Sukta 11
Sukta 6.11
Bharadvāja
Triṣṭubh
This short Triṣṭubh hymn of Bharadvāja urges Agni, the inner-impelled Hotṛ, to drive the sacrifice forward with Marut-like force and to draw allied gods to the offering. It praises Agni’s self-radiant, all-pervading brilliance and asks that, kindled “with the gods,” he grant plenitude and help the worshippers cross beyond distress and peril.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
यजस्व होतरिषितो यजीयानग्ने बाधो मरुतां न प्रयुक्ति । आ नो मित्रावरुणा नासत्या द्यावा होत्राय पृथिवी ववृत्याः ॥
अग्नि, तू होता है, यज्ञ करने वाला। तू सबसे बड़ा पूजने लायक है। जैसे मरुत देवता आते हैं, वैसे ही तू भी आग लगा देता है। मित्र-वरुण हमारे पास आएं। अश्विनी कुमार भी आएं। आसमान और धरती दोनों हमारी तरफ देखें।
Mantra 2
त्वं होता मन्द्रतमो नो अध्रुगन्तर्देवो विदथा मर्त्येषु । पावकया जुह्वा वह्निरासाग्ने यजस्व तन्वं तव स्वाम् ॥
अग्नि, तुम हमारे लिए सबसे खुश करने वाले पुजारी हो। तुम गलती नहीं करते, भगवान जैसे लोगों के बीच में रहते हो। तुम्हारा चमकता हुआ पानी जैसे हाथ, आग लेके चलता है। अग्नि, अपनी आग से यह पूजा करो, अपने आप को समर्पित करो।
Mantra 3
धन्या चिद्धि त्वे धिषणा वष्टि प्र देवाञ्जन्म गृणते यजध्यै । वेपिष्ठो अङ्गिरसां यद्ध विप्रो मधु च्छन्दो भनति रेभ इष्टौ ॥
अग्नि में जो भी समझदारी है, वो खुश है और आगे बढ़ रही है। भगवान लोग गाते हैं और पूजा के लिए तैयार होते हैं। रिशि लोग जब गाते हैं तो मधुर शब्द निकलते हैं, जैसे शहद जैसा मीठा होता है। यह सब उस पूजा में होता है जो लोग चाहते हैं।
Mantra 4
अदिद्युतत्स्वपाको विभावाग्ने यजस्व रोदसी उरूची । आयुं न यं नमसा रातहव्या अञ्जन्ति सुप्रयसं पञ्च जनाः ॥
अग्नि चमक उठा है, अपने आप में पूरा और चमकदार। अग्नि, दोनों दुनिया को, धरती और आसमान को, अपनी पूजा से प्रसन्न करो। लोग तोहफे लेके आते हैं और उस्से समर्पित करते हैं। पाँच प्रकार के लोग उसकी पूजा करते हैं, जैसे आयु की करते थे।
Mantra 5
वृञ्जे ह यन्नमसा बर्हिरग्नावयामि स्रुग्घृतवती सुवृक्तिः । अम्यक्षि सद्म सदने पृथिव्या अश्रायि यज्ञः सूर्ये न चक्षुः ॥
जब मैं अग्नि के लिए घास बिछाता हूँ और पूजा के सामान तैयार करता हूँ, तो वो घर में आता है। धरती पर उसका स्थान बन जाता है। यह पूजा इतनी मज़बूत होती है जैसे सूरज की आँख। वो वहाँ रहता है, हिलती नहीं।
Mantra 6
दशस्या नः पुर्वणीक होतर्देवेभिरग्ने अग्निभिरिधानः । रायः सूनो सहसो वावसाना अति स्रसेम वृजनं नांहः ॥
अग्नि, तुम्हारे अनेक चेहरे हैं, तुम हमारे लिए पूजा करते हो। तुम भगवान लोगों के साथ आग जलाते हो। तुम ताकत के बेटे हो, धन और शक्ति चाहते हो। हमें मुश्किलों से निकाल के आगे ले जाओ, जैसे कोई जंगल से पार कर जाता है।
Inside Sukta 11
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Agni is addressed as the inner-impelled Hotṛ and urged to perform the sacrifice, driving it forward like the onset of the Maruts while calling allied gods to attend.
- Development
Agni’s radiance and efficacy expand from the ritual fire to the cosmic scale: he is wide-shining, and even Heaven-and-Earth are asked to turn toward the offering; the ‘five peoples’ honor him as the one of beautiful forward movement.
- Climax
Agni appears as self-perfect and all-illuminating (vibhāva), empowered to yoke the worlds to the rite and to gather the divine assembly around the oblation.
- Where it settles
The hymn ends in a direct plea: may Agni, kindled with the gods, be gracious and grant plenitude so the worshippers cross beyond the hard straits of distress and danger.
The deity: Agni
- In the VedaHe is praised as many-faced (puru-aṇīka), kindled in many fires, and as the force that turns Heaven and Earth toward the rite.
- Cosmic functionMediator between humans and gods; he transports oblations, establishes the sacrifice as a channel of reciprocity, and sustains cosmic order by linking earthly fire with celestial powers.
- Inner significanceThe awakened will and discerning flame of consciousness that impels right action; the inner priest who organizes aspiration, invites harmonizing powers (Mitra-Varuṇa), healing swiftness (Aśvins), and the stabilizing vastness of Heaven-and-Earth.
The seer
- BharadvājaBharadvāja-gotra (Āṅgirasa lineage) · One of the foremost seer-families of the Rig Veda; Bharadvāja hymns are especially noted for precise sacrificial theology and for portraying Agni as Hotṛ, messenger, and protector of the rite.
Famous verses
yajasva hotar iṣito yajīyān
adidyutat sv apāko vibhāvā
ati srasema vṛjanaṃ nāṃhaḥ
Attributes of the deity
- Hotṛ (chief invoker/priest)
- Messenger and carrier of offerings
- Self-radiant, widely shining (vibhāva)
- Many-formed/many-faced (puru-aṇīka)
- Protective guide through danger and distress
- Summoner of other deities to the sacrifice
Also by this seer
- Large portions of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 6 (Bharadvāja family book)
- Numerous Agni hymns emphasizing priestly function (Hotṛ), kindling (idh), and divine mediation
- Hymns invoking allied deities alongside Agni, integrating ritual and cosmic order (ṛta)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar and kindle/brighten the fire (idhāna) with kindling and ghee.
- Establish Agni as Hotṛ: recite invocatory verses asking him to ‘perform the sacrifice’ and drive it forward.
- Invite the associated deities (Mitra-Varuṇa, Aśvins) and turn the rite toward the cosmic supports (Dyāvā-Pṛthivī/rodasī).
- Offer oblations with homage (namas), asking for radiance, right movement, and protection.
- Conclude with a prayer for grace and safe passage beyond distress (nāṃhas) and peril (vṛjana).
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya)
- Kindling sticks/samidhs
- Grain cakes or food offerings (as appropriate to the rite)
- Soma or substitute offerings in soma-contexts
Frequently Asked Questions
It asks Agni, the sacrificial priest (Hotṛ), to power the rite, bring other gods to the offering, and protect the worshippers so they can move beyond hardship and danger.
Agni is the inviter and messenger in the sacrifice. By calling these deities, the hymn shows that the fire-rite gathers powers of order (Mitra-Varuṇa), help and healing (Aśvins), and cosmic support (Dyāvā-Pṛthivī) around the yajña.
It is both a practical and spiritual prayer: to be led safely through crises and obstacles, and to be guided by Agni’s light and right impulse toward well-being and fullness (rāyas).
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