Rig Veda Sukta 4
Mandala 2Sukta 49 Mantras

Sukta 4

Sukta 2.4

Rishi

Gṛtsamada (traditional for RV 2.4)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable; needs metrical verification)

Himne ini memanggil Agni Jātavedas yang bercahaya sebagai “tamu para klan”, ditegakkan laksana Mitra—teguh, dapat dipercaya, dan layak berdiam di tengah manusia sebagai perantara ilahi. Himne ini memuji kemilau Agni yang beraneka warna serta paradoks bahwa ia senantiasa memperbarui kemudaannya; dan berpuncak pada doa agar melalui Agni, kaum Gṛtsamada bangkit melampaui segala batas dan memperoleh kekuatan kepahlawanan, perlindungan, serta pertambahan daya hidup.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 2.4

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • AgniJātavedas

    Agni is praised as sudyotmān (well-luminous), suvṛkti (perfect in utterance), viśām atithi (guest of the peoples), and Jātavedas (knower of all births/creatures), a god who can be firmly established among men like Mitra.

Mantras

Mantra 1

हुवे वः सुद्योत्मानं सुवृक्तिं विशामग्निमतिथिं सुप्रयसम् । मित्र इव यो दिधिषाय्यो भूद्देव आदेवे जने जातवेदाः ॥

Aku menyeru kepadamu Agni yang bercahaya cemerlang, yang sempurna dalam ucap-syair, tamu bagi bangsa-bangsa, kaya dalam kelimpahan pemberian. Seperti Mitra, ia menjadi yang teguh ditegakkan; dewa di antara mereka yang belum ilahi, Jātavedas—yang lahir dengan pengetahuan.

Mantra 2

इमं विधन्तो अपां सधस्थे द्वितादधुर्भृगवो विक्ष्वायोः । एष विश्वान्यभ्यस्तु भूमा देवानामग्निररतिर्जीराश्वः ॥

Mereka yang menegakkan tata-ritus menempatkan Agni ini pada kedudukan bersama di perairan; para Bhṛgu menegakkannya kembali di antara kaum-kaum yang hidup. Semoga Agni ini—cepat geraknya, berkereta kuda-kuda tangkas—menjadi bagi semua makhluk hamparan luas dan sandaran para Dewa.

Mantra 3

अग्निं देवासो मानुषीषु विक्षु प्रियं धुः क्षेष्यन्तो न मित्रम् । स दीदयदुशतीरूर्म्या आ दक्षाय्यो यो दास्वते दम आ ॥

Para Dewa menempatkan Agni—yang mereka kasihi—di antara klen-klen manusia, sebagaimana orang memelihara seorang sahabat seperti Mitra. Ia bersinar dengan gelombang-gelombang sukacita yang rindu; ia yang patut ditumbuhkan oleh kecakapan datang kepada sang pemberi, ke dalam rumah.

Mantra 4

अस्य रण्वा स्वस्येव पुष्टिः संदृष्टिरस्य हियानस्य दक्षोः । वि यो भरिभ्रदोषधीषु जिह्वामत्यो न रथ्यो दोधवीति वारान् ॥

Kegembiraannya laksana pemeliharaan dirinya sendiri; nyata terlihat kecakapan dia yang bergegas. Ia yang memikul beban menyebarkan lidahnya di antara tumbuh-tumbuhan; bagaikan kuda penarik kereta ia mengguncang dan menyingkap selubung-selubung, membuka jalan-jalan.

Mantra 5

आ यन्मे अभ्वं वनदः पनन्तोशिग्भ्यो नामिमीत वर्णम् । स चित्रेण चिकिते रंसु भासा जुजुर्वाँ यो मुहुरा युवा भूत् ॥

Ketika bagiku yang mengaum, bergerak di rimba, mengukur keluasan dan warna—laksana nyala-nyala yang bernafsu—maka ia memahami dengan sinar cahayanya yang beraneka warna, bersukacita; senantiasa menua, ia berulang kali menjadi muda kembali.

Mantra 6

आ यो वना तातृषाणो न भाति वार्ण पथा रथ्येव स्वानीत् । कृष्णाध्वा तपू रण्वश्चिकेत द्यौरिव स्मयमानो नभोभिः ॥

Ia yang, kehausan, tak bersinar di rimba, namun dituntun di suatu jalan laksana jalan kereta, mengikuti bunyinya sendiri. Di jalan yang hitam, panasnya mengenal kenikmatan; bagaikan langit yang tersenyum dengan awan-awannya, ia menyingkapkan dirinya.

Mantra 7

स यो व्यस्थादभि दक्षदुर्वीं पशुर्नैति स्वयुरगोपाः । अग्निः शोचिष्माँ अतसान्युष्णन्कृष्णव्यथिरस्वदयन्न भूम ॥

Dia yang telah berdiri terpisah dan membakar menembus bumi yang luas—tiada binatang pun melintasinya, bergerak sendiri tanpa gembala. Agni, yang penuh nyala, memanaskan serat-seratnya; bahkan perlawanan yang hitam pun ia buat terasa; ia mengolah tanah menjadi manis.

