Rig Veda Sukta 11
Mandala 6Sukta 116 Mantras

Sukta 11

Sukta 6.11

Rishi

Bharadvāja

Devata

Agni (with invited deities: Mitra-Varuṇa, Aśvins, Dyāvā-Pṛthivī)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

Dieser kurze Triṣṭubh-Hymnus des Bharadvāja drängt Agni, den innerlich angetriebenen Hotṛ, das Opfer mit marutischer Kraft voranzutreiben und verbündete Götter zur Darbringung heranzuziehen. Er preist Agnis selbstleuchtenden, allgegenwärtigen Glanz und bittet, dass er, „mit den Göttern“ entzündet, Fülle gewähre und den Verehrern helfe, über Not und Gefahr hinauszugelangen.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 6.11

Mantras

Mantra 1

यजस्व होतरिषितो यजीयानग्ने बाधो मरुतां न प्रयुक्ति । आ नो मित्रावरुणा नासत्या द्यावा होत्राय पृथिवी ववृत्याः ॥

Vollziehe das Opfer, o Hotṛ, innerlich angetrieben, der höchst Verehrungswürdige; o Agni, du bist ein Drängen wie der Ansturm der Maruts. Mögen Mitra-Varuṇa zu uns kommen und die Nāsatyas; mögen Himmel und Erde sich unserem priesterlichen Opfer zuwenden.

Mantra 2

त्वं होता मन्द्रतमो नो अध्रुगन्तर्देवो विदथा मर्त्येषु । पावकया जुह्वा वह्निरासाग्ने यजस्व तन्वं तव स्वाम् ॥

Du bist unser Hotṛ, der freudvollste, unfehlbar; ein Gott inmitten der Versammlungen der Sterblichen. Mit der reinigenden Opferkelle, als tragender Flammenbote, o Agni, opfere mit deinem eigenen Wesen — deiner rechten Selbst-Offenbarung.

Mantra 3

धन्या चिद्धि त्वे धिषणा वष्टि प्र देवाञ्जन्म गृणते यजध्यै । वेपिष्ठो अङ्गिरसां यद्ध विप्रो मधु च्छन्दो भनति रेभ इष्टौ ॥

Denn selbst die dhīṣaṇā, die inspirierte Einsicht, ist in dir glückverheißend; sie treibt die Gottheiten voran, damit der Sänger opfere. Am lebendigsten unter den Aṅgirasen: wenn der Seher, der Hymnensänger, im ersehnten Ritus den honigsüßen Rhythmus des Gesangs erklingen lässt.

Mantra 4

अदिद्युतत्स्वपाको विभावाग्ने यजस्व रोदसी उरूची । आयुं न यं नमसा रातहव्या अञ्जन्ति सुप्रयसं पञ्च जनाः ॥

Er ist aufgeleuchtet — selbstvollendet, weithin strahlend. O Agni, opfere den beiden weithin leuchtenden Welten. Wie Āyu salben ihn die fünf Völker, die Opfergaben bringend, mit Verehrung — ihn, dessen Voranschreiten schön und gedeihlich ist.

Mantra 5

वृञ्जे ह यन्नमसा बर्हिरग्नावयामि स्रुग्घृतवती सुवृक्तिः । अम्यक्षि सद्म सदने पृथिव्या अश्रायि यज्ञः सूर्ये न चक्षुः ॥

Wenn ich mit Verehrung das barhis für Agni ausbreite und die Schöpfkelle, reich an ghṛta, ausstrecke — das wohlgefügte Wort —, dann wird die Wohnstatt im Sitz der Erde berührt; fest gegründet steht das Opfer wie das Auge in der Sonne.

Mantra 6

दशस्या नः पुर्वणीक होतर्देवेभिरग्ने अग्निभिरिधानः । रायः सूनो सहसो वावसाना अति स्रसेम वृजनं नांहः ॥

Sei uns gnädig, o vielgestaltiger Hotṛ; o Agni, entzündet mit den Göttern, mit den Feuern. O Sohn der Kraft, nach der Fülle des Reichtums verlangend: Mögen wir die enge Not des Drangsals überschreiten, wie man eine gefährliche Wildnis durchquert.

Inside Sukta 11

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Agni is addressed as the inner-impelled Hotṛ and urged to perform the sacrifice, driving it forward like the onset of the Maruts while calling allied gods to attend.

