Rig Veda 2.7.5: Mandala 2, Sukta 7, Mantra 5
Sukta 2.7
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Gāyatrī
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
त्वं नो असि भारताग्ने वशाभिरुक्षभिः । अष्टापदीभिराहुतः ॥
tváṃ no asi bhāratā́gne vaśā́bhir ukṣábhíḥ | aṣṭā́padībhir ā́hutaḥ ||
تو ہمارا ہے، اے بھارتوں کے اگنی؛ اطاعت کرنے والی طاقتوں اور زور آور توانائیوں سے تو جلایا جاتا ہے - ان بہت سے قدموں والی لے کے جو نذر کو آگے لے جاتی ہیں۔
Word by Word
- त्वम्
- thou (you)Pronounपुं/स्त्री/नपुं (सर्वनाम), प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- of us / ourPronounषष्ठी (एन्क्लिटिक), बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- असि
- art / areVerbलट् (वर्तमान), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (सम्बन्धक क्रिया)Root अस् (धातु)
- भारत
- O Bhārata (descendant of Bharata)Noun (vocative epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot भारत (प्रातिपदिक; भरत-सम्बन्धी/भरतवंशीय)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- वशाभिः
- with/through the vashā-cows (ritual cows)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot वशा (प्रातिपदिक)
- उक्षभिः
- with/through bullsNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot उक्षन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अष्टापदीभिः
- with eight-footed (i.e., eight-stepped) [forms/means]Adjective/Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot अष्टापदी (प्रातिपदिक; अष्ट+पद)
- आहुतः
- invoked / offered (as an oblation)Participle (past passive)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (कर्तरि/कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘invoked/offered’)Role (विशेषण/विधेय)Root √हु (धातु) + आ- (उपसर्ग) → आहुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: त्वम् | नः | असि | भारत | अग्ने | वशाभिः | उक्षभिः | अष्टापदीभिः | आहुतः । सन्धि: (1) नो॑ असि = नः + असि (विसर्गस्य ‘ओ’ आदेशः; एन्क्लिटिक ‘नः’ + स्वरारम्भ)
- (2) भारताग्ने॑ = भारत + अग्ने (अ + अ → आ; सम्बोधन-द्वन्द्व/समासवत् संहितापाठः)
- (3) वशाभिरुक्षभिः = वशाभिः + उक्षभिः (विसर्ग-लोपः/रुत्वाभावः; संहितायां ‘...भिरु...’)
The meaning
Outer meaning
You are ours, O Agni of the Bharatas; you are kindled by vaśā and by strong bulls, and by eight-stepped (chants/offerings).
Inner meaning
Agni ‘of the Bharatas’ is the collective flame of a disciplined seekers’ clan—symbol of the soul’s warrior-aspiration (bharata = bearer/striver). Vaśā (yielding cows) and ukṣa (bulls) become inner powers: receptive luminous energies and forceful dynamic energies that feed the fire. Aṣṭāpadī (eight-stepped) suggests a many-stepped rhythm of practice—ordered movements of mantra, breath, and offering that carry the sacrifice forward.
Universal truth
Spiritual fire grows when receptivity and strength cooperate, and when practice becomes rhythmic, structured, and persistent.
Themes
Agni as tribal/inner guardian, harnessing powers (vaśā/ukṣa), ordered progression (aṣṭāpadi)
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)
- Lineage
- Bhārgava
- Other hymns
- RV 2.1, RV 2.7, RV 2.8
Family tradition
Seer-poetry tied to the Bharata tradition of Agni as the clan-fire: a symbol of collective yoga and sustained aspiration.
Significance
The rishi frames Agni as an intimate ‘ours’—not distant deity but indwelling power owned by the sādhaka-community; emphasizes harmonizing receptivity (vaśā) and force (ukṣa).
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- bhārata-agni, āhuta (fed by offering)
- Related deities
- Indra (dynamic mind-force), Maruts (energies that accompany force), Sarasvatī (ordered flow and rhythm)
Cosmic role
Clan-fire and universal mediator; sustainer of the sacrificial rhythm that keeps order between worlds.
Inner power
Integrates gentle receptivity with strong dynamism; turns energies into a steady flame of progress.
