Rig Veda Sukta 39
Mandala 8Sukta 399 Mantras

Sukta 39

Sukta 8.39

Himne sembilan ayat ini memuji Agni sebagai resi yang terilham dan utusan batin yang bergerak antara perhimpunan manusia dan ilahi, membawa persembahan serta mendekatkan para Dewa. Ia memohon Agni menyucikan para pemuja, menguatkan upacara, dan menghalau kuasa-kuasa bermusuhan jauh “ke wilayah yang lain.” Himne ini memuncak pada keagungan kosmik Agni—bersemayam pada asas tiga serangkai—sambil menyerunya agar memuja kumpulan-kumpulan ilahi (Tiga dan Sebelas) serta menambah kekuatan dan kemakmuran para pelaksana korban.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 8.39

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Agni

    Agni is invoked as ṛgmíya/kaví (seer of the hymn), hotṛ (sacrificial priest), and dūta (messenger) who “moves within” both assemblies, human and divine, consecrating the Gods for the rite and protecting the sacrificer.

Mantras

Mantra 1

अग्निमस्तोष्यृग्मियमग्निमीळा यजध्यै । अग्निर्देवाँ अनक्तु न उभे हि विदथे कविरन्तश्चरति दूत्यं नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

Aku telah memuliakan Agni, sang resi bagi himne; aku memuja Agni yang wajar disembah dalam yajña. Semoga Agni mengurapi dan menempatkan para Dewa atas kami; kerana dalam kedua perhimpunan (vidatha) dia, sang kavi, bergerak di dalam sebagai utusan—biarlah kuasa yang menentang dihalau ke wilayah lain.

Mantra 2

न्यग्ने नव्यसा वचस्तनूषु शंसमेषाम् । न्यराती रराव्णां विश्वा अर्यो अरातीरितो युच्छन्त्वामुरो नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

Wahai Agni, tempatkan dalam tubuh kami sabda yang baharu terbentuk, pengakuan sejati mereka. Runtuhkan segala permusuhan dari kegelapan yang bising; biarlah daya mulia menghalau permusuhan ini dari sini—biarlah para pemangsa dibuang ke alam lain.

Mantra 3

अग्ने मन्मानि तुभ्यं कं घृतं न जुह्व आसनि । स देवेषु प्र चिकिद्धि त्वं ह्यसि पूर्व्यः शिवो दूतो विवस्वतो नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

Wahai Agni, kepadamu kucurahkan manas (fikiran-batin)ku bagaikan ghṛta, sebagai persembahan. Sedarlah sepenuhnya di kalangan para Deva, kerana engkaulah yang purba, utusan yang membawa kesejahteraan dari Vivasvat; biarlah kuasa-kuasa yang menentang tersingkir ke alam yang lain.

Mantra 4

तत्तदग्निर्वयो दधे यथायथा कृपण्यति । ऊर्जाहुतिर्वसूनां शं च योश्च मयो दधे विश्वस्यै देवहूत्यै नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

Berulang-ulang Agni menegakkan kelimpahan hidup, menurut bagaimana seseorang merindu dalam keperluan. Sebagai persembahan tenaga bagi para Vasu, ia menanamkan dalam diri kami damai, sejahtera, dan kenikmatan, demi seruan sejagat kepada para Deva—biarlah kuasa-kuasa yang menentang dibuang ke tempat lain.

Mantra 5

स चिकेत सहीयसाग्निश्चित्रेण कर्मणा । स होता शश्वतीनां दक्षिणाभिरभीवृत इनोति च प्रतीव्यं नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

Ia mengetahui dengan daya yang lebih perkasa—Agni dengan kerja yang menakjubkan. Dialah hotṛ bagi gerak-gerak yang kekal; dilingkungi oleh persembahan-persembahan dákṣiṇā (pemberian yang benar), ia menggerakkan ke hadapan barisan yang berlawanan—biarlah kuasa-kuasa yang memusuhi dihalau ke tempat lain.

Mantra 6

अग्निर्जाता देवानामग्निर्वेद मर्तानामपीच्यम् । अग्निः स द्रविणोदा अग्निर्द्वारा व्यूर्णुते स्वाहुतो नवीयसा नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

Agni lahir di kalangan para dewa; Agni mengetahui yang tersembunyi dalam insan fana. Agni pemberi kelimpahan; Agni membuka luas pintu-pintu—dipersembahkan dengan baik, dengan daya yang sentiasa baharu—moga kuasa-kuasa yang memusuhi dihalau ke tempat lain, jauh dari perhimpunan ini.

Mantra 7

अग्निर्देवेषु संवसुः स विक्षु यज्ञियास्वा । स मुदा काव्या पुरु विश्वं भूमेव पुष्यति देवो देवेषु यज्ञियो नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

Agni ialah kebaikan yang bersemayam di kalangan para dewa; ia datang ke dalam kaum-kaum yang layak bagi yajña. Dengan sukacita dan ilham kavi, ia memelihara seluruh wujud laksana bumi yang luas—dewa di kalangan para dewa, daya yajña—moga kekuatan-kekuatan yang memusuhi dihalau ke tempat lain, jauh dari perhimpunan ini.