  2. Development

    Agni’s radiance and efficacy expand from the ritual fire to the cosmic scale: he is wide-shining, and even Heaven-and-Earth are asked to turn toward the offering; the ‘five peoples’ honor him as the one of beautiful forward movement.

  3. Climax

    Agni appears as self-perfect and all-illuminating (vibhāva), empowered to yoke the worlds to the rite and to gather the divine assembly around the oblation.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn ends in a direct plea: may Agni, kindled with the gods, be gracious and grant plenitude so the worshippers cross beyond the hard straits of distress and danger.

The deity: Agni

  • In the VedaAgni is the most worshipful (yajīyān), the inspired Hotṛ set in motion from within (iṣita), blazing as the luminous one (vibhāva) who carries offerings and summons the gods. He is praised as many-faced (puru-aṇīka), kindled in many fires, and as the force that turns Heaven and Earth toward the rite.
  • Cosmic functionMediator between humans and gods; he transports oblations, establishes the sacrifice as a channel of reciprocity, and sustains cosmic order by linking earthly fire with celestial powers.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened will and discerning flame of consciousness that impels right action; the inner priest who organizes aspiration, invites harmonizing powers (Mitra-Varuṇa), healing swiftness (Aśvins), and the stabilizing vastness of Heaven-and-Earth.

The seer

  • BharadvājaBharadvāja-gotra (Āṅgirasa lineage) · One of the foremost seer-families of the Rig Veda; Bharadvāja hymns are especially noted for precise sacrificial theology and for portraying Agni as Hotṛ, messenger, and protector of the rite.

Famous verses

yajasva hotar iṣito yajīyān
Verse 6.11.1Sets the hymn’s ritual program: Agni as Hotṛ is urged to propel the yajña and to invite Mitra-Varuṇa, the Aśvins, and Heaven-and-Earth toward the offering.Read verse 6.11.1 →
adidyutat sv apāko vibhāvā
Verse 6.11.4Highlights Agni’s self-radiant, wide-shining nature (vibhāva) and links his worship to the cosmic pair (rodasī), showing the rite as world-embracing.Read verse 6.11.4 →
ati srasema vṛjanaṃ nāṃhaḥ
Verse 6.11.6Concluding prayer for grace and deliverance: Agni ‘kindled with the gods’ is asked to grant wealth and help the people pass beyond distress (nāṃhas) and peril (vṛjana).Read verse 6.11.6 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Hotṛ (chief invoker/priest)
  • Messenger and carrier of offerings
  • Self-radiant, widely shining (vibhāva)
  • Many-formed/many-faced (puru-aṇīka)
  • Protective guide through danger and distress
  • Summoner of other deities to the sacrifice

Also by this seer

  • Large portions of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 6 (Bharadvāja family book)
  • Numerous Agni hymns emphasizing priestly function (Hotṛ), kindling (idh), and divine mediation
  • Hymns invoking allied deities alongside Agni, integrating ritual and cosmic order (ṛta)

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar and kindle/brighten the fire (idhāna) with kindling and ghee.
  • Establish Agni as Hotṛ: recite invocatory verses asking him to ‘perform the sacrifice’ and drive it forward.
  • Invite the associated deities (Mitra-Varuṇa, Aśvins) and turn the rite toward the cosmic supports (Dyāvā-Pṛthivī/rodasī).
  • Offer oblations with homage (namas), asking for radiance, right movement, and protection.
  • Conclude with a prayer for grace and safe passage beyond distress (nāṃhas) and peril (vṛjana).

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya)
  • Kindling sticks/samidhs
  • Grain cakes or food offerings (as appropriate to the rite)
  • Soma or substitute offerings in soma-contexts

Frequently Asked Questions

It asks Agni, the sacrificial priest (Hotṛ), to power the rite, bring other gods to the offering, and protect the worshippers so they can move beyond hardship and danger.

Agni is the inviter and messenger in the sacrifice. By calling these deities, the hymn shows that the fire-rite gathers powers of order (Mitra-Varuṇa), help and healing (Aśvins), and cosmic support (Dyāvā-Pṛthivī) around the yajña.

It is both a practical and spiritual prayer: to be led safely through crises and obstacles, and to be guided by Agni’s light and right impulse toward well-being and fullness (rāyas).

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