Rig Veda 7.2.11: Mandala 7, Sukta 2, Mantra 11
Sukta 7.2
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Agni, with Indra and the Viśve Devāḥ
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
आ याह्यग्ने समिधानो अर्वाङिन्द्रेण देवैः सरथं तुरेभिः । बर्हिर्न आस्तामदितिः सुपुत्रा स्वाहा देवा अमृता मादयन्ताम् ॥
ā́ yāhy agne sam-idhānáḥ arvā́ṅ índreṇa deváiḥ sa-ráthaṃ turébhiḥ | bárhir na ā́stām áditiḥ su-putrā svā́hā devā́ amṛ́tā mādayantām ||
அக்னியே! சமிதையால் முழுதும் எரியவைத்து, இந்திரனும் தேவர்களும் உடன் ஒரே ரதத்தில், விரைவு சக்திகளுடன், இங்கே வா. எங்களுக்குப் பர்ஹிஸ் (யாகாசனம்) நிறுவப்படுக; நற்புதல்வர்களை அளிப்பவள் அதிதி இங்கே அமர்க. ஸ்வாஹா—அமர தேவர்கள் யாகத்தில் மகிழ்ந்து களிப்புறுவாராக.
Word by Word
- आ
- hither, towardsIndeclinableउपसर्ग (गत्यर्थ/आह्वानार्थ)Root आ (उपसर्ग) / ā (preverb)
- याहि
- come!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot या (धातु)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- समिधानः
- being kindledParticiple (Adjective)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot सम्-इध् (धातु) → समिधान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- अर्वाङ्
- towards usIndeclinable/Adverbial adjectiveदिक्शब्द (अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग), ‘towards us’ अर्थेRole अधिकारण (दिशा/गति-निर्देश)Root अर्वाञ्च् (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्रेण
- with IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole सह/करण (सहचर्ये)Root इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवैः
- with the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole सह/करण (सहचर्ये)Root देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- सरथम्
- with chariot(s), in one chariot-companyAdjective/Adverbनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत्Role क्रियाविशेषणRoot स-रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
- तुरेभिः
- with the swift/impetuous onesAdjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole सह/करण (सहचर्ये)Root तुर (प्रातिपदिक)
- बर्हिः
- the sacred grass (barhis)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot बर्हिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- of us, ourPronounषष्ठी (genitive), बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- आस्ताम्
- let (the two) sit/be placedVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot आस् (धातु)
- अदितिः
- AditiNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (द्वितीयः कर्ता सह ‘बर्हिः’)Root अदिति (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुपुत्रा
- having good sonsAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (अदितेः विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot सु-पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्वाहा
- svāhā (hail!)Indeclinableयज्ञीय-निपात (आहुत्यन्ते)Root स्वाहा (निपात/यज्ञीय-उद्गार)
- देवाः
- the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- अमृताः
- immortalAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (देवानां विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
- मादयन्ताम्
- let them rejoice/be exhilaratedVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपदRole क्रियाRoot मद् (धातु) / मादय् (णिजन्त)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धिविच्छेद): आ | याहि | अग्ने | समिधानः | अर्वाङ् | इन्द्रेण | देवैः | सरथम् | तुरेभिः | बर्हिः | नः | आस्ताम् | अदितिः | सुपुत्रा | स्वाहा | देवाः | अमृताः | मादयन्ताम् । मुख्य-सन्धयः: (1) ‘आ या॑हि’ = आ + याहि (स्वर-संयोग; लेख्ये ‘आ या॑हि’)
- (2) ‘या॑ह्यग्ने’ = याहि + अग्ने (इ/अ संधि → याह्यग्ने)
- (3) ‘समिधा॒नो अ॒र्वाङ्’ = समिधानः + अर्वाङ् (विसर्ग-लोप/रूपान्तर; पदे समिधानो)
- (4) ‘अ॒र्वाङिन्द्रे॑ण’ = अर्वाङ् + इन्द्रेण (ङ् + इ → ङि; लेख्ये अर्वाङिन्द्रेण)
- (5) ‘स॒रथं॑’ = स + रथम् (उपसर्ग-समास/सहभाव; ‘with chariot’)
- (6) ‘ब॒र्हिर्न॑’ = बर्हिः + नः (विसर्ग + न → र्; बर्हिर्नः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni is invited to come, fully kindled, with Indra and the gods in one chariot with swift powers. The sacred seat is to be established; Aditi, rich in noble offspring, is invoked. Svāhā—may the immortal gods rejoice in the offering.
