Rig Veda 4.1.5: Mandala 4, Sukta 1, Mantra 5
Sukta 4.1
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Shringara (love)
स त्वं नो अग्नेऽवमो भवोती नेदिष्ठो अस्या उषसो व्युष्टौ । अव यक्ष्व नो वरुणं रराणो वीहि मृळीकं सुहवो न एधि ॥
sá tváṃ no agne’vamó bhavotī́ nédhiṣṭho asyā́ uṣáso vyùṣṭau | áva yakṣva no váruṇaṃ rárāṇo vī́hi mṛḷīkáṃ su-hávo na edhi ||
अग्नि, तुम हमारे सबसे करीब रहो और हमारी मदद करो। सुबह होने पर तुम हमारे पास रहो। वरुण को खुशी से बुलाओ और उनकी कृपा लाओ। जब हम बुलाएँ तो आजाओ और हमारा भला करो।
Word by Word
- सः
- he (that one)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → स
- त्वम्
- youPronounमध्यमपुरुषार्थे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- of us / for usPronounषष्ठी (एन्क्लिटिक), बहुवचनम्Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role (सम्बोधन)Root अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- अवमः
- the nearest / lowest (i.e., closest to us)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (विशेषणम्)Root अवम (प्रातिपदिक)
- भवोति
- becomes / isVerbलट् (वेदिक-प्रयोगः; = भवति), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role (क्रिया)Root भू (धातु)
- नेदिष्ठः
- most nearAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (विशेषणम्)Root निदिष्ठ (अतिशय-प्रातिपदिक; निः/नेद् + इष्ठ)
- अस्याः
- of thisPronounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)Root इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- उषसः
- of Dawn (Uṣas)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)Root उषस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- व्युष्टौ
- at the dawning / at daybreakNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot व्युष्टि (प्रातिपदिक; √वस्/उष् ‘to shine, dawn’ with वि-)
- अव
- down; forth (as directive)IndeclinableनिपातःRole (क्रियाविशेषणम्)Root अव (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- यक्ष्व
- worship / offer (sacrifice)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थः), मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role (क्रिया)Root यज् (धातु; वेदिक-आदेशः √यक्ष्)
- नः
- to us / for usPronounचतुर्थी (एन्क्लिटिक), बहुवचनम्Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वरुणम्
- VaruṇaNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
- रराणः
- rejoicing / gladlyParticipleपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; परिपूर्ण/स्थितार्थकः (PPP-like stative) ‘rejoicing’Role Kartā (विशेषणम्)Root √रा/रम् (धातु; ‘to delight, rejoice’) → रराण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- वीहि
- convey / bringVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थः), मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role (क्रिया)Root वह् (धातु) + वि-
- मृळीकम्
- mercy / graciousnessNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot मृळीक (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुहवः
- well-invokedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (विशेषणम्)Root सु-हव (प्रातिपदिक; सु + हव ‘well-invoked’)
- नः
- for usPronounचतुर्थी (एन्क्लिटिक), बहुवचनम्Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- एधि
- be kindled / prosperVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थः), मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम्Role (क्रिया)Root इध् (धातु; ‘to kindle, prosper’)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (Vedic): अग्नेऽवमो = अग्ने + अवमः (’अ’ + ‘अ’ → ’ऽ’/avagraha in saṃhitā)
- भवोती = भवति (Vedic lengthening/metrical/phonetic variant)
- उषसो व्युष्टौ = उषसः + व्युष्टौ (gen. sg. + loc. sg.; external sandhi gives -o before v-)
- अव यक्ष्व = अव + यक्ष्व (no fusion; directive particle + imperative)
- वरु॑णं ररा॑णो = वरुणम् + रराणः (anusvāra/visarga adjustments per saṃhitā)
- सुहवो न = सुहवः + नः (final -s → -o before voiced consonant/sonant in saṃhitā; here written सुहवो॑ न). Accents as in saṃhitā are retained on the surface forms
- pada-forms here are given without explicit udātta/anudātta marking beyond the supplied text
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni, be our nearest help at this Dawn’s spreading. Offer for us to Varuṇa with delight; bring grace, be easy to call, and increase us.
