Rig Veda Sukta 5
Mandala 7Sukta 59 Mantras

Sukta 5

Sukta 7.5

Rishi

Vasiṣṭha (traditional; opening of RV 7.5)

Devata

Agni (Vaiśvānara)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable; verify)

Kidung ini menyeru Agni sebagai Vaiśvānara—api semesta yang bergerak di antara Langit dan Bumi serta bertumbuh oleh kewaspadaan para pemuja yang telah terjaga. Ia memuji-Nya sebagai tuan atas bangsa-bangsa dan tanda bercahaya dari fajar dan siang, lalu memohon anugerah kekayaan berlimpah, kekuatan termasyhur (vāja), dan perlindungan yang luas, selaras dengan para Rudra dan para Vasu.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 7.5

Mantras

Mantra 1

प्राग्नये तवसे भरध्वं गिरं दिवो अरतये पृथिव्याः । यो विश्वेषाममृतानामुपस्थे वैश्वानरो वावृधे जागृवद्भिः ॥

Majukanlah kidung-kata bagi Agni yang kuat, penggerak langit dan bumi; dia yang di pangkuan semua yang amerta (para Abadi), sebagai Vaiśvānara, bertumbuh oleh mereka yang berjaga—oleh mereka yang menjaga api batin tetap waspada.

Mantra 2

पृष्टो दिवि धाय्यग्निः पृथिव्यां नेता सिन्धूनां वृषभः स्तियानाम् । स मानुषीरभि विशो वि भाति वैश्वानरो वावृधानो वरेण ॥

Ditegakkan tinggi di langit yang bercahaya, Agni ditempatkan; di bumi ia menjadi Pemimpin arus-arus dan Banteng perkasa bagi landasan yang teguh. Ia memancar meliputi kaum manusia—Vaiśvānara, yang bertumbuh oleh keunggulan yang terpilih, meluaskan medan cahaya jiwa.

Mantra 3

त्वद्भिया विश आयन्नसिक्नीरसमना जहतीर्भोजनानि । वैश्वानर पूरवे शोशुचानः पुरो यदग्ने दरयन्नदीदेः ॥

Oleh kedahsyatanmu, bangsa-bangsa bergerak; kekuatan-kekuatan gelap yang tak seirama meninggalkan kenikmatan mereka. Wahai Vaiśvānara, menyala bagi Pūru, ketika engkau merobek benteng-benteng, wahai Agni, engkau berkobar—membuka jalan bagi hunian jiwa yang sah.

Mantra 4

तव त्रिधातु पृथिवी उत द्यौर्वैश्वानर व्रतमग्ने सचन्त । त्वं भासा रोदसी आ ततन्थाजस्रेण शोचिषा शोशुचानः ॥

Hukum tiga-lapis-Mu, wahai Vaiśvānara, diikuti oleh Bumi dan Langit, wahai Agni. Dengan cahaya-Mu Engkau membentangkan dua dunia, menyala dengan nyala yang tak putus—menegakkan bingkai luas bagi tatanan sejati jiwa.

Mantra 5

त्वामग्ने हरितो वावशाना गिरः सचन्ते धुनयो घृताचीः । पतिं कृष्टीनां रथ्यं रयीणां वैश्वानरमुषसां केतुमह्नाम् ॥

Kepadamu, wahai Agni, daya-daya terang yang bergelora dan ucapan-ucapan yang berkilau oleh ghee mendekat dan menyertai. Engkau adalah Tuhan bagi umat manusia, jalan-kereta bagi kelimpahan, Vaiśvānara—tanda bagi Fajar-fajar dan Hari-hari, isyarat kebangkitan di dalam diri kami.

Mantra 6

त्वे असुर्यं वसवो न्यृण्वन्क्रतुं हि ते मित्रमहो जुषन्त । त्वं दस्यूँरोकसो अग्न आज उरु ज्योतिर्जनयन्नार्याय ॥

Di dalam dirimu para Vasu menegakkan kuasa yang berdaulat; sebab kehendak-tindakmu, wahai yang bersahabat agung, mereka bersukacita. Engkau menghalau Dasyu dari tempat kediamannya, wahai Agni sang pelari; engkau melahirkan Cahaya yang luas bagi Ārya—bagi jiwa yang memilih hukum yang menanjak.

Mantra 7

स जायमानः परमे व्योमन्वायुर्न पाथः परि पासि सद्यः । त्वं भुवना जनयन्नभि क्रन्नपत्याय जातवेदो दशस्यन् ॥

Ia, ketika lahir di keluasan tertinggi, segera menjaga jalan, seperti Angin yang bergerak di segala arah. Engkau melahirkan dunia-dunia dan mendesak maju, wahai Jātavedas, mengabdi pada pertumbuhan keturunan—memelihara kesinambungan jiwa dalam cahaya.

Mantra 8

तामग्ने अस्मे इषमेरयस्व वैश्वानर द्युमतीं जातवेदः । यया राधः पिन्वसि विश्ववार पृथु श्रवो दाशुषे मर्त्याय ॥

Wahai Agni, gerakkanlah bagi kami daya-pangan itu—wahai Vaiśvānara, Jātavedas, yang kaya cahaya; dengannya Engkau menumbuhkan kelimpahan, wahai pemberi segala yang diidamkan, dan menganugerahkan kemasyhuran yang luas kepada insan fana yang mempersembahkan.

