Rig Veda 6.6.5: Mandala 6, Sukta 6, Mantra 5
Sukta 6.6
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Raudra (fury)
अध जिह्वा पापतीति प्र वृष्णो गोषुयुधो नाशनिः सृजाना । शूरस्येव प्रसितिः क्षातिरग्नेर्दुर्वर्तुर्भीमो दयते वनानि ॥
ádha jihvā́ pāpatīti prá vṛ́ṣṇo goṣu-yúdho nā́śaniḥ sṛjānā́ | śū́rasyeva prásitiḥ kṣātír agnér durvártūr bhīmó dayate vánāni ||
ثم إنَّ لسانَ أَغني يقفزُ إلى الأمام—كالصاعقةِ المُطلَقةِ من المحاربِ القويّ في قتالٍ لأجلِ الأشعّة. وكهجمةِ بطلٍ يكونُ امتدادُ سلطانِ أَغني؛ مُهيبًا عسيرَ الصرفِ عن وجهته، يشقُّ غاباتِ العوائق.
Word by Word
- अध
- then, thereuponIndeclinableअव्ययRole Adhikaraṇa (सम्बन्ध/क्रमसूचक)Root अध (अव्यय)
- जिह्वा
- the tongue (flame)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
- पापतीति
- flutters/leapsVerbलट् (वर्तमान), 3 पुरुष, एकवचन; गतिकर्मक-भावः ‘पतति’ (वेद. पुनरुक्त/दीर्घीकृत रूप)Role (क्रिया)Root पत् (धातु)
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinableउपसर्गRole (क्रियाविशेषण)Root प्र (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- वृष्णः
- of the bull/strong one (Agni)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root वृषन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- गोषु
- among the cows / in the cattleNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- युधः
- of battle, of fightingNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (वेद. रूप; ‘युधा/युधः’ = युद्ध/युद्धस्य)Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root युध् (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-निपातRole (उपमान-सम्बन्ध)Root न (अव्यय)
- अशनिḥ
- a thunderboltNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (उपमान-रूपेण)Root अशनि (प्रातिपदिक)
- सृजाना
- releasing, letting looseVerbवर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘सृजती’Role Kartā (जिह्वा-विशेषणम्)Root सृज् (धातु)
- शूरस्य
- of a heroNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- as if, likeIndeclinableउपमा-निपातRole (उपमान-सम्बन्ध)Root इव (अव्यय)
- प्रसितिः
- the sending-forth, onset, impulseNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot प्रसिति (प्रातिपदिक) < प्र-√सि/√सद्? (वेद. ‘प्रसिति’ = प्रेषण/प्रसारण)
- क्षातिः
- destruction, wasting, injuryNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot क्षाति (प्रातिपदिक) < √क्षि/√क्षै (वेद. ‘क्षाति’ = क्षय/विनाश/क्षति)
- अग्नेः
- of AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- दुर्वर्तुः
- of hard course / difficult to restrainAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (अग्नेः विशेषणम्)Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root दुर्वर्तु (प्रातिपदिक) = दुर् + वर्तु (मार्ग/गति)
- भीमः
- terrible, fearsomeAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
- दयते
- cuts/splits, rendsVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root दा/दय् (धातु) (वेद. ‘दयते’ = √दा/√दय् ‘to divide, to cut, to injure’)
- वनानि
- the woods, forestsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot वन (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सम्भाव्य): अध | जिह्वा | पापतीति | प्र | वृष्णः | गोषु | युधः | न | अशनिḥ | सृजाना | शूरस्य | इव | प्रसितिः | क्षातिः | अग्नेः | दुर्वर्तुः | भीमः | दयते | वनानि । मुख्य सन्धि-विच्छेद: (1) नाशनि॑: → न + अशनिḥ (नकार-पूर्वपदेन स्वर-सन्धिः; लेखने ‘नाशनि:’)
- (2) अग्नेर्दुर्वर्तु॑र्भी॒मो → अग्नेः + दुर्वर्तुः + भीमः (विसर्ग/रेफ-सन्धि: ‘अग्नेः’ + ‘दु-’ → ‘अग्नेर्दु-’; ‘दुर्वर्तुः’ + ‘भीमः’ → ‘दुर्वर्तुर्भीमः’)
- (3) शूर॑स्येव → शूरस्य + इव (स्वर-सन्धि: अ + इ → ए)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni’s tongue leaps forward like a thunderbolt released by a strong warrior in the battle for the cows; like a hero’s onset is Agni’s spreading dominion—formidable, hard to turn back—cleaving the forests.
