Rig Veda Sukta 9
Mandala 2Sukta 96 Mantras

Sukta 9

Sukta 2.9

Rishi

Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

Este hino de seis versos em triṣṭubh entroniza Agni como o Hotṛ conhecedor, que toma assento no lugar sacerdotal e se estabelece no meio dos adoradores. Pede-se que ele ouça a oferenda, confirme a abundância e atue como o melhor sacrificante: conduzir o rito, proteger do dano e conceder tanto uma vitalidade radiante quanto riqueza.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 2.9

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Agni

    Agni is the luminous, sharp-tongued (śucijihva) priest who sits on the hotṛ-seat, knows the proper way of the rite, hears the praise, and carries offerings to the gods while bringing back rādhas (boons).

Mantras

Mantra 1

नि होता होतृषदने विदानस्त्वेषो दीदिवाँ असदत्सुदक्षः । अदब्धव्रतप्रमतिर्वसिष्ठः सहस्रम्भरः शुचिजिह्वो अग्निः ॥

Ele se assentou — o Hotar no assento do Hotar — conhecedor do caminho reto; o ardente, o fulgente, o hábil. Vasiṣṭha, infalível no voto e seguro no discernimento: Agni, de língua pura, portador de mil poderes, está estabelecido em nós.

Mantra 2

त्वं दूतस्त्वमु नः परस्पास्त्वं वस्य आ वृषभ प्रणेता । अग्ने तोकस्य नस्तने तनूनामप्रयुच्छन्दीद्यद्बोधि गोपाः ॥

Tu és o mensageiro; tu és para nós o protetor distante; tu és o guia para o melhor, ó Touro de força. Agni, por nossa descendência e pela expansão do nosso ser, desperta em nós como guardião — infalível, ardendo em luz.

Mantra 3

विधेम ते परमे जन्मन्नग्ने विधेम स्तोमैरवरे सधस्थे । यस्माद्योनेरुदारिथा यजे तं प्र त्वे हवींषि जुहुरे समिद्धे ॥

Queremos servir-te no teu nascimento supremo, ó Agni; queremos servir-te com hinos no assento inferior da manifestação. De qualquer ventre de onde tenhas surgido para o alto, a esse mesmo és oferecido; por isso, quando estás aceso, as oblações (havis) são derramadas adiante, em ti.

Mantra 4

अग्ने यजस्व हविषा यजीयाञ्छ्रुष्टी देष्णमभि गृणीहि राधः । त्वं ह्यसि रयिपती रयीणां त्वं शुक्रस्य वचसो मनोता ॥

Ó Agni, sacrifica com a oferenda (havis), tu, o mais digno do sacrifício; com escuta atenta recebe o dom e confirma a plenitude (rādhas). Pois tu és o senhor das riquezas, o dono dos tesouros; tu és o pensador e o realizador da palavra luminosa.

Mantra 5

उभयं ते न क्षीयते वसव्यं दिवेदिवे जायमानस्य दस्म । कृधि क्षुमन्तं जरितारमग्ने कृधि पतिं स्वपत्यस्य रायः ॥

Dupla é a tua riqueza: não se esgota, dia após dia, enquanto nasces sempre de novo, ó fazedor de maravilhas. Torna o cantor pleno de força, ó Agni; torna-o senhor da riqueza que concede nobre descendência e justo domínio.

Mantra 6

सैनानीकेन सुविदत्रो अस्मे यष्टा देवाँ आयजिष्ठः स्वस्ति । अदब्धो गोपा उत नः परस्पा अग्ने द्युमदुत रेवद्दिदीहि ॥

Com tua dianteira de comandante, ó tu que bem encontras, sê para nós o sacrificante que melhor venera os deuses para o nosso bem-estar. Invulnerável, sê guardião das luzes e nosso protetor ao longe; ó Agni, resplandece sobre nós com força luminosa e com plenitude.

Inside Sukta 9

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Agni is installed: the shining, skillful Hotṛ takes his seat, knowing the right way, and becomes established within the community.

