Rig Veda Sukta 45
Mandala 1Sukta 4510 Mantras

Sukta 45

Sukta 1.45

Rishi

Kaṇva (Kāṇva lineage) (traditional for RV 1.45)

Devata

Agni (as summoner and sacrificer); also invokes Vasus, Rudras, Ādityas

Chandas

Gāyatrī (probable; requires pada-count verification)

Cet hymne s’adresse à Agni comme au convocateur sacerdotal qui fait venir dans le sacrifice humain les clans divins — les Vasus, les Rudras et les Ādityas — et rend le rite « bien frayé » (su-adhvara). Il demande à plusieurs reprises à Agni de porter vers le haut l’oblation et l’intention de l’adorant, afin que la communauté humaine de Manu soit accordée à l’ordre cosmique. La conclusion lie étroitement le yajana d’Agni à la présence de Soma, culminant dans un appel aux dieux à boire et à ce que le rite dépasse le temps ordinaire.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 1.45

Mantras

Mantra 1

त्वमग्ने वसूँरिह रुद्राँ आदित्याँ उत । यजा स्वध्वरं जनं मनुजातं घृतप्रुषम् ॥

Toi, ô Agni, amène ici les Vasus, les Rudra et les Āditya; accomplis l’offrande. Sacrifie pour la communauté humaine bien ordonnée, née de Manu, aspergée de la limpidité du ghee.

Mantra 2

श्रुष्टीवानो हि दाशुषे देवा अग्ने विचेतसः । तान्रोहिदश्व गिर्वणस्त्रयस्त्रिंशतमा वह ॥

Car les dieux, ô Agni, aiment écouter le donateur; ils sont des puissances de conscience discernante. Amène-les ici, toi que louent les chants, aux chevaux roux; amène les trois fois onze — la pleine assemblée des dieux — dans notre champ sacrificiel.

Mantra 3

प्रियमेधवदत्रिवज्जातवेदो विरूपवत् । अङ्गिरस्वन्महिव्रत प्रस्कण्वस्य श्रुधी हवम् ॥

Ô Jātavedas, comme tu as entendu Priyamedha, comme tu as entendu Atri, comme tu as entendu Virūpa, comme tu as entendu les Aṅgiras — toi à la loi puissante — entends maintenant l’appel de Praskaṇva et réponds-lui par ta flamme d’assentiment.

Mantra 4

महिकेरव ऊतये प्रियमेधा अहूषत । राजन्तमध्वराणामग्निं शुक्रेण शोचिषा ॥

Pour secours l’appelèrent les Priyamédhas à la grande voix : Agni, roi des offrandes, resplendissant d’une flamme pure et rayonnante. Que ce Feu souverain gouverne notre adhvara intérieur et le conduise à son accomplissement lumineux.

Mantra 5

घृताहवन सन्त्येमा उ षु श्रुधी गिरः । याभिः कण्वस्य सूनवो हवन्तेऽवसे त्वा ॥

Ô toi dont l’invocation se fait avec ghṛta, voici ces paroles : écoute-les bien. Par ces énoncés les fils de Kaṇva t’appellent au secours : viens, Feu qui soutiens, toi qui portes l’offrande vers le haut et conduis la conscience au-dedans.

Mantra 6

त्वां चित्रश्रवस्तम हवन्ते विक्षु जन्तवः । शोचिष्केशं पुरुप्रियाग्ने हव्याय वोळ्हवे ॥

Toi, le plus illustre par l’éclat de ta renommée, les hommes des demeures t’invoquent — ô Agni aux cheveux de flamme, aimé de beaucoup. Viens comme porteur de l’offrande : élève notre oblation et porte notre conscience au-delà de ses limites.

Mantra 7

नि त्वा होतारमृत्विजं दधिरे वसुवित्तमम् । श्रुत्कर्णं सप्रथस्तमं विप्रा अग्ने दिविष्टिषु ॥

Les voyants t’ont établi comme Hotṛ, comme ṛtvij — prêtre du temps juste, le plus excellent découvreur des richesses. Ô Agni, à l’oreille qui entend vraiment, le plus vaste dans ton déploiement, tu es posé dans les joutes divines.

Mantra 8

आ त्वा विप्रा अचुच्यवुः सुतसोमा अभि प्रयः । बृहद्भा बिभ्रतो हविरग्ने मर्ताय दाशुषे ॥

Vers toi se sont élancés les voyants, ayant pressé le Soma, portant l’offrande et une vaste lumière. Ô Agni, pour le mortel qui donne, sois le médiateur rayonnant; que la grande clarté soit tenue dans l’acte d’offrir.

Mantra 9

प्रातर्याव्णः सहस्कृत सोमपेयाय सन्त्य । इहाद्य दैव्यं जनं बर्हिरा सादया वसो ॥

Ô Puissant, qui viens dans l’élan du matin, prêt pour le soma-breuvage : assieds ici aujourd’hui la lignée divine sur le barhis. Ô Vasu, établis (les) en nous — la présence ordonnée des puissances d’en haut.

