Rig Veda 3.23.2: Mandala 3, Sukta 23, Mantra 2
Sukta 3.23
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
अमन्थिष्टां भारता रेवदग्निं देवश्रवा देववातः सुदक्षम् । अग्ने वि पश्य बृहताभि रायेषां नो नेता भवतादनु द्यून् ॥
amánthiṣṭāṃ bhā́ratā revád agníṃ deva-śrávā deva-vā́taḥ su-dákṣam | agne ví paśya bṛhatā́bhi rāyéṣāṃ no netā́ bhavatād ánu dyū́n ||
Kaum Bharata telah memutar keluar Agni yang gemilang—Devaśravas, Devavāta—yang mahir dalam kerja. Wahai Agni, pandanglah luas bersama Yang Maha-Besar; jadilah pemimpin kami menuju kepenuhan-kepenuhan ini, hari demi hari.
Word by Word
- अमन्थिष्टाम्
- they two churned/produced (by churning)Verbलुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपद, 3rd person dualRole Kriyā (मुख्य क्रिया)Root मन्थ् (धातु) + आ-
- भारता
- the two BharatasNoun (proper/tribal epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole KartāRoot भारत (प्रातिपदिक; ‘of Bharata/descendants of Bharata’)
- रेवत्
- wealthy, splendidAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (अग्निम्-विशेषण)Role Karma (विशेष्य-अनुगामी)Root रेवत् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘possessing wealth/splendour’)
- अग्निम्
- Agni (fire)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवश्रवा
- (the two) DevaśravasNoun (proper name/epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole Kartā (भारता इत्यस्य विशेषण/समनाधिकरण)Root देवश्रवस् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘having fame among the gods/whose fame is divine’)
- देववातः
- DevavātaNoun (proper name)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (द्वयोर् अन्यतरः; समुच्चयार्थे)Root देववात (प्रातिपदिक; ‘god-inspired wind/whose impulse is divine’; here proper name)
- सुदक्षम्
- very skillful, ableAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (अग्निम्-विशेषण)Role Karma (विशेष्य-अनुगामी)Root सु-दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक; ‘very capable/skillful’)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNoun (vocative)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- वि
- apart, widely, clearlyIndeclinableउपसर्ग (पश्य इत्यस्य)Role Kriyā-viśeṣaṇaRoot वि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- पश्य
- see, look uponVerbलोट् (imperative), परस्मैपद, 2nd person singularRole KriyāRoot दृश् (धातु; पश्य-आदेश)
- बृहता
- with great (abundance)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (अभि इत्यनेन सह—‘with great…’)Role KaraṇaRoot बृहन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अभि
- towards, uponIndeclinableउपसर्ग/पूर्वपद-निपात (रा॒येषु/रा॒येषां प्रति)Role दिशा/प्रवृत्ति-निर्देशकRoot अभि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- रायेषाम्
- of (our) riches/boonsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root रायि/राय (प्रातिपदिक; ‘wealth, gift’)
- नः
- of us, ourPronounषष्ठी (enclitic), बहुवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- नेता
- leader, guideNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā/प्रेडिकेट-नामRoot नेतृ (प्रातिपदिक; ‘leader/guide’)
- भवतात्
- may he be / let him becomeVerbलोट् (imperative/benedictive use), परस्मैपद, 3rd person singularRole KriyāRoot भू (धातु)
- अनु
- along, after, throughIndeclinableअव्यय (दिशा/क्रम-अर्थे)Role अधिकारण/दिशा-निर्देशकRoot अनु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- द्यून्
- days (day after day)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole Karma (अनु-गमनस्य)Root द्यु/दिव् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘day, heaven’; here ‘days’)
Sandhi Notes
- संहिता-पाठः: अम॑न्थिष्टां॒ भार॑ता रे॒वद॒ग्निं दे॒वश्र॑वा दे॒ववा॑तः सु॒दक्ष॑म् । अग्ने॒ वि प॑श्य बृह॒ताभि रा॒येषां नो॑ ने॒ता भ॑वता॒दनु॒ द्यून् ॥ पद-विभागः (sandhi-resolved): अमन्थिष्टाम् | भारता | रेवत् | अग्निम् | देवश्रवा | देववातः | सुदक्षम् || अग्ने | वि | पश्य | बृहता | अभि | रायेषाम् | नः | नेता | भवतात् | अनु | द्यून् | मुख्य-सन्धि: (1) रेवदग्निम् = रेवत् + अग्निम् (त् + अ → द्, जश्त्व). (2) बृहताभि = बृहता + अभि (आ + अ → आ; संधि-लोप/दीर्घ). (3) भवताद् अनु = भवतात् + अनु (त् + अ → द्; संहितायां ‘भवताद्’). (4) देवश्रवा देववातः: समुच्चय/समनाधिकरण
- नामद्वयम् कर्तरि।
The meaning
Outer meaning
The Bharatas have churned out radiant Agni; Devaśravā and Devavāta, well-skilled. Agni, look widely with the Vast; be our leader toward these great riches, day after day.
