Rig Veda 8.39.3: Mandala 8, Sukta 39, Mantra 3
Sukta 8.39
- Devata
- Agni
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
अग्ने मन्मानि तुभ्यं कं घृतं न जुह्व आसनि । स देवेषु प्र चिकिद्धि त्वं ह्यसि पूर्व्यः शिवो दूतो विवस्वतो नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥
ágne mánmāni túbhyaṃ káṃ ghṛtáṃ ná juhve āsáni | sá devéṣu prá cikiddhi tváṃ hí ási pū́rvyaḥ śivó dūtó vivásvato nabhantām anyaké samé ||
O Agni, tobie wylewam moje myśli jak wyklarowane światło; niech będą moją ofiarą. Stań się w pełni przebudzony pośród Bogów, albowiem jesteś starożytnym, dobroczynnym posłańcem Wiwaswata - niech przeciwne moce zostaną przepędzone na inną płaszczyznę.
Word by Word
- अग्ने
- O AgniNoun (vocative)पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन-एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि-
- मन्मानि
- thoughts; hymnsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-बहुवचनRole कर्म (जुह्वेः)Root मन्मन्-
- तुभ्यम्
- for youPronounचतुर्थी-एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot युष्मद्-
- कम्
- what?; somethingPronoun (interrog./indef.)द्वितीया-एकवचन (नपुंसक)Role कर्म (जुह्वेः)Root किम्-
- घृतम्
- gheeNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचनRole कर्म (जुह्वेः)Root घृत-
- न
- notIndeclinable (particle/neg.)अव्ययRoot न
- जुह्वे
- I have offered; I offerVerbलिट् (परिप्रास/परफेक्ट); उत्तम-एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot हु (जुहोति)
- आसनि
- I was; I have beenVerb (aux./copular, Vedic)लिट्; उत्तम-एकवचन; परस्मैपद (वैदिक रूप)Role क्रिया (सहायक)Root आसन् (अस् ‘to be’ का लिट्-रूप)
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनRole कर्ता (चिकिद्धेः/चिकिद्धि)Root तद्-
- देवेषु
- among the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-बहुवचनRole अधिकरणRoot देव-
- प्र
- forth; forwardPreverb/indeclinableउपसर्गRoot प्र
- चिकिद्धि
- perceive; take noticeVerbलोट्; मध्यम-एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot कित्/चिकित् (√चित्/√कित् ‘to perceive, notice’ वैदिक)
- त्वम्
- youPronounप्रथमा-एकवचनRole कर्ता (असि)Root युष्मद्-
- हि
- indeed; forIndeclinable (particle)अव्ययRoot हि
- असि
- you areVerbलट्; मध्यम-एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot अस्
- पूर्व्यः
- ancient; primevalAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध/विशेषण (त्वम्)Root पूर्व्य- (पूर्व-)
- शिवः
- auspicious; graciousAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध/विशेषण (दूतः)Root शिव-
- दूतः
- messengerNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनRole प्रथमा-सम्बन्ध (त्वम् असि … दूतः)Root दूत-
- विवस्वतः
- of Vivasvat (the shining one; Sun)Noun (proper/epithet)पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (दूतः कस्य?)Root विवस्वत्-
- नभन्ताम्
- let them burst forth/shineVerbलोट्; तृतीया-बहुवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot नभ् (नभति ‘to burst forth/shine’ वैदिक)
- अन्यके
- in another (place/way)Adjective/Pronoun-likeपुं/नपुंसक; सप्तमी-एकवचन (वैदिक)Role अधिकरणRoot अन्यक- (अन्य-)
- समे
- in the same (place/assembly); togetherNoun/Adjective used substantivelyनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot सम-
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (as given text is largely pada-like): मन्मानि तुभ्यम् (no change)
- कं घृतं (anusvāra before gh-)
- न जुह्व आ॒सनि = न जुह्वे आसनि (e + ā sandhi avoided in pada; restored to जुह्वे)
- स दे॒वेषु = सः देवेषु (visarga before voiced d-)
- प्र चि॑किद्धि (preverb + verb)
- त्वं ह्यसि = त्वम् हि असि (m + h sandhi; hi as separate particle)
- दू॒तो वि॒वस्व॑तो = दूतः विवस्वतः (visarga before v-)
- नभन्तामन्यके = नभन्ताम् अन्यके (m before vowel)
- समे unchanged
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni, I pour my thoughts to you like ghee as an offering; awaken among the gods, for you are the ancient benevolent messenger of Vivasvat; let opposing powers be driven away elsewhere.
