Rig Veda 3.2.10: Mandala 3, Sukta 2, Mantra 10
Sukta 3.2
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
विशां कविं विश्पतिं मानुषीरिषः सं सीमकृण्वन्त्स्वधितिं न तेजसे । स उद्वतो निवतो याति वेविषत्स गर्भमेषु भुवनेषु दीधरत् ॥
viśā́ṃ kavíṃ viśpátiṃ mā́nuṣīr íṣaḥ sáṃ sīm akṛṇvan svá-dhitim ná téjase | sá udvátó nivátó yāti véviṣat sá gárbham eṣú bhúvaneṣu dīdharat ||
मानुषीरिषः विशां कविं विश्पतिमग्निं तेजसे स्वधितिं न सं सीम् अकृण्वन्। स उद्वतो निवतो याति वेविषत्; स गर्भम् एषु भुवनेषु दीधरत्।
Word by Word
- विशाम्
- of the clans/peoplesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (RV में प्रायः), षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)Root विश् (प्रातिपदिक: विश्/विशा ‘जन/कुल/विष्’)
- कविम्
- the sage/poetNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (object; apposition to अग्निम् understood)Root कवि (प्रातिपदिक)
- विश्पतिम्
- the lord of the clanNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (object; apposition)Root विश्पति (विश् + पति)
- मानुषीः
- humanAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्म (qualifier of इषः)Root मानुषी (मानुष < मनु)
- इषः
- offerings/refreshmentsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (RV रूप: इषः = इषाः)Role कर्म (what is made/arranged)Root इष्/इषा (प्रातिपदिक: इष् ‘आहार/पोषण/बलि-आहुति/refreshment’)
- सम्
- together, completelyIndeclinable (preverb) / particleउपसर्गRoot सम्
- सीम्
- him (indeed), for himIndeclinable (enclitic pronoun/particle)एन्क्लिटिक; ‘him/for him’ (अग्निम्)Role सम्प्रदान (beneficiary, loosely)Root सीम्
- अकृण्वन्
- they made/arrangedVerbलङ् (इम्पर्फेक्ट), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रिया (मुख्य क्रिया)Root कृ (धातु)
- स्वधितिम्
- an axe/adzeNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (object of comparison with न)Root स्वधिति (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-निपातRoot न
- तेजसे
- for brightness/splendourNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन (purpose: ‘for brilliance’)Root तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (subject)Root तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- उद्वतः
- from the higher placeAdjective (used substantively)नपुंसक/पुं (RV), पञ्चमी, एकवचनRole अपादान (from the height)Root उद्वत् (उद् + वत्; प्रातिपदिक)
- निवतः
- from the lower placeAdjective (used substantively)नपुंसक/पुं (RV), पञ्चमी, एकवचनRole अपादान (from the low place)Root निवत् (नि + वत्; प्रातिपदिक)
- याति
- goes, movesVerbलट् (वर्त्तमान), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot या (धातु)
- वेविषत्
- quivering/impelling (in motion)Verbलुङ्/अोरिस्ट (injunctive-like RV usage), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रिया-विशेषण (manner: ‘quivering/impelling’)Root विष्/विविष् (धातु; RV: ‘कम्प/उत्तेजित होना/तेज होना’)
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot तद्
- गर्भम्
- the embryo/germNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (what is placed/held)Root गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
- एषु
- in thesePronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole अधिकरण (in these)Root इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- भुवनेषु
- in the worlds/realmsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole अधिकरणRoot भुवन (प्रातिपदिक)
- दीधरत्
- has held/has placed firmlyVerbलिट् (परिप्रास/रेडुप्लिकेटेड परफेक्ट; RV), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot धृ (धातु)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (संधि-विग्रह): विशाम् | कविम् | विश्पतिम् | मानुषीः | इषः | सम् | सीम् | अकृण्वन् | स्वधितिम् | न | तेजसे || सः | उद्वतः | निवतः | याति | वेविषत् | सः | गर्भम् | एषु | भुवनेषु | दीधरत् । मुख्य संधि: (1) मानुषीः + इषः → मानुषीरिषः (दीर्घ-संधि/स्वर-संधि). (2) सं + सीम् → सं सीम् (अनुस्वार/नासिक्य-समायोजन; पाठ में ‘सं’). (3) अकृण्वन् + स्वधितिम् → अकृण्वन्त्स्वधितिम् (न् + स् → न्त्स्). (4) उद्वतः/निवतः: उद्/नि-उपसर्गयुक्त ‘वत्’ विशेषण, पञ्चमी एकवचन
- पाठ में उद्वतो निवतो. (5) गर्भम् + एषु → गर्भमे॒षु (म् + ए → मे)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The human energies (iṣaḥ) sharpen and concentrate Agni—the seer and clan-lord—like a whetted axe/blade for brilliance. He moves from heights and depths, vibrating with force, and holds an embryo within these worlds.
