Rig Veda 5.12.3: Mandala 5, Sukta 12, Mantra 3
Sukta 5.12
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
कया नो अग्न ऋतयन्नृतेन भुवो नवेदा उचथस्य नव्यः । वेदा मे देव ऋतुपा ऋतूनां नाहं पतिं सनितुरस्य रायः ॥
káyā no agne ṛtáyan ṛténa bhúvo návedā ucáthasya návyaḥ | véda me devá ṛtu-pā́ ṛtūnā́ṃ nā́haṃ pátiṃ sanitúr asyá rāyáḥ ||
अग्नि, तुम सच के रास्ते चलते हो और सच को पकड़ के रखते हो। हमें बताओ, तुम कैसे नए-नए ज्ञान दे रहे हो? तुम समय के रखवाले हो, तुम्हे मौसम का पूरा पता है। मैं अभी तक इस धन का मालिक नहीं बन पाया।
Word by Word
- कया
- by which? (by what means?)Pronoun/Interrogative adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया-एकवचनम् (instrumental sg.)Role KaraṇaRoot क (किम्-प्रातिपदिक) + या (स्त्री)
- नः
- of us / for usPronounषष्ठी-बहुवचनम् (gen. pl., enclitic) अथवा दत्तिव्-बहु (Vedic use); here: genitiveRole SampradānaRoot अस्मद्
- अग्ने
- O AgniNoun (vocative)पुंलिङ्गे सम्बोधन-एकवचनम् (voc. sg.)Role SambodhanaRoot अग्नि
- ऋतयन्
- upholding/ordering according to ṛtaAdjective/Participleपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; वर्तमान-कृदन्त (यत्-प्रत्ययान्त), ‘ऋतं यच्छन्/अनुसरन्’Role KartāRoot ऋत (प्रातिपदिक) + य (यत्) → ऋतयन्
- ऋतेन
- with ṛta (cosmic order/truth)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-एकवचनम् (instr. sg.)Role KaraṇaRoot ऋत
- भुवः
- be (become)!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे) मध्यम-एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम् (Vedic injunctive/imperative use)Role KartāRoot भू
- नवेदाः
- new-knowing / newly wiseAdjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot नव + इद (इद्/विद् ‘to know’ in Vedic compound) → नवेदाः
- उचथस्य
- of the hymn/chantNounपुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-एकवचनम् (gen. sg.)Role SambandhaRoot उचथ
- नव्यः
- new, freshAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot नव्य
- वेदाः
- knowsVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परोक्श) प्रथम-एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्Role KartāRoot विद्
- मे
- of me / for mePronounषष्ठी-एकवचनम् (gen. sg., enclitic)Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद्
- देवः
- the godNounपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot देव
- ऋतुपाः
- guardian of seasons/ritesNoun/Agentपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; ‘पा’ धातोः कर्तरि (agent) समासान्तRole KartāRoot ऋतु + पा (पा ‘to protect’) → ऋतुपा
- ऋतूनाम्
- of the seasons/ritual timesNounपुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-बहुवचनम् (gen. pl.)Role SambandhaRoot ऋतु
- न
- notParticleनिषेध (negation)Root न
- अहम्
- IPronounप्रथमा-एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot अस्मद्
- पतिम्
- lord, masterNounपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (acc. sg.)Role KarmaRoot पति
- सनितुः
- of the winner/gainerNoun (agent)पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-एकवचनम् (gen. sg.)Role SambandhaRoot सनि (√सन्/सन् ‘to gain, win’) → सनितृ
- अस्य
- of this (one)Pronounषष्ठी-एकवचनम् (gen. sg.)Role SambandhaRoot इदम्
- रायः
- of wealth, richesNounस्त्रीलिङ्गे षष्ठी-एकवचनम् (gen. sg.; Vedic stem rāy-)Role SambandhaRoot राय्/राय (रे/रि) ‘wealth’
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (padapāṭha-style): कया॑ नो अग्न → कया + नः + अग्ने (voc.)
