Rig Veda 3.13.7: Mandala 3, Sukta 13, Mantra 7
Sukta 3.13
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
नू नो रास्व सहस्रवत्तोकवत्पुष्टिमद्वसु । द्युमदग्ने सुवीर्यं वर्षिष्ठमनुपक्षितम् ॥
nū no rāsva sahásravat tokávat puṣṭímad vásu | dyumád agne su-vī́ryaṃ várṣiṣṭham ánupakṣitam ||
Maintenant accorde-nous, ô Agni, la richesse aux mille puissances, riche de descendance et de croissance; donne, ô Agni, la force héroïque lumineuse, la plus abondante, qui ne décroît ni ne fait défaut.
Word by Word
- नू
- now; indeedIndeclinableनिपात (काल/अवधारणार्थ) अव्ययRoot नू (निपात) / नूनम्
- नः
- to us; for usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी? एकवचनस्य न, बहुवचनस्य ‘नः’ = षष्ठी बहुवचन (gen.)/चतुर्थी बहुवचन (dat.)—अत्र दत्तिः (सम्प्रदान) अर्थेRole SampradānaRoot अस्मद्
- रास्व
- give (to us)!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदRoot रा (दाने) / रास् (Vedic)
- सहस्रवत्
- thousandfold; having a thousandAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे/स्त्रीलिङ्गे समानरूप; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन—अत्र ‘वसु’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (नपुं. द्वि. एक.)Role KarmaRoot सहस्र + वत् (मतुप्-तद्धित)
- तोकवत्
- having offspring; with childrenAdjectiveविशेषण; (वसु) नपुंसक द्वितीया एकवचनानुगुणम्Role KarmaRoot तोक + वत् (मतुप्-तद्धित)
- पुष्टिमत्
- possessing nourishment/prosperityAdjectiveविशेषण; (वसु) नपुंसक द्वितीया एकवचनानुगुणम्Role KarmaRoot पुष्टि + मत् (मतुप्-तद्धित)
- वसु
- wealth; good (treasure)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot वसु (प्रातिपदिक) / √वस् (निवासे) से व्युत्पत्तिः
- द्युमत्
- bright; radiantAdjectiveविशेषण; सम्बोधन-सम्बन्धे ‘अग्ने’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (सम्बोधन एकवचन)Role SambodhanaRoot द्युमत् (द्यु/द्युत् ‘प्रकाश’ + मतुप्) / द्युमन्
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole SambodhanaRoot अग्नि
- सुवीर्यम्
- good heroism; excellent manly powerNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot सु + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- वर्षिष्ठम्
- most excellent; bestAdjective (Superlative)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘सुवीर्यम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्Role KarmaRoot वृद्ध/वृष्? (श्रेष्ठार्थे) + इष्ठ (तमप्-प्रत्यय) → वर्षिष्ठ
- अनुपक्षितम्
- unimpaired; not diminishedParticiple/Adjectiveभूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘सुवीर्यम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्Role KarmaRoot अनु + √पक्ष्/पक्षय् (क्षये/हानौ) → पक्षित (कृदन्त) ; न-उप-? (Vedic) ‘अनुपक्षित’ = ‘अक्षीण/अपरिह्रासित’
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: नू | नः | रास्व | सहस्रवत् | तोकवत् | पुष्टिमत् | वसु | द्युमत् | अग्ने | सुवीर्यम् | वर्षिष्ठम् | अनुपक्षितम् । Sandhi/phonology: (1) ‘नू नो॑’ = ‘नू’ + ‘नः’ (उकारान्त अव्यय + सर्वनाम; संहितायां ‘नो’ रूपम्). (2) ‘रास्व’ लोट्-रूपः √रा ‘देहि’ अर्थे. (3) ‘सहस्रवत्तोकवत्पुष्टिमद्वसु’ संहितायां पदान्त -त् + आरम्भे त/प इत्यादि
- मूलतः ‘सहस्रवत् | तोकवत् | पुष्टिमत् | वसु’. (4) ‘द्युमदग्ने’ = ‘द्युमत्’ + ‘अग्ने’ (पदान्त -त् + अ- आरम्भे संहितायां ‘दग्ने’). (5) ‘सुवीर्यं वर्षिष्ठम्’ = ‘सुवीर्यम् | वर्षिष्ठम्’ (अनुस्वार/म् + व-). (6) ‘वर्षिष्ठमनुपक्षितम्’ = ‘वर्षिष्ठम् | अनुपक्षितम्’ (म् + अ-). Accent: उदात्त/स्वरित चिह्नाः मन्त्रपाठानुसारं
- पदच्छेदे सामान्यरूपेण न दर्शिताः।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Grant us, O Agni, wealth that is thousand-strong, rich in offspring and nourishment; grant luminous hero-power, most abundant, undiminishing.
