Rig Veda Sukta 10
Mandala 3Sukta 109 Mantras

Sukta 10

Sukta 3.10

Rishi

Gāthina Viśvāmitra (traditional for RV 3.10)

Devata

Agni

Chandas

Gāyatrī or Trishtubh (verify in critical edition)

Himne ini memuji Agni sebagai raja berdaulat di antara berbagai kaum dan sebagai Hotṛ yang tak tergantikan, yang menjadikan kurban (yajña) utuh dan sempurna. Ditekankan bahwa baik para resi maupun manusia biasa menyalakan beliau dalam ritus, dan bahwa Agni mengemban “cahaya-cahaya ilham” (jyotīṃṣi) para vipra, mengantarkan persembahan kepada para dewa serta menambah kekuatan dan daya kemampuan manusia.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 3.10

Mantras

Mantra 1

त्वामग्ने मनीषिणः सम्राजं चर्षणीनाम् । देवं मर्तास इन्धते समध्वरे ॥

Engkau, wahai Agni, para resi menyalakan—sebagai raja berdaulat atas bangsa-bangsa; para fana menyalakan Sang Dewa dalam upacara yang utuh.

Mantra 2

त्वां यज्ञेष्वृत्विजमग्ने होतारमीळते । गोपा ऋतस्य दीदिहि स्वे दमे ॥

Dalam yajña-yajña mereka memohon engkau, wahai Agni, sebagai ṛtvij (imam musim), sebagai Hotṛ sang pemanggil. Bersinarlah sebagai penjaga ṛta (Kebenaran-Kosmis) di rumahmu sendiri.

Mantra 3

स घा यस्ते ददाशति समिधा जातवेदसे । सो अग्ने धत्ते सुवीर्यं स पुष्यति ॥

Sungguh, siapa yang mempersembahkan kepadamu dengan kayu-kayu penyulut, kepada Jātavedas—dia, wahai Agni, memegang kepenuhan daya kepahlawanan; ia bertumbuh dan makin jaya.

Mantra 4

स केतुरध्वराणामग्निर्देवेभिरा गमत् । अञ्जानः सप्त होतृभिर्हविष्मते ॥

Semoga Agni—tanda yang peka, pemimpin bercahaya dari upacara—datang bersama para dewa. Mengetahui jalan-jalan yang benar, semoga ia tiba dengan tujuh Hotṛ kepada sang pemilik persembahan (havis).

Mantra 5

प्र होत्रे पूर्व्यं वचोऽग्नये भरता बृहत् । विपां ज्योतींषि बिभ्रते न वेधसे ॥

Bawalah ke hadapan Api sang Hotṛ, sabda purba itu—agung dan meluas—bagi Agni. Sebab Agni adalah sang pembentuk, yang memanggul cahaya-cahaya para vipra; bukan bagi yang tak mengenal (vedhas).

Mantra 6

अग्निं वर्धन्तु नो गिरो यतो जायत उक्थ्यः । महे वाजाय द्रविणाय दर्शतः ॥

Semoga kidung-ucapan kami menumbuhkan Agni, darinya lahir daya-himne (ukthya) yang memenangkan. Demi kelimpahan agung vāja dan kepenuhan draviṇa, semoga ia menampakkan diri kepada kami—jernih bagi penglihatan batin.

Mantra 7

अग्ने यजिष्ठो अध्वरे देवान्देवयते यज । होता मन्द्रो वि राजस्यति स्रिधः ॥

Wahai Agni, yang paling mahir dalam persembahan, dalam adhvara (kurban batin) persembahkanlah para dewa bagi pencari-dewa. Sebagai Hotṛ yang bersukacita, bersinarlah dalam kedaulatanmu dan lampauilah segala rintangan.

Mantra 8

स नः पावक दीदिहि द्युमदस्मे सुवीर्यम् । भवा स्तोतृभ्यो अन्तमः स्वस्तये ॥

Maka, wahai Penyuci, menyala-lah bagi kami; tanamkan dalam diri kami kekuatan yang bercahaya dan menang. Jadilah bagi para penyanyi penolong yang paling dekat—paling dekat dalam keberadaan kami—demi kesejahteraan dan perjalanan yang selamat.

