Rig Veda 7.3.2: Mandala 7, Sukta 3, Mantra 2
Sukta 7.3
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
प्रोथदश्वो न यवसेऽविष्यन्यदा महः संवरणाद्व्यस्थात् । आदस्य वातो अनु वाति शोचिरध स्म ते व्रजनं कृष्णमस्ति ॥
prothád aśvó na yávase’viṣyán yadā máhaḥ saṃváraṇād vyásthāt | ā́d asya vā́to ánu vāti śocír ádha sma te vrájanam kṛ́ṣṇam asti ||
ພຣະອົງພຸ່ງອອກມາ ດັ່ງດັງມ້າຜູ້ຊອກຫາອາຫານ, ເມື່ອພຣະອົງໄດ້ຍ່າງອອກມາຈາກບ່ອນລ້ອມທີ່ຍິ່ງໃຫຍ່. ຈາກນັ້ນ ລົມພັດຕາມຫຼັງໄຟຂອງພຣະອົງ; ແລະ ດັ່ງນັ້ນ ເສັ້ນທາງຂອງພຣະອົງກໍກາຍເປັນສີດຳ, ບ່ອນໃດທີ່ໄຟໄດ້ໄປ, ຄວາມມືດໄດ້ຖືກເຜົາໃຫ້ກາຍເປັນເຄື່ອງໝາຍແຫ່ງການຜ່າຜ່ອນ.
Word by Word
- प्रोथत्
- he/it surged forth, sprang forwardVerbलङ् (इम्पर्फेक्ट), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole Kriyā (मुख्य क्रिया)Root प्र-√उथ्/वथ् (उथ्/वथ् = कम्पने/प्रसरणे; वैदिक)
- अश्वः
- the horseNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-निपातRoot न
- यवसे
- for fodder, for grassNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole Sampradāna (उद्देश्य/प्रयोजन)Root यवस (प्रातिपदिक)
- अविष्यन्
- they drove/urged on; they sought (to reach)Verbलङ् (इम्पर्फेक्ट), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, बहुवचनRole Kriyā (अनु-क्रिया)Root √अव् (रक्षणे/गत्यर्थे; वैदिक) / अवि (कृदन्त-आधार)
- यदा
- whenIndeclinableकालवाचक-अव्ययRoot यदा
- महः
- of the great (one); of greatnessNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (Genitive)Root महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- संवरणात्
- from the enclosure, from the coveringNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचनRole ApādānaRoot संवरण (प्रातिपदिक)
- वि
- apart, forthIndeclinableउपसर्गRoot वि
- अस्थात्
- stood forth; came outVerbलङ् (इम्पर्फेक्ट), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole Kriyā (मुख्य क्रिया)Root √स्था (तिष्ठति)
- आ
- towards, hitherIndeclinableउपसर्ग/निपातRoot आ
- अदस्य
- of him/itPronounपुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, एकवचन (एतदर्थे: ‘of him/it’)Role सम्बन्ध (Genitive)Root इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वातः
- the windNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot वात (प्रातिपदिक)
- अनु
- after, alongIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot अनु
- वाति
- blowsVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole KriyāRoot √वा (वाति)
- शोचिः
- the flame, the blazeNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (द्वितीय कर्ता/सह-कर्ता)Root शोचिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अध
- then, thereafterIndeclinableनिपात (अनन्तरार्थे)Root अध
- स्म
- indeed, justIndeclinableनिपात (स्मरण/निश्चय/अनुवादक)Root स्म
- ते
- of you/thyPronounषष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (Genitive)Root युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- व्रजनम्
- the enclosure, pen, foldNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā/विषय (अस्ति के साथ)Root व्रजन (प्रातिपदिक)
- कृष्णम्
- black, darkAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (व्रजनम्-विशेषण)Role ViśeṣaṇaRoot कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्ति
- isVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole KriyāRoot √अस् (अस्ति)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (मुख्य): प्रोथत् | अश्वः | न | यवसे | अविष्यन् | यदा | महः | संवरणात् | वि | अस्थात् || आ | अदस्य | वातः | अनु | वाति | शोचिः | अध | स्म | ते | व्रजनम् | कृष्णम् | अस्ति || 1) यवसेऽविष्यन् = यवसे + अविष्यन् (ए/अ सन्धि: एऽ)
- 2) संवरणाद्व्यस्था॑त् = संवरणात् + वि + अस्थात् (त् + वि → द्वि; उपसर्ग ‘वि’ पृथक्)
- 3) आदस्य = आ + अदस्य (आ + अ → आ; दीर्घ-सन्धि/प्रगृह्य-सम्भाव)
- 4) वातो अनु = वातः + अनु (विसर्ग-सन्धि: ओ)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni bursts forth from a great enclosure like a horse rushing for fodder; wind follows his flame, and the path where he moves becomes blackened—his course leaves a visible trace as he burns through darkness.
