Rig Veda 5.21.1: Mandala 5, Sukta 21, Mantra 1
Sukta 5.21
- Rishi
- Atri
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Gayatri
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
मनुष्वत्त्वा नि धीमहि मनुष्वत्समिधीमहि । अग्ने मनुष्वदङ्गिरो देवान्देवयते यज ॥
manuṣvā́t tvā ní dhīmahi manuṣvā́t sáṁ idhīmahi | ágne manuṣvā́d aṅgiro devā́n devayaté yaja ||
ಮನುಷ್ವತ್—ಮಾನವೀಯ ರೀತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ—ನಾವು ನಿನ್ನನ್ನು ನಮ್ಮೊಳಗೆ ಸ್ಥಾಪಿಸುತ್ತೇವೆ; ಮನುಷ್ವತ್—ಮಾನವೀಯ ರೀತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ—ನಾವು ನಿನ್ನನ್ನು ಸಮಿಧೆಯಿಂದ ಪೂರ್ಣವಾಗಿ ಪ್ರಜ್ವಲಿಸುತ್ತೇವೆ. ಹೇ ಅಗ್ನೇ, ಹೇ ಅಂಗಿರಸ್, ದೇವಯತೇ (ದಿವ್ಯವನ್ನು ಬಯಸುವವನ)ಗಾಗಿ ಮನುಷ್ವತ್ ರೀತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ದೇವರಿಗೆ ಯಜ (ಯಜ್ಞ ಮಾಡು).
Word by Word
- मनुष्वत्
- in a human way; as men doIndeclinableअव्यय (तद्धित-प्रत्ययान्त, -वत्; अर्थे ‘मनुष्यवत्/मनुष्यरीत्या’)Role Adhikaraṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; प्रकार/रीति)Root मनुष्वत् (प्रातिपदिक; मनु-सम्बन्धी) अव्ययीभाव/तद्धित-भाव
- त्वा
- you (as object): theePronounद्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नि
- down; in; firmly (prefix)Indeclinableउपसर्ग (क्रियायोगे)Root नि (उपसर्ग)
- धीमहि
- we place/establish (set)Verbलट्, उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपद (नि-धामहि → धीमहि)Role KartāRoot धा (धातु; ‘धारणे/निधाने’), उपसर्ग-योगे: नि-धा
- मनुष्वत्
- in a human wayIndeclinableअव्यय (प्रकारवाचक)Role Adhikaraṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)Root मनुष्वत् (प्रातिपदिक; मनु-सम्बन्धी) अव्ययीभाव/तद्धित-भाव
- सम्
- together; completely (prefix)Indeclinableउपसर्गRoot सम् (उपसर्ग)
- इधीमहि
- we kindle; we igniteVerbलट्, उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपदRole KartāRoot इध् (धातु; ‘दीप्तौ/प्रज्वलने’), उपसर्ग-योगे: सम्-इध्
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole Sampradāna/Āmantraṇa (सम्बोधन)Root अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- मनुष्वत्
- in a human wayIndeclinableअव्यय (प्रकारवाचक)Role Adhikaraṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)Root मनुष्वत् (प्रातिपदिक; मनु-सम्बन्धी) अव्ययीभाव/तद्धित-भाव
- अङ्गिरः
- O Aṅgiras (descendant of Aṅgiras)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (अङ्गिरस् → अङ्गिरः)Role Sampradāna/Āmantraṇa (सम्बोधन)Root अङ्गिरस् (ऋषि-नाम; प्रातिपदिक)
- देवान्
- the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवयते
- (he) seeks the gods; is devoted to the godsVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपदRole Kartā (यजमानः/स्तोतृ-समूहः ‘देवयमानः’)Root देवय (धातु/नामधातु; ‘देवान् इच्छति/देवेषु प्रवर्तते’), अथवा देवयति-धातोः आत्मनेपद
- यज
- worship; sacrifice (to them)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole (आज्ञा; कर्म = देवान्)Root यज् (धातु; ‘देवपूजासङ्गतिकरणदानेषु’)
Sandhi Notes
