Rig Veda 3.2.5: Mandala 3, Sukta 2, Mantra 5
Sukta 3.2
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
अग्निं सुम्नाय दधिरे पुरो जना वाजश्रवसमिह वृक्तबर्हिषः । यतस्रुचः सुरुचं विश्वदेव्यं रुद्रं यज्ञानां साधदिष्टिमपसाम् ॥
agníṃ sumnā́ya dadhire puró jánā vā́ja-śravasam ihá vṛktá-barhiṣaḥ | yatá-srucaḥ su-rúcaṃ viśvá-devyaṃ rudráṃ yajñā́nāṃ sā́dhat-iṣṭim apásām ||
தெய்வீக சும்னத்திற்காக மக்கள் அக்னியை முன்னணியில் நிறுவினர்—இங்கே, பரிசுத்த பற்ஹிஸ் விரிக்கப்பட்டவர்கள். கட்டுப்பாட்டில் உள்ள ஸ்ருசுகளுடன் அவர்கள் சுருசி, விஶ்வதேவ்ய, ருத்ர-சக்தியை நிலைநிறுத்துகின்றனர்—எங்கள் அபஸ் (செயல்கள்) வழி யஜ்ஞங்களின் இஷ்டி, நிறைவை, சாதிப்பவன்.
Word by Word
- अग्निम्
- Agni (as the object)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot अग्नि- (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुम्नाय
- for favor / for graceNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी-विभक्ति; एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot सुम्न- (प्रातिपदिक)
- दधिरे
- they have placed / establishedVerbलिट् (परस्मैपद-रूपं, वैदिक); प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचनRoot धा (धातु)
- पुरः
- in front; as foremostIndeclinableअव्ययRole अधिकारणRoot पुरस्/पुरः (अव्यय/निपात)
- जनाः
- people; menNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot जन- (प्रातिपदिक)
- वाजश्रवसम्
- famed for prize/strength (having fame of ‘vāja’)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन (अग्निम् विशेषयति)Role कर्मRoot वाजश्रवस्- (प्रातिपदिक; बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय-समास)
- इह
- hereIndeclinableअव्ययRole अधिकारणRoot इह (अव्यय)
- वृक्तबर्हिषः
- having strewn/spread the sacrificial grassAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन (जनाः विशेषयति)Role कर्तृRoot वृक्त-बर्हिस्- (प्रातिपदिक; कर्मधारय-समास)
- यतस्रुचः
- with directed/controlled ladlesAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन (जनाः विशेषयति)Role कर्तृRoot यत-स्रुच्- (प्रातिपदिक; कर्मधारय-समास)
- सुरुचम्
- bright; of good radianceAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन (अग्निम् विशेषयति)Role कर्मRoot सु-रुच्/रुचि- (प्रातिपदिक; उपसर्गपूर्वक)
- विश्वदेव्यम्
- belonging to/for all the gods; all-divineAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन (अग्निम् विशेषयति)Role कर्मRoot विश्व-देव्य- (प्रातिपदिक; कर्मधारय-समास)
- रुद्रम्
- Rudra (the fierce one)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन (अग्निम् विशेषयति/समनाधिकरण-विशेषण)Role कर्मRoot रुद्र- (प्रातिपदिक)
- यज्ञानाम्
- of the sacrificesNounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; बहुवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot यज्ञ- (प्रातिपदिक)
- साधदिष्टिम्
- accomplishing the oblation/aim; bringing the offering to successAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन (अग्निम् विशेषयति)Role कर्मRoot साध-दिष्टि- (प्रातिपदिक; कर्मधारय-समास)
- अपसाम्
- of the works/deeds (ritual acts)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग (वैदिक ‘अपस्’); षष्ठी-विभक्ति; बहुवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot अप्/अपस्- (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: अग्निम् | सुम्नाय | दधिरे | पुरः | जनाः | वाजश्रवसम् | इह | वृक्तबर्हिषः | यतस्रुचः | सुरुचम् | विश्वदेव्यम् | रुद्रम् | यज्ञानाम् | साधदिष्टिम् | अपसाम् । प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) जना वाजश्रवसम् → जनाः वाजश्रवसम् (विसर्ग-लोप/पदपाठ-समायोजन)
- (2) वाजश्रवसमिह → वाजश्रवसम् इह (म् + इ → मिह)
- (3) विश्वदेव्यं रुद्रं → विश्वदेव्यम् रुद्रम् (म् + र्)
- (4) दिष्टिमपसाम् → दिष्टिम् अपसाम् (म् + अ → मप)
The meaning
Outer meaning
People place Agni in front for auspicious blessing; with the sacrificial seat prepared and ladles controlled, they establish the bright, all-godward power (Agni as Rudra) who accomplishes the desired offering of their works.
