Rig Veda Sukta 7
Mandala 3Sukta 711 Mantras

Sukta 7

Sukta 3.7

Rishi

Viśvāmitra Gāthina (traditional for RV 3.7)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable; confirm in critical edition)

Dieser Agni-Hymnus stellt ihn als die lichtvolle Macht dar, die in den kosmischen Eltern — zwei Müttern und zwei Vätern — geboren wird und sich dort gründet, während die „sieben Stimmen“ (sapta vāṇīḥ) aufsteigen und in sein strahlendes Fundament eingehen. In dichter kosmologischer Bildsprache (das Gewand der Nacht, die Stierkraft und die sich spannenden Eltern) bittet der Dichter Agni, das Leben zu verlängern, den Sänger sicher in sein eigenes dhāman (Wohnstatt) zu geleiten und dauernden Wohlstand, „Strahlen/Vieh“ (go) sowie starke Nachkommenschaft zu gewähren.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 3.7

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • AgniAgni (implicit), with cosmological dyads (two Mothers/two Fathers) and the seven voices

    Agni is the ever-young, bright-backed fire-principle, kindled on earth yet moving in cosmic ranges, who carries offerings, awakens inspired speech, and reveals hidden paths through darkness.

Mantras

Mantra 1

प्र य आरुः शितिपृष्ठस्य धासेरा मातरा विविशुः सप्त वाणीः । परिक्षिता पितरा सं चरेते प्र सर्स्राते दीर्घमायुः प्रयक्षे ॥

Vorwärts steigen sie empor — die sieben Mächte der Rede — und gehen ein in die zwei Mütter des lichtgerückten. Die zwei Väter, allumfassend, schreiten vereint; sie dehnen das lange Leben aus im vorwärts gerichteten Opfer (yajña) der Seele.

Mantra 2

दिवक्षसो धेनवो वृष्णो अश्वा देवीरा तस्थौ मधुमद्वहन्तीः । ऋतस्य त्वा सदसि क्षेमयन्तं पर्येका चरति वर्तनिं गौः ॥

Die himmlischen Milchkühe, die Rosse des Stiers — die Göttlichen — stehen bereit, Süße tragend, honigreich. Im Sitz des Ṛta bist du der Stifter von Schutz und Frieden; um dich geht die Eine Kuh auf der Bahn, im Kreis sich bewegend.

Mantra 3

आ सीमरोहत्सुयमा भवन्तीः पतिश्चिकित्वान्रयिविद्रयीणाम् । प्र नीलपृष्ठो अतसस्य धासेस्ता अवासयत्पुरुधप्रतीकः ॥

Sie sind hinaufgestiegen, wohlgeleitet werdend; und der Herr — der Bewusste, der Wissende, der Finder der Füllen — geht voran. Der Dunkelrückige, aus dem gewobenen Stoff, setzte sie an ihre Plätze — der Vielgestaltige; er ordnete die Kräfte für das Wirken des inneren Ritus.

Mantra 4

महि त्वाष्ट्रमूर्जयन्तीरजुर्यं स्तभूयमानं वहतो वहन्ति । व्यङ्गेभिर्दिद्युतानः सधस्थ एकामिव रोदसी आ विवेश ॥

Groß sind die bildenden Kräfte des Tvaṣṭar, die dich stärken, o vom Tvaṣṭar Geborener; sie tragen dich, den Unfehlbaren, fest gestützt, wie Träger ihre Last tragen. Durch die Glieder hindurch leuchtend trittst du in den Sitz ein, als hättest du Himmel-und-Erde zu Einem gemacht in einer einzigen Umarmung des Lichts.

Mantra 5

जानन्ति वृष्णो अरुषस्य शेवमुत ब्रध्नस्य शासने रणन्ति । दिवोरुचः सुरुचो रोचमाना इळा येषां गण्या माहिना गीः ॥

Sie kennen das heilsame Gut des mächtigen Roten, und sie erklingen in der Herrschaft des Glänzenden. Die Lichtkräfte des Himmels, in rechter Leuchtkraft strahlend, mehren ihr Licht — jene, in denen das Wort (gīḥ) durch Größe anrufungswürdig wird und die innere Opfergabe (iḷā) erwacht.

