Rig Veda 2.1.2: Mandala 2, Sukta 1, Mantra 2
Sukta 2.1
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Gāyatrī
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
तवाग्ने होत्रं तव पोत्रमृत्वियं तव नेष्ट्रं त्वमग्निदृतायतः । तव प्रशास्त्रं त्वमध्वरीयसि ब्रह्मा चासि गृहपतिश्च नो दमे ॥
távāgne hótraṃ táva pótram ṛtviyáṃ táva néṣṭraṃ tvám agníd ṛtāyatáḥ | táva práśāstraṃ tvám adhvarīyasi brahmā́ cā́si gṛhápatiś ca no dámē ||
अग्नि, यह सब तुम्हारा काम है, हवन बुलाना, साफ करना, सही वक्त पे सब संभालना, रास्ता दिखाना। तुम सच के साथ चलने वाले हो। तुम हवि करते हो, यज्ञ चलाते हो। तुम ब्रह्मा शक्ति हो, और हमारे घर के मालिक हो।
Word by Word
- तव
- of you / yourPronounषष्ठी एकवचन (gen. sg.)Role सम्बन्ध (possessive/genitival)Root युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → त्वद्
- अग्ने
- O AgniNoun (address)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन (voc. sg.)Role सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि- (प्रातिपदिक)
- होत्रम्
- the Hotṛ-office / hotṛ-priesthoodNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (nom./acc. sg.)Role कर्तृ-विशेषण/विधेय (predicative complement)Root होत्र- (प्रातिपदिक; from √हु ‘to sacrifice/invoke’)
- तव
- yourPronounषष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot युष्मद् → त्वद्
- पोत्रम्
- the Potṛ-office / potṛ-priesthoodNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्तृ-विशेषण/विधेयRoot पोत्र- (प्रातिपदिक; ritual office)
- ऋत्वियम्
- seasonal, ritually appointedAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; होत्रम्/पोत्रम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्Role विशेषणRoot ऋत्विय- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘belonging to ṛtu/season’, ritual)
- तव
- yourPronounषष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot युष्मद् → त्वद्
- नेष्ट्रम्
- the Neṣṭṛ-office / leader-priesthoodNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्तृ-विशेषण/विधेयRoot नेष्ट्र- (प्रातिपदिक; from √नी ‘to lead’)
- त्वम्
- youPronounप्रथमा एकवचन (nom. sg.)Role कर्ताRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- अग्निदृताय॒तः
- of the one who upholds Agni / Agni-supportingAdjective (compound)पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन (gen. sg.)Role सम्बन्ध (genitival qualifier of an implied noun, e.g., जनस्य/यजमानस्य)Root अग्नि-दृत- (समास-प्रातिपदिक; दृत- ‘supporting/holding’ from √धृ ‘to hold’; with अग्नि-)
- इतः
- from here / henceIndeclinableअव्ययRole अपादान/अधिकरण-भाव (direction/source: ‘from here/there’)Root इतः (अव्यय; pronominal adverb from इ- ‘this’)
- तव
- yourPronounषष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot युष्मद् → त्वद्
- प्रशास्त्रम्
- the directing/reciting office; the Praśāstṛ-functionNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्तृ-विशेषण/विधेयRoot प्र-शास्त्र- (प्रातिपदिक; from √शास् ‘to instruct/command’)
- त्वम्
- youPronounप्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्ताRoot युष्मद्
- अध्वरीयसि
- you perform as the Adhvaryu / you officiate in the sacrificeVerbलट् (वर्तमान), मध्यम? → actually 2nd sg. parasmaipada?; Vedic usage: ‘you act as Adhvaryu/perform the adhvaryu-function’ (2nd sg.)Role क्रिया (मुख्य क्रियापद)Root √अध्वरि/अध्वर् (denominative from अध्वर ‘sacrifice’)
- ब्रह्मा
- (you are) the Brahman-priestNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (nom. sg.)Role विधेय (predicative noun to त्वम्)Root ब्रह्मन्- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘sacred formulation’, also priest-title)
- च
- andIndeclinableअव्ययRole समुच्चयRoot च
- असि
- you areVerbलट् (वर्तमान), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन (2nd sg.)Role क्रिया (copula)Root √अस् ‘to be’
- गृहपतिः
- the lord of the houseNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole विधेय (predicative noun)Root गृहपति- (समास-प्रातिपदिक: गृह + पति)
- च
- andIndeclinableअव्ययRole समुच्चयRoot च
- नः
- of us / ourPronounषष्ठी बहुवचन (gen. pl.) / encliticRole सम्बन्धRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम) → नः
- दमे
- in the house / at homeNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन (loc. sg.)Role अधिकरणRoot दम- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘house, home’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (sandhi-resolution): तव + अग्ने + होत्रम् | तव + पोत्रम् + ऋत्वियम् | तव + नेष्ट्रम् | त्वम् + अग्निदृताय॒तः + इतः | तव + प्रशास्त्रम् | त्वम् + अध्वरीयसि | ब्रह्मा + च + असि | गृहपतिः + च + नः + दमे । प्रमुख संधयः: (1) तवाग्ने = तव + अग्ने (स्वर-संधि/स्वर-समास-प्रयोग)
- (2) पोत्रमृत्वियम् = पोत्रम् + ऋत्वियम् (म् + ऋ → मृ)
- (3) नेष्ट्रं त्वम् = नेष्ट्रम् + त्वम् (अनुस्वार/परसवर्ण-लेखन)
- (4) त्वमग्निदृताय॒तः = त्वम् + अग्निदृताय॒तः (म् + अ → म)
- (5) प्रशास्त्रं त्वम् = प्रशास्त्रम् + त्वम्
- (6) त्वमध्वरीयसि = त्वम् + अध्वरीयसि
- (7) चासि = च + असि
- (8) पतिश्च = पतिः + च (विसर्ग-लोप)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni possesses the hotṛ-function, the potṛ-function, the ṛtviya ordering, the neṣṭṛ leading; he kindles moving by ṛta. He is the directing word, performs the sacrifice, is brahman-power, and is house-lord in our dwelling.
