Rig Veda 8.39.4: Mandala 8, Sukta 39, Mantra 4
Sukta 8.39
- Devata
- Agni
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
तत्तदग्निर्वयो दधे यथायथा कृपण्यति । ऊर्जाहुतिर्वसूनां शं च योश्च मयो दधे विश्वस्यै देवहूत्यै नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥
tát-tad agnír váyo dadhé yáthā-yathā kṛpaṇyáti | ūrjā́hutiḥ vásūnāṃ śáṃ ca yóś ca máyó dadhé víśvasyai deváhūtyai nabhantām anyaké samé ||
بار بار اگنی زندگی کی پوریتا قائم کرتا ہے جیسے جیسے کوئی ضرورت کے ساتھ آرزو کرتا ہے؛ واسوؤں کے لیے طاقت کی ایک نذر، وہ ہم میں امن اور بھلائی اور خوشی رکھتا ہے دیوتاؤں کی عالمی پکار کے لیے - مخالف طاقتیں دوسری جگہ بھیج دی جائیں۔
Word by Word
- तत्
- thatPronounनपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- तत्
- that (again/emphatic)Pronounनपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्निः
- Agni (fire-god)Nounपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- वयः
- vigor; vital strengthNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot वयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- दधे
- has placed/establishedVerbलिट् (परोक्शभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुषः एकवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम्Root धा (धातु)
- यथा
- asIndeclinableउपमान/प्रकारवाचक-अव्ययम्Root यथा (अव्यय)
- यथा
- just as / in whatever wayIndeclinableपुनरुक्त्या विशेषणम्Root यथा (अव्यय)
- कृपण्यति
- is needy/implores; acts as a supplicantVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुषः एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Root कृपण्य (नामधातु/धातु-प्रयोगः; ‘कृपण’ से)
- ऊर्जा
- with strength; by nourishmentNounस्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot ऊर्ज्/ऊर्जा (प्रातिपदिक)
- आहुतिः
- the oblationNounस्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot आ-हुति (प्रातिपदिक; √हु ‘to offer’)
- वसूनाम्
- of the Vasus / of the good ones (wealths)Nounपुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी बहुवचनम्Root वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
- शम्
- well-beingIndeclinableकल्याणार्थक-अव्ययम्Role KarmaRoot शम् (अव्यय/नपुंसक-प्रातिपदिक)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्Root च (अव्यय)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्Root च (अव्यय)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्Root च (अव्यय)
- मयः
- delight; blissNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot मयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- दधे
- has placed/bestowedVerbलिट्, प्रथमपुरुषः एकवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम्Root धा (धातु)
- विश्वस्यै
- for the all-encompassing (one) / for the universalAdjective (used substantively)स्त्रीलिङ्गे चतुर्थी एकवचनम्Role SampradānaRoot विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवहूत्यै
- for the invocation/call of the godsNounस्त्रीलिङ्गे चतुर्थी एकवचनम्Role SampradānaRoot देवहूति (प्रातिपदिक; ‘देव-आह्वान/देव-हूति’)
- नभन्ताम्
- let them burst forth/shine; let them spring upVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), तृतीयपुरुषः बहुवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम्Root नभ् (धातु)
- अन्यके
- in another (place/way); elsewhereAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम् (वेदिक-रूप)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot अन्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
- समे
- in the same (level/condition); in samenessAdjective (used substantively)नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot सम (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- संहिता-पाठः: तत्त॑द॒ग्निर्वयो॑ दधे॒ = तत् तत् अग्निः वयः दधे। यथा॑यथा = यथा यथा (पुनरुक्ति)। ऊ॒र्जाहु॑ति॒र्वसू॑नां = ऊर्जा आहुतिः वसूनाम्। शं च योश्च = शम् च यः च यः च (योश्च इति यः+च का संधि)। मयो॑ दधे = मयः दधे। विश्व॑स्यै दे॒वहू॑त्यै = विश्वस्यै देवहूत्यै (द्वे चतुर्थ्यौ)। नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे = नभन्ताम् अन्यके समे।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Again and again Agni establishes vitality/plenitude in the worshipper according to the intensity of aspiration; as an offering of strength for the Vasus he sets peace, well-being and delight for the universal invocation of the Gods; may the opposing powers be driven away to another place.
