Rig Veda 1.145.2: Mandala 1, Sukta 145, Mantra 2
Sukta 1.145
- Rishi
- Dīrghatamas Aucathya
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace)
तमित्पृच्छन्ति न सिमो वि पृच्छति स्वेनेव धीरो मनसा यदग्रभीत् । न मृष्यते प्रथमं नापरं वचोऽस्य क्रत्वा सचते अप्रदृपितः ॥
tám ít pṛcchanti ná simó ví pṛcchati svénēva dhī́ro mánasā yád ágrabhīt | ná mṛṣyate prathamáṃ nā́paraṃ váco 'sya kratvā́ sacate ápra-dṛpitaḥ ||
लोग उससे पूछते हैं, लेकिन कोई उससे पूरा नहीं पूछ सकता। वो अपने दिमाग से समझता है। वो पहली बात झूठी नहीं करता, ना ही बाद वाली। वो अपनी इच्छा के साथ सच रहता है, कोई धोखा नहीं देता।
Word by Word
- तम्
- him/that (one)Pronounपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- इत्
- indeed/justIndeclinableनिपातः (अविकारी)Root इत् (निपात)
- पृच्छन्ति
- they askVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Root प्रच्छ्
- न
- notIndeclinableनिपातःRoot न (निषेध)
- सिमः
- the boundary/limitNounपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot सिम (प्रातिपदिक; ‘सीमा/पर्यन्त’ अर्थे, वैदिक)
- वि
- apart, distinctlyIndeclinableउपसर्गःRoot वि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- पृच्छति
- asksVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Root प्रच्छ्
- स्वेनेव
- as if by his own (means)Pronoun + Indeclinableस्वेन: पुं/नपुं तृतीया एकवचनम्; इव: निपातःRole करणRoot स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + इव (निपात)
- धीरः
- the wise oneAdjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot धीरा (प्रातिपदिक)
- मनसा
- with (his) mindNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम्Role करणRoot मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- यत्
- what/that whichRelative pronounनपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (यद् = ‘which/what’ as object)Role कर्मRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्रभीत्
- he grasped/has seizedVerbलुङ् (अorist), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Root ग्रह् (उपसर्ग: आ-)
- न
- notIndeclinableनिपातःRoot न (निषेध)
- मृष्यते
- he/it forgets; overlooks; is carelessVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम्Root मृष्
- प्रथमम्
- first(ly)Adjective (used adverbially)नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (क्रियाविशेषणवत्)Root प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- nor/notIndeclinableनिपातःRoot न (निषेध)
- अपरम्
- later/second(ly)Adjective (used adverbially)नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (क्रियाविशेषणवत्)Root अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
- वचः
- word/utteranceNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् (अत्र कर्मरूपेण)Role कर्मRoot वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्य
- of him/itsPronounपुं/नपुं षष्ठी एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्धRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- क्रत्वा
- by (his) resolve/insightNounपुंलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम्Role करणRoot क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक)
- सचते
- he accompanies; he is joined/attendsVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम्Root सच्
- अप्रदृपितः
- not arrogant; unpresumptuousAdjective (past participle)पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; ‘न प्र-दृपितः’ = न गर्वितःRole कर्तृRoot दृप् (कृदन्त; उपसर्ग: प्र-; नञ्-समास)
Sandhi Notes
- संहिता-पाठः: तमित्पृच्छन्ति = तम् + इत् + पृच्छन्ति। सिमो = सिमः (विसर्ग-लोपः पदान्ते)। स्वेनेव = स्वेन + इव। यदग्रभीत् = यत् + अग्रभीत् (त् + अ → द्-अनुस्वार/संध्यनुसार; संहितायां ‘यद्’ रूपम्)। वचोऽस्य = वचः + अस्य (विसर्गस्य ‘ओ’ आदेशः, अवग्रहः)।
The meaning
Outer meaning
People question him, yet no one can fully question him; the steady one grasps it by his own mind. He does not falsify the first or later word; by his will he keeps with truth, undeluded.
Inner meaning
Agni as inner truth-holder exceeds mere intellectual interrogation: the mind cannot ‘fully question’ him as an object. Only the dhīra (steady, poised consciousness) can seize the reality directly by an inner faculty. Agni does not distort the ‘first word’ (original intuition) nor the ‘later word’ (its developed expression); he safeguards integrity of truth through stages. By kratu—effective will-intelligence—he companions satya/ṛta and remains apradṛpita (not deceived, not intoxicated by ego).
Universal truth
Truth is grasped by steadiness and inner clarity, not by restless questioning. Integrity of speech and thought across time is maintained when will is aligned with truth-order and free from ego-delusion.
Themes
epistemology of revelation, steadfast mind, truth-speech, undeluded will
The seer
- Rishi
- Dīrghatamas Aucathya
- Lineage
- Aucathya
- Other hymns
- RV 1.145
Family tradition
A seerly approach that privileges dhī (illumined understanding) and the gradations of vāc (word) as stages of manifestation.
Significance
This verse is a compact Vedic epistemology: the divine fire is known by steadiness and inner grasp; truth-speech must remain consistent from inception to expression—central to mantra-yoga.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- dhīra (through association with the steady knower), satya-sāc (truth-companion, implied), apradṛpitaḥ
- Related deities
- Bṛhaspati (lord of the word), Varuṇa (truth-order), Mitra (harmony of truth)
Cosmic role
Guardian of truth in speech and action; ensures continuity of ṛta from origin to manifestation.
Inner power
Discerning will that prevents distortion, maintains sincerity, and dispels falsehood/ego-intoxication.
In ritual
Where it is used
Recitation in Agni praise where truth of the rite and correctness of speech are emphasized.
