Rig Veda Sukta 4
Mandala 2Sukta 49 Mantras

Sukta 4

Sukta 2.4

Rishi

Gṛtsamada (traditional for RV 2.4)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable; needs metrical verification)

ຄຳສອນນີ້ອັນເຊີນອັກນີ ຊາຕາເວທັດ ເປັນແຂກຜູ້ສະຫວ່າງງາມຂອງຕົວເຜົ່າ, ສະຖາປະຕິການເພື່ອເປັນມິຕຣະ ທີ່ໝັ້ນຄົງ, ເຊື່ອຖ້າໄດ້, ເໝາະສົມທີ່ຈະປະທັບຢູ່ໃນມະນຸດເປັນຜູ້ທຳສັນທະທາດຈາກພຣະເຈົ້າ. ມັນສັນລະເສີນຄວາມສະຫວ່າງງາມຫຼາຍສີຂອງອັກນີ ແລະ ຄວາມຂັດຂ້ອງຂອງການຟື້ນຟູຄວາມໜຸ່ມ, ແລະ ຈົບລົງດ້ວຍຄຳອະທິຖານວ່າຜ່ານທາງອັກນີ ຄຣິດສະມາທາດ ຈະຍົກສູງເໜືອຂອບເຂດ ແລະ ໄດ້ຮັບຄວາມເຂັ້ມແຂ็ງຂອງວີລະບຸດ, ການປົກປ້ອງ, ແລະ ການເພີ່ມພູມຊີວິດ.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 2.4

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • AgniJātavedas

    Agni is praised as sudyotmān (well-luminous), suvṛkti (perfect in utterance), viśām atithi (guest of the peoples), and Jātavedas (knower of all births/creatures), a god who can be firmly established among men like Mitra.

Mantras

Mantra 1

हुवे वः सुद्योत्मानं सुवृक्तिं विशामग्निमतिथिं सुप्रयसम् । मित्र इव यो दिधिषाय्यो भूद्देव आदेवे जने जातवेदाः ॥

ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຮຽກຮ້ອງຫາພະອັຄະນີຜູ້ສະຫວ່າງສະຫວ່າງ, ຜູ້ກ່າວຄຳຢ່າງສົມບູຮູບ, ແຂກຂອງປະຊາຊົນ, ຜູ້ອຸດົມດ້ວຍການໃຫ້ຢ່າງລ້ຳເປັນ. ດັ່ງດັ່ງພະມິຕາ, ພະອົງກາຍເປັນຜູ້ທີ່ຄວນສະຖາປະນາຢ່າງໝັ້ນຄົງ; ເທບບູຊາໃນທ່າມກາງຜູ້ທີ່ຍັງບໍ່ເປັນດັ່ງເທບ, ພະຊາຕະເວດາຜູ້ເກີດພ້ອມຄວາມຮູ້.

Mantra 2

इमं विधन्तो अपां सधस्थे द्वितादधुर्भृगवो विक्ष्वायोः । एष विश्वान्यभ्यस्तु भूमा देवानामग्निररतिर्जीराश्वः ॥

ພະອັຄະນີນີ້, ຜູ້ນຳເອົາພິທີມາຕັ້ງໄວ້ໃນບ່ອນນັ່ງຮ່ວມຂອງນໍ້າ; ພວກພະພຶຄູໄດ້ສະຖາປະນາພະອົງອີກໃນທ່າມກາງປະຊາຊົນຜູ້ມີຊີວິດ. ຂໍໃຫ້ພະອັຄະນີຜູ້ເຄື່ອນໄວ ແລະ ມີມ້າແຫ່ງຄວາມໄວນີ້, ກາຍເປັນພື້ນທີ່ກວ້າງໃຫຍ່ ແລະ ທີ່ພັກພະເທບສຳລັບສັດຕະວັດທັງໝົດ.

Mantra 3

अग्निं देवासो मानुषीषु विक्षु प्रियं धुः क्षेष्यन्तो न मित्रम् । स दीदयदुशतीरूर्म्या आ दक्षाय्यो यो दास्वते दम आ ॥

ພະເທບໄດ້ວາງພະອັຄະນີ, ຜູ້ເປັນທີ່ຮັກຂອງພະອົງ, ໃນທ່າມກາງຊົນຊັ້ນຂອງມະນຸດ, ດັ່ງດັ່ງຜູ້ເບິ່ງແຍ່ງເພື່ອນສະເໝືອນພະມິຕາ. ພະອົງສ່ອງແສງດ້ວຍຄື້ນຂອງຄວາມປິຕິຍິນດີທີ່ກະຕືລົບ; ຜູ້ທີ່ຄວນເພີ່ມພູນດ້ວຍຄວາມສາມາດ ມາຫາຜູ້ໃຫ້ທານໃນເຮືອນ.

