Rig Veda 5.8.7: Mandala 5, Sukta 8, Mantra 7
Sukta 5.8
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
त्वामग्ने प्रदिव आहुतं घृतैः सुम्नायवः सुषमिधा समीधिरे । स वावृधान ओषधीभिरुक्षितोऽभि ज्रयांसि पार्थिवा वि तिष्ठसे ॥
tvām agne pra-diva āhutaṁ ghṛtaiḥ sumnā-yavaḥ su-samidhā sam īdhire | sa vavṛdhāna oṣadhībhir ukṣito ’bhi jrayāṁsi pārthivā vi tiṣṭhase ||
Ciebie, o Agni, wezwanego z wyższego nieba i wylanego wyjaśnionym światłem, poszukiwacze rozkoszy rozpalają cię dobrym paliwem. Rosnąc, skropiony ziołami, stajesz ponad ziemskimi oporami i przeszkodami, rozprzestrzeniając się poza nie.
Word by Word
- त्वाम्
- you (as object)Pronounद्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्रदिवः
- from the lofty heaven / from on highNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचनRole अपादानRoot प्रदिव् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘उच्च/पूर्व दिव्’)
- आहुतम्
- invoked/oblated (as one to whom offering is made)Participleनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (त्वाम् इति कर्मणि विशेषणम्)Role कर्मRoot आ-हु (धातु) → आहुत (कृदन्त, भूतकर्मणि)
- घृतैः
- with ghee (clarified butter)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचनRole करणRoot घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुम्नायवः
- seekers of favor/blessingNoun (agent noun)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot सुम्नायू (प्रातिपदिक; ‘सुम्न-इच्छु/सुम्न-याचक’)
- सुषमिधा
- with good kindling / with well-prepared fuelAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (समिधिरे इत्यस्य साधन-भावे)Role करणRoot सु-समिध् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘सु’ + ‘समिध्’)
- सम्
- together, fullyIndeclinableउपसर्गः (एध् धातोः)Root सम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- ईधिरे
- they have kindled (thee) / they have set (the fire) ablazeVerbलिट् (परिप्रयोगे परोक्ष/परिपूर्ण), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot इध्/एध् (धातु; ‘to kindle, to blaze’)
- सः
- he (that one = Agni)Pronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वावृधानः
- growing, having grown strongParticipleपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (सः इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृRoot वृध् (धातु) → वावृधान (कृदन्त; लिट्-आभास/परिपूर्ण-वृद्धि, वर्तमानकाले प्रयुक्तः)
- ओषधीभिः
- with plants/herbsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचनRole करणRoot ओषधि (प्रातिपदिक)
- उक्षितः
- sprinkled/anointed (nourished)Participleपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (सः इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृRoot वक्ष्/उक्ष् (धातु; ‘to sprinkle, anoint, moisten’) → उक्षित (कृदन्त, भूतकर्मणि)
- अभि
- towards, over, uponIndeclinableउपसर्गः (स्था धातोः)Root अभि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- ज्रयांसि
- the expanses/levels (wide spaces)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot ज्रयस् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘open spaces/levels/expanses’, RV usage)
- पार्थिवा
- earthly, terrestrialAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (ज्रयांसि इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्मRoot पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक; ‘earthly, terrestrial’)
- वि
- apart, widely, forthIndeclinableउपसर्गः (स्था धातोः)Root वि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- तिष्ठसे
- you stand / you take your standVerbलट्, आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot स्था (धातु)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धि-विग्रह): त्वाम् + अग्ने + प्रदिवः + आहुतम् + घृतैः + सुम्नायवः + सुषमिधा + सम् + ईधिरे । सः + वावृधानः + ओषधीभिः + उक्षितः + अभि + ज्रयांसि + पार्थिवा + वि + तिष्ठसे ॥ मुख्य-सन्धयः: (1) त्वाम॑ग्ने → त्वाम् + अग्ने (व्यञ्जन-सन्धि)
- (2) प्र॒दिव॒ आहु॑तं → प्रदिवः + आहुतम् (विसर्ग-सन्धि: -ः + अ-)
- (3) सुष॒मिधा॒ समी॑धिरे → सुषमिधा + सम् + ईधिरे (उपसर्ग-समास/पदविभाग; सम् + ईधिरे = समीधिरे)
- (4) उक्षि॒तो॒ऽभि → उक्षितः + अभि (विसर्ग/ओ-ऽवग्रह: -ः + अ-)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni, invoked from the higher heaven and poured with ghee, is kindled by seekers of favor with good fuel; growing, sprinkled with herbs, he stands over earthly obstacles and spreads beyond them.
