Rig Veda 10.84.2: Mandala 10, Sukta 84, Mantra 2
Sukta 10.84
- Rishi
- Manyu-cycle voice
- Devata
- Manyu
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
अग्निरिव मन्यो त्विषितः सहस्व सेनानीर्नः सहुरे हूत एधि । हत्वाय शत्रून्वि भजस्व वेद ओजो मिमानो वि मृधो नुदस्व ॥
agnír iva manyo tviṣitáḥ sahasva senānī́r naḥ sahure hūtá édhi | hatvā́ya śatrū́n ví bhajasva véda ójo mimā́no ví mṛ́dho nudasva ||
آگنی کی طرح اے منیو، دہک اور غالب آ، ہمارا جنگ کا سردار بن، اے ناقابل مزاحمت، جب پکارا جائے۔ دشمنوں کو مارنے کے لیے، انہیں الگ کر اور پہچان، طاقت ناپتے ہوئے، حملوں کو دور ہٹا۔
Word by Word
- अग्निः
- Agni (as a comparison)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole उपमान (इव-सम्बन्धे)Root अग्नि- (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययRole सम्बन्ध/उपमान-निर्देशकRoot इव (अव्यय)
- मन्यः
- O Manyu (Wrath/War-spirit)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ (सम्बोधनार्थे देवता)Root मन्यु- (प्रातिपदिक)
- त्विषितः
- kindled, blazingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; निष्ठा (क्त) रूपRole कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot त्विष् (धातु) → त्विषित- (कृदन्त, भूतकृदन्त/निष्ठा)
- सहस्व
- be strong; prevailVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रिया (आज्ञा)Root सह् (धातु)
- सेनानीः
- leader of the hostNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ (मन्योः विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन)Root सेनानी- (प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- of us, ourPronounषष्ठी (gen.); बहुवचन; एन्क्लिटिकRole सम्बन्ध (अधिकार/स्वाम्य)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- सहुरे
- to/for the conqueror (the enduring one)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी; एकवचन (दत्त्यर्थे) अथवा प्रथमा बहुवचन (पदपाठ-परम्परानुसार भेदः); मन्त्रार्थे ‘सहुरे’ = ‘सहने/विजेत्री’ इति संबोधन-सम्बन्धRole सम्प्रदान/सम्बोधन-सम्बन्धRoot सह् (धातु) → सहुरि-/सहुर- (प्रातिपदिक, ‘सहने/विजये’ अर्थे; RV-विशेष)
- हूतः
- invoked, calledAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot हू (धातु) → हूत- (कृदन्त, निष्ठा/क्त)
- एधि
- kindle up; grow strongVerbलोट्; मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रिया (आज्ञा)Root इध् (धातु)
- हत्वाय
- having slain / in order to slayVerbal indeclinable (gerund) / Kṛdantaक्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय; प्रयोजन/पूर्वकर्म सूचकRole क्रियाविशेषण (पूर्वकर्म/उद्देश्य)Root हन् (धातु) → हत्वा (क्त्वा) + -य (वैदिक विस्तार/प्रयोग)
- शत्रून्
- enemiesNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot शत्रु- (प्रातिपदिक)
- वि
- apart, asunderIndeclinableउपसर्ग; विभाजन/विस्तारार्थRole क्रियाविशेषण (उपसर्ग)Root वि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- भजस्व
- apportion, distributeVerbलोट्; मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole क्रिया (आज्ञा)Root भज् (धातु)
- वेद
- knowsVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट; वैदिक ‘वेद’ = ‘जानाति’ वर्तमानार्थे); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रिया (वाक्ये विधेय)Root विद् (धातु)
- ओजः
- strength, mightNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन (कर्म) अथवा प्रथमा (वाक्य-रचनानुसार); अत्र ‘ओजो मिमानो’ इति कर्मत्वं प्रायःRole कर्मRoot ओजस्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- मिमानः
