातिपदिक ‘wealth’)
- पोषम्
- nourishment, increaseNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot पोष (प्रातिपदिक)
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् → स
- सुवीर्यम्
- excellent manly power/heroic strengthNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot सुवीर्य (प्रातिपदिक; सु- + वीर्य)
- दधे
- has placed/has establishedVerbलिट् (परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role (क्रिया)Root √धा (धातु)
- यम्
- whomPronoun (relative)पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role Karma (आविषुः इत्यस्य)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वाजः
- Vāja (personified Prize/Strength)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (आविषुः इत्यस्य)Root वाज (प्रातिपदिक)
- विभ्वान्
- mighty, all-pervadingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (वाजः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root विभ्वन् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘all-pervading/mighty’)
- ऋभवः
- the Rbhus (divine artisans)Noun (proper/plural)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role Kartā (आविषुः इत्यस्य सहकर्ता)Root ऋभु (प्रातिपदिक)
- यम्
- whomPronoun (relative)पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role Karma (आविषुः इत्यस्य)Root यद्
- आविषुः
- have helped/favored; have made manifestVerbलिट् (परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Role (क्रिया)Root √अव्/√अवि (धातु; ‘to favor/help’, RV usage) + आ-
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: सः वाज्यर्वा सः ऋषिः वचस्यया सः शूरः अस्ता पृतनासु दुष्टरः । सः रायः पोषम् सः सुवीर्यम् दधे यम् वाजः विभ्वान् ऋभवः यम् आविषुः ॥ मुख्य-सन्धयः: (1) स + वा॒ज्यर्वा → स वा॒ज्यर्वा (विसर्ग-लोपः पदान्ते) । (2) स + ऋषिः → स ऋषिः (विसर्ग-लोपः) । (3) ऋषिर्वचस्यया → ऋषिः वचस्यया (र्-आगमः संहितायाम्) । (4) शूरो अस्ता → शूरः अस्ता (ओ/अः संधि; पदे शूरः) । (5) रा॒यस्पोषम् → रायः पोषम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-संहिता; विसर्गस्य स्-आदेशः) । (6) वाजो विभ्वाँ → वाजः विभ्वान् (ओ/अः संधि; पदे वाजः) । (7) यमाविषुः → यम् आविषुः (म् + आ-)
The meaning
Outer meaning
He becomes the bearer of plenitude, the swift steed; he becomes a seer by inspired speech; he becomes a hero, hard to cross in battles. He holds increase of wealth and true hero-force—he whom Vāja and the pervading Rbhus have manifested.
Inner meaning
The verse describes the transformed human being as the fruit of Rbhu-Vāja action. ‘Swift steed’ (arvā) is not an animal but the vital energy made obedient and rapid for the divine work. ‘Seer by inspired speech’ indicates the awakening of mantra-consciousness: speech becomes a channel of revelation (vacasyā). ‘Hero in battles’ points to inner wars against resistance (vṛtra-like coverings, inertia, desire); the sadhaka becomes ‘hard-to-cross’ because the will is fortified and aligned with light. He carries rāyas-poṣa: growth of inner wealth, and su-vīrya: true hero-force, a purified strength. This is the manifestation (āviṣuḥ) of a new personality—crafted and pervaded by the Rbhus, empowered by Vāja’s plenitude.
Universal truth
When consciousness is skillfully refashioned and empowered, life-force becomes swift and obedient, speech becomes revelatory, and the person becomes strong in inner conflict—capable of sustained growth and effective action.
Themes
Spiritual empowerment, Heroic psychology, Seerhood, Prosperity and increase
The seer
- Rishi
- Rbhus cycle poet
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 4.33-4.37
Family tradition
A practical sadhana orientation: hymns not only praise feats but describe the realized human type produced by divine artisan-powers.
Significance
Defines the siddhi (attainment): swift life-force, seer-vision, heroic will, and increasing inner wealth—hallmarks of the integrated yogic being.
The deity
- Devata
- Vāja and the pervading Rbhus (Vibhu)
- Epithets
- vibhvān (pervading), vājāḥ (plenitude-force)
- Related deities
- Indra (heroic victory and illumination), Agni (leader-will in sacrifice), Soma (delight sustaining strength)
Cosmic role
They manifest the perfected human instrument capable of divine action: speed, vision, and victorious strength.
Inner power
Transmutation of prāṇa into obedient force; awakening of mantra-vision; strengthening of will for inner battle.
In ritual
Where it is used
Praise of fruits granted by Vāja/Rbhus in Soma setting; could accompany offerings seeking strength, speech, and victory
स वा॒ज्यर्वा॒ स ऋषि॑र्वच॒स्यया॒ स शूरो॒ अस्ता॒ पृत॑नासु दु॒ष्टर॑: । स रा॒यस्पोषं॒ स सु॒वीर्यं॑ दधे॒ यं वाजो॒ विभ्वाँ॑ ऋ॒भवो॒ यमावि॑षुः ॥
सः । वा॒जी । अर्वा॑ । सः । ऋषिः॑ । व॒च॒स्यया॑ । सः । शूरः॑ । अस्ता॑ । पृत॑नासु । दु॒स्तरः॑ । सः । रा॒यः । पोष॑म् । सः । सु॒ऽवीर्य॑म् । दधे॑ । यम् । वाजः॑ । विऽभ्वा॑ । ऋ॒भवः॑ । यम् । आवि॑षुः ॥
saḥ | vājī | arvā | saḥ | ṛṣiḥ | vacasyayā | saḥ | śūraḥ | astā | pṛtanāsu | dustaraḥ | saḥ | rāyaḥ | poṣam | saḥ | su-vīryam | dadhe | yam | vājaḥ | vi-bhvā | ṛbhavaḥ | yam | āviṣuḥ
44
4 x ~11
Martial and ascending; repeated ‘sa… sa… sa…’ creates a stepwise build of powers.
