Rig Veda 6.4.6: Mandala 6, Sukta 4, Mantra 6
Sukta 6.4
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
आ सूर्यो न भानुमद्भिरर्कैरग्ने ततन्थ रोदसी वि भासा । चित्रो नयत्परि तमांस्यक्तः शोचिषा पत्मन्नौशिजो न दीयन् ॥
ā́ sū́ryo na bhā́numadbhir arkáir agne tatántha rodasī́ ví bhāsā́ | citró nayat pári tamā́ṃsy aktáḥ śóciṣā pátmann auśijó na dī́yan ||
Como Sūrya con himnos cargados de rayos, oh Agni, has extendido los dos mundos con tu luz. Variado en esplendor, ungido, conduces en torno a las tinieblas; con la llama en rápido movimiento, como Auśija, otorgas el paso recto.
Word by Word
- आ
- forth, towards (intensifying/dir. prefix)Indeclinableउपसर्गः (गत्यर्थः)Root आ (उपसर्ग) / ā (preverb)
- सूर्यः
- the SunNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (उपमान-कर्तृ)Root सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमानार्थक-निपातःRoot न (निपात)
- भानुमद्भिः
- with radiant (beam-)possessing (rays)Adjectiveपुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot भानुमत् (भानु + मतुप्)
- अर्कैः
- with hymns / with rays (arks)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot अर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role Sampradāna (सम्बोधन/आह्वान)Root अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- ततन्थ
- you have stretched/spreadVerbलिट् (परोक्ष), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role KriyāRoot √तन् (तनूँ विस्तारे) / tan
- रोदसी
- the two worlds (heaven and earth)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, द्विवचनम्Role KarmaRoot रोदसी (द्विवचन-प्रातिपदिक; द्यावा-पृथिव्यौ)
- वि
- apart, widely, forthIndeclinableउपसर्गः (विभाग/विशेषार्थः)Root वि (उपसर्ग) / vi (preverb)
- भासा
- with light, by radianceNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया, एकवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot भासा (भास्/भा + घञ्/टाप्; ‘splendour, light’)
- चित्रः
- bright, wondrousAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot चित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- नयत्
- led, guidedVerbलङ् (इम्पर्फेक्ट), परस्मैपदम्, तृतीयपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role KriyāRoot √नी (नयने) / nī
- परि
- around, all aboutIndeclinableउपसर्गः (परितः/समन्तात्)Root परि (उपसर्ग) / pari (preverb)
- तमांसि
- darknessesNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role KarmaRoot तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अक्तः
- anointed, kindled (lit. ‘smeared’)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (कृदन्तः: क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः)Role Kartā (विशेषणम्)Root अक्त (√अञ्ज्/√अक् ‘to smear/anoint’; PPP)
- शोचिषा
- with flame, with blazing lightNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, तृतीया, एकवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot शोचिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- पत्मन्
- in the course/path (of movement)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot पत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘flight, course, path’)
- औशिजः
- the son/descendant of Uśij (a swift one)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (उपमान-कर्तृ)Root औशिज (उशिज्-सम्बन्धि; patronymic/derivative)
- न
- likeIndeclinableउपमानार्थक-निपातःRoot न (निपात)
- दीयन्
- flying, speedingVerbशतृ-प्रत्ययान्तः वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त-प्रायः (present participle), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमा एकवचनम् (पुं.)Role Kartā (कृदन्त-कर्तृ)Root √दी (दीङ् क्षये/गत्यर्थे; here ‘to fly/soar’ in RV usage)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (major): सूर्यो॒ न → सूर्यः न
- भा॑नु॒मद्भि॑र॒र्कैर् → भानुमद्भिः अर्कैः (visarga before vowel; r-sandhi in saṃhitā)
- अर्कैरग्ने → अर्कैः अग्ने
- ततन्थ रोदसी → (no change; verb + acc.du.)
