Sukta 6
Sukta 6.6
Agni
This hymn invokes Agni, the “Son of Strength,” as the divine Hotar who opens the path for worship and leads the sacrificer through darkness into luminous order. Agni is praised as a radiant, purifying power whose energies “plough” and prepare the earthly field, driving the rite forward and expanding its light. The sukta culminates in a request for inner awakening (citra-citayantam) and for shining, heroic wealth and protection for the singer and community.
Mantras
Mantra 1
प्र नव्यसा सहसः सूनुमच्छा यज्ञेन गातुमव इच्छमानः । वृश्चद्वनं कृष्णयामं रुशन्तं वीती होतारं दिव्यं जिगाति ॥
नया यज्ञ लेकर वो अग्नि के पास जाता है, मांगता है कि रास्ता मिले और सहायता मिले। वो अंधेरे को काट के निकल जाता है, चमकता हुआ अग्नि तक पहुँच जाता है जो सबकी सुनता है।
Mantra 2
स श्वितानस्तन्यतू रोचनस्था अजरेभिर्नानदद्भिर्यविष्ठः । यः पावकः पुरुतमः पुरूणि पृथून्यग्निरनुयाति भर्वन् ॥
अग्नि फैलता है और गरजता है, आसमान में चमकता हुआ। वो सबसे नया है, उसकी ताकत कभी पुरानी नहीं होती, आवाज़ गूँजती रहती है। यह अग्नि सबसे बड़ा पवित्र करने वाला है। वो दुनिया के कई बड़े इलाकों पीछे-पीछे चलता है, सबको संभाल के ले चलता है।
Mantra 3
वि ते विष्वग्वातजूतासो अग्ने भामासः शुचे शुचयश्चरन्ति । तुविम्रक्षासो दिव्या नवग्वा वना वनन्ति धृषता रुजन्तः ॥
अग्नि, तुम्हारी आग हवा से चलती है और हर तरह फैलती है। तुम साफ़ हो और चमकते हो। तुम्हारी किरणें बहुत चमकदार हैं, भगवान जैसी ताकत रखती हैं। वो अंधेरे को तोड़ देती हैं और हमें छुपा हुआ खज़ाना दिलाती हैं।
Mantra 4
ये ते शुक्रासः शुचयः शुचिष्मः क्षां वपन्ति विषितासो अश्वाः । अध भ्रमस्त उर्विया वि भाति यातयमानो अधि सानु पृश्नेः ॥
अग्नि, तुम्हारी चमकदार ताकतें साफ़ हैं। वो घोड़े की तरह कंट्रोल में रहती हैं और धरती को चलती हैं। तुम्हारी चमक बहुत दूर तक फैलती है और पहाड़ की चोटी पर चमकती हुई आगे बढ़ती है।
Mantra 5
अध जिह्वा पापतीति प्र वृष्णो गोषुयुधो नाशनिः सृजाना । शूरस्येव प्रसितिः क्षातिरग्नेर्दुर्वर्तुर्भीमो दयते वनानि ॥
अग्नि की जीभ आगे कूदती है, जैसे किसी बहादुर योद्धा की बिजली चमकती है। वो दुश्मन को मारने के लिए निकलती है। अग्नि की ताकत इतनी बड़ी है कि उसे कोई रोक नहीं सकता। वो रास्ते में आने वाले पेड़-पौधों को तोड़ के आगे बढ़ती है।
Mantra 6
आ भानुना पार्थिवानि ज्रयांसि महस्तोदस्य धृषता ततन्थ । स बाधस्वाप भया सहोभिः स्पृधो वनुष्यन्वनुषो नि जूर्व ॥
अग्नि, तुम्हारी किरणें धरती पर फैलती हैं और बड़ी ताकत से आगे बढ़ती हैं। इसलिए तुम अपनी ताकत से डर को भगा दो। दुश्मन से लड़के जीत लो और उसे थका दो।
Mantra 7
स चित्र चित्रं चितयन्तमस्मे चित्रक्षत्र चित्रतमं वयोधाम् । चन्द्रं रयिं पुरुवीरं बृहन्तं चन्द्र चन्द्राभिर्गृणते युवस्व ॥
हे अग्नि, तुम जो चमकदार हो, हमारे अंदर भी चमकदार नज़र डाल दो। तुम्हारे पास कितने तरह की ताकतें हैं, तुम तो सबसे बड़े हो, सब कुछ तुम्हारा आधार है। जो गाना गाता है उसको चमकदार दौलत दे, बड़ी और ताकतवाली। हे चमकदार अग्नि, अपनी चमक के साथ हमारा ख्याल रखना।
Inside Sukta 6
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Approach to Agni with a ‘newer offering,’ seeking the path and divine help; Agni is reached as the heavenly Hotar who pierces night and obstruction.
