Rig Veda 6.5.7: Mandala 6, Sukta 5, Mantra 7
Sukta 6.5
- Devata
- Agni
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
अश्याम तं काममग्ने तवोती अश्याम रयिं रयिवः सुवीरम् । अश्याम वाजमभि वाजयन्तोऽश्याम द्युम्नमजराजरं ते ॥
aśyāma taṃ kāmam agne tavotī aśyāma rayiṃ rayi-vaḥ su-vīram | aśyāma vājam abhi vājayanto’śyāma dyumnam ajarā-jaraṃ te ||
అగ్నీ! నీ సహాయంతో మేము ఆ కోరికను పొందుదుము; హే రయివన్, సువీరసంపన్నమైన ధనసమృద్ధిని పొందుదుము. బలవిజయాన్ని లక్ష్యంగా ముందుకు దూసుకుపోతూ మేము వాజాన్ని పొందుదుము; అలాగే నీ ద్యుమ్నాన్ని పొందుదుము—అజరం, సదా అజరం.
Word by Word
- अश्याम
- may we attainVerbOptative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 1st person pluralRole KartāRoot √अश् (अश्नुते/अश्नोति) ‘to attain, reach’
- तम्
- thatPronounMasculine, Accusative singularRole KarmaRoot तद् (sarvanāma-prātipadika)
- कामम्
- desire, wished-for objectNounMasculine, Accusative singularRole KarmaRoot काम (prātipadika)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounMasculine, Vocative singularRole (Sambodhana)Root अग्नि (prātipadika)
- तव
- of you, yourPronounGenitive singularRole Sambandha (genitive relation)Root त्वद् (sarvanāma-prātipadika)
- ऊती
- with (your) help/protectionNounFeminine, Instrumental singular (Vedic form; later: ऊत्या)Role KaraṇaRoot ऊति (prātipadika)
- अश्याम
- may we attainVerbOptative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 1st person pluralRole KartāRoot √अश्
- रयिम्
- wealthNounMasculine, Accusative singularRole KarmaRoot रयि (prātipadika)
- रयिवः
- O wealthy one / O possessor of wealthNoun (address/epithet)Masculine, Vocative singularRole (Sambodhana)Root रयि-वस् (prātipadika; possessive ‘having wealth’)
- सुवीरम्
- rich in good heroes/sonsAdjectiveMasculine, Accusative singularRole Karma (qualifier of रयिम्)Root सु-वीर (prātipadika)
- अश्याम
- may we attainVerbOptative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 1st person pluralRole KartāRoot √अश्
- वाजम्
- prize, strength, victory-bootyNounMasculine, Accusative singularRole KarmaRoot वाज (prātipadika)
- अभि
- towards, uponIndeclinablePreverb/particleRole (Upasarga; directional/intensifying)Root अभि (upasarga/avyaya)
- वाजयन्तः
- winning/causing to win prizesVerb (Participle)Masculine, Nominative plural, Present active participleRole Kartā (participle agreeing with ‘we’)Root वाजयन्त् (present active participle from denom. √वाजय् ‘to make win/bring prizes’, from वाज)
- अश्याम
- may we attainVerbOptative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 1st person pluralRole KartāRoot √अश्
- द्यु्म्नम्
- splendour, gloryNounNeuter, Accusative singularRole KarmaRoot द्यु्म्न (prātipadika)
- अजराजरम्
- unaging, ever-youthfulAdjectiveNeuter, Accusative singularRole Karma (qualifier of द्यु्म्नम्)Root अ-जर + अ-जर (prātipadika; reduplicated compound ‘non-aging, ever-unaging’)
- ते
- of you, yourPronounGenitive singular (enclitic)Role Sambandha (genitive relation)Root त्वद् (sarvanāma-prātipadika)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (pada): काम॑मग्ने → कामम् + अग्ने
- तवो॒ती → तव + ऊती (Vedic instrumental sg. of ऊति)
- सु॒वीर॑म् (no split; adjective to रयिम्)
- अ॒भि वा॒जय॑न्तो → अभि + वाजयन्तः
- वाजयन्तोऽश्याम → वाजयन्तः + अश्याम (visarga before vowel becomes ’)
- द्यु॒म्नम॑जरा॒जरं॑ → द्यु्म्नम् + अजराजरम्
The meaning
Outer meaning
May we attain our desire by Agni’s help; may we attain wealth rich in heroes; may we win vāja (prize/strength) striving for victory; may we attain Agni’s unaging glory.
