Rig Veda 7.8.7: Mandala 7, Sukta 8, Mantra 7
Sukta 7.8
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
नू त्वामग्न ईमहे वसिष्ठा ईशानं सूनो सहसो वसूनाम् । इषं स्तोतृभ्यो मघवद्भ्य आनड्यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥
nū́ tvām agne ī́mahe vásiṣṭhā īśānáṃ sū́no sahaso vásūnām | íṣaṃ stotṛ́bhyo maghávadbhya ā́naḍ yūyám pāta svastíbhíḥ sádā naḥ ||
Agora nós te buscamos, ó Agni — nós, os Vasiṣṭha — a ti, soberano, ó filho de Sahas (Força), de todas as riquezas. Concede aos cantores, aos generosos, o impulso e o sustento; e guarda-nos sempre com bem-estar.
Word by Word
- नू
- now, indeedIndeclinableकालवाचक/सम्बोधन-प्रवर्तक अव्ययRoot नु (अव्यय)
- त्वाम्
- you (as object)Pronounद्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot युष्मद्
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि
- ईमहे
- we implore / we seekVerbलट् (वेद. प्रयोग), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचनRoot ईम् + √इ (इच्छा/गमनार्थे; वेद. ‘ईमहे’ = ‘याचामहे/प्रार्थयामहे’)
- वसिष्ठाः
- the Vasiṣṭhas (we, the Vasiṣṭha seers)Noun (proper/collective)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
- ईशानम्
- the lord, the rulerAdjective/Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot ईशान (√ईश् ‘to rule’ से)
- सूनो
- O sonNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot सूनु
- सहसः
- of might/strengthNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root सहस्
- वसूनाम्
- of the goods/treasuresNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root वसु
- इषम्
- nourishment, refreshmentNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot इष् (इषा/इषम् ‘refreshment, nourishment’)
- स्तोतृभ्यः
- to the praisersNounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी बहुवचनRole SampradānaRoot स्तोतृ (√स्तु ‘to praise’ से)
- मघवद्भ्यः
- to the bountiful/generous (patrons)Adjective (substantive)पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी बहुवचनRole SampradānaRoot मघवत्
- आ
- towards, hitherIndeclinableउपसर्गRoot आ (उपसर्ग)
- नड्यूयम्
- a flowing (stream-like) [gift/refreshment]Adjective/Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot नड्यूय (प्रातिपदिक; वेद. ‘नड्यूय’ = ‘नदीय/नद्यः-सम्बद्ध’, ‘river-like/streaming’—इषा/प्रवाह-विशेष)
- पात
- protect! / guard!Verbलोट्, परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRoot √पा (पाने/रक्षणे)
- स्वस्तिभिः
- with well-being, with blessingsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot स्वस्ति
- सदा
- alwaysIndeclinableनित्यत्ववाचक अव्ययRoot सदा (अव्यय)
- नः
- for us / of usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक ‘नः’)Role Sampradāna/सम्बन्ध (contextual)Root अस्मद्
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution: (1) नू त्वामग्न ईमहे → नू + त्वाम् + अग्ने + ईमहे
- (2) वसिष्ठा ईशानं → वसिष्ठाः + ईशानम् (आः + ई…)
- (3) सहसो वसूनाम् unchanged (genitives)
- (4) मघवद्भ्य आनड्यूयं → मघवद्भ्यः + आ + नड्यूयम् (ः + आ…; visarga before vowel)
- (5) स्वस्तिभि: सदा → स्वस्तिभिः + सदा
- (6) सदा नः unchanged (enclitic)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Now we seek you, O Agni—we, the Vasiṣṭhas—you the sovereign, O son of Force, of all riches. Give impulsion and nourishment to the singers, to the bounteous; and protect us always with well-being.
Inner meaning
The seer-family represents a disciplined community of practice: ‘we, the Vasiṣṭhas’—the powers in us that aspire toward stable illumination. They seek Agni as īśāna, the sovereign inner ruler, ‘son of sahas’ (Force): the will born from spiritual energy. ‘Vasūnām’ are not merely material riches but the true wealth—clarity, strength, joy, wideness, right action. The request is for iṣa—impulsion, dynamic nourishment—so the singers (those who articulate the inner truth) can become maghavat, bounteous in giving and capacity. Protection with svasti is not passive safety; it is a sustained harmony that keeps the being aligned through all movements.
Universal truth
When we consciously turn to the inner guiding will as our sovereign, it grants energy and right nourishment for our work and keeps us in a field of well-being that supports steady progress.
Themes
Refrain, Protection, Invocation
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa lineage)
- Other hymns
- RV 7.8.1, RV 7.8.2, RV 7.8.3, RV 7.8.4, RV 7.8.5, RV 7.8.6
Family tradition
Collective voice of the Vasiṣṭhas: a lineage-practice where Agni is invoked as sovereign guide and giver of iṣa (right impulsion).
Significance
The mantra is a compact yogic prayer: aspiration (seeking), recognition (sovereignty), request (impulsion), and protection (svasti) for sustained practice.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- īśāna (sovereign), sūnu sahasaḥ (son of force), giver of vasūni (riches)
- Related deities
- Bṛhaspati (word/impulsion), Indra (force), Aśvins (well-being)
Cosmic role
Lord of the sacrificial movement; distributor of divine wealth; guardian of the path.
