Rig Veda Sukta 11
Mandala 4Sukta 116 Mantras

Sukta 11

Sukta 4.11

Rishi

Vāmadeva Gautama (traditional attribution for RV 4.11)

Devata

Agni

Chandas

Jagati or Trishtubh (uncertain from single verse; confirm by metrical scan of the whole sukta)

Himne enam-ayat enam rangkap ini kepada Agni memuji kehadirannya yang bercahaya—seperti matahari pada siang hari dan tidak berkurang walau pada malam—serta menyerunya sebagai kuasa yang tampak, yang menyuburkan dan melindungi. Agni dipuji sebagai sumber kekuatan yang membawa kemenangan, kemakmuran, dan tenaga yang pantas, dan himne ini berakhir dengan doa perlindungan untuk menghalau dosa, bahaya, dan niat yang menyimpang, demi meneguhkan kesejahteraan (svasti).

Recitation with translationRig Veda 4.11

Mantras

Mantra 1

भद्रं ते अग्ने सहसिन्ननीकमुपाक आ रोचते सूर्यस्य । रुशद्दृशे ददृशे नक्तया चिदरूक्षितं दृश आ रूपे अन्नम् ॥

Wahai Agni, yang perkasa dalam daya, wajahmu yang mulia bersinar dekat, laksana Surya. Ia terlihat sebagai penglihatan yang gemilang bahkan pada malam; tidak susut, ia menampakkan diri dalam rupa—sebagai santapan sejati bagi keberadaan.

Mantra 2

वि षाह्यग्ने गृणते मनीषां खं वेपसा तुविजात स्तवानः । विश्वेभिर्यद्वावनः शुक्र देवैस्तन्नो रास्व सुमहो भूरि मन्म ॥

Majulah menewaskan, wahai Agni, demi manīṣā si pemuji; goncangkan hamparan ruang yang luas dengan daya getarmu, wahai yang lahir-mulia, ketika kami memujimu. Apa jua kepenuhan bercahaya yang kautangkan bersama segala dewa—kurniakan itu kepada kami: manman yang besar, melimpah, dan luas.

Mantra 3

त्वदग्ने काव्या त्वन्मनीषास्त्वदुक्था जायन्ते राध्यानि । त्वदेति द्रविणं वीरपेशा इत्थाधिये दाशुषे मर्त्याय ॥

Daripadamu, wahai Agni, lahir daya-daya kavi; daripadamu manīṣā yang bercahaya; daripadamu terbit uktha-uktha yang menyempurnakan. Daripadamu datang draviṇa, pembentuk kepahlawanan—demikian, kepada insan fana yang mempersembahkan, engkau mengurniakan pengertian yang tepat bagi kerja.

Mantra 4

त्वद्वाजी वाजम्भरो विहाया अभिष्टिकृज्जायते सत्यशुष्मः । त्वद्रयिर्देवजूतो मयोभुस्त्वदाशुर्जूजुवाँ अग्ने अर्वा ॥

Daripadamu lahir vājī, pembawa vāja, melintas di ruang-ruang luas, pembuat pertolongan yang menang, yang śuṣma-nya benar. Daripadamu datang rayi yang membawa bahagia, didorong para dewa; daripadamu aśu, kuda pantas tenaga, yang sentiasa mendesak maju, wahai Agni.

Mantra 5

त्वामग्ने प्रथमं देवयन्तो देवं मर्ता अमृत मन्द्रजिह्वम् । द्वेषोयुतमा विवासन्ति धीभिर्दमूनसं गृहपतिममूरम् ॥

Wahai Agni, engkaulah yang mula-mula dipilih dan dinyalakan oleh para pencari ketuhanan—engkau Sang Dewa, wahai Yang Tidak-Mati, berlidah nyala yang mengasyikkan. Dengan budi mereka membuatmu bersemayam—penghalau permusuhan, tuan rumah (gṛhapati), tidak terkeliru—yang menata rumah batin menurut tertib yang benar.

Mantra 6

आरे अस्मदमतिमारे अंह आरे विश्वां दुर्मतिं यन्निपासि । दोषा शिवः सहसः सूनो अग्ने यं देव आ चित्सचसे स्वस्ति ॥

Jauhkanlah daripada kami kebengkokan fikiran; jauhkanlah kesempitan dan dosa; jauhkanlah setiap niat yang songsang—kerana Engkau menjaganya dan menahannya. Pada malam hari jadilah kuasa yang membawa berkat bagi kami, wahai Agni, putera Kekuatan (Sahas); Engkau yang bahkan para dewa pun mendekat untuk memperoleh svasti, kesejahteraan.