Inner meaning
Agni is the integrator of the whole inner yoga. He is the call that summons higher powers (hotṛ), the purifier that separates dross (potṛ), the right-timed intelligence (ṛtviya), and the leader that guides the journey (neṣṭṛ). He is the inner executive of ṛta—action aligned to truth. He is also the inner Word (praśāstra), the sacrificial doer (adhvaryu in function), the brahman-force (spiritual authority), and the stable master of the inner house (gṛhapati): the awakened will governing the mind-life-body system.
Universal truth
Transformation requires a unifying conscious principle that can call, purify, time, guide, articulate, execute, and stabilize. When the will is aligned with truth, it becomes the ‘householder’ of life rather than a servant of impulses.
Themes
Agni as priesthood, integral sacrifice, inner governance, ṛta-alignment
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)
- Lineage
- Bhṛgu (Bhārgava)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 2.1.1-2.1.20 (Agni praised as many functions)
Family tradition
Bhārgava Agni-centered hymns emphasizing Agni as priestly totality and inner guide.
Significance
Gṛtsamada presents Agni not as one function among many but as the single conscious power coordinating all faculties—an archetype for integral sadhana.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- Ṛtāyata (truth-moving), Brahmā (brahman-power), Gṛhapati (lord of the dwelling), Adhvarīyu (sacrifice-executor, by function)
- Related deities
- Bṛhaspati (word and guidance), Sarasvatī (inspiration/ordering speech), Indra (illumination for right action)
Cosmic role
Priest of the cosmos: establishes communication between human and divine; maintains ṛta through correct offering and order.
Inner power
Central organizing will: invokes, purifies, guides, commands, and stabilizes the inner life.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni as the total priesthood in śrauta rites; affirmation of Agni’s roles at the start/maintenance of yajña
तवा॑ग्ने हो॒त्रं तव॑ पो॒त्रमृ॒त्वियं॒ तव॑ ने॒ष्ट्रं त्वम॒ग्निदृ॑ताय॒तः । तव॑ प्रशा॒स्त्रं त्वम॑ध्वरीयसि ब्र॒ह्मा चासि॑ गृ॒हप॑तिश्च नो॒ दमे॑ ॥
तव॑ । अ॒ग्ने॒ । हो॒त्रम् । तव॑ । पो॒त्रम् । ऋ॒त्विय॑म् । तव॑ । ने॒ष्ट्रम् । त्वम् । अ॒ग्नित् । ऋ॒त॒ऽय॒तः । तव॑ । प्र॒ऽशा॒स्त्रम् । त्वम् । अ॒ध्व॒रि॒ऽय॒सि॒ । ब्र॒ह्मा । च॒ । असि॑ । गृ॒ठऽप॑तिः । च॒ । नः॒ । दमे॑ ॥
tava | agne | hotram | tava | potram | ṛtviyam | tava | neṣṭram | tvam | agnit | ṛta-yataḥ | tava | pra-śāstram | tvam | adhvari-yasi | brahmā | ca | asi | gṛṭha-patiḥ | ca | naḥ | dame
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3 x 8 syllables (with dense priestly terms; may feel ‘packed’)
Compact, enumerative; a litany of functions.
Builds a sense of completeness and inner organization; ‘gathers’ scattered energies into one aligned will.
