Rig Veda 1.140.2: Mandala 1, Sukta 140, Mantra 2
Sukta 1.140
- Rishi
- Kaṇva lineage
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Jagatī or Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
अभि द्विजन्मा त्रिवृदन्नमृज्यते संवत्सरे वावृधे जग्धमी पुनः । अन्यस्यासा जिह्वया जेन्यो वृषा न्यन्येन वनिनो मृष्ट वारणः ॥
abhi dvi-janmā tri-vṛd annam ṛjyate saṃvatsare vāvṛdhe jagdham īm punaḥ | anyasyā sā jihvayā jenyo vṛṣā ny anyena vanino mṛṣṭa vāraṇaḥ ||
दूसरा जनम वाला, यह अग्नि है, उसको दबा के तैयार किया जाता है। साल भर में वो फिर से बढ़ता है, जो खर्च हुआ वो वापस आता है। एक मुँह से वो जीतने वाला बैल जैसा स्वाद लेता है। दूसरा मुँह से वो भक्ति करने वाले लोगों को साफ करता है। यह हाथी जैसी ताकत वाला है, बिल्कुल साफ हो गया है।
Word by Word
- अभि
- towards, uponIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot अभि (उपसर्ग) / अव्यय
- द्विजन्मा
- the twice-born (one having two births)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot द्वि + जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) → द्विजन्मन्
- त्रिवृत्
- threefold, triply-encompassingAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (अन्नम् इति विशेषणम्)Role KarmaRoot त्रि + वृत् (प्रातिपदिक) → त्रिवृत्
- अन्नम्
- foodNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऋज्यते
- is arranged/ordered, is made readyVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRoot ऋज् (धातु; ‘to make straight/arrange, set in order’)
- संवत्सरे
- in the year, within the yearly cycleNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot संवत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
- वावृधे
- has grown, has increasedVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परोक्स), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRoot वृध् (धातु; ‘to grow, increase’)
- जग्धम्
- eaten, that which is eatenParticipleभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन (अन्नम्/भक्ष्यम् इत्यर्थे)Role KarmaRoot ग्रह्/गर्ह्? → गॄ/गॢ? (वेद. ‘to eat’) ; √जघ्/जघस (भक्षणे) से कृदन्त
- इव
- as if, likeIndeclinableउपमानवाचक अव्ययRoot इव (अव्यय)
- पुनः
- againIndeclinableअव्ययRoot पुनः (अव्यय)
- अन्यस्याः
- of another (female), of the otherPronoun/Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRoot अन्य (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- आसा
- sat, has sat (was seated)Verbलिट् (परोक्स), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRoot आस् (धातु; ‘to sit’) / अथवा ‘आस्’ इत्यस्य लिट् रूप
- जिह्वया
- with the tongueNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
- जेन्यः
- noble, of good stockAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (वृषा इति विशेषणम्)Role KartāRoot जेन्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘of the race/fit for victory, noble’)
- वृषा
- the bull (vigorous male)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot वृषन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- नि
- down, intoIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot नि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- अन्येन
- with another (one), by anotherPronoun/Adjectiveपुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया, एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot अन्य (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वनिनः
- of the forest-one / of the wooded (one)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRoot वनिन् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘wooded/forest-dwelling; possessing wood/forest’)
- मृष्ट
- cleansed, polishedParticipleभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (वारणः इति विशेषणम्)Role KartāRoot मृज् (धातु; ‘to wipe, cleanse, polish’)
- वारणः
- the elephant / the restrainer (lit. ‘warder’)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot वारण (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धिविच्छेद): अभि | द्विजन्मा | त्रिवृत् अन्नम् | ऋज्यते | संवत्सरे | वावृधे | जग्धम् इव | पुनः | अन्यस्याः आसा | जिह्वया | जेन्यः वृषा | नि अन्येन | वनिनः | मृष्टः वारणः । मुख्य-सन्धयः: (1) त्रिवृत् + अन्नम् → त्रिवृदन्नम् (त् + अ → द्)
- (2) जग्धम् + इव → जग्धमीव (म् + इ → मी)
- (3) अन्यस्याः + आसा → अन्यस्याऽऽसा (आ + आ दीर्घसन्धि; पाठे अन्यस्या॒सा)
- (4) नि + अन्येन → न्यन्येन (इ + अ → य्; पाठे न्य१॒॑न्येन)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The twice-born is pressed/arranged for triple food; through the year he grows again after being consumed. With one mouth and tongue the conquering Bull tastes; with another he cleanses the seekers—an elephant of force, purified.
