Sukta 2
Sukta 10.2
This hymn invokes Agni as the youngest and most capable Hotṛ who knows ṛtu (right seasons/timings) and can correctly “set” the gods into their proper order in sacrifice. It asks Agni to nourish the gods, repair human lapses in divine ordinances, and blaze within the worshippers—knowing even the ancestral path (pitṛyāṇa) and guiding the rite to luminous success.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
पिप्रीहि देवाँ उशतो यविष्ठ विद्वाँ ऋतूँॠतुपते यजेह । ये दैव्या ऋत्विजस्तेभिरग्ने त्वं होतॄणामस्यायजिष्ठः ॥
हे छोटा, भगवानों को खुश कर दे जो तुझे चाहते हैं। तू समय जानता है, सही वक्त का मालिक है, यहाँ यज्ञ कर। जो देवता हैं और यज्ञ करते हैं, उनके साथ तू सबसे अच्छा पुरोहित है इस यज्ञ का।
Mantra 2
वेषि होत्रमुत पोत्रं जनानां मन्धातासि द्रविणोदा ऋतावा । स्वाहा वयं कृणवामा हवींषि देवो देवान्यजत्वग्निरर्हन् ॥
तू लोगों का पुरोहित है, यज्ञ का काम करता है। तू समझदार है, देता है, धरम को संभालता है। हम स्वाहा बोल के सामग्री तैयार करते हैं। अग्नि भगवान, तू योग्य है, भगवानों के लिए यज्ञ कर।
Mantra 3
आ देवानामपि पन्थामगन्म यच्छक्नवाम तदनु प्रवोळ्हुम् । अग्निर्विद्वान्त्स यजात्सेदु होता सो अध्वरान्त्स ऋतून्कल्पयाति ॥
हम भगवानों के रास्ते पे चले आए हैं। जितना हो सके हम उसके पीछे चलते हैं। अग्नि जो सब जानता है, वो यज्ञ करेगा। वो पुरोहित है, वो ही यज्ञ और सही वक्त को ठीक से सेट करता है।
Mantra 4
यद्वो वयं प्रमिनाम व्रतानि विदुषां देवा अविदुष्टरासः । अग्निष्टद्विश्वमा पृणाति विद्वान्येभिर्देवाँ ऋतुभिः कल्पयाति ॥
अगर हम भगवान, तुम्हारे नियम तोड़ दें, क्योंकि हम जानने वाले से कम समझदे हैं, तो अग्नि सब ठीक कर देता है। वो जानता है सब कुछ। वो सही समय पे भगवान को सही जगह लगाता है।
Mantra 5
यत्पाकत्रा मनसा दीनदक्षा न यज्ञस्य मन्वते मर्त्यासः । अग्निष्टद्धोता क्रतुविद्विजानन्यजिष्ठो देवाँ ऋतुशो यजाति ॥
जब लोग यज्ञ सही से नहीं समझते, उनका दिमाग छोटा है, कमज़ोर है, तो अग्नि खुद पूजा कर देता है। वो जानता है मन में क्या है। वो भगवान के लिए सब सही से करता है।
Mantra 6
विश्वेषां ह्यध्वराणामनीकं चित्रं केतुं जनिता त्वा जजान । स आ यजस्व नृवतीरनु क्षा स्पार्हा इषः क्षुमतीर्विश्वजन्याः ॥
तुम्हे बनाया गया है सब पूजा के लिए, चमकते हुए चेहरे जैसा, एक अच्छा निशानी। इसलिए पूजा करो, धरती के साथ चलो। जो चीज़ें चाहिए वो पाओ, जो सबको खिलाती हैं।
Mantra 7
यं त्वा द्यावापृथिवी यं त्वापस्त्वष्टा यं त्वा सुजनिमा जजान । पन्थामनु प्रविद्वान्पितृयाणं द्युमदग्ने समिधानो वि भाहि ॥
अग्नि, तुम्हे आसमान और धरती ने बनाया। पानी ने बनाया। तुम अच्छे जनम से आए हो। तुम पुरखों का रास्ता जानते हो। अब चमक के उठो, अंदर से रोशनी लाओ।
Inside Sukta 2
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Agni is urged to nourish the gods and to sacrifice here as the youngest, season-knowing lord of right timings.
- Development
Agni is affirmed as the most fitting Hotṛ, working with divine officiants and arranging the gods through the proper ṛtus.
- Climax
A pivotal admission of human inadequacy—if ordinances are diminished through ignorance, Agni the knower completes and restores the whole by right order.
- Where it settles
Agni’s cosmic births are recalled, and he is asked to blaze within, knowing the ancestral path (pitṛyāṇa) and granting luminous radiance to the worshippers.
The deity: Agni
- In the VedaHe is portrayed as born of Heaven-and-Earth, the Waters, and fashioned by Tvaṣṭṛ, shining when kindled and establishing right order.
- Cosmic functionMediator between humans and gods; transformer of offerings into divine share; maintainer of ṛta through correct timing (ṛtu) and ritual coordination.
- Inner significanceThe awakened inner fire—discernment and aspiration—that corrects error, aligns one’s actions with right order, and illuminates the ‘path’ of tradition and ancestral wisdom.
The seer
- Anukramaṇī-attributed: Vatsapri Bhālandana (traditional)Bhālandana (Angirasa-associated line in later tradition) · Associated with late (10th maṇḍala) Agni hymns emphasizing ṛtu-knowledge, correct ritual ordering, and Agni as the exemplary Hotṛ.
Famous verses
ṛtupate (lord of ṛtu/right timing)
यद्वो वयं प्रमिनाम व्रतानि विदुषां देवा अविदुष्टरासः । अग्निष्टद्विश्वमा पृणाति विद्वान्येभिर्देवाँ ऋतुभिः कल्पयाति ॥pitṛyāṇam (the path of the Fathers)
Attributes of the deity
- Hotṛ (chief invoker/priest)
- Ṛtupati (lord/knower of seasons and right timings)
- Messenger between worlds
- Purifier and transformer
- Restorer who “fills up” deficiencies in observance
- Radiant, kindled presence within the worshipper
Also by this seer
- Traditional attribution to RV 10.1–10.5 (Agni cycle) in some recensions/indices
- Linked in later ritual memory to Agni-invocation (āhvāna) and Hotṛ-priestly themes
The rite, step by step
- Prepare altar and fuel; establish ritual purity and intent.
- Kindle Agni (samidh) and invoke him as Hotṛ and ṛtupati.
- Invite the divine ṛtvij-s (celestial officiants) conceptually, asking Agni to coordinate them.
- Offer oblations with seasonally/right-timed formulas, requesting nourishment of the gods.
- Confess or acknowledge possible lapses in vrata (ordinances) and ask Agni to repair the deficiency.
- Conclude with a prayer for Agni to blaze within the worshippers, guiding along the ancestral path and granting luminous well-being.
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya) oblations
- Kindling sticks (samidh)
- Optional: soma-related offerings when embedded in soma ritual context
- Grain/cakes by local śrauta/gṛhya adaptation
Frequently Asked Questions
It asks Agni to conduct the sacrifice with perfect timing and order, to nourish the gods, and to correct any mistakes humans make in observing sacred rules.
Because he is seen as the knower and lord of ṛtu—right seasons and right ritual timing—so he can place the gods and offerings correctly within the rite.
It means “the path of the Fathers,” the ancestral way or route associated with the departed and tradition; the hymn asks Agni, who knows that path, to shine within and guide the worshipper.
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