Mantra 9

तं त्वा विप्रा विपन्यवो जागृवांसः समिन्धते । हव्यवाहममर्त्यं सहोवृधम् ॥

Para para ṛṣi yang terjaga dan memuji dengan hasrat menyalakan engkau—Agni, pembawa persembahan (havyavāha); yang tak-mati, penambah daya (sahovṛdh), engkau menumbuhkan kekuatan kami untuk menanggung karya ilahi.

Inside Sukta 10

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Agni is invoked as the sovereign king of the peoples, kindled by seers and mortals in the rite (RV 3.10.1).

  2. Development

    The hymn deepens Agni’s priestly identity: the ancient, expansive word is brought to him, and he is lauded as the effective maker (vedhas) who bears the vipras’ lights (RV 3.10.5).

  3. Climax

    Agni is affirmed as Havyavāha—immortal carrier of offerings—who actively increases strength and capacity (sahas) for the work (RV 3.10.9).

  4. Where it settles

    The praise settles into confident dependence on Agni’s mediation: once kindled and rightly addressed, he completes the sacrifice and empowers the worshippers.

The deity: Agni

  • In the VedaAgni is the divine Fire—Hotṛ (priest), Havyavāha (carrier of offerings), and the radiant power kindled by seers and mortals in the adhvara. He is praised as samrāj of the peoples and as the skilled ordainer (vedhas) who bears the illuminations of the inspired.
  • Cosmic functionMediator between human and divine realms: he conveys oblations to the gods, maintains the sacrificial order (ṛta) through ritual fire, and manifests light/energy that sustains life and worship.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened will and discerning flame of consciousness that receives intention, refines it, and lifts it upward—transforming impulse into offering and clarity into effective action.

The seer

  • Gāthina ViśvāmitraViśvāmitra (Gāthina) line; traditionally of the Kuśika/Viśvāmitra family · Foremost ṛṣi of the Viśvāmitra family, celebrated for powerful Agni and Indra hymns and for shaping key Vedic prayer-forms; later tradition associates him with the Gāyatrī mantra.

Famous verses

samrājaṃ carṣaṇīnām
Verse 3.10.1Sets the hymn’s core frame: Agni as samrāj (sovereign) and the god kindled by both sages and mortals in the adhvara.Read verse 3.10.1 →
pūrvyam vacaḥ
Verse 3.10.5Highlights the transmission of tradition (‘ancient word’) and Agni’s role as vedhas who bears the vipras’ illuminations—linking mantra, light, and effective ritual action.Read verse 3.10.5 →
havyavāham amartyam
Verse 3.10.9Concludes with a strong epithet-chain—Havyavāha, amartya, sahovṛdh—showing Agni as the empowering mediator who increases strength for divine work.Read verse 3.10.9 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Hotṛ (invoking priest)
  • Havyavāha (oblation-bearer)
  • Samrāj (sovereign among peoples)
  • Amartya (immortal)
  • Sahovṛdh (increaser of strength/power)
  • Bearer of vipras’ lights (jyotīṃṣi)

Also by this seer

  • A large portion of Rigveda Maṇḍala 3 is attributed to the Viśvāmitras (including many Agni and Indra sūktas).
  • Tradition connects Viśvāmitra with the Gāyatrī (RV 3.62.10) and with royal-sage narratives in later Vedic/Itihāsa-Purāṇa literature.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/āhavanīya space and arrange kindling (samidh) and kuśa.
  • Kindle Agni with focused recitation, acknowledging him as samrāj and Hotṛ.
  • Offer ghee into the fire with brief invocations, asking Agni to carry offerings well.
  • Recite the ‘ancient word’ (pūrvyam vacaḥ)—traditional praise—expanding it as bṛhat (vast).
  • Conclude with a sealing praise of Agni as havyavāha, amartya, and sahovṛdh, requesting increased strength and successful rite.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya)
  • Kindling sticks (samidh)
  • Optional: grain/oblations appropriate to household agnihotra-style practice

Frequently Asked Questions

It teaches that Agni is the central priestly power of the sacrifice—sovereign among peoples—who must be kindled and praised so he can carry offerings to the gods and make the rite effective.

Because Agni presides over the ritual community: he unites the people in worship, governs the sacrificial process as Hotṛ, and ensures the offerings reach the divine realm.

It means Agni supports and carries the inspired insights (jyotīṃṣi) of the seers—turning their prayers and illuminations into effective action within the ritual and within the worshipper.

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