Rig Veda 10.21.5: Mandala 10, Sukta 21, Mantra 5
Sukta 10.21
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Likely Triṣṭubh/Jagatī
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
अग्निर्जातो अथर्वणा विदद्विश्वानि काव्या । भुवद्दूतो विवस्वतो वि वो मदे प्रियो यमस्य काम्यो विवक्षसे ॥
agnír jā́to átharvaṇā vidád víśvāni kā́vyā | bhúvad dūtó vivásvato ví vo made priyó yámasya kā́myo vívakṣase ||
अथर्वणापासून जन्मलेला अग्नी सर्व काव्य (ऋषि-प्रेरित ज्ञान) जाणून घेतो. तो विवस्वताचा दूत झाला; आमच्या मदे (उत्साह/आनंद) मध्ये तू यमाचा प्रिय व काम्य (इष्ट) बल म्हणून प्रकट होऊ इच्छितोस—जो सत्यपथाने जीवाला पुढे नेतो.
Word by Word
- अग्निः
- Agni (the fire-god)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot अग्नि- (प्रातिपदिक)
- जातः
- born, arisenParticiple (Adjective)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि (past passive participle)Role कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot √जन् (जनि) → जात- (कृदन्त, क्त)
- अथर्वणा
- by/through AtharvanNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot अथर्वन्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- विदत्
- found, discoveredVerbलुङ् (injunctive/aoristic), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot √विद् (विन्दति/वेद) → विदत् (लुङ्/इञ्जुन्क्टिव् 3sg)
- विश्वानि
- all (things)Adjective (used substantively)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot विश्व- (प्रातिपदिक)
- काव्या
- poetic/wise (works, utterances)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्म (विशेषण/अप्पोज़िशन to विश्वानि)Root काव्य- (प्रातिपदिक)
- भुवत्
- becoming, beingParticipleपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वर्तमानकालिकRole कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot √भू → भुवत् (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ)
- दूतः
- messengerNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (अग्निः के लिए विधेय)Root दूत- (प्रातिपदिक)
- विवस्वतः
- of Vivasvat (the shining one; often the Sun)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root विवस्वत्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- वि
- apart, forth, distinctlyIndeclinableउपसर्गRole क्रियाविशेषण (विवक्षसे के साथ)Root वि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- वः
- of you (your)Pronounषष्ठी (एन्क्लिटिक), बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive: ‘of you’)Root युष्मद्- (सर्वनाम)
- मदे
- in exhilaration/rapture (often: in soma-joy)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot मद- (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्रियः
- dear, belovedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot प्रिय- (प्रातिपदिक)
- यमस्य
- of YamaNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot यम- (प्रातिपदिक)
- काम्यः
- desirable, wished-forAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot काम्य- (प्रातिपदिक; from √कम्/काम ‘desire’)
- विवक्षसे
- you wish/intend to speak (forth)Verbलट्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपदRole क्रियाRoot वि + √वच् → विवक्ष् (desiderative stem)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolutions: (1) अग्निर्जातः → अग्निः + जातः (visarga before j). (2) विश्वानि काव्या: pada-text keeps separate
- syntactically ‘all (the) kavyāni’. (3) भुवद्दूतः → भुवत् + दूतः (final -t before d). (4) विवस्वतो वि → विवस्वतः + वि (o/ः alternation in saṃhitā). (5) वि वो मदे → वि + वः + मदे (enclitic pronoun)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni, born by Atharvan, discovered all the poetic/inspired knowings (kāvyā). He became the messenger of Vivasvat; in rapture you seek to manifest as the beloved and desirable one of Yama.
Inner meaning
Atharvan symbolizes the primal seer-force that first kindles the inner fire in humanity; from that birth Agni ‘finds’ the kāvyā—intuitive, inspired knowledges. As messenger of Vivasvat (the shining one, solar consciousness), Agni carries between the human and the luminous supramental/solar plane. Yama, in the inner sense, is the power of right restraint and right path—guide of the soul toward its true law. Agni becomes ‘beloved’ and ‘desired’ when the seeker experiences that discipline and right guidance are not oppression but the very delight of the true journey.
Universal truth
When the inner will is awakened by a deeper tradition of seeing, it uncovers intuitive knowledge and becomes the messenger between ordinary mind and higher illumination; then ethical-spiritual rightness becomes lovable because it leads directly to freedom.
Themes
Agni’s birth by Atharvan, Agni as messenger between realms, solar connection, guidance through law/path
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV references to Atharvan and Angirasas as first kindlers of Agni (general thematic family)
Family tradition
Atharvanic archetype invoked (primal fire-kindler tradition)
Significance
By invoking Atharvan, Vivasvat, and Yama, the seer maps a complete inner yoga: kindling (Atharvan) → illumination (Vivasvat) → right path/governance (Yama), with Agni as the operative mediator.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- atharvaṇa-jāta (born by Atharvan), vivasvataḥ dūta (messenger of Vivasvat), yamasya priya kāmya (beloved, desirable of Yama)
- Related deities
- Vivasvat (solar illumination), Yama (path and inner law), Angirasas (discoverers of light—conceptual kinship)
Cosmic role
Primordial discoverer of inspired knowledge; envoy between solar world and human world; power that leads along the right path.
