Sukta 10
Sukta 6.10
Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya (traditional for RV 6.10)
Triṣṭubh
This hymn places Agni Jātavedas at the very front of the sacrifice as the radiant guide who clears the path of the rite and carries prayers safely forward. It praises Agni as the far-seen purifier whose flame turns a “dark track” into a luminous way, dispelling hostility and nurturing iḷā (sacrificial abundance and inspired nourishment). The purpose is both ritual efficacy—unbroken offering-journey—and inner victory: light over darkness, concord over enmity, strength for long life and noble offspring.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
पुरो वो मन्द्रं दिव्यं सुवृक्तिं प्रयति यज्ञे अग्निमध्वरे दधिध्वम् । पुर उक्थेभिः स हि नो विभावा स्वध्वरा करति जातवेदाः ॥
यज्ञ के टाइम अग्नि को आगे बैठाओ। वो खुश करने वाला है, वो ऊपर वाला है, वो सही बोलने वाली शक्ति है। वो सबको रोशनी देता है, वो भजन के साथ आगे चलता है। वो हमारा रास्ता साफ करता है।
Mantra 2
तमु द्युमः पुर्वणीक होतरग्ने अग्निभिर्मनुष इधानः । स्तोमं यमस्मै ममतेव शूषं घृतं न शुचि मतयः पवन्ते ॥
लोग अग्नि को आग से जलाते हैं। वो बहुत रोशनी वाला है, उसके चेहरे अलग-अलग हैं। उसके लिए भजन बनता है, जैसे किसी प्यारे के लिए दिल करता है। सोच साफ होती है, घी जैसी चमक होती है।
Mantra 3
पीपाय स श्रवसा मर्त्येषु यो अग्नये ददाश विप्र उक्थैः । चित्राभिस्तमूतिभिश्चित्रशोचिर्व्रजस्य साता गोमतो दधाति ॥
जो लोग अग्नि को भजन से पूजा करते हैं, उनका नाम चमकता है। वो लोगों में बड़ा बन जाते हैं। अग्नि उनकी मदद करता है, उन्हें ज्ञान मिलता है। उनका काम बनता है, उनकी सोच साफ होती है।
Mantra 4
आ यः पप्रौ जायमान उर्वी दूरेदृशा भासा कृष्णाध्वा । अध बहु चित्तम ऊर्म्यायास्तिरः शोचिषा ददृशे पावकः ॥
जब यह अग्नि पैदा हुआ, तो उसने अपनी चमक से पूरी दुनिया फैल गया। दूर से भी उसकी रोशनी दिखाई देती थी। अंधेरा रास्ता उसने रोशन कर दिया। फिर तो इतना अंधेरा भी, जो लहरों में छुपा था, उसको अग्नि की आग ने साफ कर दिया। वह अग्नि सबसे दूर तक चमक रहा था।
Mantra 5
नू नश्चित्रं पुरुवाजाभिरूती अग्ने रयिं मघवद्भ्यश्च धेहि । ये राधसा श्रवसा चात्यन्यान्त्सुवीर्येभिश्चाभि सन्ति जनान् ॥
अग्नि, अब हमें ऐसी दौलत दे जो चमकती हो। तू बहुत ताकतवाला है, तू हमारी रक्षा करता है। जो लोग देते हैं, उनको भी यह दौलत मिलनी चाहिए। कुछ लोग इतने बढ़ गए कि दूसरों से आगे निकल गए। अपनी बड़ाई और ताकत से वो लोग सबसे ऊपर खड़े हैं।
Mantra 6
इमं यज्ञं चनो धा अग्न उशन्यं त आसानो जुहुते हविष्मान् । भरद्वाजेषु दधिषे सुवृक्तिमवीर्वाजस्य गध्यस्य सातौ ॥
अग्नि, इस यज्ञ को ठीक से स्थापित कर दे। जो भी यज्ञ में बैठ के हवन करता है, उसकी भी मदद कर। भारद्वाज रिशियों के लिए तू अच्छी बात बोलता है। तू हमें दौलत दिलाने में मदद करता है और उसे पक्का भी कर देता है।
Mantra 7
वि द्वेषांसीनुहि वर्धयेळां मदेम शतहिमाः सुवीराः ॥
अग्नि, दुश्मनी और नफरत को दूर भगा दे। अच्छी दौलत को बढ़ा दे। हम खुश रहें, ताकतवाले रहें। सौ साल तक जिएं, बड़े वीर बन जाएं।
Inside Sukta 10
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Agni is installed at the forefront of the moving sacrifice as divine, rapturous, and perfectly praised—leader of the rite and of the hymns.