Mantra 4

अस्य रण्वा स्वस्येव पुष्टिः संदृष्टिरस्य हियानस्य दक्षोः । वि यो भरिभ्रदोषधीषु जिह्वामत्यो न रथ्यो दोधवीति वारान् ॥

ຄວາມປິຕິຂອງພະອົງເປັນດັ່ງການເພີ່ມພູນຂອງຕົນເອງ; ເຫັນໄດ້ຢ່າງຊັດເຈນແມ່ນຄວາມສາມາດຂອງຜູ້ທີ່ຟ້າວໄປ. ຜູ້ທີ່ແບກຫາບພາລະ ໄດ້ແຜ່ລີ້ນຂອງພະອົງໃນທ່າມກາງພືດພັນ; ດັ່ງດັ່ງມ້າລາດພາລົດ ພະອົງສັ່ນປ່ອຍສິ່ງປົກຄຸມ, ເປີດເສັ້ນທາງ.

Mantra 5

आ यन्मे अभ्वं वनदः पनन्तोशिग्भ्यो नामिमीत वर्णम् । स चित्रेण चिकिते रंसु भासा जुजुर्वाँ यो मुहुरा युवा भूत् ॥

ເມື່ອ, ເພື່ອຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ, ຜູ້ຄຳຮ້ອງທີ່ເຄື່ອນໄຫວໃນປ່າໄດ້ວັດໄມ້ຄວາມກວ້າງໃຫຍ່ ແລະ ສີສັນ, ດັ່ງດັ່ງເພຼະໄຟທີ່ກະຕືລົບ, ແລ້ວພະອົງຮັບຮູ້ດ້ວຍຄວາມສະຫວ່າງຫຼາຍສີ, ພາກພັນຍິນດີ; ເຖົ້າແກ່ສະເໝີ, ພະອົງກາຍເປັນໜຸ່ມອີກ ແລະ ອີກ.

Mantra 6

आ यो वना तातृषाणो न भाति वार्ण पथा रथ्येव स्वानीत् । कृष्णाध्वा तपू रण्वश्चिकेत द्यौरिव स्मयमानो नभोभिः ॥

ຜູ້ທີ່, ດ້ວຍຄວາມກະຫາຍ, ບໍ່ສ່ອງແສງໃນປ່າ, ແຕ່ຖືກນຳພາຕາມເສັ້ນທາງດັ່ງເສັ້ນທາງລົດ, ຕາມສຽງຂອງຕົນເອງ. ໃນເສັ້ນທາງສີດຳ, ຄວາມຮ້ອນຂອງພະອົງຮູ້ຈັກຄວາມປິຕິຂອງມັນ; ດັ່ງດັ່ງຟ້າທີ່ຍິ້ມດ້ວຍເມຄ, ພະອົງເປີດເຜີຍຕົວເອງ.

Mantra 7

स यो व्यस्थादभि दक्षदुर्वीं पशुर्नैति स्वयुरगोपाः । अग्निः शोचिष्माँ अतसान्युष्णन्कृष्णव्यथिरस्वदयन्न भूम ॥

ຜູ້ທີ່ໄດ້ຍືນຢູ່ຕ່າງຫາກ ແລະ ໄຫມ້ຜ່ານແຜ່ນດິນກວ້າງໃຫຍ່, ບໍ່ມີສັດໃດໄປທີ່ນັ້ນ, ເຄື່ອນໄດ້ດ້ວຍຕົນເອງ ແລະ ບໍ່ມີຜູ້ນຳ. ພະອັຄະນີ, ເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍເພຼະໄຟ, ເຮັດໃຫ້ເສັ້ນໃຍຮ້ອນ, ເຮັດໃຫ້ແມ້ນຕ້ານສີດຳລ້າຊີມ; ພະອົງປຸງແຜ່ນດິນໃຫ້ຫວານ.

Mantra 8

नू ते पूर्वस्यावसो अधीतौ तृतीये विदथे मन्म शंसि । अस्मे अग्ने संयद्वीरं बृहन्तं क्षुमन्तं वाजं स्वपत्यं रयिं दाः ॥

ດຽວນີ້, ໃນການເຄື່ອນໄຫວຂອງຄວາມຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອບູຮານຂອງເຈົ້າ, ໃນກອງປະຊຸມສັກສິດຄັ້ງທີສາມ, ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າປະກາດຄວາມຄິດທີ່ມີການດົງດັນ. ໂອ ອັຄນີ, ຂໍມອບໃຫ້ພວກເຮົາກຸ່ມວີລະບຸລະກຸນທີ່ຮ່ວມກັນ, ຄວາມຍິ່ງໃຫຍ່, ຄວາມເຕັມທີ່ສະຫວ່າງ, ພະລັງຂອງຄວາມສຳເລັດຢ່າງສົມບູນ, ພ້ອມດ້ວຍການປົກຄອງທີ່ດີ ແລະ ຄວາມຮັ່ງມີໃນຈິດໃຈ.

