Rig Veda Sukta 1
Mandala 2Sukta 116 Mantras

Sukta 1

Sukta 2.1

Rishi

Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)

Chandas

Gāyatrī (RV 2.1 is predominantly gāyatrī)

RV 2.1 menyeru Agni sebagai api yang lahir dari segala-galanya, sentiasa suci, yang bangkit daripada kilau langit—daripada air, batu, kayu, dan tumbuh-tumbuhan—serta yang dinyalakan dalam rumah tangga dan di dalam hati manusia. Himne ini memuji pelbagai rupa hubungan Agni—sebagai bapa, saudara, anak, dan sahabat—sambil memohon agar beliau memimpin para pemuja dan para penaung menuju kemakmuran, perlindungan, dan suatu ujaran yang “luas/besar” (bṛhat) dalam perhimpunan.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 2.1

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Agni

    Agni is the bright, pure flame and the divine priest who is born in many ways, kindled from wood, produced from stone, found in waters, and shining from the luminous heights, yet made present by human kindling and offering.

Mantras

Mantra 1

त्वमग्ने द्युभिस्त्वमाशुशुक्षणिस्त्वमद्भ्यस्त्वमश्मनस्परि । त्वं वनेभ्यस्त्वमोषधीभ्यस्त्वं नृणां नृपते जायसे शुचिः ॥

Engkau, wahai Agni, lahir dari ketinggian yang bercahaya; engkaulah penyala yang pantas; engkau lahir dari air, dan dari batu. Engkau lahir dari rimba, dari tumbuh-tumbuhan; engkau, wahai penguasa manusia, lahir sebagai nyala yang suci—dalam diri kami.

Mantra 2

तवाग्ने होत्रं तव पोत्रमृत्वियं तव नेष्ट्रं त्वमग्निदृतायतः । तव प्रशास्त्रं त्वमध्वरीयसि ब्रह्मा चासि गृहपतिश्च नो दमे ॥

Wahai Agni, milik-Mu seruan persembahan (hotṛ); milik-Mu penjagaan penyucian (potṛ) yang tepat pada musim ritus; milik-Mu penuntun perjalanan (neṣṭṛ); Engkau sang Agni yang bergerak menurut Kebenaran (ṛta). Milik-Mu sabda pengarahan (praśāstṛ); Engkau melaksanakan yajña; Engkau adalah Brahman, dan Engkau juga tuan rumah (gṛhapati) kami di dalam kediaman.

Mantra 3

त्वमग्न इन्द्रो वृषभः सतामसि त्वं विष्णुरुरुगायो नमस्यः । त्वं ब्रह्मा रयिविद्ब्रह्मणस्पते त्वं विधर्तः सचसे पुरंध्या ॥

Engkau, wahai Agni, ialah Indra, banteng para yang bercahaya; Engkau ialah Viṣṇu, yang melangkah luas, yang patut disembah. Engkau ialah Brahman, yang mengetahui dan mengurniakan kelimpahan; wahai Brahmaṇaspati, tuan sabda-batin, Engkau bersatu dengan Daya yang menegakkan dan menyusun (vidhṛt), bersama kepenuhan kecerdasan yang membeda (puraṃdhi).

Mantra 4

त्वमग्ने राजा वरुणो धृतव्रतस्त्वं मित्रो भवसि दस्म ईड्यः । त्वमर्यमा सत्पतिर्यस्य सम्भुजं त्वमंशो विदथे देव भाजयुः ॥

Engkau, wahai Agni, ialah raja Varuṇa, teguh dalam hukum-sumpah (dhṛtavrata); Engkau menjadi Mitra, yang mulia, yang layak diseru. Engkau ialah Aryaman, tuan sejati yang mengurniakan kenikmatan bersama; Engkau ialah Aṃśa di sidang (vidatha), wahai dewa, pembahagi bahagian-bahagian—yang mengatur jatah yang semestinya bagi jiwa.

