Rig Veda 3.15.3: Mandala 3, Sukta 15, Mantra 3
Sukta 3.15
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
त्वं नृचक्षा वृषभानु पूर्वीः कृष्णास्वग्ने अरुषो वि भाहि । वसो नेषि च पर्षि चात्यंहः कृधी नो राय उशिजो यविष्ठ ॥
tvám nṛ-cákṣā vṛṣabhā́nu pūrvī́ḥ kṛṣṇā́sv agne aruṣó ví bhāhi | váso néṣi ca párṣi cā́ty áṃhaḥ kṛdhí no rāyá uśíjo yaviṣṭha ||
Engkau, wahai Agni, yang melihat menembusi insan, ikutilah jalan-jalan purba; di tengah kelam, menyala sebagai Yang Kemerahan. Wahai Vasu, pimpinlah kami dan bawalah kami melampaui segala sengsara; ciptakan bagi kami kekayaan si pencari, wahai yang termuda dan terpantas dalam yajña.
Word by Word
- त्वम्
- thouPronounपुं/स्त्री/नपुं; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नृचक्षाः
- having men as thy gaze; man-seeingAdjectiveपुं; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ (त्वम्-विशेषण)Root नृ-चक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक; बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय-समास)
- वृषभानुः
- bull-rayed; strong-beamedNoun/Adjectiveपुं; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ (त्वम्-विशेषण)Root वृषभ-अनु (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
- पूर्वीः
- former/ancient (ones)Adjectiveस्त्री; द्वितीया; बहुवचनRole कर्म (वि-भाहि इत्यस्य)Root पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- कृष्णासु
- among the dark (nights/regions)Adjectiveस्त्री; सप्तमी; बहुवचनRole अधिकरणRoot कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुं; संबोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- अरुषः
- ruddy; brightAdjectiveपुं; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ (त्वम्-विशेषण)Root अरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
- वि
- apart; forthIndeclinableउपसर्गRoot वि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- भाहि
- shine forthVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot √भा (भा दीप्तौ)
- वसो
- O good one; O benefactorNounपुं; संबोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
- नेषि
- thou leadestVerbलट्; मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot √नी (नी नयने) + नि/नय (प्रयोगः: नेषि)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चयRoot च (अव्यय)
- पर्षि
- thou carriest across; savestVerbलट्; मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot √पॄ (पॄ पूरणे/तरणे; वैदिक: ‘पर्षि’ = ‘पारय’)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चयRoot च (अव्यय)
- अति
- over; beyondIndeclinableउपसर्गRoot अति (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
- अंहः
- from distress/sinNounनपुं; पञ्चमी (वैदिक-प्रयोगः; ‘अंहः’ रूपेण); एकवचनRole अपादानRoot अंहस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- कृधी
- make; grantVerbलोट्; मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot √कृ (कृ करणे) (वैदिक लोट् रूप)
- नः
- for us; of usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी; बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध (प्रसङ्गानुसार)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- रायः
- of wealthNounस्त्री; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot राय्/रायि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘राय्’ धनार्थ)
- उशिजः
- of the eager/zealous (worshipper); of the desiring oneNoun/Adjectiveपुं; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (रायः-विशेषण/सम्बन्ध)Root उशिज् (प्रातिपदिक)
- यविष्ठ
- O youngest (Agni)Adjectiveपुं; संबोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot यविष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; ‘युवा’ इत्यस्य अतिशय/श्रेष्ठार्थक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (RV-पदपाठानुसार): त्वम् | नृचक्षाः | वृषभानुः | पूर्वीः | कृष्णासु | अग्ने | अरुषः | वि | भाहि || वसो | नेषि | च | पर्षि | च | अति | अंहः || कृधी | नः | रायः | उशिजः | यविष्ठ || 1) ‘कृष्णास्वग्ने’ = ‘कृष्णासु + अग्ने’ (उकारस्य सवर्णदीर्घ/सन्धि-लोपः; लिखिते ‘-स्व-’)
- 2) ‘चात्यंहः’ = ‘च + अति + अंहः’ (च + अति → चाति; ततः ‘चात्यंहः’ इति यण्/व्यञ्जन-सन्धि)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni, seeing through men, following ancient paths, is asked to blaze as the Ruddy One amid blackness. As Vasu, he should lead and carry us beyond anguish, and fashion for us riches for the eager seeker, O youngest (yaviṣṭha).
