Rig Veda 6.13.3: Mandala 6, Sukta 13, Mantra 3
Sukta 6.13
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Raudra (fury)
स सत्पतिः शवसा हन्ति वृत्रमग्ने विप्रो वि पणेर्भर्ति वाजम् । यं त्वं प्रचेत ऋतजात राया सजोषा नप्त्रापां हिनोषि ॥
sá sátpatiḥ śávasā hanti vṛtrám agne vípro ví paṇér bhárti vā́jam | yáṃ tváṃ práceta ṛtajāta rāyā́ sajóṣā náptrā apā́ṃ hinóṣi ||
அவன் சத்தியத்தின் அதிபதி; தன் வலிமையால் வ்ருத்ரன் (மூடுபவன்) மீது அடிக்கிறான். ஓ அக்னியே, ஊக்கமுற்ற விப்ரன் (ரிஷி) பணன் (பேராசை வணிகன்) இடமிருந்து வாஜம் (வல-செல்வம்) பறிக்கிறான். நீ, ஓ ப்ரசேத (முன்னறிவோன்), ருதஜாத (ருதத்திலிருந்து பிறந்தவன்), உன் ராயா (செல்வப் பெருக்குகள்) கொண்டு—அபாம் நப்த்ரு (நீரின் புதல்வர்) உடன் ஒன்றுபட்டு—யாரைத் தூண்டுகிறாயோ, அவரையே நீ முன்னே செலுத்துகிறாய்.
Word by Word
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सत्पतिः
- lord of the good/true (good lord)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot सत् + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
- शवसा
- by might, with strengthNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, तृतीया, एकवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot शवस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- हन्ति
- slaysVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Root हन् (धातु)
- वृत्रम्
- Vṛtra (the obstructer)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot वृत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNoun (vocative)पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Root अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- विप्रः
- the inspired sage/priestNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- वि
- apart, asunder, forthIndeclinable (preverb)Root वि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- पणेः
- from the Paṇi (miser/demon)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role ApādānaRoot पणि (प्रातिपदिक)
- भर्ति
- bears, brings, carries offVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Root भृ (धातु)
- वाजम्
- prize, booty; strength/victoryNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot वाज (प्रातिपदिक)
- यम्
- whom/whichPronoun (relative)पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- त्वम्
- youPronounउत्तमपुरुषार्थे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- प्रचेतः
- O far-seeing/wise oneAdjective/Noun (vocative)पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Root प्र-चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऋतजात
- O born of ṛta (cosmic order), rightly-bornAdjective (past participial compound)पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Root ऋत-जात (कृदन्त/समास; √जन्)
- राया
- with wealth, by bountyNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया, एकवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot राय्/राय (प्रातिपदिक)
- सजोषाः
- in companionship, in concordAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot स-जोषस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- नप्त्रा
- with the two grandsons/descendantsNounपुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, द्विवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot नप्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- अपाम्
- of the watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्Role SambandhaRoot अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
- हि
- indeed, forIndeclinableRoot हि (अव्यय)
- हिनोषि
- you impel, you set in motionVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Root हि (धातु; Vedic: ‘to impel/set in motion’)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolved as: स सत्पतिः (visarga before s)
- वृत्रम् अग्ने (m + a kept as separate padas)
- पणेर्भर्ति → पणेः + भर्ति (final -eḥ before bh-)
- यं त्वं (anusvāra before t)
- ऋतजात राया (no further sandhi)
- सजोषा नप्त्रा अपाम् (pada break; naptṛ dual instr.)
- नप्त्रापां → नप्त्रा + अपाम् (a+a contraction in saṃhitā)
- हिनोषि kept as finite verb
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni, lord of the true, by force smites Vṛtra; the inspired seer carries away the prize from the Paṇi. Whom Agni, foreknower, born of Ṛta, with his riches impels—together with the offspring of the waters—him he drives onward.
