Rig Veda Sukta 3
Mandala 6Sukta 38 Mantras

Sukta 3

Sukta 6.3

Rishi

Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya

Devata

Agni (with Mitra-Varuṇa invoked as allied powers)

Chandas

Trishtubh (probable; verify)

Is mantra mein Agni ki tareef hai jo sacchai aur niyam ka rakshak hai. Agni insaan ko andhere se nikal ke roshni ki taraf le jata hai. Wo mushkil waqt mein humein tangi se bachata hai. Agni raat mein tezi se chalta hai jaise koi chidiya udti hai. Uski chamak bijli jaisi hoti hai jo sabko roshni deti hai. Mitra-Varun ke saath mil ke Agni duniya ka niyam banaye rakhta hai.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 6.3

Mantras

Mantra 1

अग्ने स क्षेषदृतपा ऋतेजा उरु ज्योतिर्नशते देवयुष्टे । यं त्वं मित्रेण वरुणः सजोषा देव पासि त्यजसा मर्तमंहः ॥

Agni bhagwan, jo insaan sach ka pakka rakhwala hota hai, woh aage badhta hai. Sach se uska judta hai. Woh badi roshni tak pahunchta hai, jahan deviyan rehti hain. Agar tum us insaan ki raksha karo, Mitra aur Varun ke saath milkar, toh woh insaan tangi se bach jata hai. Tumhari jeetne wali shakti use bacha leti hai.

Mantra 2

ईजे यज्ञेभिः शशमे शमीभिॠधद्वारायाग्नये ददाश । एवा चन तं यशसामजुष्टिर्नांहो मर्तं नशते न प्रदृप्तिः ॥

Usne havan kiye aur apne aap ko shant kiya. Usne Agni ko diya, jinke bahut darwaze hain. Isliye bade log usko thukrana nahi karte. Na koi tangi aati hai na koi ahankar. Woh insaan sabse accha swikar kiya jata hai.

Mantra 3

सूरो न यस्य दृशतिररेपा भीमा यदेति शुचतस्त आ धीः । हेषस्वतः शुरुधो नायमक्तोः कुत्रा चिद्रण्वो वसतिर्वनेजाः ॥

Uski nazar bilkul saaf hai, jaise Suraj chamakta hai. Jab woh aag ke roop mein nikalta hai, toh uska dimag bahut taqatwar lagta hai. Woh chillata hai aur usein rokna mushkil hai. Raat ko bhi woh nahi rukta. Yeh jo jungle mein paida hua hai, uska ghar kahan hai? Bahut accha lagta hai.

Mantra 4

तिग्मं चिदेम महि वर्पो अस्य भसदश्वो न यमसान आसा । विजेहमानः परशुर्न जिह्वां द्रविर्न द्रावयति दारु धक्षत् ॥

Jab woh aata hai toh bahut tez hota hai. Uska roop bada hai. Woh ghode ki tarah saans leta hai, jaise ghoda daud mein thak jata hai. Uski jeebh kulhadi ki tarah kaam karti hai. Woh loha pighalne wale ki tarah cheezon ko pighla deta hai. Usne lakdi ko jala diya.

Mantra 5

स इदस्तेव प्रति धादसिष्यञ्छिशीत तेजोऽयसो न धाराम् । चित्रध्रजतिररतिर्यो अक्तोर्वेर्न द्रुषद्वा रघुपत्मजंहाः ॥

Agni aisa hilta hai jaise koi apna target dekh ke chal raha ho. Uski aag itni tej hai jaise lohe ki dhaar. Woh chamak ke chalta hai, thakta nahi. Raat mein woh ped par chidiya ki tarah hilta hai, tez pankh, tez pair.

Mantra 6

स ईं रेभो न प्रति वस्त उस्राः शोचिषा रारपीति मित्रमहाः । नक्तं य ईमरुषो यो दिवा नॄनमर्त्यो अरुषो यो दिवा नॄन् ॥

Agni ek achha gaana gaane wale ki tarah hai. Woh subah ki roshni mein kapde pehen ke chamakta hai. Uski aag se din achhe lagte hain. Woh raat ko laal chamakta hai, aur din mein logon ko raasta dikhata hai. Woh amar hai, woh laal roshni jo din mein logon ko aage le chalti hai.

Mantra 7

दिवो न यस्य विधतो नवीनोद्वृषा रुक्ष ओषधीषु नूनोत् । घृणा न यो ध्रजसा पत्मना यन्ना रोदसी वसुना दं सुपत्नी ॥

Agni jaise aasmaan naya ban jata hai, waise hi woh bhakt ko naya bana deta hai. Woh bail ki tarah taqat se pedon mein jaan daalta hai. Woh garm chamak ki tarah tezi se aata hai. Woh dono duniya mein aata hai, jaise koi ghar aaye, dono jagah khushali le ke.