Inner meaning
The prayer turns from protection and action to fulfillment. ‘Kāma’ is the soul’s true aspiration (not mere desire), to realize the divine aim. ‘Rayi’ is inner plenitude—resources of peace and strength—‘suvīra’ indicating heroic powers in the being (courage, endurance, right initiative). ‘Vāja’ is the dynamic force/prize of victory in the battle for light. ‘Dyumna’ is Agni’s luminous glory: stable illumination that does not age—an enduring fire of consciousness.
Universal truth
When the inner Fire leads, aspiration is fulfilled as inner abundance, heroic capacity, victorious force, and enduring illumination.
Themes
attainment, plenitude, victory-force, enduring-glory
The seer
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja tradition (Mandala 6)
- Lineage
- Bharadvāja
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 6.5.5, Rig Veda 6.6.1, Rig Veda 6.16.10, Rig Veda 6.48 (themes of rayi and dyumna)
Family tradition
Bharadvāja hymns often culminate in a fourfold attainment: aim (kāma), plenitude (rayi), victory-force (vāja), and splendor (dyumna).
Significance
Represents the ‘fruit’ of inner yajña: not merely outer prosperity but the establishment of enduring luminous power in life.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- रयिवः (rayivaḥ) giver/possessor of plenitude, अजर (ajara) unaging, सहसः सूनु (son of force) (hymnic context)
- Related deities
- Indra (victory, vāja), Soma (fulfillment/bliss), Mitra (harmony in rayi)
Cosmic role
Bestower of boons through right sacrifice; leader who grants victory and splendor.
Inner power
The fire that converts aspiration into realized strength, abundance, and stable illumination.
In ritual
Where it is used
Concluding boon-seeking within Agni hymn sequence; used to affirm desired fruits of worship
अ॒श्याम॒ तं काम॑मग्ने॒ तवो॒ती अ॒श्याम॑ र॒यिं र॑यिवः सु॒वीर॑म् । अ॒श्याम॒ वाज॑म॒भि वा॒जय॑न्तो॒ऽश्याम॑ द्यु॒म्नम॑जरा॒जरं॑ ते ॥
अ॒श्याम॑ । तम् । काम॑म् । अ॒ग्ने॒ । तव॑ । ऊ॒ती । अ॒श्याम॑ । र॒यिम् । र॒यि॒ऽवः॒ । सु॒ऽवीर॑म् । अ॒श्याम॑ । वाज॑म् । अ॒भि । वा॒जय॑न्त्स् । अ॒श्याम॑ । द्यु॒म्नम् । अ॒ज॒र॒ । अ॒जर॑म् । ते॒ ॥
aśyāma | tam | kāmam | agne | tava | ūtī | aśyāma | rayim | rayi-vaḥ | su-vīram | aśyāma | vājam | abhi | vājayants | aśyāma | dyumnam | ajara | ajaram | te
Jagatī (possible) or Triṣṭubh (common in Mandala 6)
48
4 pādas of ~12 syllables (if jagatī)
Expansive, aspirational, with repeated ‘aśyāma’ creating mantra-like insistence.
Builds a steady upward surge of aspiration; repetition reinforces resolve and confidence in attainment.
