Rig Veda 1.96.5: Mandala 1, Sukta 96, Mantra 5
Sukta 1.96
- Rishi
- Parāśara Śāktya
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
नक्तोषासा वर्णमामेम्याने धापयेते शिशुमेकं समीची । द्यावाक्षामा रुक्मो अन्तर्वि भाति देवा अग्निं धारयन्द्रविणोदाम् ॥
náktoṣásā várṇam āmémyāne dhā́payete śíśum ékaṃ samīcī́ | dyā́vākṣā́mā rukmó antár ví bhāti devā́ agníṃ dhārayann dráviṇo-dām ||
രാത്രിയും ഉഷസ്സും തങ്ങളുടെ തങ്ങളുടെ വർണ്ണങ്ങളിൽ സഞ്ചരിച്ച്, പരസ്പര ഐക്യത്തോടെ ഒരേ ശിശുവിനെ പാലൂട്ടുന്നു. ദ്യാവാ-പൃഥിവി തമ്മിൽ അന്തർഭാഗത്ത് സ്വർണ്ണപ്രഭ തിളങ്ങുന്നു; ദേവന്മാർ അഗ്നിയെ ധരിച്ചു—ദ്രവിണോദാ, സത്തയുടെ സമൃദ്ധി നല്കുന്നവനെ.
Word by Word
- नक्तोषासा
- Night and DawnNoun (dual compound)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन (द्वन्द्व-समासः: नक्तम् + उषासा → नक्तोषासा)Role कर्तृRoot नक्त (अव्यय ‘रात्रौ’) + उषस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- वर्णम्
- color, appearanceNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- towards, forthIndeclinableउपसर्गः (आ-)Root आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- मेम्याने
- alternating, moving in turnParticipleवर्तमानकाले आत्मनेपदी शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त, स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया द्विवचन (नक्तोषासा-सम्बद्धम्)Role कर्तृ (विशेषणरूपेण)Root √मि (मिनोति/मीयते; ‘to change/alternate, move’), with reduplication मे- + यान (शानच्)
- धापयेते
- they cause to drink / they nourishVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन, आत्मनेपद (णिजन्तः)Role क्रिया (कर्तृ: नक्तोषासा)Root √धा (धत्ते/दधाति) causative धापयति; here 3rd dual Ātmanepada
- शिशुम्
- the childNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot शिशु (प्रातिपदिक)
- एकम्
- one, singleAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (शिशुम्-विशेषणम्)Role कर्म (विशेषणम्)Root एक (प्रातिपदिक)
- समीची
- converging, facing togetherAdjective (used adverbially/qualifying dual subject)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन (नक्तोषासा-विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ (विशेषणम्)Root समीचि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘facing each other/coming together’)
- द्यावाक्षामा
- Heaven and EarthNoun (dual compound)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन (द्वन्द्वः: द्यावा + क्षामा → द्यावाक्षामा)Role अधिकारण/कर्तृ (सन्दर्भे: ‘in/over heaven and earth’ अथवा ‘heaven-and-earth (as locus)’)Root द्याव् (दिव्/द्यौः) + क्षाम (प्रातिपदिक ‘earth/ground’)
- रुक्मः
- the golden (one), the shining ornamentNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot रुक्म (प्रातिपदिक)
- अन्तर्
- within, in betweenIndeclinableअव्ययम् (पूर्वपद/उपपदप्रयोगः)Role अधिकारणRoot अन्तर् (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ ‘within, between’)
- वि
- apart, widely, forthIndeclinableउपसर्गः (वि-)Root वि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- भाति
- shinesVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रिया (कर्तृ: रुक्मः)Root √भा (भाति)
- देवाः
- the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्निम्
- Agni (fire)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- धारयन्
- holding, supportingParticipleवर्तमानकाले परस्मैपदी शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन (देवाः-सम्बद्धम्)Role कर्तृ (विशेषणरूपेण)Root √धृ (धरति) causative/denominative sense ‘to hold, support’; present active participle
- द्रविणोदाम्
- the wealth-giverNoun (compound epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (अग्निम्-विशेषणम्; बहुव्रीहि/तत्पुरुष-समासार्थ: ‘wealth-giver’)Role कर्म (विशेषणम्)Root द्रविण (प्रातिपदिक ‘wealth’) + दा (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त ‘giver’, from √दा)
Sandhi Notes
- मुख्य सन्धि/समास-विग्रहः— (1) नक्तो॒षासा = नक्तम् + उषासा (द्वन्द्व-समास; अ + उ → ओ). (2) मेम्याने: √मि-धातोः पुनरुक्त-आधारः (मे-) सह शानच्-प्रत्ययः
- नक्तोषासा-विशेषणम्. (3) द्यावा॒क्षामा = द्यावा + क्षामा (द्वन्द्व; आ + क्ष → आक्ष). (4) अन्तर् वि भाति: ‘अन्तर्’ अव्ययम् + उपसर्ग ‘वि-’ + √भा. (5) द्रविणो॒दाम् = द्रविण + दाम् (समास; ‘दाम्’ = दा-प्रातिपदिक ‘दाता’ का द्वितीया एकवचन)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Night and Dawn, moving in their colours, nurse the one child in mutual accord. Between Heaven and Earth the golden light shines within; the gods sustained Agni, giver of plenitude.
