Rig Veda Sukta 2
Mandala 7Sukta 211 Mantras

Sukta 2

Sukta 7.2

Rishi

Vasiṣṭha

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable)

Kidung ini dari Vasiṣṭha menyalakan Agni sebagai imam bercahaya dari yajña, memohon agar ia menerima kayu bakar persembahan, menyala menjulang ke atas, dan meluas selaras dengan sinar-sinar Sūrya. Hymne ini merajut seluruh tatanan yajña—Fajar dan Malam sebagai daya penopang, alas suci (barhis), perlindungan Aditi, serta kedatangan Indra dan para dewa—agar persembahan menghadirkan suvitā (lintasan yang baik), kelimpahan, dan sukacita ilahi.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 7.2

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • AgniMantras 1, 3-5, 7, 11with strong solar alignment to Sūrya’s rays

    Agni is the invoked fire, bright, worship-worthy, smoke-raising, tongue-flamed, who touches the luminous summit and spreads with the Sun’s rays, carrying prayers and offerings to the gods.

  • NarashamsaMantra 2Narāśaṃsa (ritual divinity closely allied with Agni) and the Devās as acceptors of havis
  • UshasMantra 6Uṣas and Naktā (Dawn & Night) as paired powers supportive of yajña
  • BharatiMantra 8Bhāratī
  • IliaMantra 8Iḷā
  • SarasvatiMantra 8Sarasvatī (the three goddesses)
  • TvashtriMantra 9Tvaṣṭṛ (with implied soma-pressing imagery)

Mantras

Mantra 1

जुषस्व नः समिधमग्ने अद्य शोचा बृहद्यजतं धूममृण्वन् । उप स्पृश दिव्यं सानु स्तूपैः सं रश्मिभिस्ततनः सूर्यस्य ॥

Terimalah penyalaan kami, wahai Agni, hari ini; menyala luas, layak dipuja, sambil mengangkat asapmu. Sentuh puncak bercahaya dengan lidah-lidah apimu; bentangkan dirimu selaras dengan sinar-sinar Surya.

Mantra 2

नराशंसस्य महिमानमेषामुप स्तोषाम यजतस्य यज्ञैः । ये सुक्रतवः शुचयो धियंधाः स्वदन्ति देवा उभयानि हव्या ॥

Dengan yajña-yajña kami akan memuji kebesaran mereka ini—Narāśaṃsa, yang patut dipuja. Para dewa, yang berdaya baik, suci, penopang dhī (wawasan suci), mengecap dan menikmati kedua macam havya (persembahan), lahir dan batin.

Mantra 3

ईळेन्यं वो असुरं सुदक्षमन्तर्दूतं रोदसी सत्यवाचम् । मनुष्वदग्निं मनुना समिद्धं समध्वराय सदमिन्महेम ॥

Kami memuliakan bagimu Agni yang patut dipuja, Asura yang mahacakap dan sempurna-kemahiran; utusan batin di antara Langit dan Bumi, pengucap Kebenaran. Seperti cara manusia, Agni yang dinyalakan oleh Manu (Manas), semoga selalu kami selaraskan bagi yajña—senantiasa untuk perjalanan yang menanjak.

Mantra 4

सपर्यवो भरमाणा अभिज्ञु प्र वृञ्जते नमसा बर्हिरग्नौ । आजुह्वाना घृतपृष्ठं पृषद्वदध्वर्यवो हविषा मर्जयध्वम् ॥

Wahai para pelayan persembahan, yang membawa persembahan dengan pengertian, bentangkanlah dengan hormat barhis (alas suci) bagi Agni. Sambil menuangkan, buatlah cemerlang dengan havis altar yang berkilau ghee, beraneka warna oleh sinar—gilap dan sempurnakanlah yajña dengan persembahan.

Mantra 5

स्वाध्यो वि दुरो देवयन्तोऽशिश्रयू रथयुर्देवताता । पूर्वी शिशुं न मातरा रिहाणे समग्रुवो न समनेष्वञ्जन् ॥

Menguasai diri, para pencari dewa membuka lebar pintu-pintu; mereka berdiri teguh, rindu akan kedatangan ilahi. Seperti dua ibu menjilat anak yang baru lahir, demikianlah kuasa-kuasa purba memeliharanya; seperti para penyanyi dalam perhimpunan, mereka mengurapi dan menyelaraskannya.

