Rig Veda Sukta 4
Mandala 5Sukta 49 Mantras

Sukta 4

Sukta 5.4

Rishi

Atri (Ātreya tradition) (traditional ascription for RV 5.4)

Chandas

Trishtubh (probable; needs metrical verification)

Dieser Hymnus der Ātreya-Tradition preist Agni als vasupati (Herrn der Schätze) und als königliche Macht, die dem Opfer vorsteht, im adhvara freudig angerufen. Er bittet Agni, vāja (sieghafte Energie und Fülle) zu steigern, in menschlichen Konflikten den Sieg zu sichern und im Verehrer einen „angenehmen Weltraum“ (syona loka) zu begründen, zusammen mit weitem Gedeihen — Söhnen, Kraft, Vieh und Wohlergehen.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 5.4

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Agni

    Agni is the sacrificial fire, the radiant priest (hotṛ), messenger between humans and gods, purifier (pāvaka) with “happy flame,” and knower of births (jātavedas) who carries offerings and awakens divine powers.

Mantras

Mantra 1

त्वामग्ने वसुपतिं वसूनामभि प्र मन्दे अध्वरेषु राजन् । त्वया वाजं वाजयन्तो जयेमाभि ष्याम पृत्सुतीर्मर्त्यानाम् ॥

Dich, o Agni, den Herrn der Vasu, den Herrn der Reichtümer, rufe ich voll Freude in den Opferhandlungen an, o König. Durch dich, den vāja — die Fülle der Kraft — mehrend, mögen wir siegen; mögen wir in den Kämpfen die sterblichen Drangsale überwinden.

Mantra 4

जुषस्वाग्न इळया सजोषा यतमानो रश्मिभिः सूर्यस्य । जुषस्व नः समिधं जातवेद आ च देवान्हविरद्याय वक्षि ॥

Nimm an, o Agni, mit Iḷā in Eintracht, du, der du mit den Strahlen der Sonne ringst. Nimm unser Anzünden an, o Jātavedas; und führe die Götter her zum Genuss der Opfergabe — heute, zu unserem Werk.

Mantra 5

जुष्टो दमूना अतिथिर्दुरोण इमं नो यज्ञमुप याहि विद्वान् । विश्वा अग्ने अभियुजो विहत्या शत्रूयतामा भरा भोजनानि ॥

O Agni, wohlgefällig, der Hauswalt, der Gast im Hause – komm, der Wissende, zu diesem unserm Opfer. Nachdem du alle feindlich Drängenden erschlagen und niedergeworfen hast, bring uns die Genüsse: Speise und Fülle der Gaben.

Mantra 6

वधेन दस्युं प्र हि चातयस्व वयः कृण्वानस्तन्वे स्वायै । पिपर्षि यत्सहसस्पुत्र देवान्त्सो अग्ने पाहि नृतम वाजे अस्मान् ॥

Mit deiner Tötungskraft treib fort und zerschmettere den Dasyu; schaffe Weite und freien Flug für unser eigenes leibhaftes Sein. Denn du trägst die Götter, o Sohn der Sahas (Macht); darum, o Agni, schütze uns – bester Führer der Menschen – in der Fülle von Kraft und Siegesmacht.

Mantra 7

वयं ते अग्न उक्थैर्विधेम वयं हव्यैः पावक भद्रशोचे । अस्मे रयिं विश्ववारं समिन्वास्मे विश्वानि द्रविणानि धेहि ॥

Wir, o Agni, verehren dich mit Hymnen; wir verehren dich mit Opfergaben, o Läuterer, der in glückverheißender Flamme leuchtet. In uns mehre den rayi, der in jeder Weise begehrenswert ist; in uns lege alle Reichtümer nieder – alle inneren Schätze.

Mantra 8

अस्माकमग्ने अध्वरं जुषस्व सहसः सूनो त्रिषधस्थ हव्यम् । वयं देवेषु सुकृतः स्याम शर्मणा नस्त्रिवरूथेन पाहि ॥

Nimm, o Agni, unser Opfergeleit an; o Sohn der Kraft, der du auf dem dreifachen Sitz verweilst, nimm die Opfergabe an. Mögen wir unter den Göttern die Gutes Wirkenden sein; behüte uns mit deinem Frieden, mit deinem dreifachen, schirmenden Schutz.

Mantra 9

विश्वानि नो दुर्गहा जातवेदः सिन्धुं न नावा दुरिताति पर्षि । अग्ने अत्रिवन्नमसा गृणानोऽस्माकं बोध्यविता तनूनाम् ॥

All unsere schwer zu durchschreitenden Stellen, o Jātavedas, setze uns jenseits der Not hinüber, wie ein Boot den Strom überquert. O Agni, mit Verneigung gepriesen wie Atri, erwache als Schützer unserer leiblichen Leben.

