Rig Veda 3.2.1: Mandala 3, Sukta 2, Mantra 1
Sukta 3.2
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra
- Devata
- Agni Vaiśvānara
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
वैश्वानराय धिषणामृतावृधे घृतं न पूतमग्नये जनामसि । द्विता होतारं मनुषश्च वाघतो धिया रथं न कुलिशः समृण्वति ॥
vaiśvānará̄ya dhiṣáṇām ṛtā-vṛ́dhe ghṛtáṁ na pūtám agnáye janāmasi | dvitā́ hótāraṁ mánuṣaś ca vā́ghato dhiyā́ ráthaṁ na kúliśaḥ sám ṛṇvati ||
ঋতত বৃদ্ধি কৰা বৈশ্বানৰ অগ্নিৰ বাবে, সত্যত প্ৰেৰিত ধিষণা বৃদ্ধি কৰা জনৰ বাবে, আমি পৱিত্ৰ ঘৃতৰ দৰে শোধিত হৱ্য উৎপন্ন কৰোঁ। মানৱ উপাসকে হোতাক পুনৰ স্থাপন কৰে; যেন ধিয়াৰে ৰথ গঢ়ে—কুলিশধাৰী কামাৰৰ দৰে।
Word by Word
- वैश्वानराय
- to Vaiśvānara (Agni)Noun (proper epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot वैश्वानर (प्रातिपदिक; विश्+नर > वैश्वानर)
- धिषणाम्
- inspirations / holy thoughtsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot धिषणा (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऋतावृधे
- to the truth-increasing oneAdjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचन (वैश्वानराय इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role सम्प्रदानRoot ऋतावृध (प्रातिपदिक; ऋत + वृध ‘to grow’)
- घृतम्
- gheeNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- likeIndeclinableउपमा-निपातRoot न
- पूतम्
- purifiedAdjective (past participle)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (घृतम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्मRoot पूत (कृदन्त; √पू ‘to purify’)
- अग्नये
- to AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- जनामसि
- we generate / we produceVerbलट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRoot √जन् (जनयति/जनते; वैदिक प्रयोग ‘to beget/produce, generate’)
- द्विता
- a second time / againIndeclinableक्रियाविशेषण (काल/क्रम)Root द्विता
- होतारम्
- the Hotṛ-priest / invokerNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot होतृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- मनुषः
- of ManuNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चयRoot च
- वाघतः
- of the praiserNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot वाघत् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘praiser, singer’)
- धिया
- with thought / by inspired insightNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचनRole करणRoot धी (प्रातिपदिक)
- रथम्
- a chariotNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- likeIndeclinableउपमा-निपातRoot न
- कुलिशः
- the axe/bolt (as a striker)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्ताRoot कुलिश (प्रातिपदिक; ‘axe/bolt’, also epithet of Indra’s weapon)
- समृण्वति
- drives/impels (together), sets in motionVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRoot √ऋ (वैदिक √ऋण्व्/ऋणोति ‘to set in motion, drive, impel’; with सम्-)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धिविच्छेद): वैश्वानराय | धिषणाम् | ऋतावृधे | घृतम् | न | पूतम् | अग्नये | जनामसि || द्विता | होतारम् | मनुषः | च | वाघतः | धिया | रथम् | न | कुलिशः | समृण्वति । मुख्यसन्धयः: (1) वैश्वानराय धिषणाम्—विसर्गादि न
- (2) धिषणा+अमृतावृधे → धिषणामृतावृधे (अ + अ = आ)
- (3) घृतं न—अनुस्वारः पदान्त
- (4) पूतमग्नये → पूतम् + अग्नये (म् + अ)
- (5) होतारं मनुषः → होतारम् + मनुषः (म् + म)
- (6) वाघतो धिया → वाघतः + धिया (ः + ध)
- (7) रथं न → रथम् + न
- (8) कुलिशः समृण्वति—विसर्गः पूर्वपद।
The meaning
Outer meaning
For Vaiśvānara Agni, who increases inspired discernment in the truth, we generate a purified offering like clarified ghee. The human worshipper fashions the Hotar anew; with thought he constructs a chariot as a smith with a hammer.