Inner meaning
The seekers set the Divine Will (Agni) at the forefront of the being so that the inner sacrifice yields sumnā (grace, gladness). With disciplined instruments of offering (yatasruc—governed ‘ladles’: intention, attention, speech), they kindle a clear radiance (suruc) that turns the whole nature toward the Divine (viśvadevya). Agni is called Rudra here: the force that breaks resistance, purifies the vital-emotional nature, and makes our works (apas) effective, fulfilling the true aspiration (iṣṭi).
Universal truth
Lasting fulfilment comes when will and action are consecrated: disciplined offering transforms effort into an illumined power that aligns the whole being with the higher order and accomplishes what the soul truly seeks.
Themes
Installation of Agni, Discipline of offering, Purifying force, All-godward integration
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Viśvāmitra (Gāthin lineage)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 3.1, Rig Veda 3.2, Rig Veda 3.3, Rig Veda 3.4
Family tradition
Kṣatriya-turned-brahmarṣi; hymns emphasize conquest of inner and outer darkness through tapas and divine aid.
Significance
Viśvāmitra’s vision often presents Agni/Indra as powers of inner transformation: disciplined aspiration leading to illumination and the victory over resistance.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (Rudra-epithet)
- Epithets
- vājaśravasam (famed for plenitude), suruc (fair-radiant), viśvadevya (all-godward), rudra (purifying-transformer)
- Related deities
- Rudra, Viśve Devāḥ, Indra, Soma
Cosmic role
Mediator between human and divine worlds; carrier of offerings; awakener of the gods’ powers in the sacrifice.
Inner power
Will that purifies and intensifies; a forceful grace (Rudra-quality) that makes action effective and aligned with truth.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni installation/invocation as purohita in soma and iṣṭi rites
अ॒ग्निं सु॒म्नाय॑ दधिरे पु॒रो जना॒ वाज॑श्रवसमि॒ह वृ॒क्तब॑र्हिषः । य॒तस्रु॑चः सु॒रुचं॑ वि॒श्वदे॑व्यं रु॒द्रं य॒ज्ञानां॒ साध॑दिष्टिम॒पसा॑म् ॥
अ॒ग्निम् । सु॒म्नाय॑ । द॒धि॒रे॒ । पु॒रः । जनाः॑ । वाज॑ऽश्रवसम् । इ॒ह । वृ॒क्तऽब॑र्हिषः । य॒तऽस्रु॑चः । सु॒ऽरुच॑म् । वि॒श्वऽदे॑व्यम् । रु॒द्रम् । य॒ज्ञाना॑म् । साध॑त्ऽइष्टिम् । अ॒पसा॑म् ॥
agnim | sumnāya | dadhire | puraḥ | janāḥ | vāja-śravasam | iha | vṛkta-barhi ṣaḥ | yata-srucaḥ | su-rucam | viśva-devyam | rudram | yajñānām | sādhat-iṣṭi m | apasām
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables each
Forward-driving, martial yet luminous cadence suited to will and accomplishment.
Builds inner momentum; supports decisive consecration of action and a steady uplift of aspiration.
