Rig Veda 3.7.5: Mandala 3, Sukta 7, Mantra 5
Sukta 3.7
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
जानन्ति वृष्णो अरुषस्य शेवमुत ब्रध्नस्य शासने रणन्ति । दिवोरुचः सुरुचो रोचमाना इळा येषां गण्या माहिना गीः ॥
jānanti vṛ́ṣṇo aruṣásya śévam utá bradhnásya śā́sane raṇanti | divó-rúcaḥ su-rúcaḥ rۆcamānā íḷā yéṣāṃ gáṇyā mā́hinā gī́ḥ ||
Yeh jaante hain ki laal rang wala devta kitna accha hai. Woh uski hukumat mein khush hoke shor machate hain. Aasman ki roshniyan chamak rahi hain, aur unka chamakna sahi hai. Unmein se kuch itne bade hain ki unki awaaz pukarne layak ho jaati hai aur andar ki bhavna jaag uthti hai.
Word by Word
- जानन्ति
- they knowVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, बहुवचनRole (क्रिया)Root √ज्ञा (jñā)
- वृष्णः
- of the bull / of the mighty oneNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root वृषन् (prātipadika)
- अरुषस्य
- of the ruddy oneAdjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root अरुष (prātipadika)
- शेवम्
- the favor / graciousnessNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot शेव (prātipadika)
- उत
- and / alsoIndeclinableसमुच्चय/अपि-अर्थRole (सम्बन्धक)Root उत (avyaya)
- ब्रध्नस्य
- of the tawny oneNoun/Adjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root ब्रध्न (prātipadika)
- शासने
- in/at the command, ordinanceNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot शासन (prātipadika; from √शास्)
- रणन्ति
- they resound / ringVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, बहुवचनRole (क्रिया)Root √रण्/√रन् (to sound, resound)
- दिवः
- of heavenNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (दिव्), षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root दिव्/द्यौ (prātipadika: दिव्)
- रुचः
- lights / splendorsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot रुच् (prātipadika)
- सुरुचः
- bright, fair-shiningAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (रुचः इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ (विशेषण)Root सुरुच् (su+ruč, prātipadika)
- रोचमानाः
- shining, gleamingParticiple (present middle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शानच्), आत्मनेपद-अर्थ, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (रुचः सह)Role कर्तृ (विशेषण/सहक्रिया)Root √रुच् (kṛdanta: रोचमान)
- इळा
- Iḷā (the goddess of refreshment/oblation)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ/विषय (नाम)Root इळा/इडा (prātipadika)
- येषाम्
- of whom / whosePronounषष्ठी, बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root यद् (sarvanāma-stem)
- गण्या
- to be reckoned/esteemedAdjectiveयत्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (इळा इति विशेष्या)Role कर्तृ (विशेषण)Root गण्य (kṛdanta-adj; from √गण् ‘to count, reckon’)
- माहिना
- by (their) mightNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot माहिन्/माहिना (prātipadika; ‘might, greatness’)
- गीः
- song / hymnNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (वैदिकः रूपभेदः; ‘गीः’ = ‘गीः/गीर्’)Role कर्तृRoot गी/गिर् (prātipadika)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सम्भाव्यः): जानन्ति | वृष्णः | अरुषस्य | शेवम् | उत | ब्रध्नस्य | शासने | रणन्ति || दिवः | रुचः | सुरुचः | रोचमानाः | इळा | येषाम् | गण्या | माहिना | गीः || प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) वृष्णो॑ अरु॒षस्य॒ → वृष्णः + अरुषस्य (ओऽन्तस्य विसर्गः पदान्ते)
- (2) शेव॑मु॒त → शेवम् + उत (म् + उ- आरम्भ)
- (3) शास॑ने रणन्ति → शासने + रणन्ति (स्वर-सन्धि नहीं, केवल पद-संयोग)
- (4) दिवो॒रुच॑: → दिवः + रुचः (ओर् = ओ + र्; पदपाठे विसर्गः)
- (5) इळा॒ येषां॒ → इळा + येषाम् (स्वर-सम्बन्ध मात्र)
The meaning
Outer meaning
They know the bliss of the mighty Ruddy One and resound in the शासन (governance) of the Bright. The luminous powers of heaven shine with right radiance; in them the Word is worthy of invocation and the inner offering is awakened.
