Rig Veda Sukta 145
Mandala 1Sukta 1455 Mantras

Sukta 145

Sukta 1.145

Rishi

Dīrghatamas Aucathya (traditional for RV 1.145)

Devata

Agni (as knower and lord of powers)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

Este breve himno en triṣṭubh alaba a Agni como el poder omnisciente que acude cuando es invocado, oye cada palabra y contiene en sí tanto los mandatos verdaderos como las realizaciones del rito. Agni es presentado como veloz y victorioso: reúne las energías para el sacrificio y revela a los mortales los mecanismos ocultos (vayunā) acordes con ṛta, el orden cósmico. El propósito del himno es establecer a Agni como mediador fiable y guía interior, cuyo conocimiento hace que el yajña sea eficaz y portador de verdad.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 1.145

Mantras

Mantra 1

तं पृच्छता स जगामा स वेद स चिकित्वाँ ईयते सा न्वीयते । तस्मिन्त्सन्ति प्रशिषस्तस्मिन्निष्टयः स वाजस्य शवसः शुष्मिणस्पतिः ॥

A él lo preguntan: ha venido; él sabe. Él, el conocedor, avanza— y de nuevo avanza. En él están los mandatos verdaderos, en él las realizaciones; él es el señor del vāja (plenitud), del śavas (fuerza), señor del ímpetu victorioso (śuṣmín).

Mantra 2

तमित्पृच्छन्ति न सिमो वि पृच्छति स्वेनेव धीरो मनसा यदग्रभीत् । न मृष्यते प्रथमं नापरं वचोऽस्य क्रत्वा सचते अप्रदृपितः ॥

Lo interrogan— pero nadie lo interroga por completo; el firme lo capta con su propia mente, cuando lo ha asido. No falsea ni la primera ni la palabra posterior; por su voluntad eficaz (krátu) se mantiene junto a la verdad, sin engaño.

Mantra 3

तमिद्गच्छन्ति जुह्वस्तमर्वतीर्विश्वान्येकः शृणवद्वचांसि मे । पुरुप्रैषस्ततुरिर्यज्ञसाधनोऽच्छिद्रोतिः शिशुरादत्त सं रभः ॥

Hacia él van las manos que ofrendan; hacia él las fuerzas veloces. Él solo escucha todas mis palabras. De muchos impulsos, fuerte vencedor, cumplidor del sacrificio, de auxilio inquebrantable — este niño de la llama aferra con firmeza y reúne las energías.

Mantra 4

उपस्थायं चरति यत्समारत सद्यो जातस्तत्सार युज्येभिः । अभि श्वान्तं मृशते नान्द्ये मुदे यदीं गच्छन्त्युशतीरपिष्ठितम् ॥

Él se mueve, asentándose muy cerca, dentro (del asiento humano), cuando todo se ha reunido en el orden justo; recién nacido, corre con sus poderes de unción. Las energías deseantes lo rozan con gozo y alegría, cuando van hacia él, establecido junto, como hacia una llama de reposo.

Mantra 5

स ईं मृगो अप्यो वनर्गुरुप त्वच्युपमस्यां नि धायि । व्यब्रवीद्वयुना मर्त्येभ्योऽग्निर्विद्वाँ ऋतचिद्धि सत्यः ॥

Él, el buscador en las aguas, el vagabundo del bosque, fue puesto sobre la superficie, en la envoltura más cercana. Entonces Agni, el conocedor, declaró a los mortales los obrados secretos; pues él es veraz, incluso en la ley del ṛta.

Inside Sukta 145

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Agni is approached through inquiry and invocation: ‘Ask him—he has come; he knows,’ establishing him as present, conscious power.

  2. Development

    Agni is described as the seat of right command and successful fulfillment, lord of strength and victory; he alone hears all speech and drives the rite forward.

  3. Climax

    Agni, the ‘child’ with unbroken help, takes firm hold and gathers the energies of the sacrifice, making it effective and protected.

  4. Where it settles

    Agni reveals the secret workings (vayunā) to mortals and is affirmed as truthful in ṛta, sealing the hymn with a note of revelation and cosmic legality.

