Rig Veda 6.13.6: Mandala 6, Sukta 13, Mantra 6
Sukta 6.13
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
वद्मा सूनो सहसो नो विहाया अग्ने तोकं तनयं वाजि नो दाः । विश्वाभिर्गीर्भिरभि पूर्तिमश्यां मदेम शतहिमाः सुवीराः ॥
vadmā́ sū́no sahaso no vihā́yā agné tokaṁ tánayaṁ vā́ji no dāḥ | viśvā́bhir gī́rbhir abhí pū́rtim aśyā́m mádemá śatá-himāḥ su-vī́rāḥ ||
ஓ சகஸின் புதல்வனே, எங்கும் விரியும் அக்்னியே! உம்மை நாம் புகழ்ந்து பாடுவோம். ஓ வல-செழிப்பை அளிப்பவனே, எங்களுக்கு பிள்ளையையும் வம்சவளர்ச்சியையும் அருள்வாயாக. எங்கள் எல்லா ஸ்துதி-வாக்குகளாலும் நாம் நிறைவை அடைவோமாக; நூறுமடங்கு ஆற்றல்-உந்துதல்களுடன், சு-வீரர் (வீரவளமுடையோர்) ஆகி நாம் மகிழ்வோமாக.
Word by Word
- वद्मा
- words, utterances (praises)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot वद् (धातु) / वद्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- सूनो
- O sonNounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole SambodhanaRoot सूनु (प्रातिपदिक)
- सहसः
- of might/strengthNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole Sambandha (Genitive)Root सहस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- of us, ourPronounषष्ठी; बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role Sambandha (Genitive)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- विहायाः
- far-striding, wide-goingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचन (अग्ने इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role SambodhanaRoot वि-हा (धातु) → विहाय (कृदन्त, PPP) / विहायस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole SambodhanaRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- तोकम्
- offspring, childNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot तोक (प्रातिपदिक)
- तनयम्
- son, progenyNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot तनय (प्रातिपदिक)
- वाजि
- O prize-winning/strong oneAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचन (अग्ने इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role SambodhanaRoot वाजिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- to usPronounचतुर्थी; बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- दाः
- giveVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole (क्रिया)Root दा (धातु)
- विश्वाभिः
- with allAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया; बहुवचन (गीर्भिः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role KaraṇaRoot विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- गीर्भिः
- with songs/hymnsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया; बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot गीर् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अभि
- towards, untoIndeclinableअव्ययRole (उपपद-सम्बन्धः)Root अभि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- पूर्तिम्
- fulfilment, abundance (boon)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot पूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
- अश्यम्
- may I attainVerbविधिलिङ्/आशीर्लिङ् (इच्छार्थ); उत्तमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole (क्रिया)Root अश् (धातु)
- मदेम
- may we rejoiceVerbविधिलिङ् (इच्छार्थ); उत्तमपुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपदRole (क्रिया)Root मद् (धातु)
- शतहिमाः
- having a hundred winters (very long-lived)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन (वयम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role KartāRoot शत-हिम (प्रातिपदिक, बहुव्रीहि)
- सुवीराः
- rich in heroes/valiant sonsAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन (वयम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role KartāRoot सु-वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- (2) नो विहायाः: नः + विहायाः → नो विहायाः (विसर्गस्य ओ-आदेशः, एन्क्लिटिक)
- (3) विहायाः अग्ने: विसर्ग/विराम पर पद-सीमा
- (4) वाजि नो दाः: नः + दाः → नो दाः (एन्क्लिटिक रूप)
- (5) विश्वाभिर्गीर्भिः: विश्वाभिः + गीर्भिः → विश्वाभिर्गीर्भिः (र्-सन्धि)
- (7) पूर्तिमश्याम्: पूर्तिम् + अश्याम् → पूर्तिमश्याम् (म् + अ → म्-अवग्रह-लोप, संहितायाम्)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The singers proclaim Agni who ranges widely; they ask him to grant child and lineage and strength. With all hymns they seek fulfilment and rejoice with a hundred impulses, rich in heroic powers.
