Rig Veda 5.44.7: Mandala 5, Sukta 44, Mantra 7
Sukta 5.44
- Devata
- Sūrya / Agni-Sūrya
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
वेत्यग्रुर्जनिवान्वा अति स्पृधः समर्यता मनसा सूर्यः कविः । घ्रंसं रक्षन्तं परि विश्वतो गयमस्माकं शर्म वनवत्स्वावसुः ॥
véty ágruḥ jánivān vā́ áti spṛ́dhaḥ samaryatā́ mánasā sū́ryaḥ kavíḥ | ghráṃsaṃ rákṣantaṃ pári viśvátó gáyam asmā́kaṃ śárma vanavat svā́vasuḥ ||
Er schreitet voran, der Eifrige, neugeboren, die Widerstreite der Gegner überragend; Sūrya, der kavi, Seher-Dichter, in der Eintracht des Geistes. Den brennenden Glanz ringsum bewahrend, gewinne er uns eine Wohnstatt des Friedens; durch seine eigenen Reichtümer an Macht lasse er unsern Schutzraum wachsen.
Word by Word
- वेति
- goes forth / strives / pursuesVerbPresent (laṭ), 3rd person singular, parasmaipadaRole Kriyā (verbal action)Root √वे (वेति = ‘pursues/strives/knows’ in Vedic usage)
- अग्रुः
- the forward-going one / leaderNoun/AdjectiveMasculine, nominative singularRole KartāRoot अग्रु (prātipadika)
- जनिवान्
- born / possessing birth (newly arisen)Adjective (possessive)Masculine, nominative singularRole Kartā (apposition to subject)Root जनिवस्/जनिवान् (prātipadika from √जन् ‘be born, generate’)
- वा
- or / indeedIndeclinableParticleRoot वा
- अति
- beyond / overIndeclinablePreverb/adverbRoot अति
- स्पृधः
- rivalries / contests / hostilitiesNounFeminine, accusative plural (Vedic often shows -ः for -स् in some padapāṭha traditions; sense = object of ‘overcome’)Role KarmaRoot स्पृध् (prātipadika)
- समर्यताम्
- (they) contend / strive togetherVerbPresent subjunctive/imperative-like (Vedic injunctive/subjunctive usage), 3rd person plural, parasmaipadaRole Kriyā (of opponents/contenders)Root सम्-√ऋ (समर्यति ‘to strive/contend’; Vedic)
- मनसा
- with (his) mind / by thoughtNounNeuter, instrumental singularRole KaraṇaRoot मनस्
- सूर्यः
- the SunNounMasculine, nominative singularRole KartāRoot सूर्य (prātipadika)
- कविः
- seer / poet-sageNounMasculine, nominative singularRole Kartā (apposition to सूर्यः)Root कवि (prātipadika)
- घ्रंसम्
- the burning heat / scorching glowNounMasculine, accusative singularRole KarmaRoot घ्रंस (prātipadika; ‘heat, burning glow’, also ‘scorching’)
- रक्षन्तम्
- protecting / guardingVerb (participle)Masculine, accusative singularRole Karma (qualifying the object in acc.)Root √रक्ष्
- परि
- aroundIndeclinablePreverb/adverbRoot परि
- विश्वतः
- on all sides / from every sideIndeclinableAdverbRoot विश्वतः (from विश्व ‘all’)
- गयम्
- abode / life / wealthNounMasculine, accusative singularRole KarmaRoot गय (prātipadika; ‘house, abode; life/wealth’ in Vedic)
- अस्माकम्
- of us / ourPronounGenitive pluralRole Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandhaRoot अस्मद्
- शर्म
- shelter / protection / blissNounNeuter, accusative singularRole KarmaRoot शर्मन् (prātipadika)
- वनवत्
- may he win / may he obtainVerbAorist/precative-like (Vedic), 3rd person singular, parasmaipadaRole KriyāRoot √वन् (वनु/वनति ‘to win, gain’)
- स्वावसुः
- well-aiding / of good assistanceAdjectiveMasculine, nominative singularRole Kartā (epithet of the subject, i.e., सूर्यः)Root स्वावसु (prātipadika; ‘having good help/aid’, from सु-आवस्)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (one possible pada-division): वेति | अग्रुः | जनिवान् | वा | अति | स्पृधः | समर्यताम् | मनसा | सूर्यः | कविः || घ्रंसम् | रक्षन्तम् | परि | विश्वतः | गयम् | अस्माकम् | शर्म | वनवत् | स्वावसुः । Notable points: (1) Vedic accent marks retained from saṃhitā
- pada-division removes external sandhi. (2) स्पृधः taken as acc. pl. ‘rivalries’ (Vedic phonology/orthography may show -ः where later Sanskrit expects -स्). (3) समर्यताम् interpreted as Vedic finite form from सम्-√ऋ ‘to strive/contend’ (subjunctive/injunctive nuance). (4) वनवत् treated as Vedic aorist/precative-like 3sg ‘may he win/obtain’
The meaning
Outer meaning
A newly born, eager power advances beyond rivalries; Sūrya the seer-poet moves by harmonised mind. Guarding the scorching heat on all sides, he wins a safe dwelling of peace for us and increases our shelter by his own strength.
