Rig Veda 5.8.4: Mandala 5, Sukta 8, Mantra 4
Sukta 5.8
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
त्वामग्ने धर्णसिं विश्वधा वयं गीर्भिर्गृणन्तो नमसोप सेदिम । स नो जुषस्व समिधानो अङ्गिरो देवो मर्तस्य यशसा सुदीतिभिः ॥
tvām agne dharṇasiṁ viśva-dhā vayaṁ gīrbhir gṛṇanto namasopasedima | sa no juṣasva sam-idhāno aṅgiro devo martasya yaśasā sudīti-bhiḥ ||
हे अग्ने! तू धर्णसि (आधार-स्तंभ) होऊन सर्वत्र आहेस; आम्ही गीर्भिः (स्तुतिवचने) म्हणत, नमस्कारासह तुझ्या जवळ येतो. हे अङ्गिरस्! समिधेने प्रज्वलित होऊन आम्हाला स्वीकार—हे देव! तुझ्या सुदीति (उज्ज्वल प्रज्वलन)ने मर्त्याला यशस्वी तेजात वाढविणारा.
Word by Word
- त्वाम्
- you (as object)Pronounद्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounसम्बोधन, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्गRole सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- धर्णसिम्
- the steadfast/supporting one (epithet)Noun/Adjectiveद्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्गRole कर्म (त्वाम्-विशेषण)Root धर्णसि (प्रातिपदिक; वैदिक)
- विश्वधा
- in every way, whollyIndeclinableअव्ययRole अधिकारण (रीत्या/प्रकारेण)Root विश्वधा (अव्यय)
- वयम्
- wePronounप्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- गीर्भिः
- with hymns/voicesNounतृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्गRole करणRoot गीर् (स्त्री; प्रातिपदिक)
- गृणन्तः
- praisingParticipleवर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), प्रथमा बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्गRole कर्तृ (वयम्-विशेषण)Root गृ (धातु) → गृणत् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- नमसा
- with reverence, with obeisanceNounतृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्गRole करणRoot नमस् (नपुं; प्रातिपदिक)
- उप
- near, towardsIndeclinableअव्ययRole द्योतक (क्रियाविशेषण)Root उप (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- सेदिम
- we have approached/sat down nearVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट; वैदिक), उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot सद् (धातु) + उप (उपसर्ग) → उप-सीद्
- सः
- he (that one = you, Agni)Pronounप्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्गRole कर्तृ (द्वितीय-पादे ‘जुषस्व’ का संबन्धी)Root तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- for us / of usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी (एन्क्लिटिक), बहुवचनRole सम्प्रदान (हितार्थे)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- जुषस्व
- take pleasure in, acceptVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपदRole क्रियाRoot जुष् (धातु)
- समिधानः
- being kindledParticipleवर्तमान कृदन्त (शानच्), प्रथमा एकवचन, पुंलिङ्गRole कर्तृ (अग्ने/सः का विशेषण)Root सम्-इध् (धातु) → समिधान (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- अङ्गिरः
- O Angiras (Agni as Angiras)Nounसम्बोधन, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्गRole सम्बोधनRoot अङ्गिरस् (प्रातिपदिक; ऋषि-नाम/गोत्रनाम)
- देवः
- the godNounप्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्गRole कर्तृ/विशेष्य (अग्ने का)Root देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- मर्तस्य
- of the mortalNounषष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्गRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root मर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
- यशसा
- with glory, by fameNounतृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्गRole करणRoot यशस् (नपुं; प्रातिपदिक)
- सुदीतिभिः
- with good splendors/lightsNounतृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्गRole करणRoot सु-दीति (स्त्री; प्रातिपदिक) / सुदीति (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (मुख्य): त्वाम् | अग्ने | धर्णसिम् | विश्वधा | वयम् | गीर्भिः | गृणन्तः | नमसा | उप | सेदिम || सः | नः | जुषस्व | समिधानः | अङ्गिरः | देवः | मर्तस्य | यशसा | सुदीतिभिः || Sandhi/phonetics: (1) गीर्भिः गृणन्तः: विसर्ग/रेफ-संधि से ‘गीर्भिर्गृणन्तः’ (RV संहिता-पाठ). (2) नमसा उप: स्वर-संधि से ‘नमसोप’ (a + u → o).
