Rig Veda 7.7.2: Mandala 7, Sukta 7, Mantra 2
Sukta 7.7
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Raudra (fury) and Vira (heroism)
आ याह्यग्ने पथ्या अनु स्वा मन्द्रो देवानां सख्यं जुषाणः । आ सानु शुष्मैर्नदयन्पृथिव्या जम्भेभिर्विश्वमुशधग्वनानि ॥
ā́ yāhy agne pathyā́ ánu svā́ mandró devā́nāṁ sakhyáṁ juṣāṇáḥ | ā́ sā́nu śúṣmair nadáyan pṛthivyā́ jambhébhir víśvam uśádhag vánāni ||
Viens, ô Agni, par tes propres voies, joyeux, goûtant l’amitié des dieux. Viens sur les crêtes, grondant de tes puissances ; de tes mâchoires dévore tout ce qui est dans la forêt — herbes et fourrés — qui résiste à la flamme.
Word by Word
- आ
- hither, towardsIndeclinableउपसर्ग (गत्यर्थकः)Root आ (उपसर्ग) / ā (preverb)
- याहि
- come!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे), मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Root या (धातु) / yā-
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन-एकवचनम्Role सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) / agni-
- पथ्या
- by the path, along the wayAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (क्रियाविशेषणवत्: ‘पथ्या(म्)’ = पथेन/मार्गेण)Role अधिकारण (मार्ग/पथ-निर्देशः)Root पथ्य (प्रातिपदिक) / pathyá-
- अनु
- along, followingIndeclinableअव्ययम् (अनुगमनार्थे)Root अनु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) / anu
- स्वाः
- one’s own (ones), their ownAdjective/Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृ (देवाः—अन्तर्निहिताः)Root स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) / sva-
- मन्द्रः
- gladdening, pleasant (in song/voice)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (अग्नेः विशेषणम्)Root मन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) / mandrá-
- देवानाम्
- of the godsNounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-बहुवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root देव (प्रातिपदिक) / deva-
- सख्यम्
- friendship, companionshipNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot सख्य (प्रातिपदिक) / sakhyá-
- जुषाणः
- enjoying, accepting (favorably)Participleवर्तमानकृदन्तः (शानच्), आत्मनेपदी; पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (अग्निः—‘enjoying/accepting’)Root जुष् (धातु) / juṣ-
- आ
- up to, towardsIndeclinableउपसर्ग (आगमन/आभिमुख्ये)Root आ (उपसर्ग) / ā
- सानु
- to the ridge, to the height/summitNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (क्रियाविशेषणवत्)Role अधिकारण (उत्थान-स्थान/उपरिभागः)Root सानु (प्रातिपदिक) / sā́nu-
- शुष्मैः
- with powers, with mightsNounपुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-बहुवचनम्Role करणRoot शुष्म (प्रातिपदिक) / śúṣma-
- नदयन्
- roaring, thunderingParticipleवर्तमानकृदन्तः (शतृ), पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (अग्निः—‘roaring’)Root नद् (धातु) / nad-
- पृथिव्याः
- of the earthNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक) / pṛthivī́-
- जम्भेभिः
- with jaws, with fangsNounपुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-बहुवचनम्Role करणRoot जम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) / jambhá-
- विश्वम्
- all, the wholeAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) / viśvá-
- उशधक्
- at once, straightaway (Vedic particle)Indeclinableनिपातवत् (वेदिक-विशेषः; ‘उशधक्/उशधग्’ इति पाठभेद/निग्रह)Root उशधक् (अव्यय/निपात-प्रयोगः; RV-पाठे ‘उशधग्’)
- वनानि
- woods, forestsNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-बहुवचनम्Role कर्म (विश्वम्…वनानि)Root वन (प्रातिपदिक) / vána-
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सम्भाव्यः): आ | याहि | अग्ने | पथ्या(म्) | अनु | स्वाः | मन्द्रः | देवानाम् | सख्यम् | जुषाणः || आ | सानु | शुष्मैः | नदयन् | पृथिव्याः | जम्भेभिः | विश्वम् | उशधक्(=उशधग्) | वनानि । 1) ‘आ या॑ह्यग्ने’ = आ + याहि + अग्ने (सन्धिः: इ/अ संयोगे याहि-अग्ने इति पदक्रमः). 2) ‘पथ्या॒३॒॑’ वेदपाठे दीर्घस्वर/प्लुत-चिह्नयुक्तः
- अर्थतः पथ्या(म्) क्रियाविशेषणवत्. 3) ‘न॒दय॑न्पृथि॒व्या’ = नदयन् + पृथिव्याः (न् + प् संयोगः). 4) ‘उ॒शध॒ग्वना॑नि’ = उशधग् + वनानि (ग् + व् संयोगः)
- ‘उशधक्/उशधग्’ वेदिक-निपातः/पाठभेदः।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni is invited to come along his own paths, delighting in the friendship of the gods. He comes roaring over the ridges with his strengths and consumes the forest growths with his jaws, clearing the way.
