Sukta 65
Sukta 1.65
Gautama Rāhūgaṇa (traditional attribution for RV 1.65)
Agni (probable; RV 1.65 is an Agni hymn in the standard Anukramaṇī tradition)
Gāyatrī/Anuṣṭubh uncertain from single pāda excerpt; full hymn needed for secure meter
RV 1.65 praises Agni as the hidden yet discoverable flame—tracked like prey in a cave—who is yoked by prayer and bears offerings to the gods. The hymn celebrates his irresistible surge (like a released steed or a flooding river) and portrays him as a far-shining knower, “born of ṛta,” guiding worship from obscurity to radiant order.
Mantras
Mantra 1
पश्वा न तायुं गुहा चतन्तं नमो युजानं नमो वहन्तम् ॥
Like a beast tracking its prey in the hidden cave, he moves seeking; to him who yokes (the powers) and to him who bears (the offering/aspiration), we carry our homage.
Mantra 2
सजोषा धीराः पदैरनु ग्मन्नुप त्वा सीदन्विश्वे यजत्राः ॥
In one accord, the seers follow by the steps and come near; all the worthy of sacrifice sit close to you—gathering around the flame of conscious will.
Mantra 3
ऋतस्य देवा अनु व्रता गुर्भुवत्परिष्टिर्द्यौर्न भूम ॥
The gods move according to the laws of Ṛta; their encompassing order becomes—like heaven and earth—the sure boundary that holds the world of our becoming.
Mantra 4
वर्धन्तीमापः पन्वा सुशिश्विमृतस्य योना गर्भे सुजातम् ॥
The waters, swelling, increase him—the well-growing one, well-born in the womb that is the seat of Ṛta. From the hidden cradle of truth-order the divine force rises and is nourished.
Mantra 5
पुष्टिर्न रण्वा क्षितिर्न पृथ्वी गिरिर्न भुज्म क्षोदो न शम्भु ॥
He is like nourishment that delights, like a foundation as wide as earth; like a mountain’s mass and like a rushing stream that brings well-being—so stands the divine power, supporting and beneficent.
Mantra 6
अत्यो नाज्मन्त्सर्गप्रतक्तः सिन्धुर्न क्षोदः क ईं वराते ॥
Like a racing steed released into the course, like a river’s surge in flood—who can hold him back (the divine Flame) when he rushes forth?
Mantra 7
जामिः सिन्धूनां भ्रातेव स्वस्रामिभ्यान्न राजा वनान्यत्ति ॥
Kinsman of the rivers, like a brother to his sister, he moves among the mighty ones; like a king he takes to himself the forests—(Agni) the master who claims the growths of earth for the work.
Mantra 8
यद्वातजूतो वना व्यस्थादग्निर्ह दाति रोमा पृथिव्याः ॥
When, driven by the Wind, he spreads through the forests, then Agni indeed makes the hair of Earth stand up—he awakens the very surface-nature into responsive thrill.
Mantra 9
श्वसित्यप्सु हंसो न सीदन्क्रत्वा चेतिष्ठो विशामुषर्भुत् ॥
He breathes in the waters, like a swan settling there; by his discerning will he is the most wakeful—he becomes the dawn-bringer for the peoples.
Mantra 10
सोमो न वेधा ऋतप्रजातः पशुर्न शिश्वा विभुर्दूरेभाः ॥
Like Soma, a knower and fashioner, born of the Truth-Order; like a young creature, wide in his being, he shines from far distances—Agni the far-reaching power of r̥ta.
Frequently Asked Questions
The hymn primarily praises Agni, the sacred fire, as the priest and messenger who carries offerings and prayers from humans to the gods.
It points to Agni’s secret presence—fire latent in wood and also the inner flame of insight—something that must be sought, awakened, and honored through right effort and ritual.
Kindle and honor the divine flame so it can gather your energies, carry your intention upward, and align your actions with ṛta (truth-order), moving forward without obstruction.
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