Inner meaning
The seer’s speech (vadmā) is not mere praise but a releasing of mantric force that widens Agni (vihāyāḥ—far-ranging) in the being. ‘Child’ and ‘lineage’ (toka, tanaya) become inner progeny: new formations of consciousness and a sustained succession of right states. ‘Vāji’ indicates plenitude of force—effective energy for works. By all inspired utterances (viśvābhir gīrbhiḥ), the seeker presses toward pūrti—completion/fulfilment of the sacrifice, i.e., integration. ‘Hundred impulses’ (śatahimāḥ) are many streams of prāṇic and mental energies brought under Agni’s governance, becoming suvīrāḥ—heroic powers within.
Universal truth
Right speech aligned with the awakened will generates new inner growth and continuity, culminating in fulfilment and a many-powered joy that can act effectively in life.
Themes
Agni as bestower of inner growth, prayer for progeny/continuity as continuity of consciousness, attainment of fulfilment through mantra (gīr)
The seer
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya
- Lineage
- Bharadvāja
- Other hymns
- RV 6.13.1-5, RV 6.14.1-3, RV 6.16.1-2
Family tradition
Bharadvāja hymns frequently emphasize vā́c (inspired speech) and Agni as the organizer of inner growth and right action.
Significance
The rishi frames spiritual life as a lineage: realizations must reproduce and persist (tanaya), not be momentary flashes.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- sūnuḥ sahasaḥ, vihāyāḥ (wide-ranging), vāji (giver of force/plenitude)
- Related deities
- Sarasvatī (inspired speech), Bṛhaspati (word and formation), Indra (force of illumination)
Cosmic role
Expands the sacrificial fire into a universal power; grants growth, continuity, and effective strength.
Inner power
The will that multiplies right states (‘children’) and sustains them as a stable inner family (lineage).
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni praise during offerings seeking progeny and strength; general household and śrauta invocations.
व॒द्मा सू॑नो सहसो नो॒ विहा॑या॒ अग्ने॑ तो॒कं तन॑यं वा॒जि नो॑ दाः । विश्वा॑भिर्गी॒र्भिर॒भि पू॒र्तिम॑श्यां॒ मदे॑म श॒तहि॑माः सु॒वीरा॑: ॥
व॒द्मा । सू॒नो॒ इति॑ । स॒ह॒सः॒ । नः॒ । विऽहा॑याः । अग्ने॑ । तो॒कम् । तन॑यम् । वा॒जि । नः॒ । दाः॒ । विश्वा॑भिः । गीः॒ऽभिः । अ॒भि । पू॒र्तिम् । अ॒श्या॒म् । मदे॑म । श॒तऽहि॑माः । सु॒ऽवीराः॑ ॥
vadmā | sūno iti | sahasaḥ | naḥ | vi-hāyāḥ | agne | tokam | tanayam | vāji | naḥ | dāḥ | viśvābhiḥ | gīḥ-bhiḥ | abhi | pūrtim | aśyām | madema | śata-himāḥ | su-vīrāḥ
44
4 padas × ~11 syllables
Expansive, declarative; suited to ‘wide-ranging’ proclamation and request.
Opens the chest and breath; evokes a sense of widening and constructive joy.
- वद्मा (vadmā)
- Literal: we speak/utter. Symbolic: mantric expression that releases force and forms consciousness
- विहायाः (vihāyāḥ)
- Literal: wide-ranging. Symbolic: Agni expanding through the whole being, not confined to a ritual spot
- तोकम् (tokam)
- Literal: child. Symbolic: new inner birth—fresh state of consciousness
- तनयम् (tanayam)
- Literal: offspring/lineage. Symbolic: continuity of realizations; sustained growth
- वाजि (vāji)
- Literal: giver of vāja (prize/strength). Symbolic: plenitude of effective force for works
- गीर्भिः (gīrbhiḥ)
- Literal: with hymns/utterances. Symbolic: inspired word (vac) shaping inner reality
- पूर्तिम् (pūrtim)
- Literal: fulfilment, completion. Symbolic: integration; completion of the inner sacrifice
- शतहिमाः (śatahimāḥ)
- Literal: having a hundred impulses. Symbolic: many streams of energy disciplined into a luminous dynamism
- सुवीराः (suvīrāḥ)
- Literal: good heroes. Symbolic: heroic inner powers, victorious faculties
Agni-invocation in the daily Agnihotra/Prātaḥ-savana context; generally applicable to Agni as Hotṛ and bestower of offspring and strength (not restricted to a single named Śrauta rite in the verse itself)
In prayers for continuity (family/progeny) and for successful undertakings.