- ऋ॒तय॑न्नृ॒तेन॒ → ऋतयन् + ऋतेन
- भुवो॒ नवे॑दा → भुवः + नवेदाः
- उ॒चथ॑स्य॒ नव्य॑: → उचथस्य + नव्यः
- वेदा॑ मे दे॒व → वेदाः + मे + देवः
- ऋ॑तु॒पा ऋ॑तू॒नां → ऋतुपाः + ऋतूनाम्
- नाहं → न + अहम्
- पतिं॑ सनि॒तुर॒स्य → पतिम् + सनितुः + अस्य
- रा॒यः → रायः. Accents retained as in saṃhitā
- pada-forms shown without accent marks
The meaning
Outer meaning
The poet asks Agni by what path, moving in Ṛta through Ṛta, he will become the ever-new knower of the hymn. Agni, keeper of the right seasons/times, knows the seasons; the speaker has not yet won the lord/master of the fulfilling wealth.
Inner meaning
The seeker asks the inner Fire (divine Will) for the right method of progress: how to move in the Truth-consciousness by the very power of Truth, so that the soul’s expression (ucatha) becomes ever-fresh, not mechanical. Agni as ṛtu-pā is the inner Time-keeper—discerning the right moment for each movement of sādhanā (aspiration, purification, opening, illumination). Yet the aspirant confesses an incomplete attainment: the ‘master of the wealth’ (pati of rāyas) is not yet possessed—i.e., stable sovereignty over the higher riches (light, force, delight, wideness) has not been secured.
Universal truth
Right progress is not mere effort but alignment with an intrinsic order (Ṛta): when will and knowledge move according to truth, guidance becomes continuously renewed; but mastery over life’s true riches comes only after sustained right-timed practice.
Themes
seeking the right way, ever-new inspiration, Agni as guardian of rhythms, aspiration for mastery of plenitude
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Mānava/Vasiṣṭha lineage in later tradition)
- Other hymns
- RV 5.12, RV 7.33, RV 7.18, RV 7.82
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭhas are seers of Ṛta, harmony, and the ‘right law’ of inner and outer life; their Agni hymns often stress right order, guidance, and the straight path.
Significance
Vasiṣṭha’s voice is that of the wise harmonizer: he asks not for random boons but for the true method—how the divine Will becomes the ever-new knower in us, governing growth by right timing.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- ṛtayan (Ṛta-moving), ṛtu-pā (keeper of right times), navedāḥ (ever-new knower)
- Related deities
- Indra, Soma, Uṣas, Varuṇa-Mitra (Ṛta guardians)
Cosmic role
Mediator between human and divine worlds; establishes Ṛta in action; carries the offering (aspiration) upward and brings down the gods’ powers (illumination, force, delight).
Inner power
Discernment of the right step at the right time; ignition of sincere aspiration; renewal of mantra-knowledge; steady leading towards mastery of the higher riches.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agnihotra/Āhavanīya kindling and hymnal invocation in soma-related or general Agni offerings
कया॑ नो अग्न ऋ॒तय॑न्नृ॒तेन॒ भुवो॒ नवे॑दा उ॒चथ॑स्य॒ नव्य॑: । वेदा॑ मे दे॒व ऋ॑तु॒पा ऋ॑तू॒नां नाहं पतिं॑ सनि॒तुर॒स्य रा॒यः ॥
कया॑ । नः॒ । अ॒ग्ने॒ । ऋ॒तय॑न् । ऋ॒तेन॑ । भुवः॑ । नवे॑दाः । उ॒चथ॑स्य । नव्यः॑ । वेद॑ । मे॒ । दे॒वः । ऋ॒तु॒ऽपाः । ऋ॒तू॒नाम् । न । अ॒हम् । पति॑म् । स॒नि॒तुः॒ । अ॒स्य । रा॒यः ॥
kayā | naḥ | agne | ṛtayan | ṛtena | bhuvaḥ | navedāḥ | ucathasya | navyaḥ | veda | me | devaḥ | ṛtu-pāḥ | ṛtūnām | na | aham | patim | sanituḥ | asya | rāyaḥ
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4 pādas × ~11 syllables
Forward-driving, inquiry-impelled cadence suited to seeking and ascent.
Creates a firm inner stride; supports concentration on ‘right method’ and evokes guidance as a living presence.
