Rig Veda 5.8.3: Mandala 5, Sukta 8, Mantra 3
Sukta 5.8
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
त्वामग्ने मानुषीरीळते विशो होत्राविदं विविचिं रत्नधातमम् । गुहा सन्तं सुभग विश्वदर्शतं तुविष्वणसं सुयजं घृतश्रियम् ॥
tvām agne mānuṣīr īḷate viśo hotrā-vidaṁ viviciṁ ratna-dhātamam | guhā santaṁ su-bhaga viśva-darśataṁ tuvi-svaṇasaṁ su-yajaṁ ghṛta-śriyam ||
अग्नि, लोग तुम्हे बुलाते हैं। तुम जानते हो पूजा कैसे करनी है। तुम अंदर की धन देते हो। तुम छुपा रहते हो, फिर भी सब तुम्हे देख सकते हैं। तुम पूजा सही चलाते हो, और तुम्हारी चमक घी जैसी है।
Word by Word
- त्वाम्
- you (as object)Pronounद्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- मानुषीः
- human (women/folk)Adjective (used substantively) / Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot मानुषी (प्रातिपदिक; मानुष- < मनु)
- ईळते
- praises / invokesVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot ईळ् (धातु) / Vedic īḷ (to praise, invoke)
- विशः
- clans, peoplesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot विश् (प्रातिपदिक)
- होत्राविदम्
- knower of the priestly office / of invocationAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot होत्रा-विद् (समास; होत्रा + विद् ‘knowing’)
- विविचिम्
- discerning, distinguishingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot वि-विचि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘discriminating/choosing’, from √विच्/√विच् ‘to separate, discern’)
- रत्नधातमम्
- most bestowing of treasuresAdjective (superlative)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot रत्न-धा-तम (समास; रत्न + √धा ‘to place, bestow’ + तम)
- गुहा
- in secret, hiddenly / in concealmentIndeclinable (adverbial) / Noun in loc. senseअव्यय (स्थाने/अधिकारणे) प्रयोगःRole अधिकारणRoot गुहा (प्रातिपदिक)
- सन्तम्
- being, existingParticipleपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (वर्तमान सक्रिय कृदन्त)Role कर्म (विशेषणरूपेण)Root अस् (धातु) → सन्त् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- सुभग
- O fortunate oneAdjective (vocative)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot सु-भग (प्रातिपदिक; ‘well-portioned, fortunate’)
- विश्वदर्शतम्
- visible to all / splendid for all to seeAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot विश्व-दर्शत (समास; विश्व + दर्शत ‘visible, splendid’ < √दृश्)
- तुविष्वणसम्
- mighty-sounding, loudly roaringAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot तुवि-स्वनस (समास; तुवि ‘mighty’ + स्वनस ‘sounding/roaring’ < √स्वन्)
- सुयजम्
- well-worshipped / good to sacrifice toAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot सु-यज (प्रातिपदिक; ‘easy/good to worship’ < √यज्)
- घृतश्रियम्
- having ghee as splendour / shining with gheeAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot घृत-श्री (समास; घृत ‘ghee’ + श्री ‘splendour, prosperity’)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution: (1) त्वाम॑ग्ने → त्वाम् + अग्ने (final -म् before vowel)
- (2) मानु॑षीरीळते → मानुषीः + ईळते (visarga before vowel; RV orthography often writes -री- for -ः + ई-)
- (3) होत्रा॒विदं॒ → होत्रा + विदम् (tatpuruṣa compound; no external sandhi)
- (4) विवि॑चिं → विविचिम् (anusvāra/ṃ orthography; accus. sg. -म्)
- (5) रत्न॒धात॑मम्, विश्वद॑र्शतम्, तुविष्व॒णसं॑, सु॒यजं॑, घृत॒श्रिय॑म् are accusative singular adjectives/epithets agreeing with implied ‘त्वाम्’ (Agni)
- (6) गुहा॒ सन्तं॑ → गुहा (avyaya ‘in secret’) + सन्तम् (acc. sg. participle)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Human communities praise you, Agni—knower of the offering, discerner, greatest giver of treasures. Though hidden in secrecy, you are the all-visible; with strong resonance you perform the sacrifice well, shining with the splendour of ghṛta.
