Sukta 19
Sukta 3.19
This brief hymn selects Agni as the Hotṛ (invoking priest) and praises him as the inspired, all-knowing seer who establishes the divine powers within the sacrifice. It asks Agni to intensify the worshipper’s mind, teach self-mastery, and bestow wealth, strength, and the capacity to hear and receive truth (śravas). The closing turns to Agni’s primordial appointment by the gods and prays that he awaken as protector “here” in the embodied human being.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
अग्निं होतारं प्र वृणे मियेधे गृत्सं कविं विश्वविदममूरम् । स नो यक्षद्देवताता यजीयान्राये वाजाय वनते मघानि ॥
मैं अग्नि को चुनता हूँ जो यज्ञ का पुजारी है। वो रिशि है, सब कुछ जानता है, कभी गलत रास्ते पर नहीं चलता। वो देवियों के लिए यज्ञ करेगा। वो सबसे बड़ा यज्ञ करने वाला है। हमारे लिए धन और शक्ति लाएगा।
Mantra 2
प्र ते अग्ने हविष्मतीमियर्म्यच्छा सुद्युम्नां रातिनीं घृताचीम् । प्रदक्षिणिद्देवतातिमुराणः सं रातिभिर्वसुभिर्यज्ञमश्रेत् ॥
अग्नि के लिए मैं यह भेंट भेज रहा हूँ। यह चमकदार है, घी जैसा मीठा है, अच्छा देनेवाला है। सारी देवियाँ सही दिशा में आएँगी। यह यज्ञ वसु देवियों के साथ जुड़ जाएगा।
Mantra 3
स तेजीयसा मनसा त्वोत उत शिक्ष स्वपत्यस्य शिक्षोः । अग्ने रायो नृतमस्य प्रभूतौ भूयाम ते सुष्टुतयश्च वस्वः ॥
अग्नि, हम तुम्हारे साथ पूरा ध्यान रखें। हम अपनी ज़िन्दगी को समझें और सीखें। तुम्हारी शक्ति से हम आगे बढ़ें। तुम्हारी तारीफ करें और तुम्हारे जैसा बनें।
Mantra 4
भूरीणि हि त्वे दधिरे अनीकाग्ने देवस्य यज्यवो जनासः । स आ वह देवतातिं यविष्ठ शर्धो यदद्य दिव्यं यजासि ॥
अग्नि, लोगों ने तुममें बहुत सारी शक्तियाँ डाल दी हैं। यह वो लोग हैं जो भगवान के लिए यज्ञ करते हैं। आज तुम देवियों को यहाँ लाओ। आज तुम चमकने वाली यज्ञ कर रहे हो।
Mantra 5
यत्त्वा होतारमनजन्मियेधे निषादयन्तो यजथाय देवाः । स त्वं नो अग्नेऽवितेह बोध्यधि श्रवांसि धेहि नस्तनूषु ॥
जब देवियों ने तुम्हे यज्ञ का पुजारी बनाया था, तब उन्होंने तुम्हे बिठाया था। अब अग्नि, तुम हमारे रखवाले बनो। हमारे अन्दर जागो। हमें सुनने की शक्ति दो और अच्छी बधाई दो।
Inside Sukta 19
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The hymn begins by deliberately “choosing” Agni as Hotṛ in the sacrificial gathering, praising him as inspired and all-knowing.
- Development
It moves from Agni’s ritual role to his inner work: sharpening the mind, teaching self-mastery, and granting abundant power and wealth.
- Climax
The peak is the prayer for awakened inner hearing and victorious fame (śravas) to be set upon the bodies—truth-receptivity made embodied.
- Where it settles
It concludes by recalling Agni’s primordial establishment by the gods and asking him to be present here as protector and awakener.
The deity: Agni
- Cosmic functionMediator between humans and gods: he kindles the sacrifice, conveys oblations, and sustains the order of worship that links earth and heaven.
- Inner significanceThe awakened flame of consciousness and aspiration—clarifying the mind, teaching inner mastery, and opening the faculty of inspired hearing (śravas) that receives truth.
The seer
- Viśvāmitra GāthinaGāthin (Kauśika) line · A principal seer of Maṇḍala 3, celebrated for Agni hymns and for articulating the priestly vision of Agni as divine mediator and inner awakener.
Famous verses
agniṃ hotāraṃ pra vṛṇe
स तेजीयसा मनसा त्वोत उत शिक्ष स्वपत्यस्य शिक्षोः । अग्ने रायो नृतमस्य प्रभूतौ भूयाम ते सुष्टुतयश्च वस्वः ॥adhi śravāṃsi dhehi nas tanūṣu
Attributes of the deity
- Hotṛ (invoking priest)
- Kavi (inspired seer)
- Viśvavid (all-knower)
- Amūra (unconfused, unwavering)
- Protector and awakener within the embodied being
- Bestower of wealth, strength, and victorious fame
Also by this seer
- Rig Veda Maṇḍala 3 (many sūktas attributed to Viśvāmitra and his lineage)
- Tradition associates the Gāthina line with powerful mantra-craft and royal-priestly synthesis
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar/āhavanīya fire and purify the space (ācamana, prokṣaṇa).
- Kindle or rekindle Agni and seat him ritually as Hotṛ (āhavana, upasthāna).
- Recite this sūkta as an invocation: choose Agni as priest, praise his knowledge, and request inner awakening and prosperity.
- Offer oblations with svāhā (ghee and/or soma substitute), concluding with prayers for protection, śravas, and well-being.
- Close with śānti/avabhṛtha-like settling: circumambulation and respectful dismissal while keeping the fire attended.
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya)
- Soma (where applicable) or soma-like libations in later practice
- Samidh (fuel sticks)
- Grain/cakes in domestic variants
Frequently Asked Questions
It appoints Agni as the chief priest of the sacrifice and asks him to bring the divine powers into the rite, strengthen the mind, and give prosperity and protection.
Because Agni is seen as the clear-seeing mediator who knows the right way of the sacrifice and leads the offering without confusion, both outwardly in ritual and inwardly in consciousness.
Śravas can mean inspired hearing and also fame or victorious renown; here it points to the capacity to receive truth inwardly, along with the strength and recognition that follow from it.
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