- काम (kāma)
- Literal: desire. Symbolic: the soul’s true aim/aspiration toward the Divine
- ऊति (ūtī)
- Literal: help, protection. Symbolic: grace and active support of the inner Fire
- रयि (rayi)
- Literal: wealth, plenitude. Symbolic: inner abundance: peace, strength, capacity, harmony
- सुवीर (suvīra)
- Literal: having good heroes. Symbolic: powers of the being made heroic: courage, steadfast will, noble impulses
- वाज (vāja)
- Literal: prize, strength, victorious gain. Symbolic: dynamic force of progress; winning energy in the struggle
- द्यु्म्न (dyumna)
- Literal: splendor, luminous glory. Symbolic: illumined power and radiance of consciousness
- अजराजरम् (ajarājaram)
- Literal: unaging and ever-unaging. Symbolic: enduring realization not diminished by time or circumstance
Concluding wish-verse style: attainment of kāma (aim), rayi, vāja, dyumna; suitable as a phala-śruti-like affirmation within Agni praise sequences.
Toward the close of recitations; after offerings when ‘phala’ is invoked
Recitation as blessing/affirmation; sometimes paired with oblation for prosperity and victory
Affirmation-mantra for seekers: set intention (kāma) aligned to dharma; invoke inner fire for strength, abundance, and enduring clarity.
√aś ‘to reach’ expresses attainment as arrival at a goal-state. vāja is multivalent: prize/food/strength; here best read as 'plenitude of force' because it is something to be 'won' (vājay-) through progressive energizing. dyumna from √dyut ‘shine’ indicates luminous power. ajara ‘unaging’ (a- + √jṛ ‘to grow old’) stresses the stable permanence of the attained light.
kāma as soul-aim (not mere desire), vāja as force-plenitude, ajara (the enduring in time)
Attainments are stable when aligned with r̥ta; otherwise ‘kāma’ degenerates into desire.
Unaging dyumna implies satya: truth-light that endures beyond fluctuation.
Evolutionary gain: consciousness acquires enduring splendor through repeated aspiration and offering.
Integral yoga reading: fulfillment as transformation of life-nature (heroic powers, victory-force) by the psychic fire.
Prize/victory = successful emergence of higher force; splendor = stabilized illumination; unaging = timeless poise in the soul.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The attainment formula: through Agni’s aid the seeker reaches the desired goal—plenitude (rayi), victorious force (vāja), and enduring glory (dyumna). It is the mythic pattern of ascent rewarded by stable light.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- dyu/dyut complex reflects PIE *dyew- (sky/day/shine). ajara (unaging) uses the inherited privative a- and a root for aging (√jṛ), comparable to Indo-European negated states (e.g., Greek a-geras 'ageless' in poetic diction).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi’s aspiration is explicitly dependent on divine fostering (tavotī): Agni is both helper and the very source of the enduring glory sought. The devotee’s striving (vājayantaḥ) cooperates with Agni’s aid, indicating a joint work of effort and grace.
Repeat ‘aśyāma’ as an inner intention: ‘May I attain’—but align kāma with the soul’s truth.
Anahata (true aspiration) and Manipura (vāja/force)
On inhale: ‘aśyāma’; on exhale: silently offer the day’s effort to Agni; after 4 cycles, rest in quiet dyumna (inner light).
Aspiring confidence moving toward calm luminous establishment.
Define one soul-aligned aim (kāma). Ask for rayi (resources), suvīra (heroic capacities), vāja (forward force), and dyumna (clear light). Notice which is presently lacking and offer that area into the inner fire.
Repetition of ‘aśyāma’ should keep consistent pitch contour; let udātta peaks recur evenly to create a mantra-loop effect.
Make each ‘aśyāma’ a clean rhythmic anchor; slightly lengthen ‘ajarājaram’ to convey endurance.
(aśyāma): ś palatal, long ā, (suvīram): long ī, (vājayantaḥ): ‘j’ soft, final visarga audible, (ajarājaram): roll the repeated ‘jara’ clearly without swallowing vowels
Confident and bright, with a calm finish.
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