Mantra 9

त्वया यथा गृत्समदासो अग्ने गुहा वन्वन्त उपराँ अभि ष्युः । सुवीरासो अभिमातिषाहः स्मत्सूरिभ्यो गृणते तद्वयो धाः ॥

ໂດຍເຈົ້າ, ໂອ ອັຄນີ, ດັ່ງດັ່ງທີ່ຄຣິຕສະມາດາສ໌ ພະຍາຍາມໃນບ່ອນເຊື່ອງຊ້ອນ ແລະ ຂຶ້ນເໜືອຂອບເຂດ, ຂໍໃຫ້ພວກເຮົາມີພະລັງວີລະບຸລະກຸນຢ່າງສົມບູນ, ເປັນຜູ້ຊະນະຕໍ່ຄວາມກົດດັນຈາກສັດຕູ; ຈາກເຈົ້າ, ສຳລັດບັນດາຮິຕທີ່ສັງລະນາສັກສິດ, ຂໍສ້າງຕັ້ງຄວາມສົມບູນ ແລະ ການເຕີບໃຫຍ່ທີ່ສຳຄັນນັ້ນ.

Inside Sukta 4

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct call to the radiant Agni—perfect in speech and the peoples’ guest—asking him to be firmly established among humans like Mitra (RV 2.4.1).

  2. Development

    Agni’s dynamic epithets unfold: his expansive, many-colored brilliance and his power to measure out vastness and ‘color,’ renewing youth again and again even as he ages (e.g., RV 2.4.5).

  3. Climax

    Agni is invoked as the force by which the Gṛtsamadas, striving in hidden places, rise beyond upper limits—an image of breakthrough from concealment to higher attainment (RV 2.4.9a).

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn ends in a practical blessing: heroic offspring/strength, victory over hostile pressures, and the establishment of vayas—vital plenitude and growth—for the praising seers and patrons (RV 2.4.9b).

The deity: Agni

  • Cosmic functionMediator between humans and gods: he receives offerings, carries them to the devas, and maintains ṛta by kindling sacrifice, light, and ordered exchange.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened inner fire of discernment and aspiration—speech made true (suvṛkti), the power that transforms raw intention into effective offering, and the renewing will that becomes ‘young again’ through repeated consecration.

The seer

  • Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)Bhṛgu lineage (Bhārgava); traditionally of the Gṛtsamada family within Mandala 2 · Principal seer of Rigveda Mandala 2, renowned for powerful Agni hymns that frame Agni as the clan-guest (atithi) and as Jātavedas, the knower of all births.

Famous verses

viśām agnim atithim
Verse 2.4.1Sets the theological frame: Agni as the luminous clan-guest and as Jātavedas, to be established among humans ‘like Mitra’—a key ritual idea of enthroning the fire.Read verse 2.4.1 →
jujurvān yo muhur ā yuvā bhūt
Verse 2.4.5Captures Agni’s distinctive Vedic paradox: many-hued radiance that ‘measures out’ the vast, and the recurring renewal—ever-aging yet repeatedly becoming young—central to fire’s ritual re-kindling.Read verse 2.4.5 →
त्वया यथा गृत्समदासो अग्ने गुहा वन्वन्त उपराँ अभि ष्युः । सुवीरासो अभिमातिषाहः स्मत्सूरिभ्यो गृणते तद्वयो धाः ॥
Verse 2.4.9Names the seer-family and converts praise into a concrete boon: through Agni may the Gṛtsamadas transcend limits and gain heroic power, protection, and vital increase.Read verse 2.4.9 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Radiant and many-hued (citra bhāsā)
  • Guest-priest of the clans (atithi)
  • Bearer of offerings and messenger
  • Knower of births (Jātavedas)
  • Establishing, treaty-like reliability (Mitra-iva didhiṣāyya)
  • Renewing youth amid age (muhur ā yuvā bhūt)

Also by this seer

  • Primary authorship attributed to most of Rigveda Mandala 2 (many Agni-centered sūktas)
  • Associated with the Bhṛgu-Aṅgiras fire tradition in later Vedic memory
  • Hymnic style noted for strong ritual address and clan-centered theology of Agni

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/vedi and ritual space; seat the fire as the clan-guest (Agni as atithi).
  • Kindle or rekindle Agni with proper formulas, establishing him ‘like Mitra’—stable and welcome among the people.
  • Recite the hymn while offering oblations, praising Agni’s radiance and his capacity to renew and expand vital power.
  • Conclude with a petition for protection against hostile pressures and for vayas (vital growth, strength, increase) for the praising seers and patrons.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya) oblations
  • Kindling sticks/samidhs
  • Optional soma-related offerings in a broader rite context (where applicable)

Frequently Asked Questions

The hymn is addressed to Agni, especially in the form Jātavedas—Agni as the one who knows all births and carries offerings to the gods.

Because the sacrificial fire is welcomed into every household and clan like an honored guest; once kindled, he presides over the rite and mediates between humans and the devas.

It asks that through Agni the worshippers gain heroic strength, overcome hostile pressures, and receive vayas—vital growth, nourishment, and flourishing for those who praise.

Ask anything about Sukta 4 of the Rig Veda

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