- measuring out, dispensingParticiple (Adjectival) / Verb-derivedपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्यय (वर्तमानकालिक)Role कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot मा (धातु ‘माने/मिमीत’ = measure, mete out) → मिमान- (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ)
- वि
- apart, awayIndeclinableउपसर्ग; पृथक्करणार्थRole क्रियाविशेषण (उपसर्ग)Root वि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- मृधः
- hostilities, assaultsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (RV में प्रायः); द्वितीया; बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot मृध्/मृध- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘संघर्ष/वैर’)
- नुदस्व
- thrust away, drive offVerbलोट्; मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole क्रिया (आज्ञा)Root नुद् (धातु)
Sandhi Notes
- संहिता-पाठ: अ॒ग्निरि॑व → पद-विच्छेदः ‘अग्निः इव’ (विसर्ग-लोपः, र्-आदेशः)। सेना॒नीर्न॑: → ‘सेनानीः नः’ (विसर्गः र्/लोपः; नः एन्क्लिटिक)। शत्रू॒न्वि → ‘शत्रून् वि’ (न् + वि संयोग)। ओजो॒ मिमा॑नो → ‘ओजः मिमानः’ (विसर्ग-लोपः)। वि मृधो॑ → ‘वि मृधः’ (पद-रूप सामान्यीकरण)।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Manyu, like Agni, blazing, should prevail; be our battle-leader when invoked. For slaying enemies, separate them and discern; measuring out strength, drive away assaults.
Inner meaning
Manyu is asked to become Agni-like: a conscious flame of will, not a consuming passion. As ‘senānī’ (leader of the host), he organizes the faculties. ‘Vibhajasva veda’ implies discriminative knowledge: separate the hostile movements (fear, doubt, desire) from the true movements, and know their workings. ‘Measuring out force’ suggests right proportion—tapas applied with wisdom—so attacks of confusion are expelled without disturbing inner balance.
Universal truth
True victory is not blind force but luminous force: disciplined will guided by discernment, applying power in right measure to remove inner assaults.
Themes
Kindling of force, Leadership (senānī), Discernment in battle, Driving away assaults
The seer
- Rishi
- Manyu-sūkta voice (traditional attribution uncertain)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 10.84.1-6
Significance
A compact psychology of sadhana: invoke the will-flame, organize the inner host, apply discernment, and use measured force—classic Aurobindonian ‘tapas with light’.
The deity
- Devata
- Manyu (Agni-like; tactical leader)
- Epithets
- tviṣitaḥ (blazing), sahure (irresistible), senānī (battle-leader)
- Related deities
- Agni, Indra, Maruts
Cosmic role
Commands the forces of light in the struggle against obstruction; acts as purifier and strategist.
Inner power
Illumined will that discriminates and applies force in right proportion.
In ritual
Where it is used
Protective/victory invocation; could accompany offerings to Agni/Indra-like powers
अ॒ग्निरि॑व मन्यो त्विषि॒तः स॑हस्व सेना॒नीर्न॑: सहुरे हू॒त ए॑धि । ह॒त्वाय॒ शत्रू॒न्वि भ॑जस्व॒ वेद॒ ओजो॒ मिमा॑नो॒ वि मृधो॑ नुदस्व ॥
अ॒ग्निःऽइ॑व । म॒न्यो॒ इति॑ । त्वि॒षि॒तः । स॒ह॒स्व॒ । से॒ना॒ऽनीः । नः॒ । स॒हु॒रे॒ । हू॒तः । ए॒धि॒ । ह॒त्वाय॑ । शत्रू॑न् । वि । भ॒ज॒स्व॒ । वेदः॑ । ओजः॑ । मिमा॑नः । वि । मृधः॑ । नु॒द॒स्व॒ ॥
agniḥ-iva | manyo iti | tviṣitaḥ | sahasva | senānīḥ | naḥ | sahure | hūtaḥ | edhi | hatvāya | śatrūn | vi | bhajasva | vedaḥ | ojaḥ | mimānaḥ | vi | mṛdhaḥ | nudasva
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4 x ~11
Imperative, directive rhythm; balanced clauses mirror ‘measured force’
Creates inner command and clarity; steadies aggressive energy into governed power.
