Sukta 19
Sukta 1.19
Kāṇva (traditional for RV 1.19, Agni with Maruts)
Gāyatrī
RV 1.19 is a brief Gāyatrī hymn repeatedly inviting Agni to come “with the Maruts” to the beautiful, well-ordered sacrifice, to guard it (gopīthā) and empower the rite. The Maruts are praised as bright yet formidable, strong in rightful rule and destroyers of what harms, so that their storm-force and Agni’s flame together clear obstacles and kindle inspired action. The hymn culminates in the Soma-offering motif: the priest pours the honeyed Soma for Agni’s first draught, sealing the alliance of fire, breath-winds, and offering.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
प्रति त्यं चारुमध्वरं गोपीथाय प्र हूयसे । मरुद्भिरग्न आ गहि ॥
अग्नि, तुम्हे इस सुंदर यज्ञ के लिए बुलाया जा रहा है। यह यज्ञ आगे बढ़ रहा है और इसकी हिफाज़त होनी चाहिए। मरुत गण के साथ आ जाओ। वो हवा और ताक़त के देवता हैं।
Mantra 2
नहि देवो न मर्त्यो महस्तव क्रतुं परः । मरुद्भिरग्न आ गहि ॥
अग्नि, न कोई देवता और न ही कोई इंसान तुझसे बड़ा है। तेरी ताक़त और अक्ल सबसे ऊपर है। इसलिए मरुत गण के साथ आ जाओ। अपनी बड़ी शक्ति हमारे काम में लाओ।
Mantra 3
ये महो रजसो विदुर्विश्वे देवासो अद्रुहः । मरुद्भिरग्न आ गहि ॥
अग्नि, मरुत गण के साथ आ जाओ। यह सब देवता हैं जो बहुत बड़े आसमान को जानते हैं। यह कभी धोखा नहीं देते। यह सच बात जानते हैं और हमारे दिल को साफ़ रखते हैं।
Mantra 4
य उग्रा अर्कमानृचुरनाधृष्टास ओजसा । मरुद्भिरग्न आ गहि ॥
अग्नि, मरुत गण के साथ आ जाओ। यह बहुत तेज़ देवता हैं। उन्होंने यज्ञ के गाने गाए हैं। उनकी ताक़त आगे कोई नहीं रोक सकता। वो अंदर की रुकावट तोड़ देते हैं और शब्द को जला देते हैं।
Mantra 5
ये शुभ्रा घोरवर्पसः सुक्षत्रासो रिशादसः । मरुद्भिरग्न आ गहि ॥
अग्नि, मरुत गण के साथ आ जाओ। यह चमकदार हैं और डरावने रूप में भी तेज़। यह सही राज चलाने में मज़बूत हैं। यह बुरी चीज़ों को नष्ट करते हैं जो हमें नुक़सान पहुँचाती हैं।
Mantra 6
ये नाकस्याधि रोचने दिवि देवास आसते । मरुद्भिरग्न आ गहि ॥
अग्नि, आओ मरुत के साथ। वोह लोग आसमान में रहते हैं, सबसे ऊपर चमकते हैं। वोह जो रोशनी वाली जगह है, वहाँ बैठे हैं। आप उनके साथ आओ।
Mantra 7
य ईङ्खयन्ति पर्वतान्तिरः समुद्रमर्णवम् । मरुद्भिरग्न आ गहि ॥
अग्नि, मरुत के साथ आओ। वोह पहाड़ हिला देते हैं। वोह समुंदर से पार निकल जाते हैं। बड़ी बड़ी चीज़ें हिला देंगे वोह। आप उनके साथ आओ।
Mantra 8
आ ये तन्वन्ति रश्मिभिस्तिरः समुद्रमोजसा । मरुद्भिरग्न आ गहि ॥
अग्नि, मरुत के साथ आओ। वोह अपनी किरणें फैला देते हैं समुंदर के ऊपर। रोशनी के धागे बिछा देते हैं। उनकी ताकत बहुत बड़ी है। आप उनके साथ आओ।
Mantra 9
अभि त्वा पूर्वपीतये सृजामि सोम्यं मधु । मरुद्भिरग्न आ गहि ॥
अग्नि, मैं सोम रस निकाल रहा हूँ आपके लिए। यह पहली बार है, आप पियो। मरुत के साथ आओ और ले लो। यह रस बहुत मीठा है और ताकत देता है।
Inside Sukta 19
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Agni is called toward the fair, forward-moving sacrifice for guardianship (gopīthā), explicitly asked to come with the Maruts.
