Rig Veda 1.67.6: Mandala 1, Sukta 67, Mantra 6
Sukta 1.67
- Rishi
- Parāśara
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
प्रिया पदानि पश्वो नि पाहि विश्वायुरग्ने गुहा गुहं गाः ॥
priyā́ padā́ni paśvó ní pāhi viśvā́yur agne guhā́ gúhaṃ gāḥ ॥
കിരണങ്ങളുടെ (ദീപ്തമായ പശുക്കളുടെ) പ്രിയ പാദചിഹ്നങ്ങളെ നന്നായി കാത്തുകൊൾക; ഹേ അഗ്നേ, വിശ്വായു, ഗുഹയിൽ നിന്ന് ഗുഹയിലേക്കു പ്രവേശിക്ക—മറഞ്ഞ ഇടങ്ങളിൽ അവയെ തേടിക്കൊണ്ടിരിക്കുക.
Word by Word
- प्रियाः
- dear, belovedAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (विशेषण)Role Karma (पदानि इति कर्मपदस्य विशेषणम्)Root प्रिय- (प्रातिपदिक)
- पदानि
- steps/footprints; placesNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot पद- (प्रातिपदिक)
- पश्वः
- of the cattle/animalsNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (वैदिकः—उ/ओ-प्रत्ययान्तेषु षष्ठ्येकवचने -ः)Role Sambandha (षष्ठी—सम्बन्धः)Root पशु- (प्रातिपदिक)
- नि
- down, in; (as preverb) thoroughlyIndeclinableउपसर्गः (अव्ययम्)Root नि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- पाहि
- protect! guard!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्Role (क्रिया) —; कर्ता: (त्वम्) अग्नेRoot पा (धातु) ‘रक्षणे’
- विश्वायुः
- having all life; of universal lifespan/vitalityAdjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (अग्नेः विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (सम्बोधन-सम्बन्धेन कर्तृपदस्य विशेषणम्)Root विश्व- + आयुस् (समासः; प्रातिपदिकम्)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNoun (vocative)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole Kartā (सम्बोधन—क्रियायाः कर्तरि निर्देशः)Root अग्नि- (प्रातिपदिक)
- गुहा
- in hiding; secretlyIndeclinableअव्ययम् (स्थानीय/प्रकारार्थकं—‘गुहायाम्/गुह्यतया’)Role Adhikaraṇa (स्थान/प्रकार-निर्देशः)Root गुहा (अव्यय/निपातः; ‘गुह्’ धातोः भावे/स्थाने निष्पन्नम्)
- गुहम्
- a hiding-place; cave/secret placeNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (वैदिके नपुंसकत्वं/स्त्रीत्वं चलम्), द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (गाः इत्यस्य कर्म; ‘गुहं गाः’ = ‘गुहां गच्छ’)Root गुह- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘गुहा’/‘गुह्’ से सम्बद्ध)
- गाः
- go! proceed!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्; वैदिके ‘गाः’ = ‘गच्छ’Role (क्रिया) —; कर्ता: (त्वम्) अग्नेRoot गा (धातु) ‘गत्यर्थे’
Sandhi Notes
- मन्त्रपाठः प्रायः पदविभागानुसारमेव। ‘पश्वो’ इति संहितायां दृश्यते, पदपाठे ‘पश्वः’ (षष्ठ्येकवचन) — वैदिक-रूपेण -ः। ‘विश्वायुरग्ने’ = ‘विश्वायुः अग्ने’ (विसर्ग-सन्धिः: ः + अ → र्)। ‘गुहा गुहं’ इति पुनरुक्तिः—अव्यय ‘गुहा’ + कर्म ‘गुहम्’।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Guard the dear tracks of the herds; O Agni, all-life, go from cave to cave seeking them.
Inner meaning
The ‘herds’ (paśvaḥ) and especially ‘gāḥ’ are the rays of light/knowledge concealed in the subconscient. Their ‘dear tracks’ (priyā padāni) are the subtle pathways by which illumination moves through the being. Agni, as viśvāyuḥ (all-life, pervasive life-force), must protect these pathways from distortion by desire, inertia, and falsehood, and must penetrate layer after layer of hiddenness (guhā guham) to recover the lost lights. This is the Vedic image of inner discovery: the Fire as seeker and guardian of the luminous riches.
Universal truth
What is highest in us is often hidden; progress requires both protection of the subtle right movements and courageous descent into the hidden layers to reclaim lost knowledge and power.
Themes
finding the cows (recovery of light/knowledge), inner ascent and protection of the path, Agni as guide in hidden worlds
The seer
- Rishi
- Parāśara (traditional for RV 1.65–1.72)
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-line is sometimes associated with Parāśara in later genealogies; Vedic gotra attribution here is uncertain
- Other hymns
- RV 1.65–1.72 (Agni hymns, traditional Parāśara attribution)
Family tradition
Early Agni cycle emphasizing hidden light and the recovery of the rays; strong ‘cave’ symbolism aligned with the Angiras motif of finding the cows (lights).
Significance
Parāśara’s Agni-vision frequently turns the ritual search into an inward quest: Agni enters the concealed layers to recover the illuminations needed for integral growth.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- Viśvāyuḥ, Guhā-cara (cave-goer, by function), Gopā (protector, by function)
- Related deities
- Indra (breaker of the cover, releaser of the cows), Bṛhaspati/Angiras (finder by the Word), Soma (delight that supports the release)
Cosmic role
Seeker and guardian of the hidden lights; leader of the quest that restores the luminous herds.
