Rig Veda 8.60.18: Mandala 8, Sukta 60, Mantra 18
Sukta 8.60
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Gāyatrī/Anuṣṭubh-like short meter
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
केतेन शर्मन्त्सचते सुषामण्यग्ने तुभ्यं चिकित्वना । इषण्यया नः पुरुरूपमा भर वाजं नेदिष्ठमूतये ॥
kéténa śármant sacate su-sā́maṇy agné túbhyaṃ cikitvánā | iṣaṇyáyā naḥ puru-rū́pam ā́ bhara vā́jaṃ nédiṣṭham ūtáye ||
कौनसा निशान और कौनसा आसरा है जहान लोग तुमसे मिलते हैं, अग्नि? तुम अच्छे बोलने वाले हो, समझदार हो। अपनी ताकत से हमें बड़ा पावर लाओ, जो सबसे करीब हो हमारे काम आने के लिए।
Word by Word
- केतेन
- by what insight/with what understandingNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (अर्थानुसार), तृतीया एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot केत (प्रातिपदिक; ‘केत’ = ज्ञान/प्रज्ञा/संकेत) अथवा ‘केतु’ (प्रातिपदिक)
- शर्मन्
- shelter, protection, comfortNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot शर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- सचते
- attends, accompanies, cleaves toVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root √सच् (सचते) ‘सह गच्छति/अनुगच्छति/सेवते’
- सुषामणि
- O well-healing/beneficent oneAdjective(सम्बोधन) पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचनRole SambodhanaRoot सु- + शामणि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘शामणि’ = शमन/शान्ति/आरोग्य-प्रद)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounसम्बोधन, पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचनRole SambodhanaRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- तुभ्यम्
- to youPronounचतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान), एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- चिकित्वना
- with (your) wise one / as the wise (one)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot चिकित्वन् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘ज्ञानी/विवेकी’ < √चित्/√चिकित्स् ‘to perceive/know’)
- इषण्या
- with impulse/with eager strivingNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot इषण्या (प्रातिपदिक; ‘प्रेरणा/आकाङ्क्षा/उत्साह’)
- नः
- for us / to usPronounषष्ठी बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक) = ‘our’ (क्वचित् दत्तिव/अक्कु. रूपेण ‘to us’), अत्र ‘नः’ = अस्माकम्/अस्मभ्यम् सन्दर्भानुसारRole SampradānaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- पुरुरूपम्
- many-formed, manifoldAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (वाजम् विशेषयति)Role KarmaRoot पुरु- + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- hither, towards (us)Indeclinableउपसर्ग (आ-)Role (क्रिया-विशेषण)Root आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- भर
- bring!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root √भृ (भर) ‘to bear, bring’
- वाजम्
- prize, strength, winning (booty)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot वाज (प्रातिपदिक)
- नेदिष्ठम्
- nearest, most immediateAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (वाजम् विशेषयति)Role KarmaRoot नेदिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; ‘nearer/nearest’—सुपरलेटिव)
- ऊतये
- for help, for aidNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot ऊति (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- संहिता-पाठ: केते॑न॒ शर्म॑न्त्सचते सुषा॒मण्यग्ने॒ तुभ्यं॑ चिकि॒त्वना॑ । इ॒ष॒ण्यया॑ नः पुरु॒रूप॒मा भ॑र॒ वाजं॒ नेदि॑ष्ठमू॒तये॑ ॥ पद-विभाग (सन्धि-विच्छेद): केतेन | शर्मन् | सचते | सुषामणि | अग्ने | तुभ्यम् | चिकित्वना | इषण्या | नः | पुरुरूपम् | आ | भर | वाजम् | नेदिष्ठम् | ऊतये | मुख्य सन्धि: (1) शर्मन् + सचते → शर्मन्त्सचते (न् + स → न्त्स)
- (2) सुषामणि + अग्ने → सुषामण्यग्ने (इ + अ → य्-अग्ने)
- (3) पुरुरूपम् + आ → पुरुरूपमा (म् + आ → मा)
- (4) नेदिष्ठम् + ऊतये → नेदिष्ठमूतये (म् + ऊ → मूतये)
The meaning
Outer meaning
By what sign and in what shelter do they join to you, O Agni of good chant, with awakened understanding? By your impelling force bring to us the many-formed plenitude of power, the nearest for our help.
