Rig Veda 8.39.8: Mandala 8, Sukta 39, Mantra 8
Sukta 8.39
- Devata
- Agni
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
यो अग्निः सप्तमानुषः श्रितो विश्वेषु सिन्धुषु । तमागन्म त्रिपस्त्यं मन्धातुर्दस्युहन्तममग्निं यज्ञेषु पूर्व्यं नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥
yó agníḥ saptá-mānuṣaḥ śritó víśveṣu síndhuṣu | tám ā́ aganma tri-pástyaṃ mandhātúr dasyuhán-tamam agním yajñéṣu pū́rvyaṃ nabhantām anyaké samé ||
Yamang si Agni na pitong-beses na tao, na nakatayo sa lahat ng mga agusan, sa kanya kami ay dumating - ang may tatlong tahanan, ni Mandhātṛ, ang pinakamatay sa mga Dasyu, ang sinaunang Agni sa mga sakripisyo - nawa'y itaboy ang mga mapanirang pwersa sa ibang lugar.
Word by Word
- यः
- who (he who)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध/विशेषण (अग्निः-इत्यस्य) / कर्तृ-निर्देशकRoot यद्- (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्निः
- Agni, fire-godNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (यः… अग्निः) / विषयRoot अग्नि- (प्रातिपदिक)
- सप्त
- sevenNumeralअव्ययम् (संख्यावाचक-विशेषणम्)Role विशेषण (मानुषः-इत्यस्य) / संख्याRoot सप्तन्- (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक; अव्ययीभाववत्)
- मानुषः
- human; of men (Manu’s)Adjective/Nounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role विशेषण (अग्निः) / कर्तृ-सम्बन्धीRoot मानुष- (प्रातिपदिक; मनु-सम्बद्ध)
- श्रितः
- resting/settled; resortedParticipleपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (भूतकर्मणि/भूतभावे)Role कर्तृ-विशेषण (अग्निः)Root √श्रि (श्रयते) → श्रित (क्त)
- विश्वेषु
- in allAdjectiveपुं/नपुंसक-प्रयोगः, सप्तमी, बहुवचनम्Role अधिकरण (सिन्धुषु-इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root विश्व- (प्रातिपदिक)
- सिन्धुषु
- in the rivers/streamsNounपुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, बहुवचनम्Role अधिकरणRoot सिन्धु- (प्रातिपदिक)
- तम्
- himPronounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्म (आगन्म)Root तद्- (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- towards, hitherPreverbउपसर्गः (गम्-धातोः सह)Role क्रियाविशेषणRoot आ (उपसर्ग)
- अगन्म
- we came/approachedVerbलुङ् (अorist), उत्तमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot √गम् (गच्छति) + आ; लुङ्
- त्रिपस्त्यम्
- having three abodesAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (तम्-अग्निम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्म-विशेषणRoot त्रि-पस्त्य- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘three dwellings/abodes’)
- मन्धातुः
- of MandhātṛProper Nounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (अग्निः—मन्धातुः) / षष्ठी-सम्बन्धRoot मन्धातृ- (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
- दस्युहन्तम्
- slayer of the DasyusAdjective (compound)पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (अग्निम्-विशेषणम्)Role कर्म-विशेषणRoot दस्यु-हन्- (समास; √हन् ‘to slay’) → हन्त (शतृ/क्तवत्-प्राय)
- अग्निम्
- AgniNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्म (आगन्म)Root अग्नि- (प्रातिपदिक)
- यज्ञेषु
- in the sacrificesNounपुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, बहुवचनम्Role अधिकरणRoot यज्ञ- (प्रातिपदिक)
- पूर्व्यम्
- ancient, primordialAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (अग्निम्-विशेषणम्)Role कर्म-विशेषणRoot पूर्व्य- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘ancient, primeval’)
- नभन्ताम्
- let them shine forth / let them burst forthVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), तृतीयपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot √नभ्/√नम्भ् (वेद. ‘to shine/flash’/‘to burst forth’), लोट्
- अन्यके
- in another (place/way)Adjective/Nounपुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम् (स्थानीय-प्रयोगः)Role अधिकरण (समे-इत्यस्य विशेषण/सम्बन्ध)Root अन्यक- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘other, another’)
- समे
- in the gathering/meeting; in the same placeNoun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गः/पुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role अधिकरणRoot सम- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘level, same’; वेद. ‘assembly/meeting’ अर्थेऽपि)
Sandhi Notes
- पाठे ‘तमागन्म’ इति सन्धिः: तम् + आ + अगन्म (मकारान्त-परसवर्णः, आ-उपसर्गः). ‘त्रिपस्त्यं’ समासरूपम् (त्रि + पस्त्य). ‘दस्युहन्तम्’ समासः (दस्यु + हन्त- ‘slaying’). ‘नभन्ताम्’ मन्त्रान्ते आज्ञार्थ-लोट् रूपम्
- पदपाठे प्रायः ‘नभन्ताम्’ एव। उच्चारणचिह्ना (उदात्त/अनुदात्त/स्वरित) मूलपाठानुसारं
- अत्र पदविभागे स्वरचिह्नाः न पुनर्न्यस्ताः।
The meaning
Outer meaning
That Agni who is sevenfold-human, established in all the streams—to him we have come: the three-homed, of Mandhātṛ, the most slayer of the Dasyu, the ancient Agni in the sacrifices—let the hostile powers be driven away elsewhere.
