Sukta 28
Sukta 5.28
This short hymn praises Agni as the kindled, heaven-reaching flame whose radiance meets Uṣas (Dawn) as she arrives from the East bearing all desirable gifts. It links the dawn-lit awakening of the world with the awakening of the sacrifice, urging worshippers to choose Agni as havyavāhana—the sure carrier of offerings to the gods.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
समिद्धो अग्निर्दिवि शोचिरश्रेत्प्रत्यङ्ङुषसमुर्विया वि भाति । एति प्राची विश्ववारा नमोभिर्देवाँ ईळाना हविषा घृताची ॥
अग्नि की आग जब जलती है तो आसमान में चमक उठती है। उषा की तरफ देख के वो चारों तरफ फैलती है। उषा पूरब से आती है और सारी अच्छी चीज़ें लेकर आती है। वो भगवानों को नमस्ते करती है और घी मिला हुआ हवन समेट लाती है।
Mantra 2
समिध्यमानो अमृतस्य राजसि हविष्कृण्वन्तं सचसे स्वस्तये । विश्वं स धत्ते द्रविणं यमिन्वस्यातिथ्यमग्ने नि च धत्त इत्पुरः ॥
अग्नि जब अमृत की दुनिया में चमकता है तो वो उसके साथ रहता है जो हवन तैयार करता है। उसकी भलाई के लिए। अग्नि उसमें पूरा धन और सम्पन्नता डाल देता है। और जो मेहमान-नवाज़ी वो करता है, अग्नि उसे ज़िन्दगी के आगे पक्का कर देता है।
Mantra 3
अग्ने शर्ध महते सौभगाय तव द्युम्नान्युत्तमानि सन्तु । सं जास्पत्यं सुयममा कृणुष्व शत्रूयतामभि तिष्ठा महांसि ॥
अग्नि, अपनी ताकत को बड़े भाग्य के लिए लगा दो। तेरे चमक-दमक वाले सबसे बड़े शक्ति हमारे साथ हों। हमें घर की सत्ता और सही नियम दे। दुश्मनी करने वालों के ऊपर खड़े हो के अपनी बड़ाई से उनको हार मनवा।
Mantra 4
समिद्धस्य प्रमहसोऽग्ने वन्दे तव श्रियम् । वृषभो द्युम्नवाँ असि समध्वरेष्विध्यसे ॥
अग्नि, जब तू बड़ी ताकत से जलता है तो मैं तेरी चमक और खूबसूरती को नमस्ते करता हूँ। तू एक बैल की तरह ताकतवाला है, चमक से भरा हुआ। यज्ञ में जब तुझे जलाया जाता है तो सब ठीक हो जाता है।
Mantra 5
समिद्धो अग्न आहुत देवान्यक्षि स्वध्वर । त्वं हि हव्यवाळसि ॥
अग्नि, जब तू जलता है और तुझे हवन में समर्पित किया जाता है, तो तू भगवानों को सही तरीके से हवन पहुँचाता है। क्योंकि तू ही वो है जो सब कुछ भगवानों तक ले जाता है।
Mantra 6
आ जुहोता दुवस्यताग्निं प्रयत्यध्वरे । वृणीध्वं हव्यवाहनम् ॥
आओ, अग्नि को हवन में समर्पित करो। यह यज्ञ आगे बढ़ रहा है, इसलिए पूरा ध्यान दो। अग्नि को चुनो, क्योंकि वोह जो भी भगवान के लिए चढ़ाया जाता है, उसे ले जाता है।
Inside Sukta 28
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Agni is kindled and his heavenly flame shoots forth, shining broadly as it faces the approaching Dawn.
- Development
Uṣas arrives from the East as the bearer of all desirable things, calling the gods through reverence while the oblation is prepared and offered.
- Climax
Agni’s greatness and splendor are adored—he is proclaimed the powerful, luminous vṛṣabha who is kindled into harmony within the sacrifices.
- Where it settles
The hymn ends with a clear ritual imperative: offer, serve, and deliberately choose Agni as havyavāhana to carry the offering to its divine goal.
The deity: Agni
- Cosmic functionAgni mediates between human and divine realms by carrying oblations to the gods, while Uṣas renews time and order each day, opening the path for ritual and life to proceed.
- Inner significanceAgni signifies awakened will, aspiration, and the transforming intelligence that ‘cooks’ experience into clarity; Uṣas signifies inner awakening, fresh perception, and the arrival of insight that makes worship and right action possible.
The seer
- Atri (Ātreya tradition; specific rishi of 5.28 uncertain in many recensions)Ātreya (Atri-gotra) · Atri is remembered as a great seer associated with luminous vision, the recovery/renewal of light, and hymns that bind cosmic order (ṛta) to sacrificial fire and dawn.
Famous verses
samiddho agnir… pratyaṅṅ uṣasam urviyā vi bhāti
vṛṣabho dyumnavān asi
vṛṇīdhvaṃ havyavāhanam
Attributes of the deity
- Kindled radiance (samiddha śociḥ)
- Hotṛ and havyavāhana (priest and carrier of offerings)
- Mighty, virile force (vṛṣabha)
- Harmonizer of sacrifice (sam adhvareṣu idhyase)
- Dawn-facing brilliance that spreads wide (uṣasam… urviyā vi bhāti)
- Summoner of the gods through reverence and offering
Also by this seer
- Rig Veda Mandala 5 is largely associated with the Atri family; many hymns in Book 5 are attributed to Ātreyas
- Atri appears prominently in later Vedic and Itihāsa-Purāṇa traditions as a Mahārṣi and progenitor of an important gotra
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar/fireplace and arrange kindling (samidh)
- Kindle Agni and establish a steady flame while reciting praise
- Invoke Uṣas and the arriving light as auspicious support for the rite
- Offer ghee/oblations with namas (reverent intention), inviting the gods
- Affirm Agni as vṛṣabha (strong, luminous) and ask for harmony in the adhvara
- Conclude by ‘choosing’ Agni as havyavāhana and continuing offerings in the forward-moving sacrifice (prayati adhvare)
Offerings
- Ghee (ghṛta)
- Havis/oblations (milk, grains, soma where applicable)
- Samidh (fuel sticks)
Frequently Asked Questions
It celebrates Agni as the bright, kindled fire that becomes most vivid at dawn, and it urges worshippers to offer with reverence and let Agni carry the gift to the gods.
Dawn represents the daily renewal of light and order; the hymn shows Agni’s flame meeting that renewal, so the sacrifice begins in the same spirit of awakening and freshness.
It can be recited when lighting a ritual fire, especially in the early morning, while offering ghee or simple oblations and mentally ‘choosing’ Agni as the messenger of the offering.
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