Rig Veda 10.4.3: Mandala 10, Sukta 4, Mantra 3
Sukta 10.4
- Rishi
- Dīrghatamas Āucathya
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism)
शिशुं न त्वा जेन्यं वर्धयन्ती माता बिभर्ति सचनस्यमाना । धनोरधि प्रवता यासि हर्यञ्जिगीषसे पशुरिवावसृष्टः ॥
śíśuṃ na tvā jényam vardháyantī mātā bibharti sacanasyámānā | dhánoḥ ádhi prá-vatā yāsi háryañ jigī́ṣase paśúr ivā́va-sṛṣṭaḥ ||
ತಾಯಿ ಬೆಳೆಯುತ್ತಿರುವ ಶಿಶುವನ್ನು ಪೋಷಿಸಿ ಧರಿಸುವಂತೆ, ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಅವಳು ನಿನ್ನನ್ನು—ವಿಜಯಶೀಲ ಶಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು—ಸಖತ್ವಕ್ಕೆ ಒಪ್ಪಿ ಧರಿಸುತ್ತಾಳೆ. ಧನುಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದ ನೀನು ಪ್ರವತ (ಇಳಿಜಾರು ಮಾರ್ಗ)ದ ಮೂಲಕ ಹೊರಡುತ್ತೀಯ; ಜಯಿಸಲು ಉತ್ಸುಕನಾಗಿ, ಬಂಧನದಿಂದ ಬಿಡಿಸಿದ ಪಶುವಿನಂತೆ—ಸ್ವಂತ ಬಲದತ್ತ ಧಾವಿಸುತ್ತೀಯ.
Word by Word
- शिशुम्
- a child, infantNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot शिशु (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableनिपात (उपमा/सादृश्ये)Root न (निपात)
- त्वा
- you (acc. sg.)Pronounद्वितीया, एकवचन (एन्क्लिटिक रूप)Role कर्मRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- जेन्यम्
- noble, of good birth, excellentAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot जेन्य (प्रातिपदिक; √जि/जन्य- ‘to be born/noble’)
- वर्धयन्ती
- increasing, fosteringVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), परस्मैपदी-कारक, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot √वृध् (वर्धते/वर्धयति)
- माता
- motherNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- बिभर्ति
- bears, carries, supportsVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √भृ (भरति)
- सचनस्य
- of companionship/association; of the companionNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root सचनस्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘सहचर/सहवास’ भाव)
- अमानाः
- not deeming (it) too much; unassumingAdjective (participle-like)(नञ्-समास/निषेध), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (वेदिक रूप; ‘अमानाः’ = ‘अमानाः/अमन्यमानाः’ ‘not thinking/without pride’)Role विशेषण (कर्तृ-सम्बन्ध)Root √मन् (मन्यते) + अ- (निषेध)
- धनोः
- of/from the bowNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (वेदिक: धन्वः/धनोः)Role अपादान/सम्बन्ध (अधि-योगे: ‘from/on the bow’)Root धनु (प्रातिपदिक)
- अधि
- upon, on, from (with motion)Indeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्यय (अधिष्ठान/उपरि)Role अधिकरण (स्थाने) / उपसर्गRoot अधि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- प्रवता
- by/along the slope, downhill courseNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करण/अधिकरणRoot प्रवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- यासि
- you go, you moveVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √या (याति)
- हर्यन्
- golden/greenish; tawnyAdjective (participle-like)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (वेदिक रूप ‘हर्यन्’)Role विशेषण (कर्तृ-सम्बन्ध)Root हर्यत्/हरि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘हरित/हरि-वर्ण’)
- जिगीषसे
- you wish to conquer, you strive to winVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; सन्नन्त (desiderative)Role क्रियाRoot √जि (जिनोति/जयति) + सन् (इच्छार्थ)
- पशुः
- a beast, animalNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole उपमान (उपमा)Root पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- like, asIndeclinableउपमानार्थक निपातRoot इव (निपात)
- अवसृष्टः
- released, let looseVerb (participle)भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषण)Root अव + √सृज् (सृजति)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-निरसन): शिशुम् | न | त्वा | जेन्यम् | वर्धयन्ती | माता | बिभर्ति | सचनस्य | अमानाः || धनोः | अधि | प्रवता | यासि | हर्यन् | जिगीषसे | पशुः | इव | अवसृष्टः || 1) ‘सचन॒स्यमा॑ना’ = ‘सचनस्य अमानाः’ (अ + अ → आ)
- 2) ‘प॒शुरि॒वाव॑सृष्टः’ = ‘पशुः इव अवसृष्टः’ (विसर्ग-सन्धि: ः + इ → रि; तथा इव + अव → इवाव)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Like a mother nurturing a growing child, she bears and supports Agni, the victorious one, consenting to companionship. From the bow he goes forth along a downward course, eager to conquer, released like a beast set free.
