Sukta 8
Sukta 7.8
Vasiṣṭha (book 7 attribution)
Triṣṭubh (likely; verify by scansion)
This hymn of Vasiṣṭha kindles Agni as the regal, noble presence who stands at the front of the Dawns and receives ghee-fed offerings with reverent praise. It recalls Agni’s wide, sunlike radiance and his protective aid to Bharata and Pūru in conflict, then closes with a direct prayer for nourishment, impulse, and lasting well-being for the singers and patrons.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
इन्धे राजा समर्यो नमोभिर्यस्य प्रतीकमाहुतं घृतेन । नरो हव्येभिरीळते सबाध आग्निरग्र उषसामशोचि ॥
अग्नि राजा बन के चमक रहा है। लोग उसकी पूजा में झुक रहे हैं और घी डाल रहे हैं। सब लोग उसके पास जाकर प्रसाद चढ़ा रहे हैं। अग्नि सुबह होने से पहले चमक उठा है, जैसे सूरज निकलने वाला हो।
Mantra 2
अयमु ष्य सुमहाँ अवेदि होता मन्द्रो मनुषो यह्वो अग्निः । वि भा अकः ससृजानः पृथिव्यां कृष्णपविरोषधीभिर्ववक्षे ॥
यह अग्नि बहुत बड़ा है और सबको पता है यह कैसा है। यह लोगों का पंडित है और सबको खुश करता है। इसकी चमक पूरी ज़मीन पर फैल गई है। यह पेड़-पौधों में बस गया है और उनमें अपनी ताकत दिखाता है।
Mantra 3
कया नो अग्ने वि वसः सुवृक्तिं कामु स्वधामृणवः शस्यमानः । कदा भवेम पतयः सुदत्र रायो वन्तारो दुष्टरस्य साधोः ॥
अग्नि, बताओ हम कैसे सही रास्ता पकड़ें? तुम्हारी कृपा से हमें अच्छा ज्ञान मिले। हम कब तक ऐसे ही रहेंगे? कब हम बड़े बनेंगे और पैसा-कमाई पाएंगे? मुश्किल काम को भी आसान बना दो।
Mantra 4
प्रप्रायमग्निर्भरतस्य शृण्वे वि यत्सूर्यो न रोचते बृहद्भाः । अभि यः पूरुं पृतनासु तस्थौ द्युतानो दैव्यो अतिथिः शुशोच ॥
अग्नि का नाम भरत के लोगों तक पहुँच रहा है। वो चमक रहा है जैसे सूरज चमकता है, बहुत बड़ी रोशनी से। वो पुरु के लिए लड़ाइयों में खड़ा रहा। यह भगवान का मेहमान है और चमकदमक के साथ जल रहा है।
Mantra 5
असन्नित्त्वे आहवनानि भूरि भुवो विश्वेभिः सुमना अनीकैः । स्तुतश्चिदग्ने शृण्विषे गृणानः स्वयं वर्धस्व तन्वं सुजात ॥
अग्नि, तुम्हे लोग बहुत जगह से पुकारते हैं। तुम सबके साथ अच्छे से बात करते हो। जब लोग तुम्हारी तारीफ करते हैं, तुम उनकी सुनते हो। तुम अपने आप को और बड़ा और मज़बूत बना रहे हो।
Mantra 6
इदं वचः शतसाः संसहस्रमुदग्नये जनिषीष्ट द्विबर्हाः । शं यत्स्तोतृभ्य आपये भवाति द्युमदमीवचातनं रक्षोहा ॥
यह शक्ति वाली बात अग्नि के लिए ऊपर जाए। यह सौ गुण और हज़ार गुण वाली बात है। गाने वाले लोगों को शांति मिले और पूरा खाना मिले। यह रोशनी वाली बात बीमारी भगाए और अंधेरा दूर करे।
Mantra 7
नू त्वामग्न ईमहे वसिष्ठा ईशानं सूनो सहसो वसूनाम् । इषं स्तोतृभ्यो मघवद्भ्य आनड्यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥
अब हम वसिष्ठ लोग अग्नि से पूछते हैं। तुम ही धन का मालिक हो, शक्ति के बेटा। गाने वाले लोगों को खाना और ताकत दे। हमेशा हमारा भला करो और हमें रक्षा करो।
Inside Sukta 8
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Agni is kindled as a kingly, noble presence, his ‘face’ offered with ghee as men press close with oblations.
- Development
Agni’s fame and power expand—he shines broadly like the Sun and is remembered as the divine guest who stands by Bharata and Pūru in battles.
- Climax
The recognition of Agni as sovereign lord of riches (īśāna… vasūnām) and decisive protector who blazes forth in crisis.
- Where it settles
A closing communal prayer: the Vasiṣṭhas seek Agni for nourishment and impulse for singers and patrons, and for constant protection with well-being (svasti).
The deity: Agni
- Cosmic functionMediator between humans and gods: he carries offerings, establishes the sacrifice, illumines the order (ṛta), and protects the clan in peril and contest.
- Inner significanceThe awakening flame of discernment and aspiration—inner heat (tapas) that transforms offerings (effort, speech, intention) into clarity, strength, and well-being.
The seer
- VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha gotra (one of the Seven Ṛṣis; traditional line linked with the Bharatas/Tr̥tsus) · Principal seer of Maṇḍala 7 and a paradigmatic priest-poet associated with royal protection, right-ritual (ṛta), and the Agni-centered liturgy of the Bharatas.
Famous verses
āgnir agre uṣasām aśoci
daivyo atithiḥ śuśoca
yūyam pāta svastibhiḥ sadā naḥ
Attributes of the deity
- Hotṛ-priest and messenger
- Kingly leader of the rite
- Ghee-fed, bright, sunlike radiance
- Atithi (divine guest) dwelling among humans
- Protector in battle and guardian of the people
- Opener of the dawns; awakener of energies (iṣ)
Also by this seer
- Rigveda Maṇḍala 7 (majority attribution to Vasiṣṭha and the Vasiṣṭhas)
- Traditions connecting Vasiṣṭha with royal consecration and priestly counsel (later Vedic-Itihāsa memory)
- Vasiṣṭha lineage prominence in later śrauta/smārta priestly families (gotra continuity)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the vedi/altar space and establish purity and intention.
- Kindle/rekindle the fire with reverent salutations (namo-bhiḥ).
- Offer ghṛta into Agni while reciting praise that identifies Agni as king and atithi.
- Invoke Agni’s wide radiance ‘like the Sun’ and request his protection for the community.
- Conclude with a direct petition for iṣ (impulse/nourishment), prosperity, and svasti (well-being).
Offerings
- Ghṛta (clarified butter)
- Havis (general oblations; typically milk products/grain offerings depending on rite)
- Soma context is not explicit here; the hymn fits fire-offering even without soma
Frequently Asked Questions
It kindles and praises Agni as a kingly, radiant presence who carries offerings, protects the community, and grants nourishment, impulse (iṣ), and well-being (svasti).
Because the newly kindled fire is seen as the first light of the day—Agni ‘shines before the Dawns’ and is compared to the Sun to express his expansive, life-giving radiance.
It can be recited during a simple fire-offering or lamp-lighting at dawn, with ghee as the primary offering, focusing on clarity, protection, and steady well-being for the household or community.
Ask anything about Sukta 8 of the Rig Veda
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
