Rig Veda 7.5.7: Mandala 7, Sukta 5, Mantra 7
Sukta 7.5
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
स जायमानः परमे व्योमन्वायुर्न पाथः परि पासि सद्यः । त्वं भुवना जनयन्नभि क्रन्नपत्याय जातवेदो दशस्यन् ॥
sá jā́yamānaḥ paramé vyòman vāyúr ná pā́thaḥ pári pāsi sadyáḥ | tváṃ bhúvanā janáyann abhí kránn ápatyāya jāta-vedo daśasyán ||
जब अग्नि पैदा होता है, वो सबसे ऊपर आसमान में रहता है। वो हवा की तरह तुरंत रास्ता बचाता है। अग्नि, तुम ही दुनिया को पैदा करते हो। आगे बढ़ते हो और बच्चों की ग्रोथ के लिए काम करते हो। जातवेदस, तुम रोशनी में जान को चलाते हो।
Word by Word
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (सह-सम्बन्धः; कर्तृपदस्य निर्देशः)Root तद् (sarvanāma-prātipadika)
- जायमानः
- being born, coming into beingParticiple (Adjectival)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot √जन् (जने) + शानच् (वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि)
- परमे
- in the highestAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे (व्योमन्-सम्बद्धम्), सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role अधिकरणRoot परम (प्रātipadika)
- व्योमन्
- sky, firmamentNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role अधिकरणRoot व्योमन् (प्रātipadika)
- वायुः
- the Wind (Vāyu)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (उपमान-कर्तृ; ‘इव’ निहितम्)Root वायु (प्रātipadika)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमानार्थे निपातः (इव-अर्थे)Root न (निपात)
- पाथः
- path, courseNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot पाथस् (प्रātipadika)
- परि
- around, all aroundIndeclinable (Preverb)उपसर्गः (√पा सह)Root परि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- पासि
- you protect, you guardVerbलट् (वर्तमानः), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot √पा (पा रक्षणे)
- सद्यः
- immediately, at onceIndeclinableकालवाचकम् अव्ययम्Role अधिकरण (काल)Root सद्यस् (अव्यय-प्रātipadika)
- त्वम्
- youPronounउत्तम-पुरुषार्थे सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot युष्मद् (sarvanāma-prātipadika)
- भुवना
- worlds, beings/realmsNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role कर्मRoot भुवन (प्रātipadika)
- जनयन्
- generating, bringing forthParticipleपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (कर्तरि)Role कर्तृRoot √जन् (जने) + णिच् (causative) + शतृ (वर्तमानकाले)
- अभि
- towards, uponIndeclinable (Preverb)उपसर्गः (√क्रम् सह)Root अभि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- क्रन्
- he strode/stepped forthVerbलुङ्-आorist (वैदिकः, अनागमः/इञ्जङ्क्टिव-सदृशः), परस्मैपदम्, तृतीयपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot √क्रम् (क्रमु पादविक्षेपे) — वैदिकः लुङ्/आorist-रूपः (injunctive/augmentless)
- अपत्याय
- for offspring, for progenyNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी, एकवचनम्Role सम्प्रदानRoot अपत्य (प्रātipadika)
- जातवेदः
- O Jātavedas (Agni), knower of birthsNoun (Vocative epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role सम्बोधनRoot जातवेदस् (प्रātipadika; अग्नि-विशेषणम्)
- दशस्यन्
- worshipping, serving (honouring)Participleपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot √दशस्/दश् (वैदिकः: ‘पूजने/सेवने’ अर्थे) + शतृ
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolved as: जायमानः (no split)
- परमे व्योमन् (adj + loc. noun)
- व्योमन्वायुः → व्योमन् + वायुः (न् + व → न्व)
- पाथः परि → padas kept separate
- त्वं भुवना (no split)
- जनयन्नभि → जनयन् + अभि (न् + अ → न्न)
- क्रन्नपत्याय → क्रन् + अपत्याय (न् + अ → न्न)
- जातवेदो → जातवेदः (सम्बोधन-एकवचनस्य वैदिकः ओ-आदेशः)
- दशस्यन् (no split)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni, newly kindled, is said to be born in the highest expanse and immediately guards the path like the all-moving Wind; he brings the worlds to birth and urges them forward, fostering offspring/continuity.