Inner power
Ignited aspiration that becomes intuition (kāvyā) and obedient guidance; transforms discipline into delight.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni hymns in fire rites; also thematically connected to funerary/ancestral contexts via Yama (though here as path-guide)
अ॒ग्निर्जा॒तो अथ॑र्वणा वि॒दद्विश्वा॑नि॒ काव्या॑ । भुव॑द्दू॒तो वि॒वस्व॑तो॒ वि वो॒ मदे॑ प्रि॒यो य॒मस्य॒ काम्यो॒ विव॑क्षसे ॥
अ॒ग्निः । जा॒तः । अथ॑र्वणा । वि॒दत् । विश्वा॑नि । काव्या॑ । भुव॑त् । दू॒तः । वि॒वस्व॑तः । वि । वः॒ । मदे॑ । प्रि॒यः । य॒मस्य॑ । काम्यः॑ । विव॑क्षसे ॥
agniḥ | jātaḥ | atharvaṇā | vidat | viśvāni | kāvyā | bhuvat | dūtaḥ | vivasvataḥ | v i | vaḥ | made | priyaḥ | yamasya | kāmyaḥ | vivakṣase
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4 pādas × ~11 syllables (approximate)
Narrative-epic movement: birth → discovery → mission → manifestation.
Creates a sense of lineage and purpose; supports trust in guidance and intuitive knowing.
- अथर्वणा (atharvaṇā)
- Literal: by Atharvan (a primeval priest/seer). Symbolic: the ancient seer-force that kindles the inner fire; archetype of first aspiration
- काव्या (kāvyā)
- Literal: poetic/inspired works/knowings. Symbolic: intuitional truths, mantric perceptions, inspired discernments
- विवस्वत् (vivasvat)
- Literal: the shining one (often solar). Symbolic: solar illumination; higher radiant consciousness
- दूतः (dūtaḥ)
- Literal: messenger. Symbolic: mediating power that carries aspiration upward and brings light downward
- यम (yama)
- Literal: Yama (lord of the path/death in outer sense). Symbolic: guide of the soul on the true path; power of right law, restraint, and inner governance
- प्रियः (priyaḥ)
- Literal: beloved. Symbolic: the delight-aspect of right guidance when the soul consents
- काम्यः (kāmyaḥ)
- Literal: desirable. Symbolic: what the soul truly seeks: the path that leads to truth and immortality
Genealogical/functional identification of Agni: used to affirm Agni’s authority as knower (vidat) and messenger (dūta) in rites concerned with guidance, transition, and right law.
Invocations recalling Agni’s origins and messenger function; potentially in rites emphasizing guidance/protection
Oblation with remembrance of seer-lineage; invoking Agni to carry offerings and bring back illumination
Use in transitions (grief, life changes): kindle inner fire, ask for intuitive guidance, walk the true path without fear.
ātharvaṇa tradition places Atharvan as primal kindler of fire; √vid ‘know’ (PIE *weyd- ‘see/know’, cf. Eng. wit, Latin videre); kavi/kāvyā from √ku/√kav semantic field ‘seer, wise’; dūta ‘messenger’ (role-term); vivasvat (solar ‘shining one’, from vi-√vas ‘to shine/dwell’ in Vedic formation); Yama from √yam ‘to restrain, regulate’ (PIE *yem- ‘to hold’), hence lord of law/path.
knowledge (vid), kavi-truth (kāvyā) as revealed vision, yama as regulation/restraint (ethical-cosmic law)
Yama signifies the path of ṛta: right governance and the straight road for the soul.
Agni ‘discovers’ inspired knowings—truths hidden in the subconscient become revealed.
Transmission between planes: solar illumination (Vivasvat) communicated to human through Agni the messenger.
Aurobindonian: Vivasvat as solar/supramental symbolism; Yama as inner law of progression.
Morning/noon solar emphasis (Vivasvat)
Sun = higher illumination; messenger = channel between levels of consciousness; path-guide = inner discernment and right restraint.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Agni’s archetypal birth by Atharvan and his role as dūta of the solar power: the mythologem of the ‘fire-messenger’ who discovers inspired truths (kāvyā) and mediates between the luminous realm (Vivasvat) and the law/path realm (Yama).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- vidád from √vid continues PIE *weyd- ‘to see/know’ (Latin vidēre, English wit). Yama from √yam continues PIE *yem- ‘to hold/restrain’ (cf. Avestan Yima). These inherited roots encode the verse’s core: knowledge and regulation as twin supports of ascent.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi invokes Agni not only as flame but as a conscious guide: knower of inspired truths and mediator of solar illumination and yamic law. The sought reciprocity is guidance—Agni becomes ‘beloved and desirable’ because he leads the being safely through transformation.
Invoke Agni as the messenger to the ‘solar mind’: ask for one clear intuitive guidance (kāvyā) for the next step.
Ājñā (intuition) supported by Maṇipūra (will) and Anāhata (consent/delight—priya).
Sūrya-bhedana lightly (right-nostril inhale) for 7 breaths, then equal breathing; feel a solar flame above the brow descending to the heart.
Quiet intuition with a sense of right direction.
When confused, return to the inner fire; ask it to ‘carry’ your question to the luminous level (Vivasvat) and return a simple, doable next action aligned with the true path (Yama).
Recite with clear Vedic accents; narrative segments benefit from steady pitch discipline rather than dramatic melody.
Mark pauses after ‘atharvaṇā’ and ‘vivasvataḥ’ to keep the semantic steps distinct (birth → knowledge → messenger).
atharvaṇā: keep ‘ṇ’ retroflex; final ‘ā’ long., vidad: crisp dental ‘d’ endings., kāvyā: long ‘ā’; ‘vy’ as a single glide., vivasvataḥ: articulate ‘sv’ cluster cleanly., yamasya: clear ‘ya-ma-sya’ without inserting extra vowel.
Warm, confident, slightly luminous; avoid harshness on ‘yama’—keep it guiding, not fearful.
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