Rig Veda 1.148.3: Mandala 1, Sukta 148, Mantra 3
Sukta 1.148
- Devata
- Agni
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
नित्ये चिन्नु यं सदने जगृभ्रे प्रशस्तिभिर्दधिरे यज्ञियासः । प्र सू नयन्त गृभयन्त इष्टावश्वासो न रथ्यो रारहाणाः ॥
nítye cin nú yaṃ sádane jagṛbhre práśastibhir dadhire yajñíyāsaḥ | prá sū nayanta gṛbháyanta iṣṭā́v aśvā́so na rathyò rarahāṇā́ḥ ||
लोगों ने उसे हमेशा के लिए अपने पास रख लिया है। पूजा करने वाले लोग उसकी तारीफ करते हैं और उसे वहाँ बिठाते हैं। वो उसे आगे ले जाते हैं और पूजा में पकड़ लेते हैं। जैसे घोड़े रेस में दौड़ते हैं, वैसे ही वो काम करता है।
Word by Word
- नित्ये
- in the two perpetual (places/times)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी-द्विवचनम् (वेदिके: ‘नित्ये’ = loc. du.)Role अधिकारणRoot नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- चित्
- indeed, evenIndeclinableअव्ययRoot चित् (अव्यय)
- नु
- now, indeedIndeclinableअव्ययRoot नु (अव्यय)
- यम्
- whomPronounपुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सदने
- in the seat/dwellingNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी-एकवचनम्Role अधिकारणRoot सदन (प्रातिपदिक)
- जगृभ्रे
- has grasped/has takenVerbलिट् (परिप्रास/परफेक्ट), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Root ग्रह् (धातु)
- प्रशस्तिभिः
- with praisesNounस्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया-बहुवचनम्Role करणRoot प्र-शस्ति (प्रातिपदिक; √शंस्)
- दधिरे
- they have placed/establishedVerbलिट्, आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Root धा (धातु)
- यज्ञियासः
- the worshipful (ones)Adjective (substantive)पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot यज्ञिय (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinableअव्ययRoot प्र (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- सु
- well, rightlyIndeclinableअव्ययRoot सु (अव्यय)
- नयन्त
- they leadVerbलट्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम् (वेदिक रूप: -न्त)Root नी (धातु)
- गृभयन्त
- they cause to seize / they graspVerbलट्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम् (णिजन्त)Root ग्रह् (धातु; causative stem गृभय-)
- इष्टौ
- in the two offerings/sacrificesNounस्त्रीलिङ्गे सप्तमी-द्विवचनम् (वेदिक: ‘इष्टौ’ = loc. du.)Role अधिकारणRoot इष्टि (प्रातिपदिक; √यज्)
- अश्वासः
- horsesNounपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableअव्ययRoot न (अव्यय)
- रथ्यः
- fit for the chariot, chariot-goingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृ (विशेषणम्)Root रथ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- रारहाणाः
- rushing, speedingParticipleवर्तमानकाले (वेदिके तीव्र/इंटेन्सिव), परस्मैपदीय-कर्तरि, प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम्Role कर्तृRoot √रह्/रंह् (धातु; intensive/reduplicated present participle)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (वेदपाठानुसार): नित्ये चित् नु यम् सदने जगृभ्रे | प्रशस्तिभिः दधिरे यज्ञियासः || प्र सु नयन्त गृभयन्त इष्टौ | अश्वासः न रथ्यः रारहाणाः || 1) चिन्नु = चित् + नु (त् + न् → न्न्)
- 2) प्रशस्तिभिर्दधिरे = प्रशस्तिभिः + दधिरे (विसर्ग-लोपः/र्-आदेशः पूर्वपदे)
- 3) इष्टावश्वासः = इष्टौ + अश्वासः (औ + अ → आव्)
- 4) अश्वासो न = अश्वासः + न (वेदिके पदान्त ‘-अः’ → ‘-ओ’ संहितायाम्)
The meaning
Outer meaning
They have seized him in the eternal seat and set him there by praises—the worshippers. They lead him forward and take hold of him in the desired rite, like chariot-horses straining in the rush.
