Sukta 26
Sukta 5.26
Atri (Ātreya) (Mandala 5 Agni hymns generally Ātreya; verify per Anukramaṇī for RV 5.26)
Agni
Gayatri (likely for RV 5.26 opening; verify by syllable count)
This hymn invokes Agni as the radiant purifier and divine priest whose “tongue” carries the offering and summons the gods to the sacrifice. It asks Agni to seat the deities on the sacred barhis (ritual seat) and to bring strength and heroic vitality (suvīrya) to the soma-pressing worshipper. The closing movement widens the invitation to a full divine assembly—Maruts, Aśvins, Mitra, Varuṇa, and all the gods—signaling a complete, well-prepared rite.
Mantras
Mantra 1
अग्ने पावक रोचिषा मन्द्रया देव जिह्वया । आ देवान्वक्षि यक्षि च ॥
अग्नि, तू पानी की तरह साफ करता है। तेरी चमक और तेरी जीभ खुशी देती है। तू देवियों को यहाँ ला। और उनके लिए हवन कर। यह सब अंदर तक पहुँचेगा।
Mantra 2
तं त्वा घृतस्नवीमहे चित्रभानो स्वर्दृशम् । देवाँ आ वीतये वह ॥
अग्नि, तू चमकता है और ऊपर की दुनिया देख सकता है। घी की तरह तेरा चमकना साफ है। हम तुझे पास बुलाते हैं। तू देवियों को ले आ। उनसे मिलने का मौका दे।
Mantra 3
वीतिहोत्रं त्वा कवे द्युमन्तं समिधीमहि । अग्ने बृहन्तमध्वरे ॥
अग्नि, तू ज्ञानी है और तेरी चमक ताकत से भरी है। हम तुझे पूरा जलाते हैं। तू बड़ा हो जा। इस यज्ञ में सबसे बड़ी ताकत बन जा।
Mantra 4
अग्ने विश्वेभिरा गहि देवेभिर्हव्यदातये । होतारं त्वा वृणीमहे ॥
अग्नि, सब देवियों के साथ आ। यहाँ आके हवन का काम करो। हम तुझे अपना पुजारी चुनते हैं। तू देवियों को बुलाता है।
Mantra 5
यजमानाय सुन्वत आग्ने सुवीर्यं वह । देवैरा सत्सि बर्हिषि ॥
जो यज्ञ करता है और सोम पीता है, उसके लिए अग्नि ताकत ला। तू देवियों के साथ बैठ। यह अंदर की पूजा है।
Mantra 6
समिधानः सहस्रजिदग्ने धर्माणि पुष्यसि । देवानां दूत उक्थ्यः ॥
अग्नि, जब तुम जल रहे हो तोह तुम हज़ारों बार जीत चुके हो। तुम सही काम के नियम को आगे बढ़ा रहे हो। तुम देवताओं का काम करते हो, उनका पैग़ाम ले के आते हो। तुम्हारी बात में शक्ति है।
Mantra 7
न्यग्निं जातवेदसं होत्रवाहं यविष्ठ्यम् । दधाता देवमृत्विजम् ॥
अग्नि को स्थापित करो, जातवेदस को, जो हवन के पैग़ाम ले के आता है। वो सबसे नया है, हर वक़्त फ़्रेश है। उसे पूजा के काम में बिठाओ, वो सही वक़्त का पुजारी है।
Mantra 8
प्र यज्ञ एत्वानुषगद्या देवव्यचस्तमः । स्तृणीत बर्हिरासदे ॥
आज यज्ञ शुरू हो, एक के बाद एक सही सीक्वेंस में। यह देवताओं तक जाए, बहुत दूर तक। आसन बिछाओ ताकि देवता आके बैठ सकें, सब तैयार हो।
Mantra 9
एदं मरुतो अश्विना मित्रः सीदन्तु वरुणः । देवासः सर्वया विशा ॥
मरुत और अश्विन देवता यहाँ आके बैठें। मित्र बैठें, वरुण बैठें। सारे देवता अपनी पूरी टीम के साथ आके बैठें, सब एक साथ।
Inside Sukta 26
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Agni is hailed as the shining purifier whose divine tongue can effectively summon and serve the gods.