Inner meaning
Agni is nṛcakṣā—he perceives the human field from within, discerning truth in our mixed motives. He follows ‘ancient paths’ (pūrvīḥ)—the timeless routes of the yoga of the Veda: aspiration, purification, illumination, and right action. In ‘kṛṣṇāsu’ (blackness), the obscurity of ignorance and subconscient inertia, he blazes as aruṣa (ruddy dawn-fire), the power that brings color and meaning into the dark. As Vasu (a power of luminous substance and right enjoyment), he leads (neṣi) and ferries (parṣi) the being beyond aṃhas—constriction, sin, anguish. ‘Rāya uśijaḥ’ are the riches for the uśij—those who aspire and seek; inwardly, these are gains of light, strength, joy, and right faculties, shaped by Agni’s swift youthful force (yaviṣṭha) that is ever new in each sacrifice.
Universal truth
Even in inner darkness, a truthful will can blaze and guide. When we trust that guiding flame and persist on the perennial path, anguish is crossed and enduring inner riches are formed for the sincere seeker.
Themes
inner illumination against darkness, guidance and safe passage, spiritual wealth (rāy), Agni as leader (netṛ)
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Viśvāmitra (Gāthina lineage)
- Other hymns
- RV 3.15.1 (repelling hostiles), RV 3.15.2 (dawn protection), RV 3.1 (Agni as knower of paths)
Family tradition
Strong imagery of darkness and breakthrough; path-guidance and crossing beyond obstacles; emphasis on Agni as ever-new leader.
Significance
This verse crystallizes the Aurobindonian psychology: Agni blazing in the subconscient night, leading across aṃhas into the wideness and riches of the seeker.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- नृचक्षाः (nṛcakṣāḥ), अरुषः (aruṣaḥ), वसो (vaso), यविष्ठ (yaviṣṭha)
- Related deities
- Uṣas (dawn illumination), Indra (breaker of cover), Sarasvatī/Bṛhaspati (guiding word)
Cosmic role
Light in darkness; guide on the ancient way; protector and ferryman across peril; bestower of riches.
Inner power
Discerning flame that illumines obscurity, leads the being, and transmutes anguish into strength and luminous gain.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni-guidance and protection within sacrifice; especially apt when removing obstacles
त्वं नृ॒चक्षा॑ वृष॒भानु॑ पू॒र्वीः कृ॒ष्णास्व॑ग्ने अरु॒षो वि भा॑हि । वसो॒ नेषि॑ च॒ पर्षि॒ चात्यंह॑: कृ॒धी नो॑ रा॒य उ॒शिजो॑ यविष्ठ ॥
त्वम् । नृ॒ऽचक्षाः॑ । वृ॒ष॒भ॒ । अनु॑ । पू॒र्वीः । कृ॒ष्णासु॑ । अ॒ग्ने॒ । अ॒रु॒षः । वि । भा॒हि॒ । वसो॒ इति॑ । नेषि॑ । च॒ । पर्षि॑ । च॒ । अति॑ । अंहः॑ । कृ॒धि । नः॒ । रा॒ये । उ॒शिजः॑ । य॒वि॒ष्ठ॒ ॥
tvam | nṛ-cakṣāḥ | vṛṣabha | anu | pūrvīḥ | kṛṣṇāsu | agne | aruṣaḥ | vi | bhāhi | vaso iti | neṣi | ca | parṣi | ca | ati | aṃhaḥ | kṛdhi | naḥ | rāye | uśijaḥ | yaviṣṭha
44
4 × ~11 syllables
Dramatic contrast—darkness imagery with sudden blaze; strong guiding cadence.
Ignites resolve in difficult inner states; helps the mind ‘see a path’ through obscurity.
- नृचक्षाः (nṛcakṣāḥ)
- Literal: human-seeing. Symbolic: inner discernment that sees through human nature; psychological clarity
- अनु पूर्वीः (anu pūrvīḥ)
- Literal: following the ancient (paths). Symbolic: walking the timeless inner disciplines; continuity of the spiritual way
- कृष्णासु (kṛṣṇāsu)
- Literal: in the black (regions). Symbolic: states of ignorance, depression, subconscient obscurity
- अरुषः (aruṣaḥ)
- Literal: ruddy, red. Symbolic: dawn-fire of illumination breaking darkness
- वसो (vaso) / वसु (vasu)
- Literal: Vasu; good, wealth. Symbolic: luminous substance, right enjoyment, stable support of being
- नेषि (neṣi)
- Literal: lead. Symbolic: inner guidance of will along right path
- पर्षि (parṣi)
- Literal: carry across. Symbolic: ferrying beyond suffering/limitation into wider consciousness
- अंहः (aṃhaḥ)
- Literal: distress, sin, narrowness. Symbolic: constriction and falsity that cause anguish
- उशिजः (uśijaḥ)
- Literal: eager seekers. Symbolic: those with burning aspiration; the soul’s hunger for the Divine
- यविष्ठ (yaviṣṭha)
- Literal: youngest. Symbolic: ever-new flame; fresh energy of progress in each moment
Agni-invocation in soma and iṣṭi contexts; used as kindling/leading-fire hymn (general Śrauta recitation for establishing Agni as netṛ of the yajña)
When seeking safe passage through difficulties; during transitional rites or obstacle-removal moments
Invocation while feeding fire; symbolic ‘crossing’ offerings (clarified butter) into flame
Use during periods of depression, confusion, or major life transitions; as a ‘crossing’ mantra for inner darkness.
