Rig Veda 3.15.2: Mandala 3, Sukta 15, Mantra 2
Sukta 3.15
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Shringara (love)
त्वं नो अस्या उषसो व्युष्टौ त्वं सूर उदिते बोधि गोपाः । जन्मेव नित्यं तनयं जुषस्व स्तोमं मे अग्ने तन्वा सुजात ॥
tváṃ no asyā́ uṣásaḥ vyùṣṭau tváṃ sū́ra údite bodhi gopā́ḥ | jánmeva nítyaṃ tánayaṃ juṣasva stómaṃ me agne tanvā̀ sujāta ||
ఈ ఉషస్సు యొక్క వ్యుష్టి (ప్రభాత వికాసం) వేళ నీవు మా కోసం గోపాః—రక్షకుడవై—ఉండు; సూర్యుడు ఉదయించునప్పుడు మేల్కొని మా పరిరక్షకుడవు కా. తండ్రి తన తనయునందు నిత్యం ఆనందించునట్లు, హే అగ్నీ, హే సుజాత (సుప్రసూత) జ్వాలా, నీ సమగ్ర తను (సర్వసత్తా)తో నా స్తోమాన్ని స్వీకరించు.
Word by Word
- त्वम्
- youPronounपुंलिङ्ग/सर्वलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- of us / for usPronounषष्ठी (एन्क्लिटिक); बहुवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्याः
- of this (dawn)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- उषसः
- of Dawn (Uṣas)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot उषस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- व्यूष्टौ
- at the dawning / at daybreakNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot व्यूष्टि (प्रातिपदिक; < √वस्/उष् ‘to shine, dawn’ with vi-)
- त्वम्
- youPronounप्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot युष्मद्
- सूरः
- the Sun / a hero (here: Sun)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ (सम्बोधनार्थे/विशेषणभावे)Root सूर (प्रातिपदिक)
- उदिते
- when (the sun) has risen / at sunriseParticiple (Adjectival)नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचन (लोके ‘उदिते (सूर्ये)’)Role अधिकरणRoot उदित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √इ ‘to go’ > उदि-त ‘risen’)
- बोधि
- be awake / awakenVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole (क्रिया)Root √बुध् (बोधने)
- गोपाः
- as a protector (of cattle/wealth)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन (वैदिके -आः प्रथमा-एकवचनः)Role कर्तृ (अप्पोज़िशन)Root गोपा (प्रातिपदिक; गो + पा ‘protector’)
- जन्म
- birthNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन (उपमान-प्रयोगे)Role (उपमान)Root जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- likeIndeclinableअव्ययRole (उपमान-सूचक)Root इव
- नित्यम्
- alwaysAdjective/Adverbनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन (क्रियाविशेषणवत्)Role अधिकरण (काल/नित्यत्व)Root नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- तनयम्
- a son / offspringNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot तनय (प्रातिपदिक)
- जुषस्व
- take pleasure in / acceptVerbलोट्; मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole (क्रिया)Root √जुष् (प्रीतिसेवनयोः)
- स्तोमम्
- hymn of praiseNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot स्तोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- मे
- myPronounषष्ठी (एन्क्लिटिक); एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot अस्मद्
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- तन्वा
- with (your) body / with your own selfNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचनRole करणRoot तनू (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुजात
- well-born / noble-bornAdjective (used vocatively)पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot सुजात (कृदन्त/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक; सु- + √जन् ‘be born’ > जात)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (sandhi-resolved): त्वम् | नः | अस्याः | उषसः | व्युष्टौ || त्वम् | सूरः | उदिते | बोधि | गोपाः || जन्म | इव | नित्यम् | तनयम् | जुषस्व || स्तोमम् | मे | अग्ने | तन्वा | सुजात || प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) नो॑ अ॒स्या = नः + अस्याः (विसर्ग-लोपः, ओ-आ संधिः)
- (2) उ॒षसो॒ व्यु॑ष्टौ = उषसः + व्युष्टौ (विसर्गस्य लोपः)
- (3) सूर॒ उदि॑ते = सूरः + उदिते (विसर्ग-लोपः)
- (4) जन्मे॑व = जन्म + इव (ए/इ संधिः; पदे ‘जन्मेव’)
- (5) मे अग्ने = मे + अग्ने (सन्धिः न विशेषः)
- वैदिक-विशेषः: ‘गोपाः’ प्रथमा-एकवचनरूपेण (RV-प्रयोगः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
At the breaking of Dawn be our guardian; at the rising of the Sun awaken as protector. Like a father always delighting in his child, accept my hymn with thy whole being, O Agni well-born.
