Rig Veda 7.1.3: Mandala 7, Sukta 1, Mantra 3
Sukta 7.1
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
प्रेद्धो अग्ने दीदिहि पुरो नोऽजस्रया सूर्म्या यविष्ठ । त्वां शश्वन्त उप यन्ति वाजाः ॥
préd-dho agne dīdihi puró no ájasrayā sū́rmyā yaviṣṭha | tvā́ṃ śáśvanta úpa yanti vā́jāḥ ||
प्रज्वलित होऊन, हे अग्ने, आमच्या पुढे दीप्त हो—अजस्र, सामर्थ्यवान ज्वाळेने, हे यविष्ठ; तुझ्याकडे बलाच्या समृद्धी सदैव जवळ येत राहतात.
Word by Word
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinableupasarga (preverb)Root प्र (upasarga)
- एद्धः
- kindled, enkindledAdjectivemasculine nominative singular (agreeing with अग्ने)Role Kartā (as qualifier of the subject)Root इन्ध् (dhātu) → इद्ध (PPP) + प्र
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounmasculine vocative singularRole SambodhanaRoot अग्नि (prātipadika)
- दीदिहि
- shine brightly! blaze!Verbimperative, 2nd person singular, parasmaipada (intensive stem)Role (predicate; addressed action)Root दीदिहि < √दीप्/√दीदी (intensive of √दीप् ‘to shine’)
- पुरः
- in front, beforeIndeclinable (adverbial accusative)accusative plural (neuter/masc. form used adverbially) = ‘in front’Role Adhikaraṇa (locative sense ‘in front’)Root पुरस् (prātipadika)
- नः
- of us, ourPronoungenitive plural (enclitic)Role Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandhaRoot अस्मद् (pronominal base)
- अजस्रया
- with unceasing (…)Adjectivefeminine instrumental singular (agreeing with सूर्म्या)Role KaraṇaRoot अजस्र (prātipadika)
- सूर्म्या
- with (your) flame/brightnessNounfeminine instrumental singularRole KaraṇaRoot सूर्मि (prātipadika; ‘flame/brightness’ in Vedic usage)
- यविष्ठ
- O youngest (most youthful)Adjectivemasculine vocative singular (agreeing with अग्ने)Role SambodhanaRoot युव (prātipadika) → यविष्ठ (superlative)
- त्वाम्
- youPronounaccusative singularRole KarmaRoot युष्मद् (pronominal base)
- शश्वन्तः
- everlasting ones; continually (coming)Adjective (substantivized)masculine nominative pluralRole KartāRoot शश्वत् (prātipadika)
- उप
- towards, nearIndeclinableupasarga (preverb) with यन्तिRoot उप (upasarga)
- यन्ति
- they go, they comeVerbpresent indicative, 3rd person plural, parasmaipadaRole (predicate)Root या (dhātu)
- वाजाः
- prizes; strengths; (ritual) rewardsNounmasculine nominative pluralRole Kartā (apposition/subject with शश्वन्तः)Root वाज (prātipadika)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution: प्रेद्धो॑ = प्र + इद्धः (preverb प्र with PPP इद्ध ‘kindled’ from √इन्ध्). नोऽज॑स्रया = नः + अजस्रया (visarga before vowel → o’). Other padas are already in padapāṭha-like form
- upasarga उप is separated from यन्ति
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni, once kindled, is urged to blaze before the worshippers with an unfailing, powerful flame; all “vājāḥ” (plenitudes/strengths) continually approach him.
Inner meaning
When the divine Will (Agni) is awakened, it must lead the whole inner journey “in front” (puraḥ)—as the conscious pioneer in the subtle being. The steady, invincible flame is the sustained aspiration and discernment that does not lapse. As Agni leads, the soul’s energies and fulfillments (vājāḥ: powers of effective action and victory) naturally gather around this central psychic fire.
Universal truth
Where sincere aspiration is made the leader, life-forces and capacities reorganize around a higher purpose; steadiness of inner flame draws the needed powers and resources.
Themes
Invocation to blaze, Leadership of the inner fire, Attraction of powers (vājāḥ), Ever-new divine presence
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa lineage)
- Other hymns
- RV 7.1, RV 7.2, RV 7.3, RV 7.18
Family tradition
Seer of the Vasiṣṭha family, closely associated with hymns of inner guidance, right order (ṛta), and the priestly leadership of Agni.
Significance
Vasiṣṭha’s vision often emphasizes Agni as the forward leader of the yoga—establishing harmony of the powers, protection from hostile forces, and the steady march toward illumination.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- yaviṣṭha (youngest), dīdihi (blazing/shining), purohita (implicit: the one set in front)
- Related deities
- Indra, Soma, Uṣas, Aditi
Cosmic role
Mediator between human and divine; carrier of offerings; awakener of the gods (higher powers) and establisher of the sacrificial order.
