Rig Veda 7.5.3: Mandala 7, Sukta 5, Mantra 3
Sukta 7.5
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Agni Vaiśvānara
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Raudra (fury)
त्वद्भिया विश आयन्नसिक्नीरसमना जहतीर्भोजनानि । वैश्वानर पूरवे शोशुचानः पुरो यदग्ने दरयन्नदीदेः ॥
tvád-bhiyā́ víśa ā́yan ásiknīr asamanā́ jahatī́r bhójanāni | vaiśvānara pūráve śóśucānaḥ púro yád agne daráyan ádīdeḥ ||
உன் அச்சமூட்டும் வலிமையால் விச் (குடிகள்) முன்னேறின; அசிக்னீ—இருள்மிகு, அசமனா—ஒற்றுமையற்ற சக்திகள் தங்கள் போகங்களையும் உணவுகளையும் கைவிட்டன. வைஶ்வானரனே! பூருவுக்காகத் தீவிரமாக எரிந்து, அக்னியே, நீ புரங்களை (கோட்டைகளை) பிளந்தபோது, நீ பிரகாசமாகத் தகதகத்தாய்—வழியைத் தூய்மையாக்கி விரிவாக்கினாய்.
Word by Word
- त्वद्भियाः
- from fear of youNoun/Pronoun (compound sense)स्त्रीलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी विभक्ति; एकवचन (भिया); ‘त्वद्’ = षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (त्वत्-सम्बन्धः) — ‘त्वत्-भिया’ = ‘त्वत्-भयात्’Role अपादान (भय-हेतु/कारण-रूपेण) / हेतुRoot त्वद् (युष्मद्-प्रत्ययान्त सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + भिया (√भी ‘भय’ से स्त्री. ‘भिया’)
- विशः
- the clans/peoplesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (आयन् के) / कर्ताRoot विश् (प्रातिपदिक ‘विś्’ = जन/प्रजा/कुल) अथवा ‘विś’ (people, clans)
- आयन्
- came, approachedVerbलुङ् (अorist); 3 पुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot √या (गमन) उपसर्ग ‘आ-’
- असिक्नीः
- the dark (women/ones)Adjective (used substantively)स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचनRole कर्तृ/विशेष्य-सम्बन्ध (विशः का विशेषण) अथवा समन्वयेन ‘स्त्रियः’Root असिक्नी (प्रातिपदिक; ‘कृष्णा/श्यामा’, ‘dark’)
- असमनाः
- not of one mind, discordantAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचनRole विशेषण (असिक्नीः/विशः के) / कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot अ- + समन (प्रातिपदिक; ‘समन’ = समान-मनस्/एकचित्त) → ‘असमन’
- जहतिः
- abandons/abandonVerbलट्; 3 पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद (वेदिक प्रयोग: बहुवचन-कर्तृ के साथ सामूहिक/जातिवाचक एकवचन क्रिया सम्भव) अथवा पाठ-परम्परा में ‘जहतिः’ = ‘they abandon’Role क्रियाRoot √हा (त्याग)
- भोजनानि
- provisions, enjoyments, goodsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot भोजन (प्रातिपदिक; ‘भुज्/भोज’ से ‘भोजन’ = भोजन/भोग्य/सम्पत्ति)
- वैश्वानर
- O Vaiśvānara (Agni)Noun (proper epithet)पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot वैश्वानर (प्रातिपदिक; ‘विश्वानर’ = ‘all-men’s/for all people’; अग्नि का नाम)
- पूरवे
- for PuruNoun (proper name)पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी विभक्ति; एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot पूरु (प्रातिपदिक; Puru—वंश/राजा)
- शोशुचानः
- blazing, shining intenselyParticiple (verbal adjective)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचनRole कर्तृ-विशेषण (अग्नेः) / कर्ताRoot √शुच् (दीप्ति/शोच्) — कृत्: शानच् (मध्यम/आत्मनेपदी वर्तमान कृदन्त) → ‘शोशुचान’ (intensive/reduplicated present participle, Vedic)
- पुरः
- fortressesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; बहुवचन (वेदिक: ‘पुरः’ = acc. pl.)Role कर्मRoot पुर्/पुर (प्रातिपदिक; ‘fortified place, stronghold’)
- यत्
- whenIndeclinable/Relative pronounअव्ययवत् ‘when/that’ (सम्बन्धसूचक) अथवा नपुंसक एकवचन प्रथमा/द्वितीया; यहाँ ‘यद्’ = ‘जब’Role सम्बन्ध (काल/प्रसङ्ग) / अव्ययRoot यद् (सर्वनाम; सम्बन्ध/यदा-तदा)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- दरयन्
