Rig Veda Sukta 5
Mandala 2Sukta 58 Mantras

Sukta 5

Sukta 2.5

Rishi

Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)

Chandas

Gāyatrī (probable for RV 2.5.1)

Dieser Hymnus preist Agni besonders in seinem priesterlichen Amt als Hotṛ und die mit ihm abgestimmten rituellen Kräfte; er bittet darum, dass das Opfer richtig fortgeführt und wirksam gemacht werde. Agni wird angerufen als bewusster, väterlicher Führer der Ahnenlinie und als der, der die Gaben sammelt, den Ritus ordnet und durch rechte Ordnung (yama) und Opferkunst „edlen Reichtum“ verleiht.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 2.5

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Agnias Hotṛ/ritual fire, hymn 2.5 is Agni-focused in priestly functions

    Agni is the born-and-kindled fire, the divine priest (Hotṛ) who knows the paths of the rite, carries offerings to the gods, and makes the sacrifice successful through right form and right timing.

Mantras

Mantra 1

होताजनिष्ट चेतनः पिता पितृभ्य ऊतये । प्रयक्षञ्जेन्यं वसु शकेम वाजिनो यमम् ॥

Der Hotṛ ist geboren – bewusst, lichtvoll – wie ein Vater, den Vätern zur Hilfe. Voranschreitend im Opfer, mögen wir das edle Gut erringen, den yama der Vājins: die rechte Zügelung und Ordnung, die die Kraft zu ihrem Ziel trägt.

Mantra 2

आ यस्मिन्त्सप्त रश्मयस्तता यज्ञस्य नेतरि । मनुष्वद्दैव्यमष्टमं पोता विश्वं तदिन्वति ॥

Er, in dem die sieben Strahlen ausgespannt sind – der Lenker des Opfers –, treibt jene achte, göttliche Kraft, die in uns wirkt wie im Menschen, das Ganze voran: den Pota, den Läuterer, der die gesamte Gabe zu ihrer Wahrheit hin bewegt.

Mantra 3

दधन्वे वा यदीमनु वोचद्ब्रह्माणि वेरु तत् । परि विश्वानि काव्या नेमिश्चक्रमिवाभवत् ॥

Und wenn er, tragend und stützend, die inspirierten Worte in ihrer wahren Folge ausspricht, dann kreisen alle Dichter-Geheimnisse um ihn: er wird zur Nabe, wie der Felgenkranz eines Rades, der die ganze Bewegung des Werkes hält.

Mantra 4

साकं हि शुचिना शुचिः प्रशास्ता क्रतुनाजनि । विद्वाँ अस्य व्रता ध्रुवा वया इवानु रोहते ॥

Denn, rein mit dem Reinen, wird der weise Lenker durch die Kraft des Willens (krátu) geboren. Seine festen Satzungen kennend, steigt er ihnen nach wie ein Vogel auf seinen Bahnen — empor in sicheren Stufen geordneten Fluges.

Mantra 5

ता अस्य वर्णमायुवो नेष्टुः सचन्त धेनवः । कुवित्तिसृभ्य आ वरं स्वसारो या इदं ययुः ॥

An seinen Glanz schmiegen sich die nährenden Kühe — die Schwestern des Neṣṭṛ, lebensvoll. Werden sie aus der Dreifaltigkeit zur erwählten Vortrefflichkeit kommen, jene Schwestern, die in dieses Wirken eingegangen sind?

Mantra 6

यदी मातुरुप स्वसा घृतं भरन्त्यस्थित । तासामध्वर्युरागतौ यवो वृष्टीव मोदते ॥

Wenn die Schwester zur Mutter herantritt und Ghee bringt, nimmt sie ihren Stand ein; und bei ihrem Kommen freut sich der Adhvaryu wie die Gerste am Regen — so wird die Opferkraft froh durch das Herabkommen des nährenden Stromes.

Mantra 7

स्वः स्वाय धायसे कृणुतामृत्विगृत्विजम् । स्तोमं यज्ञं चादरं वनेमा ररिमा वयम् ॥

Möge Svah, die Himmelskraft, zu ihrer eigenen Stütze den rechten ṛtvij im ṛtvik gestalten; dann mögen wir Hymnus und Opfer und die gebührende Freude gewinnen — mögen wir zu Gebern werden im rechten Austausch.

