Rig Veda Sukta 3
Mandala 2Sukta 311 Mantras

Sukta 3

Sukta 2.3

Rishi

Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)

Devata

Agni

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

Dieser Hymnus setzt Agni als den entfachten, auf Erden eingesetzten Hotṛ ein, der allen Welten zugewandt ist und die Götter zum Opfer geleitet. Er preist seine reinigende, lichtvolle Einsicht und seine Rolle als Träger der Gaben – besonders des Ghee –, damit das Ritual recht gestaltet werde und dem Opfernden Frucht bringe.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 2.3

Mantras

Mantra 1

समिद्धो अग्निर्निहितः पृथिव्यां प्रत्यङ्विश्वानि भुवनान्यस्थात् । होता पावकः प्रदिवः सुमेधा देवो देवान्यजत्वग्निरर्हन् ॥

Entzündet ist Agni in der Erde niedergelegt und steht, entgegengewandt, vor allen Welten. Der reinigende Hotar, aus dem vorderen Himmel, von leuchtender Einsicht – Agni, der göttliche, der würdige, opfere den Göttern.

Mantra 2

नराशंसः प्रति धामान्यञ्जन्तिस्रो दिवः प्रति मह्ना स्वर्चिः । घृतप्रुषा मनसा हव्यमुन्दन्मूर्धन्यज्ञस्य समनक्तु देवान् ॥

Möge Narāśaṃsa, die Stätten entflammend, in seiner Größe mit eigener Flamme zu den drei Himmeln hin leuchten. Das Opfer mit einem Geist ausgießend, der von geklärtem Licht träufelt, möge er die Götter auf dem Scheitel des Opfers salben.

Mantra 3

ईळितो अग्ने मनसा नो अर्हन्देवान्यक्षि मानुषात्पूर्वो अद्य । स आ वह मरुतां शर्धो अच्युतमिन्द्रं नरो बर्हिषदं यजध्वम् ॥

O Agni, vom Geist verehrt, würdig: vollziehe heute wie einst das Opfer für die Götter aus dem Menschengeschlecht. Bring her den Schar der Maruts und Indra, den Unerschütterlichen, auf dem heiligen Gras sitzend; o Männer, vollzieht das Opfer.

Mantra 4

देव बर्हिर्वर्धमानं सुवीरं स्तीर्णं राये सुभरं वेद्यस्याम् । घृतेनाक्तं वसवः सीदतेदं विश्वे देवा आदित्या यज्ञियासः ॥

O Göttliche, das heilige Gras (barhis) wächst heran, reich an Heldenkraft, ausgebreitet zum Reichtum, wohltragend auf diesem Opfer-Sitz. Mit Ghee gesalbt—setzt euch hier, o Vasus; all ihr Götter, o Ādityas, opferwürdig.

Mantra 5

वि श्रयन्तामुर्विया हूयमाना द्वारो देवीः सुप्रायणा नमोभिः । व्यचस्वतीर्वि प्रथन्तामजुर्या वर्णं पुनाना यशसं सुवीरम् ॥

Weit mögen sich öffnen in ihrer Weite, mit Verehrung angerufen, die göttlichen Türen, die gut geleiten. Sie mögen sich ausbreiten, voll freien Raums, unalternd—ihre leuchtende Gestalt reinigend, Ruhm und Heldenkraft bringend.

Mantra 6

साध्वपांसि सनता न उक्षिते उषासानक्ता वय्येव रण्विते । तन्तुं ततं संवयन्ती समीची यज्ञस्य पेशः सुदुघे पयस्वती ॥

Uṣas und Nacht, die die uralten Werke recht vollbringen zu unserem Gedeihen, entzücken wie zwei Vögel und verweben in Eintracht den gespannten Faden; sie gestalten die Gestalt des Opfers — zwei gute Melkerinnen, voll nährender Essenz.

Mantra 7

दैव्या होतारा प्रथमा विदुष्टर ऋजु यक्षतः समृचा वपुष्टरा । देवान्यजन्तावृतुथा समञ्जतो नाभा पृथिव्या अधि सानुषु त्रिषु ॥

Die zwei göttlichen Hotars, die ersten und kundigeren, opfern geradewegs mit dem Hymnus, vollkommener an Gestalt. Den Göttern jahreszeitgemäß darbringend, fügen sie sich zusammen am Nabel der Erde, auf ihren drei Höhen.

Mantra 8

सरस्वती साधयन्ती धियं न इळा देवी भारती विश्वतूर्तिः । तिस्रो देवीः स्वधया बर्हिरेदमच्छिद्रं पान्तु शरणं निषद्य ॥

Sarasvatī, die unsere Eingebung vollendet; und Iḷā, die Göttin, Bhāratī, die allvollbringende Bewegung bringt — mögen diese drei Göttinnen, aus eigener tragender Kraft, indem sie sich auf dieses Barhis-Gras setzen, uns die unversehrte Zuflucht behüten.

Mantra 9

पिशङ्गरूपः सुभरो वयोधाः श्रुष्टी वीरो जायते देवकामः । प्रजां त्वष्टा वि ष्यतु नाभिमस्मे अथा देवानामप्येतु पाथः ॥

Von fahl-goldenem Glanz, wohltragend, Träger der Lebenskräfte—so wird der Held geboren, hörend-gehorsam, nach den Göttern verlangend. Möge Tvaṣṭṛ die Nachkommenschaft ausbreiten und uns den Nabel-Mittelpunkt, den inneren Sitz des Werdens, weiten; dann möge der Pfad zu den Göttern sich öffnen und nahekommen.

