Rig Veda 7.3.1: Mandala 7, Sukta 3, Mantra 1
Sukta 7.3
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
अग्निं वो देवमग्निभिः सजोषा यजिष्ठं दूतमध्वरे कृणुध्वम् । यो मर्त्येषु निध्रुविॠतावा तपुर्मूर्धा घृतान्नः पावकः ॥
agníṃ vo devám agníbhiḥ sa-jóṣā yájiṣṭhaṃ dūtám adhvaré kṛṇudhvam | yó mártyeṣu ní-dhruvir ṛtá-vā tápur-mūrdhā ghṛtā́nnaḥ pā́vakaḥ ||
దైవ అగ్నులతో ఏకమనస్సుతో, యజ్ఞంలో అత్యంత పూజ్య దూత అయిన దేవుడు అగ్నిని మీరు మీకోసం స్థాపించండి. ఆయన మానవుల మధ్య దృఢంగా స్థితిచెందినవాడు; ఋత (సత్య-నియమం) ను ధరించేవాడు; తప్త తేజస్సుతో మండే శిరస్సు కలవాడు; ఘృతంతో పోషింపబడే పావకుడు (శుద్ధికర్త).
Word by Word
- अग्निम्
- Agni (as the object of worship)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot अग्नि- (प्रातिपदिक)
- वः
- of you / yourPronounषष्ठी (एन्क्लिटिक), बहुवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot युष्मद्- (सर्वनाम)
- देवम्
- the god, divineNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (अग्निम् का विशेषण)Root देव- (प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्निभिः
- with the (other) fires / with AgnisNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot अग्नि- (प्रातिपदिक)
- सजोषाः
- in concord, together, of one accordAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (यजमानाः/ऋत्विजः implied) / विशेषणRoot सजोषस्- (प्रातिपदिक; स- + जोषस् ‘संग/सन्तोष/सहभाव’)
- यजिष्ठम्
- most worthy of worshipAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (अग्निम् का विशेषण)Root यजिष्ठ- (यज् धातु से श्रेष्ठतमे; superlative adj.)
- दूतम्
- messengerNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (अग्निम् का विशेषण)Root दूत- (प्रातिपदिक)
- अध्वरे
- in the sacrificeNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot अध्वर- (प्रातिपदिक)
- कृणुध्वम्
- make (him) / establish (him)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदRole क्रियाRoot कृ (डु-कृञ्) धातु
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (सापेक्ष-सम्बन्ध; अग्निः)Root यद्- (सर्वनाम)
- मर्त्येषु
- among mortalsNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole अधिकरणRoot मर्त्य- (प्रातिपदिक)
- निध्रुवि
- in the fixed/settled (order), firmlyAdjective(वेदिक) सप्तमी, एकवचन (अधिकरण-विशेषण; ‘स्थिर-आधारे/निध्रुवौ’ अर्थे)Role अधिकरण (मर्त्येषु का विशेषण/उपपद)Root निध्रुवि- (प्रातिपदिक; निः/नि- + ध्रुवि ‘स्थिर/ध्रुव’)
- ऋतावा
- possessing ṛta, truthful/orderedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (यः का विशेषण)Root ऋतावन्/ऋतावा- (प्रातिपदिक; ऋत ‘cosmic order’)
- तपुर्मूर्धा
- whose head is ardor/heatNoun (compound)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (यः का विशेषण)Root तपुर्मूर्धन्- (समास; तपुस् ‘heat, ardor’ + मूर्धन् ‘head’)
- घृतान्नः
- having ghee as food, ghee-fedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (यः का विशेषण)Root घृतान्न- (समास; घृत ‘ghee’ + अन्न ‘food’)
- पावकः
- the purifier (Agni)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (यः = पावकः)Root पावक- (प्रातिपदिक; √पू ‘to purify’ से)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-निरसन): अग्निं वः देवम् अग्निभिः सजोषाः यजिष्ठं दूतम् अध्वरे कृणुध्वम् । यः मर्त्येषु निध्रुवि ऋतावा तपुर्मूर्धा घृतान्नः पावकः ॥ विशेष: (1) ‘अग्निभिः सजोषाः’—तृतीया ‘अग्निभिः’ करण, ‘सजोषाः’ प्रथमा बहुवचन (यजमान/ऋत्विज्-समूह का विशेषण) । (2) ‘निध्रुवि’ वेदिक रूप: स्थैर्य/निश्चित-आधार का अधिकरणवाचक प्रयोग
- ‘मर्त्येषु’ के साथ ‘among mortals, in fixed order’ भाव। (3) ‘तपुर्मूर्धा’, ‘घृतान्नः’ बहुव्रीहि-विशेषणरूपेण अग्नि के लिए।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Make Agni the divine messenger in the sacrifice, in harmony with the divine Fires. He is firmly established among mortals, bearer of ṛta, with a head of burning force, fed with ghee, the purifier.
