Sukta 20
Sukta 3.20
This short hymn is a dawn-time collective invocation that calls Agni together with Uṣas, the Aśvins, and Dadhikrāvan, asking the “gods of good light” to hear and move with the sacrifice. It widens into an inclusive summons of major divine powers (Bṛhaspati, Savitṛ, Mitra-Varuṇa, Bhaga, Vasus, Rudras, Ādityas), presenting the yajña as a coordinated journey guided by luminous order and right movement.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
अग्निमुषसमश्विना दधिक्रां व्युष्टिषु हवते वह्निरुक्थैः । सुज्योतिषो नः शृण्वन्तु देवाः सजोषसो अध्वरं वावशानाः ॥
सुबह होने पर अग्नि, उषा, अश्विन और दधिक्रवन को बुलाया जाता है। यह सब अच्छे रोशनी वाले देवता हैं। हमारी बात सुनें वो और हमारे साथ चलें। वो यज्ञ के काम में तैयार हैं।
Mantra 2
अग्ने त्री ते वाजिना त्री षधस्था तिस्रस्ते जिह्वा ऋतजात पूर्वीः । तिस्र उ ते तन्वो देववातास्ताभिर्नः पाहि गिरो अप्रयुच्छन् ॥
अग्नि, तुम्हारी तीन ताकतें हैं, तीन स्थान हैं। तुम्हारी तीन जीभें हैं जो सच से बनी हैं। तुम्हारे तीन शरीर हैं जो देवता चलाते हैं। इनसे हमारा करो रक्षा। हमारी बातें खराब न हों।
Mantra 3
अग्ने भूरीणि तव जातवेदो देव स्वधावोऽमृतस्य नाम । याश्च माया मायिनां विश्वमिन्व त्वे पूर्वीः संदधुः पृष्टबन्धो ॥
अग्नि, तुम्हारे बहुत नाम हैं जो अमृत से जुड़ते हैं। तुम देवता हो और अपनी ताकत खुद से चलाते हो। पुराने समय से तुम्में सब शक्तियाँ हैं जो दुनिया को चलाती हैं। तुम सबको जोड़ के रखते हो।
Mantra 4
अग्निर्नेता भग इव क्षितीनां दैवीनां देव ऋतुपा ऋतावा । स वृत्रहा सनयो विश्ववेदाः पर्षद्विश्वाति दुरिता गृणन्तम् ॥
अग्नि सबका नेता है, जैसे भग। वो देवताओं के बीच मौसम संभालता है और सच पे चलता है। वो दुश्मन को मारता है, जीतता है, सब जानता है। जो उसका नाम लेता है, उसको मुश्किलों से पार ले जाता है।
Mantra 5
दधिक्रामग्निमुषसं च देवीं बृहस्पतिं सवितारं च देवम् । अश्विना मित्रावरुणा भगं च वसून्रुद्राँ आदित्याँ इह हुवे ॥
मैं दधिक्रवन, अग्नि और उषा को बुलाता हूँ। बृहस्पति और सूर्य देव को भी बुलाता हूँ। अश्विन, मित्र-वरुण और भग को आवाहन करता हूँ। वसु, रुद्र और आदित्य सबको यहाँ बुलाता हूँ।
Inside Sukta 20
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
At the break of dawn the priestly ‘carrier’ calls Agni, Uṣas, the Aśvins, and Dadhikrāvan with hymns, seeking attentive hearing from the luminous gods.
- Development
The hymn deepens Agni’s stature as Jātavedas with many immortal names, in whom diverse formative powers are harmonized—suggesting unity behind many functions.
- Climax
The integrated vision: multiple divine agencies consent together to propel the adhvara, the forward-moving sacrificial journey.
- Where it settles
A final expansive roll-call of deities seals the rite’s inclusivity and asks their presence ‘here,’ establishing right movement and protection for the sacrificer.
The deity: Viśve Devāḥ, with prominence of Agni–Uṣas–Aśvins–Dadhikrāvan
- In the VedaTogether they are addressed as “sujyotiṣaḥ”—powers of good light—harmonized to advance the sacrificial course.
- Cosmic functionTo kindle and carry the sacrifice (Agni), unveil and renew the world each morning (Uṣas), swiftly rescue and restore (Aśvins), and propel the rite and the sacrificer with victorious speed (Dadhikrāvan), while the wider host stabilizes ṛta (ordered movement) across the cosmos.
- Inner significanceThe hymn maps an inner dawn: ignition of aspiration (Agni), awakening of clarity (Uṣas), quickening help in transitions and healing (Aśvins), and disciplined momentum toward the goal (Dadhikrāvan). The collective call suggests integrating multiple faculties into one consenting movement toward truth and right action.
The seer
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina (traditional attribution for Maṇḍala 3)Gāthin / Kauśika (Viśvāmitra tradition) · A royal-turned-seer whose hymns emphasize tapas, divine order, and powerful invocations—especially to Agni and the solar deities—shaping the liturgical voice of Maṇḍala 3.
Famous verses
sujyotiṣo naḥ śṛṇvantu devāḥ sajoṣasaḥ
bhūrīṇi tava… amṛtasya nāma
दधिक्रामग्निमुषसं च देवीं बृहस्पतिं सवितारं च देवम् । अश्विना मित्रावरुणा भगं च वसून्रुद्राँ आदित्याँ इह हुवे ॥Attributes of the deity
- Luminous guidance (sujyotis)
- Consenting harmony (sajoṣas—acting together)
- Yajña as a journey/path (adhvara)
- Agni as knower and binder of worlds (pṛṣṭabandhu)
- Swift aid and healing (Aśvins)
- Dawn-renewal and opening of ways (Uṣas)
- Speed, victory, forward drive (Dadhikrāvan)
Also by this seer
- Rig Veda Maṇḍala 3 (many hymns traditionally attributed to Viśvāmitra and his lineage)
- Key Agni and Indra hymns in RV 3 that frame the yajña as a force of victory and right order
- Later tradition associates the Viśvāmitra stream with the Gāyatrī mantra (RV 3.62.10), though this is outside this hymn’s immediate scope
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar/fireplace and arrange fuel (samidh) and implements.
- Kindle or rekindle Agni; recite opening praises to establish “good light” and consent of the gods.
- Invoke Uṣas at daybreak, then the Aśvins for swift protection and right transition into the rite.
- Invoke Dadhikrāvan for victorious momentum and unimpeded movement of the sacrifice.
- Broaden the invitation to the wider divine assembly (Bṛhaspati, Savitṛ, Mitra-Varuṇa, Bhaga, Vasus, Rudras, Ādityas).
- Conclude with an affirmation that the gods, acting together, hear and advance the adhvara (sacrificial course).
Offerings
- Ghee/clarified butter (ājyāhuti) into Agni
- Fuel sticks (samidh)
- Optional soma-related offering where applicable in a larger soma context
- Simple oblations and praise (uktha) as the primary ‘offering’ in this brief hymn
Frequently Asked Questions
It opens the sacrifice at dawn by calling Agni and other dawn-associated powers to hear the hymns and move together to advance the yajña safely and successfully.
The sukta treats the ritual as a coordinated journey: different divine functions—fire, dawn, healing speed, order and inspiration—must consent together for right movement (ṛta) and protection.
Dadhikrāvan is praised as a swift, victorious power (often linked with a racing horse energy) that helps propel the rite forward, removing obstacles and strengthening momentum.
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