Rig Veda Sukta 3
Mandala 3Sukta 311 Mantras

Sukta 3

Sukta 3.3

Rishi

Viśvāmitra Gāthina (traditional attribution for Maṇḍala 3)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable for RV 3.3)

Dieser Hymnus preist Agni als Vaiśvānara, das universale Feuer, das feste Grundlagen (dharuṇa) für menschlichen Fortschritt setzt und die Verehrung zu den Göttern trägt. Agni erscheint als unsterbliche priesterliche Macht, die das yajña unter Göttern, Menschen und allen Wesen ausweitet, ṛta (das dauernde Gesetz) bewahrt und durch eigene Kunstfertigkeit groß geboren wird, indem er Himmel und Erde erhöht.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 3.3

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Agni VaishvanaraMantras 1, 5, 10-11Agni Vaiśvānara

    Agni as Vaiśvānara is the ‘belonging to all men/all beings’ fire, wide-radiant, wise (kavi), and the immortal who serves the gods and organizes the sacrifice into a richly formed work.

  • AgniMantras 2-4, 6-7, 9as dūta and purohita
  • Agni JatavedasMantra 8Agni Jātavedas

Mantras

Mantra 1

वैश्वानराय पृथुपाजसे विपो रत्ना विधन्त धरुणेषु गातवे । अग्निर्हि देवाँ अमृतो दुवस्यत्यथा धर्माणि सनता न दूदुषत् ॥

Für Vaiśvānara, weit in seinem Glanz, bereiten die Seher die Schätze und die festen Stützen für unser Gehen. Denn Agni, der Unsterbliche, dient wahrhaft den Göttern; darum versagen die ewigen Gesetze der Dharma nicht und geraten nicht in Unordnung.

Mantra 2

अन्तर्दूतो रोदसी दस्म ईयते होता निषत्तो मनुषः पुरोहितः । क्षयं बृहन्तं परि भूषति द्युभिर्देवेभिरग्निरिषितो धियावसुः ॥

Als innerer Bote zwischen den beiden Welten zieht der Wunderbare dahin; der Hotar, im Menschen sitzend, vorn eingesetzt als Purohita. Ringsum schmückt er die weite Heimstatt mit leuchtenden Kräften; Agni, von den Göttern angetrieben, reich an dem Schatz der inspirierten Einsicht.

Mantra 3

केतुं यज्ञानां विदथस्य साधनं विप्रासो अग्निं महयन्त चित्तिभिः । अपांसि यस्मिन्नधि संदधुर्गिरस्तस्मिन्त्सुम्नानि यजमान आ चके ॥

Die Seher preisen Agni mit den Erwachungen des Denkens – das Wahrzeichen der Opfer, den Vollender der Vidatha. Er ist der, in dem sie ihre Werke festsetzen und ihre Lieder zusammenfügen; in ihm gelangt der Opfernde zu den guten Gnaden und Harmonien.

Mantra 4

पिता यज्ञानामसुरो विपश्चितां विमानमग्निर्वयुनं च वाघताम् । आ विवेश रोदसी भूरिवर्पसा पुरुप्रियो भन्दते धामभिः कविः ॥

Agni ist der Vater der Opfer, ein Asura, allkundig für die Schauenden; er ist ihr Maß und ihre unterscheidende Ordnung (vayuna) für die Opfernden. Mit reichem Glanz ist er in beide Welten eingegangen; der Dichter, von vielen geliebt, leuchtet durch seine mannigfachen Lichtwohnungen.

Mantra 5

चन्द्रमग्निं चन्द्ररथं हरिव्रतं वैश्वानरमप्सुषदं स्वर्विदम् । विगाहं तूर्णिं तविषीभिरावृतं भूर्णिं देवास इह सुश्रियं दधुः ॥

Den leuchtenden Agni mit leuchtendem Wagen, dem strahlenden Gesetz getreu; Vaiśvānara, im Wasser sitzend, den Kenner des Svar; – voranstürmend, schnell, von seinen Kräften umhüllt, wirbelnd: ihn, den schönberühmten, haben die Götter hier zu herrlichem Glanz eingesetzt.

