Rig Veda 3.27.11: Mandala 3, Sukta 27, Mantra 11
Sukta 3.27
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
अग्निं यन्तुरमप्तुरमृतस्य योगे वनुषः । विप्रा वाजैः समिन्धते ॥
agníṃ yánturam aptúram ṛtásya yóge vanúṣaḥ | víprā vājáiḥ samíndhate ||
അഗ്നി—യന്തു (മാർഗ്ഗദർശി)യും അപ്തു (ഫലപ്രദ പ്രവർത്തകൻ)യും—ഋത (സത്യ-ക്രമം)യുടെ യോഗത്തിൽ (യോജനം/ബന്ധത്തിൽ) നിലകൊള്ളുന്നു; അവനെ വിപ്രർ (പ്രചോദിത ഋഷിജനം) വാജ (ബല-സമൃദ്ധി)കളാൽ ഒരുമിച്ചു ജ്വലിപ്പിക്കുന്നു.
Word by Word
- अग्निम्
- Agni (as the object of kindling/praising)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot अग्नि- (प्रातिपदिक)
- यन्तुरम्
- the guide/driver, controllerNoun (agentive)पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot यन्तृ- (प्रातिपदिक; √यम् ‘नियच्छति/यच्छति’)
- अप्तुरम्
- the active/efficient one, accomplisherAdjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot अप्तुर- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘कार्य-साधक/कर्मकुशल’)
- ऋतस्य
- of ṛta (cosmic order/truth)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)Root ऋत- (प्रातिपदिक)
- योगे
- in the yoking/joining; in the rite/connectionNounपुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति; एकवचनRole अधिकारणRoot योग- (प्रातिपदिक; √युज् ‘योजने’)
- वनुषः
- the worshippers/praisersNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot वनुष्- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘स्तुतिकर/उपासक’)
- विप्राः
- inspired sages/priestsNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot विप्र- (प्रातिपदिक)
- वाजैः
- with prizes/strengths (i.e., with invigorating offerings)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति; बहुवचनRole करणRoot वाज- (प्रातिपदिक)
- समिन्धते
- they kindle (for themselves/ritually)Verbलट् (वर्तमान); आत्मनेपद; प्रथम-पुरुष; बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot सम्-√इन्ध् (इन्ध् ‘दीप्तौ/प्रदीपने’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: अग्निम् | यन्तुरम् | अप्तुरम् | ऋतस्य | योगे | वनुषः | विप्राः | वाजैः | समिन्धते । Sandhi: (1) मन्त्रोक्त ‘अग्निं’ = अग्निम् (म् + य् → ंय् अनुस्वार-लेखन)
- (2) ‘यन्तुर॑म॒प्तुर॑म्’ = यन्तुरम् + अप्तुरम् (अ + अ → अ; पदान्त-म् परे अ- आरम्भे, संधि-परिवर्तन नहीं, केवल संहितापाठ)
- (3) ‘ऋतस्य॒ योगे॑’ = ऋतस्य + योगे (अ + य् → अय्; संहितापाठ में संयुक्त)
- (4) ‘विप्रा॒ वाजै॒:’ = विप्राः + वाजैः (विसर्गः परे व्; वैदिक-लेखन में ‘:’)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni, the guide (yantur) and effective doer (aptur), in the yoking of ṛta—him the seekers kindle together, the inspired ones, with plenitudes (vājaiḥ).
Inner meaning
Agni is the inner guide who harnesses the being to the Truth (ṛtasya yoga). As effective power (aptur), he accomplishes what the soul intends. When aspirants (vanuṣaḥ) and illumined minds (viprāḥ) unite, they kindle this fire with forces of accomplishment (vājāḥ)—making the yoga of truth a collective, integral ignition of the whole nature.
Universal truth
Truth is realized by yoking the whole being to right order; when aspiration and illumination cooperate, inner power is kindled and the path becomes effective.
Themes
Yoga with Ṛta, Collective aspiration, Agni as guide, Empowered kindling
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Gāthina (Kauśika lineage, traditional)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 3.27, Rig Veda 3.30, Rig Veda 3.1
Family tradition
Emphasis on yoking to ṛta and collective kindling—harmonizing powers for victory over limitation.
Significance
The rishi reveals yoga as ṛtasya yoga: not mere effort, but a disciplined yoking to truth where Agni becomes both guide and achiever.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- Yantur, Aptur, Guide of Ṛta-yoga
- Related deities
- Indra (illumination and victory), Maruts (energies that kindle), Soma (delight that sustains yoking)
Cosmic role
Charioteer of the sacrifice; ensures the rite’s efficacy; aligns movements to cosmic order.
Inner power
Integrating will: coordinates faculties, makes truth-operational, and turns aspiration into effective realization.
