Rig Veda 7.4.7: Mandala 7, Sukta 4, Mantra 7
Sukta 7.4
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
परिषद्यं ह्यरणस्य रेक्णो नित्यस्य रायः पतयः स्याम । न शेषो अग्ने अन्यजातमस्त्यचेतानस्य मा पथो वि दुक्षः ॥
pari-sádyaṃ hy áraṇasya rékṇo nítyasya rāyáḥ pátayaḥ syāma | ná śéṣo agne anyá-jātam asty ácetānasya mā́ pátho ví dukṣaḥ ||
ଯଥାଯୋଗ୍ୟ ପ୍ରୟାସରେ ଜିତିବା ଯୋଗ୍ୟ ସେଇ ଧନ-ନିଧି ପାଇଁ, ନିତ୍ୟ ରାୟ (ସମୃଦ୍ଧି) ପାଇଁ, ଆମେ ତାହାର ପତି (ଅଧିପତି) ହେବା। ହେ ଅଗ୍ନେ, ଅନ୍ୟଜାତ (ଅନ୍ୟ ଭାବେ ଜନ୍ମିତ) ଏମିତି କୌଣସି ଅବଶେଷ ନାହିଁ; ଅଚେତନ (ଅଜାଗୃତ) ଲୋକଙ୍କ ପଥ ଆମ ପାଇଁ ବିକ୍ଷିପ୍ତ ନ ହେଉ—ଆମକୁ ଜାଗୃତିର ସଠିକ ପଥରେ ଦୃଢ଼ କର।
Word by Word
- परि
- around, aboutIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot परि-
- सद्यम्
- immediately, at onceAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (क्रियाविशेषणवत्)Role KarmaRoot सद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- हि
- indeed, forIndeclinableनिपातRoot हि
- अरणस्य
- of the stranger/alien (one)Nounपुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (Genitive)Root अरण (प्रातिपदिक)
- रेक्णः
- of the wealth, propertyNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे षष्ठी-एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (Genitive)Root रेक्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
- नित्यास्य
- of the constant/everlastingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (Genitive)Root नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- रायः
- of wealth, richesNounस्त्रीलिङ्गे षष्ठी-एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (Genitive)Root राय्/राय (प्रातिपदिक)
- पतयः
- lords, mastersNounपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot पति (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्याम
- may we beVerbविधिलिङ् (optative), उत्तम-पुरुष, बहुवचनम्Root अस् (धातु)
- न
- notIndeclinableनिषेधRoot न
- शेषः
- a remainder, anything leftNounपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुंलिङ्गे सम्बोधन-एकवचनम्Role सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- अन्यजातम्
- born from another, of alien birthAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्Role Kartā (नास्ति इत्यस्य)Root अन्य-जात (प्रातिपदिक; जात = √जन् क्त)
- अस्ति
- is, existsVerbलट् (present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचनम्Root अस् (धातु)
- अचेतानस्य
- of the unknowing, unperceivingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (Genitive)Root अ-चेतन (प्रातिपदिक)
- मा
- do notIndeclinableनिषेध (prohibitive particle, esp. with injunctive/imperative)Root मा
- पथः
- of the path, wayNounपुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (Genitive)Root पथिन्/पथ (प्रातिपदिक)
- वि
- apart, asunder, awayIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot वि-
- दुक्षः
- (do not) milk out / drain awayVerbआज्ञार्थ/इञ्जङ्क्टिव (Vedic injunctive/imperative usage), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्; उपसर्गः वि-Root दुह् (धातु)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सम्भाव्य): परि | सद्यम् | हि | अरणस्य | रेक्णः | नित्यास्य | रायः | पतयः | स्याम । न | शेषः | अग्ने | अन्यजातम् | अस्ति | अचेतानस्य | मा | पथः | वि | दुक्षः ॥ 1) परिषद्यं → परि + सद्यम् (इकार + सकार; संहितायां ‘ष’/संयोग-प्रभावः)
- 2) ह्यर॑णस्य → हि + अरणस्य (इ + अ → य्-आगमः)
- 3) रेक्णो नित्यस्य → रेक्णः + नित्यास्य (ः + न → ओ; तथा नित्यस्य → नित्यास्य: ‘नित्य’ + ‘अस्य’ (षष्ठी) इति पदरूपम्)
- 4) शेषो अग्ने → शेषः + अग्ने (ः + अ → ओ)
- 5) अस्त्यचे॑तानस्य → अस्ति + अचेतानस्य (इ + अ → य्-आगमः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
May we become masters of the eternal wealth and the treasure won by right effort. O Agni, there is no other remainder or gain born otherwise; do not let the path of the unawakened be dispersed for us—keep us on the true track.
