Rig Veda 2.6.8: Mandala 2, Sukta 6, Mantra 8
Sukta 2.6
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Gāyatrī
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
स विद्वाँ आ च पिप्रयो यक्षि चिकित्व आनुषक् । आ चास्मिन्त्सत्सि बर्हिषि ॥
sá vidvā́ṃ ā́ ca piprayó yákṣi cikitva ānuṣák | ā́ cāsmín tsatsi bárhiṣi ||
स विद्वान् आ च पिप्रयः; यक्षि चिकित्वान् आनुषक्। आ च अस्मिन् सत्सि बर्हिषि॥
Word by Word
- सः
- he (that one)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- विद्वान्
- knowing, wiseAdjective (participial)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (वर्तमानकृदन्तः—क्तवतु/वत्-प्रत्ययसम्भवः ‘विद्वस्’)Role Kartā (सः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root √विद् (विदँ ज्ञाने) → विद्वस् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- hither, towardsIndeclinableउपसर्गः (आगमन/आभिमुख्ये) — पिप्रयः/यक्षि/सत्सि इत्यादिषु संयोगःRoot आ (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थकःRoot च (निपात)
- पिप्रयः
- the satisfier/filler (epithet)Noun/Adjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (सः विद्वान् इत्यस्य समानाधिकरण-विशेषणम्)Root √पृ (पृणाति/पृ—पूरणे, तर्पणे) → पिप्रय (नाम/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
- यक्षि
- worship! perform the sacrifice!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे), मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role (आह्वान/आदेशः) — कर्ता: त्वम् (अग्नि)Root √यज् (यजँ देवपूजासंगतिकरणदानेषु)
- चिकित्व
- O discerning oneAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (सम्बोधनार्थे प्रयुक्तं—अग्नेः विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (सम्बोधितस्य विशेषणम्)Root √चित् (चिती संज्ञाने) → चिकित्वस्/चिकित्व (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक; ‘knowing, discerning’)
- आनुषक्
- in due order, successivelyIndeclinableअव्ययम् (क्रमेण/अनुक्रमेण/निरन्तरम्)Root अनु (उपसर्ग) + √सञ्ज्/√सच् (सचँ समवाये/अनुसरणे) → आनुषक् (अव्यय)
- आ
- hither, towardsIndeclinableउपसर्गः (आगमन/आभिमुख्ये) — सत्सि इत्यनेनRoot आ (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थकःRoot च (निपात)
- अस्मिन्
- in thisPronounपुं/नपुं, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सत्सि
- you sitVerbलट् (वर्तमान), मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम् (वैदिक-रूपम्)Role (आह्वान/विधिः) — कर्ता: त्वम् (अग्नि)Root √सद् (षदँ विशरणगत्यवसादनेषु; ‘to sit’)
- बर्हिषि
- on the sacred grass (barhis)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot बर्हिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (वैदिक-सन्धिविच्छेद): सः | विद्वान् | आ | च | पिप्रयः | यक्षि | चिकित्व | आनुषक् | आ | च | अस्मिन् | सत्सि | बर्हिषि || 1) ‘स’ + ‘विद्वान्’ → ‘स विद्वाँ’ (अनुस्वार/नासिक्य-प्रयोगः; पदान्त-न् वैदिके नासिक्यत्वं/लोपः). 2) ‘च’ + ‘अस्मिन्’ → ‘चास्मिन्’ (स्वर-सन्धिः: अ + अ → आ). 3) ‘अस्मिन्’ + ‘सत्सि’ → संहितायां ‘अस्मिन्त्सत्सि’ (न् + स → न्त्स्; वैदिक-व्यञ्जनसन्धिः). 4) उच्चारण-चिह्नाः (॒/॑) ऋग्वैदिक-स्वरनिर्देशाः
- पदरूपाणि मूलतः उदात्त/अनुदात्त/स्वरित-युक्तानि।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni, who knows, is asked to come and be filled; to perform the sacrifice in right sequence; and to sit on the barhis (sacrificial seat).
Inner meaning
The seeker invites the knowing Fire to ‘grow full’ in the being—intensify and occupy the nature. ‘Yakṣi…ānuṣak’ indicates the right ordering of inner offering: thought, will, emotion, and action are to be consecrated in a true succession, not in confusion. ‘Sit on the barhis’ means establish the divine Presence on the prepared ground of consciousness—quiet, widened, and made fit to receive.
Universal truth
Spiritual practice succeeds when the guiding will is strengthened, the offering becomes orderly and sincere, and the consciousness is prepared as a seat for the Divine to abide.
Themes
Right order of sacrifice, Agni as conscious knower, Installation on the barhis
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)
- Lineage
- Bhārgava
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 2.6.6, Rig Veda 2.6.7, Rig Veda 2.6.9
Family tradition
Agni-centered visionary practice: establishing the deity not only as invoked but as seated and operative within.
Significance
This verse is a practical instruction in inner yajña: strengthen the flame, keep conscious order, and make the being a seat for the divine working.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- vidvān, cikitvaḥ, yakṣin (sacrificer/performer), āsīna (seated)
- Related deities
- Bṛhaspati (order of word), Soma (fullness/bliss), Indra (illumined mind)
Cosmic role
Performer and regulator of sacrifice; installs the gods on the barhis; maintains correct ritual/cosmic sequence.