Inner meaning
The sādhanā begins by establishing Agni—the divine Will—as the central messenger between human and divine. ‘Agni with the Agnis’ indicates the one flame expressing through multiple inner fires: aspiration, courage, discernment, and transformative heat. In mortals he is ‘nidhruvi’—made firm as a stable psychic will. As ṛtāvā, he carries the truth-law: he insists on right movement and rejects falsehood. ‘Tapur-mūrdhā’ (burning-headed) is the upward-pointing intensity of tapas that illumines the mind. ‘Ghṛtānnaḥ’ is fed by clarified essence—luminous understanding and purified emotion—so he becomes pāvaka, the purifier that cleanses mixed motives and prepares the being for higher descent.
Universal truth
Transformation requires a central, steady will aligned with truth. When the inner fire is fed by purified essence (clarity, sincerity), it becomes a messenger that links the human to the divine and purifies the whole nature.
Themes
Agni as messenger and purifier, truth-order embodiment, inner establishment of fire
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa lineage)
- Other hymns
- RV 7.3, RV 7.1, RV 7.2
Family tradition
The opening of a new hymn (7.3) typically re-establishes Agni as the indispensable inner priest and messenger, a hallmark of Vasiṣṭha’s spiritual method.
Significance
This verse is a programmatic statement of inner yoga: make the divine Will your messenger; stabilize it; feed it with clarified essence; let it purify and enforce ṛta in life.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- deva (god), yajiṣṭha (most worshipful), dūta (messenger), ṛtāvā (bearer of ṛta), tapurmūrdhā (burning-headed), ghṛtānna (ghee-fed), pāvaka (purifier)
- Related deities
- Indra, Soma, Bṛhaspati, Uṣas
Cosmic role
Mediator and transformer; carries offerings to the gods and brings their powers to the human; maintains ṛta in the worlds.
Inner power
Central will of yoga; tapas that illumines; purification of motives, thoughts, and energies.
In ritual
Where it is used
General Agni invocation at the opening of rites; establishing Agni as hotṛ/dūta
अ॒ग्निं वो॑ दे॒वम॒ग्निभि॑: स॒जोषा॒ यजि॑ष्ठं दू॒तम॑ध्व॒रे कृ॑णुध्वम् । यो मर्त्ये॑षु॒ निध्रु॑विॠ॒तावा॒ तपु॑र्मूर्धा घृ॒तान्न॑: पाव॒कः ॥
अ॒ग्निम् । वः॒ । दे॒वम् । अ॒ग्निऽभिः॑ । स॒ऽजोषाः॑ । यजि॑ष्ठम् । दू॒तम् । अ॒ध्व॒रे । कृ॒णु॒ध्व॒म् । यः । मर्त्ये॑षु । निऽध्रु॑विः । ऋ॒तऽवा॑ । तपुः॑ऽमूर्धा । घृ॒तऽअ॑न्नः । पा॒व॒कः ॥
agnim | vaḥ | devam | agni-bhiḥ | sa-joṣāḥ | yajiṣṭham | dūtam | adhvare | kṛṇudhvam | yaḥ | martyeṣu | ni-dhruviḥ | ṛta-vā | tapuḥ-mūrdhā | ghṛta-annaḥ | pāvakaḥ
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4 × ~11
Foundational, declarative, steady; suitable for establishing a central principle.
Anchors attention and will; generates a clean, upright intensity (tapas) with a purifying after-effect.