Inner meaning
At the moment of inner awakening (Uṣas: dawn of illumination), Agni is asked to become the most immediate support—‘avama’ as the closest, accessible help that reaches down into the lower layers. Dawn is the opening when new light can reorganize life; therefore the mediator-fire must be near. Agni is to ‘offer’ (yakṣva) the seeker’s movements to Varuṇa—i.e., place life under truth-order with gladness (rarāṇa), not compulsion. ‘Vīhi mṛḻīkam’ asks Agni to bring in the soft, healing wideness of Varuṇa; ‘suhava’ means the divine help is readily callable when sincerity is present; ‘edhi’ is growth—Agni increases the flame of aspiration and the capacity of the being to hold light.
Universal truth
The best time to establish right order is at the first appearance of light. When awakening begins, immediate, joyful discipline aligned with truth transforms quickly and safely.
Themes
Agni as nearest aid, dawn illumination, mediation to Varuṇa, increase of the inner flame
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.1.5 (this verse), RV 1.48-1.50 (Uṣas hymns as thematic companions)
Family tradition
Book 4 frequently links Agni with Uṣas imagery—inner dawn as the strategic hour for right ordering by the Ādityas through Agni.
Significance
Shows the practical yoga of timing: at dawn/awakening, call the nearest help (Agni) to align the whole day/life with Varuṇa’s ṛta.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (helper at Dawn; mediator to Varuṇa)
- Epithets
- avama ūtī (nearest help), nediṣṭha (closest), rarāṇa (delighted), suhava (easy to call)
- Related deities
- Uṣas (dawn illumination), Varuṇa (truth-order), Mitra (harmonizing clarity)
Cosmic role
Agni ignites the new day (outer and inner) and mediates the offering to Varuṇa so that the day’s movements follow ṛta.
Inner power
Immediate accessible will-force that can reach the subconscient habits; joyful discipline that invites grace and growth.
In ritual
Where it is used
Morning kindling/invocation; aligning rite with dawn; offerings to Agni with Varuṇa remembrance.
स त्वं नो॑ अग्नेऽव॒मो भ॑वो॒ती नेदि॑ष्ठो अ॒स्या उ॒षसो॒ व्यु॑ष्टौ । अव॑ यक्ष्व नो॒ वरु॑णं॒ ररा॑णो वी॒हि मृ॑ळी॒कं सु॒हवो॑ न एधि ॥
सः । त्वम् । नः॒ । अ॒ग्ने॒ । अ॒व॒मः । भ॒व॒ । ऊ॒ती । नेदि॑ष्ठः । अ॒स्याः । उ॒षसः॑ । विऽउ॑ष्टौ । अव॑ । य॒क्ष्व॒ । नः॒ । वरु॑णम् । ररा॑णः । वी॒हि । मृ॒ळी॒कम् । सु॒ऽहवः॑ । नः॒ । ए॒धि॒ ॥
saḥ | tvam | naḥ | agne | avamaḥ | bhava | ūtī | nediṣṭhaḥ | asyāḥ | uṣasaḥ | vi-uṣṭau | ava | yakṣva | naḥ | varuṇam | rarāṇaḥ | vīhi | mṛḷīkam | su-havaḥ | naḥ | edhi
44
4 × ~11
Balanced and intimate; less martial than verse 3, more ‘near’ and devotional.
Creates closeness and readiness; supports morning practice and gentle inner ignition.