- Development
The hymn moves from Agni’s luminous identity to his functional priesthood—bringing the gods, performing the offering, and establishing the ritual seat.
- Climax
A direct boon is requested: Agni is asked to bring suvīrya to the soma-pressing sacrificer and to sit with the gods upon the barhis.
- Where it settles
The invitation expands to the wider pantheon—Maruts, Aśvins, Mitra, Varuṇa, and all gods—seated together as a complete divine company.
The deity: Agni
- In the VedaAgni is praised as pāvaka (“purifier”), shining with rociṣ (“radiance”), and acting through his ‘divine tongue’ that tastes the oblation and conveys it to the gods. He is the inviter and installer of the deities at the rite, the priestly power present in the fire.
- Cosmic functionMediator between humans and gods; carrier of offerings; awakener of divine presence; sustainer of ṛta (right order) through the properly kindled sacrifice.
- Inner significanceThe awakened will and luminous intelligence that purifies intention, transforms offerings (actions, breath, speech) into higher consciousness, and gathers the ‘powers’ of the psyche into a harmonious order.
The seer
- Atri (Ātreya)Ātreya (Atri-gotra) · One of the great Vedic seers; the Ātreyas are especially prominent in Mandala 5, famed for Agni hymns that emphasize Agni as hotṛ (invoking priest) and messenger who establishes the sacrifice.
Famous verses
ā devān vakṣi yakṣi ca
suvīryaṃ vaha
एदं मरुतो अश्विना मित्रः सीदन्तु वरुणः । देवासः सर्वया विशा ॥Attributes of the deity
- Purifier (pāvaka)
- Radiant/bright (rociṣ)
- Divine priestly tongue (jihvā)
- Messenger and inviter of the gods
- Seater of the gods on the barhis
- Giver of strength/heroic force (suvīrya)
Also by this seer
- Many hymns of Rigveda Mandala 5 are attributed to the Ātreya family (including numerous Agni and other deity hymns).
- Atri is remembered in later Vedic-Itihāsa tradition as a foremost ṛṣi and a foundational figure of a major gotra line.
The rite, step by step
- Kindle and tend the sacred fire with purity of space, speech, and intent.
- Invoke Agni as pāvaka with radiance, asking him to ‘bring the gods’ (ā devān vakṣi).
- Offer ghee/oblations into Agni, requesting that he ‘sacrifice to them’ (yakṣi) as hotṛ on behalf of the worshipper.
- Prepare/spread the barhis (ritual seat) and invite the gods to sit with Agni as the leading presence.
- Press/offer soma (where applicable) and ask Agni to bring suvīrya (heroic soul-force) to the yajamāna.
- Conclude with a broad invitation to the divine assembly (Maruts, Aśvins, Mitra, Varuṇa, Viśve Devāḥ), affirming completeness of the rite.
Offerings
- Ghṛta (clarified butter)
- Soma (in soma-pressing context)
- Samidh (fuel sticks)
- Optional: grains or simple oblations as per domestic/agnihotra-style practice
Frequently Asked Questions
It calls Agni as the purifier and priest to bring the gods to the sacrifice, seat them on the sacred barhis, and make the offerings effective while blessing the worshipper with strength (suvīrya).
In Vedic imagery, Agni’s tongue is the flame that ‘tastes’ the oblation; it symbolizes Agni’s power to transform the offering and deliver it to the gods as a true priest (hotṛ).
Along with the general company of all gods (Viśve Devāḥ), the hymn explicitly invites the Maruts, the Aśvins, Mitra, and Varuṇa to sit at the prepared seat.
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