- क्रिया ‘उप-सीद्’ का लिट् 1pl वैदिक रूप ‘सेदिम’. (4) स नो: एन्क्लिटिक ‘नः’ (अस्मद्) ‘स’ के बाद ‘नो’ रूप में. (5) समिधानो अङ्गिरो: संहिता में ‘समिधानोऽङ्गिरो’ (a + a → ā, अवग्रह)
The meaning
Outer meaning
O Agni, support everywhere, we approach you with praises and with bowing. Accept us, O Aṅgiras, as you are kindled—O god—making the mortal shine with glory by your bright kindlings.
Inner meaning
Agni is dharṇasi—foundation: the stable support of the whole yoga of works. The seeker approaches with gīḥ (mantric affirmations) and namas (self-offering, surrender). When Agni is samidhāna (in the act of being kindled), he accepts the aspirant and increases ‘yaśas’—not ego-fame, but luminous soul-glory: the radiance of a transformed mortal nature. ‘Sudīti’ are bright kindlings: successive awakenings of will and clarity that make the human instrument more godlike.
Universal truth
When we approach the inner will with sincere speech and surrender, it accepts us and progressively illumines ordinary life into a radiant, strengthened nature.
Themes
approach to the inner fire, Agni as universal support, illumined glory for the mortal
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha (probable for 5.8)
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 7.1 (Agni as priest and support), RV 7.2 (Agni kindled for protection and increase)
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha hymns often combine reverence (namas) with the insistence on ṛta-supported power; Agni as foundation and brightener of the mortal is a key Vasiṣṭha motif.
Significance
The seer teaches the posture of approach: mantric affirmation plus surrender, leading to luminous transformation rather than mere ritual success.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (Aṅgiras)
- Epithets
- dharṇasi, Aṅgiras, deva, samidhāna, support everywhere (viśvadhā)
- Related deities
- Indra (victory), Mitra-Varuṇa (ṛta-order), Soma (delight that crowns the work)
Cosmic role
Upholder of the worlds and the rite; the seer-fire that discovers and establishes light in matter.
Inner power
Steady uplifting will that accepts the seeker and turns mortal limitation into luminous capacity.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni-stuti accompanying kindling (samidh) and offerings of ghee/wood
त्वाम॑ग्ने धर्ण॒सिं वि॒श्वधा॑ व॒यं गी॒र्भिर्गृ॒णन्तो॒ नम॒सोप॑ सेदिम । स नो॑ जुषस्व समिधा॒नो अ॑ङ्गिरो दे॒वो मर्त॑स्य य॒शसा॑ सुदी॒तिभि॑: ॥
त्वाम् । अ॒ग्ने॒ । ध॒र्ण॒सिम् । वि॒श्वऽधा॑ । व॒यम् । गीः॒ऽभिः । गृ॒णन्तः॑ । न॒म॒सा । उप॑ । से॒दि॒म॒ । सः । नः॒ । जु॒ष॒स्व॒ । स॒म्ऽइ॒धा॒नः । अ॒ङ्गि॒रः॒ । दे॒वः । मर्त॑स्य । य॒शसा॑ । सु॒दी॒तिऽभिः॑ ॥
tvām | agne | dharṇasim | viśva-dhā | vayam | gīḥ-bhiḥ | gṛṇantaḥ | namasā | upa | sedima | saḥ | naḥ | juṣasva | sam-idhānaḥ | aṅgiraḥ | devaḥ | martasya | yaśasā | sudīti-bhiḥ
44
4 pādas × ~11 syllables
Strong, prayerful, with a forward lift; suited to approach and invocation.
Creates grounded confidence and devotional strength; supports a felt ‘uprightness’ in the spine and will.