Inner meaning
The psychic Fire (Agni Jātavedas), once awakened in the highest wideness of consciousness, instantly becomes the vigilant guide of the inner journey. Like Vāyu (life-breath moving everywhere), it keeps the subtle pathways open, protects the ascent, and generates ordered planes of experience (bhuvanāni). It presses the being forward against inertia, nurturing the ‘offspring’—new formations of consciousness, works, and soul-continuity in the light.
Universal truth
When the divine will is born in the vast inner sky, it naturally becomes guidance and protection for the path; it generates new worlds of possibility and sustains the continuity of growth through conscious aspiration and service to the truth.
Themes
guardian of the path, cosmic birth, continuity/offspring, highest space
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vāsiṣṭha
- Other hymns
- RV 7.1, RV 7.2, RV 7.3, RV 7.4, RV 7.5, RV 7.6
Family tradition
Seer-family of Maṇḍala 7 emphasizing Agni as inner sovereign and the upholder of ṛta; hymns often move from ritual imagery to psychological ascent.
Significance
Vasiṣṭha’s vision frequently presents Agni as the master of the inner sacrifice who establishes harmony between the worlds (earth-life and heaven-mind) and leads toward the Vast (uru/vyoman).
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (Jātavedas / Vaiśvānara)
- Epithets
- Jātavedas, Vaiśvānara, path-guardian (pāthas-pā), all-pervading like Vāyu (vāyur iva)
- Related deities
- Vāyu, Indra, Soma, Rudras, Vasus
Cosmic role
Mediator and first-born of the sacrifice; establishes the ways between worlds and generates ordered creation in accordance with ṛta.
Inner power
Divine Will and luminous discernment that guards the yogic path, kindles aspiration, and compels progressive manifestation.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agnihotra / daily kindling; also invoked in Soma-yajña contexts as path-maker and protector of the rite
स जाय॑मानः पर॒मे व्यो॑मन्वा॒युर्न पाथ॒: परि॑ पासि स॒द्यः । त्वं भुव॑ना ज॒नय॑न्न॒भि क्र॒न्नप॑त्याय जातवेदो दश॒स्यन् ॥
सः । जाय॑मानः । प॒र॒मे । विऽओ॑मन् । वा॒युः । न । पाथः॑ । परि॑ । पा॒सि॒ । स॒द्यः । त्वम् । भुव॑ना । ज॒नय॑न् । अ॒भि । ऋ॒न् । अप॑त्याय । जा॒त॒ऽवे॒दः॒ । द॒श॒स्यन् ॥
saḥ | jāyamānaḥ | parame | vi-oman | vāyuḥ | na | pāthaḥ | pari | pāsi | sadyaḥ | tvam | bhuvanā | janayan | abhi | ṛn | apatyāya | jāta-vedaḥ | daśasyan
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables each
Forward-driving, declarative, with a ‘pressing’ cadence suited to urging and protection.
Builds a sense of ascent and vigilance; stabilizes attention while energizing inner movement.
