आपो वा इदं सर्वं विश्वा भूतान्यापः प्राणा आपः पशव आपोऽन्नमापोऽमृतमपः सम्राटपां विराट्.
āpo vā idaṁ sarvaṁ viśvā bhūtānyāpaḥ prāṇā āpaḥ paśavāpo'nnamāpo'mṛtamapaḥ samrāṭapāṁ virāṭ.
Study Guide on the Cosmic Waters and Fire
Act 1
Act I: The Omnipresence of Waters and Agni
Verses 1, 2
अग्निर्वा आपोऽग्निर्देवा अग्निर्विश्वानि भूतान्यग्निरन्नाद्यमग्निश्चन्द्रांस्यग्निः प्रजापतिः.
agnirvā apo'gnirdevā agnirviśvāni bhūtānyagnirannādyamagniścandrāṁsyagniḥ prajāpatiḥ.
📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context
These verses elevate natural elements—water and fire—to the status of supreme cosmic principles. In the Vedic worldview, physical elements are external manifestations of inner spiritual truths. Water symbolizes the pliable, life-giving, and sustaining grace of the Divine, while Fire symbolizes the dynamic, transforming energy of consciousness.
💭 Flowing Translation
Verse 1: Water is indeed all things, encompassing breath, cattle, food, and immortality.
Verse 2: Agni is identified as the supreme deity and foundation of all existence.
📝 Scholar's Reading Note
Sāyaṇa interprets these equations as ritualistic identifications where the sacrificer perceives the deity in the oblations, whereas Sri Aurobindo views them as psychological truths reflecting the descent of divine consciousness (Agni) and bliss (Apah).
📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown
Verse 1
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| आपः | āpaḥ | Waters |
| प्राणाः | prāṇāḥ | Vital breaths |
Verse 2
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| अग्निः | agniḥ | Fire / Divine Light |
| देवाः | devāḥ | The radiant ones / gods |
🧠
Memory Hook
Water sustains life and Agni transforms it; both form the dual pillars of cosmic manifestation.