Rig Veda 3.1.12: Mandala 3, Sukta 1, Mantra 12
Sukta 3.1
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
अक्रो न बभ्रिः समिथे महीनां दिदृक्षेयः सूनवे भाऋजीकः । उदुस्रिया जनिता यो जजानापां गर्भो नृतमो यह्वो अग्निः ॥
akró na babhríḥ samithé mahī́nāṃ didṛkṣéyaḥ sūnáve bhā́-ṛjīkaḥ | úd usriyā́ janitā́ yó jajā́nāpā́ṃ gárbho nṛ́tamo yahvó agníḥ ||
Bagaikan kuda pacu yang tangkas, si perang keperangan di medan besar, ia patut ditatap—Putera yang bercahaya, Bhārjīka. Ia mengangkat kawanan yang berkilau; dialah yang memperanakkan mereka—janin Perairan (Āpaḥ); Agni, yang paling jantan, penggerak yang perkasa.
Word by Word
- अक्रो
- sharp, keen (as a bull/weapon)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (अग्निः का विशेषण)Root अक्र (प्रातिपदिक) < PIE *h₂eḱ- ‘तीक्ष्ण/वेग’ (वेद. ‘अक्र’ = तीक्ष्ण/अग्र)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-निपातRoot न (निपात)
- बभ्रिः
- a tawny bull (as a simile)Noun (also used adjectivally)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (उपमान)Root बभ्रि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘बभ्रु’/‘बभ्रि’ = भूरि/पिङ्गल; वेद. ‘बभ्रिः’ = वृषभ/पिङ्गल)
- समिथे
- in the battle, in the contestNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot समिध्/समिथ (प्रातिपदिक; ‘समिथ’ = समर/युद्ध)
- महीनाम्
- of the great (powers/ones)Noun/Adjective (substantivized)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (समिथे—कस्य? ‘महियों’)Root मही (प्रातिपदिक; ‘मह्’/‘महि’ = महान्; ‘मही’ = महती/महान् शक्ति)
- दिदृक्षेयः
- would wish to see / longs to beholdVerbसन्-धातु (desiderative), विधिलिङ्ग/आशीर्लिङ्ग-प्राय, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole Kartā (अग्निः—‘देखना चाहे’)Root दृश् (धातु) + सन् (इच्छार्थ) → दिदृक्ष्; रूप: दिदृक्षेयः (इच्छार्थक/आशीर्लिङ्ग-प्राय)
- सूनवे
- for the sonNounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot सूनु (प्रातिपदिक)
- भाऋजीकः
- the radiant/fiery one (epithet)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (अग्निः का विशेषण)Root भाऋजीक (प्रातिपदिक; अग्नि-विशेषण, ‘भृज्/भर्ज्’ तेजन/दीपन से संबद्ध)
- उत्
- up, forthIndeclinableउपसर्ग (उद्-)Root उत् (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- उस्रिया
- the dawn-cow / the radiant dawnNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (उद्… ‘उस्रिया’)Root उस्रिया (प्रातिपदिक; ‘उसर’/‘उस्र’ = प्रभात/गौ; ‘उस्रिया’ = उषा/गावः)
- जनिता
- the begetter, progenitorNoun (agent)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (कर्तरि तृच्/तृन्-प्राय)Role Kartā (यो…)Root जन् (धातु) → जनितृ/जनिता (कर्तृवाचक)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (संबन्ध-प्रवर्तक)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- जजान
- has begotten, has producedVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole KartāRoot जन् (धातु)
- अपाम्
- of the watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (गर्भः—कस्य?)Root अप् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘आपः’)
- गर्भः
- embryo, womb, hidden germNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā/विशेष्य (अग्निः = ‘अपां गर्भः’)Root गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-निपातRoot न (निपात)
- नृतमः
- most manly / best among menAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (अग्निः का विशेषण)Root नृतम (प्रातिपदिक; नृ + तमप् ‘श्रेष्ठ’)
- यह्वः
- impetuous, mightyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (अग्निः का विशेषण)Root यह्व (प्रातिपदिक; वेद. ‘यह्व’ = वेगवान्/प्रचण्ड/यज्ञीय)
- अग्निः
- Agni (fire-god)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (संधि-निरसन): अक्रो | न | बभ्रिः | समिथे | महीनाम् | दिदृक्षेयः | सूनवे | भाऋजीकः | उत् | उस्रिया | जनिता | यः | जजान | अपाम् | गर्भः | न | नृतमः | यह्वः | अग्निः । मुख्य संधि: ‘उदु॒स्रिया’ = ‘उत् + उस्रिया’ (द्/त् + उ- प्रारम्भ → ‘उदु-’ लेखन/उच्चारण)
- शेष पद प्रायः पदान्त-विराम के कारण असंधित।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni, tawny like a swift horse in the great battle, is to be seen as the radiant Son. He has raised up the shining herds; he who begot them, embryo of the Waters—Agni, most manly, mighty in movement.
