Rig Veda 6.3.7: Mandala 6, Sukta 3, Mantra 7
Sukta 6.3
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
दिवो न यस्य विधतो नवीनोद्वृषा रुक्ष ओषधीषु नूनोत् । घृणा न यो ध्रजसा पत्मना यन्ना रोदसी वसुना दं सुपत्नी ॥
divó na yásya vidható navī́not vṛ́ṣā rukṣá oṣádhīṣu nūnot | ghṛṇā́ na yó dhrajásā pátmanā yánn ā́ rodasī vásunā dám su-pátnī ||
दिव इव यस्य नवीयसी नूतनता विधातारं नवीकरोति; स वृषा रुक्षः स्वं शुष्मम् ओषधीषु नूनोति। घृणेव स ध्रजसा पत्मना यन्, वसुभिः समृद्धः स रोदसी उभे उपैति—गृहं यथा—ते सु-पत्नी इव शक्ती।
Word by Word
- दिवः
- of heaven / of the skyNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (द्यौः), षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)Root दिव् (प्रातिपदिक: दिव्/द्यौ-)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-निपातRoot न
- यस्य
- whosePronounपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- विधतः
- of the worshipper / of the arranger (ritualist)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot विधत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √धा/√धि ‘to arrange, to worship/serve’)
- नवीनः
- new, freshAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole विशेषण (to an implied subject, e.g., अग्निः)Root नवीन (प्रातिपदिक)
- उत्
- up, forthIndeclinableउपसर्ग/निपातRoot उत्
- वृषा
- the bull (vigorous one)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot वृषन्/वृष (प्रातिपदिक)
- रुक्षः
- bright, shining (also: rough/harsh in later usage)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole विशेषण (to वृषा)Root रुक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
- ओषधीषु
- in the plants / herbsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी बहुवचनRole अधिकरणRoot ओषधि (प्रातिपदिक)
- नूनोत्
- impelled, drove, set in motionVerbलुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथमा एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √नु (नुनोति ‘to push/impel’; Vedic aorist)
- घृणा
- glow, heat, ardourNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole उपमान (in simile)Root घृणा (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-निपातRoot न
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ध्रजसा
- with (his) flashing force / with speed (dhraj-)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचनRole करणRoot ध्रज (प्रातिपदिक)
- पत्मना
- with flight / with winged motionNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचनRole करणRoot पत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- यत्
- which (that)Pronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (correlative)Role कर्म (object of an implied verb like ‘touches/fills’)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ना
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-निपात (Vedic variant of ‘न’)Root न
- रोदसी
- the two worlds (heaven and earth)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया द्विवचन (collective dual)Role कर्म/अधिकरण (context-dependent)Root रोदसी (द्विवचन-प्रातिपदिक; ‘heaven-and-earth’)
- वसुना
- with wealth / with good (treasure)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचनRole करणRoot वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
- दम्
- the house, the homeNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot दम् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘house, home’)
- सुपत्नी
- having good husbands / well-wedded (two wives)Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन (agreeing with रोदसी)Role विशेषणRoot सु-पत्नी (समास; प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (major): नवी॑नो॒द्वृषा॑ → नवीनः + उत् + वृषा
- ओष॑धीषु (no split)
- घृणा॒ न (simile particle)
- ध्रज॑सा॒ पत्म॑ना (instrumentals)
- यन्ना → यत् + ना
- रोद॑सी॒ (dual ‘heaven-and-earth’)
- दं → दम (acc. sg.). Accent marks in the input are retained on the surface forms
- analysis is on the resolved padas
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni renews the worshipper like heaven; the Bull, shining, drives his force into the plants. Like warm splendor he moves with blazing speed; he comes to the two worlds as to a home, rich in plenty—those two good-consorted ones.
Inner meaning
Agni’s ‘newness’ is the ever-fresh power of consciousness that renews the striving being (vidhataḥ) again and again. As the Bull (vṛṣā) he pours force into ‘plants’ (oṣadhīḥ): the growing powers of life and the body-nature, making them receptive to light. He is ghṛṇā—warm radiance—moving swiftly by dhrajas/patman (blazing impetus), and he establishes harmony between the two worlds (rodasī): inner/outer, heaven/earth, mind/body—making them ‘supatnī’, well-yoked partners in the yoga of life.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress is an ever-renewing force: it must descend into life and body to transform growth itself, and reconcile inner and outer existence into a single home of harmony.