- रोदसी॒ वि → रोदसी वि
- भा॒सा → भासा
- चित्रो → चित्रः
- न॑य॒त्परि॒ → नयत् परि
- तमां॑स्य॒क्तः → तमांसि अक्तः
- शो॒चिषा॒ पत्म॑न् → शोचिषा पत्मन्
- औशि॒जो न → औशिजः न
- दीय॑न् retained as participial form. Accents are preserved as in saṃhitā but not re-marked per pada here
The meaning
Outer meaning
Like the Sun with ray-laden hymns, Agni has stretched out the two worlds with his light. Varied in splendor, anointed, he leads around the darknesses; with flame in swift motion, like Auśija, he gives the right passage.
Inner meaning
Agni becomes solar through inspired speech (arkaiḥ): mantra-utterance itself carries rays that expand consciousness. ‘The two worlds’ (rodasī) are the inner heaven and earth—mind and embodied life—widened by illumination. ‘Anointed’ (aktaḥ) suggests consecrated force: the will aligned with higher truth. Agni leads the seeker through and around darknesses (tamāṃsi), not by denial but by guided passage. ‘Patman’ is swift movement of flame—dynamic guidance that opens the right way, like the seer Auśija (prototype of inspired movement and right leading).
Universal truth
Mantra-light expands our inner worlds. Consecrated will can guide us through darkness by opening right passages, turning obscurity into a navigable field of transformation.
Themes
illumination, cosmic widening, guidance, consecrated force
The seer
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja (Bārhaspatya)
- Lineage
- Bharadvāja
- Other hymns
- RV 6.4.2, RV 6.4.3, RV 6.4.5
Family tradition
Bharadvāja hymns often solarize Agni—moving from hearth-fire to world-expanding light and guided passage through darkness.
Significance
A clear Aurobindonian motif: mantra (arka) as ray-power that expands the inner worlds; Agni as the guide through tamas toward a widened consciousness.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (solar expander; guide through darkness)
- Epithets
- Sūrya-like, Bhāsā-vān (luminous), Citra (wondrous), Akta (consecrated)
- Related deities
- Sūrya, Uṣas, Sarasvatī (inspired speech)
Cosmic role
Expands heaven and earth with light; guides beings through darkness; opens passages between worlds.
Inner power
Illumined will guided by mantra-force; transforms ignorance by leading consciousness around and through obscurity.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni praise in morning/solar contexts; lighting sequences where Agni is identified with Sūrya
आ सूर्यो॒ न भा॑नु॒मद्भि॑र॒र्कैरग्ने॑ त॒तन्थ॒ रोद॑सी॒ वि भा॒सा । चि॒त्रो न॑य॒त्परि॒ तमां॑स्य॒क्तः शो॒चिषा॒ पत्म॑न्नौशि॒जो न दीय॑न् ॥
आ । सूर्यः॑ । न । भा॒नु॒मत्ऽभिः॑ । अ॒र्कैः । अग्ने॑ । त॒तन्थ॑ । रोद॑सी॒ इति॑ । वि । भा॒सा । चि॒त्रः । न॒य॒त् । परि॑ । तमां॑सि । अ॒क्तः । शो॒चिषा॑ । पत्म॑न् । औ॒शि॒जः । न । दीय॑न् ॥
ā | sūryaḥ | na | bhānumat-bhiḥ | arkaiḥ | agne | tatantha | rodasī iti | vi | bhāsā | citraḥ | nayat | pari | tamāṃsi | aktaḥ | śociṣā | patman | auśijaḥ | na | dīyan
44
4×11 (approx.)
Expansive sweep in first half, then quick guiding motion in second—mirrors ‘stretching worlds’ then ‘leading through darkness’.
Opens the sense of space in the mind; then mobilizes will to move through inner obscurity with confidence.
