Rig Veda 3.3.4: Mandala 3, Sukta 3, Mantra 4
Sukta 3.3
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
पिता यज्ञानामसुरो विपश्चितां विमानमग्निर्वयुनं च वाघताम् । आ विवेश रोदसी भूरिवर्पसा पुरुप्रियो भन्दते धामभिः कविः ॥
pitā́ yajñā́nām ásuro vipaścitā́ṃ vimā́nam agnír vayúnaṃ ca vāghátām | ā́ viveśa rodasī bhū́ri-varpasā puru-priyó bhandate dhā́ma-bhiḥ kavíḥ ||
अग्नि यज्ञ का बाप है, रिशियों के लिए एक पावरफुल मालिक है। वोह उनका तरीक़ा है, उनका दिमाग़ है। अपनी चमक के साथ वोह दो दुनिया में घुस गया है। वोह ऋषि सबको प्यारा है, अपने चमकदार घरों में चमकता है।
Word by Word
- पिता
- fatherNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole KartāRoot पितृ
- यज्ञानाम्
- of the sacrificesNounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; बहुवचनRole Sambandha (Genitive)Root यज्ञ
- असुरः
- the Asura (lordly one)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole Kartā (apposition)Root असुर
- विपश्चिताम्
- of the wise/insightful onesAdjective (used substantively)पुं/स्त्री; षष्ठी; बहुवचनRole Sambandha (Genitive)Root विपश्चित्
- विमानम्
- the measurer/ordainer (distributor)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole Kartā (apposition/epithet)Root विमान
- अग्निः
- AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole KartāRoot अग्नि
- वयुनम्
- skill/wise plan; ritual insightNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot वयुन
- च
- andIndeclinableअव्ययRoot च
- वाघताम्
- of the worshippers/singersNoun (agent noun)पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; बहुवचनRole Sambandha (Genitive)Root वाघत्
- आ
- towards; intoPreverb/Indeclinableउपसर्ग/निपातRoot आ
- विवेश
- enteredVerbलिट् (परोक्ष/परफेक्ट); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole KriyāRoot √विश्
- रोदसी
- the two worlds (heaven and earth)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; द्विवचनRole Karma (goal of motion)Root रोदसी (द्विवचन-प्रातिपदिक) < रोदस्
- भूरिवर्पसा
- with abundant radiance/beautyAdjective (bahuvrīhi/instrumental epithet)पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचनRole Karaṇa (manner/means)Root भूरि + वर्पस्
- पुरुप्रियः
- much-beloved; dear to manyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole Kartā (apposition)Root पुरु + प्रिय
- भन्दते
- shines; appears brightlyVerbलट्; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole KriyāRoot √भन्द्
- धामभिः
- with (his) abodes/lightsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया; बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot धामन्
- कविः
- the seer/poetNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole Kartā (apposition)Root कवि
Sandhi Notes
- Resolved Vedic sandhi: (1) अग्निर्वयुनं → अग्निः वयुनम् (visarga before v)
- (2) भूरिवर्पसा is a compound used as an instrumental epithet (‘with abundant vṛpas-/radiance’)
- (3) रोदसी is dual (the two worlds) functioning as the object/goal with विवेश
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni is the father of sacrifices, a lord of power for the seers of vision; he is their measure and discerning method. With abundant radiance he has entered the two worlds; the seer, beloved of many, shines through his manifold dwellings of light.
Inner meaning
Agni is ‘father’ because the entire inner yajña is born from the will to offer and transform. As asura (here: mighty lord, life-breathing power) and vipaścit (clear-seeing), he gives the seer-mind its capacity. He is vimāna—measure: the inner standard that tests truth from mixture; and vayuna—method: the right arrangement of forces. Entering both worlds means he operates in higher consciousness and in embodied life, making them continuous. As kavi, he manifests through many dhāmas—stations of light in the being (levels of mind, heart, life) where illumination can dwell.
Universal truth
A true transformative will is both source and measure: it gives birth to our practice, provides discernment, and establishes light across all levels of life until the whole being becomes a many-roomed temple of consciousness.
Themes
Agni-father, order-and-measure, seerhood, pervasion-of-worlds
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Viśvāmitra (Gāthin)
- Other hymns
- RV 3.3.1-3, RV 3.4.1-11
Family tradition
Vision of Agni as method and measure—discipline of discernment (vipaścit) and right ordering (vayuna).
Significance
This verse is a compact manual of inner yoga: source (pitā), sovereignty (asura), discernment (vipaścit), measure (vimāna), method (vayuna), and manifestation (dhāmas of light).
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- pitā yajñānām (father of sacrifices), asura (sovereign power), vipaścit (clear-seeing), kavi (seer), purupriya (beloved of many), bhūrivarpas (abundantly radiant)
- Related deities
- Soma (delight that fills the dhāmas), Indra (illumined mind that acts), Uṣas (dawn of vision)
Cosmic role
Originator and regulator of the sacrificial order; pervades both worlds; manifests as multiple stations of light sustaining cosmos and rite.
Inner power
Sovereign discernment and practical ordering force that establishes luminous centers throughout the being.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni stuti affirming his primacy in yajña; suitable in fire-establishment and major śrauta rites as a doctrinal praise.