- होत्रम् (hotram)
- Literal: hotṛ office; offering-call. Symbolic: the invoking will that calls down higher help
- पोत्रम् (potram)
- Literal: potṛ office; purifier. Symbolic: discriminating purification; separating truth from mixture
- ऋत्वियम् (ṛtviyaṃ)
- Literal: seasonal/right-timed priestly function. Symbolic: right timing in sadhana; intuitive sense of the proper moment
- नेष्ट्रम् (neṣṭram)
- Literal: leader/guide priest. Symbolic: guiding force that conducts the inner journey and offerings
- ऋतयतः (ṛtāyataḥ)
- Literal: moving by ṛta, truth-directed. Symbolic: action aligned to the law of truth; right movement of energies
- प्रशास्त्रम् (praśāstram)
- Literal: directing word/instruction. Symbolic: inner command of insight; mantra-guidance; clear discernment
- अध्वरीयसि (adhvarīyasi)
- Literal: you perform the adhvara (sacrifice). Symbolic: you execute the transformative work in the being
- ब्रह्मा (brahmā)
- Literal: brahman priest; sacred power. Symbolic: spiritual authority/expansive consciousness supporting the work
- गृहपतिः (gṛhapatiḥ)
- Literal: lord of the house. Symbolic: mastery over the inner household (mind-life-body); stable governance
- दमे (dame)
- Literal: in the house/dwelling. Symbolic: within embodied life; the field of daily consciousness
Agni as total officiant: recited to establish Agni as the integrator of all ritual functions in śrauta and domestic rites; supports consecration of the rite’s correctness.
During establishment of fires and priestly functions; recited to sanctify roles and ensure right performance
Offerings with recognition that Agni embodies all priestly offices; establishing gārhapatya (household fire) symbolism
Use before important work/decisions: invoke Agni as inner coordinator—call, purify, time, guide, and stabilize the ‘inner home’.
The verse enumerates priestly offices as powers of Agni. √nī in neṣṭra indicates guidance. adhvara (in adhvaryu) often glossed 'non-injured/unbroken' (a-dhvara) suggesting a continuous, integral movement—psychologically, uninterrupted aspiration. brahman here is not later theology but the shaping Word/expansion (from √bṛh 'to grow, expand').
ṛta (right order) as the law of sacrifice and inner discipline, brahman (expansive word-power) as formative consciousness
Explicit: Agni is ṛtāyata—he moves and acts by ṛta, making the sacrifice effective and harmonizing forces.
Agni as praśāstra: truth becomes directive intelligence, not mere concept.
Cosmic sacrifice as the means of ordering and sustaining worlds; inner sacrifice mirrors cosmic process.
Vedantic-yogic synthesis in seed: brahman-force within the house of embodiment; integral organization of faculties.
Hearth = psychic center of will; house = embodied system; priestly offices = differentiated inner functions unified by Agni.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Agni as the many-faced priest: one divine power performs all offices. Innerly, the will-flame becomes invocation, purification, right timing, guidance, execution, and the shaping word—integrating the being into a single ordered movement toward truth.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- brahman from √bṛh (PIE *bʰerǵʰ- 'rise, high, exalt/expand' is debated; but the semantic field of expansion is IE-wide). √nī (lead) corresponds to PIE *neih₁- ('lead'), cf. Latin nītor? (not exact), but Sanskrit nayati is a key Indo-Aryan continuation; the priestly terms show specialized Vedic semantic developments on older verbal roots.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi entrusts the entire ordering of the inner and outer sacrifice to Agni, acknowledging him as the indwelling master of the 'house'. The reciprocity is surrender-and-support: the human offers obedience to ṛta; Agni provides integrated guidance and effective action.
Contemplate Agni as the single inner power performing all ‘roles’: invocation, purification, right timing, guidance, execution, and stable governance.
Maṇipūra (executive will) with support of Anāhata (inner home/center)
Ujjāyī with counted rhythm (8-8-8) matching gāyatrī; brief pause after each pāda to ‘seat’ the function
Collectedness (saṃhati) and truth-aligned action (ṛtāyata).
Before action: chant 3 times; after each recitation, silently name one function you need now—invoke, purify, time, guide; conclude by feeling Agni as gṛhapati in the heart, steady and warm.
Gāyatrī with Vedic accents; keep enumerations crisp; avoid flattening the accents on technical priestly terms.
Slightly separate each function (hotraṃ, potram, ṛtviyaṃ, neṣṭram) with micro-pauses while maintaining the 3-pāda flow.
Hotraṃ/potraṃ: keep short o; final -aṃ nasal., Ṛtviyaṃ: pronounce ṛ clearly; cluster tvy as one unit., Neṣṭraṃ: retroflex ṣṭ; do not simplify to ‘nestra’., Adhvarīyasi: keep dhv cluster; long ī., Gṛhapatiḥ: aspirate gh; light visarga -ḥ.
Steady, priestly, centered; warm resonance as ‘house-fire’.
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