Rig Veda 6.10.2: Mandala 6, Sukta 10, Mantra 2
Sukta 6.10
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya
- Devata
- Agni, kindled by Manuṣa
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shringara (love) and Shanta (peace)
तमु द्युमः पुर्वणीक होतरग्ने अग्निभिर्मनुष इधानः । स्तोमं यमस्मै ममतेव शूषं घृतं न शुचि मतयः पवन्ते ॥
tám u dyu-máḥ puru-aṇīka hotar agné agníbhir mánuṣa idhānā́ḥ | stómaṃ yám asmai mamatéva śū́ṣaṃ ghṛtáṃ na śúci matáyaḥ pavante ||
लोग अग्नि को आग से जलाते हैं। वो बहुत रोशनी वाला है, उसके चेहरे अलग-अलग हैं। उसके लिए भजन बनता है, जैसे किसी प्यारे के लिए दिल करता है। सोच साफ होती है, घी जैसी चमक होती है।
Word by Word
- तम्
- him; that one (Agni)Pronounपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्म (स्तुत्य/प्राप्त्य-विषयः) / कर्म-निर्देशःRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- उ
- indeed; andIndeclinableनिपातः (अव्ययम्)Root उ (निपात)
- द्युमः
- we, the radiant ones; (men) endowed with splendourAdjective (used substantively) / Noun-likeपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृ (स्तुतिकर्तारः) / कर्तृ-समूहःRoot द्युमत् (प्रातिपदिक) ← द्युत्/द्युम्न ‘splendour’
- पूर्वणीक
- O one of ancient/foremost aspect; of old countenanceAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गे संबोधन एकवचनम् (अग्नेः विशेषणम्)Role सम्बोधनRoot पूर्व-नीक (समास-प्रातिपदिक) [पूर्व ‘former’ + नीक ‘face/front, appearance’]
- होत॒र्
- O Hotṛ; O priest (invoker)Nounपुंलिङ्गे संबोधन एकवचनम्Role सम्बोधनRoot होतृ (प्रातिपदिक) ← √हु ‘to sacrifice, offer’
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुंलिङ्गे संबोधन एकवचनम्Role सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्निभिः
- with (the) fires; with flamesNounपुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्Role करण (साधनम्) / सहकारि-करणम्Root अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- मनुषे
- for Manu; for mankind (the Manuvian)Nounपुंलिङ्गे चतुर्थी एकवचनम् (वैदिके ‘मनुषे’)Role सम्प्रदान (हित/प्रयोजनम्)Root मनुष्य (प्रातिपदिक) ← मनु (नाम) + ष्य (तद्धित)
- इधानः
- being kindled; kindlingParticipleवर्तमान-कृदन्तः (शानच्), प्रथमा एकवचनम् पुंलिङ्गे (अग्नेः)Role कर्तृ (स्वकर्तृ-भावे) / विशेषणम्Root √इध् (इन्धे) ‘to kindle’
- स्तोमम्
- a hymn; praiseNounपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्म (पवन्ते/प्रवहन्ति इत्यस्य विषयः) / अर्प्य-वस्तुRoot स्तोम (प्रातिपदिक) ← √स्तु ‘to praise’
- यम्
- whichPronounपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (संबन्ध-प्रत्ययः)Role कर्म (यम्… पवन्ते = which they purify/bring forth)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्मै
- to himPronounपुंलिङ्गे चतुर्थी एकवचनम्Role सम्प्रदानRoot अयम्/इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ममतेव
- as if with fondness; like (one’s) affectionIndeclinable phrase (noun + particle)इव = अव्ययम्; ममता = स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् (उपमान-भावे)Role (उपमान/उपमेय-सम्बन्धः)Root ममता-इव (ममता ‘affection, fondness’ + इव) [समास/सन्धि-रूप]
- शूषम्
- vigour; ardourNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्म (पवन्ते/प्रवहन्ति इत्यस्य सह-विषयः)Root शूष (प्रातिपदिक) ‘vigour, strength, ardour’
- घृतम्
- ghee; clarified butterNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् (उपमान-रूपे)Role (उपमानम्)Root घृत (प्रातिपदिक) ← √घृ ‘to sprinkle/anoint’ (निष्पन्न-नाम)
- न
- likeIndeclinableअव्ययम् (उपमायाम् ‘like’)Root न (उपमा-निपात) अथवा न (निषेध) — अत्र उपमायाम्
- शुचिम्
- pure; brightAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (घृतम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role (विशेषणम्)Root शुचि (प्रातिपदिक) ‘bright, pure’
- मतयः
- thoughts; inspirationsNounस्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot मति (प्रातिपदिक) ← √मन् ‘to think’
- पवन्ते
- they purify/stream forthVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष बहुवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot √पू (पवते) ‘to purify, to flow/stream’
Sandhi Notes
- सन्धि-विच्छेदः (मुख्य): तमु = तम् + उ
- होत॒रग्ने॑ = होत॒र् + अग्ने (व्यञ्जन-सन्धि: र् + अ → र)
- अग्निभिर्मनुष = अग्निभिः + मनुषे (विसर्ग-सन्धि: ः + म → र्/र्-आदेशः वैदिक-पाठे ‘अग्निभिर्म…’)
- ममतेव = ममता + इव (अ + इ → ए). शेषपदानि प्रायः असन्धित/पद-सीमा-स्पष्ट।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni, rich in light and many-faced, is kindled by men with their fires. To him the hymn flows like a lover’s ardor, pure as clarified butter; our thoughts stream bright and cleansing.
