Sukta 145
Sukta 1.145
Dīrghatamas Aucathya (traditional for RV 1.145)
Agni (as knower and lord of powers)
Triṣṭubh
हे संक्षिप्त त्रिष्टुभ् सूक्त सर्वज्ञ शक्ती असलेल्या अग्नीची स्तुती करते—आवाहन केल्यावर तो येतो, प्रत्येक वचन ऐकतो, आणि आपल्या अंतःकरणातच सत्य आज्ञा तसेच यज्ञकर्माची सिद्धी—दोन्ही धारण करतो. अग्नीला शीघ्रगामी व विजयी असे वर्णिले आहे; तो यज्ञासाठी शक्तींचा संचय करतो आणि ऋत (विश्व-व्यवस्था) यास अनुरूप असलेल्या गुप्त कार्यपद्धती/विधान (वयुना) मर्त्यांना प्रकट करतो. या सूक्ताचा हेतू अग्नीला विश्वसनीय मध्यस्थ व अंतःस्थ मार्गदर्शक म्हणून प्रतिष्ठित करणे हा आहे; त्याचे ज्ञान यज्ञाला प्रभावी व सत्यधारक बनवते.
Mantras
Mantra 1
तं पृच्छता स जगामा स वेद स चिकित्वाँ ईयते सा न्वीयते । तस्मिन्त्सन्ति प्रशिषस्तस्मिन्निष्टयः स वाजस्य शवसः शुष्मिणस्पतिः ॥
त्याला विचारा—तो आला आहे; तो जाणतो. तो चिकीत्त्वान् (ज्ञानी) चालतो—पुन्हा चालतो. त्याच्यातच प्रशिष (सत्य आदेश) आहेत, त्याच्यातच इष्टयः (सिद्धी/पूर्तता) आहेत; तोच वाज (समृद्धी), शवस् (बल) आणि शुष्मिन् (विजयी तेज) यांचा अधिपती आहे।
Mantra 2
तमित्पृच्छन्ति न सिमो वि पृच्छति स्वेनेव धीरो मनसा यदग्रभीत् । न मृष्यते प्रथमं नापरं वचोऽस्य क्रत्वा सचते अप्रदृपितः ॥
त्यालाच ते विचारतात; तरीही कोणीही त्याला पूर्णपणे विचारून गाठू शकत नाही; धीर पुरुष ते आपल्या मनानेच पकडतो. तो पहिल्या वचनालाही असत्य करत नाही, नंतरच्यालाही नाही; आपल्या क्रतु (कार्यकारी संकल्प) द्वारे तो ऋत/सत्याशी संगत ठेवतो—अप्रदृपित (अविमूढ) राहून।
Mantra 3
तमिद्गच्छन्ति जुह्वस्तमर्वतीर्विश्वान्येकः शृणवद्वचांसि मे । पुरुप्रैषस्ततुरिर्यज्ञसाधनोऽच्छिद्रोतिः शिशुरादत्त सं रभः ॥
त्याच्याकडेच हविर्हस्त जातात; त्याच्याकडेच वेगवान शक्ती. माझी सर्व वचने तो एकटाच ऐकतो. अनेक प्रेरणांनी प्रेरित, दृढ विजेता, यज्ञ-साधक, अखंड सहाय्य असलेला—हा अग्नि-शिशु घट्ट धरून शक्ती एकत्र गोळा करतो.
Mantra 4
उपस्थायं चरति यत्समारत सद्यो जातस्तत्सार युज्येभिः । अभि श्वान्तं मृशते नान्द्ये मुदे यदीं गच्छन्त्युशतीरपिष्ठितम् ॥
तो आतल्या निकट आसनात उभा राहून संचार करतो, जेव्हा तो सम्यक् क्रमात एकत्र येतो; नव्याने जन्मलेला, आपल्या योजक शक्तींनी धावतो. इच्छाशक्ती आनंद व मुदितेत त्याला स्पर्श करतात, जेव्हा त्या निकट प्रतिष्ठित, विश्रांतीच्या ज्वालेसारख्या स्थित त्याच्याकडे जातात.
