Rig Veda Sukta 3
Mandala 10Sukta 37 Mantras

Sukta 3

Sukta 10.3

Devata

Agni

Ce bref hymne à Agni dépeint le dieu du feu comme une puissance farouche mais propice, douée de discernement, dont l’immense rayonnement chasse les ténèbres et conduit le sacrifiant vers l’« aube » de la clarté. Il allume Agni comme un compagnon bienveillant et le prie de venir vite avec ses coursiers bien attelés, de s’asseoir sur le siège rituel et de porter l’offrande et l’intention entre le Ciel et la Terre.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 10.3

Mantras

Mantra 1

इनो राजन्नरतिः समिद्धो रौद्रो दक्षाय सुषुमाँ अदर्शि । चिकिद्वि भाति भासा बृहतासिक्नीमेति रुशतीमपाजन् ॥

Ô Roi, la Puissance flamboyante, Agni, se montre: farouche, pour l’œuvre de la force habile; éveillé et clairvoyant, il rayonne d’une vaste lumière, chassant l’obscurité, allant vers l’aurore resplendissante.

Mantra 2

कृष्णां यदेनीमभि वर्पसा भूज्जनयन्योषां बृहतः पितुर्जाम् । ऊर्ध्वं भानुं सूर्यस्य स्तभायन्दिवो वसुभिररतिर्वि भाति ॥

Quand, par sa propre forme, il affronte la noirceur, mettant au monde la Jeune rayonnante, l’enfant du Vaste Père; il dresse vers le haut le rayon du Soleil, et, avec les richesses du ciel, la Puissance en mouvement resplendit au loin.

Mantra 3

भद्रो भद्रया सचमान आगात्स्वसारं जारो अभ्येति पश्चात् । सुप्रकेतैर्द्युभिरग्निर्वितिष्ठन्रुशद्भिर्वर्णैरभि राममस्थात् ॥

Auspice avec l’auspice, il est venu ; tel un amant, il suit sa sœur par-derrière. Agni, se tenant en avant avec des lumières de claire connaissance, prend place face à la Joie, revêtu de couleurs resplendissantes.

Mantra 4

अस्य यामासो बृहतो न वग्नूनिन्धाना अग्नेः सख्युः शिवस्य । ईड्यस्य वृष्णो बृहतः स्वासो भामासो यामन्नक्तवश्चिकित्रे ॥

Ces marches du Vaste sont comme des flammes rapides : elles attisent Agni, l’ami bienveillant et gracieux. De l’Adorable, du Fort, du Vaste, ses propres puissances lumineuses vont leur voie — ointes, éveillées, aptes à discerner.

Mantra 5

स्वना न यस्य भामासः पवन्ते रोचमानस्य बृहतः सुदिवः । ज्येष्ठेभिर्यस्तेजिष्ठैः क्रीळुमद्भिर्वर्षिष्ठेभिर्भानुभिर्नक्षति द्याम् ॥

Comme des courants sonores, ses splendeurs s’écoulent — du Vaste resplendissant, du ciel de belle clarté. Par ses rayons les plus anciens, les plus ardents, puissants dans le jeu, les plus abondants, il atteint et s’empare du ciel de lumière.

Mantra 6

अस्य शुष्मासो ददृशानपवेर्जेहमानस्य स्वनयन्नियुद्भिः । प्रत्नेभिर्यो रुशद्भिर्देवतमो वि रेभद्भिररतिर्भाति विभ्वा ॥

Ses puissances se voient — celles de l’Inentravé — frémissant d’ardeur, résonnant avec les niyút attelées. Avec des forces antiques et rayonnantes, le plus divin, avec des paroles inspirées : la Puissance en mouvement (arati) resplendit, toute-pénétrante.

Mantra 7

स आ वक्षि महि न आ च सत्सि दिवस्पृथिव्योररतिर्युवत्योः । अग्निः सुतुकः सुतुकेभिरश्वै रभस्वद्भी रभस्वाँ एह गम्याः ॥

Apporte-nous la grandeur et assieds-toi ici avec nous — Agni, la Puissance en mouvement des deux jeunes, Ciel et Terre. Avec des chevaux rapides, bien attelés, impétueux et forts, viens ici, sur notre aire d’offrande.

