Rig Veda Sukta 13
Mandala 4Sukta 135 Mantras

Sukta 13

Sukta 4.13

Rishi

Vāmadeva Gautama

Devata

Agni with Dawn/Sun and invocation to the Aśvins

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable)

Is mantra mein subah Agni ko jalate hain aur roshni ka aana batate hain. Ushas raasta kholti hai, Surya upar aata hai. Ashvin duo ko ghar ki puja mein bulaya jata hai. Sab kuch taiyar hota hai morning offering ke liye. Phir socha jata hai ki aasman kaise niche nahi girta. Ek chupa hua niyam hai jo duniya ko sambhalta hai. Isse hum samajhte hain ki cosmos mein ek order hai.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 4.13

Mantras

Mantra 1

प्रत्यग्निरुषसामग्रमख्यद्विभातीनां सुमना रत्नधेयम् । यातमश्विना सुकृतो दुरोणमुत्सूर्यो ज्योतिषा देव एति ॥

Agni subah ke pehle roshni ki taraf dekh raha hai. Woh khush mann se khazana le kar aaya hai. Ashwin bhai, acche ghar par aao. Suraj bhagwan apni roshni lekar upar aa raha hai.

Mantra 2

ऊर्ध्वं भानुं सविता देवो अश्रेद्द्रप्सं दविध्वद्गविषो न सत्वा । अनु व्रतं वरुणो यन्ति मित्रो यत्सूर्यं दिव्यारोहयन्ति ॥

Savita bhagwan roshni ki kiran upar utha rahe hain. Woh chamakte boond ko hilate hue dekh rahe hain. Jaise koi roshni dhundta hai. Varun aur Mitra niyam ke hisaab se chalte hain. Jab woh Suraj ko aasman mein charha dete hain.

Mantra 3

यं सीमकृण्वन्तमसे विपृचे ध्रुवक्षेमा अनवस्यन्तो अर्थम् । तं सूर्यं हरितः सप्त यह्वीः स्पशं विश्वस्य जगतो वहन्ति ॥

Suraj ko andhere se ladne ke liye banaya gaya hai. Woh apna target pakad ke chalta hai. Saat Harit us Suraj ko utha kar le jate hain. Woh poori duniya ka kaam dekhta hai.

Mantra 4

वहिष्ठेभिर्विहरन्यासि तन्तुमवव्ययन्नसितं देव वस्म । दविध्वतो रश्मयः सूर्यस्य चर्मेवावाधुस्तमो अप्स्वन्तः ॥

Tum taange dhakke maar ke aage badh rahe ho. Niche ki taraf dhaaga bunte ho. Chamakte shakti, tumne kala dhakkan utaar diya. Suraj ki kiranien maarti hain aur andhere ko paani mein dhakel deti hain. Jaise koi chamda utarta hai.

Mantra 5

अनायतो अनिबद्धः कथायं न्यङ्ङुत्तानोऽव पद्यते न । कया याति स्वधया को ददर्श दिवः स्कम्भः समृतः पाति नाकम् ॥

Koi isko lead nahi kar raha, koi baandh ke nahi rakha. Phir bhi yeh neeche kyun nahi girta, jabki sar ke bal khada hai? Apne aap kaise chalta hai, kisne dekha hai? Aasman ka yeh khamba, sach mein pakka hai, upar ki duniya ko sambhale huye.

Inside Sukta 13

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Agni ‘looks forth’ at the forefront of the Dawns; the rite begins in the breaking of light and the promise of treasure.

  2. Development

    The hymn expands from household invocation (Aśvins to the home) to the cosmic scene of Sūrya rising and being borne by the seven Harits, the witness of all movement.

  3. Climax

    A philosophical turning: wonder at how the cosmos is held—unled and unbound, yet not falling—by what svadhā and by the heaven’s pillar rooted in ṛta.

  4. Where it settles

    The vision settles into reverence for the sustaining order behind dawn and sun, reaffirming that the rite aligns human action with the cosmic law that upholds the luminous vault.

The deity: Agni

  • In the VedaAgni is the first of the gods in the rite: the flame that ‘looks forth’ at the head of the Dawns, bearer of treasure (ratnadhā) and messenger who brings the gods to the home. In this sukta he is entwined with the dawn’s radiance and the sun’s ascent, while the Aśvins are called as swift helpers arriving at the well-built dwelling.
  • Cosmic functionIgnites and mediates sacrifice, carries offerings to the gods, and mirrors the daily rekindling of cosmic light—dawn opening the path and the sun establishing visibility and order.
  • Inner significanceThe awakening of consciousness at daybreak: the inner fire of attention and aspiration that turns toward light, establishes clarity against darkness, and aligns the person with self-law (svadhā) and ṛta.

The seer

  • Vāmadeva GautamaGautama gotra (Vāmadeva as a seer of the Gautamas) · A principal Ṛgvedic seer of Mandala 4, celebrated for hymns that unite luminous dawn symbolism with deep reflections on ṛta (cosmic order) and the inner awakening of speech and insight.

Famous verses

praty agnir uṣasām agram akhyat
Verse 4.13.1Sets the entire ritual-cosmic frame: Agni at the head of dawns, Aśvins invited to the well-made home, and Sūrya rising with light—an ideal dawn-kindling verse.Read verse 4.13.1 →
spaśaṃ viśvasya jagato
Verse 4.13.3Iconic solar image: Sūrya as the ‘spy/witness of all that moves,’ borne by the seven Harits—expressing illumination as discernment against darkness.Read verse 4.13.3 →
divaḥ skambhaḥ
Verse 4.13.5The sukta’s metaphysical peak: asks how the cosmos is upheld without visible binding, pointing to skambha and ṛta as the hidden support and law.Read verse 4.13.5 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Hotṛ and divine messenger (dūta)
  • Bearer of wealth/boons (ratnadhā)
  • Kindled at dawn; linked to Uṣas and Sūrya
  • Protector of the household rite (gṛhapati aspect)
  • Revealer/discerner against darkness (through the light motif)

Also by this seer

  • Major authorship within Rig Veda Mandala 4 (many hymns attributed to Vāmadeva).
  • Hymns to Agni and Indra noted for psychological and cosmic readings in later Vedic exegesis.
  • Associated in tradition with visionary utterance (brahman) and the articulation of hidden order (ṛta) through mantra.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/home fire space (well-built ‘duroṇa’ motif).
  • Kindle Agni at dawn, aligning the rite with Uṣas’ first light.
  • Recite the sukta to invite Agni as bearer of treasure and to call the Aśvins to the household.
  • Offer oblations as Sūrya rises, reaffirming ṛta (order) and seeking safe passage through darkness into clarity.
  • Conclude with contemplative recitation/intent on the cosmic support (skambha/ṛta) that upholds the worlds.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya) into the fire
  • Kindling sticks (samidh)
  • Optional soma-related praise in the broader morning sequence (contextual to prātaḥ rites)

Frequently Asked Questions

It connects the morning kindling of Agni with the daily victory of light: dawn opens, the sun rises, and the rite invites divine help. It also reflects on the unseen order (ṛta) that holds the cosmos steady.

The Aśvins are swift helpers associated with dawn and safe arrival. Calling them to the “well-built home” fits the morning ritual context—seeking protection, health, and smooth beginnings as the day starts.

It is a poetic way of speaking about the supporting principle that keeps the sky and world from collapsing. The verse suggests this support is grounded in ṛta—truth and cosmic order—operating by its own law (svadhā).

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