Rig Veda Sukta 3
Mandala 4Sukta 316 Mantras

Sukta 3

Sukta 4.3

Rishi

Vāmadeva Gautama (traditional attribution for Mandala 4)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable for RV 4.3; verse-length and cadence fit the dominant meter of this section)

Este himno convoca a Agni como rey del sacrificio y verdadero hotṛ que abarca ambos mundos, portador de una fuerza de tipo Rudra—fiera, purificadora y soberana en el rito. Alaba el poder de Agni, guiado por la verdad, para transformar lo crudo en lo maduro (āmā→pakva), hacer perceptible lo oculto y conducir al adorador por secretos «nīthāni» (sendas de guía). El vidente concluye ofreciendo expresiones labradas e interiores (niṇyā)—palabra esotérica y alabanza inspirada—aptas para Agni, el Conocedor.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 4.3

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Agniwith Rudra-epithet/force invoked as king and hotṛ

    Agni is the divine Fire, hotṛ of the gods and men, the ritual priest who receives offerings, carries them upward, and manifests as a golden, radiant power.

Mantras

Mantra 1

आ वो राजानमध्वरस्य रुद्रं होतारं सत्ययजं रोदस्योः । अग्निं पुरा तनयित्नोरचित्ताद्धिरण्यरूपमवसे कृणुध्वम् ॥

Traed para vosotros al Rey de la ofrenda, Rudra, el Hotar, el verdadero sacrificante de los dos mundos. Haced de Agni — el Antiguo, nacido de las energías nutridoras — una forma áurea, poder de auxilio para nosotros, que despierta incluso lo no percibido.

Mantra 2

अयं योनिश्चकृमा यं वयं ते जायेव पत्य उशती सुवासाः । अर्वाचीनः परिवीतो नि षीदेमा उ ते स्वपाक प्रतीचीः ॥

Este es el asiento-matriz que te hemos hecho; como esposa para su señor, anhelante y bien ataviada, lo preparamos. Vuélvete hacia aquí, revestido por todas partes, y siéntate; estas ofrendas nuestras vuelven a ti, oh el que cuece bien, como potencias que responden.

Mantra 3

आशृण्वते अदृपिताय मन्म नृचक्षसे सुमृळीकाय वेधः । देवाय शस्तिममृताय शंस ग्रावेव सोता मधुषुद्यमीळे ॥

A aquel que escucha, no embriagado, vidente de los hombres, benigno y compasivo— oh sabio, pronuncia el pensamiento inspirado. Proclama la alabanza al dios, al Inmortal; como la piedra de prensar el prensador, derramando dulzura, adoro a Aquel a quien invoco.

Mantra 4

त्वं चिन्नः शम्या अग्ने अस्या ऋतस्य बोध्यृतचित्स्वाधीः । कदा त उक्था सधमाद्यानि कदा भवन्ति सख्या गृहे ते ॥

Aun desde el palo de encendido, oh Agni, despierta para nosotros a este Ṛta; oh conocedor de la Verdad, bien dispuesto en el entendimiento. ¿Cuándo serán tuyas las palabras inspiradas y los gozos compartidos, cuándo nacerán las amistades en tu casa?

Mantra 5

कथा ह तद्वरुणाय त्वमग्ने कथा दिवे गर्हसे कन्न आगः । कथा मित्राय मीळ्हुषे पृथिव्यै ब्रवः कदर्यम्णे कद्भगाय ॥

¿Cómo es, oh Agni, que debas responder ante Varuṇa? ¿Cómo eres reprochado ante el Cielo— cuál es nuestra falta? ¿Cómo hablarás a Mitra el benévolo y a la Tierra; qué dirás a Aryaman, qué a Bhaga?

Mantra 6

कद्धिष्ण्यासु वृधसानो अग्ने कद्वाताय प्रतवसे शुभंये । परिज्मने नासत्याय क्षे ब्रवः कदग्ने रुद्राय नृघ्ने ॥

¿Qué palabra dirás tú, oh Agni, creciendo en los asientos sagrados—qué a Vāta, el que impulsa hacia delante, el benéfico? ¿Qué dirás a los Nāsatyas de largo recorrido—qué pronunciarás por nuestra morada? ¿Qué, oh Agni, a Rudra, matador de los hostiles?

Mantra 7

कथा महे पुष्टिम्भराय पूष्णे कद्रुद्राय सुमखाय हविर्दे । कद्विष्णव उरुगायाय रेतो ब्रवः कदग्ने शरवे बृहत्यै ॥

¿Cómo hablarás al gran Pūṣan, portador de plenitud, y qué a Rudra, de buen sacrificio, dador de la oblación? ¿Qué palabra-semilla dirás a Viṣṇu de amplios pasos; qué, oh Agni, a la Flecha de vuelo lejano, a la Vasta?