Inner meaning
Agni is invoked to bestow sahasravat vasu—an abundant spiritual resource with many powers: capacities, lights, protections, and forces for the path. Tokavat points to ‘offspring’ as inner progeny: new formations of consciousness—habits, virtues, realizations—born from the soul’s fire. Puṣṭimat is growth and integration: the being becomes well-nourished in peace, strength, and joy. Dyumat suvīryam is luminous heroism: the illumined force that conquers resistance without violence, steadily. Anupakṣitam indicates a gain that does not wane—stable realization rather than temporary enthusiasm.
Universal truth
The highest wealth is enduring inner capacity: growing goodness and strength that multiplies, shines, and does not diminish when tested.
Themes
Agni-invocation, boon-request, inner-growth-and-progeny, luminous-heroic-force, non-diminishing-plenitude
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina (sūkta tradition)
- Lineage
- Viśvāmitra (Gāthina line)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 3.13, Rig Veda 3.62
Family tradition
Maṇḍala 3’s aspiration for powerful, enduring gains—inner prosperity and victorious force.
Significance
The seer seeks not transient boons but undiminishing inner wealth and luminous hero-force—hallmarks of a mature yoga of transformation.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- dyumat (luminous), dātā (giver, implied), varṣiṣṭha-dātṛ (most abundant bestower, implied)
- Related deities
- Indra (suvīrya/hero-force), Soma (delight that nourishes), Maruts (dynamic energies)
Cosmic role
Giver of riches and strength; distributor of energies; establisher of thriving life under divine law.
Inner power
Enduring spiritual vigor and luminous courage; growth-force that multiplies realizations and stabilizes gains.
In ritual
Where it is used
Prosperity/strength prayer within Agni praise; applicable as benediction for gains and thriving.
नू नो॑ रास्व स॒हस्र॑वत्तो॒कव॑त्पुष्टि॒मद्वसु॑ । द्यु॒मद॑ग्ने सु॒वीर्यं॒ वर्षि॑ष्ठ॒मनु॑पक्षितम् ॥
नु । नः॒ । रा॒स्व॒ । स॒हस्र॑ऽवत् । तो॒कऽव॑त् । पु॒ष्टि॒ऽमत् । वसु॑ । द्यु॒मत् । अ॒ग्ने॒ । सु॒ऽवीर्य॑म् । वर्षि॑ष्ठम् । अनु॑पऽक्षितम् ॥
nu | naḥ | rāsva | sahasra-vat | toka-vat | puṣṭi-mat | vasu | dyumat | agne | su-vīryam | varṣiṣṭham | anupa-kṣitam
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables
Strong, martial, forward-thrusting; suited to requests for force and victorious power.
Invokes vigor and confidence; supports a ‘heroic’ inner stance and sustained energy.
- सहस्रवत् (sahasravat)
- Literal: thousand-possessing, thousand-powered. Symbolic: abundant, many-faceted spiritual force and resources
- तोकवत् (tokavat)
- Literal: having offspring. Symbolic: productive consciousness: new inner formations, realizations, and right movements born in the being
- पुष्टिमत् (puṣṭimat)
- Literal: full of nourishment, thriving. Symbolic: integral growth; assimilation of light and force into life
- वसु (vasu)
- Literal: wealth, good substance. Symbolic: inner riches: light, peace, strength, joy
- द्यु्मत् (dyumat)
- Literal: luminous. Symbolic: radiant clarity; light that guides action
- सुवीर्यम् (suvīryam)
- Literal: excellent heroism/power. Symbolic: spiritual courage and effective force to overcome inertia and obscurity
- वर्षिष्ठम् (varṣiṣṭham)
- Literal: most abundant, most raining. Symbolic: copious descent/flow of force and delight
- अनुपक्षितम् (anupakṣitam)
- Literal: not diminished, not decaying. Symbolic: stable attainment; gain that endures and increases
Agni-stotra / invocation within Soma and Haviryajña contexts; suitable for kindling and strengthening Agni as Hotṛ and inner guide
At conclusion or strengthening point of Agni-stotra; when seeking increase (puṣṭi) and enduring success.
Offerings with prayer for abundance and undiminishing strength.