Themes
renewal, Agni as increaser, illumined vitality, cosmic integration
The seer
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya
- Lineage
- Bharadvāja
- Other hymns
- RV 6.3.6, RV 6.3.8, RV 6.4.1
Family tradition
Bharadvāja’s vision often joins cosmic and psychological: heaven/earth as inner/outer; Agni as renewer and increaser.
Significance
The seer frames transformation as integrative: Agni does not only rise upward; he enters growth (oṣadhi) and unites the dual worlds into a harmonious ‘home’.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- Vṛṣā (Bull), Rukṣa (shining), Navīnot (renewer), Ghṛṇā (warm splendor)
- Related deities
- Sūrya, Uṣas, Maruts, Pṛthivī-Dyauḥ (Heaven-Earth)
Cosmic role
Solar-heat in vegetation; renewer of heaven/earth relations; bringer of wealth and harmony to the worlds.
Inner power
Transformative heat that renews the seeker, energizes life-body, and reconciles mind and matter into a stable foundation for realization.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni-stuti connected to household and soma rites; also seasonal rites where growth/vegetation symbolism is prominent.
दि॒वो न यस्य॑ विध॒तो नवी॑नो॒द्वृषा॑ रु॒क्ष ओष॑धीषु नूनोत् । घृणा॒ न यो ध्रज॑सा॒ पत्म॑ना॒ यन्ना रोद॑सी॒ वसु॑ना॒ दं सु॒पत्नी॑ ॥
दि॒वः । न । यस्य॑ । वि॒ध॒तः । नवी॑नोत् । वृषा॑ । रु॒क्षः । ओष॑धीषु । नू॒नो॒त् । घृणा॑ । न । यः । ध्रज॑सा । पत्म॑ना । यन् । आ । रोद॑सी॒ इति॑ । वसु॑ना । दम् । सु॒पत्नी॒ इति॑ सु॒ऽपत्नी॑ ॥
divaḥ | na | yasya | vidhataḥ | navīnot | vṛṣā | rukṣaḥ | oṣadhīṣu | nūnot | ghṛṇā | na | yaḥ | dhrajasā | patmanā | yan | ā | rodasī iti | vasunā | dam | supatnī itisu-patnī
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4×11 (probable); strong caesura supports images of renewal and swift approach.
Expansive and ‘heaven-like’ with surges of speed; balances steadiness (home/two worlds) with impetus (patman).
Invokes warmth and integration; listeners often feel both uplift and grounding—energy entering the body gently but powerfully.
- नवीनोत् (navīnot)
- Literal: renews, makes new. Symbolic: fresh descent of consciousness; continual regeneration of aspiration
- विधतः (vidhataḥ)
- Literal: the worshipper/servant who orders the rite. Symbolic: the disciplined seeker arranging the inner sacrifice
- वृषा (vṛṣā)
- Literal: bull. Symbolic: pouring power; fecund force of conscious energy
- रुक्षः (rukṣaḥ)
- Literal: shining, bright. Symbolic: luminous clarity in dynamic action
- ओषधीषु (oṣadhīṣu)
- Literal: in the plants/herbs. Symbolic: in the growth-principles of life-body; the vital-physical energies
- घृणा (ghṛṇā)
- Literal: warm glow, splendor. Symbolic: psychic warmth; benevolent radiance that ripens nature
- ध्रजसा (dhrajasā)
- Literal: with blaze/ardor. Symbolic: intensity of tapas driving transformation
- पत्मना (patmanā)
- Literal: with speed/flight. Symbolic: swift movement of consciousness in the subtle being
- रोदसी (rodasī)
- Literal: the two worlds (heaven and earth). Symbolic: mind and body; inner and outer planes to be harmonized
- सुपत्नी (supatnī)
- Literal: good-consorted pair. Symbolic: well-yoked duality—spirit and life reconciled
Agni as quickener of growth and prosperity in household and Śrauta contexts; recitable in kindling and offering sequences seeking renewal, vigor, and ‘vasu’ (plenitude).
