Rig Veda Sukta 72
Mandala 1Sukta 7210 Mantras

Sukta 72

Sukta 1.72

Rishi

Parāśara Śāktya

Devata

Agni

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

يمدح هذا النشيد أغني بوصفه الصانع الإلهي الدائم الفعل، الذي يمسك الأعمال الموحاة (kāvyāni) و«يضعها»، فيغدو سيد الثروات والقوى الخالدة. وهو ينسج صورًا كونية—أسرارًا خفية، وصنع «عيني» السماء، وإطلاق الأنهار—في لاهوتٍ طقسيٍّ حيث يحرس أغني الأمِرتا (الخلود) ويحمي نماء المُضَحّي وثباته ومسيره إلى الأمام.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 1.72

Mantras

Mantra 1

नि काव्या वेधसः शश्वतस्कर्हस्ते दधानो नर्या पुरूणि । अग्निर्भुवद्रयिपती रयीणां सत्रा चक्राणो अमृतानि विश्वा ॥

إن المُبدِعَ الدائم (فِدْهَس) يُنزل الأعمالَ المُلهَمة؛ وفي يده يمسك قوىً كثيرةً نافعةً للبشر. ويصير أَغني سيّدَ الوفرة، ربَّ الأرزاق؛ مُواظبًا على صوغِ كلِّ الخالدات في داخلنا.

Mantra 2

अस्मे वत्सं परि षन्तं न विन्दन्निच्छन्तो विश्वे अमृता अमूराः । श्रमयुवः पदव्यो धियंधास्तस्थुः पदे परमे चार्वग्नेः ॥

هنا، إذ كانوا يطلبون، لم يجد جميعُ الخالدين غيرُ المضلَّلين العِجلَ المستورَ المحيطَ من كلِّ جانب. فالشبّانُ الكادحون، مُكتشِفو السُّبُل، حاملو الـdhī (البصيرة)، وقفوا في المقامِ الأعلى الجميلِ لأغني (Agni).

Mantra 3

तिस्रो यदग्ने शरदस्त्वामिच्छुचिं घृतेन शुचयः सपर्यान् । नामानि चिद्दधिरे यज्ञियान्यसूदयन्त तन्वः सुजाताः ॥

لثلاثِ خِرَفٍ، يا أغني، طلبك الأطهارُ—وهم أطهار—وخدموكَ بـghṛta (السمنِ المُصفّى) النقيّ. بل أقاموا الأسماءَ الـyajñiya (الخاصةَ باليَجْنَ/القربان)؛ وأيقظوا الأجسادَ الـsujāta (حسنةَ المولد) ذاتَ القوّة، فدُفِعت إلى الفعل.

Mantra 4

आ रोदसी बृहती वेविदानाः प्र रुद्रिया जभ्रिरे यज्ञियासः । विदन्मर्तो नेमधिता चिकित्वानग्निं पदे परमे तस्थिवांसम् ॥

إلى العالَمَينِ الفسيحَين—رودَسِي (Rodasi)—وقد استيقظا إلى المعرفة، قدّمَ الـyajñiya (المكرَّسون لليَجْنَ) قوّةَ رودرا. فالمَرءُ الفاني، العارف، مع تثبيتِ المِقياسِ تثبيتًا راسخًا، اكتشف أغني قائمًا في المقامِ الأعلى.

Mantra 5

संजानाना उप सीदन्नभिज्ञु पत्नीवन्तो नमस्यं नमस्यन् । रिरिक्वांसस्तन्वः कृण्वत स्वाः सखा सख्युर्निमिषि रक्षमाणाः ॥

متّحدين في فهمٍ واحدٍ، جلسوا قريبًا من العارفِ الحميم؛ ومعهم قواهم قريناتٌ لهم، انحنَوا لما هو جديرٌ بالعبادة. وإذ تطهّروا وصاروا بلا عيب، صاغوا أبدانهم على صورتها الحقّة—صديقٌ يحرس صديقًا في لحظةِ اليقظةِ الباطنة.