Use when building long-term discipline (study, recovery, sadhana consistency): chant for steady, non-waning growth and luminous courage.
Key terms: (1) : imperative 2sg of √rā ‘to give, bestow’—Agni as distributor of divine boons through the yajña. (2) : possessive - adjective from sahasra ‘thousand’; in RV idiom indicates boundless multiplicity of energies. (3) : - from toka ‘offspring, shoot’; psychologically, the ‘issues’ of consciousness—new formations, right becomings. (4) : - from puṣṭi ‘thriving, increase’ (√puṣ ‘to thrive, prosper’). (5) : - from dyu/dyumna ‘light, brilliance’—clarity, illumined mind. (6) : su + vīrya (from vīra ‘hero’; vīrya ‘heroic power, effective strength’). (7) : superlative -iṣṭha from √vṛṣ ‘to rain/pour’—the most copious outpouring. (8) : anu + pakṣita (PPP/adj. from √pakṣ ‘to diminish, waste’), negating decline—boon that sustains itself.
R̥ta (right order implied by ‘su-’ harmonization and enduring non-wasting plenitude), Satya (implicit in the non-deceptive, non-diminishing boon), Bṛhat (vastness suggested by sahasravat and varṣiṣṭham)
Undiminishing gain (anupakṣitam) reflects ṛta’s stability—growth that is lawful and sustainable.
Dyumat: truth-light guiding heroism; power aligned with truth rather than ego.
‘Raining abundance’ (varṣiṣṭham) echoes the Vedic motif of descent of riches from higher planes into life.
Integral yogic reading: increase of being (puṣṭi) and stable siddhi (anupakṣita) through the psychic fire.
Rain = descent of force/delight; Light = guidance; Fire = will that receives and stabilizes the descent into growth.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘descent of plenitude through Agni’: Agni as mediator who ‘gives’ (√rā) the imperishable wealth and hero-force. The mythic action is not combat but the divine bestowal—an outpouring (varṣiṣṭha, √vṛṣ) of luminous power (dyumat) that sustains the lineage of becoming (tokavat) and the growth of substance (puṣṭimat).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- Several items preserve archaic Indo-European poetic diction: (1) dyu- ‘sky/light’ (Skt dyu, dyumna) aligns with PIE *dyew- ‘sky, daylight’ (cf. Lat diēs, Gk Zeus < *dyēus). (2) vīra/vīrya connects with PIE *wiHro- ‘man’ (cf. Lat vir). (3) the ‘rain/pour’ root √vṛṣ relates to a widespread IE image of divine abundance as ‘pouring’ from above, a formulaic metaphor for inspiration and force.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- A reciprocal economy of the sacrifice: the seer asks Agni to ‘grant’ enduring plenitude, implying that the human offering (speech and will in yajña) opens a channel for Agni’s distribution. The requested boons—tokavat/puṣṭimat and dyumat/suvīrya—show the rishi seeking not outer gain but stable inner continuation (toka), intensification (puṣṭi), illumination (dyu), and effective force (vīrya) for the soul’s progress under Agni’s guidance.
Cultivate undiminishing inner wealth: feel a steady flame generating strength, clarity, and growth through the day.
Manipura (suvīrya) with integration into Svadhisthana (puṣṭi/flow)
Rhythmic 6-6 breathing (inhale 6, exhale 6) while feeling ‘dyumat’ light in the chest/solar plexus
Dynamic steadiness; courageous clarity.
Set one long-term vow (anupakṣita): small daily offering of effort. After chanting, visualize golden ‘rain’ of force settling into habits, speech, and choices—growth without burnout.
If Triṣṭubh, keep each pāda crisp and slightly more forceful than Jagatī verses; observe udatta peaks on sahasravat, puṣṭimat, dyumat, suvīryam, anupakṣitam per Śākala accenting.
Strike ‘nū no rāsva’ with immediacy; broaden on ‘sahasravat… puṣṭimat’; give luminous lift to ‘dyumat’; end with firm, non-fading cadence on ‘anupakṣitam’.
nū: long ū sustained., rāsva: retroflex/clear ‘rā’, soft ‘sv’., sahasravat: keep ‘sahasra’ fluid, not ‘sahāsra’., tokavat: clean ‘toka’ (dental t)., puṣṭimat: retroflex ṣṭ cluster; short i at end., suvīryam: long ī; avoid ‘su-viryam’ flattening., anupakṣitam: kṣ conjunct; short final ‘am’.
Firm, bright, victorious; avoid strain—power with steadiness.
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