agnīmīḷam idaṃ āhutam vraja āsāni dvipadaśca catuṣpadaḥ | anenivartini īḍam vardhamānaṃ vardhamānaṣu ca yāḥ
“This oblation to Agni who is worthy of being praised, is for the well-being of the two-legged and four-legged creatures, that which is not decaying and is increasing among those which are increasing.”
Structure
agni-mīḷa-m idaṃ ā-hutam vraja ā-sāni dvi-pada-śca catuṣpadaḥ a-neni-vartini īḍam vardha-mānaṃ var-dha-mānaṣu ca yāḥ
yāḥ (who) īḍam (this) anenivartini (unfailing) vardhamānaṃ (increasing) ca (and) vardhamānaṣu (in the rich) agnimīḷa (with Agni's flame) idaṃ (this) āhutam (offering) dvi-pada-śca (two-footed and) catuṣpadaḥ (four-footed) vraja (move) ā-sāni (may they come)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| agni | agni | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | fire |
| mīḷa | mīḷa | noun | accusative · singular · masculine | oblation |
| m | m | indeclinable | — | emphatic particle |
| idaṃ | idaṃ | pronoun | accusative · singular · neuter | this |
| ā | ā | indeclinable | — | hither |
| hutam | huta | verb | √hū · past participle · third | offered |
| vraja | vraja | noun | accusative · singular · masculine | herd |
| ā | ā | indeclinable | — | hither |
| sāni | sāni | verb | √sā · optative · first | may you lead |
| dvi | dvi | indeclinable | — | two |
| pada | pada | noun | accusative · dual · neuter | feet |
| śca | śca | indeclinable | — | and |
| catuṣpadaḥ | catuṣpada | compound | bahuvrīhi · "catuṣ pādaḥ yasya" | four-footed creature |
| a | a | indeclinable | — | not |
| neni | neni | verb | √nī · present · first | I do not lead |
| vartini | vartinī | noun | nominative · singular · feminine | she who leads |
| īḍam | īḍā | noun | accusative · singular · feminine | praise |
| vardhamānaṃ | vardhamāna | verb | √vrdh · present participle · third | increasing |
| vardhamānaṣu | vardhamānaṣu | compound | tatpuruṣa · "vardhamānaṣu" | in those who are increasing |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| yāḥ | yāḥ | pronoun | nominative · plural · feminine | who |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse from the Ṛgveda, agnīmīḷam idaṃ āhutam, presents an opportunity to contemplate the non-dual nature of reality. Śaṅkarācārya, in his commentary on the Brahmasūtras, emphasizes the concept of Īśvara as the ultimate reality, which is beyond human comprehension. In the context of this verse, the oblation to Agni can be seen as a symbol of the individual self (jīva) offering itself to the universal self (Brahman). The mention of 'vraja āsāni dvi-pada-śca catuṣpadaḥ' (for the well-being of two-legged and four-legged creatures) suggests the all-encompassing nature of Brahman, which pervades all beings. Through this verse, one can infer the identity of brahman-ātman, where the individual self is not separate from the universal self, but an integral part of it. As Śaṅkara notes in his commentary on the Taittirīya Upaniṣad, 'the Ātman is Brahman' (ātma brahma), reinforcing the non-dual reading of this verse.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): In the Vaiṣṇava tradition, this verse is viewed through the lens of devotional theology. Rāmānujācārya, in his Śrī Bhāṣya, comments on the relationship between the jīva (individual self) and Īśvara (the Lord), emphasizing the concept of prapatti, or surrender. The oblation to Agni, in this context, symbolizes the surrender of the individual self to the will of Īśvara. The well-being of 'dvi-pada-śca catuṣpadaḥ' (two-legged and four-legged creatures) is seen as a manifestation of Īśvara's compassion and care for all beings. Madhvācārya, in his commentary on the Ṛgveda, highlights the distinction between the jīva and Īśvara, while also emphasizing the jīva's dependence on Īśvara for liberation. This verse, therefore, underscores the devotional relationship between the individual self and the Lord, where the jīva seeks refuge in Īśvara for its well-being and ultimate liberation.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekānanda, in his lectures on the Vedas, emphasizes the universal and practical application of this verse. He notes that the oblation to Agni represents the selfless service to humanity, where the individual self offers itself for the greater good. The reference to 'vraja āsāni dvi-pada-śca catuṣpadaḥ' (for the well-being of two-legged and four-legged creatures) highlights the interconnectedness of all living beings and the need for compassion and harmony. As Vivekānanda remarks in his speech on 'Vedantic teachings', 'the Vedas are not mere speculation, but practical'. S. Rādhākrishnan, in his exposition of the Vedas, connects this verse to contemporary life, stressing the importance of living in harmony with nature and recognizing the intrinsic value of all living beings. This verse, therefore, serves as a reminder of our shared responsibility towards the well-being of the planet and its inhabitants, and the need for selfless service and compassion in our daily lives.