Rig Veda 3.3.7: Mandala 3, Sukta 3, Mantra 7
Sukta 3.3
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
अग्ने जरस्व स्वपत्य आयुन्यूर्जा पिन्वस्व समिषो दिदीहि नः । वयांसि जिन्व बृहतश्च जागृव उशिग्देवानामसि सुक्रतुर्विपाम् ॥
agné járasva sva-patyá ā́yuni ūrjā́ pinvasva sám iṣó didīhi naḥ | vayā́ṃsi jinva bṛhatáś ca jāgṛva uśíg devā́nām ási su-krátur vipā́m ||
اے اگنی، ہم میں اچھی مہارت اور طویل سفر کے لیے بڑھ؛ خوش کن توانائی سے ہم کو مضبوط کر، اور ہماری ہم آہنگیوں کو روشن کر۔ ہماری اڑن کی طاقتوں کو بڑھا، اور وسیع کی طرف جاگ؛ تو دیوتاؤں کا بے تاب شعلہ ہے، رشیوں کا نیک نیت ذہانت۔
Word by Word
- अग्ने
- O AgniNoun (vocative)पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन-एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि-
- जरस्व
- grow old / endure (live long)Verbलोट्/आज्ञार्थ-प्राय (Vedic); मध्यम-पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole कर्तृ (आह्वान/प्रवृत्तिकर्ता: अग्नि)Root √जॄ (जर्) / जरस्- (old age) → जरस्व (Vedic injunctive/imperative form)
- स्वपत्ये
- in/for good lordship (good mastery, good household rule)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-एकवचन (अर्थे: ‘in/for good lordship/household rule’)Role अधिकरण (लक्ष्य-परिसरः)Root स्वपत्य- (स्व + पत्य)
- आयुनि
- in life / in lifetimeNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-एकवचन (Vedic loc.)Role अधिकरणRoot आयु-
- ऊर्जा
- with strength / with nourishmentNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया-एकवचनRole करणRoot ऊर्ज्-/ऊर्जा-
- पिन्वस्व
- make (us/it) thrive; invigorateVerbलोट्; मध्यम-पुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole कर्तृ (अग्नि)Root √पिव्/√पिन्व् (to swell, make abound, invigorate)
- सम्
- together, fullyPreverbउपसर्गRoot सम्-
- इषः
- of refreshment / of nourishmentNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)Root इष्-/इषा- (refreshment, nourishment)
- दिदीहि
- shine forth; blazeVerbलोट्; मध्यम-पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole कर्तृ (अग्नि)Root √दीद्/√दी (to shine, blaze) → desiderative/intensive-like stem दिदी-
- नः
- of us / ourPronounषष्ठी-बहुवचन (enclitic) ‘our’Role सम्बन्धRoot अस्मद्
- वयांसि
- vital powers; vigorNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-बहुवचन (context: object of ‘jinva’)Role कर्मRoot वयस्- (vital power, vigor; also ‘birds’ in later usage)
- जिन्व
- quicken; invigorateVerbलोट्; मध्यम-पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole कर्तृ (अग्नि)Root √जिव्/√जिन्व् (to quicken, set in motion, invigorate)
- बृहतः
- of the great (one)Adjective (substantivized)पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot बृहन्त्-
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चयRoot च
- जागृवः
- the wakeful oneParticiple (adjective)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (qualifying Agni)Role कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot √जागृ (to be awake) → जागृवस्- (Vedic perfect active participle)
- उशिक्
- the eager (priestly) oneAdjective (substantivized)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (epithet of Agni)Role कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot उशिज्-/उशिक्- (eager, desirous; a ritual epithet)
- देवानाम्
- of the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-बहुवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot देव-
- असि
- you areVerbलट्; मध्यम-पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole कर्तृ (अग्नि) / विधेयRoot √अस् (to be)
- सुक्रतुः
- of good resolve / good wisdomAdjective (substantivized)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (epithet of Agni)Role कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot सु- + क्रतु-
- विपाम्
- of the inspired poets (seers)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-बहुवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot विप्- / विप्र- (in RV: inspired sage/poet; here gen. pl. ‘of the seers/poets’)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (pada-wise): अग्ने॒ = अग्ने (voc.)
- जर॑स्व (finite verb form, no external sandhi)
- स्वप॒त्य आयु॑न्यू॒र्जा = स्वपत्ये + आयुनि + ऊर्ज़ा (Vedic locatives + instr.)
