Rig Veda 10.46.2: Mandala 10, Sukta 46, Mantra 2
Sukta 10.46
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
इमं विधन्तो अपां सधस्थे पशुं न नष्टं पदैरनु ग्मन् । गुहा चतन्तमुशिजो नमोभिरिच्छन्तो धीरा भृगवोऽविन्दन् ॥
imáṃ vidhánto apā́ṃ sadhásthe paśúṃ na naṣṭáṃ padáir ánu gman | guhā́ cátantam uśíjo námo-bhir icchánto dhīrā́ bhṛ́gavo ’vindan ||
पानी के बीच में अग्नि को बना रहे थे। वो खो गया था जैसे कोई जानवर। लोग उसके निशान देख के ढूँढने लगे। वो गुफा में छुपा हुआ था, चुप-चाप के हिल रहा था। भृगु नाम के लोग जिन्होंने ध्यान से ढूँढा, उन्होंने उसे पा लिया। यह वो लोग थे जो पक्के थे अपने काम में।
Word by Word
- इमम्
- this (one)Pronounपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- विधन्तः
- disposing/arranging; performing (rites)Participle (verbal adjective)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचन; वर्तमानकालिक कर्तरिRole कर्तृRoot √धा (धा धारणे) + वि-; वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ) ‘विधत्’
- अपाम्
- of the watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति; बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root अप् (स्त्री) ‘जल’
- सधस्थे
- in the common seat/abodeNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति; एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot सधस्थ (प्रातिपदिक) ‘सह-स्थान/आसन’
- पशुम्
- the beast/cattleNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like/asIndeclinableउपमा-निपातRoot न
- नष्टम्
- lostParticiple/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन; भूतकालिक (कर्मणि/भावे) ‘lost’Role कर्म (पशुम् विशेषण)Root √नश् (नश् अदर्शने/नाशे) → नष्ट (भूतकृदन्त) अथवा ‘नष्ट’ विशेषण
- पदैः
- by tracks/footprintsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; बहुवचनRole करणRoot पद (प्रातिपदिक) ‘footstep/track’
- अनु
- along; followingIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot अनु
- ग्मन्
- they wentVerbलुङ् (अorist); प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot √गम् (गमॢँ गतौ) ; लुङ् (आगम-लोपयुक्त) 3पु. बहु.
- गुहा
- in a caveNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति; एकवचन (वेदे प्रायः अव्ययीभाववत् ‘in a cave’)Role अधिकरणRoot गुहा (प्रातिपदिक) ‘गुहा/गह्वर’
- चतन्तम्
- hiding/hiddenParticiple/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन; वर्तमानकालिकRole कर्म (इमम्/पशुम् विशेषण)Root √चत्/चद् (वेद. ‘to hide/cover’—गूढार्थे) → चतन्त् (वर्तमान कृदन्त शतृ) अथवा ‘चत्’ धातोः विशेषण
- उशिजः
- the Ushij-priests (eager worshippers)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (विधन्तः के विशेषणम्)Root उशिज् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘उशिज्’ नाम—ऋत्विजः/अग्निसेवकाः)
- नमोभिः
- with obeisancesNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; बहुवचनRole करणRoot नमस् (प्रातिपदिक) ‘obeisance’
- इच्छन्तः
- seekingParticipleपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचन; वर्तमानकालिक कर्तरिRole कर्तृ (विधन्तः के विशेषणम्)Root √इष्/इच्छ् (इष् इच्छायाम्) → इच्छन्त् (वर्तमान कृदन्त शतृ)
- धीराः
- wiseAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (भृगवः के विशेषणम्)Root धीरा (प्रातिपदिक) ‘wise/steadfast’
- भृगवः
- the BhṛgusNoun (tribal/ṛṣi name)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot भृगु (प्रातिपदिक) ‘Bhr̥gu’
- अविन्दन्
- they foundVerbलुङ् (अorist); प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot √विद् (विदॢँ लभे/ज्ञाने; here ‘to find’) + अव-; लुङ् 3पु. बहु.
