Rig Veda 10.69.8: Mandala 10, Sukta 69, Mantra 8
Sukta 10.69
- Rishi
- Vādhryaśva
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
त्वे धेनुः सुदुघा जातवेदोऽसश्चतेव समना सबर्धुक् । त्वं नृभिर्दक्षिणावद्भिरग्ने सुमित्रेभिरिध्यसे देवयद्भिः ॥
tvé dhénuḥ sudúghā jātavedo ’sáścateva samánā sabardhúk | tváṃ nṛ́bhir dákṣiṇāvadbhir agne sumitrébhir idhyase deváyadbhiḥ ||
ఓ జాతవేదసా! నీలోనే సమృద్ధిని ప్రసాదించే ఆ సుదుఘా ధేనువు (కామధేనువు) నివసిస్తుంది—అవిచ్ఛిన్నంగా, ఒకే సమన్వయంలో సాగుతూ, బలరసపు పూర్ణ పాలను ప్రసాదించేది. ఓ అగ్నీ! దక్షిణా-యుక్తులు (యజ్ఞదానం కలవారు) అయిన నరులచేత, దేవయజనంలో (దేవపూజలో) నిమగ్నమైన సుమిత్రులచేత నీవు ప్రజ్వలింపబడుతావు.
Word by Word
- त्वे
- in/with youPronounसप्तमी एकवचन (locative singular)Role अधिकारणRoot त्वद् (युष्मद्-प्रत्ययिक सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → त्व-
- धेनुः
- the milch-cowNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot धेनु- (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुदुघा
- well-milking, yielding wellAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (धेनुः-विशेषण)Role कर्तृRoot सु-दुघा (दुघा < √दुह् ‘to milk’)
- जातवेदः
- O Jātavedas (Agni)Noun (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot जात-वेदस् (प्रातिपदिक; अग्नेः नाम)
- असश्चत
- followed/attached itselfVerbलङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपद, 3 एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √सच् (सचँ ‘to accompany, follow, attach oneself’)
- इव
- as, likeIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययRoot इव
- समाना
- common/same (to all)Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (धेनुः-विशेषण)Role कर्तृRoot समाना- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘same, common’)
- सबर्धुक्
- nourishing, strengtheningAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (धेनुः-विशेषण)Role कर्तृRoot स-बर्धुक् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘having/bringing nourishment’; बर्धुक् < √बृंह्/√वर्ध् ‘to grow, strengthen’—Vedic formation)
- त्वम्
- youPronounप्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot त्वद् (युष्मद्-प्रत्ययिक सर्वनाम)
- नृभिः
- by/with menNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचनRole करणRoot नृ- (प्रातिपदिक)
- दक्षिणावत्भिः
- with gift-bearing (or: skillful)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन (नृभिः-विशेषण)Role करणRoot दक्षिणावत्- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘possessing dakṣiṇā/gifts/skill’)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि- (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुमित्रेभिः
- with good friendsNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचनRole करणRoot सु-मित्र- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘good friends/alliances’)
- इध्यसे
- you are kindled / you kindle yourselfVerbलट् (present), आत्मनेपद, 2 एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √इन्ध् (इन्धँ ‘to kindle, ignite’)
- देवयद्भिः
- by/with god-seeking (devout)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन (सुमित्रेभिः-विशेषण/सहचर)Role करणRoot देवयत्- (प्रातिपदिक; pres. participial adj. ‘worshipping/aiming at the gods’ < √यत्/य ‘to strive, seek’ with देव-)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: त्वे | धेनुः | सुदुघा | जातवेदः | असश्चत | इव | समाना | सबर्धुक् || त्वम् | नृभिः | दक्षिणावत्भिः | अग्ने | सुमित्रेभिः | इध्यसे | देवयद्भिः || प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) जातवेदोऽसश्चतेव = जातवेदः + असश्चत + इव (विसर्ग-लोपः/ऽ, तथा इव-समास/सन्धि-योगः)
- (2) देवयद्भिः: = देवयत् + भिः (त् + भ → द्भ्)
The meaning
Outer meaning
In Agni is the richly yielding Cow of plenty, inseparable and moving in harmony, giving full milk; Agni is kindled by men with right offerings and by good friends who seek the Divine.
Inner meaning
Within the awakened will (Agni Jātavedas) resides the ‘Cow’—the abundant source of illumined energies (rays/knowledges) that yields richly when approached in harmony (samanā). The inner fire is kindled and increased by right giving (dakṣiṇā: right discernment/true offering) and by inner comradeship—harmonized faculties aspiring to the Divine.
Universal truth
When aspiration is sincere and rightly offered, the source of inner knowledge becomes abundantly fruitful; harmony and right exchange among our faculties kindle the transformative fire.
Themes
nourishment of inner fire, cow as light/plenty, right offering (dakṣiṇā), devayat community
The seer
- Rishi
- Vādhryaśva
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 10.69.1-11
Family tradition
A seer emphasizing Agni as Jātavedas—knower and organizer of the inner nature—and the communal/harmonious conditions (sumitra, samanā) for the flame to grow.
Significance
His vision ties abundance (dhenuḥ) to right kindling: knowledge is not seized but ‘milked’ by harmony, right offering, and divine-seeking friendship.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (Jātavedas)
- Epithets
- Jātavedas, idhyase
- Related deities
- Sarasvatī (flow of inspiration), Soma (bliss that nourishes), Indra (illumined mind)
Cosmic role
Bearer of offerings; knower of beings; awakener of plenitude and right increase in the sacrifice.
