Rig Veda 7.39.1: Mandala 7, Sukta 39, Mantra 1
Sukta 7.39
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
ऊर्ध्वो अग्निः सुमतिं वस्वो अश्रेत्प्रतीची जूर्णिर्देवतातिमेति । भेजाते अद्री रथ्येव पन्थामृतं होता न इषितो यजाति ॥
ūrdhvó agníḥ su-matíṃ vásvo aśret pratīcī́ jūrṇír deva-tātím eti | bhejā́te ádrī rathyéva pánthām ṛtáṃ hótā na iṣitó yajāti ||
อัคนี (Agni) ผู้ถูกยกสูง เอนเข้าหาความดำริอันเที่ยงตรงของผู้ประเสริฐ; กระแสเปลวไฟที่หวนกลับเคลื่อนไปสู่สภาแห่งเทพ. ดุจหินคั้นสองก้อนยึดทางรถศึก โหตฤ (Hotṛ) ผู้ถูกเร้าเร่ง กระทำยัญพิธีเพื่อเราในฤตะ (ṛta—ระเบียบจักรวาล/สัจจะ) และในแดนอมตะ.
Word by Word
- ऊर्ध्वः
- upright, aloftAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole विशेषणम् (कर्तृ-सम्बन्धः)Root ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्निः
- Agni (fire-god)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुमतिम्
- good thought, benevolenceNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot सु-मति (प्रातिपदिक)
- वस्वः
- of the Vasu (wealth-giver / Vasu-class deity)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचन (वेदिकः)Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
- अश्रेत्
- he has mounted/ascended; he has taken his standVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot श्रि (धातु) / श्रय् (वेदिक-रूप)
- प्रतीची
- facing toward (us), turned towardAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole विशेषणम् (कर्तृ-सम्बन्धः)Root प्रतीच् (प्रातिपदिक)
- जूर्णिः
- impulse, rush, driving forceNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (द्वितीय-क्रिया-सम्बन्धः)Root जूर्णि (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवतातिम्
- the divine order/realm; the state of being among the godsNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot देवता-ति (प्रातिपदिक)
- एति
- goes, proceedsVerbलट्, परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot इ (धातु)
- भेजाते
- the two have taken/partaken; have resorted toVerbपरफेक्ट (लिट्), आत्मनेपद, 3 पुरुष, द्विवचनRole क्रियाRoot भज् (धातु)
- अद्री
- two stones (pressing-stones)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृRoot अद्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
- रथ्येव
- like a chariot-roadAdjective + Indeclinableरथ्य (नपुंसकलिङ्ग/विशेषण-प्रयोगः), द्वितीया, एकवचन; इव = अव्ययRole उपमान (इव)Root रथ्य (प्रातिपदिक) + इव (अव्यय)
- पन्थाम्
- path, wayNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचन (वेदिक-रूपः)Role कर्मRoot पथिन्/पन्था (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऋतम्
- ṛta: truth, cosmic orderNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (गन्तव्य/विषय)Root ऋत (प्रातिपदिक)
- होता
- the Hotṛ-priest (invoker)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot होतृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- of us, ourPronounषष्ठी (एन्क्लिटिक), बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- इषितः
- impelled, directedParticiple (Adjectival)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole विशेषणम् (कर्तृ-सम्बन्धः)Root इष् (धातु) → इषित (कृदन्त, PPP)
- यजति
- worships, sacrificesVerbलट्, परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot यज् (धातु)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सम्भाव्य): ऊर्ध्वः | अग्निः | सुमतिम् | वस्वः | अश्रेत् | प्रतीची | जूर्णिः | देवतातिम् | एति || भेजाते | अद्री | रथ्ये इव → रथ्येव | पन्थाम् | ऋतम् | होता | नः | इषितः | यजति । (अश्रेत्: वेदिक-लुङ्, √श्रि/श्रय् ‘आश्रयति/आश्रयत्’ अर्थे; रथ्ये+इव में ए/इ संधि से ‘एव’)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni rises and leans toward good counsel; the returning flame-current goes to the divine assembly. Like two pressing stones on a chariot road, the Hotṛ, impelled, performs the sacrifice in ṛta and immortality.