Mantra 8

नू ते पूर्वस्यावसो अधीतौ तृतीये विदथे मन्म शंसि । अस्मे अग्ने संयद्वीरं बृहन्तं क्षुमन्तं वाजं स्वपत्यं रयिं दाः ॥

Kini, dalam gerak maju pertolongan-Mu yang purba, pada sidang suci yang ketiga aku memaklumkan ilham pikiranku. Wahai Agni, anugerahkan kepada kami himpunan pahlawan yang terpadu—yang Mahabesar, kepenuhan yang bercahaya, vāja (daya kemenangan yang penuh)—beserta kepemimpinan yang baik dan rayi, kekayaan hakiki.

Mantra 9

त्वया यथा गृत्समदासो अग्ने गुहा वन्वन्त उपराँ अभि ष्युः । सुवीरासो अभिमातिषाहः स्मत्सूरिभ्यो गृणते तद्वयो धाः ॥

Oleh-Mu, wahai Agni, sebagaimana para Gṛtsamāda yang berjuang di tempat-tempat tersembunyi bangkit melampaui batas-batas atas, demikianlah semoga kami kaya akan daya kepahlawanan, penakluk tekanan permusuhan; dari-Mu, bagi para resi yang memuji, tegakkanlah kepenuhan hidup dan pertumbuhan itu.

Inside Sukta 4

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct call to the radiant Agni—perfect in speech and the peoples’ guest—asking him to be firmly established among humans like Mitra (RV 2.4.1).

  2. Development

    Agni’s dynamic epithets unfold: his expansive, many-colored brilliance and his power to measure out vastness and ‘color,’ renewing youth again and again even as he ages (e.g., RV 2.4.5).

  3. Climax

    Agni is invoked as the force by which the Gṛtsamadas, striving in hidden places, rise beyond upper limits—an image of breakthrough from concealment to higher attainment (RV 2.4.9a).

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn ends in a practical blessing: heroic offspring/strength, victory over hostile pressures, and the establishment of vayas—vital plenitude and growth—for the praising seers and patrons (RV 2.4.9b).

The deity: Agni

  • Cosmic functionMediator between humans and gods: he receives offerings, carries them to the devas, and maintains ṛta by kindling sacrifice, light, and ordered exchange.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened inner fire of discernment and aspiration—speech made true (suvṛkti), the power that transforms raw intention into effective offering, and the renewing will that becomes ‘young again’ through repeated consecration.

The seer

  • Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)Bhṛgu lineage (Bhārgava); traditionally of the Gṛtsamada family within Mandala 2 · Principal seer of Rigveda Mandala 2, renowned for powerful Agni hymns that frame Agni as the clan-guest (atithi) and as Jātavedas, the knower of all births.

Famous verses

viśām agnim atithim
Verse 2.4.1Sets the theological frame: Agni as the luminous clan-guest and as Jātavedas, to be established among humans ‘like Mitra’—a key ritual idea of enthroning the fire.Read verse 2.4.1 →
jujurvān yo muhur ā yuvā bhūt
Verse 2.4.5Captures Agni’s distinctive Vedic paradox: many-hued radiance that ‘measures out’ the vast, and the recurring renewal—ever-aging yet repeatedly becoming young—central to fire’s ritual re-kindling.Read verse 2.4.5 →
त्वया यथा गृत्समदासो अग्ने गुहा वन्वन्त उपराँ अभि ष्युः । सुवीरासो अभिमातिषाहः स्मत्सूरिभ्यो गृणते तद्वयो धाः ॥
Verse 2.4.9Names the seer-family and converts praise into a concrete boon: through Agni may the Gṛtsamadas transcend limits and gain heroic power, protection, and vital increase.Read verse 2.4.9 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Radiant and many-hued (citra bhāsā)
  • Guest-priest of the clans (atithi)
  • Bearer of offerings and messenger
  • Knower of births (Jātavedas)
  • Establishing, treaty-like reliability (Mitra-iva didhiṣāyya)
  • Renewing youth amid age (muhur ā yuvā bhūt)

Also by this seer

  • Primary authorship attributed to most of Rigveda Mandala 2 (many Agni-centered sūktas)
  • Associated with the Bhṛgu-Aṅgiras fire tradition in later Vedic memory
  • Hymnic style noted for strong ritual address and clan-centered theology of Agni

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/vedi and ritual space; seat the fire as the clan-guest (Agni as atithi).
  • Kindle or rekindle Agni with proper formulas, establishing him ‘like Mitra’—stable and welcome among the people.
  • Recite the hymn while offering oblations, praising Agni’s radiance and his capacity to renew and expand vital power.
  • Conclude with a petition for protection against hostile pressures and for vayas (vital growth, strength, increase) for the praising seers and patrons.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya) oblations
  • Kindling sticks/samidhs
  • Optional soma-related offerings in a broader rite context (where applicable)

Frequently Asked Questions

The hymn is addressed to Agni, especially in the form Jātavedas—Agni as the one who knows all births and carries offerings to the gods.

Because the sacrificial fire is welcomed into every household and clan like an honored guest; once kindled, he presides over the rite and mediates between humans and the devas.

It asks that through Agni the worshippers gain heroic strength, overcome hostile pressures, and receive vayas—vital growth, nourishment, and flourishing for those who praise.

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