Rig Veda 5.22.2: Mandala 5, Sukta 22, Mantra 2
Sukta 5.22
- Rishi
- Atri
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
न्यग्निं जातवेदसं दधाता देवमृत्विजम् । प्र यज्ञ एत्वानुषगद्या देवव्यचस्तमः ॥
ny àgníṁ jātávedasaṁ dádhātā devám ṛtvíjam | prá yajñá étv ānuṣág adyā́ devávyacastamaḥ ||
Asentad a Agni, Jātavedas, el sacerdote divino de las estaciones. Que hoy el sacrificio avance en la debida sucesión; que él, el de alcance más vasto entre los dioses, vaya al frente y guíe.
Word by Word
- नि
- down; in; towardsIndeclinableupasarga (preverb)Root नि (upasarga) / nī (PIE *nei- ‘down, in’)
- अग्निम्
- Agni; the fire-godNounmasculine, accusative singularRole KarmaRoot अग्नि (prātipadika; PIE *h₁n̥gʷnis ‘fire’)
- जातवेदसम्
- Jātavedas (‘he who knows all births/creatures’), AgniNoun (epithet)masculine, accusative singularRole Karma (apposition to अग्निम्)Root जातवेदस् (prātipadika; kṛdanta compound: जात ‘born’ < √जन् + वेदस् ‘knowledge’ < √विद्)
- दधात
- let (him) place; let (him) establishVerbimperative, 3rd person singular, parasmaipadaRoot √धा (धारणे/स्थापने) with reduplication (दधा-)
- देवम्
- the god; divineNoun/Adjectivemasculine, accusative singularRole Karma (apposition to अग्निम्)Root देव (prātipadika) < √दिव् (‘shine’)
- ऋत्विजम्
- the officiating priestNounmasculine, accusative singularRole Karma (apposition to अग्निम्)Root ऋत्विज् (prātipadika; ऋतु ‘season/rite-time’ + √यज् ‘to sacrifice’ → ‘one who sacrifices at the proper time’)
- प्र
- forth; forwardIndeclinablepreverb/adverbRoot प्र (upasarga/avyaya)
- यज्ञः
- the sacrifice; the riteNounmasculine, nominative singularRole KartāRoot यज्ञ (prātipadika) < √यज् (‘to worship/sacrifice’)
- एतु
- let (it) go/come; let (it) proceedVerbimperative, 3rd person singular, parasmaipadaRoot √इ (गत्यर्थे)
- आ
- to; hither; nearIndeclinablepreverb/adverbRoot आ (upasarga/avyaya)
- अनुषक्
- in due order; successively; continuouslyIndeclinableadverbRoot अनुषक् (avyaya; from anu- ‘after’ + शक्/शच्-formation ‘in sequence/continuously’)
- अद्य
- today; nowIndeclinabletemporal adverbRole Adhikaraṇa (time)Root अद्य (avyaya)
- देवव्यचस्तमः
- most divinely radiant; most wide-shiningAdjective (superlative epithet)masculine, nominative singularRole Kartā (agreeing with यज्ञः) / or epithet of the subject in the 2nd hemistichRoot देवव्यचस्-तम (prātipadika; compound: देव ‘divine’ + व्यचस् ‘wide-shining/spreading radiance’ < √व्यच्/√वच्? (Vedic vyacas ‘wide, expansive, radiant’) + superlative -तम)
Sandhi Notes
- Padaccheda (sandhi-resolved): नि | अग्निम् | जातवेदसम् | दधात | देवम् | ऋत्विजम् || प्र | यज्ञः | एतु | आ | अनुषक् | अद्य | देवव्यचस्तमः || Notable: (1) ‘न्यग्निम्’ = ‘नि + अग्निम्’ (i + a → ya glide in saṃhitā). (2) ‘एत्वानुषगद्य’ = ‘एतु + आ + अनुषक् + अद्य’ (u + ā → vā in saṃhitā; k of अनुषक् before vowel often appears as g in saṃhitā: -षगद्य). Accents as in the provided saṃhitā text are retained
- analysis is pada-based (padapāṭha-style)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Place/establish Agni Jātavedas as the divine ṛtvij (seasonal priest). Let the yajña proceed today in due succession; may he of widest divine pervasion lead it forward.
Inner meaning
Establish the awakened Flame of Will (Agni Jātavedas, ‘knower of all births/inner becomings’) in the front of the sādhanā as the right-discerning priest of the rhythms (ṛtu = right season/inner timing). Then the inner sacrifice (yajña = self-offering of works, thought, and life) can advance step by step (ānuṣak) without disorder. Agni, most ‘wide-reaching among the gods’, coordinates and carries each power of consciousness into its proper action.
Universal truth
Spiritual growth is not forced by impulse but ripens by right timing and disciplined sequence; when the central will-to-truth is consciously installed, the whole system of inner forces harmonizes and progress becomes steady and cumulative.
Themes
Installation of Agni, Ritual order as inner order, Progress of yajña
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri (Ātreya)
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- RV 5.22, RV 5.23, RV 5.24, RV 5.27
Family tradition
Atri-family hymns often emphasize Agni as the inner priest and the power that perfects the offering through right knowledge and luminous speech.
Significance
Atri’s vision frequently moves from establishing the inner Fire to widening illumination and protection; the seer’s ‘house’ becomes the psyche where Agni is the lord (dampati) and guide of the sacrifice.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (Jātavedas)
- Epithets
- Jātavedas, Deva, Ṛtvij, Devavyacas-tama
- Related deities
- Indra, Soma, Uṣas, Bṛhaspati
Cosmic role
Mediator between human and divine; carrier of offerings; establisher of right order in the rite and in the worlds.