- Development
The hymn characterizes the Maruts as bright and awe-inspiring, strong in rightful power and hostile to harm; their energies are aligned with Agni’s flame to protect and energize the ritual.
- Climax
The protective and purifying force peaks as the Maruts are invoked as destroyers of what obstructs, ensuring the sacrifice proceeds unimpeded.
- Where it settles
The priest pours the Soma-honey for Agni’s first draught, closing with the refrain that seals the joint arrival and enjoyment of the offering.
The deity: Agni
- Cosmic functionHe mediates heaven and earth through the yajña, transforms oblations into divine nourishment, and—joined with the Maruts—sets the life-forces and atmospheric powers in motion for protection, rain, and vitality.
- Inner significanceAgni signifies awakened will, clarity, and transformative intelligence; the Maruts signify dynamic energies (breath, impulse, courageous force). Together they represent disciplined inner fire guided and amplified by vigorous life-power, removing inner ‘devourers’ (harmful impulses) and enabling ascent.
The seer
- Kāṇva (Kāṇva family seer; attribution varies within the Kāṇva corpus)Kāṇva gotra (descendants/tradition of the seer Kaṇva) · The Kāṇvas are among the principal early Ṛgvedic families, noted for compact, powerful hymns to Agni, Indra, and the Maruts, and for a strong ritual voice that closely follows the liturgy of the Soma sacrifice.
Famous verses
marudbhir agna ā gahi
śubhrā ghoravarpasaḥ
pūrvapītaye… somyaṃ madhu
Attributes of the deity
- Hotṛ and divine messenger (dūta)
- Guardian/fosterer of the rite (gopīthā)
- Purifier and obstacle-burner
- Soma-enjoyer at the offering
- Allied with the Maruts’ storming vigor
- Bringer of strength, protection, and right order (ṛta)
Also by this seer
- Many hymns in Rig Veda Mandala 1 associated with the Kāṇva lineage (Agni, Indra, Maruts)
- Kāṇva-associated sequences in the early Rigvedic corpus emphasizing Soma-pressing and priestly invitation formulae (ā gahi, etc.)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare and kindle the ritual fire; establish the altar and order of the adhvara.
- Recite the repeated invitation refrain ‘marudbhir agna ā gahi’ to summon Agni together with the Maruts.
- Praise the Maruts’ brightness and formidable power, asking them to destroy what harms and to guard the rite.
- Offer ghee/oblations into Agni while maintaining the invocation and protective intention (gopīthā).
- Pour out the honeyed Soma (somyaṃ madhu) for Agni’s ‘first drinking’ (pūrvapītaye), inviting divine participation.
- Conclude with reaffirmation of arrival, protection, and the rite’s forward movement.
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya) and ritual oblations into fire
- Soma (often described as madhu, ‘honey’)
- Optional: fragrant woods/grass as fuel and seating (as per broader rite)
Frequently Asked Questions
It invites Agni to come to the sacrifice together with the Maruts, asking for protection of the rite and removal of harmful forces, and it culminates in offering Soma to Agni.
The Maruts represent powerful, purifying storm-energies that guard and strengthen the sacrifice; joined with Agni, they help destroy obstacles and energize the ritual’s success.
It means “Soma-honey,” a sweet, delightful Soma offering poured out for the deity—here given for Agni’s ‘first drinking’ as part of the sacrificial sequence.
Ask anything about Sukta 19 of the Rig Veda
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
