Rig Veda 7.16.6: Mandala 7, Sukta 16, Mantra 6
Sukta 7.16
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
कृधि रत्नं यजमानाय सुक्रतो त्वं हि रत्नधा असि । आ न ऋते शिशीहि विश्वमृत्विजं सुशंसो यश्च दक्षते ॥
kṛdhí rátnam yajámānāya sukratō tváṃ hí ratnadhā́ ási | ā́ na ṛté śiśīhi víśvam ṛtv́ijaṃ suśáṃso yáś ca dákṣate ||
హే సుక్రతో, యజమానునికి రత్నం (ధనం/తేజస్సు) నిర్మించు; ఎందుకంటే నీవే రత్నధా (రత్నధారకుడు). నిన్ను లేక ఏదీ సిద్ధంగా తయారుకాదు; మా కొరకు సమస్త ఋత్విజ్-కార్యాన్ని పదును పెట్టు—సుశంసుడు (శుభస్తుతి గలవాడు) మరియు దక్షుడు (కుశలకర్త) అయినవానిని.
Word by Word
- कृधि
- make; do (you)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole (क्रियापद)Root कृ (√कृ)
- रत्नम्
- a treasure; giftNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
- यजमानाय
- for the sacrificerNounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot यजमान (प्रातिपदिक; √यज से)
- सुक्रतो
- O good-minded/strong-willed oneNoun (vocative epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole (सम्बोधन)Root सु-क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक)
- त्वम्
- youPronounत्रिलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- हि
- indeed; forIndeclinableनिपात (अव्यय)Role (सम्बन्ध/निपात)Root हि (निपात)
- रत्नधा
- treasure-bestowing; treasure-holderAdjective/Noun (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषण)Root रत्न-धा (प्रातिपदिक; √धा ‘to place’)
- असि
- you areVerbलट् (वर्तमान), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole (क्रियापद)Root अस् (√अस्)
- आ
- hither; towardsIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRole (दिशा/प्रवृत्ति)Root आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- नः
- of us; ourPronounत्रिलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (एन्क्लिटिक), बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ऋते
- in/according to ṛta (cosmic order)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (अव्ययीभावार्थे ‘in/according to ṛta’)Role अधिकरणRoot ऋत (प्रातिपदिक)
- शिशीहि
- strengthen; make vigorousVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole (क्रियापद)Root शिश्/शिशी (√शिश् ‘to sharpen/strengthen’; intens./desid. sense in Vedic)
- विश्वम्
- all; the wholeAdjective (used substantively)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऋत्विजम्
- the officiating priestNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (विश्वम् का विशेष्य)Root ऋत्विज् (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुशंसः
- well-praising; of good praiseAdjective/Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषण/अप्पोज़िशन)Root सु-शंस (प्रातिपदिक; √शंस ‘to praise’)
- यः
- whoRelative pronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थक अव्ययRole (समुच्चय)Root च (निपात)
- दक्षते
- is capable; accomplishesVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole (क्रियापद)Root दक्ष् (√दक्ष् ‘to be able/competent; to accomplish’)
Sandhi Notes
- संधि-विच्छेद (मुख्य): रत्नं यजमानाय → रत्नम् + यजमानाय (म् + य = ंय)
- सुक्रतो त्वं → सुक्रतो + त्वम् (ओ + त्)
- रत्नधा असि → रत्नधा + असि (आ + अ)
- आ न ऋते → आ + नः + ऋते (एन्क्लिटिक नः)
- शिशीहि विश्वम् → शिशीहि + विश्वम् (इ + व्)
- विश्वमृत्विजम् → विश्वम् + ऋत्विजम् (म् + ऋ = मृ)
- सुशंसो यश्च → सुशंसः + यः + च (ः + य = ओ य, विसर्ग-परिवर्तन)
- यश्च दक्षते → यः + च + दक्षते
The meaning
Outer meaning
Make the treasure for the sacrificer, O strong-willed; you are the holder of treasure. Without you, none is prepared: sharpen for us the whole priestly work—he of good praise and skill.