Inner meaning
The seeker’s impulses and aspirations gather themselves into a single-pointed intensity, forging the inner Fire (Agni) into a keen instrument of discernment and luminous action. This awakened Will ranges through the higher and lower planes of our nature (udvata/nivata), stirring and purifying them, and safeguards the ‘embryo’ of the divine consciousness growing in the embodied life.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress requires concentrated aspiration: when our scattered energies are unified, the inner will becomes a sharp, luminous power that can traverse all levels of being and protect the nascent divinity until it is born into stable realization.
Themes
Agni as social and inner lord (viśpati), Sharpened will/discrimination, Embryo of divine manifestation
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Viśvāmitra (Gāthina line)
- Other hymns
- RV 3.1, RV 3.2, RV 3.3, RV 3.4
Family tradition
Royal seer who embodies the transition from warrior power to spiritual mastery; hymns often stress forging inner force into illumination.
Significance
Viśvāmitra’s Agni is the disciplined inner Fire: a yogic power that unifies the nature, travels across planes, and protects the divine ‘seed’ until manifestation.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- kavi (seer), viśpati (lord of the clans/faculties), tejase (brilliant), garbha-dhṛt (holder of the embryo)
- Related deities
- Indra, Soma, Uṣas, Mātariśvan
Cosmic role
Mediator between earth and heaven; carrier of offerings; awakener of light and order across worlds.
Inner power
Concentrated divine Will (psychic fire) that purifies the lower nature and draws down higher illumination while guarding the soul’s becoming.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agnihotra / daily kindling and invocation of Agni; also general agni-stotra usage in soma-related liturgies as the ‘priest’ power.
वि॒शां क॒विं वि॒श्पतिं॒ मानु॑षी॒रिष॒: सं सी॑मकृण्व॒न्त्स्वधि॑तिं॒ न तेज॑से । स उ॒द्वतो॑ नि॒वतो॑ याति॒ वेवि॑ष॒त्स गर्भ॑मे॒षु भुव॑नेषु दीधरत् ॥
वि॒शाम् । क॒विम् । वि॒श्पति॑म् । मानु॑षीः । इषः॑ । सम् । सी॒म् । अ॒कृ॒ण्व॒न् । स्वऽधि॑तिम् । न । तेज॑से । सः । उ॒त्ऽवतः॑ । नि॒ऽवतः॑ । या॒ति॒ । वेवि॑षत् । सः । गर्भ॑म् । ए॒षु । भुव॑नेषु । दी॒ध॒र॒त् ॥
viśām | kavim | viśpatim | mānuṣīḥ | iṣaḥ | sam | sīm | akṛṇvan | sva-dhitim | na | tejase | saḥ | ut-vataḥ | ni-vataḥ | yāti | veviṣat | saḥ | garbham | eṣu | bhuvaneṣu | dīdharat
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables each
Strong, forward-driving cadence suited to dynamic invocation and inner effort.
Builds concentrated force (tapas) and a sense of upward/downward movement—useful for unifying scattered energies into a single flame.