Inner meaning
The collective striving powers (Bharatas) awaken the radiant will-flame by tapas. ‘Devaśravā/Devavāta’ point to the hearing of the divine and the divine breath/wind—inner receptivity and inspired movement—making the work skillful (sudakṣa). Agni is asked to widen perception with the Vast (bṛhat): to see beyond narrow ego and lead the being to plenitudes (rāyaḥ/īṣāṃ) repeatedly, as a daily progressive realization.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress requires both effort and receptivity: disciplined kindling of will plus widening vision. When consciousness aligns with vastness, guidance becomes continuous and abundance becomes a stable direction, not a sporadic event.
Themes
Collective aspiration (Bhāratas), Agni as leader, Widened vision and plenitude
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Gāthin (Viśvāmitra lineage)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 3.23.1, Rig Veda 3.23.3, Rig Veda 3.23.4, Rig Veda 3.23.5
Family tradition
Bharata-linked hymnic current: Agni as the communal and inner leader; emphasis on wideness (bṛhat) and right action (dakṣa).
Significance
The seer frames the yajña as a disciplined psychology: the awakened will must be made ‘sudakṣa’ and guided by wideness to reach plenitudes repeatedly.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- Revat, Netā (leader), Sudakṣa
- Related deities
- Bṛhaspati (as bṛhat/expansion power), Vāyu (breath-wind inspiration), Indra (illumined mind)
Cosmic role
Opener of paths, establisher of sacrifice, distributor of riches through right offering.
Inner power
The will that becomes skillful through inspiration (divine hearing and breath) and expands vision into vastness, leading the being to integral abundance.
In ritual
Where it is used
Invocation of Agni in an iṣṭi; also suitable for fire-kindling sequences where the patron-priest lineages are named
अम॑न्थिष्टां॒ भार॑ता रे॒वद॒ग्निं दे॒वश्र॑वा दे॒ववा॑तः सु॒दक्ष॑म् । अग्ने॒ वि प॑श्य बृह॒ताभि रा॒येषां नो॑ ने॒ता भ॑वता॒दनु॒ द्यून् ॥
अम॑न्थिष्टाम् । भार॑ता । रे॒वत् । अ॒ग्निम् । दे॒वऽश्र॑वाः । दे॒वऽवा॑तः । सु॒ऽदक्ष॑म् । अग्ने॑ । वि । प॒श्य॒ । बृ॒ह॒ता । अ॒भि । रा॒या । इ॒षाम् । नः॒ । ने॒ता । भ॒व॒ता॒त् । अनु॑ । द्यून् ॥
amanthiṣṭām | bhāratā | revat | agnim | deva-śravāḥ | deva-vātaḥ | su-dakṣam | agne | vi | paśya | bṛhatā | abhi | rāyā | iṣām | naḥ | netā | bhavatāt | anu | dyūn
Triṣṭubh (very likely; 4×11 structure consistent with diction and cadence)
44
4 pādas × ~11 syllables
Commanding and directive; strong caesura supports ‘vi paśya’ imperative.
Encourages widening of breath and attention; evokes leadership and steady daily resolve.