In ritual
Where it is used
Clan/tribal Agni worship; kindling rites and offerings invoking Bhārata Agni
त्वं नो॑ असि भार॒ताग्ने॑ व॒शाभि॑रु॒क्षभि॑: । अ॒ष्टाप॑दीभि॒राहु॑तः ॥
त्वम् । नः॒ । अ॒सि॒ । भा॒र॒त॒ । अग्ने॑ । व॒शाभिः॑ । उ॒क्षऽभिः॑ । अ॒ष्टाऽप॑दीभिः । आऽहु॑तः ॥
tvam | naḥ | asi | bhārata | agne | vaśābhiḥ | ukṣa-bhiḥ | aṣṭāpadībhiḥ | āhutaḥ
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3×8 (approx.)
Driving yet balanced; the mention of ‘eight-stepped’ resonates with measured cadence.
Creates steadiness and discipline; encourages coordination of soft receptivity and strong resolve.
- भारता (bhāratā)
- Literal: of the Bharatas. Symbolic: the striving soul-nature; a lineage of disciplined aspiration
- वशाभिः (vaśābhiḥ)
- Literal: with yielding cows. Symbolic: receptive, obedient energies; luminous faculties that consent to truth
- उक्षभिः (ukṣabhiḥ)
- Literal: with bulls. Symbolic: forceful vital powers, dynamic drive, courageous energy
- अष्टापदीभिः (aṣṭāpadībhiḥ)
- Literal: with eight-stepped (hymns/steps). Symbolic: ordered stages of inner offering; rhythmic progression in sādhanā
- आहुतः (āhutaḥ)
- Literal: kindled by oblation. Symbolic: Agni increases by conscious self-giving and discipline
Clan/household Agni of the Bharatas; mantra aligns communal identity with correct kindling and chant-structure in offerings
When affirming belonging to Agni’s path and seeking strength and obedience of powers for the rite.
Offer with a resolve of collective alignment; invoke supportive ‘powers’ for the sacrifice.
Use for group meditation or sangha practice: affirm ‘Agni is ours’ and coordinate calm receptivity with courageous action.
as patronymic/tribal epithet; in inner sense, a ‘collective of the will to carry’ (√ ‘to bear, carry, support’)—Bharata as bearer of the flame. ‘bull’ from √/ (strengthen/sprinkle; Vedic semantic cluster of virility/force) => emblem of puissance. ‘eight-footed/stepped’ likely indicates a formal liturgical/metrical support; ‘steps’ in Vedic idiom often encode ordered progression (path of ṛta) rather than mere count.
ṛta as ordered ‘steps’, collective sacrifice as formation of inner powers
Eight-stepped rhythm signifies ordered movement of ṛta in the human instrument.
‘Ours’ indicates inner consent; satya grows when energies become faithful to the soul’s aim.
The many powers of life (cows/bulls) become fuel for the creative fire.
Integral yoga reading: transformation of vital energies into instruments of the psychic fire.
Cows = rays/receptive illuminations; bulls = forceful prāṇic drives; steps = progressive discipline; fire = will and conscious transformation.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘clan-Agni’ mythologem: Agni belongs to a lineage/community and is strengthened by harnessed powers (cow/bull imagery) and by measured ‘steps’ (ordered chant/advance). Psychologically, the inner fire becomes stable when energies are disciplined and made obedient to the forward movement of ṛta.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The patronymic/collective epithet (Bhārata) reflects archaic social-religious address patterns common in early IE hymns (god tied to a people). Animal strength metaphors (bull) are a pan-IE poetic device for potency and victorious force.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- Belonging and maintenance: the rishi asserts intimacy (‘you are ours’) and sustains Agni through ordered offerings and disciplined energies; Agni in turn sustains and guards the community’s inner and outer victory.
Invoke Agni as the ‘collective flame’ in the heart; feel two supports: receptive quiet (vaśā) and strong drive (ukṣa).
manipura
8-cycle practice (aṣṭa): 8 slow breaths with mantra mentally; emphasize steadiness rather than retention.
Sustained will with calm receptivity; organized energy.
Before action, pause for 8 breaths; offer the action into Agni; ensure the vital force serves the soul’s intention, not impulse.
Keep Vedic accents per Saṃhitā: carries characteristic pitch movement; preserve udatta on marked syllables; avoid smoothing into song.
Maintain clear separation of compounds: bhārata-agne; keep final vowels long where marked (ā).
bhārata: bh aspirated; long ā, agne: ‘gn’ cluster clean (ag-ne), vaśābhiḥ: ‘ś’ palatal; long ā, ukṣabhiḥ: retroflex ṣ; ‘kṣ’ conjunct crisp, aṣṭāpadībhiḥ: aṣ-ṭā-pa-dī-bhiḥ; retroflex ṭ; long ā and ī
Firm, steady, slightly martial but controlled.
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