Rig Veda 5.16.4: Mandala 5, Sukta 16, Mantra 4
Sukta 5.16
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
अधा ह्यग्न एषां सुवीर्यस्य मंहना । तमिद्यह्वं न रोदसी परि श्रवो बभूवतुः ॥
adhā́ hy agne eṣā́ṃ su-vī́ryasya maṃhánā | tám íd yahváṃ ná rodasī́ pári śrávo babhūvatuḥ ||
Então, de fato, ó Agni, pelo seu generoso derramamento de verdadeira força heroica, até esse Fogo veloz que se eleva torna-se uma fama que envolve o Céu e a Terra: a ressonância consumada da obra.
Word by Word
- अधा
- then, thereafterIndeclinableअव्यय (काल/वाक्य-सम्बन्धक)Root अध (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक) अथ/अध
- हि
- indeed, forIndeclinableनिपात (हेतु/निश्चयार्थ)Root हि (निपात)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि
- एषाम्
- of these (men/people)Pronoun(त्रि.), षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सुवीर्यस्य
- of good heroism/valourNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root सु-वीर्य (वीर्य)
- मंहना
- by (your) bounty/generosityNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot मंहना (मंह्/महि ‘to be great, to bestow’ से भाव/करण-नाम)
- तत्
- thatPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- इत्
- just, indeedIndeclinableनिपात (एव/नूनम्-अर्थे)Root इत् (निपात)
- यह्वम्
- the mighty/holy (one)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (तत् का विशेषण)Root यह्व (प्रातिपदिक; ‘यज्/याह्’ से—पूजनीय/वेगवान्/उन्नत)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableनिपात (उपमार्थ)Root न (उपमा-निपात)
- रोदसी
- the two worlds (Heaven and Earth)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (द्वन्द्वार्थे ‘द्यावापृथिव्यौ’), प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृRoot रोदसी (द्विवचन-प्रातिपदिक; ‘रोदस्’)
- परि
- around, all aroundIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्यय (परितः)Root परि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- श्रवः
- fame, renownNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot श्रवस्
- बभूवतुः
- they two becameVerbलिट् (परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचनRole (क्रिया)Root भू
Sandhi Notes
- अधा॒ ह्य॑ग्न = अधा + हि + अग्ने (ह्य् = हि + अ-; अग्न = अग्ने सम्बोधन-रूप)
- तमिद्य॒ह्वं = तत् + इत् + यह्वम् (तत् → तम् before vowel; इत् enclitic)
- रोद॑सी॒ = रोदसी (द्विवचन-प्रथमा)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Then, O Agni, by their generous giving of true heroism, that swift one becomes a fame that surrounds Heaven and Earth.
Inner meaning
When the seekers pour out (maṃhanā) their true hero-force (su-vīrya)—the right, luminous courage—Agni becomes ‘yahva’ (swift, upward-moving). The work accomplished by the inner flame becomes ‘śravas’ (heard fame): not egoic reputation, but a resonant attainment that fills the whole field of our being (‘heaven and earth’ = mind and life/body). The realized vibration surrounds both planes, stabilizing the transformation so that higher mind and lower nature are harmonized by the achieved force.
Universal truth
Genuine courage offered to the higher will creates an accomplished resonance: inner achievement reorganizes both thought and life, and its ‘sound’ becomes a stable presence in the whole being.
Themes
Agni’s ascent, accomplishment and renown of the work, integration of the two worlds
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Other hymns
- RV 5.16.3, RV 7.3, RV 7.4
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha emphasizes accomplished harmony—results that pervade both ‘heaven and earth’ of the being.
Significance
The seer points to the criterion of real progress: not momentary uplift but a pervading, stable ‘śravas’ that surrounds mind and life with the achieved vibration of the flame.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- yahva (swift/upward), śravasvat (glory-bearing, implied), su-vīrya-prada (giver/receiver of true heroism, implied)
- Related deities
- Dyāvā-Pṛthivī (Rodasī), Indra (heroism), Soma (delight that supports giving)
Cosmic role
Carries offerings upward; establishes accomplished resonance across the worlds; harmonizes Heaven and Earth.
Inner power
Ascending will that turns self-giving courage into stable realization permeating mind and life.
In ritual
Where it is used
Concluding or strengthening verse within Agni praise; marking successful energizing of the rite
अधा॒ ह्य॑ग्न एषां सु॒वीर्य॑स्य मं॒हना॑ । तमिद्य॒ह्वं न रोद॑सी॒ परि॒ श्रवो॑ बभूवतुः ॥
अध॑ । हि । अ॒ग्ने॒ । ए॒षा॒म् । सु॒ऽवीर्य॑स्य । मं॒हना॑ । तम् । इत् । य॒ह्वम् । न । रोद॑सी॒ इति॑ । परि॑ । श्रवः॑ । ब॒भू॒व॒तुः॒ ॥
adha | hi | agne | eṣām | su-vīryasya | maṃhanā | tam | it | yahvam | na | rodasī iti | pari | śravaḥ | babhūvatuḥ
44
4 × 11 syllables
Climactic and expansive; last pāda naturally rounds outward (pari).