Inner meaning
The awakened psychic Fire (Agni) breaks out of the “great enclosure” (the constricted subconscient/ignorance). Once the inner Will is released, the life-breath (vāta/prāṇa) naturally follows and supports the flame of aspiration. The “blackened track” is the mark left in the nature when obscurity is burned away: old grooves of inertia are charred into a sign of passage—proof that the consciousness has moved forward through resistance.
Universal truth
When inner aspiration is liberated from its coverings, the whole being reorganizes around it: breath, energy, and movement align. Transformation leaves discernible traces—old darkness cannot remain unchanged where the fire of awareness has passed.
Themes
Agni-epiphany, Emergence-from-covering, Light-vs-Darkness, Path-making (vraja/vrajana)
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 7.1, RV 7.2, RV 7.4, RV 7.5, RV 7.18
Family tradition
Maṇḍala 7 is predominantly the Vasiṣṭha family book, emphasizing Agni as the inner guide and harmonizer of the worlds (psychic priesthood).
Significance
Vasiṣṭha’s vision often presents Agni as the master of right arrangement (ṛta) within the being—bringing clarity, purification, and a safe passage through inner darkness.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (Jātavedas)
- Epithets
- Jātavedas (knower of births), Yaviṣṭha (youngest), Śociṣkeśa (flame-haired, implied), Dūta (messenger, thematic in the hymn)
- Related deities
- Vāyu, Uṣas, Indra, Soma
Cosmic role
Mediator between earth and heaven; carrier of offerings; opener of the paths; purifier who reveals hidden light.
Inner power
Psychic fire/will that breaks coverings, burns obscurity, and establishes a new track of consciousness.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agnihotra/Āhavanīya kindling and praise of Agni as path-opener
प्रोथ॒दश्वो॒ न यव॑सेऽवि॒ष्यन्य॒दा म॒हः सं॒वर॑णा॒द्व्यस्था॑त् । आद॑स्य॒ वातो॒ अनु॑ वाति शो॒चिरध॑ स्म ते॒ व्रज॑नं कृ॒ष्णम॑स्ति ॥
प्रोथ॑त् । अश्वः॑ । न । यव॑से । अ॒वि॒ष्यन् । य॒दा । म॒हः । स॒म्ऽवर॑णात् । वि । अस्था॑त् । आत् । अ॒स्य॒ । वातः॑ । अनु॑ । वा॒ति॒ । शो॒चिः । अध॑ । स्म॒ । ते॒ । व्रज॑नम् । कृ॒ष्णम् । अ॒स्ति॒ ॥
prothat | aśvaḥ | na | yavase | aviṣyan | yadā | mahaḥ | sam-varaṇāt | vi | asthāt | āt | asya | vātaḥ | anu | vāti | śociḥ | adha | sma | te | vrajanam | kṛṣṇam | asti
44
4 pādas × ~11 syllables
Forward-driving, martial/propulsive cadence suited to ‘breaking out’ imagery.
Builds momentum and release; supports meditative sense of an inner force surging beyond limitation.
- प्रोथत् (prothat)
- Literal: surging forth, leaping forward. Symbolic: the sudden uprush of aspiration/Will when released
- अश्वः (aśva)
- Literal: horse/steed. Symbolic: vital energy and force of action harnessed to the inner journey
- यवसे (yavase)
- Literal: for fodder/grass. Symbolic: the soul’s seeking for sustaining delight/true nourishment (right object of desire)
- महतः संवरणात् (mahaḥ saṃvaraṇāt)
- Literal: from the great enclosure/covering. Symbolic: from the vast concealment of the subconscient/ignorance that holds back the flame
- वातः (vātaḥ)
- Literal: wind. Symbolic: prāṇa, the life-breath that fans and carries the force of the flame
- शोचिः (śociḥ)
- Literal: flame, blaze. Symbolic: luminous will, purifying ardor of consciousness
- व्रजनम् (vrajanam)
- Literal: moving track/path, going. Symbolic: the dynamic passage of consciousness through the nature
- कृष्णम् (kṛṣṇam)
- Literal: black/dark. Symbolic: the obscurity of tamas/ignorance being burned and exposed
Kindling/invocation of Agni in household and Soma rites; applicable where Agni is established as messenger and path-maker (e.g., Agni-pranayana / opening of offerings).
