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Sukta 3.17
Viśvāmitra Gāthina
Agni
Tr̥ṣṭubh (likely; common for RV 3.17—verify in metrical index)
Yeh mantra Agni ko praise karta hai jo sabse pehle jalta hai. Agni apni aag se havan ko saaf karta hai aur devtaon ko bulata hai. Din aur raat ke chakkar mein Agni ko tel lagaya jata hai. Woh savere wali roshni ke apna bhai hai. Humein Agni se dua karni chahiye ki woh devtaon ki madad dilaye. Woh humare liye achha kare aur havan sahi se chale.
Mantra 1
समिध्यमानः प्रथमानु धर्मा समक्तुभिरज्यते विश्ववारः । शोचिष्केशो घृतनिर्णिक्पावकः सुयज्ञो अग्निर्यजथाय देवान् ॥
Agni ko jalaya jaata hai aur woh sabse pehle aata hai. Yeh purana niyam hai jo follow kiya jaata hai. Din aur raat ke saath woh taiyaar hota hai. Woh sab achhi cheezein laata hai. Uske baal aag jaisi chamak te hain. Woh saaf roshni jaisa chamakta hai. Woh ganda paani saaf karta hai. Agni yagya ko poora karta hai aur bhagwano ki puja ke liye aage badhta hai.
Mantra 2
यथायजो होत्रमग्ने पृथिव्या यथा दिवो जातवेदश्चिकित्वान् । एवानेन हविषा यक्षि देवान्मनुष्वद्यज्ञं प्र तिरेममद्य ॥
Agni, pehle tum dharti par pandit ka kaam karte the. Phir aasman se bhi tumne yeh kaam kiya, Jatavedas. Tumhe sab pata tha kaise karna hai. Ab bhi is havan ke saath bhagwano ki puja karo. Yeh insaanon ka tarika hai. Aaj is yagya ko aage badha do.
Mantra 3
त्रीण्यायूंषि तव जातवेदस्तिस्र आजानीरुषसस्ते अग्ने । ताभिर्देवानामवो यक्षि विद्वानथा भव यजमानाय शं योः ॥
Jatavedas, tumhare paas teen taakat hain. Agni, tumhare paas teen subah hain jo tumhare paas paida hui hain. In teeno ke saath bhagwano ki madad ke liye puja karo. Tumhe pata hai kaise karna hai. Phir yagya karne wale ke liye shanti aur khushi laao.
Mantra 4
अग्निं सुदीतिं सुदृशं गृणन्तो नमस्यामस्त्वेड्यं जातवेदः । त्वां दूतमरतिं हव्यवाहं देवा अकृण्वन्नमृतस्य नाभिम् ॥
Hum Agni ki tarif karte hain. Woh achi tarah jalta hai aur dekhne mein achha lagta hai. Jatavedas, hum tumhare saamne jhukte hain. Tumhe dhundna achha lagta hai. Bhagwano ne tumhe apna messenger banaya. Tum kabhi thakte nahi ho. Tum havan ka saaman le jaate ho. Tum amrit ke beej ho jo kabhi khatam nahi hota.
Mantra 5
यस्त्वद्धोता पूर्वो अग्ने यजीयान्द्विता च सत्ता स्वधया च शम्भुः । तस्यानु धर्म प्र यजा चिकित्वोऽथ नो धा अध्वरं देववीतौ ॥
Agni, woh pandit tumhara pehla pandit tha. Woh doosron se bada tha. Woh doosra bhi tha aur apne aap mein khada tha. Woh khushi deta tha. Uske niyam ko follow karo aur samajh ke puja karo. Phir hamare liye bhagwano ke raaste ko sahi kar do.
It presents Agni as the first and essential power of sacrifice—purifying, correctly ordered by r̥ta, and able to bring the gods to the offering—while asking him to grant help, peace, and a successful rite.
It uses a symbolic triad to show Agni’s deep vitality and his close alliance with dawn (renewal and right beginning), then prays that this power will secure divine support and well-being for the sacrificer.
It is well suited for the opening of a fire rite: kindling Agni, offering ghee, and invoking him as hotar to invite the deities, while requesting a smooth, protected course of the sacrifice.
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