- अग्निम् (agniṃ)
- Literal: fire. Symbolic: divine will, inner flame that leads the sacrifice
- सुम्नाय (sumnāya)
- Literal: for good grace/favour. Symbolic: divine gladness, benediction that follows right offering
- पुरः (puraḥ)
- Literal: in front. Symbolic: placed as leader in consciousness, first principle of sādhanā
- वृक्तबर्हिषः (vṛktabarhiṣaḥ)
- Literal: with strewn grass-seat. Symbolic: prepared inner ground—purified receptivity
- यतस्रुचः (yatasrucaḥ)
- Literal: with restrained ladles. Symbolic: governed instruments of offering—disciplined intention/speech
- सुरुचम् (surucam)
- Literal: fair-radiant. Symbolic: clear illumination in the mind and vital
- विश्वदेव्यम् (viśvadevyaṃ)
- Literal: belonging to all the gods. Symbolic: integral turning of all powers toward the Divine
- रुद्रम् (rudram)
- Literal: Rudra. Symbolic: purifying, forceful transformer that removes inner obstruction
- अपसाम् (apasām)
- Literal: of works. Symbolic: consecrated energies of action in life-yoga
Placement of Agni as purohita/hotṛ at the head of rite; applicable to soma-yajña preliminaries and daily fire-cult where barhis and sruc are prominent.
Opening invocations; when establishing the fire and beginning offerings
Preparing the barhis (seat), handling sruc (ladles), offering oblations while invoking Agni’s effective power
Before work or practice: a brief inner ‘installation’—place the will in front, offer the day’s actions into it.
sumná (su + √man ‘to think, be minded’): good-mindedness → grace/felicity; indicates a harmonizing delight, not mere ‘favour’. apas ‘work’ relates to active power/operation; in inner sense, disciplined energies of sādhanā. rudrá here is an epithet of Agni: ‘the intense one’ (from √rud/related semantic of roaring/force), expressing purifying intensity that removes inner obstruction.
Consecrated action (yajña as inner discipline), Purification through intensity (Rudra-quality), Harmony/felicity (sumná)
Agni as the executive power of Ṛta—making right order operative in works.
Suruc/viśvadevya indicate truth-illumination harmonizing all inner gods (faculties).
Birth of effective power through consecrated action; transformation of works into offerings.
Proto-Vedānta / integral yoga reading (Aurobindo): gods as powers of consciousness.
dawn/early rite (symbolically the beginning of endeavour)
Fire = awakened will; seat = prepared mind-heart; ladle = directed intention; radiance = clarity of consciousness turning all powers godward.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The enthronement of Agni ‘in front’ as the archetypal priest-power: the mythic act of establishing the divine mediator so the sacrifice (inner work) becomes effective. Agni as ‘Rudra’ encodes the motif of fierce purification that makes the offering succeed.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- dadhire from √dhā ‘put, set’ continues PIE *dʰeh₁- ‘to put, place’. yajña from √yaj relates to PIE *h₁yeh₂g- ‘to worship, sacrifice’ (broadly Indo-Iranian sacrificial lexicon).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- Humans ‘place’ Agni as leader through prepared consciousness (vṛkta-barhis) and disciplined giving (yata-sruc). Agni reciprocates by ‘accomplishing’ (sādh-) the intended attainment of the works—turning effort (apas) into fulfilled offering (iṣṭi).
‘Set Agni in front’: feel a steady flame in the heart/solar plexus guiding thought, speech, and action.
maṇipūra (will/energy) with support from anāhata (offering/devotion)
Even inhalation to gather; slow exhalation imagining oblation into the inner fire
Consecrated dynamism—quiet strength with clear intention.
Before any task: pause, invoke inner Agni, offer the work (apas) and ask for right fulfilment (iṣṭi) without ego-demand.
Use standard Rigvedic udātta/anudātta/svarita as per śākhā tradition; maintain clear udātta lifts on key invocatory words (agním, rudrám).
Keep udātta syllables slightly higher and brighter; svarita as a gentle fall; avoid flattening compound accents (viśvadevyaṃ).
: nasal ‘ṃ’ as velar nasal before g (aṅ-gniṃ), : clear ‘ṛ’ in, aspirate ‘h’ in, : keep ‘sr’ cluster crisp, not ‘sar’, : flap ‘r’, clear ‘dr’ cluster
Steady, bright, slightly forceful (Rudra-quality) without harshness.
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.
