Rig Veda 10.142.6: Mandala 10, Sukta 142, Mantra 6
Sukta 10.142
- Devata
- Agni
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
उत्ते शुष्मा जिहतामुत्ते अर्चिरुत्ते अग्ने शशमानस्य वाजाः । उच्छ्वञ्चस्व नि नम वर्धमान आ त्वाद्य विश्वे वसवः सदन्तु ॥
út te śúṣmā jihatām út te arcír út te agne śaśamāná-sya vā́jāḥ | úc chvañcasva ní namaḥ várdhamāna ā́ tvā́dya víśve vásavaḥ sadantu ||
अग्नि, अब ऊपर उठ। अपनी ताकत के साथ सारे रास्ते साफ कर। तेरी आग चमक उठी है। जो लोग मेहनत करते हैं, उनके लिए तु शक्ति का खज़ाना है। सीधा खड़ा हो जा और झुक के प्रणाम कर। आज सब वसु देवता तुम्हारे पास आके बैठ जायेंगे।
Word by Word
- उत्
- up, forthIndeclinableउपसर्ग (preverb)Root उत् (उपसर्ग) / ud-
- ते
- of you, yourPronounषष्ठी एकवचन (gen. sg.)Role सम्बन्ध (genitival relation)Root त्वद् (युष्मद्-प्रत्ययिक सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) / tvad
- शुष्माः
- powers, mightsNounप्रथमा बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग (nom. pl. m.)Role कर्तृ (of the verb जिहताम्)Root शुष्म (प्रातिपदिक) / śuṣma
- जिहताम्
- let (them) leave/abandonVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), 3 पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद (imperative 3pl)Role क्रियाRoot हā (धातु) / hā ‘to leave, abandon’
- उत्
- up, forthIndeclinableउपसर्गRoot उत् (उपसर्ग) / ud-
- ते
- of you, yourPronounषष्ठी एकवचन (gen. sg.)Role सम्बन्धRoot त्वद् / tvad
- अर्चिः
- flame, blazeNounप्रथमा एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग (nom. sg. n.)Role कर्तृ (elliptic: ‘(let) your flame (rise)’)Root अर्चिस् (प्रातिपदिक) / arcis
- उत्
- up, forthIndeclinableउपसर्गRoot उत् (उपसर्ग) / ud-
- ते
- of you, yourPronounषष्ठी एकवचन (gen. sg.)Role सम्बन्धRoot त्वद् / tvad
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounसम्बोधन एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग (voc. sg. m.)Role सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) / agni
- शशमानस्य
- of the striving/zealous (one)Participle (Adjective) used substantivelyषष्ठी एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग (gen. sg. m.)Role सम्बन्ध (with वाजाः: ‘of the striving one’)Root शशमान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √शम्/शम् ‘to toil/strive, exert oneself’ → शशमान ‘striving, laboring’) / śaśamāna
- वाजाः
- prizes, strengths, winningsNounप्रथमा बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग (nom. pl. m.)Role कर्तृ (elliptic: ‘(let) the prizes/strengths (rise)’)Root वाज (प्रातिपदिक) / vāja
- उत्
- upIndeclinableउपसर्गRoot उत् (उपसर्ग) / ud-
- श्वञ्चस्व
- spring up, rise upVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), 2 पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद (imperative 2sg)Role क्रियाRoot श्वञ्च् (धातु) / śvañc ‘to spring up, rise, leap’
- नि
- down, inwardIndeclinableउपसर्गRoot नि (उपसर्ग) / ni-
- नम
- bend downVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), 2 पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद (imperative 2sg)Role क्रियाRoot नम् (धातु) / nam ‘to bend’
- वर्धमान
- O growing/increasing oneParticiple (Adjective)सम्बोधन एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग (voc. sg. m.), Agni addressed as ‘growing’Role सम्बोधनRoot वर्ध् (धातु) / vardh ‘to grow, increase’ → वर्धमान (शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्यय) / vardhamāna
- आ
- towards, hitherIndeclinableउपसर्ग/निपात (directional ‘towards’)Root आ (उपसर्ग/निपात) / ā-
- त्वा
- youPronounद्वितीया एकवचन (acc. sg.)Role कर्म (of सदन्तु)Root त्वद् (युष्मद्) / tvad
- अद्य
- todayIndeclinableकालवाचक अव्ययRole अधिकारण (temporal)Root अद्य (अव्यय) / adya
- विश्वे
- allAdjectiveप्रथमा बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग (nom. pl. m.)Role कर्तृ (with वसवः)Root विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) / viśva
- वसवः
- the VasusNounप्रथमा बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग (nom. pl. m.)Role कर्तृ (of सदन्तु)Root वसु (प्रातिपदिक) / vasu (name of a class of gods)
- सदन्तु
- let (them) sit, take their seatVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), 3 पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद (imperative 3pl)Role क्रियाRoot सद् (धातु) / sad ‘to sit’
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution: उत्ते → उत् + ते
- शुष्मा॑ जिहता॒म् kept as two padas
- उत्ते॑ अ॒र्चिः → उत् + ते + अर्चिः
- उत्ते॑ → उत् + ते
- शशमा॒नस्य॒ → शशमानस्य (gen. sg.)