Inside Sukta 11

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Agni’s auspicious, sunlike radiance is hailed as near and visible—shining even through night.

  2. Development

    Agni is affirmed as the generative source of victorious force, wealth, and swift forward-driving energy that supports life and ritual success.

  3. Climax

    A direct apotropaic prayer: Agni is asked to repel crooked thought, sin, and all ill-intent because he restrains and guards against them.

  4. Where it settles

    Agni is invoked as benignant at night, the ‘son of force,’ approached even by the gods for svasti—settling the hymn in protection and well-being.

The deity: Agni

  • In the VedaAgni is the bright, gracious-faced flame, kindled by humans and approached even by the gods; he is seen like the Sun and yet shines through the night, guarding and restraining harmful forces.
  • Cosmic functionMediator between humans and gods, carrier of offerings, establisher of order in the sacrifice, and protective power that repels evil and brings prosperity, victory, and well-being.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened inner fire—clarity, will, and discernment—that transforms thought, burns away crooked intention, and sustains the soul with true ‘nourishment’ (anna) as luminous consciousness.

The seer

  • Vāmadeva GautamaGautama gotra (Vāmadeva of the Gautamas) · A major Rigvedic seer of Mandala 4, celebrated for profound Agni hymns that unite outer ritual fire with inner illumination and protection.

Famous verses

भद्रं ते अग्ने सहसिन्ननीकम् (bhadraṃ te agne sahasinn anīkam)
Verse 4.11.1Establishes the hymn’s core image: Agni’s gracious face shines like the Sun and remains an undiminished vision even at night, as true nourishment in form.Read verse 4.11.1 →
त्वद्वाजी वाजम्भरो विहाया अभिष्टिकृज्जायते सत्यशुष्मः । त्वद्रयिर्देवजूतो मयोभुस्त्वदाशुर्जूजुवाँ अग्ने अर्वा ॥
Verse 4.11.4Summarizes Agni as the source of plenitude-force, victorious help, bliss-giving wealth, and swift energizing power—linking ritual fire to worldly and spiritual prosperity.Read verse 4.11.4 →
आरे अस्मदमतिम् (āre asmad amatim)
Verse 4.11.6The protective culmination: a threefold ‘drive far’ petition against wrong thought, sin, and ill-intent, and a night-blessing of svasti sought even by the gods.Read verse 4.11.6 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Sahasīn (mighty in force)
  • Radiant, sunlike brilliance
  • Night-protector and guardian
  • Bestower of wealth (rayi) and bliss (mayobhu)
  • Giver of victorious help (abhiṣṭi)
  • Swift, urging energy (āśu)

Also by this seer

  • Primary authorship/traditional attribution of many hymns in Rig Veda Mandala 4 (notably Agni-centered sūktas)
  • Associated in tradition with the Vāmadeva lineage of seers and their sacrificial-poetic innovations in praise of Agni and allied deities

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar (vedi) and arrange kindling (samidh) with ritual purity.
  • Kindle Agni and establish a steady flame while reciting opening praise of his radiant ‘face’ (anīka).
  • Offer ghee into the fire with short invocations, acknowledging Agni as the source of strength, wealth, and victorious aid.
  • Recite the protective petition asking Agni to drive far sin, constriction, and perverse intention, especially for night-guardianship.
  • Conclude with a svasti-oriented closing: mentally place the rite under Agni’s guardianship and dedicate merit to household and community well-being.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya)
  • Kindling sticks (samidh)
  • Optional grain/oblations (anna/havis) according to household custom

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Agni as a radiant, sunlike power that nourishes life, brings strength and prosperity, and protects the worshipper—especially by driving away wrong thinking and harm.

Because Agni is not only the daytime brilliance of the sacrifice but also the guardian in darkness; the hymn asks him to be benignant at night and keep dangers and negative impulses away.

It can be recited during a simple lamp or fire offering with ghee, especially in the evening, as a prayer for clarity of mind, removal of harmful tendencies, and overall well-being (svasti).

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