Inner meaning
Dawn (Uṣas) and Sun (Sūrya) are inner stages: the first illumination that breaks the night of ignorance, and the fuller rising of the truth-consciousness. The seeker asks Agni to be gopā (guardian)—not of cattle, but of the rays of knowledge and the growing inner light—at both stages: initial awakening and established clarity. The father-child image expresses intimate divine care: Agni as the sustaining will that lovingly receives the hymn (stoma), meaning the aspiration and self-offering. ‘Tanvā sujāta’ indicates total acceptance—Agni with his entire being, pure-born in us as a right flame, takes up the offering and nurtures the inner birth.
Universal truth
In every new awakening, protection and guidance are needed. The divine within responds not mechanically but with intimate care when the aspiration is sincere and whole.
Themes
morning-awakening, protection-of-light, acceptance-of-hymn, Agni-as-parental-guardian
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Viśvāmitra (Gāthina lineage)
- Other hymns
- RV 3.15.3 (Agni blazing amid blackness), RV 3.1 (Agni and the paths)
Family tradition
Illumination and protection motifs; linking cosmic dawn/sun to inner awakening; intimate relation with Agni as guide.
Significance
The rishi integrates Uṣas and Sūrya imagery into Agni-yoga: the inner fire guards the newborn light through successive degrees of awakening.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- गोपाः (gopāḥ), सुजात (sujāta)
- Related deities
- Uṣas, Sūrya, Soma
Cosmic role
Fire as guardian at transitions (night to dawn); awakener at sunrise; receiver of hymns and offerings.
Inner power
Vigilant will that protects emerging illumination and consolidates it into stable clarity; intimate divine care.
In ritual
Where it is used
Morning Agni invocation; compatible with prātaḥ-savana atmosphere though addressed to Agni
त्वं नो॑ अ॒स्या उ॒षसो॒ व्यु॑ष्टौ॒ त्वं सूर॒ उदि॑ते बोधि गो॒पाः । जन्मे॑व॒ नित्यं॒ तन॑यं जुषस्व॒ स्तोमं॑ मे अग्ने त॒न्वा॑ सुजात ॥
त्वम् । नः॒ । अ॒स्याः । उ॒षसः॑ । विऽउ॑ष्टौ । त्वम् । सूरे॑ । उत्ऽइ॑ते । बो॒धि॒ । गो॒पाः । जन्म॑ऽइव । नित्य॑म् । तन॑यम् । जु॒ष॒स्व॒ । स्तोम॑म् । मे॒ । अ॒ग्ने॒ । त॒न्वा॑ । सु॒ऽजा॒त॒ ॥
tvam | naḥ | asyāḥ | uṣasaḥ | vi-uṣṭau | tvam | sūre | ut-ite | bodhi | gopāḥ | janma-iva | nityam | tanayam | juṣasva | stomam | me | agne | tanvā | su-jāta
44
4 × ~11 syllables
Gently ascending; suited to dawn imagery and awakening.
Encourages fresh clarity and safe opening; stabilizes the mind at the threshold of new insight.