Mantra 6

उतो पितृभ्यां प्रविदानु घोषं महो महद्भ्यामनयन्त शूषम् । उक्षा ह यत्र परि धानमक्तोरनु स्वं धाम जरितुर्ववक्ष ॥

Und zu den beiden Eltern haben sie den Ruf ausfindig gemacht und die Kraft vom Großen zum Großen geführt. Der Stier wahrlich — dort, wo er das Gewand der Nacht umschließt — hat den Sänger mitgetragen in seine eigene Wohnstatt des Seins.

Mantra 7

अध्वर्युभिः पञ्चभिः सप्त विप्राः प्रियं रक्षन्ते निहितं पदं वेः । प्राञ्चो मदन्त्युक्षणो अजुर्या देवा देवानामनु हि व्रता गुः ॥

Mit fünf Adhvaryus hüten die sieben Seher den lieben, verborgenen Schritt des Vogels. Nach vorn gewandt jauchzen die unalternden Stiere — Götter, die den göttlichen Satzungen der Götter folgen.

Mantra 8

दैव्या होतारा प्रथमा न्यृञ्जे सप्त पृक्षासः स्वधया मदन्ति । ऋतं शंसन्त ऋतमित्त आहुरनु व्रतं व्रतपा दीध्यानाः ॥

Die beiden göttlichen Hotars setzen sich zuerst; die sieben nährenden Mächte freuen sich an ihrer Svadhā. Ṛta verkündend, sprechen sie allein ṛta aus; als Hüter des Gelübdes, das Gesetz bewahrend, lodern sie im Denken dem Pfad des Gelübdes nach.

Mantra 9

वृषायन्ते महे अत्याय पूर्वीर्वृष्णे चित्राय रश्मयः सुयामाः । देव होतर्मन्द्रतरश्चिकित्वान्महो देवान्रोदसी एह वक्षि ॥

Die uralten Strahlen drängen machtvoll zum großen Darüberhinaus, zum vielgestaltigen Stier, der auf rechtem Lauf geht. O göttlicher Hotar, freudiger und wissend, führe die großen Götter — Himmel und Erde — hierher in dieses Opferwirken.

Mantra 10

पृक्षप्रयजो द्रविणः सुवाचः सुकेतव उषसो रेवदूषुः । उतो चिदग्ने महिना पृथिव्याः कृतं चिदेनः सं महे दशस्य ॥

Die, welche stärkende Opfergaben darbringen, reich an Gut und wohlgesprochen, — die Mächte der Uṣas, von klarem Erkennen, haben in Fülle aufgeleuchtet. Und selbst die begangene Schuld, o Agni, durch die Größe der Erde, wollen wir in Einklang setzen und zu größerer Vollendung machen.

Mantra 11

इळामग्ने पुरुदंसं सनिं गोः शश्वत्तमं हवमानाय साध । स्यान्नः सूनुस्तनयो विजावाग्ने सा ते सुमतिर्भूत्वस्मे ॥

O Agni, vollbringe für den Rufenden die Iḷā, reich an vielen Werken, und ein immerwährendes Gewinnen des Go (der Strahlen). Möge uns ein Sohn sein, ein Kind mit sieghafter Kraft; o Agni, das sei deine gute Gesinnung uns gegenüber.

Inside Sukta 7

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The hymn opens with a striking vision: seven powers of speech rising and entering the two Mothers of the bright-backed one, while the two Fathers move together around the rite, extending long life.

  2. Development

    Cosmic relationships (Parents, Night’s covering, the Bull-force) are unfolded to show Agni as the connecting power that discovers the cry/utterance and leads strength from the Great to the Great.

  3. Climax

    Agni as the Bull who encompasses the garment of Night and carries the singer into his own dhāman—an image of passage from darkness to the secure, luminous abode.