Inner meaning
The inner Fire is called to move through its native channels (svāḥ pathyāḥ): the natural routes of purified aspiration and right practice. Rejoicing in the ‘friendship of the gods’ means Agni acts in harmony with higher faculties—illumined mind (Indra), truth-order (Mitra-Varuṇa), delight (Soma). The ‘ridges of earth’ are the raised formations of the embodied nature—habitual patterns and hardened resistances. Agni’s roaring strengths are tapas-force; the ‘forest growths’ are proliferations of desire, inertia, and subconscient impulses that obstruct the path. The mantra asks for a cleansing burning that clears the inner road without hatred—by luminous force.
Universal truth
Transformation requires the fire of conscious will to move through right channels, supported by higher powers, and to burn away obstructive growths so the path becomes open and workable.
Themes
Purification by fire, Path-opening, Agni’s consuming force
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa lineage)
- Other hymns
- RV 7.7.1, RV 7.7.3, RV 7.7.4, RV 7.7.5
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha hymns often stress the practical process of purification and establishment of ṛta in the human vessel.
Significance
Here Vasiṣṭha emphasizes the dynamic cleansing aspect of Agni: the yogic fire that clears inner obstructions so higher friendship can act.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- मन्द्रः (joyous), पथ्याः अनु स्वाः (moving by his own paths), शुष्मवान् (strong)
- Related deities
- Indra, Soma, Maruts, Mitra, Varuṇa
Cosmic role
Purifier and path-opener; the force that consumes impediments and prepares the field for divine descent.
Inner power
Cathartic tapas that burns tamas and transforms the vital forest into usable energy.
In ritual
Where it is used
Kindling/inviting Agni to the altar; imagery aligns with clearing space and sustaining fire in the rite.
आ या॑ह्यग्ने प॒थ्या॒३॒॑ अनु॒ स्वा म॒न्द्रो दे॒वानां॑ स॒ख्यं जु॑षा॒णः । आ सानु॒ शुष्मै॑र्न॒दय॑न्पृथि॒व्या जम्भे॑भि॒र्विश्व॑मु॒शध॒ग्वना॑नि ॥
आ । या॒हि॒ । अ॒ग्ने॒ । प॒थ्याः॑ । अनु॑ । स्वाः । म॒न्द्रः । दे॒वाना॑म् । स॒ख्यम् । जु॒षा॒णः । आ । सानु॑ । शुष्मैः॑ । न॒दय॑न् । पृ॒थि॒व्याः । जम्भे॑भिः । विश्व॑म् । उ॒शध॑क् । वना॑नि ॥
ā | yāhi | agne | pathyāḥ | anu | svāḥ | mandraḥ | devānām | sakhyam | juṣāṇaḥ | ā | sānu | śuṣmaiḥ | nadayan | pṛthivyāḥ | jambhebhiḥ | viśvam | uśadhak | vanāni
44
4 x ~11 syllables
Surging, wave-like propulsion; strong consonant clusters enhance the ‘roar’ imagery.
Energizes will for purification; produces a clearing, cathartic inner vibration.