Mantra 6

अग्निर्देवेभिर्मनुषश्च जन्तुभिस्तन्वानो यज्ञं पुरुपेशसं धिया । रथीरन्तरीयते साधदिष्टिभिर्जीरो दमूना अभिशस्तिचातनः ॥

Agni, mit den Göttern, mit den Menschen und allen Lebewesen, weitet das Opfer aus, es mit inspiriertem Denken gestaltend, reich an Formen. Wie ein Wagenlenker bewegt er sich im Innern durch vollendete Wirkungen; schnell in seiner Wohnstatt, der Hauswirt, vertreibt er Anklage und feindliche Schmähung.

Mantra 7

अग्ने जरस्व स्वपत्य आयुन्यूर्जा पिन्वस्व समिषो दिदीहि नः । वयांसि जिन्व बृहतश्च जागृव उशिग्देवानामसि सुक्रतुर्विपाम् ॥

O Agni, wachse in uns zu guter Herrschaft und langem Lebenslauf; stärke uns mit der erfreuenden Kraft und entzünde unsere harmonischen Gesänge. Mehre unsere Flügel und wecke zum Weiten; du bist die eifrige Flamme der Götter, der wohlwollende Geist der Seher.

Mantra 8

विश्पतिं यह्वमतिथिं नरः सदा यन्तारं धीनामुशिजं च वाघताम् । अध्वराणां चेतनं जातवेदसं प्र शंसन्ति नमसा जूतिभिर्वृधे ॥

Die Menschen preisen immerdar mit Ehrfurcht und schnellen Gaben Jātavedas: den Herrn des Geschlechts, den starken Gast-Wanderer, den Lenker der inspirierten Gedanken, die eifrige Flamme der Sänger; den Erwecker der Opferwege — zu seinem Wachstum.

Mantra 9

विभावा देवः सुरणः परि क्षितीरग्निर्बभूव शवसा सुमद्रथः । तस्य व्रतानि भूरिपोषिणो वयमुप भूषेम दम आ सुवृक्तिभिः ॥

Agni, der Leuchtende, der Gott edler Wonne, hat mit seiner Kraft die Welten umfangen – ein Wagen guten Denkens und rechten Ganges. Mögen wir in unserer Wohnstatt nahen und seine Satzungen, die reiches Gedeihen nähren, mit wohlgefügten Worten schmücken.

Mantra 10

वैश्वानर तव धामान्या चके येभिः स्वर्विदभवो विचक्षण । जात आपृणो भुवनानि रोदसी अग्ने ता विश्वा परिभूरसि त्मना ॥

O Vaiśvānara, du hast deine Machtstätten gestaltet, durch die du zum Kenner des lichtvollen Himmels wurdest, zum Weitblickenden. Geboren, erfülltest du die Welten und die beiden Firmamente; o Agni, aus deinem eigenen Selbstsein umschließt und überragst du dies alles.

Mantra 11

वैश्वानरस्य दंसनाभ्यो बृहदरिणादेकः स्वपस्यया कविः । उभा पितरा महयन्नजायताग्निर्द्यावापृथिवी भूरिरेतसा ॥

Aus den mächtigen Wirkungen des Vaiśvānara wurde der Eine geboren – weit und groß, der Seher durch vollendete Kunst. Die beiden Eltern verherrlichend kam Agni zur Geburt – Himmel und Erde –, reich an dem Samen der Fülle.

Inside Sukta 3

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The seers ‘fashion treasures’ for Vaiśvānara and establish firm supports for the journey—Agni is introduced as the immortal servant of the gods and guarantor of enduring law.

  2. Development

    Agni’s universality expands: he works with gods, humans, and all creatures, shaping the sacrifice through inspired thought and moving inwardly as the guiding charioteer.

  3. Climax

    Agni’s decisive agency is revealed—swift in his dwelling, he perfects the rite and drives away hostile assaults, safeguarding the truth-order that does not collapse.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn culminates in a birth-and-cosmology image: from Vaiśvānara’s mighty workings the great One arises, magnifying Heaven and Earth, rich in generative abundance.

