Rig Veda 3.2.14 — Mandala 3, Sukta 2, Mantra 14

Sukta 3.2

Rishi: Viśvāmitra Gāthina (traditional attribution for Maṇḍala 3)

Devata: Agni (also as celestial beacon/ketu and dawn-awakened fire)

Chandas: Triṣṭubh (probable; RV 3.2 is predominantly triṣṭubh)

Samhita Patha (Devanagari)

शुचिं न यामन्निषिरं स्वर्दृशं केतुं दिवो रोचनस्थामुषर्बुधम् । अग्निं मूर्धानं दिवो अप्रतिष्कुतं तमीमहे नमसा वाजिनं बृहत् ॥

Transliteration

śucíṃ na yā́mann iṣiráṃ svaḥ-dṛ́śaṃ ketúṃ divó rocaná-sthām uṣar-búdhām | agníṃ mūrdhā́naṃ divó áprati-skutaṃ tám īmahe námasā vā́jinaṃ bṛhát ||

Translation

We seek with adoration that Agni—pure as the path of movement, keen-edged in power, visioning the supramental Light; the luminous beacon of heaven stationed in the worlds of radiance, awake with the Dawn. We seek the Head and summit of heaven, the irresistible Flame that cannot be thrust aside, the vast Bearer of plenitude of force.

Word by Word

• शुचिम्: bright, pure (one)
• शुचिम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि- (प्रातिपदिक) < √शुच् (दीप्तौ/शौचे)

• न: like, as
• न: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (निपात)

• यामन्: in the course/at the going; on the path
• यामन्: Adhikaraṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: यामन्- (प्रातिपदिक)

• निषिरम्: swift, impetuous
• निषिरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निषिर- (प्रातिपदिक)

• स्वर्दृशम्: heaven-seeing; having sight of the light
• स्वर्दृशम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्दृश- (समास: स्वः/स्वर् + दृश्)

• केतुम्: banner; sign; radiant beam
• केतुम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतु- (प्रातिपदिक)

• दिवः: of heaven
• दिवः: Sambandha (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्/द्यौ- (प्रातिपदिक)

• रोचनस्थाम्: standing/abiding in the luminous realm
• रोचनस्थाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रोचनस्था- (समास: रोचन + स्था)

• उषर्बुधम्: awakening at dawn; dawn-awakening
• उषर्बुधम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उषर्बुध- (समास: उषर्/उषस् + बुध)

• अग्निम्: Agni (Fire)
• अग्निम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि- (प्रातिपदिक)

• मूर्धानम्: head; chief
• मूर्धानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन्- (प्रातिपदिक)

• दिवः: of heaven
• दिवः: Sambandha (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्/द्यौ- (प्रातिपदिक)

• अप्रतिष्कुतम्: unopposed; not repelled/checked
• अप्रतिष्कुतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ- + प्रति + √स्कु/√स्कुन्द् (आच्छादने/प्रतिघाते) → प्रतिष्कुत (कृदन्त/विशेषण)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम)

• ईमहे: we seek; we implore
• ईमहे: —
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ईम्/√यम् (ईमहे—वैदिक: ‘we seek/implore’)

• नमसा: with reverence; with homage
• नमसा: Karaṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस्- (प्रातिपदिक)

• वाजिनम्: prize-winning; mighty; possessing strength
• वाजिनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाजिन्- (प्रातिपदिक)

• बृहत्: great; lofty
• बृहत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बृहन्त्- (प्रातिपदिक) < √बृह् (वृद्धौ)