Inner meaning
The inner Fire (Agni), the divine Will in us, repeatedly rebuilds and stabilizes “vayaḥ” (the fullness of life-force and growth) in proportion to our sincere need and yearning (kṛpaṇyati = the soul’s felt insufficiency that turns into aspiration). When the seeker offers “ūrjā” (concentrated strength/energy) into this Fire, the luminous powers of harmony (Vasus) are established: peace (śam), right ease/wholeness (yoḥ), and delight (mayaḥ). This prepares the being for “devahūti” — the total call/arrival of the gods, i.e., the descent of higher powers into mind-life-body. The refrain is a psychological exorcism: send the hostile movements (doubt, inertia, obscurity, violence) away into an ‘elsewhere’ of consciousness where they lose access.
Universal truth
Spiritual growth is rhythmic and cumulative: inner plenitude increases “again and again” as aspiration becomes more authentic and energy is consciously offered. When will and energy are aligned with the higher order, harmony and joy become the natural ground for higher inspirations to enter, while resistance is displaced from the center of life.
Themes
Strength and nourishment, Peace and delight, Integral invocation
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 8.39.5, Rig Veda 8.39.6, Rig Veda 8.39.7, Rig Veda 8.39.8
Significance
The anonymity highlights a collective yogic voice: the mantra speaks from the universal sadhaka’s standpoint—aspiration, offering of energy, establishment of peace-delight, and rejection of hostile forces.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (with Vasus as supporting powers)
- Epithets
- ūrjā-āhutiḥ (he who receives/offers strength), yajñiya (fit for sacrifice, implied), devahūti-kṛt (preparer of the divine advent, implied)
- Related deities
- Vasus, Indra (as the illuminator often arriving through Agni’s opening), Soma (as delight that Agni helps manifest)
Cosmic role
Mediator between human and divine worlds; establisher of ordered growth and bearer of offerings to the Gods.
Inner power
Conscious will that converts raw energy into luminous harmony (Vasus), producing peace, well-being, and delight as a basis for higher descent.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agnihotra / general Agni-invocation within Soma and non-Soma rites (protective refrain)
तत्त॑द॒ग्निर्वयो॑ दधे॒ यथा॑यथा कृप॒ण्यति॑ । ऊ॒र्जाहु॑ति॒र्वसू॑नां॒ शं च॒ योश्च॒ मयो॑ दधे॒ विश्व॑स्यै दे॒वहू॑त्यै॒ नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥
तत्ऽत॑त् । अ॒ग्निः । वयः॑ । द॒धे॒ । यथा॑ऽयथा । कृ॒प॒ण्यति॑ । ऊ॒र्जाऽआ॑हुतिः । वसू॑नाम् । शम् । च॒ । योः । च॒ । मयः॑ । द॒धे॒ विश्व॑स्यै दे॒वहू॑त्यै॒ । नभ॑न्ताम् । अ॒न्य॒के । स॒मे॒ ॥
tat-tat | agniḥ | vayaḥ | dadhe | yathāyathā | kṛpaṇyati | ūrjāāhutiḥ | vasūnām | śam | ca | yoḥ | ca | mayaḥ | dadheviśvasyai devahūtyai | nabhantām | anyake | same
Anuṣṭubh (probable; RV 8.39 often uses compact 8-syllable quarters with refrain)
32
4 pādas × ~8 syllables (with a repeated refrain segment)
Steady, marching cadence with a refrain-like closure; supports resolve and repetition.
Builds a sense of iterative offering (‘again and again’), ending with a forceful banishing gesture that clears the inner space.