When invoking Agni for increase (puṣṭi) and prosperity, and for harmonizing cosmic supports (dyāvā-pṛthivī).
Offerings with prayers for renewal, growth, and harmony; kindling to ‘enter the plants’ metaphorically as increase of life.
Chant for rejuvenation, recovery, and integration of spiritual practice with daily work and bodily health.
नवीनोत from √nū/√nav ‘to make new’ (navīna ‘new’), indicating renewal of the sacrificer’s state. वृषन् ‘bull’ is a standard epithet of energetic potency (√vṛṣ ‘to sprinkle, be virile/strong’). ओषधि (oṣádhi) traditionally ‘plant’ (oṣá ‘burning/juice’ + √dhā ‘put’ per some analyses), but in inner sense: growth-powers receptive to Agni’s impulse. घृणा (ghṛṇā́) ‘warm glow’ related to √ghṛ ‘to shine/warm’ (also linked with ghṛta ‘clarified butter’ as luminous substance). ध्रजस् (dhrájas) ‘blaze’ from √dhraj ‘to flash/burn’. पत्मन् (pátman) ‘flight/course’ from √pat ‘to fly’ (PIE *pet-; cf. Gk. πέτομαι, Lat. petō). दम (dám) ‘house’ from √dam ‘to tame/build’ (ordering into a settled seat).
renewal of the adhvaryu-like will (vidhataḥ), integration of the two worlds (rodasī as supatnī), ṛta as harmonious pairing and settled ‘home’ (dam)
The ‘two worlds’ in right relation (supatnī) indicates restored ṛta between planes of being.
Agni’s shining (rukṣa) is truth-light entering growth and action.
Cosmic heat as the principle of growth and renewal; descent of fire into vegetation as life’s evolving consciousness.
Integral transformation: not escape from nature but divinization of life and body (Aurobindo’s reading).
spring (implied by vegetation/growth; not explicit)
Heaven = higher mind; plants = life’s growth energies; bull-force = descending power; two worlds = mind-body harmony.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Agni as the cosmic quickener who renews the sacrificer and enters vegetation as formative heat. The mythic action is the descent/arrival of the fire-power into the two worlds, establishing a ‘home’ of plenty—symbolizing the settling of divine force into mind and life so they become a harmonious pair (supatnī).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- पत्मन् from √pat aligns with PIE *pet- ‘fly’ (broad IE poetic image of swift divine movement). The fixed dual ‘rodasī’ (two worlds) echoes inherited Indo-European cosmological binaries. Lexemes for ‘day/heaven’ (div-) preserve the old *dyeu- ‘sky/daylight’ complex.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The worshipper (vidhataḥ) is explicitly renewed by Agni’s action: the human ordering-will offers; Agni returns by renewing, impelling growth-forces, and establishing plenitude (‘vasu’) as a stable inner dwelling (dam) in the integrated being.
Feel a warm golden glow descending from above the head into heart and navel, then spreading into the limbs like life entering plants.
Maṇipūra (transformative heat) supported by Anāhata (warm splendor)
Slow breathing with a gentle internal ‘warming’ on inhale; on exhale, imagine harmonizing ‘two worlds’—inner intention and outer action.
Integrated, embodied luminosity; calm power.
When practice feels ‘dry’ or disembodied, invoke Agni as renewer: invite the light to enter daily habits, health, and work, making mind and body ‘good consorts’.
Śākala udatta/anudatta/svarita; keep smooth transitions over consonant clusters (dhrajasā, patmanā).
Let the cadence broaden on ‘rodasī’ and ‘supatnī’ to convey integration and arrival.
विधतो (vidhato): aspirate dh clearly, ओषधीषु (oṣadhīṣu): retroflex ṣ; long ī, घृणा (ghṛṇā): ghṛ with vocalic ṛ; do not turn into ‘gri’, सुपत्नी (supatnī): dental t; long ī
Warm, even, slightly expansive; avoid harshness—this is renewing heat, not burning anger.
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