Rig Veda 2.4.2: Mandala 2, Sukta 4, Mantra 2
Sukta 2.4
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
इमं विधन्तो अपां सधस्थे द्वितादधुर्भृगवो विक्ष्वायोः । एष विश्वान्यभ्यस्तु भूमा देवानामग्निररतिर्जीराश्वः ॥
imáṃ vidhánto apā́ṃ sadhásthe dvitā́ dadhur bhṛ́gavo vikṣv āyóḥ | eṣá víśvāny abhy àstu bhū́mā devā́nām agnír aratír jīrā́śvaḥ ||
ଏହି ଅଗ୍ନିଙ୍କୁ ବିଧିକାରୀମାନେ ଅପାଂ ସଧସ୍ଥେ (ଜଳମାନଙ୍କ ସାଧାରଣ ଆସନରେ) ସ୍ଥାପନ କଲେ; ଭୃଗୁମାନେ ତାଙ୍କୁ ପୁନଃ ଜୀବନ୍ତ ପ୍ରଜାମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠା କଲେ। ଦ୍ରୁତଗତିଶୀଳ, ଦ୍ରୁତାଶ୍ୱଯୁକ୍ତ ଏହି ଅଗ୍ନି ସମସ୍ତ ଭୂତମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ବିଶାଳ ଭୂମି ପରି ଆଧାର ହେଉ; ଦେବମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ତାଙ୍କର ଆଶ୍ରୟ-ସମର୍ଥନ ହେଉ।
Word by Word
- इमम्
- this (him/it)Pronounपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- विधन्तः
- (they) arranging/ordaining, performing (rites)Participle (Adjective used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि शतृ (विधत्)Role KartāRoot √धा (धा धारणे) → विधा/विधान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- अपाम्
- of the watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole Sambandha (genitive relation)Root अप् (स्त्रीलिङ्ग-प्रातिपदिक)
- सधस्थे
- in the common seat/abodeNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot सधस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
- द्विता
- a second time; againIndeclinableअव्ययRole (Adverbial modifier)Root द्विता (अव्यय)
- दधुः
- they placed/establishedVerbलिट् (परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole (Finite verb)Root √धा (धा धारणे)
- भृगवः
- the BhṛgusNoun (tribal/lineage name)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot भृगु (प्रातिपदिक)
- विक्षु
- among the clans/settlementsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot विश् (प्रातिपदिक)
- आयॊः
- of the two Āyus (two descendants/lines of Āyu)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, द्विवचन (वैदिक रूप: आयोः)Role Sambandha (genitive relation)Root आयु (प्रातिपदिक)
- एषः
- this (one)Pronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- विश्वानि
- all (things)Adjective used substantivelyनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- अभि
- towards, overIndeclinable (preverb)अव्ययRole (Preverb)Root अभि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- अस्तु
- let him beVerbलोट् (परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (Finite verb)Root √अस् (अस भुवि)
- भूमाः
- the great one; the mighty (one)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (वैदिक दीर्घ-आः)Role Kartā (predicate nominative)Root भूमन्/भूम (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवानाम्
- of the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole Sambandha (genitive relation)Root देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्निः
- AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- अरतिः
- the helper/guide; the one who sets in motionNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (apposition/epithet)Root अरति (प्रातिपदिक)
- जीराश्वः
- having swift horsesAdjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (apposition/epithet)Root जीराश्व (प्रातिपदिक; बहुव्रीहि)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (sandhi-resolved): इमम् | विधन्तः | अपाम् | सधस्थे | द्विता | दधुः | भृगवः | विक्षु | आयोः || एषः | विश्वानि | अभि | अस्तु | भूमाः | देवानाम् | अग्निः | अरतिः | जीराश्वः । प्रमुख संधि: (1) विक्ष्वा॒३॒॑योः = विक्षु + आयोः (उकारस्य वकारादेशः: उ + आ → वा). (2) ए॒ष विश्वा॑न्य॒भ्य॑स्तु = एषः + विश्वानि + अभि + अस्तु
- विश्वानि + अभि → विश्वान्यभि (इ/ई + अ → य्-आगम). (3) अग्निररतिः = अग्निः + अरतिः (विसर्ग-लोपः/रेफादेशः: ः + अ → र)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Those who perform the rite set this Agni in the common seat of the Waters; the Bhṛgus established him again among the peoples of the living. May this Agni, swift-moving and with swift steeds, become for all beings the wide ground, the support of the Gods.
