Rig Veda 5.22.2: Mandala 5, Sukta 22, Mantra 2
Sukta 5.22
न्यग्निं जातवेदसं दधाता देवमृत्विजम् । प्र यज्ञ एत्वानुषगद्या देवव्यचस्तमः ॥
ny àgníṁ jātávedasaṁ dádhātā devám ṛtvíjam | prá yajñá étv ānuṣág adyā́ devávyacastamaḥ ||
अग्नि को बिठाओ, जिनको सब जानते हैं। वो देवता लोगों का पुजारी है, सही टाइम पर पूजा करने वाला। आज यज्ञ आगे बढ़ो। अग्नि देवता लोगों में सबसे ज़्यादा फैलता है, वो रास्ता दिखाए।
Formal installation of Agni as ṛtvij; appropriate in soma-sacrifice progression where right sequencing (ānuṣak) is crucial.
Right time/season (ṛtu), Ordered progression (ānuṣak), Knowledge of becomings (jātavedas)
ṛtvij and ānuṣak imply ṛta as correct timing and lawful progression of inner transformations.
Agni as ‘deva’ and ‘jātavedas’ aligns action with truth-known becoming.
Ordered manifestation: the divine powers act effectively when the inner priest sets the sequence.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: ascent through ordered self-offering under the guidance of conscious will.
Morning or rite-beginning (implied by ‘adyā’—today, now)
Any; emphasis on ‘right season’ as principle
Fire = awakened will; seasons = rhythms of growth; ‘placing’ = establishing a stable inner center from which progress proceeds in right order.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Agni Jātavedas installed as ṛtvij so the yajña may proceed in right sequence: the mythic theme of correct ordering (ṛtu/ṛta) enabling divine manifestation and effective interchange.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vid ‘know’ (in vedas) is a core IE root. √dhā ‘place’ and √jan ‘be born’ are also inherited. The compound style (jātavedas, ṛtvij) is characteristic of archaic IE poetic diction.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi directs the collective to ‘place’ Agni—human agency prepares the seat. Agni, as knower of births and right rhythms, then guides the yajña forward, ensuring the work unfolds according to truth-order rather than human disorder.
Establish the inner flame of will in the heart; commit to a stepwise practice for the day.
Anāhata (heart)
Gentle nāḍī-śodhana or 4-4-6 breathing to stabilize rhythm before japa/chant
Collected, purposeful, progressively widening awareness
Invoke Agni as the inner guide; offer the day’s thoughts and actions in sequence—first clarity, then aspiration, then execution—returning to the flame whenever dispersion appears.
Vedic accenting with udatta/anudatta/svarita as per śākhā; preserve marked svaras on accented syllables (e.g., nyà/agním-type rises).
Keep the main udatta peaks clear on key invocatory words (agním, jātavedasam, ṛtvijam); avoid flattening ‘ānuṣak adyā’.
Maintain retroflex ṛ in ṛtvijam (short vocalic ṛ)., Separate consonant clusters: devavyacas-tamaḥ (don’t swallow -vy-)., Keep ‘jāta-vedasam’ as two members with a light internal pause.
Clear, leading, slightly bright (as if ‘placing’ the flame).
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