Rig Veda Sukta 4
Mandala 10Sukta 47 Mantras

Sukta 4

Sukta 10.4

Devata

Agni

Este himno alaba a Agni como el rey antiguo y señor del hogar, que se vuelve refugio para el sacrificante, como un manantial vivificante en una tierra estéril. Se maravilla de la naturaleza de Agni, oculta pero activa: yace escondido y luego irrumpe para «probar» la ofrenda, y se le pide que proteja a la familia, la descendencia y la integridad del cuerpo y del curso de la vida. En conjunto, es a la vez una invocación para el éxito del yajña y una plegaria por la salvaguarda de la prosperidad y la continuidad.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 10.4

Mantras

Mantra 1

प्र ते यक्षि प्र त इयर्मि मन्म भुवो यथा वन्द्यो नो हवेषु । धन्वन्निव प्रपा असि त्वमग्न इयक्षवे पूरवे प्रत्न राजन् ॥

Para ti ofrezco; para ti impulso mi pensamiento, para que seas digno de nuestras invocaciones. Como manantial en el yermo, eres refugio que protege por delante, oh Agni, Rey antiguo, para quien desea sacrificar.

Mantra 2

यं त्वा जनासो अभि संचरन्ति गाव उष्णमिव व्रजं यविष्ठ । दूतो देवानामसि मर्त्यानामन्तर्महाँश्चरसि रोचनेन ॥

Oh el más joven, en torno a quien los pueblos se congregan como las vacas al establo tibio, oh Yaviṣṭha: tú eres el mensajero de los dioses para los mortales; vasto por dentro, recorres el ámbito luminoso, llevando a nosotros el resplandor de los mundos.

Mantra 3

शिशुं न त्वा जेन्यं वर्धयन्ती माता बिभर्ति सचनस्यमाना । धनोरधि प्रवता यासि हर्यञ्जिगीषसे पशुरिवावसृष्टः ॥

Como una madre cría y lleva al hijo que crece, así ella te sostiene, poder victorioso, consintiendo en tu compañía. Desde el arco avanzas por el curso descendente, ardiente, ansioso de vencer, soltado como una bestia puesta en libertad (a su propia fuerza).

Mantra 4

मूरा अमूर न वयं चिकित्वो महित्वमग्ने त्वमङ्ग वित्से । शये वव्रिश्चरति जिह्वयादन्रेरिह्यते युवतिं विश्पतिः सन् ॥

Estamos desconcertados — y no desconcertados, oh conocedor; pero tú, Agni, en verdad conoces tu propia grandeza. Oculto, yaces; y sin embargo te mueves, alimentándote con la lengua; lames una y otra vez, como señor de la morada, buscando a la joven novia: la ofrenda fresca, la energía nueva.

Mantra 5

कूचिज्जायते सनयासु नव्यो वने तस्थौ पलितो धूमकेतुः । अस्नातापो वृषभो न प्र वेति सचेतसो यं प्रणयन्त मर्ताः ॥

En algún lugar nace de nuevo en los nacimientos antiguos; en el bosque se yergue, canoso, con estandarte de humo. Sin ser bañado por las aguas, avanza como un toro: aquel a quien los mortales despiertos conducen hacia delante (para la obra).

Mantra 6

तनूत्यजेव तस्करा वनर्गू रशनाभिर्दशभिरभ्यधीताम् । इयं ते अग्ने नव्यसी मनीषा युक्ष्वा रथं न शुचयद्भिरङ्गैः ॥

Como ladrones que se desprenden de sus propios cuerpos, los vagabundos del bosque están ceñidos con diez correas; así también este pensamiento mío se posa en ti. Oh Agni, para ti es esta intuición más nueva: úncela como un carro, con miembros (poderes) resplandecientes.

Mantra 7

ब्रह्म च ते जातवेदो नमश्चेयं च गीः सदमिद्वर्धनी भूत् । रक्षा णो अग्ने तनयानि तोका रक्षोत नस्तन्वो अप्रयुच्छन् ॥

Para ti, oh Jātavedas, son el Brahman (la palabra sagrada) y la reverencia, y también este canto: que sea siempre un acrecentador. Protégennos, oh Agni, a nuestros hijos y a nuestra continuidad; protege también nuestros cuerpos, para que no se desprendan, para que no se aparten del recto sostén.

