Rig Veda 7.2.4: Mandala 7, Sukta 2, Mantra 4
Sukta 7.2
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
सपर्यवो भरमाणा अभिज्ञु प्र वृञ्जते नमसा बर्हिरग्नौ । आजुह्वाना घृतपृष्ठं पृषद्वदध्वर्यवो हविषा मर्जयध्वम् ॥
saparyávo bháramāṇā abhi-jñú prá vṛñjate námasā bárhir agnáu | ā́-juhvānā ghṛtá-pṛṣṭhaṃ pṛ́ṣad-vad ádhvaryavo havíṣā marjayadhvam ||
Ô ministres de l’offrande, portant les oblations avec discernement, étendez avec révérence pour Agni le siège sacré, le barhis. En versant, rendez lumineux par l’offrande l’autel au dos lustré de ghee, bigarré de rayons; par l’oblation, purifiez et parachevez le sacrifice.
Word by Word
- सपर्यवः
- the worshippers/attendantsNoun (agent noun)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot सपर्यु- (प्रातिपदिक; √सपर्य्/√सप् ‘to honor, serve’ से)
- भरमाणाः
- bearing, carryingParticiple (verbal adjective)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; वर्तमानकाले ‘carrying/bearing’Role कर्तृ (सपर्यवः का विशेषण)Root √भृ (भर्) + शानच् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- अभिज्ञु
- the knowing/skillful one (Agni)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (अग्निम् इत्यर्थे; छन्दसि अम्-लोपः)Role कर्मRoot अभि- + √ज्ञा/√ज्ञ (to know) → अभिज्ञु- (प्रातिपदिक ‘knowing, skilled’)
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinableनिपातRoot प्र (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- वृञ्जते
- they spread/arrangeVerbलट्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot √वृञ्ज् (to arrange/spread/prepare; ‘to set in order’)
- नमसा
- with reverence, by homageNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot नमस्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- बर्हिः
- the sacred grass (barhis)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot बर्हिस्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्नौ
- in/for Agni (at Agni’s rite)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot अग्नि- (प्रातिपदिक)
- आजुह्वानाः
- offering, invokingParticiple (verbal adjective)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; वर्तमानकाले ‘offering/invoking’Role कर्तृ (सपर्यवः का विशेषण)Root आ- + √हु (to pour/offer, invoke) + शानच् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- घृतपृष्ठम्
- whose back is ghee; ghee-backedAdjective (compound)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (अग्निम् इत्यर्थे)Role कर्म (अभिज्ञु का विशेषण)Root घृत- + पृष्ठ- (समास; प्रातिपदिक)
- पृषद्वत्
- speckled, dappledAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (अग्निम् इत्यर्थे)Role कर्म (अभिज्ञु का विशेषण)Root पृषद्-वत् (वत्-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘speckled/variegated’)
- अध्वर्यवः
- O Adhvaryu priestsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (सम्बोधनार्थे/कर्तृवाचक)Root अध्वर्यु- (प्रातिपदिक)
- हविषा
- with the oblationNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot हविस्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- मर्जयध्वम्
- cleanse/adorn (yourselves/it)!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot √मृज् (to wipe, cleanse, adorn)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-विग्रह): सपर्यवः | भरमाणाः | अभिज्ञु | प्र | वृञ्जते | नमसा | बर्हिः | अग्नौ || आजुह्वानाः | घृतपृष्ठम् | पृषद्वत् | अध्वर्यवः | हविषा | मर्जयध्वम् || विशेषम्: ‘अभिज्ञु’ छन्दसि द्वितीया एकवचन ‘अग्निम्’ के अर्थ में (अम्-लोप/प्राचीन रूप)
- ‘घृतपृष्ठम्’, ‘पृषद्वत्’ भी उसी कर्म (अग्नि) के विशेषण। ‘अग्नौ’ सप्तमी अधिकरण।
The meaning
Outer meaning
The offering-priests, bringing oblations with understanding, spread the sacred seat (barhis) for Agni with reverence. Pouring, they brighten the ghee-lustrous, ray-variegated altar and polish the sacrifice by the oblation.
