Rig Veda 8.60.2: Mandala 8, Sukta 60, Mantra 2
Sukta 8.60
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh/Jagatī
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
अच्छा हि त्वा सहसः सूनो अङ्गिरः स्रुचश्चरन्त्यध्वरे । ऊर्जो नपातं घृतकेशमीमहेऽग्निं यज्ञेषु पूर्व्यम् ॥
ácchā hí tvā sahasaḥ sū́no aṅgiraḥ srúcaś cáranty adhvaré | ū́rjo nápātaṃ ghṛtákeśam īmahe ’gníṃ yajñéṣu pū́rvyam ||
Pois para ti, ó filho da Força, ó Aṅgiras, no sacrifício se movem as conchas de libação. Buscamos Agni, o rebento de Urj, de cabelos de claridade purificada (ghṛta), o Antigo nos sacrifícios.
Word by Word
- अच्छा
- towards, hitherIndeclinableगत्यर्थक अव्यय (दिशा/उपसर्गवत्)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot अञ्च् (अच्) / प्रातिपदिक: अच्छा (अव्यय)
- हि
- indeed, forIndeclinableनिपात (हेतौ/बलार्थे)Root हि (निपात) अव्यय
- त्वा
- you (acc. sg.)Pronounद्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सहसः
- of might/powerNounषष्ठी एकवचनRole Sambandha (genitive)Root सहस् (नपुंसकलिङ्ग प्रातिपदिक)
- सूनो
- O sonNounसम्बोधन एकवचनRole SambodhanaRoot सूनु (पुंलिङ्ग प्रातिपदिक)
- अङ्गिरः
- O Aṅgiras (descendant of Aṅgiras)Noun (proper) / Epithetसम्बोधन एकवचन (वेदिक रूप: -ः) / संबोधनार्थकRole SambodhanaRoot अङ्गिरस् (ऋषि-नाम, पुंलिङ्ग प्रातिपदिक)
- स्रुचः
- ladles (sacrificial spoons)Nounप्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot स्रुच् (स्त्रीलिङ्ग प्रातिपदिक)
- चरन्ति
- move, go aboutVerbलट् (वर्तमाने) परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष बहुवचनRole KriyāRoot चर्
- अध्वरे
- in the sacrifice/riteNounसप्तमी एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot अध्वर (पुंलिङ्ग प्रातिपदिक)
- ऊर्जः
- of nourishment/strengthNounषष्ठी एकवचनRole Sambandha (genitive)Root ऊर्ज् (स्त्रीलिङ्ग प्रातिपदिक)
- नपातम्
- offspring, descendantNounद्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot नपात् (पुंलिङ्ग प्रातिपदिक)
- घृतकेशम्
- having ghee as hair; ghee-manedAdjective (epithet) / Noun-epithetद्वितीया एकवचन (अग्निम् विशेषयति) / विशेषणRole Karma (as qualifier of the object) / ViśeṣaṇaRoot घृत-केश (बहुव्रीहि/तत्पुरुष-समास प्रातिपदिक, पुंलिङ्ग)
- ईमहे
- we seek/implore, we worshipVerbलट् (वर्तमाने) आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष बहुवचनRole KriyāRoot यम् (याच्/इष्-सम्बद्ध स्तुत्यर्थक प्रयोग; वेदिक: ईम् + महे)
- अग्निम्
- Agni (fire-god)Nounद्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot अग्नि (पुंलिङ्ग प्रातिपदिक)
- यज्ञेषु
- in sacrificesNounसप्तमी बहुवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot यज्ञ (पुंलिङ्ग प्रातिपदिक)
- पूर्व्यम्
- ancient, primevalAdjectiveद्वितीया एकवचन (अग्निम् विशेषयति) / विशेषणRole Karma (as qualifier of the object) / ViśeṣaṇaRoot पूर्व्य (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक, पुंलिङ्ग) < पूर्व
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (Vedic sandhi resolved): अच्छा | हि | त्वा | सहसः | सूनो | अङ्गिरः | स्रुचः | चरन्ति | अध्वरे || ऊर्जः | नपातम् | घृतकेशम् | ईमहे | अग्निम् | यज्ञेषु | पूर्व्यम् । 1) अङ्गिर॒: स्रुच॒श्- : विसर्गः + श् → श्श् (लिखित: अङ्गिरः स्रुचः; संहितायां: अङ्गिरः स्रुचश्…/अङ्गिरः स्रुचश्चरन्ति)
- 2) स्रुचः + चरन्ति → स्रुचश्चरन्ति (ः + च → श्च)
- 3) ईमहेऽग्निम्: ईमहे + अग्निम् → ईमहेऽग्निम् (अ + अ → ’ अवग्रह)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The ladles move toward Agni in the sacrifice; Agni is invoked as son of strength, Aṅgiras, offspring of nourishment, with hair of ghee/light, the ancient one in sacrifices.