Inner meaning
Human effort (manuṣa) kindles the divine will through many ‘fires’—multiple points of aspiration in life (discipline, sincerity, concentration). Agni is puru-aṇīka, many-faced: he manifests differently in mind, life, and body as illumined intelligence, courage, and purifying energy. When he is lit, the stoma flows spontaneously—devotional vibration—and the mind’s formations (matayaḥ) become śuci, purified, like ghee clarified of dross. The ‘beloved’s ardor’ indicates the bhakti-force that makes offering intimate and effective, turning thought into a luminous stream.
Universal truth
Sincere human aspiration can kindle a higher power; when that power awakens, speech and thought become purified and begin to flow with clarity and devotion.
Themes
kindling, purification, devotion as force, many-faced Agni
The seer
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya
- Lineage
- Bharadvāja
- Other hymns
- RV 6.10.1, RV 6.10.3
Family tradition
Seers of inspired formulation (suvṛkti) and inner priesthood; emphasis on purification of thought through Agni.
Significance
Bharadvāja links kindling of Agni with the purification of matī (thought): the hallmark of the inner yajña where mind becomes clarified ghee.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (Hotṛ; dyumat; puru-aṇīka)
- Epithets
- Hotṛ, Dyumat, Puru-aṇīka
- Related deities
- Soma (delight that sweetens ardor), Sarasvatī (flowing inspiration), Bṛhaspati (formative word)
Cosmic role
Receives offerings and transmits them; manifests in many forms to purify and illumine the sacrifice.
Inner power
Purifier of mind and speech; awakener of devotional ardor that makes the offering effective.
In ritual
Where it is used
Kindling and offering sequences where ghee and hymns are poured into Agni.
तमु॑ द्युमः पुर्वणीक होत॒रग्ने॑ अ॒ग्निभि॒र्मनु॑ष इधा॒नः । स्तोमं॒ यम॑स्मै म॒मते॑व शू॒षं घृ॒तं न शुचि॑ म॒तय॑: पवन्ते ॥
तम् । ऊँ॒ इति॑ । द्यु॒ऽमः॒ । पु॒रु॒ऽअ॒णी॒क॒ । हो॒तः॒ । अग्ने॑ । अ॒ग्निऽभिः॑ । मनु॑षः । इ॒धा॒नः । स्तोम॑म् । यम् । अ॒स्मै॒ । म॒मता॑ऽइव । शू॒षम् । घृ॒तम् । न । शुचि॑ । म॒तयः॑ । प॒व॒न्ते॒ ॥
tam | oṃ iti | dyu-maḥ | puru-aṇīka | hotaḥ | agne | agni-bhiḥ | manuṣaḥ | idhānaḥ | stomam | yam | asmai | mamatāiva | śūṣam | ghṛtam | na | śuci | matayaḥ | pavante
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4 × ~11 syllables.
Fluid yet strong; supports imagery of ‘flowing’ (pavante) and devotional ardor.
Encourages a cleansing, upward streaming feeling; stabilizes aspiration while softening the heart.
