Rig Veda Sukta 2
Mandala 2Sukta 213 Mantras

Sukta 2

Sukta 2.2

Rishi

Gṛtsamada

Chandas

Jagatī (probable for RV 2.2.1; longer pādas typical of Jagatī)

Is mantra mein Agni ko Jatavedas ke naam se bulaya ja raha hai. Yaj se unko badhaya jaata hai aur stuti se pray kiya jaata hai. Agni chamakte hue Hotr hain jo taqat aur khushali ke darwaze kholte hain. Woh Aasman aur Dharti ko apne taraf kar lete hain. Yogi aur gaane wale dono ko acche maarg ki taraf le jaate hain. Sabko bade aur acche sthan tak pahunchate hain.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 2.2

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • AgniJātavedas

    Agni is the kindled flame and the divine Hotṛ, bright, heaven-tending, seated among human settlements, who carries offerings and makes the gods present.

Mantras

Mantra 1

यज्ञेन वर्धत जातवेदसमग्निं यजध्वं हविषा तना गिरा । समिधानं सुप्रयसं स्वर्णरं द्युक्षं होतारं वृजनेषु धूर्षदम् ॥

Yagya karke Jatavedas Agni ko bada karo. Agni ko havan se pujo, apne dil se aur apni zabaan se. Woh agni jab jalta hai toh khush rehta hai, chamakta hai aur roshni deta hai. Woh hamare yagya ka main pandit hai jo sab sambhalta hai.

Mantra 2

अभि त्वा नक्तीरुषसो ववाशिरेऽग्ने वत्सं न स्वसरेषु धेनवः । दिव इवेदरतिर्मानुषा युगा क्षपो भासि पुरुवार संयतः ॥

Raat ki taakatein aur savere ki roshni tumhe pukarti hain, Agni. Jaise gaay apne bachche ko bulati hai apne khule mein. Tum aise chamakte ho jaise koi farishta aasman se aaya ho. Insanon ke har zamaane mein tum roshni dete ho. Raat bhar jalte ho, khud ko sambhaal ke, aur logon ko bahut kuch dete ho.

Mantra 3

तं देवा बुध्ने रजसः सुदंससं दिवस्पृथिव्योररतिं न्येरिरे । रथमिव वेद्यं शुक्रशोचिषमग्निं मित्रं न क्षितिषु प्रशंस्यम् ॥

Devtawon ne Agni ko beech ki duniya mein place kiya. Woh aasman aur dharti ke beech ka kaam karta hai. Jaise koi rath mandir ke liye taiyaar hota hai, waise hi woh chamakta hai. Logon mein rehta hai, sabse mil ke rehta hai, aur sab uski tarif karte hain.

Mantra 4

तमुक्षमाणं रजसि स्व आ दमे चन्द्रमिव सुरुचं ह्वार आ दधुः । पृश्न्याः पतरं चितयन्तमक्षभिः पाथो न पायुं जनसी उभे अनु ॥

Woh apni jagah pe taqat pakadta hai, apne ghar mein. Use chand jaisa chamakta hua bithaya gaya hai. Apni kiran se woh dharti ko jagata hai. Woh rasta sambhalta hai, aasman aur dharti dono ki taraf nazar rakhta hai.

Mantra 5

स होता विश्वं परि भूत्वध्वरं तमु हव्यैर्मनुष ऋञ्जते गिरा । हिरिशिप्रो वृधसानासु जर्भुरद्द्यौर्न स्तृभिश्चितयद्रोदसी अनु ॥

Woh puja ka main kaam karta hai, poora havan sambhalta hai. Log use samagri dete hain aur bol ke puja karte hain. Woh chamakta hai, kaam karta hai, aur aasman aur dharti dono ko apni roshni se jagata hai.

Mantra 6

स नो रेवत्समिधानः स्वस्तये संददस्वान्रयिमस्मासु दीदिहि । आ नः कृणुष्व सुविताय रोदसी अग्ने हव्या मनुषो देव वीतये ॥

Agni, jab tum jalte ho to humare liye barkat laate ho. Humein achhi life do, humare paas khushian rakhho. Aasman aur dharti ko humare liye khol do. Humari puja ko accept karo, bhagwan ban ke aao.

