Rig Veda 5.3.11: Mandala 5, Sukta 3, Mantra 11
Sukta 5.3
- Rishi
- Atri
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
त्वमङ्ग जरितारं यविष्ठ विश्वान्यग्ने दुरिताति पर्षि । स्तेना अदृश्रन्रिपवो जनासोऽज्ञातकेता वृजिना अभूवन् ॥
tvám aṅgá jaritā́raṃ yaviṣṭha víśvāny agne duritā́ti parṣi | stenā́ adṛśran ripávo jánāso 'jñātaketā vṛjinā́ abhūvan ||
Du, o Agni, der Jüngste, trägst den Sänger über alle Notgänge und Übel hinweg. Sichtbar wurden die Diebe; die feindlichen Menschen — in ihrer Absicht unerkannt — erwiesen sich als krumme, verderbliche Mächte.
Word by Word
- त्वम्
- youPronounपुं/स्त्री/नपुं; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अङ्ग
- indeed, surelyIndeclinableनिपात (अव्यय)Root अङ्ग (निपात)
- जरितारम्
- the singer/praiserNounपुं; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot जरितृ (प्रातिपदिक; √गॄ/गृ ‘स्तु’ → ‘जर्’ परम्परया ‘स्तोतृ’)
- यविष्ठ
- O youngest (Agni)Adjective (vocative epithet)पुं; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot युव (प्रातिपदिक) → यविष्ठ (श्रेष्ठतमा-तुल्य; अतिशयार्थक)
- विश्वानि
- all (things)Adjective/Substantiveनपुं; द्वितीया; बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुं; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- दुरिताति
- from/over (all) distress, from sinIndeclinable (adverbial)अव्यय (अपादानार्थे ‘दुरितात्’ सदृश प्रयोग)Role अपादानRoot दुरित (प्रातिपदिक) + -आति (अव्ययीभाव/तद्धित; ‘से/से होकर’)
- पर्षि
- you carry across, saveVerbलट्; परस्मैपद; मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √पॄ (पॄ/पॢ) ‘पारयति, तारयति’
- स्तेनाः
- thievesNounपुं; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot स्तेन (प्रातिपदिक)
- अदृश्रन्
- appeared, were seenVerbलुङ् (अोरिस्ट); परस्मैपद; तृतीयपुरुष; बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot √दृश् ‘दर्शने’ (aorist stem with augment a-)
- रिपवः
- enemiesNounपुं; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot रिपु (प्रातिपदिक)
- जनासः
- peoples, menNounपुं; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot जन (प्रातिपदिक) / जनास् (वैदिक बहुवचन-प्रातिपदिक)
- अज्ञातकेताः
- of unknown intent/sign, unrecognizedAdjectiveपुं; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot अ-ज्ञात (√ज्ञा क्त) + केतु (प्रातिपदिक)
- वृजिनाः
- crooked, wickedAdjective/Substantiveपुं; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot वृजिन (प्रातिपदिक)
- अभूवन्
- became, wereVerbलुङ् (अोरिस्ट); परस्मैपद; तृतीयपुरुष; बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot √भू ‘भवति’
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution: (1) विश्वा॑न्यग्ने → विश्वानि + अग्ने (i + a → ya). (2) जना॒सोऽज्ञा॑तकेता → जनासः + अज्ञातकेताः (visarga before vowel → ’/o’ in saṃhitā: -o’). Accent marks in the input are saṃhitā accents
- pada-forms given here are unaccented lexical forms
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni, the youngest, carries the singer across all difficulties. The thieves became visible; hostile people, unknown in intention, were revealed as crooked.
Inner meaning
Agni as the ever-fresh flame of aspiration ferries the seeker across inner ‘hard passages’ (duritā). As the fire grows, it exposes what was hidden: ‘thieves’ are the subtle leakages of energy—desire, distraction, self-deception—that steal the offering. ‘Hostile men’ are adversarial formations (ripavaḥ) in mind/vital, often masked (ajñātaketāḥ). Under Agni’s light they become visible and are recognized as vṛjina—crooked movements deviating from ṛta. The verse is both assurance (you will be carried across) and a diagnostic promise (hidden resistances will be revealed).
Universal truth
A living inner aspiration not only helps one cross difficulties; it also illuminates and unmasks the hidden patterns that sabotage progress, enabling true rectification.
Themes
deliverance from durita, exposure of thieves/enemies, Agni as savior
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri (Ātreya)
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- RV 5.3, RV 5.2, RV 5.4
Family tradition
Ātreya hymns frequently stress Agni as guide across danger and revealer of hidden enemies—an inner psychology of purification and protection.
Significance
Atri’s seer-knowledge reassures the practitioner: the very light you kindle will expose the subtle thefts and crooked turns, making transformation practical.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- yaviṣṭha (youngest)
- Related deities
- Indra (victory over obstruction), Sūrya (revealing light), Varuṇa (law and straightness)
Cosmic role
Protector and guide; illuminator who reveals hidden threats; ferryman across peril.
Inner power
Steady aspiration that both supports passage through difficulty and sharpens discernment to detect sabotage.
In ritual
Where it is used
General Agni praise in hymn sequence; suitable for protection and safe passage motifs in rites.
