Rig Veda Sukta 46
Mandala 10Sukta 4610 Mantras

Sukta 46

Sukta 10.46

Devata

Agni

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable)

Himne ini memuji Agni sebagai Hotṛ purba, yang ditegakkan oleh para dewa dan manusia sebagai pembawa persembahan serta pengatur tatanan benar (ṛta) dalam kehidupan bersama. Agni digambarkan duduk “di pangkuan perairan” dan juga tersembunyi di dalam rumah-rumah serta ruang-ruang seperti rahim, menghimpunkan orang ramai dan menggerakkan mereka dengan “kuk” dharma menuju kemakmuran dan pembaharuan kemuliaan leluhur.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 10.46

Mantras

Mantra 1

प्र होता जातो महान्नभोविन्नृषद्वा सीददपामुपस्थे । दधिर्यो धायि स ते वयांसि यन्ता वसूनि विधते तनूपाः ॥

Lahir sebagai Hotṛ persembahan, agung, mengetahui ketinggian-ketinggian langit; ia duduk sebagai kuasa yang bersemayam dalam kalangan manusia, di pangkuan air. Ia yang ditegakkan teguh sebagai asas—dialah yang mengarah gerakmu; ia membawa kekayaan kepada yang beribadat, sebagai pelindung bagi yang bertubuh (tanūpā).

Mantra 2

इमं विधन्तो अपां सधस्थे पशुं न नष्टं पदैरनु ग्मन् । गुहा चतन्तमुशिजो नमोभिरिच्छन्तो धीरा भृगवोऽविन्दन् ॥

Api ini mereka bentuk di tempat duduk bersama air; mereka menjejakinya seperti makhluk yang hilang, menurut jejak-jejaknya. Tersembunyi di gua, bergerak secara rahsia, para pencari nyala menemuinya—mereka yang teguh, kaum Bhṛgu—dengan tunduk-hormat (namas).

Mantra 3

इमं त्रितो भूर्यविन्ददिच्छन्वैभूवसो मूर्धन्यघ्न्यायाः । स शेवृधो जात आ हर्म्येषु नाभिर्युवा भवति रोचनस्य ॥

Api ini Trita menemuinya dengan berlimpah ketika mencari—yang bersinar luas—diletakkan di kepala yang tak-terlanggar (lembu cahaya). Setelah lahir, ia membesar menuju sejahtera di dalam rumah-rumah; ia menjadi pusat-pusar muda bagi alam yang bercahaya.

Mantra 4

मन्द्रं होतारमुशिजो नमोभिः प्राञ्चं यज्ञं नेतारमध्वराणाम् । विशामकृण्वन्नरतिं पावकं हव्यवाहं दधतो मानुषेषु ॥

Dengan perbuatan penghormatan, para pencari nyala (uśij) membentuk Hotṛ yang menggembirakan—yang memimpin yajña ke hadapan, penunjuk jalan-jalan persembahan (adhvara). Mereka menjadikannya penyuci dan pengiring yang benar bagi sekalian kaum, menegakkan pembawa havya (havyavāha) di kalangan manusia.

Mantra 5

प्र भूर्जयन्तं महां विपोधां मूरा अमूरं पुरां दर्माणम् । नयन्तो गर्भं वनां धियं धुर्हिरिश्मश्रुं नार्वाणं धनर्चम् ॥

Ke hadapan mereka membawa Daya besar yang menewaskan, rumah luas bagi penglihatan ṛṣi; yang perkasa memikul yang tidak tersasar, asas purba bagi banyak kota-benteng. Sambil memimpin benih tersembunyi dari rimba, mereka memasang dhī (wawasan) pada kuknya—seperti kuasa berjanggut keemasan yang tidak mengendur, kaya dengan nyanyian dan harta.

Mantra 6

नि पस्त्यासु त्रितः स्तभूयन्परिवीतो योनौ सीददन्तः । अतः संगृभ्या विशां दमूना विधर्मणायन्त्रैरीयते नॄन् ॥

Di tempat-tempat kediaman, Trita, meneguhkan yang teguh, duduk di dalam—terselubung dalam rahim. Dari sana, menghimpun sekalian kaum, tuan rumah menggerakkan manusia dengan kuk-kuk dharma yang benar, menarik mereka ke dalam kerja yang tersusun.

Mantra 7

अस्याजरासो दमामरित्रा अर्चद्धूमासो अग्नयः पावकाः । श्वितीचयः श्वात्रासो भुरण्यवो वनर्षदो वायवो न सोमाः ॥

Api-apinya yang tidak menua ialah jurumudi bagi kediaman; mereka menyala dengan asapnya, menyucikan. Terang pada penyalaan, pantas pada gerak, ghairah pada gelora, mereka bersemayam di rimba—seperti angin—laksana kuasa-kuasa Soma yang bergerak menembusi wujud.

Mantra 8

प्र जिह्वया भरते वेपो अग्निः प्र वयुनानि चेतसा पृथिव्याः । तमायवः शुचयन्तं पावकं मन्द्रं होतारं दधिरे यजिष्ठम् ॥

Dengan lidahnya Agni membawa ke hadapan getar-ucapan; dengan budi ia menzahirkan pembezaan-pembezaan daripada tabiat bumi. Dialah yang para pencari tegakkan: yang menyucikan, yang bercahaya—Hotar yang mengasyikkan, paling layak bagi yajña.

