Rig Veda 1.44.3: Mandala 1, Sukta 44, Mantra 3
Sukta 1.44
- Devata
- Agni
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
अद्या दूतं वृणीमहे वसुमग्निं पुरुप्रियम् । धूमकेतुं भाऋजीकं व्युष्टिषु यज्ञानामध्वरश्रियम् ॥
adyā́ dūtáṃ vṛṇīmahe vásum agníṃ purupriyám | dhūmakétuṃ bhā́ṛjīkaṃ vyùṣṭiṣu yajñā́nām adhvaraśríyam ||
अद्य वयं दूतं वृणीमहे वसुमग्निं पुरुप्रियम्। धूमकेतुं भाऋजीकं व्युष्टिषु यज्ञानामध्वरश्रियं॥
Word by Word
- अद्य
- today, nowIndeclinableकालवाचक-अव्यय (today/now)Role Adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकारण)Root अद्य (अव्यय)
- दूतम्
- messengerNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot दूत (प्रातिपदिक)
- वृणीमहे
- we chooseVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole (क्रिया) —Root √वृ (वृणीते) ‘to choose’
- वसुम्
- good/wealth-bringing, excellentAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (अग्निम् इति विशेष्यस्य)Role Karma (विशेषण-रूपेण)Root वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्निम्
- Agni (fire-god)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- पुरुप्रियम्
- dear to many, much-belovedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (अग्निम् इति विशेष्यस्य)Role Karma (विशेषण-रूपेण)Root पुरु-प्रिय (समास; प्रातिपदिक)
- धूमकेतुम्
- smoke-bannered (Agni), having smoke as a signNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (अग्निम् इति विशेष्यस्य)Role Karma (विशेषण-रूपेण)Root धूम-केतु (समास; प्रातिपदिक)
- भाऋजीकम्
- bright, radiant (epithet)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (अग्निम् इति विशेष्यस्य)Role Karma (विशेषण-रूपेण)Root भाऋजीक (प्रातिपदिक; वैदिक विशेषण)
- व्युष्टिषु
- at the dawns, in the breakings of dayNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole Adhikaraṇa (देश/काल-अधिकारण)Root व्युष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
- यज्ञानाम्
- of the sacrificesNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)Root यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
- अध्वरश्रियम्
- the glory/beauty of the rite (adhvara)Noun/Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग-श्री-शब्दाधारितं, द्वितीया, एकवचन (अग्निम् इति विशेष्यस्य)Role Karma (विशेषण-रूपेण)Root अध्वर-श्री (समास; प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (संहितायाः सन्धिविच्छेदेन): अद्य | दूतम् | वृणीमहे | वसुम् | अग्निम् | पुरुप्रियम् | धूमकेतुम् | भाऋजीकम् | व्युष्टिषु | यज्ञानाम् | अध्वरश्रियम् । विशेष-सन्धि: (1) यज्ञानामध्वरश्रियम् = यज्ञानाम् + अध्वरश्रियम् (म् + अ → म् अ; संहितायां ‘मध्’ इव दृश्यते, परं पदान्त-‘म्’ एव).
- सर्वे पदाः प्रायः पदान्त-व्यञ्जनान्ताः/स्वराद्यन्ताः यथारूपम्। स्वर-टिप्पणी: मन्त्रे उदात्त/अनुदात्त/स्वरित-चिह्नाः (जैसे वृ॑णीमहे, वसु॑म्, पु॑रुप्रि॒यम्, के॑तुम्, भाऋ॑जीकम्, व्यु॑ष्टिषु, य॒ज्ञाना॑म्, श्रिय॑म्) वैदिक-पाठानुसारं
- पद-रूप-विश्लेषणं तेषां स्वर-चिह्नैः अप्रभावितम्।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Today we choose Agni as messenger, the good treasure, beloved of many; smoke-bannered, radiant-keen, he is the beauty of sacrifices in dawn-unfoldings, the splendour of the rite.
Inner meaning
The seeker makes a present, decisive choice (adyā) to enthrone Agni as the inner messenger—placing will and aspiration at the centre of life. Agni is vasu (true wealth): the enduring treasure of conscious force. As purupriya, he is loved by many because every part of the being benefits when the psychic fire leads. Dhūmaketu (smoke-bannered) indicates a sign rising from the depths: aspiration announcing itself to higher planes; bhāṛjīka (radiant-keen) is the sharp, luminous energy that cuts through obscurity. In the ‘vyuṣṭiṣu’ (dawn-unfoldings), Agni becomes adhvaraśriyam—the very beauty and right splendour of the inner journey, making the sacrifice attractive to the gods (higher powers) and effective in transformation.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress begins with a conscious choice to live by the inner flame. When will is luminous and steady, it becomes the beauty and efficacy of all works, especially at moments of awakening.
Themes
Agni chosen messenger, Dawn unfoldings, Sacrificial journey, Radiant sign (ketu)
The seer
- Rishi
- Gautama Rāhūgaṇa (traditional for RV 1.44)
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 1.44.1, RV 1.44.2
Family tradition
Gautama hymn-craft frequently marks ‘choice’ and ‘today’ as the existential turn toward Agni as inner guide.
Significance
The seer frames yoga as a repeated dawn: each awakening requires re-choosing Agni as the mediator so the sacrifice becomes beautiful and effective.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- Vasu, Purupriya, Dhūmaketu, Bhāṛjīka
- Related deities
- Uṣas, Indra, Soma
Cosmic role
Signal and carrier between worlds; establishes the splendour and efficacy of sacrifice; awakens gods through visible aspiration.
Inner power
Psychic flame that becomes a banner of aspiration and a sharp radiance for discernment and transformation.