Inner meaning
Agni as divine Will becomes a swift force of action (aśva-symbol), tawny with concentrated energy, in the inner battle against inertia and obscurity. He is ‘to be beheld’—the will must become conscious, luminous, not mechanical. He raises the ‘usriyāḥ’ (shining cows): releases rays of knowledge/illumination from concealment and lifts them into the mind. As ‘embryo of the waters’, this will is born from deep currents of consciousness and purified life-force; therefore it is both powerful and rightly directed. ‘Most manly’ indicates the courageous capacity to confront resistance; ‘yahva’ the impelling mover that carries the yoga forward.
Universal truth
Progress requires a will that is both swift and luminous: not blind drive, but conscious force born from depth. When that force awakens, knowledge rises like a released herd of light.
Themes
raising the cows (rays), heroic Agni, vision of the divine
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Gāthina
- Other hymns
- RV 3.1 (Agni), RV 3.26 (Agni’s births), RV 3.62 (Sāvitrī)
Family tradition
Mantra-vision forged in struggle (samit) leading to victorious illumination; emphasis on dynamic tapas and release of light.
Significance
The seer frames yoga as an inner battle where Agni is the swift courser—force of progress—who releases the hidden ‘cows’ of light.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- bhāṛjīka (radiant), apāṃ garbha (embryo of waters), nṛtama (most manly), yahva (mighty mover)
- Related deities
- Indra (battle and light-release), Āpaḥ (matrix of birth), Uṣas (illumination)
Cosmic role
Champion in the cosmic struggle; awakener of light; generator of luminous herds (rays) and leader of the march of sacrifice.
Inner power
Courageous, swift will that both fights and reveals; dynamic aspiration that lifts knowledge into the mind.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni praise in Soma and fire offerings; verses of heroic tone used in invocations for strength
अ॒क्रो न ब॒भ्रिः स॑मि॒थे म॒हीनां॑ दिदृ॒क्षेय॑: सू॒नवे॒ भाऋ॑जीकः । उदु॒स्रिया॒ जनि॑ता॒ यो ज॒जाना॒पां गर्भो॒ नृत॑मो य॒ह्वो अ॒ग्निः ॥
अ॒क्रः । न । ब॒भ्रिः । स॒म्ऽइ॒थे । म॒हीना॑म् । दि॒दृ॒क्षेयः॑ । सू॒नवे॑ । भाःऽऋ॑जीकः । उत् । उ॒स्रियाः॑ । जनि॑ता । यः । ज॒जान॑ । अ॒पाम् । गर्भः॑ । नृऽत॑मः । य॒ह्वः । अ॒ग्निः ॥
akraḥ | na | babhriḥ | sam-ithe | mahīnām | didṛkṣeyaḥ | sūnave | bhāḥ-ṛjīkaḥ | ut | usriyāḥ | janitā | yaḥ | jajāna | apām | garbhaḥ | nṛ-tamaḥ | yahvaḥ | agniḥ
44
4×11 syllables (approx.)
Martial yet measured; strong mid-line stresses suit ‘battle’ and ‘uplift’.
Energizes and sharpens; evokes readiness and upward drive while keeping clarity of vision.
