Sukta 145
Sukta 1.145
Dīrghatamas Aucathya (traditional for RV 1.145)
Agni (as knower and lord of powers)
Triṣṭubh
This short Triṣṭubh hymn praises Agni as the all-knowing power who arrives when invoked, hears every word, and contains within himself both the true commands and the fulfillments of the rite. Agni is portrayed as swift-moving and victorious, gathering energies for the sacrifice and revealing to mortals the hidden workings (vayunā) aligned with ṛta (cosmic order). The hymn’s purpose is to establish Agni as the reliable mediator and inner guide whose knowledge makes the yajña effective and truth-bearing.
Mantras
Mantra 1
तं पृच्छता स जगामा स वेद स चिकित्वाँ ईयते सा न्वीयते । तस्मिन्त्सन्ति प्रशिषस्तस्मिन्निष्टयः स वाजस्य शवसः शुष्मिणस्पतिः ॥
Ask him: he has come; he knows. He, the knower, moves—and again he moves. In him are the true commands, in him the fulfillments; he is the lord of plenitude (vāja), of force (śavas), of victorious intensity (śuṣmin).
Mantra 2
तमित्पृच्छन्ति न सिमो वि पृच्छति स्वेनेव धीरो मनसा यदग्रभीत् । न मृष्यते प्रथमं नापरं वचोऽस्य क्रत्वा सचते अप्रदृपितः ॥
They question him, yet none can fully question him; the steady one grasps it by his own mind. He does not falsify the first word nor the later; by his effective will (kratu) he keeps company with the truth, undeluded.
Mantra 3
तमिद्गच्छन्ति जुह्वस्तमर्वतीर्विश्वान्येकः शृणवद्वचांसि मे । पुरुप्रैषस्ततुरिर्यज्ञसाधनोऽच्छिद्रोतिः शिशुरादत्त सं रभः ॥
To him the offering-hands go; to him the swift-moving powers. He alone hears all my words. Of many impulsions, a strong overcomer, accomplisher of the sacrifice, with unbroken help—this child of flame takes firm hold and gathers the energies together.
Mantra 4
उपस्थायं चरति यत्समारत सद्यो जातस्तत्सार युज्येभिः । अभि श्वान्तं मृशते नान्द्ये मुदे यदीं गच्छन्त्युशतीरपिष्ठितम् ॥
He moves taking his stand close within (the human seat), when he has come together into right order; newly born, he runs with his yoking powers. The desiring energies touch him in joy and gladness, when they go to him who is established near, as to a resting flame.
Mantra 5
स ईं मृगो अप्यो वनर्गुरुप त्वच्युपमस्यां नि धायि । व्यब्रवीद्वयुना मर्त्येभ्योऽग्निर्विद्वाँ ऋतचिद्धि सत्यः ॥
He, the seeker in the waters, the forest-roamer, was set down upon the surface, in the nearest covering. Then Agni, the knower, spoke out the secret workings to mortals; for he is true, even in the law of ṛta.
Frequently Asked Questions
It presents Agni as a conscious, knowing power: he comes when invoked, hears the worshipper’s words, and ensures the sacrifice succeeds by bringing right order and fulfillment.
Because Agni is not only physical fire but also the priestly intelligence of the rite—he understands the correct way (ṛta) and reveals hidden workings (vayunā) that make actions effective.
It fits the moment of kindling or addressing the sacred fire: recite to invoke Agni’s presence, ask for concentrated energy and protection of the rite, and affirm truth-aligned action.