Inner meaning
Agni as satpati (lord of truth-being) uses spiritual force to break the Coverer—inner obstruction that blocks light. The ‘Paṇi’ is the hoarding, bargaining mentality that withholds the inner wealth (light/force) for ego-profit; the vipra (inspired mind) recovers vāja—effective power—from that trafficker. Agni, as pracetas (foreknower), born of Ṛta (right order), impels the seeker along with ‘naptrā apām’—the luminous offspring of the waters: emergent powers of life-energy purified into clarity and delight. Thus the being is driven forward in the victorious movement.
Universal truth
Real progress requires confronting inner resistance and the hoarding ego; inspired intelligence, guided by a deeper truth-will, can reclaim our lost powers and propel life forward in harmony.
Themes
Vṛtra-smiting, Paṇi motif, vāja recovery, truth-born impulse
The seer
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya
- Lineage
- Bharadvāja
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 6.13.1, Rig Veda 6.13.2, Rig Veda 6.12.6
Family tradition
A Bharadvāja hallmark: the inner battle motif (Vṛtra/Paṇi) interpreted as psychological conquest under Agni’s leadership.
Significance
Positions Agni as both warrior and guide: he breaks resistance and restores stolen powers, aligning the seeker with Ṛta-born movement.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- सत्पतिः (Satpati), विप्रः (Vipra), प्रचेतः (Pracetas), ऋतजात (Ṛtajāta)
- Related deities
- Indra (Vṛtra battle), Bṛhaspati (Paṇi/hidden treasure theme), Sarasvatī (inspired speech, vipra), Apas (waters)
Cosmic role
Champion of truth who breaks the cosmic obstruction and releases powers for the forward evolution.
Inner power
Tapas-force and discriminating flame that exposes hoarding tendencies and liberates energy for right action.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni praise in rites seeking victory and overcoming obstacles; also suitable in Soma contexts emphasizing conquest of Vṛtra/Paṇi symbolism
स सत्प॑ति॒: शव॑सा हन्ति वृ॒त्रमग्ने॒ विप्रो॒ वि प॒णेर्भ॑र्ति॒ वाज॑म् । यं त्वं प्र॑चेत ऋतजात रा॒या स॒जोषा॒ नप्त्रा॒पां हि॒नोषि॑ ॥
सः । सत्ऽप॑तिः । शव॑सा । ह॒न्ति॒ । वृ॒त्रम् । अ॒ग्ने॒ । विप्रः॑ । वि । प॒णेः । भ॒र्ति॒ । वाज॑म् । यम् । त्वम् । प्र॒ऽचे॒तः॒ । ऋ॒त॒ऽजा॒त॒ । रा॒या । स॒ऽजोषाः॑ । नप्त्रा॑ । अ॒पाम् । हि॒नोषि॑ ॥
saḥ | sat-patiḥ | śavasā | hanti | vṛtram | agne | vipraḥ | vi | paṇeḥ | bharti | vājam | yam | tvam | pra-cetaḥ | ṛta-jāta | rāyā | sa-joṣāḥ | naptrā | apām | hinoṣi
44
4×11 (approx.)
Energetic and combative; strong caesura-like turns support ‘smiting’ and ‘bearing away’.
Ignites courage and clarity; helpful for cutting through lethargy and self-deception.