Inner meaning
The ‘Ruddy/Bull’ (aruṣa, vṛṣan) is Agni as intense force of will and delight (śevam: auspicious good, blissful benefit). ‘Bradhna’ (the Bright) is Agni as luminous ruler—governing by truth-order, not by coercion. The ‘divo-rucaḥ’ are powers of the higher consciousness, shining rightly (su-rucaḥ) when aligned to ṛta. In such a state, ‘gīḥ’ (the inspired word) becomes gaṇyā—fit to be invoked, effective as mantra; and ‘iḷā’ (inner offering/illumined receptivity) awakens: the being can truly offer and truly receive. This is the maturation of speech and sacrifice into a living spiritual force.
Universal truth
When the will is purified into luminous governance, the higher powers awaken; then speech becomes mantric (effective truth) and the soul’s offering becomes real receptivity—life brightens from within.
Themes
illumination, mantric speech as power, ṛta-governance, inner offering (iḷā)
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Viśvāmitra (Gāthin)
- Other hymns
- RV 3.7.1, RV 3.7.2, RV 3.7.3, RV 3.7.4
Family tradition
A lineage emphasizing mantric efficacy: speech (gīḥ) becomes gaṇyā when rooted in luminous governance (bradhna’s śāsana).
Significance
This verse describes the hallmark of accomplished sādhanā: awakened iḷā (true offering/receptivity) and a word that carries greatness (māhinā) and works as invocation.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- aruṣa (ruddy), vṛṣan (bull/mighty), bradhna (bright), divoruc (heaven-light)
- Related deities
- Vāc/Sarasvatī (Word), Soma (bliss/śevam), Indra (illumination and power)
Cosmic role
Illuminator and ruler by ṛta; awakener of mantra and receiver of iḷā; makes the human word effective in the cosmic exchange.
Inner power
Transformative ardor that becomes luminous governance; awakens inspired speech and receptive offering.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni-stotra/praise within Soma rites; hymn of illumination and mantric effectiveness
जा॒नन्ति॒ वृष्णो॑ अरु॒षस्य॒ शेव॑मु॒त ब्र॒ध्नस्य॒ शास॑ने रणन्ति । दि॒वो॒रुच॑: सु॒रुचो॒ रोच॑माना॒ इळा॒ येषां॒ गण्या॒ माहि॑ना॒ गीः ॥
जा॒नन्ति॑ । वृष्णः॑ । अ॒रु॒षस्य॑ । शेव॑म् । उ॒त । ब्र॒ध्नस्य॑ । शास॑ने । र॒ण॒न्ति॒ । दि॒वः॒ऽरुचः॑ । सु॒ऽरुचः॑ । रोच॑मानाः । इळा॑ । येषा॑म् । गण्या॑ । माहि॑ना । गीः ॥
jānanti | vṛṣṇaḥ | aruṣasya | śevam | uta | bradhnasya | śāsane | raṇanti | divaḥ-rucaḥ | su-rucaḥ | rocamānāḥ | iḷā | yeṣām | gaṇyā | māhinā | gīḥ
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4 × ~11 syllables
Resonant, proclamatory; suited to ‘raṇanti’ (resounding) and radiance imagery.
Elicits a bright uplift and confident clarity; supports the feeling of speech becoming potent and ‘worthy’.
- अरुष (aruṣa)
- Literal: ruddy, red. Symbolic: Agni as ardent will and transformative heat
- वृष्णः (vṛṣṇaḥ)
- Literal: of the bull/mighty one. Symbolic: forceful divine energy; mastery in action
- शेवम् (śevam)
- Literal: welfare, blissful good. Symbolic: inner beatitude/benediction arising from right will
- ब्रध्न (bradhna)
- Literal: the bright one. Symbolic: luminous consciousness governing the being
- शासन (śāsana)
- Literal: rule/governance. Symbolic: inner law of truth (ṛta) directing mind and life
- दिवोरुचः (divo-rucaḥ)
- Literal: lights of heaven. Symbolic: higher illuminations/powers descending into mind
- गीः (gīḥ)
- Literal: song/word. Symbolic: mantric speech born of inspiration and truth
- इळा (iḷā)
- Literal: refreshment/oblation/invoked power. Symbolic: inner offering and receptive illumination; the soul’s consent to the Divine
Agni-pradhāna recitation in soma and havis rites as an invocation of the illumining will; broadly applicable to Agni-stotra contexts (e.g., kindling/invocation sequences).
During praises that intensify Agni and invoke luminous powers and effective speech
Recitation with offerings; emphasizing right speech and invocation
Chant before teaching, chanting, or important truthful communication; also before meditation to awaken iḷā (receptive offering).
