Rig Veda 2.9.6: Mandala 2, Sukta 9, Mantra 6
Sukta 2.9
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
सैनानीकेन सुविदत्रो अस्मे यष्टा देवाँ आयजिष्ठः स्वस्ति । अदब्धो गोपा उत नः परस्पा अग्ने द्युमदुत रेवद्दिदीहि ॥
sainānī́kena suvidátró asmè yaṣṭā́ devā́ṃ ā́yajiṣṭhaḥ svastí | adábhdo gopā́ utá naḥ paraḥ-pā́ ágne dyumád utá revád didīhi ||
Com tua dianteira de comandante, ó tu que bem encontras, sê para nós o sacrificante que melhor venera os deuses para o nosso bem-estar. Invulnerável, sê guardião das luzes e nosso protetor ao longe; ó Agni, resplandece sobre nós com força luminosa e com plenitude.
Word by Word
- सैनानीकेन
- with the leader-of-host / with the marshal (as instrument/means)Noun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (प्रयोगानुसार), तृतीया एकवचनRole करणRoot सैनानीक (प्रातिपदिक; सैन्य-नायक/सेनापति) अथवा सैनानीक- (विशेषण)
- सुविदत्रः
- the good giver / bestowerAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषणरूपेण कर्तरि)Root सु-विदत्र (प्रातिपदिक; सु + विदत्र ‘दान/वितरण/प्रदान’)
- अस्मे
- for us / in our casePronounसप्तमी एकवचन (वैदिक प्रयोग: ‘अस्मे’ = ‘अस्मिन्/अस्माकम्’ अर्थे ‘हमारे लिए/हममें’)Role सम्प्रदानRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- यष्टा
- the sacrificer / worshipperAgent noun (participle-like)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot यज् (धातु) → यष्टृ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- देवान्
- the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- आयजिष्ठः
- you have worshipped (most excellently)Verb (finite)लिट् (परिपूर्ण/परोक्श) मध्यमपुरुष एकवचन (वैदिक स्तुति-प्रयोग: ‘thou hast worshipped’), परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot यज् (धातु) + आ- (उपसर्ग); आयजिष्ठ (परिप्रयोग: अतिशय/श्रेष्ठ-यज्)
- स्वस्ति
- well-being; welfareIndeclinable/Nounअव्यय (मङ्गल/कल्याणार्थ)Role कर्म/फल (आशीर्वाद-रूपेण)Root स्वस्ति (अव्यय/नपुंसक-प्रातिपदिक; सु + अस्ति)
- अदब्धः
- unharmed; unbeguiled; unassailableAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषण)Root अदब्ध (प्रातिपदिक; a- + दब्ध ‘deceived/harmed’)
- गोपाः
- protector (guardian)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (वैदिक: -आः प्रथमा एकवचन)Role कर्तृRoot गोपा (प्रातिपदिक; गो- + पा ‘protector’)
- उत
- and; alsoIndeclinableअव्ययRole समुच्चयRoot उत (निपात)
- नः
- of us; ourPronounषष्ठी बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक) ‘our’Role सम्बन्धRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- परस्पाः
- protector from afar / warder-off (of foes)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (वैदिक: -आः प्रथमा एकवचन)Role कर्तृ (विशेषण/उपाधि)Root परस्पा (प्रातिपदिक; परस् + पा ‘protector from afar/against others’)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNoun (vocative)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- द्युमत्
- splendid; with brillianceAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (क्रियाविशेषणवत्: ‘splendidly/with splendour’)Role कर्म (प्रकाशं/तेजः) / क्रियाविशेषणRoot द्युमत् (प्रातिपदिक; द्युम्न ‘splendour’ + मतुप्)
- उत
- and alsoIndeclinableअव्ययRole समुच्चयRoot उत (निपात)
- रेवत्
- wealthy; with richesAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (क्रियाविशेषणवत्)Role कर्म/क्रियाविशेषणRoot रेवत् (प्रातिपदिक; रेव ‘wealth’ + मतुप्)
- दिदीहि
- shine forth; blazeVerb (finite)लोट् (आज्ञार्थ) मध्यमपुरुष एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot दी (धातु ‘to shine, blaze’) → दिदीहि
Sandhi Notes
- सैनानी॑केन सुवि॒दत्रो॑ अ॒स्मे → ‘सैनानीकेन’ + ‘सुविदत्रः’ + ‘अस्मे’ (सुविदत्रो अ॒स्मे = विसर्ग/ओ-परः अकारः; पद-विभागे सुविदत्रः | अस्मे)
- दे॒वाँ आय॑जिष्ठः → ‘देवान्’ + ‘आयजिष्ठः’ (न् + आ = न्-आ, संधि-लोप नहीं)
- स्व॒स्ति । अद॑ब्धो → ‘स्वस्ति’ | ‘अदब्धः’ (ओ = विसर्ग-सन्धि से)
- गो॒पा उ॒त → ‘गोपाः’ + ‘उत’ (आः + उ-; पदे गोपाः)
- पर॒स्पा अग्ने॑ → ‘परस्पाः’ + ‘अग्ने’ (आः + अ-)
- रे॒वद्दि॑दीहि → ‘रेवत्’ + ‘दिदीहि’ (त् + द् = द्द्, व्यञ्जन-सन्धि)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The poet invokes Agni to lead the sacrifice, worship the gods for the worshipper’s welfare, guard the “cows/lights,” protect from afar, and shine with brilliance and wealth.