- परमे व्योमन् (parame vyoman)
- Literal: in the highest sky/wideness. Symbolic: supramental/greater mind-space; the vast field where higher consciousness is born
- जायमानः (jāyamānaḥ)
- Literal: being born. Symbolic: the awakening/kindling of the inner fire and a new state of awareness
- वायुः (vāyuḥ)
- Literal: wind. Symbolic: prāṇa and pervasive life-movement; the all-penetrating dynamism that carries consciousness
- पाथः (pāthaḥ)
- Literal: path. Symbolic: inner routes of ascent and right movement (yoga-mārga) through mind-life-body
- परि पासि (pari pāsi)
- Literal: thou guardest all around. Symbolic: protective guidance; a luminous vigilance that prevents deviation
- भुवना (bhuvanā)
- Literal: worlds/planes. Symbolic: graded levels of consciousness and embodiment created by the inner sacrifice
- अभि क्रन्/ऋन् (abhi … ṛn/kran)
- Literal: press/urge forward (textual reading varies). Symbolic: the divine impulsion that breaks stagnation and compels progress
- अपत्य (apatya)
- Literal: offspring. Symbolic: new births of light: realizations, capacities, works, and continuity of the soul’s becoming
- जातवेदस् (jātavedas)
- Literal: knower of all that is born. Symbolic: the fire of integral knowledge present in all formations; the inborn guide
Invocation for protection of the ‘path’ (pāthaḥ) and for generative continuity (apatya) in rite and life.
At kindling and offering moments; when seeking safe passage for the rite and its fruits
Ignition of Agni, offering with ghee; recitation to establish protection of the ‘path’ of the sacrifice
Use at the start of meditation or before important undertakings to invoke inner guidance, protection from distraction, and steady progress.
vyoman ‘expanse’ supports a psychological ‘highest space’ reading. √pā ‘protect’ is an ancient IE root (PIE *peh₂- ‘protect/pasture’). Jātavedas: jāta ‘born’ + veda ‘knowing’ (√vid), i.e., the fire-consciousness that knows all becomings from within.
protection of the path (yoga of ascent), creation/generation (janayan bhuvanā), knowledge through becoming (Jātavedas)
Agni guards the ‘path’ as the way of ṛta—right movement between planes; protection implies alignment with cosmic order.
Jātavedas as inborn knowledge ensures growth is rooted in truth, not impulse.
‘Generating the worlds’—inner creation: consciousness forms planes and capacities through the awakened Fire.
Proto-Vedānta / integral Vedic psychology (Aurobindo-Kashyap line): ascent through worlds by Agni as guiding will.
dawn-to-morning transition (suggested by ‘birth’ and immediate movement)
Fire = awakened will; Wind = prāṇa carrying attention; Sky = vast consciousness; Path = inner discipline and right movement.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Agni ‘born in the highest space’ who guards the path like Vāyu: a myth of the divine being emerging in the supreme expanse and immediately securing the way for further becoming and for the continuity (apatya) of the luminous lineage.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vid in veda (Jātavedas) is PIE *weyd- ‘see/know’ (cf. Latin vidēre, English wit). √pā ‘protect’ is archaic pastoral/protective lexicon. The simile construction (vāyur na) is a classic IE poetic device.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi approaches Agni as the protector of the inner journey and the guarantor of continuity of the soul’s growth (apatya). The reciprocity is service (daśasyan) and protection: the seer offers reverent alignment; Agni safeguards the passage and sustains unfolding worlds within.
Invoke Agni in the ‘highest wideness’—feel a flame of will in the heart rising into vast space above the head; rest attention in that wideness while sensing guidance along the inner path.
Anāhata → Sahasrāra axis (heart-fire rising into the crown-vastness)
Gentle ujjāyī or slow nasal breathing; on inhale feel ‘Vāyu’ pervading pathways, on exhale offer effort into the flame.
Uplifted, vigilant, progressive (aspiration with protection).
Begin with a brief inner offering: name the next right step, ask Agni to ‘guard the path’, then act from quiet certainty rather than haste.
Use Rigvedic svara tradition: maintain udatta on marked high tones, anudatta as low, svarita as falling; consult a śākha-specific notation for exact accents.
Keep ‘jāyamānaḥ’ and ‘jātavedo’ clearly articulated; do not flatten the cadence—Triṣṭubh needs a forward lift at each pāda end.
Differentiate v/y: ‘vyoman’ (vyo-) with clear ‘v’ glide, Retroflex ṇ in ‘kran/ṛn’ depends on recension; keep ‘jātavedas’ with long ā, Avoid merging ‘pari pāsi’—light pause after ‘pāthaḥ’
Steady, bright, slightly ascending tone (as if ‘guarding and leading’).
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