Rig Veda 3.2.9: Mandala 3, Sukta 2, Mantra 9
Sukta 3.2
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
तिस्रो यह्वस्य समिधः परिज्मनोऽग्नेरपुनन्नुशिजो अमृत्यवः । तासामेकामदधुर्मर्त्ये भुजमु लोकमु द्वे उप जामिमीयतुः ॥
tísro yahvásya samídhaḥ pári-jmano 'gnér apunann uśíjo amṛ́tyavaḥ | tāsām ékām ádadhuḥ mártye bhújam u lokám u dvé úpa jāmím īyatuḥ ||
યહ્વ (મહાવેગી) અગ્નિના ત્રણ સમિધાઓને ઉત્સાહી અમૃતત્વવાળા ઉશિજોએ પરિશુદ્ધ કરી. તેમાંની એક તેમણે મર્ત્ય માટે ભોગરૂપે સ્થાપી; બાકી બે પોતાની જ જાતિ-લોક તરફ ઉપર ચઢી ગઈ.
Word by Word
- तिस्रः
- three (f.)Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
- यह्वस्य
- of the mighty/impetuous oneNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole Sambandha (Genitive)Root यह्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- समिधः
- kindling-sticks; kindlingsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot समिध् (प्रातिपदिक)
- परिज्मनः
- of the circumambient/encircling (one)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole Sambandha (Genitive)Root परिज्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्नेः
- of AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole Sambandha (Genitive)Root अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- अपुनन्
- they purifiedVerbलङ् (अनद्यतन-भूत), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, बहुवचनRole KriyāRoot पू (धातु) / पुनाति
- उशिजः
- the Uśij-s (a class of ritual beings/priests)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot उशिज् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अमृत्यवः
- deathlessAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (विशेषणम्)Root अमृत्युः/अमृत्यव (प्रातिपदिक; ‘deathless’)
- तासाम्
- of those (f.)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole Sambandha (Genitive)Root तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- एकाम्
- one (f.)Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
- अदधुः
- they placed; they setVerbलिट् (परोक्श-भूत/परफेक्ट), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, बहुवचनRole KriyāRoot धा (धातु)
- मर्त्ये
- among/for the mortalNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- भुजम्
- enjoyment; share; portionNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (apposition)Root भुज् (प्रातिपदिक)
- उ
- indeed; andIndeclinableनिपात (अवधारण/अन्वर्थ-बल)Root उ (निपात)
- लोकम्
- world; realmNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
- उ
- and; indeedIndeclinableनिपातRoot उ (निपात)
- द्वे
- two (f.)Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole KartāRoot द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
- उप
- near; towardsIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्यय (निकटता/उपगमन)Root उप (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- जामिम्
- kin; sister/related one (jāmi)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot जामि (प्रातिपदिक)
- ईयतुः
- the two went; approachedVerbलिट् (परोक्श-भूत/परफेक्ट), आत्मनेपद, 3 पुरुष, द्विवचनRole KriyāRoot इ (धातु) / एति
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: तिस्रः | यह्वस्य | समिधः | परिज्मनः | अग्नेः | अपुनन् | उशिजः | अमृत्यवः || तासाम् | एकाम् | अदधुः | मर्त्ये | भुजम् | उ | लोकम् | उ | द्वे | उप | जामिम् | ईयतुः || 1) ‘परिज्मनोऽग्नेः’ = परिज्मनः + अग्नेः (अः + अ → ‘ो’ अवग्रह)
- 2) ‘अपुनन्नुशिजः’ = अपुनन् + उशिजः (न् + उ → न्नु, संहितायाम्)
- 3) ‘तासामेका’ = तासाम् + एकाम् (म् + ए → मे, संहितायाम्)
- 4) ‘अदधुर्मर्त्ये’ = अदधुः + मर्त्ये (विसर्ग-लोप/रुत्व-प्रभावः: ः + म → र् + म)
- 5) ‘लोकमु द्वे’ = लोकम् + उ (म् + उ → मु)
- 6) ‘द्वे उप’ संहिता (ए + उ → ए उ; प्रगृह्य-भावेन पृथक् उच्चारणं सम्भवति)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Three kindlings of swift-moving Agni the eager immortals purified. One they placed for the mortal to enjoy; two went upward to their own kin-world.
Inner meaning
The ‘three samidhas’ are three fuel-powers by which Agni is increased: commonly read as threefold energy in us—body, life, mind (or physical, vital, mental) offered to the flame. The uśij (eager, luminous powers—inner priests) purify these kindlings so the will can burn without smoke. Of the three, one portion is made available for mortal functioning (bhujam—enjoyment/use in life), while two ascend to the ‘kin-world’—the higher planes of the same consciousness-family (loka of the gods): mind rising to illumination and life-force refined into higher dynamism. The verse teaches a redistribution: part supports embodied life, part is uplifted into higher consciousness.
Universal truth
True transformation does not reject life; it purifies and apportions our energies—some for embodied living, some for ascent—so the whole being participates in a higher order.
Themes
Three fires / three kindlings, Distribution between mortal and divine planes, Purified aspiration
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Viśvāmitra (Gāthin lineage)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 3.2.6, Rig Veda 3.2.7, Rig Veda 3.3.5
Family tradition
Often articulates structured inner processes (numbers, divisions, ascents) as precise yogic symbolism.
Significance
Shows the ‘economy of transformation’: purification and right distribution of energies between life-use and ascent.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- yahva (mighty-moving), parijman (far-circling/moving around)
- Related deities
- Viśve Devāḥ, Soma (bliss as refined ‘enjoyment’), Indra (ascent to svàr)
Cosmic role
Fire that moves between worlds; purifier of offerings; establishes connection between mortal and immortal planes.
Inner power
Threefold purification and uplift; converts raw energies into usable and ascending forces.