Mantra 8

यो अग्निः सप्तमानुषः श्रितो विश्वेषु सिन्धुषु । तमागन्म त्रिपस्त्यं मन्धातुर्दस्युहन्तममग्निं यज्ञेषु पूर्व्यं नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

Agni itu—yang tujuh-lapis-insani, ditegakkan pada segala aliran sungai—kepada-Nya kami datang: yang bertiga-rumah, milik Mandhātṛ, pembunuh Dasyu yang paling perkasa, Agni purba dalam yajña-yajña; moga kuasa-kuasa yang memusuhi dihalau ke tempat lain, jauh dari perhimpunan ini.

Mantra 9

अग्निस्त्रीणि त्रिधातून्या क्षेति विदथा कविः । स त्रीँरेकादशाँ इह यक्षच्च पिप्रयच्च नो विप्रो दूतः परिष्कृतो नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

Agni, sang kavi, bersemayam pada tiga asas yang bertingkat tiga dan pada perhimpunan-perhimpunan yang tersusun. Semoga ia di sini mempersembahkan yajña bagi yang tiga dan yang sebelas, serta memenuhi dan menambah kami—dia, utusan yang bercahaya, terbentuk sempurna; semoga kuasa-kuasa yang memusuhi dihalau ke tempat lain, di gelanggang yang sama.

Inside Sukta 39

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The poet magnifies and adores Agni as the hymn-seer and rightful object of worship, asking him to bring the Devas near and to repel opposition.

  2. Development

    Agni is described as moving within both assemblies as messenger and as the knowing, mightier power whose ‘wondrous work’ advances the rite; he is framed as hotṛ sustained by dakṣiṇā/offering.

  3. Climax

    Agni’s cosmic placement is proclaimed: he dwells in the threefold foundations (tridhātu) and presides over ordered gatherings, fit to worship the divine collectives (Three and Eleven).

  4. Where it settles

    A final request: may Agni worship the Gods, increase and fill the worshippers, and drive hostile forces away into another realm—securing protection and completion of the rite.

The deity: Agni

  • Cosmic functionMediator of worlds: he conveys oblations to the Devas, kindles and sustains yajña, safeguards order by repelling hostile powers, and anchors the divine presence in the ritual space.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened flame of insight and aspiration: the inner priest that clarifies intention, purifies impulses, and carries one’s offering (will, speech, breath) toward higher consciousness.

Famous verses

nabha(nt)ām anyake same
Verse 8.39.1Programmatic opening: Agni is praised as kaví and dūta moving in both assemblies, asked to ‘anoint’ the Devas for the sacrificer and to banish hostile powers.Read verse 8.39.1 →
citreṇa karmaṇā
Verse 8.39.5Highlights Agni’s superior knowing and ‘wondrous work’ (citra karma), portraying him as hotṛ encompassed by dakṣiṇā and as the force that pushes back opposition.Read verse 8.39.5 →
trīṇi tridhātūni
Verse 8.39.9Cosmic and ritual culmination: Agni dwelling in tridhātu, invoked to worship the divine collectives (Three and Eleven) and to ‘fill and increase’ the worshippers as the perfectly fashioned messenger.Read verse 8.39.9 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Messenger between men and gods (dūta)
  • Inspired seer-poet (kaví/vipra)
  • Ritual priest and invoker (hotṛ)
  • Consecrator/anointer who brings the Devas near
  • Protector who drives away hostile forces
  • Wondrous worker (citra karma)
  • Dwelling in the threefold foundations (tridhātu)

Also by this seer

  • Attribution uncertain for RV 8.39; no securely linked additional hymns can be stated without relying on later, divergent traditions.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar and kindle the fire with focused recitation to establish Agni as hotṛ and dūta.
  • Invite Agni with praise as kaví, asking him to ‘anoint/set’ the Devas upon the worshippers (divine presence in the rite).
  • Offer oblations while affirming Agni’s ‘wondrous work’ and his power to propel the rite forward.
  • Recite protective refrains/intent: send hostile or opposing forces away ‘to another domain.’
  • Conclude by invoking Agni to worship the divine collectives (the Three and the Eleven) and to ‘fill and increase’ the sacrificer with strength and prosperity.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya) oblations
  • Samidh/fuel-sticks
  • Optional: grains or soma-related offering where applicable to the larger rite
  • Dakṣiṇā (priestly gifts), echoed by the hymn’s mention of dakṣiṇābhis

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Agni as the inner and outer priest who carries offerings to the Gods, brings divine help into the sacrifice, and drives harmful forces away.

Because Agni links the human ritual to the divine world: through the fire, offerings and prayers are conveyed to the Devas, and blessings return to the worshippers.

It refers to traditional groupings of deities invoked in Vedic ritual—Agni is asked to worship these divine collectives on behalf of the sacrificer and to strengthen the community.

Ask anything about Sukta 39 of the Rig Veda

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