Rig Veda Sukta 1
Mandala 1Sukta 19 Mantras

Sukta 1

Sukta 1.1

Rishi

Madhucchandas Vaiśvāmitra

Devata

Agni

Chandas

Gāyatrī

Himne sulung Rig Veda ini menyeru Agni sebagai imam utama (purohita) dalam korban suci, utusan ilahi yang membawa para dewa dan menegakkan kemakmuran. Dalam sembilan bait Gāyatrī, Agni dipuji sebagai yang berkehendak-ṛṣi, pembawa kebenaran, dan pemberi “harta” yang terbaik, lalu memuncak pada doa yang intim agar ia mudah didekati seperti seorang bapa demi kesejahteraan pemuja.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 1.1

Mantras

Mantra 1

अग्निमीळे पुरोहितं यज्ञस्य देवमृत्विजम् । होतारं रत्नधातमम् ॥

Aku memuji Agni, purohita yang diletakkan di hadapan—dewa ṛtvij bagi yajña; hotar, penyeru, yang paling berkuasa mengurniakan ratna (kekayaan batin).

Mantra 2

अग्निः पूर्वेभिॠषिभिरीड्यो नूतनैरुत । स देवाँ एह वक्षति ॥

Agni, yang layak dipuja oleh para ṛṣi terdahulu dan juga yang baharu, akan membawa para Deva ke mari; ia akan menarik Kuasa-kuasa bercahaya itu masuk ke dalam diri kita.

Mantra 3

अग्निना रयिमश्नवत्पोषमेव दिवेदिवे । यशसं वीरवत्तमम् ॥

Dengan Agni, semoga seseorang memperoleh rayi (kekayaan batin) dan pushti—pertumbuhan dari hari ke hari—yang mulia, paling sarat dengan daya kepahlawanan.

Mantra 4

अग्ने यं यज्ञमध्वरं विश्वतः परिभूरसि । स इद्देवेषु गच्छति ॥

Wahai Agni, yajña dan adhvara—perjalanan persembahan—yang Engkau meliputi dan menguasai dari segala penjuru; dengan kuasa itulah sang pencari insan bergerak dan tiba di antara para Deva (kuasa-kuasa cahaya).

Mantra 5

अग्निर्होता कविक्रतुः सत्यश्चित्रश्रवस्तमः । देवो देवेभिरा गमत् ॥

Semoga Agni, Hotṛ (penyeru)—yang kehendaknya ialah kehendak sang kavi (resi)—yang benar dan paling kaya dengan ilham-ilham bercahaya, Sang Deva, datang ke mari bersama para deva yang lain.

Mantra 6

यदङ्ग दाशुषे त्वमग्ने भद्रं करिष्यसि । तवेत्तत्सत्यमङ्गिरः ॥

Apa jua kebaikan yang terang akan Engkau wujudkan bagi sang dāśuṣ (pemberi-persembah), wahai Agni—itulah sesungguhnya kebenaranmu sendiri dalam perbuatan, wahai Angiras; kebajikan yang Kaujanji menjadi kenyataan yang pasti di dalam kami.

Mantra 7

उप त्वाग्ने दिवेदिवे दोषावस्तर्धिया वयम् । नमो भरन्त एमसि ॥

Wahai Agni, kepada-Mu kami mendekat hari demi hari; pada malam dan ketika fajar menjelang kami menghampiri dengan fikiran yang terjaga, membawa sembah-hormat—memohon masuk ke hadirat-Mu yang bercahaya serta pimpinan-Mu.

Mantra 8

राजन्तमध्वराणां गोपामृतस्य दीदिविम् । वर्धमानं स्वे दमे ॥

Dia yang bersinar sebagai kuasa raja bagi persembahan-persembahan suci, penjaga Ṛta (Kebenaran-Tertib), Yang bercahaya—Agni—sentiasa bertambah dalam rumahnya sendiri (dalam diri kami).

Mantra 9

स नः पितेव सूनवेऽग्ने सूपायनो भव । सचस्वा नः स्वस्तये ॥

Jadilah bagi kami, wahai Agni, seperti bapa bagi anaknya—mudah didekati dan sedia memimpin. Bersamalah dengan kami demi sejahtera kami, demi pertumbuhan jiwa yang aman dalam tertib yang benar.

