Rig Veda Sukta 8
Mandala 6Sukta 87 Mantras

Sukta 8

Sukta 6.8

Rishi

Bharadvāja (Bārhaspatya) (traditional for RV 6.8)

Devata

Agni Vaiśvānara / Jātavedas

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

Kidung ini memuji Agni sebagai Vaiśvānara dan Jātavedas—api semesta yang mengetahui segala kelahiran dan mengusung kurban yajña—seraya merayakan daya merah menyala-Nya dan kedatangan-Nya yang cepat ke sidang upacara. Kidung ini juga mengingat kisah Mātariśvan yang membawa Agni dari alam jauh, dan memohon agar dewa api melindungi komunitas beserta para pemimpin dan pelindungnya, serta menyeberangkan mereka dengan selamat melampaui bahaya.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 6.8

Mantras

Mantra 1

पृक्षस्य वृष्णो अरुषस्य नू सहः प्र नु वोचं विदथा जातवेदसः । वैश्वानराय मतिर्नव्यसी शुचिः सोम इव पवते चारुरग्नये ॥

Kini aku nyatakan daya Sang Banteng yang menyala, si kemerah-merahan, dalam sidang-sidang kebangkitan (vidathā) bagi Jātavedas. Bagi Vaiśvānara, suatu arus-pikiran yang baru dan suci disuling; ia mengalir laksana Soma—jernih dan elok—menuju Agni di dalam.

Mantra 2

स जायमानः परमे व्योमनि व्रतान्यग्निर्व्रतपा अरक्षत । व्यन्तरिक्षममिमीत सुक्रतुर्वैश्वानरो महिना नाकमस्पृशत् ॥

Ia, ketika lahir di ruang-terbentang yang tertinggi, Agni sang penegak-hukum (vratapa) menjaga hukum-hukum (vrata). Dengan daya-bijak (sukratu) ia mengukur wilayah antara (antarikṣa); Vaiśvānara, oleh kebesarannya, menyentuh puncak langit.

Mantra 3

व्यस्तभ्नाद्रोदसी मित्रो अद्भुतोऽन्तर्वावदकृणोज्ज्योतिषा तमः । वि चर्मणीव धिषणे अवर्तयद्वैश्वानरो विश्वमधत्त वृष्ण्यम् ॥

Ia menegakkan teguh dua dunia, menakjubkan laksana Mitra; dari dalam Ia mengusir kegelapan dengan cahaya—menjadikan yang tersembunyi ruang penglihatan. Seperti membentangkan dua kulit, Ia meluaskan dua dhīṣaṇā (ilham); Vaiśvānara menegakkan seluruh daya luas Sang Banteng di dalam ciptaan.

Mantra 4

अपामुपस्थे महिषा अगृभ्णत विशो राजानमुप तस्थुॠग्मियम् । आ दूतो अग्निमभरद्विवस्वतो वैश्वानरं मातरिश्वा परावतः ॥

Di pangkuan Perairan (Āpas) para yang perkasa menggenggamnya; kaum-kaum mendekati raja mereka, kaya akan ṛc (mantra). Sebagai utusan, Mātariśvan membawa Agni dari Vivasvat—dari kejauhan sana—membawa nyala yang tersembunyi ke medan karya manusia.

Mantra 5

युगेयुगे विदथ्यं गृणद्भ्योऽग्ने रयिं यशसं धेहि नव्यसीम् । पव्येव राजन्नघशंसमजर नीचा नि वृश्च वनिनं न तेजसा ॥

Zaman demi zaman, perhimpunan-perhimpunan bagi para pemuji, wahai Agni, tempatkan dalam diri kami kekayaan kemuliaan yang lebih baru—kepenuhan adanya. Laksana kapak, wahai Raja, tebaslah daya yang berkata jahat; wahai yang tak lapuk, rebahkan ia ke bawah, seperti pohon ditebang oleh kuasamu yang menyala.

Mantra 6

अस्माकमग्ने मघवत्सु धारयानामि क्षत्रमजरं सुवीर्यम् । वयं जयेम शतिनं सहस्रिणं वैश्वानर वाजमग्ने तवोतिभिः ॥

Bagi kami, wahai Agni, di antara para pemilik kemuliaan, tegakkanlah kedaulatan yang tak terputus—tak lapuk—penuh daya kepahlawanan. Semoga kami menang, wahai Vaiśvānara, kelimpahan kekuatan yang seratus kali dan seribu kali, dengan pertolongan-Mu, wahai Agni.