Inner meaning
Agni is the ascending divine Will and the priest-power in the seeker. “ūrdhvaḥ” signals uplift of aspiration; Agni “leans” toward “sumati” (right thought) of “vasu” (the Good, the true wealth). The “pratīcī jūrṇiḥ” (returning/turning current) suggests the cyclic movement of consciousness: aspiration rises and the answering force descends toward the “devatāti” (divine assembly within—higher powers gathering). The “adrī” (pressing stones) are inner disciplines/pressures that extract Soma: concentrated effort and steady practice that make a “rathya… panthā” (a clear chariot-road) for the offering. Thus the impelled Hotṛ (Agni as the luminous priest in us) performs the inner yajña in ṛta (right order) and opens toward amṛta (immortality-consciousness).
Universal truth
When aspiration rises and aligns with right understanding, disciplined practice extracts the essence of delight and makes a clear path for divine forces to act; ordered offering leads toward a stable immortal consciousness.
Themes
Agni-hotṛ, Inner sacrifice, Ṛta, Ascent of will
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa)
- Other hymns
- RV 7.1 (Agni), RV 7.2 (Agni), RV 7.39.1-3 (this sequence)
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha’s Agni hymns often present Agni as the inner Hotṛ establishing ṛta and opening the way to the gods—an archetype of guided ascent.
Significance
He portrays the yajña as an inner process: aspiration rises, disciplines press the essence, and the divine assembly responds—an early map of integral sādhanā.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (Hotṛ, upward flame)
- Epithets
- ūrdhva (uplifted), hotā (invoking priest), iṣita (impelled)
- Related deities
- Soma (pressed essence, implied by adrī), Viśve Devāḥ (devatāti), Indra (receiver of Soma, implied in Soma-pressing context)
Cosmic role
Mediator between worlds; carrier of offerings; establisher of ṛta in the sacrifice; awakener of the divine assembly.
Inner power
Will-to-transform, aspiration, and the priestly intelligence that translates intention into effective offering.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni invocation at the opening/transition of a Soma sacrifice sequence; Hotṛ function emphasized
ऊ॒र्ध्वो अ॒ग्निः सु॑म॒तिं वस्वो॑ अश्रेत्प्रती॒ची जू॒र्णिर्दे॒वता॑तिमेति । भे॒जाते॒ अद्री॑ र॒थ्ये॑व॒ पन्था॑मृ॒तं होता॑ न इषि॒तो य॑जाति ॥
ऊ॒र्ध्वः । अ॒ग्निः । सु॒ऽम॒तिम् । वस्वः॑ । अ॒श्रे॒त् । प्र॒ती॒ची । जू॒र्णिः । दे॒वऽता॑तिम् । ए॒ति॒ । भे॒जाते॑ । अद्री॒ इति॑ । र॒थ्या॑ऽइव । पन्था॑म् । ऋ॒तम् । होता॑ । नः॒ । इ॒षि॒तः । य॒जा॒ति॒ ॥
ūrdhvaḥ | agniḥ | su-matim | vasvaḥ | aśret | pratīcī | jūrṇiḥ | deva-tātim | eti | bhejāte | adrī iti | rathyāiva | panthām | ṛtam | hotā | naḥ | iṣitaḥ | yajāti
44
4 × ~11
Ascending, steady stride; fits the image of rising fire and a clear road.
Creates uplift and inner straightness; supports concentration and a sense of ordered offering.
- ऊर्ध्वः (ūrdhvaḥ)
- Literal: upright, raised. Symbolic: uplifted aspiration; ascent of consciousness
- अग्निः (agniḥ)
- Literal: fire. Symbolic: divine Will, inner priest, leader of transformation
- सुमतिम् (sumatim)
- Literal: good thought/right counsel. Symbolic: illumined discernment; right intention aligned to truth
- वस्वः (vasvaḥ)
- Literal: of the good/wealth. Symbolic: the true wealth: spiritual felicity and right being
- प्रतीची जूर्णिः (pratīcī jūrṇiḥ)
- Literal: returning/turning current. Symbolic: descent-response of force; cyclic exchange between human and divine
- देवताती (devatāti)
- Literal: assembly of gods. Symbolic: higher powers gathered in the inner heaven of consciousness
- अद्री (adrī)
- Literal: pressing stones. Symbolic: disciplines that press out Soma; concentrated effort
- रथ्येव पन्थाम् (rathyeva panthām)
- Literal: like a chariot-road. Symbolic: clear channel for the movement of offering and response
- ऋतम् (ṛtam)
- Literal: truth-order. Symbolic: right law of becoming; harmonious rhythm of transformation
- होता (hotā)
- Literal: invoking priest. Symbolic: Agni as the power that calls and mediates between planes
Agni as Hotṛ in Soma sacrifice; opening/establishing the sacrifice in ṛta, linking fire and soma-pressing
At kindling/strengthening of Agni and at moments of establishing the seat for the gods; near Soma-pressing imagery (adrī).