Inner meaning
Agni is ‘seized’ and held in the ‘nitya sadana’—the constant inner seat (heart/psychic center). Praises (praśasti) are not flattery but uplifting truth-formulations that stabilize the fire. Then the worshippers ‘lead him forward’—they bring the awakened will into action in the chosen inner rite (iṣṭā). The horse image signifies vital energies (aśvāḥ) harnessed to the chariot of the yoga: disciplined force straining joyfully toward the goal, not running wild.
Universal truth
Spiritual power must be स्थापित (installed) and then applied. When will is anchored in a constant center and supported by right affirmation, vital energies can be harnessed to carry life forward toward its highest aim.
Themes
installation and guidance of Agni, discipline of energies, praise as establishing force, progress toward the goal
The seer
- Rishi
- Kutsa Āṅgirasa (traditional attribution for RV 1.148)
- Lineage
- Āṅgirasa
- Other hymns
- RV 1.148.1-2
Family tradition
Āṅgirasa seers often describe the practical discipline of holding Agni in the seat and driving energies forward like chariot-horses—an early psychology of sādhanā.
Significance
This verse gives a method: stabilize the inner fire (nitya sadana), strengthen it with true praise (praśasti), then harness the vital (aśva) to execute the divine will.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- Nityasadanīya (seated in the eternal seat, implied), Hotṛ (implicit), Yajñiya (worthy of the sacrifice, implied)
- Related deities
- Indra (driving force of illumination), Maruts (vital forces as allies when disciplined)
Cosmic role
Establishes a permanent divine presence in the human field and drives the sacrificial journey forward.
Inner power
Concentration and forward impulse: the will held in the heart that can command and harness vital energies.
In ritual
Where it is used
Processional/leading-forward moments in iṣṭi/soma contexts; emphasis on establishing Agni and then moving the rite onward
नित्ये॑ चि॒न्नु यं सद॑ने जगृ॒भ्रे प्रश॑स्तिभिर्दधि॒रे य॒ज्ञिया॑सः । प्र सू न॑यन्त गृ॒भय॑न्त इ॒ष्टावश्वा॑सो॒ न र॒थ्यो॑ रारहा॒णाः ॥
नित्ये॑ । चि॒त् । नु । यम् । सद॑ने । ज॒गृ॒भ्रे । प्रश॑स्तिऽभिः । द॒धि॒रे । य॒ज्ञिया॑सः । प्र । सु । न॒य॒न्त॒ । गृ॒भय॑न्तः । इ॒ष्टौ । अश्वा॑सः । न । र॒थ्यः॑ । र॒र॒हा॒णाः ॥
nitye | cit | nu | yam | sadane | jagṛbhre | praśasti-bhiḥ | dadhire | yajñiyāsaḥ | pra | su | nayanta | gṛbhayantaḥ | iṣṭau | aśvāsaḥ | na | rathyaḥ | rarahāṇāḥ
44
4 x ~11 syllables
Dynamic and kinetic; last pāda accelerates with the horse-chariot simile.
Energizes and mobilizes; feels like ‘harnessing’ and forward motion after inner stabilization.