The deity: Agni Vaiśvānara

  • In the VedaHe is depicted as inner-moving like a charioteer, repelling hostile forces and keeping the ancient dharmas/ṛta from failing.
  • Cosmic functionMediator between earth and heaven: he kindles the sacrificial order, carries offerings to the deities, sustains ṛta, and links Heaven-and-Earth as the life-heat that supports generation and abundance.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened will and luminous intelligence that ‘builds the sacrifice’ within—transforming thought (dhī) into effective action, protecting the seeker from inner negations, and establishing stable pathways for right living.

The seer

  • Viśvāmitra GāthinaGāthina (Kauśika/Viśvāmitra lineage, traditional) · A royal-turned-seer celebrated for powerful Agni and Indra hymns, and for embodying the transformation of kṣatriya force into brahmanic vision; traditionally linked with the Gāyatrī mantra (RV 3.62.10).

Famous verses

वैश्वानराय पृथुपाजसे विपो रत्ना विधन्त धरुणेषु गातवे । अग्निर्हि देवाँ अमृतो दुवस्यत्यथा धर्माणि सनता न दूदुषत् ॥
Verse 3.3.1Programmatic statement of the hymn: Vaiśvānara as wide-radiant foundation-setter; Agni as immortal servant of the gods; the ‘eternal laws’ do not fail—core ṛta/dharma theme.Read verse 3.3.1 →
अग्निर्देवेभिर्मनुषश्च जन्तुभिस्तन्वानो यज्ञं पुरुपेशसं धिया । रथीरन्तरीयते साधदिष्टिभिर्जीरो दमूना अभिशस्तिचातनः ॥
Verse 3.3.6Key ritual-psychological image: Agni ‘extends the yajña’ with dhī and moves like an inner charioteer, repelling hostile assaults—central to Agni’s role as guide and protector.Read verse 3.3.6 →
वैश्वानरस्य दंसनाभ्यो बृहदरिणादेकः स्वपस्यया कविः । उभा पितरा महयन्नजायताग्निर्द्यावापृथिवी भूरिरेतसा ॥
Verse 3.3.11Climactic cosmological framing: Agni is born vast from Vaiśvānara’s mighty workings, exalting the ‘two Parents’ (Heaven and Earth) and symbolizing abundance and generative power.Read verse 3.3.11 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Universal/fire of all beings (Vaiśvānara)
  • Immortal priest and divine messenger
  • Upholder of ṛta and the ‘eternal laws’
  • Inner charioteer guiding the rite and the mind
  • Protector who drives away hostile assaults
  • Wise seer (kavi), skillful worker (svapasyayā)

Also by this seer

  • Maṇḍala 3 of the Ṛgveda is largely attributed to the Viśvāmitra family
  • RV 3.62.10 (Sāvitrī/Gāyatrī) traditionally connected with Viśvāmitra
  • Numerous Indra hymns in RV 3 (family collection attribution)

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/fire-place and arrange fuel (samidh) and kuśa as appropriate
  • Kindle Agni and recite invocations to Vaiśvānara, affirming his wide radiance and universal reach
  • Offer ghee into the fire while reciting key verses; request firm ‘foundations’ (dharuṇa) for the rite and the community
  • Invite Agni as hotṛ/mediator to ‘extend the yajña’ with inspired thought (dhī)
  • Conclude with protective petitions: Agni as inner charioteer repels hostile forces and stabilizes the order of truth (ṛta)
  • Optional closing oblations and śānti-style settling of the fire, dedicating merit to prosperity and right order

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya)
  • Kindling sticks (samidh)
  • Grain oblations (optional, per rite)
  • Soma (when integrated into soma-yajña context)

Frequently Asked Questions

Vaiśvānara is Agni understood as the universal fire—present for all people and beings—who carries offerings, gives stability to the rite, and supports the order of truth (ṛta).

Agni is the intelligent, protective power that builds and expands the sacrifice, keeps the eternal law from breaking down, and connects Heaven and Earth to bring well-being and abundance.

It can be recited during fire worship (homa/agnihotra-style) as an invocation to kindle clarity and right order, offering ghee or simple oblations while reflecting on Agni as the inner guide.

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