In ritual
Where it is used
Kindling/strengthening Agni for ṛta-aligned performance of the rite; communal recitation by priests
अ॒ग्निं य॒न्तुर॑म॒प्तुर॑मृ॒तस्य॒ योगे॑ व॒नुष॑: । विप्रा॒ वाजै॒: समि॑न्धते ॥
अ॒ग्निम् । य॒न्तुर॑म् । अ॒प्ऽतुर॑म् । ऋ॒तस्य॑ । योगे॑ । व॒नुषः॑ । विप्राः॑ । वाजैः॑ । सम् । इ॒न्ध॒ते॒ ॥
agnim | yanturam | ap-turam | ṛtasya | yoge | vanuṣaḥ | viprāḥ | vājaiḥ | sam | indhate
44
4 × ~11 syllables
Firm and unifying; the ‘sam’ (together) sense is supported by balanced beats.
Creates cohesion and readiness; evokes a disciplined, yoked concentration.
- yanturam
- Literal: guide, controller, yoker. Symbolic: inner leader that steers energies and yokes them to truth
- ap-turam (apturam)
- Literal: effective doer, achiever of works. Symbolic: power that completes; will that becomes successful action
- ṛtasya yoge
- Literal: in the yoking of ṛta. Symbolic: union with right order/truth-consciousness; disciplined integration
- vanuṣaḥ
- Literal: seekers, worshippers. Symbolic: aspiring parts of the being that long for the divine
- viprāḥ
- Literal: inspired seers. Symbolic: illumined intelligence supporting the will
- vājaiḥ
- Literal: with plenitudes/strengths. Symbolic: with gathered energies, capacities, and victorious forces
- sam indhate
- Literal: kindle together. Symbolic: integral ignition: all parts united in aspiration
Kindling formula emphasizing ṛta-yoga: used to align the sacrificial action with truth-order; inwardly, it frames disciplined union (yoga) with ṛta through Agni.
When the fire is to be intensified and the rite aligned to right order; during collective kindling and offerings.
Adding fuel/oblations; coordinated chanting; reaffirming Agni as guide and achiever.
Group meditation or sangha practice: chant to unify intention, align to truth, and kindle collective aspiration.
yanturá: from √yam ‘to restrain, guide’ or √yan ‘to yoke/move’ (Vedic overlap); sense ‘steerer, controller’. apturá: traditionally ‘active, accomplishing’; linked to áp- ‘work/waters’ debated; functional sense: ‘one who reaches (āp) the goal’ (√āp ‘attain’). yoga: from √yuj ‘yoke, join’ (PIE *yeug-; cf. Latin iugum, English yoke). indhate: middle of √indh ‘kindle’ (PIE *h₁n̥gʷʰ-? uncertain; Indo-Iranian is clear).
Ṛta-yoga (union with truth-order), Vāja (plenitude of force), Collective kindling (sam-indh) as harmonized energies
Explicit: ṛtasya yoga—union with right order as the core practice.
Ṛta here is satya in movement—truth made dynamic and workable.
Integration as creation: yoking forces produces a new effective order in the being.
Yoga of ṛta: integral discipline aligning mind-life-body to truth-consciousness.
dawn or ritual morning (typical kindling context)
Kindling = awakening aspiration; yoking = integration of faculties; vāja = consolidated energies; guide = inner governance.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The communal kindling of Agni in the ‘yoking of ṛta’: the inspired seekers unite their forces to awaken the guiding fire. Mythically, the rite yokes truth and power; psychologically, the many movements of the being are harmonized to kindle a single leader-will aligned with truth.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- yoga from √yuj is a transparent continuation of PIE *yeug- (Latin iugum, English yoke), preserving the ancient metaphor of spiritual/ritual ‘union’ as ‘yoking’. vāja retains the archaic heroic-poetic ‘prize/force’ lexicon typical across IE traditions.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- Agni is approached as both governor (yantur) and accomplisher (aptur): the rishi-community kindles him with vāja (energized offerings and powers), expecting that he will steer their practice into ṛta-yoga—effective union with the truth-order.
Practice ‘ṛtasya yoga’: yoke attention, breath, and intention to truth; kindle Agni as guide/achiever.
manipura
Sama vṛtti (equal inhale/exhale) to create yoking; then a few rounds of kapalabhati-light (optional) to kindle vāja, followed by stillness.
Integrated, effective concentration; will and insight unified.
Before action, ask: ‘Is this ṛta?’ Then kindle the heart-fire; act from aligned will. For group practice, synchronize breath and chant to ‘sam indhate’—kindle together.
Triṣṭubh with strong articulation on ‘ṛtasya yoge’; emphasize ‘sam indhate’ as a unified closing.
Slightly stress ‘yanturam apturam’ (guide/achiever pair); keep the final phrase cohesive to convey ‘together’.
yanturam: clear ‘yan’ and dental ‘t’, apturam: cluster ‘pt’ clean; avoid inserting vowel, ṛtasya: vocalic ṛ pronounced distinctly, indhate: aspirate ‘dh’; keep ‘sam’ nasalized lightly
Steady, cohesive, slightly energizing; suitable for group unison.
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