- वाजा॑: → वाजाः
- उच्छ्व॑ञ्चस्व → उत् + श्वञ्चस्व
- नि न॑म → नि + नम
- वर्ध॑मान॒ → वर्धमान (voc.)
- आ त्वा॒द्य → आ + त्वा + अद्य
- विश्वे॒ वस॑वः → विश्वे + वसवः
- सदन्तु unchanged
The meaning
Outer meaning
Rise up: let your powers cast off; rise up your flame; rise up, Agni, the plenitudes for the striving one. Stand upright; bow down growing in reverence; today let all the Vasus sit in you.
Inner meaning
A call for the inner Fire to surge upward—throwing off obstructions and releasing forces (vājāḥ) for the sincere striver. ‘Stand upright’ is inner rectitude and awakened axis; ‘bow down’ is humility and surrender that allows growth without ego-inflation. When Agni is established, the Vasus (fundamental powers of harmonious existence) take their seat in the being—stabilizing the transformation into lasting substance.
Universal truth
Spiritual ascent requires both uplifted force and deep humility. When will and reverence unite, the foundational powers of life become ordered and supportive rather than conflicting.
Themes
Agni-kindling, inner ascent, invocation of divine powers (Vasus), victorious force (vāja)
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 10.142.1-7
Family tradition
Hymn-voice oriented to practical awakening and stabilization: not only ignition but seating of sustaining powers (Vasus).
Significance
Maps a complete movement: uprising of force, purification, humility, and then stable descent/establishment of supportive powers.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (with Vasus invoked to seat themselves in Agni)
- Epithets
- arci (flame/ray), vardhamāna (growing), śuṣmin (powerful—implied)
- Related deities
- Vasus, Indra, Soma, Uṣas (as allied illumination)
Cosmic role
Uplifts and increases; becomes the seat (āśraya) for the Vasus—powers that consolidate the creation.
Inner power
Awakening fire that both elevates and stabilizes; transforms effort into plenitude while preventing egoic distortion through reverence.
In ritual
Where it is used
Kindling/strengthening Agni; inviting divine powers to the fire in soma/fire rites
उत्ते॒ शुष्मा॑ जिहता॒मुत्ते॑ अ॒र्चिरुत्ते॑ अग्ने शशमा॒नस्य॒ वाजा॑: । उच्छ्व॑ञ्चस्व॒ नि न॑म॒ वर्ध॑मान॒ आ त्वा॒द्य विश्वे॒ वस॑वः सदन्तु ॥
उत् । ते॒ । शुष्माः॑ । जि॒ह॒ता॒म् । उत् । ते॒ । अ॒ग्ने॒ । श॒श॒मा॒नस्य॑ । वाजाः॑ । उत् । श्व॒ञ्च॒स्व॒ । नि । न॑मः । वर्ध॑मानः । आ । त्वा॒ । अ॒द्य । विश्वे॑ । वस॑वः । स॒द॒न्तु॒ ॥
ut | te | śuṣmāḥ | jihatām | ut | te | agne | śaśamānasya | vājāḥ | ut | śvañcasva | ni | namaḥ | vardhamānaḥ | ā | tvā | adya | viśve | vasavaḥ | sadantu
44
4 x ~11 syllables (approx.)
Incantatory rising pulses (‘ut… ut… ut…’) creating a staircase of ascent.
Strong energizing uplift; then a settling cadence that supports stable embodiment of the invoked powers.
- उत् (ut)
- Literal: up, arise. Symbolic: ascent of consciousness; awakening and elevation of force
- शुष्म (śuṣma)
- Literal: power, vigor. Symbolic: dynamic energy of will; capacity to overcome resistance
- अर्चि (arci)
- Literal: flame, ray. Symbolic: illumining fire—clarity and aspiration
- वाजाः (vājāḥ)
- Literal: prizes, plenitudes, strengths. Symbolic: gains of the yoga—powers, capacities, right enjoyments born of effort
- शशमान (śaśamāna)
- Literal: striving, laboring. Symbolic: the sincere practitioner applying tapas
- वसवः (vasavaḥ)
- Literal: Vasus (a class of gods). Symbolic: stable foundational energies of harmony, abundance, and right substance in life
General Agni-invocation within the sacrificial session; suitable for kindling/strengthening the fire (āhavanīya) and for inner 'agnicayana' symbolism—establishing the divine Will as the seat of luminous powers.
