Rig Veda 5.15.1: Mandala 5, Sukta 15, Mantra 1
Sukta 5.15
- Devata
- Agni
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
प्र वेधसे कवये वेद्याय गिरं भरे यशसे पूर्व्याय । घृतप्रसत्तो असुरः सुशेवो रायो धर्ता धरुणो वस्वो अग्निः ॥
prá védhase kaváye védyāya gíraṃ bhare yaśáse pū́rvyāya | ghṛtá-prasatto ásuraḥ su-śévo rāyó dhartā dharúṇo vásvo agníḥ ||
मैं उस वाइज़ भगवान के लिए शब्द बोल रहा हूँ। वो पुराना है और उसे जानना है। घी से चमकता हुआ अग्नि बड़ा है। वो अच्छा है और धन रखता है। वो सब कुछ संभालता है।
Word by Word
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinableupasarga (preverb)Root प्र (upasarga)
- वेधसे
- to the wise/ordainer (Agni)Nounmasculine, dative singularRole SampradānaRoot वेधस् (prātipadika; from √विध्/√वेध् ‘to work, arrange, worship’)
- कवये
- to the seer-poetNounmasculine, dative singularRole SampradānaRoot कवि (prātipadika)
- वेद्याय
- to the worthy-to-be-known / to be foundAdjectivemasculine, dative singularRole SampradānaRoot वेद्य (prātipadika; gerundive from √विद् ‘to know’)
- गिरम्
- song, hymnNounfeminine, accusative singularRole KarmaRoot गिर् (prātipadika)
- भरे
- I bring/offerVerbpresent (imperfective), 1st person singular, active (parasmaipada)Root √भृ (भृञ्) ‘to bear, bring, offer’
- यशसे
- for glory, for fameNounneuter, dative singularRole SampradānaRoot यशस् (prātipadika)
- पूर्व्याय
- to the ancient oneAdjectivemasculine, dative singularRole SampradānaRoot पूर्व्य (prātipadika; ‘ancient, primeval’)
- घृतप्रसत्तः
- ghee-impelled / whose course is set with gheeAdjectivemasculine, nominative singularRole KartāRoot घृत-प्रसत्त (prātipadika; tatpuruṣa: घृत ‘ghee’ + प्रसत्त ‘set in motion/impelled, made ready’ from √सद्/√सत् with प्र)
- असुरः
- lord, mighty oneNounmasculine, nominative singularRole KartāRoot असुर (prātipadika)
- सुशेवः
- very gracious, kindlyAdjectivemasculine, nominative singularRole KartāRoot सु-शेव (prātipadika; su ‘good’ + शेव ‘kind, gracious’)
- रायः
- of wealthNounfeminine, genitive singularRoot राय्/रायि (prātipadika ‘wealth’)
- धर्ता
- holder, supporterNounmasculine, nominative singularRole KartāRoot धर्तृ (prātipadika; agent noun from √धृ ‘to hold’)
- धरुणः
- support, propNounmasculine, nominative singularRole KartāRoot धरुण (prātipadika; from √धृ ‘support, foundation’)
- वस्वः
- of riches/goodsNounneuter, genitive singularRoot वसु (prātipadika ‘good, wealth’; here ‘wealth’)
- अग्निः
- Agni (Fire)Nounmasculine, nominative singularRole KartāRoot अग्नि (prātipadika)
Sandhi Notes
- External sandhi resolved as: वेधसे कवये वेद्याय (no fusion; three datives in apposition to Agni)
- गिरं भरे (giram + bhare; anusvāra/ṃ before bh)
- यशसे पूर्व्याय (two datives in apposition/purpose)
- घृतप्रसत्तो असुरः → घृतप्रसत्तः असुरः (o = visarga sandhi before vowel)
- रा॒यो धर्ता (rāyaḥ + dhartā; visarga before voiced dental becomes o in saṃhitā)
- धरुणो वस्वो → धरुणः वस्वः (o = visarga sandhi before vowel)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The poet brings a hymn/word to Agni—the wise disposer and seer to be known—for his ancient glory. Agni, clarified by ghee, is a mighty lord, benevolent, upholder and foundation, bearer of riches.
