Rig Veda 3.22.5: Mandala 3, Sukta 22, Mantra 5
Sukta 3.22
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shringara (love) and Shanta (peace)
इळामग्ने पुरुदंसं सनिं गोः शश्वत्तमं हवमानाय साध । स्यान्नः सूनुस्तनयो विजावाग्ने सा ते सुमतिर्भूत्वस्मे ॥
iḷā́m agne puru-daṃsáṃ saníṃ góḥ śaśvat-tamáṃ havamānāya sādha | syān naḥ sūnús tanáyo vijā́vāgne sā́ te su-matír bhūtv asmè ||
ഹേ അഗ്നേ, നിന്നെ ഹവിക്കുന്നവനുവേണ്ടി ഇളാ—പ്രകാശമയ പ്രജ്ഞയാൽ സമ്പൂർണ്ണവും, ബഹുവിധ പ്രവർത്തികളാൽ സമൃദ്ധവും—ഗോ (കിരണങ്ങൾ/ധേനു)യുടെ സനി, ശാശ്വതതമമായ വിജയം സിദ്ധമാക്കുക. ഞങ്ങൾക്കു പുത്രൻ—സൂനു, തനയ—ജന്മങ്ങളിലും വളർച്ചയിലും വിജയിയായിരിക്കട്ടെ. അതേ നിന്റെ സുമതി (മംഗളകരമായ കൃപ) ഞങ്ങൾക്കായി ഭവിക്കട്ടെ.
Word by Word
- इळाम्
- Iḷā (the goddess of nourishment/oblation)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचनRole कर्मRoot इळा (प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन-एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- पुरुदंसम्
- much-wondrous, of many featsAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचनRole विशेषण (कर्मणि) / कर्मRoot पुरुदंस (प्रातिपदिक; पुरु- + दंस)
- सनिम्
- winning, acquisitionNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचनRole कर्मRoot सनि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘gain, winning’)
- गोः
- of cattle (of the cow)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी) / विशेषणRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- शश्वत्तमम्
- most continual, ever-lastingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचनRole विशेषण (कर्मणि)Root शश्वत् (अव्यय/विशेषण) + -तम (तमप्)
- हवमानाय
- to the one who is invoking (the worshipper)Participle (Adjective)पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी-एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot √ह्वे (ह्वा) ‘to call’ → हवमान (वर्तमानकृदन्त)
- साध
- accomplish! grant success!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यम-पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot √साध् ‘to accomplish, make succeed’
- स्यात्
- may there beVerbविधिलिङ्; प्रथम-पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot √अस् ‘to be’
- नः
- of us, ourPronounषष्ठी-बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक) ‘our’Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- सूनुः
- sonNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot सूनु (प्रातिपदिक)
- तनयः
- offspringNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनRole कर्तृ (समानाधिकरण)Root तनय (प्रातिपदिक)
- विजावा
- swift/impetuous (in onset), vigorousAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनRole विशेषण (कर्तरि)Root विजाव (प्रातिपदिक; वि- + जाव ‘swift/impetuous’)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन-एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- सा
- that (she/it)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot तद् (सर्वनाम)
- ते
- yourPronounषष्ठी-एकवचन (एन्क्लिटिक) ‘thy/your’Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- सुमतिः
- good thought, favorNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot सुमति (प्रातिपदिक; सु- + मति)
- भूतु
- let it be, may it becomeVerbलोट्; प्रथम-पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot √भू ‘to be, become’
- अस्मे
- for usPronounचतुर्थी-बहुवचन (वैदिक रूप) ‘for us’Role सम्प्रदानRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
Sandhi Notes
- संधि-विच्छेद (मुख्य): इळामग्ने → इळाम् + अग्ने
- पुरुदंसं → पुरुदंसम् (अनुस्वार/परसवर्ण लेखन)
- शश्वत्तमं → शश्वत्तमम्
- हवमानाय साध (पद-सीमा)
- स्यान्नः → स्यात् + नः
- सूनुस्तनयो → सूनुः + तनयः
- विजावाग्ने → विजावा + अग्ने
- अग्ने सा ते → (पद-सीमा)
- सुमतिर्भूत्वस्मे → सुमतिः + भूतु + अस्मे
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni is asked to accomplish Iḷā, rich in manifold works, and the enduring winning of cows; and to grant a son/child victorious in births. May Agni’s good grace be upon us.