- Development
Agni’s radiance is portrayed as far-reaching and world-spreading; he becomes the guide who makes the sacrificial journey ‘good in its course’ and effective.
- Climax
The revelation of Agni as Pāvaka: at birth he spreads wide, and by his flame even thick darkness and the ‘dark path’ are overcome—light discloses and transforms the way.
- Where it settles
A practical blessing: Agni is asked to expel hatreds, increase iḷā (nourishment/ritual plenty), and grant enduring vitality—“a hundred winters”—with noble strength and good offspring.
The deity: Agni
- In the VedaAs Pāvaka, he is the purifier whose flame makes even great darkness visible and passable.
- Cosmic functionMediator between earth and heaven: he receives offerings, conveys them to the gods, illumines the worlds, and maintains ṛta by transforming matter into divine oblation and light.
- Inner significanceThe awakened will and discerning intelligence (tejas/buddhi) that leads one’s actions; the inner flame that purifies obscurations, converts inertia into aspiration, and turns a ‘dark path’ of confusion into clarity and right movement.
The seer
- Bharadvāja BārhaspatyaBharadvāja gotra (Āṅgirasa / Bārhaspatya line) · A major Rigvedic seer of Mandala 6, celebrated for Agni-centered hymns that emphasize correct ritual leadership, luminous insight, and the priestly power of well-spoken praise (suvṛkti).
Famous verses
jātavedāḥ
kṛṣṇādhvā
śatahimāḥ
Attributes of the deity
- Jātavedas (all-knowing, knower of births)
- Pāvaka (purifier)
- Vibhāvā (all-illumining)
- Path-maker for the sacrifice (su-adhvara)
- Far-seen radiance (dūredṛśa bhāsā)
- Remover of hostility (dveṣāṃsi)
- Nourisher of iḷā (sacrificial plenty/inspired nourishment)
Also by this seer
- Primary seer associated with much of Rig Veda Mandala 6 (Bharadvāja family hymns), especially to Agni and allied deities.
- Tradition links the Bharadvāja lineage with the development and transmission of śrauta priestly lore, especially the agnicayana/agnic ritual culture in later Vedic memory.
- The Bharadvāja name is widely remembered in later Sanskrit tradition as a paradigmatic ṛṣi connected with dharma and ritual instruction (smṛti/purāṇic remembrance).
The rite, step by step
- Prepare and consecrate the fire-place; kindle/rekindle Agni with attention and purity.
- Place Agni ‘in front’ (puras) by formal invitation: recite praises (uktha) and well-formed hymns (suvṛkti).
- Offer preliminary oblations to establish Agni as messenger and path-maker for the rite.
- Continue with the main offerings, trusting Agni to carry them and to ‘purify’ the proceedings.
- Conclude with a protective/request verse: drive away hostilities, increase iḷā, and seek strength, joy, and longevity for the household/ritual patron.
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya) oblations
- Samidh (fuel sticks)
- Grain/cakes as appropriate to the rite
- Optional soma-related offerings in soma contexts (where applicable)
Frequently Asked Questions
It asks that Agni be placed at the front of the rite as the guiding fire who carries prayers correctly, purifies obstacles, and makes the sacrificial path smooth and successful.
Jātavedas means “knower of all births.” Here it highlights Agni’s all-illumining awareness and his ability to lead offerings and intentions rightly, as if he knows every origin and outcome.
On the outer level it is Agni’s visible flame guiding the ritual journey; inwardly it means clarity and purified will overcoming confusion, fear, and hostility, so life and worship proceed in harmony.
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