Rig Veda 2.10.2: Mandala 2, Sukta 10, Mantra 2
Sukta 2.10
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
श्रूया अग्निश्चित्रभानुर्हवं मे विश्वाभिर्गीर्भिरमृतो विचेताः । श्यावा रथं वहतो रोहिता वोतारुषाह चक्रे विभृत्रः ॥
śrūyā́ agníś citrá-bhānur hávaṃ me viśvā́bhir gī́r-bhir amṛ́to vícetāḥ | śyā́vā ráthaṃ vahato róhitā vā utā́ruṣā́ha cakre víbhṛtraḥ ||
Nguyện Agni, Đấng có quang diệm muôn sắc—bậc bất tử, minh tri—lắng nghe lời khẩn cầu của tôi, cùng với mọi bài ca và lời nói được linh hứng của tôi. Hai con sẫm màu và hai con đỏ rực kéo cỗ xe của Ngài—những năng lực đã được ách vào—mang đi với sự nâng đỡ vững bền.
Word by Word
- श्रूया
- may (it) be heardVerb (injunctive/optative-like passive)लोट्/विधिलिङ्-सदृश वैदिक प्रयोग; 3rd person singular; आत्मनेपद/कर्मणि-प्रयोग: ‘may it be heard’Role Kriyā (मुख्य क्रिया)Root श्रु (धातु) → श्रूय (कृदन्त-आधार) / श्रू (प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्निः
- AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole KartāRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- चित्रभानुः
- of bright/variegated radianceAdjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन (अग्निः-विशेषण)Role Kartā (विशेषण)Root चित्र-भानु (समास; प्रातिपदिक)
- हवम्
- invocation, callNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot हव (प्रातिपदिक; ‘call/invocation’)
- मे
- my, of mePronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी; एकवचन (enclitic) — here genitive ‘of me/my’Role Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- विश्वाभिः
- with allAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया; बहुवचन (गीर्भिः-विशेषण)Role Karaṇa (विशेषण)Root विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- गीर्भिः
- with hymns/voicesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया; बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot गिर् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अमृतः
- immortalAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन (अग्निः-विशेषण)Role Kartā (विशेषण)Root अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
- विचेताः
- discerning, wiseAdjective/Noun (agentive epithet)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन (अग्निः-विशेषण)Role Kartā (विशेषण)Root वि-चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- श्यावा
- dark-bay (two)Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; द्विवचन (अश्वयोः विशेषण)Role Kartā (विशेषण)Root श्याव (प्रातिपदिक)
- रथम्
- chariotNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
- वहतः
- (they) carry/driveVerbलट्; 3rd person; द्विवचन; परस्मैपदRole KriyāRoot वह् (धातु)
- रोहिता
- ruddy, red (two)Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; द्विवचन (अश्वयोः विशेषण)Role Kartā (विशेषण)Root रोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
- वः
- yourPronounषष्ठी; बहुवचन (enclitic) ‘your’Role Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)Root युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- उत
- and, alsoIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थक अव्ययRoot उत (निपात)
- अरुषा
- ruddy, tawny (two)Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; द्विवचन (अश्वयोः विशेषण; वैदिक रूप)Role Kartā (विशेषण)Root अरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
- चक्रे
- has made, fashionedVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट); 3rd person; एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole KriyāRoot कृ (धातु)
- विभृत्ः
- the supporter, sustainerNoun/Adjective (agentive)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन (कर्तृपद)Role KartāRoot वि-भृत् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘supporter/bearer’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (वैदिक संधि-विग्रह): श्रूया | अग्निः | चित्रभानुः | हवम् | मे | विश्वाभिः | गीर्भिः | अमृतः | विचेताः || श्यावा | रथम् | वहतः | रोहिता | वः | उत | अरुषा | चक्रे | विभृत्ः || 1) अग्निश्चित्रभानुः = अग्निः + चित्रभानुः (विसर्ग-लोप/सन्धि)
- 2) भानुर्हवम् = भानुः + हवम् (विसर्ग-रेफ/र्-आदेश)
- 3) मे विश्वाभिः = मे + विश्वाभिः (संधि नहीं; एन्क्लिटिक)
- 4) गीर्भिरमृतो = गीर्भिः + अमृतः (विसर्ग-रेफ/र्-आदेश; पदपाठ में ‘गीर्भिः अमृतः’)
- 5) रोहितावोतारुषाह = रोहिता + वः + उत + अरुषा (स्वर-संधि/पद-सीमा पर संयोग; पदपाठानुसार पृथक्)
The meaning
Outer meaning
May Agni of varied radiance hear the call with all the hymns. Two dark and two ruddy ones draw his chariot; his yoked powers support it steadily.