  4. Where it settles

    The poet turns the cosmic vision into direct boon-requests: iḷā (abundant nourishment), enduring ‘go’ (rays/cattle/prosperity), victorious offspring, and Agni’s steady favor (sumati).

The deity: Agni

  • In the VedaHe is praised as bull-like strength and as the one who establishes the sacrifice and makes the poet’s vision effective.
  • Cosmic functionMediator between humans and gods; transformer who conveys oblations, ignites the sacrificial order (ṛta), and links the cosmic Parents and the manifest worlds through light and heat.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened will and luminous intelligence that rises within the practitioner, organizing speech and intention (“seven voices”) and guiding consciousness through the ‘night’ of obscurity into one’s true dhāman (inner home).

The seer

  • Viśvāmitra GāthinaGāthin / Kauśika (Viśvāmitra lineage) · A royal-turned-seer celebrated for powerful Agni and Indra hymns and for shaping foundational Vedic vision-language; traditionally linked with the Gāyatrī (RV 3.62.10) and the Viśvāmitra family book (Maṇḍala 3).

Famous verses

sapta vāṇīḥ
Verse 3.7.1Introduces the hymn’s core cosmology—two Mothers/two Fathers and the seven voices—framing Agni as the bright axis of sacrifice and longevity.Read verse 3.7.1 →
anu svaṃ dhāma
Verse 3.7.6Presents the decisive transition motif: the Bull-force guiding through Night into Agni’s own dhāman, expressing protection and inner passage.Read verse 3.7.6 →
sā te sumatir bhūtv asme
Verse 3.7.11Summarizes the practical aims of the hymn: iḷā, enduring gain of go (rays/cattle), and vigorous offspring, ending in a plea for Agni’s good will.Read verse 3.7.11 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Hotṛ and messenger of the gods
  • Bright-backed (radiant, manifesting light)
  • Bull-force (strength, fertility, forward drive)
  • Revealer/guide through Night
  • Sustainer of long life and well-being
  • Lord of inspired speech and effective sacrifice

Also by this seer

  • Major authorship attribution across Rigveda Maṇḍala 3 (Viśvāmitra family hymns)
  • RV 3.62.10 (Gāyatrī mantra) traditionally ascribed to Viśvāmitra
  • Hymns to Agni, Indra, and related deities in the third maṇḍala, emphasizing cosmic order and inspired speech

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/fire-place; arrange kindling (samidh) and seating for the officiant/householder.
  • Kindle Agni with kindling while reciting opening verses that ‘raise’ the powers of speech and establish Agni in the cosmic order.
  • Offer ghee in measured oblations (āhuti), invoking Agni as carrier and guide through darkness toward the right dwelling (dhāman).
  • Recite mid-hymn verses for strength (śūṣa), protection, and extension of life; maintain attentive silence between oblations.
  • Conclude with petitions for iḷā (nourishing abundance), ‘go’ (rays/cattle), and a vigorous son/offspring; seal with a final oblation and respectful circumambulation/closure.
  • Dismiss with gratitude, keeping the fire tended or ritually banked according to the rite.

Offerings

  • Ghee (clarified butter)
  • Kindling sticks (samidh)
  • Optional: milk/curds as iḷā-associated nourishment (context-dependent)
  • Grain cakes or simple food-offerings in domestic settings (per śrauta/gṛhya adaptation)

Frequently Asked Questions

Agni is the main deity. Even when the hymn speaks in cosmic images (Parents, Night, seven voices), it centers on Agni as the fire-power that makes the sacrifice work and brings blessings.

They refer to the many powers or forms of inspired speech that rise in the sacrifice. On an inner level, they can point to awakened faculties of expression and understanding gathered into a single luminous focus in Agni.

It uses traditional Vedic dyads to describe the cosmic framework in which Agni is established—often read as paired generative principles (like Heaven/Earth and complementary supports of order). The point is that Agni is born and active within the whole structure of the world and the rite.

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