- वि॒शां (viśāṃ)
- Literal: of the peoples/clans. Symbolic: the multiple powers in the being; the collectivity of faculties
- क॒विं (kavim)
- Literal: seer, poet. Symbolic: the illumined consciousness in the will-force
- वि॒श्पतिं (viśpatim)
- Literal: lord of the clan. Symbolic: governing inner leader organizing the faculties
- मानु॑षी॒रिष॒: (mānuṣīr iṣaḥ)
- Literal: human energies/impulses. Symbolic: aspirations, will-impulses, life-forces offered to yoga
- स्वधि॑तिं (svadhitim)
- Literal: axe, hatchet, whetted blade. Symbolic: keen discriminative force; cutting through obscurity
- तेज॑से (tejase)
- Literal: for brilliance, splendor. Symbolic: radiance of consciousness; spiritual clarity
- उ॒द्वतः॑ (udvataḥ)
- Literal: from the heights. Symbolic: higher mind, luminous planes
- नि॒वतः॑ (nivataḥ)
- Literal: from the depths/lowlands. Symbolic: vital/subconscient layers needing purification
- वेवि॑षत् (veviṣat)
- Literal: trembling, vibrating. Symbolic: intensified tapas; dynamic awakening
- गर्भ॑म् (garbham)
- Literal: embryo, seed. Symbolic: the divine birth within; emerging supramental possibility
- भुव॑नेषु (bhuvaneṣu)
- Literal: in the worlds. Symbolic: in all planes of embodied existence
Agni as viśpati (household/clan lord) connects to domestic fire (gārhapatya) and to communal rite; imagery supports the idea of sustaining the sacrificial ‘seed’ through ritual continuity.
At lighting of the sacred fire; at the beginning of offerings and recitations.
Kindling, offering ghee/oblations, inviting Agni as leader of the rite.
Use as a mantra for focusing intention before meditation or work: ‘sharpen the will’ and protect the inner growth through the day.
iṣ ‘impulse/nourishment’ (from √iṣ ‘to impel, refresh’): in inner sense, streams of aspiration and energizing delight. svadhiti ‘axe’ (tool for cutting) symbolizes discriminative power that cleaves obstruction; ‘for tejase’ indicates sharpening for luminous force. garbha ‘embryo’ marks concealed formation—Agni as bearer of the future divine manifestation.
Concentration of energies (saṃ sīm), Tejas (luminous power), Garbha (inner formation/gestation)
Agni organizes the many ‘viś’ into a single ordered movement aligned with Ṛta.
The ‘embryo’ points to Satya concealed in the worlds, to be brought to birth by the fire of will.
The divine is first a seed held within the worlds; evolution is the guarded gestation of that seed.
Proto-Vedāntic / integral-yogic reading (Aurobindo): evolution of consciousness through Agni as psychic leader.
Fire = will and aspiration; blade = discriminative clarity; heights/depths = higher/lower planes; vibration = tapas awakening the whole nature.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Agni as bearer of the ‘garbha’ (divine embryo) across worlds: the myth of the hidden seed of light maintained within existence. The ‘sharpened blade’ image frames Agni as the instrument that cuts through obstruction to release brilliance.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- tejas relates to √tij/tej ‘be sharp, be bright’ (semantic overlap of sharpness/brightness common in IE poetics). √dhṛ ‘hold’ (dīdharat) continues PIE *dʰer- ‘hold’.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- Human impulses (mānuṣī iṣaḥ) concentrate and ‘sharpen’ Agni’s working in the being; Agni reciprocates by sustaining the inner embryo of higher consciousness throughout the planes—making human life a vessel for divine gestation.
Unify scattered desires into a single aspiration; feel Agni as a sharp, luminous will in the heart and mind.
Anāhata (psychic fire) with ascent toward Ājñā (clarity)
Gentle kumbhaka after inhale while inwardly repeating key words (kaviṃ… tejase… garbham).
Collected, vigilant, dynamically quiet (tapas with steadiness).
Before japa, offer all ‘human energies’ into the flame; then scan ‘heights and depths’ of your nature, asking Agni to protect the nascent truth from dispersion.
Use Vedic svara as marked in the Saṃhitā; maintain clear udatta peaks on key invocatory words (e.g., kaviṃ, viśpatim, garbham) with smooth transitions into svarita.
Keep each pāda as one breath-unit if possible; slight lift on udatta syllables, no heavy stress like classical Sanskrit.
वि॒शां: nasalized ‘viśā̃m’ with clear ś, क॒विं: short iṃ with anusvāra resonance, स्वधि॑तिम्: pronounce ‘svadhitim’ (not ‘swadhitim’), light dh, वेवि॑षत्: repeat ‘ve-vi-ṣat’ distinctly, retroflex ṣ
Bright, steady, slightly forceful (tapas), ending each pāda with calm containment.
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.
