Rig Veda 3.6.4: Mandala 3, Sukta 6, Mantra 4
Sukta 3.6
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
महान्त्सधस्थे ध्रुव आ निषत्तोऽन्तर्द्यावा माहिने हर्यमाणः । आस्क्रे सपत्नी अजरे अमृक्ते सबर्दुघे उरुगायस्य धेनू ॥
mahā́nt sadhásthe dhruvá ā́ níṣatto 'ntár dyā́vā mā́hine haryamā́ṇaḥ | ā́skre sapátnī ajáre ámṛkte sabardúghe urugā́yasya dhenū́ ||
वो बड़ा है, पक्का बैठे है, दोनों आसमान के बीच में। बड़ी ताकत से चलता है। दो गायें हैं जो कभी थकी नहीं, कभी बूढ़ी नहीं, कभी छोटी नहीं। दोनों मिलकर दूध देती हैं, जैसे वो चले जाती हैं।
Word by Word
- महान्
- greatAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (विशेषण-रूपेण कर्तृपदस्य)Root महत् (प्रातिपदिक) < PIE *megʰ-
- सधस्थे
- in the seat/abode (common place)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot सधस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
- ध्रुवः
- firm, steadfastAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (विशेषण-रूपेण)Root ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक) < ध्रु (स्थैर्ये)
- आ
- towards, untoIndeclinableउपसर्गःRoot आ (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- निषत्तः
- seated downVerb (participial)कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (कर्तृपदं—‘he, being seated’)Root √सद् (सीदति) + नि (उपसर्ग) ; क्त (PPP)
- अन्तः
- within, betweenIndeclinableअव्यय (स्थानवाचक)Role Adhikaraṇa (स्थान-निर्देशः)Root अन्तर् (अव्यय/उपपद) < PIE *h₁enter
- द्यावा
- the two heavens (heaven-and-earth pair, esp. sky)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन (वैदिक रूप)Role Adhikaraṇa (अन्तः—‘between the two heavens’)Root द्याव्/द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक)
- माहिने
- in greatness, in majestyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole Adhikaraṇa (अन्तः…माहिने—‘in/within greatness’)Root माहिन् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘महिमन्/माहि’ से) < √मह्
- हर्यमाणः
- being borne/being carried (swiftly)Verb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (माण), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (कर्तृपदं—‘being borne/being carried’)Root √हृ (हरति) / वैदिक √हृ ‘to take/bring’ ; यक्-प्रत्यय (माण) वर्तमान कृदन्त
- आस्क्रे
- the pressing/straining (vessel/act) (Vedic technical term)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (क्रियायाः लक्ष्य/वस्तु)Root आस्कर/आस्कृ (प्रातिपदिक; वैदिक) < √स्कृ/√स्कन्द्? (अनिश्चित व्युत्पत्तिः)
- सपत्नीः
- co-wives, rivalsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (कर्तृपदं—‘co-wives’ as agents)Root स-पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
- अजरे
- in the unaging (state/place)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot अजर (प्रातिपदिक) < √जॄ/√जर् ‘to age’ (नञ्)
- अमृक्ते
- in the unsoiled/unstainedAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot अमृक्त (प्रातिपदिक; नञ् + √मृज् ‘to wipe/clean’ → ‘unwiped/unstained’)
- सबर्दुघे
- in the richly-milking (one)Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole Adhikaraṇa (धेनू-विशेषण-स्थाने)Root सबर्दुघ (प्रातिपदिक; ‘सबर्दुह्’—abundantly milking) < √दुह्
- उरुगायस्य
- of the wide-striding/wide-sung (one)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole Sambandha (षष्ठी—सम्बन्धः)Root उरुगाय (प्रातिपदिक; उरु + गाय ‘wide-going/wide-sung’)
- धेनूः
- the cow (milch-cow)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot धेनु (प्रातिपदिक) < √दुह्
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सम्भाव्य): महान् | सधस्थे | ध्रुवः | आ | निषत्तः | अन्तः | द्यावा | माहिने | हर्यमाणः || आस्क्रे | सपत्नीः | अजरे | अमृक्ते | सबर्दुघे | उरुगायस्य | धेनूः । 1) ‘निषत्तोऽन्तर्द्यावा’ = ‘निषत्तः + अन्तः + द्यावा’ (ः + अ → ओऽ; तथा ‘अन्तः + द्यावा’ में पदसंयोग). 2) ‘अन्तर्द्यावा’ में ‘अन्तः’ + ‘द्यावा’ का संधि-रूप. 3) ‘सबर्दुघे’ वैदिक समास/विशेषण (√दुह्) सप्तमी एकवचन, ‘धेनूः’ के साथ स्थान/अवस्था-निर्देश. 4) ‘आस्क्रे’ वैदिक तकनीकी पद
- पाठभेद/व्युत्पत्ति पर परम्परागत अनिश्चितता मिलती है।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Great and firm in the common seat, he is set within the two heavens, moving with vast power. The two unfailing, unaging, uninjured, rival-less milch-cows of the wide-going One yield together their flowing milk.