Mantra 8

कथा शर्धाय मरुतामृताय कथा सूरे बृहते पृच्छ्यमानः । प्रति ब्रवोऽदितये तुराय साधा दिवो जातवेदश्चिकित्वान् ॥

¿Cómo responderás a la hueste de los Maruts en su rectitud; cómo al gran Sol cuando se te pregunta? Responde a Aditi, la veloz, y cúmplelo, oh Jātavedas, el conocedor—afirma el cumplimiento vuelto hacia el cielo.

Mantra 9

ऋतेन ऋतं नियतमीळ आ गोरामा सचा मधुमत्पक्वमग्ने । कृष्णा सती रुशता धासिनैषा जामर्येण पयसा पीपाय ॥

Por Ṛta adoro a Ṛta, firmemente guiado; con la dulzura de la vaca, cruda y madura a la vez, oh Agni. Esta oscura, hecha luminosa en el receptáculo resplandeciente, ha sido henchida con la leche del compañero que nutre.

Mantra 10

ऋतेन हि ष्मा वृषभश्चिदक्तः पुमाँ अग्निः पयसा पृष्ठ्येन । अस्पन्दमानो अचरद्वयोधा वृषा शुक्रं दुदुहे पृश्निरूधः ॥

Pues por Ṛta, en verdad, aun el Toro es ungido: Agni, el varón, con leche sobre su lomo. Sin temblar avanza, dador de plenitudes; el Toro ha ordeñado lo brillante, y la moteada — su ubre.

Mantra 11

ऋतेनाद्रिं व्यसन्भिदन्तः समङ्गिरसो नवन्त गोभिः । शुनं नरः परि षदन्नुषासमाविः स्वरभवज्जाते अग्नौ ॥

Por Ṛta hendieron la roca y la abrieron; los Aṅgirasas, juntos, avanzaron con los rayos de la Luz. Los fuertes se sentaron en torno a la Aurora en una dichosa amplitud; y Svar, el Cielo luminoso, se hizo manifiesto cuando allí nació Agni.

Mantra 12

ऋतेन देवीरमृता अमृक्ता अर्णोभिरापो मधुमद्भिरग्ने । वाजी न सर्गेषु प्रस्तुभानः प्र सदमित्स्रवितवे दधन्युः ॥

Por Ṛta, oh Agni, se mueven las Aguas divinas — inmortales, sin mezcla — con sus corrientes de dulzura, colmadas de miel. Como un corcel guerrero en los embates, resonando, avanzan siempre hacia delante para derramarse en un fluir incesante.

Mantra 13

मा कस्य यक्षं सदमिद्धुरो गा मा वेशस्य प्रमिनतो मापेः । मा भ्रातुरग्ने अनृजोॠणं वेर्मा सख्युर्दक्षं रिपोर्भुजेम ॥

Que no vayamos, ni por un instante, al hechizo de ningún poder hostil; que no caigamos bajo la fuerza menguante del desorden del clan. Oh Agni, que no incurramos en la deuda de un hermano sin derecho; que no nos hagamos gozadores de la destreza del enemigo, ni malgastemos la capacidad del amigo.

Mantra 14

रक्षा णो अग्ने तव रक्षणेभी रारक्षाणः सुमख प्रीणानः । प्रति ष्फुर वि रुज वीड्वंहो जहि रक्षो महि चिद्वावृधानम् ॥

Guárdanos, oh Agni, con tus poderes de guarda — guardándonos, oh de bello rostro, jubiloso. Rechaza el golpe, rompe el mal compacto; mata al Rakṣas, aunque haya crecido, grande y poderoso.

Mantra 15

एभिर्भव सुमना अग्ने अर्कैरिमान्त्स्पृश मन्मभिः शूर वाजान् । उत ब्रह्माण्यङ्गिरो जुषस्व सं ते शस्तिर्देववाता जरेत ॥

Con estos himnos sé de mente propicia, oh Agni; toca estas plenitudes con nuestros pensamientos, oh héroe, (dador) de vāja. Y acepta, oh Aṅgiras, las fórmulas sagradas (brahman); así madure en ti la alabanza inspirada, impulsada por los dioses.

Mantra 16

एता विश्वा विदुषे तुभ्यं वेधो नीथान्यग्ने निण्या वचांसि । निवचना कवये काव्यान्यशंसिषं मतिभिर्विप्र उक्थैः ॥

Todos estos guiados y palabras ocultas los he dispuesto para ti, oh Agni — para ti que sabes, oh ordenador. Enunciados secretos y verdades poéticas para el kavi; con pensamientos y con himnos inspirados, oh vipra, los he proclamado.