Inner meaning
The “treasure” (rekṇa, rāy) is the stable inner plenitude gained only by sustained right striving (araṇa). Agni, the awakened will and inner guide, must hold our consciousness to the true path so that the obscure, unthinking movements (acetāna) do not scatter our aspiration into many wrong tracks. Nothing of the divine attainment comes by accidental or ‘other-born’ means; it is generated by conscious tapas and guided will.
Universal truth
Lasting inner prosperity arises from disciplined aspiration and clear consciousness; dispersion into unconscious habits dissipates progress. The guiding flame of will must keep life aligned to a single truth-track.
Themes
Guidance, Attainment, Protection from ignorance, Spiritual wealth
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa lineage, traditional)
- Other hymns
- RV 7.4.1-10, RV 7.5.1-11, RV 7.18 (Vasiṣṭha family hymn)
Family tradition
The Vasiṣṭhas emphasize Agni as the inner priest and the right path (ṛta) of the sacrifice; their hymns often turn ritual language into disciplined inner yoga of will and truth.
Significance
Vasiṣṭha’s vision repeatedly stresses steadfastness, right ordering (ṛta), and the guarding flame that prevents dispersion into false tracks—an early psychology of sādhanā.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- Agni, Jātavedas (implicit: knower of births), Pathikṛt (path-maker, implied), Hotṛ (inner priest, implied)
- Related deities
- Indra (illumined mind supporting the path), Soma (bliss that is the ‘wealth’ attained), Uṣas (awakening opposed to acetāna), Aśvins (helpers on the path)
Cosmic role
Mediator between human and divine worlds; establisher of the right order of the sacrifice and bearer of offerings to the gods.
Inner power
The conscious will and discerning flame that keeps aspiration unified, rejects unconscious deviation, and generates the ‘other-born’ (divine) results only through right tapas.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni-stotra / Agni praise within soma-sacrifice sequences (general Agni invocation)
प॒रि॒षद्यं॒ ह्यर॑णस्य॒ रेक्णो॒ नित्य॑स्य रा॒यः पत॑यः स्याम । न शेषो॑ अग्ने अ॒न्यजा॑तम॒स्त्यचे॑तानस्य॒ मा प॒थो वि दु॑क्षः ॥
प॒रि॒ऽसद्य॑म् । हि । अर॑णस्य । रेक्णः॑ । नित्य॑स्य । रा॒यः । पत॑यः । स्या॒म॒ । न । शेषः॑ । अ॒ग्ने॒ । अ॒न्यऽजा॑तम् । अ॒स्ति॒ । अचे॑तानस्य । मा । प॒थः । वि । दु॒क्षः॒ ॥
pari-sadyam | hi | araṇasya | rekṇaḥ | nityasya | rāyaḥ | patayaḥ | syāma | na | śeṣaḥ | agne | anya-jātam | asti | acetānasya | mā | pathaḥ | vi | dukṣaḥ
44
4 pādas × ~11 syllables
Forward-driving, firm, and directive—suited to injunction and steering of the will.
Builds resolve and alignment; the cadence feels like ‘keeping to the track,’ stabilizing attention against distraction.