Inner meaning
Agni, once established in the shared foundation of the being (sadhasthe), becomes a stable center (dhruva) between the two luminous poles of consciousness. From that stable center he moves with a vast, victorious energy (mahinā haryamāṇaḥ). Then the two ‘cows’—the double sources of illumination and nourishment (often Heaven and Earth, or mind and life as givers of ‘milk’)—pour their streams together: unified knowledge and force, flowing as sustenance for the soul’s growth. ‘Rival-less’ indicates that inner division and conflict subside when the flame is sovereign.
Universal truth
When the inner divine will is firmly seated, the dualities of our nature begin to collaborate; knowledge and energy flow in a united stream that nourishes transformation.
Themes
Agni stability, streams of nourishment, cosmic supports, inner sustenance
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Gāthin / Kauśika tradition (commonly associated)
- Other hymns
- RV 3.6.2, RV 3.6.5
Family tradition
Vision of stability (dhruva) and wideness (uru) as prerequisites for illumination.
Significance
The seer depicts the yogic condition: a fixed center within dual planes, from which unified streams of knowledge and force begin to pour.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- Mahān (great), Dhruva (firm), Urugāya (wide-going, by genitive urugāyasya)
- Related deities
- Dyāvā-Pṛthivī, Sarasvatī (as flowing nourishment, thematic), Soma (as delight-nourishment, thematic)
Cosmic role
Axis and mediator established between the luminous worlds; makes the cosmic ‘cows’ yield their milk (nourishment).
Inner power
Stable psychic fire that reconciles polarities and releases unified streams of illumination and vitality.
In ritual
Where it is used
Praise of Agni established in the sadas/seat; imagery supports sustaining streams (offerings/inspirations) feeding the fire; used as contemplative reinforcement of the rite’s stability
म॒हान्त्स॒धस्थे॑ ध्रु॒व आ निष॑त्तो॒ऽन्तर्द्यावा॒ माहि॑ने॒ हर्य॑माणः । आस्क्रे॑ स॒पत्नी॑ अ॒जरे॒ अमृ॑क्ते सब॒र्दुघे॑ उरुगा॒यस्य॑ धे॒नू ॥
म॒हान् । स॒धऽस्थे॑ । ध्रु॒वः । आ । निऽस॑त्तः । अ॒न्तः । द्यावा॑ । माहि॑ने॒ इति॑ । हर्य॑माणः । आस्क्रे॒ इति॑ । स॒पत्नी॒ इति॑ स॒ऽपत्नी॑ । अ॒जरे॒ इति॑ । अमृ॑क्ते॒ इति॑ । स॒ब॒र्दुघे॒ इति॑ स॒बः॒ऽदुघे॑ । उ॒रु॒ऽगा॒यस्य॑ । धे॒नू इति॑ ॥
mahān | sadha-sthe | dhruvaḥ | ā | ni-sattaḥ | antaḥ | dyāvā | māhineiti | haryamāṇaḥ | āskre iti | sapatnī itisa-patnī | ajareiti | amṛkte iti | sabardugheitisabaḥ-dughe | uru-gāyasya | dhenū iti
44
4 × ~11
Majestic and weighty; emphasizes firmness (dhruva) and greatness (mahān).
Induces steadiness and inner breadth; supports a settled concentration from which energy can flow.
