Sukta 28
Sukta 3.28
Viśvāmitra Gāthina (attributed to the Viśvāmitra family for Maṇḍala 3; hymn-level attribution may vary by recension)
Agni (Jātavedas)
Tr̥ṣṭubh (predominant in RV 3.28; verse-level scansion may show variation)
This short Agni hymn invites Jātavedas to accept the puroḷāśa (sacrificial cake) and the āhuti at the Soma pressings, especially the morning and midday savanas. It emphasizes Agni’s rightful share in the sacrifice and the role of the dhīraḥ (steadfast wise) in preserving the integrity of the rite, so that inspired thought (dhī) and well-being are strengthened.
Mantras
Mantra 1
अग्ने जुषस्व नो हविः पुरोळाशं जातवेदः । प्रातःसावे धियावसो ॥
अग्नि, हमारी हवन को अपना ले। तुम सब जानते हो। सुबह के वक्त हमारे दिमाग को जगाओ और बढ़ाओ ताकि हम आगे बढ़ सकें।
Mantra 2
पुरोळा अग्ने पचतस्तुभ्यं वा घा परिष्कृतः । तं जुषस्व यविष्ठ्य ॥
अग्नि, यह पूजा के लिए मीठा बूंदिया पक रहे हैं। सब तैयार है और साफ करके रखा है। इसे ले लो, तुम तो नया-नया शक्ति वाले हो।
Mantra 3
अग्ने वीहि पुरोळाशमाहुतं तिरोअह्न्यम् । सहसः सूनुरस्यध्वरे हितः ॥
अग्नि, आ जाओ और यह बूंदिया ले लो। यह भोग है जो आम दिन से अलग है। तुम शक्ति के बेटा हो, इस यज्ञ में सबसे मुख्य हो।
Mantra 4
माध्यंदिने सवने जातवेदः पुरोळाशमिह कवे जुषस्व । अग्ने यह्वस्य तव भागधेयं न प्र मिनन्ति विदथेषु धीराः ॥
दोपहर के वक्त, जातवेदस, यह भोग ले लो। अग्नि, तुम पंडित हो और सब जानते हो। तुम्हारा हिस्सा कोई कम नहीं करता, पंडित लोग यह मानते हैं।
Mantra 5
अग्ने तृतीये सवने हि कानिषः पुरोळाशं सहसः सूनवाहुतम् । अथा देवेष्वध्वरं विपन्यया धा रत्नवन्तममृतेषु जागृविम् ॥
अग्नि, तीसरे वक्त भी यह बूंदिया ले लो, शक्ति के बेटा। फिर देवता लोगों में यह यज्ञ को स्थिर कर दो। तुम अमृत के पास जाग रहे हो और सब कुछ पा रहे हो।
Mantra 6
अग्ने वृधान आहुतिं पुरोळाशं जातवेदः । जुषस्व तिरोअह्न्यम् ॥
अग्नि, तुम्हारी शक्ति बढ़ रही है, जातवेदस। यह भोग ले लो, यह बूंदिया। यह आम दिन से आगे ले जाता है।
Inside Sukta 28
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A direct invitation to Agni Jātavedas to accept the puroḷāśa and to enliven inspired thought at the morning pressing.
- Development
The hymn situates Agni’s acceptance across the savana rhythm, highlighting his seer-like nature (kavi) and the careful steadiness of the wise in ritual assemblies.
- Climax
The declaration that Agni’s rightful share (bhāgadheya) is not diminished in the vidathas (sacrificial gatherings) by the dhīraḥ—underscoring inviolable ritual order and divine reciprocity.
- Where it settles
It ends with a final request that Agni, increasing in strength, accept the āhuti and the cake as an offering that carries the worshipper beyond the merely temporal day into sacred expansiveness.
The deity: Agni
- In the VedaAgni is the divine Fire, the household and sacrificial flame, praised as Jātavedas—“knower of all births,” the one who recognizes beings and offerings and conveys them to the gods.
- Cosmic functionMediator and messenger between humans and devas; transformer of oblations into subtle nourishment; establisher of ṛta (right order) through the correctly tended sacrifice.
- Inner significanceThe awakened flame of discernment and aspiration that digests experience, refines intention, and carries prayer from speech to realization; the inner ‘priest’ that protects sincerity in worship.
The seer
- Viśvāmitra GāthinaViśvāmitra (Gāthina) family; Maṇḍala 3 is predominantly Vaiśvāmitra · A royal-turned-seer celebrated for establishing powerful Vedic hymns of Agni and Indra and for shaping the Vaiśvāmitra corpus with a strong ritual and visionary emphasis.
Famous verses
prātaḥsāve dhiyāvaso
tava bhāgadheyaṃ na pra minanti vidatheṣu dhīrāḥ
juṣasva tiroahnyam
Attributes of the deity
- Jātavedas (knower of births)
- Kavi (seer-poet fire)
- Hotṛ/mediator of offerings
- Receiver of rightful share (bhāgadheya)
- Strengthener of dhī (inspired thought)
- Guardian of ritual correctness and continuity
Also by this seer
- Large portions of Rigveda Maṇḍala 3 (family collection)
- Hymns associated with Indra-Vasiṣṭha/Viśvāmitra thematic cycles in later tradition (genealogical and narrative memory)
- Agni-centered ritual hymns where Jātavedas is invoked as knower and carrier of offerings
The rite, step by step
- Kindle and establish the sacred fire with attention to purity and orientation (āhavanīya/gārhapatya as applicable).
- Prepare the puroḷāśa (sacrificial cake) according to rite; consecrate intention and speech.
- At the morning pressing (prātaḥ-savana), recite the opening verse(s) inviting Agni to accept the offering and to rouse dhī (inspiration).
- At the midday pressing (mādhyaṃdina-savana), offer the cake/oblation again with the verse affirming Agni as kavi and his undiminished share among the wise.
- Conclude with an āhuti and a closing recitation asking Agni, ‘growing in power,’ to accept what carries the worshipper beyond the ordinary day (tiroahnyam).
Offerings
- Puroḷāśa (sacrificial cake)
- Āhuti (ghee/oblations into fire)
- Soma-pressing context offerings (as part of the savana setting)
Frequently Asked Questions
It asks Agni (Jātavedas) to accept the sacrificial cake (puroḷāśa) and the oblation (āhuti), especially at the morning and midday pressings, and to strengthen inspired thought (dhī).
Because the hymn is aligned with the rhythm of the Soma ritual: offerings are made at specific pressings, and Agni is invited to receive his share properly at each stage.
It means the wise maintain the rite correctly, so Agni receives his rightful portion (bhāgadheya) without loss—symbolizing reliability, reciprocity, and order in worship.
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