Inner meaning
The seeker calls the inner Fire (Agni) to descend actively into the embodied field (‘arvāṅ’). With Agni comes Indra—the illumined mind—along with the collective divine powers, moving together (‘one chariot’) as a unified action of consciousness. The barhis ‘seat’ is the prepared, quiet foundation in the being where these powers can rest and work. Aditi is the infinite, unbroken consciousness (free from limitation) that brings ‘noble offspring’—higher formations and right births of consciousness. ‘Svāhā’ seals the offering: a surrender that allows the immortal powers to delight (mādayantām) in the transformed energies.
Universal truth
When will and illumination act together in unity, and the being is prepared as a stable seat, the Infinite (Aditi) can manifest higher births in us; surrender completes the exchange, and the divine powers rejoice in our offering as we rejoice in their presence.
Themes
invocation and descent, host of gods, self-offering (svāhā)
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa lineage)
- Other hymns
- RV 7.2, RV 7.3, RV 7.4, RV 7.18
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha’s invocations often unite Agni and Indra and broaden into the Infinite (Aditi), framing the sacrifice as an integral descent of powers.
Significance
A classic Vasiṣṭha movement: kindle will, call illumination, prepare the seat, invoke the Infinite—then seal by surrender (svāhā) and delight.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (chief), with Indra, Viśve Devāḥ, and Aditi
- Epithets
- samidhāna (kindled), arvāṅ (turning hither), amṛtāḥ (immortal gods), Aditi suputrā
- Related deities
- Soma, Uṣas, Bṛhaspati, Mitra-Varuṇa
Cosmic role
Agni mediates descent and transformation; Indra breaks the cover and brings light; Viśve Devāḥ coordinate cosmic functions; Aditi is the infinite matrix of divine births.
Inner power
Integrated descent of will and illumination into a receptive foundation, opening into infinite consciousness and higher formations.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni-invocation and deity-seating within soma/fire rites; svāhā marks offering completion
आ या॑ह्यग्ने समिधा॒नो अ॒र्वाङिन्द्रे॑ण दे॒वैः स॒रथं॑ तु॒रेभि॑: । ब॒र्हिर्न॑ आस्ता॒मदि॑तिः सुपु॒त्रा स्वाहा॑ दे॒वा अ॒मृता॑ मादयन्ताम् ॥
आ । या॒हि॒ । अ॒ग्ने॒ । स॒म्ऽइ॒धा॒नः । अ॒र्वाङ् । इन्द्रे॑ण । दे॒वैः । स॒ऽरथ॑म् । तु॒रेभिः॑ । ब॒र्हिः । नः॒ । आस्ता॑म् । अदि॑तिः । सु॒ऽपु॒त्रा । स्वाहा॑ । दे॒वाः । अ॒मृताः॑ । मा॒द॒य॒न्ता॒म् ॥
ā | yāhi | agne | sam-idhānaḥ | arvāṅ | indreṇa | devaiḥ | sa-ratham | turebhiḥ | barhiḥ | naḥ | āstām | aditiḥ | su-putrā | svāhā | devāḥ | amṛtāḥ | mādayantām
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4 × ~11
Invocatory and martial-forward (turebhiḥ), then expansive (Aditi), concluding with a sealing cadence (svāhā).
Energizes and then widens the consciousness; ends in a satisfying ‘completion’ feeling through svāhā.
