Rig Veda 1.140.5: Mandala 1, Sukta 140, Mantra 5
Sukta 1.140
- Rishi
- Kaṇva lineage
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Jagatī or Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Raudra (fury) and Vira (heroism)
आदस्य ते ध्वसयन्तो वृथेरते कृष्णमभ्वं महि वर्पः करिक्रतः । यत्सीं महीमवनिं प्राभि मर्मृशदभिश्वसन्त्स्तनयन्नेति नानदत् ॥
ād asya te dhvasayanto vṛthā īrate kṛṣṇam abhvam mahi varpaḥ karikrataḥ | yat sīm mahīm avanim prābhi marmṛśad abhi-śvasan stanayan eti nānadat ||
แล้วเหล่าผู้กระจายของเขาก็พุ่งไปโดยไร้อุปสรรค; รูปอันไพศาลของเขาในความเวิ้งมืดดำอันใหญ่หลวงย่อมก่อการงานของตน. เมื่อเขาสัมผัสและกดรุกไปบนพื้นฐานแห่งแผ่นดินอันยิ่งใหญ่—หอบหายใจ คำรามกึกก้องดุจฟ้าร้องขณะเคลื่อน—เขาก็เปล่งเสียงคำรามดังลั่น.
Word by Word
- आदस्य
- then/thereupon, of him/itsIndeclinableआ (उपसर्ग/निपात) + अस्य (षष्ठी एकवचन, पुं/नपुं)Role सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)Root आ + इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → अस्य
- ते
- of you/thyPronounषष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ध्वसयन्तः
- shattering, crushingVerb-participleवर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), प्रथमा बहुवचन, पुंRole कर्तृRoot ध्वस् (धातु) / ध्वसयति (णिच्)
- वृथेः
- of the vain one / of futilityNounषष्ठी एकवचन, स्त्री/नपुं (वेदिक प्रयोग)Role सम्बन्धRoot वृथा (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक ‘in vain’) → वृथ (प्रातिपदिक)
- रते
- on the chariotNounसप्तमी एकवचन, पुंRole अधिकरणRoot रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
- कृष्णम्
- black, darkAdjectiveद्वितीया एकवचन, नपुं (अभ्वम् इति विशेषण)Role कर्मRoot कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
- अभ्वम्
- monster; vast/dread beingNounद्वितीया एकवचन, नपुंRole कर्मRoot अभ्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- महि
- greatly, mightilyIndeclinableअव्ययRole विशेषण-भाव (adverbial)Root महि (अव्यय)
- वर्पः
- form, appearance, bodyNounद्वितीया एकवचन, नपुंRole कर्मRoot वर्पस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- करिक्रतः
- doing repeatedly/with force; active doersAdjectiveप्रथमा बहुवचन, पुं (ध्वसयन्तः इति विशेषण)Role कर्तृRoot कृ (धातु) + चर्कृ/कृ (वेदिक पुनरुक्त/इंटेन्सिव) → करिक्रत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- यत्
- when/thatPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (सम्बन्धसूचक ‘when/that’)Role सम्बन्ध (clausal)Root यद् (सर्वनाम)
- सीम्
- him/it (emphatic particle)Indeclinableअव्यय (एन्क्लिटिक)Role कर्म-प्रत्यवस्थापन (object marker)Root सीम् (निपात/अव्यय)
- महीम्
- greatAdjectiveद्वितीया एकवचन, स्त्री (अवनिम् इति विशेषण)Role कर्मRoot मही (प्रातिपदिक)
- अवनिम्
- earth, groundNounद्वितीया एकवचन, स्त्रीRole कर्मRoot अवनि (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinableअव्ययRole क्रिया-विशेषणRoot प्र (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- अभि
- towards, uponIndeclinableअव्ययRole क्रिया-विशेषणRoot अभि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- मर्मृशत्
- he rubbed/pressed; he touched stronglyVerbलङ् (इम्परफेक्ट), परस्मैपद, 3 एकवचनRole कर्तृ (क्रिया)Root मृश् (धातु) + मर्मृश् (वेदिक पुनरुक्त/इंटेन्सिव)
- अभिश्वसन्
