Rig Veda 2.2.3: Mandala 2, Sukta 2, Mantra 3
Sukta 2.2
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
तं देवा बुध्ने रजसः सुदंससं दिवस्पृथिव्योररतिं न्येरिरे । रथमिव वेद्यं शुक्रशोचिषमग्निं मित्रं न क्षितिषु प्रशंस्यम् ॥
táṃ devā́ budhné rájasaḥ su-dáṃsasaṃ divás-pṛthivyór aratíṃ ní erire | rátham iva védyaṃ śukrá-śociṣam agníṃ mitráṃ ná kṣitíṣu pra-śáṃsyam ||
နတ်များသည် ထိုသူအား လောကအလယ်ဗဟို၏ အခြေခံတွင် ချထားခဲ့သည်၊ ကောင်းမှုပြုသူ၊ ကောင်းကင်နှင့် မြေကြီးအကြား သတင်းဆက်သူဖြစ်၏။ ယဇ်ပလ္လင်သို့ ဆောင်ယူရန် လှေကားကဲ့သို့၊ စင်ကြယ်သော ရောင်ခြည်ဖြင့် တောက်ပသည်၊ ထိုသို့ အဂ္ဂိနီကို ချထားခဲ့သည်, မိတ္တရမြတ်စွာကဲ့သို့, လူမျိုးများအကြား ချီးမွမ်းထိုက်သူ၊ လူနေအိမ်များတွင် သင့်မြတ်မှု၏ စွမ်းအားဖြစ်၏။
Word by Word
- तम्
- him/that onePronounपुंलिङ्गः/नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- देवाः
- the godsNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- बुध्ने
- in the depth/bottomNounपुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role अधिकरणRoot बुध्न (प्रातिपदिक)
- रजसः
- of the space/realm (rajas)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्धRoot रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुदंससम्
- very wondrous/strongly marvellousAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot सु-दंसस् (प्रातिपदिक; बहुव्रीहिः/कर्मधारयः)
- दिवः
- of heavenNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः (द्यौः), षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्धRoot दिव्/द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक)
- पृथिव्योः
- of heaven-and-earth (lit. of the two earths/earth-pair)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, द्विवचनम्Role सम्बन्धRoot पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
- अरतिम्
- the charioteer/driver (steersman)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot अरति (प्रातिपदिक)
- नि
- down, into; (prefix)Indeclinableउपसर्गःRoot नि (उपसर्ग)
- एरिरे
- they set in motion/they impelledVerbलिट् (परस्मैपदम्), प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Root ईर् (धातु; Vedic: ईरिरे)
- रथम्
- a chariotNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- like, asIndeclinableउपमानवाचक-अव्ययम्Root इव
- वेद्यम्
- to be recognized/known; worthy of noticeAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot वेद्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √विद्/√वेद् ‘to know’ → ‘to be known/recognized’)
- शुक्रशोचिषम्
- with bright/flashing flameAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot शुक्र-शोचिस् (प्रातिपदिक; कर्मधारयः)
- अग्निम्
- Agni (fire)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- मित्रम्
- Mitra (as a friend/ally)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्म (उपमान-रूपेण)Root मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमानार्थक-अव्ययम्Root न
- क्षितिषु
- among the settlements/dwellingsNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, बहुवचनम्Role अधिकरणRoot क्षिति (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्रशंस्यम्
- praiseworthyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot प्र-शंस्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √शंस् ‘to praise’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (Vedic sandhi resolved): तं | देवाः | बुध्ने | रजसः | सुदंससम् | दिवः | पृथिव्योः | अरतिम् | नि | एरिरे || रथम् | इव | वेद्यम् | शुक्रशोचिषम् | अग्निम् | मित्रम् | न | क्षितिषु | प्रशंस्यम् || प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) पृथिव्योः+अरतिम् → पृथिव्योऽररातिं (पाठे: पृथिव्योर॑र॒तिं) (2) नि+एरिरे → न्ये॑रिरे (इ-ए संधिः, य्-आगमः) (3) मित्रं+न → मित्रं न (अनुस्वार-स्थिरता) (4) दिवः+पृथिव्योः: षष्ठी-द्विवचन-सम्बन्धः ‘द्यावापृथिव्योः’ अर्थे। उच्चारण-स्वर (उदात्त/अनुदात्त/स्वरित) पाठानुसारः
- पदरूपे मूलाक्षराः अविकृताः दर्शिताः।
The meaning
Outer meaning
The gods established Agni at the foundation of the mid-world as a good-worker and messenger between Heaven and Earth; like a chariot brought to the altar, pure-flamed, he is set as praiseworthy among peoples, like Mitra.