Mantra 5

त्वमग्ने त्वष्टा विधते सुवीर्यं तव ग्नावो मित्रमहः सजात्यम् । त्वमाशुहेमा ररिषे स्वश्व्यं त्वं नरां शर्धो असि पुरूवसुः ॥

Engkau, wahai Agni, ialah Tvaṣṭṛ yang membentuk daya kepahlawanan bagi yang berkhidmat; api-apimu yang seketurunan—wahai sahabat kemuliaan yang besar. Engkau segera membawa kekayaan keemasan; engkau mengurniakan kuda-kuda yang baik, penuh tenaga; engkau ialah pasukan manusia, luas dalam kelimpahan.

Mantra 6

त्वमग्ने रुद्रो असुरो महो दिवस्त्वं शर्धो मारुतं पृक्ष ईशिषे । त्वं वातैररुणैर्यासि शंगयस्त्वं पूषा विधतः पासि नु त्मना ॥

Engkau, wahai Agni, ialah Rudra, penguasa perkasa bagi langit yang luas; engkau memerintah pasukan Marut, kuat dalam pertumbuhan. Engkau bergerak bersama angin-angin kemerahan sebagai pembawa sejahtera; engkau ialah Pūṣan, menjaga yang mengatur pekerjaan—dengan daya dirimu sendiri.

Mantra 7

त्वमग्ने द्रविणोदा अरंकृते त्वं देवः सविता रत्नधा असि । त्वं भगो नृपते वस्व ईशिषे त्वं पायुर्दमे यस्तेऽविधत् ॥

Engkau, wahai Agni, ialah pemberi kelimpahan bagi yang telah disediakan; engkau ialah Savitṛ, dewa yang menempatkan harta. Engkau ialah Bhaga, wahai penguasa manusia, yang memerintah atas kekayaan; engkau ialah pelindung di rumah bagi yang telah berkhidmat kepadamu.

Mantra 8

त्वामग्ने दम आ विश्पतिं विशस्त्वां राजानं सुविदत्रमृञ्जते । त्वं विश्वानि स्वनीक पत्यसे त्वं सहस्राणि शता दश प्रति ॥

Wahai Agni, di dalam rumah bangsa-bangsa menempatkan engkau di hadapan sebagai tuan kaum, sebagai raja yang membawa kebijaksanaan pencerahan yang tepat. Engkau memerintah segala kuasa yang bercahaya dan bala yang tersusun; engkau berdiri berhadapan dengan gerak seribu kali ganda, seratus kali ganda, sepuluh kali ganda—menguasainya dalam dorongan ke hadapan.

Mantra 9

त्वामग्ने पितरमिष्टिभिर्नरस्त्वां भ्रात्राय शम्या तनूरुचम् । त्वं पुत्रो भवसि यस्तेऽविधत्त्वं सखा सुशेवः पास्याधृषः ॥

Wahai Agni, dengan persembahan mereka, manusia menjadikan engkau Sang Bapa; bagi saudara engkau menjadi sahabat yang baik, tubuhnya bercahaya. Engkau menjadi Putera bagi dia yang menyalakanmu; engkau sahabat yang berkat, dan engkau melindungi tanpa dapat digugat.

Mantra 10

त्वमग्न ऋभुराके नमस्यस्त्वं वाजस्य क्षुमतो राय ईशिषे । त्वं वि भास्यनु दक्षि दावने त्वं विशिक्षुरसि यज्ञमातनिः ॥

Wahai Agni, engkau ialah Ṛbhu, pembentuk yang mahir, layak disembah di puncak; engkau menguasai kelimpahan tenaga dan kepenuhan kekayaan. Engkau bersinar dan menyalakan sepanjang jalur pemberian yang benar; engkau ialah penentu-pengajar yang meluaskan yajña (korban suci).

