Sukta 128
Sukta 10.128
unknown (hymn-level attribution varies; needs confirmation from Anukramaṇī)
Agni (primary), with victory-protection intent
Triṣṭubh (probable; requires syllable-count verification)
अयं सूक्तः अग्निं केन्द्रं कृत्वा जय-रक्षा-प्रार्थना अस्ति। संग्रामे तेजोबलयोः (वर्चसः) अन्तर्बहिश्च सेनापतिरिव अग्निः स्यात्, सर्वा दिशः सर्वाश्च शक्तयः अनुकूलाः भवन्तु इति याचते। ततः अग्नेः प्रभुत्वात् आरभ्य देवीनां विश्वेषां देवानां सोमस्य इन्द्राग्न्योः च तथा वसूनां रुद्राणामादित्यानां च दिव्यगणानां साहाय्यं समाह्वयति—सन्तानलाभाय शरीरस्य अखण्डतायै प्रतिद्वन्द्विनां पराजयाय च।
Mantras
Mantra 1
ममाग्ने वर्चो विहवेष्वस्तु वयं त्वेन्धानास्तन्वं पुषेम । मह्यं नमन्तां प्रदिशश्चतस्रस्त्वयाध्यक्षेण पृतना जयेम ॥
हे अग्ने, विहवेषु मम वर्चः जयतु; वयं त्वाम् अन्तः समिध्य तन्वं पुषेम। मह्यं चतस्रः प्रदिशो नमन्ताम्; त्वयाध्यक्षेण पृतना जयेम।
Mantra 2
मम देवा विहवे सन्तु सर्व इन्द्रवन्तो मरुतो विष्णुरग्निः । ममान्तरिक्षमुरुलोकमस्तु मह्यं वातः पवतां कामे अस्मिन् ॥
विहवे सर्वे देवा मम सन्तु—इन्द्रवन्तो मरुतो विष्णुरग्निश्च। मम अन्तरिक्षम् उरुलोकम् अस्तु; अस्मिन् कामे मह्यं वातः पवताम्।
Mantra 3
मयि देवा द्रविणमा यजन्तां मय्याशीरस्तु मयि देवहूतिः । दैव्या होतारो वनुषन्त पूर्वेऽरिष्टाः स्याम तन्वा सुवीराः ॥
मयि देवा द्रविणम् आ यजन्ताम्; मयि आशीः अस्तु, मयि देवहूतिः। पूर्वे दैव्या होतारोऽस्माकं वनुषन्तु; अरिष्टाः स्याम तन्वा, सुवीराः।
Mantra 4
मह्यं यजन्तु मम यानि हव्याकूतिः सत्या मनसो मे अस्तु । एनो मा नि गां कतमच्चनाहं विश्वे देवासो अधि वोचता नः ॥
मह्यं मम हव्याः यजन्तु; मम मनसः आकूतिः सत्या अस्तु। एनो मा न आगात्—कतमच्चन न। हे विश्वे देवासः, अस्माकं पक्षेऽधि च अस्मान् प्रति (धर्मार्थं) वदत।
Mantra 5
देवीः षळुर्वीरुरु नः कृणोत विश्वे देवास इह वीरयध्वम् । मा हास्महि प्रजया मा तनूभिर्मा रधाम द्विषते सोम राजन् ॥
हे देवीः, अस्मभ्यं षट् उरुवीरून् कृणुत; हे विश्वे देवासः, इह अस्मान् वीरयध्वम्। मा हास्महि प्रजया, मा तनूभिः; हे सोमराजन्, द्विषते मा रधाम।
Mantra 6
अग्ने मन्युं प्रतिनुदन्परेषामदब्धो गोपाः परि पाहि नस्त्वम् । प्रत्यञ्चो यन्तु निगुतः पुनस्तेऽमैषां चित्तं प्रबुधां वि नेशत् ॥
हे अग्ने, परेषां मन्युं प्रतिनुद; अदब्धो गोपाः त्वं नः परि पाहि। निगुताः प्रत्यञ्चो यन्तु पुनस्ते; तेषां चित्तं त्वत्समीपे प्रबुधां वि नेशत्।
Mantra 7
धाता धातॄणां भुवनस्य यस्पतिर्देवं त्रातारमभिमातिषाहम् । इमं यज्ञमश्विनोभा बृहस्पतिर्देवाः पान्तु यजमानं न्यर्थात् ॥
धाता धातॄणां भुवनस्य यस्पतिर्देवं त्रातारमभिमातिषाहम्। इमं यज्ञमश्विनोभा बृहस्पतिर्देवाः पान्तु यजमानं न्यर्थात्॥
Mantra 8
उरुव्यचा नो महिषः शर्म यंसदस्मिन्हवे पुरुहूतः पुरुक्षुः । स नः प्रजायै हर्यश्व मृळयेन्द्र मा नो रीरिषो मा परा दाः ॥
उरुव्यचा नो महिषः शर्म यंसदस्मिन्हवे पुरुहूतः पुरुक्षुः। स नः प्रजायै हर्यश्व मृळयेन्द्र मा नो रीरिषो मा परा दाः॥
Mantra 9
ये नः सपत्ना अप ते भवन्त्विन्द्राग्निभ्यामव बाधामहे तान् । वसवो रुद्रा आदित्या उपरिस्पृशं मोग्रं चेत्तारमधिराजमक्रन् ॥
ये नः सपत्ना अप ते भवन्त्विन्द्राग्निभ्यामव बाधामहे तान्। वसवो रुद्रा आदित्या उपरिस्पृशं मोग्रं चेत्तारमधिराजमक्रन्॥
Inside Sukta 128
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Agni is invoked for varcas in the ‘calls of conflict,’ with the worshipper kindling him inwardly and outwardly to strengthen embodied life (tanū).