Inner meaning
‘Waters’ (āpah) are the flowing planes of consciousness—especially the subconscient and the deep vital-psychic currents. Establishing Agni in the ‘seat of the waters’ means kindling the will-to-light even in the depths, not only in the surface mind. The Bhṛgus (a lineage of fire-seers) ‘set him again’ among the living: the rediscovery of the inner flame is a recurrent necessity in human evolution. Agni as arati (swift traveller) with jīrāśva (swift horses) signifies the dynamic power that moves quickly through the being, carrying aspiration across levels. When so established, Agni becomes ‘bhūmā’—wideness, ground, and support: the stable basis upon which the divine powers can act in the whole nature.
Universal truth
Real transformation requires kindling consciousness in the depths; then the awakened will becomes both dynamic in progress and wide in foundation, supporting a higher life for all parts of the being.
Themes
Bhṛgu fire-myth, Agni among men, support of the gods, swift messenger
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Lineage
- Bhārgava
- Other hymns
- RV 2.4, RV 2.1
Family tradition
Connected to Bhṛgu-fire traditions; Mandala 2 often recalls ancient fire-seers and the re-establishment of Agni for humanity.
Significance
This verse links individual practice to a perennial lineage (Bhṛgus): the inner fire must be set in the depths and renewed, becoming wideness that supports the gods’ working.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- aratí, jīrāśva
- Related deities
- Apām Napāt (fire in the waters), Varuṇa (waters/order), Indra (release of light)
Cosmic role
Kindled in the waters (deep planes), Agni becomes the support of the gods—foundation for higher workings in the manifest being.
Inner power
Penetrating will that reaches the subconscient and moves swiftly; then expands into wideness (bhūma).
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni establishment and renewal; rites emphasizing Agni in waters (conceptual proximity to Apām Napāt themes)
इ॒मं वि॒धन्तो॑ अ॒पां स॒धस्थे॑ द्वि॒ताद॑धु॒र्भृग॑वो वि॒क्ष्वा॒३॒॑योः । ए॒ष विश्वा॑न्य॒भ्य॑स्तु॒ भूमा॑ दे॒वाना॑म॒ग्निर॑र॒तिर्जी॒राश्व॑: ॥
इ॒मम् । वि॒धन्तः॑ । अ॒पाम् । स॒धऽस्थे॑ । द्वि॒ता । अ॒द॒धुः॒ । भृग॑वः । वि॒क्षु । आ॒योः । ए॒षः । विश्वा॑नि । अ॒भि । अ॒स्तु॒ । भूम॑ । दे॒वाना॑म् । अ॒ग्निः । अ॒र॒तिः । जी॒रऽअ॑श्वः ॥
imam | vidhantaḥ | apām | sadha-sthe | dvitā | adadhuḥ | bhṛgavaḥ | vikṣu | āyoḥ | eṣaḥ | viśvāni | abhi | astu | bhūma | devānām | agniḥ | aratiḥ | jīra-aśvaḥ
44
4 x ~11 syllables
Deep-to-wide movement: begins in the ‘waters’ (depth), ends in ‘bhūma’ (vastness).
Encourages depth-work (subconscient kindling) and then a felt widening and stability.
