Sukta 10
Sukta 7.10
Vasiṣṭha
Triṣṭubh (probable)
This short hymn to Agni portrays the fire as dawn-bright—spreading wide radiance, flashing and awakening inspired thought like the lover of Uṣas. Vasiṣṭha presents Agni as the beautiful, rightly-moving carrier of offerings and the human guide who brings wealth and divine presence through the sacrificial nights.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
उषो न जारः पृथु पाजो अश्रेद्दविद्युतद्दीद्यच्छोशुचानः । वृषा हरिः शुचिरा भाति भासा धियो हिन्वान उशतीरजीगः ॥
अग्नि चमक रहा है जैसे सुबह होने वाली है और कोई प्यार से इंतज़ार कर रहा हो। उसकी चमक इतनी फैली है जैसे आसमान खुल गया हो। वो अपनी आग से खुद चमकता है, जल रहा है। यह सुनहरी रोशनी साफ चमक रही है। वो सोच को आगे बढ़ा रहा है और अंदर की ताकत को जगा रहा है।
Mantra 2
स्वर्ण वस्तोरुषसामरोचि यज्ञं तन्वाना उशिजो न मन्म । अग्निर्जन्मानि देव आ वि विद्वान्द्रवद्दूतो देवयावा वनिष्ठः ॥
अग्नि चमक रहा है जैसे सुबह के वक़्त सोना चमकता है। यज्ञ के लिए सब तैयारी हो रही है, जैसे लोग दिल से कुछ माँग रहे हों। अग्नि जनम-जनम की बातें जानता है। वो भगवान का पैग़ाम ले के दौड़ रहा है, भगवान तक पहुँचने के लिए सबसे आगे बढ़ रहा है।
Mantra 3
अच्छा गिरो मतयो देवयन्तीरग्निं यन्ति द्रविणं भिक्षमाणाः । सुसंदृशं सुप्रतीकं स्वञ्चं हव्यवाहमरतिं मानुषाणाम् ॥
भगवान की तरफ जाने वाली बातें और सोच सब अग्नि के पास जाती हैं। लोग उसे से बरकत माँगते हैं। अग्नि देखने में अच्छा है, उसका चेहरा चमकता है। वो सीधा चलता है, हवा में हवन की चीज़ें ले के जाता है। वो इंसानों के सफ़र का रास्ता दिखाता है।
Mantra 4
इन्द्रं नो अग्ने वसुभिः सजोषा रुद्रं रुद्रेभिरा वहा बृहन्तम् । आदित्येभिरदितिं विश्वजन्यां बृहस्पतिमृक्वभिर्विश्ववारम् ॥
अग्नि, हमारे लिए इंद्र को ले कर आओ, वसुस के साथ मिल के। रुद्र को भी लाओ, रुद्रस के साथ, वो बड़ी ताकत वाला है। अदिति को अदित्यस के साथ लाओ, वो सबकी माँ है। बृहस्पति को भी लाओ, रिशियों के साथ, वो सब अच्छा देता है।
Mantra 5
मन्द्रं होतारमुशिजो यविष्ठमग्निं विश ईळते अध्वरेषु । स हि क्षपावाँ अभवद्रयीणामतन्द्रो दूतो यजथाय देवान् ॥
लोग यज्ञ में अग्नि को बुलाते हैं, वो खुश है, जल्दी आता है, सबसे नया है। वो रात भर जाग के बरकत का मालिक बन गया है। वो कभी थकता नहीं, भगवान का पैग़ाम ले के चलता है, भगवान की पूजा के लिए।
Inside Sukta 10
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Agni rises like the lover of Dawn, extending vast splendor and flashing self-luminous fire that awakens aspiration.
- Development
Human words and god-seeking thoughts move toward Agni, seeking draviṇa; he is praised as beautiful, radiant-faced, and rightly directed—fit to guide human journeys and offerings.
- Climax
Agni is affirmed as havyavāha and arati (charioteer/guide), the decisive mediator who makes the human approach to the gods effective.
- Where it settles
The hymn closes by enthroning Agni as the glad hotṛ and untiring messenger through the nights, source of rayi and steady success in worship.
The deity: Agni
- Cosmic functionMediator between humans and devas: he conveys offerings upward, kindles the divine order within the rite, and sustains prosperity and protection through the cycle of day and night.
- Inner significanceThe awakened will and illumined intelligence: the inner fire that energizes aspiration, clarifies thought (dhī), and turns human intention into a living offering that can reach higher consciousness.
The seer
- VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha-gotra (one of the Saptaṛṣi lineages) · Foremost seer of the Vasiṣṭha family hymns in Maṇḍala 7; celebrated as a paradigmatic priest-poet (hotṛ) whose vision unites ritual precision with luminous spiritual insight.
Famous verses
uṣo na jāraḥ pṛthu pājo aśred
अच्छा गिरो मतयो देवयन्तीरग्निं यन्ति द्रविणं भिक्षमाणाः । सुसंदृशं सुप्रतीकं स्वञ्चं हव्यवाहमरतिं मानुषाणाम् ॥atandro dūto yajathāya devān
Attributes of the deity
- Dawn-like radiance (uṣasvat, spreading splendor)
- Havyavāha (carrier of offerings)
- Dūta (untiring messenger)
- Hotṛ (invoking priest)
- Supratīka (radiant-faced, beautiful to behold)
- Svañc / straight-moving (rightly directed power)
- Bestower of draviṇa and rayi (substance, wealth, plenitude)
Also by this seer
- Primary authorship of much of Rigveda Maṇḍala 7 (Vasiṣṭha family collection)
- Hymns to Agni, Indra, Varuṇa-Mitra, and the Maruts across RV 7
- Later Vedic tradition credits him as a foundational ṛṣi linked with Vasiṣṭha-gotra transmission and priestly exemplars
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar and fuel; kindle or rekindle Agni with focused intention at the threshold of dawn.
- Recite the hymn to invoke Agni’s wide radiance and purity, aligning thought (dhī) with the rite.
- Offer oblations while naming Agni as havyavāha and dūta, asking him to lead the offering to the devas.
- Conclude with praise of Agni’s tireless guardianship through the nights and request ongoing prosperity and right guidance.
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya) oblations
- Kindling sticks (samidh)
- Optional soma-related offering in a broader rite context
- Grain/food oblations (as applicable to the adhvara)
Frequently Asked Questions
The image highlights Agni’s morning kindling: like dawn’s beloved, he spreads wide radiance, flashes brightly, and awakens human energy and inspired thought.
Havyavāha means “carrier of the offering,” and dūta means “messenger.” Agni transports the oblations and the worshipper’s intention from the human realm to the gods.
It can be recited at dawn or at the start of a fire offering to invoke clarity, aspiration, and right direction—asking Agni to carry one’s offerings and prayers effectively.
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