Inner meaning
The higher powers (devāḥ) place the inner Fire in the ‘foundation of the rajas’—the vital-mental mid-region—so it can mediate between the heights (divaḥ) and the embodied ground (pṛthivī). As a ‘chariot’ (ratha) fit for the altar, Agni becomes the organized force of progress: a vehicle for aspiration and descent. ‘Like Mitra’ he harmonizes: the flame is not merely intense but luminous and law-giving, establishing right relation among the parts of the being and among people.
Universal truth
Spiritual life requires an established mediating power: a luminous will placed in the middle nature that can translate higher truth into earthly action and create harmony.
Themes
divine installation, Agni as messenger, social and inner harmony, altar symbolism
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)
- Lineage
- Bhārgava
- Other hymns
- RV 2.2.1, RV 2.2.2, RV 2.2.4, RV 2.2.5, RV 2.2.6
Family tradition
Bhṛgu tradition of Agni-knowledge: establishing the priest-power that makes the human instrument fit (vedya) for divine working.
Significance
The seer stresses ‘placement’ (ny erire) of Agni—an inner installation of will in the mid-nature so the descent from above can become workable and harmonious.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- sudaṃsasa (good-worker), aratí (messenger), śukraśociṣ (pure-flamed), mitra-vat (Mitra-like, harmonizing), praśaṃsya (praiseworthy)
- Related deities
- Mitra, Varuṇa (implicit via ṛta/harmony), Uṣas
Cosmic role
Fixed as the mediator in the mid-world; enables exchange and right functioning between Heaven and Earth.
Inner power
Executive luminous will: turns ideals into action, purifies motive-force, harmonizes inner parts.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni establishment/invocation in śrauta rites; agnyādheya themes (setting up sacred fires)
तं दे॒वा बु॒ध्ने रज॑सः सु॒दंस॑सं दि॒वस्पृ॑थि॒व्योर॑र॒तिं न्ये॑रिरे । रथ॑मिव॒ वेद्यं॑ शु॒क्रशो॑चिषम॒ग्निं मि॒त्रं न क्षि॒तिषु॑ प्र॒शंस्य॑म् ॥
तं । दे॒वाः । बु॒ध्ने । रज॑सः । सु॒ऽदंस॑सम् । दि॒वःपृ॑थि॒व्योः । अ॒र॒तिम् । नि । ए॒रि॒रे॒ । रथ॑म्ऽइव । वेद्य॑म् । शु॒क्रऽशो॑चिषम् । अ॒ग्निम् । मि॒त्रम् । न । क्षि॒तिषु॑ । प्र॒ऽशंस्य॑म् ॥
taṃ | devāḥ | budhne | rajasaḥ | su-daṃsasam | divaḥpṛthivyoḥ | aratim | ni | er ire | ratham-iva | vedyam | śukra-śociṣam | agnim | mitram | na | kṣitiṣu | pra-śaṃsyam
44
4 × ~11
Strong, स्थापत्य-like (architectonic); suited to ‘establishing’ and ‘setting in place’.
Creates a sense of inner installation and alignment—like setting a cornerstone in the psyche.
