Rig Veda 5.1.9: Mandala 5, Sukta 1, Mantra 9
Sukta 5.1
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shringara (love) and Adbhuta (wonder)
प्र सद्यो अग्ने अत्येष्यन्यानाविर्यस्मै चारुतमो बभूथ । ईळेन्यो वपुष्यो विभावा प्रियो विशामतिथिर्मानुषीणाम् ॥
prá sadyo agne átyeṣy anyā́n āvír yásmai cā́ru-tamo babhū́tha | īḷényo vapuṣyò vibhā́vā priyó viśā́m átithir mā́nuṣīṇām ||
ഹേ അഗ്നേ, നീ ഉടൻ തന്നെ മുന്നോട്ട് നീങ്ങുന്നു, മറ്റു ശക്തികളെ അതിക്രമിച്ച്; നീ ഏറ്റവും മനോഹരനും കൃപാമയനും ആയിത്തീർന്നിരിക്കുന്നവനായി, അവനോടു നീ പ്രത്യക്ഷനാകുന്നു. ആരാധ്യൻ, രൂപത്തിൽ പരിപൂർണ്ണൻ, ദൂരവ്യാപിയായി പ്രകാശിക്കുന്നവൻ—നീ മനുഷ്യകുലങ്ങളുടെ പ്രിയ അതിഥി; അന്തർഗൃഹത്തിൽ പ്രവേശിച്ച് ആത്മാർപ്പണത്തിന്റെ യജ്ഞത്തെ ഉണർത്തുക.
Word by Word
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinableupasarga (preverb)Root प्र (upasarga)
- सद्यः
- immediately, at onceIndeclinableavyaya (temporal adverb)Role Adhikaraṇa (kāla)Root सद्यस् (prātipadika)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounmasculine, vocative, singularRole SambodhanaRoot अग्नि (prātipadika)
- अत्येषि
- you strive beyond / you press onVerbpresent indicative, 2nd person, singular, parasmaipadaRole Kriyā (finite verb)Root अत् + इष् (dhātu: इष्/इष् ‘to seek, strive’ with preverb अत्/अति-)
- अन्यान्
- othersAdjective/Pronounmasculine, accusative, pluralRole KarmaRoot अन्य (prātipadika)
- आ
- towards, untoIndeclinableupasarga (preverb)Root आ (upasarga)
- वीर्य
- strength, valorNounneuter, nominative/accusative, singular (here adverbial/instrumental sense ‘by/with might’ is contextual)Role Karaṇa (sense: by valor/might)Root वीर्य (prātipadika)
- यस्मै
- to whomPronounmasculine, dative, singularRole SampradānaRoot यद् (sarvanāma-prātipadika)
- चारुतमः
- most lovelyAdjectivemasculine, nominative, singular; superlative (-तम)Role Viśeṣaṇa (of Agni)Root चारु (prātipadika)
- बभूथ
- you have becomeVerbperfect, 2nd person, singular, parasmaipadaRole Kriyā (finite verb)Root भू (dhātu)
- ईळेन्यः
- worthy of praise/invocationAdjectivemasculine, nominative, singularRole Viśeṣaṇa (of Agni)Root ईळेन्य (prātipadika; from √ईळ्/ईड् ‘to praise, invoke’)
- वपुष्यः
- beautiful in formAdjectivemasculine, nominative, singularRole Viśeṣaṇa (of Agni)Root वपुष्य (prātipadika; from वपुस् ‘form, beauty’)
- विभावा
- radiant, widely shiningNoun/Adjectivemasculine, nominative, singular (agentive ‘shining forth’)Role Viśeṣaṇa (of Agni)Root वि + भा (dhātu: भा ‘to shine’)
- प्रियः
- dearAdjectivemasculine, nominative, singularRole Viśeṣaṇa (of Agni)Root प्रिय (prātipadika)
- विशाम्
- of the clans/peoplesNounfeminine, genitive, pluralRole Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandhaRoot विश् (prātipadika)
- अतिथिः
- guestNounmasculine, nominative, singularRole Kartā (in nominal clause with implied ‘is’)Root अतिथि (prātipadika)
- मानुषीणाम्
- of human (women/folk) / of mortalsAdjective (used substantively)feminine, genitive, pluralRole Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandhaRoot मानुषी (prātipadika)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (padapāṭha-style): प्र | सद्यः | अग्ने | अत्येषि | अन्यान् | आ | वीर्य | यस्मै | चारुतमः | बभूथ || ईळेन्यः | वपुष्यः | विभावा | प्रियः | विशाम् | अतिथिः | मानुषीणाम् । Key points: (1) ‘अत्येष्यन्यान्’ → ‘अत्येषि अन्यान्’ (i + a sandhi; verb + object)
- (2) ‘अन्याना॒विर्य’ → ‘अन्यान् आ वीर्य’ (final -न् + initial आ; and separation of particle ‘आ’)
- (3) ‘यस्मै चारुतमो’ → ‘यस्मै चारुतमः’ (visarga before voiced consonant in saṃhitā often appears as -o)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni, you go forth at once surpassing others; you become manifest for the one to whom you have become most beautiful. Adorable, beautiful in form, wide-shining, you are the beloved guest of human clans.
