Rig Veda 5.37.2: Mandala 5, Sukta 37, Mantra 2
Sukta 5.37
- Devata
- Agni and Soma, in service of Indra’s coming
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
समिद्धाग्निर्वनवत्स्तीर्णबर्हिर्युक्तग्रावा सुतसोमो जराते । ग्रावाणो यस्येषिरं वदन्त्ययदध्वर्युर्हविषाव सिन्धुम् ॥
samíddhāgnir vanavat stīrṇá-barhir yuktá-grāvā sutá-somo jarāte | grā́vāṇo yásyeṣiráṃ vádanty áyad adhvaryúr havíṣā́va síndhum ||
अग्नि जल रहा है, जैसे जंगल बड़ा हो। पूजा के लिए घास बिछी है। सोम पीसने के पत्थर लग गए हैं। सोम तैयार है। पत्थर बोलते हैं, आगे बढ़ो। पुजारी ने हवन किया और धारा शुरू कर दी।
Word by Word
- समिद्धः
- kindled, well-litAdjective/Participleपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (अग्निः का विशेषण)Root सम्-इध् (धातु) → समिद्ध (कृदन्त)
- अग्निः
- Agni (fire-god)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- वनवत्सः
- like a calf in the wood / wood-calf (metaphor for lively fire)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (अग्निः का विशेषण)Root वनवत्स (प्रातिपदिक; वन + वत्स)
- तीर्णबर्हिः
- having the sacrificial grass spread/laid outAdjective (compound)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (अग्निः का विशेषण)Root तीर्ण (√तॄ ‘to cross/overpass’ → past part.) + बर्हिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- युक्तग्रावा
- with the pressing-stones set to work / yokedAdjective (compound)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (अग्निः का विशेषण)Root युक्त (√युज् ‘to yoke’ → ppp) + ग्रावन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुतसोमः
- with Soma pressedAdjective (compound)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (अग्निः का विशेषण)Root सुत (√सु ‘to press’ → ppp) + सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- जराते
- is active / bestirs himselfVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRoot √जॄ/जर् (Vedic: ‘to be awake/active; to move about; to be zealous’)
- ग्रावाणः
- the pressing-stonesNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot ग्रावन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- यस्य
- whosePronounषष्ठी, एकवचन (पुं/नपुं)Role सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- इषिरम्
- swift, impetuous (sound/utterance)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (वदन्ति का)Root इषिर (प्रातिपदिक)
- वदन्ति
- speak, utterVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRoot √वद्
- अयत्
- went, proceededVerbलुङ्/इञ्जङ्क्टिव (वैदिक), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRoot √या (Vedic injunctive/aorist form)
- अध्वर्युः
- the Adhvaryu priestNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot अध्वर्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
- हविषा
- with the oblationNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot हविस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अव
- down, forth (as preverb)IndeclinableRoot अव (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- सिन्धुम्
- the river/stream (Sindhu)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot सिन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- समिद्धाग्निर्वनवत्स्तीर्णबर्हिर्युक्तग्रावा सुतसोमो जराते → समिद्धः अग्निः वनवत्सः तीर्णबर्हिः युक्तग्रावा सुतसोमः जराते। ग्रावाणो यस्येषिरं वदन्त्ययदध्वर्युर् हविषाव सिन्धुम् → ग्रावाणः यस्य इषिरम् वदन्ति अयत् अध्वर्युः हविषा अव सिन्धुम्। (अग्निः/अध्वर्युः-रेफः परे व्यञ्जने ‘र्’ रूप; हविषा+अव → हविषाव; वदन्ति+अयत् → वदन्त्ययत्)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni is kindled, abundant like a forest; the barhis is spread; the pressing-stones are yoked; Soma is pressed and ready. The stones speak an impelling word; the Adhvaryu, with the offering, has set the stream flowing.
Inner meaning
The inner Fire (Agni) is fully awakened—rich with living power (vanavat). The field of consciousness is prepared (barhis spread) for descent and reception. The faculties that press experience into essence (grāvāṇaḥ) are yoked and coordinated; bliss (Soma) is expressed and ready to be offered to the illumined Mind. The very instruments of discipline begin to ‘speak’ a compelling mantra-force (iṣiram vacas), and the consecrating will (adhvaryu) releases the inner river (sindhu)—a streaming flow of clarified consciousness.
Universal truth
Right preparation—kindled will, receptive ground, coordinated faculties—turns practice into a living flow; discipline becomes inspiration, and effort becomes a stream.
Themes
Soma ritual mechanics, Agni kindling, Inner distillation, Flow of consciousness
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri (attributed for RV 5.37 as a whole; verse-level attribution uncertain)
- Lineage
- Atri
- Other hymns
- RV 5.6, RV 5.7, RV 5.27
Family tradition
Atri hymns often integrate Agni-Soma-Indra as a single inner process: will kindles, bliss is expressed, illumination arrives and conquers.
Significance
Represents the ‘technology’ of inner sacrifice: preparation, concentration, expression of delight, and the ensuing flow of force.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni and Soma (in service of Indra)
- Epithets
- Agni: samiddha (kindled), Soma: suta (pressed)
- Related deities
- Indra, Bṛhaspati, Sarasvatī
Cosmic role
Agni initiates and carries the offering; Soma is the delight-substance that nourishes the gods, especially Indra’s illumination.
