Rig Veda Sukta 71
Mandala 8Sukta 7115 Mantras

Sukta 71

Sukta 8.71

Dieser Agni-Hymnus ist ein Schutz- und Wohlstandsgebet: Die Sänger bitten den Feuergott, sie mit seinen großen Kräften vor Mangel, Feindschaft und menschlichem Hass zu bewahren. Agni wird gepriesen als der rechtmäßige Herr der Reichtümer (vasu), dessen Gabe nicht von gottlosen Mächten vertrieben werden darf, und als Sippenbeschützer, der Frieden, Wohlergehen und eine sichere Wohnstatt für die inspirierten Kräfte der Seher bringt.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 8.71

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Agni

    Agni is the divine Fire, kindled in the rite, radiant and powerful, the receiver of offerings and the protector who drives away hostility and misfortune.

Mantras

Mantra 1

त्वं नो अग्ने महोभिः पाहि विश्वस्या अरातेः । उत द्विषो मर्त्यस्य ॥

Du, o Agni, schütze uns mit deinen großen Mächten vor jeder Not und feindlichem Mangel, und auch vor dem Hass des Sterblichen.

Mantra 2

नहि मन्युः पौरुषेय ईशे हि वः प्रियजात । त्वमिदसि क्षपावान् ॥

Denn weder menschlicher Zorn noch bloßer persönlicher Antrieb herrscht über dich, o Liebgeborener; du allein bist der Herr der Nächte, standhaft, der durch die Finsternis führt.

Mantra 3

स नो विश्वेभिर्देवेभिरूर्जो नपाद्भद्रशोचे । रयिं देहि विश्ववारम् ॥

Mit allen Göttern an deiner Seite, o Urjo-Napat, o du mit heilvoller Flamme: gib uns Rayi, den allumfassenden Reichtum, der jedes ersehnte Heil trägt.

Mantra 4

न तमग्ने अरातयो मर्तं युवन्त रायः । यं त्रायसे दाश्वांसम् ॥

Nicht können, o Agni, die feindlichen Mächte jenen Sterblichen seiner Fülle an Reichtum berauben – den, den du beschirmst: den dāśvāṃs, den Gebenden, der sich im Opfer dargebracht hat.

Mantra 5

यं त्वं विप्र मेधसातावग्ने हिनोषि धनाय । स तवोती गोषु गन्ता ॥

Wen du, o Agni – o Vipra –, durch die Kraft der medhā zum Gewinnen und Erlangen leuchtender Einsicht antreibst, der gelangt unter deinem Schutz in die Herden des Lichts.

Mantra 6

त्वं रयिं पुरुवीरमग्ने दाशुषे मर्ताय । प्र णो नय वस्यो अच्छ ॥

Du, o Agni, gibst dem sterblichen Opfernden den Reichtum in Fülle, reich an vielen heldischen Kräften; führe uns voran zum besseren Gut.

Mantra 7

उरुष्या णो मा परा दा अघायते जातवेदः । दुराध्ये मर्ताय ॥

Schirme uns weithin, o Jātavedas; gib uns nicht preis dem, der Unheil sinnt — auch nicht dem Sterblichen, der in krummem, fehlgeleitetem Denken wohnt.

Mantra 8

अग्ने माकिष्टे देवस्य रातिमदेवो युयोत । त्वमीशिषे वसूनाम् ॥

O Agni, kein gottloses Wesen soll uns die Gabe des Gottes, deine Gabe, entreißen; du herrschst über die Reichtümer.

Mantra 9

स नो वस्व उप मास्यूर्जो नपान्माहिनस्य । सखे वसो जरितृभ्यः ॥

Komm zu uns, o Vasu, o Sohn der nährenden Kraft, groß in Größe; sei Freund, o Leuchtender, den Sängern, die dich preisen.

Mantra 10

अच्छा नः शीरशोचिषं गिरो यन्तु दर्शतम् । अच्छा यज्ञासो नमसा पुरूवसुं पुरुप्रशस्तमूतये ॥

Mögen unsere Lieder hinziehen zu dem Sichtbaren, zu der starken, strahlenden Flamme; mögen unsere Opfer, in ehrfürchtiger Verneigung, hinziehen zu der reichbegabten Macht, der vielgepriesenen — zu unserem Schutz.

Mantra 11

अग्निं सूनुं सहसो जातवेदसं दानाय वार्याणाम् । द्विता यो भूदमृतो मर्त्येष्वा होता मन्द्रतमो विशि ॥

Agni, der Sohn des Sahas (der Kraft), Jātavedas, (rufen wir) zur Gabe der erlesensten Gaben: er, der, obgleich unsterblich, unter Sterblichen gegenwärtig wurde als Hotar, als Opferpriester — der freudvollste im Volk.

Mantra 12

अग्निं वो देवयज्ययाग्निं प्रयत्यध्वरे । अग्निं धीषु प्रथममग्निमर्वत्यग्निं क्षैत्राय साधसे ॥

Agni rufen wir für euch an durch den gottzugewandten Opferakt: Agni im vorwärtsdrängenden Opfer. Agni als erste Kraft in den Erwachungen des Denkens; Agni in der Macht, die uns weiterträgt; Agni für das Feld unserer Werke und zur Vollbringung der wahren Vollendung.