Recitation with oblation while naming desired ‘toka-tanaya’ (outer) or inner resolutions (modern).
Use for ‘inner progeny’: before learning, creative work, or habit-change—asking for stable continuation of new consciousness.
Key terms: √vad ‘to speak, utter, proclaim’—in Vedic also performative speech that effects manifestation. sahas from √sah ‘to prevail, be strong’; Agni as tapas-born force. vihāyāḥ (-) from vi- + √hā/√hi ‘to go forth/leave’; epithet of Agni as expansive mover, not confined to one hearth—psychologically the will that ranges through the being. vāja from √vaj ‘to be vigorous/drive’; not mere “food/prize” but plenitude of energizing force enabling victory. pūrti from √pṝ/√pṛ ‘fill’—fulfilment/completion of the inner work. √aś attainment. √mad divine gladness, the ecstasy of successful offering.
Ṛta (right order as ‘fulfilment’/pūrti), Tapas/Śakti (sahas as inner force), Ananda (mad as rejoicing)
Fulfilment (pūrti) arises when energies are aligned to R̥ta through Agni.
Truth becomes generative—creating ‘children’ of consciousness that endure.
Inner creation through word (gīr) and fire (Agni): speech + will = manifestation.
Integral yoga psychology: mantra as formative power; Agni as executive Shakti.
Fire spreading = consciousness widening; child/lineage = successive inner births; vāja = stored and directed life-force.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Agni as ‘Son of Strength’ who grants toká/tánaya (child/lineage) and vā́ja (victorious force). Mythically this is the divine Fire as progenitor and increaser—he generates new formations and sustains continuity; psychologically, the awakened will (Agni) engenders successive births of right movements in the seeker and brings the work to pū́rti (fulfilment).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √dā ‘give’ (PIE *deh₃- ‘to give’) is transparent in dāḥ. √mad ‘rejoice/intoxicate’ aligns with Indo-Iranian *mad- (cf. Avestan mad- ‘to be glad/intoxicated’). √sah ‘prevail/be strong’ (sahas) corresponds to a widespread IE notion of overcoming/strength (cf. Sanskrit sah-, Avestan sah-). √aś ‘reach’ has IE parallels in motion/attainment roots (often compared with *h₂eḱ- ‘reach’ in etymological literature, though exact alignment is debated).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer’s speech (vadmā… viśvābhir gīrbhiḥ) is an offering that seeks reciprocity: inspired utterance aims at pū́rti (completion), and Agni replies by granting toká/tánaya (growth and continuity) and vā́ja (force for victory). The exchange is not transactional but developmental: the deity is the inner power awakened by mantra, who then builds heroic capacities (su-vī́ra) and manifold dynamisms (śatá-himāḥ) in the human vessel.
Chant as an affirmation of widening Agni and generating stable inner states (toka-tanaya).
svadhisthana
gentle bhastrikā 3 rounds (light) or 12 deep breaths, then chant on a long, even exhale.
Creative, expansive concentration; joyful constructive energy.
On ‘tokaṃ tanayaṃ’ visualize a new luminous habit being born and then forming a stable lineage of repetitions; on ‘pūrti’ feel integration in the whole body-mind.
As per RV accent tradition; obtain a svara-pāṭha for exact udatta marks—keep natural rise on key nouns (agne, tokaṃ, tanayam, pūrtim).
Do not rush sandhi: agne tokaṃ tanayaṃ; keep clear separation of pādas at |.
vihāyāḥ: sustain long ā, vāji: clear v- onset; avoid ‘baji’, gīrbhir: pronounce gīr-bhir with rolled r, śatahimāḥ: keep dental t, aspirated h, long āḥ ending
Clear, expansive, slightly uplifting in pitch at the start of each pāda.
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.