Mantra 8

धायोभिर्वा यो युज्येभिरर्कैर्विद्युन्न दविद्योत्स्वेभिः शुष्मैः । शर्धो वा यो मरुतां ततक्ष ऋभुर्न त्वेषो रभसानो अद्यौत् ॥

Agni bijli ki tarah chamakta hai apni taqat se. Ya phir woh Marut devtaon ki sena banata hai. Woh Rishi ki tarah tez aur fast hai. Aaj woh chamak ke nikla hai.

Inside Sukta 3

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Agni is introduced as ṛta’s guardian who grants expansive light and saves the protected mortal from constriction, in harmony with Mitra–Varuṇa.

  2. Development

    The hymn elaborates Agni’s dynamic form—sharpened brilliance, swift motion, tireless activity through night—showing how his power operates in the world and in ritual.

  3. Climax

    Agni’s force peaks as lightning-like flashing through his own might and through “yoked hymns,” revealing him as a master power that can even ‘fashion’/marshal the Marut host.

  4. Where it settles

    The praise settles into assurance: Agni’s ordered, truth-bearing energy remains available through hymn and offering, continuing protection and illumination for the devotee.

The deity: Agni

  • In the VedaAgni is the ever-young, blazing priest and messenger, “ṛtapā/ṛtejā” (keeper and born of ṛta), who grants uru jyotis (wide light) to the godward traveler. He is depicted as sharp-edged like iron, swift and tireless, flashing like lightning through his own śuṣma (mighty energies).
  • Cosmic functionMediator between humans and gods through sacrifice; establisher and protector of ṛta; illuminator who opens the path of prosperity and safeguards life from constriction and sin/anguish (aṃhas).
  • Inner significanceThe awakened will and discernment-fire that burns away limitation, aligns the mind with truth, and leads to expansive clarity (wide light). In alliance with Mitra–Varuṇa, it also symbolizes ethical order, right relationship, and self-restraint that protect the seeker.

The seer

  • Bharadvāja BārhaspatyaBharadvāja-gotra (Āṅgirasa/Bārhaspatya line) · A principal seer of the Rig Veda’s 6th Maṇḍala, renowned for hymns to Agni that unite ritual fire with ṛta (truth/order) and protective divine governance.

Famous verses

uru jyotiḥ
Verse 6.3.1Defines the hymn’s core theology: Agni as ṛta-keeper and truth-born, leading to “wide light,” and protecting the mortal—explicitly in concert with Mitra–Varuṇa.Read verse 6.3.1 →
स इदस्तेव प्रति धादसिष्यञ्छिशीत तेजोऽयसो न धाराम् । चित्रध्रजतिररतिर्यो अक्तोर्वेर्न द्रुषद्वा रघुपत्मजंहाः ॥
Verse 6.3.5A vivid poetic portrayal of Agni’s sharpened, iron-like edge and swift night-movement, conveying both ritual fire’s intensity and the deity’s tireless agency.Read verse 6.3.5 →
vidyun na (like lightning)
Verse 6.3.8Summarizes Agni’s lightning-like epiphany powered by hymns and might; also presents him as artisan-like (Ṛbhu-comparable) and connected with the Marut energies.Read verse 6.3.8 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Ṛta-guardian (ṛtapā) and truth-born (ṛtejā)
  • Illuminator granting “wide light” (uru jyotis)
  • Protective power saving from aṃhas (distress/sin)
  • Swift-moving, tireless, night-traversing flame
  • Sharp, purified brilliance (like an iron edge)
  • Lightning-like flashing through innate might
  • Allied with Mitra–Varuṇa in maintaining order

Also by this seer

  • Large portions of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 6 are attributed to Bharadvāja seers (the Bharadvāja family book).
  • Numerous Agni hymns in Maṇḍala 6 emphasizing priestly function (hotṛ), protection, and illumination.
  • Tradition associates the Bharadvāja lineage with later Vedic learning and transmission of ritual knowledge (śrauta orientation).

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/fireplace (vedi) and kindle Agni with kindling (samidh).
  • Establish Agni as hotṛ/messenger through recitation of the hymn (Triṣṭubh verses).
  • Invoke Agni’s ṛta-protective aspect and explicitly call his accord with Mitra–Varuṇa for safeguarding the sacrificer.
  • Offer oblations into the fire while reciting selected mantras (especially RV 6.3.1 for protection and right path).
  • Conclude with praise of Agni’s flashing power and artisan-like efficacy, seeking continued illumination and protection beyond the rite.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya)
  • Kindling sticks (samidh)
  • Optional: grains or soma-related offerings depending on the larger rite context

Frequently Asked Questions

It teaches that Agni, aligned with ṛta (truth and cosmic order), leads the devotee to a broad, clear “light” and protects the person from distress and narrowing fear.

Mitra–Varuṇa represent moral and cosmic order; the hymn shows Agni working in harmony with them so protection is not just power, but power guided by truth and right law.

As a bright, sharp, fast-moving fire—active even in the night—who can flash like lightning and who carries prayers and offerings while guarding the worshipper.

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