Rig Veda 5.6.2: Mandala 5, Sukta 6, Mantra 2
Sukta 5.6
- Devata
- Agni
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
सो अग्निर्यो वसुर्गृणे सं यमायन्ति धेनवः । समर्वन्तो रघुद्रुवः सं सुजातासः सूरय इषं स्तोतृभ्य आ भर ॥
só agnír yó vásur gṛṇé sáṃ yám āyánti dhenávaḥ | sám árvanto raghu-drúvaḥ sáṃ sujātā́saḥ sūráya íṣaṃ stotṛ́bhya ā́ bhara ||
Esse Agni é o Tesouro que louvamos; para ele convergem as potências que dão leite. Juntos vêm os corcéis rápidos e firmes; juntos os resplandecentes bem-nascidos. Traz aos cantores o impulso do crescimento.
Word by Word
- सः
- he; that (one)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → स
- अग्निः
- Agni; fireNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वसुः
- Vasu; good/wealth (as a beneficent one)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
- गृणे
- I praiseVerbलट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम्Role KartāRoot गृ (धातु) → गृणाति
- सम्
- together; completelyIndeclinableउपसर्गःRoot सम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- यम्
- whomPronounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- आयन्ति
- they come/approachVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role KartāRoot इ (धातु) → एति; उपसर्गः आ-
- धेनवः
- cows; milch-cowsNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
- सम्
- togetherIndeclinableउपसर्गःRoot सम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- अर्वन्तः
- steeds; horsesNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot अर्वन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
- रघुद्रुवः
- swift-moving; quick and steadyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम् (अर्वन्तः इति विशेषणम्)Role KartāRoot रघु-द्रु (समास-प्रातिपदिक; ‘swift-running/firm in speed’)
- सम्
- togetherIndeclinableउपसर्गःRoot सम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- सुजातासः
- well-born; of good birthAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम् (सूरयः इति विशेषणम्)Role KartāRoot सु-जात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √जन् ‘to be born’ + क्त)
- सूरयः
- patrons; lords; generous menNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot सूरि (प्रातिपदिक)
- इषम्
- refreshment; nourishment; strengthNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot इष्/इषा (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्तोतृभ्यः
- to the praisersNounपुंलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी, बहुवचनम्Role SampradānaRoot स्तोतृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- hither; towardsIndeclinableउपसर्गःRoot आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- भर
- bring!; bear hither!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role KartāRoot भृ (धातु) → भरति
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (padapāṭha-style): सो → सः
- अग्निर् → अग्निः
- वसुर् → वसुः
- वसुर् गृणे (visarga before g-)
- गृणे सं → गृणे सम्
- यमा॒यन्ति → यम् + आयन्ति (acc. sg. of relative pronoun + verb with ā-)
- समर्वन्तो → सम् + अर्वन्तः
- रघुद्रुवः taken as a compound adjective qualifying अर्वन्तः
- सं सुजातासः → सम् + सुजातासः
- इषं स्तोतृभ्य आ भर → इषम् + स्तोतृभ्यः + आ + भर
The meaning
Outer meaning
That Agni is the treasure whom we praise; to him the milking cows come together. Together come the swift-steady steeds; together the well-born shining ones—bring to the singers iṣa (impulsion of increase).
Inner meaning
The stanza intensifies the previous movement by repeating ‘saṃ’ (together): the yoga is collective integration. Knowledge-rays (cows), action-energies (horses), and luminous faculties (sūrayaḥ—inner ‘sun-like’ powers) assemble around the psychic fire. Praise (gṛṇe) is not flattery but a mantra-act that aligns consciousness; then Agni can deliver a coordinated impulsion (iṣa) that increases harmony and effectiveness.
Universal truth
Growth becomes swift when our insights, energies, and higher faculties stop working in isolation and gather around a single aspiration toward the Divine.
Themes
gathering of powers, Agni as center, integration, empowerment of speech
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 5.6.1, RV 5.6.3, RV 5.6.4
Significance
Emphasizes ‘saṃ’—the Vedic key of integration—suggesting that the seer’s realization involves collecting scattered powers into a single sacrificial convergence.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- Vasu (treasure)
- Related deities
- Indra (illumination that uses gathered force), Maruts (energies that become raghudruva—swift-stable)
Cosmic role
Unifier and awakener; the center where diverse cosmic powers coordinate for ascent.
Inner power
Integrative fire that makes knowledge and energy cooperate under a higher intention.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni praise within soma/yajña or daily fire-cultivation; supports the ‘gathering’ phase of offerings.