- agnir iva
- Literal: like Agni. Symbolic: purified will-flame; conscious tapas rather than reactive anger
- senānīḥ
- Literal: army-leader. Symbolic: organizing intelligence of the will that marshals inner powers
- hūta
- Literal: invoked/called. Symbolic: power responds to conscious aspiration and invocation
- vi bhajasva veda
- Literal: separate, know/discern. Symbolic: viveka—discriminating knowledge that divides truth from falsehood
- ojo mimānaḥ
- Literal: measuring out strength. Symbolic: right measure of energy; controlled intensity
- mṛdhaḥ
- Literal: attacks/hostile assaults. Symbolic: invasions of confusion, depression, agitation
Invoked-power stanza (hūtaḥ): suited for moments of calling the deity into the rite; also a psychological ‘kindling’ for inner discipline.
When undertaking difficult works, during conflicts, or as a protective recitation; in inner ritual, at the start of practice to establish leadership of will.
Invocation (hūta), mental ‘mustering’ of forces, symbolic separation of adversaries, driving away attacks.
Use as a ‘discern-and-cut’ mantra when overwhelmed: chant, then list and separate true needs from reactive impulses; apply measured action.
tviṣ- ‘to glitter, blaze’ (tviṣita). edhi from √idh ‘to kindle’ (Agni-paradigm). veda from √vid ‘to know’—the combat is guided by discernment, not blind rage. mimāna (√mā ‘measure’) suggests proportioning force according to ṛta (right measure), aligning victory with cosmic order.
Rita as right measure (mā), Discernment (vid) guiding force, Tapas (kindling, edhi)
‘ojo mimānaḥ’ expresses ṛta as proportion and right law in the application of power.
Veda (knowing) as truth-discernment that enables victory.
Purification by fire leading to ordered power—transmuting raw energy into conscious force.
Sāṃkhya-Yoga-like discrimination (viveka) integrated with Vedic tapas; compatible with Integral Yoga praxis.
Fire = conscious will; battle = inner struggle of forces; measuring = rhythmic law of nature (ṛta) within the psyche.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘Agni-as-leader’ mythic pattern is transferred to Manyu: the divine flame becomes the commander of the host. Victory is achieved not only by heat (tviṣ) but by knowledge (veda) and right apportioning (mimāna), integrating combat with ṛta.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- veda (√vid) continues PIE *weyd- ‘to see/know’ (cf. Latin vidēre, English wit). mimāna (√mā) continues PIE *meh₁- ‘to measure’ (cf. Greek métron). The verse encodes an inherited Indo-European link between knowledge/vision and correct measure as prerequisites for effective action.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi does not ask for indiscriminate fury; he asks Manyu to lead (senānī) and to know (veda) how to divide and thrust away pressures. The deity is thus a disciplined intelligence-force acting within the seeker according to right measure.
Establish the inner ‘commander’: a calm flame at the navel/heart that sees clearly and acts decisively.
maṇipūra (command) with ājñā (discernment)
Inhale 4 (gather force), hold 2 (discern), exhale 6 (drive out mṛdhaḥ) for 12 rounds.
Luminous will (tapas) guided by clear seeing.
After chanting, pause and practice ‘vibhāga’: label thoughts as helpful/unhelpful; let the mantra’s force push out the unhelpful stream without violence.
Keep ‘agnír iva’ crisp; lift on ‘tvíṣitaḥ sahasva’; strong imperative falls on ‘edhi’, ‘vibhajasva’, ‘nudasva’.
Emphasize: agnír iva, manyó, tvíṣitaḥ, sahasva, senānī́r, sahure, hūta, édhi, ví bhajasva, véda, ójo mimānaḥ, ví mṛdhó nudasva.
tviṣitaḥ: clear ṣ; avoid ‘sh’ too soft—keep retroflex quality., nudasva: dental d, clear sv cluster., mṛdhaḥ: syllabic ṛ; keep ‘dh’ voiced aspirate.
Steady, commanding, flame-like—intense but even.
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