Rig Veda Sukta 79
Mandala 10Sukta 797 Mantras

Sukta 79

Sukta 10.79

Devata

Not explicitly named in this single verse; appears to describe a mighty immortal force active among mortals (often interpreted in RV 10.79 as Agni or a consuming cosmic power—requires hymn-level identification)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable; needs confirmation)

Himne ini merenungkan suatu Kuasa abadi yang menggerunkan namun membawa kebaikan, bergerak di tengah manusia fana—paling padu dikenal sebagai Agni dalam aspek pemakan dan pengubahnya. Ia menggambarkan Api sebagai “janin” yang melahap segalanya, yang memakan dua Ibunya (Langit dan Bumi); kemudian sebagai daya yang “memasang kuk” dan mendisiplinkan tenaga-tenaga yang saling menyimpang, hingga akhirnya mencapai keselarasan dan tatanan yang benar (ṛta) di bawah Mitra dan para Vasu.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 10.79

Mantras

Mantra 1

अपश्यमस्य महतो महित्वममर्त्यस्य मर्त्यासु विक्षु । नाना हनू विभृते सं भरेते असिन्वती बप्सती भूर्यत्तः ॥

Aku menyaksikan kebesaran Yang Maha Perkasa ini—Yang Abadi—bergerak di antara kaum-kaum fana. Dua rahang, beraneka dan terangkat, menghimpun dan memikul; ia tidak berhenti, ia bekerja keras dan melahap banyak.

Mantra 2

गुहा शिरो निहितमृधगक्षी असिन्वन्नत्ति जिह्वया वनानि । अत्राण्यस्मै पड्भिः सं भरन्त्युत्तानहस्ता नमसाधि विक्षु ॥

Di dalam guha (gua rahsia) kepala itu diletakkan, dan kedua-dua mata dipisahkan. Tanpa diperah keluar, namun ia memakan rimba-rimba dengan lidahnya. Untuknya, manusia—dengan tangan terangkat dalam sembah—menghimpunkan persembahan dengan langkah mereka dan menegakkannya di tengah kaum-kaum (viś).

Mantra 3

प्र मातुः प्रतरं गुह्यमिच्छन्कुमारो न वीरुधः सर्पदुर्वीः । ससं न पक्वमविदच्छुचन्तं रिरिह्वांसं रिप उपस्थे अन्तः ॥

Mencari yang lebih tersembunyi daripada Sang Ibu, Sang Muda merayap seperti tumbuhan merentasi hamparan yang luas. Ia menemukan—seolah-olah—batang yang masak, berkilau, menjilat di dalam pangkuan musuh, di bahagian terdalam.

Mantra 4

तद्वामृतं रोदसी प्र ब्रवीमि जायमानो मातरा गर्भो अत्ति । नाहं देवस्य मर्त्यश्चिकेताग्निरङ्ग विचेताः स प्रचेताः ॥

Kebenaranmu yang dua, wahai Langit dan Bumi, ini kuwartakan: embrio, ketika lahir, memakan kedua-dua Ibu. Aku, seorang fana, tidak sepenuhnya mengetahui Sang Dewa; Agni sungguh yang berdaya-beda (vicetā)—dialah yang berpengetahuan lebih dahulu (pracetā).

Mantra 5

यो अस्मा अन्नं तृष्वादधात्याज्यैर्घृतैर्जुहोति पुष्यति । तस्मै सहस्रमक्षभिर्वि चक्षेऽग्ने विश्वतः प्रत्यङ्ङसि त्वम् ॥

Sesiapa yang meletakkan makanan baginya pada tiga penopang, yang mempersembahkan dengan ājya—ghṛta yang disucikan—dan menyuburkan (daya hidup), kepadanya Engkau memandang dengan seribu mata, wahai Agni; dari segenap arah Engkau berpaling menghadap.

Mantra 6

किं देवेषु त्यज एनश्चकर्थाग्ने पृच्छामि नु त्वामविद्वान् । अक्रीळन्क्रीळन्हरिरत्तवेऽदन्वि पर्वशश्चकर्त गामिवासिः ॥

Kesalahan meninggalkan apakah di kalangan para dewa yang telah engkau lakukan, wahai Agni? Kini aku bertanya kepadamu, kerana aku belum mengetahui. Tidak bermain—namun seakan bermain—yang keemasan itu, demi makan, memotongnya sendi demi sendi, seperti pisau pada seekor lembu.

Mantra 7

विषूचो अश्वान्युयुजे वनेजा ऋजीतिभी रशनाभिर्गृभीतान् । चक्षदे मित्रो वसुभिः सुजातः समानृधे पर्वभिर्वावृधानः ॥

Yang lahir dari rimba memasangkan kuda-kuda yang menuju arah berbeza-beza, tertahan oleh tali kekang yang lurus jalannya. Mitra, yang terlahir baik bersama para Vasu, memandang; bertambah oleh ruas-ruasnya, ia sampai kepada ketepatan yang satu.

