Rig Veda 7.4.8: Mandala 7, Sukta 4, Mantra 8
Sukta 7.4
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
नहि ग्रभायारणः सुशेवोऽन्योदर्यो मनसा मन्तवा उ । अधा चिदोकः पुनरित्स एत्या नो वाज्यभीषाळेतु नव्यः ॥
náhi grabhā́yā́raṇaḥ su-śévo ’nyó-daryo mánasā́ mantavā́ u | ádhā cid ókaḥ púnar ít sá ety ā́ no vājí abhīṣā́ḷ etu návyaḥ ||
अरणि को पकड़ना आसान नहीं है। वो दयालु है, लेकिन सिर्फ मन की सही सोच से मिलता है, किसी और के पेट की भूख से नहीं। घर छीन भी जाए तो वो वापस आता है। यह जीतने वाली ताकत हम तक आए, नया जोश लाए।
Word by Word
- नहि
- surely not / indeed notIndeclinableनिषेध/प्रत्यवायार्थक निपातRoot नहि (न + हि)
- ग्रभाय
- for seizure / for graspingNounपुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी एकवचन (दातिव)Role SampradānaRoot ग्रभ (धातु √ग्रभ् ‘ग्रहणे’)
- अरणः
- a stranger / alien (one not of our side)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot अरण (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुशेवः
- well-disposed, kindlyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (अरणः इति विशेषणम्)Role KartāRoot सु-शेव (प्रातिपदिक; सु + शेव ‘हित/अनुकूल’)
- अन्यः
- anotherPronoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot अन्य (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- उदर्यः
- belly-minded / greedy (lit. ‘of the belly’)Adjective/Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (अन्यः इति विशेषणम्)Role KartāRoot उदर्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘उदर’ से व्युत्पन्न)
- मनसा
- with (his) mindNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- मन्तवा
- counsellors / thinkersNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन (वैदिक रूप: -आः > -आ)Role KartāRoot मन्तु (प्रातिपदिक; ‘विचार/मन्त्र’)
- उ
- indeed / alsoIndeclinableअवधारण/अनुनासिक-प्रयोग निपातRoot उ (निपात)
- अधा
- then / thereafterIndeclinableकाल/अनुक्रम-निपात (‘ततः/अथ’)Root अधा (निपात)
- चित्
- evenIndeclinableअपि-अर्थे (‘even’)Root चित् (निपात)
- ओकः
- house, dwellingNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot ओकस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- पुनः
- againIndeclinableपुनरावृत्ति-अर्थेRoot पुनः (अव्यय)
- इत्
- just / indeedIndeclinableएव/नूनम्-अर्थे (‘just, indeed’)Root इत् (निपात; इद्)
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम)
- एति
- goes, comesVerbलट्; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRoot √इ (गत्यर्थे)
- आ
- towards, hitherIndeclinableउपसर्ग (आ-गमन/समन्तात्)Root आ (उपसर्ग)
- नः
- to us / for usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- वा
- orIndeclinableविकल्पार्थकRoot वा (निपात)
- वाज्यभीषा
- with (the) fear of the prize/booty (or: with prize-winning terror)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot वाज्य-भीषा (समास; वाज्य ‘वाज-सम्बद्ध/वाजिन’ + भीषा ‘भय/भयहेतु’)
- आ
- towardsIndeclinableउपसर्गRoot आ (उपसर्ग)
- इतु
- let him come / may he goVerbलोट् (वैदिक आज्ञार्थ); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRoot √इ (गत्यर्थे)
- नव्यः
- new, freshAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (सः इति विशेषणम्)Role KartāRoot नव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सम्भाव्य): नहि | ग्रभाय | अरणः | सुशेवः | अन्यः | उदर्यः | मनसा | मन्तवा | उ । अधा | चित् | ओकः | पुनः | इत् | सः | एति | आ | नः | वा | वाज्यभीषा | आ | इतु | नव्यः ॥ 1) सुशेवोऽन्यः = सुशेवः + अन्यः (विसर्ग-लोपः, अवग्रहः)
- 2) अन्योदऱ्यः = अन्यः + उदर्यः (ओ-आदेशः: अ + उ → ओ)
- 3) चिदोकः = चित् + ओकः (त् + ओ → दो; संहितायां ‘चिद्’)
- 4) पुनरित्स = पुनः + इत् + सः (विसर्गः → र्; ‘इत्’ निपातः; ततः सः)
- 5) एत्या = एति + आ (आगम-उपसर्गः; संहितायां दीर्घ/य्-आगमः)
- 6) वाज्यभीषाळेतु = वाज्यभीषा + आ + इतु (आ + इ → ए; संहितायां ‘एतु’)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Arani is not to be seized; he is gracious, but to be grasped by true thinking of the mind, not by another’s belly-hunger. Even if the home is lost, he comes again to the dwelling; may the victorious force, the new impeller, come to us with conquering might.
