Sukta 188
Sukta 10.188
Agni Jātavedas
हे लघु सूक्त जातवेदस अग्नीचे आवाहन करते. त्याचा “अश्व” (त्याची वेगवान, परिणामकारक शक्ती) येऊन सिद्ध केलेल्या बर्हिसावर—पवित्र यज्ञभूमीवर—आसन घेऊ दे, असे ते विनवते. मग कवी उदार दाता असलेल्या अग्नीला सुबद्ध स्तुती अर्पण करतो; आणि शेवटी, देवांकडे हविर्भाग नेणारे अग्नीचे तेजस्वी किरण यज्ञाला गती देऊन तो यशस्वीरीत्या पूर्ण करोत, अशी प्रार्थना करतो.
Mantras
Mantra 1
प्र नूनं जातवेदसमश्वं हिनोत वाजिनम् । इदं नो बर्हिरासदे ॥
आता जातवेदस्‌चा वाजिन् अश्व पुढे हाकवा; तो आमच्या या बर्हि (यज्ञासन) वर येऊन आसनस्थ होवो.
Mantra 2
अस्य प्र जातवेदसो विप्रवीरस्य मीळ्हुषः । महीमियर्मि सुष्टुतिम् ॥
या जातवेदस्‌साठी—विप्र-वीरांनी समृद्ध आणि उदार दाता असलेल्या त्याच्यासाठी—मी महान, सुबद्ध स्तुतीगीत उंचावितो.
Mantra 3
या रुचो जातवेदसो देवत्रा हव्यवाहनीः । ताभिर्नो यज्ञमिन्वतु ॥
जातवेदसाच्या ज्या रुचि (दीप्त किरणे) आहेत—देवत्रा, हव्यवाहिनी (हविर्द्रव्य देवांकडे नेणाऱ्या)—त्यांच्या द्वारे तो आमचा यज्ञ प्रवृत्त करो आणि त्यास सिद्धीपर्यंत नेवो.
Inside Sukta 188
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A direct summons: urge forward Agni Jātavedas as a swift steed and invite him to sit on the prepared barhis.
- Development
The hymn turns into elevated praise—Agni is celebrated as bounteous and supported by inspired, heroic power, worthy of a ‘great’ hymn.
- Climax
Agni’s rucas are invoked as the decisive carriers that take the offering to the gods and energize the rite.
- Where it settles
A clear petition: by those radiant powers may Agni propel and accomplish our sacrifice—securing successful transmission and completion.
The deity: Agni Jātavedas
- In the VedaAgni as Jātavedas is the “knower of all births/creatures,” the fire who recognizes the proper offering, receives it on the barhis, and conveys it godward through his radiant powers (rucas). He is praised as mīḻhuṣ (bounteous), and as the effective havyavāhana, the carrier of oblations.
- Cosmic functionMediator between humans and devas: he kindles the rite, transports offerings to the divine realm, and establishes orderly exchange (yajña) that sustains ṛta.
- Inner significanceThe awakened inner fire of discernment and aspiration—what “knows” origins and truth—turning intention into effective action, and carrying one’s offerings (effort, speech, devotion) toward higher consciousness.
Famous verses
idaṃ no barhir āsade
mahīm iyarmi suṣṭutim
या रुचो जातवेदसो देवत्रा हव्यवाहनीः । ताभिर्नो यज्ञमिन्वतु ॥Attributes of the deity
- Jātavedas (all-knowing, knower of births)
- Havyavāhana (carrier of offerings)
- Rucas (radiant beams that convey the oblation)
- Swift/forceful power symbolized as a steed (aśva, vājin)
- Bestower of boons (mīḻhuṣ)
- Ritual guest who sits on the barhis
Also by this seer
- No additional hymns can be securely attributed to this r̥ṣi, since the tradition does not preserve a name for RV 10.188.
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the barhis/ritual seat and kindle the fire (āhavanīya or household fire as appropriate).
- Recite RV 10.188.1 to invite and ‘urge forward’ Jātavedas to come and sit upon the barhis.
- Recite RV 10.188.2 as a formal uplift of praise (suṣṭuti), establishing Agni as generous and supported by inspired strength.
- Recite RV 10.188.3 to request that Agni’s rucas, the godward-bearing lights, set the sacrifice in motion and carry it to fulfillment.
- Proceed with the main oblations, maintaining Agni as the conveying priest (hotṛ-principle) of the rite.
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya) into the fire
- Kindling sticks/samidhs
- Optional: grains (yava), soma-substitutes in later practice, or simple food offerings per rite
Frequently Asked Questions
It invites Agni as Jātavedas to come to the ritual seat, praises him as a generous power, and asks his radiance to carry offerings to the gods and make the sacrifice succeed.
The “steed” is a poetic image for Agni’s swift, forceful effectiveness—his ability to move the rite forward and deliver offerings quickly and powerfully.
They are Agni’s radiant powers that bear the oblation “devatrā” (toward the gods). The hymn asks that these rays energize and complete the yajña.
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