Rig Veda Sukta 4
Mandala 6Sukta 48 Mantras

Sukta 4

Sukta 6.4

Rishi

Bharadvāja (Bārhaspatya)

Devata

Agni (Hotṛ, deva-tātā)

Chandas

Trishtubh (typical for Agni hymns in this section)

Dieser Hymnus ruft Agni als Hotṛ und als „devatātā“ an – den, der die Götter beim Ritus an ihren Platz setzt – und bittet ihn, für die gegenwärtigen Opfernden zu wirken, wie er einst für Manu, den urbildlichen Stifter des yajña, gewirkt hat. Agni wird als schnell und unbezwingbar gepriesen: durch die Nächte schreitend, feindselige Mächte (arāti) überholend und die Verehrer auf sicheren, nicht verzehrenden Wegen führend. Der Sūkta gipfelt in einem Gebet um Schutz vor Bedrängnis, um freigebigen Segen für die Sänger und um langes Leben mit heldenhafter Nachkommenschaft.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 6.4

Mantras

Mantra 1

यथा होतर्मनुषो देवताता यज्ञेभिः सूनो सहसो यजासि । एवा नो अद्य समना समानानुशन्नग्न उशतो यक्षि देवान् ॥

Wie du, o Hotar, Sohn des Sahas (der Kraft), der die Götter einsetzt, für Manu durch die Opfer opferst, so opfere heute auch für uns – die wir eine gemeinsame Zusammenkunft und Eintracht suchen –, o Agni, willig, den Göttern, die es begehren.

Mantra 2

स नो विभावा चक्षणिर्न वस्तोरग्निर्वन्दारु वेद्यश्चनो धात् । विश्वायुर्यो अमृतो मर्त्येषूषर्भुद्भूदतिथिर्जातवेदाः ॥

Möge Agni, der weithin Leuchtende, uns — wie ein sehendes Auge im Morgengrauen — das Verehrte und Erkennbare als Gegenwart begründen. Er, der All-Lebenshauch, unsterblich unter Sterblichen, mit Uṣas geboren: Möge Jātavedas zum Gast (in uns) werden.

Mantra 3

द्यावो न यस्य पनयन्त्यभ्वं भासांसि वस्ते सूर्यो न शुक्रः । वि य इनोत्यजरः पावकोऽश्नस्य चिच्छिश्नथत्पूर्व्याणि ॥

Wie die Himmel bewundern sie seine Weite; er legt seine Glanzlichter an wie der helle Sūrya. Er, der Unalternde, der Läuterer, treibt sie weit auseinander; selbst uralte Härte zerschlägt er, die früheren (Hindernisse) zerbrechend.

Mantra 4

वद्मा हि सूनो अस्यद्मसद्वा चक्रे अग्निर्जनुषाज्मान्नम् । स त्वं न ऊर्जसन ऊर्जं धा राजेव जेरवृके क्षेष्यन्तः ॥

Denn du, o Sohn, wohnst wahrhaft in unserem Haus; Agni hat von Geburt an Speise und Weg für uns bereitet. Darum, o Spender der Kraft, lege Kraft in uns; wie ein König, sieghaft, wohne in uns — im wolflosen, sicheren Raum.

Mantra 5

नितिक्ति यो वारणमन्नमत्ति वायुर्न राष्ट्र्यत्येत्यक्तून् । तुर्याम यस्त आदिशामरातीरत्यो न ह्रुतः पततः परिह्रुत् ॥

Der, der mit scharfem Sinn die erwählte Speise verzehrt und, wie Vāyu, in seiner Herrschaft die Nächte überschreitet; der Schnelle, der nach deiner Weisung die Feindseligkeiten umkreist — wie ein ungefangnes Ross, fliegt er an allem vorbei, was ihn packen wollte.

Mantra 6

आ सूर्यो न भानुमद्भिरर्कैरग्ने ततन्थ रोदसी वि भासा । चित्रो नयत्परि तमांस्यक्तः शोचिषा पत्मन्नौशिजो न दीयन् ॥

Wie Sūrya mit strahlenreichen Hymnen, o Agni, hast du mit deinem Glanz die beiden Welten ausgespannt. Vielgestaltig im Leuchten, gesalbt, führst du rings um die Finsternisse; mit Flamme in raschem Lauf, wie Auśija, gewährst du den rechten Durchgang.

Mantra 7

त्वां हि मन्द्रतममर्कशोकैर्ववृमहे महि नः श्रोष्यग्ने । इन्द्रं न त्वा शवसा देवता वायुं पृणन्ति राधसा नृतमाः ॥

Denn dich, den Freudvollsten, haben wir erwählt mit mantrahaften Flammen; höre uns, o Agni, zu unserm großen Heil. Wie die Götter Indra mit Kraft erfüllen und Vāyu mit Gabe, so erfüllen dich die Besten der Menschen mit Macht und Erfüllung.