Inner meaning
Agni in the araṇi (latent fire in the friction-sticks) symbolizes the inmost flame concealed in nature. It cannot be ‘grabbed’ by crude vital appetite (anyodarya, belly-hunger) or external possession; it is contacted by right mental conception and inward reflection (manasā mantavā). Even when the inner ‘home’ (okaḥ: settled poise) is lost through negligence, the flame can return when rightly invoked. The ‘new’ victorious force (navya vājy abhīṣāṭ) is a fresh surge of illumined energy that conquers resistance and re-establishes the inner dwelling.
Universal truth
The deepest power cannot be owned by craving; it is realized by clarity and sincerity of mind. When inner stability is lost, renewal is possible: the true fire returns when called by right understanding and practice.
Themes
Kindling doctrine, Ethics of aspiration, Return of the flame, Victory-force
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa lineage, traditional)
- Other hymns
- RV 7.4.1-10, RV 7.5.1-11
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha hymns often interpret Agni as both cosmic fire and the hidden flame in the human being; they stress wakefulness, sincerity, and right thought as the means of kindling.
Significance
This verse is a classic Vedic psychological teaching: spiritual fire is not a commodity of desire; it is evoked by true mind (mantavā) and returns even after lapses.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (as Araṇi-garbha, latent fire)
- Epithets
- Araṇi-jāta (born from the araṇi, implied), Suśeva, Vājī, Navya
- Related deities
- Sarasvatī (right inspiration/mentality), Indra (victory-force), Soma (rewarding delight after conquest)
Cosmic role
Hidden in matter as the seed of consciousness; brought forth by friction/effort into manifest flame; renewer of the sacrifice.
Inner power
The secret will-to-illumination in the body; responds to sincere thought and rejects grasping desire; restores inner poise after loss.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agnyādheya / kindling and maintenance of fire; araṇi symbolism in fire-production
न॒हि ग्रभा॒यार॑णः सु॒शेवो॒ऽन्योद॑र्यो॒ मन॑सा॒ मन्त॒वा उ॑ । अधा॑ चि॒दोक॒: पुन॒रित्स ए॒त्या नो॑ वा॒ज्य॑भी॒षाळे॑तु॒ नव्य॑: ॥
न॒हि । ग्रभा॑य । अर॑णः । सु॒ऽशेवः॑ । अ॒न्यऽउ॑दर्यः । मन॑सा । मन्त॒वै । ऊँ॒ इति॑ । अध॑ । चि॒त् । ओकः॑ । पुनः॑ । इत् । सः । ए॒ति॒ । आ । नः॒ । वा॒जी । अ॒भी॒षाट् । ए॒तु॒ । नव्यः॑ ॥
nahi | grabhāya | araṇaḥ | su-śevaḥ | anya-udaryaḥ | manasā | mantavai | oṃ iti | adha | cit | okaḥ | punaḥ | it | saḥ | eti | ā | naḥ | vājī | abhīṣāṭ | etu | navyaḥ
44
4 pādas × ~11 syllables
Argumentative and incisive; a teaching cadence with a victorious lift near the end.
Encourages sincerity and disidentification from craving; ends with an energizing call for fresh victorious force.
