Sukta 145
Sukta 1.145
Dīrghatamas Aucathya (traditional for RV 1.145)
Triṣṭubh
This short Triṣṭubh hymn praises Agni as the all-knowing power who arrives when invoked, hears every word, and contains within himself both the true commands and the fulfillments of the rite. Agni is portrayed as swift-moving and victorious, gathering energies for the sacrifice and revealing to mortals the hidden workings (vayunā) aligned with ṛta (cosmic order). The hymn’s purpose is to establish Agni as the reliable mediator and inner guide whose knowledge makes the yajña effective and truth-bearing.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
तं पृच्छता स जगामा स वेद स चिकित्वाँ ईयते सा न्वीयते । तस्मिन्त्सन्ति प्रशिषस्तस्मिन्निष्टयः स वाजस्य शवसः शुष्मिणस्पतिः ॥
उससे पूछो, वो आ गया है, वो जानता है। वो जाननेवाला है, वो चलता है, फिर से चलता है। उसमें सही बातें हैं, उसमें वो सब है जो पूरा होता है। वो ताकत का मालिक है, बल का मालिक है, जीत का मालिक है।
Mantra 2
तमित्पृच्छन्ति न सिमो वि पृच्छति स्वेनेव धीरो मनसा यदग्रभीत् । न मृष्यते प्रथमं नापरं वचोऽस्य क्रत्वा सचते अप्रदृपितः ॥
लोग उससे पूछते हैं, लेकिन कोई उससे पूरा नहीं पूछ सकता। वो अपने दिमाग से समझता है। वो पहली बात झूठी नहीं करता, ना ही बाद वाली। वो अपनी इच्छा के साथ सच रहता है, कोई धोखा नहीं देता।
Mantra 3
तमिद्गच्छन्ति जुह्वस्तमर्वतीर्विश्वान्येकः शृणवद्वचांसि मे । पुरुप्रैषस्ततुरिर्यज्ञसाधनोऽच्छिद्रोतिः शिशुरादत्त सं रभः ॥
लोग हाथ उठा के उसकी तरफ जाते हैं, ताकतें भी उसकी तरफ दौड़ती हैं। वो अकेला हमारी सारी बातें सुनता है। वो बहुत काम करता है, यज्ञ पूरा करता है। उसकी मदद कभी नहीं टूटी, वो अग्नि का बेटा है जो सब ताकत को पकड़ लेता है।
Mantra 4
उपस्थायं चरति यत्समारत सद्यो जातस्तत्सार युज्येभिः । अभि श्वान्तं मृशते नान्द्ये मुदे यदीं गच्छन्त्युशतीरपिष्ठितम् ॥
अग्नि इंसान के पास आ के बैठता है। वो सही जगह पर आ जाता है। नया जन्म लेकर वो अपनी ताकत के साथ चलना शुरू करता है। इच्छा वाली ताकतें खुशी से उसको छू लेती हैं। वो उसके पास जाती हैं जो पक्की जगह पर बैठा है, जैसे कोई दिया जल रही हो।
Mantra 5
स ईं मृगो अप्यो वनर्गुरुप त्वच्युपमस्यां नि धायि । व्यब्रवीद्वयुना मर्त्येभ्योऽग्निर्विद्वाँ ऋतचिद्धि सत्यः ॥
अग्नि पानी में रहता है और जंगल में घूमता है। उसको ज़मीन पर बिठा दिया गया, सबसे नज़दीक की परत पर। फिर अग्नि, जो सब जानता है, इंसानों को छुपी हुई बातें बताता है। वो सच्चा है और धरम के हिसाब से सही है।
Inside Sukta 145
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Agni is approached through inquiry and invocation: ‘Ask him—he has come; he knows,’ establishing him as present, conscious power.
- Development
Agni is described as the seat of right command and successful fulfillment, lord of strength and victory; he alone hears all speech and drives the rite forward.
- Climax
Agni, the ‘child’ with unbroken help, takes firm hold and gathers the energies of the sacrifice, making it effective and protected.
- Where it settles
Agni reveals the secret workings (vayunā) to mortals and is affirmed as truthful in ṛta, sealing the hymn with a note of revelation and cosmic legality.
The deity: Agni
- Cosmic functionMediator between humans and gods, carrier of oblations, awakener of power and prosperity (vāja), and establisher of sacrifice in harmony with ṛta.
- Inner significanceThe awakened flame of discernment—inner will and clarity that gathers scattered energies, makes speech effective, and reveals the right order of action.
The seer
- Dīrghatamas AucathyaAucathya (descendant of Ucathya; associated in tradition with the Aṅgirasa/Bhṛgu stream of fire-seers) · A visionary poet-seer famed for profound, enigmatic symbolism and for hymns that connect ritual fire with cosmic law (ṛta) and inner knowledge (vayunā).
Famous verses
तं पृच्छता स जगामा स वेद स चिकित्वाँ ईयते सा न्वीयते । तस्मिन्त्सन्ति प्रशिषस्तस्मिन्निष्टयः स वाजस्य शवसः शुष्मिणस्पतिः ॥तमिद्गच्छन्ति जुह्वस्तमर्वतीर्विश्वान्येकः शृणवद्वचांसि मे । पुरुप्रैषस्ततुरिर्यज्ञसाधनोऽच्छिद्रोतिः शिशुरादत्त सं रभः ॥agnir vidvān ṛtacid dhi satyaḥ
Attributes of the deity
- Knower (vidvān, cikitvān)
- Swift-moving, repeatedly advancing (īyate… punar īyate)
- Lord of plenitude and strength (vājasya, śavasaḥ)
- Victorious intensity (śuṣmin)
- Hears all words (ekaḥ śṛṇavad vacāṃsi)
- Accomplisher of yajña (yajñasādhana)
- Truth-aligned with ṛta (ṛtacid hi satyaḥ)
Also by this seer
- Traditionally associated with several hymns in Rigveda Maṇḍala 1 (including adjacent Agni hymns)
- Credited in later tradition with esoteric riddling style and cosmological imagery (often linked with the Dīrghatamas corpus in RV 1.152–1.164)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar and kindle/rekindle the fire with attentive speech and intention.
- Invoke Agni as the knower who ‘has come’ and who hears the sacrificer’s words.
- Offer oblations while affirming Agni as bearer of praśiṣaḥ (right ordinances) and iṣṭayaḥ (successful attainments).
- Request Agni to gather and concentrate energies (saṃ rabhaḥ) for an unbroken, effective rite.
- Conclude with a recognition of Agni’s revelation of vayunā (hidden workings) and his truth in ṛta.
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya)
- Kindling sticks (samidh)
- Grains/cakes as appropriate (havis)
Frequently Asked Questions
It presents Agni as a conscious, knowing power: he comes when invoked, hears the worshipper’s words, and ensures the sacrifice succeeds by bringing right order and fulfillment.
Because Agni is not only physical fire but also the priestly intelligence of the rite—he understands the correct way (ṛta) and reveals hidden workings (vayunā) that make actions effective.
It fits the moment of kindling or addressing the sacred fire: recite to invoke Agni’s presence, ask for concentrated energy and protection of the rite, and affirm truth-aligned action.
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