Sukta 17
Sukta 5.17
Vasiṣṭha
Agni
Triṣṭubh (likely)
Rishi Vasishtha ishwar se dua kar rahe hain. Wo Agni ko aag mein kapde pahne hue batate hain. Yeh mantra mortals ko ek shaktishali devata ke paas laya hai. Rishi kehte hain ki Agni humein protect karta hai aur sahi raasta dikhata hai. Wo Agni se mangte hain ki woh hamari achchi cheezein rakhe. Agni ko yuddh mein taakat dene ke liye bhi bulaya hai.
Mantras
Mantra 1
आ यज्ञैर्देव मर्त्य इत्था तव्यांसमूतये । अग्निं कृते स्वध्वरे पूरुरीळीतावसे ॥
Insan bhagwan ke paas jaata hai jab yagya karta hai. Woh madad maangne aata hai jo shakti usse badi hai. Puru naam ka raja bhi Agni ki puja karta hai apni hifazat ke liye. Woh kehta hai, bhagwan mujhe sahi raasta dikhaye aur bachaye.
Mantra 2
अस्य हि स्वयशस्तर आसा विधर्मन्मन्यसे । तं नाकं चित्रशोचिषं मन्द्रं परो मनीषया ॥
Agni ki khud ki chamak hai, kisi aur ki nahi. Woh aag wala bhagwan jo upar baithta hai, uski jyoti alag-alag rangon mein chamakti hai. Jo log samajhdar hain, woh usse andar se mehsoos karte hain. Woh khushi deta hai.
Mantra 3
अस्य वासा उ अर्चिषा य आयुक्त तुजा गिरा । दिवो न यस्य रेतसा बृहच्छोचन्त्यर्चयः ॥
Agni ne aag ka kapda pehna hai. Uski awaaz itni tej hai jaise koi use kheench raha ho. Uski kirnein aasmaan se nikalti hain aur chaaron taraf fail jaati hain. Badi-badi roshniyan jagmag karti hain.
Mantra 4
अस्य क्रत्वा विचेतसो दस्मस्य वसु रथ आ । अधा विश्वासु हव्योऽग्निर्विक्षु प्र शस्यते ॥
Agni samajhdar hai, uski soch saaf hai. Woh acchi cheezein laata hai jaise koi rath mein baith ke maal le kar aata hai. Har jagah log uski tareef karte hain. Har gaon mein, har khandan mein log use bulate hain.
Mantra 5
नू न इद्धि वार्यमासा सचन्त सूरयः । ऊर्जो नपादभिष्टये पाहि शग्धि स्वस्तय उतैधि पृत्सु नो वृधे ॥
Ab jo log roshni mein rehte hain woh acche kaam ke saath jud jaate hain. He urja ke beta, hamare kaam ke liye hamein bacha. Apni shakti de taaki hum saath-saath reh sakein. Aur ladai mein humein aage badha.
Inside Sukta 17
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The mortal approaches the stronger divine Helper through sacrifice; Agni is adored in the rightly fashioned rite for protection and guidance.
- Development
Agni’s luminous nature is unfolded—flame as his raiment, mantra as the force that yokes and drives him, and vast rays blazing like a heavenly seed of light.
- Climax
The prayer turns urgent and practical: Agni as ūrjó napāt is asked to protect the sought goal and grant strength and harmony.
- Where it settles
The hymn closes with a communal petition for welfare and increase—Agni is asked to blaze within and aid the people in their struggles.
The deity: Agni
- In the VedaAgni is the divine Fire—invoked, kindled, and praised as the radiant priest (hotṛ), messenger between worlds, and protector of the sacrificer; here he is “clothed in flame,” with vast blazing rays, and is called ūrjó napāt (“Child of Energy”).
- Cosmic functionMediator who carries offerings to the gods, sustains the sacrificial order (ṛta) through the rightly formed rite, and manifests as light and heat that vitalize and protect.
- Inner significanceThe awakened will and aspiration in the human being—clarity, ardor, and discerning force that transforms offerings (intentions) into spiritual gain, guarding the seeker and strengthening resolve in inner battles.
The seer
- VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa) gotra; one of the principal seers of the Vasiṣṭha family of Ṛgvedic poets · Foremost among the Saptaṛṣi in Vedic memory; celebrated as a master of mantra-craft and as the priestly seer closely associated with the Bharatas and royal consecratory tradition
Famous verses
su-adhvare ("in the well-made rite")
अस्य वासा उ अर्चिषा य आयुक्त तुजा गिरा । दिवो न यस्य रेतसा बृहच्छोचन्त्यर्चयः ॥ūrjó napāt ("Child of Energy")
Attributes of the deity
- Hotṛ (sacrificial priest) and dūta (messenger)
- Protector and guardian of the worshipper
- Radiant, flame-clad, far-shining (great rays)
- Kindled and “yoked” by inspired speech (gīr)
- Bestower of strength, welfare (svasti), and victory in struggles
Also by this seer
- Large portions of Maṇḍala 7 of the Ṛgveda are attributed to Vasiṣṭha and his lineage
- Hymns to Agni, Indra, Varuṇa–Mitra, and the Rivers in the Vasiṣṭha family corpus (especially RV 7)
- Vasiṣṭha is later remembered in Itihāsa-Purāṇa traditions as a paradigmatic brahmarṣi and royal purohita
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar and establish/rekindle the sacred fire with due purity and intention
- Invoke Agni with praise (stuti) as the nearer Helper approached by yajña
- Offer oblations while affirming the rite as su-adhvara (“well-formed offering-journey”)
- Recite verses emphasizing Agni’s radiance and his being driven/yoked by the mantra-word
- Conclude with petitions: protection for the aim (abhiṣṭi), well-being (svasti), and increase in conflicts (pṛtsu)
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya) oblations
- Samidhs (kindling sticks)
- Optional: grains/cakes (puroḍāśa) depending on the larger rite
Frequently Asked Questions
It teaches that through a well-formed sacrifice one draws near to Agni, the powerful divine helper, who protects, guides the rite, and increases strength and well-being.
“Ūrjó napāt” means “Child of Energy,” highlighting Agni as the living force of vitality and power that can protect the worshipper’s aim and kindle strength within.
It is suitable for Agni worship at the start of a fire rite (morning/evening), recited with ghee offerings to seek protection, right progress of the ritual, and inner and outer strength.
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