  2. Development

    The hymn turns to direct petition—Agni should sacrifice with the offering, listen attentively, and confirm abundance, as lord of riches and fulfiller of the luminous word.

  3. Climax

    Agni is invoked as the foremost leader and best sacrificer who can effectively worship the gods for svasti, combining ritual mastery with protective power.

  4. Where it settles

    The prayer settles into assurance and request: may Agni remain unharmed, guard our lights, protect us from afar, and shine with both radiance and wealth.

The deity: Agni

  • Cosmic functionMediator between humans and gods: he kindles sacrifice, conveys oblations, safeguards the settlement, and manifests divine light and power within the world-order (ṛta).
  • Inner significanceThe awakened will and discerning intelligence in the practitioner—an inner fire that clarifies speech, energizes aspiration, and ‘cooks’ intention into effective action and protection.

The seer

  • Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)Bhṛgu/Bhārgava lineage (Gṛtsamada family of Mandala 2) · Principal seer of much of Rig Veda Mandala 2, renowned for Agni-centered hymns that present Agni as the inner priest and guardian of prosperity and safety.

Famous verses

śucijihvo agniḥ
Verse 2.9.1Sets the hymn’s foundation by enthroning Agni as the knowing Hotṛ—pure-tongued, unbetrayable in resolve, and ‘established within us,’ linking outer ritual fire with inner presence.Read verse 2.9.1 →
अग्ने यजस्व हविषा यजीयाञ्छ्रुष्टी देष्णमभि गृणीहि राधः । त्वं ह्यसि रयिपती रयीणां त्वं शुक्रस्य वचसो मनोता ॥
Verse 2.9.4Core supplication: Agni is asked to perform the sacrifice, hear the gift, and confirm plenitude; he is proclaimed lord of riches and the thinker/fulfiller of the luminous word.Read verse 2.9.4 →
adabdho gopā
Verse 2.9.6Concluding peak of function: Agni as leader and best worshipper brings svasti, protects near and far, and is requested to shine with radiant and wealthy increase.Read verse 2.9.6 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Hotṛ/priestly mediator
  • Knower of the path and ritual order
  • Pure-tongued (śucijihva) bearer of offerings
  • Unbetrayable will and firm discernment (adabdhavratapramati)
  • Giver of riches and plenitude (rayipati, rādhas)
  • Leader and protector (sainānīka, gopā, paraspā)
  • Radiant, shining force (tveṣa, dyumat)

Also by this seer

  • A large portion of Rig Veda Mandala 2 (many sūktas attributed to Gṛtsamada)
  • Multiple Agni hymns emphasizing Hotṛ-function, protection (gopā), and rādhas (plenitude)

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare and clean the altar/vedi; establish the sacred space and seats for officiants.
  • Kindle or rekindle Agni; ‘seat’ him as Hotṛ in the hotṛṣadana (priestly seat) with recitation.
  • Offer havis with prescribed formulas; praise Agni’s knowledge of the rite and his purity of tongue.
  • Request attentive hearing (śruṣṭī) and affirmation of rādhas (plenitude).
  • Invoke Agni as leader who best worships the gods on the sacrificer’s behalf for svasti (well-being).
  • Conclude with petitions for protection near and far (gopā, paraspā) and for shining prosperity (dyumat, revat).

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya)
  • Milk/curds or simple havis (as customary)
  • Grain-cakes/oblations (puroḍāśa-type offerings, as applicable)

Frequently Asked Questions

It asks Agni to take his rightful seat as the priest of the sacrifice, carry the offering properly, listen to the worshippers, and grant well-being, protection, and abundance.

Hotṛ means the officiating priest who recites and performs the offering. The hymn treats Agni as the divine priest who knows the correct path of the rite and mediates between humans and the gods.

Along with the outer fire on the altar, it points to an inner fire—clarity, will, and discerning intelligence—through which prayer becomes effective and life gains light and strength.

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