Inner power
The psychic fire and divine Will that leads aspiration, purifies movements, and calls down illumined force.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agnyādheya/Agnihotra context broadly; also opening invocations where Agni is set in front as purohita
प्रेद्धो॑ अग्ने दीदिहि पु॒रो नोऽज॑स्रया सू॒र्म्या॑ यविष्ठ । त्वां शश्व॑न्त॒ उप॑ यन्ति॒ वाजा॑: ॥
प्रऽइ॑द्धः । अ॒ग्ने॒ । दी॒दि॒हि॒ । पु॒रः । नः॒ । अज॑स्रया । सू॒र्म्या॑ । य॒वि॒ष्ठ॒ । त्वाम् । शश्व॑न्तः । उप॑ । य॒न्ति॒ । वाजाः॑ ॥
pra-iddhaḥ | agne | dīdihi | puraḥ | naḥ | ajasrayā | sūrmyā | yaviṣṭha | tvām | śaśvantaḥ | upa | yanti | vājāḥ
44
4 padas of ~11 syllables each
Forward-driving, martial yet luminous cadence; suited to invocation and command.
Builds a sense of advance and leadership—good for ‘bringing Agni to the front’ in attention and breath.
- प्रेद्धः (pra-iddhaḥ)
- Literal: kindled, lit forth. Symbolic: awakening of the inner fire; the ignition of aspiration and will
- अग्ने (agne)
- Literal: O Agni (Fire). Symbolic: divine Will and the conscious priest within
- दीदिहि (dīdihi)
- Literal: shine, blaze. Symbolic: intensify illumination and effective force in the front of consciousness
- पुरः (puraḥ)
- Literal: in front, before. Symbolic: the leader-position in the being; the guiding fore-consciousness
- अजस्रया (ajasrayā)
- Literal: unfailing, uninterrupted. Symbolic: unbroken tapas and continuity of sādhanā
- सूर्म्या (sūrmyā)
- Literal: strong, puissant, energetic. Symbolic: dynamic spiritual force (śakti) in action
- यविष्ठ (yaviṣṭha)
- Literal: youngest. Symbolic: ever-new, ever-renewing flame of progress
- वाजाः (vājāḥ)
- Literal: prizes, strengths, plenitudes. Symbolic: victorious powers, effective capacities, fulfillments that come with right leading
Ignition/invocation for Agni to lead the rite; used at lighting and for establishing Agni as ‘purohita’ in front.
At the kindling and strengthening of the fire; at beginnings of offerings and journeys
Kindling, offering ghee/oblations, establishing protective and leading flame
Use at the start of meditation or before important work to invoke steady will, clarity, and right precedence of the soul’s aim.
प्र-इद्ध (pra-iddha) from √idh ‘to kindle’: awakened forward. दीदिहि from √dī ‘shine’ intensive. अजस्र (ajasrá) ‘unbroken’ (a- + jasra ‘perishing’?) used as ‘unceasing’. वाज (vā́ja) from √vaj ‘to be strong, impel’: not mere ‘food/prize’ but fullness of effective force—hence inner ‘accomplishing energies’ drawn to Agni as leader.
Agni as leader (puras), Continuity of tapas (ajasrayā), Vāja as plenitude of force
Agni as the establisher of right order in the human instrument by leading the march and aligning powers.
The unfailing flame symbolizes truth-held continuity—no relapse into obscurity.
Fire as first awakener: the ignition that summons hidden powers into manifestation.
Proto-Vedāntic / integral-yogic reading (Aurobindo): ascent through illumination and right will.
Fire = awakened will; solar puissance = luminous force of consciousness that sustains progress.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Agni as the forward leader (puro) of the journey: once kindled, he blazes ahead and draws to himself vājāḥ—powers of victorious accomplishment. The mythic action is the rallying of divine energies around the awakened inner fire.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √idh ‘kindle’ is Indo-Iranian (cf. Avestan aēδ- type), reflecting ancient fire-culture lexicon. √dī ‘shine’ aligns with widespread IE ‘shine’ roots (typological parallels with *dei- ‘bright’). vā́ja from √vaj ‘strong’ shows archaic abstraction from a strength-root, comparable to IE formations where ‘strength’ yields ‘prize/booty’ semantics.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asks Agni not only to exist but to take the front position—guiding perception and action. In response, the powers of accomplishment (vājāḥ) are said to approach Agni, implying that when the will is rightly kindled, the divine forces naturally gather to support the seeker.
Place the ‘flame in front’: feel a steady point of will at the brow/heart leading all movements.
Anāhata (psychic fire) or Ājñā (leading light)
Gentle equal breathing; on exhale mentally repeat ‘dīdihi’ to intensify steadiness.
Collected, forward-moving, luminous vigilance.
Begin sessions by invoking continuity (ajasrayā): avoid scattered starts; let one clear intention lead, then invite energies (vājāḥ) to align around it.
Use RV udātta/anudātta/svarita as per śākhā recitation; notable udātta often on vocatives/imperatives (agne, dīdihi) (exact svara requires pada-svara notation from recensional text).
Lean into the imperative ‘dīdihi’; keep ‘puro naḥ’ connected as a single intention: ‘before us’.
प्रेद्धो (preddho): ensure conjunct -ddh- is voiced and aspirated, दीदिहि (dīdihi): long ī vowels sustained, अजस्रया (ajasrayā): soft ‘j’, clear ‘sr’ cluster, यविष्ठ (yaviṣṭha): retroflex ṣṭh articulated cleanly
Bright, steady, slightly projecting (as if placing the flame ‘in front’).
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