Inner meaning
The human powers aspire to the inner Fire as hotrāvid (knower of the right offering: right self-giving) and vivici (discerner: separating truth from mixture). He is ratnadhātama (best placer of inner riches): he establishes powers of knowledge, strength, joy. Though ‘hidden in the cave’ (guhā)—the secret heart and subconscient depth—Agni becomes viśvadarśata: the universal revealer when awakened. His ‘puissant sound’ is the mantra-force and inner vibration that organizes the yajña. ‘Ghṛtaśrī’ is the luminous clarity of a mind made bright and smooth—clarified consciousness that can hold the light without smoke.
Universal truth
The guiding will is often hidden, but when invoked it becomes the revealer and discerner, arranging our self-offering into an effective transformation and granting inner wealth.
Themes
Agni as inner priest, hidden light in the heart-cave, discernment and right sacrifice, bestower of inner treasures (ratna)
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha (probable attribution for 5.8 in some traditions; mixed ascriptions exist)
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 7.1–7.3 (Vasiṣṭha Agni hymns, thematic), RV 7.33 (Vasiṣṭha tradition, ṛta and guidance)
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha’s style often stresses ṛta, inner discernment, and the hidden-to-manifest movement of the divine Flame in the heart-cave.
Significance
Vasiṣṭha’s vision highlights Agni as the secret indweller who becomes the universal revealer, aligning sacrifice with discrimination and luminous clarity.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- hotrāvid, vivici, ratnadhātama, subhaga, viśvadarśata, tuviṣvaṇasa, suyaja, ghṛtaśrī
- Related deities
- Bṛhaspati (word/illumination), Sarasvatī (inspired flow), Indra (illumined mind)
Cosmic role
Priest of the worlds; revealer of hidden light; arranger of the divine-human exchange.
Inner power
Psychic flame that awakens discrimination, mantra-force, and clarified intelligence.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni-stuti during kindling and offering; praise of Agni as hotṛ and revealer
त्वाम॑ग्ने॒ मानु॑षीरीळते॒ विशो॑ होत्रा॒विदं॒ विवि॑चिं रत्न॒धात॑मम् । गुहा॒ सन्तं॑ सुभग वि॒श्वद॑र्शतं तुविष्व॒णसं॑ सु॒यजं॑ घृत॒श्रिय॑म् ॥
त्वाम् । अ॒ग्ने॒ । मानु॑षीः । ई॒ळ॒ते॒ । विशः॑ । हो॒त्रा॒ऽविद॑म् । विवि॑चिम् । र॒त्न॒ऽधात॑मम् । गुहा॑ । सन्त॑म् । सु॒ऽभ॒ग॒ । वि॒श्वऽद॑र्शतम् । तु॒वि॒ऽस्व॒णस॑म् । सु॒ऽयज॑म् । घृ॒त॒ऽश्रिय॑म् ॥
tvām | agne | mānuṣīḥ | īḷate | viśaḥ | hotrāvidam | vivicim | ratna-dhātamam | guhā | santam | su-bhaga | viśva-darśatam | tuvi-svaṇasam | su-yajam | ghṛta-śr iyam
44
4 pādas × ~11 syllables
Dynamic but balanced; suited to proclamation of hidden power becoming manifest.
Energizes discernment and inner hearing; supports the sense of revelation breaking out of secrecy.
- hotrāvid
- Literal: knower of the Hotṛ-function/oblation. Symbolic: knower of right self-offering; intuitive priest in us
- vivici
- Literal: discerning, separating. Symbolic: power of discrimination (viveka) that sifts truth from confusion
- ratnadhātama
- Literal: best placer of treasures. Symbolic: establisher of inner riches: light, strength, delight, right capacities
- guhā
- Literal: cave, secrecy. Symbolic: secret heart and subconscient; hidden psychic fire
- viśvadarśata
- Literal: seen by all / all-revealing. Symbolic: universal revelation when the inner fire rises
- tuviṣvaṇasa
- Literal: of strong sound/roar. Symbolic: mantric vibration; forceful inner resonance that breaks inertia
- suyaja
- Literal: sacrificing well. Symbolic: rightly ordered practice; harmonious offering of parts
- ghṛtaśrī
- Literal: splendour of ghee. Symbolic: clarified luminous mind-substance; intelligence made pure and steady
Agni-invocation in general iṣṭi contexts; suitable for kindling (samidh) and establishing Agni as hotṛ in Soma and non-Soma rites (e.g., Agniṣṭoma preliminaries; Darśapūrṇamāsa style offerings).