Inner meaning
The ‘srucaḥ’ (ladles) are the directing instruments of offering—our intentional acts that carry the oblation. They ‘move toward’ Agni when the life turns to consecration. ‘Sahasaḥ sūnuḥ’ (son of force) indicates Agni as born from divine energy—will-power that is not personal strain but a higher strength. ‘Aṅgiras’ signifies the luminous flame that brings hidden light out of the darkness (the Angirasas as finders of the cows/rays). ‘Ūrjo napāt’ is the child of plenitude: from inner nourishment (ūrj) arises a fresh power of will. ‘Ghṛtakeśa’ (ghee-haired) points to Agni’s radiance fed by clarified substance—purified mind-stuff and luminous vitality. ‘Pūrvyam’ (ancient) affirms this is the primordial helper in all true inner works.
Universal truth
When intention becomes offering, the will awakens as a higher force. Purified substance—clear mind and refined energy—feeds a radiant will that has guided seekers since the beginning.
Themes
Agni epithets and origins, Ritual offering dynamics, Primordial guide in yajña
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 6.1 (Agni as ancient and powerful), RV 1.31 (Agni-Aṅgiras finder of light), RV 10.2 (Agni as ancient priest)
Family tradition
Agni-Aṅgiras symbolism is central to early Vedic yoga: the fire that finds the cows (rays) and opens the hidden dawns.
Significance
Highlights the mechanics of inner offering: when the instruments of action turn toward the divine Will, the ancient luminous force awakens and leads.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (as Aṅgiras, sahasaḥ sūnuḥ, ūrjo napāt, ghṛtakeśa)
- Epithets
- Sahasaḥ sūnu (son of force), Aṅgiras (luminous flame lineage), Ūrjo napāt (offspring of plenitude), Ghṛtakeśa (ghee-haired, radiant), Pūrvya (ancient)
- Related deities
- Soma (fuel of bliss), Uṣas (dawn of illumination Agni helps uncover), Indra (liberator of light alongside Agni)
Cosmic role
First priest and awakener; carrier of offerings; discoverer of hidden light; sustainer of the sacrificial order.
Inner power
A radiant will-force fed by purified substance, capable of uncovering concealed knowledge and sustaining unobstructed progress.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni invocation during offering sequences (ladles moving, oblations poured)
अच्छा॒ हि त्वा॑ सहसः सूनो अङ्गिर॒: स्रुच॒श्चर॑न्त्यध्व॒रे । ऊ॒र्जो नपा॑तं घृ॒तके॑शमीमहे॒ऽग्निं य॒ज्ञेषु॑ पू॒र्व्यम् ॥
अच्छ॑ । हि । त्वा॒ । स॒ह॒सः॒ । सू॒नो॒ इति॑ । अ॒ङ्गि॒रः॒ । स्रुचः॑ । चर॑न्ति । अ॒ध्व॒रे । ऊ॒र्जः । नपा॑तम् । घृ॒तऽके॑शम् । ई॒म॒हे॒ । अ॒ग्निम् । य॒ज्ञेषु॑ । पू॒र्व्यम् ॥
accha | hi | tvā | sahasaḥ | sūno iti | aṅgiraḥ | srucaḥ | caranti | adhvare | ūrjaḥ | napātam | ghṛta-keśam | īmahe | agnim | yajñeṣu | pūrvyam
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4 x ~11 syllables
Energetic movement (caranti) with strong mid-line stress; suited to depicting approach and seeking.
Elicits a sense of directed motion—your intention ‘moves’ toward the inner Fire and gathers force.