- समिधानः (samidhānaḥ)
- Literal: Fully kindled. Symbolic: Awakened will-force sustained by aspiration and practice
- अर्वाङ् (arvāṅ)
- Literal: Hither, toward us. Symbolic: Descent of higher force into embodied life
- इन्द्रेण (indreṇa)
- Literal: With Indra. Symbolic: With illumined mind-power that breaks limitation and brings light
- सरथम् (saratham)
- Literal: In one chariot. Symbolic: Unified movement of will, mind, and other divine powers—integral action
- तुरेभिः (turebhiḥ)
- Literal: With swift/strong powers. Symbolic: Dynamic energies that overcome inertia and resistance
- बर्हिः (barhis)
- Literal: Sacred seat. Symbolic: Purified receptive base of consciousness
- अदितिः (Aditi)
- Literal: The Infinite, mother of the gods. Symbolic: Limitless consciousness; freedom from division and constriction
- सुपुत्रा (suputrā)
- Literal: Having good sons/offspring. Symbolic: Bearer of luminous powers and higher ‘births’ in the being
- स्वाहा (svāhā)
- Literal: Ritual exclamation of offering. Symbolic: Act of surrender/consent enabling transformation
- अमृताः (amṛtāḥ)
- Literal: Immortals. Symbolic: Deathless powers of the higher consciousness
- मादयन्ताम् (mādayantām)
- Literal: Let them rejoice/be gladdened. Symbolic: Divine delight responding to sincere offering
Invitatory climax: calling Agni with the host of gods; establishment of barhis; svāhā formula indicates offering moments in iṣṭi/soma rites.
At the point of calling Agni with assisting deities and establishing barhis; at oblation moments sealed by svāhā
Āvāhana of Agni/Indra/Devas; seating; offering with svāhā
As a short ‘descent & consent’ practice: chant to kindle will, call illumination, feel wideness (Aditi), then inwardly say svāhā as surrender of a specific difficulty.
sam-idhāná from √idh ‘kindle’ with sam- ‘completely’. índra name tied to power/force; in inner reading: victorious luminous mind-force. áditi from a- ‘not’ + √dā ‘divide/bind’ (traditional) → ‘undivided/infinite’; psychologically, vastness that holds and releases right formations. svā́hā: su- ‘well’ + āhā ‘utterance/call’ (etymologies vary), functionally the consecratory exclamation of offering—inner self-giving. √mad ‘rejoice, be intoxicated’ → mādayantām.
Aditi (infinite consciousness), unity of powers (sa-ratham), delight (ānanda-like mad)
‘One chariot’ suggests coordinated cosmic order—powers moving together without conflict.
The gods rejoice when the offering is sincere and rightly placed—truth in exchange.
‘Good offspring’ as higher births: new formations of consciousness born from the Infinite into the finite.
Integral Vedantic tendency: descent of higher consciousness (Aditi) into life through Agni and Indra.
Fire = will; chariot = unified movement of faculties; swift powers = prāṇic dynamism; sky/infinite = wideness of consciousness; seat = stable receptivity.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘arrival of the gods in one chariot’ led by Agni with Indra: a mythic image of coordinated divine powers descending into the prepared seat, culminating in svāhā and shared delight.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √mad ‘rejoice/intoxicate’ has IE parallels in the semantic field of exhilaration (cf. Iranian cognates); √idh ‘kindle’ continues an ancient fire-cult lexicon. The chariot-unity motif is pan-Indo-European in heroic and ritual poetics.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi’s act is to call, prepare, and offer (svāhā); the devatā’s response is presence and delight—amṛtāḥ mādayantām—signifying that the inner sacrifice has become acceptable and life-giving.
Kindle inner fire; call illumined mind; unify faculties; rest in wideness (Aditi); complete with surrender (svāhā).
Maṇipūra (Agni) + Ājñā (Indra) opening to Sahasrāra-like wideness (Aditi)
Inhale on ‘ā yāhy agne’; exhale steadily through the rest of the pāda; pause after ‘svāhā’ for 1–2 breaths in silence
Dynamic descent followed by spacious, glad quietude
Feel a flame in the navel/heart rising. Invite a clear light in the forehead (Indra). Sense both moving as one force. Establish a calm inner seat (steady posture). Expand into a boundless sky (Aditi). Offer a chosen movement (fear, anger, restlessness) with a silent ‘svāhā’.
Traditional svara; keep energetic rise on ‘ā yāhy agne’ and ‘indreṇa’, broaden through ‘aditiḥ’, and mark ‘svāhā’ distinctly as the offering-seal.
Avoid rushing the compound phrases: samidhāno arvāṅ | indreṇa devaiḥ | sarathaṃ turebhiḥ. Pause slightly after ‘svāhā’.
samidhānaḥ: nasal ‘m’ + dh, not ‘samidana’, arvāṅ: final ṅ audible (nasal velar), saratham: light ‘th’ (aspirated dental), turebhiḥ: clear bh + iḥ, amṛtāḥ: vocalic ṛ; keep retroflex ṭ absent (it’s dental t here)
Bright, summoning, then widening and serene; ‘svāhā’ clear and resonant.
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