Inner meaning
When the will-to-transform is sincerely called, it moves immediately—outstripping lesser impulses. It reveals itself with increasing beauty (cārutama) to the soul that is ready: beauty here is the harmony of power and purity in the awakened flame. As vibhāvā (wide-shining), Agni spreads illumination through the whole nature and becomes the cherished ‘guest’—the divine Presence living within the human collectivity of thoughts, emotions, and bodily habits.
Universal truth
The divine responds swiftly to sincerity; as the inner fire grows purer it appears more beautiful, and its radiance naturally becomes intimate and beloved in daily life.
Themes
Agni-manifestation, Invocation, Inner guest in the human dwelling, Surpassing lesser forces
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 5.1, RV 7.1, RV 7.4
Family tradition
Emphasis on immediacy of Agni’s action when rightly invoked; intimate divine presence as ‘guest’ in the human house.
Significance
Vasiṣṭha frames the divine not as distant but as swiftly manifesting and lovable—beauty as a sign of inner rightness.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- Sadyaḥ (swift), Īḻenya, Vapuṣya, Vibhāvā, Atithi, Priya (beloved)
- Related deities
- Uṣas (illumination), Sūrya (wide light), Indra (surpassing force)
Cosmic role
Swift messenger and illuminator; makes the divine presence tangible within human life.
Inner power
Immediate transformative will that reveals itself as beauty, clarity, and intimate guidance.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni invocation as the deity ‘arrives’ and becomes manifest in the rite
प्र स॒द्यो अ॑ग्ने॒ अत्ये॑ष्य॒न्याना॒विर्यस्मै॒ चारु॑तमो ब॒भूथ॑ । ई॒ळेन्यो॑ वपु॒ष्यो॑ वि॒भावा॑ प्रि॒यो वि॒शामति॑थि॒र्मानु॑षीणाम् ॥
प्र । स॒द्यः । अ॒ग्ने॒ । अति॑ । ए॒षि॒ । अ॒न्यान् । आ॒विः । यस्मै॑ । चारु॑ऽतमः । ब॒भूथ॑ । ई॒ळेन्यः॑ । व॒पु॒ष्यः॑ । वि॒भाऽवा॑ । प्रि॒यः । वि॒शाम् । अति॑थिः । मानु॑षीणाम् ॥
pra | sadyaḥ | agne | ati | eṣi | anyān | āviḥ | yasmai | cāru-tamaḥ | babhūtha | īḷenyaḥ | vapuṣyaḥ | vibhāvā | priyaḥ | viśām | atithiḥ | mānuṣīṇām
44
4×11
Quick onset and luminous spread; triṣṭubh supports the ‘sadyaḥ’ forward motion.
Invokes swiftness, confidence, and a brightening of the inner atmosphere.