त्वम॒ङ्ग ज॑रि॒तारं॑ यविष्ठ॒ विश्वा॑न्यग्ने दुरि॒ताति॑ पर्षि । स्ते॒ना अ॑दृश्रन्रि॒पवो॒ जना॒सोऽज्ञा॑तकेता वृजि॒ना अ॑भूवन् ॥
त्वम् । अ॒ङ्ग । ज॒रि॒तार॑म् । य॒वि॒ष्ठ॒ । विश्वा॑नि । अ॒ग्ने॒ । दुः॒ऽइ॒ता । अति॑ । प॒र्षि । स्ते॒नाः । अ॒दृ॒श्र॒न् । रि॒पवः॑ । जना॑सः । अज्ञा॑तऽकेताः । वृ॒जि॒नाः । अ॒भू॒व॒न् ॥
tvam | aṅga | jaritāram | yaviṣṭha | viśvāni | agne | duḥ-itā | ati | parṣi | stenāḥ | adṛśran | ripavaḥ | janāsaḥ | ajñāta-ketāḥ | vṛjināḥ | abhūvan
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4 × ~11; strong declarative statements create assurance.
Confident, rescuing rhythm; a ‘crossing’ cadence with clear resolution.
Stabilizes the nerves; instills trust and clear perception of inner obstacles.
- jaritāram
- Literal: singer, praiser. Symbolic: the aspiring consciousness that calls and offers
- yaviṣṭha
- Literal: youngest, most fresh. Symbolic: ever-renewed flame of aspiration; always new in each moment
- duritāti
- Literal: from difficulty, misfortune. Symbolic: hard passages: inner crises, confusions, resistances
- pārṣi
- Literal: you carry across. Symbolic: guidance through transition; safe crossing of thresholds
- stenāḥ
- Literal: thieves. Symbolic: energy-leaks: impulses that steal attention and force
- ripavaḥ
- Literal: enemies, hostile ones. Symbolic: adverse formations opposing truth-growth
- ajñātaketāḥ
- subconscient motives; masked negativity
- vṛjināḥ
- Literal: crooked, perverse. Symbolic: deviations from ṛta; twisted movements in nature
Protective and crossing-over formula: invoked when seeking safe passage through obstacles and exposure of hostile forces; suitable in rites of protection and purification.
When seeking safe completion of rite and removal of unseen obstacles; also as a concluding assurance.
Recitation with steady oblation; reaffirmation of Agni as guardian of the sacrificer.
Use when overwhelmed: chant to regain steadiness; then journal or reflect on ‘stenāḥ’—what is stealing energy—and ‘ajñātaketāḥ’—what motives are hidden.
duritá from dur- ‘difficult’ + ita ‘gone’ (√i): ‘bad passage’. √pṛ (parṣi) in Vedic often means ‘carry across, save’ (cf. ‘pāra’ shore). stena ‘thief’ is a standard Vedic image for powers that steal light/cows (knowledge), here generalized as inner stealers. ketá ‘sign, intention, perception’ from √cit/√ket ‘to notice’; ajñāta-ketá = hidden intention.
crossing (pāra) as spiritual transition, revelation of hidden hostile intentions
Crooked (vṛjina) is what deviates from ṛta; Agni reveals and corrects deviation.
Making the hidden visible is Satya’s action in perception.
Progress as crossing thresholds; illumination as revelation of concealed forces.
Yogic-psychological Vedism: purification through light and will.
Torch-fire = awareness; crossing = transition between states; thieves in darkness = unconscious habits exposed by light.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Agni ferries the singer across peril and exposes the ‘thieves’—a classic Vedic pattern where the divine fire reveals and defeats covert obstructors who steal light/force from the aspirant.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √dṛś ‘see’ (adṛśran) continues PIE *derk- ‘to see’ (cf. Greek dérkomai). The ‘crossing’ semantics around √pṛ and pāra resonate with widespread Indo-European metaphors of crossing danger to reach safety/shore.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi positions himself as jaritṛ (singer) needing passage; Agni’s response is both salvific (carry across) and illuminative (make hidden adversaries visible), indicating a guidance-protection compact.
Invoke Agni as inner guide through a difficult passage; then practice ‘revealing’: watch the mind for subtle thefts of attention and name them without judgment.
maṇipūra (steady will)
Moderate breath with slightly longer exhale (inhale 4, exhale 6) to calm; feel a torch-flame at the navel rising to the heart.
Grounded courage; clear seeing; protected openness.
After chanting, ask: (1) What is the ‘thief’ stealing my energy today? (2) What intention in me is ‘unknown-signaled’? Offer both into the flame, then choose one straight (ṛta-aligned) action.
Declarative tone with steady udatta on ‘tvam’ and ‘pārṣi’; keep final cadence resolving to assurance. Exact svara needs śākhā accent text.
Stress ‘viśvāni… duritāti… pārṣi’ as a single rescuing sweep; articulate ‘ajñātaketāḥ’ carefully to mark hidden intention.
‘yaviṣṭha’ with ṣṭh cluster: ya-vi-ṣṭha., ‘duritāti’ as du-ri-tā-ti (long ā)., ‘ajñātaketāḥ’ as a-jñā-ta-ke-tāḥ (clear jñ)., ‘vṛjinā’ with syllabic ṛ: vṛ-ji-nā.
Steady, reassuring, luminous; like holding a lamp in wind without trembling.
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