Inner power
Agni is the awakened will; Soma is distilled bliss; together they release a streaming movement (sindhu) of inspired force.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma-yāga: preparation and pressing sequence (upasads/pressing context broadly)
समि॑द्धाग्निर्वनवत्स्ती॒र्णब॑र्हिर्यु॒क्तग्रा॑वा सु॒तसो॑मो जराते । ग्रावा॑णो॒ यस्ये॑षि॒रं वद॒न्त्यय॑दध्व॒र्युर्ह॒विषाव॒ सिन्धु॑म् ॥
समि॑द्धऽअग्निः । व॒न॒व॒त् । स्ती॒र्णऽब॑र्हिः । यु॒क्तऽग्रा॑वा । सु॒तऽसो॑मः । ज॒रा॒ते॒ । ग्रावा॑णः । यस्य॑ । इ॒षि॒रम् । वद॑न्ति । अय॑त् । अ॒ध्व॒र्युः । ह॒विषा॑ । अव॑ । सिन्धु॑म् ॥
samiddha-agniḥ | vanavat | stīrṇa-barhiḥ | yukta-grāvā | suta-somaḥ | jarāte | grāvāṇaḥ | yasya | iṣiram | vadanti | ayat | adhvaryuḥ | haviṣā | ava | sindhum
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4×11 (approx.), with strong mid-pada pause aiding liturgical clarity
Ritually structured yet forceful; lists preparations then releases motion
Creates a sense of ‘setup’ and then a decisive surge—like opening a channel for a current.
- अग्नि (agni)
- Literal: fire. Symbolic: divine will and conscious force leading the inner sacrifice
- वनवत् (vanavat)
- Literal: like a forest, rich. Symbolic: abundant, many-branched living energy in the awakened will
- बर्हिस् (barhis)
- Literal: sacred grass strewn. Symbolic: prepared seat/field of consciousness for higher influences
- ग्रावाणः (grāvāṇaḥ)
- Literal: pressing stones. Symbolic: disciplined faculties that extract essence (soma) from life
- युक्त (yukta)
- Literal: yoked. Symbolic: collected, harmonized instruments of practice
- सुतसोम (sutasoma)
- Literal: pressed Soma. Symbolic: expressed bliss/nectar made available to consciousness
- इषिर (iṣira)
- Literal: impelling, swift. Symbolic: mantric impulsion; inspired directive word
- अध्वर्यु (adhvaryu)
- Literal: ritual priest. Symbolic: the executive will that applies knowledge in action
- सिन्धु (sindhu)
- Literal: river, stream. Symbolic: flood/stream of consciousness-force once released
Directly descriptive of Soma-pressing and preparation: kindling Agni, strewing barhis, yoking stones—core Soma-yajña operational verse.
At moments of declaring readiness—Agni kindled, barhis spread, stones yoked, Soma expressed
Kindling, strewing, yoking stones, pressing Soma, offering into fire; invoking the flow toward Indra
Before meditation: ‘kindle Agni’ (upright posture), ‘spread barhis’ (relax/receptivity), ‘yoke stones’ (collect senses), ‘release sindhu’ (allow breath and awareness to flow).
Agni from √ag ‘to drive, lead’ (and/or ‘to be bright’)—divine will/fire that leads the sacrifice. iṣirá from √iṣ ‘impel’ indicates mantra as impetus. síndhu ‘stream’ becomes the inner current released by the pressing (grā́van). adhvaryu (from adhvara ‘sacrifice’) is the doer/arranger: psychologically, the organizing will that makes inner offering effective.
speech as force (vadanti), release of essence (Soma) through pressure/discipline, ordered rite as rita-in-action
The ordered preparation (yukta, stīrṇa) expresses ṛta as right arrangement enabling right flow.
The ‘impelling word’ from the stones suggests truth-force emerging from disciplined practice.
From concentrated heat and order arises a river of force—microcosmic creation reenacted.
Integral-psychological Veda: sacrifice as inner yogic process.
Fire = will; forest = abundant life-energy; river = released current of consciousness and delight.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘river’ set flowing by the rite: Soma becomes a stream released by pressing-stones and guided by the adhvaryu. Inwardly, disciplined pressure on the raw nature releases a current of delight-consciousness that can carry the gods’ action.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vad ‘to speak’ is a clear IE inheritance (cf. Latin vātēs ‘seer’ is related semantically; and PIE *weh₂d- ‘to speak’). √iṣ ‘impel’ parallels the IE motif of ‘driving’ force in poetic diction. The technical ritual lexicon shows archaic compositional layering: concrete implements encode inner operations.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi (through the ritual agent) prepares the inner field: Agni is kindled (will awakened), Soma is pressed (essence distilled), and the stream is released. The devatās respond not to petition alone but to a correctly prepared consciousness that can host their powers.
Prepare the inner altar: kindle will, create receptivity, coordinate faculties, then let bliss-flow arise.
maṇipūra (Agni) leading to ājñā (clarity) with sahasrāra as ‘flow’ potential
Kapalabhati (mild, 30–60 strokes) to kindle; then slow exhale lengthening to ‘release sindhu’.
Collected, empowered, then smoothly flowing awareness
Use the verse as a checklist: posture (Agni), receptive body (barhis), gathered senses (grāvāṇaḥ yoked), savoring joy (Soma), then silent allowing (sindhu).
Maintain Vedic accents; keep compound clarity in samiddhāgnir, stīrṇabarhir, yuktagrāvā.
Mark caesura naturally after preparation phrases; emphasize ‘sutasomo’ and ‘sindhum’ as release points.
Consonant clusters: stīrṇa-barhiḥ (clear retroflex ṇ), yukta-grāvā (distinct k+t)., Long vowels: samiddhā-, stīrṇā-, sūtá/sutá as per recensional accenting., Pronounce ‘adhvaryuḥ’ with clear dhv cluster.
Firm, ritual-precise diction; slightly stronger push on the ‘release’ half (avā sindhum).
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