- नित्ये सदने (nitye sadane)
- Literal: in the eternal seat. Symbolic: Stable inner center (heart/psychic seat) where Agni is held constantly
- जगृभ्रे (jagṛbhre)
- Literal: they seized/held. Symbolic: Conscious holding of the flame—attention, recollection, discipline
- प्रशस्तिभिः (praśastibhiḥ)
- Literal: with praises. Symbolic: Right affirmations/mantras that strengthen the divine movement
- यज्ञियासः (yajñiyāsaḥ)
- Literal: those fit for sacrifice, worshippers. Symbolic: Parts of the being consenting to transformation; the consecrated workers
- प्र नयन्त (pra nayanta)
- Literal: they lead forward. Symbolic: Application of inner will into outer life and practice
- इष्टौ (iṣṭau)
- Literal: in the desired rite. Symbolic: Chosen sādhanā, the deliberate movement toward the sought realization
- अश्वासः (aśvāsaḥ)
- Literal: horses. Symbolic: Vital energies and dynamic forces of action
- रथ्यः (rathyaḥ)
- Literal: of the chariot. Symbolic: Harnessed energies serving the higher direction
- रारहाणाः (rārahāṇāḥ)
- Literal: straining, rushing strongly. Symbolic: Intense but controlled impetus toward realization
Agni as established in sadana (altar/seat) by praise; reflects the sequence of installing and leading Agni in ritual progression; also maps to inner leading of awakened energies.
When kindled Agni is to be maintained steadily and the sequence of offerings is advanced; also as a resolve mantra before action
Recite while tending fire and preparing next offering; symbolically ‘lead’ Agni (attention) into the next act
A mantra for transitioning from meditation to action: hold the inner center, then act with disciplined energy.
Key roots: (1) √sad ‘sit’ → sadana ‘seat’: stable foundation of consciousness/altar. (2) √grabh ‘to seize’ → jagṛbhre, gṛbhayanta: repeated grasping indicates securing and directing the divine fire. (3) √nī ‘to lead’ → nayanta: guiding the awakened force. (4) aśva ‘horse’ as Vedic symbol of dynamic energy; rathya ‘chariot-worthy’ implies discipline and right yoking of forces.
stability (nitya sadana) and dynamic movement (nayanta), yajña as disciplined inner work, right praise as formative power
Rightly held Agni ensures the movement of life proceeds in ordered progression rather than impulsive dispersion.
Praśasti as truth-affirmation keeps the seat pure and stable.
Microcosmic ‘creation’ of a stable divine seat in human nature, then propulsion of evolution forward.
Integral yoga discipline: concentration (dharana-like) + dynamic action (karma) unified by Agni.
Seat = heart-center stability; horses = vital drives; chariot = life as instrument; rushing = intensified aspiration under control.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘yoking and leading’ mythologem: Agni is seized and established in the eternal seat, then led forward in the iṣṭi like chariot-horses. Psychologically, the awakened will-fire is stabilized (nitya sadana) and then directed as disciplined energies toward the intended realization.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The grasp/lead semantic pair √grabh and √nī mirrors a common IE ritual-heroic diction: taking hold of power and leading it forward. The horse-chariot simile is a hallmark of IE poetics, mapping controlled speed and force to successful action.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi describes how worshippers, through praise, establish Agni and then actively guide him; the devata is both received (grasped/installed) and cooperatively directed. The relationship is participatory: divine power is not passive but must be held and led by disciplined aspiration.
Dharana in the heart-seat; then deliberate mobilization of prāṇa/vital energy into right action.
anahata (heart)
Two-stage: (1) 1–2 minutes slow breathing to ‘seat’ the fire; (2) 1–2 minutes slightly quicker ujjayi to ‘harness the horses’ before action
Collected center with dynamic readiness; will-led vitality.
First, ‘hold Agni’—feel a steady flame in the heart. Repeat a brief praise/affirmation. Then choose one concrete act (iṣṭā) and move into it with disciplined speed, as if guiding a chariot-horse team.
Vedic accent mix; give a forward push on ‘pra sū nayanta’ and maintain a clean cadence into the horse simile.
Mark pāda breaks clearly; slightly quicken the final pāda to mirror ‘rārahāṇāḥ’ without losing clarity.
jagṛbhre: ‘ja-gṛ-bhre’ with vocalic ṛ, praśastibhiḥ: ‘pra-śas-ti-bhiḥ’ keep ‘st’ conjunct, gṛbhayantaḥ: ‘gṛ-bha-yan-taḥ’ with vocalic ṛ, rārahāṇāḥ: long ā’s; aspirate ‘hā’ gently
Centered but energetic; articulate consonants like reins holding speed.
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