In ritual
Where it is used
Selection/invocation of Agni as dūta at the start of rites; dawn-linked offerings
अ॒द्या दू॒तं वृ॑णीमहे॒ वसु॑म॒ग्निं पु॑रुप्रि॒यम् । धू॒मके॑तुं॒ भाऋ॑जीकं॒ व्यु॑ष्टिषु य॒ज्ञाना॑मध्वर॒श्रिय॑म् ॥
अ॒द्य । दू॒तम् । वृ॒णी॒म॒हे॒ । वसु॑म् । अ॒ग्निम् । पु॒रु॒ऽप्रि॒यम् । धू॒मऽके॑तुम् । भाःऽऋ॑जीकम् । विऽउ॑ष्टिषु । य॒ज्ञाना॑म् । अ॒ध्व॒र॒ऽश्रिय॑म् ॥
adya | dūtam | vṛṇīmahe | vasum | agnim | puru-priyam | dhūma-ketum | bhāḥ-ṛjīkam | vi-uṣṭiṣu | yajñānām | adhvara-śriyam
24
3 × 8 syllables
Choosing/affirming rhythm: crisp, declarative, energizing.
Strengthens resolve (‘I choose the flame’), then lifts into bright aspiration and purified enthusiasm.
- adyā
- Literal: today. Symbolic: The decisive present moment of practice; conscious choice now
- dūtam vṛṇīmahe
- Literal: we choose (as) messenger. Symbolic: Deliberate enthroning of the psychic will as mediator
- vasum
- Literal: treasure, wealth. Symbolic: True inner riches: force, stability, enduring value
- purupriyam
- Literal: beloved of many. Symbolic: Universally beneficial inner fire; loved by all parts when purified
- dhūmaketum
- Literal: smoke-bannered. Symbolic: Aspiration-sign rising; indication of inner burning visible to higher consciousness
- bhāṛjīkam
- Literal: radiant, sharp, shining-keen. Symbolic: Penetrating illumination-force that cuts through confusion
- vyuṣṭiṣu
- Literal: in the dawn-unfoldings. Symbolic: Repeated awakenings/illumined openings in sadhana
- adhvaraśriyam
- Literal: beauty/splendour of the sacrifice. Symbolic: Efficacy and harmony of the inner journey when will leads
Formal selection/invocation of Agni as dūta at the beginning of sacrificial movement; emphasis on dawn-time openings (vyuṣṭiṣu).
At beginning of practice/rite, especially morning; also at any ‘new start’ in a sacrificial sequence.
Kindling and affirming Agni’s role; offering ghee; reciting as sankalpa-like declaration.
Use as a daily vow: re-choose the inner fire each morning; ideal before study, work, or meditation to establish luminous will.
√vṛ ‘choose’ marks deliberate consecration of Agni as mediator. dhūma-ketu ‘smoke’ + ‘banner/sign’ portrays Agni as the visible sign leading the rite; psychologically, the upward-striving signal of will. vyuṣṭi from vi-√uṣ ‘dawn forth’ → successive dawn-openings of consciousness. adhvara-śrī: śrī (splendour/fulfilment) applied to the sacrificial journey.
choice/consecration (vṛṇīmahe), ketu as sign (inner signal of ascent), śrī as sacrificial splendour
Agni as adhvaraśri enforces right rhythm and beauty (order) in the journey.
Bhāṛjīka as truth-cutting radiance; discernment that aligns action with truth.
Daily re-birth: dawn-unfoldings as repeated openings where the inner fire leads creation in the being.
Aurobindonian: psychological sacrifice—works become luminous when led by the psychic fire.
dawn
Smoke-banner = aspiration rising; keen radiance = discriminating light; dawn-unfoldings = moments of insight and renewed beginning.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The consecration of Agni as ‘chosen messenger’ and ‘banner-sign’ of the rite: the fire rises as the visible standard that leads the sacrificial journey through successive dawns—symbolizing repeated awakenings of consciousness.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vṛ ‘choose’ is a core IE verb (selection/election in sacral contexts). The semantic pairing of ‘sign/banner’ (ketu) with divine manifestation reflects an archaic IE poetics where the god is recognized by a visible token in nature (here smoke/fire).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi actively ‘elects’ Agni, indicating agency in establishing the inner channel. Agni reciprocates by becoming the rite’s beauty and guidance—transforming the dawn-moments into progressive openings and ensuring the sacrifice’s right direction.
Daily re-choosing of the psychic will; let aspiration rise like a banner and light become keen discernment.
Anahata (psychic flame) with Ajna (keen radiance)
Kapalabhati-light (very gentle, optional) to ‘raise the banner’ of energy, then settle into slow breathing with heart-flame visualization.
Resolved, aspirational, luminous readiness.
Begin sessions by repeating ‘adyā dūtaṃ vṛṇīmahe’ as a sankalpa; feel the will become clear and benevolent; then allow a quiet dawn-like widening where practice becomes ‘beautiful’ rather than strained.
Keep declarative udātta emphasis on ‘adyā’ and ‘vṛṇīmahe’; brighten on ‘dhūmaketum’ and ‘bhāṛjīkam’.
Make a clear pause after ‘vṛṇīmahe’ (choice completed), then describe Agni’s signs and splendour with flowing cadence.
‘vṛṇīmahe’: vocalic ṛ; long ī in nī, ‘dhūmaketum’: long ū; keep ‘ketum’ crisp, ‘vyuṣṭiṣu’: retroflex ṣ; cluster ‘vyu’ smooth, ‘adhvaraśriyam’: pronounce ‘śri’ clearly; avoid merging into ‘sri’ too flat
Firm and bright; a ‘vow-like’ clarity at start, then luminous warmth.
12
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