Mantra 8

नू नो अग्नेऽवृकेभिः स्वस्ति वेषि रायः पथिभिः पर्ष्यंहः । ता सूरिभ्यो गृणते रासि सुम्नं मदेम शतहिमाः सुवीराः ॥

Nun, o Agni, geleite uns heilvoll auf Wegen, wo kein Verschlinger uns packt; führe uns hinüber über die Enge von Schuld und Not. Den Sehern, die dich besingen, schenke diese gnädige Gunst; mögen wir uns berauschen an deiner Kraft — hundert Winter bestehend, reich an heldischer Stärke.

Inside Sukta 4

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Agni is addressed as Hotṛ and devatātā, asked to perform today exactly as he did for Manu—establishing a model of timeless ritual continuity.

  2. Development

    Praise expands into Agni’s dynamic power: swift movement, mastery across nights, and tactical circling of hostile forces so they cannot seize the sacrificer.

  3. Climax

    The protective petition: “lead us in safety by paths where no devourer is,” and “carry us across aṃhas,” making Agni the decisive guide through danger and moral/ritual tightness.

  4. Where it settles

    Blessings are requested for the singers and patrons—sumná, prosperity, long life through “a hundred winters,” and strength in heroic offspring—closing in confident well-being.

The deity: Agni

  • In the VedaAgni is the divine Fire and the priest of the sacrifice (Hotṛ), born of force (sahasas sūnu), who carries offerings and establishes the gods in the rite, creating concord between worshipper and deity.
  • Cosmic functionMediator between worlds: he conveys oblations to the devas, maintains ṛta through the ordered performance of yajña, and protects the community by burning away harm and opening auspicious paths.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened inner fire—will, aspiration, discernment, and the power of consecrated speech—by which scattered energies are unified and offered upward toward truth.

The seer

  • Bharadvāja (Bārhaspatya)Bharadvāja-gotra; Bārhaspatya lineage (descended from Bṛhaspati) · Foremost among the great ṛṣi-families of the Rig Veda; associated with powerful Agni hymns and the shaping of ritual speech that enables the Hotṛ’s work.

Famous verses

devatātā
Verse 6.4.1Sets the hymn’s central frame: Agni as Hotṛ and devatātā is urged to repeat Manu’s paradigmatic sacrifice for the present community, emphasizing shared accord in worship.Read verse 6.4.1 →
नितिक्ति यो वारणमन्नमत्ति वायुर्न राष्ट्र्यत्येत्यक्तून् । तुर्याम यस्त आदिशामरातीरत्यो न ह्रुतः पततः परिह्रुत् ॥
Verse 6.4.5Vividly portrays Agni’s swiftness and sovereignty through the nights and his power to outmaneuver arāti (hostilities), like an unseized horse passing all snares.Read verse 6.4.5 →
avṛkebhiḥ svasti veṣi
Verse 6.4.8Concluding prayer that crystallizes the sukta’s purpose—safe guidance on non-devouring paths, crossing over distress, and bestowal of grace, long life, and heroic vitality.Read verse 6.4.8 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Hotṛ (invoking priest) and messenger
  • Devayajña-carrier (conveys offerings)
  • Devatātā (establisher/arranger of the gods in the rite)
  • Swift, far-ranging, master of the nights
  • Protector and guide on safe paths
  • Destroyer/circumventer of arāti (hostile powers)

Also by this seer

  • Large portions of Mandala 6 are attributed to the Bharadvājas
  • Tradition associates Bharadvāja with preserving and transmitting mantra-knowledge used in śrauta ritual
  • Later lore connects Bharadvāja with foundational teaching lineages in Vedic learning (śākhā-paramparā)

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare and kindle the sacred fire; establish Agni as Hotṛ with invitatory praise.
  • Invoke Agni in continuity with Manu’s archetypal sacrifice, requesting the same right ordering of the gods.
  • Offer oblations while reciting the stanzas that praise Agni’s swiftness and power to outpace and encircle hostilities (arāti).
  • Petition Agni to lead the sacrificers by “avṛka” (non-devouring, safe) paths and to carry them over aṃhas (distress/sin).
  • Conclude with requests for sumná (benign grace), prosperity, long life, and heroic offspring for the praising patrons/priests.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya) into the fire
  • Soma-related offering context (where applicable in the larger rite)
  • Grain/food oblations (anna) as mentioned in imagery of chosen nourishment

Frequently Asked Questions

Agni is the deity—praised as the Hotṛ (invoking priest) and as devatātā, the one who sets the gods in place within the sacrifice.

Manu represents the archetypal founder of yajña. The hymn asks Agni to perform for the present worshippers in the same correct, powerful way as he did in Manu’s model sacrifice.

The hymn asks Agni to guide the sacrificers safely on “non-devouring” paths, to carry them across distress (aṃhas), and to grant blessing, prosperity, long life, and strong offspring.

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