पि॒ता य॒ज्ञाना॒मसु॑रो विप॒श्चितां॑ वि॒मान॑म॒ग्निर्व॒युनं॑ च वा॒घता॑म् । आ वि॑वेश॒ रोद॑सी॒ भूरि॑वर्पसा पुरुप्रि॒यो भ॑न्दते॒ धाम॑भिः क॒विः ॥
पि॒ता । य॒ज्ञाना॑म् । असु॑रः । वि॒पः॒ऽचिता॑म् । वि॒ऽमान॑म् । अ॒ग्निः । व॒युन॑म् । च॒ । वा॒घता॑म् । आ । वि॒वे॒श॒ । रोद॑सी॒ इति॑ । भूरि॑ऽवर्पसा । पु॒रु॒ऽप्रि॒यः । भ॒न्द॒ते॒ । धाम॑ऽभिः । क॒विः ॥
pitā | yajñānām | asuraḥ | vipaḥ-citām | vi-mānam | agniḥ | vayunam | ca | vāghatām | ā | viveśa | rodasī iti | bhūri-varpasā | puru-priyaḥ | bhandate | dhāma-bhiḥ | kaviḥ
44
4×11 (approx.)
Authoritative and expansive; strong declarative openings (“pitā…”) followed by widening radiance.
Instills confidence and clarity; supports discernment and a sense of inner sovereignty.
- पिता (pitā)
- Literal: father. Symbolic: source and generator of the inner sacrifice
- असुर (asura)
- Literal: lord, powerful being. Symbolic: sovereign life-power; master-force (not later ‘demon’ sense)
- विपश्चित् (vipaścit)
- Literal: clear-seeing. Symbolic: illumined discernment in the seer-faculty
- विमान (vimāna)
- Literal: measure, standard. Symbolic: inner criterion; capacity to distinguish true from false
- वयुन (vayuna)
- Literal: skill, method, ordering. Symbolic: right arrangement of energies; practical wisdom
- वाघताम् (vāghatām)
- Literal: of the chanters/worshippers. Symbolic: aspiring parts that offer and call
- भूरिवर्पस् (bhūrivarpas)
- Literal: abundant radiance. Symbolic: overflowing light-force; luminous intensity
- रोदसी (rodasī)
- Literal: two worlds. Symbolic: higher and lower planes integrated
- धाम (dhāma)
- Literal: dwelling, station. Symbolic: stable plane/center of light in consciousness
- कवि (kavi)
- Literal: seer-poet. Symbolic: visionary intelligence shaping experience into light
Agni as generative ‘father’ of yajña and as the ordering intelligence of the rite; inwardly, the flame gives measure (vimāna) and method (vayuna) to aspiration and praise, entering both higher and lower planes.
At moments emphasizing Agni’s role as origin/measure of the rite; also during teaching/recitation on Agni’s functions.
Praise and offering to Agni as the father and regulator; reaffirmation of right method (vayuna).
Use when seeking discernment and right method: chant before making commitments; then review choices against the ‘inner measure’ (vimāna).
ásura from asu ‘life-force’ => sovereign vital power (not later ‘demon’); vimā́na from √mā ‘measure’ => ordering intelligence; vayúna as ‘discernment/skill’ => right arrangement of consciousness; ā-viveśa from √viś ‘enter’ => pervasion/indwelling; varpas ‘form/splendour’ links appearance with radiance; dhā́man from √dhā ‘place’ => stations/abodes as stable powers of light.
sovereign life-power (asura asu), measure and order (mā, vimāna), indwelling divine (ā-viś)
Agni embodies ṛta as measurable rightness and correct ordering of forces.
Vipaścit indicates truth-vision; dhāmas are stable truths realized as living centers.
Cosmos as many dhāmas of light; Agni ‘enters’ and inhabits both worlds to sustain manifestation.
Integral Vedic psychology: discernment and method as divine functions within sādhanā.
Radiance = tapas-light; two worlds = spirit-nature integration; dwellings = stable realizations; measure/method = discriminative intelligence guiding practice.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Agni as ‘father of sacrifices’ and asura (sovereign power) who enters Heaven and Earth and shines by many dhāman-s: the mythic action is the establishment of yajña as a cosmic-human order through Agni’s pervasion and luminous stations.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √mā ‘measure’ (vimāna) reflects PIE *meh₁- ‘measure’ (cf. Greek metron). √paś ‘see’ (vipaścit) is part of an inherited IE ‘seeing/knowing’ lexicon. √viś ‘enter’ connects with PIE *weys- ‘enter, settle’ (cognate proposals include Latin vīsere/household semantics in various branches).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The singers depend on Agni for vayuna—discerning method—and vimāna—right measure—so their offering becomes ordered rather than chaotic. Agni’s gift is luminous stability (dhāman-s) and a widened radiance (bhūri-varpas) that supports the seer’s vision.
Invoke Agni as the ‘inner standard’: feel a bright, calm authority in the heart that measures motives and arranges energies rightly.
manipura (sovereign will) + anahata (seer-heart)
Breath with a gentle hold after inhale (2–3 counts) to sense ‘measure’; exhale to ‘arrange’ the next action.
Clear, sovereign, luminous integration of higher and lower.
After chanting, review the day’s impulses: which align with the inner measure (truth, wideness, goodwill)? Choose one re-ordering (vayuna) and implement it immediately.
Strong udātta on pitā́, yajñānā́m, ásuraḥ, vipaścítām, agníḥ, bhū́rivarpasā, kavíḥ; keep endings grounded with soft svarita descent.
Declare the first pāda with authority; slightly broaden on ‘ā viveśa rodasī’; let ‘dhāmabhiḥ kaviḥ’ ring with a clear final resonance.
pitā: long ā, asuro: keep s unvoiced, not z, vipaścitām: śc cluster clean; long ā, vimānam: long ā, vayunaṃ: y as consonant ‘y’, not ‘j’, bhūrivarpasā: long ū; articulate -rp-, purupriyo: roll r lightly; keep short i, dhāmabhiḥ: long ā; final ḥ audible
Firm, luminous, slightly heroic; avoid harshness.
3
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