Inner meaning
The flame is called from the ‘higher heaven’ (pradivaḥ): from the supramental/inner luminous plane. Fed with clarified light (ghṛta), it is kindled by those who seek true felicity (sumnāyavaḥ) with right disciplines (su-samidhā). As it grows, it is ‘sprinkled with herbs’—the life-nature’s energies and tendencies are purified and offered to support the ascent. Then Agni stands above ‘earthly resistances’ (pārthivā jrayāṃsi): the heavy inertia, habitual obstacles, and material subconscient blockages; the will spreads beyond them, establishing a higher poise.
Universal truth
When aspiration is sourced from higher consciousness and supported by purified life-energies, it rises above material resistance and widens the field of action and being.
Themes
Agni kindled by seekers, increase of inner force, transcendence of earthly obstruction
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 7.6, RV 7.13, RV 7.15
Family tradition
The Vasiṣṭha current frequently speaks of ascent aided by a descent of higher light (ghṛta, div), and of overcoming ‘earthly’ obstruction through established inner fire.
Significance
Here the seer indicates a two-way yoga: call from the higher plane, kindle below, then exceed terrestrial resistance—classic Vedic psychology of transformation.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- āhuta (invoked), ghṛtapṛṣṭha/ghṛtayoni-type imagery (ghee-fed), vāvṛdhāna (growing)
- Related deities
- Uṣas (illumination), Soma (delight that supports growth), Indra (victory over resistances)
Cosmic role
Fire that rises from earth toward heaven, linking planes; power that clears obstacles.
Inner power
Ascending will-force supported by illumined mind and purified vital energies; conqueror of inertia.
In ritual
Where it is used
Kindling/praise of Agni with ghee and samidh; general agni-invocation within śrauta offerings
त्वाम॑ग्ने प्र॒दिव॒ आहु॑तं घृ॒तैः सु॑म्ना॒यव॑: सुष॒मिधा॒ समी॑धिरे । स वा॑वृधा॒न ओष॑धीभिरुक्षि॒तो॒३॒॑ऽभि ज्रयां॑सि॒ पार्थि॑वा॒ वि ति॑ष्ठसे ॥
त्वाम् । अ॒ग्ने॒ । प्र॒ऽदिवः॑ । आऽहु॑तम् । घृ॒तैः । सु॒म्न॒ऽयवः॑ । सु॒ऽस॒मिधा॑ । सम् । ई॒धि॒रे॒ । सः । व॒वृ॒धा॒नः । ओष॑धीऽभिः । उ॒क्षि॒तः । अ॒भि । ज्रयां॑सि । पार्थि॑वा । वि । ति॒ष्ठ॒से॒ ॥
tvām | agne | pra-divaḥ | āhutam | ghṛtaiḥ | sumna-yavaḥ | su-samidhā | sam | īdhire | saḥ | vavṛdhānaḥ | oṣadhī-bhiḥ | ukṣitaḥ | abhi | jrayāṃsi | pārthivā | vi | t iṣṭhase
44
4 × ~11 syllables
Ascending, expansive movement; strong third and fourth pādas emphasize overcoming.
Gives a felt sense of rising above heaviness; supports perseverance and widening.
