Sukta 9
Sukta 2.9
Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)
Agni
Triṣṭubh
हा सहा-ऋचांचा त्रिष्टुभ सूक्त अग्नीला सर्वज्ञ होतृ म्हणून सिंहासनारूढ करतो—जो याज्ञिक स्थानी आसन घेऊन उपासकांच्या अंतःकरणात स्वतःची स्थापना करतो. त्याच्याकडे विनंती आहे की तो हविर्भाग ऐकून स्वीकारो, समृद्धीची पुष्टी करो, आणि यज्ञाचे नेतृत्व करणारा सर्वोत्तम यजमान/याजक म्हणून कर्म पार पाडो—अपायापासून रक्षण करो तसेच तेजस्वी प्राणशक्ती व धन प्रदान करो.
Mantras
Mantra 1
नि होता होतृषदने विदानस्त्वेषो दीदिवाँ असदत्सुदक्षः । अदब्धव्रतप्रमतिर्वसिष्ठः सहस्रम्भरः शुचिजिह्वो अग्निः ॥
होता होतृ-आसनात अधिष्ठित झाला; मार्ग जाणणारा, तेजस्वी, दीप्तिमान, सुदक्ष। अदब्ध-व्रत व निश्चित प्रज्ञा असलेला वसिष्ठ—शुचि-जिह्वा अग्नी, सहस्र-समृद्धी-धारक—आमच्या अंतरी प्रतिष्ठित झाला.
Mantra 2
त्वं दूतस्त्वमु नः परस्पास्त्वं वस्य आ वृषभ प्रणेता । अग्ने तोकस्य नस्तने तनूनामप्रयुच्छन्दीद्यद्बोधि गोपाः ॥
तू दूत आहेस; तू आमचा दूर-रक्षक आहेस; तू श्रेष्ठाकडे नेणारा नेता आहेस, हे बल-वृषभा। हे अग्ने, आमच्या संततीसाठी आणि आमच्या अस्तित्व-विस्तारासाठी—अप्रयुच्छ, प्रकाशमान—आमच्यात गोपा होऊन जागा हो.
Mantra 3
विधेम ते परमे जन्मन्नग्ने विधेम स्तोमैरवरे सधस्थे । यस्माद्योनेरुदारिथा यजे तं प्र त्वे हवींषि जुहुरे समिद्धे ॥
हे अग्ने! तुझ्या परम जन्मात आम्ही तुझी विधिपूर्वक सेवा करू; आणि प्रकटतेच्या अधः आसनात स्तोत्रांनीही तुझी आराधना करू. ज्या-ज्या योनीतून तू ऊर्ध्व होऊन प्रकट झालास, त्या योनीसाठीच तुला यज्ञ-समर्पण केले जाते; म्हणून तू समिद्ध (प्रज्वलित) झाल्यावर हवि तुझ्याकडेच अग्रसर होऊन आहुतीरूपाने अर्पिले जाते.
Mantra 4
अग्ने यजस्व हविषा यजीयाञ्छ्रुष्टी देष्णमभि गृणीहि राधः । त्वं ह्यसि रयिपती रयीणां त्वं शुक्रस्य वचसो मनोता ॥
हे अग्ने! हविने यजन कर, हे यज्ञास अत्यंत योग्य! श्रवणयुक्त (सावधान) होऊन दान स्वीकार आणि राधस् (समृद्धी) दृढ कर. कारण तूच रयींचा रयिपती आहेस; तूच शुक्ल (दीप्तिमय) वचनाचा मनोता—चिंतक व सिद्धकर्ता—आहेस.
Mantra 5
उभयं ते न क्षीयते वसव्यं दिवेदिवे जायमानस्य दस्म । कृधि क्षुमन्तं जरितारमग्ने कृधि पतिं स्वपत्यस्य रायः ॥
हे दस्म (अद्भुतकर्मी)! तुझे वसव्य (धन) द्विविध आहे आणि क्षीण होत नाही—दिवसेंदिवस, तू निरंतर जन्म घेत असताना. हे अग्ने! जरिता (गायक) याला क्षुमन्त (बलवान) कर; आणि स्वपत्य (सुपुत्रता) व योग्य अधिपत्य देणाऱ्या रयीचा पती त्याला कर.