- Development
Agni’s pure, bright powers are portrayed as disciplined steeds that ‘plough’ and prepare the earthly field, while his wide-turning radiance expands and drives the journey onward.
- Climax
A direct inner petition: Agni is asked to awaken wondrous vision and establish manifold power and plenitude in the worshipper.
- Where it settles
The hymn closes with a request for shining wealth, broad prosperity, and many heroic energies, sealed by praise of Agni’s luminous lights.
The deity: Agni
- In the VedaAgni is the shining, purifying fire and the divine Hotar who receives offerings, carries them to the gods, and illuminates the sacrificial path; he is invoked as sahasaḥ sūnuḥ (“son of strength”) and as a light that cuts through thickets and night.
- Cosmic functionMediator between human and divine realms: he kindles sacrifice, conveys oblations, sustains household and altar fire, and manifests the solar principle of illumination that upholds ṛta.
- Inner significanceThe awakened will and discerning flame in the heart—purification, aspiration, and clarity that burn away inertia and guide the mind from confusion (darkness) to insight (light).
The seer
- Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya (traditional attribution)Bharadvāja-gotra; Āṅgirasa/Bārhaspatya line · A major seer of Mandala 6, renowned for Agni-centered hymns that frame Agni as priest, guide, and luminous power establishing ṛta (cosmic order).
Famous verses
sahasaḥ sūnum (Son of Strength)
ये ते शुक्रासः शुचयः शुचिष्मः क्षां वपन्ति विषितासो अश्वाः । अध भ्रमस्त उर्विया वि भाति यातयमानो अधि सानु पृश्नेः ॥citraṃ citayantam (awaken wondrous seeing)
Attributes of the deity
- Hotar (chief priest of the rite)
- Purifier (śuci/śucişmat)
- Path-opener and guide (gātum, yātay-)
- Radiant illuminator (ruśant, candra)
- Protector and giver of wealth/heroic force (rayi, puruvīra)
Also by this seer
- Rig Veda Mandala 6 (many hymns traditionally attributed to Bharadvāja and his lineage)
- Agni and Indra praise hymns emphasizing ritual efficacy and protection
- Later tradition associates Bharadvāja with Brāhmaṇa/Śrauta ritual lineages and learned transmission (śākhā memory)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar/āhavanīya and kindle Agni with kindling and ghee.
- Invite Agni as Hotar: recite the opening praise seeking gātu (right path) and avaḥ (help).
- Offer ghee (ājya) with accompanying verses, focusing on purification and illumination.
- Proceed with the main oblations, trusting Agni to ‘carry’ (vah-) offerings to the gods.
- Conclude with a boon-request: inner awakening, protection, and shining prosperity for the singer and household/community.
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya)
- Kindling sticks (samidh)
- Grain/oblations as prescribed (havis)
- Optional soma-related offering if integrated into a soma rite context
Frequently Asked Questions
It praises Agni as the priestly fire who opens the right path for worship, removes darkness and obstacles, and brings both inner clarity and outward prosperity.
Because Agni functions as the priest who receives offerings and conveys them to the gods; the hymn emphasizes him as the guide and effective doer of the sacrifice.
It is a prayer for awakened perception and inspired intelligence—an inner illumination that matches Agni’s outer flame, leading to strength, protection, and success.
Ask anything about Sukta 6 of the Rig Veda
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