Sukta 10
Sukta 2.10
Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)
Triṣṭubh
अग्निं प्रति एषः संक्षिप्तः त्रिष्टुभः सूक्तः यज्ञे प्रथमं पितृवत् उपस्थितं स्तौति—यः इळायाः पवित्रे सदसि समिध्यते, पूर्णतया विवेकेन च दीप्तिमान्। अस्य सर्वव्यापिनी विश्वव्याप्तिः प्रतिपाद्यते—स लोकान् अधितिष्ठति, भुवनानि च वशे करोति। स एव पावकः, मथितः सन् उज्ज्वलः क्रियते, घृतेन चाभ्यञ्ज्यते। अन्ते कविः हविषः सम्यग्विभक्तं भागं याचते, मनुवत् दूतं अग्निं आह्वयति, वाचः स्रुचा मधुर्याय समृद्ध्यै च समाहूतम्।
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
जोहूत्रो अग्निः प्रथमः पितेवेळस्पदे मनुषा यत्समिद्धः । श्रियं वसानो अमृतो विचेता मर्मृजेन्यः श्रवस्यः स वाजी ॥
जोहोत्रोऽग्निः प्रथमः—पितेव—यदा मनुष्यैः इळास्पदे समिद्धः। श्रियं वसानोऽमृतो विचेता स मर्मृजेन्यः पवित्रकर्ता; स वाजी श्रवस्यश्च।
Mantra 2
श्रूया अग्निश्चित्रभानुर्हवं मे विश्वाभिर्गीर्भिरमृतो विचेताः । श्यावा रथं वहतो रोहिता वोतारुषाह चक्रे विभृत्रः ॥
चित्रभानुरग्निरमृतो विचेता मे हवं श्रुणोतु विश्वाभिर्गीर्भिः। श्यावे द्वे रोहिते द्वे च तस्य रथं वहतः—युग्मे शक्ती—विभृत्रः (दृढधारकः) सन्।
Mantra 3
उत्तानायामजनयन्त्सुषूतं भुवदग्निः पुरुपेशासु गर्भः । शिरिणायां चिदक्तुना महोभिरपरीवृतो वसति प्रचेताः ॥
उत्तानायामजनयन्त् सुषूतं भुवदग्निः पुरुपेशासु गर्भः । शिरिणायां चिदक्तुना महोभिरपरीवृतो वसति प्रचेताः ॥
Mantra 4
जिघर्म्यग्निं हविषा घृतेन प्रतिक्षियन्तं भुवनानि विश्वा । पृथुं तिरश्चा वयसा बृहन्तं व्यचिष्ठमन्नै रभसं दृशानम् ॥
जिघर्म्यग्निं हविषा घृतेन प्रतिक्षियन्तं भुवनानि विश्वा । पृथुं तिरश्चा वयसा बृहन्तं व्यचिष्ठमन्नै रभसं दृशानम् ॥
Mantra 5
आ विश्वतः प्रत्यञ्चं जिघर्म्यरक्षसा मनसा तज्जुषेत । मर्यश्रीः स्पृहयद्वर्णो अग्निर्नाभिमृशे तन्वा जर्भुराणः ॥
आ विश्वतः प्रत्यञ्चं जिघर्म्यरक्षसा मनसा तज्जुषेत । मर्यश्रीः स्पृहयद्वर्णो अग्निर्नाभिमृशे तन्वा जर्भुराणः ॥
Mantra 6
ज्ञेया भागं सहसानो वरेण त्वादूतासो मनुवद्वदेम । अनूनमग्निं जुह्वा वचस्या मधुपृचं धनसा जोहवीमि ॥
ज्ञेया भागं सहसानो वरेण त्वादूतासो मनुवद्वदेम। अनूनमग्निं जुह्वा वचस्या मधुपृचं धनसा जोहवीमि॥
Inside Sukta 10
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Agni is hailed as the first, much-invoking, father-like fire kindled by humans at Iḷā’s place, radiant with śrī and discerning immortality.
- Development
The hymn expands Agni’s stature from ritual hearth to cosmic pervasion: he is purified and brightened, then described as occupying all worlds and growing vast and pervasive through nourishment.
- Climax
The anointing with havis and ghee presents Agni as the swift, all-reaching power—visible as force—who truly ‘takes possession’ of the worlds.
- Where it settles
The poet seeks the rightly known share and speaks ‘in the manner of Manu,’ invoking Agni as messenger, unfailing and honey-mingled, to grant plenitude and right order in the offering.
The deity: Agni
- Cosmic functionMediator between humans and gods who conveys offerings, establishes the sacrifice, and ‘occupies’ or pervades the worlds as the sustaining power of heat, light, and transformative energy.
- Inner significanceThe awakened will and luminous intelligence that purifies intention; the inner fire that digests experience, clarifies speech, and carries aspiration upward toward the divine order.
The seer
- Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)Bhṛgu/Bhārgava lineage (Gṛtsamada family within Mandala 2) · Principal seer of much of Rigveda Maṇḍala 2, celebrated for Agni-centered hymns that link precise ritual action with expansive cosmic theology (Agni as father, messenger, and pervader).
Famous verses
joḥūtro agniḥ prathamaḥ piteva
pratikṣiyantam bhuvanāni viśvā
juhvā vacasyā
Attributes of the deity
- First in the sacrifice (prathama)
- Father-like protector
- Immortal (amṛta) and discerning (vicetā)
- Purifier to be brightened (marmṛjenya)
- All-pervading/most expansive (vyaciṣṭha)
- Swift, victorious force (vājī)
- Messenger (dūta) who carries offerings
- Honey-mingled sweetness (madhupṛc) and giver of plenitude
Also by this seer
- Majority of RV Maṇḍala 2 hymns (especially to Agni and Indra) are attributed to Gṛtsamada and his family.
- Formulates recurring Agni motifs: Iḷā’s seat, purification by kindling/rubbing, and Agni as dūta (messenger) who carries offerings to the gods.
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar/fire-place (vedi) and establish the seat associated with Iḷā (iḷā-pada) as the ritual focus.
- Kindle Agni by friction or rekindling; ‘rub bright’ and tend the flame as purifier.
- Invoke Agni with recited Triṣṭubh verses, acknowledging him as first and father-like priest.
- Anoint/offer ghee (ghṛta) and havis, visualizing Agni as pervading and taking possession of the worlds.
- Request proper apportionment of the offering-share (bhāga) and successful conveyance to the gods.
- Conclude with a final call to Agni as dūta, with ‘ladle of speech,’ for sweetness and abundance.
Offerings
- Clarified butter (ghṛta)
- Havis (general oblation such as grains/cakes)
- Verbal offering: mantra/speech (vāc) as an inner oblation
Frequently Asked Questions
It presents Agni as the first power of the sacrifice—father-like, purifying, and discerning—who also pervades the cosmos and carries offerings as the divine messenger.
Ghee (ghṛta) is a primary Vedic oblation that strengthens and brightens the fire; symbolically it ‘feeds’ Agni so he can convey the offering and illuminate the rite.
Manu represents the archetypal human sacrificer and lawgiver of right ritual; invoking Agni ‘manuvat’ means following the ancient, proper tradition of speech and offering.
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