At kindling and invocation; also in recitation sequences praising Agni’s emergence and guidance
Lighting/fanning the fire; offering ghee; invoking Agni to carry oblations
Use as a mantra of ‘breaking through’—before meditation or difficult work, to invoke steady will and burn inertia.
: from √prath/√pruth ‘to spread, swell, expand’ → forward surge/expansion of force. : from √viś ‘to enter, pervade’ with desiderative nuance ‘seeking to enter/attain’. : sam+√vṛ ‘to cover, enclose’ → the covering that limits the mahas (Vast). : from √śuc ‘to shine, be bright, burn’ → flame as luminous consciousness. : from √vraj ‘to go, move’ → the course/track; psychologically the movement of will.
Rita as the ordered path of divine force through obscurity, Manifestation of mahas (the Vast) from a covering, Transformation of darkness by tapas (heat/ardour)
Agni’s ‘track’ signifies the r̥ta-path carved through confusion—order made visible by purification.
Truth is what remains after burning coverings; the passage leaves a verifiable mark in life and mind.
Emergence of light from enclosure; manifestation by separating luminous from obscure.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: psychic emergence leading to mind-life-body alignment.
Fire = awakened will; wind = prāṇa that follows aspiration; blackened track = transformed samskāra-path where tamas has been burned.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Agni’s breakout from concealment: the Fire emerges from an enclosure/covering (samvaraṇa) and begins its ordained movement, leaving a marked ‘track’ through darkness. Mythically this is the epiphany of the hidden flame; psychologically it is the awakening of conscious will from the subconscient covering, making a traversable path through obscurity.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- Key verbs encode expansion and motion: prothád (√prath ‘spread’) aligns with PIE *pleth₂- / *pr̥th- notions of breadth/expansion (cf. ‘broad’ semantics), while √vraj ‘go’ reflects inherited motion roots (PIE *h₁regʷ- / movement-family comparisons are debated). √vṛ ‘cover’ is widely Indo-European in ‘cover/enclose’ semantics (cf. Latin ver- ‘covering’ is not direct; better: shared ‘wrap’ semantics across IE). The verse’s particles (vi, anu, ād, sma) show the Vedic precision of aspect and discourse emphasis.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer observes and affirms Agni’s inner process: Agni is not merely requested but recognized as the power that breaks limitation and establishes a path. The reciprocity is implicit—by kindling/holding Agni, the human vessel enables the divine emergence; by emerging, Agni transforms the human field, even marking the ‘blackness’ as a conquered passage rather than an unentered night.
Feel the inner flame breaking out from a tight knot of inertia; let breath naturally ‘follow’ and feed it.
Maṇipūra (fire/will) with support from Anāhata (psychic flame)
Gentle ujjāyī or slow nasal breathing; emphasize a steady exhale as ‘wind following flame’.
From tamasic congestion to luminous, dynamic steadiness.
Begin with attention at the navel/heart; invoke a clean, upward-moving will. Notice the ‘track’: small behavioral and mental shifts that prove the fire has passed—stabilize them rather than seeking intensity.
Mixed udatta/anudatta/svarita per Ṛgvedic accent; preserve udātta peaks on key verbs/nouns (e.g., prothát, śocíḥ).
Keep the natural triṣṭubh lift at each pāda end; avoid flattening the cadence—let the ‘surge’ be audible in the first pāda.
Distinguish ś (palatal) in śociḥ from s, Pronounce kṛṣṇam with clear retroflex ṣṇ cluster, Maintain short a in prothat; do not overlengthen, vātó: keep long ā and dental t
Bright, forward, slightly forceful with clean articulation; soften on the final pāda to ‘seal’ the track.
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