Inner power
The flame of aspiration that both protects right practice and penetrates the subconscient to release knowledge-forces.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni praise connected with the ‘finding of the cows’ mythic motif within Soma/Agni rites
प्रि॒या प॒दानि॑ प॒श्वो नि पा॑हि वि॒श्वायु॑रग्ने गु॒हा गुहं॑ गाः ॥
प्रि॒या । प॒दानि॑ । प॒श्वः । नि । पा॒हि॒ । वि॒श्वऽआ॑युः । अ॒ग्ने॒ । गु॒हा । गुह॑म् । गाः॒ ॥
priyā | padāni | paśvaḥ | ni | pāhi | viśva-āyuḥ | agne | guhā | guham | gāḥ
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4 × ~11 syllables (Sandhi may affect counts)
Quest-like movement: imperative verbs and repeated guhā/guham create a penetrating rhythm.
Energizes inward searching while keeping a protective, careful tone—good for inquiry meditation.
- प्रिया (priyā)
- Literal: dear, beloved. Symbolic: that which the soul values—true movements toward light
- पदानि (padāni)
- Literal: steps, tracks, footprints. Symbolic: inner pathways of progress; right rhythms of practice
- पश्वः (paśvaḥ)
- Literal: cattle/herds. Symbolic: luminous energies and life-forces to be gathered and ordered
- गाः (gāḥ)
- Literal: cows. Symbolic: rays of knowledge/illumination (not literal cattle)
- गुहा गुहम् (guhā guham)
- Literal: cave after cave. Symbolic: successive layers of the hidden heart and subconscient depths
- विश्वायु (viśvāyuḥ)
- Literal: all-life, of all vitalities. Symbolic: Agni as pervasive life-power that can enter every part of nature
- नि पाहि (ni pāhi)
- Literal: guard, protect. Symbolic: discipline and safeguarding of the right inner movement
Agni-stotra/Agni-invocation context; applicable wherever Agni is invoked as finder/guardian of the ‘cows’ (lights)—general Śrauta usage in soma and non-soma settings as the leader of the rite
When invoking Agni as protector and discoverer—before or during offerings seeking illumination and right paths.
Recitation while tending fire and mentally ‘guarding the tracks’—maintaining correct intention and attention.
For seekers facing confusion: chant before journaling/meditation to protect right direction and to invite deeper uncovering of insight from the subconscient.
Key terms: √pā ‘protect, guard’ (pāhi: 2nd sg. imperative/benedictive command to the god-force). guhā/guham from *guh- ‘hide, conceal’, indicating the esoteric/secret seat where light is imprisoned. paśu ‘cattle’ in RV often extends to ‘possessions/powers’; in the inner sense, the luminous herds (gāvaḥ/paśavaḥ) are rays of knowledge and energies of growth. padá ‘step, station’ (PIE *ped- ‘foot’) becomes ‘pathway’ or ‘established plane of consciousness’.
R̥ta as right movement (implied by ‘true tracks’/pada), hidden knowledge in the guhā (subconscient concealment), Agni as universal life-force (viśvāyuḥ)
‘Tracks’ are ṛta-paths—right movements; Agni guards them so the journey follows truth-order.
Recovered cows/rays are satya-knowledge; they emerge when the cover is penetrated.
The hidden light is released from the cave; consciousness expands by recovery of lost illuminations.
Aurobindonian symbolism: cows as rays of knowledge; cave as subconscient; Agni as psychic will.
Caves = subconscient layers; tracks = subtle right practice-lines; cows = illuminations; fire = aspiration that searches and safeguards.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘cows in the cave’ mythologem: luminous herds (rays/knowledges) concealed in guhā (darkness/subconscient) must be sought and safeguarded by Agni. The outer narrative of cattle is an inner drama of recovering illumination and protecting the true tracks (pada) of progress.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- padá ‘step’ reflects PIE *ped- ‘foot’ (cf. Latin pēs, English foot via Germanic *fōt- not cognate directly but same semantic field; Greek pous). √pā ‘protect’ aligns with Indo-Iranian protective semantics (Avestan pā- ‘protect’). guh- ‘hide’ matches a common IE pattern of concealment roots; the cave motif is reinforced by repetition (guhā guham) as a stylistic intensifier.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer addresses Agni as an indwelling power (‘all-life’) entrusted with two reciprocal tasks: (1) guarding the soul’s cherished pathways (priyā padāni) from deviation, and (2) actively descending into hidden layers to recover the lost lights. The human aspiration offers attention and invocation; Agni returns protection, guidance, and discovery.
Protect the right inner movement (tracks) and descend with Agni into hidden layers to recover lost light (insight, clarity).
Mūlādhāra (subconscient depths) rising to Ajñā (illumined seeing)
Box breathing (4-4-4-4) to stabilize; then a few deeper exhales imagining Agni entering ‘cave after cave’.
Alert, courageous inwardness; disciplined exploration.
Identify one ‘dear track’ (a practice you know is right). Guard it for 7 days (consistency, purity). In meditation, visualize entering successive inner rooms; in each, call for one ‘cow’—one clear truth or insight—to emerge into the light.
Observe udātta/anudātta/svarita per śākala tradition; repetition of guhā guham should be chanted with clear separation and consistent accent (needs accent-marked text for exact).
Emphasize imperatives: pāhi (protect) and gāḥ (seek/go). Keep guhā/guham resonant but not heavy.
priyā: roll r lightly; long ī, viśvāyur: ś palatal; āyuḥ with clear long ā and final ḥ, guhā guham: g hard; h audible; avoid ‘gooha’—keep short u
Bright, searching tone; articulate consonants sharply to convey ‘quest’.
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