Rig Veda Sukta 6
Mandala 6Sukta 67 Mantras

Sukta 6

Sukta 6.6

Devata

Agni

Himne ini memanggil Agni, “Putra Kekuatan,” sebagai Hotar ilahi yang membuka jalan bagi pemujaan dan menuntun pelaksana yajña menembus kegelapan menuju tatanan yang bercahaya. Agni dipuji sebagai daya pemurni yang gemilang; energinya “membajak” dan menyiapkan ladang duniawi, menggerakkan ritus maju dan meluaskan cahayanya. Sukta ini berpuncak pada permohonan akan kebangkitan batin (citra-citayantam) serta kekayaan yang bersinar, bersifat kepahlawanan, dan perlindungan bagi penyanyi serta komunitas.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 6.6

Mantras

Mantra 1

प्र नव्यसा सहसः सूनुमच्छा यज्ञेन गातुमव इच्छमानः । वृश्चद्वनं कृष्णयामं रुशन्तं वीती होतारं दिव्यं जिगाति ॥

Dengan persembahan yang lebih baru ia maju menuju Putra Daya (Sahasaḥ Sūnu), mencari melalui yajña jalan dan perlindungan. Ia mencapai Hotar ilahi dari penyambutan (vīti): berkilau, menebas rimba, melintas dalam kehitaman malam.

Mantra 2

स श्वितानस्तन्यतू रोचनस्था अजरेभिर्नानदद्भिर्यविष्ठः । यः पावकः पुरुतमः पुरूणि पृथून्यग्निरनुयाति भर्वन् ॥

Ia membentang, menggelegar, tegak di ruang-ruang bercahaya—yang termuda—dengan daya-dayanya yang tak menua, bergema. Agni ini, Sang Penyuci (Pāvaka), yang paling melimpah, mengikuti banyak ranah yang luas, wahai Bhárvan, sambil memanggul dan menopang gerak maju.

Mantra 3

वि ते विष्वग्वातजूतासो अग्ने भामासः शुचे शुचयश्चरन्ति । तुविम्रक्षासो दिव्या नवग्वा वना वनन्ति धृषता रुजन्तः ॥

Wahai Agni, yang murni dan bercahaya, daya-nyala-Mu yang digerakkan hembusan (vāta) bergerak ke segala arah. Luas dalam kilauannya, ilahi laksana Navagva, mereka menaklukkan bagi kami rimba-rimba yang menyembunyikan, dengan berani meretakkannya dan membukanya.

Mantra 4

ये ते शुक्रासः शुचयः शुचिष्मः क्षां वपन्ति विषितासो अश्वाः । अध भ्रमस्त उर्विया वि भाति यातयमानो अधि सानु पृश्नेः ॥

Daya-daya-Mu yang terang dan murni itu, wahai nyala kesucian—bagai kuda-kuda yang terkendali baik—membajak bumi kodrat kita. Lalu cahaya berputar-Mu yang menjelajah luas memancar, bergerak di punggung yang belang (Pṛśnī), menuntun dan mendorong perjalanan ke depan.

Mantra 5

अध जिह्वा पापतीति प्र वृष्णो गोषुयुधो नाशनिः सृजाना । शूरस्येव प्रसितिः क्षातिरग्नेर्दुर्वर्तुर्भीमो दयते वनानि ॥

Maka kemudian lidah Agni melompat ke depan—laksana halilintar yang dilepaskan oleh sang pahlawan perkasa dalam pertempuran demi Sinar-sinar. Seperti serbuan seorang kesatria, demikianlah meluasnya kekuasaan Agni; dahsyat, sukar dipalingkan, ia membelah rimba-rimba penghalang.

Mantra 6

आ भानुना पार्थिवानि ज्रयांसि महस्तोदस्य धृषता ततन्थ । स बाधस्वाप भया सहोभिः स्पृधो वनुष्यन्वनुषो नि जूर्व ॥

Dengan sinarmu engkau bentangkan, dengan berani, pertumbuhan-pertumbuhan bumi oleh cambuk besar. Maka dengan daya-dayamu halau ketakutan; mengincar kemenangan, luluhkan para penantang yang memusuhi dan jatuhkan mereka ke dalam keletihan.

Mantra 7

स चित्र चित्रं चितयन्तमस्मे चित्रक्षत्र चित्रतमं वयोधाम् । चन्द्रं रयिं पुरुवीरं बृहन्तं चन्द्र चन्द्राभिर्गृणते युवस्व ॥

Wahai Yang Ajaib, bangkitkan dalam diri kami penglihatan yang ajaib; wahai Penguasa kuasa yang beraneka, yang paling menakjubkan, landasan kelimpahan. Anugerahkan kepada penyanyi harta yang bercahaya, luas, sarat daya-daya kepahlawanan—wahai Agni yang terang, peliharalah kami dengan cahaya-cahaya terangmu.

Inside Sukta 6

How it unfolds

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. Climax

    A direct inner petition: Agni is asked to awaken wondrous vision and establish manifold power and plenitude in the worshipper.

  4. 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)
Verse 6.6.1Sets the hymn’s core: approaching Agni as the divine Hotar, the path-finder who cuts through darkness and obstruction to enable the sacrifice.Read verse 6.6.1 →
ये ते शुक्रासः शुचयः शुचिष्मः क्षां वपन्ति विषितासो अश्वाः । अध भ्रमस्त उर्विया वि भाति यातयमानो अधि सानु पृश्नेः ॥
Verse 6.6.4A vivid image of Agni’s energies as well-reined steeds that ‘plough’ the field, expressing purification, disciplined force, and expansive radiance that drives the rite forward.Read verse 6.6.4 →
citraṃ citayantam (awaken wondrous seeing)
Verse 6.6.7The culminating boon-request: awakening of inner vision and the granting of shining, heroic wealth—linking outer fire to inner illumination and prosperity.Read verse 6.6.7 →

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.

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