Sukta 6
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (specific ṛṣi attribution varies by anukramaṇī; commonly treated as an Agni-focused Atharvanic utterance)
Devata: Agni (as Sapatnahan, rival-slayer; radiant pervader of the quarters)
Chandas: Mixed/irregular (Atharvavedic triṣṭubh-jagatī tendency; requires pada-count verification against a critical text)
Is sukta mein Agni ko sapatnaha ke roop mein sthapit kiya ja raha hai. Sapatnaha ka matlab hai jo dushmano ko haraye. Agni ki chamak charo dishaon mein failti hai aur ilake ko surakshit karti hai. Is mantra mein Agni ki badhotri ko samay ke sath joda gaya hai - saal, ritu aur chakr. Agni ko ghar ka paharedar banaya ja raha hai jo hamesha jagruk rahe. Yeh aag dushmani iradon ko khatam karti hai. Isse samaj aur raj ka vyavastha bhi majboot hota hai.
Mantras
Mantra 1
सपत्नहाऽग्निः। समा॑स्त्वाग्न ऋ॒तवो॑ वर्धयन्तु संवत्स॒रा ऋष॑यो॒ यानि॑ स॒त्या। सं दि॒व्येन॑ दीदिहि रोच॒नेन॒ विश्वा॒ आ भा॑हि प्र॒दिश॒श्चत॑स्रः
Agni dushmanon ko harata hai. Saal aur mausam Agni ko aage badha dein. Rishi aur jo bhi sacchi baatein hain woh sab usko shakti dein. Aasman ki chamak se chamak utho. Chaaron dishaon ko roshan kar do.
Mantra 2
सं चे॒ध्यस्वा॑ग्ने॒ प्र च॑ वर्धये॒ममुच्च॑ तिष्ठ मह॒ते सौभ॑गाय । मा ते॑ रिषन्नुपस॒त्तारो॑ अग्ने ब्र॒ह्माण॑स्ते य॒शसः॑ सन्तु॒ मान्ये
Agni, achanak se bhadak uth. Is aadmi ko aage badha dein. Upar khade ho ke bada bhagya paa. Tere paas wale logon ko takleef na ho. Brahman shakti tere saath ho, badai aur izzat wali.
Mantra 3
त्वाम॑ग्ने वृणते ब्राह्म॒णा इ॒मे शि॒वो अ॑ग्ने सं॒वर॑णे भवा नः । स॒प॒त्न॒हाग्ने॑ अभिमाति॒जिद् भ॑व॒ स्वे गये॑ जागृ॒ह्यप्र॑युछन्
Brahman log Agni ko chunte hain. Agni, hamare raksha mein accha ban ja. Dushmanon ko harane wala, hamein takleef dene walo ko jeetne wala ban ja. Apne ghar mein nazar rakhta reh, kabhi bhi nahi so.
Mantra 4
क्ष॒त्रेणा॑ग्ने॒ स्वेन॒ सं र॑भस्व मि॒त्रेणा॑ग्ने मित्र॒धा य॑तस्व । स॒जा॒तानां॑ मध्यमे॒ष्ठा राज्ञा॑मग्ने वि॒हव्यो॑ दीदिही॒ह
Agni se keh rahe hain ki apni taakat pakad ke rakho. Mitra jaisi shakti se kaam karo, dosti ke hisaab se. Apne logon mein sabse upar raho. Raja logon ke beech mein khade raho. Agni, tumhe sab pukarte hain, isliye yahan chamak ke dikhho.
Frequently Asked Questions
It means “slayer of rivals.” The hymn asks Agni to burn away opposition—social competitors and hostile forces—and to secure the patron’s domain.
It portrays Agni’s strength as growing with ṛta (cosmic order). By rooting the charm in time’s stability, Agni’s protection is made continuous and reliable.
Though it has anti-rival (abhicārika) force, it also functions as a household and polity-protection prayer: Agni is installed as an unremitting watcher who stabilizes the home and community.
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