Mantra 10

अर्वाञ्चं दैव्यं जनमग्ने यक्ष्व सहूतिभिः । अयं सोमः सुदानवस्तं पात तिरोअह्न्यम् ॥

Ô Agni, tourne-toi vers nous et accomplis le sacrifice pour le peuple divin, avec les appels d’appui (sahūti). Voici le Soma, ô dispensateurs de largesse : bois-en, le Soma qui traverse le jour, soustrait au temps du jour.

Inside Sukta 45

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Agni is asked to bring the principal divine clans to the sacrifice and to conduct the rite for the Manu-born human community in a well-ordered way.

  2. Development

    The hymn expands Agni’s role: widely invoked among settlements, he is flame-haired and beloved, the one who bears offerings and makes the sacrifice effective across human space and social life.

  3. Climax

    Agni is urged to turn hither and sacrifice for the ‘divine folk’ with supportive invocations, linking the human rite directly to the divine assembly and its acceptance.

  4. Where it settles

    Soma is declared present; the gods are invited to drink, and the rite concludes with a sense of continuity beyond ordinary day-bound time.

The deity: Agni

  • In the VedaAgni is the bright, flame-haired priest (śociṣkeśa) and the bearer of offerings (havyavāhana), invoked by clans and settlements as the one who brings the gods near and conducts the sacrifice correctly.
  • Cosmic functionMediator between humans and gods: he conveys oblations to the deities, summons divine hosts, and establishes the sacrificial order that mirrors ṛta (cosmic truth/order).
  • Inner significanceThe awakened fire of will and discernment that gathers scattered powers of the psyche, offers them to the highest aim, and turns inner practice into a ‘straight path’ (su-adhvara).

The seer

  • KaṇvaKāṇva (Kanva lineage) · A prominent early Rigvedic seer whose family hymns are noted for clear ritual diction and strong Agni-invocation, often emphasizing Agni as both messenger and officiant (hotṛ) who perfects the sacrifice.

Famous verses

yajā svadhvaraṃ
Verse 1.45.1Sets the hymn’s program: Agni as summoner of Vasus, Rudras, and Ādityas, and as the one who makes the human sacrifice su-adhvara (well-pathed, correctly ordered).Read verse 1.45.1 →
śociṣkeśam
Verse 1.45.6A vivid central portrait of Agni as ‘flame-haired’ and universally invoked in the settlements; emphasizes his function as the carrier of offerings and the beloved of many.Read verse 1.45.6 →
ayaṃ somaḥ
Verse 1.45.10Concluding turn: Agni is asked to sacrifice for the divine folk, and Soma is presented for the gods’ drinking—sealing the rite’s reciprocity and uplift.Read verse 1.45.10 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Hotṛ/priestly power (yajña-leader)
  • Summoner of the gods (deva-āhvāna)
  • Carrier of offerings (havyavāhana)
  • Flame-haired, radiant presence (śociṣkeśa)
  • Order-maker: makes the rite well-directed (su-adhvara)
  • Protector and benefactor of the human community (manujāta jana)

Also by this seer

  • Rigvedic Kāṇva corpus (notably many hymns in Mandala 1 and substantial portions of Mandala 8 attributed to Kāṇvas)
  • Agni and Indra praise hymns within the Kāṇva tradition used as model invocations in later śrauta-style recitation

The rite, step by step

  • Kindle or attend the sacred fire; establish Agni as the present priest and messenger.
  • Invite Agni to bring the Vasus, Rudras, and Ādityas to the rite (divine assembly).
  • Perform the offering with ghee as the clarifying medium; affirm the rite as su-adhvara (well-ordered).
  • Invoke Agni as havyavāhana to carry the oblation and the hymn’s intention upward.
  • Turn the rite toward the ‘divine folk’ (daivya jana) and confirm communal participation (vikṣu jantavaḥ).
  • Present Soma as present power; invite the gods to drink, sealing reciprocity between human offering and divine blessing.

Offerings

  • Ghee/clarified butter (ghṛta) as oblation and ‘clarity’ symbol
  • Soma (as the drink/power offered to the gods)
  • Recited praise (stoma) as a verbal offering

Frequently Asked Questions

It asks Agni to come as the priest of the sacrifice, summon the divine groups (Vasus, Rudras, Ādityas), and carry the offerings so the rite becomes well-ordered and effective.

They represent major ‘families’ of gods. Calling them together means inviting a complete divine assembly to witness and accept the sacrifice.

Agni conducts the offering, while Soma is the sacred drink offered to the gods. The hymn links them: Agni brings the gods and completes the rite, and Soma seals it through divine drinking and blessing.

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