Rig Veda 6.49.2: Mandala 6, Sukta 49, Mantra 2
Sukta 6.49
- Devata
- Agni
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
विशोविश ईड्यमध्वरेष्वदृप्तक्रतुमरतिं युवत्योः । दिवः शिशुं सहसः सूनुमग्निं यज्ञस्य केतुमरुषं यजध्यै ॥
viśó-viśa ī́ḍyam adhvaréṣv adṛ́ptakratum aratíṃ yuvatyoḥ | diváḥ śíśuṃ sáhasaḥ sū́num agníṃ yajñásya ketúm aruṣáṃ yajádhyai ||
ಹೇ ವಿಶೋ-ವಿಶಃ (ಕುಲಕುಲಗಳೇ), ಅಧ್ವರೇಷು (ಯಜ್ಞಗಳಲ್ಲಿ) ಈಡ್ಯ—ಸ್ತುತ್ಯ—ಅಗ್ನಿಯನ್ನು ಪೂಜಿಸಿರಿ; ಅವನ ಕ್ರತು (ಸಂಕಲ್ಪ) ಅದೆತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ, ಅವನು ಅಶ್ರಾಂತ ಸಂಚಾರಿ, ಎರಡು ಯುವತಿ ಲೋಕಗಳ (ದ್ಯೌಃ–ಪೃಥಿವೀ) ನಡುವೆ ಓಡಾಡುವ ದೂತನು. ದಿವಃ ಶಿಶು, ಸಹಸಃ ಸೂನು, ಯಜ್ಞಸ್ಯ ಕೇತು—ಅರುಷ (ಕೆಂಪು ಜ್ವಾಲೆ)—ಅವನನ್ನು ಹವಿಗಾಗಿ ಯಜಧ್ವೈ, ಆರಾಧಿಸಿರಿ.
Word by Word
- विशः
- the clans/peoplesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (स्तुतिकर्तृ-समूहः) / संबन्ध (अग्नेः स्तुत्यर्थं)Root विश् (प्रातिपदिक: विश्/विशा-)
- विशः
- (each) clanNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (पूर्वपदस्य पुनरुक्ति: ‘each and every clan’)Root विश् (प्रातिपदिक: विश्/विशा-)
- ईड्यम्
- praiseworthy, to be invokedAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (अग्निम् विशेषयति)Role कर्म-विशेषणRoot ईड्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक), धातु: ईड्/ईळ् ‘स्तुतौ’
- अध्वरेषु
- in the rites/sacrificesNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole अधिकरणRoot अध्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
- अदृप्तक्रतुम्
- whose resolve is not arrogant/undeludedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (अग्निम् विशेषयति)Role कर्म-विशेषणRoot अ-दृप्त-क्रतु (समास-प्रातिपदिक: अदृप्त + क्रतु)
- अरतिम्
- the helper/attendant (service)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (यजध्यै इत्यस्य)Root अरति (प्रातिपदिक)
- युवत्योः
- of the two young women (maidens)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, द्विवचनRole सम्बन्ध (अरतेः—‘of the two maidens’)Root युवती (प्रातिपदिक)
- दिवः
- of heavenNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot दिव्/द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक: दिव्/द्यौ-)
- शिशुम्
- the childNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (यजध्यै इत्यस्य)Root शिशु (प्रातिपदिक)
- सहसः
- of might/powerNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot सहस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- सूनुम्
- the sonNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (शिशुम् इत्यस्य समानाधिकरण/अप्पोज़िशन)Root सूनु (प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्निम्
- AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (यजध्यै)Root अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- यज्ञस्य
- of the sacrificeNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
- केतुम्
- the banner/sign, beaconNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (अग्निम् विशेषयति; समानाधिकरण)Root केतु (प्रातिपदिक)
- अरुषम्
- ruddy, tawnyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (अग्निम् विशेषयति)Role कर्म-विशेषणRoot अरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
- यजध्यै
- may (one) worship/sacrificeVerbविधिलिङ् (आशीर्लिङ्/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रिया (मुख्य)Root यज् (धातु)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-निरसन): विशोविशः → विशः + विशः (पुनरुक्ति/वितानार्थ)
- अध्वरेष्वदृप्तक्रतुम् → अध्वरेषु + अदृप्तक्रतुम् (उ + अ → व्-अनुस्वाररहित संधि-रूप ‘ष्व’)
- क्रतुमर॒तिं → क्रतुम् + अरतिम् (म् + अ → म-अ, लेखन में संयुक्त)
- युवत्योः (स्वतन्त्र पद)
- दिवः शिशुं सहसः सूनुमग्निम् → दिवः + शिशुम् + सहसः + सूनुम् + अग्निम् (म् + अ → म-अ)
- यज्ञस्य केतुमरुषं → यज्ञस्य + केतुम् + अरुषम् (म् + अ → म-अ)
The meaning
Outer meaning
All clans are urged to worship Agni in the sacrifices—adorable, unbroken in will, tireless between the two young worlds; the child of Heaven, son of Force, red banner of the sacrifice.