- संहिता-पाठ: मनुष्वत्त्वा नि धीमहि मनुष्वत्समिधीमहि । अग्ने मनुष्वदङ्गिरो देवान्देवयते यज ॥ पद-विभाग/सन्धि-विच्छेद: (1) मनुष्वत् + त्वा → मनुष्वत्त्वा (त् + त् = त्त्) । (2) मनुष्वत् + सम् + इधीमहि → मनुष्वत्समि॑धीमहि (त् + स = त्स; सम् उपसर्गः) । (3) मनुष्वत् + अङ्गिरः → मनुष्वद॑ङ्गिरः (त् + अ = द्; जश्त्व) । (4) देवान् + देवयते → दे॒वान्दे॑वयते (न् + द = न्द्) । स्वर-टिप्पणी: उदात्त/स्वरित चिह्न संहिता-पाठानुसार
- पद-विच्छेदे मूलस्वर सामान्यतः धातु/प्रातिपदिके निहितः, उपसर्गेषु प्रायः अनुदात्तता।
The meaning
Outer meaning
The worshipper places Agni within and kindles him according to the human (Manu’s) rite; Agni, as Angiras, is asked to offer sacrifice to the gods on behalf of the God-seeking person.
Inner meaning
“Manuṣvat” signals the rightly ordered human aspiration: we consciously install the divine Will (Agni) in the heart-mind and steadily increase it. Agni-Aṅgiras is the seer-power in the flame that can perform the inner yajña—linking our aspiring nature (devayate) with the higher powers (devas) and translating aspiration into effective transformation.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress begins when the human being deliberately enthrones the flame of conscious will and feeds it consistently; then the inner Fire becomes the mediator that converts aspiration into communion with higher truth-forces.
Themes
Installation of inner fire, Human law of ascent, Agni as Angiras
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri (Ātreya)
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- RV 5.1, RV 5.2, RV 5.3, RV 5.4, RV 5.5
Family tradition
Atri’s line is associated with luminous insight and the right ordering of the sacrifice; here the emphasis is on establishing Agni inwardly in the human being.
Significance
Atri voices the psychology of the yajña: the human method is not mere external rite but a disciplined inner placing-and-kindling of the flame that mediates between mortal and divine consciousness.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- Aṅgiras, dūta (messenger), hotṛ (priest), pāvaka (purifier)
- Related deities
- Indra, Soma, Uṣas, Bṛhaspati
Cosmic role
Mediator between worlds; carrier of offerings; awakener of the gods in the sacrifice; purifier and illuminator.
Inner power
Conscious will-force that organizes aspiration, burns obscurity, and opens the way for higher knowledge and delight.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agnyādhāna / daily Agnihotra-type invocations (general Agni-prayer)
म॒नु॒ष्वत्त्वा॒ नि धी॑महि मनु॒ष्वत्समि॑धीमहि । अग्ने॑ मनु॒ष्वद॑ङ्गिरो दे॒वान्दे॑वय॒ते य॑ज ॥
म॒नु॒ष्वत् । त्वा॒ । नि । धी॒म॒हि॒ । म॒नु॒ष्वत् । सम् । इ॒धी॒म॒हि॒ । अग्ने॑ । म॒नु॒ष्वत् । अ॒ङ्गि॒रः॒ । दे॒वान् । दे॒व॒ऽय॒ते । य॒ज॒ ॥
manuṣvat | tvā | ni | dhīmahi | manuṣvat | sam | idhīmahi | agne | manuṣvat | aṅgi raḥ | devān | deva-yate | yaja
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3 pādas × ~8 syllables
Compact, forward-driving, mantra-like clarity.
Quickly gathers attention inward; suitable for ‘placing’ and ‘kindling’ as a focused mental act.
