Rig Veda 4.6.2: Mandala 4, Sukta 6, Mantra 2
Sukta 4.6
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
अमूरो होता न्यसादि विक्ष्वग्निर्मन्द्रो विदथेषु प्रचेताः । ऊर्ध्वं भानुं सवितेवाश्रेन्मेतेव धूमं स्तभायदुप द्याम् ॥
amū́ro hotā́ ny asādi víkṣv agnír mandró vidátheṣu prá-cetāḥ | ūrdhvám bhānúṃ savitévā́śret métāiva dhūmáṃ stabhāyád úpa dyā́m ||
மயக்கமற்ற ஹோதா மக்களிடையே வந்து அமர்ந்தான்; மந்த்ரமான (ஆனந்தமயமான) அக்னி விததங்களில் (யாகச் சபைகளில்) ப்ரசேதாஃ—மிக விழிப்புடன்—இருக்கிறான். அவன் சவிதா போல தன் ஒளிக்கதிரை மேலே உயர்த்தினான்; அளவிடுபவன் போல தன் புகையை வானத்தை நோக்கி தாங்கி நிறுத்தினான்.
Word by Word
- अमूरः
- unfailing, not-deludedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (अग्नेः विशेषणम्)Root अमूर (प्रातिपदिक; न- + मूर ‘मूढ/मन्द’ इत्यर्थे) अथवा ‘अमूर’ = ‘अमूढ/अमूर्ख’
- होता
- the Hotṛ-priest (invoker)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot होतृ (√हु ‘यजने/आह्वाने’)
- नि
- down, in (as preverb)Indeclinableउपसर्गRoot नि
- असादि
- sat down; took his seatVerbलुङ् (अorist), आत्मनेपद, 3 एकवचनRoot √सद् (सीदति) ‘उपवेशने/अवस्थान’
- विक्षु
- among the clans/settlementsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot विś् (प्रातिपदिक ‘विś’ = जन/कुल/गृह)
- अग्निः
- Agni (Fire)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- मन्द्रः
- gladdening, pleasantAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (अग्नेः विशेषणम्)Root मन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) संभवतः √मन्द् ‘हर्षे/मन्दने’
- विदथेषु
- in the assemblies/ritesNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग (RV-प्रयोगे), सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot विदथ (प्रातिपदिक; ‘सभा/यज्ञ/वितान’ इत्यर्थे)
- प्रचेताः
- foreknowing, wiseAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (RV: -आः प्रथमा एकवचनः)Role Kartā (अग्नेः विशेषणम्)Root प्र-चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक; √चित् ‘चेतने/बोधे’)
- ऊर्ध्वम्
- upwardsAdjective (used adverbially)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (क्रियाविशेषणवत्)Root ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- भानुम्
- beam, radianceNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot भानु (प्रातिपदिक)
- सविता
- Savitṛ (the Impeller/Sun)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (उपमान-कर्तृ)Root सवितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययRoot इव
- अश्रेन्
- he/it set (itself) on; directedVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, 3 एकवचन (वेदिक-रूप: अश्रेन्)Root √श्रि/श्रय् ‘आश्रये/आश्रयणे’ (Vedic: अश्रेत्/अश्रेन्)
- मेते
- a measurer/constructor (artisan)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (उपमान-कर्तृ)Root मेता (प्रातिपदिक; ‘मापक/निर्माता/कर्मकार’ इत्यर्थे) अथवा ‘मेति’ (RV) ‘मापने’ से
- इव
- likeIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययRoot इव
- धूमम्
- smokeNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot धूम (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्तभायत्
- he propped up; made stand firmVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, 3 एकवचनRoot √स्तभ्/स्तम्भ् ‘स्तम्भने/रोधने’
- उप
- towards, up toIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot उप
- द्याम्
- the sky, heavenNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (उप + √स्तभ्)Root द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धि-विग्रह): अमूरः | होता | नि असादि | विक्षु | अग्निः | मन्द्रः | विदथेषु | प्रचेताः || ऊर्ध्वम् | भानुम् | सविता इव अश्रेन् | मेते इव | धूमम् | स्तभायत् | उप | द्याम् । मुख्य-सन्धयः: न्यसादि = नि + असादि
- अग्निर्मन्द्रः = अग्निः + मन्द्रः (विसर्ग-लोपः)
- सवितेव = सविता + इव
- आश्रेन्मेतेव = अश्रेन् + मेते + इव (ए/इव संधिः)
- स्तभायदुप = स्तभायत् + उप (त् + उ → द् उ, वेदिक-लिप्यन्तर)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni, the unbewildered Hotṛ, sits among the clans; he is joyous and awake in assemblies. He raises his beam like Savitṛ and supports his smoke upward toward heaven like a measurer.