Inner meaning
The “newborn” is the awakened inner Fire becoming solar—Agni rising into Sūrya-consciousness. It surpasses inner conflicts (spṛdhaḥ: competing impulses) by a collected, harmonised mind (samaryatā manasā). This illumined Will guards the tapas (ghraṃsa: burning heat) so it becomes a protected transformative force rather than a consuming fever. From that disciplined inner heat, the seeker wins “home” (gaya/śarma) as stable peace in consciousness, and the divine power (svāvasuḥ) makes the inner refuge grow.
Universal truth
Progress is not merely forceful striving but enlightened, harmonised effort: when will is illumined by a higher seeing, the very heat of transformation becomes protective, and life gains an increasing ground of peace.
Themes
solar-illumination, protection, victory, establishing-shelter
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri tradition (Mandala 5 Atrayas); specific verse seer not securely named in the text
- Lineage
- Atri (Ātreya)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 5.40, Rig Veda 5.43, Rig Veda 5.45, Rig Veda 5.47
Family tradition
Mandala 5 is predominantly attributed to the Atris; their hymns often stress Agni as inner priest and the ascent into solar illumination.
Significance
Atri-seeing frequently bridges Agni and Sūrya: the will (Agni) becomes a solar consciousness (Sūrya), establishing peace (śarma) through guarded tapas.
The deity
- Devata
- Sūrya (Agni-Sūrya: solarised Agni)
- Epithets
- kavi (seer-poet), janivān (newborn), svāvasu (self-possessing in power), rakṣant (protector/guardian)
- Related deities
- Agni, Uṣas, Indra, Soma
Cosmic role
Sun as illuminator and orderer of movements; Agni-Sūrya as the ascending flame that becomes the eye of truth.
Inner power
Illumined will: the power to harmonise mind, surpass inner rivalries, and convert heat into protected transformative tapas.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni-Sūrya oriented praise in soma-related or morning invocations (general use within a sūkta rather than a standalone rite)
वेत्यग्रु॒र्जनि॑वा॒न्वा अति॒ स्पृध॑: समर्य॒ता मन॑सा॒ सूर्य॑: क॒विः । घ्रं॒सं रक्ष॑न्तं॒ परि॑ वि॒श्वतो॒ गय॑म॒स्माकं॒ शर्म॑ वनव॒त्स्वाव॑सुः ॥
वेति॑ । अग्रुः॑ । जनि॑ऽवान् । वै । अति॑ । स्पृधः॑ । स॒ऽम॒र्य॒ता । मन॑सा । सूर्यः॑ । क॒विः । घ्रं॒सम् । रक्ष॑न्तम् । परि॑ । वि॒श्वतः॑ । गय॑म् । अ॒स्माक॑म् । शर्म॑ । व॒न॒व॒त् । स्वऽव॑सुः ॥
veti | agruḥ | jani-vān | vai | ati | spṛdhaḥ | sa-maryatā | manasā | sūryaḥ | kaviḥ | ghraṃsam | rakṣantam | pari | viśvataḥ | gayam | asmākam | śarma | vanavat | sva-vasuḥ
11
4 pādas × ~11 syllables (triṣṭubh cadence; some resolution possible)
Forward-driving, expansive, suited to ascent and conquest over obstruction
Creates a sense of steady advance and widening clarity; supports concentration with energised calm.
