Rig Veda Sukta 46
Mandala 10Sukta 4610 Mantras

Sukta 46

Sukta 10.46

Devata

Agni

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable)

この讃歌は、アグニを原初のホートリ(Hotṛ)として讃える。神々と人間の双方によって据えられ、供物を運ぶ担い手であり、共同体の生活における正しい秩序(ṛta)を整え保つ者として描かれる。アグニは「水の膝」に座すとも、家々や胎内のような囲いの中に秘められるとも語られ、人々を結び集め、ダルマの「軛」によって彼らを動かし、繁栄と祖先の栄光の更新へと導く。

Recitation with translationRig Veda 10.46

Mantras

Mantra 1

प्र होता जातो महान्नभोविन्नृषद्वा सीददपामुपस्थे । दधिर्यो धायि स ते वयांसि यन्ता वसूनि विधते तनूपाः ॥

彼は供犠の祭官として生まれ、偉大にして高天を知る者。人々のうちに内在する力として坐し、水の膝に憩う。基礎として堅く据えられたその者は――汝の歩みを導き、祭主に財宝をもたらし、身をもつ命を護る。

Mantra 2

इमं विधन्तो अपां सधस्थे पशुं न नष्टं पदैरनु ग्मन् । गुहा चतन्तमुशिजो नमोभिरिच्छन्तो धीरा भृगवोऽविन्दन् ॥

彼らは水の共座にこの火を整え、失われた獣を追うように、その足跡に従って行った。洞窟に隠れ、ひそかに動くそれを、焔を求める者たちは礼拝の捧げものをもって探し、堅固なるブリグ(Bhṛgu)たちはついに見いだした。

Mantra 3

इमं त्रितो भूर्यविन्ददिच्छन्वैभूवसो मूर्धन्यघ्न्यायाः । स शेवृधो जात आ हर्म्येषु नाभिर्युवा भवति रोचनस्य ॥

トリタ(Trita)は求めつつ、この火を豊かに見いだした――広く輝く者、侵されぬもの(光の牝牛)の頂に据えられた者。生まれてのち、彼は家々のうちに福祉へと育ち、光明界の若き臍、中心となる。

Mantra 4

मन्द्रं होतारमुशिजो नमोभिः प्राञ्चं यज्ञं नेतारमध्वराणाम् । विशामकृण्वन्नरतिं पावकं हव्यवाहं दधतो मानुषेषु ॥

敬虔の礼(namo)をもって、炎を求める者たち(uśij)は、歓喜をもたらすホートリ(Hotṛ)を形づくった――前へと導く祭儀、供献の道の導き手を。彼らは彼を諸民のための浄化者、まことの導師となし、供物を運ぶ者(havyavāh)を人間のあいだに据えた。

Mantra 5

प्र भूर्जयन्तं महां विपोधां मूरा अमूरं पुरां दर्माणम् । नयन्तो गर्भं वनां धियं धुर्हिरिश्मश्रुं नार्वाणं धनर्चम् ॥

彼らは前へと運ぶ、偉大にして勝利する力を――聖見の広き住処を。強き者たちは、惑わぬ者を担う、数多の城塞の古き基(もとい)を。森に秘められた胎(はらみ)を導きつつ、思惟を軛(くびき)に据える――黄褐の髭をもつ力のごとく、たゆまず、富と讃歌に満ちて。

Mantra 6

नि पस्त्यासु त्रितः स्तभूयन्परिवीतो योनौ सीददन्तः । अतः संगृभ्या विशां दमूना विधर्मणायन्त्रैरीयते नॄन् ॥

住まいの中で、トリタ(Trita)は堅固に支えつつ、内奥に坐し、胎(yoni)に包まれている。そこから、諸民を集め、家の主(damūnā)は正しき法(vidharma)の軛によって人々を動かし――秩序ある働きへと牽き入れる。

Mantra 7

अस्याजरासो दमामरित्रा अर्चद्धूमासो अग्नयः पावकाः । श्वितीचयः श्वात्रासो भुरण्यवो वनर्षदो वायवो न सोमाः ॥

彼の火は老いず、住まいの舵取りとなる。煙をもって燃え立ち、清める。燃え起こるときは輝き、進むときは迅く、うねり立つときは切にして、林野の座に坐す――風のごとく、またソーマ(Soma)の力のごとく、存在を貫いて動く。

Mantra 8

प्र जिह्वया भरते वेपो अग्निः प्र वयुनानि चेतसा पृथिव्याः । तमायवः शुचयन्तं पावकं मन्द्रं होतारं दधिरे यजिष्ठम् ॥

その舌によってアグニ(Agni)は言葉の震えを前へ運び、その意(こころ)によって大地の本性の洞見を顕す。求める者たちは彼を据え置いた――清く輝く者を――歓喜のホータル(Hotar)、最もよく祭を成す者として。

Mantra 9

द्यावा यमग्निं पृथिवी जनिष्टामापस्त्वष्टा भृगवो यं सहोभिः । ईळेन्यं प्रथमं मातरिश्वा देवास्ततक्षुर्मनवे यजत्रम् ॥