Inside Sukta 4

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The poet sends forth thought and offering to Agni, asking him to become worthy of the community’s calls and to act as a refuge for the sacrificer.

  2. Development

    Agni is portrayed through vivid paradox: concealed yet moving, feeding with his tongue, repeatedly ‘licking’ the fresh offering—lordly, intimate, and powerful within the home.

  3. Climax

    Recognition of Agni’s self-known greatness (mahitva): humans may be confused, but Agni fully knows his own vast power and role in the rite.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn settles into devotion—brahman (sacred utterance), homage, and song—and ends with a clear protective prayer for offspring, continuity, and the body’s steadfastness.

The deity: Agni

  • In the VedaAgni is the ever-young yet ancient fire-principle: the household lord (viśpati), knower of births (jātavedas), priest and messenger who receives offerings with his tongue and carries them to the gods.
  • Cosmic functionMediator between humans and devas; transforms oblations into divine nourishment, sustains ṛta through sacrifice, and kindles vitality and protection within the dwelling and community.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened will and discerning flame of consciousness that ‘digests’ experience, refines intention into prayer, and guards the continuity of life—body, lineage, and right conduct.

The seer

  • Dīrghatamas Āucathya (traditional attribution)Āucathya (associated with the Aṅgirasa/Br̥haspatya stream in later tradition) · A celebrated visionary-poet noted for paradoxical, symbolic language and profound reflections on Agni, speech (vāc), and cosmic order; famed especially for enigmatic hymns in the late Rigvedic corpus.

Famous verses

dhanvann iva prapā asi ("like a spring in the desert you are a refuge")
Verse 10.4.1Sets the hymn’s purpose: Agni is invoked as the ancient king and a life-saving refuge for the one who seeks to sacrifice, establishing the central yajña-protection theme.Read verse 10.4.1 →
मूरा अमूर न वयं चिकित्वो महित्वमग्ने त्वमङ्ग वित्से । शये वव्रिश्चरति जिह्वयादन्रेरिह्यते युवतिं विश्पतिः सन् ॥
Verse 10.4.4Expresses the hymn’s striking paradoxical theology: Agni is hidden yet active, consuming with his tongue and seeking the ‘young bride’—the fresh oblation/energy—highlighting his mysterious presence in the home and rite.Read verse 10.4.4 →
rakṣā ṇo agne tanayāni tokā ("Protect for us, O Agni, our children and descendants")
Verse 10.4.7Concluding protective petition that links praise to tangible welfare—guarding children, descendants, and the integrity of the body—making it a practical closing mantra for ritual use.Read verse 10.4.7 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Ancient king and leader of sacrifice
  • Hidden and manifest (concealed in fuel, revealed as flame)
  • Tongued consumer of offerings
  • Household lord and protector
  • Messenger who conveys hymns/oblations to the gods
  • Jātavedas—knower of all births and origins

Also by this seer

  • Rig Veda Mandala 1, hymns traditionally linked to Dīrghatamas (notably the riddle-hymn complex such as RV 1.164 in later tradition)
  • Additional Agni-focused and speculative hymns in the Rigvedic tradition attributed by some Anukramaṇī lists to Dīrghatamas

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare and clean the altar/hearth; arrange kindling (samidh) and fuel.
  • Kindle Agni with recitation and focused intention (manman), inviting him as ‘ancient king’.
  • Offer ghee/oblations while praising Agni as refuge and household lord.
  • Continue with hymns acknowledging Agni’s hidden power and active ‘tongue’ that consumes offerings.
  • Conclude with protective petitions for children, descendants, and bodily wholeness (tanū), sealing the rite with reverence (namaḥ).

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya)
  • Kindling sticks (samidh)
  • Grain/cakes in extended rites (contextual)
  • Soma or substitute offerings when integrated into larger yajñas (contextual)

Frequently Asked Questions

It invokes Agni to accept the offering, empower the sacrifice, and act as a protective refuge for the worshipper—especially safeguarding home, family, and continuity.

Because fire is concealed in fuel and kindling until awakened; once lit, it actively consumes the offering. The imagery teaches that Agni’s power is subtle but becomes visible through ritual and attention.

It can be recited when lighting a lamp or sacred fire, while offering ghee or simple oblations, and as a prayer for protection of health, children, and household well-being.

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