Rig Veda 1.69.8: Mandala 1, Sukta 69, Mantra 8
Sukta 1.69
- Rishi
- Madhucchandas Vaiśvāmitra
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
तत्तु ते दंसो यदहन्त्समानैर्नृभिर्यद्युक्तो विवे रपांसि ॥
tát tu te dáṃso yád áhant samānáir nṛ́bhir yád yuktó vivé rápāṃsi ॥
Das ist wahrlich deine Meisterschaft: dass du mit gleichen menschlichen Kräften die Hemmenden erschlägst, und, ins Werk eingespannt, die Wirrnisse erkennst und scheidest.
Word by Word
- तत्
- that (deed/that thing)Pronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (सम्बन्धेन ‘यत्…’ इत्यस्य निर्देशः)Root तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- तु
- but, indeedIndeclinableअव्ययRoot तु (निपात)
- ते
- of you, yourPronounषष्ठी, एकवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्बन्ध (Genitive)Root त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- दंसः
- marvelous deed, wondrous actNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (स्तुत्य-कर्तृत्वे ‘तत्…दंसः’)Root दंस (प्रातिपदिक)
- यत्
- which, that whichRelative pronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (यत्-तत् सम्बन्धः)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अहन्
- you struck, you slewVerbलुङ् (अङ्गिरूप-आओरिस्ट), परस्मैपद, 2 एकवचनRole KriyāRoot हन् (धातु)
- समानैः
- with equal (companions), togetherAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole Karaṇa/सह (सहकारक-भावः)Root समान (प्रातिपदिक)
- नृभिः
- with men, with heroesNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole Karaṇa/सहRoot नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- यत्
- when/that whichRelative pronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (द्वितीयः यत्-तत्/यत्-उक्तिः)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- युक्तः
- yoked, harnessed, joinedParticiple (past passive)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (अहन्/विवे इत्यस्य कर्तृ-विशेषणम्)Root युज् (धातु) → युक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- विवे
- you pursued/overcame, you drove apart (Vedic perfect)Verbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट), परस्मैपद, 2 एकवचनRole KriyāRoot वि + वे (धातु ‘वे/वय्’ = वेग/विभाजन/विनाशन-भाव; वैदिक)
- रपांसि
- obstacles, harms, hostile actsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot रपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: तत् | तु | ते | दंसः | यत् | अहन् | समानैः | नृभिः | यत् | युक्तः | विवे | रपांसि || 1) तत्तु = तत् + तु (व्यञ्जन-सन्धि: त् + तु)
- 2) ते दंसः = ते + दंसः (सन्धि-रहित संयोग)
- 3) यदहन् = यत् + अहन् (त् + अ → द् + अ; जश्त्व/सवर्ण-प्रभावः: यत् → यद्)
- 4) समानैर्नृभिः = समानैः + नृभिः (विसर्ग-सन्धि: ः + न् → र् + न्)
- 5) नृभिर्यत् = नृभिः + यत् (विसर्ग-सन्धि: ः + य् → र् + य्)
- 6) यद्युक्तः = यत् + युक्तः (त् + य् → द्य्; यत् → यद्)
The meaning
Outer meaning
This is your mastery: with equal human powers you strike the obstructers; yoked to the work you discern and separate the confusions.
Inner meaning
Agni’s ‘daṃsa’ (mastery) is the power to use the harmonized energies of the human being (samānaiḥ nṛbhiḥ) to smite the inner obstructers—forces of inertia, desire, and obscurity. When the will is yoked (yuktaḥ) to the true work (yajña as inner practice), it gains viveka: it separates (vive) the rapāṃsi—tangles, turbid mixtures, confusions of motive and thought—restoring clarity and right movement.
Universal truth
When our faculties are equalized and yoked to a meaningful discipline, discernment arises; confusion yields to clarity, and obstacles lose their power.
Themes
obstruction-slaying, purification, discipline (yoking), discrimination
The seer
- Rishi
- Madhucchandas Vaiśvāmitra
- Lineage
- Vaiśvāmitra
- Other hymns
- RV 1.69, RV 1.70, RV 1.1
Family tradition
A seer-line emphasizing conquest of inner darkness by awakened Agni and allied powers; the yajña as a psychology of transformation.
Significance
The rishi’s vision highlights practical inner mastery: equalization, yoking, and discrimination—key steps in integral sadhana.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- daṃsavant (possessing mastery), kavi (seer-will), viśpati (lord of the dwelling)
- Related deities
- Indra (slayer of Vṛtra), Sarasvatī (clarity/flow of inspiration), Varuṇa (order)
Cosmic role
Force that conquers obstruction and establishes clear pathways between planes; purifier that separates the subtle from the gross.
Inner power
Yogic will that both fights resistance and illumines discernment; the purifier of mixed movements (rapāṃsi).
