Rig Veda 6.13.5: Mandala 6, Sukta 13, Mantra 5
Sukta 6.13
ता नृभ्य आ सौश्रवसा सुवीराग्ने सूनो सहसः पुष्यसे धाः । कृणोषि यच्छवसा भूरि पश्वो वयो वृकायारये जसुरये ॥
tā́ nṛ́bhya ā́ sauśravasā́ su-vīrāgne sūno sahaso puṣyáse dhāḥ | kṛṇóṣi yác cháv asā bhū́ri paśvó váyo vṛ́kāyāráye jásuraye ||
ता नृभ्य आ सौश्रवसा सुवीराग्ने सूनो सहसः पुष्यसे धाः। कृणोषि यच्छवसा भूरि पश्वो वयो वृकायारये जसुरये॥
Protective-boon petition: nourishment of heroic energies and safeguarding of gains from hostile forces; applicable where protection of ‘cattle’/resources is sought, inwardly and outwardly
nourishment/increase (puṣ), protection of inner gains, heroic force (su-vīra)
Agni upholds R̥ta by carrying the seeker’s gains beyond forces that violate the order (predation/devouring).
Truth becomes effective when embodied as śavas (force) that stabilizes and protects light.
Increase (puṣyase) as inner growth—light multiplying into herds and winged movements.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: powers of consciousness evolving through inner sacrifice.
Fire = awakened will; cattle = rays/treasures of light; birds = ascending thoughts; wolf = predatory vital/subconscient that steals illumination.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The protection-of-the-cows mythologem (here broadened): Agni makes abundant the ‘herds’ (paśu) and ‘winged ones’ (vayas) and keeps them beyond the wolf/enemy/devourer. Innerly, the recovered powers and illuminations must be guarded from devouring instincts and hostile formations.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- pati/hero lexicon (su-vīra) uses vīra ‘man/hero’ from PIE *wiHro- (cf. Latin vir). √śru ‘hear’ is PIE *ḱleu- (cf. Greek κλύω klýō ‘hear’, English listen is not cognate but ‘loud’ shares *ḱleu-). Thus ‘fame/hearing’ (śravas) is an inherited IE poetic value.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asks Agni to nourish and establish (puṣyase, dhāḥ) heroic capacities and right renown/receptivity (suśravas). The exchange is ethical-psychological: by aligning to Agni’s force (śavas), the seeker receives abundance of powers (paśu, vayas) and protection from devouring and hostile impulses (vṛka, ari, jasura).
Establish Agni in the heart as steady will; ask for increase of luminous capacities and protection from ‘light-eaters’.
anahata
moderate nāḍī-śodhana for 6–12 rounds before chanting; then natural breath with attention in the chest-flame.
Dynamic quietude—calm strength with alert protection.
On ‘paśvaḥ’ feel widening light in the mind; on ‘vayaḥ’ feel thoughts gaining wings; on ‘vṛka/araye/jasuraye’ offer all fear and negativity into the fire to be transmuted.
Follow RV śākhā tradition: udatta on marked syllables; svarita as post-udatta glide; anudatta on unmarked—requires a pada-based svara text for exact mapping.
Keep the main lift on vocatives and power-words: ágne, sáhasaḥ, śávasā; avoid flattening compound accents (sū́no sahásaḥ).
Maintain retroflex in nṛbhyaḥ (ṇṛ- cluster), Keep clear aspirates: bhūri, dhāḥ, Do not reduce vṛka to ‘vrika’; keep ṛ vowel short and crisp, jasuraye: articulate ja-su-ra-ye distinctly
Bright, steady, slightly forceful; end each pāda with a clean release.
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