Sukta 60
Sukta 1.60
Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya (traditional for RV 1.60)
Triṣṭubh
This short Triṣṭubh hymn praises Agni as the radiant “signal of the assembly” and the swift messenger whose action brings immediate effect in sacrifice. It recalls the mythic bringing of Agni by Mātariśvan to the Bhṛgus and links that primeval gift to the human act of kindling Agni again and again from the heart and from the ritual ground. The hymn culminates in the poet’s proclamation of Agni as lord of riches and in a dawn-oriented prayer for quick arrival and inner illumination.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
वह्निं यशसं विदथस्य केतुं सुप्राव्यं दूतं सद्योअर्थम् । द्विजन्मानं रयिमिव प्रशस्तं रातिं भरद्भृगवे मातरिश्वा ॥
मातरिश्वन ने भृगु रिशि को एक तोहफा दिया। वो तोहफा अग्नि है। यह अग्नि बहुत बढ़िया है, सबके सामने चमकता है। जल्दी काम करता है, पैगाम ले जाता है। दो बार जन्मा है यह अग्नि। लोग इसकी तारीफ करते हैं जैसे कोई बड़ा धन मिल गया हो।
Mantra 2
अस्य शासुरुभयासः सचन्ते हविष्मन्त उशिजो ये च मर्ताः । दिवश्चित्पूर्वो न्यसादि होतापृच्छ्यो विश्पतिर्विक्षु वेधाः ॥
अग्नि के नियम को सब मानते हैं। जो लोग हवन करते हैं, वो भी। जो साधे साधे इंसान हैं, वो भी। यह होता पुराना है, आसमान से भी पहले से है। बैठा है अपनी जगह पे। पूछो तो बताता है, सबका मालिक है, समझदार है।
Mantra 3
तं नव्यसी हृद आ जायमानमस्मत्सुकीर्तिर्मधुजिह्वमश्याः । यमृत्विजो वृजने मानुषासः प्रयस्वन्त आयवो जीजनन्त ॥
हमारी बढ़िया नाम-नी हो, वो इस अग्नि तक पहुंचे। यह अग्नि दिल से निकलता है। मीठी बात करता है। पंडित लोग खुले मैदान में इसको वापस लाते हैं। मेहनत करते हैं, पूजा करते हैं। बार बार इसको जगाते हैं।
Mantra 4
उशिक्पावको वसुर्मानुषेषु वरेण्यो होताधायि विक्षु । दमूना गृहपतिर्दम आँ अग्निर्भुवद्रयिपती रयीणाम् ॥
यह अग्नि चमकता है, साफ है। इंसानों के बीच में खजाना है। पूजा के वक्त सबसे पहले इसको बुलाते हैं। घर में रहता है, घर का मालिक है। हमारे पास आता है। धन और दौलत का रक्षा करता है।
Mantra 5
तं त्वा वयं पतिमग्ने रयीणां प्र शंसामो मतिभिर्गोतमासः । आशुं न वाजम्भरं मर्जयन्तः प्रातर्मक्षू धियावसुर्जगम्यात् ॥
हम गौतम परिवार के लोग अग्नि को पुकारते हैं। अग्नि, तुम धन का मालिक हो। हम अपनी सोच से तुम्हारी महिमा गाते हैं। जैसे कोई तेज़ घोड़ा ताकत ले कर आता है, वैसे ही हम अपनी पूजा साफ़ करके लाते हैं। सुबह सुबह, जब रोशनी आती है, तब तक तुम आ जाओ। तुम्हारे पास ज्ञान की ताकत है।
Inside Sukta 60
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Agni is introduced as a glorious, immediately effective messenger—brought as a primeval gift by Mātariśvan to the Bhṛgus.
- Development
The hymn shifts from mythic transmission to lived ritual reality: Agni is continuously re-born through human effort and priestly kindling in the open ritual ground.
- Climax
Agni is celebrated as “born from the heart” and “honey-tongued,” the ever-new object of good fame and the repeatedly awakened divine presence.
- Where it settles
The poets proclaim Agni as lord of plenitudes and pray for swift, purified approach—especially at dawn—bringing insight-rich prosperity and illumination.
The deity: Agni
- In the VedaHe is dvijanmā (double-born)—born in heaven and on earth, and also re-born through human kindling—possessing a “honeyed tongue” that enjoys and conveys oblations.
- Cosmic functionHe mediates between humans and gods, transporting offerings and prayers, establishing ṛta through the ordered rite, and awakening light/heat that sustains life and social-sacrificial order.
- Inner significanceAgni represents awakened will and luminous intelligence (tejas), the inner fire kindled “from the heart,” transforming effort and speech into clarity, courage, and auspicious outcomes.
The seer
- Bharadvāja BārhaspatyaBharadvāja-gotra (Āṅgirasa/Bārhaspatya tradition) · A major early Ṛgvedic seer associated with powerful Agni and Bṛhaspati-inspired (Bārhaspatya) poetic vision, emphasizing correct kindling, inspired speech, and prosperity through sacrifice.
Famous verses
dvijanmānaṃ
hṛda ā jāyamānam / madhujihvam
patiṃ agne rayīṇām
Attributes of the deity
- Messenger between worlds (dūta)
- Carrier of oblations (vahni)
- Banner of the sacrifice/assembly (ketu)
- Double-born (dvijanmā) and repeatedly kindled
- Honey-tongued (madhujihva) receiver of offerings
- Swift, immediately effective presence (sadyo-artham)
- Lord/master of riches and plenitudes (pati of rayi)
Also by this seer
- Rig Veda Maṇḍala 6 is traditionally associated with the Bharadvāja family of seers (Bharadvāja-gotra hymns).
- Numerous Agni-focused hymns across the family corpus that stress Agni as dūta (messenger) and as the source of rayi (wealth/prosperity).
- Later tradition associates Bharadvāja with śāstra lineages and dharma narratives, though the primary Vedic footprint is the Bharadvāja hymn-family in the Ṛgveda.
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar/ritual ground (vṛjana) and arrange kindling sticks (samidh).
- Kindle Agni as the re-born fire, aligning breath/heart-intent with mantra (Agni ‘born from the heart’).
- Offer ghee and simple oblations while reciting praise of Agni as vahni and dūta.
- Invoke the mythic precedent: Agni brought by Mātariśvan to the Bhṛgus—linking present rite to primordial transmission.
- Conclude with proclamation of Agni as lord of riches and a request for swift arrival and dawn-illumination.
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya)
- Kindling sticks (samidh)
- Simple food oblations (havis, as customary)
Frequently Asked Questions
It recalls Mātariśvan bringing Agni as a divine gift to the Bhṛgus, and connects that ancient event to the daily act of kindling Agni in the ritual.
Because Agni has a cosmic birth (as divine fire/light) and a repeated human birth when priests kindle him again in the ritual fire.
It points to inner intention and inspired speech: Agni is not only a physical flame but also the awakened fire of will and insight arising from the heart during worship.
Ask anything about Sukta 60 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.