Inner meaning
The seeker offers vāc (inspired speech) to the inner Fire who is both vedhas (the true ordainer) and kavi (seer)—the faculty in us that knows by illumination. ‘To be known’ (vedyāya) indicates Agni as a realizable presence. ‘Clarified by ghee’ means the will becomes transparent and sattwic when fed by purified consciousness. Then Agni appears as asura in the Vedic sense: the master of conscious force, who holds together the riches (rāyaḥ/vasu) of the being and makes them stable (dharuṇa) for the growth of the soul.
Universal truth
When speech becomes truthful and inwardly inspired, it awakens the illumined will; that will then becomes a benevolent power that sustains life, stabilizes the psyche, and carries inner riches into manifest action.
Themes
Praise-offering (giras), Agni as ordainer and support, Inner wealth (rayi/vasu)
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha (traditional for RV 5; verse-level uncertain)
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha
- Other hymns
- RV 5.15.2, RV 5.15.3, RV 5.15.4, RV 5.1.1
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha hymns often emphasize Agni as priestly seer and upholder of ṛta, and the efficacy of inspired speech.
Significance
The rishi’s ‘bringing the word’ models mantra as a means of inner realization: speech becomes a bridge from mind to the seer-will (Agni).
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- vedhas (wise ordainer), kavi (seer), vedya (to be known), ghṛtaprasatta (clarified by ghee), asura (lord of conscious force), suśeva (benevolent), rāyo dhartā (upholder of plenitude), dharuṇa (foundation)
- Related deities
- Bṛhaspati (lord of inspired word), Indra (illumined mind), Soma (bliss)
Cosmic role
Knower and executor of ṛta; bearer of offerings; foundation of the sacrificial world-order.
Inner power
Illumined will that organizes the being, supports inner wealth, and turns aspiration into realized force.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni-stotra preceding offerings; invocation of Agni as hotṛ
प्र वे॒धसे॑ क॒वये॒ वेद्या॑य॒ गिरं॑ भरे य॒शसे॑ पू॒र्व्याय॑ । घृ॒तप्र॑सत्तो॒ असु॑रः सु॒शेवो॑ रा॒यो ध॒र्ता ध॒रुणो॒ वस्वो॑ अ॒ग्निः ॥
प्र । वे॒धसे॑ । क॒वये॑ । वेद्या॑य । गिर॑म् । भ॒रे॒ । य॒शसे॑ । पू॒र्व्याय॑ । घृ॒तऽप्र॑सत्तः । असु॑रः । सु॒ऽशेवः॑ । रा॒यः । ध॒र्ता । ध॒रुणः॑ । वस्वः॑ । अ॒ग्निः ॥
pra | vedhase | kavaye | vedyāya | giram | bhare | yaśase | pūrvyāya | ghṛta-prasattaḥ | asuraḥ | su-śevaḥ | rāyaḥ | dhartā | dharuṇaḥ | vasvaḥ | agniḥ
Triṣṭubh (highly likely; long, epithet-rich line typical)
44
4 × ~11
Majestic and declarative; supports epithets and stable affirmations.
Builds reverence and inner solidity; the mind feels ‘held’ (dharuṇa) by the cadence.
