Rig Veda Sukta 140
Mandala 10Sukta 1406 Mantras

Sukta 140

Sukta 10.140

Devata

Agni

Chandas

Trishtubh (probable)

Cet hymne de six strophes loue Agni comme la puissance largement rayonnante, illuminant tout, dont les rayons et la force établissent chez l’adorateur la plénitude victorieuse (vāja). Il demande à Agni de s’étendre parmi les hommes, d’enrichir le sacrifiant de richesse et d’une volonté efficace (kratu), et affirme que l’humanité, en tout âge, place Agni en tête pour la bénédiction, le chantant comme le guide divin porteur de ṛta.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 10.140

Mantras

Mantra 1

अग्ने तव श्रवो वयो महि भ्राजन्ते अर्चयो विभावसो । बृहद्भानो शवसा वाजमुक्थ्यं दधासि दाशुषे कवे ॥

Agni, vaste est ta gloire et ta plénitude ; tes rayons flamboyants resplendissent, ô toi qui illumines tout. Ô largement rayonnant, par ta force tu déposes dans le donateur le vāja — digne de l’hymne, plénitude d’énergie victorieuse, ô voyant.

Mantra 2

पावकवर्चाः शुक्रवर्चा अनूनवर्चा उदियर्षि भानुना । पुत्रो मातरा विचरन्नुपावसि पृणक्षि रोदसी उभे ॥

D’une splendeur purifiante, d’une splendeur brillante, d’une splendeur inépuisable, tu t’élèves vers le haut par ton rayon. Tel un fils allant entre les deux Mères, tu t’approches pour notre secours ; tu combles les deux mondes, Ciel et Terre.

Mantra 3

ऊर्जो नपाज्जातवेदः सुशस्तिभिर्मन्दस्व धीतिभिर्हितः । त्वे इषः सं दधुर्भूरिवर्पसश्चित्रोतयो वामजाताः ॥

Ô enfant de la Force, ô connaisseur des naissances (Jātavedas), réjouis-toi de nos nobles louanges, affermi par notre pensée. En toi se rassemblent les impulsions — aux formes multiples, richement rayonnantes, d’aides variées, nées de la Délectation.

Mantra 4

इरज्यन्नग्ने प्रथयस्व जन्तुभिरस्मे रायो अमर्त्य । स दर्शतस्य वपुषो वि राजसि पृणक्षि सानसिं क्रतुम् ॥

Ô Agni, brûlant d’élan, déploie-toi en nous avec les peuples, ô Immortel, pour nos plénitudes. Tu resplendis par la beauté visible de ta forme ; tu combles la volonté victorieuse, la puissance efficace de l’œuvre (krátu).

Mantra 5

इष्कर्तारमध्वरस्य प्रचेतसं क्षयन्तं राधसो महः । रातिं वामस्य सुभगां महीमिषं दधासि सानसिं रयिम् ॥

Tu es le façonneur du sacrifice (adhvará), le clairvoyant, demeurant dans la grandeur de l’abondance. Tu établis le don de la délectation — heureux et vaste ; tu poses l’impulsion puissante, le rayí victorieux, la plénitude de l’être.

Mantra 6

ऋतावानं महिषं विश्वदर्शतमग्निं सुम्नाय दधिरे पुरो जनाः । श्रुत्कर्णं सप्रथस्तमं त्वा गिरा दैव्यं मानुषा युगा ॥

Agni, empli de Ṛta, puissant, visible à tous, les hommes l’ont placé au premier rang — pour la félicité. Toi, le Divin, largement déployé, à l’oreille éveillée, les âges des hommes t’ont chanté par la parole (girá).

Inside Sukta 140

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Agni’s vast glory and plenitude are proclaimed; his shining rays and force are invoked to place vāja in the giver (RV 10.140.1).

  2. Development

    The hymn turns to practical blessing: Agni is asked to widen among the peoples and bring wealth, while his visible beauty and power perfect the winning will (kratu) (cf. RV 10.140.4).

  3. Climax

    Agni is declared ṛtāvān—aligned with cosmic order—mighty and universally seen, established ‘in front’ for bliss by men (RV 10.140.6).

  4. Where it settles

    The tradition of continual human praise across ages is affirmed: Agni is the divine listener and wide-spreading presence who receives the hymn and sustains prosperity.

The deity: Agni

  • In the VedaAgni is the luminous, wide-radiant fire with shining rays (arcayaḥ), the immortal priestly power set in front (puro) by men; he is mighty (mahiṣa), visible to all (viśvadarśata), and a hearer of prayer (śrutkarṇa).
  • Cosmic functionHe mediates between humans and gods, carries offerings, awakens and orders sacrifice according to Ṛta, and kindles prosperity and victory-power (vāja) in the community.
  • Inner significanceAgni symbolizes awakened aspiration and discernment—an inner flame that expands through the ‘peoples’ (faculties) within, clarifies intention, and strengthens effective will (kratu) for right action.

Famous verses

bṛhadbhāno … vājam ukthyam
Verse 10.140.1Sets the keynote: Agni’s radiance and force establish vāja—victorious, hymn-worthy plenitude—in the worshipper.Read verse 10.140.1 →
pṛṇakṣi sānasiṃ kratum
Verse 10.140.4Links outer fire to inner efficacy: Agni’s shining form ‘fills the winning kratu’—the effective will and power to accomplish the work.Read verse 10.140.4 →
ṛtāvānam … viśvadarśatam
Verse 10.140.6Summative proclamation: Agni is ṛtāvān, mighty, seen by all, set in front for blessing; all human ages sing him as divine and hearkening.Read verse 10.140.6 →

Attributes of the deity

  • All-illumining (vibhāvasu)
  • Wide-radiant (bṛhadbhānu)
  • Ṛta-bearing (ṛtāvān)
  • Mighty/bull-like (mahiṣa)
  • Visible to all (viśvadarśata)
  • Hearer with awakened ear (śrutkarṇa)
  • Front-placed leader of rites (purohita sense implied)

Also by this seer

  • Associated broadly with the Agni praise tradition used in household and soma-rite settings rather than a single identifiable poet-lineage

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/hearth and arrange kindling (samidh) with purity and silence.
  • Kindle Agni and recite the opening praise, contemplating his rays and ‘wide radiance’ (vibhāvasu, bṛhadbhānu).
  • Offer oblations while requesting vāja (victorious energy) and rāyas (plenitudes/wealth) for the sacrificer and community.
  • Invoke Agni’s expansion ‘with the peoples’—i.e., for household/community welfare and harmony.
  • Conclude with affirmation of Agni as ṛtāvān and ‘set in front’ by men in every age, sealing the rite with final oblations and thanksgiving.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya)
  • Kindling sticks (samidh)
  • Grain/cakes as appropriate to the homa (caru/puroḍāśa, optional)

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Agni as the radiant divine fire who brings prosperity and victorious energy (vāja) and strengthens the worshipper’s effective will (kratu), while upholding Ṛta (cosmic order).

Because Agni is placed at the beginning of worship as the leading power of the rite—he receives offerings first and carries them to the gods, so he is established ‘puro’ (in front).

Vāja is victorious strength and plenitude that helps one succeed; kratu is the capable will or effective intelligence that makes the sacrifice and one’s work fruitful.

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