Mantra 10

यस्त्वा हृदा कीरिणा मन्यमानोऽमर्त्यं मर्त्यो जोहवीमि । जातवेदो यशो अस्मासु धेहि प्रजाभिरग्ने अमृतत्वमश्याम् ॥

Wer dich, obgleich sterblich, mit Herz und singendem Wort als den Unsterblichen anruft—dich rufe ich an. O Jātavedas, lege in uns den Ruhm; mit Nachkommenschaft, o Agni, mögen wir Unsterblichkeit erlangen.

Mantra 11

यस्मै त्वं सुकृते जातवेद उ लोकमग्ने कृणवः स्योनम् । अश्विनं स पुत्रिणं वीरवन्तं गोमन्तं रयिं नशते स्वस्ति ॥

Wem du, o Jātavedas, weil er Gutes wirkt, o Agni, eine glückliche Welt‑Wohnstatt, eine heilsame Stätte bereitest, — der erlangt im Heil den Aśvin (den schnellen Antrieb), gewinnt Sohneskraft, heldische Stärke, Rinderreichtum und rayí — die Fülle des Besitzes.

Inside Sukta 4

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Agni is hailed with delight as vasupati and rājan in the sacrifices, the one through whom victory-energy is increased.

  2. Development

    The hymn expands Agni’s role as purifier and receiver of praise and offerings, then turns to concrete petitions: prosperity (rayi), all riches (draviṇa), and overcoming mortal pressures and conflicts.

  3. Climax

    Agni as Jātavedas creates a “syona” (secure, pleasant) world-space for the doer of good, granting swift force, sons, heroism, cattle, and plenitude.

  4. Where it settles

    The praise settles into assurance: service through word and offering yields svasti and well-founded abundance under Agni’s guardianship.

The deity: Agni

  • Cosmic functionHe mediates exchange between the earthly and the divine realms, kindles order (ṛta) through sacrifice, and transforms material offerings into subtle oblations that reach the gods.
  • Inner significanceAgni signifies awakened will, aspiration, and the inner fire of discernment that purifies speech and intention; when kindled, it converts effort into clarity, strength, and auspicious progress.

The seer

  • Atri (Ātreya)Ātreya (Atri-gotra) · One of the foremost Vedic seers, associated with luminous insight and the Ātreya hymn-cycle; later tradition remembers him among the Saptarṣi and as a paradigmatic brahmarṣi of sacrificial wisdom.

Famous verses

tvām agne vasupatiṃ vasūnām
Verse 5.4.1Sets the keynote: Agni as vasupati and king of the rite; victory and overcoming of human battle-pressures are sought through his vāja-power.Read verse 5.4.1 →
asme rayiṃ viśvavāraṃ sam inva
Verse 5.4.7A central devotional-ritual verse: worship through hymns and havis, asking Agni to ‘increase’ desirable rayi and place all draviṇas within the worshipper.Read verse 5.4.7 →
lokam agne kṛṇavaḥ syonam
Verse 5.4.11Culminating boon theology: Agni grants a secure ‘world-room’ to the sukṛt (doer of good), yielding sons, strength, cattle, prosperity, and svasti.Read verse 5.4.11 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Vasupati (lord of riches)
  • Rājan (kingly power in the rite)
  • Pāvaka (purifier)
  • Hotṛ/mediator of offerings
  • Jātavedas (knower of all births)
  • Bestower of rayi (prosperity) and vāja (victorious energy)

Also by this seer

  • Rig Veda Mandala 5: many hymns are traditionally ascribed to the Ātreyas (Atri and his lineage)
  • Later Vedic-Itihāsa-Purāṇic tradition: Atri counted among the Saptarṣi; father of Dattātreya in some later accounts

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare and consecrate the altar/vedi; establish ritual purity and intention.
  • Kindle/rekindle the āhavanīya fire; seat Agni as the royal priest of the adhvara.
  • Recite the hymn as stuti while focusing on Agni as vasupati and pāvaka.
  • Make āhutis (oblations) with the key petitions: vāja for victory, rayi for prosperity, and a “syona loka” (secure, pleasant space).
  • Conclude with a final offering and silent assent (inner dedication), seeking svasti (well-being) for household and community.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya)
  • Samidh (kindling sticks)
  • Grain/oblations (havis)
  • Aromatic offerings where customary (e.g., resin/woods)

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Agni as the ruling power of sacrifice and asks him to bring victory-energy (vāja), prosperity (rayi), and protection, so the worshipper can thrive with well-being (svasti).

“Vasupati” means “lord of treasures.” The hymn treats Agni as the power that governs and distributes riches—both material wealth and inner strength—through the sacrificial order.

It means a pleasant, secure “space” or “world-room.” The idea is that Agni establishes a safe and auspicious condition of life for the person who performs good actions and worships rightly.

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