Rig Veda 3.29.3: Mandala 3, Sukta 29, Mantra 3
Sukta 3.29
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Tr̥ṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
उत्तानायामव भरा चिकित्वान्त्सद्यः प्रवीता वृषणं जजान । अरुषस्तूपो रुशदस्य पाज इळायास्पुत्रो वयुनेऽजनिष्ट ॥
uttānā́yām áva bharā cikitvā́n tsadyaḥ pravī́tā vṛ́ṣaṇaṃ jajāna | aruṣá-stūpo rúśad asya pā́ja íḷāyāḥ putró vayúne 'janiṣṭa ||
Sobre a madeira inferior estendida, faze-o descer, ó conhecedor: de pronto o atrito impelido gera o Touro forte. Ruivo, de crista, resplandece o seu brilho; o Filho de Iḷā nasce pelos arranjos secretos do rito.
Word by Word
- उत्तानायाम्
- in/at the outstretched (position)Noun/Adjective (used substantively)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकारणRoot उत्तान (प्रातिपदिक) < उत्-तन्
- अव
- down; forthIndeclinableअव्ययRoot अव (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- भर
- bear/bring!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRoot √भृ
- चिकित्वान्
- the wise/knowing oneAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषण)Root चिकित्वस्/चिकित्वन् (प्रातिपदिक; √चित् ‘to perceive/know’ का परिपूर्ण/परस्मैपदी परिप्रयोग)
- सद्यः
- immediatelyIndeclinableअव्ययRoot सद्यः
- प्रवीताः
- well-impelled/led forthAdjective (past passive participle)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषण)Root प्र-√वी (या √वय्/√वी ‘to weave/lead/drive’ से; ‘प्रवीत’ = ‘well-led/impelled’)
- वृषणम्
- the bull; the vigorous oneNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot वृषन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- जजान
- has begotten/producedVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRoot √जन्
- अरुषः
- ruddy; tawnyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषण)Root अरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
- तूपः
- a tuft/crest; (ritual) plumeNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot तूप (प्रातिपदिक; वैदिक)
- रुशत्
- shining; brightAdjective (present participial stem used adjectivally)नपुंसकलिङ्ग/अव्ययवत् (अत्र विशेषणरूपेण), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (पाजः-विशेषण)Root रुशत् (प्रातिपदिक; √रुश्/√रुच् ‘to shine’)
- अस्य
- of him/thisPronounपुं/नपुं, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- पाजः
- strength; splendorNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ/विषय (नामपद)Root पाजस् (प्रातिपदिक; वैदिक)
- इळायाः
- of Iḷā (Idā)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot इळा (प्रातिपदिक)
- पुत्रः
- sonNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- वयुने
- in (ritual) skill/wise orderNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकारणRoot वयुन (प्रातिपदिक)
- अजनिष्ट
- was born; came into beingVerbअorist (अजनिṣṭ = सिच्-आगमयुक्त/इष्ट-प्रत्यय), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपदRoot √जन्
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (मुख्य): उत्तानायाम् | अव | भर | चिकित्वान् | सद्यः | प्रवीताः | वृषणम् | जजान || अरुषः | तूपः | रुशत् | अस्य | पाजः | इळायाः | पुत्रः | वयुने | अजनिष्ट || 1) ‘चिकित्वान्त्सद्यः’ = चिकित्वान् + सद्यः (न् + स → न्त्स्, वैदिक संधि)
- 2) ‘वयुनेऽजनिष्ट’ = वयुने + अजनिष्ट (ए + अ → एऽ, अवग्रह)
- 3) ‘इळा॑यास्पु॒त्रो’ पाठे ‘इळायाः पुत्रः’ (विसर्गलोप/संधि; पदपाठानुसार पृथक्)
The meaning
Outer meaning
On the outstretched lower wood, bring it down—O knower. The driven churning at once begets the strong Bull. With ruddy crest his radiance shines; the son of Iḷā is born by the secret workings.
Inner meaning
The ‘lower/outstretched’ wood is the receptive physical nature laid open; the upper is the active will. The knower (cikitvān) applies the method precisely: concentrated descent of force into the receptive base. From this friction is born the powerful ‘Bull’—Agni as irresistible will and dynamic truth-force. His ruddy crest is the uprising of luminous energy; ‘son of Iḷā’ indicates Agni’s birth from revelation/illumined speech and the right discernment of the path (vayuna): the inner rite works by subtle laws, not by surface effort alone.
Universal truth
Transformation happens when higher intention is brought down into the receptive body-nature with knowledge and persistence. Then a new power is born—strong, luminous, and guided by inner law.
Themes
Agni-birth, Bull-power symbolism, Esoteric-method
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Gāthin / Kauśika
- Other hymns
- RV 3.1, RV 3.2, RV 3.26–3.28 (Agni-centered hymns; thematic)
Family tradition
A tradition of forceful realization through tapas and right knowledge; the Rishi often emphasizes ‘method’ (vayuna) and victory over inertia.
Significance
The verse is a technical yogic instruction in symbolic form: bring the force down into the base, churn with knowledge, and birth the strong Agni.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- Vṛṣan (Bull/strong), Aruṣa (ruddy), Iḷāyāḥ putra (son of Iḷā)
- Related deities
- Iḷā (revelation/inspired word), Sarasvatī (as inspiration; adjacent conceptual field)
Cosmic role
Generative fire that emerges from matter and becomes the luminous leader of the sacrifice.
