Rig Veda 5.6.2: Mandala 5, Sukta 6, Mantra 2
Sukta 5.6
- Devata
- Agni
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
सो अग्निर्यो वसुर्गृणे सं यमायन्ति धेनवः । समर्वन्तो रघुद्रुवः सं सुजातासः सूरय इषं स्तोतृभ्य आ भर ॥
só agnír yó vásur gṛṇé sáṃ yám āyánti dhenávaḥ | sám árvanto raghu-drúvaḥ sáṃ sujātā́saḥ sūráya íṣaṃ stotṛ́bhya ā́ bhara ||
वो अग्नि ही खज़ाना है जिसकी हम प्रशंसा करते हैं। उसके पास सारी शक्तियाँ आती हैं और मिल जाती हैं। तेज़ और स्थिर घोड़े भी वहीं आते हैं। जो अच्छे से पैदा हुए हैं और चमक रहे हैं, वो भी वहीं आते हैं। हे अग्नि, गाने वाले लोगों को बढ़ाने वाली शक्ति दे।
Word by Word
- सः
- he; that (one)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → स
- अग्निः
- Agni; fireNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वसुः
- Vasu; good/wealth (as a beneficent one)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
- गृणे
- I praiseVerbलट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम्Role KartāRoot गृ (धातु) → गृणाति
- सम्
- together; completelyIndeclinableउपसर्गःRoot सम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- यम्
- whomPronounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- आयन्ति
- they come/approachVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role KartāRoot इ (धातु) → एति; उपसर्गः आ-
- धेनवः
- cows; milch-cowsNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
- सम्
- togetherIndeclinableउपसर्गःRoot सम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- अर्वन्तः
- steeds; horsesNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot अर्वन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
- रघुद्रुवः
- swift-moving; quick and steadyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम् (अर्वन्तः इति विशेषणम्)Role KartāRoot रघु-द्रु (समास-प्रातिपदिक; ‘swift-running/firm in speed’)
- सम्
- togetherIndeclinableउपसर्गःRoot सम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- सुजातासः
- well-born; of good birthAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम् (सूरयः इति विशेषणम्)Role KartāRoot सु-जात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √जन् ‘to be born’ + क्त)
- सूरयः
- patrons; lords; generous menNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot सूरि (प्रातिपदिक)
- इषम्
- refreshment; nourishment; strengthNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot इष्/इषा (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्तोतृभ्यः
- to the praisersNounपुंलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी, बहुवचनम्Role SampradānaRoot स्तोतृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- hither; towardsIndeclinableउपसर्गःRoot आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- भर
- bring!; bear hither!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role KartāRoot भृ (धातु) → भरति
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (padapāṭha-style): सो → सः
- अग्निर् → अग्निः
- वसुर् → वसुः
- वसुर् गृणे (visarga before g-)
- गृणे सं → गृणे सम्
- यमा॒यन्ति → यम् + आयन्ति (acc. sg. of relative pronoun + verb with ā-)
- समर्वन्तो → सम् + अर्वन्तः
- रघुद्रुवः taken as a compound adjective qualifying अर्वन्तः
- सं सुजातासः → सम् + सुजातासः
- इषं स्तोतृभ्य आ भर → इषम् + स्तोतृभ्यः + आ + भर
The meaning
Outer meaning
That Agni is the treasure whom we praise; to him the milking cows come together. Together come the swift-steady steeds; together the well-born shining ones—bring to the singers iṣa (impulsion of increase).
Inner meaning
The stanza intensifies the previous movement by repeating ‘saṃ’ (together): the yoga is collective integration. Knowledge-rays (cows), action-energies (horses), and luminous faculties (sūrayaḥ—inner ‘sun-like’ powers) assemble around the psychic fire. Praise (gṛṇe) is not flattery but a mantra-act that aligns consciousness; then Agni can deliver a coordinated impulsion (iṣa) that increases harmony and effectiveness.
Universal truth
Growth becomes swift when our insights, energies, and higher faculties stop working in isolation and gather around a single aspiration toward the Divine.
Themes
gathering of powers, Agni as center, integration, empowerment of speech
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 5.6.1, RV 5.6.3, RV 5.6.4
Significance
Emphasizes ‘saṃ’—the Vedic key of integration—suggesting that the seer’s realization involves collecting scattered powers into a single sacrificial convergence.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- Vasu (treasure)
- Related deities
- Indra (illumination that uses gathered force), Maruts (energies that become raghudruva—swift-stable)
Cosmic role
Unifier and awakener; the center where diverse cosmic powers coordinate for ascent.
Inner power
Integrative fire that makes knowledge and energy cooperate under a higher intention.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni praise within soma/yajña or daily fire-cultivation; supports the ‘gathering’ phase of offerings.
