Rig Veda 5.19.2: Mandala 5, Sukta 19, Mantra 2
Sukta 5.19
- Rishi
- Atri
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Tristubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
जुहुरे वि चितयन्तोऽनिमिषं नृम्णं पान्ति । आ दृळ्हां पुरं विविशुः ॥
juhuré ví citayánto 'nímīṣaṃ nṛmṇáṃ pānti | ā́ dṛḷhā́ṃ púraṃ viviśuḥ ||
Eles oferecem e discernem; guardam o poder sem pestanejar da força heroica; entraram na fortaleza firme.
Word by Word
- जुहुरे
- they have offered / they have poured (oblations)VerbPerfect (लिट्), 3rd person plural, ĀtmanepadaRole (क्रिया) —Root हु (जुहोति) / √हु
- वि
- apart, forth, distinctlyIndeclinablepreverb (prefix) to the following verb/participleRoot वि (उपसर्ग) / अव्यय
- चितयन्तः
- noticing, observing, being attentiveVerb (Participle)Present active participle (शतृ), nominative masculine pluralRole Kartā (with जुहुरे) / agent of the actionRoot चितय् / √चित् (to perceive, observe, notice; in Vedic also ‘to be mindful/attentive’)
- अनिमिषम्
- unblinking, unwinking, steadfastAdjectiveaccusative neuter singular (used adjectivally)Role Karma (qualifier of नृम्णम्)Root अनिमिष (प्रातिपदिक) = अ- + निमिष (‘wink, blink’)
- नृम्णम्
- manly power, heroic mightNounaccusative neuter singularRole Karma (object of पा॑न्ति)Root नृम्ण (प्रातिपदिक) (< नर ‘man’ + -म्न)
- पा॑न्ति
- they protect, they guardVerbPresent indicative (लट्), 3rd person plural, ParasmaipadaRole (क्रिया) —Root पा (पालने) / √पा (to protect)
- आ
- towards, intoIndeclinablepreverb (prefix) to विविशुःRoot आ (उपसर्ग) / अव्यय
- दृळ्हाम्
- firm, strong, well-fortifiedAdjectiveaccusative feminine singularRole Karma (qualifier of पुरम्)Root दृळ्ह (प्रातिपदिक) < √दृंह/दृढ् ‘to make firm’ (Vedic form दृळ्ह = दृढ)
- पुरम्
- fortress, stronghold, cityNounaccusative feminine singularRole Karma (object of विविशुः)Root पुर्/पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
- विविशुः
- they enteredVerbPerfect (लिट्), 3rd person plural, ParasmaipadaRole (क्रिया) —Root विश् (प्रवेशने) / √विश्
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution: चितयन्तोऽनिमिषम् = चितयन्तः + अनिमिषम् (o + a → ’/avagraha; visarga of -अः becomes -ओ before vowel in saṃhitā)
- Other items are already padapāṭha-like: जुहुरे | वि | चितयन्तः | अनिमिषम् | नृम्णम् | पा॑न्ति | आ | दृळ्हाम् | पुरम् | विविशुः
The meaning
Outer meaning
They offer and discern; they guard the unblinking heroic power; they have entered the firm stronghold.
Inner meaning
The ‘they’ are the awakened powers in the seeker—either the Marut-like forces of dynamic aspiration or the disciplined faculties gathered around Agni. Offering (juhure) is the continual self-giving into the inner fire; discernment (vi citayantaḥ) is the separating knowledge that distinguishes truth from mixture. The ‘unblinking power’ (animiṣaṃ nṛmṇam) is the steady, vigilant force that does not fall asleep into inertia or doubt. Entering the ‘firm stronghold’ (dṛḻhā pura) is establishment in a protected inner poise—an inner citadel of concentration where the flame can burn without being dispersed by the lower movements.
Universal truth
Spiritual realization requires two simultaneous disciplines: offering and discernment. When vigilance becomes unbroken, consciousness can inhabit a stable inner fortress from which truth can act safely and effectively.
Themes
Sacrifice and Discernment, Unwavering Power, Entering the Stronghold
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri (Ātreya)
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- RV 5.8, RV 5.11, RV 5.25
Family tradition
The Ātreya voice often stresses disciplined inner work—offering plus discerning intelligence—so the flame becomes stable and victorious.
Significance
Atri here articulates the yogic method: consecration (offering), discrimination (discernment), vigilance (unblinking), and establishment (entering the stronghold).
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- animiṣa (unblinking) (as power guarded), dṛḻha (firm) (as established presence)
- Related deities
- Maruts (as ‘they’—companions of force), Indra (as the power that breaks obstructions), Bṛhaspati (as discerning word/vision)
Cosmic role
Guardian and organizer of the inner sacrifice; establishes a protected order against forces of obstruction.
Inner power
Concentrated will and vigilant consciousness that holds the fort of sādhanā and prevents leakage of force.