Inner meaning
Agni as dvi-janmā is the divine will born first in the higher world and again in the human being (or born as spark and then as established flame). He is ‘pressed/ordered’ (ṛjyate) for ‘trivṛt food’—a triple nourishment: delight (Soma/bliss), light (knowledge), and power (force) offered and assimilated in the sacrifice. ‘Through the year he grows again’ indicates cyclic renewal: even when the flame seems spent, aspiration can be rekindled and returns stronger through disciplined time. The ‘Bull’ (vṛṣā) is victorious strength: with one tongue he enjoys the essence (tastes the offering); with another he purifies the seekers (vaninaḥ) by burning impurities and clarifying motives. ‘Elephant’ (vāraṇaḥ) suggests massive, steady power that removes obstacles—Agni as irresistible purifier when made clean (mṛṣṭa).
Universal truth
True spiritual force renews itself: disciplined practice transforms consumption into growth. The same power that enjoys life’s essence also purifies and strengthens the aspirant, becoming a steady remover of obstacles.
Themes
Agni twice-born, cyclic regeneration, purification of seekers, triple order
The seer
- Rishi
- Kaṇva lineage (traditional for RV 1.140)
- Lineage
- Kaṇva
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 1.140.1
Family tradition
Kaṇvas frequently articulate Agni’s psychological operations—purification, renewal, and the mechanics of offering/assimilation.
Significance
This verse explains the yogic economy of Agni: he consumes to transform, renews through cycles, and acts with a dual function—enjoyment of essence and cleansing of the aspirant.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (Dvijanmā)
- Epithets
- Dvijanmā (twice-born), Jenya (conquering/noble), Vṛṣā (bull of force), Mṛṣṭa (purified), Vāraṇa (elephantine power)
- Related deities
- Soma (as food/essence), Indra (victory aspect), Bṛhaspati (ordering intelligence)
Cosmic role
Transformer of offerings into divine energy; sustainer of cycles of renewal; purifier and strengthener of the human vessel.
Inner power
A will-force that both assimilates (enjoys essence) and purifies (burns impurity), renewing itself through time and practice.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni/Soma symbolic nexus (pressing/food imagery); recited in Agni hymns within Śrauta recitation cycles
अ॒भि द्वि॒जन्मा॑ त्रि॒वृदन्न॑मृज्यते संवत्स॒रे वा॑वृधे ज॒ग्धमी॒ पुन॑: । अ॒न्यस्या॒सा जि॒ह्वया॒ जेन्यो॒ वृषा॒ न्य१॒॑न्येन॑ व॒निनो॑ मृष्ट वार॒णः ॥
अ॒भि । द्वि॒ऽजन्मा॑ । त्रि॒ऽवृत् । अन्न॑म् । ऋ॒ज्य॒ते॒ । स॒व्ँम्व॒त्स॒रे । व॒वृ॒धे॒ । ज॒ग्धम् । ई॒म् इति॑ । पुन॒रिति॑ । अ॒न्यस्य॑ । आ॒सा । जि॒ह्वया॑ । जेन्यः॑ । वृषा॑ । नि । अ॒न्येन॑ । व॒निनः॑ । मृ॒ष्ट॒ । वा॒र॒णः ॥
abhi | dvi-janmā | tri-vṛt | annam | ṛjyate | saṃvatsare | vavṛdhe | jagdham | īm iti | punariti | anyasya | āsā | jihvayā | jenyaḥ | vṛṣā | ni | anyena | vaninaḥ | mṛṣṭa | vāraṇaḥ
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4×12 (Jagatī) with Vedic substitutions
Extended, rolling cadence; conveys cyclic renewal and the twofold action of the fire.
Supports endurance and steadiness; good for practices of purification over time.