- सधस्थे (sadhasthe)
- Literal: common seat, shared place. Symbolic: the central foundation where all parts can meet—heart/psychic center or integrated consciousness
- ध्रुवः (dhruvaḥ)
- Literal: fixed, firm. Symbolic: steadfast inner poise; stable flame not disturbed by impulses
- अन्तर्द्यावा (antar dyāvā)
- Literal: within the two heavens. Symbolic: within the higher ranges of consciousness; between complementary luminous levels
- माहिने (māhine)
- Literal: with vast power. Symbolic: the expansive force of Agni’s action in the being
- हर्यमाणः (haryamāṇaḥ)
- Literal: moving/impelled, eager. Symbolic: dynamic progress of the will toward the goal; victorious impetus
- धेनू (dhenū)
- Literal: milch-cows. Symbolic: sources of light/knowledge and nourishing energies; the ‘cows’ as rays or streams of wisdom
- सबर्दुघे (sabardughe)
- Literal: milking together, yielding in unison. Symbolic: harmonized outflow—mind and life (or heaven and earth) cooperating
- अजरे अमृक्ते (ajare amṛkte)
- Literal: unaging, uninjured. Symbolic: imperishable sources—truth-energies not diminished by time or struggle
- सपत्नी (sapatnī) / आस्क्रे (āskre)
- Literal: rival-less / without adversary (sense). Symbolic: free from inner contention; unified nature
Praise of Agni established in the sadas/seat; imagery supports sustaining streams (offerings/inspirations) feeding the fire; used as contemplative reinforcement of the rite’s stability
General Agni praise within a sūkta; adaptable to kindling and offering sequences.
Recitation during stabilization of fire and continuation of offerings.
Useful when seeking inner stability: chant to establish a ‘dhruva’ center and invite harmonious flow of clarity and strength.
dhruvá from √dhṛ ‘hold’—stable. dhenú ‘milch-cow’ from √dhā/√dhen ‘to suckle’ (IE lactation lexemes vary). urú-gāya ‘wide-going’ (gāya from √gā ‘go/sing’; here ‘going’ sense). The dual ‘two cows’ commonly symbolize paired streams (heaven/earth; inspiration/nourishment; knowledge/force) that feed the sacrifice/being.
stability (dhruva) amid motion (haryamāṇa), inexhaustible nourishment (dhenū as streams), non-duality of opposing forces (sapatnī)
The ‘milking together’ signals right order—dual powers cooperating rather than conflicting.
Uninjured, unaging sources suggest truth-energies that do not decay like mental constructs.
Cosmic nourishment flows when the mediator is established between planes.
Integral-psychological: dualities become instruments once centered in the flame.
Cows/milk = rays and nourishing streams of knowledge; two heavens = complementary luminous levels; flow = descent of support into life.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The two cosmic cows yielding their milk for the wide-moving divine power—an image of inexhaustible nourishment. Innerly, once Agni is firmly seated, the paired streams of consciousness (e.g., higher inspiration and embodied energy) pour their sustaining essence into the work, without opposition (sapatnī).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- dyā́- (in dyāvā) comes from PIE *dyeu- ‘sky/daylight’. dhruvá relates to holding/firmness from √dhṛ, within an IE field of ‘hold/firm’ roots (cf. Greek thrónos is not cognate; but the semantic complex of stability is archaic Indo-European).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi contemplates Agni’s stable establishment as the condition for receiving the ‘milk’ of the two cows—symbolic streams of support. The exchange becomes interior: by fixing the flame in the common seat (sadhasthe), the practitioner gains access to inexhaustible nourishment for the growth of Ṛta-consciousness.
Establish a firm inner seat; feel the flame steady at the center; allow a unified stream of clarity (mind) and strength (life) to pour into action.
Anāhata as ‘sadhasthe’ (common seat) with stabilization in Maṇipūra (fire) and widening toward Ājñā.
Box breathing 4-4-4-4 for 8 rounds to create dhruva steadiness; then silent attention to a ‘flow’ sensation on exhale.
Stable wideness; receptive abundance.
When inner conflict arises, return to the center; ask both ‘cows’ (thinking and doing) to yield together—one intention, one movement.
Observe accents (e.g., स॒धस्थे॑, निष॑त्तो); keep the long compounds fluid; avoid breaking the cadence at caesura.
Give ‘mahān’ a dignified lift; let ‘dhruva’ land firmly; soften into the flowing imagery in the second half.
niṣatto : retroflex ṣ with clear gemination ‘tt’., urugāyasya: keep ‘ru’ light; ‘gāya’ with long ā., sabardughe: articulate ‘dughe’ with aspirated gh.
Deep, grounded, resonant; let the second line become more flowing.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