Inside Sukta 1

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Agni is hailed first as the appointed leader-priest of the sacrifice—divine, orderly, and the supreme establisher of inner riches (1.1.1).

  2. Development

    The hymn expands Agni’s role as the steady link across generations of seers and sacrificers, emphasizing his reliability, fame, and power to bring the gods and boons through right worship.

  3. Climax

    Agni is invoked as kavikratu—seer-minded—and asked to arrive with the host of gods, making the rite a living meeting of divine powers (notably 1.1.5).

  4. Where it settles

    The praise resolves into a personal, tender supplication: Agni should be easy of approach like a father and join the worshipers for svasti—secure well-being and right growth (1.1.9).

The deity: Agni

  • In the VedaAgni is the fire-god and priestly power: the “purohita” set in front, the “hotṛ” who invokes, and the “ṛtvij” who works in right season and right order, carrying offerings to the gods and bringing their presence to the rite.
  • Cosmic functionHe mediates between heaven and earth as the conveyor of oblations, awakens and sustains sacrificial order (ṛta), and channels divine forces into human life as prosperity, protection, and inspired power.
  • Inner significanceAgni represents the awakened will and inner flame of aspiration—discernment, zeal, and the capacity to transform raw impulses into luminous understanding and right action.

The seer

  • Madhucchandas VaiśvāmitraVaiśvāmitra (descendant of Viśvāmitra; Kuśika line) · Being the seer of the Rig Veda’s opening sukta and a key early voice of the Vaiśvāmitra tradition, noted for clear sacrificial theology centered on Agni as mediator and inspirer.

Famous verses

agnim īḷe purohitaṃ
Verse 1.1.1The Rig Veda’s opening verse establishes Agni’s central identity as purohita, hotṛ, and ratnadhātama—setting the theological and ritual frame for Vedic worship.Read verse 1.1.1 →
agnir hotā kavikratuḥ
Verse 1.1.5Highlights Agni’s inspired intelligence (kavikratu) and his unique function of bringing the devas to the sacrifice, making him the effective mediator of divine presence.Read verse 1.1.5 →
sa naḥ piteva sūnave
Verse 1.1.9Concludes with the intimate relational image of Agni as father-like and approachable, focusing the hymn’s goal on svasti (well-being) and sustained companionship with the divine fire.Read verse 1.1.9 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Purohita (foremost guiding priest)
  • Hotṛ (invoker/caller of the gods)
  • Ṛtvij (performer in right season and truth)
  • Messenger between humans and devas
  • Bestower of riches/boons (ratnadhātama)
  • Seer-willed intelligence (kavikratu)
  • Protector and beneficent guide (father-like, easy of approach)

Also by this seer

  • Traditionally credited with several early hymns in Mandala 1 associated with the Vaiśvāmitra family (including adjacent Agni praises)
  • Part of the broader Vaiśvāmitra corpus that shapes themes of mantra, sacrifice, and divine-human mediation in the Rig Veda

The rite, step by step

  • Kindle or honor the established sacred fire (gārhapatya/āhavanīya as applicable) and seat Agni as purohita at the forefront of the rite.
  • Recite the sukta as an opening praise, requesting Agni to act as hotṛ and ṛtvij and to summon the devas.
  • Offer oblations while invoking Agni’s protection and his power to bring ‘treasures’—prosperity, strength, and right inspiration.
  • Conclude with the intimate prayer of approachability and welfare, seeking ongoing companionship (sacā) with Agni for svasti (well-being).

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya)
  • Samidh (fuel sticks)
  • Grains/cakes as appropriate to the rite
  • Soma offerings in soma contexts (by extension, as Agni is the carrier)

Frequently Asked Questions

Because Agni is the mediator of the sacrifice: he carries offerings to the gods and brings the gods’ powers into the rite. Invoking him first establishes the yajña and makes all later invocations effective.

It means “placed in front” or “foremost priest.” The hymn presents Agni as the guiding presence at the head of the sacrifice—both ritually (the fire in front) and spiritually (the leading divine will).

The hymn asks Agni to bring the gods, ensure successful worship, and grant ‘treasures’—prosperity, strength, and inspired clarity—ending with a prayer for svasti (secure well-being) and protection like a father.

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