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: इमम् | विधन्तः | अपाम् | सधस्थे | पशुम् | न | नष्टम् | पदैः | अनु | ग्मन् || गुहा | चतन्तम् | उशिजः | नमोभिः | इच्छन्तः | धीराः | भृगवः | अविन्दन् || 1) ‘पदैरनु’ = ‘पदैः अनु’ (विसर्ग/ः + अ → र्, वेदिक-सन्धि). 2) ‘ग्मन्’ लुङ्-रूपम् √गम्
- ‘अग्मन्’ इत्यस्य अ-आगमलोपः (वेदे प्रचलितः). 3) ‘भृगवोऽविन्दन्’ = ‘भृगवः अविन्दन्’ (विसर्गः + अ → ओऽ)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The Bhṛgus, seeking and shaping Agni in the meeting-place of the waters, track him like a lost animal by footprints; they find the hidden fire moving secretly in a cavern through acts of reverence.
Inner meaning
The seers (Bhṛgus) awaken the Divine Will (Agni) in the subconscient and life-ocean (“waters”). The ‘lost beast’ is the missing inner power of aspiration that has strayed into obscurity; its ‘footprints’ are subtle signs—impulses of sincerity, recurring intuitions, and small movements of tapas—by which the seeker traces the hidden flame. The ‘cavern’ is the inner cave of the heart/subconscient where the fire is concealed; by namas (self-offering, surrender) and steady seeking, the illumined will is recovered and made operative for the inner yajña.
Universal truth
What is most essential in us (the flame of conscious will) is often hidden beneath habitual nature. It is rediscovered not by force alone but by patient discernment of inner signs and by reverent self-offering; then the concealed power becomes the guide of transformation.
Themes
discovery of Agni, Bhṛgu myth, hidden fire in waters/cave, quest motif
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 1.58 (Agni in the cave imagery), RV 2.4 (Agni as Hotṛ and guide), RV 4.1 (Agni hidden in the waters), RV 10.45 (Agni’s births; hidden fire)
Family tradition
Bhṛgu-Āṅgiras discovery motif: the finding/establishing of Agni in hidden realms; seer-lineages as inner faculties of tapas and illumination.
Significance
The ‘unknown’ rishi underscores that the true seer is the awakened consciousness itself; the Bhṛgu motif indicates a disciplined psychic inquiry that retrieves the divine flame from the subconscient.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- guhā-carant (moving in the cave), uśij (desired, sought flame), jātavedas (knower of births, implied)
- Related deities
- Soma (bliss that feeds the flame), Indra (illumined mind that opens the cave), Uṣas (dawn-illumination that reveals the hidden)
Cosmic role
Mediator between worlds; establishes the sacrifice and links human aspiration to divine fulfillment.
Inner power
Divine Will and tapas: the power that kindles aspiration, purifies motives, and leads the evolution of consciousness.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agnyādhāna / establishment and kindling of sacred fire (general Agni-stotra usage)
इ॒मं वि॒धन्तो॑ अ॒पां स॒धस्थे॑ प॒शुं न न॒ष्टं प॒दैरनु॑ ग्मन् । गुहा॒ चत॑न्तमु॒शिजो॒ नमो॑भिरि॒च्छन्तो॒ धीरा॒ भृग॑वोऽविन्दन् ॥
इ॒मम् । वि॒धन्तः॑ । अ॒पाम् । स॒धऽस्थे॑ । प॒शुम् । न । न॒ष्टम् । प॒दैः । अनु॑ । ग्म॒न् । गुहा॑ । चत॑न्तम् । उ॒शिजः॑ । नमः॑ऽभिः । इ॒च्छन्तः॑ । धीराः॑ । भृग॑वः । अ॒वि॒न्द॒न् ॥
imam | vidhantaḥ | apām | sadha-sthe | paśum | na | naṣṭam | padaiḥ | anu | gman | guhā | catantam | uśijaḥ | namaḥ-bhiḥ | icchantaḥ | dhīrāḥ | bhṛgavaḥ | avindan
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables each (triṣṭubh cadence)
Forward-driving, quest-like momentum with firm closes; suited to ‘tracking’ and ‘finding’.
Builds concentrated seeking; evokes inward descent (guhā) followed by a sudden recognition of the hidden flame.