Inner meaning
Nature (the ‘mother’: the embodied field and its supporting Shakti) fosters the inner Fire as a growing child—Agni is born and increased by consent to companionship (sacanasyamānā): the human and the divine will must cooperate. Then Agni is launched ‘from the bow’: concentrated intention becomes a released force. The ‘descending course’ (pravatā) suggests the divine power’s descent into lower nature to conquer resistances; like a released animal, the force becomes free, dynamic, and victorious in the vital field.
Universal truth
Spiritual force must be patiently nurtured, then consciously released; true victory includes descent into life to transform the lower movements, not escape from them.
Themes
Agni-psychology, inner victory over obstruction, growth of the divine child, release of concentrated force
The seer
- Rishi
- Dīrghatamas Āucathya (traditional attribution for RV 10.4–10.5 cluster; some lists vary)
- Lineage
- Aucathya (as patronymic lineage; gotra not uniformly specified in RV indices)
- Other hymns
- RV 1.140 (traditionally linked in some accounts), RV 10.4, RV 10.5
Family tradition
Associated with visionary, symbolic hymns; Dīrghatamas is famed for cryptic imagery and inner-cosmological correspondences.
Significance
Dīrghatamas’ style favors layered symbols: birth, nurture, and release of Agni portray the yogic maturation of will—from protected spark to conquering descent into life.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (Jātavedas / inner fire of will and illumination)
- Epithets
- Jenya (victorious), Yaviṣṭha (implied hymn context)
- Related deities
- Pṛthivī (Mother), Uṣas (awakening), Indra (victory over coverers)
Cosmic role
Born in the worlds, increased by the Mother, then sent forth as conquering power to establish the divine order.
Inner power
Tapasic force: nurtured will that can be released as decisive energy to overcome inertia and obstruction.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni praise in kindling and in rites emphasizing victory/forward movement of the offering
शिशुं॒ न त्वा॒ जेन्यं॑ व॒र्धय॑न्ती मा॒ता बि॑भर्ति सचन॒स्यमा॑ना । धनो॒रधि॑ प्र॒वता॑ यासि॒ हर्य॒ञ्जिगी॑षसे प॒शुरि॒वाव॑सृष्टः ॥
शिशु॑म् । न । त्वा॒ । जेन्य॑म् । व॒र्धय॑न्ती । मा॒ता । बि॒भ॒र्ति॒ । स॒च॒न॒स्यमा॑ना । धनोः॑ । अधि॑ । प्र॒ऽवता॑ । या॒सि॒ । हर्य॑म् । जगी॑षसे । प॒शुःऽइ॑व । अव॑ऽसृष्टः ॥
śiśum | na | tvā | jenyam | vardhayantī | mātā | bibharti | sacanasyamānā | dhanoḥ | adhi | pra-vatā | yāsi | haryam | jagīṣase | paśuḥ-iva | ava-sṛṣṭaḥ
44
4 x 11
Strong kinetic imagery; the latter half accelerates like a released arrow.
Ignites resolve; helps shift from contemplation to effective action.
- माता (mātā)
- Literal: mother. Symbolic: Nature/Shakti; the supporting field of embodiment
- शिशु (śiśu)
- Literal: child. Symbolic: newborn flame of aspiration that must be protected
- जेन्य (jenya)
- Literal: victorious, conquerable/conquering. Symbolic: power destined to overcome resistance
- सचनस्यमा॑ना (sacanasyamānā)
- Literal: consenting to companionship. Symbolic: alignment of human nature with divine will
- धनुः (dhanuḥ)
- Literal: bow. Symbolic: concentrated tapas; focused intention that launches force
- प्रवता (pravatā)
- Literal: down-slope/descending course. Symbolic: descent into lower nature for transformation
- पशुः (paśuḥ)
- Literal: beast. Symbolic: raw life-energy; instinct-force when released and directed
General Agni-invocation in Soma-sacrifice contexts (Agni as Hotṛ/Jātavedas); adaptable to Agniṣṭoma opening praises rather than a single fixed prayoga
When strengthening the fire and invoking its conquering power before major offerings.
