Rig Veda Sukta 6
Mandala 2Sukta 68 Mantras

Sukta 6

Sukta 2.6

Rishi

Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)

Devata

Agni

Chandas

Gāyatrī

Dieser Gāyatrī-Hymnus des Gṛtsamada ruft Agni als die nahe und innige göttliche Gegenwart an, der man durch das Entfachen des Feuers, durch Gebet und durch den geordneten Vollzug des Opfers naht. Agni wird gebeten, die Worte des Sehers zu hören, die Gaben anzunehmen und himmlischen „Regen“ (Herabkunft von Kraft), sieghafte Energie (vāja) und reichliche Nahrung zu verleihen. Der Hymnus gipfelt in der Einladung an den allwissenden, bewussten Agni, zu kommen, das Ritual in rechter Folge zu vollziehen und sich auf dem Barhis (Opfersitz) niederzusetzen.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 2.6

Mantras

Mantra 1

इमां मे अग्ने समिधमिमामुपसदं वनेः । इमा उ षु श्रुधी गिरः ॥

Diese meine samidh, o Agni — diese Entzündung (das Brennholz) — und diese upasad, das Nahen, erbitte ich; und diese Worte, ja, höre sie gut.

Mantra 2

अया ते अग्ने विधेमोर्जो नपादश्वमिष्टे । एना सूक्तेन सुजात ॥

Mit dieser Darbringung wollen wir dir dienen, o Agni, o Sohn der Fülle (Ūrjā-napāt), der das Ross (Aśva) begehrt; durch diesen wohlgefügten Hymnus, o Wohlgeborener, tritt in uns hervor und wachse.

Mantra 3

तं त्वा गीर्भिर्गिर्वणसं द्रविणस्युं द्रविणोदः । सपर्येम सपर्यवः ॥

Dich — der an den Liedern sich erfreut, des Lobes würdig (girvaṇas), nach Reichtum verlangend und nach dessen Spender (draviṇodas) — wollen wir mit unseren Worten verehren, wir, die im Verehren eifrig sind.

Mantra 4

स बोधि सूरिर्मघवा वसुपते वसुदावन् । युयोध्यस्मद्द्वेषांसि ॥

Erwache als unser lichtvoller Führer (sūri), o Freigebiger (maghavān), Herr der Güter (vasupati), Spender der Güter; vertreibe von uns die feindlichen Mächte, die Hasskräfte, die uns entgegenstehen.

Mantra 5

स नो वृष्टिं दिवस्परि स नो वाजमनर्वाणम् । स नः सहस्रिणीरिषः ॥

Er bringe uns den Regen vom Himmel herab; er bringe uns den Vāja, die Fülle sieghafter Kraft, unvermindert; er bringe uns die tausendfachen Iṣaḥ — Genüsse und Antriebe der Nahrung.

Mantra 6

ईळानायावस्यवे यविष्ठ दूत नो गिरा । यजिष्ठ होतरा गहि ॥

O Agni, du Jüngster, der zu verehren und um Hilfe zu suchen ist, komm als unser Bote auf unser Wort hin; o Opferwürdigster, o Hotṛ, komm hierher.

Mantra 7

अन्तर्ह्यग्न ईयसे विद्वाञ्जन्मोभया कवे । दूतो जन्येव मित्र्यः ॥

Denn, o Agni, du gehst im Innern, beide Geburten kennend, o Kavi; als Bote, gleich einem unter Menschen Geborenen, bist du freundlich in deinem Wirken.

Mantra 8

स विद्वाँ आ च पिप्रयो यक्षि चिकित्व आनुषक् । आ चास्मिन्त्सत्सि बर्हिषि ॥

Du Wissender, komm her und werde (in uns) ganz erfüllt; o Bewusster, vollziehe das Opfer in rechter Folge. Und komm, setz dich hier auf dieses Barhis (die Opferstreu).

Inside Sukta 6

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A personal, intimate request: the seer kindles Agni and approaches him (samidh, upasad), asking him to listen to the prayers.