At ignition or reinforcement of the sacred fire; at moments of invoking supportive deities
Raising the flame, offering ghee; formal invitation (āvāhana) of Vasus
Morning practice mantra: invoke uplifted energy with humility; use to ‘seat’ stability before a demanding day.
(śuṣmá-) from √śvas/√śuṣ (to swell, breathe, be strong): denotes surging force, intensity, energetic impetus. (arcí-) from √arc (to shine, praise): flame/ray; psychologically, luminous will and clarified aspiration. (śaśamāná-) intensive/desiderative nuance from √śam/√śas (to exert oneself, to toil in worship): the striver who performs the inner sacrifice. (vā́ja-) from √vaj (to be strong, to impel): not only 'prize/food' but 'effective force, victorious plenitude'—hence inner powers that accomplish. (námas-) from √nam (to bend): the act of bowing; inwardly, ego-surrender enabling the higher powers to take seat. (várdhamāna-) present participle of √vṛdh (to grow): the flame/consciousness increasing by right offering.
Ṛta (right order) as alignment through namas (reverent submission), increase/growth (vṛdh) of inner consciousness, deva-seating (sad-) as stabilization of higher powers in the psyche
Uprightness + reverence establishes ṛta in the seeker; the Vasus represent ordered foundations of existence.
True growth (vardhamāna) is safeguarded by namas (reverence), preventing distortion of power.
Stabilization after ignition: forces of creation ‘sit’ in the fire as in a prepared seat.
Integral yoga psychology: ascent of force coupled with surrender; consolidation of siddhi into stable nature.
dawn/morning (practically suited, though not explicit)
Rising flame = ascending consciousness; seating of Vasus = stabilization of foundational energies and calm abundance.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The 'kindling and uprighting of Agni' as the cosmic and psychological axis: the flame rises, throws off obstruction, and becomes the seat where the Vasus (stabilizing divine powers) take their place. Mythically this is the installation of the gods in the sacrifice; inwardly it is the establishment of the awakened Will as a throne for ordered luminous faculties.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- Key action-words are old Indo-European: √nam 'bend' (Skt námas; cf. Lat. nēmō?—uncertain; clearer is PIE *nem- 'bend/assign', seen in Gk νέμω 'apportion' with semantic development) supports the sense of 'bending/submitting'. √vṛdh 'grow' continues PIE *werdh- (cf. Eng. 'worth' via Germanic semantic field; and Avestan vərəz- 'grow/strengthen' parallels). √arc 'shine' aligns with an archaic poetic lexicon of radiance; while √vaj 'impel/be strong' belongs to an inherited force-vocabulary (cf. Avestan vaz- 'carry/drive', showing the shared Indo-Iranian dynamism).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The speaker positions the human striver (śaśamāna) as one who increases Agni through effort and reverence (námas), while Agni reciprocates by releasing śuṣma (dynamic powers) and vāja (effective plenitudes). The final request—'let all the Vasus sit in you'—makes Agni the mediator-seat: the rishi offers alignment and growth; the devatā responds by stabilizing divine order and capacities within the seeker.
Awaken the inner fire upward; then consciously offer reverence and allow stabilizing forces to settle in the awakened center.
Manipura (fire) rising toward Anahata (reverence) and Ajna (clarity)
3-stage breath: inhale lift (ut), brief hold (steady upright), exhale bow (ni namaḥ) with softness; repeat gently.
Energized uplift with calm surrender; stable fullness.
If power rises, immediately pair it with namas—humble alignment—so the Vasus (stable harmonies) can ‘sit’ and organize life.
Let each ‘ut te…’ carry a clear udatta lift; keep ‘ni nama’ with a gentle lowering (anudatta feel) to embody bowing.
Mark three rising invocations distinctly (ut… ut… ut…); then slow slightly at ‘uc chvañcasva’ (stand upright) and soften at ‘ni nama’.
‘śuṣmāḥ’ with long ā and retroflex ṣ., ‘arciḥ’ with clear cch-like affricate? (ar-ciḥ) and visarga audible but light., ‘uc chvañcasva’ keep the conjunct cchv clear: uc-chvañ-ca-sva., ‘vasavaḥ’ with v-a-sa-vaḥ (not ‘basava’).
Rising, bright, confident; then reverent and steady in the second half.
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