天と地とはそのアグニ(Agni)を生み、諸水とトヴァシュトリ(Tvaṣṭṛ)とブリグ(Bhṛgu)とは力をもって彼を形づくった。神々はまず、讃えらるべき者を彫り出し、マータリシュヴァン(Mātariśvan)はそれを人(マヌ)にもたらした――供物にふさわしき者、人の上昇のための聖なる火として。

Mantra 10

यं त्वा देवा दधिरे हव्यवाहं पुरुस्पृहो मानुषासो यजत्रम् । स यामन्नग्ने स्तुवते वयो धाः प्र देवयन्यशसः सं हि पूर्वीः ॥

神々は汝を供物を運ぶ者、ハヴィヤヴァーハ(havyavāha)として据えた――多くに慕われ、人々にとって祭るにふさわしき者。アグニ(Agni)よ、汝の行路において讃える者に生命の満ち足りを授けよ。神へと向かう道にて、彼のために数多の先なる栄光を集めよ。

Inside Sukta 46

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Agni is hailed as the newly-born yet primordial Hotṛ—great, heaven-knowing, and seated among humans and in the waters as a foundational power.

  2. Development

    The hymn deepens into Agni’s hiddenness and interiority: he sits within dwellings and womb-like seats, gathering communities and directing human action by the ‘yokes’ of right law.

  3. Climax

    Agni’s governance becomes explicit—he moves beings along ordered paths, bestows wealth and life-plenitude, and awakens stored attainments through a godward movement.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn ends by recalling Agni’s divine establishment as havyavāha and asks him to grant vitality and to assemble the many ‘former glories’ for the praising worshipper.

The deity: Agni

  • In the VedaAgni is the Hotṛ (invoking priest) and havyavāha (carrier of offerings), “great” and “knower of the heights,” present among humans yet rooted in cosmic waters and hidden seats. He is praised as the household lord (damūnā) who gathers peoples and establishes ordered action.
  • Cosmic functionMediator between worlds: he conveys oblations to the gods, kindles the sacrificial order, protects life-force, and distributes wealth and auspicious powers to the worshipper in harmony with ṛta.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened will and luminous intelligence (tejas) within: the inner fire that stabilizes the being, disciplines impulses, unifies the faculties, and turns the aspirant ‘godward’ (devayāna) toward higher states.

Famous verses

apām upasthe
Verse 10.46.1Defines the hymn’s core vision of Agni as Hotṛ, cosmic-knower, indwelling among men and ‘in the lap of the waters,’ and as protector-bestower of wealth.Read verse 10.46.1 →
viśāṃ damūnā
Verse 10.46.6Highlights the inward/hidden Agni with the Trita motif and presents Agni as the household lord who gathers peoples and moves them by the yokes of right order.Read verse 10.46.6 →
havyavāham
Verse 10.46.10Concludes with Agni’s canonical role as havyavāha established by gods and desired by humans, requesting vitality and the recovery of ancestral glory through a godward ascent.Read verse 10.46.10 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Hotṛ (priestly invoker)
  • Havyavāha (oblation-bearer)
  • Hidden and indwelling (antar, yonau)
  • Protector of the embodied being (tanūpāḥ)
  • Organizer of right order (ṛta/dharma)
  • Bestower of wealth and vitality (vasūni, vayaḥ)
  • Gatherer and unifier of the people (viśāṃ saṃgṛbhya)

Also by this seer

  • Several late Rigvedic hymns (especially in Mandala 10) are transmitted with anonymous authorship; this sukta belongs to that stratum where theological and inward (adhyātma) readings are especially prominent.
  • The hymn contributes to the Rigvedic Agni-theology that links sacrifice, social cohesion (viśaḥ), and inner discipline under ṛta/dharma.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/hearth (vedi) and kindle/rekindle the fire with kindling (samidh).
  • Perform ācamana and brief purification; seat the fire as the household lord (damūnā).
  • Recite the hymn’s verses as Agni is invoked as Hotṛ and havyavāha, requesting guidance, vitality, and wealth.
  • Offer oblations in the fire with svāhā, aligning intention with ṛta/dharma (right order).
  • Conclude with a request for renewed “former glories” (pūrvīḥ yaśasaḥ) and protection of the embodied life (tanūpāḥ).

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya)
  • Kindling sticks (samidh)
  • Grain/oblations as appropriate (havis)
  • Aromatic offerings where customary

Frequently Asked Questions

It presents Agni as the sacred fire-priest who carries offerings to the gods and also as an inner, hidden power that brings order (ṛta/dharma), protection, vitality, and prosperity to human life.

This image points to Agni’s cosmic origin and subtle presence: fire is linked with the waters and the hidden seed of energy, suggesting Agni is both elemental and mysteriously concealed in creation.

Trita is an ancient Rigvedic figure often connected with a hidden or pressed-out fire/light. In this hymn the Trita motif emphasizes Agni as inwardly seated and concealed, yet capable of organizing and energizing human society when awakened.

Ask anything about Sukta 46 of the Rig Veda

Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.

Not sure where to start?

A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.

Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app

Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Continue reading in the Vedapath app

Open in App
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play