Inner meaning
Thoughts (manmāni) are offered as ghṛta—clarified light of mind—so that mental activity becomes luminous fuel rather than smoke. Agni is asked to become fully awake (pra cikiddhi) among the gods: let the divine Will align with the higher powers and act from their plane, not from mixed lower impulse. As the ‘messenger of Vivasvat’ (the solar consciousness), Agni carries the supramental/solar truth-force into the human being. The refrain again expels the resistant formations.
Universal truth
When mind is clarified and offered, the inner fire awakens to its solar origin and mediates higher truth into life; then opposition is naturally displaced.
Themes
Inner oblation, Agni as solar messenger, Discernment/awakening
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 8.39.1, Rig Veda 8.39.2
Significance
A concise inner-sacrifice instruction: offer thoughts as clarified light, awaken the will in the higher company, and root practice in the solar source (Vivasvat) rather than lower agitation.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (as Vivasvat’s messenger)
- Epithets
- śiva (benevolent), dūta (messenger), pūrvya (ancient)
- Related deities
- Vivasvat (solar consciousness), Indra (illumination that often accompanies awakened Agni), Soma (delight that follows purification)
Cosmic role
Carrier of offerings and bringer of solar/divine force into the mortal realm; awakener among the gods.
Inner power
Psychic-mental purification: turns thought into luminous offering; aligns will with higher truth.
In ritual
Where it is used
Offering of ghṛta/thoughts to Agni; awakening of Agni as divine messenger; protective dismissal of obstacles.
अग्ने॒ मन्मा॑नि॒ तुभ्यं॒ कं घृ॒तं न जु॑ह्व आ॒सनि॑ । स दे॒वेषु॒ प्र चि॑किद्धि॒ त्वं ह्यसि॑ पू॒र्व्यः शि॒वो दू॒तो वि॒वस्व॑तो॒ नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥
अग्ने॑ । मन्मा॑नि । तुभ्य॑म् । कम् । घृ॒तम् । न । जु॒ह्वे॒ । आ॒सनि॑ । सः । दे॒वेषु॑ । प्र । चि॒कि॒द्धि॒ । त्वम् । हि । असि॑ । पू॒र्व्यः । शि॒वः । दू॒तः । वि॒वस्व॑तः । नभ॑न्ताम् । अ॒न्य॒के । स॒मे॒ ॥
agne | manmāni | tubhyam | kam | ghṛtam | na | juhve | āsani | saḥ | deveṣu | pra | ciki ddhi | tvam | hi | asi | pūrvyaḥ | śivaḥ | dūtaḥ | vivasvataḥ | nabhantām | anyake | same
Multi-part with a strong concluding refrain; not reliably scannable from provided lineation.
Smooth offering-movement in the first half (like pouring), then awakening command, then sealing banishment.
Promotes inner clarity (ghṛta-like mind) and a decisive shift into higher alignment.