Inner meaning
Iḷā is invoked as the power of inspired revelation and right speech—luminous intuition that ‘nourishes’ the sacrifice. The ‘winning of go’ is not cattle but rays of knowledge: stable access to illuminations that endure (śaśvattamam). The ‘son/child’ is the inner birth—new formation of consciousness (tanaya) that grows and conquers repeatedly (vijāvā: victorious in becomings). Agni is asked to realize this in the seeker who calls: to establish inspired insight, secure the rays, and bring forth a victorious new self.
Universal truth
True progress is an inner birth: enduring access to light and a growing, victorious formation of the soul-nature, supported by grace and disciplined aspiration.
Themes
Agni as accomplisher of works, Recovery/attainment of Light (cows as rays), Birth of inner power (son/offspring) through sacrifice, Grace (sumati) and right-minded guidance
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Viśvāmitra (Gāthina lineage)
- Other hymns
- RV 3.23.4, RV 3.62.10, RV 3.53
Family tradition
Viśvāmitra’s hymns frequently seek the cows (rays) and the establishment of inspired speech (Iḷā/Sarasvatī current) as instruments of realization.
Significance
The seer connects illumination with inner generation: light must become a ‘child’—a formed and growing consciousness capable of victorious action in the world.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (with Iḷā as allied power)
- Epithets
- Agne (invoked), Bestower of sumati (good grace)
- Related deities
- Iḷā, Sarasvatī (conceptual ally), Bṛhaspati (lord of inspired speech, allied theme)
Cosmic role
Giver of boons in the sacrifice; awakener of Iḷā (inspiration) and winner of rays (go).
Inner power
Power that brings inspired insight into effective formation—turning revelation into a stable new birth of being.
In ritual
Where it is used
Prayer for prosperity, insight, and progeny within Agni worship; also linked to success of sacrifice through Iḷā
इळा॑मग्ने पुरु॒दंसं॑ स॒निं गोः श॑श्वत्त॒मं हव॑मानाय साध । स्यान्न॑: सू॒नुस्तन॑यो वि॒जावाग्ने॒ सा ते॑ सुम॒तिर्भू॑त्व॒स्मे ॥
इळा॑म् । अ॒ग्ने॒ । पु॒रु॒ऽदंस॑म् । स॒निम् । गोः । श॒श्व॒त्ऽत॒मम् । हव॑मानाय । सा॒ध॒ । स्यात् । नः॒ । सू॒नुः । तन॑यः । वि॒जाऽवा॑ । अ॒ग्ने॒ । सा । ते॒ । सु॒ऽम॒तिः । भू॒तु॒ । अ॒स्मे इति॑ ॥
iḷām | agne | puru-daṃsam | sanim | goḥ | śaśvat-tamam | havamānāya | sādha | syāt | naḥ | sūnuḥ | tanayaḥ | vijāvā | agne | sā | te | su-matiḥ | bhūtu | asme iti
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4 × ~11 syllables
Supplicatory yet strong; combines aspiration with blessing cadence.
Encourages confidence and tenderness—invokes grace, insight, and a sense of inner growth.
- इळा (iḷā)
- Literal: Iḷā; nourishment/refreshment; goddess-name. Symbolic: inspired intuition and revelatory speech that nourishes the inner sacrifice
- पुरुदंसम् (purudaṃsam)
- Literal: of many works/deeds. Symbolic: manifold effective operations of the divine will in life
- सनिम् गोः (sanim goḥ)
- Literal: winning of cows. Symbolic: attainment of rays of knowledge/illumination
- शश्वत्तमम् (śaśvattamam)
- Literal: most enduring, perpetual. Symbolic: stable realization, not fleeting experiences
- हवमानाय (havamānāya)
- Literal: to the one calling. Symbolic: the aspiring seeker who invokes and offers
- सूनुः/तनयः (sūnuḥ/tanayaḥ)
- Literal: son/offspring. Symbolic: new inner birth; emergent soul-formation in consciousness
- विजावा (vijāvā)
- Literal: victorious in births. Symbolic: repeated victorious becomings; progressive manifestation
- सुमतिः (sumatiḥ)
- Literal: good mind, benevolent grace. Symbolic: divine favor as right guidance and happy wideness of consciousness
Agni-invocation in domestic and śrauta contexts; suitable for Agnyādheya/Agnihotra-oriented recitation and for establishing Agni as purohita in soma-sacrifice preliminaries (general prayoga, not restricted to one śrauta rite).