Inner meaning
The awakened will (Agni) takes its seat in the many parts of the being (vikṣu: the ‘peoples’ within—mind, life, body). He is mandra—rapturous, because the fire of aspiration carries an innate delight when it is pure; and he is pracetāḥ—wide-awake, a vigilant consciousness in all inner gatherings (vidatheṣu). He lifts the bhānu (ray) upward like Savitṛ: the illumining impulsion that sets the movement of awakening in motion. The ‘smoke’ propped to heaven is the subtle ascending current of offerings—thoughts, emotions, energies—measured and rightly directed (metā iva) so they can enter the higher consciousness (dyām).
Universal truth
When the will becomes conscious and vigilant in all parts of life, it naturally generates an upward current: illumination rises, and the whole being learns to offer its movements to a higher order.
Themes
Agni as conscious priest, Ascent of light, Linking earth to heaven, Ordering of inner works
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.1, RV 4.5, RV 4.7
Family tradition
The Gautama-Vāmadeva stream frequently portrays Agni as both priest and inner awakener across the ‘clans’ of the being, emphasizing wakefulness (pracetāḥ) and ascent to dyu.
Significance
The seer’s vision is integrative: Agni is not confined to a single altar but seats himself among all ‘peoples’—a psychology of total transformation.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- Amūra Hotṛ, Mandra, Pracetāḥ
- Related deities
- Savitṛ, Indra, Uṣas
Cosmic role
Fire as knower and messenger; awakener of light; link between terrestrial and celestial realms.
Inner power
Wakeful will that raises illumination (bhānu) and carries the subtle offering (dhūma) upward in measured rightness.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni invocation in public offering/assembly context (vidatha), preparatory to broader devatā-calling.
अमू॑रो॒ होता॒ न्य॑सादि वि॒क्ष्व१॒॑ग्निर्म॒न्द्रो वि॒दथे॑षु॒ प्रचे॑ताः । ऊ॒र्ध्वं भा॒नुं स॑वि॒तेवा॑श्रे॒न्मेते॑व धू॒मं स्त॑भाय॒दुप॒ द्याम् ॥
अमू॑रः । होता॑ । नि । अ॒सा॒दि॒ । वि॒क्षु । अ॒ग्निः । म॒न्द्रः । वि॒दथे॑षु । प्रऽचे॑ताः । ऊ॒र्ध्वम् । भा॒नुम् । स॒वि॒ताऽइ॑व । अ॒श्रे॒त् । मेता॑ऽइव । धू॒मम् । स्त॒भा॒य॒त् । उप॑ । द्याम् ॥
amūraḥ | hotā | ni | asādi | vikṣu | agniḥ | mandraḥ | vidatheṣu | pra-cetāḥ | ūrdhvam | bhānum | savitāiva | aśret | metāiva | dhūmam | stabhāyat | upa | dyām
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4 × ~11
Bright, wakeful movement with upward imagery; the cadence supports lift and expansion.
Invokes alertness and ascent; listeners often feel a ‘clearing’ of mental fog and a gentle rising of energy.
