Rig Veda 4.11.2: Mandala 4, Sukta 11, Mantra 2
Sukta 4.11
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
वि षाह्यग्ने गृणते मनीषां खं वेपसा तुविजात स्तवानः । विश्वेभिर्यद्वावनः शुक्र देवैस्तन्नो रास्व सुमहो भूरि मन्म ॥
ví ṣā́hy agne gṛṇaté manīṣā́ṃ kháṃ vépasā tuvi-jāta stávānaḥ | víśvebhir yád vāvánāḥ śukra deváis tán no rāsva su-mahó bhū́ri mánma ||
अग्नि, हम जब तुम्हे गाते हैं तोह हमारे दिल में अच्छी बात डाल दो। तुम्हारी ताकत इतनी बड़ी है कि आसमान काँप जाये। तुम सब जगह हो और तुम्हारी चमक है। जो भी चमक और शक्ति तुम देवियों के साथ लाते हो, वोह हमें भी दो। हमारे पास बड़ी सोच आये और हम आगे बढ़ें।
Word by Word
- वि
- apart, forth, asunder (intensifier/dispersion)Indeclinableउपसर्ग (क्रियाविशेषक)Root वि (उपसर्ग)
- षाहि
- overcome!, prevail!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRoot सह् (धातु) → (वेद.) षह्
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- गृणते
- to the one who praises (you)Verb (participle-like finite form)लट्, आत्मनेपद, तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचन (वेद. प्रयोग: ‘स्तुवते’ = to the praising one)Role सम्प्रदान (यस्य कृते)Root गृ (धातु) / गृण् (वेद. स्तुति-)
- मनीषाम्
- thought, inspired insightNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot मनीषा (प्रातिपदिक)
- खम्
- sky, spaceNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot ख (प्रातिपदिक)
- वेपसा
- with trembling/ardour; with vibrant powerNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot वेपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- तुविजात
- O widely-born / of many birthsAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (अग्नेः विशेषणम्)Role सम्बोधन-विशेषणRoot तुवि-जाता (प्रातिपदिक; बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय) अथवा तुवि + जात (कृदन्त)
- स्तवानः
- praising (being in praise)Participleवर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्), आत्मनेपदी, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (अग्निः)Role कर्तृRoot स्तु (धातु) → स्तवान (कृदन्त)
- विश्वेभिः
- with all (of them)Adjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करण/सहकारRoot विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- यत्
- that whichPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (सम्बन्धसूचक)Role कर्म/विषय (यद्-तद् सम्बन्ध)Root यद् (सर्वनाम)
- वावनः
- the helper/impeller; the strengthening oneNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (अग्निः)Role कर्तृRoot वावन् (प्रातिपदिक; वेद. ‘सहायक/प्रेरक/वर्धक’)
- शुक्र
- O bright/pure oneAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (अग्नेः विशेषणम्)Role सम्बोधन-विशेषणRoot शुक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवैः
- with the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करण/सहकारRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- तत्
- thatPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot तद् (सर्वनाम)
- नः
- to us / for usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्प्रदान (अस्मभ्यं)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- रास्व
- grant!, give!Verbलोट्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRoot रा (धातु) ‘दाने’
- सु-महः
- great good (greatness, great boon)Adjective (used substantively)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot सु- (उपसर्ग) + महस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- भूरि
- much, abundantAdjective/Indeclinable (quantifier)अव्यय (परिमाणवाचक)Role विशेषणRoot भूरि (प्रातिपदिक)
- मन्म
- thought, hymn, intentionNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot मन्मन्/मन्म (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धिविग्रह): वि | षाहि | अग्ने | गृणते | मनीषाम् | खम् | वेपसा | तुविजात | स्तवानः | विश्वेभिः | यत् | वावनः | शुक्र | देवैः | तत् | नः | रास्व | सुमहः | भूरि | मन्म । प्रमुखसन्धयः: (1) षा॑ह्यग्ने → षाहि + अग्ने (इ + अ = य्; ‘षाहि’ + ‘अग्ने’ → ‘षाह्यग्ने’)
- (4) विश्वे॑भि॒र्यद् → विश्वेभिः + यत् (विसर्ग + य् → र्; ‘भिः’ + ‘य’ = ‘भिर्य’)
- (5) वावन॑: शुक्र → वावनः + शुक्र (विसर्गः पदान्त)
- (6) दे॒वैस्तन्नो॑ → देवैः + तत् + नः (विसर्ग + त् → स्; ‘देवैः तत्’ → ‘देवैस् तत्’; तत् + नः → तन्नः (त् + न = न्न))
The meaning
Outer meaning
A praise to Agni asking him to conquer obstacles for the singer’s inspired thought, to make the vast space tremble with his power, and to grant the worshippers the luminous gain won together with all the gods—an abundant, great vision-thought.
