Rig Veda Sukta 9
Mandala 7Sukta 96 Mantras

Sukta 9

Sukta 7.9

Rishi

Vasiṣṭha (book 7 attribution)

Devata

Agni (closely linked with Uṣas imagery)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (likely; verify by scansion)

Ten hymn do Agni (Jātavedasa) sławi kapłana ognia budzącego się o świcie, przedstawionego jako kochanek powstający z łona Uṣas i podejmujący swoje pośredniczące dzieło między ludźmi a bogami. Prosi Agni, by naprawił „istotę dwoistą” (życie wewnętrzne i zewnętrzne), ustanowił ofiary wśród bóstw oraz udzielił bogactwa, siły i trwałego dobra sprawiedliwym.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 7.9

Mantras

Mantra 1

अबोधि जार उषसामुपस्थाद्धोता मन्द्रः कवितमः पावकः । दधाति केतुमुभयस्य जन्तोर्हव्या देवेषु द्रविणं सुकृत्सु ॥

Obudził się, kochanek z łona Jutrzenek: kapłan, radujący, najbardziej wieszczący, oczyszczający. Ustanawia znak i rozeznanie dla dwoistego istnienia; umieszcza ofiary pośród bogów i bogactwo u czyniących dobro.

Mantra 2

स सुक्रतुर्यो वि दुरः पणीनां पुनानो अर्कं पुरुभोजसं नः । होता मन्द्रो विशां दमूनास्तिरस्तमो ददृशे राम्याणाम् ॥

On, Moc prawego rozeznania, który otwiera szeroko drzwi Panich, skąpców wewnętrznego światła, oczyszczając, przynosi nam natchniony płomień Słowa, który karmi wiele mocy. Radujący i lśniący Kapłan ludów, mieszkaniec domu istnienia, widziany jest za ciemnością przez tych, którzy radują się harmonią i pięknem duszy.

Mantra 3

अमूरः कविरदितिर्विवस्वान्त्सुसंसन्मित्रो अतिथिः शिवो नः । चित्रभानुरुषसां भात्यग्रेऽपां गर्भः प्रस्व आ विवेश ॥

Niezmącony, Wieszcz, Aditi, wszystkoobejmująca szerokość, Wiwaswan promienny, Mitra harmonijnego prawa, łaskawy Gość dla naszego domu: on o zróżnicowanym świetle lśni przed Jutrzenkami; Dziecko Wód, napędzający naprzód, wszedł w objawienie.

Mantra 4

ईळेन्यो वो मनुषो युगेषु समनगा अशुचज्जातवेदाः । सुसंदृशा भानुना यो विभाति प्रति गावः समिधानं बुधन्त ॥

Godny tęsknoty dla was, o ludzie przez wieki, Dżatawedas rozpłomienił się we wspólnym ruchu. On, który jaśnieje pięknym, widzącym blaskiem, ku rozpalonemu płomieniowi Promienie, krowy światła, budzą się i stają się świadome.

Mantra 5

अग्ने याहि दूत्यं मा रिषण्यो देवाँ अच्छा ब्रह्मकृता गणेन । सरस्वतीं मरुतो अश्विनापो यक्षि देवान्रत्नधेयाय विश्वान् ॥

O Agni, idź w poselstwo; nie bądź skrzywdzony. Idź do bogów z orszakiem, który tworzy święte Słowo. Złóż ofiarę Saraswati, Marutom, Aświnom, Wodom; ofiaruj wszystkich bogów dla fundamentu skarbu wewnętrznego.

Mantra 6

त्वामग्ने समिधानो वसिष्ठो जरूथं हन्यक्षि राये पुरंधिम् । पुरुणीथा जातवेदो जरस्व यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥

Ciebie, o Agni, rozpalonego, Wasiṣṭha wzywa: uderz w gnijącą słabość; złóż ofiarę dla naszego wzrostu Moc, która napełnia i dopełnia. O Dżatawedas o wielu przewodnictwach, rozpłomień się; i chroń nas zawsze z energiami dobrobytu.