- अग्निम्… देवम् (agniṃ… devam)
- Literal: Agni the god. Symbolic: Divine Will present as a conscious power in the being
- अग्निभिः सजोषाः (agnibhiḥ sajoṣāḥ)
- Literal: In accord with the fires. Symbolic: Harmony of multiple inner flames/faculties under one will
- यजिष्ठम् (yajiṣṭham)
- Literal: Most worshipful. Symbolic: Chief power of effective aspiration and offering
- दूतम् (dūtam)
- Literal: Messenger. Symbolic: Mediator between human and divine planes; carrier of offerings upward and powers downward
- अध्वरे (adhvare)
- Literal: In the sacrifice. Symbolic: In the journey/work of transformation
- निध्रुविः (nidhruviḥ)
- Literal: Firmly fixed/established. Symbolic: Stable psychic will, not fluctuating with moods
- ऋतावा (ṛtāvā)
- Literal: Possessing ṛta. Symbolic: Aligned with truth-order; right discernment in action
- तपुर्मूर्धा (tapurmūrdhā)
- Literal: Burning as head. Symbolic: Tapas concentrating upward into illumination
- घृतान्नः (ghṛtānnaḥ)
- Literal: Ghee-fed. Symbolic: Nourished by clarified luminous essence (purified mind/heart)
- पावकः (pāvakaḥ)
- Literal: Purifier. Symbolic: Cleansing force that refines nature for higher consciousness
Opening of Sukta 7.3: establishment of Agni as dūta in adhvara; emphasizes Agni’s ṛta-nature and purificatory tapas—usable in consecratory and invocatory portions of śrauta rites.
At commencement of sacrifice or when re-kindling/renewing Agni’s role
Consecration of Agni as messenger; offering ghee; recitation to establish ṛta
Daily practice mantra for ‘kindling the will’: chant before work/meditation to align with truth and purify intention.
yájiṣṭha superlative from √yaj ‘worship, sacrifice’ (PIE *h₁yeh₂g- ‘worship’ often proposed). ni-dhruvi from ni- + dhruvá ‘fixed, firm’ (√dhṛ ‘hold’). ṛtá-vā from ṛtá ‘truth-order’ (√ṛ ‘fit, move rightly’) + -vā ‘possessing’. tápas from √tap ‘heat, burn, concentrate’ (inner ardor). pā́vaka from √pū ‘purify, cleanse’ (PIE *pewH- ‘clean/purify’).
Rita (truth-order), Tapas (concentrated force), stability in the mortal (nidhruvi)
Agni as ṛtāvā is the enforcer of right movement; he corrects deviations in thought and act.
nidhruviḥ + satya orientation: truth must become stable habit of consciousness.
Fire as first mediator of manifestation: the will-to-be and will-to-transform that builds the path between worlds.
Aurobindonian integral symbolism: Agni as psychic will leading the ascent and preparing descent.
dawn (often associated with kindling and beginning)
Fire = will/tapas; ghee = clarified essence of mind-heart; sun-like head = illumined consciousness; purifier = catharsis/refinement.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Agni as the firmly established messenger within mortals who bears ṛta and purifies by tapas: the mythic fire is both cosmic envoy and inner transformative power.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √pū ‘purify’ (pāvaka) relates to PIE *pewH- ‘clean/purify’ (cf. Latin pūrus ‘pure’). √tap ‘heat’ is an Indo-Iranian specialization of ‘burn/heat’ semantics used for spiritual concentration, showing how physical fire vocabulary becomes psychological technology.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi commands the community to ‘make’ Agni the messenger in the adhvara—human agency establishes the divine flame; Agni reciprocates by becoming stable in the mortal frame and enforcing ṛta through purifying heat, making the being fit for truth-consciousness.
Kindle and stabilize the psychic will; align action with ṛta; offer clarified intention as ‘ghee’ to the inner fire.
Maṇipūra (fire/will) with support from Anāhata (sincere offering)
Ujjāyī light or steady nasal breathing; chant on long exhale, feeling heat rise to the brow-crown on ‘tapurmūrdhā’.
Concentrated, upright, purifying intensity
Begin with a short silence. Feel a steady flame in the core. Resolve: ‘Let my will be the messenger of the Divine.’ Offer one clear intention (ghṛta). Observe impurities surfacing without judgment; let Agni burn them into clarity.
Traditional Rigvedic accents; keep a strong lift on ‘agniṃ’, ‘yajiṣṭham’, and ‘ṛtāvā’; emphasize the compound ‘tapurmūrdhā’ with steady intensity.
Do not blur sandhi: agniṃ vo | devam | agnibhiḥ sajoṣāḥ. Keep caesura after each pāda; let ‘pāvakaḥ’ land firmly.
adhvare: dhv cluster—keep ‘dhv’, not ‘davar’, nidhruviḥ: retroflex ṛ; ‘dhru’ clear, ṛtāvā: vocalic ṛ; long ā, tapurmūrdhā: murdhā with retroflex ḍh, ghṛtānnaḥ: ghṛ (vocalic ṛ) + t; double n sound, pāvakaḥ: long ā
Steady, bright, authoritative; a controlled heat rather than shouting.
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