Inner meaning
The seeker asks for the practical ‘key’ (keta) and the true ‘shelter’ (śarman): what inner indication and what state of protection allow a stable union with Agni. ‘Suṣāmaṇi’ points to harmony of mantra and being—right rhythm, right attunement. ‘Cikitvanā’ is awakened discernment: not blind fervor but conscious understanding. The prayer then turns to ‘iṣaṇyā’—the impelling force of Agni (his dynamic will) to bring ‘pururūpa’ vāja: a many-formed plenitude of effective power—strength, clarity, right action, delight in works—nearest (nediṣṭham), i.e., immediately applicable help in the present struggle.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress requires clear inner signs, a stable refuge, and awakened discernment. When will is rightly tuned, it brings concrete, near-at-hand powers in many forms to meet life’s needs.
Themes
guidance by inner signs, request for strength, mantric harmony, divine aid
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 8.60.15, Rig Veda 8.60.16, Rig Veda 8.60.17, Rig Veda 8.60.19
Significance
This is a diagnostic mantra: it asks for inner criteria (keta) and stable peace (śarman), aligning with a yogic concern for guidance, protection, and effective force rather than mere ritual correctness.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- Suṣāmaṇi (of good chant/harmony), Cikitvat (knower/awake), Iṣaṇyu (impeller—implied)
- Related deities
- Soma (plenitude/bliss behind vāja), Indra (power of achievement), Sarasvatī (right chant, inspired speech)
Cosmic role
Giver of protection and guidance-signs; distributor of effective powers (vāja) through right attunement.
Inner power
Discerning will that both shelters and impels; brings versatile capacities to the seeker.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni praise within offering sequences; prayer for protection and vāja (success)
केते॑न॒ शर्म॑न्त्सचते सुषा॒मण्यग्ने॒ तुभ्यं॑ चिकि॒त्वना॑ । इ॒ष॒ण्यया॑ नः पुरु॒रूप॒मा भ॑र॒ वाजं॒ नेदि॑ष्ठमू॒तये॑ ॥
केते॑न । शर्म॑न् । स॒च॒ते॒ । सु॒ऽसा॒मनि॑ । अग्ने॑ । तुभ्य॑म् । चि॒कि॒त्वना॑ । इ॒ष॒ण्यया॑ । नः॒ । पु॒रु॒ऽरूप॑म् । आ । भ॒र॒ । वाज॑न् । नेदि॑ष्ठम् । ऊ॒तये॑ ॥
ketena | śarman | sacate | su-sāmani | agne | tubhyam | cikitvanā | iṣaṇyayā | naḥ | puru-rūpam | ā | bhara | vājan | nediṣṭham | ūtaye
44
4 × 11 (approx.)
Interrogative opening with a seeking cadence; resolves into a confident petition.
Promotes inward listening for guidance; then mobilizes energy toward practical help.