Inner meaning
Night and Dawn are not merely times but alternating states of consciousness: obscurity and illumination. They ‘nurse one child’—the nascent inner fire (Agni) in the seeker—each contributing: Night gives depth, silence, and gestation; Dawn gives awakening, clarity, and direction. Their ‘mutual accord’ (samīcī) indicates a balanced rhythm: neither rejecting darkness nor clinging to light, but using both for growth. The ‘golden light’ (rukma) shining between heaven and earth is the inner radiance emerging in the intermediate being (antarikṣa)—the vital-mind field—when Agni is cared for steadily. Then the higher powers can sustain Agni as plenitude-giver.
Universal truth
Spiritual growth requires a wise rhythm of rest and illumination, silence and insight. When both cooperate, an inner golden radiance appears in the midst of life, joining higher vision with grounded existence.
Themes
Agni as child, night-dawn nurturing, unity of opposites, golden inner radiance
The seer
- Rishi
- Parāśara Śāktya
- Lineage
- Śāktya
- Other hymns
- RV 1.65, RV 1.66, RV 1.67, RV 1.68, RV 1.69, RV 1.70, RV 1.71, RV 1.72, RV 1.73, RV 1.96
Family tradition
Agni’s birth and nurture through cosmic pairs; emphasis on rhythm (night/dawn) and emergence of inner light
Significance
Shows the subtle pedagogy of the Veda: even obscurity is a nurse of the flame when held in right rhythm with awakening—key to integral sādhanā through alternating states.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (as the child)
- Epithets
- śiśu (child), rukma (golden radiance, implied), draviṇodā
- Related deities
- Rātri (Night), Uṣas (Dawn), Dyāvāpṛthivī (Heaven-Earth)
Cosmic role
Hidden fire nurtured by cosmic alternations; shines in the mid-world between heaven and earth.
Inner power
Psychic flame growing through cycles; produces inner golden light in the life-field.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni hymns associated with daily kindling; thematically suited to morning/evening transitions
नक्तो॒षासा॒ वर्ण॑मा॒मेम्या॑ने धा॒पये॑ते॒ शिशु॒मेकं॑ समी॒ची । द्यावा॒क्षामा॑ रु॒क्मो अ॒न्तर्वि भा॑ति दे॒वा अ॒ग्निं धा॑रयन्द्रविणो॒दाम् ॥
नक्तो॒षसा॑ । वर्ण॑म् । आ॒मेम्या॑ने॒ इत्या॒ऽमेम्या॑ने । धा॒पये॑ते॒ इति॑ । शिशु॑म् । एक॑म् । स॒मी॒ची॒ इति॑ स॒म्ऽई॒ची । द्यावा॒क्षामा॑ । रु॒क्मः । अ॒न्तः । वि । भा॒ति॒ । दे॒वाः । अ॒ग्निम् । धा॒र॒य॒न् । द्र॒वि॒णः॒ऽदाम् ॥
naktoṣasā | varṇam | āmemyāneity āmemyāne | dhāpayeteiti | śiśum | ekam | samīcī itisam-īcī | dyāvākṣāmā | rukmaḥ | antaḥ | vi | bhāti | devāḥ | agnim | dhārayan | draviṇaḥ-dām
44
4×11 approx.; strong imagery and gentle cadence in first half, luminous expansion in second
Wave-like alternation (matching night/dawn), then a bright lift on ‘rukmo… vi bhāti’
Soothes and steadies; encourages trust in cycles and reveals a quiet inner luminosity.
