Rig Veda 1.72.2: Mandala 1, Sukta 72, Mantra 2
Sukta 1.72
- Rishi
- Parāśara Śāktya
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
अस्मे वत्सं परि षन्तं न विन्दन्निच्छन्तो विश्वे अमृता अमूराः । श्रमयुवः पदव्यो धियंधास्तस्थुः पदे परमे चार्वग्नेः ॥
asmé vátsaṃ pári ṣántaṃ ná vindann icchánto víśve amṛ́tā amū́rāḥ | śramayúvaḥ padávyō dhiyamdhās tasthúḥ padé paramé cā́rv agnéḥ ||
ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಹುಡುಕುತ್ತಾ ಇದ್ದ ಎಲ್ಲ ಮೋಹರಹಿತ ಅಮೃತರು—ಸುತ್ತಮುತ್ತ ಮರೆಮಾಡಲ್ಪಟ್ಟ ವತ್ಸವನ್ನು ಕಂಡುಕೊಳ್ಳಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಶ್ರಮದಿಂದ ಯೌವನ ಪಡೆದವರು, ಪಥಶೋಧಕರು, ಧೀ (ಪ್ರಜ್ಞೆ)ಯನ್ನು ಧರಿಸಿದವರು—ಅಗ್ನಿಯ ಪರಮ, ಮನೋಹರ ಪದದಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ಥಿರರಾದರು.
Word by Word
- अस्मे
- in/for usPronounसप्तमी (locative), एकवचनRole अधिकारणRoot अस्मद्
- वत्सम्
- the calfNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचनRole कर्मRoot वत्स
- परि
- aroundIndeclinable (preverb/preposition)Root परि
- षन्तम्
- sittingVerb-derived participleपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (present active participle: ‘sitting’)Role विशेषण (of वत्सम्)Root षद् (धातु; Vedic variant of सद् ‘to sit’)
- न
- notIndeclinableRoot न
- अविन्दन्
- they foundVerbलङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot विद् (to find/know)
- इच्छन्तः
- desiring, seekingVerb-derived participleपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (of अविन्दन्)Root इष्/इच्छ् (to desire)
- विश्वे
- allAdjective (substantivized)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (apposition to इच्छन्तः)Root विश्व
- अमृताः
- the immortalsAdjective (substantivized)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (apposition)Root अमृत
- अमूराः
- unbewildered, not foolishAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (apposition)Root अमूर (a-mūra ‘not foolish’; mūra ‘dull, foolish’)
- श्रमयुवः
- the strenuous/striving onesAdjective (substantivized)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (of तस्थुः)Root श्रमयु (śrama-yu ‘toil-seeking/striving’; from श्रम् ‘to toil’ + यु ‘seeking/going’)
- पदव्यः
- track-finders, path-knowersNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (apposition)Root पदव्य (path-finder/one who knows the track; from पद ‘footstep, track’)
- धियंधाः
- those who set/hold the insightNoun (agent) / adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (apposition)Root धियंधा (dhiyam-dhā ‘placing/holding thought’; from धि/धी ‘insight’ + धा ‘to place’)
- तस्थुः
- they have stood / took their standVerbलिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot स्था (to stand)
- पदे
- in the place/stepNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकारणRoot पद
- परमे
- highest, supremeAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (agreeing with पदे)Role विशेषण (of पदे)Root परम
- चारु
- beautiful, lovelyAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (used predicatively: ‘beautiful’)Role विशेषण (of अग्नेः/its पद)Root चारु
- अग्नेः
- of AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive), एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)Root अग्नि
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolved as: अस्मे वत्सम् परि षन्तम् न अविन्दन् इच्छन्तः विश्वे अमृताः अमूराः । श्रमयुवः पदव्यः धियंधाः तस्थुः पदे परमे चारु अग्नेः ॥ Key points: (1) विन्दन् + इच्छन्तः → अविन्दन् इच्छन्तः (no external sandhi; pāda break)
- (2) तस्थुः प॒दे → तस्थुः पदे (visarga before voiced consonant often shown as plain)
- (3) परमे चार्वग्नेः in saṃhitā reflects sandhi: चारु + अग्नेः → चार्वग्नेः (u + a → va; i.e., -u a- → -va-)
- (4) षन्तम् is Vedic for सन्तम्/सदन्तम् ‘sitting’, from √षद् (variant of √सद्)
The meaning
Outer meaning
All the undeluded immortals, seeking, did not find the calf hidden all around. The young in labour—path-finders, holders of the thought—stood at Agni’s highest lovely station.