Inner power
Flame of aspiration and discerning will that knows the soul’s becoming and marshals the gods (higher faculties) into effective action.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agnyādheya/Agnihotra and general Agni-invocation at the opening of offerings
न्य१॒॑ग्निं जा॒तवे॑दसं॒ दधा॑ता दे॒वमृ॒त्विज॑म् । प्र य॒ज्ञ ए॑त्वानु॒षग॒द्या दे॒वव्य॑चस्तमः ॥
नि । अ॒ग्निम् । जा॒तऽवे॑दसम् । दधा॑त । दे॒वम् । ऋ॒त्विज॑म् । प्र । य॒ज्ञः । ए॒तु॒ । आ॒नु॒षक् । अ॒द्य । दे॒वव्य॑चःऽतमः ॥
ni | agnim | jāta-vedasam | dadhāta | devam | ṛtvijam | pra | yajñaḥ | etu | ānuṣak | adya | devavyacaḥ-tamaḥ
44
4 pādas × ~11 syllables
Forward-driving, declarative cadence suited to initiation and command.
Creates a sense of ordered momentum—placing Agni ‘in front’ and moving the inner work steadily onward.
- अग्निम् (agniṃ)
- Literal: fire. Symbolic: divine will, conscious flame of aspiration leading the inner offering
- जातवेदसम् (jātavedasam)
- Literal: knower of births/creatures. Symbolic: the awakened intelligence in the will that knows our inner formations and their right unfolding
- ऋत्विजम् (ṛtvijam)
- Literal: seasonal priest. Symbolic: the power that applies right timing, right measure, and right order in the sādhana
- यज्ञः (yajñaḥ)
- Literal: sacrifice. Symbolic: integral self-offering—thought, life-force, action—toward the Divine
- आनुषक् (ānuṣak)
- Literal: in due succession, consecutively. Symbolic: gradual, ordered ascent; stepwise integration rather than scattered effort
- देवव्यचस्तमः (devavyacastamaḥ)
- Literal: most widely spreading among the gods. Symbolic: Agni as the integrator who reaches and coordinates all divine powers within us
Formal installation of Agni as ṛtvij; appropriate in soma-sacrifice progression where right sequencing (ānuṣak) is crucial.
At the commencement of the day’s rite or at the moment of ‘establishing’ the fire/priestly function
Kindling/placing the fire; inviting Agni as ṛtvij to lead the sequence of offerings
Begin meditation or work-session by inwardly ‘installing’ the will-to-truth in the heart and setting a clear, sequential intention for practice.
jātavedas: jāta ‘born’ (< √jan) + vedas ‘knowledge’ (< √vid ‘know’) → ‘knowing all becomings’. ṛtvij from ṛtu ‘season/right time’ + √yaj ‘sacrifice’ → priest who performs at right times; inwardly, organizer of rhythms. dadhāta from √dhā ‘place’. vyacas ‘wide-reaching’ from vi- + √añc/√vac? (Vedic vyac ‘to extend, pervade’) with superlative -tama.
Right time/season (ṛtu), Ordered progression (ānuṣak), Knowledge of becomings (jātavedas)
ṛtvij and ānuṣak imply ṛta as correct timing and lawful progression of inner transformations.
Agni as ‘deva’ and ‘jātavedas’ aligns action with truth-known becoming.
Ordered manifestation: the divine powers act effectively when the inner priest sets the sequence.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: ascent through ordered self-offering under the guidance of conscious will.
Morning or rite-beginning (implied by ‘adyā’—today, now)
Any; emphasis on ‘right season’ as principle
Fire = awakened will; seasons = rhythms of growth; ‘placing’ = establishing a stable inner center from which progress proceeds in right order.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Agni Jātavedas installed as ṛtvij so the yajña may proceed in right sequence: the mythic theme of correct ordering (ṛtu/ṛta) enabling divine manifestation and effective interchange.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vid ‘know’ (in vedas) is a core IE root. √dhā ‘place’ and √jan ‘be born’ are also inherited. The compound style (jātavedas, ṛtvij) is characteristic of archaic IE poetic diction.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi directs the collective to ‘place’ Agni—human agency prepares the seat. Agni, as knower of births and right rhythms, then guides the yajña forward, ensuring the work unfolds according to truth-order rather than human disorder.
Establish the inner flame of will in the heart; commit to a stepwise practice for the day.
Anāhata (heart)
Gentle nāḍī-śodhana or 4-4-6 breathing to stabilize rhythm before japa/chant
Collected, purposeful, progressively widening awareness
Invoke Agni as the inner guide; offer the day’s thoughts and actions in sequence—first clarity, then aspiration, then execution—returning to the flame whenever dispersion appears.
Vedic accenting with udatta/anudatta/svarita as per śākhā; preserve marked svaras on accented syllables (e.g., nyà/agním-type rises).
Keep the main udatta peaks clear on key invocatory words (agním, jātavedasam, ṛtvijam); avoid flattening ‘ānuṣak adyā’.
Maintain retroflex ṛ in ṛtvijam (short vocalic ṛ)., Separate consonant clusters: devavyacas-tamaḥ (don’t swallow -vy-)., Keep ‘jāta-vedasam’ as two members with a light internal pause.
Clear, leading, slightly bright (as if ‘placing’ the flame).
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