Mantra 6
सैनानीकेन सुविदत्रो अस्मे यष्टा देवाँ आयजिष्ठः स्वस्ति । अदब्धो गोपा उत नः परस्पा अग्ने द्युमदुत रेवद्दिदीहि ॥
हे सुविदत्र (सुप्रज्ञ) अग्ने! तुझ्या सेनानी-रूप अग्रनेतृत्वाने आमच्यासाठी असा यष्टा हो, जो स्वस्तीसाठी देवांचे सर्वश्रेष्ठ यजन करील. अदब्ध (अपराजित) राहून ज्योतींचा गोपा (रक्षक) हो आणि आमचा दूरस्थ रक्षकही हो; हे अग्ने, द्युमत् (दीप्तिमान) व रेवत् (समृद्धियुक्त) तेजाने आमच्यावर प्रकाश टाक.
Inside Sukta 9
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Agni is installed: the shining, skillful Hotṛ takes his seat, knowing the right way, and becomes established within the community.
- Development
The hymn turns to direct petition—Agni should sacrifice with the offering, listen attentively, and confirm abundance, as lord of riches and fulfiller of the luminous word.
- Climax
Agni is invoked as the foremost leader and best sacrificer who can effectively worship the gods for svasti, combining ritual mastery with protective power.
- Where it settles
The prayer settles into assurance and request: may Agni remain unharmed, guard our lights, protect us from afar, and shine with both radiance and wealth.
The deity: Agni
- In the VedaAgni is the luminous, sharp-tongued (śucijihva) priest who sits on the hotṛ-seat, knows the proper way of the rite, hears the praise, and carries offerings to the gods while bringing back rādhas (boons).
- Cosmic functionMediator between humans and gods: he kindles sacrifice, conveys oblations, safeguards the settlement, and manifests divine light and power within the world-order (ṛta).
- Inner significanceThe awakened will and discerning intelligence in the practitioner—an inner fire that clarifies speech, energizes aspiration, and ‘cooks’ intention into effective action and protection.
The seer
- Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)Bhṛgu/Bhārgava lineage (Gṛtsamada family of Mandala 2) · Principal seer of much of Rig Veda Mandala 2, renowned for Agni-centered hymns that present Agni as the inner priest and guardian of prosperity and safety.
Famous verses
śucijihvo agniḥ
अग्ने यजस्व हविषा यजीयाञ्छ्रुष्टी देष्णमभि गृणीहि राधः । त्वं ह्यसि रयिपती रयीणां त्वं शुक्रस्य वचसो मनोता ॥adabdho gopā
Attributes of the deity
- Hotṛ/priestly mediator
- Knower of the path and ritual order
- Pure-tongued (śucijihva) bearer of offerings
- Unbetrayable will and firm discernment (adabdhavratapramati)
- Giver of riches and plenitude (rayipati, rādhas)
- Leader and protector (sainānīka, gopā, paraspā)
- Radiant, shining force (tveṣa, dyumat)
Also by this seer
- A large portion of Rig Veda Mandala 2 (many sūktas attributed to Gṛtsamada)
- Multiple Agni hymns emphasizing Hotṛ-function, protection (gopā), and rādhas (plenitude)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare and clean the altar/vedi; establish the sacred space and seats for officiants.
- Kindle or rekindle Agni; ‘seat’ him as Hotṛ in the hotṛṣadana (priestly seat) with recitation.
- Offer havis with prescribed formulas; praise Agni’s knowledge of the rite and his purity of tongue.
- Request attentive hearing (śruṣṭī) and affirmation of rādhas (plenitude).
- Invoke Agni as leader who best worships the gods on the sacrificer’s behalf for svasti (well-being).
- Conclude with petitions for protection near and far (gopā, paraspā) and for shining prosperity (dyumat, revat).
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya)
- Milk/curds or simple havis (as customary)
- Grain-cakes/oblations (puroḍāśa-type offerings, as applicable)
Frequently Asked Questions
It asks Agni to take his rightful seat as the priest of the sacrifice, carry the offering properly, listen to the worshippers, and grant well-being, protection, and abundance.
Hotṛ means the officiating priest who recites and performs the offering. The hymn treats Agni as the divine priest who knows the correct path of the rite and mediates between humans and the gods.
Along with the outer fire on the altar, it points to an inner fire—clarity, will, and discerning intelligence—through which prayer becomes effective and life gains light and strength.
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