Sukta 4
Sukta 10.4
Agni
This hymn praises Agni as the ancient king and household lord who becomes a refuge for the sacrificer, like a life-giving spring in a barren land. It marvels at Agni’s hidden-yet-active nature—lying concealed, then leaping forth to “taste” the offering—while asking him to protect family, offspring, and the integrity of one’s body and life-course. Overall, it is both an invocation for successful yajña and a prayer for safeguarding prosperity and continuity.
Mantras
Mantra 1
प्र ते यक्षि प्र त इयर्मि मन्म भुवो यथा वन्द्यो नो हवेषु । धन्वन्निव प्रपा असि त्वमग्न इयक्षवे पूरवे प्रत्न राजन् ॥
मैं अग्नि के लिए पूजा कर रहा हूँ और अपना मन भेज रहा हूँ ताकि वो हमारे बुलावे के लायिक हो जाए। अग्नि, तू जैसे रेगिस्तान में पानी का चश्मा है, वैसे ही तू हमारे लिए सुरक्षा है। तू पुराना राजा है जो बलिदान करने वालों की मदद करता है।
Mantra 2
यं त्वा जनासो अभि संचरन्ति गाव उष्णमिव व्रजं यविष्ठ । दूतो देवानामसि मर्त्यानामन्तर्महाँश्चरसि रोचनेन ॥
अग्नि, तू सबसे छोटा है लेकिन लोग तेरे पास आते हैं जैसे गायें गरम स्टेबल में आती हैं। तू देवताओं का मैसेंजर है और इंसानों के लिए भी काम करता है। तू अंदर से बड़ा है और रोशनी के साथ चले जाता है।
Mantra 3
शिशुं न त्वा जेन्यं वर्धयन्ती माता बिभर्ति सचनस्यमाना । धनोरधि प्रवता यासि हर्यञ्जिगीषसे पशुरिवावसृष्टः ॥
जैसे माँ अपना बच्चा बड़ा करती है और उसे गोद में उठा के रखती है, वैसे ही अग्नि को भी ताकत मिलती है। वो धनुष से निकल कर नीचे की तरफ जाता है, जीतने के लिए तैयार। जैसे कोई जानवर को आज़ाद कर दिया जाए, वैसे वो भी आज़ाद है।
Mantra 4
मूरा अमूर न वयं चिकित्वो महित्वमग्ने त्वमङ्ग वित्से । शये वव्रिश्चरति जिह्वयादन्रेरिह्यते युवतिं विश्पतिः सन् ॥
हम कन्फ्यूज़ हैं, लेकिन अग्नि को पता है वो कितना बड़ा है। वो छुपा हुआ है, फिर भी चलता है और अपनी जीभ से खाता है। वो घर का मालिक है और नए बलिदान को ढूंढता है जैसे कोई दुलहन को ढूंढता है।
Mantra 5
कूचिज्जायते सनयासु नव्यो वने तस्थौ पलितो धूमकेतुः । अस्नातापो वृषभो न प्र वेति सचेतसो यं प्रणयन्त मर्ताः ॥
वो कहीं-कहीं नए जनम में पैदा होता है। जंगल में वो खड़ा रहता है, बालों से ढक्का हुआ, धुआँ उसका निशान है। उसने पानी से नहाया नहीं, फिर भी बैल की तरह आगे बढ़ता है। जो लोग जाग के इसे आगे ले जाते हैं, वो इंसान हैं।
Mantra 6
तनूत्यजेव तस्करा वनर्गू रशनाभिर्दशभिरभ्यधीताम् । इयं ते अग्ने नव्यसी मनीषा युक्ष्वा रथं न शुचयद्भिरङ्गैः ॥
जैसे चोर अपना बदन छोड़ देते हैं, वैसे ही जंगल में घूमने वाले दस पट्टियों से बंधे जाते हैं। मेरी यह सोच भी ऐसे ही तुमसे जुड़ी है। अग्नि, यह तुम्हारे लिए नया आइडिया है, इसे रथ की तरह जोड़ो, चमकते हिस्सों से।
Mantra 7
ब्रह्म च ते जातवेदो नमश्चेयं च गीः सदमिद्वर्धनी भूत् । रक्षा णो अग्ने तनयानि तोका रक्षोत नस्तन्वो अप्रयुच्छन् ॥
जातवेदस, तुम्हारे लिए यह पवित्र शब्द है और यह प्रणाम है। यह गाना हमेशा बढ़ता रहे। अग्नि, हमारे बच्चों को और हमारी आने वाली पीढ़ी को बचा। हमारे बदन को भी रक्षा, कि वो ठीक से काम करते रहें।
Inside Sukta 4
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The poet sends forth thought and offering to Agni, asking him to become worthy of the community’s calls and to act as a refuge for the sacrificer.
