Sukta 9
Sukta 4.9
Agni
This hymn invokes Agni as the great, gracious presence who comes to the god-seeking community and takes his seat on the sacred grass to establish right communion in sacrifice. Agni is praised as the effective spokesman of the rite—making human offerings truly reach the gods—and as the protector who surrounds the worshipper on all sides with an unassailable defense against harm.
Mantras
Mantra 1
अग्ने मृळ महाँ असि य ईमा देवयुं जनम् । इयेथ बर्हिरासदम् ॥
O Agni, be gracious; thou art great—thou who comest to this god-seeking people, to the seat upon the sacred grass, to establish the right communion.
Mantra 2
स मानुषीषु दूळभो विक्षु प्रावीरमर्त्यः । दूतो विश्वेषां भुवत् ॥
He, hard to assail among human beings, becomes the forward-leading hero in the clans; immortal, he is made the messenger of all the gods—carrying between worlds the will of the Truth.
Mantra 3
स सद्म परि णीयते होता मन्द्रो दिविष्टिषु । उत पोता नि षीदति ॥
He is led around the dwelling as the Hotṛ, the gladdening priest in the assemblies that aspire to heaven; and as the Pótṛ too he sits down—purifying the offering and the being.
Mantra 5
वेषि ह्यध्वरीयतामुपवक्ता जनानाम् । हव्या च मानुषाणाम् ॥
For thou indeed seekest out and takest thy place as the near-utterer for those who do the sacred work; thou becomest the one who voices the offering, even for human beings—turning speech into effective giving.
Mantra 7
अस्माकं जोष्यध्वरमस्माकं यज्ञमङ्गिरः । अस्माकं शृणुधी हवम् ॥
Take delight in our straight-ordered work, in our sacrifice, O Angiras; hear our call—make our aspiration audible to the higher powers and answer within us.
Mantra 8
परि ते दूळभो रथोऽस्माँ अश्नोतु विश्वतः । येन रक्षसि दाशुषः ॥
May thy unassailable chariot encompass us from every side—by which thou guardest the giver of the offering; so may our consecration be kept safe from the inroads of darkness.
Frequently Asked Questions
It asks Agni to be gracious, to come and take his seat in the rite, to make the offering effective through right speech, and to protect the worshipper from harm.
Because Agni is treated as the near-utterer or spokesman of the sacrifice—he gives force to the ritual words and carries the offering so it truly reaches the gods.
It is a symbol of Agni’s protective power: a divine defense that surrounds the sacrificer on all sides and keeps away obstructing or hostile forces (rakṣas).