- उषसः व्युष्टौ (uṣasaḥ vyuṣṭau)
- Literal: at the dawning of Dawn. Symbolic: first opening of illumination in the mind
- सूर उदिते (sūra udite)
- Literal: when the Sun has risen. Symbolic: fuller establishment of truth-light
- गोपाः (gopāḥ)
- Literal: cow-protector. Symbolic: guardian of the rays of knowledge (go = light-rays) and of the inner gains
- बोधि (bodhi)
- Literal: awake, know. Symbolic: become consciously active within; vigilant guidance
- तनय (tanaya)
- Literal: child. Symbolic: the growing soul-formation, the new inner birth
- स्तोम (stoma)
- Literal: hymn of praise. Symbolic: aspiration formulated as mantra; self-offering through speech
- तन्वा (tanvā)
- Literal: with the body/whole being. Symbolic: total presence and integral acceptance
- सुजात (sujāta)
- Literal: well-born. Symbolic: pure flame born from right aspiration; psychic fire
Morning invocation: aligning Agni with dawn and sunrise; prayer for guardianship of light (go) and acceptance of stoma
At dawn/sunrise; beginning of day’s practice or offerings
Kindling or mental kindling; offering of hymn/aspiration at daybreak
Morning meditation: chant at first light to protect and sustain the day’s clarity and intention.
vyuṣṭi: ‘dawning, shining forth’ from vi+√uṣ ‘to shine’. √budh: awaken (bodhi). gopā: ‘cow-protector’ (go + pā ‘protect’); symbolically protector of rays/illumination. tanū (tanvā): body, self; indicates integral acceptance. su-jāta: well-born (su + jāta, √jan ‘be born’).
awakening (bodhi), guardianship of knowledge-rays (go as light), integral presence (tanvā), continuous nurture (tanaya imagery)
Dawn and sunrise are ṛta’s daily revelation; Agni is asked to guard the right unfolding of consciousness.
Sunrise symbolizes satya’s establishment; Agni’s awakening aligns the being with truth.
The ‘child’ image: continual inner birth nurtured by divine fire; daily recreation of consciousness at dawn.
Integral Vedic psychology: progressive illumination guarded by will; the divine as intimate fatherly presence.
dawn/sunrise
Dawn = first insight; Sun = stable truth-consciousness; Fire = will guarding the process; hymn = formative vibration of aspiration.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘guardian of the cows (rays) at dawn’: Agni is invoked to awaken as protector at dawn and sunrise, safeguarding the illuminations (go) as they emerge. The parent-child simile frames the rite as intimate nurture of the growing soul.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- uṣas ‘dawn’ continues PIE *h₂éusōs (cf. Greek Ēōs, Latin Aurora). sūrya relates to PIE solar lexemes (*sóh₂wl̥). The shared IE dawn/sun hymnic complex is strongly preserved here.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi seeks a living guardianship: Agni is asked to ‘wake’ with the dawn and sun in the seeker, protecting the emergent rays of knowledge, and to accept the hymn with his whole being—signaling a close, sustaining bond like parent and child.
At dawn, feel the first light in the mind; ask Agni to guard it and awaken fuller clarity as the ‘sun’ rises within.
Ājñā (illumination) supported by Anāhata (warmth/acceptance)
Slow 1:2 breathing (inhale 4, exhale 8) while visualizing dawn light; repeat mantra softly
Fresh, receptive, protected awakening
Practice at sunrise: (1) notice the first clear thought (uṣas), (2) offer it to Agni, (3) ask for vigilant protection (gopāḥ), (4) let clarity widen into a steady inner sun (sūrya), (5) end with gratitude—Agni ‘accepts the hymn’.
Rigvedic udātta/anudātta/svarita; verify with svara-pāṭha for ‘uṣaso vyuṣṭau’ and ‘sūra udite’.
Keep a gentle lift on ‘uṣaso’ and ‘sūra’; soften and warm the tone on ‘janmeva… tanayaṃ’.
vyuṣṭau: pronounce ‘vyuṣ’ as ‘vyuṣ-ṭau’ with clear retroflex ‘ṭ’, gopāḥ: long ‘ā’ and visarga audible but light, juṣasva: ‘ṣ’ retroflex; avoid ‘jusasva’, tanvā: long ‘ā’; do not reduce to ‘tanva’
Soft, clear, devotional; like morning speech.
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.