- भारता (bhāratā)
- Literal: the Bharatas (a people). Symbolic: the striving powers of the soul; those who ‘bear’ the light and fight for it
- अमन्थिष्टाम् (amanthiṣṭām)
- Literal: they have churned out. Symbolic: persistent tapas producing the awakened flame
- रेवत् (revat)
- Literal: radiant, rich. Symbolic: luminous force of will carrying plenitude
- देवश्रवाः (devaśravāḥ)
- Literal: whose fame/hearing is divine. Symbolic: inner faculty that hears the divine inspiration (śruti within)
- देववातः (devavātaḥ)
- Literal: moved by divine wind. Symbolic: inspired prāṇa; divine breath that carries the flame upward
- सुदक्षम् (sudakṣam)
- Literal: well-skilled, able. Symbolic: effective, rightly ordered action-force in sādhanā
- वि पश्य (vi paśya)
- Literal: see widely. Symbolic: widened consciousness; panoramic discernment
- बृहता (bṛhatā)
- Literal: with the Vast. Symbolic: contact with wideness (Bṛhat), the large consciousness
- रायेषाम् (rāyeṣām)
- Literal: toward riches/plenitudes. Symbolic: plenitudes of being—light, force, joy, harmony
- अनु द्यून् (anu dyūn)
- Literal: day after day. Symbolic: continuous practice; progressive unfolding over time
Consecration/praise of newly kindled Agni by the Bharatas; guidance-prayer for daily progress in sacrifice and life.
After establishing Agni; before offerings seeking prosperity and right guidance
Praise of the kindled fire; request for guidance toward rāyas (riches)
Daily morning recitation to set a ‘wide vision’ intention and invite skillful action and progressive abundance (inner and outer).
bhā́rata (connected to √bhṛ ‘to bear, carry, support’); revát (from ray/√rī ‘to flow, give’; revat = rich, radiant); dakṣa (skill/power, from √dakṣ ‘to be able, to accomplish’); bṛhát (from √bṛh ‘to grow, expand’); rāyí (wealth/plenitude; often from √rā ‘to give’ in RV usage); netṛ (√nī ‘to lead’).
Bṛhat (the Vast) as wideness of consciousness, Rāyas as plenitude of being, Progressive realization ‘anu dyūn’
Agni as netā leads the movement in right order toward plenitudes.
Widened seeing (vi paśya) aligns perception with truth beyond ego-limits.
From churned tapas arises radiant will; wideness then organizes manifestation into plenitude.
Integral/psychological Vedism: expansion (bṛhat) + effective force (dakṣa) as conditions for realization.
daybreak to daytime (implied by ‘day after day’)
Fire = will; wind = prāṇa/inspiration; days = successive states of practice and unfolding consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The collective kindling of Agni by the Bhāratas is the mythic-social motif: the community brings out the divine fire and asks it to lead them to rāyas (plenitudes). The ‘Vast’ (bṛhat) frames the movement as ascent into truth-conscious wideness.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- bṛhat (√bṛh ‘grow’) corresponds to PIE *bʰerǵʰ- ‘rise, high’ in semantic neighborhood of growth/height (cf. Germanic berg ‘mountain’ via related formations). √nī ‘lead’ aligns with PIE *neiH- ‘to lead’ (cf. Latin nītor in sense of striving; and broader IE leading/going roots).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi speaks for a collective sādhaka-community: they evoke Agni and request widened vision and guidance. Agni is not merely praised but asked to become netā—an inward leader—directing daily life-movements toward spiritual plenitude.
Practice ‘wide seeing’: hold Agni as the steady will in the navel/heart while expanding awareness to include the whole field of experience without contraction.
Manipura → Ajna (widened seeing)
Dirgha pranayama: inhale 4–6 counts feeling inner flame; exhale 6–8 counts expanding awareness ‘with the Vast’
Spacious, guided, progressively luminous
Before action, invoke ‘vi paśya bṛhatā’: pause, widen, then act from the steadied flame; repeat daily to build continuity (anu dyūn).
Vedic accentuation with emphatic udatta on imperatives and deity names; keep clear rise on Agne and vi paśya.
Mark a decisive break after sudakṣam; deliver ‘agne vi paśya bṛhatā’ as a single widening phrase.
bhāratā: long ā in -tā., devaśravā: keep śr cluster clear (śra-vā)., bṛhatā: vocalic ṛ; avoid ‘brihata’., anu dyūn: dyūn with long ū and nasalization ending.
Open-throated, expansive; allow breath to ‘spread’ on bṛhatā
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.