- प्रदिवः (pradivaḥ)
- Literal: from the high heaven/fore-sky. Symbolic: from the higher luminous plane; supramental descent-source
- घृतैः (ghṛtaiḥ)
- Literal: with ghee. Symbolic: with clarified light/illumined substance nourishing the flame
- सुम्नायवः (sumnāyavaḥ)
- Literal: seekers of grace/favor. Symbolic: seekers of inner felicity and right harmony (ananda-support)
- सुसमिधा (su-samidhā)
- Literal: with good fuel. Symbolic: right disciplines, right materials of practice—purified habits, attention, sincerity
- ओषधीभिः (oṣadhībhiḥ)
- Literal: with herbs. Symbolic: life-energies and vital powers transmuted into supports for the inner fire
- उक्षितः (ukṣitaḥ)
- Literal: sprinkled, moistened. Symbolic: strengthened by nurturing forces; life offered without drying asceticism
- ज्रयांसि (jrayāṃsi)
- Literal: impediments/obstacles (pressing forces). Symbolic: resistances of the physical and subconscient
- पार्थिवा (pārthivā)
- Literal: earthly. Symbolic: material inertia, tamas, mechanical habit
Kindling with ghṛta and plant materials; aligns with offerings of ghee and samidh in household and śrauta fires.
During lighting and ghee offerings; also suitable at beginnings of rites to remove obstacles.
Pouring ghee, adding fuel, invoking Agni’s growth and victory over obstacles.
Obstacle-clearing recitation before challenging work; meditation to rise above tamasic states.
pra-divaḥ: pra + div (heaven/sky, luminous realm) indicating origin from higher light; sam-√idh ‘kindle’; vavṛdhāna < √vṛdh (grow, increase), PIE *werdh-; oṣadhi (herb) possibly from √uṣ/√as semantic ‘burn/shine’ debated; ukṣita < √ukṣ (sprinkle), PIE *wegʷ-? (uncertain); tiṣṭhase < √sthā (stand), PIE *steh₂-. jrayāṃsi is difficult; likely from √jri/√jrāy ‘to wear down/decay’ or a noun of ‘obstruction/pressure’; here taken as ‘hindrances’ based on contextual ‘abhi ... pārthivā’.
descent from higher light (div), growth of inner fire (vṛdh), overcoming inertia/resistance (pārthiva obstacles)
The ordered ascent from earth to heaven is a ṛta-movement; Agni stands above disorder/resistance.
Higher source (pradivaḥ) implies satya-plane feeding the earthly instrument.
Vertical linkage of planes; transformation of earthly substance by heavenly-fed fire.
Aurobindonian ascent/descent framework: higher light (ghṛta/div) enabling terrestrial transformation.
Herbs = vital energies and natural faculties; ghee = clarified luminous substance; earth-obstacles = physical inertia/subconscient resistances; heaven = higher consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ascent and expansion of the kindled fire beyond the ‘earthly’ (pārthiva) limits: the mythic fire rising from offerings and surpassing the dense plane. In inner terms, awakened will nourished by clarified mind (ghṛta) and life-energies (oṣadhi) overcomes inertia and blockage.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vṛdh (grow) reflects PIE *werdh-. √sthā (stand) reflects PIE *steh₂-. div (sky/heaven) continues PIE *dyeu- (bright sky/day), a central Indo-European sacral lexeme.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi portrays a cooperative action: seekers provide right kindling and offerings; Agni responds by growth and by surpassing the dense resistances. The reciprocity is practical and psychological: disciplined preparation invites a force that can widen consciousness beyond the ‘earthly’ fixation.
Call the flame from above the head (higher sky) into the heart/solar plexus; feel it nourished by clarity and supported by life-energies offered upward.
Sahasrāra-to-Anāhata/Maṇipūra descent-and-kindling axis
Inhale as ‘descent of ghṛta-light’; exhale as ‘rising flame’ surpassing heaviness; 6–12 cycles.
Uplifted steadiness; sense of vertical opening and widening beyond limitation.
Chant, then visualize obstacles as dense earth-mounds beneath; offer them into the flame; conclude by resting in the widened space above the obstruction.
Use saṃhitā-svara when available; otherwise maintain a rising intonation on pradivaḥ and a firm cadence on jrayāṃsi pārthivā.
Keep pāda boundaries; emphasize ghṛtaiḥ, su-samidhā, vāvṛdhāna, vi tiṣṭhase.
pradivaḥ: clear 'pra-di-vaḥ' with light visarga, ghṛtaiḥ: ghṛ- (retroflex ṛ) and ai diphthong, sumnāyavaḥ: mn cluster; long ā, oṣadhībhiḥ: retroflex ḍh; long ī, tiṣṭhase: ṣṭh cluster; aspirate clearly
Ascending, warm, with a broadened tone in the final pāda to suggest ‘spreading beyond’.
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.