Inner meaning
The seeker calls Agni ‘citrabhānu’—the fire whose light has many colors: multiple illuminations and powers of discernment. Hearing the call ‘with all the hymns’ indicates the whole being’s articulation—thought, feeling, will—must unite in inspired speech. The chariot image is psychological: Agni’s movement in us is carried by paired forces—dark and ruddy—symbolizing complementary energies (night/power and dawn/illumination; inward heat and outward radiance). When these are yoked and harmonized, the chariot of the inner sacrifice moves steadily (vibhṛtraḥ: well-supported), not lurching between inertia and excitement.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress requires a many-sided light and a harmonized team of energies; when opposites are yoked to the inner guide, movement becomes steady and supported.
Themes
Agni hears invocation, Chariot of the god, Transformation of darkness by light, Inspired speech
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)
- Lineage
- Bhārgava
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 2.10.1, Rig Veda 2.10.3, Rig Veda 2.10.4
Family tradition
Bhārgava hymns often use dynamic imagery (chariot, steeds) to express inner movement under Agni’s guidance.
Significance
Here the seer presents a yoga of integration: multiple lights (citra) and yoked energies (dark/red) support steady progress of the inner fire.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni
- Epithets
- citrabhānu (varied radiance), amṛta (immortal), vicetas (discerning)
- Related deities
- Uṣas (ruddy dawn-force), Rātri (night-force), Indra (illumined mind)
Cosmic role
Divine messenger who moves between worlds; his chariot signifies the transit of consciousness from human to divine planes.
Inner power
Guiding intelligence in the will, coordinating opposing energies into a single steady movement.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni-invocation during kindling and praise; chariot imagery common in soma/yajña laudations
श्रू॒या अ॒ग्निश्चि॒त्रभा॑नु॒र्हवं॑ मे॒ विश्वा॑भिर्गी॒र्भिर॒मृतो॒ विचे॑ताः । श्या॒वा रथं॑ वहतो॒ रोहि॑ता वो॒तारु॒षाह॑ चक्रे॒ विभृ॑त्रः ॥
श्रु॒याः । अ॒ग्निः । चि॒त्रऽभा॑नुः । हव॑म् । मे॒ । विश्वा॑भिः । गीः॒ऽभिः । अ॒मृतः॑ । विऽचे॑ताः । श्या॒वा । रथ॑म् । व॒ह॒तः॒ । रोहि॑ता । वा॒ । उ॒त । अ॒रु॒षा । अह॑ । च॒क्रे॒ । विऽभृ॑त्रः ॥
śruyāḥ | agniḥ | citra-bhānuḥ | havam | me | viśvābhiḥ | gīḥ-bhiḥ | amṛtaḥ | vi-cetāḥ | śyāvā | ratham | vahataḥ | rohitā | vā | uta | aruṣā | aha | cakre | vi-bhṛtraḥ
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4×11 syllables (approx.)
Propulsive and image-rich; the cadence mimics chariot-movement—surge and settle.
Elicits a feeling of being carried forward by coordinated forces; stabilizes scattered energies.