- पि॑न्वस्व (finite verb)
- समिषो॑ = सम् + इषः (m before vowel → anusvāra/ṃ; written as समिषो)
- दिदीहि नः = दिदीहि + नः
- वयां॑सि जिन्व = वयांसि + जिन्व
- बृह॒तश्च॑ = बृहतः + च (visarga before c → ś)
- जागृव उ॒शिग्दे॒वाना॒मसि॑ = जागृवः + उशिक् + देवानाम् + असि (final -ः before vowel often lost in saṃhitā; उशिक् + देवानाम् shows k + d sandhi as gd in saṃhitā: उशिग्देवानाम्)
- सु॒क्रतु॑र्वि॒पाम् = सुक्रतुः + विपाम् (visarga before v → r)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni, grow in us for good mastery and long life; strengthen us with nourishing energy and kindle our offerings. Increase our wings and awaken to the Vast; you are the eager flame of the gods, the good-willed intelligence of the seers.
Inner meaning
The seeker asks the inner fire to increase as svapatya—true self-mastery (right lordship over nature) and āyuni—long continuity of the soul’s journey. Urjā is the delight-energy that nourishes the being; iṣaḥ are impulsions/seekings to be kindled into harmonies. ‘Wings’ are powers of ascent—faculties that can rise beyond habitual mind; Agni is asked to awaken to bṛhat, the Vast (infinite consciousness). As uśig, he is the eager flame in the divine powers; as sukratu of vipas, he is the right-willed intelligence in the seers—discriminating, luminous intention.
Universal truth
Growth is not mere intensity but right mastery, sustained endurance, nourished energy, and an awakening to the Vast that gives all actions a higher meaning.
Themes
aspiration, growth, vital-strength, awakening, seer-intelligence
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Gāthina (Kauśika lineage in later tradition)
- Other hymns
- RV 3.3.1-9, RV 3.4-3.12
Family tradition
Vision of expansion into the Vast and establishment of mastery through tapas and dhī.
Significance
This verse is a compact sadhana-prayer: increase of Agni, nourishment, harmonization of impulses, ascent (wings), and awakening to bṛhat—central to Viśvāmitra’s yoga of wideness.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- svapatya-kṛt (giver of mastery), ūrjāvān (nourishing), bṛhat-jāgṛv (awakener to the Vast), uśig (eager flame), sukratu (right-willed)
- Related deities
- Uṣas (awakening), Indra (illumination), Soma (delight), Bṛhaspati (vast inspired word)
Cosmic role
Evolver of consciousness in the embodied being; awakener to wideness; nourisher of offerings and growth.
Inner power
Aspiration that becomes mastery; tapas that widens into bṛhat; intelligence that aligns will with truth.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni-kindling and growth prayers in household and śrauta contexts; supportive in morning/evening offerings.
अग्ने॒ जर॑स्व स्वप॒त्य आयु॑न्यू॒र्जा पि॑न्वस्व॒ समिषो॑ दिदीहि नः । वयां॑सि जिन्व बृह॒तश्च॑ जागृव उ॒शिग्दे॒वाना॒मसि॑ सु॒क्रतु॑र्वि॒पाम् ॥
अग्ने॑ । जर॑स्व । सु॒ऽअ॒प॒त्ये । आयु॑नि । ऊ॒र्जा । पि॒न्व॒स्व॒ । सम् । इषः॑ । दि॒दी॒हि॒ । नः॒ । वयां॑सि । जि॒न्व॒ । बृ॒ह॒तः । च॒ । जा॒गृ॒वे॒ । उ॒शिक् । दे॒वाना॑म् । असि॑ । सु॒ऽक्रतुः॑ । वि॒पाम् ॥
agne | jarasva | su-apatye | āyuni | ūrjā | pinvasva | sam | iṣaḥ | didīhi | naḥ | vayāṃsi | jinva | bṛhataḥ | ca | jāgṛve | uśik | devānām | asi | su-kratuḥ | vipām
11
4 pādas × ~11 syllables; prayerful imperatives with strong lift on key requests.
Ascending cadence—supplicatory then expansive; suitable for inner widening.
Encourages warmth at the navel and widening in the chest; a felt ‘opening’ to spaciousness.