Inner meaning
The ‘priests’ are the awakened faculties of the seeker. With abhijñu (true knowing), they prepare the inner seat (barhis) in the consciousness—making it wide, receptive, and pure for the descent/presence of Agni (divine will). The ghee (ghṛta) is clarified understanding and luminous mind-substance; by offering it, the inner field becomes bright, variegated with rays (pṛṣadvat)—multiple illuminations. ‘Marjayadhvam’ is inner purification: refining motives, sensations, and thoughts so the sacrifice becomes exact and effective.
Universal truth
Spiritual realization requires preparation: reverent receptivity, clarified understanding, and repeated purification. When the inner field is rightly arranged, the divine force can act without distortion.
Themes
ritual preparation as inner discipline, purification of the instrument, consecration of the seat (barhis)
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha Maitrāvaruṇi
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 7.2.1, RV 7.2.2, RV 7.2.3, RV 7.2.7
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha’s hymns often stress right preparation and right order (ṛta) so that the divine powers can be seated in the human being.
Significance
The seer frames ritual actions as inner disciplines: arranging the ‘seat’ for Agni is the yogic act of making consciousness fit for illumination and will.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- receiver on the barhis, ghṛtapṛṣṭha-associated (luminous)
- Related deities
- Soma (bliss as offering), Bṛhaspati (illumined word), Indra (luminous mind-power)
Cosmic role
The divine presence invited into the prepared seat; purifier and awakener of the sacrifice.
Inner power
Purifying will that clarifies mind (ghṛta) and organizes the many rays of insight into a coherent offering.
In ritual
Where it is used
Preparation of barhis and altar in Agni/Soma rites; adhvaryu actions (spreading seat, offering)
स॒प॒र्यवो॒ भर॑माणा अभि॒ज्ञु प्र वृ॑ञ्जते॒ नम॑सा ब॒र्हिर॒ग्नौ । आ॒जुह्वा॑ना घृ॒तपृ॑ष्ठं॒ पृष॑द्व॒दध्व॑र्यवो ह॒विषा॑ मर्जयध्वम् ॥
स॒प॒र्यवः॑ । भर॑माणाः । अ॒भि॒ऽज्ञु । प्र । वृ॒ञ्ज॒ते॒ । नम॑सा । ब॒र्हिः । अ॒ग्नौ । आ॒ऽजुह्वा॑नाः । घृ॒तऽपृ॑ष्ठम् । पृष॑त्ऽवत् । अध्व॑र्यवः । ह॒विषा॑ । म॒र्ज॒य॒ध्व॒म् ॥
saparyavaḥ | bharamāṇāḥ | abhi-jñu | pra | vṛñjate | namasā | barhiḥ | agnau | ājuhvānāḥ | ghṛta-pṛṣṭham | pṛṣat-vat | adhvaryavaḥ | haviṣā | marjayadhvam
11
4 × 11; frequent caesura supports ‘ritual-step’ pacing
Processional and methodical; conveys preparation, pouring, and polishing as successive inner acts.
Induces carefulness and purity; steadies attention and makes the mind feel ‘cleansed’.