Inner meaning
Agni is the inmost flame of aspiration that must be made universal in the being (“clans and clans” = all parts and subpersonalities). ‘Unbroken will’ (adṛpta-kratu) is the steady tapas that does not collapse under inertia. ‘Traveller between the two young worlds’ indicates Agni mediating between mind and life (or Heaven and Earth: higher and lower consciousness), carrying offerings upward and bringing down inspirations. As ‘banner’ (ketu) he is the sign and leading light of the inner yajña.
Universal truth
Transformation requires a central, unwavering will that unifies the many parts of the nature and bridges higher possibility with embodied life; when this inner fire is worshipped (fed), it becomes the guiding standard of the whole journey.
Themes
Agni praise, mediator between worlds, banner of sacrifice, collective invocation
The seer
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja tradition (Mandala 6); specific seer uncertain for 6.49
- Lineage
- Bharadvāja
- Other hymns
- RV 6.9 (Agni), RV 6.16 (Agni), RV 6.48 (Agni-related invocations)
Family tradition
Bharadvāja hymns often present Agni as the organiser of the inner work and mediator of worlds.
Significance
Agni is invoked not as outer fire alone but as a conscious power: the mantra teaches integration—making every ‘clan’ of the being participate in the offering.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- īḍya (adorable), adṛptakratu (unbroken-willed), arati (tireless traveller), divaḥ śiśu (child of Heaven), sahasaḥ sūnu (son of Force), aruṣa (ruddy), yajñasya ketu (banner of the sacrifice)
- Related deities
- Uṣas, Sūrya, Indra, Bṛhaspati
Cosmic role
Priest-messenger between Heaven and Earth; awakener of gods; carrier of offerings; purifier and transformer.
Inner power
Aspiration and divine will that burns impurities, concentrates energies, and opens the passage to higher light.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni-stuti for adhvara; used in soma rites and daily fire rites as a call to worship the priest-fire
वि॒शोवि॑श॒ ईड्य॑मध्व॒रेष्वदृ॑प्तक्रतुमर॒तिं यु॑व॒त्योः । दि॒वः शिशुं॒ सह॑सः सू॒नुम॒ग्निं य॒ज्ञस्य॑ के॒तुम॑रु॒षं यज॑ध्यै ॥
वि॒शःऽवि॑शः । ई॒ड्य॑म् । अ॒ध्व॒रेषु॑ । अदृ॑प्तऽक्रतुम् । अ॒र॒तिम् । यु॒व॒त्योः । दि॒वः । शिशु॑म् । सह॑सः । शू॒नुम् । अ॒ग्निम् । य॒ज्ञस्य॑ । के॒तुम् । अ॒रु॒षम् । यज॑ध्यै ॥
viśaḥ-viśaḥ | īḍyam | adhvareṣu | adṛpta-kratum | aratim | yuvatyoḥ | divaḥ | śiśum | sahasaḥ | śūnum | agnim | yajñasya | ketum | aruṣam | yajadhyai
44
4 x ~11 syllables
March-like, exhortative; suited to a collective call to worship.
Energises will and vigilance; helps gather scattered parts into a single forward movement.