Before/around recitation of offering formulas; when seeking clarity and right discrimination in the rite
Praise + offerings of ghee (ghṛta) to intensify flame and symbolically ‘clarify’ consciousness
Use before study/decision-making: invoke vivici (discernment) and ghṛtaśrī (clarity) for right choice.
Key terms: īḷate < √īḷ (to praise, invoke, seek); hotrā-vidam: hotṛ/hotra (offering/priestly function) + √vid (to know); viviciṁ < vi-√vic (to separate, discern, distinguish); ratna-dhātamam: ratna (treasure, jewel; symbolically rays/powers) + √dhā (to place, establish) + superlative -tama; guhā (cave/secret place; often the hidden heart) related to concealment imagery; viśva-darśatam: viśva (all) + √dṛś (to see) with desiderative/causative sense ‘making seen’; tuvi-svaṇasam: tuvi (strong, mighty) + svaṇasa (sound, resonance) from √swan (to sound); su-yajam: su (good) + √yaj (to sacrifice, worship; also to yoke/arrange the rite); ghṛta-śriyam: ghṛta (clarified butter; symbolically clarified consciousness/light) + śrī (splendour, abundance).
ṛta (right order) via su-yaja/hotra-vid, inner discernment (viveka-like function via vivici), hidden immanence (Agni in guhā)
Suyaja implies sacrifice aligned with ṛta—right arrangement of energies.
Vivici is the movement toward satya by separating truth from false mixture.
Hidden fire in the ‘cave’ becomes manifest revelation—microcosmic dawn of consciousness.
Yoga of knowledge-and-will: discrimination + offering as twin engines of transformation.
pre-dawn to dawn (implied by hidden-to-visible emergence)
unspecified
Cave = heart/subconscient; ghee = clarified mind; sound = mantra-shakti; fire = psychic will.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The hidden Fire in the secret place (guhā)—Agni as the concealed divine power that must be invoked and brought to manifestation. This is the recurring mythic pattern of the ‘latent light’ discovered/awakened within obscurity (wood/cave/heart), which on the inner plane becomes awakening of will and luminous knowledge from the subconscient.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vid ‘to know’ in hotrā-vidam aligns with PIE *weyd- (cf. Latin videō, English wit). √dṛś ‘see’ in viśva-darśatam continues PIE *derk-/*drewk- type ‘to see’ (Indo-Iranian developments). The sacrificial √yaj in su-yajam corresponds to PIE *h₁yeh₁g- ‘to worship/sacrifice’ (cf. Avestan yaz-). The verse’s compound style (tatpuruṣa/bahuvrīhi: ratna-dhātama, viśva-darśata, ghṛta-śrī) is a hallmark of inherited Indo-European poetic compression.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- A reciprocal contract of inner yajña: humans/‘communities’ (also the many parts of the being) invoke Agni as hotrāvid (the one who knows the right offering/word). In return Agni, though hidden, reveals (viśva-darśata) and establishes the rátna (inner wealth of powers). The relationship is pedagogic and transformative: Agni is praised not merely as flame but as the discerning priest-force that orders the seeker’s consciousness into ṛta through right sacrifice (su-yaja) and clarified light (ghṛta-śrī).
Discover the hidden flame in the heart-cave; cultivate vivici (discernment) and ghṛtaśrī (clarity).
Anāhata (heart-cave) with Ajñā (discernment)
Bhrāmarī (humming) 5 rounds to awaken tuviṣvaṇasa (inner resonance), then silent witnessing in the heart
Luminous inward seeing; quiet wonder
Chant once, then sit with attention behind the sternum. Ask inwardly: ‘What in me is mixed? What is true?’ Let a quiet discriminating clarity arise without mental argument.
Vedic accents per recension; keep clear pitch lift on key epithets (hotrāvidam, vivicim, viśvadarśatam) (exact svara requires accent notation).
Slight pause after ratnadhātamam; let ‘guhā santam’ be softer, then open into ‘viśvadarśatam’ brighter.
īḻate: retroflex ḷ, not plain l, hotrāvidaṃ: keep long ā in hotrā, viviciṃ: articulate vi-vi-ciṃ cleanly, ghṛtaśriyam: vocalic ṛ; combine ghṛ-ta-śri-yam
Quietly resonant, inward; allow a gentle hum-like timbre on tuviṣvaṇasam
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