Rig Veda · Mandala 4 · Sukta 6
Rig Veda 4.6 — Agni
Deity: Agni. Rishi family (Mandala 4): Vamadeva Gautama and his lineage. This Sukta contains 11 verses presented below in Devanagari Sanskrit, IAST romanisation, and Ralph T. H. Griffith's English translation. Click any verse to read a fuller explanation.
Verses
Rig Veda 4.6.1
ऊर्ध्व ऊ षु णो अध्वरस्य होतर अग्ने तिष्ठ देवताता यजीयान | तवं हि विश्वम अभ्य असि मन्म पर वेधसश चित तिरसि मनीषाम
ūrdhva ū ṣu ṇo adhvarasya hotar aghne tiṣṭha devatātā yajīyān | tvaṃ hi viśvam abhy asi manma pra vedhasaś cit tirasi manīṣām
Rig Veda 4.6.2
अमूरो होता नय असादि विक्ष्व अग्निर मन्द्रो विदथेषु परचेताः | ऊर्ध्वम भानुं सवितेवाश्रेन मेतेव धूमं सतभायद उप दयाम
amūro hotā ny asādi vikṣv aghnir mandro vidatheṣu pracetāḥ | ūrdhvam bhānuṃ savitevāśren meteva dhūmaṃ stabhāyad upa dyām
He was set down mid men as Priest unerring, Agni, wise, welcome in our holy synods. Like Savitar he hath lifted up his splendour, and like a builder raised his smoke to heaven.
Rig Veda 4.6.3
यता सुजूर्णी रातिनी घर्ताची परदक्षिणिद देवतातिम उराणः | उद उ सवरुर नवजा नाक्रः पश्वो अनक्ति सुधितः सुमेकः
yatā sujūrṇī rātinī ghṛtācī pradakṣiṇid devatātim urāṇaḥ | ud u svarur navajā nākraḥ paśvo anakti sudhitaḥ sumekaḥ
The glowing ladle, filled with oil, is lifted; choosing Gods’ service to the right he circles. Eager he rises like the new-wrought pillar which, firmly set and fixed, anoints the victims.
Rig Veda 4.6.4
सतीर्णे बर्हिषि समिधाने अग्ना ऊर्ध्वो अध्वर्युर जुजुषाणो अस्थात | पर्य अग्निः पशुपा न होता तरिविष्ट्य एति परदिव उराणः
stīrṇe barhiṣi samidhāne aghnā ūrdhvo adhvaryur jujuṣāṇo asthāt | pary aghniḥ paśupā na hotā triviṣṭy eti pradiva urāṇaḥ
When sacred grass is strewn and Agni kindled, the Adhvaryu rises to, his task rejoicing. Agni the Priest, like one who tends the cattle, goes three times round, as from of old he wills it.
Rig Veda 4.6.5
परि तमना मितद्रुर एति होताग्निर मन्द्रो मधुवचा रतावा | दरवन्त्य अस्य वाजिनो न शोका भयन्ते विश्वा भुवना यद अभ्राट
pari tmanā mitadrur eti hotāghnir mandro madhuvacā ṛtāvā | dravanty asya vājino na śokā bhayante viśvā bhuvanā yad abhrāṭ
Agni himself, the Priest, with measured motion, goes round, with sweet speech, cheerful, true to Order. His fulgent flames run forth like vigorous horses; all creatures are affrighted when he blazes.
Rig Veda 4.6.6
भद्रा ते अग्ने सवनीक संद्र्ग घोरस्य सतो विषुणस्य चारुः | न यत ते शोचिस तमसा वरन्त न धवस्मानस तन्व रेप आ धुः
bhadrā te aghne svanīka saṃdṛgh ghorasya sato viṣuṇasya cāruḥ | na yat te śocis tamasā varanta na dhvasmānas tanv repa ā dhuḥ
Beautiful and auspicious is thine aspect, O lovely Agni, terrible when spreading. Thy splendours are not covered by the darkness: detraction leaves no stain upon thy body.
Rig Veda 4.6.7
न यस्य सातुर जनितोर अवारि न मातरापितरा नू चिद इष्टौ | अधा मित्रो न सुधितः पावको ऽगनिर दीदाय मानुषीषु विक्षु
na yasya sātur janitor avāri na mātarāpitarā nū cid iṣṭau | adhā mitro na sudhitaḥ pāvako 'ghnir dīdāya mānuṣīṣu vikṣu
Naught hindered his production, Bounteous Giver: his Mother and his Sire were free to send him. Then as Friend benevolent, refulgent, Agni shone forth in human habitations.
Rig Veda 4.6.8
दविर यम पञ्च जीजनन संवसानाः सवसारो अग्निम मानुषीषु विक्षु | उषर्बुधम अथर्यो न दन्तं शुक्रं सवासम परशुं न तिग्मम
dvir yam pañca jījanan saṃvasānāḥ svasāro aghnim mānuṣīṣu vikṣu | uṣarbudham atharyo na dantaṃ śukraṃ svāsam paraśuṃ na tighmam
He, Agni, whom the twice-five sisters, dwelling together, in the homes of men engendered, Bright like a spear's tooth, wakened in the morning, with powerful mouth and like an axe well-sharpened.
Rig Veda 4.6.9
तव तये अग्ने हरितो घर्तस्ना रोहितास रज्वञ्चः सवञ्चः | अरुषासो वर्षण रजुमुष्का आ देवतातिम अह्वन्त दस्माः
tava tye aghne harito ghṛtasnā rohitāsa ṛjvañcaḥ svañcaḥ | aruṣāso vṛṣaṇa ṛjumuṣkā ā devatātim ahvanta dasmāḥ
These thy Bay Coursers, Agni, dropping fatness, ruddy vigorous, speeding straightly forward, And red steeds, wonderful, of mighty muscle, are to this service of the Gods invited:
Rig Veda 4.6.10
ये ह तये ते सहमाना अयासस तवेषासो अग्ने अर्चयश चरन्ति | शयेनासो न दुवसनासो अर्थं तुविष्वणसो मारुतं न शर्धः
ye ha tye te sahamānā ayāsas tveṣāso aghne arcayaś caranti | śyenāso na duvasanāso arthaṃ tuviṣvaṇaso mārutaṃ na śardhaḥ
These brightly-shining games of thine, O Agni, that move for ever restless, all-subduing, Like falcons hasting eagerly to the quarry, roar loudly like the army of the Maruts.
Rig Veda 4.6.11
अकारि बरह्म समिधान तुभ्यं शंसात्य उक्थं यजते वय धाः | होतारम अग्निम मनुषो नि षेदुर नमस्यन्त उशिजः शंसम आयोः
akāri brahma samidhāna tubhyaṃ śaṃsāty ukthaṃ yajate vy dhāḥ | hotāram aghnim manuṣo ni ṣedur namasyanta uśijaḥ śaṃsam āyoḥ
To thee, O flaming God, hath prayer been offered. Let the priest laud thee: give to him who worships. Men have established Agni as Invoker, fain to adore the glory of the living.
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