Inner meaning
Agni as the divine Will in the seeker is urged to “break out” (vi-ṣāhi) beyond inner resistance so the manīṣā (inspired intelligence) can be victorious. “Shaking the khaṃ (wide space)” becomes the stirring of the inner ether of consciousness—dislodging inertia and obscurity. Whatever illumination and plenitude Agni wins in harmony with the “All-Gods” (integrated powers of the being), that is to be poured into the aspirant as bhūri manma: a wide, abundant revelatory mind—Aurobindonian “illumined mind” opening toward higher planes.
Universal truth
When the will-to-truth is kindled and aligned with the totality of our higher faculties, consciousness expands; obstacles loosen; and a larger, clearer vision replaces narrow, reactive thinking.
Themes
Invocation for inspiration, Agni as mediator, Vastness and abundance
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.1, RV 4.2, RV 4.3, RV 4.4, RV 4.5, RV 4.6, RV 4.10
Family tradition
Vāmadeva is a principal seer of Maṇḍala 4 (Gautama lineage), known for hymns where Agni is the inner priest and the divine powers are psychological functions aiding illumination and right action.
Significance
Vāmadeva’s Agni-hymns repeatedly stress the birth of inspired speech and victorious force from the inner fire; he frames sacrifice as an inner yoga of aspiration, purification, and widening.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- tuvijāta (widely-born), śukra (luminous), sumahaḥ (very great)
- Related deities
- Viśve Devāḥ, Indra, Soma, Uṣas
Cosmic role
Mediator between human and divine; carrier of offerings; awakener of the gods; establishes ṛta through the sacrificial flame.
Inner power
The psychic/divine Will that kindles aspiration, burns obscurity, and organizes the energies into a luminous, effective harmony.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni-stotra/Agni-invocation within Soma-yajña or general iṣṭi sequences (hymn of praise to kindle and empower Agni).
वि षा॑ह्यग्ने गृण॒ते म॑नी॒षां खं वेप॑सा तुविजात॒ स्तवा॑नः । विश्वे॑भि॒र्यद्वा॒वन॑: शुक्र दे॒वैस्तन्नो॑ रास्व सुमहो॒ भूरि॒ मन्म॑ ॥
वि । सा॒हि॒ । अ॒ग्ने॒ । गृ॒ण॒ते । म॒नी॒षाम् । खम् । वेप॑सा । तु॒वि॒ऽजा॒त॒ । स्तवा॑नः । विश्वे॑भिः । यत् । व॒वनः॑ । शु॒क्र॒ । दे॒वैः । तत् । नः॒ । रा॒स्व॒ । सु॒ऽम॒हः॒ । भूरि॑ । मन्म॑ ॥
vi | sāhi | agne | gṛṇate | manīṣām | kham | vepasā | tuvi-jāta | stavānaḥ | viśvebhiḥ | yat | vavanaḥ | śukra | devaiḥ | tat | naḥ | rāsva | su-mahaḥ | bhūri | manma
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4 pādas of ~11 syllables each
Strong, forward-driving cadence with room for emphatic lifts on key verbs (vi ṣāhi, rāsva).
Energizes will and widening; suitable for a felt ‘breakthrough’ movement in meditation.
