Rig Veda 6.13.2: Mandala 6, Sukta 13, Mantra 2
Sukta 6.13
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
त्वं भगो न आ हि रत्नमिषे परिज्मेव क्षयसि दस्मवर्चाः । अग्ने मित्रो न बृहत ऋतस्यासि क्षत्ता वामस्य देव भूरेः ॥
tváṃ bhágo na ā́ hí rátnam íṣe párijma iva kṣáyasi dasmávarcāḥ | ágne mitró ná bṛhatá ṛtásyā́si kṣattā́ vā́masya deva bhū́reḥ ||
നീ ഞങ്ങൾക്ക് ഭഗനുപോലെ—ആനന്ദത്തിനായി രത്നധനം കൊണ്ടുവരുന്നവൻ; എല്ലാടവും സഞ്ചരിക്കുന്നവനെപ്പോലെ നീ വസിച്ച് ഭരിക്കുന്നു, ഹേ അത്ഭുതജ്വാലയുള്ളവാ. ഹേ അഗ്നേ, മിത്രനുപോലെ നീ ഋതത്തിന്റെ വിശാല രക്ഷകൻ; ഹേ ദേവാ, നീ വാഞ്ഛിതത്തിന്റെ വിഭജകൻ—ഭൂരി (അപാരം) സമൃദ്ധിയിൽ.
Word by Word
- त्वम्
- thouPronounपुंलिङ्ग/सर्वलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- भगः
- Bhaga (the bestower), lord of bountyNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (त्वम्-समनाधिकरण)Root भग (प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- of us / ourPronounषष्ठी, बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्बन्धRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- hither, towardsIndeclinableउपसर्ग/निपातRoot आ (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- हि
- indeed, forIndeclinableनिपातRoot हि (निपात)
- रत्नम्
- treasure, precious giftNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
- इषे
- for refreshment/nourishmentNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot इष् (धातु) / इष (प्रातिपदिक ‘refreshment’)
- परिज्मा
- a wheel/rim (of a chariot), fellyNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole उपमान (इव-सम्बन्ध)Root परिज्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- likeIndeclinableउपमानार्थक निपातRoot इव (निपात)
- क्षयसि
- thou dwellest/abidestVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot क्षि (धातु) ‘to dwell, abide’
- दस्मवर्चाः
- of wondrous/brilliant splendourAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय-समासार्थ)Role विशेषण (अग्ने/त्वम्)Root दस्म-वर्चस् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- मित्रः
- Mitra (the Friend-god)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (उपमान)Root मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- likeIndeclinableउपमानार्थक निपातRoot न (निपात)
- बृहतः
- of the greatAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot बृहत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऋतस्य
- of ṛta (cosmic order, truth)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot ऋत (प्रातिपदिक)
- असि
- thou artVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot अस् (धातु) ‘to be’
- क्षत्ता
- dispenser, apportioner (steward)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (असि-समनाधिकरण)Root क्षत्तृ (प्रातिपदिक; agent-noun from √क्षद्/क्षद् ‘to apportion/serve’ in Vedic usage)
- वामस्य
- of good things / of favourNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot वाम (प्रातिपदिक)
- देव
- O godNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- भूरेः
- of abundance, of much (wealth)Adjective (used substantively)(भूरि-), षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot भूरि (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-विग्रह): त्वं | भगः | नः | आ | हि | रत्नम् | इषे | परिज्मा इव | क्षयसि | दस्मवर्चाः || अग्ने | मित्रः न | बृहतः | ऋतस्य | असि | क्षत्ता | वामस्य | देव | भूरेः || 1) रत्नमि॒षे → रत्नम् + इषे (म् + इ → मि)
- 2) परि॑ज्मेव → परिज्मा + इव (आ + इ → ए)
- 3) ऋ॒तस्यासि॑ → ऋतस्य + असि (अ + अ → आ)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni is like Bhaga bringing a treasure for delight; he dwells everywhere and rules, wonder-flaming. Like Mitra he is the wide guardian of Ṛta and the distributor of desirable riches in abundance.