- manuṣvat
- Literal: in the manner of Manu / human-wise. Symbolic: according to the right human order of conscious aspiration and disciplined practice
- ni dhīmahi
- Literal: we place/establish (you) down within. Symbolic: installation of the divine Will in the inner being (heart-consciousness)
- sam idhīmahi
- Literal: we kindle fully. Symbolic: intensifying the psychic fire through attention, offering, and sincerity
- Agni
- Literal: fire. Symbolic: divine Will, priest of the inner sacrifice; transformative force
- Aṅgiras
- Literal: name of a seer-lineage. Symbolic: seer-flame that discovers hidden light; the luminous will in the depths
- devān yaja
- Literal: sacrifice to the gods. Symbolic: unite with and invoke higher faculties/powers for inner growth
- devayate
- Literal: to one who worships/seeks the gods. Symbolic: the soul’s aspiration toward the Divine and its truth-powers
Kindling/establishing Agni (Āhavanīya focus); suitable for daily Agnihotra-type contemplative-ritual act and broader Śrauta ignition sequences.
At kindling the fire; at the start of recitation or inner offering.
Establishing and feeding the fire; calling Agni to carry offerings to the devas.
A short ignition-mantra for beginning meditation: place attention in the heart, kindle resolve, offer breath/thought to the higher consciousness.
manuṣvat: manu- ‘Manu, man/human’ + -ṣvat adverbial ‘in the manner of’ → according to human/Manu’s ordinance. dhīmahi from √dhā ‘to put, place’ (1pl middle). idhīmahi from √idh ‘to kindle, ignite’. devayate denominative from deva ‘god’ meaning ‘to seek/serve the gods’. yaja from √yaj ‘to sacrifice, worship’ (imperative), root of yajña.
Manu (archetype of human order), Yajña (exchange), Devayāna orientation (god-seeking)
The ‘human-wise’ sacrifice implies alignment of personal nature with ṛta through conscious practice.
Truth is approached by right kindling: sincerity and exactness in aspiration.
Agni as first awakener: the creative fire that builds the bridge from mortal to immortal.
Proto-Vedāntic / Integral (Aurobindo-style) psychology of sacrifice as inner transformation.
dawn or ritual beginning (implied)
Fire = will and aspiration; kindling = sustained concentration; offering = surrender of lower movements into transforming flame.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The founding of Agni in the human dwelling (the classic ‘establishing of the fire’), linked to Manu and the Angiras seers: the primordial institution of yajña as the human path to the gods.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √yaj ‘sacrifice’ is Indo-Iranian (cf. Avestan yaz- ‘to worship’). √dhā ‘put’ and √idh ‘kindle’ are old IE verbal roots. The formulaic adverb manuṣvat reflects inherited IE poetic style using culture-hero names (Manu) to mark normative practice.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- Humans actively establish and kindle Agni (ni dhīmahi, sam idhīmahi), and Agni in turn performs yajña on behalf of the devayate (the aspirant). The reciprocity is procedural: human effort prepares the vessel; Agni mediates the divine descent.
Install the flame of will in the heart; then intensify it until it feels self-luminous and directive.
Anāhata (heart)
Gentle nāsikā breathing; on inhale ‘ni dhīmahi’ (placing), on exhale ‘sam idhīmahi’ (kindling).
Collected, aspiring, upward-oriented (psychic opening).
Begin sessions with a brief inward ‘lighting’: recall the aim, offer distractions into the flame, then invoke higher qualities (clarity, courage, purity) as the ‘devas’.
Follow Śākala accentuation: observe udatta on marked syllables, anudatta as default, svarita as post-udatta glide (exact svaras require pada-svara source).
Keep each pāda cleanly segmented; slight lift on udatta, gentle fall on svarita; avoid dragging final vowels.
manuṣvat: retroflex ṣ; not sounded—keep ‘vat’ crisp, dhīmahi: long ī; aspirate dh clearly, idhīmahi: initial i short, dh aspirated; avoid ‘idima’, aṅgiro: nasal ṅ before g; roll r lightly, devayate: ‘ya’ clear; avoid ‘deva-yate’ break too hard
Bright, steady, kindling tone; not heavy.
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