In ritual
Where it is used
Kindling sequences in agnihotra/soma contexts; symbolism of three fires also nearby in Vedic ritual culture
ति॒स्रो य॒ह्वस्य॑ स॒मिध॒: परि॑ज्मनो॒ऽग्नेर॑पुनन्नु॒शिजो॒ अमृ॑त्यवः । तासा॒मेका॒मद॑धु॒र्मर्त्ये॒ भुज॑मु लो॒कमु॒ द्वे उप॑ जा॒मिमी॑यतुः ॥
ति॒स्रः । य॒ह्वस्य॑ । स॒म्ऽइधः॑ । परि॑ऽज्मनः । अ॒ग्नेः । अ॒पु॒न॒न् । उ॒शिजः॑ । अमृ॑त्यवः । तासा॑म् । एका॑म् । अद॑धुः । मर्त्ये॑ । भुज॑म् । ऊँ॒ इति॑ । लो॒कम् । ऊँ॒ इति॑ । द्वे इति॑ । उप॑ । जा॒मिम् । ई॒य॒तुः॒ ॥
tisraḥ | yahvasya | sam-idhaḥ | pari-jmanaḥ | agneḥ | apunan | uśijaḥ | amṛtyavaḥ | tāsām | ekām | adadhuḥ | martye | bhujam | oṃ iti | lokam | oṃ iti | dve iti | upa | jāmim | īyatuḥ
44
4 x ~11
Enumerative clarity (three/one/two) with a lifting close (upward movement).
Gives a sense of ordered purification and ascent; mentally ‘sorts’ energies into calm use and upward offering.
- तिस्रः (tisraḥ)
- Literal: three. Symbolic: threefold nature/energy (body-life-mind) or triple kindling of aspiration
- समिधः (samidhaḥ)
- Literal: kindlings, fuel-sticks. Symbolic: supporting disciplines/energies that increase the inner fire
- यह्वस्य (yahvasya)
- Literal: of the mighty-moving. Symbolic: Agni as swift, far-going transformative force
- उशिजः (uśijaḥ)
- Literal: eager ones. Symbolic: inner priest-powers: aspiration, discernment, luminous effort
- अमृत्यवः (amṛtyavaḥ)
- Literal: immortals. Symbolic: deathless principles of consciousness in us
- मर्त्ये (martye)
- Literal: for the mortal. Symbolic: embodied personality and daily life
- लोकम् (lokam)
- Literal: world, plane. Symbolic: state/plane of consciousness
- जा॒मि (jāmi)
- Literal: kin, of the same family. Symbolic: higher congenial planes—our true home in greater consciousness
Allusive to the ‘three fires’ (gārhapatya, āhavanīya, dakṣiṇāgni) in Śrauta practice; also interpretable as threefold kindling in ritual preparation.
During kindling/feeding the fire; when reflecting on divisions of offering
Adding samidh (fuel), purifying/arranging them; offering portions
A practical inner rule: offer three energies daily—body (posture/health), life (right desire/action), mind (study/meditation); let two ‘rise’ as increased clarity and refined force.
triadic ‘samidh’ suggests layered kindlings/levels of ignition (often read as three fires; inner sense: three supports of aspiration). √pū ‘purify’ indicates refinement of energies. √bhuj ‘enjoy/partake’ implies conscious participation, not sensual enjoyment: the mortal is granted a share in the divine fire.
Triplicity of manifestation, Purification (pū), Participation of mortal in immortal powers
Right measure and distribution (one/two) expresses ṛta as harmony of planes.
Purification by immortals implies truth-essences acting on our mixed nature.
Ascent of energies to their ‘kin-world’—return of powers to their native plane; microcosmic evolution.
Sāṃkhya-like triadic reading (though pre-systematic): threefold nature offered to transforming consciousness.
twilight tending (symbolically: transition and redistribution)
Fuel = disciplines; one flame = stable life-force for embodiment; two upward flames = ascent of mind and refined prāṇa to higher consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythic triad of Agni’s kindlings/fires: a threefold foundation of the divine flame, with a portion granted to mortals and the remainder returning to divine kin-realms. Psychologically, one support is made operative in the embodied life, while two remain above as supraphysical sources.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √pū ‘purify’ is Indo-Iranian (cf. Avestan pū-/pao- purifying semantics). √bhuj ‘enjoy/partake’ aligns with PIE *bʰewgʰ-/*bʰug- type ‘enjoy/use’ semantic developments in Indo-Aryan.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi describes divine agencies (uśij amṛtyavaḥ) preparing the conditions for Agni’s working; the mortal receives a ‘share’ (bhujam) enabling conscious participation in the divine action, indicating grace mediated through cosmic order rather than arbitrary gift.
Contemplate three offerings: body, breath/vital, mind. Offer them into the inner fire; feel one stabilize life, two rise as clarity and uplift.
maṇipūra (fire) with ascent toward viśuddha/ājñā (refined force and clarity)
Three-part breath awareness (lower belly, chest, head-space); on exhale ‘offer’ each layer to the flame
Ordered uplift; calm embodiment with a subtle rising current.
End of day practice: review body-vital-mind; purify each by honest seeing; dedicate one part to right living tomorrow, and offer two parts upward as aspiration for higher consciousness.
Keep numeric contrasts (tisraḥ/ekām/dve) clearly articulated with slight emphasis; preserve udātta on key nouns (samidhaḥ, agneḥ).
Make a gentle lift on ‘u lokam u’ (upward movement); avoid rushing the enumeration.
तिस्रः: crisp ‘sr’ cluster, समिधः: dental ‘dh’ aspirate, उशिजः: short ‘u’, clear ‘ś’, द्वे: long ‘e’ held briefly
Clear, measured, contemplative—like counting offerings.
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