- सपर्यवः (saparyavaḥ)
- Literal: those who attend/worship. Symbolic: inner faculties that serve the divine work (attention, devotion, disciplined effort)
- अभिज्ञु (abhijñu)
- Literal: knowing, understanding. Symbolic: true discernment guiding the offering (not mechanical ritualism)
- बर्हिः (barhiḥ)
- Literal: sacrificial grass/seat. Symbolic: the prepared ground of consciousness—receptive, widened, purified
- नमसा (namasā)
- Literal: with reverence. Symbolic: humility and self-giving that opens the being
- घृतपृष्ठम् (ghṛtapṛṣṭham)
- Literal: ghee-backed, ghee-lustrous. Symbolic: mind made luminous by clarified understanding (ghṛta = light-substance)
- पृषत्वत् (pṛṣadvat)
- Literal: speckled, variegated. Symbolic: many-colored rays of insight; manifold illuminations
- हविषा (haviṣā)
- Literal: with the oblation. Symbolic: the offered energy—thought, breath, feeling, action dedicated to the divine
- मर्जयध्वम् (marjayadhvam)
- Literal: polish, cleanse, perfect. Symbolic: inner purification and refinement of the instrument
Practical directions characteristic of iṣṭi/soma liturgy: spreading barhis, offering ghee/havis; in inner sense, preparation/purification of the ‘seat’ for the divine force.
During setup of the sacrificial ground and during oblation sequences
Spread barhis; pour ghee/oblations; ritually ‘polish’ the rite
Use before meditation as a ‘preparation mantra’: tidy breath, posture, and intention; offer a few minutes of clarified attention (ghṛta) into the inner fire.
√sapary ‘to honor, attend, serve’ → saparyú ‘attendant/worshipper’. √bhṛ ‘bear’ → bháramāṇa ‘bringing’. abhi-jñú related to √jñā ‘know’ with abhi- ‘towards/fully’ → ‘fully knowing’. √vṛj ‘arrange, spread, set in order’ → vṛñjate. barhís from √bṛh/√barh ‘spread’ → ‘spread seat’. ghṛtá from √ghṛ ‘shine/sprinkle’ (Vedic semantic field includes ‘clarified, luminous’) supporting inner reading as ‘luminous essence’. √mṛj ‘wipe, cleanse, polish’ → marjayadhvam (2pl middle/active imperative).
purification (mṛj), right preparation (ṛta as ordered action, implicit)
Right order is enacted by right preparation—barhis and offering symbolize the ordered field for divine descent.
Purity and clarity make the instrument capable of truth-perception.
The ‘seat’ and ‘ghee-lustre’ evoke the luminous foundation on which divine action builds worlds within the being.
Yoga of works (karma-yoga prototype) with psychological symbolism of ritual implements
Ghee = clarified intelligence; grass-seat = receptive nerves/mind-field; polishing = purification of the psycho-physical instrument.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The establishment of the sacred ‘seat’ (barhis) for the descent/presence of Agni: a recurring Vedic action where the rite prepares a receptive field so the divine power can be hosted and made effective.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √jñā ‘know’ corresponds to PIE *ǵneh₃- (cf. Greek gignṓskō ‘know’, English ‘know’ via Germanic). √bhṛ ‘bear’ corresponds to PIE *bher- (English ‘bear’, Latin ferre). These roots support the verse’s emphasis on ‘bearing’ offerings and ‘knowing’ execution.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The human agents (adhvaryu/saparyu) actively prepare and purify the conditions for Agni’s presence; Agni is approached not as distant nature-fire but as a conscious power that responds to reverence (namas) and ordered offering (havis).
Prepare the ‘inner seat’: relax the body, widen attention, and offer clarified thoughts into the heart-flame.
manipura (purification) and anahata (receptive seat)
4-4-6 breathing (inhale-hold-exhale) while mentally ‘spreading the barhis’ on the exhale.
Clean, receptive, quietly luminous.
Do a brief inner inventory: remove agitation, then offer one clear intention (ghṛta) repeatedly until the mind becomes bright and steady.
Keep steady udatta on action-verbs (pra vṛñjate, ājuhvānā, marjayadhvam); light svarita at cadence endings.
Articulate clusters: ghṛ-ta-pṛṣ-ṭham; pṛ-ṣad-vat; mar-ja-ya-dhvam.
Pronounce ghṛ with syllabic ‘ṛ’ (not ‘ghee-ri’), Keep pṛṣadvat with retroflex ṣ, In adhvaryavo, keep ‘dhv’ conjunct clear
Clean, precise, slightly brighter on ‘ghṛtapṛṣṭham’.
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