- splitting, cleavingParticipleपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचनRole कर्तृ-विशेषण (अग्नेः) / साधन-भावRoot √दॄ/√दर् (विदारण/भेदन ‘to split, cleave’) — शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त) ‘दरयन्त्’
- अदीदेः
- you have blazed, shone forthVerbलिट् (परफेक्ट); 2 पुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (वेदिक) — ‘thou hast shone/blazed’Role क्रियाRoot √दीद्/√दी (दीप्ति ‘to shine, blaze’) — लिट् (perfect) वेदिक रूप ‘अदीदेः’
Sandhi Notes
- मुख्य संधि-विच्छेद: त्वद्भि॒या = त्वत् + भिया (त्वत्-सम्बन्धेन ‘त्वत्-भयात्’)
- आय॒न्न = आयन् (पद-सीमा पर न्)
- असि॑क्नीरसम॒ना = असिक्नीः + असमनाः (पद-संयोग)
- जह॑ती॒र्भोज॑नानि = जहतिः + भोजनानि (पद-संयोग)
- वैश्वा॑नर पू॒रवे॒ = वैश्वानर + पूरवे (सम्बोधन + चतुर्थी)
- शोशु॑चान॒: = शोशुचानः
- पुरो॒ यद॑ग्ने = पुरः + यत् + अग्ने
- द॒रय॒न्नदी॑देः = दरयन् + अदीदेः (न् + अ- संधि में न् बना रहता है)
The meaning
Outer meaning
By Agni’s fearful power the peoples moved; dark discordant ones abandoned their enjoyments. Vaiśvānara, flaming for Pūru, when Agni rended the strongholds he blazed forth.
Inner meaning
When the inner Fire rises in sovereign intensity, the psychological ‘peoples’ (viśaḥ)—our faculties and impulses—are compelled to move from inertia to right action. The dark, unharmonized forces (asiknīḥ asamanāḥ) let go their habitual ‘enjoyments’ (bhojanāni): the satisfactions of desire and obscurity. For Pūru—symbol of the forward, plenary human striving toward fullness—Agni becomes a purifying ardor; he breaks the inner fortresses (puraḥ) of resistance (vṛtra-like coverings), and the liberated consciousness blazes openly, clearing a rightful dwelling-place for the soul.
Universal truth
When truth-fire is kindled, false satisfactions lose their hold; the structures of resistance break, and life reorganizes around a freer, more rightful inner habitation.
Themes
forts-rending, expulsion-of-dark-forces, protection, inner purification
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vāsiṣṭha
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 7.5, Rig Veda 7.6, Rig Veda 7.7
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha’s hymns often depict the battle of light against the dark ‘dasyu’ powers and the breaking of inner fortresses by Agni/Indra.
Significance
The seer frames purification as a psychological warfare: fear here is not terror but the compelling authority of a higher flame that makes lower nature relinquish its claims.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni Vaiśvānara
- Epithets
- Vaiśvānara, Śośucāna (flaming), Purāṃ-dara (fort-splitter, by action)
- Related deities
- Indra (fort-breaker motif), Sarasvatī (right flow), Maruts (impelling forces)
Cosmic role
Power that drives away darkness and breaks limiting formations, enabling the human journey toward plenitude.
Inner power
Purifying intensity that dislodges entrenched habits and opens blocked channels of consciousness.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni praise in contexts emphasizing protection and victory over hostile forces (rakṣas/dasyu) within śrauta recitation cycles.
त्वद्भि॒या विश॑ आय॒न्नसि॑क्नीरसम॒ना जह॑ती॒र्भोज॑नानि । वैश्वा॑नर पू॒रवे॒ शोशु॑चान॒: पुरो॒ यद॑ग्ने द॒रय॒न्नदी॑देः ॥
त्वत् । भि॒या । विशः॑ । आ॒य॒न् । असि॑क्नीः । अ॒स॒म॒नाः । जह॑तीः । भोज॑नानि । वैश्वा॑नर । पू॒रवे॑ । शोशु॑चानः । पुरः॑ । यत् । अ॒ग्ने॒ । द॒रय॑न् । अदी॑देः ॥
tvat | bhiyā | viśaḥ | āyan | asiknīḥ | asamanāḥ | jahatīḥ | bhojanāni | vaiśvānara | pūrave | śośucānaḥ | puraḥ | yat | agne | darayan | adīdeḥ
44
4×11 syllables (approx.)
Martial, percussive; strong caesura supports ‘breaking’ imagery.