- सत्पतिः (satpatiḥ)
- Literal: lord of the true/real. Symbolic: governing power of truth-consciousness in the being
- वृत्रम् (vṛtram)
- Literal: Vṛtra, the coverer. Symbolic: obscurity/inertia that blocks illumination and flow
- शवसा (śavasā)
- Literal: by force, strength. Symbolic: spiritual energy, tapas-force applied to resistance
- विप्रः (vipraḥ)
- Literal: inspired seer. Symbolic: illumined mind capable of revelation and right discernment
- पणि (paṇi)
- Literal: trader, miser. Symbolic: egoistic hoarder/bargainer of energies; the part that withholds surrender
- वाजम् (vājam)
- Literal: prize, force. Symbolic: effective power and victorious capacity reclaimed for the yoga
- प्रचेतः (pracetaḥ)
- Literal: foreknower, conscious. Symbolic: inner guiding intelligence that knows the right movement
- ऋतजात (ṛtajāta)
- Literal: born of Ṛta. Symbolic: actions and impulses arising from truth-order, not desire
- नप्त्रा अपाम् (naptrā apām)
- Literal: offspring of the waters. Symbolic: luminous formations emerging from purified life-energy—joyful powers that collaborate with Agni
Victory/clearing hymn within Agni praise; supports the removal of obstruction and release of ‘vāja’ from hoarding forces (Paṇis)
When obstacles appear in ritual progression; invocations for strength and success
Offerings with martial praise; calling Agni to clear impediments and secure the ‘prize’
Use as an ‘obstacle-breaking’ mantra before difficult tasks or during periods of inner resistance; pair with a clear resolve to stop bargaining with the practice.
sat-pati: sat (present/true being) from √as ‘to be’; indicates mastery rooted in truth-being. paṇi is a key RV adversary type; philologically linked to ‘bargaining/trafficking’—symbolically the hoarding mentality that withholds light. √han ‘strike’ is ancient IE. pra-cetas from √cit ‘know/perceive’ with pra- ‘forth’ gives ‘foreknower’. ṛta-jāta reiterates that true force arises from right order, not from egoic impulse.
Sat (truth-being), Ṛta (right order), release of force from hoarding (Paṇi)
Agni is ṛtajāta—victory is not mere force but truth-born force restoring right flow.
Satpati: truth must govern power; otherwise power becomes Paṇi-like hoarding.
Release of hidden powers (vāja) from obstruction (Vṛtra/Paṇi) as a recurring creation motif—light emerging from concealment.
Yoga of transformation: conquest of subconscient resistance and ego-hoarding to recover divine energies.
Serpent/cover = inertia and obscurity; treasure = latent capacities; waters = life-force purified; fire = tapas that liberates.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Two linked mythologems: (1) Vṛtra-smiting—breaking the coverer; (2) Paṇi-recovery—taking back vāja from the hoarding trafficker. In inner terms: the divine Will breaks ignorance and recovers withheld energies/illumination for the seeker.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- sat from √as (PIE *h₁es- ‘be’). √han (PIE *gʷhen- ‘strike, kill’). ap- ‘waters’ (PIE *h₂ep-). The mythic lexicon of ‘slaying the coverer’ is built on inherited, pan-IE combat and being terminology.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi positions Agni as satpati and pracetas: the divine intelligence-force that can rightfully reclaim what is withheld. The seeker’s inspired faculty (vipra) participates—carrying off vāja—while Agni impels the human instrument in harmony with the water-born powers (naptrā apām), i.e., the supportive currents of consciousness.
Identify one ‘Paṇi’ pattern (bargaining, postponing, hoarding energy). Offer it into the flame; invoke Agni’s force to break the cover and reclaim the lost power.
maṇipūra (force) and ājñā (foreknower/discernment)
3 rounds: inhale 4, hold 4 (invoke śavas), exhale 6 (release cover); then chant steadily without retention.
Courageous, lucid, uncompromising sincerity.
After 9–21 repetitions, sit and feel a ‘released flow’ (waters) moving freely through the body; then take one immediate right action (Ṛta-born) within 5 minutes.
Accents emphasize verbs of conquest (हन्ति, भर्ति, हिनोषि) and epithets (सत्पतिः, प्रचेतः).
Strike the first pāda firmly; slightly accelerate through the ‘Paṇi’ phrase; broaden on ‘ṛtajāta’ to mark truth-born power.
vṛtram: clear ṛ and retroflex ṭr cluster., paṇeḥ: retroflex ṇ; keep eḥ with visarga lightly audible., praceta: keep ‘ce’ as ‘che’ (palatal), not ‘ke’., sajoṣā: pronounce joṣā with long ā.
Firm, incisive, warrior-like; avoid harsh shouting—keep controlled heat.
11
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.