सो अ॒ग्निर्यो वसु॑र्गृ॒णे सं यमा॒यन्ति॑ धे॒नव॑: । समर्व॑न्तो रघु॒द्रुव॒: सं सु॑जा॒तास॑: सू॒रय॒ इषं॑ स्तो॒तृभ्य॒ आ भ॑र ॥
सः । अ॒ग्निः । यः । वसुः॑ । गृ॒णे । सम् । यम् । आ॒ऽयन्ति॑ । धे॒नवः॑ । सम् । अर्व॑न्तः । र॒घु॒ऽद्रुवः॑ । सम् । सु॒ऽजा॒तासः॑ । सू॒रय । इष॑म् । स्तो॒तृऽभ्यः॑ । आ । भ॒र॒ ॥
saḥ | agniḥ | yaḥ | vasuḥ | gṛṇe | sam | yam | āyanti | dhenavaḥ | sam | arvantaḥ | raghu-druvaḥ | sam | su-jātāsaḥ | sūraya | iṣam | stotṛ-bhyaḥ | ā | bhara
44
4×11 (approx.).
Repetitive ‘saṃ’ gives a drum-like unifying beat; balanced and assembling.
Produces a felt sense of coherence; mind and breath tend to synchronize on the repeated ‘saṃ’.
- gṛṇe
- Literal: I praise/sing. Symbolic: mantric affirmation that aligns and opens the being
- saṃ
- Literal: together. Symbolic: integration; yoga as unification of parts
- dhenavaḥ
- Literal: cows. Symbolic: rays/streams of knowledge
- raghudruvaḥ
- Literal: swift and steady/firm. Symbolic: energies that are both rapid and stable—tapas without agitation
- sujātāsaḥ
- Literal: well-born. Symbolic: purified, rightly formed faculties (sattwic formations)
- sūrayaḥ
- Literal: shining ones, heroes, wise. Symbolic: luminous powers of understanding and right action
- iṣam
- Literal: impulsion/increase. Symbolic: divine push of growth coordinated by Agni
Continuation of Agni invocation: consolidation (sam) of forces around Agni; request for iṣ to empower the hymn and the sacrificer’s progress
When establishing Agni as the central receiver and harmonizer of the rite.
Recite while tending the fire; mentally draw faculties inward ‘together’.
A mantra for scatteredness: chant when fragmented or over-stimulated to re-collect energies into one calm drive.
sám marks integration (a key Vedic psychological gesture). gṛṇe from √gṛ ‘to sing, praise’—speech as creative act. raghu ‘swift’ (cf. √raṃh ‘to hasten’) + dhruva ‘fixed, firm’ from √dhru ‘to be firm’—a paradoxical ideal: rapid yet steady energy. su-jāta ‘well-born’ from √jan ‘be born’—right formation. sūrá ‘shining/heroic’ from √svar/√sūr ‘shine’—luminous faculties.
integration/unification (sam), right formation (sujāta), stable swiftness (raghu-dhruva) as perfected force
‘Togetherness’ is ṛta in action—right arrangement of powers.
Sūrayaḥ as truth-bearing luminous faculties assemble around Agni.
Cosmic order arises by gathering and harmonizing forces around a central principle (Agni).
Integral yoga reading of Vedic sacrifice as inner unification.
Fire = aspiration; cows = illuminations; horses = prāṇa; sun-powers = higher intelligence/clarity.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The convergence (sam) of all powers to Agni: nourishing yields, dynamic movements, and luminous faculties unite at the fire-center. Mythically it is the assembling of the divine-helping forces; psychologically it is the unification of the being around the awakened will.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The repeated sám is an archaic poetic device for ‘totalizing’ action—common in IE poetics as iterative/parallel structuring. dhruvá ‘firm’ reflects PIE *dheru- ‘firm, solid’ (cf. English true via semantic shifts is not direct; but the firmness root is widely attested across IE).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi praises (gṛṇe) and describes the law of approach: when Agni is affirmed as treasure, the scattered powers gather. The boon requested remains iṣ—Agni’s gift that turns praise into effective inner motion and growth.
Integration practice: on each ‘saṃ’, feel one layer (mind, prāṇa, senses, higher intuition) assembling around the heart-flame.
Maṇipūra (stability of tapas) with Ajñā support (sūrayaḥ as clarity).
Box-breath 4-4-4-4 while softly repeating ‘saṃ’; then chant the verse once fully.
Unified, luminous, quietly powerful.
Use after pranayama: let the gathered prāṇa become raghudruva—swift yet steady—before entering silence.
Not provided; emphasize ‘saṃ’ with a consistent stress to embody gathering.
Keep pāda openings crisp; let ‘saṃ’ be the metrical hook each time.
so agnir: link smoothly (sandhi) without swallowing vowels, raghudruvaḥ: clear gh; roll r lightly; final visarga soft, sujātāsaḥ: long ā; keep ‘jā’ open
Collected and resonant; avoid haste so ‘swift-steady’ becomes felt.
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