Mantra 6

त्रिः सप्त यद्गुह्यानि त्वे इत्पदाविदन्निहिता यज्ञियासः । तेभी रक्षन्ते अमृतं सजोषाः पशूञ्च स्थातॄञ्चरथं च पाहि ॥

حين أُودِعت فيك الأسرارُ الثلاثةُ السباعية، اهتدى إليها رجالُ اليَجْنَيا (أهلُ القربان) بخُطاهم. وبتلك، متّفقين، يحرسون الخالدَ (الأَمْرِتَا)؛ فاحمِ أنت أيضًا قوى نمائنا، وثباتَ أركاننا، ومسيرَنا في الرحلة.

Mantra 7

विद्वाँ अग्ने वयुनानि क्षितीनां व्यानुषक्छुरुधो जीवसे धाः । अन्तर्विद्वाँ अध्वनो देवयानानतन्द्रो दूतो अभवो हविर्वाट् ॥

يا أَغني، إذ تعرفُ الفَيُونَة (طرائقَ التدبير) لمساكن البشر، رتّبتَ—خيطًا بعد خيط—الأبوابَ الواسعةَ لحياتنا. وإذ تعرفُ في الباطن مسالكَ الدِّيفَيَانَا (الطريقَ إلى الآلهة)، صرتَ بلا كلالٍ دُوتا (رسولًا)، حاملَ اندفاعِ القُربان (هَفِر).

Mantra 8

स्वाध्यो दिव आ सप्त यह्वी रायो दुरो व्यृतज्ञा अजानन् । विदद्गव्यं सरमा दृळ्हमूर्वं येना नु कं मानुषी भोजते विट् ॥

بِضَبْطِ النَّفْسِ عَرَفَ السَّبْعَةُ الأَقْوِيَاءُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ، وَفَتَحُوا عَلَى سَعَتِهِمْ أَبْوَابَ الْفَيْضِ بِالْحَقِّ الَّذِي حَمَلُوهُ. وَوَجَدَتْ سَرَامَا الحِصْنَ الشَّدِيدَ لِلنُّورِ—وَبِهِ يَنَالُ جَمَاعُ البَشَرِ الآنَ نَصِيبَهُ مِنَ البَهْجَةِ وَالمَادَّةِ.

Mantra 9

आ ये विश्वा स्वपत्यानि तस्थुः कृण्वानासो अमृतत्वाय गातुम् । मह्ना महद्भिः पृथिवी वि तस्थे माता पुत्रैरदितिर्धायसे वेः ॥

أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ أَقَامُوا كُلَّ التَّحَوُّلَاتِ النَّبِيلَةِ، وَصَاغُوا سَبِيلًا إِلَى الخُلُودِ—بِسَعَتِهِمِ انْبَسَطَتِ الأَرْضُ وَاتَّسَعَتْ. وَالأُمُّ أَدِيتِي، مَعَ أَبْنَائِهَا، أَقْبَلَتْ إِلَى فِعْلِ الإِسْنَادِ وَالإِغْذَاءِ لِلْعَوَالِمِ فِينَا.

Mantra 10

अधि श्रियं नि दधुश्चारुमस्मिन्दिवो यदक्षी अमृता अकृण्वन् । अध क्षरन्ति सिन्धवो न सृष्टाः प्र नीचीरग्ने अरुषीरजानन् ॥

وَوَضَعُوا البَهَاءَ الحَسَنَ رَاسِخًا فِي هَذَا الكِيَانِ، حِينَ صَنَعَ الخَالِدُونَ عَيْنَيِ السَّمَاءِ. ثُمَّ جَرَتِ الأَنْهَارُ كَأَنَّهَا أُطْلِقَتْ—يَا أَغْنِي—وَإِلَى الأَسْفَلِ عُرِفَتِ التَّيَّارَاتُ المُحْمَرَّةُ.

Inside Sukta 72

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Agni is invoked as the eternal former who “sets down” inspired works and bears human-helping powers in his hand.

  2. Development

    The hymn moves from Agni’s lordship of riches to the revelation of concealed sacrificial/cosmic secrets—discovered by the yajñiyāsaḥ (fit for sacrifice) through ordered steps.

