
Agni kindled as Hotṛ: invoking the gods, securing wealth, and protecting the sacrifice
Agni
Bright urgent and protective—moving from kindling/praise to forceful warding-off
Bharadvāja (probable requires concordance verification)
Applicable within Soma-yajña settings where Agni functions as the inviting Hotṛ and as rakṣohā (protector) of the pressing and offering.
Mantra 1
सोमं राजानं वरुणमग्निमन्वारभामहे आदित्यं विष्णुं सूर्यं ब्रह्मानं च बृहस्पतिम्
We duly take hold of (invoke) Soma the king, Varuṇa, and Agni; (we invoke) Āditya, Viṣṇu, Sūrya, and Brahmā, and also Bṛhaspati.
Mantra 2
इत एत उदारुहन्दिवः पृष्ठान्या रुहन् प्र भूर्जयो यथा पथोद्यामङ्गिरसो ययुः
From hence these (Aṅgirases) ascended to the heavenly heights; victorious, they went: by that path may we also ascend, even as the Aṅgirases proceeded.
Mantra 3
राये अग्ने महे त्वा दानाय समिधीमहि ईडिष्वा हि महे वृषं द्यावा होत्राय पृथिवी
For wealth, O Agni the mighty, for bestowal, we kindle thee; be thou praised, for thou art the great vigorous (bull): Heaven and Earth (attend) for the Hotṛ-service.
Mantra 4
दधन्वे वा यदीमनु वोचद्ब्रह्मेति वेरु तत् परि विश्वानि काव्या नेमिश्चक्रमिवाभुवत्
When he set it in motion, and proclaimed it as 'Brahma' (the sacred utterance), they accepted it; then it encompassed all inspired compositions, as the rim (encompasses) the wheel.
Mantra 5
प्रत्यग्ने हरसा हरः शृणाहि विश्वतस्परि यातुधानस्य रक्षसो बलं न्युब्जवीर्यम्
Against (them), O Agni, smite with thy flame; hear (us) from every side: overthrow the strength and prowess of the yātudhāna, of the rākṣasa.
Mantra 6
त्वमग्ने वसूंरिह रुद्रां आदित्यां उत यजा स्वध्वरं जनं मनुजातं घृतप्रुषम्
Do thou, Agni, worship here the Vasus, the Rudras, and the Ādityas; worship the well-ordered sacrifice of the human race, the rite bedewed with clarified butter.
It presents Agni as the kindled Hotṛ who brings wealth and successful offerings, summons the divine groups (Vasus, Rudras, Ādityas), and protects the sacrifice by crushing obstructive forces.
They represent major classes of gods invited to the yajña; Agni is asked to worship and bring them to the rite so the sacrifice becomes complete and effective (svadhvara).
It is a protective prayer: Agni’s flame is invoked to overthrow hostile powers that cause ritual obstacles, ensuring the chant and offerings proceed without disruption.