घृताहवन दीदिवः प्रति ष्म रिषतो दह ।
अग्ने त्वं रक्षस्विनः ॥ ५ ॥

Ghritaahavana Deedivah Prati Shma Rishato Daha
Agne Tvam Rakshasvinah ॥ 5 ॥

Meaning

घृताहवन (Ghritaahavana): The one who is invoked through Ghrita, that is, through purified illumination; the one who is approached through the removal of impurities and the increase of the light of knowledge. Here, ‘Ghrita’ does not refer merely to clarified butter; it conveys the two ideas of the removal of impurity and the increase of the light of knowledge. ‘Aahavana’ means the one who is invoked. Therefore, ‘Ghritaahavana’ teaches that only a person who strives to remove the impurities of the heart and increase the light of knowledge can truly invoke God. Its deeper meaning is that divine approach cannot become complete without purification of the inner being.

दीदिवः (Deedivah): The luminous one; the radiant one; the resplendent God. This word expresses the supreme radiance of God. The divine light of knowledge that surpasses even the brilliance of a thousand suns is praised here as ‘Deedivah’. This light removes not only external darkness but also the inner ignorance and confusion of the human being.

प्रति (Prati): Against; directly; completely. This word indicates the determination to act against evil tendencies. The meaning is that inner enemies such as desire and anger should not be tolerated; they must be directly confronted and removed.

ष्म (Shma): Certainly; firmly; truly. This word expresses the firmness and depth of the prayer. It contains the faith that God will certainly destroy evil tendencies. It is an expression of unwavering faith in God.

रिषतः (Rishatah): Those who cause harm; tendencies towards violence; desire, anger, and similar inner enemies. Here, ‘Rishatah’ does not refer to external enemies, but to inner enemies such as desire, anger, jealousy, and greed that hurt the human being from within. These are dangerous mental states that disturb peace and obstruct the growth of wisdom.

दह (Daha): Burn away; consume; destroy. This word is a powerful prayer addressed to God. It stands as a symbol of the fire that destroys inner enemies. Its meaning is that the fire of divine knowledge should burn away and purify every evil tendency within the human being.

अग्ने (Agne): O Agni; O God who burns away faults; O Supreme Being as Agrani. Here, ‘Agne’ refers to the divine power that burns away all shortcomings and purifies the human being. The compassionate God who leads the human being on the path of progress and purifies the inner being is invoked here.

त्वम् (Tvam): You; You alone. This word emphasizes the active power of God. The meaning is that a human being cannot overcome all inner enemies through his own strength alone; divine grace and divine assistance are essential.

रक्षस्विनः (Rakshasvinah): Demonic tendencies; feelings filled with cruelty; Asuric tendencies. The concluding idea of this mantra is contained in this word. ‘Rakshasvinah’ does not refer to external demons, but to the demonic tendencies hidden within the human being, such as cruelty, harshness, selfishness, hatred, and hostility. As long as these remain, divine qualities cannot fully develop. Therefore, the fire of God must completely burn away and destroy these demonic tendencies; only then can compassion, peace, wisdom, and divine attitudes develop within the human being.

Explanation

This mantra deeply explains the importance of inner purification, the light of knowledge, and divine grace in the spiritual life of a human being. Through the word ‘Ghritaahavana’, the mantra teaches that God is not merely approached through external worship; He is the divine Supreme Being who can truly be invoked by a person who strives to remove the impurities of the heart and develop the light of knowledge. ‘Ghrita’ indicates both the removal of impurity and the increase of the radiance of knowledge. Therefore, the fundamental teaching of this word is that divine approach cannot become complete without purification of the inner being.

The word ‘Deedivah’ expresses the supreme radiance of God. He exists as the divine light of knowledge that surpasses even the brilliance of a thousand suns. He removes not only the external darkness of the human being but also inner ignorance, confusion, and mental darkness. A person who seeks this divine light, as emphasized by the word ‘Prati’, has the responsibility to directly confront and overcome desire, anger, and other evil tendencies rather than tolerating them.

The word ‘Shma’ expresses the firmness of this prayer and unwavering faith in God. It contains the deep conviction that God will certainly destroy evil tendencies. ‘Rishatah’ does not refer to external enemies, but to inner enemies such as desire, anger, jealousy, and greed that wound the human being from within. These are dangerous forces that disturb human peace and destroy the growth of wisdom.

Therefore, through the word ‘Daha’, a profound prayer is expressed that the fire of divine knowledge should burn away and destroy these evil tendencies and impure mental attitudes. ‘Agne’ refers to the Supreme Being as Agrani, who burns away faults and shortcomings and leads the human being on the path of progress. A human being cannot overcome all inner enemies through his own strength alone; through the word ‘Tvam’, the mantra clearly establishes that divine grace and divine assistance are essential.

The concluding word of the mantra, ‘Rakshasvinah’, refers to the demonic tendencies hidden within the human being. As long as cruelty, harshness, selfishness, hatred, and hostility remain, divine qualities cannot fully blossom. Therefore, the fire of God must completely consume and remove them. Only then can compassion, peace, wisdom, and divine attitudes become established within the human being.

Thus, when this mantra is understood as a whole, it gives the profound Vedic teaching that the person who purifies the inner being and develops the light of knowledge truly approaches God; the luminous Agni, who is God, certainly burns away desire, anger, and demonic tendencies and elevates the human being to a higher spiritual life filled with inner purity, divine light, and divine qualities.

Conclusion

This mantra deeply teaches that spiritual progress does not consist merely in external worship; it lies in the purity of the heart and the growth of the light of knowledge. The luminous Agni, who is God, can be truly invoked by a person who removes the impurities of the inner being and develops knowledge. That divine light removes ignorance, confusion, and mental darkness and certainly burns away harmful inner enemies such as desire, anger, and jealousy.

Furthermore, the mantra emphasizes that a human being cannot completely overcome inner tendencies and demonic attitudes through his own strength alone; divine grace and the fire of divine knowledge are essential for this. Only after demonic feelings such as cruelty, selfishness, hatred, and hostility have been destroyed can compassion, peace, wisdom, and divine qualities fully blossom.

Therefore, the essence of this mantra is that a human being who purifies the inner being, develops the light of knowledge, and seeks the divine fire of God destroys his inner demonic tendencies and attains a radiant spiritual life filled with divine qualities.