- snorting, breathing hardVerb-participleवर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), प्रथमा एकवचन, पुं (कर्तरि)Role कर्तृRoot श्वस् (धातु) + अभि (उपसर्ग)
- स्तनयन्
- thunderingVerb-participleवर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), प्रथमा एकवचन, पुंRole कर्तृRoot स्तन्/स्तनय् (धातु ‘to thunder’)
- एति
- goes, comesVerbलट्, परस्मैपद, 3 एकवचनRole कर्तृ (क्रिया)Root इ (धातु)
- नानदत्
- roared, resoundedVerbलङ् (इम्परफेक्ट), परस्मैपद, 3 एकवचनRole कर्तृ (क्रिया)Root नद् (धातु) + नानद् (वेदिक पुनरुक्त/इंटेन्सिव)
Sandhi Notes
- पाठ-समाधान (मुख्य): आद॑स्य = आ + अस्य (इदम्-षष्ठी)
- कृष्णमभ्वम् = कृष्णम् + अभ्वम्
- यत्सीं = यत् + सीम्
- म॒हीम॒वनिं = महीम् + अवनिम्
- प्राभि = प्र + अभि
- अभिश्व॒सन्त्स्त॒नय॒न्नेति = अभिश्वसन् + स्तनयन् + एति (त्/न्-सन्धि से -न्त्स्त-)
- अन्य पद यथापाठ।
The meaning
Outer meaning
His scatterers rush freely; his vast form works in the black vastness. When he presses upon the great earth-foundation, breathing hard, thundering, he roars.
Inner meaning
Once kindled, Agni’s purifying powers (dhvasayantaḥ) surge unobstructed through the obscure field. The divine Will assumes a ‘vast form’—a widening consciousness able to act even in the blackness of the inconscient. When this force meets the ‘earth-foundation’ (our physical base), it powerfully transforms it: there is friction, breath, thunder—signs of intense tapas as the lower nature is compelled to yield and become a base for light.
Universal truth
Transformation becomes intense when higher will descends into the physical foundation; the process may be forceful, but it establishes a new ground for consciousness.
Themes
Agni’s expansion, breaking obstruction, sound-power, force in darkness
The seer
- Rishi
- Kaṇva (Kaṇva lineage)
- Lineage
- Kaṇva
- Other hymns
- RV 1.140, RV 1.143
Family tradition
Kaṇva poetry often depicts the descent of Agni into darker layers and the resulting upheaval as purification.
Significance
Shows the ‘battle’ aspect of Agni: not only gentle flame but a vast, roaring power that remakes the physical base.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- bhīma (formidable), mahān (vast), tapomaya (full of heat)
- Related deities
- Indra (breaker of cover), Maruts (storm-powers)
Cosmic role
Breaker of inertia; awakener of earth-consciousness; establishes a luminous foundation for the worlds.
Inner power
Tapas that penetrates the physical and reorganizes it for divine habitation.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni praise during intensification of the rite (when fire flares)
आद॑स्य॒ ते ध्व॒सय॑न्तो॒ वृथे॑रते कृ॒ष्णमभ्वं॒ महि॒ वर्प॒: करि॑क्रतः । यत्सीं॑ म॒हीम॒वनिं॒ प्राभि मर्मृ॑शदभिश्व॒सन्त्स्त॒नय॒न्नेति॒ नान॑दत् ॥
आत् । अ॒स्य॒ । ते । ध्व॒सय॑न्तः । वृथा॑ । ई॒र॒ते॒ । कृ॒ष्णम् । अभ्व॑म् । महि॑ । वर्पः॑ । करि॑क्रतः । यत् । सी॒म् । म॒हीम् । अ॒वनि॑म् । प्र । अ॒भि । मर्मृ॑शत् । अ॒भि॒ऽश्व॒सन् । स्त॒नयन् । एति॑ । नान॑दत् ॥
āt | asya | te | dhvasayantaḥ | vṛthā | īrate | kṛṣṇam | abhvam | mahi | varpaḥ | karikrataḥ | yat | sīm | mahīm | avanim | pra | abhi | marmṛśat | abhi-śvasan | stanayan | eti | nānadat
48
4 × 12
Heavy, thunderous movement; repeated aspirates and nasals evoke breath and rumble.