In rites seeking progeny and well-being; also at household fire worship as a blessing mantra.
Offer ghee; invoke Agni’s grace; pray for enduring illumination and successful ‘births’ (outer/inner).
Use for projects and personal transformation: ‘winning of cows’ = clarity; ‘son’ = a new habit/self; recite before beginning a long-term sadhana or creative work.
Key terms: iḷā́ (from √il/√iḍ ‘to praise, to invoke’; in RV also a power of inspired speech and right discernment); agní- (√ag ‘to drive, lead’ > ‘fire’ as leader/impeller of the rite and the will); daṃsá- (√daṃś/daṃs ‘to be skilled, to accomplish wondrously’ → effective deed/power); saní- (√san ‘to gain, win’ → secure attainment); gó- (PIE *gʷou- ‘cow’; RV semantic extension: rays/illumination/knowledge); śaśvát (from √śaś ‘to be continuous/enduring’); havamāná (√hū ‘to call’); sādha (√sādh ‘to accomplish, make straight/successful’); sūnú-/tanáya- (both ‘offspring’; psychologically: produced power/formation born from tapas and offering); su-matí- (matí from √man ‘to think’ → luminous right-mindedness/grace).
Ṛta (right order) as ‘sādha’—effective establishment of truth in action, Satyam–Ṛtam–Bṛhat as enduring (‘śaśvattama’) illumination, Tapas implied in the birth of the ‘son/offspring’ as a formed inner power
Iḷā as right-inspired speech aligns the sacrifice with ṛta; the rays (go) are released when order is followed.
Enduring ‘winning of rays’ implies stable satya-vision rather than intermittent flashes.
Inner creation as birth: new formations arise from fire and inspiration; becomings (jā) are made victorious (vijā).
Vedantic-yogic integral reading: revelation (Iḷā) + will (Agni) = manifested new consciousness.
Fire = aspiration; cows = rays/knowledges; child = new consciousness; nourishment = inspired intuition sustaining growth.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘winning of the cows’ (saníṃ góḥ) functions as the classic RV mythologem of recovering the hidden Rays/Knowledges from obstruction. Here it is not narrated as an outer raid but requested as an enduring attainment (‘śaśvattama’), accomplished by Agni’s many effective powers (puru-daṃsa).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- góḥ ‘of the cow’ continues PIE *gʷou- (cf. Lat. bōs, Gk. boûs, Eng. cow via Germanic *kū-). The RV semantic widening from ‘cow’ to ‘ray/light’ is a poetic-metaphoric development within Indo-Iranian diction, where cattle imagery encodes wealth/brightness/benefit. su-matí- rests on √man ‘think’ (PIE *men- ‘to think’), showing the centrality of ‘thought’ as a power/formation rather than mere cognition.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi speaks as the invoking aspirant (havamānāya), asking Agni to ‘accomplish’ (sādha) both illumination (Iḷā and the winning of go) and a stable inner progeny (sūnu/tanaya). In return, the human offers call and orientation; Agni answers with su-mati—gracious right-minded guidance—established ‘in us’ (asme), indicating reciprocity: invocation and surrender met by divine effective force and inner formation.
Invoke Iḷā (intuitive speech/insight) and ask Agni to make illumination enduring; meditate on an ‘inner child’ growing in light.
Vishuddha (speech/insight as Iḷā) and Anahata (grace/benediction)
Bhrāmarī (humming) lightly to awaken subtle speech-center; then silent japa of the mantra.
Gentle luminous devotion with steady aspiration.
After chanting, sit with attention at the throat and heart; invite a clear intuitive phrase or guidance (Iḷā). Then visualize a small flame-child in the heart growing steadily—commit to one concrete practice that protects the ‘enduring’ gain of rays.
Tri-svara; keep udātta clarity on iḷām, agne, goḥ, sūnuḥ, sumatiḥ.
Let ‘śaśvattamam’ be elongated and steady to convey endurance; soften on the final blessing ‘bhūtv asme’.
iḷām: retroflex ḷ (if your tradition preserves it); otherwise careful ‘ilām’ without over-darkening, purudaṃsam: nasal ‘ṃ’ before s, śaśvattamam: double t; keep ś and ṣ distinct, vijāvāgne: sandhi; articulate ‘vijāvā agne’ if separating for clarity
Warm, prayerful, intimate; maintain clarity of consonants without force.
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