- अवमः (avamaḥ)
- Literal: lowest/nearest. Symbolic: most accessible help that reaches the lower nature
- ऊती (ūtī)
- Literal: aid, protection. Symbolic: active support of the divine will in the journey
- उषसः व्युष्टौ (uṣasaḥ vyuṣṭau)
- Literal: at dawn’s spreading. Symbolic: moment of awakening; expansion of illumination in consciousness
- अव यक्ष्व (ava yakṣva)
- Literal: offer downward/for us. Symbolic: mediate; place our nature into the rite of truth-order
- ररा॑णः (rarāṇaḥ)
- Literal: rejoicing, delighted. Symbolic: glad consent—offering without inner resistance
- मृळी॒क (mṛḻīka)
- Literal: grace. Symbolic: healing wideness, release from tightness
- सुहवः (suhavaḥ)
- Literal: easy to call. Symbolic: responsive divine presence when invoked with sincerity
- एधि (edhi)
- Literal: grow, increase. Symbolic: increase of inner fire and capacities; progressive expansion
Dawn-associated kindling and invocation; requesting near help and successful offering to Varuṇa; supportive in morning pressing contexts.
At dawn (prātaḥ) or at the beginning of a daily agnihotra-like inner/outer offering.
Lighting lamp/fire; offering ghee; reciting to invite grace and establish right order for the day.
Morning sadhana mantra: chant at waking to kindle aspiration and invite truthful discipline with gentleness.
uṣás- (dawn) from √vas 'shine' (semantic dawn-light). √edh 'grow, prosper, kindle' marks Agni’s increase—psychologically, intensification of the will-flame. su-háva 'easy to call' encodes the pragmatic inner practice: the deity must be accessible to aspiration. ava-√yaj indicates offering that reaches down into the embodied nature, not only upward.
descent of help into embodiment (avama ūti), grace (mṛḷīka), growth of inner fire (edh)
Varuṇa invoked as the one to whom the offering is made—placing the day/life under ṛta.
Truth as lived rhythm from the first moments of awakening.
Dawn as daily re-creation; growth (edhi) as unfolding of divine capacities in the mortal.
Integral yogic Veda: daily dawn as recurring opening to higher consciousness.
dawn
Dawn = first illumination in mind; fire = will to live by it; vastness = spacious peace that allows stable growth.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is the 'dawn-kindling and near descent of Agni': at Dawn’s unfolding, Agni becomes the closest helper who can effect offerings to Varuṇa and bring grace. Psychologically, it is the moment of awakening when the inner fire is most accessible and can rapidly increase (edh) and establish harmony with cosmic law.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- uṣás corresponds to PIE *h₂éwsōs (Greek Ēṓs, Latin Aurōra). √edh has Indo-Iranian parallels (Avestan aēδ- 'increase' is often cited). √vah (vīhi) corresponds to PIE *weǵʰ- (Latin vehō).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The r̥ṣi asks for immediacy: Agni must be 'nearest' at the critical threshold of awakening (uṣas). The exchange is practical and experiential—invocation (su-hava) leads to growth (edh) and the arrival of mṛḷīka (grace) as a lived inner state.
At waking, kindle Agni and ask to live the day under Varuṇa’s truth-order with joy (rarāṇa).
Anahata (gentle wideness) supported by Manipura (will)
Upon waking: 9 slow breaths; chant on exhale; pause briefly after each chant to feel ‘space’ (Varuṇa) enter the chest.
Fresh, widening, quietly luminous.
Make one simple truthful intention for the day; offer it inwardly to Agni; feel Varuṇa’s mṛḻīka as spacious kindness that keeps discipline from becoming harsh.
Three-tone Vedic; dawn verses benefit from softer udātta peaks and smooth svarita descents.
Slightly linger on ‘uṣaso vyuṣṭau’ to paint the dawn; keep ‘ava yakṣva’ clear and directive; end ‘edhi’ with uplift.
nediṣṭho: retroflex ṣṭh cluster—articulate without inserting vowel, vyuṣṭau: ‘vyu’ as consonant cluster; keep long ‘au’ diphthong clean, rarāṇaḥ: roll the repeated ‘r’ lightly; long ā maintained, suhavo: ‘su’ light; ‘h’ audible but not harsh
Warm, intimate, morning-soft yet clear.
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