Inner power
Potent, ascending will-force; purifier and energizer that makes the being capable of sustained progress.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni-manthana (generation of fire) and installation on the vedi
उ॒त्ता॒नाया॒मव॑ भरा चिकि॒त्वान्त्स॒द्यः प्रवी॑ता॒ वृष॑णं जजान । अ॒रु॒षस्तू॑पो॒ रुश॑दस्य॒ पाज॒ इळा॑यास्पु॒त्रो व॒युने॑ऽजनिष्ट ॥
उ॒त्ता॒नाया॒म् । अव॑ । भ॒र॒ । चि॒कि॒त्वान् । स॒द्यः । प्रऽवी॑ता । वृष॑णम् । ज॒जा॒न॒ । अ॒रु॒षऽस्तू॑पः । रुश॑त् । अ॒स्य॒ । पाजः॑ । इळा॑याः । पु॒त्रः । व॒युने॑ । अ॒ज॒नि॒ष्ट॒ ॥
uttānāyām | ava | bhara | cikitvān | sadyaḥ | pra-vītā | vṛṣaṇam | jajāna | aruṣa-stūpaḥ | ruśat | asya | pājaḥ | iḷāyāḥ | putraḥ | vayune | ajaniṣṭa
44
4 x ~11 syllables
Energetic, kinetic; strong caesuras suit the ‘driving’ action of churning.
Stimulates will and upward energy; gives a felt sense of ignition and birth.
- उत्तानायाम् (uttānāyām)
- Literal: on the outstretched (wood). Symbolic: the opened, surrendered physical nature prepared to receive the force
- चिकित्वान् (cikitvān)
- Literal: the knowing one. Symbolic: the conscious practitioner with discernment of process (right application of tapas)
- प्रवीता (pravītā)
- Literal: driven/impelled, set in motion. Symbolic: directed energy of practice; the will made continuous and pressing
- वृषणम् (vṛṣaṇam)
- Literal: the Bull (strong one). Symbolic: Agni as potent force of will/Truth, virile energy of progress
- अरुषस्तूपः (aruṣastūpaḥ)
- Literal: ruddy-crested. Symbolic: rising flame of aspiration; red-gold energy ascending in the being
- वयुने (vayune)
- Literal: by the (secret) working/skill, by method. Symbolic: occult law of inner practice; right arrangement of forces according to ṛta
- इळायाः पुत्रः (iḷāyāḥ putraḥ)
- Literal: son of Iḷā. Symbolic: fire born from illumined revelation/true speech and the nurturing power of inspiration
Detailed manthana procedure; also a paradigm for ‘right method’ (vayuna) in kindling the sacred fire
At the moment of producing fire from araṇis; also suitable for energizing rites and beginnings
Placing lower wood, applying upper wood/drill, producing flame; recognizing Agni’s ‘birth’
Use before demanding work or sadhana: ‘bring down’ attention into the body, then kindle concentrated effort until a steady inner heat and clarity appear.
cikitvān from √cit ‘perceive/know’ (PIE *ḱeyt- ‘notice’). vṛṣan ‘bull’ from √vṛṣ ‘to rain, be potent’—power and fertilizing force. pājas ‘strength/radiance’ often denotes energetic splendor. iḷā: complex Vedic figure (nourishment, earth-offering-current, inspired speech in some contexts). vayuna ‘skill, secret order’ relates to √vī/√vāy? (debated), used for hidden law/working—apt for inner technique.
Tapas (friction generating force), Hidden law/technique (vayuna), Nourishment-current (Iḷā)
Vayuna points to ṛta as operative law: correct inner order produces true birth.
The ‘knower’ births the true force, not a rajasic imitation—Agni’s radiance is a sign of authenticity.
Birth of the luminous from inert matter; ascent of fire as evolution of consciousness.
Vedic symbolism aligned with integral yoga psychology
The physical base (lower wood) receives descending attention; friction of will and receptivity yields ascending energy and light.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The begetting of the ‘Bull’ Agni from the two araṇis: a cosmogonic birth-motif where potency and radiance erupt from concealed matter. Innerly, when method (vayuna) and discernment (cikitvān) apply effort to the receptive base, a strong luminous force is born.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √jan ‘beget’ < PIE *ǵenh₁-. √cit ‘notice/know’ connects to PIE *ḱeyt- ‘perceive’ (cf. English ‘heed’ is different; but Baltic/Slavic cognate fields exist). vṛṣan as potency links to Indo-Iranian semantic development of ‘bull’ as strength.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi acts as technician of consciousness: by knowledge and right application he ‘brings down’ the action that births Agni. The devatā is not distant; it emerges when the correct inner method (vayuna) is executed.
Descending attention into the body, then igniting steady will until a clear, strong force is born.
Maṇipūra (birth of will) with upward movement toward Viśuddha/Ājñā (illumined expression and clarity)
Kapalabhati light (30–60 strokes) only if appropriate, followed by calm breathing; then chant once and sit in stillness
Dynamic concentration; felt heat with clarity, not agitation
Feel the ‘lower wood’ as the abdomen/pelvis grounded and open. Bring the mantra’s command ‘ava bharā’ as a downward settling of attention. Then kindle a steady upward flame—quiet strength (vṛṣan), not strain.
Chant with clear udātta peaks where marked; preserve the energetic lift on words indicating action (ava bharā, sadyaḥ).
Mark pāda breaks distinctly; let the cadence ‘sadyaḥ … jajāna’ land firmly to convey immediacy.
: uttānāyām with long āyām, : cikitvān—short i, clear tva cluster, : aruṣa-stūpaḥ with retroflex ṣ and long ū, : pājaḥ with long ā
Focused, bright, upward-moving
5
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.
