Sukta 18
Sukta 5.18
Vasiṣṭha (Book 5 attribution)
Triṣṭubh (likely)
This short hymn praises Agni at dawn as Atithi—the divine Guest welcomed into the human dwelling through fire and offering. Agni is invoked as the immortal who delights in mortal oblations, drives forward unharmed like a chariot, and magnifies the fame and prosperity of generous patrons.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
प्रातरग्निः पुरुप्रियो विशः स्तवेतातिथिः । विश्वानि यो अमर्त्यो हव्या मर्तेषु रण्यति ॥
सुबह होने पर अग्नि की पूजा करो। वो सबको प्यारा है और मेहमान की तरह आता है। वो मरने वाला नहीं है, वो अमर है। लोग जो भी चढ़ावा चढ़ाते हैं उसमें खुश होता है। यह अग्नि इंसान के घर खुशी लाती है।
Mantra 2
द्विताय मृक्तवाहसे स्वस्य दक्षस्य मंहना । इन्दं। स धत्त आनुषक्स्तोता चित्ते अमर्त्य ॥
बार-बार तुम्हारे लिए जो साफ चढ़ावा ले कर आता है। तुम्हारी अपनी समझ और शक्ति से वो देने वाला पुजारी सोम की खुशी तुम में रखता है। हे अमर अग्नि, यह चलता रहे ताकि अग्नि सच्चाई की खुशी ले कर बढ़े।
Mantra 3
तं वो दीर्घायुशोचिषं गिरा हुवे मघोनाम् । अरिष्टो येषां रथो व्यश्वदावन्नीयते ॥
मैं उस अग्नि को पुकारता हूँ जो लंबी उम्र तक जलता है और चमकता है। वो जो लोग देते हैं उनके लिए मैं उसे बुलाता हूँ। उनकी रथ किसी चीज़ से टूटी नहीं, घोड़े उसे आगे ले जाते हैं।
Mantra 4
चित्रा वा येषु दीधितिरासन्नुक्था पान्ति ये । स्तीर्णं बर्हिः स्वर्णरे श्रवांसि दधिरे परि ॥
जिन लोगों में अलग-अलग रंगों जैसी रोशनी बसती है। जो लोग गीतों की रक्षा करते हैं। जिन्होंने आसमान के मालिक के लिए आसन बिछाया है। जिनके कान सब तरफ से सुनने की शक्ति हैं।
Mantra 5
ये मे पञ्चाशतं ददुरश्वानां सधस्तुति । द्युमदग्ने महि श्रवो बृहत्कृधि मघोनां नृवदमृत नृणाम् ॥
जिन्होंने मुझे पचास घोड़े दिए थे, वो लोग बहुत बड़े दिल वाले हैं। अग्नि, तू हमारे साथ है जब हम स्तुति करते हैं। तू उनकी बड़ाई और शक्ति को और बड़ा कर दे। वो लोग इंसानों में सबसे बड़े हैं। तू अमर है, उनके लिए कुछ ऐसा कर जो लोगों तक पहुँचे।
Inside Sukta 18
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
At dawn the peoples are urged to praise Agni as the beloved Guest who rejoices in offerings among mortals.
- Development
Agni is then called with the power of the spoken hymn as radiant and long-lived, advancing like a chariot that moves forth unharmed.
- Climax
The hymn turns to tangible reward and patronage—Agni is asked to magnify great fame and splendor for the bountiful givers.
- Where it settles
It closes by sealing the exchange: human generosity and offering are met by Agni’s immortal power granting lasting renown and strength to men.
The deity: Agni
- Cosmic functionMediator between humans and devas—transforming offerings into divine nourishment, sustaining ṛta through sacrifice, and energizing the onward motion of life (symbolized by the unharmed chariot).
- Inner significanceThe awakened will and illumined intelligence that ‘arrives’ when one begins the day with reverence—digesting experience, refining intention, and turning human speech/act into a higher offering.
The seer
- VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha-gotra (Mānava/Vasiṣṭha tradition); associated with the Tr̥tsu-Bharata royal line in RV lore · One of the most celebrated Rigvedic seers, famed for priestly mastery (hotṛ/brahman), protection of kings through mantra, and profound Agni–Varuṇa hymns; later revered as a Saptarṣi in Vedic-Itihāsa tradition.
Famous verses
prātar agniḥ ... atithiḥ
तं वो दीर्घायुशोचिषं गिरा हुवे मघोनाम् । अरिष्टो येषां रथो व्यश्वदावन्नीयते ॥mahi śravo bṛhat kṛdhi
Attributes of the deity
- Atithi (guest of the house and rite)
- Amartya (immortal)
- Śociṣ (radiant flame)
- Hotṛ/mediator who conveys havis
- Protector—unharmed, victorious movement
- Bestower of śravas (fame) and dyumna (splendor)
Also by this seer
- Large portions of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 7 traditionally attributed to Vasiṣṭha and his lineage
- Renowned hymns to Varuṇa and Mitra–Varuṇa (Vasiṣṭha corpus, especially in RV 7)
- Vedic exemplars of rājan-protection and ritual efficacy through Agni-centered praise
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar/hearth; kindle or brighten the fire at dawn
- Invite Agni as Atithi with praise (stuti) and spoken invocation (girā)
- Offer havis into the flame while requesting protection and unharmed progress
- Recite petitions for prosperity, fame (śravas), and the strengthening of generous patrons
- Conclude with reaffirmation of Agni’s immortality and his delight in offerings among mortals
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya)
- Milk/curds or simple oblations (as customary havis)
- Grain/cakes (puroḍāśa, context-dependent)
- Kindling sticks (samidh)
Frequently Asked Questions
Because the sacred fire is welcomed into the home like an honored guest. Through kindling and offering, Agni ‘arrives,’ is praised, and receives hospitality in the form of oblations.
Protection and successful forward movement, along with increased splendor and lasting fame (śravas) for those who give generously and support the rite.
At dawn, when lighting or renewing the fire for morning worship, since the hymn explicitly invokes Agni “in the morning” and frames him as the first guest of the day’s sacrifice.
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