Inside Sukta 9

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Agni awakens at dawn, poetically as Uṣas’ lover, taking his seat as the gladdening, most seer-like Hotṛ.

  2. Development

    Agni’s light becomes discernment (ketu) for the ‘twofold being’ and his priestly work establishes offerings among the gods and wealth among the doers of good.

  3. Climax

    Jātavedas blazes with a ‘fair-seeing radiance’; the rays/cows of light awaken toward the kindled fire, marking the full revelation of dawn-fire as cosmic awakening.

  4. Where it settles

    Vasiṣṭha’s direct prayer: Agni, burn away decay, sacrifice for our increase, blaze with many leadings, and protect us always with svasti.

The deity: Agni

  • In the VedaAgni is the awakened, purifying Hotṛ—“kavitamaḥ pāvakaḥ”—who kindles at dawn, shines with fair radiance, and carries the oblations to the gods while bringing their gifts back to humans.
  • Cosmic functionMediator between heaven and earth: he transforms offerings into divine reach, maintains ṛta through correct sacrifice, and manifests as the luminous principle that awakens the rays (gāvaḥ) and the day.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened will and discerning fire of consciousness that rises with the dawn, burns away decay and inertia (jarūtha), clarifies perception (ketu), and aligns outer action with inner truth.

The seer

  • VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha-gotra (Āditya/Manu lineage in later tradition) · Foremost seer of the Seventh Maṇḍala; celebrated as a paradigmatic priest-poet (hotṛ) whose hymns blend ritual precision with luminous dawn/fire imagery and ethical aspiration (sukṛt).

Famous verses

abodhi jāra uṣasām upasthāt
Verse 7.9.1Sets the hymn’s signature image—Agni awakening from the lap of the Dawns—and states his central function: establishing discernment and rightly placing offerings and wealth.Read verse 7.9.1 →
susaṃdṛśā bhānunā yo vibhāti
Verse 7.9.4Highlights Agni as Jātavedas shining with ‘fair-seeing’ radiance, and the awakening of the luminous ‘cows’ (rays), linking ritual kindling with cosmic dawn.Read verse 7.9.4 →
yūyam pāta svastibhiḥ sadā naḥ
Verse 7.9.6The personal petition of the seer: remove decay (jarūtha), grant increase and fullness (puraṃdhi), and bestow constant protection and well-being.Read verse 7.9.6 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Hotṛ (sacrificial priest)
  • Pāvaka (purifier)
  • Jātavedas (knower of births/creatures)
  • Dawn-awakening radiance linked with Uṣas
  • Bearer of offerings and establisher of prosperity
  • Protector granting svasti (well-being)

Also by this seer

  • Majority of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 7 hymns (Vasiṣṭha family book)
  • Hymns to Agni, Indra, Varuṇa–Mitra, and the Maruts within Maṇḍala 7
  • Later Vedic-Itihāsa tradition associates him with priestly leadership and the Vasiṣṭha lineage of ritual experts

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar and fuel; establish ritual purity and silence
  • Kindle Agni (samidhāna) as the dawn light appears
  • Recite the sukta to invite Agni as Hotṛ and Jātavedas
  • Offer oblations with the request that Agni place the havis among the gods and awaken auspicious ‘rays’ (gāvaḥ)
  • Pray for removal of decay/weakness (jarūtha) and for increase of wealth and completeness (puraṃdhi)
  • Conclude with a protection formula asking for continuous svasti (well-being)

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya)
  • Samidh (fuel sticks)
  • Grain/oblations as havis (context-dependent)

Frequently Asked Questions

It is a poetic way to say that the sacrificial fire and the day’s light awaken together. As dawn rises, Agni is kindled and appears as the intimate companion of Uṣas, bringing warmth, clarity, and ritual readiness.

It points to both sides of human life: inner awareness and outer action (or individual and communal life). The hymn asks Agni to set a clear sign (ketu) and right order for both.

Vasiṣṭha asks Agni to strike down decaying weakness (jarūtha), to sacrifice for increase and completeness (puraṃdhi), to blaze forth as Jātavedas, and to protect the worshippers with lasting well-being (svasti).

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