The deity: Agni

  • In the VedaAgni is invoked as the cikitvān/vidvān—knower and seer-like fire—who comes when asked, moves with living force, and in whom reside the ‘true commands’ (praśiṣaḥ) and the ‘attainments/fulfillments’ (iṣṭayaḥ) of the rite.
  • Cosmic functionMediator between humans and gods, carrier of oblations, awakener of power and prosperity (vāja), and establisher of sacrifice in harmony with ṛta.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened flame of discernment—inner will and clarity that gathers scattered energies, makes speech effective, and reveals the right order of action.

The seer

  • Dīrghatamas AucathyaAucathya (descendant of Ucathya; associated in tradition with the Aṅgirasa/Bhṛgu stream of fire-seers) · A visionary poet-seer famed for profound, enigmatic symbolism and for hymns that connect ritual fire with cosmic law (ṛta) and inner knowledge (vayunā).

Famous verses

तं पृच्छता स जगामा स वेद स चिकित्वाँ ईयते सा न्वीयते । तस्मिन्त्सन्ति प्रशिषस्तस्मिन्निष्टयः स वाजस्य शवसः शुष्मिणस्पतिः ॥
Verse 1.145.1Defines Agni as the invoked knower who contains both the ordinances and the attainments of the rite, and as lord of vāja (plenitude) and śavas (force).Read verse 1.145.1 →
तमिद्गच्छन्ति जुह्वस्तमर्वतीर्विश्वान्येकः शृणवद्वचांसि मे । पुरुप्रैषस्ततुरिर्यज्ञसाधनोऽच्छिद्रोतिः शिशुरादत्त सं रभः ॥
Verse 1.145.3Highlights Agni’s unique capacity to hear all words and to gather energies with ‘unbroken help,’ portraying him as the effective accomplisher of yajña.Read verse 1.145.3 →
agnir vidvān ṛtacid dhi satyaḥ
Verse 1.145.5States Agni’s revelatory function—he discloses vayunā (secret workings) to mortals—and anchors his truth in ṛta.Read verse 1.145.5 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Knower (vidvān, cikitvān)
  • Swift-moving, repeatedly advancing (īyate… punar īyate)
  • Lord of plenitude and strength (vājasya, śavasaḥ)
  • Victorious intensity (śuṣmin)
  • Hears all words (ekaḥ śṛṇavad vacāṃsi)
  • Accomplisher of yajña (yajñasādhana)
  • Truth-aligned with ṛta (ṛtacid hi satyaḥ)

Also by this seer

  • Traditionally associated with several hymns in Rigveda Maṇḍala 1 (including adjacent Agni hymns)
  • Credited in later tradition with esoteric riddling style and cosmological imagery (often linked with the Dīrghatamas corpus in RV 1.152–1.164)

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar and kindle/rekindle the fire with attentive speech and intention.
  • Invoke Agni as the knower who ‘has come’ and who hears the sacrificer’s words.
  • Offer oblations while affirming Agni as bearer of praśiṣaḥ (right ordinances) and iṣṭayaḥ (successful attainments).
  • Request Agni to gather and concentrate energies (saṃ rabhaḥ) for an unbroken, effective rite.
  • Conclude with a recognition of Agni’s revelation of vayunā (hidden workings) and his truth in ṛta.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya)
  • Kindling sticks (samidh)
  • Grains/cakes as appropriate (havis)

Frequently Asked Questions

It presents Agni as a conscious, knowing power: he comes when invoked, hears the worshipper’s words, and ensures the sacrifice succeeds by bringing right order and fulfillment.

Because Agni is not only physical fire but also the priestly intelligence of the rite—he understands the correct way (ṛta) and reveals hidden workings (vayunā) that make actions effective.

It fits the moment of kindling or addressing the sacred fire: recite to invoke Agni’s presence, ask for concentrated energy and protection of the rite, and affirm truth-aligned action.

Ask anything about Sukta 145 of the Rig Veda

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