Inner power
Central governing will that grants right energy (iṣa) and maintains auspicious harmony (svasti) through all activities.
In ritual
Where it is used
Concluding or reaffirming prayer within Agni hymns; suitable as a protective benediction at the end of offerings.
नू त्वाम॑ग्न ईमहे॒ वसि॑ष्ठा ईशा॒नं सू॑नो सहसो॒ वसू॑नाम् । इषं॑ स्तो॒तृभ्यो॑ म॒घव॑द्भ्य आनड्यू॒यं पा॑त स्व॒स्तिभि॒: सदा॑ नः ॥
नु । त्वाम् । अ॒ग्ने॒ । ई॒म॒हे॒ । वसि॑ष्ठाः । ई॒शा॒नम् । सू॒नो॒ इति॑ । स॒ह॒सः॒ । वसू॑नाम् । इष॑म् । स्तो॒तृऽभ्यः॑ । म॒घव॑त्ऽभ्यः । आ॒न॒ट् । यू॒यम् । पा॒त॒ । स्व॒स्तिऽभिः॑ । सदा॑ । नः॒ ॥
nu | tvām | agne | īmahe | vasiṣṭhāḥ | īśānam | sūno | iti | sahasaḥ | vasūnām | iṣam | stotṛ-bhyaḥ | maghavat-bhyaḥ | ānaṭ | yūyam | pāta | svasti-bhiḥ | sadā | naḥ
44
4 x ~11 syllables
Supplicatory yet strong; clear vocatives and imperatives; steady devotional drive.
Centers the will and evokes a protective calm; good for beginning or sealing a practice session.
- ईमहे (īmahe)
- Literal: we seek, we implore. Symbolic: turning of consciousness toward the inner guide
- ईशानम् (īśānam)
- Literal: sovereign, lord. Symbolic: governing will that orders the nature
- सूनो सहसः (sūno sahasaḥ)
- Literal: son of Force. Symbolic: will born of spiritual energy (tapas/śakti)
- वसू नाम् (vasūnām)
- Literal: of riches. Symbolic: true inner wealth: light, strength, joy, harmony
- इषम् (iṣam)
- Literal: impulsion, refreshment/nourishment. Symbolic: right drive and sustaining energy for sādhanā
- मघवत्भ्यः (maghavatbhyaḥ)
- Literal: to the bounteous. Symbolic: to those capable of generous giving and expansive power
- स्वस्तिभिः (svastibhiḥ)
- Literal: with well-being. Symbolic: protective harmony, auspicious alignment
- सदा (sadā)
- Literal: always. Symbolic: continuity of protection across states and transitions
Refrain-like protective invocation; stabilization of iṣ and svasti for the ritual community
Morning/evening agnihotra-like moments; before study/recitation; before travel or important work.
Offer a final ghee drop or inner offering; request iṣa and svasti; silent pause for protection.
Use as a daily invocation for ‘right energy and well-being’ before work, study, or meditation.
Duplicate of RV 7.7.7 in the supplied input; likely a refrain or repeated verse across adjacent hymns. See etymological notes under 7.7.7.
Sahas (force), Svastī (good-being)
Agni as īśāna keeps the being aligned to ṛta—right order in thought, speech, action.
True riches are stable light and right force rather than external gain.
Sahas (force) giving birth to effective will; distribution of ‘wealth’ as powers of consciousness.
Bhakti-tinged Vedic yoga: surrender to inner sovereign; integral transformation of life by iṣa and svasti.
Fire as governing will; nourishment as inner prāṇa/energy rightly directed; well-being as harmonious field around the being.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Same as 7.7.7: Agni’s sovereignty as dispenser of iṣ and guardian of well-being.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- Same as 7.7.7: su+asti well-being compound; √pā protect; hymnic self-identification.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- Same as 7.7.7: praise and seeking met by nourishment and protection.
Surrender the day to the inner sovereign will; ask for right impulsion (iṣa) and a protective harmony (svasti).
Maṇipūra (will) with Sahasrāra intention (sovereignty above)
3 rounds: inhale ‘nū tvām’, exhale ‘īmahe’; then normal breathing while repeating ‘svastibhiḥ sadā naḥ’.
Quiet devotion with stable energy.
Chant once to invoke, once to request, once to seal. After the final pāda, sit 30–60 seconds feeling a gentle protective warmth around the body and a steady flame in the center.
Follow Ṛgvedic accenting; vocatives ‘agne’ and key terms ‘īśānam’, ‘svastibhiḥ’ should be kept clear in pitch movement.
Give intentional emphasis to ‘īśānam’ (sovereign) and ‘svastibhiḥ sadā naḥ’ as the sealing prayer; keep pacing even.
īmahe: long ī; do not shorten., sahaso: clear h; avoid dropping aspiration., maghavadbhyaḥ: gh aspirate; cluster -dbhy- articulated cleanly., svastibhiḥ: sv- cluster; final ḥ lightly aspirated.
Steady, devotional, protective; medium volume with clear diction.
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