Builds determination and embodied strength; awakens a sense of becoming (bhāva) through repetition.
- वाजी (vājī)
- Literal: winner of prizes; bearer of vāja. Symbolic: carrier of plenitude-force; effective energy in works
- अर्वा (arvā)
- Literal: swift steed. Symbolic: purified vital energy, swift force of action
- ऋषिः (ṛṣiḥ)
- Literal: seer. Symbolic: one who sees truth directly; awakened intuition
- वचस्यया (vacasyayā)
- Literal: by power of speech. Symbolic: mantric/inspired speech-force that reveals and shapes
- शूरः (śūraḥ)
- Literal: hero. Symbolic: courageous will aligned with light
- पृतनासु (pṛtanāsu)
- Literal: in battles. Symbolic: inner conflicts with ignorance, desire, inertia
- दुस्तरः (duṣṭaraḥ)
- Literal: hard to cross. Symbolic: invincible steadiness; resistance cannot overrun the will
- रायः पोषम् (rāyaḥ poṣam)
- Literal: increase of wealth. Symbolic: growth of inner abundance and capacities
- सुवीर्यम् (suvīryam)
- Literal: good hero-power. Symbolic: pure strength, courageous efficacy without ego
- आविṣुः (āviṣuḥ)
- Literal: they have made manifest. Symbolic: bringing the higher formation into the outer nature
Phalaśruti-like statement of results: what the worshipper becomes through Rbhu/Vāja aid; used to reinforce efficacy of praise and offering.
When invoking empowerment and siddhi-like results of sacrifice.
Affirmation of the devotee’s transformation as a gift of the gods.
A daily ‘empowerment’ chant before work, study, or confronting inner habits; also for athletes/performers as a spiritual framing of energy and focus.
vājī from vāja (force/plenitude). arvā 'steed' (dynamic movement). vācasyā 'by/for speech' from vāc 'speech' (PIE *wekʷ- 'speak', cf. Latin vox). pṛtanā 'battle' (inner conflicts against ignorance). āviṣuḥ from ā-√viṣ 'to make visible, reveal'—key for psychological reading: deities 'reveal' capacities in the human.
Inner battle (pṛtanā) as yoga of transformation, Speech as creative revelation (vāc), Manifestation (āviṣ) of latent powers
The ‘hard-to-cross’ hero is one whose action follows ṛta; resistance cannot derail right movement.
ṛṣi by vacas: speech aligned with satya becomes revelatory power.
Manifestation of a new human type through divine craftsmanship—evolutionary creation.
Integral transformation ideal (Aurobindonian): spiritual realization expressed as strengthened life, illumined mind, and effective will.
morning (suggestive of energizing start)
Horse = prāṇa-force under control; battle = inner struggle; sun = illumined mind guiding action.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Not a single narrative marvel but a transformation schema: the one aided by Vāja and the Rbhus becomes steed-like energy, seer, and hero. The mythic pattern is deification-through-craft: artisan powers reveal (āviṣ) the higher capacities in the human, equipping him for the battles against darkness/ignorance.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- vāc (speech) aligns with PIE *wekʷ- (Latin vox, Old English wōh 'speech' is not direct but the PIE root is well-attested). The archaic linkage of speech and power/creation is a shared Indo-European poetic inheritance, here applied to ṛṣi-status.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The Rishi presents the deities as revealers of identity: by their action the worshipper 'is' (repeated sá ...) transformed. The hymn thus functions as a rite of self-reconstitution: invoking these powers is equivalent to installing their qualities—force, vision, victorious endurance—within the sacrificer.
Embodied empowerment: align prāṇa (steed), vāk (speech), and will (hero) under a higher force.
manipura (vīrya/heroism) and vishuddha (vacasyā/speech)
Bhastrikā (mild) or energizing kapalabhati followed by calming breaths; then a brief silent mantra-japa to purify speech-force.
Dynamic stillness—strong, clear, ready for right action.
On each ‘sa’ feel a new layer of siddhi: (1) prāṇa becomes swift and obedient, (2) speech becomes luminous, (3) will becomes heroic in inner conflict, (4) inner wealth and pure strength increase. End by offering the empowered state to the Divine work, not ego.
Tri-svara; the anaphora ‘sa… sa… sa…’ should be kept rhythmically even; lift on key attainments (ṛṣiḥ, śūraḥ, suvīryam).
Maintain a martial steadiness; do not clip the long vowels in suvīryam, vacasyayā.
arvā long ā at end, vacasyayā keep ‘sy’ conjunct clear, pṛtanāsu retroflex ṛ; keep ‘tanā’ open, duṣṭaraḥ retroflex ṣṭ cluster; articulate without adding vowel
Strong, resonant, forward; end with a grounded, steady cadence.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
