Rig Veda 10.69.4: Mandala 10, Sukta 69, Mantra 4
Sukta 10.69
- Rishi
- Vadhryaśva
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
यं त्वा पूर्वमीळितो वध्र्यश्वः समीधे अग्ने स इदं जुषस्व । स नः स्तिपा उत भवा तनूपा दात्रं रक्षस्व यदिदं ते अस्मे ॥
yáṃ tvā pū́rvam īḷitó vadhry-aśváḥ sam-ī́dhe agne sá idáṃ juṣasva | sá naḥ stí-pā utá bhavā tanū-pā dā́traṃ rakṣasva yád idáṃ te asmè ||
वध्र्यश्व ने पहले भी अग्नि की प्रशंसा की थी, उसे जलाया था। अब भी यह पूजा स्वीकार कर। हमारे लिए मज़बूत रक्षक बन, हमें बचा। यह जो समर्पण है, इको सेफ रख।
Word by Word
- यम्
- whomPronounपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- त्वा
- youPronounद्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- पूर्वम्
- formerly, earlierAdjective/Adverbनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन (क्रियाविशेषणार्थे)Role Adhikaraṇa (काल) / क्रियाविशेषणRoot पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- ईळितः
- praisedVerb (participle)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त)Role विशेषण (यम्…)Root ईळ्/ईड् (स्तुतौ) → क्त (PPP) ईळित
- वध्र्यश्वः
- Vadhryaśva (the seer)Noun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot वध्र्यश्व (ऋषि-नाम, प्रातिपदिक)
- सम्
- together, fullyIndeclinable (preverb)उपसर्गः (सम्-)Root सम् (उपसर्ग)
- ईधे
- has kindled / kindlesVerbलिट् (परस्मैपद); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot इध् (दीप्तौ/समिद्धौ)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNoun (vocative)पुंलिङ्ग; संबोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- इदम्
- thisPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- जुषस्व
- enjoy, acceptVerbलोट्; मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole क्रियाRoot जुष् (प्रीतौ/सेवने)
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- for us / of usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी; बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्प्रदान (हित) / सम्बन्धRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- स्तिपाः
- a protector, guardianNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ (भव-क्रियायाः) / विशेषणRoot स्तिपा (प्रातिपदिक; रक्षण/आवरण-भाव) अथवा स्ति-प (रक्षक)
- उत
- and, alsoIndeclinableसमुच्चय/अपि-अर्थेRoot उत (निपात)
- भव
- beVerbलोट्; मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot भू (सत्तायाम्)
- तनूपाः
- protector of our bodiesNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ (भव-क्रियायाः) / विशेषणRoot तनूपा (तन् + पा; ‘body-protector’)
- दात्रम्
- the gift, the allotted boonNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot दात्र (प्रातिपदिक; ‘gift/portion’ अथवा ‘instrument of giving’)
- रक्षस्व
- protectVerbलोट्; मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole क्रियाRoot रक्ष् (पालने)
- यदि
- if / wheneverIndeclinableशर्त-सम्बन्धेRoot यदि (निपात)
- इदम्
- thisPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्म (रक्षस्व-क्रियायाः)Root इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ते
- to you / of youPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी; एकवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्धRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्मे
- among us, in usPronounसप्तमी; बहुवचन (वैदिक रूप)Role Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/सम्बन्ध-स्थाने)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (वैदिक-सन्धि-विग्रह): यं त्वा पूर्वम् ईळितः वध्र्यश्वः सम् ईधे अग्ने सः इदम् जुषस्व । सः नः स्तिपाः उत भव तनूपाः दात्रम् रक्षस्व यदि इदम् ते अस्मे । मुख्य सन्धयः: (1) पूर्वम्+ईळितः → पूर्वमीळितः (म् + ई = मी) । (2) सम्+ईधे → समीधे (म् + ई = मी) । (3) अग्ने+सः → अग्ने सः (विसर्ग-पूर्वपद, पदान्ते विरामे पृथक्) । (4) स+इदम् → स इदम् (स्वर-सन्धि नहीं; पदविभाग) । (5) दात्रं+रक्षस्व → दात्रं रक्षस्व (अनुस्वार-परसवर्ण नहीं, र्-आदि) । (6) यदि+इदम् → यदि इदम् (इ-इ संधि पदविभाग से रोकी) । (7) ते+अस्मे → ते अस्मे (ए + अ संधि पदविभाग से रोकी)।
The meaning
Outer meaning
You whom Vadhryaśva formerly praised and kindled, O Agni—accept this too. Be a firm protector for us and a guardian of our embodied being; guard the gift, this offering that is yours among us.
Inner meaning
The seer appeals to continuity of inner relationship: the same Agni once awakened by sincere aspiration can be awakened again. ‘Stipā’ (firm protector) and ‘tanūpā’ (guardian of the body) indicate that the divine Will is not only a mystical flame but a practical safeguarding power—stabilizing the instruments (body-life-mind) so they can hold higher force without collapse. ‘Dātram’ (the gift) is both the outer offering and the inner endowment: capacities, insights, and energies entrusted to the practitioner. The prayer is to protect the offering-process itself—so the gained light/force is not stolen by lower impulses or hostile suggestions.
Universal truth
A true inner fire both transforms and protects. Progress requires not only ascent but also guardianship of the embodied life so that what is gained is preserved and integrated.
Themes
Agni protector, tanūpā motif, acceptance of offering, safeguarding spiritual attainment
The seer
- Rishi
- Vadhryaśva
- Other hymns
- RV 10.69.1, RV 10.69.2, RV 10.69.3, RV 10.69.5, RV 10.69.6
Family tradition
Self-referential seer in Book 10 hymn-cycle; emphasizes personal continuity of invocation (‘formerly praised’) as a living lineage of experience.