- नक्तोषासा (naktoṣāsā)
- Literal: Night and Dawn. Symbolic: states of obscurity and awakening; subconscious depth and illumined opening
- वर्णम् (varṇam)
- Literal: colour, appearance. Symbolic: qualitative tones of consciousness; shifting inner moods
- आमेम्याने (āmemyāne)
- Literal: moving to and fro, alternating. Symbolic: cyclic rhythm of inner states; necessary alternation in sādhanā
- धा पयेते (dhāpayete)
- Literal: they nurse, cause to drink. Symbolic: they feed and sustain the growing inner fire
- शिशुम् एकम् (śiśum ekam)
- Literal: one child. Symbolic: the single psychic flame/Agni being formed
- समीची (samīcī)
- Literal: in mutual accord, together. Symbolic: harmonized alternation; balanced tapas and repose
- द्यावा-क्षामा (dyāvākṣāmā)
- Literal: heaven and earth. Symbolic: higher consciousness and embodied foundation
- रुक्मः (rukmaḥ)
- Literal: golden ornament, gold. Symbolic: inner golden radiance—truth-light with delight
Appropriate for dawn/evening fire contexts (Agnihotra rhythm), highlighting cyclical nurturing of the flame and the emergence of inner golden radiance.
At dawn or twilight recitations; when tending the household or inner ‘fire’ regularly
Offer a small āhuti or lamp-lighting; recite contemplating the flame as a ‘child’ to be cared for
Ideal for evening reflection or dawn meditation: accept alternating states, nourish aspiration gently, and invite the golden inner light into daily life.
nakta-uṣas dual formula. āmemyāna (reduplicated motion) indicates oscillation/cycle. √dhāpay ‘nurse’ from causative of √dhā/√dhāi? (nourishing sense). śiśu ‘child’ often for Agni. rukma ‘gold ornament’ → golden radiance. dyāvā-kṣāmā compound: heaven + earth.
unity behind dualities (ekam), rhythmic alternation as ṛta, inner light in the interval (antar)
The accord of Night and Dawn embodies ṛta as cyclic order; right rhythm sustains growth.
Rukma shining within signifies truth-light manifesting in the intermediate nature.
Nurture of the divine child through cosmic polarity; emergence of inner light between heaven and earth.
Integral psychology of cycles: transformation through alternating obscurity and illumination.
dawn and twilight (transition)
Night = subconscious/quietude; Dawn = illumination; Golden light = awakened psychic-mental radiance in life between higher and lower.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘divine child nursed by Night and Dawn’: the flame of consciousness is fostered through alternating states—obscurity and awakening—until it shines golden between the poles of existence. This is a central Vedic image of growth of light through rhythmic duality.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- dyāv- reflects PIE *dyew- ‘sky/daylight’. The paired Night–Dawn motif parallels Indo-European dawn mythology (e.g., *h₂éwsōs ‘dawn’). The ‘child of fire’ as a recurrent birth also resonates with widespread IE poetic themes of renewed light.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi contemplates the inner process rather than demanding external gifts: he recognizes that even Night serves the nurturing of Agni. The practitioner learns to hold both darkness and awakening in samīcī (accord) so the one child (ekam) can grow and shine.
Hold the inner flame as a ‘child’: do not strain. Observe alternating states (clarity/obscurity) and keep a steady, kind aspiration through both until a golden inner light appears in the midst of life.
hṛdaya (psychic/heart) with a bridge to ājñā (illumination)
4-6 breathing (inhale 4, exhale 6) to emphasize nursing/soothing; on inhale feel Dawn’s clarity, on exhale feel Night’s deepening peace—both feeding the flame.
Quietly awake, tenderly luminous, balanced between heights and depths.
When dullness comes, treat it as Night’s nursing—turn inward without discouragement. When clarity comes, use it without excitement. Keep samīcī: a harmonious rhythm and faithful repetition.
Gentler udatta rises in pāda 1-2; brighten udatta on ‘rukmo’ and ‘vi bhāti’; keep refrain steady and grounded.
Chant pāda 1-2 with a rocking cadence (nursing). Make a clear luminous lift on ‘dyāvākṣāmā… rukmo…’.
naktoṣāsā: keep the conjunct kt; do not drop k., āmemyāne: long ā at start; keep my cluster clear., samīcī: long ī; palatal c crisp., rukmaḥ: clear k+m cluster; visarga lightly released.
soft, warm, cradle-like in first half; gently radiant in second
5
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