- द्विजन्मा (dvijanmā)
- Literal: twice-born. Symbolic: divine will reborn in the human; higher fire descending into embodied practice
- त्रिवृत् (trivṛt)
- Literal: threefold, triple. Symbolic: triple nourishment/formation: light, power, bliss (or mind-life-body offered and fed)
- अन्नम् (annam)
- Literal: food. Symbolic: that which is offered and assimilated as spiritual substance—experience transformed into energy
- संवत्सरे (saṃvatsare)
- Literal: in the year. Symbolic: cycle of time; disciplined continuity; gradual ripening
- वृषा (vṛṣā)
- Literal: bull. Symbolic: victorious strength; potent energy of Agni that conquers resistance
- जिह्वया (jihvayā)
- Literal: with the tongue. Symbolic: power of taste/assimilation; discriminating fire that accepts and transforms
- वनिनः (vaninaḥ)
- Literal: seekers, desirers. Symbolic: aspirants whose energies need purification and right direction
- वारणः (vāraṇaḥ)
- Literal: elephant. Symbolic: massive obstacle-removing force; steady power of purification when perfected
Agni as renewable fire in cyclical rites; imagery aligns with periodic re-kindling and purification through sacrificial process.
When emphasizing renewal of fire and the transformative digestion of offerings; also suitable in seasonal renewals of practice.
Affirming Agni’s twofold function: acceptance of offering and purification of the sacrificer.
Use during habit-change or detoxification sādhanā: chant to kindle the purifier that both ‘tastes’ life rightly and cleanses desire.
dvi-janman 'twice-born' marks Agni’s recurring manifestation; √ 'grow' (vāvṛdhe) emphasizes continual increase. √ 'straighten' (ṛjyate) supports the inner sense of ordering the substance (anna) into a triple harmony. √ 'cleanse' (mṛṣṭa) indicates purification of the aspiring energies (vaninaḥ).
renewal of consciousness, purification (śuddhi) via inner fire, triple harmony (three worlds/threefold nourishment)
‘ṛjyate’ indicates being set straight/ordered: ṛta is the right arrangement that makes transformation effective.
Purification (mṛṣṭa) implies truth-clarity: mixed motives are burned away so force becomes true force.
Renewal through consumption: the divine grows by taking up and transforming the offered substance.
Integral yoga reading: cyclic growth, assimilation of experience, purification of nature; Agni as evolutionary force in time.
year-cycle (saṃvatsara)
Fire = will; food = experience offered; year = disciplined continuity; bull = victorious energy; elephant = steady obstacle-removing power.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Agni’s double birth and perpetual renewal: he consumes and yet grows again, embodying the paradox of transformative fire. The two mouths/tongues image encodes dual action—enjoyment/assimilation and purification—within one divine power.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √ (grow) relates to PIE *werdh- (cf. English worth in distant semantic development; German werden). √ (wipe/clean) belongs to an old Indo-Iranian cleansing lexicon; the ritual-psychological metaphor of 'polishing' consciousness is built into the verb choice.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi relies on Agni as both enjoyer and purifier: the god assimilates the offered substance and simultaneously cleanses the aspirant (vanin). The practitioner’s cycle of effort is met by Agni’s recurring growth, making inner progress sustainable.
Dual function of inner fire: (1) mindful assimilation of essence, (2) purification of impulses. Feel Agni as a steady ‘elephant-force’ removing obstacles.
Maṇipūra (digestive fire/assimilation) and Anāhata (purification of desire into aspiration)
Kapalabhāti (mild, 30–60 strokes) only if appropriate, followed by slow chanting; otherwise slow belly-breath emphasizing maṇipūra warmth.
Strong, clean will with patient continuity.
Chant 3 or 9 times. After each repetition, note one impulse to be ‘cleansed’ today and one essence to be ‘tasted’ (a true value). Act on both deliberately.
Tri-svara; keep dvijanmā and trivṛt clearly articulated; let the cadence roll through long Jagatī lines without clipping vowels.
Slight emphasis on key pivots: dvijanmā, trivṛt, saṃvatsare, vṛṣā, vaninaḥ, vāraṇaḥ.
(dvijanmā): ‘dv’ cluster clean; nasal ‘nm’ audible, (trivṛt): vocalic ‘ṛ’ short; final ‘t’ crisp, (jagdham): ‘gdʰ’ cluster; keep aspiration on ‘dh’, (mṛṣṭa): retroflex ‘ṣṭ’, (vāraṇaḥ): long ‘ā’; retroflex ‘ṇ’
Firm, warm, purifying; avoid aggression—aim for steady strength.
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