- जरस्व (jarasva)
- Literal: grow, blaze up. Symbolic: increase of inner fire and aspiration
- स्वपत्ये (svapatye)
- Literal: good lordship/own mastery. Symbolic: self-mastery; governance of nature by soul-will
- आयुनि (āyuni)
- Literal: in long life/long course. Symbolic: continuity of sadhana; long endurance of consciousness
- ऊर्जा (ūrjā)
- Literal: strength, sap, nourishment. Symbolic: delight-energy that sustains transformation
- इषः (iṣaḥ)
- Literal: impulsions, seekings. Symbolic: aspirations and dynamic movements to be harmonized
- वयांसि (vayāṃsi)
- Literal: wings, birds. Symbolic: powers of ascent; uplifted faculties
- बृहतः (bṛhataḥ)
- Literal: the Vast. Symbolic: infinite consciousness; wideness beyond ego
- उशिक् (uśik)
- Literal: eager, ardent. Symbolic: flame of aspiration in the gods within
- सुक्रतुः (sukratuḥ)
- Literal: good-willed, right-intentioned. Symbolic: aligned will and discernment
- विपाम् (vipām)
- Literal: of the seers/poets. Symbolic: illumined intelligence and inspired speech
Prayer for growth, vitality, and protection through Agni; in ritual, sustaining the fire for prosperity and strength; inwardly, intensifying aspiration, energizing impulses, awakening to the Vast consciousness.
During kindling/feeding the fire; also as a personal prayer for growth and protection.
Adding fuel/ghee; invoking increase (vardhana) and right mastery.
Use as a daily affirmation-mantra for self-mastery, vitality, and widening before meditation or yoga.
jarasva (imperative) from √jṛ: not decay but increase of power; su-patya ‘good mastery’ => inner sovereignty; ūrj ‘sap, vigor’ => life-force refined; iṣ ‘impulse/nourishment’ => dynamic currents of energy; √dī ‘shine’ in didīhi => kindle as illumination; vayāṃsi ‘wings’ => faculties of ascent; bṛhat as the Vast; kratu from √kr (do/make) in Vedic sense ‘effective will/intelligence’ => right decision-force.
self-mastery (su-patya), vital plenitude (ūrj), awakening to the Vast (bṛhat)
Sukratu implies will aligned to ṛta; harmonizing iṣaḥ is ordering life-movements.
Awakening to bṛhat opens the field where satya can govern the parts.
Evolutionary growth of the inner fire leading from limited life to vast consciousness.
Aurobindonian: widening (bṛhat) as a key movement toward higher consciousness; Agni as evolutionary force.
morning (awakening motif)
Heat of aspiration rises like wings into the vast sky of consciousness; nourishment (ūrjā) stabilizes the ascent.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The kindling and growth of Agni leading to awakening in the Vast: mythically, the fire is fed to rise and empower. Psychologically, the inner flame increases self-mastery, energizes the life-force, expands faculties (‘wings’), and wakes consciousness to bṛhat.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- ūrj relates to an IE vitality/sap lexicon (often compared with Avestan urvarā ‘plant’ sphere though not direct); √jāgṛ ‘wake’ aligns with IE wakefulness roots (cf. Latin vigil via different formation; the concept is archaic); kratu as ‘effective will’ is Indo-Iranian but fits IE emphasis on *kʷer-/ *ker- ‘make/do’ semantic fields in agency vocabulary.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asks Agni to grow within the human vessel and actively shape capacities—energy (ūrj), impulses (iṣ), ascent (vayāṃsi), and awakening (jāgṛ). The reciprocity is transformative: surrender and invocation invite Agni’s su-kratu (right will) to govern and uplift the seeker.
Kindle Agni at the navel; then widen awareness to bṛhat; cultivate self-mastery and right intention.
maṇipūra (growth, mastery) expanding into anāhata/viśuddha (wideness, inspired expression)
Inhale: feel ūrjā filling the torso; exhale: offer impulses (iṣaḥ) into the flame; after 7 breaths, rest in spacious awareness.
Warm, centered, progressively vast.
Chant 7 or 21 times; after chanting, sit 3 minutes sensing ‘wings’—lightness above the shoulders—and the Vast as open sky within.
Follow marked accents; imperatives (jarasva, pinvasva, didīhi, jinva, jāgṛva) should carry clear udatta lift where indicated.
Phrase as two waves: requests for growth/nourishment, then ascent/widening; keep a gentle pause after ‘dīdīhi naḥ’.
: ‘ja’ soft, ‘ra’ tapped, : pronounce ‘sva-pa-tya’ with clear ‘ty’, : long ‘ū’ and ‘rj’ conjunct, : nasal ‘ṃ’ subtle before ‘si’, : ‘gṛ’ with vocalic ṛ
Warm, devotional, widening resonance; soften at line-ends to invite spaciousness.
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