- सद्यः (sadyaḥ)
- Literal: at once. Symbolic: immediacy of response when the call is true
- अत्येषि (aty eṣi)
- Literal: you surpass/go beyond. Symbolic: transcending lower drives and mixed motives
- आविः (āviḥ)
- Literal: manifest, visible. Symbolic: becoming consciously present in experience
- चारुतमः (cārutamaḥ)
- Literal: most beautiful/gracious. Symbolic: harmonized purity and power of the awakened will
- ईळेन्यः (īḻenyaḥ)
- Literal: adorable. Symbolic: worthy of inner reverence; the divine to be loved
- वपुष्यः (vapuṣyaḥ)
- Literal: fair-formed. Symbolic: well-shaped force—right form of energy in nature
- विभावा (vibhāvā)
- Literal: wide-shining. Symbolic: diffusive illumination across mind-life-body
- अतिथिः (atithiḥ)
- Literal: guest. Symbolic: indwelling divine presence welcomed in human nature
Agni-invocation at the opening of offerings; suitable to Agnihotra/Darśapūrṇamāsa-style kindling sequences where Agni is welcomed as ‘atithi’ and made manifest.
At the point of inviting Agni’s presence; also suitable as an opening for personal practice
Invitation and praise; establishing the sense of Agni’s arrival and superiority over obstacles
Use when beginning a difficult task or sādhanā session: call the swift inner fire to outpace inertia and become vividly present.
Key terms: (1) agní- from √ag/√añj (to drive, lead; also fiery impulse): interpreted as the forward-leading Will in consciousness. (2) īḷénya- ‘to be invoked’ from √īḷ (praise, invoke, seek): indicates aspiration/adoration as a psychological act. (3) vibhā́vā from vi- + √bhā (shine): ‘manifold shining’, the distributive luminous force. (4) átithi- (a- + √tith/at? traditionally ‘one not fixed’): the divine power not yet domesticated by habit, arriving freshly into the human house.
R̥ta (right order as the condition for manifestation), Tapas (inner heat/ardor as ignition of will), Satyam-R̥tam-Bṛhat (truth-order vastness implied by vibhāvā)
Agni’s ‘beauty’ is the harmony that comes from ṛta working in nature.
Manifestation (āviḥ) is a mark of truth becoming experiential.
From hidden to manifest: the divine fire emerging in the human field.
Psychological Vedism: epiphany of the inner divine through aspiration and purification.
Shining = spreading awareness; guest = indwelling presence; surpassing = transcendence of lower nature.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘arrival of Agni as the guest’ (atithi) and his sudden manifestation (āviḥ) in the human clans. Mythically Agni is the divine fire brought into the dwelling; psychologically it is the descent/awakening of the luminous Will that outshines competing impulses (‘surpassing others’).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- vibhā́vā (√bhā ‘shine’) aligns with PIE *bʰeh₂-/*bʰā- ‘shine, appear’ (cf. Sanskrit bhā-, Greek phā- in phaínō ‘show’). The semantic field ‘manifest/appear’ (āviḥ) supports an inherited Indo-European poetics of epiphany: the god is known by appearing as light.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- Reciprocity is framed as preparedness and response: Agni becomes ‘most gracious’ (cārutamaḥ) for the one ‘for whom’ (yasmai) he manifests. The rishi’s act of invocation/aspiration (īḷenyaḥ) meets Agni’s act of epiphany; the ‘guest’ motif encodes an intimate exchange—human offering invites divine indwelling.
Invoke immediate presence: ‘Agni, be āviḥ in me.’ Notice where the will feels most beautiful and right—follow that line.
anahata
On inhale: ‘āviḥ’; on exhale: ‘īḻenyaḥ’—soft devotion; keep breath smooth.
Warmly luminous, intimate, and confident; a felt nearness of guidance.
If dullness arises, repeat ‘sadyaḥ’ with a gentle inner insistence; then rest in the ‘vibhāvā’ wideness—let light spread without strain.
Rigvedic accents; keep udātta prominence on sadyaḥ, agne, āvíḥ, cārutamo, īḻenyo, vibhāvā.
Sustain the brightness through the third pāda; do not let the fourth pāda sag—end with a gentle warmth on ‘mānuṣīṇām’.
: separate aty-eṣi (avoid ‘atyeṣi’ blur), : sandhi—āvir yasmai; keep y clear, : retroflex ḷ, long ī, : bh is aspirated (vi-bhā-)
Warm, luminous, affectionate; not forceful.
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