- Development
Agni is portrayed through vivid paradox: concealed yet moving, feeding with his tongue, repeatedly ‘licking’ the fresh offering—lordly, intimate, and powerful within the home.
- Climax
Recognition of Agni’s self-known greatness (mahitva): humans may be confused, but Agni fully knows his own vast power and role in the rite.
- Where it settles
The hymn settles into devotion—brahman (sacred utterance), homage, and song—and ends with a clear protective prayer for offspring, continuity, and the body’s steadfastness.
The deity: Agni
- In the VedaAgni is the ever-young yet ancient fire-principle: the household lord (viśpati), knower of births (jātavedas), priest and messenger who receives offerings with his tongue and carries them to the gods.
- Cosmic functionMediator between humans and devas; transforms oblations into divine nourishment, sustains ṛta through sacrifice, and kindles vitality and protection within the dwelling and community.
- Inner significanceThe awakened will and discerning flame of consciousness that ‘digests’ experience, refines intention into prayer, and guards the continuity of life—body, lineage, and right conduct.
The seer
- Dīrghatamas Āucathya (traditional attribution)Āucathya (associated with the Aṅgirasa/Br̥haspatya stream in later tradition) · A celebrated visionary-poet noted for paradoxical, symbolic language and profound reflections on Agni, speech (vāc), and cosmic order; famed especially for enigmatic hymns in the late Rigvedic corpus.
Famous verses
dhanvann iva prapā asi ("like a spring in the desert you are a refuge")
मूरा अमूर न वयं चिकित्वो महित्वमग्ने त्वमङ्ग वित्से । शये वव्रिश्चरति जिह्वयादन्रेरिह्यते युवतिं विश्पतिः सन् ॥rakṣā ṇo agne tanayāni tokā ("Protect for us, O Agni, our children and descendants")
Attributes of the deity
- Ancient king and leader of sacrifice
- Hidden and manifest (concealed in fuel, revealed as flame)
- Tongued consumer of offerings
- Household lord and protector
- Messenger who conveys hymns/oblations to the gods
- Jātavedas—knower of all births and origins
Also by this seer
- Rig Veda Mandala 1, hymns traditionally linked to Dīrghatamas (notably the riddle-hymn complex such as RV 1.164 in later tradition)
- Additional Agni-focused and speculative hymns in the Rigvedic tradition attributed by some Anukramaṇī lists to Dīrghatamas
The rite, step by step
- Prepare and clean the altar/hearth; arrange kindling (samidh) and fuel.
- Kindle Agni with recitation and focused intention (manman), inviting him as ‘ancient king’.
- Offer ghee/oblations while praising Agni as refuge and household lord.
- Continue with hymns acknowledging Agni’s hidden power and active ‘tongue’ that consumes offerings.
- Conclude with protective petitions for children, descendants, and bodily wholeness (tanū), sealing the rite with reverence (namaḥ).
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya)
- Kindling sticks (samidh)
- Grain/cakes in extended rites (contextual)
- Soma or substitute offerings when integrated into larger yajñas (contextual)
Frequently Asked Questions
It invokes Agni to accept the offering, empower the sacrifice, and act as a protective refuge for the worshipper—especially safeguarding home, family, and continuity.
Because fire is concealed in fuel and kindling until awakened; once lit, it actively consumes the offering. The imagery teaches that Agni’s power is subtle but becomes visible through ritual and attention.
It can be recited when lighting a lamp or sacred fire, while offering ghee or simple oblations, and as a prayer for protection of health, children, and household well-being.
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