Sukta 11
Sukta 4.11
Vāmadeva Gautama (traditional attribution for RV 4.11)
Agni
Jagati or Trishtubh (uncertain from single verse; confirm by metrical scan of the whole sukta)
This six-verse hymn to Agni praises his radiant presence—sunlike by day and undiminished even by night—and invokes him as the visible power that nourishes and protects. It credits Agni as the source of victorious force, prosperity, and swift energy, and ends with a protective prayer to drive away sin, harm, and perverse intention, securing well-being (svasti).
Mantras
Mantra 1
भद्रं ते अग्ने सहसिन्ननीकमुपाक आ रोचते सूर्यस्य । रुशद्दृशे ददृशे नक्तया चिदरूक्षितं दृश आ रूपे अन्नम् ॥
अग्नि, तुम बहुत ताकतवाला हो। तुम्हारा चेहरा पास में चमकता है, जैसे सूरज चमकता है। रात को भी तुम दिखते हो, अंधेरा नहीं होता। तुम्हारा रूप साफ दिखता है, जैसे खाना मिलता है।
Mantra 2
वि षाह्यग्ने गृणते मनीषां खं वेपसा तुविजात स्तवानः । विश्वेभिर्यद्वावनः शुक्र देवैस्तन्नो रास्व सुमहो भूरि मन्म ॥
अग्नि, हम जब तुम्हे गाते हैं तोह हमारे दिल में अच्छी बात डाल दो। तुम्हारी ताकत इतनी बड़ी है कि आसमान काँप जाये। तुम सब जगह हो और तुम्हारी चमक है। जो भी चमक और शक्ति तुम देवियों के साथ लाते हो, वोह हमें भी दो। हमारे पास बड़ी सोच आये और हम आगे बढ़ें।
Mantra 3
त्वदग्ने काव्या त्वन्मनीषास्त्वदुक्था जायन्ते राध्यानि । त्वदेति द्रविणं वीरपेशा इत्थाधिये दाशुषे मर्त्याय ॥
अग्नि, तुमसे ही कवियों को शक्ति मिलती है। तुमसे ही लोगों को समझ आती है। तुमसे ही वोह गाने पैदा होते हैं जो काम करते हैं। तुमसे ही वोह दौलत आती है जो इंसान को मज़बूत बनाती है। जो इंसान तुम्हे पूजा करके समझता है, उसको तुम सही रास्ता दिखाते हो।
Mantra 4
त्वद्वाजी वाजम्भरो विहाया अभिष्टिकृज्जायते सत्यशुष्मः । त्वद्रयिर्देवजूतो मयोभुस्त्वदाशुर्जूजुवाँ अग्ने अर्वा ॥
अग्नि, तुमसे ही वोह शक्ति पैदा होती है जो जीत लाती है। वोह आसमान में घूरती है और मदद करती है। उसकी ताकत सच्ची है। तुमसे ही वोह दौलत आती है जो खुशी देती है, क्योंकि देवी उस्से चलाते हैं। तुमसे ही वोह तेज़ ऊँटनी निकलती है जो आगे बढ़ती रहती है।
Mantra 5
त्वामग्ने प्रथमं देवयन्तो देवं मर्ता अमृत मन्द्रजिह्वम् । द्वेषोयुतमा विवासन्ति धीभिर्दमूनसं गृहपतिममूरम् ॥
अग्नि, लोग पहले तुम्हे ही चुनते हैं जब भगवान की बात करते हैं। तुम मरने वाले नहीं हो, तुम्हारी जीभ आग जैसी है। लोग तुम्हे अपने घर में बिठाते हैं। तुम बुराई को भगाते हो और घर के मालिक बन जाते हो। तुम घर को सही रखते हो।
Mantra 6
आरे अस्मदमतिमारे अंह आरे विश्वां दुर्मतिं यन्निपासि । दोषा शिवः सहसः सूनो अग्ने यं देव आ चित्सचसे स्वस्ति ॥
अग्नि, हमसे दूर रखना बुरी सोच, बुरा काम और पाप। जो भी लोग बुरी सोच करते हैं, उनको भी दूर रखना। रात को तुम हमारे साथ रहो और अच्छे बनो। तुम शक्ति के बेटा हो। देवी भी तुम्हारे पास आते हैं जब उन्हे अच्छा लगता है।
Inside Sukta 11
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Agni’s auspicious, sunlike radiance is hailed as near and visible—shining even through night.
- Development
Agni is affirmed as the generative source of victorious force, wealth, and swift forward-driving energy that supports life and ritual success.
- Climax
A direct apotropaic prayer: Agni is asked to repel crooked thought, sin, and all ill-intent because he restrains and guards against them.
- Where it settles
Agni is invoked as benignant at night, the ‘son of force,’ approached even by the gods for svasti—settling the hymn in protection and well-being.
The deity: Agni
- In the VedaAgni is the bright, gracious-faced flame, kindled by humans and approached even by the gods; he is seen like the Sun and yet shines through the night, guarding and restraining harmful forces.
- Cosmic functionMediator between humans and gods, carrier of offerings, establisher of order in the sacrifice, and protective power that repels evil and brings prosperity, victory, and well-being.
- Inner significanceThe awakened inner fire—clarity, will, and discernment—that transforms thought, burns away crooked intention, and sustains the soul with true ‘nourishment’ (anna) as luminous consciousness.
The seer
- Vāmadeva GautamaGautama gotra (Vāmadeva of the Gautamas) · A major Rigvedic seer of Mandala 4, celebrated for profound Agni hymns that unite outer ritual fire with inner illumination and protection.
Famous verses
भद्रं ते अग्ने सहसिन्ननीकम् (bhadraṃ te agne sahasinn anīkam)त्वद्वाजी वाजम्भरो विहाया अभिष्टिकृज्जायते सत्यशुष्मः । त्वद्रयिर्देवजूतो मयोभुस्त्वदाशुर्जूजुवाँ अग्ने अर्वा ॥आरे अस्मदमतिम् (āre asmad amatim)Attributes of the deity
- Sahasīn (mighty in force)
- Radiant, sunlike brilliance
- Night-protector and guardian
- Bestower of wealth (rayi) and bliss (mayobhu)
- Giver of victorious help (abhiṣṭi)
- Swift, urging energy (āśu)
Also by this seer
- Primary authorship/traditional attribution of many hymns in Rig Veda Mandala 4 (notably Agni-centered sūktas)
- Associated in tradition with the Vāmadeva lineage of seers and their sacrificial-poetic innovations in praise of Agni and allied deities
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar (vedi) and arrange kindling (samidh) with ritual purity.
- Kindle Agni and establish a steady flame while reciting opening praise of his radiant ‘face’ (anīka).
- Offer ghee into the fire with short invocations, acknowledging Agni as the source of strength, wealth, and victorious aid.
- Recite the protective petition asking Agni to drive far sin, constriction, and perverse intention, especially for night-guardianship.
- Conclude with a svasti-oriented closing: mentally place the rite under Agni’s guardianship and dedicate merit to household and community well-being.
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya)
- Kindling sticks (samidh)
- Optional grain/oblations (anna/havis) according to household custom
Frequently Asked Questions
It praises Agni as a radiant, sunlike power that nourishes life, brings strength and prosperity, and protects the worshipper—especially by driving away wrong thinking and harm.
Because Agni is not only the daytime brilliance of the sacrifice but also the guardian in darkness; the hymn asks him to be benignant at night and keep dangers and negative impulses away.
It can be recited during a simple lamp or fire offering with ghee, especially in the evening, as a prayer for clarity of mind, removal of harmful tendencies, and overall well-being (svasti).
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