Sukta 26
Sukta 5.26
Atri (Ātreya) (Mandala 5 Agni hymns generally Ātreya; verify per Anukramaṇī for RV 5.26)
Agni
Gayatri (likely for RV 5.26 opening; verify by syllable count)
This hymn invokes Agni as the radiant purifier and divine priest whose “tongue” carries the offering and summons the gods to the sacrifice. It asks Agni to seat the deities on the sacred barhis (ritual seat) and to bring strength and heroic vitality (suvīrya) to the soma-pressing worshipper. The closing movement widens the invitation to a full divine assembly—Maruts, Aśvins, Mitra, Varuṇa, and all the gods—signaling a complete, well-prepared rite.
Mantras
Mantra 1
अग्ने पावक रोचिषा मन्द्रया देव जिह्वया । आ देवान्वक्षि यक्षि च ॥
O Agni, purifier, with your shining and with your blissful divine tongue: bring the gods here, and also sacrifice to them—make the inner offering effective.
Mantra 2
तं त्वा घृतस्नवीमहे चित्रभानो स्वर्दृशम् । देवाँ आ वीतये वह ॥
You—rich with the flowing clarity (of ghee), O bright-flamed one, who beholds the luminous worlds—we seek and draw near: bring the gods here for our entering into the feast of communion.
Mantra 3
वीतिहोत्रं त्वा कवे द्युमन्तं समिधीमहि । अग्ने बृहन्तमध्वरे ॥
You, O sage Agni, whose offering leads to communion, luminous in power—we kindle you wholly. O Agni, grow vast in the sacrifice, becoming the great force in our journey.
Mantra 4
अग्ने विश्वेभिरा गहि देवेभिर्हव्यदातये । होतारं त्वा वृणीमहे ॥
O Agni, come here with all the divine Powers, to the giving of the offering; thee we choose as our priest of the call, the one who summons the gods within us.
Mantra 5
यजमानाय सुन्वत आग्ने सुवीर्यं वह । देवैरा सत्सि बर्हिषि ॥
For the sacrificer who presses out the soma of delight, O Agni, bring heroic force of the soul; and with the gods take thy seat upon the sacred spread within us.
Mantra 6
समिधानः सहस्रजिदग्ने धर्माणि पुष्यसि । देवानां दूत उक्थ्यः ॥
Kindled, O Agni, winner of a thousand, thou increasest the laws of the right working; thou art the messenger of the gods, worthy of the inspired word.
Mantra 7
न्यग्निं जातवेदसं होत्रवाहं यविष्ठ्यम् । दधाता देवमृत्विजम् ॥
Set down Agni, Jātavedas, the bearer of the offering-call, the youngest and ever-new; establish the divine priest of the right season within the work.
Mantra 8
प्र यज्ञ एत्वानुषगद्या देवव्यचस्तमः । स्तृणीत बर्हिरासदे ॥
Let the sacrifice go forth today in its ordered succession, most wide in its divine reach; spread the sacred seat so that the Powers may sit in the prepared consciousness.
Mantra 9
एदं मरुतो अश्विना मित्रः सीदन्तु वरुणः । देवासः सर्वया विशा ॥
Hither to this (seat) let the Maruts and the Aśvins sit; let Mitra sit, and Varuṇa; let the gods sit with the whole company of the being, in its totality made ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
It calls Agni as the purifier and priest to bring the gods to the sacrifice, seat them on the sacred barhis, and make the offerings effective while blessing the worshipper with strength (suvīrya).
In Vedic imagery, Agni’s tongue is the flame that ‘tastes’ the oblation; it symbolizes Agni’s power to transform the offering and deliver it to the gods as a true priest (hotṛ).
Along with the general company of all gods (Viśve Devāḥ), the hymn explicitly invites the Maruts, the Aśvins, Mitra, and Varuṇa to sit at the prepared seat.