- कया (kayā)
- Literal: by what (way/means). Symbolic: the sought inner method—right process of yoga, the true ‘how’
- अग्नि (Agni)
- Literal: fire. Symbolic: divine Will-force, priest of the inner sacrifice, transformer
- ऋतयन् (ṛtayan)
- Literal: moving/acting in Ṛta. Symbolic: dynamic alignment of action with truth-order
- ऋतेन (ṛtena)
- Literal: by Ṛta. Symbolic: truth-power as the operative force (not ego-effort)
- नवेदाः / नव्यः (navedāḥ / navyaḥ)
- Literal: ever-new knower / ever-new. Symbolic: fresh revelation, living intuition rather than repetition
- उचथ (ucatha)
- Literal: hymn/utterance. Symbolic: mantric speech—soul-expression that carries realization
- ऋतुपाः (ṛtu-pāḥ)
- Literal: keeper of seasons. Symbolic: inner governor of right timing, maturation, stages of growth
- रायः (rāyaḥ)
- Literal: wealth. Symbolic: spiritual riches—light (go), force, joy (soma), wideness
- पतिम् (patim)
- Literal: lord/master. Symbolic: stable mastery/sovereignty in consciousness
Seasonal/temporal rightness in ritual: supports correct timing (ṛtu) and the renewal of inspiration (navya) in recitation; also a reflective verse on how Agni becomes ‘new-knower’ for the sacrificer.
At kindling and during praise to establish right order before offerings; also suitable at beginnings of undertakings
Invocatory questioning and praise; aligning act and word with Ṛta
Use before meditation/work as a ‘right-timing’ prayer: ask for the true next step and for renewed inspiration rather than forced effort.
ṛtáyan: present participle from denominative/causative sense of √ṛt/ṛta ‘to set in order by truth’. navedāḥ: nava ‘new’ + dā ‘give/know’ (here ‘knower’ sense via ved/vida interplay in Vedic poetic compounds; the tradition glosses as ‘new-knowing’). ucátha: hymn of praise (from √vac ‘speak’ with u- expansion in Vedic). ṛtu-pā: ṛtu ‘season/right time’ + pā ‘protector’ (√pā ‘to protect’). rāy- ‘wealth’ from √rā ‘to give/grant’, inner sense: fullness granted by the gods.
R̥ta as method and movement (ṛtáyan ṛténa), right timing (ṛtu) as spiritual rhythm, rāy as inner plenitude
Explicit: Agni moves in Ṛta by Ṛta—truth is both path and power.
Truth as stable mastery (pati) over spiritual wealth, not intermittent experience.
Cosmos as rhythmic unfolding through right seasons; inner creation mirrors this lawful progression.
Proto-Vedāntic and yogic psychology (Aurobindo/Kashyap line): evolution of consciousness by truth-guided will.
dawn-to-morning transition implied by ‘ever-new’ awakening of hymn-knowledge
all seasons as stages of growth
Fire = will and aspiration; seasons = ordered stages of inner maturation; sun/time = illumined law guiding progress.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Agni as the keeper of right times (ṛtu-pā) and renewer of knowledge: the mythic function of maintaining cosmic rhythm and making inspiration perpetually fresh. The seeker asks for the ‘way’ by which Agni, moving in R̥ta, becomes the ever-new knower of the hymn within the human.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- ṛtu (season/right time) corresponds to Indo-Iranian ritual-temporal order; the protector compound ṛtu-pā uses √pā ‘protect’ (widely attested IE). The semantic field of ‘knowing’ (veda) is from √vid (PIE *weyd- ‘see/know’, cf. English wit).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The r̥ṣi approaches Agni as teacher of rhythm and renewal: Agni knows the right seasons of inner growth, but the human has not yet attained the ‘pati’ (mastery) of rāy—fullness. The verse expresses humility and a request for guidance so that inspiration becomes continually new and aligned with Truth.
Invoke the inner Fire for right discernment of method and timing; offer the question ‘what is the true next step?’ into the heart-flame.
anahata (heart-fire of aspiration)
moderate nāḍī-śodhana 6–6 pace, then a brief pause after exhale to ‘listen’ for right timing
receptive, truth-attuned (sattvic) concentration
Before action or study, chant once slowly; then sit 3–5 minutes, feeling a steady flame in the chest. Wait for the ‘ever-new’ intuition rather than repeating old mental solutions.
Mixed udatta/anudatta/svarita per Rigvedic recitation; emphasize the interrogatives (kayā) with clear pitch lift as marked in pada text.
Keep ṛtá- syllables crisp; avoid flattening ‘ṛta-yan ṛtena’—maintain the internal cadence across the caesura.
Pronounce as vocalic ‘r̥’ (not ‘ri’) in ṛtayann, ṛtena, ṛtupāḥ., Keep retroflex ṇ in sanitur; and aspirate in bhuvo (bh)., Hold long vowels: navyaḥ, rāyaḥ.
steady, luminous, inquiry-toned (not forceful)
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