Inside Sukta 79

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A visionary statement: the seer beholds the greatness of an immortal force moving among mortal peoples, characterized by relentless consuming power.

  2. Development

    The hymn deepens into paradox and cosmic law: Agni as a born ‘embryo’ who consumes his two Mothers (Heaven and Earth), and as the divine intelligence that mortals cannot fully fathom.

  3. Climax

    The proclamation of ṛta to Heaven and Earth: the consuming garbha and Agni as vicetā/pracetā—discerning, foreknowing divine agency behind the cosmic process.

  4. Where it settles

    The imagery shifts toward integration: the force that yokes divergent ‘horses’ (energies) leads to Mitra’s vision of concord with the Vasus, growing step by step into common rightness.

The deity: Agni, with Mitra appearing explicitly in the closing movement

  • In the VedaAgni is portrayed as the mighty Immortal active among mortals, with a voracious, ceaseless consuming power—bearing “two jaws”—and as the divine knower (pracetā) beyond the mortal’s full comprehension. He is also the ‘embryo’ (garbha) who, once born, consumes and transforms the very worlds that bore him (Heaven and Earth).
  • Cosmic functionMediator of ṛta through sacrifice: he carries offerings, kindles order, digests and transforms matter into subtle power, and yokes scattered forces into a unified movement toward harmony—seen finally as concord under Mitra with the Vasus.
  • Inner significanceThe awakening will or inner fire that metabolizes both physical nature and mental formations, purifying them into a higher intelligence; as discipline, it harnesses divergent impulses and leads them into right relation, enabling the soul’s concord (mitra) and stable growth by stages.

Famous verses

amartyasya martyāsu vikṣu
Verse 10.79.1Sets the hymn’s governing vision: the Immortal’s overwhelming greatness among mortals, expressed through the striking image of ‘two jaws’ that ceaselessly labour and devour—an emblem of Agni’s consuming transformation.Read verse 10.79.1 →
agniḥ aṅga vicetāḥ sa pracetāḥ
Verse 10.79.4Doctrinal center of the hymn: declares ṛta to Heaven and Earth and names Agni as the true discerner (vicetā) and foreknower (pracetā), beyond the mortal’s limited comprehension.Read verse 10.79.4 →
विषूचो अश्वान्युयुजे वनेजा ऋजीतिभी रशनाभिर्गृभीतान् । चक्षदे मित्रो वसुभिः सुजातः समानृधे पर्वभिर्वावृधानः ॥
Verse 10.79.7Concluding integration: the yoking of divergent horses with straight reins and Mitra’s role in establishing concord with the Vasus—symbolizing disciplined energies culminating in harmony and right order.Read verse 10.79.7 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Immortal power among mortals
  • Consuming/transmuting force (devourer with ‘two jaws’)
  • Embryonic divine growth (garbha)
  • Knower and discerner (vicetā, pracetā)
  • Yoker and guide of energies toward ṛta
  • Linked to harmony and rightness through Mitra and the Vasus

Also by this seer

  • General association with Mandala 10’s reflective hymns on cosmic process, ṛta, and the hidden workings of Agni (exact additional attributions uncertain).

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/fireplace and ritually arrange fuel (samidh) and kuśa grass.
  • Kindle Agni with kindling while reciting opening verses that acknowledge his vast might among mortals.
  • Offer ghee into the fire with short invocations, contemplating Agni as the ‘embryo’ that grows by consuming and transforming.
  • Recite the central verse on Heaven-and-Earth and the consuming garbha, affirming ṛta and surrendering limited mortal knowing to Agni’s higher discernment.
  • Conclude with verses seeking yoking of divergent powers and establishment of concord (Mitra/Vasus), ending in a settled intention toward rightness.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya)
  • Kindling sticks (samidh)
  • Optional: milk or soma (context-dependent), grains/cakes in domestic usage

Frequently Asked Questions

The hymn’s imagery best fits Agni: an immortal power among mortals, a consuming and transforming fire, and a divine knower (vicetā/pracetā). The last verse also brings in Mitra, highlighting harmony as the outcome.

On the cosmic level, Agni (or the divine Fire) is born within the worlds and then transforms them by his heat and power. In inner terms, awakened spiritual fire reshapes both our physical nature and our mind that originally ‘bore’ it.

The ‘horses’ symbolize scattered drives and energies. The hymn says the divine force disciplines and guides them with straight ‘reins’ so they move toward a common rightness, culminating in concord associated with Mitra.

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