Inner meaning
Agni is addressed as sukratu—one with effective will/intelligence: the power that can ‘fashion’ (kṛdhi) the true treasure (ratna) for the yajamāna, the one who offers (the aspiring soul-personality). Ratna is not merely wealth but attained excellence: clarified energy, steady joy, right knowledge, and power for works. Agni is ratnadhā—holder/distributor of these inner jewels. ‘Without you’ (ṛte) nothing is made ready: no faculty becomes fit for the divine work unless the inner fire purifies and energizes it. Therefore the prayer: śiśīhi—sharpen, whet—our whole ṛtvijam, the total priestly functioning, i.e., all operative powers in us that perform the sacrifice. ‘Suśaṃsaḥ’ is the faculty of right affirmation—true speech/thought that praises and aligns; ‘yaś ca dakṣate’ is the capable power of skill (dakṣa) that can execute. Agni must refine both: right word and right competence.
Universal truth
All real attainment and readiness come from the awakened inner fire: it forges inner treasure and sharpens both right understanding and effective skill.
Themes
treasure as inner attainment, sharpening faculties, efficacy of sacrifice, Agni as ratnadhā
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 7.19, RV 7.20, RV 7.23
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha emphasizes efficacy (kratu, dakṣa) and right formulation (suśaṃsa) as necessary complements in the inner sacrifice.
Significance
The seer’s practical mysticism: spiritual progress demands both inner fire and sharpened instruments—speech/thought and skill in works.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- sukratu (effective-willed), ratnadhā (treasure-holder), suśaṃsa (evoked through right praise)
- Related deities
- Bṛhaspati (right word/brahman), Indra (illumined power), Soma (delight as treasure)
Cosmic role
Bestower of treasures and preparer of the sacrifice; makes the priestly work effective.
Inner power
Power that forges inner attainments and refines faculties into precise instruments of truth and action.
In ritual
Where it is used
Praise to Agni for prosperity and successful performance of rites; strengthening the priestly function before/within offerings
कृ॒धि रत्नं॒ यज॑मानाय सुक्रतो॒ त्वं हि र॑त्न॒धा असि॑ । आ न॑ ऋ॒ते शि॑शीहि॒ विश्व॑मृ॒त्विजं॑ सु॒शंसो॒ यश्च॒ दक्ष॑ते ॥
कृ॒धि । रत्न॑म् । यज॑मानाय । सु॒क्र॒तो॒ इति॑ सुऽक्रतो । त्वम् । हि । र॒त्न॒ऽधाः । असि॑ । आ । नः॒ । ऋ॒ते । शि॒शी॒हि॒ । विश्व॑म् । ऋ॒त्विज॑म् । सु॒ऽशंसः॑ । यः । च॒ । दक्ष॑ते ॥
kṛdhi | ratnam | yajamānāya | sukrato itisu-krato | tvam | hi | ratna-dhāḥ | asi | ā | naḥ | ṛte | śiśīhi | viśvam | ṛtvijam | su-śaṃsaḥ | yaḥ | ca | dakṣate
44
4×11 (approx.)
Strong, workmanlike cadence; imperative verbs (kṛdhi, śiśīhi) give a forging rhythm.
Elicits resolve and precision; supports a sense of ‘tempering’ the mind and will.
