Sukta 16
Sukta 5.16
This short Vasiṣṭha hymn praises Agni as the shining, ever-growing flame whom mortals place “in front” like a trusted Friend and guide. It asks Agni to gather strength for the community, protect in conflicts, and bring vārya (desirable abundance), establishing a secure station of svasti (well-being).
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
बृहद्वयो हि भानवेऽर्चा देवायाग्नये । यं मित्रं न प्रशस्तिभिर्मर्तासो दधिरे पुरः ॥
अग्नि भगवान की ताकत की महिमा गाओ, जो चमकता है। लोग उसकी तारीफ करके उसे आगे बिठाते हैं जैसे कोई दोस्त। वो आगे चलता है और रास्ता दिखाता है।
Mantra 2
स हि द्युभिर्जनानां होता दक्षस्य बाह्वोः । वि हव्यमग्निरानुषग्भगो न वारमृण्वति ॥
अग्नि सब लोगों का पुजारी है, जो समझदारी से काम करता है। वो हवन का सामान बाँटता है जैसे कोई अपना खजाना खोल दे। सब को अपना हिस्सा मिलता है।
Mantra 3
अस्य स्तोमे मघोनः सख्ये वृद्धशोचिषः । विश्वा यस्मिन्तुविष्वणि समर्ये शुष्ममादधुः ॥
इस गाने में, जो देने वाला है उसकी दोस्ती में, सब ताकत इकट्ठी होती है। आग बड़ी होती जाती है ताकि अंदर का हीरो लड़ाई में ताकत ले सके।
Mantra 4
अधा ह्यग्न एषां सुवीर्यस्य मंहना । तमिद्यह्वं न रोदसी परि श्रवो बभूवतुः ॥
अग्नि, जब लोग अपनी ताकत देते हैं, तब वो आग इतनी बड़ी हो जाती है कि उसकी बात आसमान और ज़मीन दोनों तक पहुँच जाती है। सब उसकी महिमा सुनते हैं।
Mantra 5
नू न एहि वार्यमग्ने गृणान आ भर । ये वयं ये च सूरयः स्वस्ति धामहे सचोतैधि पृत्सु नो वृधे ॥
अग्नि, अभी आ हमारे पास और वोह सब ला जो हमें चाहिए। हम और जो लोग रोशनी में चल रहे हैं, सब मिलकर खुश रहना चाहते हैं। तू हमारे साथ रह। जब भी लड़ाई हो, हमें आगे बढ़ा।
Inside Sukta 16
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A call to sing of Agni’s vast strength and radiance, placing him in front like a trusted Friend and guide.
- Development
Agni is praised as bountiful and ever-increasing; the hymn emphasizes how collective powers gather around his wide-resounding presence to create effective might.
- Climax
The prayer that Agni consolidate force (śuṣma) for the community—inner heroism and outer victory aligned through the fire’s leadership.
- Where it settles
A direct invitation for Agni to come, bring desirable abundance, stay with the worshippers, and increase their welfare and strength in conflicts.
The deity: Agni
- Cosmic functionMediator between humans and gods, carrier of oblations, kindler of sacrifice, and luminous force that clears paths, protects, and strengthens collective endeavor.
- Inner significanceThe awakened will and discerning flame of consciousness—aspiration that leads, purifies, unifies scattered energies, and turns praise into effective power (śuṣma) for right action.
The seer
- VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha-gotra (Pañcama Maṇḍala family tradition) · Foremost seer-priest of the Vasiṣṭhas, celebrated for hymns of Agni and Varuṇa and for articulating the ideal of ṛta (cosmic order) in inspired prayer.
Famous verses
yam mitraṃ na… dadhire puraḥ
अस्य स्तोमे मघोनः सख्ये वृद्धशोचिषः । विश्वा यस्मिन्तुविष्वणि समर्ये शुष्ममादधुः ॥nū na ehi vāryam agne
Attributes of the deity
- Shining/bright (bhānavat)
- Friend and leader placed in front (mitram…puraḥ)
- Ever-growing flame (vṛddhaśociṣ)
- Bountiful giver (maghavan)
- Protector and helper in conflicts (pṛtsu)
- Carrier of offerings and establisher of well-being (svasti)
Also by this seer
- Large portions of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 7 (Vasiṣṭha Maṇḍala)
- Agni hymns across the family collection in Maṇḍala 5 (Vasiṣṭha tradition)
- Noted association in later tradition with royal priesthood (purohita) and the ethical-spiritual vision of ṛta
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar/āhavanīya and kindle or rekindle the sacred fire.
- Recite the opening praise, establishing Agni as ‘puraḥ’ (placed in front) and as mitra (friend/guide).
- Offer oblations while chanting the central verses, asking Agni to gather strength and support the community.
- Conclude with the direct invitation: ‘come to us’ and ‘bring vārya’ (desirable plenitude), requesting protection in struggles.
- Perform a closing silent reverence/namas and maintain the fire as a sign of ongoing guardianship.
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya)
- Samidhs (fuel sticks)
- Grain or simple food oblations (anna/puroḍāśa as applicable)
- Soma substitute offerings in later practice (where relevant)
Frequently Asked Questions
It presents Agni as a trusted Friend and leader placed at the forefront, and it asks him to unite the community’s strength, protect them in struggles, and grant well-being and abundance.
Because Agni leads the rite and the journey—like a guide at the head of a procession—showing the way, guarding the path, and making human prayer effective.
The hymn asks Agni to “come now” and bring vārya—desirable plenitude—while staying allied with the worshippers and increasing their strength in conflicts.
Ask anything about Sukta 16 of the Rig Veda
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