Mantra 7

दा नो अग्ने बृहतो दाः सहस्रिणो दुरो न वाजं श्रुत्या अपा वृधि । प्राची द्यावापृथिवी ब्रह्मणा कृधि स्वर्ण शुक्रमुषसो वि दिद्युतः ॥

Agni se dua hai ki woh humein badi cheezein de, hazaar guna phal de. Jaise koi darwaza khole, waise hi humein sunne ka raasta khol do. Apni mantra ki taakat se duniya aur dharti ko hamare taraf mod do. Suraj ki chamak jaisa sona ho, waise hi savere ki roshni chamak utho.

Mantra 8

स इधान उषसो राम्या अनु स्वर्ण दीदेदरुषेण भानुना । होत्राभिरग्निर्मनुषः स्वध्वरो राजा विशामतिथिश्चारुरायवे ॥

Agni jal ke chamakta hai, savere ki roshni ke peeche peeche. Suraj ki tarah uski laal kirnein hain. Puja ke shabd bol ke Agni insaan ke liye sahi yagya ban jata hai. Woh sab logon ka raja hai, mehman ban ke aata hai, jo log bhagwan ko dhundhte hain unko acha lagta hai.

Mantra 9

एवा नो अग्ने अमृतेषु पूर्व्य धीष्पीपाय बृहद्दिवेषु मानुषा । दुहाना धेनुर्वृजनेषु कारवे त्मना शतिनं पुरुरूपमिषणि ॥

Agni, tum toh purane ho, amar logon mein rehte ho. Hamare dimaag ko aasman ki tarah khula rakhho. Jaise gaay doodh deti hai khet mein kaam karne walon ke liye, waise hi tum apni taakat se sau guna khana do. Har tarah ka, jo badhata rahe.

Mantra 10

वयमग्ने अर्वता वा सुवीर्यं ब्रह्मणा वा चितयेमा जनाँ अति । अस्माकं द्युम्नमधि पञ्च कृष्टिषूच्चा स्वर्ण शुशुचीत दुष्टरम् ॥

Agni, hum tumhari madad se insaan ki had paar karna chahte hain. Ya toh taakat se ya phir mantra bol ke. Hamari chamak paanch janata mein upar rahe. Suraj ki tarah chamko, itni ki koi haath nahi laga sake, koi paar nahi kar sake.

Mantra 11

स नो बोधि सहस्य प्रशंस्यो यस्मिन्त्सुजाता इषयन्त सूरयः । यमग्ने यज्ञमुपयन्ति वाजिनो नित्ये तोके दीदिवांसं स्वे दमे ॥

Agni, tumhara naam bada hai, tumhari tareef hoti hai. Tumhari shakti mein bade log apna kaam lagate hain. Jo log yagya karte hain woh tumhare paas aate hain. Tum ghar mein chamakte ho, bacchon mein, apne parivar mein hamesha.

Mantra 12

उभयासो जातवेदः स्याम ते स्तोतारो अग्ने सूरयश्च शर्मणि । वस्वो रायः पुरुश्चन्द्रस्य भूयसः प्रजावतः स्वपत्यस्य शग्धि नः ॥

Agni, tumhe Jatavedas kehte hain kyunki tum janate ho sab. Hum tumhare do tarah ke saathi ban jayein, jo tumhare gun gate hain aur jo tumhari roshni mein dekhte hain. Humein shanti mein rakhna. Tum Vasus ke swami ho. Humein woh daan de jo bada ho, chamakta ho, aur badhta rahe. Paisa, bacche, aur khandaan, sab aise mile ki aage chalta rahe.

Mantra 13

ये स्तोतृभ्यो गोअग्रामश्वपेशसमग्ने रातिमुपसृजन्ति सूरयः । अस्माञ्च ताँश्च प्र हि नेषि वस्य आ बृहद्वदेम विदथे सुवीराः ॥

Woh log jo daan dete hain, woh gaane wale rishiyon ko dete hain. Us daan mein roshni hoti hai aur taakat hoti hai. Agni, unko aur humko aage le chal. Achhi jagah pahuncha de. Hum logon ke beech badi baat karein, aur andar se strong ho.