Inner meaning
The ‘calf’ (vatsá) is the nascent flame of truth-consciousness or the concealed delight/light that must be found and brought out. Even the higher powers (amṛtāḥ) do not ‘find’ it by surface seeking when it is enveloped by the coverings of the subconscient (pari ṣantam). The seekers—those who bear the thought (dhiyam-dhāḥ) and carve the path (padavyáḥ)—must endure the labour (śramayuvaḥ) of inner tapas until they can stand in the supreme station (pade parame) of Agni: the stable poise where the fire is self-revealed.
Universal truth
What is most divine in us is often hidden by pervasive habit and inconscience; discovery requires sustained effort, right thought, and ascent to a higher standpoint where the truth becomes visible.
Themes
finding the hidden light, initiation/search, supreme station, divine helpers (immortals)
The seer
- Rishi
- Parāśara Śāktya
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-line (Śāktya branch)
- Other hymns
- RV 1.65, RV 1.66, RV 1.67, RV 1.68, RV 1.69, RV 1.70, RV 1.71, RV 1.72, RV 1.73
Family tradition
Agni-vision linked to the Angirasa motif of ‘finding’ concealed light/cows—here rendered as the hidden calf.
Significance
The rishi maps the psychology of discovery: concealment, seeking, tapas, and the eventual establishment at the ‘highest station’ of the inner Fire.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- cāru (lovely, gracious), parame pade-stha (standing in the supreme station, by description), gūḍha (hidden, implied by the quest)
- Related deities
- Angirasas (seekers of the hidden light), Indra (breaker of coverings), Soma (delight that nourishes discovery)
Cosmic role
Agni as the hidden divine principle in matter and life; the summit-fire that becomes the goal and support of ascent.
Inner power
The secret flame of aspiration and truth that, when found, becomes a stable high poise guiding all movements.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni hymns used in kindling and in sequences that narrate discovery of fire/light; supportive in soma rites as well
अ॒स्मे व॒त्सं परि॒ षन्तं॒ न वि॑न्दन्नि॒च्छन्तो॒ विश्वे॑ अ॒मृता॒ अमू॑राः । श्र॒म॒युव॑: पद॒व्यो॑ धियं॒धास्त॒स्थुः प॒दे प॑र॒मे चार्व॒ग्नेः ॥
अ॒स्मे इति॑ । व॒त्सम् । परि॑ । सन्त॑म् । न । वि॒न्द॒न् । इ॒च्छन्तः॑ । विश्वे॑ । अ॒मृताः॑ । अमू॑राः । श्र॒म॒ऽयुवः॑ । प॒द॒व्यः॑ । धि॒य॒म्ऽधाः । त॒स्थुः । प॒दे । प॒र॒मे । चारु॑ । अ॒ग्नेः ॥
asme iti | vatsam | pari | santam | na | vindan | icchantaḥ | viśve | amṛtāḥ | amūrāḥ | śrama-yuvaḥ | padavyaḥ | dhiyam-dhāḥ | tasthuḥ | pade | parame | cāru | agneḥ
44
4×11 (approx.)
Questing and ascending; triṣṭubh supports the feeling of effort and arrival at a summit.
Elicits perseverance; gives a sense of climbing from search to stationing in a higher consciousness.
