Rig Veda Sukta 14
Mandala 5Sukta 146 Mantras

Sukta 14

Sukta 5.14

Rishi

Atri (Ātreya) (attribution for RV 5.14 generally)

Devata

Agni

Chandas

Gāyatrī (probable)

Ten krótki hymn do Agniego autorstwa Atriego wzywa Ogień, by przebudził się przez uwielbienie i rozpalanie, aby mógł zanieść ofiary składającego ofiarę do zgromadzenia bogów. Agni jest czczony jako nowonarodzone światło, które zwycięża ciemność i wrogie siły, odzyskując "krowy/promienie", wody oraz lśniące niebiosa, i jest wzmacniany przez ghee, hymny i właściwą intencję.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 5.14

Mantras

Mantra 1

अग्निं स्तोमेन बोधय समिधानो अमर्त्यम् । हव्या देवेषु नो दधत् ॥

Obudź Agni hymnem, Agni, który jest rozniecony, Nieśmiertelnego. Niech on umieści nasze ofiary pośród bogów: ustanawiając naszą aspirację w boskim towarzystwie.

Mantra 2

तमध्वरेष्वीळते देवं मर्ता अमर्त्यम् । यजिष्ठं मानुषे जने ॥

W podróżach ofiary śmiertelnicy czczą tego boga, Nieśmiertelnego, Agni, najbardziej zdolnego do ofiary wśród ludzkiego rodzaju: pewnego przewodnika naszego wewnętrznego obrzędu.

Mantra 3

तं हि शश्वन्त ईळते स्रुचा देवं घृतश्चुता । अग्निं हव्याय वोळ्हवे ॥

Jego bowiem czczą zawsze dążący, boga z czerpakiem, który skapuje jasnym światłem. Agni wzywają, by niósł nasze ofiary: nosiciela, który transportuje aspirację do wyższych mocy.

Mantra 4

अग्निर्जातो अरोचत घ्नन्दस्यूञ्ज्योतिषा तमः । अविन्दद्गा अपः स्वः ॥

Agni, gdy rodzi się w nas, jaśnieje; uderzając w wrogie moce podziału, swoim światłem zabija ciemność. Odnajduje ponownie Promienie, Wody bytu i świetliste Niebo.

Mantra 5

अग्निमीळेन्यं कविं घृतपृष्ठं सपर्यत । वेतु मे शृणवद्धवम् ॥

Służ i czcij Agni, uwielbianego Widzącego, którego grzbiet jest jasny od klarującego masła; niech przyjdzie do nas i usłyszy moje wezwanie: niech wewnętrzny Ogień przyjmie i odpowie na ofiarę aspiracji.

Mantra 6

अग्निं घृतेन वावृधुः स्तोमेभिर्विश्वचर्षणिम् । स्वाधीभिर्वचस्युभिः ॥

Wzmocnili Agni klarującym masłem, hymnami, Agni, który jest dla wszystkich ludów; właściwymi wewnętrznymi zrozumieniami i słowami niosącymi moc wypowiedzi, umacniają Płomień dla uniwersalnego działania.

Inside Sukta 14

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Agni is invoked to awaken through hymn and kindling, the immortal who can seat the offering among the gods.

  2. Development

    Agni’s luminous power is praised as a force that defeats hostile powers and darkness, restoring the lost goods of life—rays/cows, waters, and heaven.

  3. Climax

    The birth of Agni as radiance: with light he slays darkness and ‘finds’ the cosmic supports (gāḥ, apaḥ, svaḥ).

  4. Where it settles

    The community strengthens Agni with ghee, hymns, and well-formed thought and speech, establishing an enduring, universal fire for right working.

The deity: Agni

  • In the VedaAgni is the immortal fire kindled among mortals—priest (hotṛ), messenger, and conveyor of offerings—whose radiance dispels darkness and establishes the sacrifice among the gods.
  • Cosmic functionMediator between earth and heaven: he transforms offerings into divine share, sustains ṛta (cosmic order) through yajña, and manifests as light that defeats obscurity and disorder.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened flame of aspiration and discernment: inner heat (tapas) that burns inertia, clarifies understanding, and carries one’s intention toward higher consciousness.

The seer

  • Atri (Ātreya)Ātreya (Atri-gotra) · One of the great Ṛgvedic seers; an archetypal priest-poet associated with luminous insight, Agni-knowledge, and the Atri family hymns of Mandala 5.

Famous verses

अग्निं स्तोमेन बोधय समिधानो अमर्त्यम् । हव्या देवेषु नो दधत् ॥
Verse 5.14.1Sets the ritual purpose: awakening Agni by praise and kindling so he may place the offering among the gods—classic Agni as mediator.Read verse 5.14.1 →
avindad gā apaḥ svaḥ
Verse 5.14.4Central revelation of Agni as newborn light that destroys darkness and hostile forces, and recovers ‘cows/rays, waters, and heaven’—a compact cosmic myth in one verse.Read verse 5.14.4 →
agniṃ ghṛtena vāvṛdhuḥ
Verse 5.14.6Shows the practical means of empowerment—ghee, hymns, and right intention/speech—presenting Agni as universal (viśvacarṣaṇi).Read verse 5.14.6 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Amṛta (immortal) though kindled by mortals
  • Hotṛ and dūta (priest and messenger) of the gods
  • Jyotis (light) that destroys tamas (darkness)
  • Protector who overcomes hostile forces (dasyu)
  • Bearer of oblations (havyavāhana)
  • Universal—belonging to all peoples (viśvacarṣaṇi)

Also by this seer

  • Large portions of Rig Veda Mandala 5 traditionally attributed to the Ātreyas (Atri lineage)
  • Atri is remembered in later Vedic-Itihāsa traditions as a foundational rishi and progenitor of the Ātreya line
  • Hymnic praise of Agni and solar/light themes across the Ātreya corpus

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/hearth and establish ritual purity
  • Kindle or rekindle Agni with samidh (fuel sticks), facing the fire
  • Recite the hymn to ‘awaken’ Agni through stoma (praise)
  • Offer ghee into the fire with appropriate formulas, requesting Agni to place the oblations among the gods
  • Conclude with an affirmation of Agni’s victory over darkness and the securing of blessings (light, waters, prosperity)

Offerings

  • Ghṛta (clarified butter/ghee)
  • Samidh (fuel sticks)
  • Optional: grains or simple havis according to household custom

Frequently Asked Questions

It invokes Agni to awaken through praise and kindling, so he can carry offerings to the gods and bring light that overcomes darkness and opposition.

These are symbolic Vedic images for restored light and abundance: ‘cows’ as rays/wealth, ‘waters’ as life-sustaining flow, and ‘svaḥ’ as the luminous heavenly realm regained by Agni’s radiance.

By practical and inner means together—ghee offerings, hymns of praise, and “good understandings” with well-powered speech—so the fire becomes effective for all.

Ask anything about Sukta 14 of the Rig Veda

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