Rig Veda Sukta 10
Mandala 2Sukta 106 Mantras

Sukta 10

Sukta 2.10

Rishi

Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

Himne Triṣṭubh yang ringkas kepada Agni ini memuji beliau sebagai kehadiran yang pertama dan laksana bapa dalam korban suci, dinyalakan di singgasana suci Iḷā serta bersinar dengan kepenuhan dan ketajaman budi. Ia menegaskan jangkauan kosmik Agni yang meresapi segalanya—menguasai alam-alam—serta menampilkannya sebagai penyuci yang “digosok hingga terang” dan diurapi dengan ghee. Penyair menutup dengan memohon bahagian persembahan yang dibahagi dengan tepat, dan menyeru Agni sebagai utusan menurut cara Manu, dipanggil dengan senduk ujaran demi kemanisan dan kelimpahan.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 2.10

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Agni

    Agni is the johūtra (much-invoking) priestly fire, first among the gods in the rite, father-like to the sacrificer, immortal yet present in the kindled flame, and a purifier made radiant by tending and anointing.

Mantras

Mantra 1

जोहूत्रो अग्निः प्रथमः पितेवेळस्पदे मनुषा यत्समिद्धः । श्रियं वसानो अमृतो विचेता मर्मृजेन्यः श्रवस्यः स वाजी ॥

Agni, yang banyak diseru, ialah yang pertama—laksana seorang bapa—apabila dinyalakan oleh manusia di tempat Iḷā. Mengenakan sinar kemakmuran, ia abadi dan arif; ia pemurni yang digosok hingga cemerlang; dialah pembawa daya kemenangan dan kemasyhuran yang layak.

Mantra 2

श्रूया अग्निश्चित्रभानुर्हवं मे विश्वाभिर्गीर्भिरमृतो विचेताः । श्यावा रथं वहतो रोहिता वोतारुषाह चक्रे विभृत्रः ॥

Semoga Agni yang bercahaya beraneka mendengar seruanku—sang pembedah yang abadi—dengan segala kidung ilhamku. Dua yang gelap dan dua yang kemerah-merahan menarik keretanya—kekuatan-kekuatan yang dipasangkan—membawanya dengan tumpuan yang teguh.

Mantra 3

उत्तानायामजनयन्त्सुषूतं भुवदग्निः पुरुपेशासु गर्भः । शिरिणायां चिदक्तुना महोभिरपरीवृतो वसति प्रचेताः ॥

Pada yang terbentang itu mereka melahirkan yang terlahir-baik; Agni menjadi janin dalam banyak rupa. Bahkan di tanah yang keras, oleh malam dan oleh kuasa-kuasa agung, Yang Berkesedaran itu bersemayam—tidak terselubung, berjaga pada jalan.

Mantra 4

जिघर्म्यग्निं हविषा घृतेन प्रतिक्षियन्तं भुवनानि विश्वा । पृथुं तिरश्चा वयसा बृहन्तं व्यचिष्ठमन्नै रभसं दृशानम् ॥

Aku menyapukan Agni dengan persembahan dan dengan ghee (ghṛta)—dia yang mengambil milik segala alam. Luas, merentang ke segenap arah, besar dalam pertumbuhan, paling meresap—terlihat sebagai daya yang tangkas melalui segala santapan pemelihara.

Mantra 5

आ विश्वतः प्रत्यञ्चं जिघर्म्यरक्षसा मनसा तज्जुषेत । मर्यश्रीः स्पृहयद्वर्णो अग्निर्नाभिमृशे तन्वा जर्भुराणः ॥

Dari segenap sisi aku menarik mendekat (dan mengakrabi) yang berpaling ke dalam, dengan fikiran yang bebas daripada daya Rakṣasa; semoga Itu berkenan untuk dinikmati. Agni, muda dalam seri, mendambakan warna cahaya, merapat ke pusat pusat dengan tubuhnya, gelisah bekerja untuk menyucikan dan membentuk kewujudan.

Mantra 6

ज्ञेया भागं सहसानो वरेण त्वादूतासो मनुवद्वदेम । अनूनमग्निं जुह्वा वचस्या मधुपृचं धनसा जोहवीमि ॥

Moga bahagian persembahan itu benar-benar diketahui dan dibezakan oleh daya yang menang meraih kebaikan pilihan; dengan engkau sebagai utusan, kami hendak bertutur menurut cara Manu. Dengan senduk-saji berupa sabda kami menyeru Agni yang tidak berkurang, bercampur madu, penganugerahi kelimpahan dalam kekayaan kewujudan.

