Sukta 59
Sukta 6.59
Bharadvāja (Bārhaspatya)
Indrāgnī (dual deity)
Triṣṭubh (probable; requires metrical verification)
This hymn praises the paired powers Indra and Agni as joint victors in Soma-sacrifice—Indra as conquering force and Agni as the blazing priestly will that carries the offering. It recalls their ancient deeds and uses riddle-like imagery to suggest that their divine energy can overturn limitation, then invites them to come and drink the pressed Soma while uplifting the hymn and the sacrificer.
Mantras
Mantra 1
प्र नु वोचा सुतेषु वां वीर्या यानि चक्रथुः । हतासो वां पितरो देवशत्रव इन्द्राग्नी जीवथो युवम् ॥
Now I declare, in the pressed Soma, the hero-powers you have wrought. Your fathers who were foes to the gods are slain; O Indra-and-Agni, you two live on—active within us as victorious force and flaming will.
Mantra 2
बळित्था महिमा वामिन्द्राग्नी पनिष्ठ आ । समानो वां जनिता भ्रातरा युवं यमाविहेहमातरा ॥
Truly, great is your greatness, O Indra-and-Agni, most mighty in the onset. One is your begetter; as brothers you are twins, sharing one mother here—two allied powers born for a single work in us.
Mantra 3
ओकिवांसा सुते सचाँ अश्वा सप्ती इवादने । इन्द्रा न्वग्नी अवसेह वज्रिणा वयं देवा हवामहे ॥
Like two steeds well at home with the pressed Soma, like a pair of coursers yoked for the winning, we here call Indra and Agni for our help—O gods, with the wielder of the thunderbolt—so that the force of victory may be born in us.
Mantra 4
य इन्द्राग्नी सुतेषु वां स्तवत्तेष्वृतावृधा । जोषवाकं वदतः पज्रहोषिणा न देवा भसथश्चन ॥
Whoever, O Indra and Agni, praises you among the pressed Soma-offerings—O increasers of the Truth—uttering a word that wins your consent, with strong-voiced power: you, O gods, do not fail him in any way.
Mantra 5
इन्द्राग्नी को अस्य वां देवौ मर्तश्चिकेतति । विषूचो अश्वान्युयुजान ईयत एकः समान आ रथे ॥
O Indra and Agni, what mortal truly discerns you two as gods? He yokes the steeds that run in different directions, and yet one moves on a single chariot-seat: thus the seeker learns the oneness of your joint action.
Mantra 6
इन्द्राग्नी अपादियं पूर्वागात्पद्वतीभ्यः । हित्वी शिरो जिह्वया वावदच्चरत्त्रिंशत्पदा न्यक्रमीत् ॥
O Indra and Agni, this ancient Power came forth footless from the footed ones; casting away the head, it spoke with the tongue; it moved, walking, and stepped down in thirty strides—so the hidden force breaks the fixed law of limitation.
Mantra 7
इन्द्राग्नी आ हि तन्वते नरो धन्वानि बाह्वोः । मा नो अस्मिन्महाधने परा वर्क्तं गविष्टिषु ॥
O Indra and Agni, you indeed stretch out the bows in your arms like heroes; do not turn away from us in this great battle, in our seeking of the Rays (cows) of illumination.
Mantra 8
इन्द्राग्नी तपन्ति माघा अर्यो अरातयः । अप द्वेषांस्या कृतं युयुतं सूर्यादधि ॥
O Indra and Agni, harmful forces and hostile powers burn upon me; drive away the hatreds they have fashioned—separate them from above the Sun, from the realm of light where they have no right to stand.
Mantra 9
इन्द्राग्नी युवोरपि वसु दिव्यानि पार्थिवा । आ न इह प्र यच्छतं रयिं विश्वायुपोषसम् ॥
O Indra and Agni, yours are the riches—heavenly and earthly; grant to us here a rayi, a fullness that nourishes the whole life and supports the growth of all our being.
Mantra 10
इन्द्राग्नी उक्थवाहसा स्तोमेभिर्हवनश्रुता । विश्वाभिर्गीर्भिरा गतमस्य सोमस्य पीतये ॥
O Indra and Agni, bearers of the inspired word, hearers of the call: come with all our songs to the drinking of this Soma—enter the offering as powers that uplift the hymn within us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Indrāgnī means Indra and Agni invoked together as one paired deity—Indra brings conquering strength, and Agni brings the sacrificial fire that carries offerings and awakens inspired speech.
It is primarily an invitation hymn for the Soma ritual: it praises Indra-Agni’s past victories and asks them to come, hear the call, and drink the pressed Soma while protecting and empowering the sacrificer.
Such imagery compresses a deeper idea: divine power is not limited by ordinary rules. In ritual context it suggests that Indra-Agni’s energy can break obstacles and reveal a hidden order behind what seems fixed or impossible.