- अपाम् सधस्थे (apāṃ sadhasthe)
- Literal: in the common seat/meeting-place of the waters. Symbolic: in the life-ocean/subconscient basis where energies mingle; the foundational field of vital nature
- पशुं न नष्टम् (paśuṃ na naṣṭam)
- Literal: like a lost creature. Symbolic: the strayed inner force of aspiration/instinct for the Divine, obscured by ignorance
- पदैः अनु ग्मन् (padair anu gman)
- Literal: went following by footprints. Symbolic: tracing subtle indications: repeated inner promptings, patterns of grace, intuitive tracks
- गुहा (guhā)
- Literal: cave, hidden place. Symbolic: cave of the heart and the subconscient where the light is concealed
- चतन्तम् (catantam)
- Literal: moving secretly/stealthily. Symbolic: the concealed working of Agni in the depths before it becomes conscious
- उशिजः (uśijaḥ)
- Literal: flame-seekers. Symbolic: aspirants of tapas; faculties that hunger for the flame of consciousness
- नमोभिः (namobhiḥ)
- Literal: with reverences. Symbolic: self-offering, humility, alignment of ego to the higher Will
- धीरा: (dhīrāḥ)
- Literal: steadfast/wise. Symbolic: the firm intelligence that can persist through obscurity
- भृगवः (bhṛgavaḥ)
- Literal: the Bhṛgus. Symbolic: lineage of discoverers of inner fire; powers of luminous discernment that find Agni
Mythic-etiological verse for the discovery/establishment of fire; applicable in rites of kindling and in recitations recalling the first finders of Agni.
At kindling/rekindling, or in hymnic recitation to invoke Agni as found/established in the waters and hearth.
Invoking Agni, placing fuel/offerings, affirming discovery and installation of the priest-power.
Use as a ‘hidden fire’ contemplation before meditation: recollect subtle inner signs, then offer a brief act of surrender (namas) to awaken will.
The Bhṛgus as ‘finders of Agni’ is a traditional Vedic myth-cycle. naṣṭa from √naś ‘vanish’ indicates concealment. namas (from √nam ‘bow’) is not mere etiquette but the inner act of yielding the ego to the flame so it can be found/manifest. The tracking by pada suggests a method: reading signs of the hidden Fire in experience.
seeking the hidden divine, reverence/surrender (namas) as method, tracking signs (pada) in practice, recovery of lost force
Agni is recovered to re-establish ṛta in the mixed waters of life; the seeker aligns scattered energies into ordered aspiration.
The ‘footprints’ are satya-signs—truth-impressions that cannot be fabricated by the surface mind.
Fire born/rediscovered from the waters: emergence of conscious will from the undifferentiated vital/subconscient.
Proto-Vedāntic and Yogic psychology (Aurobindo’s inner sacrifice): ascent through awakening Agni in the depths.
Waters = life-energy/subconscient flux; cave = hidden heart-depths; fire = awakened will; footprints = intuitive traces guiding sādhanā.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘finding of the hidden fire’ by the Bhṛgus: Agni concealed in the cave/waters is sought and recovered through traces and reverence. Psychologically, the divine will is latent in the depths; the seeker follows experiential ‘footprints’ until the concealed flame is uncovered.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √gam ‘go’ (gman) reflects PIE *gʷem- ‘go/come’ (cf. Lat veniō via different root; more direct in Eng come < *gʷem-). √vid ‘find/know’ connects to PIE *weyd- ‘see/know’ (Eng wit, wise). The verse fuses ‘knowing’ and ‘finding’—a hallmark of archaic IE epistemology.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi aligns with the archetypal seekers (uśij, Bhṛgu) and states the condition for discovery: namas and dhīra seeking. The devatā responds by becoming ‘findable’—revealing himself when the seeker’s attitude and method are right.
Recovering the ‘hidden will’ in the heart/subconscient; following subtle inner signals toward the flame of aspiration.
Anāhata (heart-cave)
Nādi-śodhana (gentle) followed by a short kumbhaka while inwardly invoking ‘Agni in the cave’.
Pratyāhāra moving into dhyāna; from surface seeking to inner recognition.
1) Sit and scan for the ‘footprints’: the most sincere impulse right now. 2) Offer it (namas) without bargaining. 3) Imagine a small flame in a cave behind the heart; let it brighten on each exhale. 4) End by resolving one concrete act aligned with that flame.
Mixed udātta/anudātta/svarita as per Śākala tradition; maintain the rising emphasis on key verbs (anu gman, avindan).
Lightly stress: imáṃ vidhánto | apā́ṃ sadhásthe | padáir ánu gman | dhīrā́ bhṛ́gavo ’víndan.
Keep retroflex ṭ/ḍ in naṣṭam clear (naṣ-ṭam)., guhā: lengthen ā., uśijo: pronounce ś as palatal ‘sh’ (u-śi-jo)., namobhir: avoid inserting extra vowel; na-mo-bhiḥ (visarga light).
Focused, inward, slightly hushed on ‘guhā’, brighter on ‘avindan’.
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