Energizes courage and decisiveness; evokes the sensation of obstacles cracking open.
- भिया (bhiyā)
- Literal: by fear/dread. Symbolic: by awe-compelling force of truth; the pressure of a higher power on lower nature
- असिक्नीः (asiknīḥ)
- Literal: dark ones. Symbolic: obscure impulses, tamasic formations
- असमनाः (asamanāḥ)
- Literal: discordant, not of one mind. Symbolic: unintegrated movements contrary to inner harmony
- भोजनानि (bhojanāni)
- Literal: foods/enjoyments. Symbolic: habitual gratifications of desire and ego
- पुरः (puraḥ)
- Literal: strongholds/forts. Symbolic: fixed defensive structures of the subconscient resistance
- दरयन् (darayan)
- Literal: rending, splitting. Symbolic: breaking open coverings; decisive inner liberation
- अदीदेः (adīdeḥ)
- Literal: you blazed. Symbolic: the sudden manifestation of luminous consciousness
- पूरवे (pūrave)
- Literal: for Pūru. Symbolic: for the plenary human aspiration; the soul-force seeking fullness (pūrṇatā)
Recitable in rites emphasizing Agni as protector and remover of obstacles; imagery of ‘rending forts’ aligns with protective/apotropaic use in fire-invocations.
When invoking Agni as remover of obstacles and protector of the sacrifice; also suitable for transitional moments (beginning of rite).
Offerings of ghee with forceful recitation; protective intention around the altar-space.
Use when facing inner resistance: chant to release addictive ‘enjoyments’ and break repetitive mental ‘forts’.
√śuc expresses purifying flame and luminous intensity; √dṛ ‘split’ supports the recurrent Vedic image of opening obstructing ‘forts’ (puraḥ) = psychological knots; asiknī- ‘dark’ is a color-term used for obscurity; bhojana- from √bhuj ‘enjoy/consume’ indicates lower appropriations rather than true plenitude.
battle of light vs. darkness, removal of inner obstructions, harmonization vs. discord (samanā/asamanā)
Discordant forces (asamanāḥ) fall away when the movement of ṛta becomes compelling.
Truth reveals the falsity of lower enjoyments; the blaze is disclosure (prakāśa).
Liberation by breaking coverings: light is ‘born’ through rupture of the closed formations.
Integral psychological reading: inner battle and purification leading to a new habitation of consciousness.
night-to-dawn transition (implied by ‘dark ones’ fleeing)
unspecified
Fire = tapas of aspiration; forts = subconscious knots; dark ones = tamasic impulses; movement of peoples = reorganization of faculties.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘fort-splitting’ (puraṃdara-type) action: Agni’s blaze rends enclosing strongholds so that obscuring, discordant powers abandon their seized enjoyments—an archetype of liberation of the luminous field from hostile constriction.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √dī ‘shine’ (adīdeḥ) continues an archaic IE light-verb family (cf. Sanskrit dī-, Greek-like light semantics though exact cognates vary); √bhuj ‘enjoy/consume’ has IE parallels in consumption/enjoyment semantics. The participial style (śośucānaḥ, darayan) is characteristically old, compressing mythic action into epithets.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi recalls Agni’s decisive intervention ‘for Pūru’—a paradigm of divine aid to the human collectivity. The reciprocity is remembrance and invocation: by recounting the god’s victorious action, the seer reactivates that force in the present inner struggle against obscurity.
Invoke a fearless inner flame that makes lower impulses drop their claims; visualize inner ‘forts’ splitting and light rushing through.
Maṇipūra (will/force) supporting Anāhata (psychic sincerity)
Kapalabhāti (mild) or strong exhale emphasis for 1–3 minutes, then settle into slow breath with japa.
Dynamic purification; decisive clarity; courageous forward motion.
Name one recurring ‘enjoyment’ that binds you; on each repetition, offer it into Agni; feel the structure loosen; end with silent witnessing of the new space opened.
Maintain clear udātta peaks on tvád-bhiyā́, víśa ā́yan, vaiśvānara, púro, daráyan, adī́deḥ (as per tradition-dependent accenting).
Let the second pāda fall slightly, then strike the third/fourth with stronger emphasis to mirror ‘rending’ and ‘blazing’.
tvad-bhiyā: keep dv cluster clean, asiknīḥ: long ī; articulate kṇ, asamanāḥ: avoid nasalizing final āḥ too heavily, śośucānaḥ: repeated śo—keep ś distinct from s
Firm, cutting, with a controlled intensity; avoid shouting—let force come from precision.
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.