Inside Sukta 3

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Agni appears kindled as a kingly, fierce power—awake, discerning, and radiantly driving away darkness.

  2. Development

    The hymn elaborates Agni’s vast ‘goings’ and radiant powers, emphasizing his friendly, auspicious companionship and his anointed, wakeful movement.

  3. Climax

    A direct summons: Agni is invoked as the moving power between Heaven and Earth, urged to come with swift, well-yoked horses to the offering-ground.

  4. Where it settles

    The prayer settles into presence—Agni is asked to arrive, sit with the worshippers, and fulfill the rite’s purpose through his carrying, illuminating power.

The deity: Agni

  • In the VedaAgni is the kindled flame—radiant, mighty, and intelligent—praised as a kingly power who awakens, shines widely, and dispels the blackness (asiknī). He is both fierce (raudra) in energy and gracious (śiva) as a friend of the worshipper.
  • Cosmic functionMediator and messenger between humans and gods: he receives offerings, conveys them to the deities, maintains the sacrificial order, and renews life through heat, light, and transformation.
  • Inner significanceThe flame of aspiration and discernment: an inner fire that burns away inertia and confusion, awakens clarity, and carries intention upward toward insight and right action (dakṣa).

Famous verses

इनो राजन्नरतिः समिद्धो रौद्रो दक्षाय सुषुमाँ अदर्शि । चिकिद्वि भाति भासा बृहतासिक्नीमेति रुशतीमपाजन् ॥
Verse 10.3.1Sets the hymn’s core vision: Agni as kindled kingly power, fierce for skillful work, shining with vast light and dispelling darkness—linking outer fire with inner awakening.Read verse 10.3.1 →
अस्य यामासो बृहतो न वग्नूनिन्धाना अग्नेः सख्युः शिवस्य । ईड्यस्य वृष्णो बृहतः स्वासो भामासो यामन्नक्तवश्चिकित्रे ॥
Verse 10.3.4Highlights Agni’s ‘goings’ and his radiant powers as friendly and auspicious, stressing wakeful discernment and the dynamic, living nature of the fire in the rite.Read verse 10.3.4 →
स आ वक्षि महि न आ च सत्सि दिवस्पृथिव्योररतिर्युवत्योः । अग्निः सुतुकः सुतुकेभिरश्वै रभस्वद्भी रभस्वाँ एह गम्याः ॥
Verse 10.3.7The culminating invitation: Agni as the moving power of Heaven and Earth, urged to come swiftly with strong steeds and take his seat at the sacrifice.Read verse 10.3.7 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Kindled presence in the rite (samiddha)
  • Vast radiance that dispels darkness
  • Discernment/awakened intelligence (cikit)
  • Swift movement and effective ‘carrying’ power
  • Friendly, auspicious companion (sakhyú, śiva)
  • Forceful energy for skillful work (dakṣa)

Also by this seer

  • Attribution uncertain; no securely identifiable additional hymns can be assigned to the same named rishi for RV 10.3 based on the provided data.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/vedi and arrange kindling (samidh) and kuśa.
  • Kindle Agni with kindling and ghee, reciting praise that emphasizes his radiance and wakeful discernment.
  • Invite Agni to ‘sit’ on the ritual seat and become the household/rite’s friend and protector.
  • Offer ghee and simple oblations while requesting removal of darkness/obstacles and increase of skill (dakṣa).
  • Conclude with a strong invitation for Agni to come swiftly with his ‘horses’ (energies) and carry the offering as messenger.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya)
  • Kindling sticks (samidh)
  • Optional simple havis (e.g., grains) according to rite

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Agni as a powerful, wakeful light that removes darkness and supports skillful action, and it invites him to come and preside over the offering.

The hymn describes Agni’s light as wide and far-reaching, and it links the fire with awareness (cikit)—the capacity to notice, understand, and act rightly.

It can be recited when lighting a sacred lamp or fire, especially at dawn or at the start of a ritual, as an invocation for clarity, protection of the rite, and steady inner aspiration.

Ask anything about Sukta 3 of the Rig Veda

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