- बुध्ने रजसः (budhne rajasaḥ)
- Literal: at the bottom/foundation of the mid-air. Symbolic: in the base of the vital-mental plane where transformation must be anchored
- सुदंससम् (sudaṃsasam)
- Literal: good-worker, effective. Symbolic: the will that can execute truth in life, not only envision it
- दिवःपृथिव्योः (divaspṛthivyor)
- Literal: of heaven and earth. Symbolic: higher consciousness and embodied nature
- अरति (arati)
- Literal: messenger. Symbolic: inner mediator carrying offerings upward and bringing force downward
- रथम् (ratham)
- Literal: chariot. Symbolic: organized dynamic means/vehicle of sadhana; disciplined life-force
- वेद्यम् (vedyam)
- Literal: fit for the altar. Symbolic: rightly prepared instrument offered to the Divine
- शुक्रशोचिषम् (śukraśociṣam)
- Literal: with bright/pure flame. Symbolic: clarity without mixture; sattvic illumination
- मित्रम् (mitram)
- Literal: Mitra. Symbolic: harmony, right relation, luminous law and concord
Installation/establishment motif suited to Agni-ādheya (setting up sacred fires) and to Soma-yajña opening invocations where Agni is placed as Hotṛ and mediator.
When consecrating or reaffirming Agni’s seat; during offerings that emphasize Agni as dūta/hotṛ.
Placing fire on vedi, invoking as messenger; offerings to secure harmony in the rite.
Use before work or service: to ‘set’ the inner will as a pure, harmonious executor of higher intention.
su-daṃsas ‘good-worker’: daṃsas relates to ‘marvelous skill/power’ (often of divine efficacy). aratí from √ṛ ‘go’ emphasizes mediation. védya from √vid ‘know’/‘find’ also ‘fit for the vedi’, bridging knowledge and altar-place. śociṣ ‘flame’ from √śuc ‘shine, be bright/pure’, hence ‘purifying radiance’. Mitra invoked as a comparand: not genealogical, but functional—harmony and right order in social/inner relations.
R̥ta as world-order (Agni installed at the 'foundation'), mediation between planes (Heaven–Earth), Mitraic harmony (right relation)
Agni as Mitra-like power establishes right relation (ṛta) among worlds and within society/being.
Śukraśociṣ: truth-light purified of distortion.
Founding of the mid-region as a bridge—cosmic architecture enabling evolution.
Integral Vedic psychology: mediation between planes; harmony as a spiritual law (Mitra).
Rajas = vital-mental field of desire/action; altar = consecrated consciousness; chariot = disciplined life-force carrying the journey.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is the ‘establishment of the mediator’: the gods install Agni at the base of the mid-world as the runner between Heaven and Earth. This is the archetypal setting of the sacrificial fire as cosmic link, enabling the ascent of offering and descent of light.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The mediator/runner (aratí, √ṛ) continues an archaic ‘go-between’ function comparable to IE messenger motifs. The brightness lexicon (śukra/śociṣ) belongs to inherited ‘shining’ poetic diction across IE traditions. The chariot simile (rátha) is a shared Indo-European prestige vehicle image for conveyance of divine power.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer recognizes Agni as a divinely instituted function, not merely a human-made fire: the gods themselves ‘set him’ as the harmonizing presence among peoples. The human side responds by bringing him to the vedi (vedyam), i.e., giving him a conscious seat so his mediation can operate in life.
Install a pure executive will in the mid-nature; let it mediate between aspiration (above) and action (below).
Maṇipūra (will/execution) aligned with Viśuddha (truth-expression)
4-4-6 breathing (inhale-hold-exhale) to ‘set’ steadiness; feel the exhale placing Agni at the center.
Aligned, ready, harmonized dynamism.
Before action, inwardly ‘place’ Agni in the navel/heart line; offer the coming work to the altar of consciousness; act with Mitra-like harmony rather than restless force.
Maintain clear udatta on key nouns (devāḥ, agnim) with disciplined pitch steps; avoid lyrical ornament.
Phrase with caesura after rajasaḥ and ny erire; emphasize śukraśociṣam and praśaṃsyam.
Cluster clarity: divaspṛthivyor (keep ‘spṛ’ clean), śukraśociṣam: ś + u, and ṣ in śociṣ, mitraṃ na: light nasalization on -ṃ
Firm, स्थापक (establishing) tone; steady resonance in chest.
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