Sukta 15
Sukta 4.15
Agni
Gāyatrī (probable; short 3-pāda form typical of gāyatrī-like verses)
This hymn praises Agni as the inspired priest who “moves around” the offerings, purifying and perfecting the sacrifice and rewarding the giver with treasures (ratna). It highlights Agni’s daily kindling and polishing—like a swift racehorse and a ruddy child of heaven—showing how the fire grows into a radiant, well-formed power that carries oblations to the gods and sustains the rite.
Mantras
Mantra 1
अनायतो अनिबद्धः कथायं न्यङ्ङुत्तानोऽव पद्यते न । कया याति स्वधया को ददर्श दिवः स्कम्भः समृतः पाति नाकम् ॥
Agni, our priest of the journeying sacrifice, is led around—victorious in force; the god, adorable among the gods, takes his place for the offering.
Mantra 2
अग्निर्होता नो अध्वरे वाजी सन्परि णीयते । देवो देवेषु यज्ञियः ॥
Agni moves around the well-ordered sacrifice like a charioteer; he sets the offerings and their forward impulse among the gods.
Mantra 3
परि वाजपतिः कविरग्निर्हव्यान्यक्रमीत् । दधद्रत्नानि दाशुषे ॥
Agni, the seer and lord of plenitude (vāja), strides around the offerings; bearing the jewels of realization, he sets them in the giver who pours himself out in sacrifice.
Mantra 4
अयं यः सृञ्जये पुरो दैववाते समिध्यते । द्युमाँ अमित्रदम्भनः ॥
This is he—who for Sṛñjaya is kindled before the divine impulsion: luminous in mind, a breaker of the hostile powers of falsity.
Mantra 5
अस्य घा वीर ईवतोऽग्नेरीशीत मर्त्यः । तिग्मजम्भस्य मीळ्हुषः ॥
Of this Agni indeed—the impetuous giver—the mortal hero becomes master: of the sharp-jawed strong helper who grants the needed succour.
Mantra 6
तमर्वन्तं न सानसिमरुषं न दिवः शिशुम् । मर्मृज्यन्ते दिवेदिवे ॥
Him they polish day by day—like a racing steed for winning, like the ruddy child of heaven—till the flame grows perfect in its shining form.
Mantra 7
बोधद्यन्मा हरिभ्यां कुमारः साहदेव्यः । अच्छा न हूत उदरम् ॥
When the Sahadevya youth awakened me with the two tawny steeds, he came called towards us, straight to the heart’s depth, bringing the opening for the offering.
Mantra 8
उत त्या यजता हरी कुमारात्साहदेव्यात् । प्रयता सद्य आ ददे ॥
And those two adorable tawny powers, from the Sahadevya youth, come prepared and at once bestow (their help) upon us.
Mantra 9
एष वां देवावश्विना कुमारः साहदेव्यः । दीर्घायुरस्तु सोमकः ॥
This is your (protégé), O divine Aśvins—the Sahadevya youth; may Somaka become long-lived, held in your sustaining harmony.
Mantra 10
तं युवं देवावश्विना कुमारं साहदेव्यम् । दीर्घायुषं कृणोतन ॥
Him—O you two divine Aśvins—this Sahadevya youth: make him one who bears a long life-force, fit to endure the journey of the soul.
Frequently Asked Questions
It praises Agni as the priestly fire who purifies and completes the sacrifice, carries offerings to the gods, and rewards the generous worshipper with “treasures” (ratna).
Because the fire is tended daily—fed, kept bright, and made steady. The image also suggests inner refinement: attention and discipline make one’s aspiration luminous and effective.
It can be recited at the lighting of a lamp or sacred fire, or before offerings, to invoke clarity, purification, and right order—symbolically asking Agni to carry one’s intention upward.