Rig Veda 1.21.2: Mandala 1, Sukta 21, Mantra 2
Sukta 1.21
- Devata
- Indrāgnī
- Chandas
- Gāyatrī
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
ता यज्ञेषु प्र शंसतेन्द्राग्नी शुम्भता नरः । ता गायत्रेषु गायत ॥
tā́ yajñéṣu prá śaṃsaténdrāgnī śúmbhatā naraḥ | tā́ gāyatréṣu gāyata ||
ಯಜ್ಞಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅವರನ್ನು ಪ್ರಶಂಸಿಸಿರಿ—ಇಂದ್ರ-ಅಗ್ನಿಗಳನ್ನು—ಹೇ ನರರೆ; ಮತ್ತು ಪ್ರಕಾಶಮಾನರಾಗಿರಿ. ಗಾಯತ್ರೀ ಛಂದಸ್ಸುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅವರನ್ನು ಹಾಡಿರಿ.
Word by Word
- ताः
- those (two/these)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- यज्ञेषु
- in sacrificesNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्र
- forth, openlyIndeclinableअव्ययRoot प्र (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- शंसते
- they praiseVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole KriyāRoot शंस् (धातु)
- इन्द्राग्नी
- Indra and AgniNoun (dual deity name)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचनRole KarmaRoot इन्द्र + अग्नि (समास-प्रातिपदिक; द्वन्द्व)
- शुम्भता
- adorn/brighten (you two)!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचनRole KriyāRoot शुभ्/शुम्भ् (धातु)
- नरः
- men, worshippersNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot नर (प्रातिपदिक)
- ताः
- those (two/these)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- गायत्रेषु
- in gāyatra(-chants/metres)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot गायत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- गायत
- sing (you all)!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole KriyāRoot गै (धातु)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: ताः | यज्ञेषु | प्र | शंसते | इन्द्राग्नी | शुम्भता | नरः | ताः | गायत्रेषु | गायत । (1) इन्द्रा॒ग्नी = इन्द्र + अग्नी (द्वन्द्व-समास; संहितायां दीर्घ/स्वर-चिह्न सहित). (2) शं॑सते: √शंस् लट् आत्मनेपद 3बहु
- ‘प्र’ उपसर्गः पृथक् पदम्. (3) ताः सर्वनाम ‘तद्’ स्त्री. बहु
- मन्त्रार्थे ‘इन्द्राग्नी’ (द्विवचन) प्रति निर्देशः—वेदे सर्वनाम-प्रयोगे संख्या/लिङ्ग-व्यत्ययः सम्भवति. (4) गायत्रेषु: ‘गायत्र’ (गायत्र-स्तोत्र/छन्दस्) सप्तमी बहु. (5) उदात्त/अनुदात्त/स्वरित चिह्नाः संहितापाठानुसारं
- पदविश्लेषणे रूपनिर्णयः अपरिवर्तितः
The meaning
Outer meaning
Proclaim Indra and Agni in the sacrifices, O men; make yourselves radiant; sing them in the Gāyatrī meters.
Inner meaning
The mantra instructs the human seeker (naraḥ) to actively participate: proclaim the powers of illumination and will within the inner sacrifice (yajña), and thereby ‘shumbhata’—become purified, bright, and beautiful in consciousness. ‘Sing in Gāyatrī’ indicates the discipline of right rhythm: a compact, luminous measure that trains the mind toward clarity and the vital toward ordered energy. The right chandas is itself a yogic instrument.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress depends on conscious collaboration: right invocation, self-purification, and disciplined rhythm of thought/speech shape the inner offering and make the nature radiant.
Themes
Meter-conscious ritual speech, Self-transformation through hymn, Invocation of paired powers
The seer
Significance
The seer functions as instructor of inner practice: invocation + self-radiance + chandas-discipline. This is a direct bridge from Vedic chant to yogic method.
The deity
- Devata
- Indrāgnī
- Epithets
- Śumbhata-pravartakau (makers of radiance) (implied)
- Related deities
- Savitṛ/Gāyatrī (as the chandas principle of illumination, conceptually), Soma
Cosmic role
Indra brings illumination and victorious release; Agni brings purification and forward movement of the sacrifice.
