Rig Veda 2.10.1: Mandala 2, Sukta 10, Mantra 1

Sukta 2.10

Rishi

Gṛtsamada

Devata

Agni

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

Rasa

Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)

Samhita Patha (Devanagari)

जोहूत्रो अग्निः प्रथमः पितेवेळस्पदे मनुषा यत्समिद्धः । श्रियं वसानो अमृतो विचेता मर्मृजेन्यः श्रवस्यः स वाजी ॥

Recitation with translationRig Veda 2.10.1

Transliteration

johū́tro agníḥ prathamáḥ pitéva íḷas-páde mánuṣā yát sámiddhaḥ | śríyaṃ vásāno amṛ́to vícetā marmṛjényāḥ śravasyàḥ sá vājī́ ||

Translation

जब लोग अग्नि को जलाते हैं पूजा के जगह पर, वो सबसे पहले आता है। वो बाप जैसा है, हमेशा मदद के लिए रेडी। वो चमक के कपड़े पहन के आता है। वो कभी मरता नहीं और सब समझता है। लोग उसे साफ करते हैं और वो चमकता है। वो जीत की ताकत लाता है और लोग उसकी बड़ाई करते हैं।

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Word by Word

जो॒हूत्रः

the well-invoking/ever-invoking (priestly) oneNoun/Adjective · पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ · Root जुहूत्र (प्रातिपदिक; √हु ‘आह्वाने/होमकर्मणि’ से कृत)

अ॒ग्निः

Agni (fire-god)Noun · पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ · Root अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)

प्र॑थ॒मः

first, foremostAdjective · पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (अग्निः का विशेषण)Role कर्तृ · Root प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)

पि॒ता

fatherNoun · पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ · Root पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)

इ॒व

like, asIndeclinable · उपमा-अव्ययRoot इव

इ॒ळा

with/through Iḷā (ritual nourishment/Idā)Noun · स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करण · Root इळा/इडा (प्रातिपदिक; वैदिक)

स्प॒दे

in the track/footing, in the place/stepNoun · नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरण · Root स्पद (प्रातिपदिक)

मनु॑षा

by/with Manu (i.e., by the man/Manu, the archetypal man)Noun · पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करण · Root मनुष्/मनुष्य (प्रातिपदिक; वैदिक रूप)

यत्

when/that whichPronoun · नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (संबन्धसूचक)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

सम्

together, fullyPreverb · उपसर्ग (√इध् के साथ)Root सम्

इ॒द्धः

kindled, ignitedAdjective/Participle · पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (अग्निः का विशेषण)Role कर्तृ · Root √इध् (दीप्तौ) → इद्ध (कृदन्त)

श्रियम्

splendour, prosperityNoun · स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म · Root श्री (प्रातिपदिक)

वसा॑नः

wearing, putting on (clad in)Participle · पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ · Root √वस् (आच्छादने) → वसान (शतृ/आत्मनेपदी वर्तमान कृदन्त)

अ॒मृतः

immortalAdjective/Noun · पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (अग्निः का विशेषण)Role कर्तृ · Root अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)

वि

apart, distinctlyPreverb · उपसर्ग (√चित् के साथ)Root वि

चे॑ता

the discerning one, the wiseNoun/Adjective · पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ · Root √चित् (चेतने) → चेतृ/चेता (कर्तृवाचक)

मर्मृ॒जेन्यः

purifying, cleansingAdjective · पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (अग्निः का विशेषण)Role कर्तृ · Root मर्मृजेन्य (प्रातिपदिक; √मृज् ‘मार्जने/शोधने’ से व्युत्पन्न)

श्रव॒स्यः

fame-bringing, gloriousAdjective · पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (अग्निः का विशेषण)Role कर्तृ · Root श्रवस्य (प्रातिपदिक; श्रवस् ‘यशस्’ से)

सः

hePronoun · पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ · Root तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

वा॒जी

the prize-winner, vigorous oneNoun/Adjective · पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ · Root वाजिन्/वाजी (प्रातिपदिक)

Sandhi Notes

• पाठ में प्रमुख संधि-विच्छेद: पि॒तेवे॒ळस्प॒दे → पि॒ता इ॒व इ॒ळा स्प॒दे। यत्समि॑द्धः → यत् सम् इ॒द्धः। विचे॑ता → वि चे॑ता (उपसर्ग+प्रातिपदिक)। शेष पद प्रायः असंधित/पद-सीमा पर हैं। वैदिक उच्चारण-चिह्न (उदात्त/स्वरित/अनुदात्त) मूल पाठानुसार रखे गए हैं।

The meaning

Outer meaning

Agni, much-invoking, is first like a father when kindled by men at the place of Iḷā. Clothed in splendor, immortal and discerning, he is a purifier to be rubbed bright; he is the bringer of victorious force and fame.

Inner meaning

Agni is the first principle of the yoga—before other powers can act, the inner fire must be kindled in the ‘pade’ (seat/foundation) of Iḷā: the luminous inspiration/intuition that supports right offering. Like a father, he founds and protects the growth of the soul. ‘Wearing śrī’ indicates the flame takes on a robe of plenitude and beauty when fed rightly. As amṛta-vicetas, he is the immortal discernment in us that knows the true from the mixed. As marmṛjenya, he must be ‘rubbed bright’: sustained practice, friction of tapas, repeated recollection. Then he becomes vājī—carrier of victorious force—bringing śravas (true renown): the soul’s acknowledged growth and effective power in life.

Universal truth

All higher development begins with an awakened will and discerning flame; by steady practice it becomes luminous, purifying, and victorious, establishing a lasting dignity of the spirit.

Themes

Agni as father, Primacy of fire, Purification, Victorious force

The seer

Rishi

Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)

Lineage

Bhārgava

Other hymns

Rig Veda 2.10.2, Rig Veda 2.10.3, Rig Veda 2.10.4

Family tradition

Bhṛgu-line emphasis on Agni as the first priest and inner father-power; strong stress on kindling, polishing, and victorious force (vāja).

Significance

The seer frames Agni not merely as ritual fire but as the primal initiator—fatherly foundation of aspiration and discernment, brightened by tapas into victorious effectiveness.

The deity

Devata

Agni

Epithets

johūtra (much-invoking), prathama (first), pitā-iva (father-like), amṛta (immortal), vicetas (discerning), marmṛjenya (to be polished), śravasya (fame-worthy), vājī (victorious force)

Related deities

Iḷā/Sarasvatī (inspiration), Indra (illumined mind), Soma (bliss)

Cosmic role

First of the gods in the sacrifice; awakener of the path; purifier and knower who links mortal effort to immortal order.

Inner power

Persistent aspiration that becomes discerning purity and victorious energy when steadily kindled and refined.

In ritual

Where it is used

Agni-prastāva/opening praise in iṣṭi and soma contexts; kindling at the Iḷā-place (ritual seat)

Accents and Padapatha

Chandas Analysis

Key Symbols

Ritual Application

Etymology

Philosophical Concepts

Vedic Cosmology

Natural Symbolism

Academic Analysis

Yogic Application

Chanting Notes