- अरणः (araṇaḥ)
- Literal: Arani / the fire-in-wood. Symbolic: the concealed divine flame in embodied nature
- ग्रभाय (grabhāya)
- Literal: to seize, grasp. Symbolic: attempt to appropriate spiritual power through egoic force
- सुशेवः (suśevaḥ)
- Literal: gracious, kindly. Symbolic: the Divine responds, but on right terms—by truth, not greed
- अन्योदर्यः (anyodaryaḥ)
- Literal: another’s belly (hunger). Symbolic: vital craving, utilitarian desire, exploitative approach
- मनसा मन्तवै (manasā mantavā)
- Literal: by mind, by thinking/true thought. Symbolic: right ideation, inward discernment; mantra as conscious cognition
- ओकः (okaḥ)
- Literal: home, dwelling. Symbolic: inner station/settled consciousness (psychic ‘house’)
- वाजी (vājī)
- Literal: winner, force of victory. Symbolic: dynamic energy that wins light and right movement
- अभीषाट् (abhīṣāṭ)
- Literal: conquering, overpowering. Symbolic: force that overcomes resistance (vṛtra-like obstruction)
- नव्यः (navyaḥ)
- Literal: new. Symbolic: renewed inspiration; fresh descent of power
Kindling by araṇi: emphasizes right intention and mental grasp rather than mere outward appropriation; also a moral warning against selfish taking of sacred fire.
During kindling or re-kindling, especially when fire is produced from araṇis or when emphasizing purity of intention
Recitation to ensure the fire is kindled by right thought and not by mere appetite; to invite renewed power after lapse
A mantra for ‘reset’: when practice has been lost, use it to re-establish the inner hearth without guilt, but with clear intention.
/ (araṇi/araṇa) the fire-stick; from √/ ‘to fit, join, move’ semantic of friction/bringing forth. (grabh) from √ ‘seize’. (vājin) from (vāja) ‘strength, prize, plenitude’; root sense of ‘vigour/fullness’ supports psychological ‘dynamic force’ not mere food. from √/√? (Vedic form meaning ‘assailing’).
Right mental apprehension (manasā mantavai), Purity of motive vs appetite (anyodarya), Renewal (navya)
Agni returns ‘to the home’—reinstating right order in the inner life.
True cognition (mantavā) is the key to contact with the divine seed in matter.
Emergence of consciousness from concealed matter through tapas (araṇi friction).
Yoga of will and knowledge (Aurobindo): the Divine in matter is released by conscious aspiration, not desire.
Wood = embodied nature; spark = awakening of will; hearth/home = settled inner center; hunger = lower vital appropriation.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The hidden Agni in the araṇi cannot be ‘seized’ by crude appetite; he is brought forth by right mental action. Mythically: sacred fire is not stolen for selfish ends. Psychologically: the inner flame is not gained by desire but by disciplined thought and aspiration; even if the ‘home’ (inner seat) lapses, the flame can return anew.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √/ ‘seize’ belongs to a pan-Indo-European semantic field of grasping/holding; the contrast between physical seizure and mental apprehension is a characteristic Vedic development of inherited ‘grasp’ vocabulary into epistemic territory (knowing as grasping).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi positions the seeker as one who must approach Agni through mind and right motive, not possessiveness. The devata responds as ‘navya vājin’—ever-new victorious energy—arriving when the inner conditions are corrected.
Contact the ‘hidden ember’: shift from wanting to receiving; kindle by clear thought and sincerity.
Manipura (kindling) with support from Ajna (right thought)
Gentle bhastrikā-like 10–20 breaths (if suitable) then quiet inhalation; on exhale, feel friction releasing a spark at the navel center.
From restless desire → clarified intention → renewed inner steadiness.
When craving arises, do not ‘grab’ experiences; return to mantra-thought (mantavā). If you’ve fallen from routine, re-light the practice as a homecoming.
Vedic accent-sensitive; keep the didactic clarity in first half and a rising invocatory lift in the final pāda.
Emphasize contrasts: ‘nahi’ (not), ‘manasā mantavā’ (by mind’s thinking), and the arrival phrases ‘ā no … etu’.
Pronounce araṇaḥ with clear retroflex ṇ, anyodaryo: keep yod as a tight cluster, avoid extra vowel insertion, mantavā: nasal + t is crisp; long ā sustained, abhīṣāḻ: articulate ṣāḻ/ṣāṭ with retroflex ṣ and final stop clearly
Teaching tone, then confident invocation at the end.
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