Significance
Vadhryaśva represents the practitioner who seeks not only illumination but protection and integration—so the ‘gift’ of higher force remains established in embodied life.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- Tanūpā (protector of the body), Rakṣitṛ (protector, by function), Hotṛ
- Related deities
- Indra (overcoming hostile forces), Rudra (healing/protection), Soma (nourishing delight)
Cosmic role
Guardian-fire that maintains the sacrifice against disorder; preserves the right movement of ṛta in the human vessel.
Inner power
Protective will: creates boundaries, steadiness, and resilience; guards the offered energies and the gains of practice.
In ritual
Where it is used
Protective Agni invocation within offering sequences; guarding the oblation and sacrificer
यं त्वा॒ पूर्व॑मीळि॒तो व॑ध्र्य॒श्वः स॑मी॒धे अ॑ग्ने॒ स इ॒दं जु॑षस्व । स न॑: स्ति॒पा उ॒त भ॑वा तनू॒पा दा॒त्रं र॑क्षस्व॒ यदि॒दं ते॑ अ॒स्मे ॥
यम् । त्वा॒ । पूर्व॑म् । ई॒ळि॒तः । व॒ध्रि॒ऽअ॒श्वः । स॒म्ऽई॒धे । अ॒ग्ने॒ । सः । इ॒दम् । जु॒ष॒स्व॒ । सः । नः॒ । स्ति॒ऽपाः । उ॒त । भ॒व॒ । त॒नू॒ऽपाः । दा॒त्रम् । र॒क्ष॒स्व॒ । यत् । इ॒दम् । ते॒ । अ॒स्मे इति॑ ॥
yam | tvā | pūrvam | īḷitaḥ | vadhri-aśvaḥ | sam-īdhe | agne | saḥ | idam | juṣasva | saḥ | naḥ | sti-pāḥ | uta | bhava | tanū-pāḥ | dātram | rakṣasva | yat | idam | te | asme iti
44
4 pādas × ~11 syllables
Compact and protective; strong caesura supports the ‘guarding’ petitions (bhavā… rakṣasva).
Instills steadiness and safety; good for grounding after intense inner work.
- ईळितः (īḻitaḥ)
- Literal: praised, invoked. Symbolic: conscious turning of the mind/heart toward the divine Presence
- समीधे (samīdhe)
- Literal: kindled. Symbolic: rekindled aspiration and will
- जुषस्व (juṣasva)
- Literal: enjoy, accept. Symbolic: let the divine Will take up our effort and make it effective
- स्तिपाः (stipāḥ)
- Literal: firm protector (steady guard). Symbolic: stabilizing power against inner disturbance
- तनूपाः (tanūpāḥ)
- Literal: guardian of the body. Symbolic: protection of the embodied instruments for spiritual work
- दात्रम् (dātram)
- Literal: gift; offering. Symbolic: inner endowment and the act of self-giving
- रक्षस्व (rakṣasva)
- Literal: protect. Symbolic: preserve gains; defend against relapse or hostile formations
Protective conclusion within an Agni hymn: used to request guardianship of offering and sacrificer (tanūpā) in domestic and Śrauta fire contexts.
During/after oblation to request protection of rite and fruits
Recitation while maintaining fire, offering, and protective intent
Use after meditation or pranayama to ‘seal’ the practice—protect the calm, the insight, and the body’s balance.
īḷ (Vedic) ‘invoke/praise’; rakṣ (PIE *h₃reg-? debated; but Indo-Iranian rakṣ- stable) ‘guard’. tanū-pā is a key RV compound: protection of the embodied consciousness, not merely physical safety—Agni guards the integrity of the inner sacrifice.
tanū (embodiment) as the vessel of sādhanā, protection of the ‘gift’ = conserved spiritual gain, continuity of invocation across time
Protection ensures the sacrificial order is not broken by forces of anṛta (disorder).
Guarding the ‘gift’ is guarding truth’s establishment in life.
Integration: creation is not only breakthrough but stabilization in form (tanū).
Integral yoga reading: ascent plus protection/integration of instruments.
Hearth-fire = steady psychic will; protection = containment of energies; gift = conserved ojas and insight.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Agni as the guardian (tanūpā) of the sacrificer and the offering: the mythologem of the divine fire as protector who preserves the gained light/force from dispersion or hostile powers.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The compound tanū-pā (‘body-protector’) shows inherited Indo-European compounding strategies for divine epithets; √rakṣ ‘guard’ parallels widespread IE concern with protection of the sacred portion.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The Rishi appeals to memory and continuity (‘formerly praised’) to secure present acceptance, then asks for protection of both vessel (tanū) and result (dātra). The reciprocity is conservation: what is offered becomes what must be guarded as an inner attainment.
Protect the embodied being so higher light can settle safely.
muladhara (stability) + anahata (inner fire in the heart)
slow exhale with gentle abdominal support; brief pause after exhale to feel ‘sealed’ protection
Contained, integrated calm; safe receptivity.
Chant once, then visualize a warm ring of fire-light around the body. Offer any fear or instability into Agni; conclude by sensing the ‘gift’ (today’s clarity/peace) being guarded within.
Keep a low, stable anudatta base for protective lines; let udatta rise gently on ‘’ and ‘’ to energize protection without agitation.
Firm articulation on ‘स्तिपाः’ and ‘तनूपाः’; clear closure on ‘रक्षस्व’.
: retroflex ḻ (as in īḻ-)—do not soften to ‘l’, : long ū (ta-nū-pāḥ), : long ā; dental t, : clear s+m cluster (as-me)
warm, grounded, protective
3
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