- पथ्याः स्वाः (pathyāḥ svāḥ)
- Literal: own path-ways. Symbolic: Innate channels of right practice and inner movement
- मन्द्रः (mandraḥ)
- Literal: joyous, gladdening. Symbolic: Delightful energy of the psychic fire, not grim austerity
- देवानां सख्यम् (devānāṃ sakhyam)
- Literal: friendship of the gods. Symbolic: Harmony with higher powers/faculties of consciousness
- शुष्मैः (śuṣmaiḥ)
- Literal: with strengths, energies. Symbolic: Tapas-force; concentrated spiritual power
- सानु (sānu)
- Literal: ridge, summit-slope. Symbolic: Raised formations of embodied nature; thresholds of ascent
- नदयन् (nadayan)
- Literal: roaring, sounding. Symbolic: Vibration of awakened force breaking inertia
- जम्भेभिः (jambhebhir)
- Literal: with jaws. Symbolic: Power of decisive assimilation/consumption—transforming rather than indulging
- उशधक् वनानि (uśadhag vanāni)
- Literal: plants, forest growths. Symbolic: Proliferating desires/habits in vital-subconscient nature that obstruct progress
Summoning Agni to the rite; also reflects practical fire behavior (burning brushwood) but inwardly the clearing of inner obstructions before offering.
When calling Agni to approach and take his seat; also appropriate when obstacles are ritually ‘removed’ (symbolically).
Invocation and feeding of fire; establishing protective, purifying presence.
For inner cleansing before meditation: invoke Agni to burn restless thoughts and compulsive habits; use as a ‘clearing mantra’ before focused practice.
pathyā (from patha ‘path’, PIE *pent(h) ‘path’; cf. Greek póntos ‘sea-path’ debated, Latin pons ‘bridge’); śuṣma ‘force’ (Vedic energy term); jambha ‘jaw’ (devouring); uśadhak relates to √uṣ/√uś ‘to burn/shine’ in Vedic usage. Forest imagery often symbolizes dense, obstructive vital growth to be burned/cleared by Agni.
Clearing the path for the sacrifice, Harmony with the gods (sakhya), Transformative consumption (purification)
Agni’s ‘own paths’ imply the right-ordered routes of ascent; purification restores ṛta in the embodied field.
Truth acts when obstructions are consumed; clarity emerges after burning false growths.
Fire as evolutionary agent—converting raw nature (forest) into conscious energy.
Yoga of transformation (Aurobindonian): sublimation of vital/subconscient by tapas.
Earth/forest = embodied and vital nature; ridges = thresholds of effort; roaring fire = awakened tapas clearing the way.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Agni as the path-opener and purifier who consumes obstructive growth: the mythic action of clearing the way so the sacrifice and the ascent can proceed without resistance.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- patha/pathyā belongs to the old IE ‘path’ lexicon (PIE *pent(h)-). The imperative movement formula (ā yāhi) is a common archaic Indo-European hymn feature: the god is called to ‘come’ and ‘take seat’ in the rite.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi calls Agni to move in his own right ways (svāḥ pathyāḥ): the human does not dictate the divine method but invites it. The boon is purification—Agni’s consuming action that makes the inner field fit for divine friendship and offering.
Purification of the vital and subconscient ‘forest’; opening a clear inner path.
maṇipūra
Kapalabhāti (mild) or forceful exhale rounds, then settle into slow breathing while chanting mentally.
Intense, cleansing concentration moving toward clarity.
Chant on an exhale-feel ‘ā yāhi’ as invitation; on the next pādas, visualize a warm flame clearing tangled growths of habit; end with a quiet, open inner road and a friendly presence of higher powers.
Maintain Vedic accenting; lengthen initial ‘ā’ in ā yāhi; keep udātta peaks crisp on invocatory segments.
Do not rush clusters: pathyā́ anu svā́; keep clear break at pāda ends.
‘ā yāhi’: both vowels long; avoid diphthongizing., ‘pṛthivyā’: clear ṛ and aspirated th., ‘jambhebhir’: pronounce j + bh distinctly., ‘uśadhag’: keep ś soft-palatal; avoid turning into ‘s’.
Resonant, slightly forceful, with controlled heat; avoid shouting—aim for ‘roar’ as vibration.
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