सो अ॒ग्निर्यो वसु॑र्गृ॒णे सं यमा॒यन्ति॑ धे॒नव॑: । समर्व॑न्तो रघु॒द्रुव॒: सं सु॑जा॒तास॑: सू॒रय॒ इषं॑ स्तो॒तृभ्य॒ आ भ॑र ॥
सः । अ॒ग्निः । यः । वसुः॑ । गृ॒णे । सम् । यम् । आ॒ऽयन्ति॑ । धे॒नवः॑ । सम् । अर्व॑न्तः । र॒घु॒ऽद्रुवः॑ । सम् । सु॒ऽजा॒तासः॑ । सू॒रय । इष॑म् । स्तो॒तृऽभ्यः॑ । आ । भ॒र॒ ॥
saḥ | agniḥ | yaḥ | vasuḥ | gṛṇe | sam | yam | āyanti | dhenavaḥ | sam | arvantaḥ | raghu-druvaḥ | sam | su-jātāsaḥ | sūraya | iṣam | stotṛ-bhyaḥ | ā | bhara
44
4×11 (approx.).
Repetitive ‘saṃ’ gives a drum-like unifying beat; balanced and assembling.
Produces a felt sense of coherence; mind and breath tend to synchronize on the repeated ‘saṃ’.
- gṛṇe
- Literal: I praise/sing. Symbolic: mantric affirmation that aligns and opens the being
- saṃ
- Literal: together. Symbolic: integration; yoga as unification of parts
- dhenavaḥ
- Literal: cows. Symbolic: rays/streams of knowledge
- raghudruvaḥ
- Literal: swift and steady/firm. Symbolic: energies that are both rapid and stable—tapas without agitation
- sujātāsaḥ
- Literal: well-born. Symbolic: purified, rightly formed faculties (sattwic formations)
- sūrayaḥ
- Literal: shining ones, heroes, wise. Symbolic: luminous powers of understanding and right action
- iṣam
- Literal: impulsion/increase. Symbolic: divine push of growth coordinated by Agni
Continuation of Agni invocation: consolidation (sam) of forces around Agni; request for iṣ to empower the hymn and the sacrificer’s progress
When establishing Agni as the central receiver and harmonizer of the rite.
Recite while tending the fire; mentally draw faculties inward ‘together’.
A mantra for scatteredness: chant when fragmented or over-stimulated to re-collect energies into one calm drive.
sám marks integration (a key Vedic psychological gesture). gṛṇe from √gṛ ‘to sing, praise’—speech as creative act. raghu ‘swift’ (cf. √raṃh ‘to hasten’) + dhruva ‘fixed, firm’ from √dhru ‘to be firm’—a paradoxical ideal: rapid yet steady energy. su-jāta ‘well-born’ from √jan ‘be born’—right formation. sūrá ‘shining/heroic’ from √svar/√sūr ‘shine’—luminous faculties.
integration/unification (sam), right formation (sujāta), stable swiftness (raghu-dhruva) as perfected force
‘Togetherness’ is ṛta in action—right arrangement of powers.
Sūrayaḥ as truth-bearing luminous faculties assemble around Agni.
Cosmic order arises by gathering and harmonizing forces around a central principle (Agni).
Integral yoga reading of Vedic sacrifice as inner unification.
Fire = aspiration; cows = illuminations; horses = prāṇa; sun-powers = higher intelligence/clarity.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The convergence (sam) of all powers to Agni: nourishing yields, dynamic movements, and luminous faculties unite at the fire-center. Mythically it is the assembling of the divine-helping forces; psychologically it is the unification of the being around the awakened will.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The repeated sám is an archaic poetic device for ‘totalizing’ action—common in IE poetics as iterative/parallel structuring. dhruvá ‘firm’ reflects PIE *dheru- ‘firm, solid’ (cf. English true via semantic shifts is not direct; but the firmness root is widely attested across IE).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi praises (gṛṇe) and describes the law of approach: when Agni is affirmed as treasure, the scattered powers gather. The boon requested remains iṣ—Agni’s gift that turns praise into effective inner motion and growth.
Integration practice: on each ‘saṃ’, feel one layer (mind, prāṇa, senses, higher intuition) assembling around the heart-flame.
Maṇipūra (stability of tapas) with Ajñā support (sūrayaḥ as clarity).
Box-breath 4-4-4-4 while softly repeating ‘saṃ’; then chant the verse once fully.
Unified, luminous, quietly powerful.
Use after pranayama: let the gathered prāṇa become raghudruva—swift yet steady—before entering silence.
Not provided; emphasize ‘saṃ’ with a consistent stress to embody gathering.
Keep pāda openings crisp; let ‘saṃ’ be the metrical hook each time.
so agnir: link smoothly (sandhi) without swallowing vowels, raghudruvaḥ: clear gh; roll r lightly; final visarga soft, sujātāsaḥ: long ā; keep ‘jā’ open
Collected and resonant; avoid haste so ‘swift-steady’ becomes felt.
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