- वत्सम् (vatsam)
- Literal: calf. Symbolic: the young hidden fire/inner delight; the newborn truth-force to be recovered
- परि षन्तम् (pari ṣantam)
- Literal: hidden/lying around, encompassed. Symbolic: covered by surrounding obscurity; enveloped by subconscious formations
- अमृताः अमूराः (amṛtā amūrāḥ)
- Literal: immortals, undeluded. Symbolic: higher powers of consciousness that seek the truth without error, yet require the right station
- श्रमयुवः (śramayuvaḥ)
- Literal: young ones in toil. Symbolic: ardent aspirants practicing tapas; energetic powers in disciplined effort
- पदव्यः (padavyáḥ)
- Literal: trackers/path-finders. Symbolic: those who discover inner routes—methods of ascent and right movement
- धियम्धाः (dhiyam-dhāḥ)
- Literal: holders of thought. Symbolic: bearers of the luminous idea (dhī) that sustains the quest
- पदे परमे (pade parame)
- Literal: in the highest station. Symbolic: the summit-poise of consciousness where Agni is established
Used in contexts emphasizing ‘finding’ and establishing the hidden fire/light; supports contemplative sections of Agni praise
During invocations that emphasize Agni’s hiddenness and the need to establish him in the rite
Recitation while tending the fire; symbolic ‘seeking’ and ‘finding’ through correct placement and offerings
For times of confusion or ‘lost inner flame’: chant as a reminder that the truth is hidden but recoverable through patient practice and right standpoint.
vatsa ‘calf’ is a recurrent Vedic symbol for a young emergent light/force (to be found and raised). padavya ‘path-knower’ from pada ‘step’ indicates mastery of stages. dhiyam-dhā (√dhā) indicates fixing the inspired thought (dhī) in the being. śrama implies tapas-like effort. paramé padé is the supreme station—psychologically the highest settled level of Agni’s consciousness.
tapas (śrama) as necessary effort, stages/steps of realization (pada), hidden truth awaiting discovery
Padavyáḥ indicates the ṛta-path—right tracks in consciousness that lead to the supreme station.
Dhī (luminous thought) holds the seeker steady until the concealed truth is unveiled.
Evolutionary unveiling: the hidden divine in the encircling inconscience becomes manifest at the summit.
Aurobindonian evolutionary yoga: ascent and revelation of the secret fire in matter/life.
Calf = nascent truth-delight; covering = subconscious resistance; path = method; summit = stable higher consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘hidden calf’ mythologem: a concealed young power of light is sought but not immediately found, even by immortals; realization requires standing at Agni’s supreme station. Psychologically it is discovery of the latent divine flame/knowledge within the human field.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vind/√vid ‘find/know’ is PIE *weyd-; √sthā ‘stand’ is PIE *steh₂-. The ‘step/pada’ as a stage of realization parallels IE notions of measured advance and graded attainment.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The Rishi depicts the path as demanding: divine powers assist, but the hidden truth is accessed by disciplined standing (tasthuḥ) in the supreme consciousness of Agni—suggesting a yogic stabilization rather than a mere external boon.
Search for the ‘hidden calf’: locate the faintest sincere aspiration beneath surface noise; protect it and let it grow.
anahata
Slow exhale emphasis (e.g., inhale 4, exhale 8) to quiet coverings; then chant once with full attention.
Inwardly intent, investigative, ascending.
After chanting, sit 7 minutes: ask ‘Where is the true flame today?’ Notice the smallest sincere movement; commit to one supporting act (sleep, truthfulness, simplicity) to remove the covering.
Maintain clear udatta peaks on accented syllables such as amṛtā, amūrāḥ; keep anudatta low to preserve triṣṭubh lift.
Let the cadence rise through ‘tasthuḥ pade parame’ to convey ascent; avoid rushing ‘śramayuvaḥ padavyo’.
‘vatsam’ with clean dental ts., ‘dhiyamdhāḥ’ articulate the sandhi: dhi-yam-dhāḥ (don’t swallow the nasal)., ‘cārv agneḥ’ keep cārú with long ā; agneḥ with clear eḥ.
Focused, slightly hushed at the ‘hidden’ phrase, then brighter at ‘pade parame’.
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