- परिषद्यम् (pariṣadyam)
- Literal: to be won/attained (by sitting around, persevering). Symbolic: the attainable inner gain secured by steady perseverance and right method
- अरणस्य (araṇasya)
- Literal: of striving/effort. Symbolic: tapas: right exertion of the soul toward the Divine
- रेक्णः (rekṇaḥ)
- Literal: treasure, possession. Symbolic: hidden spiritual riches (light, power, joy) to be recovered
- नित्यस्य रायः (nityasya rāyaḥ)
- Literal: eternal wealth. Symbolic: stable plenitude of being (not transient enjoyments)
- पतयः (patayaḥ)
- Literal: lords/masters. Symbolic: inner mastery—governance of nature by the soul-led will
- अचेतानस्य (acetānasya)
- Literal: of the unconscious/unaware. Symbolic: subconscient inertia and mechanical desire-mind
- पथः (pathaḥ)
- Literal: path. Symbolic: the line of conscious progress (ṛta-path)
Prayer for right guidance and stable attainment; used as protective formula against error in rite and in the inner journey.
At kindling/strengthening of the fire and during praise to secure right movement of the rite
Recitation to establish auspicious order, protect the rite from error, and ‘hold the path’ of the sacrifice
Used as a mantra of concentration: before meditation or work, invoke Agni to prevent mental scattering and keep a single inner direction.
(rekṇa) ‘treasure’ (Vedic) of uncertain root; used for wealth of substance and attainment. (path) from PIE *pent- ‘path’ (cf. Greek pónos ‘toil’ is different; but Germanic *paþ- ‘path’ parallels). (cetas) from √ ‘perceive’; = lacking awakened perception.
Right path vs. scattered path (discipline vs. dispersion), Cetas (awakened mind), Eternal rayi (lasting plenitude)
Explicit in the idea of ‘path’ guarded from dispersion—Agni as keeper of the ṛta-path.
Truth is not ‘other-born’; it is generated by awakened consciousness and right will.
Inner creation of divine wealth through disciplined kindling of the flame.
Proto-Vedāntic and yogic reading (Aurobindo/Kashyap): ascent of consciousness via Agni and ṛta.
Fire = will; treasure = recovered light/bliss; path = ordered progression of consciousness; ‘unawakened’ = subconscient drift.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Agni as guardian of the ‘path’ and giver of the ‘treasure’ to those who rightly attend (pari-sadya). The mythic pattern is the god leading the sacrificer to secure wealth; the inner pattern is the flame of discernment preventing dispersion into the ways of the unawakened.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- pathaḥ corresponds to the widespread PIE ‘path’ lexeme (*pent-/path- family), showing continuity of the journey-metaphor in Indo-European poetics: spiritual/heroic progress conceptualized as a ‘path’ requiring guidance.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asks for mastery of enduring plenitude and for protection against the dispersive movement of unconsciousness. Agni is approached as both wealth-giver and inner guide who keeps aspiration coherent.
Unification of will: choose one inner direction and let Agni hold the mind to the truth-track.
Manipura (Agni/will)
Moderate nāḍī-śodhana or 4-4-6 breathing to reduce scattering; silently repeat ‘agne’ on exhale.
Ekāgratā (one-pointedness) moving toward steady inner tapas.
Before practice, offer distractions into the flame; ask for protection from ‘acetāna’ habits; end by reaffirming the single path of truth for the day.
Triṣṭubh recitation with standard Vedic accents: maintain clear udatta peaks on accented syllables; avoid flattening the cadence at pāda ends.
Mark and slightly lift udatta; let svarita glide down; keep anudatta unraised—especially in ‘agñe’ vocative and ‘mā patho’.
Keep retroflex ṛ in rekṇaḥ crisp (not ‘re-kna’ but ‘rek-ṇaḥ’), Distinguish c/ś: acetānasya (a-ce-tā-), Hold long vowels: nītyasya, syāma, In ‘vi dukṣaḥ’ articulate kṣ as a single cluster
Steady, directive, flame-like clarity; end each pāda with contained firmness.
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