- वेधसे (vedhase)
- Literal: wise disposer/ordainer. Symbolic: the inner intelligence that arranges life by truth
- कवये (kavaye)
- Literal: seer-poet. Symbolic: illumined mind; intuitive seeing that can utter mantra
- वेद्याय (vedyāya)
- Literal: to be known. Symbolic: the divine presence meant for realization, not mere belief
- गिरम् (giram)
- Literal: word/hymn. Symbolic: creative speech-force (vāc) shaping consciousness
- घृतप्रसत्तः (ghṛtaprasattaḥ)
- Literal: clarified/brightened by ghee. Symbolic: will made luminous by purified awareness and devotion
- असुरः (asuraḥ)
- Literal: lord/mighty one. Symbolic: master of conscious force (not later ‘demon’ sense)
- सुशेवः (suśevaḥ)
- Literal: very gracious/benevolent. Symbolic: the kindly guidance of the inner fire
- रायः धर्ता (rāyo dhartā)
- Literal: upholder of riches. Symbolic: sustainer of inner plenitude (powers, joy, capacities)
- धरुणः (dharuṇaḥ)
- Literal: support/foundation. Symbolic: stable basis of the truth-order in the being
- वस्वः (vasvo)
- Literal: of wealth/treasures. Symbolic: carrier of essential being-powers (vasu) into life
Stotra-style praise at the opening/strengthening phase of Agni worship; suitable for kindling and for affirming Agni as dhartā/dharuṇa (support of the rite and inner order).
At the start of a rite or when establishing the fire’s presence; also suitable as daily Agni remembrance.
Recite while offering ghee; affirm Agni’s benevolence and sustaining power.
Use as a ‘before speaking’ mantra: chant once, then speak only what is true and constructive—align vāc with inner Agni.
√vidh ‘arrange, apportion, establish’ → Agni as ordainer; √bhṛ ‘carry/bring’ → offering; yaśas ‘glory’ from √yaś ‘be famous/illustrious’ → luminous manifestation; ghṛta ‘clarified’ indicates the refining of substance/mind; asura in early RV from asu ‘life-breath/vitality’ → ‘lord of asu’, not later ‘demon’; dhar- ‘hold, support’ → foundation; rayi as fullness/felicity (not merely material).
Rita as right arrangement (vedhas), Rayi as plenitude of being, Agni as foundation (dharuṇa)
Agni as vedhas establishes right order; dharuṇa indicates the stable ground of ṛta.
Vedyāya + giram: truth must be known and spoken as formative power.
The Word offered to the Seer kindles creation in consciousness; inner riches are ‘borne’ into manifestation.
Integral-Vedic symbolism (Aurobindo/Kashyap): Agni as psychic will and illumined intelligence.
Ghee’s clarity = purified mind-stuff; fire’s upward tongue = aspiration; speech = creative vibration shaping inner order.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Agni as the cosmic and psychological ‘support’ (dharuṇa) and ‘bearer of plenitude’ (rāyaḥ dhartā): the mythic image is of the Fire as the foundational power that holds the order of works and releases riches of consciousness.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- vacas/gir (word) belongs to an IE poetics where speech is efficacious; dhar- ‘hold’ is a widespread IE root (cf. Greek thronos via ‘support’ semantics is indirect; more securely Sanskrit dhar- aligns with PIE *dher- ‘hold, support’). The title asura reflects an archaic layer of Indo-Iranian sacral vocabulary for ‘lord of vital force’.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi offers giras as a deliberate act of formation; Agni is approached not merely for gifts but as the very arranger and stabilizer of the seeker’s inner yajña, who can uphold and carry the plenitude (rayi/vasu) into manifestation.
Offer one ‘true word’ inwardly: let speech arise from the seer-mind, not impulse.
Viśuddha (purified speech) linked with Maṇipūra (will-fire)
Inhale 4, exhale 6 while mentally ‘offering’ the phrase giram bhare; feel calm authority in the navel and throat.
Quietly illumined, truthful, supported.
Chant 3 times before journaling, teaching, or difficult conversations; pause after ‘ghṛtaprasatto’ and feel the will becoming clear and benevolent.
Rigvedic udatta/anudatta/svarita; keep clear udātta on key epithets (védhase, kávaye, ghṛtáprasattaḥ).
Let the first pāda rise gently to ‘vedyāya’; give weight to the epithet chain in the second hemistich without rushing.
vedhase: ‘dh’ aspirated; not ‘d’., kavaye: short ‘a’; keep ‘v’ clear., ghṛtaprasattaḥ: articulate ghṛta as ‘ghr̥’; double ‘tt’ in sattaḥ with a firm dental stop., asuraḥ: keep ‘s’ unvoiced; final visarga light.
Even, reverent, slightly low-pitched for stability.
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