Dashati 3
Agni as the sacrificial forerunner who opens the rite, framed by cosmic illumination and Indra’s paradigm of releasing prosperity
Agni
Invocatory and energizing—opening solemnity moving into heroic expansive praise
Madhucchandas Vaiśvāmitra (secure for the Agnim īḍe verse; others require SV↔RV concordance)
Applicable within Soma-yajña chant cycles where Agni establishes the rite and Indra hymns support winning of strength and wealth; exact placement depends on śākhā-specific gāna and prastāva mapping.
Mantras
Mantra 1
मयि वर्चो अथो यशो ऽथो यज्ञस्य यत्पयः परमेष्ठी प्रजापतिर्दिवि द्यामिव दृंहतु
May lustre be in me, and also renown, and also that essence of the sacrifice which is (its) nourishment; may Parameṣṭhin Prajāpati, as it were the heaven in the sky, make (these) firm.
Mantra 2
सं ते पयांसि समु यन्तु वाजाः सं वृष्ण्यान्यभिमातिषाहः आप्यायमानो अमृताय सोम दिवि श्रवांस्युत्तमानि धिष्व
Let thy nourishing juices, and thy strengths, come together; (let) thy manly energies, O repeller of assailants, (be united). Increasing for immortality, O Soma, dispose in heaven the highest glories (for us).
Mantra 3
त्वमिमा ओषधीः सोम विश्वास्त्वमपो अजनयस्त्वं गाः त्वमातनोरुर्वा3न्तरिक्षं त्वं ज्योतिषा वि तमो ववर्थ
Thou, Soma, didst generate all these plants; thou didst produce the waters; thou (didst produce) the cows; thou didst stretch out the wide firmament; thou, by thy light, didst dispel the darkness.
Mantra 4
अग्निमीडे पुरोहितं यज्ञस्य देवमृत्विजम् होतारं रत्नधातमम्
I praise Agni, the priest set in front, the divine ministrant of the sacrifice, the Hotṛ, the most excellent bestower of treasures.
Mantra 5
ते मन्वत प्रथमं नाम गोनां त्रिः सप्त परमं नाम जनान् ता जानतीरभ्यनूषत क्षा आविर्भुवन्नरुणीर्यशसा गावः
They, the wise, apprehended the first appellation of the kine; and the thrice-seven, the highest designation among men: those knowing (powers) they hymned; and upon the earth the ruddy cows became manifest with glory.
Mantra 6
समन्या यन्त्युपयन्त्यन्याः समानमूर्वं नद्यस्पृणन्ति तमू शुचिं शुचयो दीदिवांसमपान्नपातमुप यन्त्यापः
Some waters flow together, and others draw nigh; the rivers fill one common bed: those pure (waters) approach that pure and radiant Apām-napāt, the Son of the Waters.
Mantra 7
आ प्रागाद्भद्रा युवतिरह्नः केतून्त्समीर्त्सति अभूद्भद्रा निवेशनी विश्वस्य जगतो रात्री
The auspicious youthful (Night) hath advanced; she gathers up the lights of day: auspicious hath Night become, the bringer of repose to all the moving world.
Mantra 8
प्रक्षस्य वृष्णो अरुषस्य नू महः प्र नो वचो विदथा जातवेदसे वैश्वानराय मतिर्नव्यसे शुचिः सोम इव पवते चारुरग्नये
Now, for the great ruddy and vigorous (Agni), let our speech go forth at the rites unto Jātavedas; unto Vaiśvānara let the new and pure devotion flow, like Soma clarified, pleasant to Agni.
Mantra 9
विश्वे देवा मम शृण्वन्तु यज्ञमुभे रोदसी अपां नपाच्च मन्म मा वो वचांसि परिचक्ष्याणि वोचं सुम्नेष्विद्वो अन्तमा मदेम
May all the gods hear my sacrifice; (may) both Heaven and Earth, and Apām-napāt (hear): let me not utter words among you that are blameworthy; in your favours, O ye affluent, may we rejoice exceedingly.
Mantra 10
यशो मा द्यावापृथिवी यशो मेन्द्रबृहस्पती यशो भगस्य विन्दतु यशो मा प्रतिमुच्यताम् यशस्व्या3स्याः सं सदो ऽहं प्रवदिता स्याम्
May Heaven and Earth bestow glory upon me; may Indra and Bṛhaspati (bestow) glory upon me; may it win the glory of Bhaga; may glory be attached unto me: in this glorious assembly may I be a speaker (of praise).
Mantra 11
इन्द्रस्य नु वीर्याणि प्रवोचं यानि चकार प्रथमानि वज्री अहन्नहिमन्वपस्ततर्द प्र वक्षणा अभिनत्पर्वतानाम्
Now will I declare the heroic deeds of Indra, which the thunderbolt-bearer first achieved: he slew Ahi; he clave a passage for the waters; he rent asunder the channels, and split the mountains.
Mantra 12
अग्निरस्मि जन्मना जातवेदा घृतं मे चक्षुरमृतं म आसन् त्रिधातुरर्को रजसो विमानो ऽजस्रं ज्योतिर्हविरस्मि सर्वम्
I am Agni by birth, Jātavedas; ghee is mine eye; immortality is my seat: threefold is my constitution; I am the radiant flame, the measurer of the firmament; unceasing light; I am the oblation, I am the whole.
Mantra 13
पात्यग्निर्विपो अग्रं पदं वेः पाति यह्वश्चरणं सूर्यस्य पाति नाभा सप्तशीर्षाणमग्निः
Agni protects the foremost station of the sage, (and) of the seeker; the mighty (Agni) protects the course of the Sun; Agni protects, at the centre, the seven-headed (power).
Frequently Asked Questions
In Sāmavedic stotra groupings, Agni often establishes the rite as the front priest, while Indra hymns supply the victory-pattern that removes obstacles—together ensuring the sacrifice yields prosperity and smooth ‘flow’ of offerings and results.
Both readings are traditional: ‘go’ can denote actual cattle (wealth) and also rays/light (illumination). The hymn’s ‘manifestation’ language supports a symbolic sense where light and abundance appear through praise and right ritual order.
Commentarially it often signals completeness or a ritual totality rather than a mere count—an all-encompassing enumeration that frames the hymn’s knowledge/praise as fully effective and ritually whole.
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