Inner meaning
Agni is the awakened Divine Will at the front of the inner journey (sainānīka), the sure finder (suvidatra) who knows the right offering of our energies to the higher powers. He is asked to establish swasti—an inner rightness and safe passage—by guarding the rays of knowledge (go) from the forces that wound or steal them (adabdho gopā), and by protecting even at a distance (paraspā): vigilance in the subconscient and in outer life. His shining (didīhi) is requested as both dyumat (illumined force) and revat (richness/abundance): light plus effective power in life.
Universal truth
When the will is aligned with truth, it becomes a fearless leader that both offers upward (aspiration) and guards downward (protection), bringing illumination and abundance as natural results of inner order.
Themes
Auspiciousness, Leadership of the inner host, Guardianship, Luminous abundance
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)
- Lineage
- Bhārgava
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 2.1, Rig Veda 2.3, Rig Veda 2.4, Rig Veda 2.5, Rig Veda 2.6, Rig Veda 2.7, Rig Veda 2.8, Rig Veda 2.10
Family tradition
Seer-family strongly associated with Agni as priest of the inner and outer sacrifice; hymns often stress right leading, protection, and the discovery of light.
Significance
Gṛtsamada’s vision emphasizes Agni as the conscious guide in transformation—he leads, purifies, protects the gains of knowledge, and builds a stable swasti (inner auspicious order).
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- sainānīka (leader in front), suvidatra (good finder), yaṣṭā (true sacrificer), adabdḥa (invulnerable), gopā (guardian of the rays), paraspā (far-protector), dyumat (luminous), revat (rich in plenitude)
- Related deities
- Indra, Soma, Uṣas, Bṛhaspati, Aśvins
Cosmic role
Mediator between human and divine worlds; bearer of offerings; establisher of order (ṛta) through right action and luminous discernment.
Inner power
Aspiring flame and executive will that organizes the being, wards off obscurity, and brings illumined effectiveness.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agnihotra / Āhavanīya kindling and general Agni-invocation at the opening of a soma or iṣṭi sequence
सैनानी॑केन सुवि॒दत्रो॑ अ॒स्मे यष्टा॑ दे॒वाँ आय॑जिष्ठः स्व॒स्ति । अद॑ब्धो गो॒पा उ॒त न॑: पर॒स्पा अग्ने॑ द्यु॒मदु॒त रे॒वद्दि॑दीहि ॥
सः । ए॒ना । अनी॑केन । सु॒ऽवि॒दत्रः॑ । अ॒स्मे इति॑ । यष्टा॑ । दे॒वान् । आऽय॑जिष्ठः । स्व॒स्ति । अद॑ब्धः । गो॒पाः । उ॒त । नः॒ । प॒रः॒ऽपाः । अग्ने॑ । द्यु॒ऽमत् । उ॒त । रे॒वत् । दि॒दी॒हि॒ ॥
saḥ | enā | anīkena | su-vidatraḥ | asme iti | yaṣṭā | devān | āyajiṣṭhaḥ | svasti | adabdhaḥ | gopāḥ | uta | naḥ | paraḥ-pāḥ | agne | dyu-mat | uta | revat | didīhi
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4 padas of ~11 syllables each
Forceful, marching cadence suited to invocation and leadership imagery.
Builds forward-driving confidence; supports a sense of protected advance and luminous expansion.
