Rig Veda 7.9.5: Mandala 7, Sukta 9, Mantra 5
Sukta 7.9
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
अग्ने याहि दूत्यं मा रिषण्यो देवाँ अच्छा ब्रह्मकृता गणेन । सरस्वतीं मरुतो अश्विनापो यक्षि देवान्रत्नधेयाय विश्वान् ॥
agné yāhí dūtyáṃ mā́ riṣaṇyo devā́m ácchā brahma-kṛ́tā gaṇéna | sárasvatīṃ marúto aśvínāpo yákṣi devā́n ratna-dhéyāya víśvān ||
अग्नि, तू देवियों के पास जाना, कुछ मत बिगड़ना। जो लोग वेद के शब्द बोलते हैं, उनके साथ जा। सरस्वती, मरुत, अश्विन और पानी सबको पूजा अर्पण कर। सब देवियों को बुला ताकि अंदर का खज़ाना मिले।
Word by Word
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि- (प्रातिपदिक)
- या॒हि
- go!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole (क्रिया)Root या (धातु)
- दू॒त्यम्
- as messenger-service / on embassyNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot दूत्य- (दूत + यत्/य)
- मा
- do notIndeclinableनिषेधार्थक अव्यय (लोट्/विधिलिङ्-प्रयोगेषु)Role (निषेध)Root मा (निषेध)
- रि॑षण्यः
- O non-injuring one / not causing harmAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (अग्ने इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role सम्बोधनRoot रिष् (धातु) → रिषण्यु- (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
- दे॒वान्
- the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot देव- (प्रातिपदिक)
- अच्छा
- towardsIndeclinableगत्यर्थक अव्ययRole (गति/दिशा)Root अच्छा (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- ब्रह्म॒कृता
- by/with the hymn-making (priestly)Adjectiveतृच्-प्रत्ययान्त (कर्तरि), तृतीया, एकवचन; (गणेन इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role करणRoot ब्रह्मन्- + कृ (धातु) → ब्रह्मकृत् (कृदन्त)
- ग॒णेन
- with the troop / companyNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot गण- (प्रातिपदिक)
- सर॑स्वतीम्
- SarasvatīNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot सरस्वती- (प्रातिपदिक)
- म॒रुतः
- the MarutsNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (वैदिक-रूप: -तः = -तान्)Role कर्मRoot मरुत्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- अ॒श्विना
- the two AśvinsNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन (वैदिक-रूप: -ा = -ौ)Role कर्मRoot अश्विन्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- अपः
- the watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot अप्/आप्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- यक्षि
- worship / offer toVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (वैदिक रूप)Role (क्रिया)Root यज् (धातु)
- दे॒वान्
- the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot देव- (प्रातिपदिक)
- र॑त्न॒धेया॑य
- for treasure-bestowal / for the placing of richesNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot रत्न- + धेय- (√धा ‘to place’ → धेय ‘to be placed/held’) → रत्नधेय- (प्रातिपदिक)
- विश्वा॑न्
- allAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (देवान् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्मRoot विश्व- (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सम्भाव्य): अग्ने | याहि | दूत्यम् | मा | रिषण्यः | देवान् | अच्छा | ब्रह्मकृता | गणेन || सरस्वतीम् | मरुतः | अश्विना | अपः | यक्षि | देवान् | रत्नधेयाय | विश्वान् || विशेष-वैदिकरूपाणि: (1) मरुतः = मरुतान् (द्वितीया बहु), (2) अश्विना = अश्विनौ (द्वितीया द्वि), (3) ब्रह्मकृता तृतीया एकवचन (कृदन्त-तृच्) ‘ब्रह्मकृत्’ इत्यस्य
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni, go as messenger; do not be harmed. Go to the gods with the group that forms the sacred word. Offer to Sarasvatī, the Maruts, the Aśvins, the Waters; sacrifice to all the gods for the placing of treasure.