- अमूर (amūra)
- Literal: unbewildered, not confused. Symbolic: clarity of will; undeluded aspiration
- वि॒क्षु (vikṣu)
- Literal: among the peoples/clans. Symbolic: among the many inner faculties and subpersonalities
- मन्द्र (mandra)
- Literal: pleasant, rapturous. Symbolic: the delight that accompanies purified force
- प्रचेताः (pracetāḥ)
- Literal: wide-awake, conscious. Symbolic: vigilant awareness guiding the inner work
- विदथ (vidatha)
- Literal: assemblies, gatherings. Symbolic: inner councils—moments where thoughts and impulses convene
- भानु (bhānu)
- Literal: ray, beam. Symbolic: illumination, light of discernment
- सविता (Savitṛ)
- Literal: impeller (solar deity). Symbolic: the divine impulsion initiating right movement
- धूम (dhūma)
- Literal: smoke. Symbolic: subtle ascent of offerings; transition from gross to subtle
- द्याम् (dyām)
- Literal: heaven. Symbolic: higher mind / luminous consciousness
Describes Agni seated as Hotṛ and his upward action; inner use—Agni establishes consciousness in the many parts (vikṣu), raises illumination (bhānu) and builds the link (dhūma) toward the higher planes.
When fire is established and the rite addresses the gathered community/ṛtvij-s; also suitable for opening of recitation sessions.
Seating/establishing Agni; envisioning his ray and smoke rising to heaven.
Use before study or decision-making: to seat clarity in all ‘inner councils’ and lift the mind’s ray upward.
amū́ra ‘not bewildered’ (a- + mūra ‘confused’); ny asādi from ni-√sad ‘sit down, take seat’; víkṣu ‘clans’ (parts/peoples); mandrá ‘gladdening’; prá-cetāḥ from pra-√cit ‘fully conscious’; bhānú ‘beam’ (shine); Savitṛ from √sū/√su ‘impel’ (setting in motion); métā ‘measurer’ (from √mā ‘measure’); stabhāyat from √stambh ‘support, prop’; dhūmá ‘smoke’ as upward-moving sign/vehicle.
clarity vs. confusion (amūra), impulsion (Savitṛ archetype), measure/order (mā)
Measured ascent (metā iva) suggests right proportion and order in the offering—ṛta as correct movement.
Pracetas—truth-conscious wakefulness that prevents delusion (amūra).
Ascent of light from fire to sunlike illumination—microcosmic echo of cosmic awakening.
Integral/psychological Veda: ascent from physical fire to supramental light through disciplined offering.
morning (Savitṛ association)
Ray = awakened insight; smoke = subtleized energies rising; sky = higher mind; Savitṛ = impulsion of right action.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Agni enthroned among the peoples and raising his beam like Savitṛ—an ascent myth where the inner fire becomes solar in action, constructing the vertical connection (smoke/column) to heaven.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- Savitṛ reflects the IE solar-impeller function; √mā ‘measure’ is PIE *meh₁- (cf. Greek métron, Latin metiri). The ‘measurer’ image is an inherited IE cosmological trope: order arises by measurement/proportion.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi observes Agni’s settled presence (ni-sad) and celebrates his conscious governance in vidathas (works/assemblies). Agni answers the human multiplicity (vikṣu) by unifying it through upward illumination and ordered ascent.
Seat Agni in the ‘inner peoples’: scan body–life–mind, invoking a steady wakefulness; then lift attention as a ray to the crown/sky.
Maṇipūra (fire) rising toward Ājñā/Sahasrāra (ray/sky)
4-4-6 breathing (inhale-hold-exhale) for 7 rounds; visualize exhale as smoke rising to dyu.
Wakeful, clarified, upward-oriented.
On ‘ny asādi’ feel the will settle steadily; on ‘ūrdhvam bhānum’ imagine a vertical beam of light; offer thoughts into that beam without analysis.
Maintain Vedic pitch contours; emphasize the upward imagery with clean svarita glides rather than stress.
Keep ‘pracetāḥ’ crisp; avoid swallowing final visarga-like breath where present in recitation tradition.
amūro: sustain ū; keep mū distinct., ny asādi: articulate sandhi (ny) cleanly without adding extra vowel., bhānuṃ: long ā; anusvāra before consonant as nasal resonance., stabhāyat: clear bh cluster; do not aspirate d excessively in dyām.
Bright, alert, lightly resonant in the head tone.
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