- केतेन (ketena)
- Literal: by what sign/mark. Symbolic: inner indication, guidance-signal, intuitive criterion
- शर्मन् (śarman)
- Literal: shelter, protection, peace. Symbolic: inner refuge/state of safety in the divine
- सचते (sacate)
- Literal: they join/attach. Symbolic: yoking the faculties to the inner fire; sustained union
- सु-सामनि (su-sāmani)
- Literal: of good chant/harmony. Symbolic: right mantra-attunement; harmonious vibration of the being
- चिकित्वना (cikitvanā)
- Literal: with awakened understanding. Symbolic: discerning consciousness; vigilant intelligence
- इषण्यया (iṣaṇyayā)
- Literal: by impelling force. Symbolic: dynamic push of the divine will; inspired impetus
- पुरुरूपम् (pururūpam)
- Literal: many-formed. Symbolic: multiple powers/solutions; versatile capacities
- वाजम् (vājam)
- Literal: strength, prize, plenitude. Symbolic: effective force of achievement; spiritual and practical power
- नेदिष्ठम् (nediṣṭham)
- Literal: nearest. Symbolic: immediate aid; present-moment grace
Petition verse within Agni hymn: request for immediate aid (ūtí) and vāja; suitable in Soma rites where Agni is asked to bring strength and right guidance (keta) to the sacrificer.
When seeking auspicious signs, protection, and efficacy of the rite; before undertaking demanding actions.
Recitation accompanying offering and request for boon (vāja).
Use when uncertain: ask for ‘keta’ (inner sign) and ‘śarman’ (calm refuge) before decisions; then request ‘nearest help’—one actionable next step.
keta (sign) from √cit-family semantics of noticing/marking; here a criterion of inner rightness. √sac indicates adhesion/companionship—yoking of human movements to Agni. √iṣ is the dynamic push (impulsion) that drives progress. vāja carries the sense of strength and fullness (semantic field: vigor, prize of victory), fitting the psychological reading as ‘plenitude of force’ granted by Agni.
inner discernment (cikitvanā), protective peace (śarman), dynamic impulsion (iṣ)
Keta functions as ṛta’s ‘signal’ in the being—rightness felt as clarity and harmony.
Awakened understanding ensures the pursuit is aligned with truth, not desire.
Many-formed powers emerge from the one fire when rightly joined—unity manifesting diversity.
Aurobindonian psychological exegesis: guidance, peace, and dynamic force as movements of the inner Agni.
Fire = will; shelter = inner peace-field; sign = intuitive light; many-formed vāja = diverse capacities released by aligned aspiration.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘guiding sign’ (keta) and ‘shelter’ (śarman) motif: the god provides a luminous criterion and a safe wideness in which human energies can rightly join (sacate) to the divine work. Mythically, Agni is the guide-light; psychologically, he is the discernment and protection enabling right progression.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √bhṛ ‘bear/bring’ reflects PIE *bʰer- (carry; cf. English bear). √iṣ (impel) aligns with archaic Indo-Iranian dynamics of ‘sending forth’ force; semantic parallels exist in Avestan iṣ- type formations. The vocabulary preserves a shared Indo-European sacral economy: calling, bringing, protecting.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asks for the inner criteria (keta) and stable peace (śarman) so that human movements can adhere to Agni with awakened understanding (cikitvanā). In return, Agni is requested to deliver an immediate, intimate empowerment (nediṣṭha vāja) as practical aid (ūtí).
Ask inwardly: ‘What is the sign of rightness now?’ Rest in śarman, then accept one impelled step.
Anahata (śarman/inner refuge) and Manipura (iṣaṇyā/impulse)
Box breathing 4-4-4-4 to establish śarman; then natural breath while listening for keta.
Receptive discernment leading to gentle, effective action.
Chant once as a question (first half), pause in silence for a felt ‘sign’; chant again as a request for ‘nearest help’ and commit to one concrete offering (a small act of truth).
Keep the interrogative feel by clean udātta rises on keténa, śárman, agné; resolve with fuller tone on iṣaṇyayā and vā́jam.
Slight pause after ‘ketena śarman’ to mark inquiry; keep compounds (suṣāmaṇyagne) flowing without clipping vowels.
ketena: dental t; short e vowels, śarman: ś palatal; ‘r’ light tap, cikitvanā: keep ‘ci-ki’ distinct; retroflex ṇā not present—use long ā, pururūpam: roll ‘ru’ lightly; long ū, nediṣṭham: retroflex ṣṭh cluster—articulate ṣ then ṭh
Questioning then reassuring; soft but clear.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
