Sukta 12
Sukta 3.12
Viśvāmitra Gāthina (traditional attribution for RV 3.12)
Indrāgnī (dual deity)
Gāyatrī
RV 3.12 is an invocation to the paired deities Indra and Agni (Indrāgnī) to come to the freshly pressed Soma, accept the singers’ praise, and grant strength, nourishment, and victory. The hymn fuses Indra’s heroic might with Agni’s priestly fire-power, portraying them as a coordinated force that makes divine energy “visible” and effective for the worshipper.
Mantras
Mantra 1
इन्द्राग्नी आ गतं सुतं गीर्भिर्नभो वरेण्यम् । अस्य पातं धियेषिता ॥
O Indra and Agni, come to the pressed Soma, to the choice-worthy uplift (nábhas) called by our songs; drink of this, urged by the thought—by the awakened intention.
Mantra 2
इन्द्राग्नी जरितुः सचा यज्ञो जिगाति चेतनः । अया पातमिमं सुतम् ॥
O Indra and Agni, together with the singer the awakened sacrifice comes to you; by this path drink this pressed Soma—entering our conscious offering.
Mantra 3
इन्द्रमग्निं कविच्छदा यज्ञस्य जूत्या वृणे । ता सोमस्येह तृम्पताम् ॥
Indra and Agni I choose—covered in the seer’s light—for the swift advance of the sacrifice; may those two be satisfied here with Soma’s delight.
Mantra 4
तोशा वृत्रहणा हुवे सजित्वानापराजिता । इन्द्राग्नी वाजसातमा ॥
With glad acclaim I call the Vṛtra-slayers, joint victors unconquered—Indra and Agni, most winning of the plenitudes of force.
Mantra 5
प्र वामर्चन्त्युक्थिनो नीथाविदो जरितारः । इन्द्राग्नी इष आ वृणे ॥
The chanters, knowers of the leading paths, sing you forth, O Indra and Agni; I choose for myself your iṣ—your impulsion of nourishment and divine increase.
Mantra 6
इन्द्राग्नी नवतिं पुरो दासपत्नीरधूनुतम् । साकमेकेन कर्मणा ॥
O Indra and Agni, by one united act you shook down the ninety strongholds held by the Dasa-forces; together you broke the fixed enclosures of the hostile powers, so the Light may move free.
Mantra 7
इन्द्राग्नी अपसस्पर्युप प्र यन्ति धीतयः । ऋतस्य पथ्या अनु ॥
O Indra and Agni, the inspired thoughts move forth and upward, encircling the Work; they advance along the paths of Ṛta, following the true course of the Truth-Order.
Mantra 8
इन्द्राग्नी तविषाणि वां सधस्थानि प्रयांसि च । युवोरप्तूर्यं हितम् ॥
O Indra and Agni, yours are the mighty powers, the common seats, and the forward goings; in you is set the swift effective impulsion that carries the work to its fulfilment.
Mantra 9
इन्द्राग्नी रोचना दिवः परि वाजेषु भूषथः । तद्वां चेति प्र वीर्यम् ॥
O Indra and Agni, you move in adornment around the luminous regions of heaven amid the plenitudes of force; by that your hero-power becomes manifest and grows clear to the seeker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Indrāgnī is the paired form of Indra and Agni worshipped together—Indra as the force of victory and Agni as the sacred fire that carries offerings. The hymn treats them as one coordinated power in the ritual.
It asks them to come to the freshly pressed Soma, drink it, listen to the hymns, and grant nourishment (iṣ), strength or winning power (vāja), and clear heroic potency (vīrya) to the worshipper.
Because they complement each other: Agni makes the sacrifice effective and connects humans to the gods, while Indra brings decisive power and protection. Together they make the rite both luminous and victorious.