Inner meaning
Vaiśvānara is the universal Fire in all beings—Agni as the common soul-force. The seeker ‘begets’ (janāmasi) a clarified inner offering: purified intention and luminous substance of consciousness (ghṛtaṃ na pūtam). This offering nourishes dhiṣaṇā—intuitive discernment—so it grows in ṛta (truth-order). The Hotar ‘made anew’ is the awakened priest-power within: the capacity to offer every movement to the Divine. Thought (dhiyā) forges the chariot—an integrated vehicle of practice—by steady inner workmanship (kuliśaḥ: the hammering discipline).
Universal truth
Spiritual life is crafted: clarity of intention is refined like ghee, and inner instruments are forged through repeated conscious effort until they can carry the being in the truth.
Themes
Vaiśvānara universal fire, purification and clarity, inner craftsmanship, formation of the Hotar within
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra
- Lineage
- Gāthina (Kauśika lineage in later tradition)
- Other hymns
- RV 3.2.2, RV 3.2.3, RV 3.1.1, RV 3.3.1
Family tradition
Opening of RV 3.2 continues Viśvāmitra’s Agni cycle, emphasizing the crafting of inner sacrifice and the universalization of the Fire (Vaiśvānara).
Significance
Viśvāmitra’s vision often stresses conscious formation (kratu/dhī) and victory through illumination; here the emphasis is on forging the inner priesthood and offering.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni Vaiśvānara
- Epithets
- Vaiśvānara, Ṛtāvṛdh, Hotṛ (re-fashioned)
- Related deities
- Bṛhaspati (crafting of thought, thematic), Indra (vajra/hammer imagery, thematic), Sarasvatī/Iḷā (inspired speech, thematic)
Cosmic role
Universal fire-principle that sustains worlds and beings; establishes the link between individual and cosmic order (ṛta).
Inner power
The collective and individual will-to-truth that purifies intention, awakens intuitive discernment (dhiṣaṇā), and builds the inner vehicle for progress.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni installation/praise in household and śrauta contexts; introductory stuti for Agni in a hymn sequence
वै॒श्वा॒न॒राय॑ धि॒षणा॑मृता॒वृधे॑ घृ॒तं न पू॒तम॒ग्नये॑ जनामसि । द्वि॒ता होता॑रं॒ मनु॑षश्च वा॒घतो॑ धि॒या रथं॒ न कुलि॑श॒: समृ॑ण्वति ॥
वै॒श्वा॒न॒राय॑ । धि॒षणा॑म् । ऋ॒त॒ऽवृधे॑ । घृ॒तम् । न । पू॒तम् । अ॒ग्नये॑ । ज॒ना॒म॒सि॒ । द्वि॒ता । होता॑रम् । मनु॑षः । च॒ । वा॒घतः॑ । धि॒या । रथ॑म् । न । कुलि॑शः । सम् । ऋ॒ण्व॒ति॒ ॥
vaiśvānarāya | dhiṣaṇām | ṛta-vṛdhe | ghṛtam | na | pūtam | agnaye | janāmasi | dvitā | hotāram | manuṣaḥ | ca | vāghataḥ | dhiyā | ratham | na | kuliśaḥ | sam | ṛṇvati
48
4 pādas × ~12 syllables (jagatī flow; opening verse style)
Longer, rolling cadence suitable for ‘construction’ imagery and sustained thought.
Encourages breadth and continuity; supports meditative craftsmanship rather than quick exclamation.
- वैश्वानर (vaiśvānara)
- Literal: belonging to all men/peoples; universal fire. Symbolic: Universal soul-fire present in all; common divine will in the collectivity and the individual
- धिषणा (dhiṣaṇā)
- Literal: inspired thought, intelligence. Symbolic: Intuitive discernment that receives truth directly
- ऋतवृध (ṛtāvṛdh)
- Literal: increaser of ṛta. Symbolic: Power that expands right order and truth-consciousness
- घृतं न पूतम् (ghṛtaṃ na pūtam)
- Literal: like ghee, purified. Symbolic: Clarified mind-substance; purified intention/attention
- जनामसि (janāmasi)
- Literal: we beget, generate. Symbolic: We consciously produce inner offering and capacity
- होतारम् (hotāram)
- Literal: the invoking priest. Symbolic: Inner function that offers and calls down higher powers
- धिया (dhiyā)
- Literal: by thought/vision. Symbolic: By illumined understanding, not mere mental ideation
- रथं (ratham)
- Literal: chariot. Symbolic: Vehicle of sadhana—organized capacities (mind-life-body) aligned for the journey
- कुलिशः (kuliśaḥ)
- Literal: smith; also hammer/axe (vajra-like tool). Symbolic: Disciplined force that shapes the nature through repeated strikes of practice
Opening of a hymn to Vaiśvānara: suitable for Agni installation/kindling and Soma contexts emphasizing ṛta-vṛdh and purified ghṛta offerings.