- अक्रः (akraḥ)
- Literal: swift (as a horse). Symbolic: rapid, decisive will-force in action
- बभ्रिः (babhriḥ)
- Literal: tawny/brown. Symbolic: concentrated energetic heat; matured force
- समिथे (samithe)
- Literal: in the battle. Symbolic: inner conflict with ignorance, habit, subconscient resistance
- सू॒नवे (sūnave)
- Literal: to/for the Son. Symbolic: the newly born flame of aspiration in the soul
- भाऋजीक (bhāṛjīka)
- Literal: radiant/bright (epithet). Symbolic: luminous, clarity-bearing will
- उत् (ut)
- Literal: up, upward. Symbolic: uplift of consciousness
- उ॒स्रियाः (usriyāḥ)
- Literal: shining cows. Symbolic: rays of knowledge/illumination released
- जनिता (janitā)
- Literal: begetter. Symbolic: generative power of the will that produces light
- अपाम् गर्भः (apāṃ garbhaḥ)
- Literal: embryo of the waters. Symbolic: will born from deep flowing consciousness
- नृतमः (nṛtamaḥ)
- Literal: most manly. Symbolic: courageous mastery; strength to overcome resistance
- यह्वः (yahvaḥ)
- Literal: mighty/impelling. Symbolic: the mover that carries the sacrifice forward
Agni as warrior-kindler in the struggle; invoked for vision (darśana) and for raising the luminous herds (rays) within the rite and seeker.
When seeking victorious force and illumination; at moments of ‘struggle’ in rite (kindling, protecting flame)
Kindling with ghee; recitation to strengthen Agni; symbolic ‘raising’ of offerings
Chant before challenging work or during inner resistance; visualize lifting the ‘cows’ (insights) upward from the depths into clear mind.
sam-idh ‘kindling/encounter’ (samithe) also carries ‘conflict’ sense: kindling as struggle. didṛkṣeya (desiderative/passive-worthy from √dṛś ‘see’). usriyā (from √uṣ ‘dawn/burn’ → ruddy, luminous; cows as rays). apām garbha repeats cosmogonic formula: fire as hidden embryo in waters (life). nṛtama (nṛ ‘man’ + -tama superlative) emphasizes heroic aspect.
battle of knowledge vs ignorance, revelation (dṛś), cosmic embryo (garbha)
Agni’s battle is for ṛta against covering forces; uplift of cows is restoration of right order in consciousness.
Seeing (didṛkṣeyaḥ) implies truth is experiential vision; the will must become a seeing-force.
Light (cows) is generated and raised by the will born from waters—depth gives birth to power.
Aurobindonian: Vedic battle as psychological conquest; cows as illuminations; Agni as evolutionary will.
Dawn-transition implied by ‘shining herds’ rising
Horse = vital energy harnessed; waters = subconscious/depth currents purified; cows = rays/ideas; battle = sadhana struggle; fire = will.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘raising of the cows’ (ud usriyāḥ) is the classic recovery/uplift of rays of light from obscurity, here executed by Agni who is ‘embryo of the waters’. Inner sense: the divine will draws upward the luminous perceptions from the life-waters during the inner battle.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √dṛś ‘see’ corresponds to PIE *derk- ‘see’ (cf. Greek dérkomai). The ‘cows as rays’ metaphor is Indo-Iranian-poetic rather than purely lexical, but it rides on inherited pastoral diction repurposed for light-myth.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi seeks Agni as didṛkṣeya—an unveilable presence—so that the seeker may participate in Agni’s act of uplifting the rays. The relationship is initiatory: Agni is the power that makes vision possible and turns inner conflict into ascent.
Transform effort into luminous will; practice ‘seeing-force’ rather than strain.
Maṇipūra (drive) ascending to Ājñā (seeing/illumination)
3 rounds: inhale imagining tawny flame rising; exhale releasing obstruction; then steady ujjāyī for sustained ‘courser’ rhythm.
Alert, courageous, upward-moving clarity.
Name the ‘battle’ (habit, fear, dullness). Kindle Agni as swift but steady. On each repetition, imagine a herd of golden rays rising into the forehead-mind; pause briefly after ‘ud usriyā’ to feel the uplift.
Triṣṭubh accent flow; keep energetic rise on ‘akro na’ and ‘ud usriyā’; settle briefly on ‘apāṃ garbhaḥ’ (depth).
Mark the contrast: brisk articulation in first pāda (battle), clearer luminous tone in second (to be seen), upward emphasis on ‘ud’, grounded depth on ‘apām’.
‘didṛkṣeyaḥ’—cluster kṣ clearly; avoid ‘didrik-’., ‘bhāṛjīkaḥ’—long ā; vocalic ṛ., ‘usriyāḥ’—sibilant ‘s’ clear; long āḥ ending.
Bright, forceful, with clean consonants; avoid shouting—aim for ‘seeing power’.
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