Mantra 10

वनस्पतिरवसृजन्नुप स्थादग्निर्हविः सूदयाति प्र धीभिः । त्रिधा समक्तं नयतु प्रजानन्देवेभ्यो दैव्यः शमितोप हव्यम् ॥

Möge Vanaspati, das Opferholz freigebend, nahe hintreten; und Agni möge mit unseren erwachten Einsichten die Opfergabe bereiten. Den rechten Ablauf kennend, führe der göttliche Śamitṛ die Gabe—dreifach wohl vermischt—hinauf zu den Göttern, zu den Himmlischen.

Mantra 11

घृतं मिमिक्षे घृतमस्य योनिर्घृते श्रितो घृतम्वस्य धाम । अनुष्वधमा वह मादयस्व स्वाहाकृतं वृषभ वक्षि हव्यम् ॥

Ghee ist eingemischt; Ghee ist sein Schoß; im Ghee ist er gegründet, und Ghee ist seine Wohnstatt. Nach der rechten Wonne deines eigenen Gesetzes bring (die Gabe), berausche dich daran; o Stier der Kraft, trage die Opfergabe, die mit svāhā vollzogen ist.

Inside Sukta 3

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Agni is kindled and established in the earth, standing toward all worlds as the purifying Hotṛ.

  2. Development

    Agni’s priestly capacity and luminous intelligence are praised; the hymn links cosmic order and ritual craftsmanship, showing how the rite is ‘shaped’ and made effective.

  3. Climax

    The sacrificial power is concentrated in the ghee-fed fire: ghee as Agni’s womb, seat, and dwelling, making him the perfect bearer of offerings.

  4. Where it settles

    A direct request: let Agni, strong as a bull, bring and enjoy the svāhā-made oblation, completing the exchange between worshipper and gods.

The deity: Agni

  • In the VedaAgni is the kindled fire placed upon the earth, the purifying Hotṛ-priest, bright-minded and divine, who stands oriented toward all the worlds and calls the gods to the offering.
  • Cosmic functionMediator between human and divine realms: he conveys oblations upward, brings the gods to the rite, and maintains ṛta (right order) through the sacrificial exchange.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened flame of aspiration and discernment—an inner priest that purifies intention, concentrates mind, and translates human effort into spiritual offering.

The seer

  • Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)Bhṛgu lineage (Bhārgava); associated with the Gṛtsamada family of Mandala 2 · Principal seer of much of the Second Maṇḍala, celebrated for powerful Agni hymns that establish Agni as Hotṛ and as the ritual’s central mediator.

Famous verses

samiddho agnir nihitaḥ pṛthivyām
Verse 2.3.1Defines Agni’s core identity in this hymn: kindled on earth, facing all worlds, the purifying Hotṛ who performs the divine sacrifice.Read verse 2.3.1 →
tantuṃ tataṃ saṃvayantī
Verse 2.3.6A striking sacrificial-metaphor verse: Dawn and Night ‘weave’ the thread and fashion the form of the sacrifice, expressing yajña as a cosmic fabric.Read verse 2.3.6 →
ghṛtaṃ asya yoniḥ
Verse 2.3.11Culminating ghee-doctrine: ghṛta is Agni’s womb and home; it seals the rite with svāhā and the request to carry the offering.Read verse 2.3.11 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Hotṛ (invoking priest)
  • Pāvaka (purifier)
  • Deva among devas; worthy (arhan)
  • Messenger and carrier of oblations
  • Ghee-nourished, radiant, intelligent
  • Upholder of ṛta through yajña

Also by this seer

  • Large portions of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 2 (notably many sūktas attributed to the Gṛtsamada family)
  • Agni-centered hymns that articulate the Hotṛ function and the ghee-fed fire symbolism
  • Hymnic formulations used as models for later śrauta-style invocations to Agni

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare and tend the fire-place; kindle Agni with kindling and ghee so he is ‘samiddha’ (fully lit).
  • Invite Agni as Hotṛ to face and encompass the worlds, and to summon the gods to the rite.
  • Offer ghee/oblations with svāhā, requesting Agni to carry them and to purify the sacrifice.
  • Maintain the fire with repeated offerings and recitation, affirming right order (ṛta) and ritual form (yajñasya peśaḥ).
  • Conclude with a final ghee-oblation, asking Agni to bear the svāhā-made offering and grant increase/protection.

Offerings

  • Ghṛta (ghee)
  • Samidh (kindling sticks)
  • Havis/oblations made with svāhā (general offering substance; later often including milk, grains, or soma in appropriate rites)

Frequently Asked Questions

It presents Agni as the central priest of the sacrifice—kindled on earth, purifying the rite, calling the gods, and carrying offerings so the yajña succeeds.

Ghee is the classic fuel and offering for Agni; calling it his “womb” and “home” highlights that Agni is sustained by clarified intention and properly offered nourishment.

It portrays the sacrifice as a carefully woven cosmic order: time (day and night) and right action together “shape” the yajña, making it harmonious and effective.

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