Sukta 22
Sukta 3.22
Viśvāmitra Gāthina
Agni (with Indra as associated actor)
Triṣṭubh (probable; long verse)
This brief Agni hymn presents the sacrificial Fire as the divine vessel in whom Indra places and enjoys the pressed Soma, making Agni the shared center of offering and victory. It expands Agni’s reach from earth to the “flood of heaven,” calling the gods to their seats of power and invoking supporting Waters for the movement of light. The sukta concludes with a prayer for Iḷā-inspired insight, enduring gain of the “cows/rays,” and prosperity of lineage through Agni’s kindly favor.
Mantras
Mantra 1
अयं सो अग्निर्यस्मिन्त्सोममिन्द्रः सुतं दधे जठरे वावशानः । सहस्रिणं वाजमत्यं न सप्तिं ससवान्त्सन्त्स्तूयसे जातवेदः ॥
यह वह अग्नि है जिसमे इंद्र ने सोमा पे करके अपने पेट में रख लिया। इंद्र खुश था। अग्नि ने हज़ारों गुना ताकत पाई है, जैसे तेज़ घोड़ा दौड़ता है। जातवेदस, तुम्हारी तारीफ होती है क्योंकि तुम जीत के लाए हो।
Mantra 2
अग्ने यत्ते दिवि वर्चः पृथिव्यां यदोषधीष्वप्स्वा यजत्र । येनान्तरिक्षमुर्वाततन्थ त्वेषः स भानुरर्णवो नृचक्षाः ॥
अग्नि, तुम्हारी चमक आसमान में है, ज़मीन पर है, पौधों में है, पानी में है। तुमने इस चमक से बीच की दुनिया को फैला दिया। यह चमक समुंदर जैसी है जो लोगों को सही रास्ता दिखाती है।
Mantra 3
अग्ने दिवो अर्णमच्छा जिगास्यच्छा देवाँ ऊचिषे धिष्ण्या ये । या रोचने परस्तात्सूर्यस्य याश्चावस्तादुपतिष्ठन्त आपः ॥
अग्नि, तुम आसमान के पानी की तरफ जाते हो। तुम उन भगवानों को बुलाते हो जो सच्चे में ताकत रखते हैं। जो पानी सूरज के पीछे चमकता है, और जो नीचे है, वो सब हमें सहारे।
Mantra 4
पुरीष्यासो अग्नयः प्रावणेभिः सजोषसः । जुषन्तां यज्ञमद्रुहोऽनमीवा इषो महीः ॥
अग्नि की आग अपने रास्ते पर चले। यह सब मिलकर यज्ञ को अक्सेप्ट करें, बिना किसी दुश्मनी के। हमारी ताकत बढ़े, हम ठीक रहें।
Mantra 5
इळामग्ने पुरुदंसं सनिं गोः शश्वत्तमं हवमानाय साध । स्यान्नः सूनुस्तनयो विजावाग्ने सा ते सुमतिर्भूत्वस्मे ॥
अग्नि, जो तुम्हे पुकारता है उसके लिए इला का काम करो। इला वह चमक है जो ज्ञान देती है। हमारे बेटे पैदा हों, जीत के बढ़ें। यह तुम्हारी कृपा हो।
Inside Sukta 22
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Identification of the true Agni as the divine receptacle in whom Indra places the pressed Soma, establishing Agni’s victorious, strengthening role.
- Development
Agni is then addressed as the one who reaches the heavenly flood and calls the gods to their potent seats, with the Waters (above and below the Sun) invoked as sustaining supports for light’s movement.
- Climax
The vision of cosmic supports—waters in the luminous realm beyond the Sun and those below—converges to uphold ascent/descent of illumination through Agni’s mediation.
- Where it settles
A practical, human-facing prayer: may Agni accomplish inspired insight (Iḷā), enduring gain of the rays/cattle, and flourishing progeny—ending in a request for Agni’s gracious favor (sumati).
The deity: Agni
- In the VedaAgni is Jātavedas—“knower of births/creatures”—the sacrificial fire who carries offerings, summons the gods, and mediates between human and divine worlds. In this sukta he is the receptive power in whom Indra places the Soma, and he is invoked to reach the heavenly flood and call the deities to their dhiṣṇyas (seats of power).
- Cosmic functionMaintains the link between earth and heaven through sacrifice, conveying oblations upward and bringing divine force, light, and increase downward; he is the dynamic principle of transformation and ascent.
- Inner significanceThe awakened flame of will and discernment that digests experience (Soma) into strength and clarity; the inner priest who calls higher powers, supported by the deep waters of consciousness, to establish illumination and fruitful growth.
The seer
- Viśvāmitra GāthinaViśvāmitra (Gāthina) lineage; Kuśika/Viśvāmitra family tradition (Māṇḍala 3) · A foremost Vedic seer-poet associated with the Viśvāmitra family book, famed for powerful Agni and Indra hymns and for shaping Vedic ritual-poetic speech (gāthā) into effective invocation.
Famous verses
jātavedaḥ
अग्ने दिवो अर्णमच्छा जिगास्यच्छा देवाँ ऊचिषे धिष्ण्या ये । या रोचने परस्तात्सूर्यस्य याश्चावस्तादुपतिष्ठन्त आपः ॥sā te sumatir bhūtv asme
Attributes of the deity
- Jātavedas (all-knowing fire)
- Hotṛ/priestly mediator and messenger
- Bearer/digester of Soma and offering
- Summoner of the gods to their seats (dhiṣṇya)
- Giver of victory, force (vāja), and increase
- Linked with Waters (āpaḥ) that support illumination
- Bestower of insight (Iḷā) and progeny/continuity
Also by this seer
- Majority of Rigveda Mandala 3 hymns are attributed to the Viśvāmitra family (including many Agni- and Indra-suktas).
- Tradition later associates Viśvāmitra with the Gāyatrī mantra (RV 3.62.10), though attribution is family-based rather than strictly individual in modern scholarship.
- Hymns around RV 3.23 are also linked in tradition to the same seer-family complex.
The rite, step by step
- Kindle and establish the household/altar fire (āhavanīya or gārhapatya context as applicable).
- Recite the sukta while presenting Agni as Jātavedas and inviting Indra’s Soma-force to be held and digested in Agni.
- Call the gods to their dhiṣṇyas (seats of power), affirming Agni as the messenger who brings them to the rite.
- Invoke the heavenly flood and supporting Waters (above and below the Sun) for the right flow of illumination and vitality.
- Conclude with petitions for Iḷā (inspired insight/speech), enduring gain of “cows/rays,” and prosperity of offspring and lineage, sealing the rite with Agni’s sumati (benevolent mind).
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya)
- Soma (in Soma-sacrifice context)
- Grain/oblations as per household fire rite
- Water libations or symbolic remembrance of the Waters (āpaḥ)
Frequently Asked Questions
It praises Agni as the central power of the sacrifice—so strong that even Indra places the pressed Soma in him—so Agni can call the gods, sustain illumination, and grant strength and prosperity.
They symbolize cosmic supports for light and life. The hymn asks that these waters uphold the right flow of illumination—both the rising (ascent) and the returning (descent) of divine power into our world and mind.
Iḷā is invoked as inspired insight and fruitful speech connected with the rite. The prayer asks Agni to accomplish that luminous understanding and to make it effective as lasting gain and healthy continuation of the family line.
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