Sukta 9
Sukta 2.9
Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)
Triṣṭubh
This six-verse Triṣṭubh hymn enthrones Agni as the knowing Hotṛ who takes his seat in the priestly place and establishes himself within the worshippers. It petitions him to hear the offering, confirm abundance, and act as the best sacrificer who leads the rite, protects from harm, and grants both radiant vitality and wealth.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
नि होता होतृषदने विदानस्त्वेषो दीदिवाँ असदत्सुदक्षः । अदब्धव्रतप्रमतिर्वसिष्ठः सहस्रम्भरः शुचिजिह्वो अग्निः ॥
अग्नि अब पंडित की जगह पर बैठ गया है। वो सीधा रास्ता जानता है। वो चमक रहा है और बहुत स्किल्ड है। वसिष्ठ नाम का रिशि है जिसका विश्वास टूटा नहीं सकता। अग्नि की जीभ साफ है और वो हज़ार शक्तियाँ लाता है। वो हमारे अंदर स्थिर हो गया है।
Mantra 2
त्वं दूतस्त्वमु नः परस्पास्त्वं वस्य आ वृषभ प्रणेता । अग्ने तोकस्य नस्तने तनूनामप्रयुच्छन्दीद्यद्बोधि गोपाः ॥
अग्नि, तुम मैसेंजर हो। तुम हमारे दूर से भी रखवाले हो। तुम हमारे बेहतर बनने के लिए लीडर हो, जैसे बैल ताक़त से आगे बढ़ता है। अग्नि, हमारे बच्चों के लिए और हमारी ज़िन्दगी के लिए तू जाग जा। तू हमारा गार्ड बन, जो कभी फेल नहीं होता और रोशनी से चमकता है।
Mantra 3
विधेम ते परमे जन्मन्नग्ने विधेम स्तोमैरवरे सधस्थे । यस्माद्योनेरुदारिथा यजे तं प्र त्वे हवींषि जुहुरे समिद्धे ॥
अग्नि, हम तुम्हारी सबसे बड़ी शक्ति की सेवा करेंगे। अपने गानों से हम तुम्हारी नीचे वाली जगह पर भी सेवा करेंगे। तुम जहाँ से भी पैदा हुए हो, वहीं से ऊपर उठ के आए हो। इसलिए जब तुम जलते हो तो लोग तुम्हें में सामग्री डालते हैं।
Mantra 4
अग्ने यजस्व हविषा यजीयाञ्छ्रुष्टी देष्णमभि गृणीहि राधः । त्वं ह्यसि रयिपती रयीणां त्वं शुक्रस्य वचसो मनोता ॥
अग्नि, तू यज्ञ में सामग्री डाल। तू सबसे ज़्यादा यज्ञ के लायक है। तू ध्यान से सुन और जो देना है वो ले ले। तू सम्पन्नता की पूरी कर। क्योंकि तू धन का मालिक है। तू चमकते शब्दों का सोचने वाला और पूरा करने वाला है।
Mantra 5
उभयं ते न क्षीयते वसव्यं दिवेदिवे जायमानस्य दस्म । कृधि क्षुमन्तं जरितारमग्ने कृधि पतिं स्वपत्यस्य रायः ॥
अग्नि, तेरा दो तरह का धन है जो कभी खत्म नहीं होता। रोज़ तुम नए बन रहे हो, तुम कमाल करते हो। अग्नि, गाना गाने वाले को ताक़त से भरा दे। उसे ऐसा धन का मालिक बना दे जो औलाद और सही राज देता है।
Mantra 6
सैनानीकेन सुविदत्रो अस्मे यष्टा देवाँ आयजिष्ठः स्वस्ति । अदब्धो गोपा उत नः परस्पा अग्ने द्युमदुत रेवद्दिदीहि ॥
अग्नि, तुम आगे चल के हमारे लिए यज्ञ करो। भगवान लोगों की पूजा में तुम सबसे बड़े हो। हमारे लिए भला करो। तुम्हे कोई नुकसान नहीं पहुँचा सकता। तुम चमक के रखवाले हो और हमारे बड़े प्रोटेक्टर हो। अग्नि, तुम चमक के साथ चमको और हमारे ऊपर खुशियों की बारिश करो।
Inside Sukta 9
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Agni is installed: the shining, skillful Hotṛ takes his seat, knowing the right way, and becomes established within the community.
- Development
The hymn turns to direct petition—Agni should sacrifice with the offering, listen attentively, and confirm abundance, as lord of riches and fulfiller of the luminous word.
- Climax
Agni is invoked as the foremost leader and best sacrificer who can effectively worship the gods for svasti, combining ritual mastery with protective power.
- Where it settles
The prayer settles into assurance and request: may Agni remain unharmed, guard our lights, protect us from afar, and shine with both radiance and wealth.
The deity: Agni
- Cosmic functionMediator between humans and gods: he kindles sacrifice, conveys oblations, safeguards the settlement, and manifests divine light and power within the world-order (ṛta).
- Inner significanceThe awakened will and discerning intelligence in the practitioner—an inner fire that clarifies speech, energizes aspiration, and ‘cooks’ intention into effective action and protection.
The seer
- Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)Bhṛgu/Bhārgava lineage (Gṛtsamada family of Mandala 2) · Principal seer of much of Rig Veda Mandala 2, renowned for Agni-centered hymns that present Agni as the inner priest and guardian of prosperity and safety.
Famous verses
śucijihvo agniḥ
अग्ने यजस्व हविषा यजीयाञ्छ्रुष्टी देष्णमभि गृणीहि राधः । त्वं ह्यसि रयिपती रयीणां त्वं शुक्रस्य वचसो मनोता ॥adabdho gopā
Attributes of the deity
- Hotṛ/priestly mediator
- Knower of the path and ritual order
- Pure-tongued (śucijihva) bearer of offerings
- Unbetrayable will and firm discernment (adabdhavratapramati)
- Giver of riches and plenitude (rayipati, rādhas)
- Leader and protector (sainānīka, gopā, paraspā)
- Radiant, shining force (tveṣa, dyumat)
Also by this seer
- A large portion of Rig Veda Mandala 2 (many sūktas attributed to Gṛtsamada)
- Multiple Agni hymns emphasizing Hotṛ-function, protection (gopā), and rādhas (plenitude)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare and clean the altar/vedi; establish the sacred space and seats for officiants.
- Kindle or rekindle Agni; ‘seat’ him as Hotṛ in the hotṛṣadana (priestly seat) with recitation.
- Offer havis with prescribed formulas; praise Agni’s knowledge of the rite and his purity of tongue.
- Request attentive hearing (śruṣṭī) and affirmation of rādhas (plenitude).
- Invoke Agni as leader who best worships the gods on the sacrificer’s behalf for svasti (well-being).
- Conclude with petitions for protection near and far (gopā, paraspā) and for shining prosperity (dyumat, revat).
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya)
- Milk/curds or simple havis (as customary)
- Grain-cakes/oblations (puroḍāśa-type offerings, as applicable)
Frequently Asked Questions
It asks Agni to take his rightful seat as the priest of the sacrifice, carry the offering properly, listen to the worshippers, and grant well-being, protection, and abundance.
Hotṛ means the officiating priest who recites and performs the offering. The hymn treats Agni as the divine priest who knows the correct path of the rite and mediates between humans and the gods.
Along with the outer fire on the altar, it points to an inner fire—clarity, will, and discerning intelligence—through which prayer becomes effective and life gains light and strength.
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