Inner meaning
Agni is “saptamānuṣaḥ”: the sevenfold in humanity—psychologically, the one Fire expressing through seven energies (often aligned to seven rays/planes, or seven functional flames of will and aspiration). He is “śritaḥ viśveṣu sindhuṣu”: established in all streams—present in every current of life and consciousness, capable of entering mind-stream, life-stream, body-stream, and the deeper rivers of the being. The seekers ‘come’ to this Agni as to a refuge and method. He is “tripastyam” (three-homed): seated in three worlds/levels (physical-vital-mental, or earth-atmosphere-heaven) and able to harmonize them. “Mandhātṛ” evokes the archetypal founder/holder of right thought and right measure: Agni as the power that establishes the mental formation (mantra) and its effective realization. He is “dasyuhantamam”: greatest slayer of the Dasyu—inner Dasyus are chaotic, ignorant, divisive impulses that steal the light; Agni destroys them by illumination and purification. As “pūrvya” (ancient), this is the perennial method of yoga: the timeless fire-sacrifice within. The refrain seals the victory by expelling residual hostile forces.
Universal truth
The transforming will is universal in human nature: it can act through all levels and streams, unify the threefold life, and overcome inner chaos and ignorance when we consciously turn to it as the ancient path.
Themes
Agni sevenfold, Triple seat, Dasyu-slaying (inner battle)
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 8.39.4, Rig Veda 8.39.5, Rig Veda 8.39.6, Rig Veda 8.39.7
Significance
This verse anchors the hymn in lineage and universality: Agni is ancient yet active in every stream of life, and his victory over ‘Dasyu’ frames sadhana as an inner conquest of ignorance.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- saptamānuṣa (sevenfold in man), viśva-sindhu-śrita (established in all streams), tripastya (three-homed), dasyuhantama (slayer of the Dasyu), pūrva/pūrvya (ancient)
- Related deities
- Indra (slayer of Vṛtra; parallel conquest), Bṛhaspati (breaker of the cave; allied in releasing light), Soma (delight that follows victory)
Cosmic role
Universal fire present in all worlds and waters (streams); purifier and defender of the divine order against anti-divine forces.
Inner power
Multi-powered will that can work on all levels and defeat inner chaos/ignorance, integrating the threefold nature.
In ritual
Where it is used
Invocation of ancestral/ancient Agni in yajña; protective and victory-oriented recitation
यो अ॒ग्निः स॒प्तमा॑नुषः श्रि॒तो विश्वे॑षु॒ सिन्धु॑षु । तमाग॑न्म त्रिप॒स्त्यं म॑न्धा॒तुर्द॑स्यु॒हन्त॑मम॒ग्निं य॒ज्ञेषु॑ पू॒र्व्यं नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥
यः । अ॒ग्निः । स॒प्तऽमा॑नुषः । श्रि॒तः । विश्वे॑षु । सिन्धु॑षु । तम् । आ । अ॒ग॒न्म॒ । त्रि॒ऽप॒स्त्यम् । म॒न्धा॒तुः । द॒स्यु॒हन्ऽत॑मम् । अ॒ग्निम् । य॒ज्ञेषु॑ । पू॒र्व्यम् । नभ॑न्ताम् । अ॒न्य॒के । स॒मे॒ ॥
yaḥ | agniḥ | sapta-mānuṣaḥ | śritaḥ | viśveṣu | sindhuṣu | tam | ā | aganma | tri--pastyam | mandhātuḥ | dasyuhan-tamam | agnim | yajñeṣu | pūrvyam | nabhantām | anyake | same
32
4 × ~8 with refrain
Epic-invocation tone: naming epithets in sequence produces a heroic roll-call.
Energizes and fortifies; evokes protection and a sense of ancient power being summoned now.