Mantra 7

अदब्धेभिस्तव गोपाभिरिष्टेऽस्माकं पाहि त्रिषधस्थ सूरीन् । रक्षा च नो ददुषां शर्धो अग्ने वैश्वानर प्र च तारीः स्तवानः ॥

Dengan para penjaga-Mu yang tak terkalahkan, wahai Yang Diidamkan, lindungilah para pemimpin bercahaya kami; wahai yang bertakhta tiga, jagalah mereka. Lindungilah pula rombongan kami para pemberi; wahai Agni Vaiśvānara, yang dipuji, seberangkanlah kami dan hantarkan maju melampaui lintasan-lintasan yang memusuhi.

Inside Sukta 8

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The poet announces Agni’s force as the ruddy, flaming bull and offers a fresh, purified stream of thought to Vaiśvānara, flowing like Soma toward the fire.

  2. Development

    Agni is praised as kingly and ritually central; the hymn expands from immediate invocation to mythic memory—Agni’s hidden origin and his being brought by Mātariśvan from the far realm of Vivasvat.

  3. Climax

    The revelation of Agni’s cosmic retrieval and establishment among humans: the messenger brings the divine fire into the field of works, making sacrifice and order possible.

  4. Where it settles

    A protective petition: Agni’s unfailing guardians are asked to safeguard leaders and givers and to carry the community across dangers and beyond hostile crossings.

The deity: Agni Vaiśvānara / Jātavedas

  • In the VedaAgni is the bright, ruddy “bull” of flame, king and priest of the people, the messenger who moves between worlds; as Jātavedas he “knows all births,” and as Vaiśvānara he is the fire common to all—household, sacrificial, and cosmic.
  • Cosmic functionHe links heaven and earth by carrying offerings to the gods, awakens and orders the rite, and sustains life through heat, light, and transformation; he is also the protective leader of the clan and the guide across perilous passages.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened will and discerning intelligence (tejas) that digests experience, purifies intention, and turns aspiration into effective action; the inner priest that makes thought ‘fit for offering.’

The seer

  • Bharadvāja (Bārhaspatya)Bharadvāja-gotra; traditionally of the Āṅgirasa/Bārhaspatya line · A principal Ṛgvedic seer whose family hymns (especially Mandala 6) are central to Agni praise and to the theology of sacrifice, protection, and inspired speech.

Famous verses

jātavedasaḥ / vaiśvānaráya matir navyasī śuciḥ
Verse 6.8.1Sets the hymn’s tone: Agni’s vigorous, ruddy power is proclaimed, and the poet’s new, pure inspiration is offered as a Soma-like flow toward Vaiśvānara.Read verse 6.8.1 →
ā dūto agnim abharad vivasvato
Verse 6.8.4Key mythic verse: Agni’s concealment and retrieval—Mātariśvan as messenger bringing Vaiśvānara from Vivasvat ‘from afar’—grounds the ritual fire in a cosmic narrative.Read verse 6.8.4 →
triṣadhastha / pra ca tārīḥ
Verse 6.8.7Concluding protective prayer: asks Agni with ‘three seats’ to guard leaders and donors and to ferry the worshippers safely beyond dangers—capturing the hymn’s practical aim.Read verse 6.8.7 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Messenger (dūta) between humans and gods
  • Universal fire (vaiśvānara) present in all domains
  • All-knowing of origins (jātavedas)
  • Purifier and transformer
  • Kingly protector of the community
  • Ruddy, flaming, vigorous ‘bull’ imagery
  • Bearer of offerings; establisher of the rite

Also by this seer

  • Large portions of Rig Veda Mandala 6 (Bharadvāja family collection)
  • Multiple Agni sūktas emphasizing Jātavedas/Vaiśvānara and ritual guardianship
  • Later tradition associates Bharadvāja with the Bharadvāja lineage in Vedic learning and with Āyurvedic transmission in some accounts

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/hearth and seat of Agni; establish purity and right orientation.
  • Kindle or rekindle Agni with kindling and ghee, invoking him as Jātavedas and Vaiśvānara.
  • Recite the hymn to ‘awaken’ Agni in the vidathā (ritual session/assembly) and invite him as king and messenger.
  • Make oblations (āhuti) with requests for protection of leaders (sūrī), patrons (dātṛ), and the whole company.
  • Conclude with prayers for guarding, safe crossings, and onward progress beyond hostility.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ghṛta) oblations
  • Kindling sticks (samidh)
  • Soma/pressing context offerings where applicable (the hymn’s imagery likens the flowing inspiration to Soma)
  • Grain/food offerings in domestic fire settings

Frequently Asked Questions

Agni, especially as Vaiśvānara (the universal fire) and Jātavedas (the fire who knows all births and origins).

It recalls that Agni was brought from a distant, divine realm associated with Vivasvat, carried as a messenger by Mātariśvan—so the human ritual fire is linked to a cosmic source.

To kindle and honor Agni for clarity and power in the sacrifice, and to ask for protection of the community—especially its leaders and patrons—and for safe passage through dangers and obstacles.

Ask anything about Sukta 8 of the Rig Veda

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