Mantra 11

त्वमग्ने अदितिर्देव दाशुषे त्वं होत्रा भारती वर्धसे गिरा । त्वमिळा शतहिमासि दक्षसे त्वं वृत्रहा वसुपते सरस्वती ॥

Wahai Agni, bagi si pemberi engkau ialah Aditi, Yang Maha-Luas lagi membebaskan; engkau ialah Sabda persembahan yang terilham, Bhāratī, yang membesar oleh nyanyian puji. Engkau ialah Iḷā, santapan berarus-seratus bagi daya kemahiran yang benar; engkau ialah pembunuh Vṛtra, tuan kelimpahan, Sarasvatī dari ilham yang mengalir.

Mantra 12

त्वमग्ने सुभृत उत्तमं वयस्तव स्पार्हे वर्ण आ संदृशि श्रियः । त्वं वाजः प्रतरणो बृहन्नसि त्वं रयिर्बहुलो विश्वतस्पृथुः ॥

Wahai Agni, yang tersokong dengan baik, engkau ialah daya hidup yang tertinggi; dalam sinar kemilauanmu yang didambakan, segala seri tampak dengan jelas. Engkau ialah kelimpahan yang menyeberangkan kami; engkau ialah kekayaan yang melimpah, luas pada setiap sisi.

Mantra 13

त्वामग्न आदित्यास आस्यं त्वां जिह्वां शुचयश्चक्रिरे कवे । त्वां रातिषाचो अध्वरेषु सश्चिरे त्वे देवा हविरदन्त्याहुतम् ॥

Wahai Agni, para Āditya menjadikanmu mulut mereka; yang suci menjadikanmu lidah mereka, wahai resi. Para sahabat pemberian mendekat rapat kepadamu dalam korban suci; di dalam dirimu para dewa mengecap dan menikmati persembahan yang dipersembahkan.

Mantra 14

त्वे अग्ने विश्वे अमृतासो अद्रुह आसा देवा हविरदन्त्याहुतम् । त्वया मर्तासः स्वदन्त आसुतिं त्वं गर्भो वीरुधां जज्ञिषे शुचिः ॥

Dalam Engkau, wahai Agni, semua dewa yang tidak mati dan tidak memperdaya turut menikmati havis yang dipersembahkan. Dengan-Mu para insan mengecap kemanisan soma yang diperah; Engkau, Yang Suci, lahir sebagai benih dalam tumbuh-tumbuhan yang sedang membesar.

Mantra 15

त्वं तान्त्सं च प्रति चासि मज्मनाग्ने सुजात प्र च देव रिच्यसे । पृक्षो यदत्र महिना वि ते भुवदनु द्यावापृथिवी रोदसी उभे ॥

Engkau sekaligus menghimpun dan berhadapan, dengan kebesaran-Mu, wahai Agni yang lahir mulia; dan Engkau, wahai dewa, melimpah tanpa batas. Apabila di sini, dengan keperkasaan-Mu, daya penguat itu terserlah, maka Langit dan Bumi—dua dunia—mengikuti keluasan-Mu.

Mantra 16

ये स्तोतृभ्यो गोअग्रामश्वपेशसमग्ने रातिमुपसृजन्ति सूरयः । अस्माञ्च ताँश्च प्र हि नेषि वस्य आ बृहद्वदेम विदथे सुवीराः ॥

Mereka yang bijaksana, yang menghulurkan kepada para pemuji kurnia yang kaya dengan sapi bercahaya dan kuda bertenaga, wahai Agni—pimpinlah mereka dan kami maju menuju kebaikan yang lebih utama. Semoga kami menuturkan Yang Mahaluas dalam perhimpunan suci, dengan tenaga kepahlawanan.

Inside Sukta 1

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Agni is hailed as the all-born, pure fire arising from multiple cosmic and earthly sources, yet present ‘within us.’

  2. Development

    The hymn unfolds Agni’s roles and relationships—he is made father by offerings, becomes a kindly brother-companion, becomes son of the kindler, and remains an unassailable friend and protector.

  3. Climax

    Agni is asked to guide both patrons who give and poets who praise into ‘the better good’ (vasyaḥ), aligning generosity, ritual speech, and divine leading.