Inner meaning
The inner fire is the envoy (dūta) between human aspiration and divine powers. The ‘company that forms the brahman’ (brahmakṛtā gaṇena) is the gathered mantra-forces—disciplined thought, purified speech, and collective intention—by which the being approaches the higher consciousness. Agni is asked to move safely through inner resistances (mā riṣaṇyaḥ). The invoked powers represent a complete yoga: Sarasvatī (inspired flow of truth-word), Maruts (dynamic life-energies purified and uplifted), Aśvins (swift healers and harmonizers of mind-life), Āpas (deep waters of consciousness/purification). The aim is ratnadhēya—establishing the ‘treasure’ (inner riches of light, force, delight) as a stable foundation in the nature.
Universal truth
True progress requires a mediating flame—disciplined aspiration that can carry our call to higher powers, integrate multiple energies, and found lasting inner wealth.
Themes
Agni as mediator, collective pantheon invocation, establishing the inner treasure, speech and inspiration (Sarasvati)
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 7.2 (Agni as messenger), RV 7.4 (Agni and protection), RV 7.60 (Mitra harmony)
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha frequently frames Agni as the effective mediator who brings a harmonized ‘company’ of inner powers into right relation with the gods.
Significance
This verse shows Vasiṣṭha’s integrative method: not a solitary ascent, but a coordinated offering of speech, life-force, healing balance, and deep purification.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (Dūta/Hotṛ)
- Epithets
- agne, dūta, hotṛ (implied by yakṣi), brahman-vāh
- Related deities
- Sarasvatī, Maruts, Aśvins, Āpas, Viśve Devāḥ
Cosmic role
Messenger who carries offerings and calls; coordinator of multiple deities/powers into a single sacrificial harmony.
Inner power
Capacity to translate aspiration into effective invocation; organizes speech and energies so higher influences can descend and settle as treasure.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni as dūta in soma/śrauta offerings; also in invitations to Viśve Devāḥ sequences
अग्ने॑ या॒हि दू॒त्यं१॒॑ मा रि॑षण्यो दे॒वाँ अच्छा॑ ब्रह्म॒कृता॑ ग॒णेन॑ । सर॑स्वतीं म॒रुतो॑ अ॒श्विना॒पो यक्षि॑ दे॒वान्र॑त्न॒धेया॑य॒ विश्वा॑न् ॥
अग्ने॑ । या॒हि । दू॒त्य॑म् । मा । रि॒ष॒ण्यः॒ । दे॒वाम् । अच्छ॑ । ब्र॒ह्म॒ऽकृता॑ । ग॒णेन॑ । सर॑स्वतीम् । म॒रुतः॑ । अ॒श्विना॑ । अ॒पः । यक्षि॑ । दे॒वान् । र॒त्न॒ऽधेया॑य । विश्वा॑न् ॥
agne | yāhi | dūtyam | mā | riṣaṇyaḥ | devām | accha | brahma-kṛtā | gaṇena | sarasvatīm | marutaḥ | aśvinā | apaḥ | yakṣi | devān | ratna-dheyāya | viśvān
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4 × ~11 syllables
Directive and processional; suitable for ‘go, approach, offer’ imperatives.
Energizes and mobilizes; gives a sense of inner movement toward a higher assembly.
