Sukta 189
Sukta 1.189
Agni
Triṣṭubh (common for RV 1.189; not metrically recomputed here)
This hymn is a prayer to Agni as the wise guide who leads the worshipper on the “good path” toward prosperity and right being, while removing recurring sin and inner error. It also asks Agni to protect the community from hostile, ill-willed forces and concludes with a confident offering of well-formed speech to the mighty “son of Mind,” seeking lasting abundance and victorious strength.
Mantras
Mantra 1
अग्ने नय सुपथा राये अस्मान्विश्वानि देव वयुनानि विद्वान् । युयोध्यस्मज्जुहुराणमेनो भूयिष्ठां ते नमउक्तिं विधेम ॥
O Agni, lead us by the good path to the plenitude of being; O god who knows all the workings and right discernments, drive away from us the sin that clings and returns again and again. To you we would fashion the fullest word of surrender and homage.
Mantra 2
अग्ने त्वं पारया नव्यो अस्मान्त्स्वस्तिभिरति दुर्गाणि विश्वा । पूश्च पृथ्वी बहुला न उर्वी भवा तोकाय तनयाय शं योः ॥
O Agni, newly manifest, carry us across all difficult passages by your powers of well-being; and may the wide and abundant Earth become for us a secure fullness—peace and ease for our offspring and the growth of our being.
Mantra 3
अग्ने त्वमस्मद्युयोध्यमीवा अनग्नित्रा अभ्यमन्त कृष्टीः । पुनरस्मभ्यं सुविताय देव क्षां विश्वेभिरमृतेभिर्यजत्र ॥
O Agni, from us drive away the afflictions that, without the safeguard of the flame, press upon the human peoples. O god worthy of sacrifice, win back for us the earth-field for a happy going, together with all the immortal powers.
Mantra 4
पाहि नो अग्ने पायुभिरजस्रैरुत प्रिये सदन आ शुशुक्वान् । मा ते भयं जरितारं यविष्ठ नूनं विदन्मापरं सहस्वः ॥
Guard us, O Agni, with your unfailing protections, and come blazing to your beloved seat. Let there be no fear for your singer, O youngest flame—knowing us now, do not abandon us to what is other and adverse, O mighty one.
Mantra 5
मा नो अग्नेऽव सृजो अघायाविष्यवे रिपवे दुच्छुनायै । मा दत्वते दशते मादते नो मा रीषते सहसावन्परा दाः ॥
O Agni, do not cast us down to the evil-minded, to the one who seeks to harm, to the hostile who brings ill-fortune. Do not give us over to the giver who bargains, nor to the one who would seize; O forceful one, put far away the one who would injure us.
Mantra 6
वि घ त्वावाँ ऋतजात यंसद्गृणानो अग्ने तन्वे वरूथम् । विश्वाद्रिरिक्षोरुत वा निनित्सोरभिह्रुतामसि हि देव विष्पट् ॥
He who is full of you, O Agni born of the Truth, gains for his own being a wide protection by his praise. For you are indeed the one who guards from every peril—whether from the one who would harm openly or the one who strikes by concealment—O god, master of the dwelling.
Mantra 7
त्वं ताँ अग्न उभयान्वि विद्वान्वेषि प्रपित्वे मनुषो यजत्र । अभिपित्वे मनवे शास्यो भूर्मर्मृजेन्य उशिग्भिर्नाक्रः ॥
You, O Agni, know both sides and lead in the forefathers’ reach and in the human reach, O worthy of sacrifice. In the nearer reach for man, become our guide and governor, purified and purifying with the seekers, never failing.
Mantra 8
अवोचाम निवचनान्यस्मिन्मानस्य सूनुः सहसाने अग्नौ । वयं सहस्रमृषिभिः सनेम विद्यामेषं वृजनं जीरदानुम् ॥
We have spoken the words of settled utterance in this Agni, the son of the Mind, the mighty one. May we, together with the seers, win the thousandfold—may we know and possess the seeking force and the victorious host, the giver who does not grow old.
Frequently Asked Questions
It asks Agni to guide the worshipper on the right path, cleanse repeating faults, and protect against hostile or harmful forces, ending with a wish for enduring prosperity and strength.
Because Agni is portrayed as the knower of correct workings (vayunāni) and the divine power that leads human effort toward right order, success, and inner clarity.
It can be recited at a lamp or fire offering—especially at dawn or dusk—as a prayer for clear direction, ethical steadiness, and protection from negativity and ill-will.