Builds to a pervading fullness; the sound should ‘surround’—slightly broaden vowels on rodasī and śravo.
- su-vīrya
- Literal: true/good hero-power. Symbolic: right courage and effective strength aligned with truth
- maṃhanā
- Literal: by generous outpouring. Symbolic: self-giving, release of ego-holding into consecration
- yahva
- Literal: swift, impetuous, upward-moving. Symbolic: the ascending flame of will that quickly carries consciousness upward
- śravas
- Literal: fame, glory, that which is heard. Symbolic: accomplished resonance/attainment; the vibratory sign of realization
- rodasī
- Literal: Heaven and Earth. Symbolic: mind and life/body; higher and lower hemispheres of our nature
- pari
- Literal: around, encompassing. Symbolic: stabilizing pervasion—realization surrounds and holds the whole being
Praise of Agni’s effective hero-power within yajña; used to affirm the expansion of the sacrifice’s ‘fame’ (śravas) across the worlds
After offerings that emphasize vīrya and success; to seal the work with auspicious resonance.
Chant as the flame rises; contemplate the rite’s ‘śravas’ spreading to all domains.
Use after a practice session to ‘seal’ the state—letting the achieved clarity pervade mind and daily life.
su-vī́rya: vīryá from vīrá ‘hero’ (PIE *uih₁ro- ‘man’), extended to ‘heroic potency’ → inner capacity to overcome. maṃhánā from √maṃh ‘to increase, be liberal, be impetuous’ (Vedic: swift generosity/augmenting force). yahvá (yahváṃ) from √yah/√yaṃ? (Vedic adjective meaning ‘swift, impetuous, lofty’), often of Agni/Indra as upward-driving power. śrávas from √śru ‘hear’ (PIE *ḱleu̯- ‘hear’ → ‘fame’ as “that which is heard”); inner sense: accomplished word/resonance that spreads through the planes. rodasī dual ‘the two worlds’ (heaven/earth) frequently mapped psychologically as mind (dyu) and embodied life (pṛthivī).
ṛta (right heroism su-vīrya as alignment with cosmic order), vā́c/mantra as śravas (heard truth), expansion across planes (pary- ‘around’)
Pervasion of rodasī indicates ṛta established across planes—no split between ideal and action.
Su-vīrya is strength that serves truth, not ego.
Expansion/pervasion: realization spreads from a point (Agni) to encompass the whole field.
Vedic integralism: transformation must include both higher and lower nature (rodasī).
noon (symbolic: full manifestation and pervasion)
unspecified
Sky/earth = mind/body-life; sound = vibratory stabilization; upward flame = aspiration and ascent.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Agni’s upward-driving nature (yahva) becomes ‘śravas’ that surrounds the two worlds: the mythic act is the expansion of the sacrificial flame’s victory into a cosmic pervasion—an inner conquest where the work becomes universally ‘heard’ in mind and life.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- śrávas ‘fame’ from √śru ‘hear’ continues PIE *ḱleu̯- (Greek kléos). √dhā is not here, but the verse strongly features the IE poetic formula ‘fame/hearing’ (kleos/śravas) as the carrier of immortal accomplishment, a shared Indo-European theme.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer frames the human offering (maṃhanā) of su-vīrya as the condition for Agni’s cosmic efficacy: when the seekers give themselves in right heroism, Agni’s action becomes an all-encompassing ‘heard’ accomplishment across their whole being (rodasī).
Offer courageous effort, then let the achieved state pervade mind and body without strain.
ajna (heaven/mind) and muladhara (earth/body-life) linked by central channel
After practice, 10 slow breaths: inhale feel ascent (yahva) up the spine; exhale feel a ring of calm light spreading around the whole body (pari).
Ascending energy culminating in pervasive settledness.
Do the work with generosity (no bargaining). After the upward surge, consciously ‘spread’ the calm-force through the whole system so realization is embodied, not only mental.
Rigvedic three-tone; udātta emphasis on agne, su-vīryasya, yahvam, rodasī, śravaḥ.
Let the cadence expand on the last pāda: ... yahvaṃ na rodasī | pari śravo babhūvatuḥ ||
adhā: aspirate dh, long ā, agne: ‘ag-ne’, suvīryasya: long ī; clear ry cluster, maṃhanā: nasalized ‘ṃ’, long ā, yahvam: ‘yah-vam’ not ‘yavham’, rodasī: long ī at end, babhūvatuḥ: long ū, final tuḥ with visarga-like release
Upward-bright in first half, then broad and enveloping in the last pāda.
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