- दूत्यं (dūtyam)
- Literal: embassy, messenger-work. Symbolic: mediation between lower and higher nature
- मा रिषण्यः (mā riṣaṇyaḥ)
- Literal: do not be injured/harmed. Symbolic: move safely through resistances, avoid dispersion
- देवान् अच्छ (devān accha)
- Literal: to the gods, toward. Symbolic: turning consciousness upward to higher powers
- ब्रह्मकृता गणेन (brahmakṛtā gaṇena)
- Literal: with the group that makes brahman (sacred word). Symbolic: harmonized faculties shaping mantra-thought and intention
- सरस्वती (sarasvatī)
- Literal: goddess of the flowing waters/word. Symbolic: inspired speech, luminous intuition-stream
- मरुतः (marutaḥ)
- Literal: storm-gods. Symbolic: uplifted vital energies, dynamic forces of action
- अश्विना (aśvinā)
- Literal: the twin horsemen. Symbolic: swift harmonizers/healers; balanced dual powers
- अपः (apaḥ)
- Literal: waters. Symbolic: depth-consciousness, purification, plasticity
- रत्नधेयाय (ratnadhēyāya)
- Literal: for the placing/foundation of treasure. Symbolic: establishing stable inner riches (light/force/bliss)
Explicit invitation formula: Agni as messenger to summon deities to the yajña; typical of soma offerings and multi-deity invocations in śrauta sequences.
During invitatory formulas and when summoning deities to the sacrifice
Sending Agni as messenger; offering oblations to named deities
Use before important conversations, study, or service: align speech (Sarasvatī), energy (Maruts), balance (Aśvins), and depth (Āpas) around a steady will.
dūtyá (from dūta ‘messenger’, √dū ‘to send’ uncertain; functional noun); √riṣ ‘harm, injure’; brahmán (from √bṛh ‘to grow, expand’ → expansive word-power); √yaj ‘sacrifice, worship’; ratná (treasure/jewel; spiritual plenitude); √dhā ‘place, establish’ (dheyá).
brahman as word-force, ratna as inner treasure (fullness of being), invocation as alignment of powers
The ‘company that makes brahman’ implies ordered collaboration—ṛta in speech and action.
Sarasvatī invoked for truth-flow; Agni ensures the call is not distorted.
Founding (dhā) of treasure: descent and stabilization of higher powers into the embodied nature.
Mantra-yoga orientation: word as force, coordinated with will and energies to effect inner transformation.
Fire = will/messenger; waters = deep purification; storm = dynamic prāṇa; horse = vital speed and effective action; treasure = consolidated siddhi (light/force/joy).
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Agni as divine messenger (dūta) who traverses realms to bring the gods to the human offering—an archetypal Indo-European mediator motif. Psychologically, the awakened will carries aspiration to higher powers and returns with their forces integrated.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √yaj ‘sacrifice’ corresponds to PIE *h₁yeh₁g- ‘to worship/sacrifice’ (Indo-Iranian yaj-/yas-; Avestan yaz-). √dhā ‘place’ is PIE *dʰeh₁- (cf. Greek τίθημι, Latin faciō is different root but ‘do’ overlaps semantically).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi commissions Agni as envoy: the human side supplies brahman-making concentration (brahma-kṛtā gaṇena), while Agni secures divine participation. The requested return is ratna-dheya—an established inner treasure: stable spiritual wealth, not transient gain.
Coordinate the ‘inner team’: truthful speech (Sarasvatī), uplifted energy (Maruts), healing balance (Aśvins), deep calm (Āpas) under the leadership of will (Agni).
maṇipūra (will) with support of viśuddha (speech)
Brisk 3-part breathing (belly–ribs–chest) for 7 rounds, then slow exhale while repeating ‘agne yāhi’ mentally
Mobilized, protected, and coordinated; readiness for right action.
Before work, chant once slowly to set direction; visualize Agni carrying your intention upward; then invoke each power briefly (clarity, energy, balance, depth) and end with a silent resolve to act in harmony.
Tri-svara; imperatives (yāhi, yakṣi) should be cleanly articulated without rushing the svara.
Mark clear lifts on: agne, yāhi, dūtyam, devān accha, sarasvatīm, maruto, aśvinā, apo, ratnadhēyāya.
devām̐: keep nasalization (anunāsika) before pause, brahmakṛtā: kṛ is syllabic ‘ṛ’; avoid ‘kri’, aśvinā: ś palatal; keep short i, yakṣi: kṣ conjunct crisp, not ‘kashi’
Bright and directive, like a clear call; keep breath-supported to avoid strain.
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