- आपाम् सधस्थे (āpām sadhasthe)
- Literal: in the common seat of the waters. Symbolic: in the shared deep plane of consciousness (vital/subconscient) where movements arise
- विधन्तः (vidhantaḥ)
- Literal: performers/arrangers of the rite. Symbolic: disciplined inner workers who order the sacrifice (yogic practitioners)
- भृगवः (bhṛgavaḥ)
- Literal: the Bhṛgus. Symbolic: fire-seer lineage; the power of rediscovered aspiration and inner craftsmanship
- द्विता (dvitā)
- Literal: again, a second time. Symbolic: re-kindling after lapse; renewal of aspiration
- अरति (arati)
- Literal: swift moving, traveller. Symbolic: dynamic force of progress through levels of consciousness
- जीराश्व (jīrāśva)
- Literal: having swift horses. Symbolic: vital energies yoked to the divine will, speeding the journey
- भूम (bhūma)
- Literal: wide ground, vastness. Symbolic: inner wideness and stable foundation for divine action
Mythic-ritual recollection of Agni’s establishment: from waters to human clans; supports the rite by invoking Agni as universal foundation (bhūman) and swift carrier.
When re-kindling or re-establishing sacred fire; invocations recalling ancient seers’ founding act.
Setting Agni in his seat; affirming lineage; praying for Agni to become the broad support for all works.
For shadow-work and depth meditation: kindle aspiration in difficult emotions/subconscient habits, then widen into a stable, spacious base.
Bhṛgu myth: the Bhṛgus as discoverers/establishers of fire among men. apām sadhasthe: waters as foundational energies (often the lower ocean of consciousness); sadhasthe ‘common seat’ from sadha ‘together’ + stha ‘stand’. āyu ‘life’ from PIE *h2eyu- ‘life, vital force’ (cf. Avestan āyu-). aśva from PIE *h1éḱwos ‘horse’ (Lat. equus).
foundation (sadhasthe) of consciousness-energies, universal support (bhūman), transmission of fire to humanity (culture-myth)
Right order is restored when Agni is placed even in the deep currents; then divine action can be supported in all beings.
Truth must be founded in the depths, not only asserted mentally; hence Agni becomes ‘ground’.
Fire in the waters: emergence of consciousness from undifferentiated flow; renewal by seer-lineage.
Integral yoga cosmology: descent into subconscient for transformation, followed by expansion into wideness.
Kindling will in the deep flow of life-substance; swift vital energies harnessed; resulting wideness as stable base.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Bhṛgu ‘bringing/establishing of Agni’ mythologem: fire is set in the seat of the waters and then re-established among living peoples. Innerly, the will-flame is recovered from the subconscient waters and installed in the human collectivity as a universal support for divine workings.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- aśva ‘horse’ is classic PIE *h1éḱwos (Latin equus). √dhā ‘place’ is PIE *dheh1-. āyu ‘life’ aligns with Indo-Iranian vitality lexemes (Avestan āyu-), plausibly from PIE life-force formations.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi recalls the ancestral act (Bhṛgus) as a template: establish Agni first in the deep foundation (waters) and then in the human field. The devatā is asked to become bhūman—an inner ground—so that the human effort (vidhantaḥ) can be upheld by divine speed and order.
Place attention in the ‘waters’—the felt body and deep emotion-stream—then kindle a small steady flame of will; let it move swiftly through resistance and end in wideness.
Svādhiṣṭhāna (waters/emotional flow) transforming upward toward Anāhata/Ājñā wideness
Slow inhale into lower abdomen/pelvis (waters), brief hold to kindle (tapas), long exhale expanding awareness wide (bhūma).
Depth-contact → dynamic ascent → spacious stability.
Do not avoid the depths: offer them. Re-kindle daily (‘dvitā’). When energy speeds up (jīrāśva), ensure it serves widening, not agitation.
Requires Vedic accent marks from a pada-text with svara; not reliably inferable here.
Give weight to ‘apāṃ sadhasthe’ (depth), then accelerate slightly on ‘aratir jīrāśvaḥ’ (swift movement), then broaden on ‘bhūmā’.
apām: long ‘ā’, sadhasthe: cluster ‘sth’ clear, bhṛgavo: retroflex ‘ṛ’, vikṣv āyoḥ: ‘kṣv’ cluster; separate sandhi carefully, jīrāśvaḥ: long ‘ī’, long ‘ā’, ‘śv’ cluster
Start deep and resonant; brighten and widen toward the end.
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.