- dharṇasi
- Literal: support, foundation. Symbolic: stable inner will that upholds practice in all circumstances
- gīrbhiḥ
- Literal: with hymns/words. Symbolic: affirmations/mantra that shape consciousness
- namasā
- Literal: with bowing. Symbolic: surrender of ego-claim; offering of self
- juṣasva
- Literal: take delight in, accept. Symbolic: inner consent of the divine will; grace responding to sincerity
- samidhāna
- Literal: being kindled. Symbolic: active awakening; will becoming luminous and effective
- Aṅgiras
- Literal: seer-lineage name. Symbolic: flame-power of the seers; force that discovers hidden light
- yaśas
- Literal: glory, renown. Symbolic: radiant increase of consciousness and capacity
- sudīti
- Literal: bright kindlings. Symbolic: successive illuminations and intensifications of will
Kindling and seating of Agni as Hotṛ; recitation during approach to the fire with gīḥ (hymns) and namas (reverent submission).
At kindling and during praise before offerings; to seek acceptance (juṣasva) and increase of splendor
Approach (upasedima), praise, bowing, kindling, offering
A short daily ‘approach’ mantra: chant before lighting a lamp/candle, dedicating the day’s works to inner truth.
dharṇasiṁ likely from √dhṛ (to hold, bear) with noun formation indicating ‘support’; gīr < √gṛ (to call/utter) or related speech noun; upa-√sad ‘sit near, attend’; juṣasva < √juṣ (to enjoy, be pleased, accept); sam-idhāna < sam-√idh (to kindle); sudīti < su + dīti (brightness) connected with √dī (to shine).
ṛta as upheld order (dharṇasi), mantra as formative power (gīr), divine consent (juṣ)
Agni as viśvadhā dharṇasi: right order upheld everywhere through the inner fire.
Sudīti as progressive truth-light stabilizing in the mortal instrument.
Divinization of the mortal: the human becomes luminous through repeated kindlings.
Karma-yoga archetype in Veda: works become a path when led by Agni (divine will).
morning/evening kindling (implied)
unspecified
Kindling = renewed aspiration; sparks = moments of insight; fire-support = stable will upholding life-practice.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The enthronement/kindling of Agni as the sustaining axis (dharṇasi) of the rite and of life: the fire is approached, praised, and asked to ‘accept’—a ritual action that mirrors the inner enthronement of will and aspiration as the support of consciousness.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- upa-√sad (approach/sit) reflects a common PIE spatial-verb system (cf. Latin sedeō). √dhṛ ‘hold’ is Indo-Iranian and aligns with PIE *dher- ‘to hold/support’. √dī ‘shine’ in dīti relates to PIE *dei- ‘to shine’ (broadly attested across IE).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer-speaker offers gīḥ (speech) and namas (self-submission) and asks for divine acceptance (juṣ). Agni reciprocates by kindling within and granting yaśas (glory) through sudīti (right illuminations), i.e., an exchange where aspiration and disciplined speech invite the descent of luminous force.
Approach the inner fire with affirmation (gīḥ) and surrender (namas); ask for acceptance and luminous strengthening.
Maṇipūra (will) supported by Anāhata (devotion)
3-part breath: inhale into belly/solar plexus, exhale slowly while mentally repeating juṣasva; 9 rounds
Grounded devotion, steady will, luminous confidence
Light a small flame (or visualize). Speak one clear intention (gīḥ). Bow inwardly (namas). Then sit 2 minutes feeling the ‘support everywhere’—a steady warmth in the core spreading through the body.
Vedic accenting per śākala; keep clear lift on agne, juṣasva, samidhānaḥ, yaśasā (exact svara requires accent-marked text).
Make ‘namasopa sedima’ a gentle descent (surrender), then brighten on ‘juṣasva’ (acceptance). Keep triṣṭubh cadence firm.
dharṇasim: retroflex ṇ, viśvadhā: articulate viś-va-dhā, aṅgiro: nasal ‘ṅ’ before g, samidhāno: sa-mi-dhā-no (long ā), sudītibhiḥ: long ī; aspirate bh in bhiḥ
Devotional, steady, slightly brighter on sudītibhiḥ
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