Inner power
Conscious force that organizes transformation step-by-step and stabilizes presence in the mind-heart.
In ritual
Where it is used
Invitation for Agni to take the barhis and conduct offerings properly.
स वि॒द्वाँ आ च॑ पिप्रयो॒ यक्षि॑ चिकित्व आनु॒षक् । आ चा॒स्मिन्त्स॑त्सि ब॒र्हिषि॑ ॥
सः । वि॒द्वान् । आ । च॒ । पि॒प्र॒यः॒ । यक्षि॑ । चि॒कि॒त्वः॒ । आ॒नु॒षक् । आ । च॒ । अ॒स्मिन् । स॒त्सि॒ । ब॒र्हिषि॑ ॥
saḥ | vidvān | ā | ca | piprayaḥ | yakṣi | cikitvaḥ | ānuṣak | ā | ca | asmin | satsi | barhiṣi
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3×8
Directive and procedural; each pada gives a clear action: fill, offer in order, sit.
Builds disciplined momentum; supports stepwise inner alignment and settling into stillness.
- विद्वान् (vidvān)
- Literal: knowing. Symbolic: gnostic will; inner guide with discernment
- पिप्रयः (piprayaḥ)
- Literal: growing full, swelling. Symbolic: intensification and pervasion of divine force in the nature
- चिकित्वः (cikitvaḥ)
- Literal: conscious, perceptive. Symbolic: wakeful awareness in the flame; vigilant discrimination
- आनुषक् (ānuṣak)
- Literal: in due order, successively. Symbolic: right sequence of inner movements; methodical sadhana
- बर्हिषि (barhiṣi)
- Literal: on the sacred grass/seat. Symbolic: on the prepared, widened consciousness (receptive foundation)
Seating and empowering of Agni in the rite: invitation to sit on barhis and perform yajña in right order
Before/at the point of offering sequences, to ensure correct order and presence of Agni as officiant.
Āvāhana and āsana (seating), followed by orderly oblations.
Use as a ‘three-step’ meditation cue: (1) kindle fullness, (2) offer in order, (3) rest in presence.
√yaj ‘to sacrifice’ is the core Vedic action: to offer/transform. cikitva (from √cit ‘perceive’) emphasizes Agni as conscious intelligence. ānuṣak conveys ordered succession (following), aligning with ṛta as right process. barhis ‘sacrificial seat’ becomes symbolically the ‘spread’ of prepared receptivity in the being where the divine can ‘sit’ (stabilize).
Rita as right succession (ānuṣak), Establishment (āsana/sitting) of divine force in the being
Ānuṣak = ṛta as right sequence/law of process; Agni enforces this order in the inner cosmos.
Cikitvaḥ: truth-aware vigilance prevents false or mixed offerings (ego-driven movements).
Stabilization of divine presence in the prepared field—order precedes manifestation of higher powers.
Yoga of works (karma-yoga prototype) as inner yajña: method, order, and consecration.
Fire’s growth = intensifying aspiration; barhis = quiet, spread-out receptivity; orderly offering = disciplined psychological process.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘installation and operation’ mythologem: Agni is invited to come, become full, perform the sacrifice in right sequence, and sit upon the barhis. Inwardly, the divine will is established on a prepared foundation of consciousness and then carries out the transformative offering step by step in accord with ṛta.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √yaj is Indo-Iranian (cf. Avestan yaz-) indicating a shared sacrificial lexicon and concept of worship as effective action. The emphasis on ordered succession (ānuṣak) parallels broader IE ritual concern with correct sequence and formula as a condition of efficacy.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi requests not only presence but stabilization (‘sit’) and correct functioning (‘yaksi ānuṣak’). The devatā is treated as an intelligent collaborator (vidvān, cikitvaḥ) who, once established in the prepared seat, executes the inner and outer sacrifice toward plenitude.
Establish a steady inner flame; practice orderly offering of thoughts and emotions; rest in receptive stillness.
Manipura → Anahata (from will-fullness to seated heart-presence)
Box-breath (4-4-4-4) for ‘ānuṣak’ (order), then natural breath while ‘sitting’ inwardly.
Collected, methodical, then settled.
Before action, offer: (1) intention, (2) emotion, (3) body-energy—one by one—into Agni. Then pause and feel the Presence seated in the widened awareness (barhis).
Chant with careful udātta peaks on ‘vidvān’, ‘yakṣi’, ‘cikitvaḥ’, and a gentle settling cadence on ‘barhiṣi’.
Let the final pada soften and ‘seat’ the sound; keep consonant clarity in ‘cikitva’.
piprayaḥ: ‘pr’ cluster crisp; final ḥ light, yakṣi: kṣ as conjunct (k+ṣ), not ‘x’, cikitvaḥ: repeat ci-ki clearly; tv cluster light, ānuṣak: long ā; retroflex ṣ, barhiṣi: rh as r+h; ṣ retroflex
Focused and steady, ending with a restful, grounded tone.
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