Builds power and catharsis; supports confronting deep inertia and fear.
- dhvasayantaḥ
- Literal: scatterers. Symbolic: purifying flames/forces that disperse obstruction and false formations
- vṛthā īrate
- Literal: they rush without hindrance. Symbolic: free flow of right force when aspiration is established
- kṛṣṇam abhvam
- Literal: black vastness. Symbolic: inconscient/subconscient expanse; unlit field of habit and obscurity
- mahi varpaḥ
- Literal: great form. Symbolic: widened being; large consciousness of Agni in us
- avanim
- Literal: earth, foundation. Symbolic: physical consciousness/body-base
- stanayan / nānadat
- Literal: thundering / roaring. Symbolic: tapas in action; irresistible pressure of truth-force breaking inertia
- abhiśvasan
- Literal: breathing hard. Symbolic: prāṇa engaged in transformative effort; intense inner work
Describes the dynamic expansion of Agni once kindled; used to intensify the sense of irresistible divine action.
When the fire is made to blaze; during offerings that ‘strengthen’ Agni.
Adding fuel/ghee; invoking Agni’s force to carry offerings and clear obstacles.
Use when facing lethargy, procrastination, or entrenched habits—invoke steady, forceful clarity.
√ (īr) 'set in motion' shows the surge of Agni’s powers. stanay (thunder) and √ (sound/roar) move from natural storm-sound to inner resonance of awakened force. kṛ (do) with kratu nuance in karikrataḥ suggests effective purposeful action embodied in form (varpa).
tamas confronted by awakened force, embodiment of power (varpa), effective will (kratu) in action
The unhindered rush indicates force aligned with ṛta; obstacles dissolve when truth-force acts.
Roar/thunder symbolize Satya’s pressure on falsehood in the physical.
Descent of consciousness into matter; awakening of ‘earth’ by fire.
Evolutionary Vedic cosmology (consciousness emerging in matter).
monsoon-storm (suggestive)
Storm imagery = inner upheaval during purification; earth = body; thunder = decisive breaking of tamas.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The surge of divine force in darkness: Agni’s dispersing powers move freely and his great form acts within the black abyss. The roaring/thundering is the mythic sign of an awakened power breaking the inertia of the lower nature.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √ (sound/roar) aligns with an old Indo-European sound-symbolic field (cf. Latin nidor 'steam/smell' not direct; but nasal + dental resonance is common in roar terms). The semantic shift from storm-noise to inner force-noise is typical of archaic poetics where natural phenomena are direct symbols of psychological movements.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi witnesses and affirms Agni’s irresistible action: once invoked, Agni does not remain a small flame but becomes a vast embodied force that presses upon the foundation of the being, making the inner earth receptive to transformation.
Let the inner fire descend into the body; witness and allow the ‘thunder’ of transformation without fear.
muladhara (earth-base)
Bhrāmarī-like humming on exhale (gentle) to resonate the ‘roar’ inward; keep it non-straining.
From tamasic density to awakened embodied force.
Bring awareness to the feet/pelvis; invoke Agni as vast and kind. Offer one rigid habit into the flame; feel pressure as purification, not punishment; end with grounding and quiet.
Three-tone Vedic; allow natural emphasis on thunder-words (stanayan, nānadat) while keeping accent rules.
Sustain long vowels (māhi, avanim) to convey ‘vastness’; keep consonant clusters clean.
ād: long ā, dhvasayantaḥ: dhv cluster; final ḥ audible, vṛthā: retroflex ṛ; long ā, abhvam: bha voiced aspirate, marmṛśat: repeat ṛ sound distinctly, abhiśvasan: śv cluster clear, stanayan: dental n; avoid retroflexing, nānada(t): long ā; retroflex ḍ? (here d) keep dental d
Resonant, chest-supported; controlled power rather than shouting.
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