- स्रुचः (srucaḥ)
- Literal: ladles. Symbolic: Instruments of offering: directed intention, acts that carry energy to the divine Will
- अध्वरे (adhvare)
- Literal: in the sacrifice. Symbolic: In the journey-work of consecration (adhvara as unobstructed movement)
- सहसः सूनोः (sahasaḥ sūnoḥ)
- Literal: son of force. Symbolic: Will born of higher strength, not ego-effort
- अङ्गिरः (aṅgiraḥ)
- Literal: Aṅgiras. Symbolic: Luminous flame that discovers hidden light (cows/rays) within
- ऊर्जः नपातम् (ūrjaḥ napātam)
- Literal: offspring of nourishment/strength. Symbolic: New will arising from inner plenitude and right sustenance
- घृतकेशम् (ghṛtakeśam)
- Literal: ghee-haired. Symbolic: Radiance fed by clarified light-substance; luminous, purified energy
- ईमहे (īmahe)
- Literal: we seek. Symbolic: Aspiration and invocation toward the inner guide
- पूर्व्यम् (pūrvyam)
- Literal: ancient. Symbolic: Primordial helper-power present in all ages of the yoga
Agni praise in the offering sequence (ladles moving); aligns with soma/ghṛta offerings and the establishing of Agni as ancient sacrificer in repeated rites.
During active offering moments in Soma or Agni rites when libations are made.
Recitation accompanying the movement of ladles and offering into fire.
Use when beginning a task: visualize your actions (srucaḥ) moving toward consecration; offer the work into the inner fire for unobstructed progress (adhvara).
(sahas): ‘force, might’ from √sah ‘prevail, be strong’. (aṅgiras): ancient priestly clan-name; etymology debated; in RV closely tied to fire and inspired utterance. (sruc): ladle, ritual implement. (adhvara): ‘sacrifice’; often explained as a-dhvara ‘non-injuring’ (folk etymology), but functions as standard yajña-term. (ūrj): sap/strength/nourishing plenitude. (napāt): ‘offspring, descendant’ (cf. Avestan napāt). (ghṛta-keśa): ghṛta ‘clarified light’ + keśa ‘hair’.
Agni as born of force (sahas) and plenitude (ūrj), Primordial priesthood (pūrvyam), Aspiration (īmahe) as seeking the divine presence
Adhvara implies action aligned with ṛta—movement without the obstruction of falsehood or inertia.
Ghṛta symbolizes clarified truth-substance; feeding Agni with ghṛta is sustaining satya in the will.
The ancient Fire is continuously reborn as ‘offspring of plenitude’ when the being is rightly nourished and clarified.
Symbolic Vedic yoga: purification and aspiration awaken the ancient will that reveals hidden knowledge.
Ghee = clarified mind-light; ladles = directed actions; ūrj = inner sustenance; fire = will discovering light.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem of Agni’s birth from ‘force’ and ‘plenitude’ and his enthronement through offerings: the ritual motion of sruc-ladles toward Agni mirrors the inner movement of giving that feeds the flame of will and illumination.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- napāt ‘offspring’ has Indo-Iranian cognacy (Avestan napāt). sahas from √sah reflects inherited strength semantics. agni again shows PIE fire heritage (*h₁n̥gʷnis).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi points to the active offering instruments ‘moving toward’ Agni and simultaneously declares ‘we seek’ (īmahe) him. Outer rite and inner aspiration are made one: the devatā is approached as the ancient, ever-effective presence renewed in each yajña.
Offer actions into the inner fire; cultivate ‘clarified’ energy (ghṛta) by quieting agitation and refining intention.
Maṇipūra (will/action) with Ājñā support (clarity/ghṛta as luminous discernment)
Kapalabhāti light (30–60 strokes) to awaken fire, followed by 2 minutes calm breathing to ‘clarify’ the energy.
Dynamic consecration—active, unobstructed movement toward the divine Will.
Before action, pause: feel your hands/mind as ‘ladles’; inwardly say ‘to Agni’; then do the work as an offering, keeping clarity (ghṛta) rather than excitement.
Standard Vedic accents; exact svara contour needs marked recension.
Let ‘acchā hi tvā’ be brisk; broaden on ‘ūrjo napātam ghṛtakeśam’ to savor the epithet; land firmly on ‘pūrvyam’.
acchā: double cch aspirated; long ā, sahasaḥ: final ḥ light, sūno: long ū, aṅgiraḥ: ṅ before g; final ḥ, srucaḥ: sru- clear; final ḥ, adhvare: dhv cluster articulate, ūrjo: long ū; rj cluster, napātam: long ā, ghṛtakeśam: vocalic ṛ; keśam long e, īmahe: long ī
Bright, energetic, with a clear crescendo on the epithets.
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