- चित्रभानुः (citrabhānuḥ)
- Literal: variegated-flamed, many-rayed. Symbolic: multi-dimensional illumination—different lights of understanding
- हवम् (havam)
- Literal: call, invocation. Symbolic: aspiration that summons the divine force
- गीर्भिः (gīrbhiḥ)
- Literal: with hymns/words. Symbolic: inspired speech—mantric formulation of the soul’s intent
- अमृतः विचेताः (amṛtaḥ vicetāḥ)
- Literal: immortal discerner. Symbolic: deathless clarity guiding the journey
- श्यावा (śyāvā)
- Literal: dark-colored (pair). Symbolic: inward, night-force: depth, endurance, power in the hidden parts
- रोहिता (rohitā)
- Literal: ruddy/red (pair). Symbolic: dawn-force: aspiration, dynamic illumination, forward energy
- रथम् (ratham)
- Literal: chariot. Symbolic: the movement/vehicle of the sadhana—organized progress
- युज्/वहतो (implicit in drawing)
- Literal: to yoke/draw. Symbolic: discipline that harnesses energies to a higher aim
- विभृत्रः (vibhṛtraḥ)
- Literal: well-supported, sustaining. Symbolic: stable integration; the practice is held by inner support
Invocation for attentive hearing (śrūyāḥ) during praise; chariot imagery aligns Agni with swift arrival to the offering in soma rites.
When inviting Agni to ‘hear’ and to come—preceding offerings
Recitation accompanying oblation and invitation; mental yoking of powers
For meditation before demanding activity: harmonize ‘dark’ endurance and ‘red’ enthusiasm; ask for steady supported progress.
citra ‘variegated’ from √cit ‘perceive’ (bright/noticeable). bhānu ‘light, beam’ from √bhā (shine). gīr ‘song’ from √gā (sing). śyāva ‘dark’ contrasts with rohit/aruṣ ‘ruddy, dawn-colored’ (rohit related to redness; aruṣ from √ruṣ/√ar? ‘redden/shine’). ratha common IE ‘chariot’ lexeme (PIE *rot(h)o- wheel-related complex). cakra ‘wheel’ from PIE *kʷekʷlo- (cf. Greek kúklos, English wheel via Germanic *hwehwla-; Sanskrit cakra is direct cognate).
Hearing as divine response (śruti principle), Interplay of dark and red forces (subconscient to illumination), Movement of the sacrifice (ratha)
The yoked pairs reflect ṛta as balance of complementary powers in ordered motion.
Vicetas is the truth-seeing intelligence that keeps movement aligned.
Many-colored light suggests differentiated powers emerging from one fire-consciousness.
Integral yogic symbolism (energies yoked to the psychic will).
dusk-to-dawn symbolism (dark and ruddy)
Dark pair = depth/endurance/subconscient power; Ruddy pair = aspiration/illumination; Chariot = sadhana’s movement; Hearing = receptivity of higher guidance.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The god’s chariot drawn by paired powers: Agni arrives to the call riding a ratha whose yoking forces are dark and ruddy. Psychologically, the divine movement is supported by both the hidden energies (śyāva) and the illumining forces (rohitā/aruṣā), harnessed to carry the work forward.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- cakra ‘wheel’ is a clear cognate of PIE *kʷekʷlo- (Greek kúklos). This shared ‘wheel’ lexeme is a hallmark of IE chariot poetics. √śru ‘hear’ ties to PIE *ḱlew- (hearing/fame complex), reinforcing the oral-poetic substrate.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi offers total speech (viśvābhir gīrbhiḥ) and asks for divine hearing; in return Agni is envisioned as mobilizing his yoked powers to come—suggesting that sincere, complete aspiration sets the divine dynamism in motion within the practitioner.
Unify complementary energies (endurance and aspiration) under the inner fire’s guidance.
alternate-nostril (nāḍī-śodhana) to ‘yoke’ pairs; then repeat mantra on a steady exhale
integrated, centered dynamism
Visualize a four-steeded chariot: two forces from depth (dark) and two from aspiration (ruddy). Offer them to Agni; feel the practice become smooth and supported.
Maintain clear udātta on key invoked words (;; ). Respect svarita falls to preserve Vedic contour.
Each pada should end with a controlled settle; avoid rushing the chariot-description—let imagery land.
Articulate śyāvā with clear palatal ś, Keep rohitā with short ‘i’ and dental ‘t’, Do not insert extra vowels in clusters: citra-bhānuḥ, viśvābhir gīrbhiḥ
clear, pictorial, slightly expansive on citrabhānu
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