Sukta 6
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (specific ṛṣi attribution varies by anukramaṇī; commonly treated as an Agni-focused Atharvanic utterance)
Devata: Agni (as Sapatnahan, rival-slayer; radiant pervader of the quarters)
Chandas: Mixed/irregular (Atharvavedic triṣṭubh-jagatī tendency; requires pada-count verification against a critical text)
Mantras
Mantra 1
सपत्नहाऽग्निः। समा॑स्त्वाग्न ऋ॒तवो॑ वर्धयन्तु संवत्स॒रा ऋष॑यो॒ यानि॑ स॒त्या। सं दि॒व्येन॑ दीदिहि रोच॒नेन॒ विश्वा॒ आ भा॑हि प्र॒दिश॒श्चत॑स्रः
Agni is the slayer of rivals. Let the years, O Agni, and the seasons increase thee; the year-cycles, the seers, and whatsoever truths are theirs. Shine forth wholly with heavenly splendor; illumine all the four quarters of space.
Mantra 2
सं चे॒ध्यस्वा॑ग्ने॒ प्र च॑ वर्धये॒ममुच्च॑ तिष्ठ मह॒ते सौभ॑गाय । मा ते॑ रिषन्नुपस॒त्तारो॑ अग्ने ब्र॒ह्माण॑स्ते य॒शसः॑ सन्तु॒ मान्ये
Blaze up in concert, O Agni; and forward may we increase that man. Stand up aloft for mighty good fortune. Let not thy near-attendants, O Agni, suffer harm: let the Brahman-powers be thine, glorious and worthy of honour.
Mantra 3
त्वाम॑ग्ने वृणते ब्राह्म॒णा इ॒मे शि॒वो अ॑ग्ने सं॒वर॑णे भवा नः । स॒प॒त्न॒हाग्ने॑ अभिमाति॒जिद् भ॑व॒ स्वे गये॑ जागृ॒ह्यप्र॑युछन्
Thee, Agni, do these Brahmans choose. Be gracious, Agni, in our guarding enclosure for us. Slayer of rivals, Agni, conqueror of hostile assault, be thou; in thine own house keep watch, unremitting.
Mantra 4
क्ष॒त्रेणा॑ग्ने॒ स्वेन॒ सं र॑भस्व मि॒त्रेणा॑ग्ने मित्र॒धा य॑तस्व । स॒जा॒तानां॑ मध्यमे॒ष्ठा राज्ञा॑मग्ने वि॒हव्यो॑ दीदिही॒ह
With thine own kingly power, O Agni, lay firm hold; with Mitra’s might, O Agni, strive in Mitra’s ordered way. Among the clansmen be thou best, set in the midst of kings: O Agni, manifold-invoked, shine brightly here for us.
Frequently Asked Questions
It means “slayer of rivals.” The hymn asks Agni to burn away opposition—social competitors and hostile forces—and to secure the patron’s domain.
It portrays Agni’s strength as growing with ṛta (cosmic order). By rooting the charm in time’s stability, Agni’s protection is made continuous and reliable.
Though it has anti-rival (abhicārika) force, it also functions as a household and polity-protection prayer: Agni is installed as an unremitting watcher who stabilizes the home and community.
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