Inner power
Will that reveals knowledge and makes it fruitful; capacity to integrate the movements of nature into a single harmony.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni kindling and praise in soma/fire rituals; offerings with dakṣiṇā
त्वे धे॒नुः सु॒दुघा॑ जातवेदोऽस॒श्चते॑व सम॒ना स॑ब॒र्धुक् । त्वं नृभि॒र्दक्षि॑णावद्भिरग्ने सुमि॒त्रेभि॑रिध्यसे देव॒यद्भि॑: ॥
त्वे इति॑ । धे॒नुः । सु॒ऽदुघा॑ । जा॒त॒वे॒दः॒ । अ॒स॒श्चता॑ऽइव । स॒म॒ना । स॒बः॒ऽधुक् । त्वम् । नृऽभिः॑ । दक्षि॑णावत्ऽभिः । अ॒ग्ने॒ । सु॒ऽमि॒त्रेभिः॑ । इ॒ध्य॒से॒ । दे॒व॒यत्ऽभिः॑ ॥
tve iti | dhenuḥ | su-dughā | jātavedaḥ | asaścatāiva | samanā | sabaḥ-dhuk | tvam | nṛ-bhiḥ | dakṣiṇāvat-bhiḥ | agne | su-mitrebhiḥ | idhyase | devayat-bhiḥ
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables
Balanced and declarative; supports images of harmony and steady increase.
Creates a sense of fullness and integration; helpful for invoking abundance of insight.
- धेनुः (dhenuḥ)
- Literal: cow. Symbolic: rays of knowledge; plenitude that nourishes consciousness
- सुदुघा (sudughā)
- Literal: well-milking, richly yielding. Symbolic: knowledge that flows readily when the will is awake and pure
- जातवेदः (jātavedas)
- Literal: knower of all births/creatures. Symbolic: inner fire that knows the movements of nature and their right transformation
- असश्चतेव (asaścateva)
- Literal: as if inseparable. Symbolic: inseparable unity of will and knowledge; fire and light working together
- समना (samanā)
- Literal: moving together, harmonious. Symbolic: integrated functioning of mind-life-body in sadhana
- सबर्धुक् (sabardhuk)
- Literal: giving full milk/abundant yield. Symbolic: full release of force, inspiration, and nourishment to the seeker
- दक्षिणावत्भिः (dakṣiṇāvadbhiḥ)
- Literal: with those who have dakṣiṇā (right gift). Symbolic: with right discernment, right offering, right-handed (skillful) action
- इध्यसे (idhyase)
- Literal: thou art kindled. Symbolic: the inner flame grows by conscious practices and right relationships (inner and outer)
Kindling hymn (samidh) emphasizing dakṣiṇā and the collective of devayat worshippers; fits Soma-sacrifice sequences where Agni is nourished and awakened.
At the moment of kindling/invocation; also when offering ghee as nourishment to the fire
Samidh-placing, ghee offering, praising Agni as source of plenitude
Recite before study/creative work to invoke ‘the Cow of knowledge’ within the awakened will; cultivate harmony among mind, breath, and action.
dhenu from √dhā/√dhen? (traditional: ‘that which gives milk/flows’) functions as symbol of nourishing light; √duh ‘milk’ (PIE *dʰewgʰ-) supports ‘yielding essence’; jātavedas (jāta + veda from √vid ‘know’) indicates Agni as knowing consciousness in all becomings; √idh ‘kindle’ marks awakening of the inner fire through right offering (dakṣiṇā).
dakṣiṇā as right consecration, unity/harmony (samanā), Agni as knower of becomings (jātavedas)
Harmony is a sign of Ṛta; when nature aligns, knowledge yields abundantly.
Jātavedas ‘knows’ the true movements; the cow yields true nourishment of insight.
Inner creation through nourishment: knowledge ‘milks’ into forms of action and understanding.
Integral-psychological reading: knowledge and will are mutually reinforcing powers within consciousness.
Cow/milk = streams of illumination and nourishing insight; kindling = practices that awaken will; ghee = clarified intention/essence offered to the flame.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘Cow of Plenty’ residing in Agni: the archetype of hidden nourishment/illumination that becomes available when the inner fire is kindled. It is the recovery and steady yielding of light-essence rather than a literal pastoral scene.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vid ‘know’ (PIE *weyd-) in veda; √idh ‘kindle’ aligns with Indo-Iranian fire-cult vocabulary; √duh ‘milk’ has wide Indo-European parallels in the semantic field of drawing/producing liquids.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- Agni’s awakening depends on human right action: men ‘bearing dakṣiṇā’ kindle him; in return, Agni contains and releases the dhenu—nourishing streams of power and knowledge for the aspirant community.
Contemplate a luminous ‘cow of knowledge’ within the heart-fire: insights as nourishing streams.
Anāhata (harmony) supported by Maṇipūra (kindling will)
4-4-6 breathing (inhale-hold-exhale) while mentally offering ‘ghee’ (clarified intention) into a central flame
Integrated calm with fertile clarity; readiness for learning and right action.
Chant once, then sit and feel the different parts of you ‘move together’ (samanā). Ask for one practical insight to ‘flow’ today; commit one right offering (dakṣiṇā): time, attention, truthfulness.
Triṣṭubh with standard Vedic accenting; keep udātta prominence on key invocatives (jātavedaḥ, agne) and on semantic peaks (dhenuḥ, sudughā).
Do not rush the compound clusters; let each pāda resolve clearly; slight lift on udātta, gentle fall after.
jātavedo: final ‘o’ from sandhi—keep it long-open, asaścateva: pronounce ‘śc’ cluster cleanly, sabardhuk: keep ‘dh’ aspirated, dakṣiṇāvadbhiḥ: retroflex ‘ṣ’, clear ‘ṇ’, and ‘dbh’ cluster
Warm, nourishing tone; steady and even.
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