तमित्पृ॑च्छन्ति॒ न सि॒मो वि पृ॑च्छति॒ स्वेने॑व॒ धीरो॒ मन॑सा॒ यदग्र॑भीत् । न मृ॑ष्यते प्रथ॒मं नाप॑रं॒ वचो॒ऽस्य क्रत्वा॑ सचते॒ अप्र॑दृपितः ॥
तम् । इत् । पृ॒च्छ॒न्ति॒ । न । सि॒मः । वि । पृ॒च्छ॒ति॒ । स्वेन॑ऽव । धीरः॑ । मन॑सा । यत् । अग्र॑भीत् । न । मृ॒ष्य॒ते॒ । प्र॒थ॒मम् । न । अप॑रम् । वचः॑ । अ॒स्य । क्रत्वा॑ । स॒च॒ते॒ । अप्र॑ऽदृपितः ॥
tam | it | pṛcchanti | na | simaḥ | vi | pṛcchati | svena-va | dhīraḥ | manasā | yat | agrabhīt | na | mṛṣyate | prathamam | na | aparam | vacaḥ | asya | kratvā | sacate | apra-dṛpitaḥ
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables each
Measured and discriminative; negations (‘na… na…’) create ethical-epistemic firmness.
Stabilizes the mind; encourages sincerity and careful speech aligned with inner truth.
- धीर (dhīra)
- Literal: steady, wise. Symbolic: poised mind capable of direct grasp (inner seeing)
- मनसा यदग्रभीत् (manasā yad agrabhīt)
- Literal: what he grasped by mind. Symbolic: inner apprehension—intuitive seizure rather than discursive thought
- प्रथमा वाच् (prathamā vāc)
- Literal: first word. Symbolic: originating intuition/seed-mantra of truth
- अपरा वाच् (aparā vāc)
- Literal: later word. Symbolic: subsequent formulation, expression, application in life
- क्रतु (kratu)
- Literal: will, resolve, intelligence. Symbolic: effective spiritual will that executes truth
- सचते (sacate)
- Literal: keeps company with, adheres. Symbolic: abides in satya/ṛta; fidelity to truth
- अप्रदृपित (apradṛpita)
- Literal: not deluded, not intoxicated. Symbolic: ego-free clarity; immunity to false light
Guarding the correctness of mantra and intention; inner practice: stability (dhīra) and kratu prevent distortion of the ‘word’ at any stage of realization
Before or during offerings requiring precise recitation; also as a reflection on correct vāc.
Chant with attentiveness to correctness; mentally renew vow of truth in speech and intention.
Use as a ‘truth-speech’ mantra: before difficult conversations or commitments, align first intuition and later expression; avoid exaggeration and self-deception.
dhīrá ‘steady, wise’ from √dhṛ ‘hold’ (PIE *dʰer- ‘hold’, cf. English firm via different root; but ‘dhar-’ set is IE). agrabhīt from √grah ‘seize’ (PIE *gʰrebʰ- ‘grab’ cf. English grab often cited as possible cognate). mṛṣyate from √mṛṣ ‘to forget/neglect, be mistaken’ → ‘to err’. kratú as effective will/intelligence. dṛp ‘to be confused/arrogant’ with a-privative: apradṛpita ‘not deluded’.
truth of speech (vāc), kratu as effective will, non-delusion (apradṛpita), integrity of revelation (first and later word)
Agni adheres to ṛta through kratu; truth-order is maintained across stages of expression.
Non-falsification of word—integrity of satya in time (first and later).
Vāc descending/expanding: from seed to formed speech; Agni ensures fidelity through manifestation.
Vedic psychology of knowledge (dhī) and speech (vāc) leading to right action (kratu); resonates with Upaniṣadic concern for satyam.
Steady flame = stable awareness; speech = formative vibration of consciousness; undeluded clarity = smokeless fire.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The unerring guardian of true speech: Agni (or the divine knower) is the one whose ‘word’ is consistent from first to last, and whose kratu remains undeluded. Psychologically it is the emergence of a truth-conscious guidance that prevents the seeker’s experience from being distorted in expression or application.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- manas ‘mind’ belongs to a broad IE family (PIE *men- ‘think’; cf. Greek ménos, Latin mens, English mind). The opposition of ‘first/later word’ reflects IE concern with the fidelity of utterance in oral tradition; the privative a- in apradṛpita is inherited Indo-European morphology.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi implies a discipline: ordinary questioning cannot exhaust the divine; only the dhīra who grasps inwardly can align with Agni’s unfalsifying word. The devatā supports the rishi by stabilizing kratu and keeping the speech true across stages of the path.
Rest in dhīra-bhāva (steady witness) and observe speech-impulses; let only truth-aligned words pass.
Viśuddha (speech) supported by Ājñā (discernment)
Slow exhale-lengthening (e.g., inhale 4, exhale 8) to reduce restless questioning; then silent ‘truth check’ before speaking.
Clear, undeluded sincerity; quiet alignment between intuition and expression.
After chanting, recall a ‘first word’ (your deepest intuition) and compare it with your ‘later word’ (what you plan to say/do). Offer any distortion into the inner fire; commit to one truthful sentence or action.
Tri-svara; keep negations (‘na…’) crisp; maintain udātta on key nouns (dhīra, manasā, kratu).
Do not hurry through consonant clusters; keep pāda pauses clean to preserve logical structure.
‘simo’—pronounce as (simaḥ) with visarga., ‘dhīro’—long ī., ‘agrabhīt’—cluster gr; long ī in bhīt., ‘mṛṣyate’—vocalic ṛ; ṣ distinct., ‘apradṛpitaḥ’—retroflex ṛp; clear tḥ ending.
Even, restrained, truthful tone; minimal ornamentation.
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