Mantra 6

उत योषणे दिव्ये मही न उषासानक्ता सुदुघेव धेनुः । बर्हिषदा पुरुहूते मघोनी आ यज्ञिये सुविताय श्रयेताम् ॥

Dan semoga dua dara ilahi—Uṣas (Fajar) dan Nakta (Malam)—yang luas bagi kami laksana sapi perah yang baik, duduk di atas barhis (alas suci); keduanya yang kaya, banyak diseru, penganugerahi kelimpahan; semoga keduanya condong kepada karya yajña, demi perjalanan yang mujur dan kebahagiaan yang lapang.

Mantra 7

विप्रा यज्ञेषु मानुषेषु कारू मन्ये वां जातवेदसा यजध्यै । ऊर्ध्वं नो अध्वरं कृतं हवेषु ता देवेषु वनथो वार्याणि ॥

Kami para ṛṣi (pelihat) dalam yajña manusia; sebagai penyanyi aku menilai engkau, wahai Jātavedas, patut dipuja. Gerak persembahan kami ditegakkan lurus dalam seruan-seruan; melaluinya engkau meraih di antara para dewa harta yang diidamkan—daya dan kelimpahan bagi kami.

Mantra 8

आ भारती भारतीभिः सजोषा इळा देवैर्मनुष्येभिरग्निः । सरस्वती सारस्वतेभिरर्वाक्तिस्रो देवीर्बर्हिरेदं सदन्तु ॥

Datanglah Bhāratī bersama para Bhāratī dalam satu keselarasan; datanglah Iḷā bersama para dewa dan bersama manusia, dan Agni beserta mereka. Datanglah Sarasvatī bersama para Sarasvata, berpaling ke sini; biarlah tiga dewi itu duduk di atas barhis (alas suci) ini.

Mantra 9

तन्नस्तुरीपमध पोषयित्नु देव त्वष्टर्वि रराणः स्यस्व । यतो वीरः कर्मण्यः सुदक्षो युक्तग्रावा जायते देवकामः ॥

Wahai Tvaṣṭṛ, dewa pemelihara, jadilah bagi kami pertambahan yang melaju cepat itu—bersinarlah dalam pemberianmu yang gembira. Darimu lahir sang pahlawan yang layak bagi karya, amat cakap, dengan batu-batu pemeras terpasang, yang merindukan yang ilahi.

Mantra 10

वनस्पतेऽव सृजोप देवानग्निर्हविः शमिता सूदयाति । सेदु होता सत्यतरो यजाति यथा देवानां जनिमानि वेद ॥

Wahai Penguasa Kayu (Vanas-pati), lepaskanlah—biarkan para dewa mendekat. Agni, penata persembahan, menuntun havis pada jalannya yang tepat. Lalu Hotṛ, yang lebih benar dalam kebenarannya, mempersembahkan yajña—sebab ia mengetahui kelahiran dan penjelmaan para dewa.

Mantra 11

आ याह्यग्ने समिधानो अर्वाङिन्द्रेण देवैः सरथं तुरेभिः । बर्हिर्न आस्तामदितिः सुपुत्रा स्वाहा देवा अमृता मादयन्ताम् ॥

Datanglah, wahai Agni, menyala sepenuhnya, berbalik ke sini—bersama Indra dan para dewa, dalam satu kereta, dengan daya-daya yang tangkas. Semoga barhis ditegakkan bagi kami; semoga Aditi, kaya akan putra-putra mulia, hadir di sini. Svāhā—semoga para dewa yang abadi bersukacita dan bersenang dalam persembahan.

Inside Sukta 2

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Agni is asked to accept the kindling and blaze, lifting smoke and reaching the luminous heights in solar accord.

  2. Development

    The hymn broadens from Agni’s ignition to the full sacrificial ecology: divine timing (Dawn–Night), the prepared seat, and the gathering of beneficent powers for prosperity and safe passage.