- मन्मानि (manmāni)
- Literal: thoughts, intentions. Symbolic: mental formations to be purified and offered
- घृतं (ghṛtam)
- Literal: ghee. Symbolic: clarified light-substance of consciousness; luminous intelligence
- जुह्वे (juhve)
- Literal: I offer, pour into fire. Symbolic: act of inner sacrifice—handing over ego-thought to divine will
- प्र चिकिद्धि (pra cikiddhi)
- Literal: be fully awake/notice clearly. Symbolic: awakening of Agni as conscious guide, not mechanical energy
- पूर्व्यः (pūrvyaḥ)
- Literal: ancient, primeval. Symbolic: Agni as perennial spiritual principle in evolution
- शिवः (śivaḥ)
- Literal: benevolent, auspicious. Symbolic: fire that heals and harmonizes, not merely burns
- विवस्वतः (vivasvataḥ)
- Literal: of Vivasvat (solar deity). Symbolic: origin in solar truth-consciousness; radiant intelligence behind will
Agni as receiver of ghṛta and manman (thought-offering); suitable in ghṛta-homa contexts and recitations emphasizing Agni’s solar affiliation and messenger role.
During ghee offerings and invocations to awaken Agni; especially when seeking clarity and auspicious guidance.
Pouring oblation; recitation to consecrate mental intention; concluding apotropaic refrain.
Use when mind is noisy: offer thoughts into the ‘inner fire’ and reconnect to a solar clarity before decision-making or meditation.
manman from √man ‘think’ indicates formed thought as offering. ghṛta in Vedic symbolism is ‘clarity and brightness’ (also ritual ghee); associated with shining/unctuous clarity—supports ‘illumined mind-stuff’. cikiddhi from √cit ‘notice/understand’ with preverb pra gives ‘discern fully’. vivasvat from vi-√vas ‘shine forth/dwell in radiance’—solar epithet; Agni as ‘son/agent’ of solar truth in many hymns.
Transformation of thought into offering, Agni as mediator of consciousness, Solar truth behind sacrificial fire
Agni as messenger maintains the lawful exchange between solar truth and embodied life.
Vivasvat implies truth-illumination; Agni becomes a carrier of satya into action.
Evolutionary continuity: Agni as ‘ancient’ principle guiding the ascent; solar source feeding terrestrial transformation.
Integral Vedic psychology: solar (truth) → fire (will) → transformed mind-life-body.
midday (solar suggestion via Vivasvat)
Ghee = clarified mental light; Sun = truth-consciousness; Fire = will that executes truth; messenger = channel of descent/ascent.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is ‘thought as ghee’ offered into Agni, who then awakens among the gods as solar messenger. It encodes the Vedic transformation: mental substance clarified into luminous offering, enabling ascent to the solar (Vivasvat) order.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √man (manman) continues PIE *men- ‘think’ (cf. Greek menos, English mind). The conversion of cognition into ritual speech/action is an inherited Indo-European sacral-poetic pattern where mental and verbal acts are efficacious offerings.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi offers his own inner formations (manman) rather than external goods, asking Agni to ‘know fully’ among the gods—i.e., to establish the rishi’s offering in the divine order. Agni’s benevolence (śiva) guarantees a safe mediation from human mind to solar truth.
Offer thoughts into inner fire as clarified light; awaken will from the solar truth-plane; expel residual resistance.
Maṇipūra (fire) illuminated by Ājñā (solar clarity) and opened into Anāhata (śiva—benevolence).
4-4-6 breathing: inhale 4 (gather thoughts), hold 4 (clarify), exhale 6 (offer/release). Chant on exhale.
Lucid, solar-aligned, quietly powerful.
Visualize a small sun above the brow; let a stream of golden ghee-light descend into a navel flame. With each chant, offer one thought-form; end by releasing all resistance beyond the boundary of awareness.
Chant with Rigvedic accent sensitivity; let ghṛtam and śivaḥ receive a gentle emphasis without overriding marked accents.
Keep a clear lift through the offering phrase, then a crisp articulation on pra cikiddhi; deliver the refrain as a final downward settling.
manmāni: keep the nasal cluster nm; do not simplify to ‘mamāni’., ghṛtam: vocalic ṛ; keep gh voiced aspirate., cikiddhi: double ddh—hold the stop slightly, then release with aspiration., vivasvataḥ: keep v- soft; emphasize the ‘sv’ cluster cleanly.
Warm, luminous, inward; end with firm clarity on the banishing phrase.
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