Stuti that ‘increases’ Agni; symbolic ‘launching’ of oblations.
For times when one must act: chant to move from protected preparation to decisive execution, while keeping alignment with the ‘Mother’ (nature/body) rather than forcing against it.
Key terms: (1) (jenya) from √ (ji) ‘to conquer, win’ + -enya adjectival suffix: ‘conquering/fit to win’, hence inner victorious dynamism. (2) (vardhayantī) causative pres. ptc. from √ (vṛdh) ‘to grow, increase’: ‘causing to grow’, nurturing the inner fire. (3) (bibharti) from √ (bhṛ) ‘to bear, carry, support’: sustaining power. (4) (sacanasyamānā) denom./desiderative nuance from sac- ‘to accompany, be with’ (cf. ): ‘seeking companionship/union’, suggesting co-labouring of Nature with the divine flame. (5) (dhanus) ‘bow’: instrument of concentrated tension; metaphorically the gathered will. (6) (ava-sṛṣṭa) from ava- + √/√ (sṛj/sṛ) ‘to let go, discharge, release’: the force shot forth.
R̥ta as right movement (implied by directed course and victorious action), inner growth of will/tejas, co-operation of Nature and divine power (sacana)
Agni’s victory is establishment of Ṛta within the descending planes of nature.
The ‘victorious’ force is truth-force when consent (sacana) is present.
Birth and growth of divine power in matter; descent as a necessary phase of manifestation.
Integral transformation motif: descent into lower nature for conquest and integration.
Mother = embodied Shakti; bow = focused tapas; descent = bringing higher force into lower parts; beast = liberated prāṇa directed by will.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘divine child’ (śiśu) being fostered by the Mother, then released like a projectile from a bow to win—an archetype of Agni as the newborn yet conquering power. Mythically it is the ignition and deployment of the victorious flame; psychologically it is the maturation of aspiration into an effective, directed force that overcomes resistance.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √ (ji ‘conquer’) aligns with PIE *gʷʰei̯-/*gʷei̯h₃- type victory/overcoming semantics seen across Indo-European heroic diction (winning, prevailing). √ (vṛdh ‘grow’) reflects an inherited growth-increase semantic field (cf. English ‘worth’ is not cognate, but Germanic *werþ- differs; closer are Indo-Iranian continuations). √ (bhṛ ‘bear, carry’) corresponds to PIE *bʰer- ‘to carry’ (cf. English bear, Latin ferō), supporting the ‘mother bears/sustains’ formula as an Indo-European poetic inheritance.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer frames Agni not as an external fire only but as a power nurtured within the human-Nature matrix (‘mother bears you’). The reciprocity is: humans foster and give room to the inner flame; Agni, once released, seeks victory on their behalf—turning inner cultivation into conquering effectiveness. The implied dakṣiṇā is not payment but sustained attention, growth, and consent to companionship (sacana).
Nurture the inner flame with patience, then release it as a focused force to transform a specific lower habit/resistance.
manipura
kapalabhati (mild, 30–60 strokes) followed by quiet sitting to ‘release the arrow’ of intention
Charged, courageous, and directed.
First feel the ‘mother’ support: relax the body, steady the breath. Then concentrate intention like drawing a bow; on exhale, release into action—one clear step aligned with the divine will.
Keep triṣṭubh gait; give weight to vardhayantī and jigīṣase; let the final simile (paśur iva) be crisp and energetic.
Mark pāda breaks clearly; the ‘launch’ imagery benefits from a slight lift in the third pāda and a decisive close in the fourth.
vardhayantī: aspirated ‘dh’ clear, sacanasyamānā: keep ‘sy’ conjunct smooth, dhanor adhi: roll the sandhi without inserting extra vowel, jigīṣase: long ī held lightly
Bright, firm, forward-thrusting
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