Mantra 8

यथा विद्वाँ अरं करद्विश्वेभ्यो यजतेभ्यः । अयमग्ने त्वे अपि यं यज्ञं चकृमा वयम् ॥

Damit der Wissende alles den Opfernden gemäß mache — dieses Opfer, das wir bereitet haben, o Agni, ist auch in dir: nimm es in dich auf und vollende es recht.

Inside Sukta 5

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Agni is ‘born’ as the conscious Hotṛ—fatherly and ancestral-supporting—so the sacrifice may move forward rightly.

  2. Development

    The hymn expands Agni’s priestly network and powers (radiance, ordering, and the supportive ‘cows’/nourishing energies), emphasizing correct ritual coordination and fruitful approach to the gods.

  3. Climax

    The prayer that the knower makes everything ‘fitting’ for worshippers, with the decisive claim that the sacrifice the humans have fashioned is already ‘in’ Agni.

  4. Where it settles

    A closing request that Agni take the rite into himself, perfect it, and deliver its intended results—order, accomplishment, and worthy gain.

The deity: Agni

  • Cosmic functionMediator between human and divine realms: he transforms oblations into a subtle, god-reaching form, maintains the sacrificial order (ṛta), and sustains continuity between ancestors, worshippers, and deities.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened will and discerning intelligence that ‘kindles’ aspiration; the inner priest that organizes energies, purifies intention, and turns effort into effective offering.

The seer

  • Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)Bhṛgu/Bhārgava lineage (Gṛtsamada family of Mandala 2) · Principal seer of Rig Veda Mandala 2, renowned for hymns that establish Agni and Indra as central ritual powers and for a strongly priestly, yajña-oriented style.

Famous verses

hotā ajaniṣṭa cetanaḥ
Verse 2.5.1Sets the keynote: Agni as newly-born Hotṛ, conscious and fatherlike, aiding the Fathers and granting ‘noble treasure’ through right ordering (yama).Read verse 2.5.1 →
ता अस्य वर्णमायुवो नेष्टुः सचन्त धेनवः । कुवित्तिसृभ्य आ वरं स्वसारो या इदं ययुः ॥
Verse 2.5.5Uses the potent image of ‘cows’ clinging to Agni’s radiance—ritual/gnostic powers supporting the Neshṭṛ function—highlighting coordinated priestly energies within the yajña.Read verse 2.5.5 →
ayam agne tve api yaṃ yajñaṃ cakṛmā vayam
Verse 2.5.8Concluding seal: the sacrifice is said to be within Agni himself; he is asked to make it fully fitting and accomplished for all worshippers.Read verse 2.5.8 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Hotṛ (invoking priest)
  • Knower of the rite (kratu-vit)
  • Bearer/transporter of offerings (havyavāhana)
  • Guardian of ṛta (cosmic order)
  • Luminous, conscious, ever-young
  • Fatherly protector linked with the Fathers (Pitṛs)

Also by this seer

  • Primary attribution of most of Rig Veda Mandala 2 (2.1–2.43)
  • Noted Agni hymns emphasizing Hotṛ and sacrificial correctness (e.g., RV 2.1, 2.3–2.6)
  • Indra hymns in Mandala 2 highlighting victory, strength, and ritual support (e.g., RV 2.12–2.16)

The rite, step by step

  • Kindling/awakening Agni and establishing the fire as the Hotṛ of the rite
  • Formal invocation: asking Agni to lead the sacrifice forward and align it with ṛta
  • Offering oblations into Agni while reciting the hymn to strengthen priestly functions (Hotṛ/Neshṭṛ imagery)
  • Requesting ‘noble wealth’ and right ordering (yama) as the fruit of well-performed yajña
  • Concluding prayer that Agni internalize the sacrifice and make it fully fitting for all worshippers

Offerings

  • Ājya (clarified butter/ghee)
  • Samidh (fuel sticks)
  • Havis (general oblations, as appropriate)
  • Soma-related offerings when part of a soma rite

Frequently Asked Questions

Agni is praised, especially as Hotṛ—the divine priestly fire who invokes the gods and carries offerings in the sacrifice.

That Agni lead the ritual correctly, make it fitting and effective, and grant worthy gains through right order and successful offering.

It links Agni with ancestral continuity: he protects and supports the lineage of worshippers, connecting present sacrifice with the ancestral tradition and its blessings.

Ask anything about Sukta 5 of the Rig Veda

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