Kindling Agni, invoking gods, pressing Soma (symbolically), and affirming ṛta as the law of the rite.
As a pre-meditation ignition: light a lamp (optional), straighten the spine (‘ūrdhva’), set right intention (‘sumati’), and offer breath/thought into the inner fire.
aśret < √śri/√śray ‘to lean on, take refuge’—Agni ‘rests’ on su-mati, indicating will guided by right discernment. adrī ‘pressing stones’ (dual) are ritual instruments; psychologically they are the intensities that press out the soma-essence (delight/illumination). hotṛ from √hu ‘to call’ (invoker), paired with √yaj in yajāti: invocation and offering as two sides of inner sacrifice. ṛta as the governing principle of correct action and truth.
Ṛta guiding yajña, Agni as inner will guided by su-mati, Tapas/pressure releasing essence (adrī symbolism)
The sacrifice is performed ‘in ṛta’: right order is the condition for effective transformation.
Agni’s leaning toward sumati indicates movement toward truth in thought and will.
The worlds are linked by Agni’s mediating flame; ascent/descent exchange sustains becoming.
Vedic integralism: Agni as conscious force bridging human and divine; ṛta as dynamic law of manifestation.
Fire = will and aspiration; pressing = concentrated practice; road = cleared channel (sushumnā-like axis) for ascent/descent.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is the ‘ascent of Agni’ and the ‘release of soma by pressing’: will rises and joins the divine host, while the pressed essence is prepared along a ‘road’—a coordinated inner rite where aspiration (Agni) and delight/illumination (Soma) meet in ṛta.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √yaj (yajāti) is cognate with Avestan yaz- ‘to worship’, showing Indo-Iranian continuity of sacrificial vocabulary. panthā- ‘path’ has IE correspondences (cf. Avestan pantā), reflecting shared poetic geography of ‘roads’ for gods and offerings.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi portrays Agni as the active priest within who, once impelled (iṣitaḥ), carries out the sacrifice for ‘us’; the human side provides su-mati (right thought) as the support, and Agni reciprocates by making the rite effective in ṛta—opening access to the divine assembly.
Align will (Agni) with right intention (sumati); feel ascent and answering descent as one cycle of offering.
Anāhata (devatāti as inner assembly/heart-space) with Sushumnā axis imagery from Mūlādhāra to Sahasrāra (as ‘ūrdhva’ movement)
Inhale up the spine (ūrdhva), pause briefly (pressing), exhale offering into the heart-fire; repeat gently.
Collected, upright, and receptive; sense of inner priesthood.
Begin with posture and intention: ‘let Agni rise.’ Apply steady discipline (adrī) to press out the essence of experience into offering; invite the higher powers to gather and act in ṛta.
Triṣṭubh with careful elevation on udātta of agníḥ and key action verbs (aśret/eti/yajāti) per recension; keep the ‘ūrdhvo’ opening clearly lifted.
Start with a slightly raised pitch on ‘ū́rdhvo’; maintain steady cadence; do not over-elide sandhi around rathyeva.
(ūrdhvo): long ū; cluster rdhv articulated, (aśret): ś + r cluster; final t crisp, (pratīcī): long ī, (devatātim): long ā; dental t, (bhejāte): bh aspirated; long ā, (adrī): retroflex ḍ? here d is dental; long ī at end, (rathyeva): th aspirated; yeva smooth, (yajāti): j soft; long ā
Clear, upright, and steady—like a rising flame; gentle resonance on long vowels.
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