Inner meaning
At a decisive moment, the flame-tongue—Agni’s power of discerning speech and will—springs forward as a lightning stroke in the struggle for the Rays (go = illuminations). The divine Will expands its mastery in the being like a hero’s charge; once released, it is difficult to reverse (durvartur) and it cuts through the dense ‘forests’ of obstruction: subconscious tangles, habitual darkness, and resistant formations that block the recovery of knowledge.
Universal truth
Breakthrough comes when purified will and truth-speech act decisively. Courageous forward movement, once aligned with inner truth, can cleave entrenched obstacles and reclaim illumination.
Themes
Battle-for-light, Forceful-breakthrough, Agni-tongue, Clearing-obstruction
The seer
- Lineage
- Bharadvāja (probable)
- Other hymns
- RV 6.6.3, RV 6.6.4, RV 6.6.6
Family tradition
Bharadvāja hymns frequently depict the conquest of ‘cows’ as recovery of light; here the decisive ‘tongue/bolt’ marks a breakthrough in the inner battle.
Significance
The seer describes the moment when aspiration becomes an irresistible force, cleaving subconscious obstruction and reclaiming illuminations.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- Goṣuyudha (fighter for the rays), Bhīma (formidable), Durvartu (hard to turn back)
- Related deities
- Indra (slayer of Vṛtra), Bṛhaspati (breaker of the cave), Maruts (storm-powers)
Cosmic role
Warrior-fire that breaks coverings and wins light; protector of the sacrifice’s forward momentum.
Inner power
Irreversible thrust of awakened will and truth-speech that shatters inner resistance.
In ritual
Where it is used
Invocations for Agni’s protection and victory within śrauta rites; energizing kindling moments
अध॑ जि॒ह्वा पा॑पतीति॒ प्र वृष्णो॑ गोषु॒युधो॒ नाशनि॑: सृजा॒ना । शूर॑स्येव॒ प्रसि॑तिः क्षा॒तिर॒ग्नेर्दु॒र्वर्तु॑र्भी॒मो द॑यते॒ वना॑नि ॥
अध॑ । जि॒ह्वा । पा॒प॒ती॒ति॒ । प्र । वृष्णः॑ । गो॒षु॒ऽयुधः॑ । न । अ॒शनिः॑ । सृ॒जा॒ना । शूर॑स्यऽइव । प्रऽसि॑तिः । क्षा॒तिः । अ॒ग्नेः । दुः॒ऽवर्तुः॑ । भी॒मः । द॒य॒ते॒ । वना॑नि ॥
adha | jihvā | pāpatīti | pra | vṛṣṇaḥ | goṣu-yudhaḥ | na | aśaniḥ | sṛjānā | śūrasya-iva | pra-sitiḥ | kṣātiḥ | agneḥ | duḥ-vartuḥ | bhīmaḥ | dayate | vanāni
44
4×11
Martial and percussive; strong caesura supports the ‘bolt’ imagery.
Builds courage and decisive drive; helpful when facing fear, procrastination, or strong inner resistance.
- जिह्वा (jihvā)
- Literal: tongue. Symbolic: power of will and inspired speech (mantric articulation) that enacts transformation
- पापतीति (pāpatīti)
- Literal: leaps, springs forth. Symbolic: sudden decisive impulse of the awakened will
- वृष्णः (vṛṣṇo)
- Literal: of the strong/bull-like. Symbolic: forceful soul-power/tapas
- गोṣuyुधः (goṣuyudhaḥ)
- Literal: battle for the cows. Symbolic: struggle for rays of knowledge/illumination
- अशनिः (aśaniḥ)
- Literal: thunderbolt. Symbolic: illumined force that shatters resistance
- शूरस्येव (śūrasy-eva)
- Literal: like a hero’s. Symbolic: courage and victorious onset
- प्रसितिः (prasitiḥ)
- Literal: spreading forth, forward extension. Symbolic: expansion of consciousness and dominion
- क्षातिः (kṣātiḥ)
- Literal: rule, lordship, dominion. Symbolic: established mastery of the divine will in the nature
- दुर्वर्तुः (durvartur)
- Literal: hard to turn back. Symbolic: irreversible momentum of true aspiration once kindled
- भीमः (bhīmaḥ)
- Literal: formidable. Symbolic: awe-inspiring power against inner darkness
- वना (vanāni)
- Literal: forests. Symbolic: dense growths of ignorance/subconscient obstruction
- दयते (dayate)
- Literal: cleaves, cuts, divides. Symbolic: discriminating force that splits the cover
Used to intensify the sense of Agni’s forward-driving force in the sacrifice; psychologically corresponds to the moment when aspiration becomes an unstoppable advance that breaks inner resistances.