At commencement of offerings; when establishing the priestly function and preparing oblations
Purification and offering of ghee; invocation of Agni as Hotar; mental ‘fashioning’ of rite
Use before study/creative work: ‘purify the ghee’ = clarify attention; ‘forge the chariot’ = set intentions, align faculties, then begin.
Vaiśvānara: viśva ‘all’ + nara ‘man’ → universal human/divine fire; dhiṣaṇā often ‘inspiration/intelligence’ (root uncertain, linked to √dhī ‘thought’); ṛta-vṛdh from √vṛdh ‘grow’ (PIE *werdh-) + ṛta ‘truth-order’; janāmasi from √jan ‘generate’; sam-√ṛṇv ‘fit together, assemble’ (ṛṇvati) used for crafting; kuliśa ‘hammer/axe’ possibly from a root meaning ‘cut/strike’—here metaphor for shaping thought into effective form.
R̥ta as growth-condition (ṛta-vṛdh), dhiṣaṇā as inspired intelligence, yajña as conscious self-crafting
Agni is explicitly ṛtāvṛdh—he increases the truth-order by awakening dhiṣaṇā.
Purified offering symbolizes the movement from mixed motives to truth-motive.
Human co-creation: inner instruments (hotar, chariot) are formed through dhī under divine fire.
Vedic psychological symbolism aligned with Integral Yoga: sacrifice as inner self-offering and formation of faculties.
Fire = universal will; ghee = clarified consciousness; smithy = disciplined tapas shaping mind and life into a vehicle of truth.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘forging’ of the priest-fire: the worshipper generates a purified offering and fashions the Hotar anew, like crafting a chariot. Psychologically, the inner sacrifice is a work of conscious construction—thought becomes the artisan that shapes the vehicle for the soul’s journey, while Agni grows in R̥ta and increases dhiṣaṇā (inspired discernment).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vṛdh ‘grow’ corresponds to PIE *werdh- (English worth, German werden), linking growth/value/becoming. √jan ‘generate’ continues PIE *ǵenh₁-. The craft metaphor (assembling/fitting) reflects an Indo-European poetic habit of mapping ritual/poetry onto skilled making (cf. Greek techne metaphors in hymnody).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi positions humans as co-creators: ‘we generate’ the clarified offering and ‘forge’ the Hotar through dhī (thought). The devatā responds by increasing dhiṣaṇā in R̥ta—divine intelligence grows as the human instrument is purified and well-shaped.
Purify intention (ghṛtaṃ na pūtam) and awaken intuitive discernment (dhiṣaṇā) under the universal inner Fire (Vaiśvānara).
Clear, continuous attention; sense of inner craftsmanship and alignment.
Chant slowly enough to feel the long jagatī sweep; visualize a steady flame in the center, and ‘pour’ clarified awareness into it; then mentally ‘forge the chariot’: list 3 aligned faculties (thought, breath, action) and offer them as one movement.
Rigvedic accents: sustain udātta on key nouns (vaiśvānarāya, dhiṣaṇām, agnaye) and maintain svarita glide where marked in traditional recitation.
Do not rush the jagatī; keep caesura awareness near mid-pāda; articulate compounds (ṛtāvṛdhe) cleanly.
vaiśvānarāya: keep long ā and clear retroflex ṇ., ṛtāvṛdhe: vocalic ṛ; avoid ‘ritaa’., ghṛtaṃ: gh + vocalic ṛ; light nasalization on ṃ., kuliśaḥ: ś is palatal; final ḥ lightly aspirated.
Even, resonant, ‘crafted’ tone—like measured hammer-strokes.
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