  3. Climax

    The vision peaks in cosmogenesis: splendor is fixed, Heaven’s two eyes are made, and the life-currents (rivers) flow forth as if released—Agni as the knower and catalyst of manifestation.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn resolves in protection and right direction: Agni is asked to guard immortality and to preserve increase, foundations, and the onward journey of the worshipper.

The deity: Agni

  • In the VedaAgni is the bright, red-gold fire-principle: priest (hotṛ), messenger, and knower of births, who carries offerings to the gods and kindles inspiration in the seers. He is portrayed as a formative power (vedhas) who fashions “immortal things,” hides and reveals mysteries, and establishes splendor and order.
  • Cosmic functionMediator between heaven and earth; transformer of offerings into divine nourishment; illuminator who brings concealed powers into manifestation and sustains ṛta through sacrifice.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened will and inner flame of consciousness that digests experience, turns aspiration into clarity, and protects the seeker’s vitality, stability, and progress on the path.

The seer

  • Parāśara ŚāktyaŚāktya (descendant of Śakti; connected with the Parāśara line) · Remembered as a seer of Agni-hymns and as a representative of the Parāśara stream of Vedic vision, emphasizing Agni as the craftsman of inspired speech and the keeper of hidden sacrificial mysteries.

Famous verses

agnir bhuvad rayipatī rayīṇām
Verse 1.72.1Establishes the hymn’s core theology: Agni as the ever-lasting vedhas (former) who bears inspired works and becomes lord of plenitudes, fashioning “immortal things” continuously.Read verse 1.72.1 →
triḥ sapta yad guhyāni
Verse 1.72.6Introduces the striking mystery motif of the “thrice-seven” hidden things placed in Agni, discovered by sacrificial steps, and tied to guarding amṛta and protecting life’s supports and movement.Read verse 1.72.6 →
अधि श्रियं नि दधुश्चारुमस्मिन्दिवो यदक्षी अमृता अकृण्वन् । अध क्षरन्ति सिन्धवो न सृष्टाः प्र नीचीरग्ने अरुषीरजानन् ॥
Verse 1.72.10Provides the cosmogenic culmination: the making of Heaven’s two eyes, the establishment of splendor, and the release of the rivers—imagery of revelation and flow under Agni’s knowing.Read verse 1.72.10 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Hotṛ (sacrificial priest) and dūta (divine messenger)
  • Rayipatī (lord of riches/abundance)
  • Kavi (seer-poet) and vedhas (former/artisan)
  • Protector of amṛta (immortality) and guardian of hidden truths
  • Illuminator who releases and directs life-currents (symbolized as rivers)

Also by this seer

  • Associated in tradition with the broader Parāśara/Śāktya seer line cited in later Vedic and Itihāsa-Purāṇa genealogies
  • Linked by later reception to teachings on dharma and ritual order in the Parāśara tradition (smṛti and ancillary lore, though not Rigvedic authorship)

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/āhavanīya fire-space and establish purity (ācamanam, quieting of speech and mind).
  • Kindle or rekindle Agni with kindling sticks (samidh) and ghee, orienting intention to ṛta.
  • Recite RV 1.72 verses as Agni-stuti, emphasizing Agni as kavi/vedhas and rayipatī.
  • Make oblations while requesting protection of amṛta, cattle/strength (paśu), stable supports (sthātṛ), and safe movement (caratha).
  • Conclude with a final offering and silent contemplation, imagining the “hidden secrets” becoming luminous within the fire and within the sacrificer.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya)
  • Samidh (kindling sticks)
  • Grain/oblations as available (havis)
  • Optional soma-context offering (where applicable in the larger rite)

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Agni as the sacred fire who carries inspired power, grants abundance, and protects immortality (amṛta). The hymn also uses creation imagery—hidden secrets, Heaven’s “two eyes,” and flowing rivers—to show how Agni brings what is concealed into light.

It is a symbolic way of speaking about concealed sacrificial and cosmic powers placed within Agni. The hymn says the ritual-wise discover these mysteries “by the steps,” meaning through ordered practice, insight, and correct performance.

It can be recited during a simple fire offering or lamp worship to invoke clarity, protection, and steady progress. The key prayer is for Agni to guard vitality and increase, firm foundations, and safe movement on one’s life-journey.

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