When obstacles arise in ritual/progress; as a strengthening call for victory (jaya) and protection
Offerings with forceful recitation; fanning flame; calling Agni to ‘cleave’ hindrances
Use before difficult conversations or tasks: align speech with truth and let the ‘tongue of fire’ cut through confusion and fear.
jihvā ‘tongue’ becomes flame-tongue: the sharp front of consumption/transformation. √pat (pāpatīti) conveys repeated leaping motion. aśani ‘thunderbolt’ is the archetype of sudden breaking power. goṣu-yudh ‘battle for cows’ is a standard RV mythic phrase; ‘go’ polyvalent: cow/ray/knowledge—justified by its frequent collocation with light-recovery myths. √kṣi/√kṣā ‘rule, possess’ → kṣāti ‘dominion’: Agni’s mastery spreads. durvartu ‘hard to turn’ expresses irreversibility of awakened will once it takes the right course.
Tapas as force that cleaves obstruction, Ṛta as the irreversibility of the right movement (durvartu), Go (rays/knowledge) as recovered illumination
Victory in the ‘battle for rays’ is the restoration of ṛta against covering forces.
Jihvā as inspired speech indicates satya acting as power, not mere statement.
Breaking the forest/cave-cover to release light echoes the Vedic creation myth of liberation of dawn/rays.
Psychological Veda / Integral Yoga: inner battle and breakthrough; will-speech as transformative shakti.
Lightning = sudden illumination; forest = subconscious density; battle for cows = struggle for knowledge-rays.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The battle for the ‘cows’ (rays of knowledge) and the thunderbolt-like breakthrough: Agni’s leaping tongue is the mythic weapon that cleaves the obstructing ‘forests’ to recover the illuminations.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- aśani ‘thunderbolt’ aligns with the widespread IE storm-weapon motif (cf. Baltic/Slavic thunder weapons; Greek keraunos as functional parallel though different lexeme). The ‘cow/ray’ polysemy belongs to Indo-Iranian poetic semantics where concrete pastoral terms carry luminous/gnostic values.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer relies on Agni as the decisive inner warrior: when invoked, Agni’s will-force is released (sṛjānā) and acts on behalf of the seeker to cut through entrenched formations and win the illuminations needed for growth.
Let truthful will-speech arise as a decisive force to cut through inner obstruction and reclaim clarity.
Viśuddha (speech-truth) empowered by Maṇipūra (will-fire)
Kapalabhāti (gentle, if suitable) or forceful exhale rounds to evoke ‘bolt’; then quiet breathing while repeating mantra softly to stabilize momentum.
Breakthrough intensity followed by focused forward drive.
Before chanting, set a clear intention (saṅkalpa). On ‘jihvā pāpatīti’ feel a clean surge upward through throat and brow; then rest in silence, watching the ‘forest’ of thoughts split and thin.
Keep a sharp lift on ‘jihvā’ and ‘pāpatīti’; strike ‘aśaniḥ’ with crisp emphasis; cadence heavy on ‘dayate vanāni’. Traditional svara preferred if learned.
Emphasize: jihvā, pāpatīti, goṣuyudho, aśaniḥ, prasitiḥ, kṣātiḥ, durvartur, dayate.
jihvā: jih-vā with long ā, pāpatīti: long ā and ī; clear retroflex ṭ not present here—keep dentals, goṣuyudho: ṣu with retroflex ṣ; yudh with aspirated dh, durvartur: dur-var-tur (clear r)
Forceful, incisive, martial; avoid shouting—keep clarity of consonants.
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