- विशो-विशः (viśo-viśaḥ)
- Literal: clans upon clans. Symbolic: all groupings of impulses, thoughts, and life-movements in the psyche
- ईड्यम् (īḍyam)
- Literal: adorable, worthy of praise. Symbolic: that which the soul naturally reveres as its leader
- अदृप्तक्रतुम् (adṛptakratum)
- Literal: with unbroken resolve. Symbolic: steady tapas; will that does not get defeated by resistance
- अरतिम् (aratim)
- Literal: tireless traveller/one who does not rest. Symbolic: ceaseless inner progress, vigilant aspiration
- युवत्योः (yuvatyoḥ)
- Literal: of the two young women. Symbolic: Heaven and Earth / higher and lower nature; mind and life as dual energies
- दिवः शिशुम् (divaḥ śiśum)
- Literal: child of Heaven. Symbolic: a psychic flame born of higher consciousness
- सहसः सूनुम् (sahasaḥ sūnum)
- Literal: son of Force. Symbolic: power of tapas/śakti behind aspiration
- यज्ञस्य केतुम् (yajñasya ketum)
- Literal: banner/sign of the sacrifice. Symbolic: leading light of the sadhana; discernible direction
- अरुषम् (aruṣam)
- Literal: ruddy/red. Symbolic: dynamic energy of transformation
Core Agni invocation for adhvara rites: establishes Agni as the conscious sign (ketu) and mediator between worlds; apt for kindling (agnyādheya) and opening of offerings.
At the lighting/strengthening of Agni and before offerings; also as an exhortation to participants.
Agni-upasthāna (approach), stuti, and preparation for āhuti.
Before work or practice: recite to unify ‘clans’ (parts) and establish steady resolve (adṛpta-kratu).
īḍya- from √īḍ 'to praise, invoke'. adṛpta- 'not deluded, not arrogant' from a- + dṛpta (√dṛp 'to be excited, exult') → here 'unfailing, not led astray'. kratu- 'will, intelligent power' (also sacrificial intelligence). arati- from √ṛ 'to go, move' (with a-?); denotes traveller. ketu- 'sign, beacon' from √cit/√ket 'to perceive, appear' (Vedic semantic field of manifestation).
kratu as conscious will, Agni as mediator, yajña as inner offering
Agni’s ‘travel’ between worlds is the ordered interchange of higher truth and earthly action.
As child of Heaven, Agni brings satya-inspiration into speech and act.
Fire as first awakener—signal (ketu) that initiates the sacrificial cosmos within.
Integral-psychological reading: Agni as conscious force enabling ascent/descent.
dawn-to-day (implied by red flame and awakening)
Fire = will; smoke/path = ascent of consciousness; heaven/earth = higher/lower nature needing mediation.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Agni as the Child of Heaven and Son of Force—the ever-renewed flame that travels between the two worlds and serves as the ketu (banner/sign) of sacrifice. Mythically the mediator-fire; psychologically the awakened will that links mind (dyauḥ) and embodiment (bhūmi) and carries offerings upward.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- agni- is an Indo-European fire term (Latin ignis). The Heaven–Earth pairing and the mediator role of fire are widespread IE mythic structures. The repeated distributive viśaḥ-viśaḥ is a poetic device comparable to IE iterative/distributive emphasis.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The r̥ṣi directs the collective being (viśaḥ-viśaḥ) to worship Agni, because Agni’s kratu (will/intelligence) is unfailing; the human side offers adoration, the divine side provides the conscious bridge and the visible sign of progress in the inner yajña.
Kindle the ‘central flame’ in the heart/solar plexus; offer scattered thoughts into one aspiration.
Maṇipūra (will/fire) supported by Anāhata (psychic flame).
Kapalabhāti light (if suitable) or 12 slow breaths with a felt inner warmth; repeat ‘adṛptakratu’ mentally on inhale, ‘yajñasya ketu’ on exhale.
Collected, vigilant, forward-leaning aspiration without agitation.
Before meditation, name the main resistances; then ‘feed’ Agni with one clear intention and sustain it unbroken for a set period.
Chant with clear udātta rise on key epithets (īḍyam, adṛptakratum, ketum).
Maintain compound clarity: adṛpta-kratum (no extra vowel), sahasaḥ sūnum (ḥ lightly aspirated).
viśo-viśaḥ: palatal ś, final ḥ audible but light, adhvareṣv: ‘ṣv’ cluster, do not separate, yuvatyoḥ: ‘tyoḥ’ as one unit, aruṣaṃ: retroflex ṣ
Bright, kindling, slightly rising energy; avoid harshness.
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