- वि षाहि (vi ṣāhi)
- Literal: conquer forth, overcome outward. Symbolic: break through inner resistance; victorious expansion of will-consciousness
- मनीषा (manīṣā)
- Literal: inspired thought, insight. Symbolic: intuitive intelligence; illumined discernment
- खम् (kham)
- Literal: space, sky. Symbolic: inner ether of consciousness; wideness of awareness
- वेपसा (vepasā)
- Literal: trembling, vibrant power. Symbolic: dynamic tapas/force that shakes inertia and opens channels
- तुविजात (tuvijāta)
- Literal: widely-born, manifold-born. Symbolic: Agni manifesting in many parts of the being (mind, life, body)
- शुक्र (śukra)
- Literal: bright, luminous. Symbolic: purified clarity; sattwic light
- विश्वेदेवाः (viśve devāḥ)
- Literal: all the gods. Symbolic: harmonized powers of consciousness working together
- भूरि मन्म (bhūri manma)
- Literal: abundant thought/vision. Symbolic: vast revelatory mind; large seeing that guides life
Invocatory verse for empowerment of the hymn/insight (manīṣā, manma) in sacrificial recitation; aligns with soma-liturgical sequences where Agni mediates gifts from all gods.
At kindling/praise of the āhavanīya fire; also as an opening energizing recitation.
Stuti and āvāhana (praise and invocation) seeking victory and gift (rāsa).
Use as a mantra for clearing mental congestion and invoking expansive clarity before study, creative work, or decision-making.
√sah ‘overcome’ conveys victorious capacity; psychologically mastery over obstruction. manīṣā from √man ‘think’ with desiderative/intensive nuance: inspired intelligence. vepas ‘trembling’ suggests vibratory power (mantric/force). śukra ‘bright’ from √śuc/√śuk ‘shine, be pure’. √rā ‘give’ (rāsva) marks the gift economy of yajña: offering returns as illumination (manma).
Collective action of the Devas, Victory as inner mastery (√sah), Illumined mind (manma/manīṣā)
Agni’s vibration ‘shakes’ the confined field into ṛta—right rhythm and right space.
The sought ‘luminous plenitude’ is truth-substance that becomes true thought (manma).
Widening of space (kha) as a microcosmic echo of the Vedic opening of the worlds by the gods.
Proto-Vedāntic and Yogic psychology (as developed by Sri Aurobindo: ascent from ordinary mind to illumined wideness).
Fire = will and aspiration; sky = inner wideness; tremor = tapas that dislodges tamas and opens higher mind.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘victory-and-boon’ mythologem: Agni conquers and wins luminous plenitude together with the gods, then bestows it on the singer as vast inspired thought. Inner meaning: the will-force allies with all soul-powers to secure illumination.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √man ‘think’ is PIE *men- (cf. Greek ménos ‘spirit’, Latin mens). √sah has Indo-Iranian parallels; the gift verb √rā ‘give’ sits within a wide IE ‘grant’ semantic field though not a single direct cognate line is assured for all branches.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asks for not external goods but ‘bhūri manma’—abundant illumined thought. Agni is approached as the victorious mediator who can translate the collective divine attainment (won with all devas) into the human mind as inspiration and wideness.
Invoke the inner fire to break through limitation and establish wide, luminous intelligence (manīṣā/manma).
Maṇipūra (agni/transforming will) with expansion toward Ājñā (illumined seeing).
4-4-6 breathing (inhale-hold-exhale) while feeling the ‘widening sky’ on exhale; recite on a steady out-breath.
From active aspiration to illumined wideness (sattwic clarity with dynamic force).
Begin with a brief concentration in the navel flame; chant once slowly, then 3 times with increasing steadiness; after chanting, sit in silence and ‘receive’ bhūri manma as a spacious, quiet seeing.
Mixed udātta/anudātta/svarita per Śākala tradition; key lifts typically on imperative/verb forms (vi ṣāhi, rāsva) and epithets (tuvijāta, śukra).
Keep udātta syllables bright and slightly raised; let svarita glide down; avoid flattening the cadence across pāda breaks.
: pronounce ṣ as retroflex ‘sh’ (ṣā-), not dental ś, : two syllables ag-ne, clear n, : gṛ- with vocalic ṛ, not ‘gri’, : tu-vi-jā-ta, keep long ā, : viś-ve-bhiḥ, final ḥ lightly aspirated
Bright, steady, slightly forceful; end each pāda with a soft release into space.
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