Sukta 76
Sukta 1.76
Gautama (Gautama Rahūgaṇa tradition for RV 1.76-1.77; family hymn context: Gautamas)
Triṣṭubh (11-syllable pādas; standard for many Agni hymns in this section)
This short Triṣṭubh hymn of the Gautamas addresses Agni as the true Hotṛ and inner priest, asking what right mental approach and inspired insight best reaches him. It prays for Agni’s protective, purifying power to burn hostile forces (rakṣas) and to conduct the rite by bringing the Soma-lord (typically Indra) to the offering. The hymn closes by recalling Agni’s ancient seerhood and urging him to sacrifice today with the “glad ladle,” i.e., a willing and joyful intention.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
का त उपेतिर्मनसो वराय भुवदग्ने शंतमा का मनीषा । को वा यज्ञैः परि दक्षं त आप केन वा ते मनसा दाशेम ॥
अग्निजी, हमारे मन का कैसा रास्ता तुम तक पहुँचे? क्या सोच हम रखें जो तुम्हे अच्छी लगे? किसने यज्ञ के थ्रू तुम्हारी शक्ति को पाया है? हम किस मन से तुम्हे अपना सब कुछ दें?
Mantra 2
एह्यग्न इह होता नि षीदादब्धः सु पुरएता भवा नः । अवतां त्वा रोदसी विश्वमिन्वे यजा महे सौमनसाय देवान् ॥
अग्नि, यहाँ आ जा। यहाँ बैठ जा हमारे लिए पुजारी बन के। तू हमारे आगे चल, हमें सही रास्ता दिखा। आसमान और धरती दोनों तुझे पकड़े रखें। भगवानों के लिए यज्ञ कर ताकि हमारा मन खुश रहे और सब ठीक चले।
Mantra 3
प्र सु विश्वान्रक्षसो धक्ष्यग्ने भवा यज्ञानामभिशस्तिपावा । अथा वह सोमपतिं हरिभ्यामातिथ्यमस्मै चकृमा सुदाव्ने ॥
अग्नि, सारी बुरी ताकतें जला दे। तू हमारी पूजा की रक्षा कर, कोई बुरा हमारे काम में न आए। फिर सोम देव को ला उसके घोड़े ले के। हमने उसके लिए खाना तैयार किया है, वो बहुत दाता है।
Mantra 4
प्रजावता वचसा वह्निरासा च हुवे नि च सत्सीह देवैः । वेषि होत्रमुत पोत्रं यजत्र बोधि प्रयन्तर्जनितर्वसूनाम् ॥
मैं शक्ति भरे शब्दों से तुझे बुलाता हूँ, अग्नि। आ जा, भगवानों के साथ बैठ। तू पुजारी का काम करता है, सबको साफ करता है। जाग जा, आगे बढ़, हमें धन और सुख दे।
Mantra 5
यथा विप्रस्य मनुषो हविर्भिर्देवाँ अयजः कविभिः कविः सन् । एवा होतः सत्यतर त्वमद्याग्ने मन्द्रया जुह्वा यजस्व ॥
जैसे तूने पहले बड़े रिशि के लिए भगवानों की पूजा की थी, वैसे ही अब भी कर। अग्नि, तू सच बोला है, आज भी मन खुश कर के पूजा कर। हाथ में चम्मच ले, भगवानों को भोग लगा।
Inside Sukta 76
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A searching question: what inner approach of mind and what inspired insight best reaches Agni and truly offers oneself to him.
- Development
Agni is asked to make the sacrifice safe and effective—purifying and defending it by consuming hostile forces.
- Climax
Agni’s priestly mastery is asserted: he burns rakṣas and then brings the Soma-lord (with tawny steeds) to the prepared hospitality of the offering.
- Where it settles
The hymn ends by recalling Agni’s ancient seerhood and commanding him, as the most true Hotṛ, to perform the sacrifice now with joyful will (mandrā juhvā).
The deity: Agni
- Cosmic functionMediator between earth and heaven: he carries offerings to the deities, opens the path for divine arrival, and maintains ṛta (right order) through purification and protection of the yajña.
- Inner significanceThe awakened will and discerning flame of aspiration within the practitioner—clarifying intention, rejecting inner darkness, and enabling a true offering of thought, speech, and action.
The seer
- Gautama (Gautama Rahūgaṇa tradition)Gautama gotra (Gautamas of Mandala 1) · A leading early ṛṣi-family of the Rigveda, noted for lucid Agni-invocations that emphasize right intention (manas, manīṣā) and the priestly function of Agni as Hotṛ.
Famous verses
का त उपेतिर्मनसो वराय भुवदग्ने शंतमा का मनीषा । को वा यज्ञैः परि दक्षं त आप केन वा ते मनसा दाशेम ॥pra su viśvān rakṣaso dhakṣi
mandrayā juhvā
Attributes of the deity
- Hotṛ (chief priest of the sacrifice)
- Kavi (seer-wisdom)
- Purifier and protector of yajña
- Burner of rakṣas/negativity
- Messenger who brings the Gods (including the Soma-lord)
- Satyatara (most true, reliable)
Also by this seer
- Rig Veda 1.74–1.84 (Gautama family hymns, including the closely linked RV 1.77)
- Later Vedic memory associates the Gautama line with foundational Brahmanical transmission and priestly lore (śrauta orientation), though the Rigvedic attribution is specifically to the Gautamas.
The rite, step by step
- Kindle and seat Agni; begin praise that aligns mind (manas) and inspired insight (manīṣā) with the rite.
- Request Agni to accept the offering and reveal the right approach—making the sacrificer’s intention ‘peace-giving’ and effective.
- Invoke Agni’s protective function: burn rakṣas and repel hostile assault against the yajña.
- Ask Agni to conduct the rite by bringing the Soma-lord with his steeds to the prepared hospitality (ātithya).
- Conclude with a reaffirmation of Agni as the most-true Hotṛ, urging him to sacrifice ‘today’ with a glad, willing ladle (mandrā juhvā).
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya) into the fire
- Havis (oblations/food-offerings)
- Soma libation context (invitation of the Soma-lord; offering prepared as ātithya)
Frequently Asked Questions
It teaches that the sacrifice succeeds through the right inner intention and insight, while Agni as Hotṛ purifies the rite, protects it from hostile forces, and brings the Gods to the offering.
Because the Vedic yajña is not only an outer ritual; it also requires a truthful, well-directed inner state. The hymn seeks the most peace-giving and effective way to align the mind with Agni.
In many Rigvedic contexts, the Soma-lord with tawny horses points to Indra, invited to drink Soma. Here Agni is asked to bring that deity as the honored guest of the offering.
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