Inner meaning
Agni embodies multiple divine functions: as Bhaga he apportions the ‘treasure’—the share of delight and right enjoyment of spiritual gains; as the all-ranging ruler he pervades the being and establishes mastery. As Mitra, he guards Ṛta—keeps the inner law of harmony, right relation, and sincerity—so that boons are not distorted by ego. The ‘ratna’ is the concentrated jewel of realization (light-power-bliss) given for the soul’s true delight (iṣe), and Agni becomes the inner administrator (kṣattā) of all that is desirable (vāmasya) in rich amplitude.
Universal truth
The same inner flame that drives effort also apportions joy and maintains harmony; true abundance comes when desire is governed by truth and right relation.
Themes
Agni as Bhaga, Agni as Mitra, treasure of realization, abundance aligned to Ṛta
The seer
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya
- Lineage
- Bharadvāja
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 6.13.1, Rig Veda 6.13.3, Rig Veda 6.12.6
Family tradition
Bharadvāja’s Agni-vision often integrates other Āditya functions (Bhaga, Mitra) into Agni, showing the one divine working through many powers.
Significance
The rishi reveals Agni as an integral deity: not merely force, but also harmony and right enjoyment—guarding Ṛta while granting abundance.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (with Bhaga and Mitra functions)
- Epithets
- दस्मवर्चाः (Dasmavarcāḥ, wonder-flaming), मित्रो न (like Mitra), भगो न (like Bhaga)
- Related deities
- Bhaga, Mitra, Varuṇa (Ṛta guardian, implied), Soma (delight)
Cosmic role
Distributor of fortunes (Bhaga-function) and guardian of cosmic order (Mitra-function) through the fire-principle.
Inner power
Flame of will that also becomes ethical-harmonic intelligence—allocating delight and maintaining right measure.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni-stotra within household and Soma contexts; praise for prosperity under Ṛta
त्वं भगो॑ न॒ आ हि रत्न॑मि॒षे परि॑ज्मेव क्षयसि द॒स्मव॑र्चाः । अग्ने॑ मि॒त्रो न बृ॑ह॒त ऋ॒तस्यासि॑ क्ष॒त्ता वा॒मस्य॑ देव॒ भूरे॑: ॥
त्वम् । भगः॑ । नः॒ । आ । हि । रत्न॑म् । इ॒षे । परि॑ज्माऽइव । क्ष॒य॒सि॒ । द॒स्मऽव॑र्चाः । अग्ने॑ । मि॒त्रः । न । बृ॒ह॒तः । ऋ॒तस्य । असि॑ । क्ष॒त्ता । वा॒मस्य॑ । दे॒व॒ । भूरेः॑ ॥
tvam | bhagaḥ | naḥ | ā | hi | ratnam | iṣe | parijmāiva | kṣayasi | dasma-varcāḥ | agne | mitraḥ | na | bṛhataḥ | ṛtasya | asi | kṣattā | vāmasya | deva | bhūreḥ
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4×11 (approx.)
Balanced and judicial; the cadence supports themes of distribution, guardianship, and wide order.
Stabilizes the mind; encourages a sense of right measure, gratitude, and harmonious governance of desire.