  3. Climax

    Agni is summoned to come fully kindled with Indra and the gods in a single chariot—an image of unified divine arrival and empowered rite.

  4. Where it settles

    The barhis is established, Aditi is invoked for protection and good progeny, and the hymn seals the rite with svāhā, asking the immortals to delight in the offering.

The deity: Agni

  • Cosmic functionMediator between earth and heaven: he conveys oblations, summons the devas to the rite, and establishes luminous order by linking the terrestrial fire to the solar/celestial radiance.
  • Inner significanceAwakened will and discerning intelligence (tejas): the inner flame that lifts aspiration upward, purifies intent, and unites human effort with a higher, solar clarity.

The seer

  • VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha-gotra (one of the Saptaṛṣi lineages) · Foremost seer-priest of the Rig Veda’s seventh maṇḍala, celebrated for hymns of Agni and Varuṇa and for articulating ṛta (cosmic order) through a priestly, ritual mastery.

Famous verses

saṃ raśmibhis tatanaḥ sūryasya
Verse 7.2.1Sets the hymn’s signature vision: Agni’s flame and smoke rising to the ‘luminous summit’ while he expands ‘with the rays of the Sun,’ defining the sukta’s solar Agni alignment.Read verse 7.2.1 →
उत योषणे दिव्ये मही न उषासानक्ता सुदुघेव धेनुः । बर्हिषदा पुरुहूते मघोनी आ यज्ञिये सुविताय श्रयेताम् ॥
Verse 7.2.6Introduces the supportive pair Uṣas–Naktā as cosmic ‘two maidens’ who sit on the ritual seat and grant suvitā, showing the hymn’s concern for right timing and auspicious passage.Read verse 7.2.6 →
svāhā devā amṛtā mādayantām
Verse 7.2.11Liturgical culmination: Agni is called to arrive with Indra and the gods; barhis and Aditi are established; the concluding svāhā frames the hymn as a complete invitation-and-offering sequence.Read verse 7.2.11 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Hotṛ (priest) and messenger of the gods
  • Kindled by samidh (fuel) and strengthened by ghee
  • Radiant, expansive, and upward-striving
  • Solarly aligned (raśmibhiḥ sūryasya)
  • Purifier and protector of the rite
  • Summoner of Indra and the Viśve Devāḥ

Also by this seer

  • Principal author of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 7 (many hymns attributed to the Vasiṣṭha family)
  • Noted for Varuṇa hymns emphasizing ṛta, moral order, and release from bonds (e.g., RV 7.86–7.89)
  • Major Agni hymns in Maṇḍala 7 that shape the liturgical voice of the Vasiṣṭhas

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare and lay the barhis (sacred grass seat) and the altar space
  • Kindle Agni with samidh (fuel sticks), inviting him to blaze vast and worship-worthy
  • Offer ghee into the fire while reciting the hymn to ‘raise the smoke’ as the signal to the gods
  • Invoke supporting cosmic powers (Uṣas–Naktā) to ‘sit on the seat’ and favor the rite’s right timing
  • Invite Indra and the Viśve Devāḥ to come ‘in one chariot’ with Agni as convoy and messenger
  • Establish Aditi’s presence for protection, rightness, and noble increase
  • Conclude with svāhā, requesting the immortals to rejoice in the oblation

Offerings

  • Samidh (kindling/fuel sticks)
  • Ghṛta (clarified butter)
  • Optional soma/oblations appropriate to the rite (as contextually paired with Indra and the gods)

Frequently Asked Questions

It is a fire-kindling hymn that invites Agni to blaze powerfully and carry the offering, while aligning his radiance with the Sun’s rays and calling the gods to the sacrifice.

They represent the right cosmic timing and rhythm for worship. By asking them to “sit on the seat,” the hymn seeks an auspicious flow (suvitā) for the ritual and for life’s journey.

Aditi is invoked as a wide, protective power linked with well-being and noble increase. Her presence marks the rite as safeguarded, rightly ordered, and fruitful for the worshippers.

Ask anything about Sukta 2 of the Rig Veda

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