Inside Sukta 10

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Agni is hailed as the first, much-invoking, father-like fire kindled by humans at Iḷā’s place, radiant with śrī and discerning immortality.

  2. Development

    The hymn expands Agni’s stature from ritual hearth to cosmic pervasion: he is purified and brightened, then described as occupying all worlds and growing vast and pervasive through nourishment.

  3. Climax

    The anointing with havis and ghee presents Agni as the swift, all-reaching power—visible as force—who truly ‘takes possession’ of the worlds.

  4. Where it settles

    The poet seeks the rightly known share and speaks ‘in the manner of Manu,’ invoking Agni as messenger, unfailing and honey-mingled, to grant plenitude and right order in the offering.

The deity: Agni

  • Cosmic functionMediator between humans and gods who conveys offerings, establishes the sacrifice, and ‘occupies’ or pervades the worlds as the sustaining power of heat, light, and transformative energy.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened will and luminous intelligence that purifies intention; the inner fire that digests experience, clarifies speech, and carries aspiration upward toward the divine order.

The seer

  • Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)Bhṛgu/Bhārgava lineage (Gṛtsamada family within Mandala 2) · Principal seer of much of Rigveda Maṇḍala 2, celebrated for Agni-centered hymns that link precise ritual action with expansive cosmic theology (Agni as father, messenger, and pervader).

Famous verses

joḥūtro agniḥ prathamaḥ piteva
Verse 2.10.1Sets the hymn’s core theology: Agni as first in the rite, father-like, kindled at Iḷā’s seat, immortal and discerning purifier who brings victory and fame.Read verse 2.10.1 →
pratikṣiyantam bhuvanāni viśvā
Verse 2.10.4Central ritual image: the seer anoints Agni with havis and ghee, portraying him as the one who ‘takes possession of all the worlds’ and is most pervasive.Read verse 2.10.4 →
juhvā vacasyā
Verse 2.10.6Concluding prayer for correct apportionment and effective mediation: with Agni as messenger, the poet invokes him with the ‘ladle of speech’ as honey-mingled giver of plenitude.Read verse 2.10.6 →

Attributes of the deity

  • First in the sacrifice (prathama)
  • Father-like protector
  • Immortal (amṛta) and discerning (vicetā)
  • Purifier to be brightened (marmṛjenya)
  • All-pervading/most expansive (vyaciṣṭha)
  • Swift, victorious force (vājī)
  • Messenger (dūta) who carries offerings
  • Honey-mingled sweetness (madhupṛc) and giver of plenitude

Also by this seer

  • Majority of RV Maṇḍala 2 hymns (especially to Agni and Indra) are attributed to Gṛtsamada and his family.
  • Formulates recurring Agni motifs: Iḷā’s seat, purification by kindling/rubbing, and Agni as dūta (messenger) who carries offerings to the gods.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/fire-place (vedi) and establish the seat associated with Iḷā (iḷā-pada) as the ritual focus.
  • Kindle Agni by friction or rekindling; ‘rub bright’ and tend the flame as purifier.
  • Invoke Agni with recited Triṣṭubh verses, acknowledging him as first and father-like priest.
  • Anoint/offer ghee (ghṛta) and havis, visualizing Agni as pervading and taking possession of the worlds.
  • Request proper apportionment of the offering-share (bhāga) and successful conveyance to the gods.
  • Conclude with a final call to Agni as dūta, with ‘ladle of speech,’ for sweetness and abundance.

Offerings

  • Clarified butter (ghṛta)
  • Havis (general oblation such as grains/cakes)
  • Verbal offering: mantra/speech (vāc) as an inner oblation

Frequently Asked Questions

It presents Agni as the first power of the sacrifice—father-like, purifying, and discerning—who also pervades the cosmos and carries offerings as the divine messenger.

Ghee (ghṛta) is a primary Vedic oblation that strengthens and brightens the fire; symbolically it ‘feeds’ Agni so he can convey the offering and illuminate the rite.

Manu represents the archetypal human sacrificer and lawgiver of right ritual; invoking Agni ‘manuvat’ means following the ancient, proper tradition of speech and offering.

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