Inside Sukta 2

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct injunction to increase Jātavedas by sacrifice and to worship Agni with offering, one’s whole being, and inspired word.

  2. Development

    Agni is unfolded as the shining Hotṛ seated among human spaces, the one who grants ‘right delight,’ opens access to vāja, and aligns cosmic powers (Heaven–Earth, Dawn’s radiance) with the sacrificer.

  3. Climax

    The prayer to ‘open the doors’ of plenitude and to make Heaven and Earth turn toward the worshipper through brahman (mantric power), culminating in a vision of Dawn-like radiance breaking forth.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn closes by asking Agni to lead both generous patrons and the singers into the better good, so the community may speak the Vast in the ritual assembly, endowed with heroic powers.

The deity: Agni

  • In the VedaAs Jātavedas, he is the knower of births and the one who knows all beings and their right paths.
  • Cosmic functionMediator between earth and heaven: he conveys oblations to the devas, kindles the sacrifice, opens passages to vitality (vāja), and harmonizes the powers of Heaven and Earth for human flourishing.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened will and discernment (inner fire) that transforms raw impulse into offering, turns speech into mantra, and leads the seeker from limitation to the ‘Vast’ (bṛhat) through clarity and aspiration.

The seer

  • GṛtsamadaBhārgava (of the Bhr̥gu line) · A principal seer of Maṇḍala 2, renowned for powerful Agni hymns that frame Agni as Hotṛ and as the awakener of divine order and abundance.

Famous verses

yajñena vardhata jātavedasam
Verse 2.2.1Programmatic opening: defines the hymn’s method—yajña, offering, embodied aspiration, and mantra—while naming Agni as the shining Hotṛ active in human life.Read verse 2.2.1 →
duro na vājaṃ
Verse 2.2.7Central petition: Agni as opener of the ‘doors’ to vāja (strength/plenty) and as the power that turns Heaven and Earth favorably; links brahman with cosmic responsiveness and Dawn-radiance.Read verse 2.2.7 →
ā bṛhad vadema
Verse 2.2.13Concluding benediction: Agni leads both patrons and priests toward ‘vasyas’ (the better good) and toward bṛhat (the Vast), sealing the hymn’s communal and spiritual aim.Read verse 2.2.13 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Hotṛ (chief priest of the sacrifice)
  • Jātavedas (all-knowing, knower of births)
  • Dūta/mediator who carries offerings
  • Illuminant and purifier
  • Opener of doors to strength and plenty
  • Leader (netṛ) toward the better good (vasyas)

Also by this seer

  • Primary attribution of most of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 2 (many sūktas to Agni and allied deities)
  • Several hymns that emphasize yajña as the means to widen prosperity and to establish right relations between gods and humans

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar and fuel (samidh), establishing cleanliness and silence.
  • Kindle Agni and ‘increase’ him with yajña—steady feeding of the fire and sustained recitation.
  • Offer ghee and other oblations with mantras, uniting haviṣ (offering), tanū (one’s being), and girā (speech).
  • Invoke Agni as Hotṛ to carry offerings and open the ‘doors’ of vāja (strength/plenty).
  • Conclude with petitions for wide abundance, favorable turning of Dyāvā-Pṛthivī, and guidance for patrons and singers alike.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya)
  • Samidh (fuel sticks)
  • Grain/food oblations (anna, puroḍāśa in broader rite)
  • Soma-related offerings where applicable

Frequently Asked Questions

The hymn praises Agni, especially as Jātavedas—Agni who “knows all births” and acts as the priest (Hotṛ) carrying offerings to the gods.

It means kindling and sustaining the sacred fire through offerings and mantra, so Agni becomes strong and luminous—able to bring divine help, prosperity, and clarity to the worshippers.

The hymn asks Agni to open the doors to strength and abundance, make the cosmic powers favorable, and lead both donors and singers toward the “better good” and the spiritual Vast (bṛhat).

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