  4. Where it settles

    It ends with a communal aspiration: to speak the ‘Vast’ (bṛhat) in the assembly (vidatha) and to flourish with heroic energies (suvīra).

The deity: Agni

  • In the VedaHe is addressed as nṛpati (“lord of men”) and as a protector-friend who cannot be overcome.
  • Cosmic functionMediator between humans and gods: he carries oblations to the deities, awakens and orders the sacrifice, and sustains ṛta (cosmic order) through the correct ritual fire.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened will and discernment (inner fire) that purifies intention, transforms offerings into insight, and leads the seeker from scattered powers toward a unified, ‘vast’ clarity.

The seer

  • Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)Bhṛgu/Bhārgava lineage (Gṛtsamada family within the Bhṛgus) · Primary seer of much of Maṇḍala 2, celebrated for robust Agni-centered praise that links cosmic fire with the domestic sacrificial fire and the patron’s prosperity.

Famous verses

त्वमग्ने द्युभिस्त्वमाशुशुक्षणिस्त्वमद्भ्यस्त्वमश्मनस्परि । त्वं वनेभ्यस्त्वमोषधीभ्यस्त्वं नृणां नृपते जायसे शुचिः ॥
Verse 2.1.1Programmatic opening: declares Agni’s many births (heaven, waters, stone, wood, plants) and locates him as the pure flame kindled within humans—setting the hymn’s cosmic-to-domestic bridge.Read verse 2.1.1 →
त्वामग्ने पितरमिष्टिभिर्नरस्त्वां भ्रात्राय शम्या तनूरुचम् । त्वं पुत्रो भवसि यस्तेऽविधत्त्वं सखा सुशेवः पास्याधृषः ॥
Verse 2.1.9Captures Agni’s intimate, relational theology—father, brother, son, and gracious friend—showing how ritual kindling creates a living bond of protection and companionship.Read verse 2.1.9 →
ā bṛhad vadema vidathe suvīrāḥ
Verse 2.1.16Concluding benediction linking patronage and praise: Agni is invoked to lead both giver and singer to greater welfare and to grant powerful speech and heroic vitality in the assembly.Read verse 2.1.16 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Many-born (from heaven, waters, stone, wood, plants)
  • Śuci (pure, bright)
  • Hotṛ/priest and messenger of offerings
  • Protector and ally (sakhā)
  • Leader/guide to welfare (netā to vasyaḥ)
  • Relational deity: father, brother, son, friend

Also by this seer

  • Principal authorship of many hymns in Rig Veda Maṇḍala 2 (notably Agni hymns such as RV 2.1–2.7 and allied praise hymns)
  • Associated with the Bhārgava stream of ritual-poetic transmission emphasizing Agni as priest (hotṛ) and guide (netṛ)

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the vedi (altar space) and arrange kindling (samidh) and kuśa grass
  • Invoke Agni with opening praise; kindle the fire with samidh while reciting the initial verses
  • Offer ghee (ājyāhuti) into the flame, requesting Agni to carry the offering and protect the rite
  • Continue with additional oblations (as appropriate) and petitions for protection, good guidance, and prosperity for patron and singers
  • Conclude with a blessing: may Agni lead both giver and chanter to the better good and grant strong offspring/heroic strength (suvīra)

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya)
  • Kindling sticks (samidh)
  • Optional: milk/curds in domestic settings; soma-related offerings in larger rites (context-dependent)

Frequently Asked Questions

It presents Agni as the universal fire—born in many forms in nature and kindled in the home—who purifies, protects, and carries offerings to the gods, guiding people to prosperity and right order.

It poetically describes fire’s many manifestations and sources: lightning in the sky, hidden heat in waters, sparks from stone, and flame produced from wood and plants—showing Agni as present throughout the cosmos.

It is well-suited for beginning a fire offering or a simple lamp/fire prayer: kindle the flame, offer ghee (or a symbolic offering), and recite with the intention that inner clarity and protection arise along with outer worship.

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