Rig Veda Sukta 9
Mandala 6Sukta 97 Mantras

Sukta 9

Sukta 6.9

Rishi

Bharadvāja (Bārhaspatya) (traditional for RV 6.9)

Devata

Agni Vaiśvānara

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

Este hino louva Agni como Vaiśvānara — o Fogo universal —, nascido como um rei e que, por seu fulgor, separa e ordena os dias escuros e os luminosos. Agni é aclamado como o Hotṛ que vê primeiro, revelando a «luz imortal» dentro dos mortais e dissipando a escuridão interior e exterior. O sukta culmina num apelo por proteção e elevação: até os deuses se curvam diante de Agni, de pé na escuridão.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 6.9

Mantras

Mantra 1

अहश्च कृष्णमहरर्जुनं च वि वर्तेते रजसी वेद्याभिः । वैश्वानरो जायमानो न राजावातिरज्ज्योतिषाग्निस्तमांसि ॥

O dia escuro e o dia claro se separam, girando em seus cursos nos dois espaços. Vaiśvānara, nascendo como um rei — Agni, com sua luz, ultrapassa as trevas.

Mantra 2

नाहं तन्तुं न वि जानाम्योतुं न यं वयन्ति समरेऽतमानाः । कस्य स्वित्पुत्र इह वक्त्वानि परो वदात्यवरेण पित्रा ॥

Ainda não conheço o fio, nem claramente a tecedura, nem aquilo que os obreiros inabaláveis tecem na luta comum. De quem é filho aquele que aqui pode proferir estes dizeres, onde a verdade mais distante é enunciada tendo o pai mais próximo por amparo?

Mantra 3

स इत्तन्तुं स वि जानात्योतुं स वक्त्वान्यृतुथा वदाति । य ईं चिकेतदमृतस्य गोपा अवश्चरन्परो अन्येन पश्यन् ॥

Ele, de fato, conhece o fio; ele distingue a tecedura; ele profere os enunciados r̥tútha — segundo a ṛta, no tempo certo e do modo certo: aquele que a reconheceu, guardião da imortalidade, que se move embaixo e, contudo, vê o mais distante por outra visão, mais alta.

Mantra 4

अयं होता प्रथमः पश्यतेममिदं ज्योतिरमृतं मर्त्येषु । अयं स जज्ञे ध्रुव आ निषत्तोऽमर्त्यस्तन्वा वर्धमानः ॥

Este é o Hotṛ, o primeiro a contemplar isto: esta Luz imortal entre os mortais. Este é ele: nascido e firmemente assentado, imortal, crescendo por seu próprio corpo, por sua presença em nós.

Mantra 5

ध्रुवं ज्योतिर्निहितं दृशये कं मनो जविष्ठं पतयत्स्वन्तः । विश्वे देवाः समनसः सकेता एकं क्रतुमभि वि यन्ति साधु ॥

Uma Luz firme foi posta para o ver; e a mente, a mais veloz, voa para dentro, ao seu próprio íntimo, em direção a ela. Todos os deuses, de um só pensar e de uma só intenção, avançam retamente para o único krátu, a única vontade-desígnio.

Mantra 6

वि मे कर्णा पतयतो वि चक्षुर्वीदं ज्योतिर्हृदय आहितं यत् । वि मे मनश्चरति दूरआधीः किं स्विद्वक्ष्यामि किमु नू मनिष्ये ॥

Meus ouvidos se abrem em voo, e a visão se dilata: pois esta Luz foi posta no coração. E minha mente caminha ao longe, em pensamentos de longo alcance: que direi eu, em verdade, e que hei de conceber agora dentro de mim?

Mantra 7

विश्वे देवा अनमस्यन्भियानास्त्वामग्ने तमसि तस्थिवांसम् । वैश्वानरोऽवतूतये नोऽमर्त्योऽवतूतये नः ॥

Todos os deuses, tomados de temor, inclinaram-se diante de ti, ó Agni, tu que estavas de pé na escuridão. Que Vaiśvānara, o Imortal, nos proteja para nosso amparo e para nossa elevação; que nos proteja para nosso amparo.