Inside Sukta 3

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Agni is brought forward as the king of the sacrifice—Rudra-like in force—true hotṛ of the two worlds, asked to appear in golden radiance and protective help.

  2. Development

    The hymn deepens into ṛta: Agni is praised as truth-guided, the one who ripens and sweetens, transforming raw potency into mature offering and luminous nourishment.

  3. Climax

    A strong symbolic revelation of transformation: darkness becoming radiant through the shining vessel, swelling with sustaining ‘milk’—Agni as the alchemist of life and rite under ṛta.

  4. Where it settles

    The seer offers ‘nīthāni’ and ‘niṇyā vacāṃsi’—hidden, poetic utterances—affirming Agni as the knower who receives inspired speech and completes the sacrificial intention.

The deity: Agni

  • In the VedaHere he is hailed as rājā of the adhvara and as a Rudra-like potency: awe-inspiring, exacting, and irresistibly purifying.
  • Cosmic functionMediator between earth and heaven (rodasī), transformer of substances and intentions, establisher of ṛta (cosmic order) through sacrifice, and awakener of what is latent or ‘unperceived’.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened will and discerning flame of consciousness that converts raw impulse into mature insight, burns away obscurity, and guides the seeker along hidden inner paths of truth (ṛta).

The seer

  • Vāmadeva GautamaGautama gotra (Vāmadeva family of seers) · Principal seer of Rigveda Mandala 4, celebrated for profound Agni hymns and for voicing inner, symbolic interpretations of sacrifice and inspiration.

Famous verses

rājānam adhvarasya … rudraṃ hotāram satyayajam ("king of the offering… Rudra, the true-sacrificing hotṛ")
Verse 4.3.1Programmatic invocation: Agni is enthroned as rājā of the rite and identified with a Rudra-force, the true hotṛ of both worlds, asked to awaken unseen powers and become hiraṇyarūpa for aid.Read verse 4.3.1 →
ṛtena ṛtaṃ niyatam īḻe ("by Truth I adore the firmly guided Truth")
Verse 4.3.9Central ṛta-teaching and symbolism of transformation (raw/ripe sweetness; darkness becoming luminous), portraying Agni as the truth-guided ripener and nourisher.Read verse 4.3.9 →
niṇyā vacāṃsi ("hidden words")
Verse 4.3.16Concluding self-offering of the poet: ‘hidden words’ and guiding leadings dedicated to Agni the knower, highlighting esoteric speech and inspired hymn-craft as ritual power.Read verse 4.3.16 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Hotṛ (true sacrificing priest)
  • Rājā of the adhvara (sovereign of rite)
  • Rudra-force (fierce purifier, commanding)
  • Hiraṇyarūpa (golden-formed radiance)
  • Ṛta-guided (truth-aligned)
  • Transformer (āmā/pakva—raw to ripe)
  • Revealer of the hidden (acittāt—what is not yet noticed)

Also by this seer

  • Rigveda Mandala 4 (many sūktas traditionally attributed to Vāmadeva)
  • Hymns to Agni, Indra, and related deities within RV 4, noted for esoteric diction (niṇyā vacāṃsi) and ritual-psychological depth

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the vedi (altar space) and arrange fuel (samidh) and kuśa; establish ritual purity and intention.
  • Kindle or rekindle Agni; invoke him as rājā of the adhvara and as the true hotṛ who spans both worlds.
  • Offer ghee into the fire with recitation, asking Agni to become ‘golden-formed’ and to awaken what is hidden or unperceived.
  • Praise Agni as ṛta-guided and request his transformative power—making the ‘raw’ offerings and energies mature and sweet.
  • Conclude with crafted stotra/uktha: ‘hidden words’ and guiding formulas offered to Agni the knower, sealing the rite with inspired speech.

Offerings

  • Ājya (ghee)
  • Samidh (kindling sticks)
  • Milk/curds imagery and offerings (as applicable)
  • Soma-related oblations where part of a soma sequence (context-dependent)

Frequently Asked Questions

Because Agni governs the whole ritual process: he is invoked first, receives the offerings, and ensures the rite proceeds in right order (ṛta), like a sovereign directing the adhvara.

It highlights Agni’s fierce, purifying power—an awe-inspiring force that burns away impurity and compels truthfulness in the ritual and in the worshipper.

It refers to inward, symbolic or esoteric utterances—carefully crafted poetic formulas and insights offered to Agni, who is praised as the knower able to receive and fulfill them.

Ask anything about Sukta 3 of the Rig Veda

Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.

Not sure where to start?

A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.

Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app

Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Continue reading in the Vedapath app

Open in App
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play