Mantra 13

अग्निरिषां सख्ये ददातु न ईशे यो वार्याणाम् । अग्निं तोके तनये शश्वदीमहे वसुं सन्तं तनूपाम् ॥

Agni möge uns, in der Gefährtenschaft der Antriebe, wahres Gedeihen schenken – er, der Herr der begehrenswerten Reichtümer. Agni suchen wir immerdar im Hause und in der Nachkommenschaft: den bleibenden Schatz, der das Sein von innen her behütet.

Mantra 14

अग्निमीळिष्वावसे गाथाभिः शीरशोचिषम् । अग्निं राये पुरुमीळ्ह श्रुतं नरोऽग्निं सुदीतये छर्दिः ॥

Agni rufe ich zur Hilfe mit den Gesängen – Agni, dessen Flamme scharf und machtvoll leuchtet. Agni ruft um des Reichtums willen, o Männer, den vielgepriesenen, weithin vernommenen; Agni ruft zur schönen Entzündung des schirmenden Friedens.

Mantra 15

अग्निं द्वेषो योतवै नो गृणीमस्यग्निं शं योश्च दातवे । विश्वासु विक्ष्ववितेव हव्यो भुवद्वस्तुॠषूणाम् ॥

Agni preisen wir, um die feindlichen Mächte von uns abzuwenden; Agni, um Frieden und Wohlergehen zu schenken. In allen Sippen sei er wie ein Schützer, der Opfergabe würdig, und werde zur bleibenden Wohnstatt der schnellen Kräfte der ṛṣi.

Inside Sukta 71

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct plea to Agni to protect the worshippers with vast powers from want and hostile forces, including human enmity.

  2. Development

    The hymn reinforces Agni’s role as giver and guardian of divine gifts, insisting that no ungodly agency should push away his bounty; Agni is affirmed as master of riches.

  3. Climax

    Agni is acclaimed as the force that drives away hostility and grants peace and well-being, extending his protection across all clans.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn ends by envisioning Agni as a steadfast protector and ‘abiding home’ for the seers’ swift, inspired powers—stable safety, prosperity, and sacred presence.

The deity: Agni

  • In the VedaHe is invoked as a beneficent lord of wealth (vasūnām īśiṣe) and as a guardian present among all clans.
  • Cosmic functionMediator between humans and gods through sacrifice; transformer who carries oblations, purifies, and maintains ṛta (cosmic order) by sustaining the sacred exchange.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened will and luminous intelligence that burns away inner negativity, protects the practitioner from disruptive forces, and establishes peace, clarity, and steady inspired power.

Famous verses

त्वं नो अग्ने महोभिः पाहि विश्वस्या अरातेः । उत द्विषो मर्त्यस्य ॥
Verse 8.71.1Sets the hymn’s core aim: Agni’s protection from arāti (lack/hostile want) and from the hatred of mortals, framing the entire sukta as a protective prayer.Read verse 8.71.1 →
tvam īśiṣe vasūnām
Verse 8.71.8Highlights a central theological claim: no ‘adeva’ should divert Agni’s divine gift; Agni is declared the true lord of riches (vasūnām), linking devotion with prosperity.Read verse 8.71.8 →
अग्निं द्वेषो योतवै नो गृणीमस्यग्निं शं योश्च दातवे । विश्वासु विक्ष्ववितेव हव्यो भुवद्वस्तुॠषूणाम् ॥
Verse 8.71.15Concludes with the hymn’s most comprehensive statement: Agni drives away hostility, grants peace and well-being, protects all clans, and becomes a stable seat for ṛṣi-power.Read verse 8.71.15 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Hotṛ and messenger of the gods
  • Protector from arāti (lack/hostile want) and dveṣa (hatred)
  • Lord and distributor of vasu (wealth, substance, delight)
  • Purifier and sanctifier of offerings
  • Household/clan guardian, invoked in every settlement

Also by this seer

  • No additional hymns can be responsibly assigned without a specific ṛṣi identification in the given source context.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/hearth and kindle Agni with kindling (samidh).
  • Invoke Agni with recitation of the hymn, emphasizing protection from arāti and dveṣa.
  • Offer ghee into the fire with short affirmations of peace and well-being.
  • Ask that no ‘adeva’ (ungodly force) divert the divine gift; reaffirm Agni as lord of riches.
  • Conclude with a final oblation and a request that Agni abide as protector in all clans.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya)
  • Kindling sticks (samidh)
  • Optional: grains or milk as simple oblations (per domestic practice)

Frequently Asked Questions

It asks Agni to protect the worshippers from lack, hostile forces, and human hatred, and to secure divine gifts like wealth, peace, and well-being.

It means the singers want no ungodly or disruptive force—outer or inner—to block the benefits that come through right worship and Agni’s grace.

It can be recited during a simple lamp/fire offering (with ghee) at dawn or dusk as a prayer for protection, harmony in the household, and steady prosperity.

Ask anything about Sukta 71 of the Rig Veda

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