Inside Sukta 9

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Day and night—dark and bright—are set in ordered motion, as Agni’s birth-like-royalty establishes luminous rhythm.

  2. Development

    Agni is expanded from cosmic light to ritual priest: the Hotṛ who first ‘sees’ and reveals immortal light within mortal life.

  3. Climax

    The revelation of Agni as deathless, firmly seated, and growing by his own body—an inner and outer presence that conquers darkness.

  4. Where it settles

    Even the gods bow before him in the darkness; the hymn ends in repeated prayer for Vaiśvānara’s protection and fostering uplift (avatūti).

The deity: Agni Vaiśvānara

  • In the VedaVaiśvānara is Agni as the fire of all beings—born, enthroned, and shining; the priestly Hotṛ who first beholds the immortal light among mortals and overpasses darkness by jyotis (radiance).
  • Cosmic functionHe establishes and maintains cosmic and temporal order—kindling dawn against night, sustaining sacrifice, and carrying offerings to the gods as mediator between realms.
  • Inner significanceThe awakening power of discernment and aspiration: the inner fire that turns ignorance (tamas) into clarity, steadiness, and spiritual growth within human life.

The seer

  • Bharadvāja (Bārhaspatya)Bharadvāja gotra; Bārhaspatya lineage (descended from Bṛhaspati) · Foremost among the Bharadvāja seers of Mandala 6, celebrated for Agni-hymns that link ritual fire with illumination, order (ṛta), and protection.

Famous verses

jyotiṣāgnis tamāṃsi
Verse 6.9.1Sets the hymn’s keynote: Agni Vaiśvānara as kingly-born light who orders day and night and overpasses darkness—cosmic and spiritual illumination in one image.Read verse 6.9.1 →
jyotir amṛtam martyeṣu
Verse 6.9.4Defines Agni as the first-seeing Hotṛ and identifies the ‘immortal light’ present among mortals—central to the sukta’s inner meaning.Read verse 6.9.4 →
amartyo 'vatūtaye naḥ
Verse 6.9.7Concluding protective refrain: all gods bow to Agni in darkness, and the worshipper asks the deathless Vaiśvānara for safeguarding and uplift (avatūti).Read verse 6.9.7 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Universal (for all peoples/beings)
  • Light-dispeller of darkness (tamas-han)
  • Hotṛ/priest and divine messenger
  • Kingly/sovereign at birth (rājavat)
  • Steady, seated, and self-increasing (dhruva; tanvā vardhamānaḥ)

Also by this seer

  • A major portion of Rig Veda Mandala 6 is attributed to the Bharadvāja family, especially hymns to Agni and Indra.
  • Associated in later tradition with the Bharadvāja lineage preserved in Vedic recensional learning and śrauta practice.
  • Connected (as a family-seer attribution) with multiple RV 6 hymns that develop Agni as priest (Hotṛ) and as cosmic light.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare and purify the altar/vedi; establish the sacred space.
  • Kindle Agni (ādhāna/agnipraṇayana context as applicable) and seat him as Hotṛ with recitation in Triṣṭubh cadence.
  • Offer preliminary oblations (ājyabhāga) acknowledging Agni’s mediatorship and cosmic ordering of day and night.
  • Recite the core verses praising Vaiśvānara’s birth, radiance, and the ‘immortal light among mortals’.
  • Conclude with protective petitions (ūti/avatūti) for fostering and uplift, sealing the rite with final oblations.
  • Perform respectful circumambulation and closing salutations; maintain the fire according to vow/rite.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya)
  • Kindling sticks/samidhs
  • Grain or cake offerings (puroḍāśa in broader contexts)
  • Aromatic offerings where customary (e.g., herbs/resins in later practice)

Frequently Asked Questions

Vaiśvānara is Agni in his universal form—the fire present in the world, in the sacrifice, and symbolically within all beings as illuminating power.

It points to Agni as a deathless principle of clarity and insight that can arise within human life—guiding action, speech, and worship away from darkness (tamas).

It emphasizes Agni’s supremacy as the power that dispels darkness and restores order; when obscurity prevails, even divine powers rely on Agni’s light and leadership.

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