- सैनानीकेन (sainānīkena)
- Literal: with the leader/front (of an army). Symbolic: the forward-moving divine will leading the inner battle against obscurity
- सुविदत्रः (suvidatraḥ)
- Literal: good finder/best giver. Symbolic: the inner fire that discovers the right knowledge and right offering
- यष्टा (yaṣṭā)
- Literal: sacrificer/worshipper. Symbolic: the power in us that can offer energies to the gods (higher faculties)
- स्वस्ति (svasti)
- Literal: well-being, auspiciousness. Symbolic: inner rightness, safe passage in the yoga, harmony of being
- अदब्धः (adabdḥa)
- Literal: unharmed, unassailable. Symbolic: invulnerable flame of aspiration not touched by depression or doubt
- गोपा (gopā)
- Literal: cowherd/guardian of cows. Symbolic: guardian of the rays of light/knowledge (go) within the mind
- परस्पा (paraspā)
- Literal: protector from afar. Symbolic: protective awareness extending to distant/hidden parts of nature (subconscient, future tendencies)
- द्यु मत् (dyu-mat)
- Literal: luminous, heaven-filled. Symbolic: illumined force descending from higher mind
- रेवत् (revat)
- Literal: rich, possessing wealth. Symbolic: plenitude—effective power, joy, and right increase in life
Protective and auspicious closing of the hymn: svasti-prayer; Agni invoked as leader in the sacrificial ‘campaign’ and as guardian during rite-performance.
At kindling and inviting Agni as hotṛ and protector before or during offerings
Ignition, offering ghee/oblations; verbal installation of Agni as guardian and guide
Use as a daily “inner protection + right leading” mantra before meditation/work to set intention (swasti), invoke clarity (dyumat) and steady abundance (revat).
sainānīka from senā ‘host’ + nāyaka/leading: leader of the host; inner sense: leading edge of will. su-vidatra from su + √vid: good finding/discerning. yaṣṭā from √yaj. āyajiṣṭha superlative intensification of √yaj: best performer of sacrifice. svasti: su-asti ‘good being’ (asti < √as ‘be’). dyu-mat from dyu (sky/light) cognate with PIE *dyeu- (sky, day). revat from revā/revat ‘rich, abundant’ (fertility/wealth).
Svasti (integral well-being), Ṛta-guidance (suvidatra), Protection of illuminations (gopā of go)
Agni as the executor of ṛta: right leading and right offering establish harmony and protection.
Invulnerability (adabdḥa) symbolizes truth-force that cannot be harmed by falsehood.
Light and plenitude emerge when the inner priest correctly mediates between human nature and divine powers.
Proto-Vedāntic and yogic psychology (Aurobindonian reading: ascent/descent, inner sacrifice).
Fire = will; light = illumination; wealth = plenitude of consciousness and effective force; “guarding cows” = protecting inner illuminations from loss.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Agni as the leader of the divine host and guardian of the lights: the ‘sainānīka’ motif casts sacrifice as a guided advance where Agni leads and protects the luminous herds. Psychologically, the awakened will leads the inner faculties toward the gods (higher powers) and secures svasti—integral well-being—by guarding the gained illuminations.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- dyu (in dyumát) aligns with PIE *dyeu- ‘sky/daylight’ (cf. Zeus, Latin Iūpiter via *dyeu-pəter). svasti is a transparent compound su-asti ‘good being’ with √as ‘be’ from PIE *h₁es- ‘to be’. √vid in suvidatra reflects PIE *weyd-.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi entrusts Agni with strategic leadership and protection: Agni is asked to perform the sacrifice ‘best’ on behalf of the human seeker and to ensure svasti by shining with dyumat (luminous consciousness) and revat (fullness), i.e., not merely illumination but a stable, rich state of being.
Invoke the inner Fire as leader: ‘Guide my will, protect my gains of light, and establish swasti.’
maṇipūra (will/fire center)
gentle kumbhaka after exhale while mentally offering ‘svasti’ into the flame
steady, vigilant aspiration with protective wideness
Begin practice by visualizing a flame at the navel rising to the heart; on each repetition, feel (1) leading force, (2) guarding light in the mind, (3) radiant abundance spreading through life-energies.
Follow Rigvedic udātta/anudātta/svarita as marked in the saṃhitā text; maintain clear udātta lift on accented syllables (e.g.,,, ).
Keep the udātta as a gentle rise, svarita as fall-from-rise; avoid flattening the cadence of Triṣṭubh padas.
Maintain retroflex in ‘ṣṭha’ of (āyajiṣṭhaḥ), Pronounce ‘ṛ’ clearly in ghṛta-like clusters if present in recitation tradition; here focus on ‘dyu-mad’ as two parts, Keep ‘gne’ in as a tight consonant cluster, not ‘agane’
steady, forward-driving, protective warmth
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