  2. Development

    Agni is praised as the effective mediator who can bring down heavenly gifts—rain/force, undiminished vāja, and abundant nourishment.

  3. Climax

    The decisive invitation: the knowing, conscious Agni is called to come, be filled, sacrifice in right succession (ānuṣak), and take his seat on the barhis.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn settles into assurance through orderly worship—Agni enthroned in the rite—so blessings may flow to the worshipper and community.

The deity: Agni

  • In the VedaAgni is the divine Fire—kindled by humans yet born of the gods—serving as the priest (hotṛ), messenger (dūta), and mouth of the gods who carries offerings and returns blessings.
  • Cosmic functionMediator between earth and heaven: he conveys oblations to the deities, sustains sacrificial order, and draws down boons such as rain, strength, and prosperity.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened will and luminous intelligence within—inner heat (tapas) that purifies, concentrates aspiration, and translates prayer into effective action.

The seer

  • Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)Bhṛgu/Bhārgava lineage (Āṅgirasa-associated priestly tradition) · A prominent early Rigvedic seer of Mandala 2, celebrated for lucid Agni hymns that emphasize correct ritual order (ṛta) and the inner approach (upasad) to the divine fire.

Famous verses

इमां मे अग्ने समिधमिमामुपसदं वनेः । इमा उ षु श्रुधी गिरः ॥
Verse 2.6.1Sets the hymn’s tone: kindling and ‘near-approach’ to Agni, emphasizing attentive hearing of inspired speech as the basis of effective sacrifice.Read verse 2.6.1 →
स नो वृष्टिं दिवस्परि स नो वाजमनर्वाणम् । स नः सहस्रिणीरिषः ॥
Verse 2.6.5A central petition for results: vṛṣṭi from heaven, undiminished vāja, and thousandfold nourishment—linking Agni worship to cosmic descent and human prosperity.Read verse 2.6.5 →
स विद्वाँ आ च पिप्रयो यक्षि चिकित्व आनुषक् । आ चास्मिन्त्सत्सि बर्हिषि ॥
Verse 2.6.8Culminating invitation: Agni as vidvān/cikitva is asked to perform the rite in right order and sit on the barhis, sealing divine presence in the ritual space.Read verse 2.6.8 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Hotṛ (sacrificial priest)
  • Messenger between worlds
  • All-knowing/wise (vidvān, cikitva)
  • Purifier and protector
  • Bringer of wealth, strength (vāja), and nourishment (iṣ)

Also by this seer

  • Primary seer of much of Rigveda Mandala 2 (many sūktas attributed to Gṛtsamada)
  • Noted for hymns to Agni and allied deities that frame sacrifice as both outer rite and inner discipline

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the vedi and spread the barhis (sacrificial grass/seat).
  • Kindle Agni with samidh (fuel sticks), establishing the fire as the invoked presence.
  • Perform upasad (near-approach): recitation with focused intention, inviting Agni to hear the hymns.
  • Offer ghee/oblations into the fire with svāhā, maintaining correct sequence (ānuṣak).
  • Invite Agni to ‘sit on the barhis’—stabilizing the rite and the worshipper’s consecrated awareness.
  • Conclude with petitions for vṛṣṭi (rain/descent of force), vāja (victorious energy), and abundant iṣaḥ (nourishing impulses).

Offerings

  • Samidh (kindling sticks)
  • Ghṛta (clarified butter)
  • Optional: soma/food offerings as per rite (context-dependent)

Frequently Asked Questions

It teaches that Agni is approached through kindling and sincere prayer, and that when the rite is done in right order, Agni brings strength, rain-like descent of power, and nourishment.

Samidh is the physical kindling that establishes the fire, while upasad is the ‘near-approach’—the focused, reverent drawing close to Agni through recitation and intention.

Barhis is the sacred seat/spread in the ritual space; inviting Agni to sit there means establishing his presence so the offering and the worshipper’s consecrated awareness become steady and effective.

Ask anything about Sukta 6 of the Rig Veda

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