Sukta 6
Sukta 2.6
Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)
Gāyatrī
This Gāyatrī hymn of Gṛtsamada invokes Agni as the near and intimate divine presence approached through kindling, prayer, and the ordered act of sacrifice. Agni is asked to hear the seer’s utterances, accept the offerings, and bestow heavenly “rain” (descent of strength), victorious energy (vāja), and abundant nourishment. The hymn culminates in inviting the all-knowing, conscious Agni to come, perform the rite in right sequence, and sit upon the barhis (sacrificial seat).
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
इमां मे अग्ने समिधमिमामुपसदं वनेः । इमा उ षु श्रुधी गिरः ॥
अग्नि, मैं तुम्हारे पास आना चाहता हूँ। मेरे अंदर जो अग्नि है, उसे जलाओ। मेरी बात सुनो, मैं दिल से बोल रहा हूँ।
Mantra 2
अया ते अग्ने विधेमोर्जो नपादश्वमिष्टे । एना सूक्तेन सुजात ॥
अग्नि, हम तुम्हारी सेवा करते हैं। तुम शक्ति के हो, तुम ताकत चाहते हो। यह हमारी प्रार्थना है, तुम हमारे अंदर आओ।
Mantra 3
तं त्वा गीर्भिर्गिर्वणसं द्रविणस्युं द्रविणोदः । सपर्येम सपर्यवः ॥
अग्नि, तुम हमारी बातों से खुश हो। तुम समृद्धि चाहते हो और जो देता है उससे भी। हम तुम्हारी पूजा करते हैं, दिल से।
Mantra 4
स बोधि सूरिर्मघवा वसुपते वसुदावन् । युयोध्यस्मद्द्वेषांसि ॥
अग्नि, हमारे लिए जागो। तुम बड़े हो, देने वाले हो। हमेशा देते हो। हमारे दुश्मनों को भगाओ, उन्हे दूर कर दो।
Mantra 5
स नो वृष्टिं दिवस्परि स नो वाजमनर्वाणम् । स नः सहस्रिणीरिषः ॥
अग्नि, आसमान से बारिश लाओ। ताकत लाओ, पूरी ताकत। हज़ारों चीज़ें लाओ, खुशाली लाओ।
Mantra 6
ईळानायावस्यवे यविष्ठ दूत नो गिरा । यजिष्ठ होतरा गहि ॥
अग्नि, तुम सबसे नए हो, तुम्हारे पास आके लोग शरण माँगते हैं। हमारी बात लेकर आओ, तुम हमारे मैसेंजर हो। यज्ञ के लिए तुम सबसे सही हो, होतर बनो और यहाँ आओ।
Mantra 7
अन्तर्ह्यग्न ईयसे विद्वाञ्जन्मोभया कवे । दूतो जन्येव मित्र्यः ॥
अग्नि, तुम अंदर ही अंदर चलते हो, दोनों जनम की बात जानते हो। तुम रिशि हो, मैसेंजर की तरह काम करते हो, इंसान के बीचे पैदा हुए हो। तुम सबसे दोस्ती से काम करते हो।
Mantra 8
स विद्वाँ आ च पिप्रयो यक्षि चिकित्व आनुषक् । आ चास्मिन्त्सत्सि बर्हिषि ॥
तुम जो सब जानते हो, आओ और हमारे अंदर पूरे भर जाओ। तुम होशियार हो, सही तरीके से यज्ञ करो। आओ और इस स्थान पर बैठो जो भगवान के लिए तैयार किया है।
Inside Sukta 6
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A personal, intimate request: the seer kindles Agni and approaches him (samidh, upasad), asking him to listen to the prayers.
- Development
Agni is praised as the effective mediator who can bring down heavenly gifts—rain/force, undiminished vāja, and abundant nourishment.
- Climax
The decisive invitation: the knowing, conscious Agni is called to come, be filled, sacrifice in right succession (ānuṣak), and take his seat on the barhis.
- Where it settles
The hymn settles into assurance through orderly worship—Agni enthroned in the rite—so blessings may flow to the worshipper and community.
The deity: Agni
- Cosmic functionMediator between earth and heaven: he conveys oblations to the deities, sustains sacrificial order, and draws down boons such as rain, strength, and prosperity.
- Inner significanceThe awakened will and luminous intelligence within—inner heat (tapas) that purifies, concentrates aspiration, and translates prayer into effective action.
The seer
- Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)Bhṛgu/Bhārgava lineage (Āṅgirasa-associated priestly tradition) · A prominent early Rigvedic seer of Mandala 2, celebrated for lucid Agni hymns that emphasize correct ritual order (ṛta) and the inner approach (upasad) to the divine fire.
Famous verses
इमां मे अग्ने समिधमिमामुपसदं वनेः । इमा उ षु श्रुधी गिरः ॥स नो वृष्टिं दिवस्परि स नो वाजमनर्वाणम् । स नः सहस्रिणीरिषः ॥स विद्वाँ आ च पिप्रयो यक्षि चिकित्व आनुषक् । आ चास्मिन्त्सत्सि बर्हिषि ॥Attributes of the deity
- Hotṛ (sacrificial priest)
- Messenger between worlds
- All-knowing/wise (vidvān, cikitva)
- Purifier and protector
- Bringer of wealth, strength (vāja), and nourishment (iṣ)
Also by this seer
- Primary seer of much of Rigveda Mandala 2 (many sūktas attributed to Gṛtsamada)
- Noted for hymns to Agni and allied deities that frame sacrifice as both outer rite and inner discipline
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the vedi and spread the barhis (sacrificial grass/seat).
- Kindle Agni with samidh (fuel sticks), establishing the fire as the invoked presence.
- Perform upasad (near-approach): recitation with focused intention, inviting Agni to hear the hymns.
- Offer ghee/oblations into the fire with svāhā, maintaining correct sequence (ānuṣak).
- Invite Agni to ‘sit on the barhis’—stabilizing the rite and the worshipper’s consecrated awareness.
- Conclude with petitions for vṛṣṭi (rain/descent of force), vāja (victorious energy), and abundant iṣaḥ (nourishing impulses).
Offerings
- Samidh (kindling sticks)
- Ghṛta (clarified butter)
- Optional: soma/food offerings as per rite (context-dependent)
Frequently Asked Questions
It teaches that Agni is approached through kindling and sincere prayer, and that when the rite is done in right order, Agni brings strength, rain-like descent of power, and nourishment.
Samidh is the physical kindling that establishes the fire, while upasad is the ‘near-approach’—the focused, reverent drawing close to Agni through recitation and intention.
Barhis is the sacred seat/spread in the ritual space; inviting Agni to sit there means establishing his presence so the offering and the worshipper’s consecrated awareness become steady and effective.
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