- भगः (bhaga)
- Literal: Bhaga, lord of share/fortune. Symbolic: the power that apportions the right share of delight and fruition
- रत्नम् (ratnam)
- Literal: treasure, jewel. Symbolic: concentrated spiritual gain—realization, luminous capacity, inner wealth
- इषे (iṣe)
- Literal: for refreshment/enjoyment, nourishment. Symbolic: true soul-delight and right enjoyment of the divine gifts
- परिज्मेव (parijmeva)
- Literal: like one who ranges around. Symbolic: pervasive flame present in all parts of nature, enabling integral transformation
- मित्रः (mitraḥ)
- Literal: Mitra (friend, lord of harmony). Symbolic: power of right relation, consent, and harmony guarding Ṛta
- ऋतस्य (ṛtasya)
- Literal: of Ṛta. Symbolic: the inner law of truth-order that must govern action and enjoyment
- क्षत्ता (kṣattā)
- Literal: disposer, administrator. Symbolic: inner governance distributing energies and boons according to readiness
- वामस्य (vāmasya)
- Literal: of the desirable/pleasant. Symbolic: all that is rightly wished—beauty, harmony, well-being in consciousness
Praise emphasizing Agni’s distributive and harmonizing roles; apt for rites seeking prosperity aligned with Ṛta (right order), not mere gain
When seeking ‘ratna’ (wealth/boon) and right order in the rite; also as auspicious invocation
Oblation with prayer for fortune that is aligned with Ṛta
Chant when making decisions about resources/relationships: invoke the ‘Mitra’ aspect (harmony) before seeking ‘Bhaga’ (fruition).
bhága from √bhaj ‘apportion, share’—hence delight as the right share of being. ratná ‘treasure’ in RV often indicates realized spiritual wealth. iṣ from √iṣ ‘to desire, seek; to refresh/nourish’—inner urge and sustenance. √kṣi ‘dwell/rule’ (kṣayasi) portrays Agni as indwelling sovereign. mitra is the power of harmony and right relation; ṛta from √ar/ṛ ‘to fit, move rightly’ indicates cosmic order; bṛhat ‘vast’ links to expansion of consciousness.
Ṛta (cosmic order), Bṛhat (the Vast), right distribution (Bhaga)
Explicit: Agni as wide guardian of Ṛta, ensuring right distribution and right relation.
Boons are ‘true’ only when apportioned according to inner truth, not ego demand.
Order precedes abundance: the cosmos sustains by measured distribution (Bhaga) under law (Ṛta).
Dharma/Ṛta-centered integralism—spiritual prosperity as a function of harmony and truth.
Jewel = condensed realization; wide space = widened consciousness; sun = luminous law and benevolence governing life.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Functional identification mythologem: Agni is equated with Bhaga (distributor of delight/portion) and with Mitra (guardian of Ṛta). Mythically, the sacrificial fire is not a minor deity but the operational face of cosmic order and right distribution within human life.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- bhaj/ bhaga continues PIE *bʰag- ‘apportion’ (widely reflected in Indo-Iranian and Slavic). ṛta is Indo-Iranian (Avestan aša) from the PIE root for ‘fit/join, right’ (*h₂er-). The semantic pairing of ‘order’ and ‘right apportioning’ is an inherited Indo-European social-cosmic idea.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asks for ratna ‘treasure’ not as mere possession but for iṣ ‘right enjoyment/aspiration’. By approaching Agni as Mitra-like guardian of Ṛta, the seeker frames prosperity (vāma, bhūri) as something to be administered by divine order—received in harmony and right measure.
Invoke Agni as the inner ‘distributor’: offer desires into the flame and ask that only what serves Ṛta be granted.
anāhata (harmony/Mitra) and maṇipūra (will/Agni)
Coherent breathing (5–6 breaths/min) while repeating; feel ‘wide’ space on ‘bṛhata ṛtasya’.
Quiet integrity; desires harmonized rather than suppressed.
Write one desire, then chant; after chanting, reformulate the desire as a ṛta-aligned intention (service, growth, harmony).
Rigvedic accenting with emphasis on ‘tvam’ openings and on ṛta-words (ṛtasya).
Keep a dignified, even delivery; slightly broaden on ‘bṛhata ṛtasya’ to evoke wideness.
bhago: aspirate bh clearly; keep short a., parijmeva: articulate -j- (jme) cluster cleanly., dasmavarcāḥ: keep -rcāḥ with clear r and long āḥ., kṣattā: pronounce kṣ (k + ṣ) distinctly; double t audible.
Warm, steady, benevolent; less sharp than battle hymns.
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