Inner power
A combined force that both clarifies (Indra) and purifies/energizes (Agni), making the human instrument luminous.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indrāgnī stotra in Soma context; also general yajña praise
ता य॒ज्ञेषु॒ प्र शं॑सतेन्द्रा॒ग्नी शु॑म्भता नरः । ता गा॑य॒त्रेषु॑ गायत ॥
ता । य॒ज्ञेषु॑ । प्र । शं॒स॒त॒ । इ॒न्द्रा॒ग्नी इति॑ । शु॒म्भ॒त॒ । न॒रः॒ । ता । गा॒य॒त्रेषु॑ । गा॒य॒त॒ ॥
tā | yajñeṣu | pra | śaṃsata | indrāgnī iti | śumbhata | naraḥ | tā | gāyatreṣu | gāyata
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3×8
Luminous, balanced, and quick—ideal for purification through precise cadence.
Refines speech and attention; induces a bright, organized mental field and a cleansed energetic tone.
- यज्ञेषु (yajñeṣu)
- Literal: in sacrifices. Symbolic: in all acts of consecration; inner yoga-processes
- प्र शंसत (pra śaṃsata)
- Literal: proclaim, praise forth. Symbolic: bring forward into speech/thought the divine qualities; articulate aspiration
- शुम्भत (śumbhata)
- Literal: adorn yourselves, become radiant/purify. Symbolic: inner purification and brightening of mind-vital
- नरः (naraḥ)
- Literal: men, human beings. Symbolic: the soul-in-man (aspirant consciousness) called to cooperate
- गायत्रेषु (gāyatreṣu)
- Literal: in the Gāyatrī meters. Symbolic: in the right luminous rhythm—disciplined mantra-form that carries light
- गायत (gāyata)
- Literal: sing. Symbolic: set the inner vibration; make consciousness resonate with the invoked powers
Chanting within Soma sacrifice using Gāyatrī meter; instruction to reciters/priests to praise Indra-Agni and align the rite through correct meter.
When invoking Indra-Agni and emphasizing correct chanting/measure
Singing/reciting in gāyatrī; self-purification before/through chant
A practical instruction for mantra users: chant with correct meter and let the rhythm purify; use before study, meditation, or any consecrated work.
śaṃsata: 2pl impv. of √śaṃs ‘to recite, praise, proclaim’ (connected with ‘declare’). śumbh-: √śubh ‘shine, adorn’ (PIE *ḱleu̯bʰ-? uncertain; Indo-Iranian strong). gāyatrī: from √gai ‘sing’ + -trī (instrumental/agentive), ‘song-meter’; psychologically ‘measure that carries illumination’.
Rita as rhythm/measure (chandas shaping consciousness), Tapas as self-adornment into radiance (śumbhatā)
Chandas is Ṛta in sound-form; right rhythm aligns the human with cosmic order.
Truthful proclamation (śaṃs) and purified being (śumbh) allow Satya to take effect.
Creation/manifestation through vibration (meter) and invocation (vāk).
Mantra-yoga orientation within Vedic symbolism.
Radiance = purified consciousness; meter = ordered vibration; sacrifice = consecrated life-process.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem of ‘gods established by song’: the divine pair becomes present and effective when proclaimed in yajña and sung in the right meter. The chandas is not ornament but the vehicle of manifestation.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The prominence of ‘song’ as efficacious speech is an Indo-European poetic inheritance; the imperative chain (śaṃsata… gāyata) shows the performative function of utterance typical of archaic IE ritual poetry.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi instructs the human community (naraḥ) to cooperate with the devatā by right chant and self-brightening: inner purification (śumbh-) makes the vessel fit, while the devatā respond to the correctly measured invocation.
Purify and brighten the instrument through disciplined chanting; invoke Indra-Agni to govern thought and will.
Viśuddha (throat) for mantra-vibration; Anāhata for offering-intent.
Chant on a long exhale; keep inhale silent and relaxed; let the gāyatrī cadence regulate breath naturally (3 equal pulses).
Alert clarity with purified energy.
Treat this verse as instruction: (1) set intention of yajña (offer the session), (2) chant with exact rhythm, (3) pause to feel ‘śumbhata’—a tangible brightening in the head/heart.
Rigvedic accent system applies; keep a stable base pitch and mark udātta with a gentle rise; exact svara not supplied.
Let the cadence be clearly 3×8; slight emphasis on ‘indrāgnī’ and ‘śumbhata’; keep ‘gāyatreṣu gāyata’ musically even.
(pra śaṃsata): anusvāra before s—nasalize lightly, (śumbhata): bh aspirated; do not drop ‘bh’, (gāyatreṣu): long ā; ṣ retroflex, (gāyata): ‘gā-ya-ta’ clear
Clean, bright, slightly musical; avoid heaviness.
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