- अग्निः (agniḥ)
- Literal: fire. Symbolic: divine Will, inner priest, catalytic force of transformation
- वयः (vayaḥ)
- Literal: vitality, growth, plenitude of life. Symbolic: increasing life-power and integral fullness of the being
- कृपण्यति (kṛpaṇyati)
- Literal: feels needy, implores. Symbolic: intense aspiration born of psychic need and humility
- ऊर्जा-आहुतिः (ūrjā-āhutiḥ)
- Literal: offering of strength. Symbolic: consecrated energy placed into the inner sacrifice
- वसूनाम् (vasūnām)
- Literal: of the Vasus. Symbolic: powers of harmony, right substance, stable perfection
- शम् (śam)
- Literal: peace. Symbolic: settled calm that supports illumination
- योः (yoḥ)
- Literal: welfare, well-being. Symbolic: right ease, integral health of the nature
- मयः (mayaḥ)
- Literal: delight, happiness. Symbolic: ananda-tone in mind and life
- देवहूति (devahūti)
- Literal: invocation/calling of the gods. Symbolic: opening for descent of higher consciousness-forces
- नभन्ताम् (nabhantām)
- Literal: let them be driven away/put to flight. Symbolic: expulsion of hostile formations from the field of sadhana
General Agni praise emphasizing ūrj (strength) and devahūti (invocation of gods); suitable in sequences inviting the Vasus and stabilizing the rite.
At kindling and strengthening the fire; also as an apotropaic (protective) utterance against obstacles
Offering of ghee/strength (ūrj) with a verbal casting-away of hostile influences
Use at the start of meditation or before important work: offer the day’s energy inwardly, affirm peace-wellbeing-delight, and mentally ‘send away’ distracting forces.
vayas from √vī/√vi? (etymology debated); in Vedic usage often ‘vigour, youth, vitality’. dadhé from √dhā ‘place’. ūrj ‘sap, strength’ perhaps PIE *worgʰ- ‘work/energy’ (uncertain); functionally denotes nourishing force. śam ‘peace’ cognate with Avestan šam- ‘happiness/peace’ (semantic). vasu ‘good, wealth’ from √vas ‘dwell/shine’ semantic field; inner wealth as stable substance.
Reciprocity of aspiration and divine response, Śam/yoḥ/mayaḥ as triple of harmony-welfare-delight, Universal devahūti (integral invocation)
Agni establishes growth ‘according as one aspires’—a law-like reciprocity of inner order.
Devahūti succeeds when the call is truthful and integral (peace, well-being, delight).
Re-creation of the person: repeated kindling yields progressive manifestation of plenitude.
Proto-Vedāntic / Integral Yoga reading (Aurobindonian): gods as powers of consciousness, sacrifice as inner transformation.
Fire = will; offering = consecrated energy; ‘elsewhere’ = displacement of tamasic/rajasic intrusions from the conscious field.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Agni as establisher of vitality and as carrier of strength-offering to the Vasus, resulting in peace/welfare/delight for the universal rite. Mythically: the sacrifice stabilizes the world-powers (Vasus) and yields a settled harmony in the human field.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √dhā (dadhé) continues PIE *dʰeh₁- ‘put, set’ (cf. Greek tithēmi). The triad śam/yoḥ/mayaḥ shows archaic formulaic grouping typical of inherited Indo-European poetic diction (lists of blessings).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi acknowledges a law of correspondence (yathāyathā): the more intense the inner need/aspiration, the more Agni establishes vayas (vital plenitude). The rishi’s offering of ūrj becomes the medium through which Agni founds peace and delight in the being.
Kindle the inner fire and offer your available energy (ūrjā) to establish peace, wholeness, and delight as the ground for higher guidance.
Manipura (fire/will) with integration into Anahata (peace/delight).
Moderate: inhale ‘tat-tad’ (gather), exhale ‘nabhantām…’ (release/banish); 6–8 breaths per cycle.
From restless striving to luminous steadiness; a protected inner atmosphere.
Begin with felt need (not self-blame), convert it into aspiration, offer energy without tension, then end by calmly refusing entry to hostile thoughts; repeat daily to build cumulative plenitude (vayaḥ).
Vedic accents as in the saṃhitā: observe udatta on marked syllables, svarita where indicated; keep the refrain ‘nabhantām anyake same’ as a firm, even cadence.
Do not over-stress every word; let the udatta syllables rise gently, and close the refrain with a decisive downward settling.
Maintain dental ‘t’ in tat-tad; avoid retroflexing., kṛpaṇyati: clear ‘ṛ’ and palatal ‘ṇy’., ūrjāhutir: lengthen ‘ūr’ and ‘jā’; keep ‘h’ audible., yoś: pronounce ‘yoḥ’ with visarga as a soft echo before ‘ca’., nabhantām: ‘bh’ is aspirated; keep ‘ā’ long.
Warm, steady, slightly forceful on the banishing refrain; otherwise luminous and even.
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