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni praise within śrauta recitation; also fits pravargya/agnicayana thematic streams as purificatory power (general).
तत्तु ते॒ दंसो॒ यदह॑न्त्समा॒नैर्नृभि॒र्यद्यु॒क्तो वि॒वे रपां॑सि ॥
तत् । तु । ते॒ । दंसः॑ । यत् । अह॑न् । स॒मा॒नैः । नृऽभिः॑ । यत् । यु॒क्तः । वि॒वेः । रपां॑सि ॥
tat | tu | te | daṃsaḥ | yat | ahan | samānaiḥ | nṛ-bhiḥ | yat | yuktaḥ | viveḥ | rapāṃsi
44
4 x 11 syllables (approx.)
Dynamic and forceful; suited to conquest and discrimination.
Energizes resolve; sharpens mental clarity and a sense of ‘cutting through’ confusion.
- दंसः (daṃsaḥ)
- Literal: skill, mastery, mighty deed. Symbolic: effective spiritual power of the awakened will
- समानैः (samānaiḥ)
- Literal: equal, balanced. Symbolic: harmonized faculties—mind, life, body aligned
- युक्तः (yuktaḥ)
- Literal: yoked, joined, harnessed. Symbolic: concentrated will harnessed to sadhana and right action
- विवे (vive)
- Literal: he discerns, separates. Symbolic: viveka—discriminative knowledge that sorts truth from mixture
- रपांसि (rapāṃsi)
- Literal: turbidities, confusions, stains. Symbolic: mixed motives, noisy thoughts, chaotic impulses that cloud consciousness
- अहन् (ahan)
- Literal: you smote, struck down. Symbolic: decisive inner victory over resistance
Appropriate for rites emphasizing purification and right discrimination in action—Agni as the power that removes obstruction and clarifies the offering (inner and outer).
When invoking Agni’s power to remove obstacles and purify the rite; adaptable before demanding undertakings.
Recite while offering; inwardly ‘yoke’ attention and breath, then offer confusion/impulse into the fire.
Use before study/decision-making: chant to invoke discrimination (viveka) and obstacle-removal.
(daṃsa) denotes effective power/skill (not mere marvel), fitting Agni as kavi/kratu. from √han ‘strike’ expresses removal of obstruction. (yukta) from √yuj implies disciplined joining—inner yoga of the will. indicates discriminative separation (vi- intensifies ‘apart’), central to Vedic psychology: the Fire distinguishes truth-movements from rapāṃsi (coverings/confusions).
viveka (discrimination) as Vedic precursor, R̥ta vs. anr̥ta (truth-order vs confusion)
Viveka restores ṛta by separating mixed movements into their right places.
Truth becomes actionable power (daṃsa) when faculties are equalized and yoked.
Purification and differentiation—order emerging from mixture/chaos.
Sāṃkhya-like discrimination (viveka) integrated with Vedic tapas (Aurobindonian synthesis).
Fire = purifying will; yoking = concentration; smiting = decisive rejection; separation = clear seeing.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- A micro-form of the ‘slaying of obstructers’: Agni, joined with harmonized human powers, strikes down obstruction and performs the decisive act of separation—burning away rapāṃsi (coverings/confusions) to reveal the right order.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √yuj ‘yoke’ is strongly Indo-European (cf. Latin iugum, English yoke). The semantic shift from physical yoking to disciplined inward joining is already Vedic. √han ‘strike/kill’ is also an old IE root (cf. Avestan jan- ‘strike’ in related domains).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The r̥ṣi presents a cooperative sādhanā: Agni’s power operates ‘with’ the human energies (nṛbhiḥ), but only when these are samāna (equalized/harmonized). The divine act depends on human readiness; the human victory depends on divine discrimination.
Invoke Agni as inner discriminative fire: ‘show me what is mixed; separate it.’
manipura (will)
kapalabhati (mild, 1–3 rounds) then quiet breath; feel heat at navel rising to illumine the mind
Active purification leading to lucid calm.
Equalize the instruments: relax the body, steady the breath, quiet emotion, clarify intention; then apply a single-pointed will to one knot of confusion at a time.
Tri-svara as per Śākala; emphasize udātta on key action-words (ahan, yuktaḥ, vive) per recension markings.
Keep consonant clusters crisp so the ‘cutting’ meaning is felt; avoid dragging vowels in rapāṃsi.
daṃso: anusvāra before ‘s’ gives nasalization (daṃ-), ahan: ‘h’ voiced breath, not silent, yukto: short ‘u’, clear ‘kt’ cluster, vive: two short i’s, do not turn into ‘vee-vay’, rapāṃsi: long ‘āṃ’ nasalized; ‘si’ light
bright, forceful, and clean-edged
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