In ritual
Where it is used
Protective and strengthening recitation within Agni rites; thematically suited to maintaining the fire and guarding the rite
जु॒हु॒रे वि चि॒तय॒न्तोऽनि॑मिषं नृ॒म्णं पा॑न्ति । आ दृ॒ळ्हां पुरं॑ विविशुः ॥
जु॒हु॒रे । वि । चि॒तय॑न्तः । अनि॑ऽमिषम् । नृ॒म्णम् । पा॒न्ति॒ । आ । दृ॒ळ्हाम् । पुर॑म् । वि॒वि॒शुः॒ ॥
juhure | vi | citayantaḥ | animiṣam | nṛmṇam | pānti | ā | dṛḷhām | puram | viviśuḥ
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4 pādas of ~11 syllables
Martial steadiness; compact verbs that feel like disciplined steps.
Induces vigilance and resolve; strengthens the sense of inner protection and collected force.
- juhure
- Literal: they offer (into fire). Symbolic: continuous self-offering of energies, thoughts, and impulses to the inner will-flame
- vi citayantaḥ
- Literal: discerning, distinguishing. Symbolic: viveka-like separating knowledge; clarity that detects distortion
- animiṣam
- Literal: unblinking. Symbolic: unbroken vigilance; steady witnessing and will that does not lapse
- nṛmṇam
- Literal: heroic force/power. Symbolic: soul-force (vīrya) that can confront resistance and persist
- dṛḻhā pura
- Literal: firm stronghold/citadel. Symbolic: stable inner station of concentration; protected consciousness-base
Ritual offering (juhure) paired with inner vigilance; used as a model of disciplined sacrifice leading to fortified consciousness.
When sustaining the sacrificial fire and ensuring continuity; during moments requiring steadiness and protection
Offerings with attentive recitation; guarding the fire-space; maintaining ritual order
Use as a mantra for building unbroken attention and a ‘protected inner room’ before meditation or demanding work.
juhure < √hu ‘sacrifice/pour’; citayantaḥ < √cit; animiṣa ‘unblinking’ (a- + nimiṣ ‘blink’); nṛmṇa from nṛ ‘man/hero’ + abstract formation; dṛḷha ‘firm’ from √dṛh ‘make firm’; pura ‘fortress’ (often of enemies; innerly a fixed formation). Psychological sense: the offering awakens discernment; unwavering force is guarded; entry into a stable inner citadel suggests establishment in a protected, concentrated state (against dispersal/hostile powers).
Steady awareness (animiṣa), Protection of inner force (nṛmṇa), Concentration/fortification
Ṛta is guarded by unblinking power; discernment prevents the rite (inner or outer) from deviation.
Discernment (vi-cit) is the cognitive face of satya—truth recognized and separated from falsehood.
Establishment of a stable center (pura) in consciousness from which ordered action proceeds.
Yoga-psychological discipline: consecration + discrimination + vigilance → stable realization.
night (symbolically: guarding the flame through darkness)
unspecified
Night = ignorance/pressure; unblinking = sustained awareness; stronghold = collected inner being.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is ‘entering the stronghold’ after guarding an unblinking power—an inversion of the usual ‘storming the enemy fort’: here the seers enter a firm citadel of force. Innerly, it depicts attainment of a stabilized strong formation of consciousness through sacrifice and vigilant discernment.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √hu (offer) is part of Indo-Iranian sacrificial lexicon; √viś ‘enter’ continues PIE *weyḱ-/*weikʷ- ‘settle/enter’ (broadly; exact cognate mapping debated). The fortress term pura has Indo-Iranian parallels (Avestan pərətu- etc. in fortification semantics), reflecting shared cultural-poetic imagery.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi portrays the disciplined collective (seekers aided by the gods) whose sacrifice and awareness protect the divine force. The Devatā is the guarded ‘animiṣa nṛmṇa’; the rishi aligns human action (offering, discernment) with divine stability (unblinking power).
Build the ‘unblinking’ witness and offer distractions into the flame; then enter the ‘firm stronghold’ of steady attention.
Maṇipūra (discipline and force) stabilizing into Anāhata (protected inner space)
Box-breath (4-4-4-4) gently for steadiness; on each hold, repeat ‘animiṣam’ mentally
Collected, vigilant, protected; readiness for deeper silence.
Before sitting, decide one thing to offer (juhure) and one thing to discern (vi-cit). Maintain ‘unblinking’ awareness for a set time; feel yourself seated inside a stable inner citadel.
Follow Saṃhitā accents; keep verbs (juhure, pānti, viviśuḥ) crisp; udatta lift is subtle and functional, not melodic.
Strike clear caesuras after each action-clause: offer / discern / guard / enter.
juhure: ‘hu’ is voiced and clean; avoid ‘ju-hoo-ray’ elongation, citayantaḥ: ‘ta’ dental; final ḥ lightly aspirated, animiṣam: keep ‘mi’ short; ‘ṣ’ retroflex, dṛḻhām: vocalic ‘ṛ’ clear; ‘ḻh’ cluster articulated (not simplified to ‘dh’)
Steady, disciplined, slightly martial; avoid softness that blurs consonants.
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