Key roots/derivations: (1) jñā- ‘to know’ → jānanti: realized knowledge/gnosis. (2) vṛṣ- ‘to be strong, to rain down’ → vṛṣṇáḥ: the strong/pouring power; psychologically ‘force that pours light/energy’. (3) aruṣá- ‘ruddy, flaming’ (connected with radiance) → denotes the red-gold fire/light (Agni as inner flame). (4) śiv/śī- semantic field ‘auspicious, benign’ → śévam: wellbeing/bliss. (5) śās- ‘to instruct, rule’ → śāsane: ordinance/governance; aligns with ṛta as effective law. (6) raṇ- ‘to resound, ring’ → raṇanti: the mantra as resonant confirmation. (7) ruc- ‘to shine’ → rucaḥ/rocamānāḥ: lights and their shining; (8) mah- ‘to be great, widen’ → māhinā: by wideness/greatness; (9) gīr- ‘song, utterance’ → gīḥ: inspired word.
Ṛta (cosmic order as governance: śāsane), vāc (inspired speech: gīḥ), mah/bṛhat (greatness, wideness: māhinā)
‘Bradhna’s śāsana’ is governance by ṛta—rightness that makes illumination stable.
Mantric word (gīḥ) becomes effective when it is satya-bearing and invoked in greatness (māhinā).
Light increases light (rocamānāḥ): self-amplifying illumination when aligned with truth.
Aurobindonian Vedic psychology: transformation of speech into mantra and offering into conscious receptivity.
dawn-to-day transition (suggested by increasing radiance)
Ruddy fire=ardent will; brightness=illumined mind; resounding=mantric vibration; increasing light=progressive awakening.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘kindling/manifestation of the heavenly lights’ under the rule (śāsana) of the Bright Power: the mythic action is not combat but illumination—radiant powers (divo-rucaḥ) shine forth when the inspired Word (gīḥ) becomes invocation-worthy (gaṇyā) through greatness (māhinā). Psychologically, it is the arising of right radiance in the being when will-fire (aruṣa/Agni) is recognized and aligned to ṛta.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- Several lexemes preserve archaic Indo-European poetic semantics: jñā- ‘know’ corresponds to PIE *ǵneh₃- (cf. Gk gignṓskō, Eng know). ruc-/rocan- ‘shine’ aligns with PIE *leuk- ‘light’ in the broader IE radiance lexicon (semantic convergence in ‘brightness’ imagery). gīr-/gīḥ ‘song/utterance’ participates in an IE formula of ‘word as power’ (cf. Avestan gāθā ‘hymn’ as cognate cultural parallel, though not a direct lexical cognate here). The verse also shows typical RV parataxis (utá…; appositional epithets) and participial radiance construction (rocamānāḥ) characteristic of inherited IE hymn style.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer does not bargain materially; he aligns human speech and offering (gīḥ, iḷā) with the Devata’s law (śāsana). The reciprocity is: when the human vessel becomes ‘great’ (māhinā—widened consciousness), the Word becomes ‘gaṇyā’ (fit to call the gods), and the divine lights respond by increased shining (rocamānāḥ). The Devata thus perfects the rishi’s speech into an effective instrument of ṛta.
Awaken truthful, luminous speech and receptive offering; feel Agni as both ardor (aruṣa) and light-governance (bradhna).
Viśuddha (mantric speech) supported by Maṇipūra (will-fire) and Ājñā (illumination)
Ujjāyī-light (gentle) or slow 5–5 breathing; on inhale ‘bright governance’, on exhale ‘worthy word’.
Inspired clarity with uplifted force; speech emerging from a quiet luminous center.
Chant 3 times; then sit in silence and speak one inner sentence of truth (saṅkalpa) from the heart; feel iḷā as a warm receptive openness above the chest/throat.
Chant with clear accent peaks on key words (aruṣasya, bradhnasya, rocamānāḥ, gīḥ) according to a proper accent text.
Let ‘raṇanti’ (resound) be slightly more sonorous; keep the final pāda steady and expansive to ‘land’ on gīḥ/iḷā.
aruṣasya: retroflex ṣ; keep u short, bradhnasya: aspirated dhn cluster—articulate without dropping n, rocamānāḥ: long ā; final ḥ audible, iḷā: retroflex ḷ; do not replace with l
Clear, ringing, luminous; avoid harshness—let vigor be bright rather than forceful.
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