- सप्तमानुषः (saptamānuṣaḥ)
- Literal: sevenfold-human. Symbolic: seven energies/flames of will operating in the human instrument
- सिन्धुषु (sindhuṣu)
- Literal: in the rivers/streams. Symbolic: all currents of consciousness and life-force
- त्रिपस्त्यम् (tripastyam)
- Literal: three-homed. Symbolic: seated in three worlds/levels; integrator of mind-life-body (or earth-atmosphere-heaven)
- मन्धातुः (mandhātuḥ)
- Literal: of Mandhātṛ. Symbolic: power of right forming/holding of thought and law; founded aspiration
- दस्युहन्तमम् (dasyuhantamam)
- Literal: most slayer of the Dasyu. Symbolic: destroyer of chaotic ignorance, inner thieves of light
- पूर्व्यम् (pūrvyam)
- Literal: ancient, original. Symbolic: perennial inner sacrifice, timeless yogic method
Agni invoked as ancient, triple-seated, and obstacle-slayer; suitable for rites seeking protection and establishment of the sacrificial fire across the ‘three seats’ and ‘seven’ functions.
When invoking Agni as protector against hostile forces (dasyu/demonic obstruction) and as establisher across the ‘three worlds’ of the rite
Recitation while tending the fire; mental alignment to Agni across all ‘streams’ of the practitioner and environment
For clearing negativity: visualize sevenfold Agni in the body, present in all breath-streams and thought-streams, unifying the three levels and burning chaotic impulses; conclude with a clear ‘send away’ intention.
sapta ‘seven’ is inherited IE numeral. mānuṣa ‘human’ from manu (progenitor) < PIE *manu-. sindhu ‘river/stream’ possibly from √syand ‘flow’ (semantic association). dasyu from √das? (debated); in hymns functions as ‘hostile/obstructing’ being. tri-pastya ‘three dwelling/seats’ from tri + pastya ‘dwelling’ (√vas/√sthā semantic field), mapping cosmic triplicity.
Triplicity (three worlds / threefold being), Sevenfold energies, Battle of light vs obstruction (dasyu)
Dasyu-hunting is protection of ṛta—keeping the evolutionary order intact.
Mandhātṛ implies right holding/forming of truth in mind and law in life.
Integration of the three worlds and manifestation through seven powers; a microcosmic creation in the human.
Vedic yoga cosmology: three worlds, seven powers; interpreted as planes/functions of consciousness.
Streams = prāṇa/thought currents; three homes = body-life-mind (or waking-dream-sleep as fields of operation); sevenfold = seven energies/channels of transformation.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The approach to the ancient, triple-seated Agni who slays the Dasyu (obstructors). Mythically it is the inner conquest: Agni established in the streams of life becomes the decisive force that destroys the darkness that withholds the ‘cows’ (lights/knowledges).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- manuṣa/manu derives from PIE *manu- (human/man). The tri-/sapta- numerical structuring is characteristic of Indo-European sacral poetics, where cosmology is encoded in formulaic numeration (three worlds, seven rivers/energies).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi’s ‘we have come’ (ā aganma) marks a collective turning toward the perennial fire-principle. Agni is invoked as ancestral/primeval (pūrvyam, Mandhātṛ association), implying a lineage of inner attainment: the seeker aligns with the ancient power that conquers obstruction.
Sevenfold ignition: feel Agni as a single will expressing through seven centers/energies; unify the three levels (body-life-mind) and burn chaotic impulses (inner Dasyus).
All chakras as ‘sevenfold’; special emphasis on Manipura (fire) and Ajna (command/clarity).
Alternate-nostril (nāḍī-śodhana) 6–12 rounds to ‘establish in all streams’, then one firm exhale on the refrain to expel residual agitation.
Protected dynamic stillness; alert courage.
Map the ‘streams’ you live in (speech, work, relationships, thoughts). Offer each stream to Agni. Call the ‘ancient’ force by remembering past victories and the lineage of practice; then act immediately on one concrete purification.
Keep the epithets clearly segmented; observe udatta marks; slightly elevate the tone on ‘saptamānuṣaḥ’ and ‘dasyuhantamam’; refrain as a final downward seal.
Use small pauses after ‘sindhuṣu’ and ‘tripastyam’ to let the images land; do not clip conjuncts.
saptamānuṣaḥ: retroflex ‘ṣ’; long ā in mā., sindhuṣu: ‘dh’ aspirated; ‘ṣu’ with retroflex ṣ., tripastyam: ‘tr’ conjunct; ‘sty’ cluster—keep it crisp., dasyuhantamam: ‘hy’ conjunct in ‘dasyu’; keep ‘han’ clear., pūrvyam: long ū; ‘rv’ conjunct.
Resonant, heroic, steady; refrain firm and protective.
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