Mantra 9

द्यावा यमग्निं पृथिवी जनिष्टामापस्त्वष्टा भृगवो यं सहोभिः । ईळेन्यं प्रथमं मातरिश्वा देवास्ततक्षुर्मनवे यजत्रम् ॥

Langit dan Bumi melahirkan Agni itu; Perairan, Tvaṣṭṛ, dan para Bhṛgu membentuknya dengan kuasa-kuasa mereka. Para dewa memahat terlebih dahulu Yang Patut Disembah itu; dan Mātariśvan membawanya untuk Manu—yang layak dipersembahkan, api bagi pendakian insan.

Mantra 10

यं त्वा देवा दधिरे हव्यवाहं पुरुस्पृहो मानुषासो यजत्रम् । स यामन्नग्ने स्तुवते वयो धाः प्र देवयन्यशसः सं हि पूर्वीः ॥

Engkau yang oleh para dewa ditegakkan sebagai pembawa persembahan (havyavāha), yang diidamkan ramai, layak dipuja oleh manusia. Dalam perjalananmu, wahai Agni, kurniakanlah kelimpahan hidup kepada yang memuji; menuju jalan ketuhanan (devayāna), himpunkan baginya kemuliaan-kemuliaan terdahulu yang banyak—bangkitkan perolehan tersimpan dari masa lampau ke dalam pendakian kini.

Inside Sukta 46

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Agni is hailed as the newly-born yet primordial Hotṛ—great, heaven-knowing, and seated among humans and in the waters as a foundational power.

  2. Development

    The hymn deepens into Agni’s hiddenness and interiority: he sits within dwellings and womb-like seats, gathering communities and directing human action by the ‘yokes’ of right law.

  3. Climax

    Agni’s governance becomes explicit—he moves beings along ordered paths, bestows wealth and life-plenitude, and awakens stored attainments through a godward movement.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn ends by recalling Agni’s divine establishment as havyavāha and asks him to grant vitality and to assemble the many ‘former glories’ for the praising worshipper.

The deity: Agni

  • In the VedaAgni is the Hotṛ (invoking priest) and havyavāha (carrier of offerings), “great” and “knower of the heights,” present among humans yet rooted in cosmic waters and hidden seats. He is praised as the household lord (damūnā) who gathers peoples and establishes ordered action.
  • Cosmic functionMediator between worlds: he conveys oblations to the gods, kindles the sacrificial order, protects life-force, and distributes wealth and auspicious powers to the worshipper in harmony with ṛta.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened will and luminous intelligence (tejas) within: the inner fire that stabilizes the being, disciplines impulses, unifies the faculties, and turns the aspirant ‘godward’ (devayāna) toward higher states.

Famous verses

apām upasthe
Verse 10.46.1Defines the hymn’s core vision of Agni as Hotṛ, cosmic-knower, indwelling among men and ‘in the lap of the waters,’ and as protector-bestower of wealth.Read verse 10.46.1 →
viśāṃ damūnā
Verse 10.46.6Highlights the inward/hidden Agni with the Trita motif and presents Agni as the household lord who gathers peoples and moves them by the yokes of right order.Read verse 10.46.6 →
havyavāham
Verse 10.46.10Concludes with Agni’s canonical role as havyavāha established by gods and desired by humans, requesting vitality and the recovery of ancestral glory through a godward ascent.Read verse 10.46.10 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Hotṛ (priestly invoker)
  • Havyavāha (oblation-bearer)
  • Hidden and indwelling (antar, yonau)
  • Protector of the embodied being (tanūpāḥ)
  • Organizer of right order (ṛta/dharma)
  • Bestower of wealth and vitality (vasūni, vayaḥ)
  • Gatherer and unifier of the people (viśāṃ saṃgṛbhya)

Also by this seer

  • Several late Rigvedic hymns (especially in Mandala 10) are transmitted with anonymous authorship; this sukta belongs to that stratum where theological and inward (adhyātma) readings are especially prominent.
  • The hymn contributes to the Rigvedic Agni-theology that links sacrifice, social cohesion (viśaḥ), and inner discipline under ṛta/dharma.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/hearth (vedi) and kindle/rekindle the fire with kindling (samidh).
  • Perform ācamana and brief purification; seat the fire as the household lord (damūnā).
  • Recite the hymn’s verses as Agni is invoked as Hotṛ and havyavāha, requesting guidance, vitality, and wealth.
  • Offer oblations in the fire with svāhā, aligning intention with ṛta/dharma (right order).
  • Conclude with a request for renewed “former glories” (pūrvīḥ yaśasaḥ) and protection of the embodied life (tanūpāḥ).

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya)
  • Kindling sticks (samidh)
  • Grain/oblations as appropriate (havis)
  • Aromatic offerings where customary

Frequently Asked Questions

It presents Agni as the sacred fire-priest who carries offerings to the gods and also as an inner, hidden power that brings order (ṛta/dharma), protection, vitality, and prosperity to human life.

This image points to Agni’s cosmic origin and subtle presence: fire is linked with the waters and the hidden seed of energy, suggesting Agni is both elemental and mysteriously concealed in creation.

Trita is an ancient Rigvedic figure often connected with a hidden or pressed-out fire/light. In this hymn the Trita motif emphasizes Agni as inwardly seated and concealed, yet capable of organizing and energizing human society when awakened.

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