: nṛ (man) + cakṣas (seeing; √cakṣ ‘to see, perceive’) → ‘he who has vision for/through the human’, i.e., inner seer-fire. : from √vṛṣ ‘to rain, to be strong/virile’ → overflowing force; hence psychological potency. : kṛṣṇa ‘black’ (darkness/obscurity) used symbolically for tamasic coverings. : aruṣa ‘ruddy, reddish’ linked with dawn/fire glow—illumination arising in darkness. : √pṝ/√pṛ ‘to carry across, bring over’ (par-) → crossing beyond limitation. : aṃhas ‘narrowness, distress, sin’—a constrictive state opposed to bṛhat (the Vast). : uśij ‘eager, ardent’ from √uṣ/√vaś? (Vedic formation; sense: yearning/ardour) → the aspirant-force. (rāy): from √rā ‘to give, bestow’ → ‘that which is given’; in inner sense, bestowed plenitude and right increase.
Ṛta (ancient paths/order), crossing beyond aṃhas (constriction) toward bṛhat (the Vast, implied)
‘Following the ancient paths’ is adherence to ṛta—right way of ascent and transformation.
Agni’s nṛcakṣā quality implies truth-discernment within human mixture, enabling right guidance.
Emergence of light from darkness; formation of ‘riches’ (rāyaḥ) as stable powers in consciousness.
Integral/psychological Veda: ascent through tamas by the will of light; transformation yielding inner wealth.
night-to-dawn threshold (implied)
Darkness = subconscient inertia; ruddy flame = first illumining will; path = disciplined progression; crossing = transcendence of constriction.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘lighting in the darkness’ mythologem: Agni as aruṣa (ruddy flame) shines within kṛṣṇāsu (blacknesses), a recurrent Vedic pattern where the divine Fire/Knowledge manifests in the subconscient night and opens the ancient tracks of ṛta. The action is not an external bonfire but the awakening of inner sight and right movement.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- cakṣ- (√cakṣ ‘see’) aligns with PIE *kweks-/*kwetk- type ‘see/appear’ (cf. Skt cakṣus ‘eye’), supporting the semantic field of vision/manifestation. aruṣa ‘ruddy’ belongs to a wider IE color/brightness vocabulary used for dawn/fire (compare the poetic IE tendency to mark epiphany by redness/brightness). The ‘crossing’ verb in par- (párṣi) resonates with IE transit metaphors (crossing beyond danger) common in Indo-Iranian hymn diction.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- A reciprocal yajamāna–Agni covenant: the seer addresses Agni as leader (neṣi) and ferrier (párṣi) who must actively ‘fashion’ (kṛdhí) rāy for the uśij (aspirant). The offering/aspiration (uśij) calls; Agni responds by illumination and guidance beyond aṃhas—an exchange of will (human striving) for light and plenitude (divine bestowal).
In a dark or confused state, invoke Agni as the ruddy flame; feel a clear line of guidance appear; offer anguish into the fire and sense being carried beyond it.
Maṇipūra (will) rising toward Ājñā (clear seeing)
4-4-6 breathing (inhale 4, hold 4, exhale 6) to stabilize; on exhale repeat ‘parṣi cāty aṃhaḥ’ mentally
From tamasic heaviness to illumined determination
When ‘blackness’ comes: do not argue with it—kindle a small steady will (Agni). Repeat the mantra, especially ‘kṛṣṇāsv… aruṣo vi bhāhi’; then take one right action as the ‘ancient path’ step.
Rigvedic udātta/anudātta/svarita; exact svaras require a svara-pāṭha source.
Emphasize contrast: keep ‘kṛṣṇāsv’ slightly subdued, then brighten strongly on ‘aruṣo vi bhāhi’.
nṛcakṣāḥ: vocalic ‘ṛ’ clear; ‘kṣ’ crisp, vṛṣabhānu: articulate ‘vṛ’ and ‘ṣa’ distinctly, kṛṣṇāsu: retroflex ‘ṣṇ’ cluster cleanly, aruṣo: retroflex ‘ṣ’, parṣi: ‘ṛ’ short; do not make it ‘parshi’
Start low and steady, then brighten; end with firm assurance.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