Mantra 5
स ईं मृगो अप्यो वनर्गुरुप त्वच्युपमस्यां नि धायि । व्यब्रवीद्वयुना मर्त्येभ्योऽग्निर्विद्वाँ ऋतचिद्धि सत्यः ॥
तो—जलांत शोध घेणारा मृग, वनात फिरणारा—अतिनिकट आवरणावर, पृष्ठभागी स्थापन झाला. मग अग्नि, जाणकार, मर्त्यांसाठी गूढ विधान व अंतर्गत क्रिया (वयुन) उघड करून बोलला; कारण तो ऋताच्या नियमातही सत्यच आहे.
Inside Sukta 145
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Agni is approached through inquiry and invocation: ‘Ask him—he has come; he knows,’ establishing him as present, conscious power.
- Development
Agni is described as the seat of right command and successful fulfillment, lord of strength and victory; he alone hears all speech and drives the rite forward.
- Climax
Agni, the ‘child’ with unbroken help, takes firm hold and gathers the energies of the sacrifice, making it effective and protected.
- Where it settles
Agni reveals the secret workings (vayunā) to mortals and is affirmed as truthful in ṛta, sealing the hymn with a note of revelation and cosmic legality.
The deity: Agni
- In the VedaAgni is invoked as the cikitvān/vidvān—knower and seer-like fire—who comes when asked, moves with living force, and in whom reside the ‘true commands’ (praśiṣaḥ) and the ‘attainments/fulfillments’ (iṣṭayaḥ) of the rite.
- Cosmic functionMediator between humans and gods, carrier of oblations, awakener of power and prosperity (vāja), and establisher of sacrifice in harmony with ṛta.
- Inner significanceThe awakened flame of discernment—inner will and clarity that gathers scattered energies, makes speech effective, and reveals the right order of action.
The seer
- Dīrghatamas AucathyaAucathya (descendant of Ucathya; associated in tradition with the Aṅgirasa/Bhṛgu stream of fire-seers) · A visionary poet-seer famed for profound, enigmatic symbolism and for hymns that connect ritual fire with cosmic law (ṛta) and inner knowledge (vayunā).
Famous verses
तं पृच्छता स जगामा स वेद स चिकित्वाँ ईयते सा न्वीयते । तस्मिन्त्सन्ति प्रशिषस्तस्मिन्निष्टयः स वाजस्य शवसः शुष्मिणस्पतिः ॥तमिद्गच्छन्ति जुह्वस्तमर्वतीर्विश्वान्येकः शृणवद्वचांसि मे । पुरुप्रैषस्ततुरिर्यज्ञसाधनोऽच्छिद्रोतिः शिशुरादत्त सं रभः ॥agnir vidvān ṛtacid dhi satyaḥ
Attributes of the deity
- Knower (vidvān, cikitvān)
- Swift-moving, repeatedly advancing (īyate… punar īyate)
- Lord of plenitude and strength (vājasya, śavasaḥ)
- Victorious intensity (śuṣmin)
- Hears all words (ekaḥ śṛṇavad vacāṃsi)
- Accomplisher of yajña (yajñasādhana)
- Truth-aligned with ṛta (ṛtacid hi satyaḥ)
Also by this seer
- Traditionally associated with several hymns in Rigveda Maṇḍala 1 (including adjacent Agni hymns)
- Credited in later tradition with esoteric riddling style and cosmological imagery (often linked with the Dīrghatamas corpus in RV 1.152–1.164)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar and kindle/rekindle the fire with attentive speech and intention.
- Invoke Agni as the knower who ‘has come’ and who hears the sacrificer’s words.
- Offer oblations while affirming Agni as bearer of praśiṣaḥ (right ordinances) and iṣṭayaḥ (successful attainments).
- Request Agni to gather and concentrate energies (saṃ rabhaḥ) for an unbroken, effective rite.
- Conclude with a recognition of Agni’s revelation of vayunā (hidden workings) and his truth in ṛta.
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya)
- Kindling sticks (samidh)
- Grains/cakes as appropriate (havis)
Frequently Asked Questions
It presents Agni as a conscious, knowing power: he comes when invoked, hears the worshipper’s words, and ensures the sacrifice succeeds by bringing right order and fulfillment.
Because Agni is not only physical fire but also the priestly intelligence of the rite—he understands the correct way (ṛta) and reveals hidden workings (vayunā) that make actions effective.
It fits the moment of kindling or addressing the sacred fire: recite to invoke Agni’s presence, ask for concentrated energy and protection of the rite, and affirm truth-aligned action.
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