- sukratu
- Literal: good/strong resolve; effective intelligence. Symbolic: luminous will that knows how to act rightly and powerfully
- ratna
- Literal: jewel, treasure. Symbolic: inner attainments—powers, peace, joy, knowledge made stable
- yajamāna
- Literal: sacrificer. Symbolic: the aspiring soul-personality who offers self and works
- ratnadhā
- Literal: holder/bearer of treasure. Symbolic: Agni as source and distributor of inner gifts
- ṛte
- Literal: without, apart from. Symbolic: without the inner will-fire, no true preparation or purification occurs
- śiśīhi
- Literal: sharpen, whet, make keen. Symbolic: intensify and refine faculties; make them precise instruments
- ṛtvijam
- Literal: the officiating priest(s). Symbolic: the total operative system of our nature performing the inner yajña
- suśaṃsaḥ
- Literal: of good praise/affirmation. Symbolic: truth-speaking mind; right mantra-thought that aligns consciousness
- dakṣate (dakṣa)
- Literal: is able, is skillful. Symbolic: effective capacity/competence in action; executive intelligence
Prayer for ratna (reward/attainment) and for the efficacy of the ṛtvij-function (ritual competence); inwardly: energizing the instruments of right action.
When seeking ratna (boons) and ensuring faultless ritual execution; also in general Agni-stutis
Offer oblations; recite to request prosperity and sharpened officiation
Before study, speech, or demanding work: ask Agni to ‘sharpen’ clarity and skill; treat productivity as yajña for inner treasure rather than ego-gain.
kratu (in su-krato) from √kṛ with semantic development: purposeful resolve/intelligence of will. ratna (treasure) in Vedic often denotes bestowed excellences; inwardly taken as attainments of light/power. śiśīhi (causative/intensive from √śi/śī ‘sharpen’): refine the faculties. dakṣate (√dakṣ): capacity/skill—key Vedic term for effective consciousness-force.
kratu (will-intelligence), dakṣa (capacity/skill as consciousness-power), integrality (viśvam)
Agni prepares the instruments so action follows ṛta rather than impulse.
Suśaṃsa links treasure with truth-speaking—attainment rests on true formulation.
Inner alchemy: treasure is ‘made’ (kṛdhi) through fire—transformation into stable excellence.
Integral Vedism: evolution of faculties; dakṣa/kratu as consciousness-powers to be perfected.
Fire-forge = tapas transforming nature; jewel = condensed attainment; sharpening = refining attention and skill.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Agni as the treasurer and forger of attainments: he ‘makes’ the ratna and ‘sharpens’ the priestly function. Psychologically, the inner fire refines the faculties and establishes the luminous gains of sadhana.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √dhā in ratnadhā aligns with PIE *dʰeh₁- ‘put/place’ (Eng. do, deed), expressing ‘establishing’ wealth. √dakṣ resonates with a pan-IE semantic of competence/skill; its Vedic prominence shows an early abstraction of ‘capacity’ as a power of consciousness.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi acknowledges dependence (‘without you…’) and asks for two reciprocities: (1) the fashioned treasure (ratna) for the yajamāna, (2) the sharpening of the whole working intelligence (ṛtvij) so praise becomes true and action becomes capable (dakṣa).
Offer your work and faculties to Agni; ask for inner ‘ratna’ (stable gains) and for sharpening of speech, discernment, and execution.
maṇipūra (effective will/kratu) and viśuddha (suśaṃsa: right speech)
kapālabhāti (light, brief) to ‘sharpen’ followed by calm breathing; end with silent offering on exhale
Keen, bright, capable; disciplined readiness.
Define the ‘treasure’ you truly seek (clarity, peace, strength). Offer the day’s actions as yajña. Before speaking/acting, pause and invoke śiśīhi: let Agni hone the intention (satya) and the method (dakṣa).
Imperatives (kṛdhi, śiśīhi) should be articulated crisply; apply udātta/anudātta/svarita per tradition (exact accents require svara-marked text).
Slightly stress ratnaṃ and ratnadhā; keep pāda breaks clean to preserve triṣṭubh firmness.
kṛdhi: retroflex ṛ; ‘dh’ dental, yajamānāya: long ā; keep ‘yaja’ clear, sukrato: ‘su’ short; ‘kr’ cluster crisp, ratnadhā: retroflex ṇ? (here ‘ratna’ dental n); long ā at end, śiśīhi: both ī long; ‘ś’ palatal
firm, precise, slightly ‘forging’ resonance
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