- सूर्यः (sūryaḥ)
- Literal: sun. Symbolic: truth-light; illumined consciousness
- भानुमद्भिः अर्कैः (bhānumadbhir arkaiḥ)
- Literal: ray-filled hymns. Symbolic: mantric speech carrying illumination-force
- ततन्थ (tatantha)
- Literal: stretched out, extended. Symbolic: widened the inner planes; increased capacity of consciousness
- रोदसी (rodasī)
- Literal: the two worlds (heaven and earth). Symbolic: mind and life/body; higher and lower nature in the seeker
- भासा (bhāsā)
- Literal: with light. Symbolic: illumination as active power
- चित्रः (citraḥ)
- Literal: variegated, wondrous. Symbolic: many-sided brilliance; adaptable guidance
- अक्तः (aktaḥ)
- Literal: anointed. Symbolic: consecrated will; aligned energy
- तमांसि (tamāṃsi)
- Literal: darknesses. Symbolic: ignorance, confusion, subconscient obscurity
- नयत् (nayat)
- Literal: leads. Symbolic: inner guidance; the leader of the journey
- शोचिषा (śociṣā)
- Literal: with flame. Symbolic: burning discernment; transformative heat
- पत्मन् (patman)
- Literal: in flight; swift motion. Symbolic: rapid progress of force when aligned
- औशिजः (auśijaḥ)
- Literal: (like) Auśija. Symbolic: inspired seer-force; right leading through difficult passages
Agni as the expander of the cosmic field and guide through darkness; recited in contexts emphasizing illumination, consecration (akta), and the rite’s successful ‘passage’ through obstacles.
At kindling or when seeking light/guidance; suitable for dawn/day rites.
Recitation with offerings; visualization of spreading light through quarters.
Use when entering uncertainty: chant to widen perspective (‘rodasī’) and ask for right passage through confusion.
from √tan ‘stretch, expand’ (PIE *ten-; cf. Latin tendō). (támas) ‘darkness’ (common IE motif). (aktá) ‘anointed’ from √añj ‘to anoint’ (ritual consecration; inner: prepared consciousness). patman again from √pat ‘fly’. Auśija is a proper name/epithet; interpretively a figure of inspired efficacy, used as simile for Agni’s swift giving.
bṛhat expansion (√tan), guidance through ignorance (tamāṃsi), consecration (akta), ṛta as right leading (nay-)
Agni ‘leads’ (nayat) in accordance with ṛta—right movement through darkness, not impulsive reaction.
Solar bhāsā points to truth-consciousness organizing the two worlds.
World-expansion by light; guidance through primordial darknesses.
Integral Vedic psychology: mantra as force; widening (bṛhat) as a step toward higher truth.
Mantric rays expand mind and life; consecrated will guides awareness through ignorance, opening safe passages.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Agni as a sun-like power who stretches out the two worlds and leads around the darknesses. Inner sense: the awakened flame expands the field of consciousness (mind-life) and conducts the being through and beyond obscurity by a consecrated, swift illumination.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √tan ‘stretch’ is PIE *ten- (tatantha), a classic IE cosmogonic verb used for world-expansion. √pat (patman) is PIE *pet- ‘fly’. The darkness lexeme tamas participates in a widespread IE symbolic opposition of light vs. darkness.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi’s hymn-rays (arkāḥ) align with Agni’s sunlike rays: human speech becomes a vehicle for divine expansion. Agni reciprocates by widening the inner worlds and guiding the seeker through the dark intervals, granting the right movement forward.
Widen the ‘two worlds’: on inhale feel space open in the head (sky) and on exhale ground light into the body (earth). Then ask Agni to lead through one present ‘darkness’.
ajna
alternate-nostril breathing followed by a few minutes of silent repetition on the exhale (bhāsā… tamāṃsi…).
Widened luminous awareness with guided dynamism.
First widen (tatantha): step back from the problem into spacious seeing. Then consecrate (aktaḥ): offer the will. Finally move (patman): take the next right step without fear.
Let udātta peaks illuminate the solar phrases (sūryo na, bhānumadbhir); keep a flowing contour through tamāṃsi.
Sustain the long vowels in bhāsā and śociṣā; mark the turn at citro nayat (guiding action begins).
bhānumadbhir: cluster -dbhir articulated lightly but clearly, tatantha: dental t, avoid retroflexion, rodasī: long ī at end, auśijaḥ: au diphthong clear; ś palatal, not s
Radiant and open; slightly brighter tone than earlier verses.
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