Sukta 12
Sukta 3.12
Viśvāmitra Gāthina (traditional attribution for RV 3.12)
Indrāgnī (dual deity)
Gāyatrī
RV 3.12 is an invocation to the paired deities Indra and Agni (Indrāgnī) to come to the freshly pressed Soma, accept the singers’ praise, and grant strength, nourishment, and victory. The hymn fuses Indra’s heroic might with Agni’s priestly fire-power, portraying them as a coordinated force that makes divine energy “visible” and effective for the worshipper.
Mantras
Mantra 1
इन्द्राग्नी आ गतं सुतं गीर्भिर्नभो वरेण्यम् । अस्य पातं धियेषिता ॥
इंद्र और अग्नि, तुम दोनों आओ। सोम रस पीने के लिए तैयार है। हम गाना गाके बुला रहे हैं। आओ और पियो, हमारी इच्छा के साथ।
Mantra 2
इन्द्राग्नी जरितुः सचा यज्ञो जिगाति चेतनः । अया पातमिमं सुतम् ॥
इंद्र और अग्नि, यह गाना वाले रिशि के साथ आपके पास आ रहा है। यह यज्ञ जाग रहा है, नींद से उठा है। इस रास्ते से आओ और यह सोम रस पियो। हमारी तरफ से जो भी चढ़ावा है, उसमें आपका ध्यान आना चाहिए।
Mantra 3
इन्द्रमग्निं कविच्छदा यज्ञस्य जूत्या वृणे । ता सोमस्येह तृम्पताम् ॥
मैं इंद्र और अग्नि को चुनता हूँ। यह दोनों रिशियों के चमक में ढाके हैं, उनकी रोशनी में है। यज्ञ तेज़ी से आगे बढ़ रहा है। इन दोनों को यहाँ सोम रस पसंद आना चाहिए, खुश हो जाना चाहिए।
Mantra 4
तोशा वृत्रहणा हुवे सजित्वानापराजिता । इन्द्राग्नी वाजसातमा ॥
मैं खुशी से इंद्र और अग्नि को बुलाता हूँ। यह दोनों वृत्र को मारने वाले हैं, बड़े दुश्मन को हराने वाले। मिलके जीते हैं, कोई इन्हे हरा नहीं सकता। यह दोनों शक्ति के मालिक हैं, जीत के मालिक हैं।
Mantra 5
प्र वामर्चन्त्युक्थिनो नीथाविदो जरितारः । इन्द्राग्नी इष आ वृणे ॥
यह गाना वाले लोग इंद्र और अग्नि के लिए गाते हैं। यह लोग रास्ते जानते हैं, सही दिशा जानते हैं। मैं इन दोनों से यह चाहता हूँ कि वो मुझे शक्ति दे, बरकत दे, आगे बढ़ने का रास्ता दे।
Mantra 6
इन्द्राग्नी नवतिं पुरो दासपत्नीरधूनुतम् । साकमेकेन कर्मणा ॥
इंद्र और अग्नि ने एक साथ काम किया। उन्ने दुश्मन के नवासी किले तोड़ दिए। एक ही बार में सब तोड़ डाले। दुश्मन की दीवारें गिर गई, अब रोशनी आज़ाद है, आगे बढ़ सकती है।
Mantra 7
इन्द्राग्नी अपसस्पर्युप प्र यन्ति धीतयः । ऋतस्य पथ्या अनु ॥
इंद्र और अग्नि, जब लोग सोचते हैं तो उनके विचार ऊपर जाते हैं। यह विचार काम के आस-पास घूमे हैं। वो सीधा रास्ता पर चलते हैं, सच का रास्ता पकड़ के।
Mantra 8
इन्द्राग्नी तविषाणि वां सधस्थानि प्रयांसि च । युवोरप्तूर्यं हितम् ॥
इंद्र और अग्नि, तुम दोनों में बड़ी ताकत है। तुम्हारा एक ही स्थान है, और तुम आगे बढ़ते हो। तुम में वो ताकत है जो काम को जल्दी पूरा करती है।
Mantra 9
इन्द्राग्नी रोचना दिवः परि वाजेषु भूषथः । तद्वां चेति प्र वीर्यम् ॥
इंद्र और अग्नि, आसमान की रोशनी में तुम चमकते हो। तुम ताकत के साथ घूमते हो। इससे तुम्हारी वीरता सबको साफ दिखती है, जो तुम्हे जानना चाहते हैं उनको।
Inside Sukta 12
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A direct invitation: Indrāgnī are called to ‘come’ to the pressed Soma, drawn by inspired song and awakened intention (dhī).