Mantra 9

तं नो अग्ने मघवद्भ्यः पुरुक्षुं रयिं नि वाजं श्रुत्यं युवस्व । वैश्वानर महि नः शर्म यच्छ रुद्रेभिरग्ने वसुभिः सजोषाः ॥

Bagi kami, wahai Agni, pasangkanlah kekayaan yang melimpah—yang banyak pertambahannya—bagi para dermawan; dan vāja yang termasyhur, kepenuhan yang berdaya. Wahai Vaiśvānara, anugerahkanlah kepada kami kedamaian dan lindungan yang agung, bersama para Rudra dan para Vasu, seia-sekata.

Inside Sukta 5

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A summons to bring inspired speech to Agni the strong, who moves Heaven and Earth and grows by the wakeful.

  2. Development

    Agni is unfolded as Vaiśvānara: universal, ghee-bright, approached by luminous energies and hymns; he becomes the lord of peoples and the guiding sign of dawn/day.

  3. Climax

    The hymn turns from praise to direct petition: yoking in abundant rayi and renowned vāja, and granting great śarma—protective wideness—together with the Rudras and Vasus.

  4. Where it settles

    It closes in assurance of shelter and harmonious divine support, sealing the rite with protection and prosperity for the community of worshippers.

The deity: Agni Vaiśvānara

  • In the VedaAgni is praised as the strong, ever-wakeful fire who is kindled by inspired speech and ghee-bright offerings; as Vaiśvānara he is ‘belonging to all people,’ present among the immortals and manifest as the token of dawns and days.
  • Cosmic functionMediator and carrier of offerings between humans and devas; the organizing heat/light that sustains sacrifice, awakens the day, and links Earth and Heaven through orderly movement.
  • Inner significanceThe vigilant inner flame—attention, aspiration, and discriminative warmth—that ripens speech into mantra, awakens consciousness at dawn, and protects the seeker’s path with inner clarity and courage.

The seer

  • VasiṣṭhaVāsiṣṭha gotra (Saptarṣi; traditional seer-family of Maṇḍala 7) · Foremost among the Rigvedic seers; principal voice of Maṇḍala 7, famed for hymns to Agni and Varuṇa and for articulating ṛta (cosmic order) and the ethics of truthful speech.

Famous verses

vaiśvānaro vāvṛdhe jāgṛvadbhiḥ
Verse 7.5.1Establishes the hymn’s core: Agni as the Heaven–Earth mover and Vaiśvānara who increases through wakeful inner vigilance—linking outer ritual fire to inner awakening.Read verse 7.5.1 →
uṣasāṃ ketum ahnām
Verse 7.5.5Defines Vaiśvānara’s social and luminous role: lord of peoples, path of plenitudes, and the ‘token’ of dawns and days—Agni as the sign of awakening and right movement.Read verse 7.5.5 →
mahi naḥ śarma yaccha
Verse 7.5.9Concluding prayer for abundance (rayi, vāja) and broad protection (śarma), explicitly aligning Agni with Rudras and Vasus for unified safeguarding.Read verse 7.5.9 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Universal (vaiśvānara) presence among all peoples
  • Wakeful and increasing through vigilance (jāgṛvadbhiḥ)
  • Mover/driver of Heaven and Earth
  • Lord of peoples (patiṃ kṛṣṭīnām)
  • Luminous sign of dawn and day (ketu)
  • Bestower of rayi (wealth) and vāja (victorious force)
  • Protector granting śarma (shelter/peace)
  • Allied with Rudras and Vasus in harmonious protection

Also by this seer

  • Many hymns of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 7 (Vāsiṣṭha maṇḍala), including celebrated Varuṇa hymns (e.g., RV 7.86–7.89)
  • Vāsiṣṭha tradition associated with royal purohita function in early Vedic polity (ritual guidance and protection through mantra)

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar and kindle/rekindle the fire with focused silence and intent (saṃkalpa).
  • Recite the opening praise, ‘bring forward the word to Agni,’ establishing Agni as the link of Heaven–Earth and the inner wakefulness.
  • Offer ghee while reciting verses that describe Agni as ketu of dawn/day and lord of peoples, inviting his presence to ‘grow’ through vigilance.
  • Conclude with petitions for rayi and vāja, and for śarma (wide shelter), invoking concord with Rudras and Vasus for communal protection.
  • Circumambulate/mentally offer gratitude; maintain the fire or close with a peaceful dismissal according to rite.

Offerings

  • Ghṛta (clarified butter)
  • Samidhs (fuel sticks)
  • Optional: milk/curds or grain oblations per household custom
  • Mantra (giraḥ) as the primary ‘offering of speech’

Frequently Asked Questions

Vaiśvānara is Agni as the ‘universal’ fire—present for all peoples, active in the sacrifice, and shining as the sign of dawn and the daily awakening.

It means Agni is strengthened when people keep the ritual fire and the inner fire of attention awake—through steady offering, truthful speech, and alert consciousness.

It asks for rayi (prosperity and resources), vāja (renowned strength/victory), and mahi śarma (great shelter and peace), with protective support from the Rudras and Vasus.

Ask anything about Sukta 5 of the Rig Veda

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