- Development
Requests widen: the quarters/directions are asked to become favorable; then the hymn gathers allied deities—Devīs, Viśve Devāḥ, and Soma—to ensure broad space, heroism, offspring, and bodily integrity.
- Climax
The hymn turns explicitly against rivals (sapatna), calling on Indra–Agni to thrust them down and secure dominance under divine command.
- Where it settles
It seals protection by invoking the great divine classes (Vasus, Rudras, Ādityas) as establishing a fierce, vigilant over-king/guardian principle that watches from above and keeps the worshipper safe.
The deity: Agni
- In the VedaAgni is the luminous fire-principle—kindled by humans, carrying offerings, guarding the rite, and empowering the worshipper with varcas (radiant might). In this hymn he is explicitly asked to preside over contests and battles, making space, safety, and dominance for the singer.
- Cosmic functionMediator between human and divine realms; organizer of sacred order in ritual; transformer who converts offering into divine nourishment and converts fear into courage and victory.
- Inner significanceThe awakened will and clarity that burns through obstruction—discipline, courage, and focused intention—so the practitioner’s ‘embodied being’ (tanū) and lineage (prajā) are protected and strengthened.
Famous verses
mamāgne varco vihaveṣv astu
mā hāsmahi prajayā mā tanūbhiḥ
ye naḥ sapatnā apa te bhavantu
Attributes of the deity
- Kindled presence (indhāna) within the worshipper and the altar
- Bestower of varcas (radiant power, charisma, victory-force)
- Protector in conflict and remover of rivals (sapatna)
- Ritual lord/overseer (adhyakṣa sense)
- Allied with Indra for forceful subduing of obstacles
- Linked to Soma and the collective gods for wholeness: body, offspring, and social strength
Also by this seer
- Mandala 10 contains many late, mixed-attribution hymns; this sūkta’s seer is not securely fixed without consulting the Sarvānukramaṇī/Anukramaṇī tradition.
- If confirmed by Anukramaṇī, the rishi’s family line and related hymns should be cross-listed from the same rishi’s cluster in RV 10.
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the fire (āhavanīya or domestic gārhapatya) and establish calm, protective intention.
- Kindle Agni with dry fuel while reciting RV 10.128.1 to invoke varcas and Agni’s overlordship.
- Offer ghee in small āhutis during key refrains/requests for protection and victory.
- Invoke the wider divine support (Devīḥ/Viśve Devāḥ/Soma) for space, heroism, and continuity of prajā and tanū (cf. RV 10.128.5).
- Conclude with a rival-removal and guarding formula invoking Indra–Agni and the divine classes (cf. RV 10.128.9), followed by a final oblation and silent dedication.
- Optionally perform a protective circumambulation of the fire/space and conclude with śānti-style settling of breath and mind.
Offerings
- Ghṛta (clarified butter) āhutis
- Samidh (fuel sticks)
- Optional: Soma-symbolic offering (if Soma rite is not possible, a symbolic substitute per tradition), or simple water offering with intention
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a protective and victory-oriented hymn: it asks Agni to grant radiant strength (varcas), make all forces favorable, and help the worshipper win conflicts while safeguarding body and offspring.
Agni is the central power and ritual leader, but the hymn gathers a full protective alliance—Devīs, Viśve Devāḥ, Soma, and Indra–Agni—so strength, space, lineage, and defense are secured from every side.
Yes. It can be recited while lighting a lamp or small fire with a ghee offering (if appropriate), focusing on courage, clarity, and protection; the intent is defensive—warding off obstacles and rivalry, not harming others.
Ask anything about Sukta 128 of the Rig Veda
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