- Development
The hymn builds the case for their arrival—praise by skilled chanters, their guidance of right paths, and the worshipper’s deliberate choice of their iṣ (nourishing impulse).
- Climax
Their cosmic radiance and power are highlighted as they move amid the luminous realms and plenitudes of force, making their vīrya perceptible and operative.
- Where it settles
The hymn closes by affirming that their hero-power becomes clear and effective for the seeker, implying protection, success, and increase as the rite completes.
The deity: Indrāgnī
- In the VedaIndrāgnī are praised as a dual power: Indra the victorious, soma-loving hero and Agni the luminous priest-fire who carries offerings; together they are invoked to drink Soma, heed the hymns, and bestow iṣ (impelling nourishment) and vāja (winning strength).
- Cosmic functionThey unite sovereignty and sacrificial mediation—Indra secures cosmic order by overcoming obstructive forces, while Agni establishes the ritual channel between humans and gods; as a pair they coordinate the descent of power into the rite.
- Inner significanceA synthesis of will and illumination: Indra as courageous initiative and breakthrough, Agni as clarity, aspiration, and disciplined offering—together enabling focused intention (dhī) to become effective spiritual force.
The seer
- Viśvāmitra GāthinaGāthina / Kauśika (Viśvāmitra’s family line) · A royal-turned-seer revered for forging powerful mantra-visions and for his pivotal role in Mandala 3; celebrated as a paradigmatic ṛṣi whose tapas and insight elevate him to Brahmarṣi status in later tradition.
Famous verses
indrāgnī ā gataṃ sutaṃ
iṣa ā vṛṇe
इन्द्राग्नी रोचना दिवः परि वाजेषु भूषथः । तद्वां चेति प्र वीर्यम् ॥Attributes of the deity
- Dual deity embodying might (Indra) and sacrificial fire (Agni)
- Soma-drinkers who energize the rite
- Givers of iṣ (impulsion, nourishment) and vāja (victorious power)
- Responsive to gīr/uktha (hymn, solemn praise)
- Associated with rocanā (luminous realms) and manifesting vīrya (heroic potency)
Also by this seer
- Primary seer for much of Rig Veda Mandala 3 (Viśvāmitra hymns)
- Traditionally associated (in later reception) with the Gāyatrī-mantra prominence and its dissemination
- Numerous hymns to Agni, Indra, and allied deities within RV 3.x attributed to the Viśvāmitra corpus
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the fire (Agni) and establish the altar space with purity and order
- Press Soma and filter it; set the libation ready for offering
- Recite the Indrāgnī Gāyatrī verses as an āhvāna (invitation) to ‘come’ to the Soma
- Offer Soma into the fire and/or present it ritually for divine ‘drinking,’ accompanied by uktha (formal praise)
- Conclude with prayers for iṣ (nourishing impulse), vāja (strength/victory), and the clear manifestation of vīrya (hero-power) in life and community
Offerings
- Soma (pressed and purified)
- Ghee/clarified butter (as supportive oblation)
- Hymns of praise (gīr/uktha) as the verbal offering
Frequently Asked Questions
Indrāgnī is the paired form of Indra and Agni worshipped together—Indra as the force of victory and Agni as the sacred fire that carries offerings. The hymn treats them as one coordinated power in the ritual.
It asks them to come to the freshly pressed Soma, drink it, listen to the hymns, and grant nourishment (iṣ), strength or winning power (vāja), and clear heroic potency (vīrya) to the worshipper.
Because they complement each other: Agni makes the sacrifice effective and connects humans to the gods, while Indra brings decisive power and protection. Together they make the rite both luminous and victorious.
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