- जनि॑वान् (janivān)
- Literal: newly born. Symbolic: fresh awakening of the inner fire/consciousness
- स्पृधः (spṛdhaḥ)
- Literal: rivalries, contests. Symbolic: inner conflicts of desire, doubt, and competing drives
- समर्यता मनसा (samaryatā manasā)
- Literal: with a harmonised mind. Symbolic: integration of thought and will in yogic concentration
- सूर्यः कविः (sūryaḥ kaviḥ)
- Literal: Sun, the seer-poet. Symbolic: illumined gnosis that sees and forms truth
- घ्रंसम् (ghraṃsam)
- Literal: burning heat, glare. Symbolic: tapas—transforming inner heat/ardour guarded from excess
- गयम् (gayam)
- Literal: home, dwelling-place. Symbolic: settled inner station; a secure consciousness-base
- शर्म (śarma)
- Literal: shelter, peace. Symbolic: psychic peace and protection in the being
- स्वावसुः (svāvasuḥ)
- Literal: with his own riches/powers. Symbolic: self-existent divine power sustaining the sadhana
Protective and victory-seeking recitation: to surpass rivalries and establish śarma (peaceful shelter) in the community/household (gaya).
Morning/mid-morning recitations; moments of kindling and establishing protective heat
Kindling/maintaining fire; invoking protection and right guidance of tapas
Use as a meditation-chant for disciplined ardour: ‘guard the inner heat’ so effort becomes luminous and peaceful.
√i 'go' in veti; √spṛdh 'contend' in spṛdhaḥ; √kav 'see/poet' in kaviḥ (seer function). √rakṣ 'protect' in rakṣantam. śarma 'shelter/peace' is a key RV boon. √van 'win' in vanavat. The identification sūryaḥ kaviḥ can be solar or Agni-solarised: inner sense is luminous intelligence advancing beyond rival forces.
kavi (visionary intelligence), śarma (peace/shelter as inner refuge), victory over spṛdh (opposing forces)
Surya as upholder of ṛta; ‘samaryatā manasā’ indicates alignment of mind with cosmic order.
Kavi-Sūrya embodies satya-dṛṣṭi (truth-vision) shaping right movement.
New birth of the light within; ascent of Agni into solar gnosis.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: evolution of consciousness through illumined will.
Morning to midday (sun’s advancing)
Rising illumination stabilising the being; tapas held within a protective peace-field (śarma).
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The advancing Sun (as kavi) surpassing rival powers and establishing a protected dwelling. Mythically: sunrise conquering night/hostilities; psychologically: illumination advances beyond inner conflicts and guards the vital heat, creating an inner śarma—stable peace and protected life-field.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √i 'go' (PIE *h₁ey-) in veti; √rakṣ has Indo-Iranian protective lexicon parallels; √van 'win' may connect to PIE *wenh₁- 'desire, strive' (semantic overlap). The rivalries spṛdh reflect an inherited poetic theme of contest and overcoming.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer relies on the deity’s self-sufficient power (svāvasuḥ) to secure communal and inner peace (śarma). The relationship is protective and civic-psychological: the luminous power is invoked to stabilise the life-field (gaya) against surrounding pressures.
Unify mind and will; let inner fire rise into clear seeing, guarding ardour from restlessness.
Manipura to Ajna (tapas rising into illumination)
Moderate nāḍī-śodhana before chanting; then steady equal inhalation/exhalation while holding the ‘heat’ in awareness
Energised clarity (tapas with peace)
Begin with a brief inward offering: place effort at the heart as Agni, then lift attention to the ‘solar’ witness above the brow; repeat until inner conflicts quiet and a stable sheltering peace is felt.
Follow Rigvedic udātta/anudātta/svarita as per śākhā; key lifts often fall on deity-words like sūryaḥ/kaviḥ and action-verbs.
Keep udātta crisp on accented syllables; avoid flattening compounds (e.g., sū́ryaḥ kavíḥ). Maintain caesura after kaviḥ.
(ghraṃsam): clear ‘ghr’ cluster; nasal ‘ṃ’ before ‘s’, (spṛdhaḥ): vocalic ‘ṛ’ short and tapped, (svāvasuḥ): long ā in svā; soft visarga at end
Bright, steady, slightly rising through the first half; settle into a protective, calm resonance on śarma
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.