- द्यु्मः (dyumaḥ)
- Literal: full of light. Symbolic: luminous consciousness; clarity and radiance in the being
- पुरुअणीक (puru-aṇīka)
- Literal: many-faced, many-formed. Symbolic: divine fire expressing through many faculties and functions
- होतः (hotṛ)
- Literal: invoking priest. Symbolic: the inner caller who offers and mediates between human and divine
- अग्निभिः (agnibhiḥ)
- Literal: with fires. Symbolic: multiple intensities of aspiration/effort; supportive inner energies
- मनुषः (manuṣaḥ)
- Literal: men/humans. Symbolic: the human seeker; the evolving consciousness
- इधानः (idhānaḥ)
- Literal: being kindled. Symbolic: awakening of will and aspiration into steady flame
- स्तोम (stoma)
- Literal: hymn. Symbolic: uplifting vibration; mantra-current rising to the divine
- ममता इव शूषम् (mamatā-iva śūṣam)
- Literal: like a beloved’s ardor. Symbolic: intimate devotion and intensity that empowers offering
- घृतम् (ghṛtam)
- Literal: clarified butter. Symbolic: clarified mind-substance; luminous essence of thought
- शुचि (śuci)
- Literal: pure, bright. Symbolic: purified consciousness free of mixture
- मतयः (matayaḥ)
- Literal: thoughts, intentions. Symbolic: mental formations offered upward; purified discernments
- पवन्ते (pavante)
- Literal: they flow/are purified. Symbolic: streaming ascent and cleansing movement of consciousness
Kindling/praise verse: aligns physical kindling with inner purification of thought; suitable during Agni-dīpana and stotra recitation
During Agni’s kindling (idh) and stotra recitation; especially apt when offering ghṛta.
Adding fuel/ghee; recitation to ‘make the thoughts pure’ as offerings.
Before study, creative work, or mantra-japa: chant to clarify mind (‘ghṛtaṃ na śuci’) and invoke clean inspiration.
(idhāna) from √idh ‘kindle’ → kindling as awakening. (śūṣa) ‘ardor/strength’ linked to intensity/force; here devotion-energy. (ghṛta) from √ghṛ ‘sprinkle/anoint’ → clarified butter; symbolically clarified mind-substance that feeds Agni. (mati) from √man ‘think’ → inspired thought; from √pū/√pav ‘purify, clarify’ (semantic field of cleansing/flowing).
purification of thought (mati), devotional ardor (śūṣa), human-divine cooperation
The ‘flow’ of hymn and thought becomes ritic—rightly directed and harmonized—when Agni is kindled.
Śuci-matī: purity as a condition for truth to manifest in mind.
Purification as re-creation: the mind clarified into luminous substance.
Psychological Vedism: sacrifice as inner transformation of mental substance into clarified offering.
Ghee = clarified mind-essence; flowing = ascent of purified intention into higher consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘kindling of the divine fire by men’: human action awakens Agni, and in response hymns and thoughts become clarified streams feeding the flame—outer offering mirrors inner purification.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √man (mati) reflects PIE *men- ‘think’. The ‘many-faced’ epithet (puru-aṇīka) uses a productive IE poetic device: multiplicity compounds to convey divine polyvalence.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- Reciprocity is explicit: the practitioner kindles Agni; Agni receives hymn and clarified thought, intensifying inner ardor and cleansing the mental substance so it can bear light.
Feel thoughts becoming ‘clarified ghee’ offered into a steady inner flame.
Maṇipūra (fire) with Anāhata (devotional ardor).
On inhale: ‘idhānaḥ’; on exhale: ‘pavante’—imagine impurities leaving and clarity rising.
From mixed mental activity to purified, luminous flow; a bhakti-infused calm.
Begin with a brief self-offering: place one intention into the heart-flame. Then chant, and after chanting sit quietly, watching thoughts become fewer, brighter, and more sincere.
Tri-svara; allow a gentle lift on ‘ghṛtám’ and ‘śúci’ to sonically ‘brighten’ the line.
Keep compound ‘puru-aṇīka’ articulated with a slight internal pause; flow smoothly through ‘mamatā-iva śūṣam’.
‘ghṛ’ in ‘ghṛtam’ with clear vocalic ṛ, ‘śūṣam’ long ū; avoid shortening, ‘pavante’ with clear v (not b)
Warm, flowing, devotional; avoid harshness to preserve the ‘ghṛta’ purity feel.
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