Sukta 5
Sukta 2.5
Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)
Gāyatrī (probable for RV 2.5.1)
अयं सूक्तोऽग्निं विशेषतः होतृरूपेण स्तौति, तस्य च समन्विताः यज्ञशक्तीः, यथा यज्ञः सम्यक् प्रवर्त्यते प्रभावी च भवति इति प्रार्थयन्। अग्निः प्राज्ञः पितृवत् मार्गदर्शकः पितृपरम्परायै आहूयते; स हविषो संगृह्णाति, कर्म समन्वयति, यज्ञं सम्यक् नियच्छति, च यमेन (सम्यग्-नियमनena) यज्ञकौशलेन च ‘आर्यं धनम्’ प्रददाति।
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
होताजनिष्ट चेतनः पिता पितृभ्य ऊतये । प्रयक्षञ्जेन्यं वसु शकेम वाजिनो यमम् ॥
होता जनिष्ट—चेतनः दीप्तिमानिव—पिता पितृभ्य ऊतये। प्रायक्षन् यज्ञे पुरः, जेन्यं वसु वाजिनां यमं—संयमं विधिं च—वयं शकेम लब्धुम्।
Mantra 2
आ यस्मिन्त्सप्त रश्मयस्तता यज्ञस्य नेतरि । मनुष्वद्दैव्यमष्टमं पोता विश्वं तदिन्वति ॥
यस्मिन् सप्त रश्मयः तता—स यज्ञस्य नेताऽस्ति—मनुष्वदस्मासु कर्मकरमष्टमं दैव्यम् बलं प्रेरयति; पोटा शुद्धिकर्ता, यः सर्वं हविः सत्यं प्रति गमयति।
Mantra 3
दधन्वे वा यदीमनु वोचद्ब्रह्माणि वेरु तत् । परि विश्वानि काव्या नेमिश्चक्रमिवाभवत् ॥
अथ यदा स—धारयन् स्थिरीकुर्वन्—ब्रह्माणि प्रेरितानि सत्यक्रमेण वदति, तदा विश्वानि काव्यानि रहस्यानि तं परितो भ्रमन्ति; स चक्रस्य नाभिरिव, कर्मणः सर्वां गतिं धारयति।
Mantra 4
साकं हि शुचिना शुचिः प्रशास्ता क्रतुनाजनि । विद्वाँ अस्य व्रता ध्रुवा वया इवानु रोहते ॥
साकं हि शुचिना शुचिः प्रशास्ता क्रतुना अजनि। विद्वानस्य व्रता ध्रुवा ज्ञात्वा वय इवानु रोहते॥
Mantra 5
ता अस्य वर्णमायुवो नेष्टुः सचन्त धेनवः । कुवित्तिसृभ्य आ वरं स्वसारो या इदं ययुः ॥
ता अस्य वर्णमायुवो नेष्टुः सचन्त धेनवः। कुवित्तिसृभ्य आ वरं स्वसारो या इदं ययुः॥
Mantra 6
यदी मातुरुप स्वसा घृतं भरन्त्यस्थित । तासामध्वर्युरागतौ यवो वृष्टीव मोदते ॥
यदी मातुरुप स्वसा घृतं भरन्त्यस्थित। तासामध्वर्युरागतौ यवो वृष्टिव मोदते॥
Mantra 7
स्वः स्वाय धायसे कृणुतामृत्विगृत्विजम् । स्तोमं यज्ञं चादरं वनेमा ररिमा वयम् ॥
स्वः स्वाय धायसे ऋत्विगृत्त्विजं कृणुत। ततः वयं स्तोमं यज्ञं च आदरं च वनेम; ऋतेन विनिमयेन वयं दातारो भवेम।
Mantra 8
यथा विद्वाँ अरं करद्विश्वेभ्यो यजतेभ्यः । अयमग्ने त्वे अपि यं यज्ञं चकृमा वयम् ॥
यथा विद्वान् सर्वेभ्यो यजतेभ्यः सर्वम् अरं करोतु। अयम्, अग्ने, यः यज्ञः वयं चकृम, स त्वय्यपि अस्ति; तम् अन्तः स्वीकृत्य सम्यक् साधय।
Inside Sukta 5
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Agni is ‘born’ as the conscious Hotṛ—fatherly and ancestral-supporting—so the sacrifice may move forward rightly.
- Development
The hymn expands Agni’s priestly network and powers (radiance, ordering, and the supportive ‘cows’/nourishing energies), emphasizing correct ritual coordination and fruitful approach to the gods.
- Climax
The prayer that the knower makes everything ‘fitting’ for worshippers, with the decisive claim that the sacrifice the humans have fashioned is already ‘in’ Agni.
- Where it settles
A closing request that Agni take the rite into himself, perfect it, and deliver its intended results—order, accomplishment, and worthy gain.
The deity: Agni
- Cosmic functionMediator between human and divine realms: he transforms oblations into a subtle, god-reaching form, maintains the sacrificial order (ṛta), and sustains continuity between ancestors, worshippers, and deities.
- Inner significanceThe awakened will and discerning intelligence that ‘kindles’ aspiration; the inner priest that organizes energies, purifies intention, and turns effort into effective offering.
The seer
- Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)Bhṛgu/Bhārgava lineage (Gṛtsamada family of Mandala 2) · Principal seer of Rig Veda Mandala 2, renowned for hymns that establish Agni and Indra as central ritual powers and for a strongly priestly, yajña-oriented style.
Famous verses
hotā ajaniṣṭa cetanaḥ
ता अस्य वर्णमायुवो नेष्टुः सचन्त धेनवः । कुवित्तिसृभ्य आ वरं स्वसारो या इदं ययुः ॥ayam agne tve api yaṃ yajñaṃ cakṛmā vayam
Attributes of the deity
- Hotṛ (invoking priest)
- Knower of the rite (kratu-vit)
- Bearer/transporter of offerings (havyavāhana)
- Guardian of ṛta (cosmic order)
- Luminous, conscious, ever-young
- Fatherly protector linked with the Fathers (Pitṛs)
Also by this seer
- Primary attribution of most of Rig Veda Mandala 2 (2.1–2.43)
- Noted Agni hymns emphasizing Hotṛ and sacrificial correctness (e.g., RV 2.1, 2.3–2.6)
- Indra hymns in Mandala 2 highlighting victory, strength, and ritual support (e.g., RV 2.12–2.16)
The rite, step by step
- Kindling/awakening Agni and establishing the fire as the Hotṛ of the rite
- Formal invocation: asking Agni to lead the sacrifice forward and align it with ṛta
- Offering oblations into Agni while reciting the hymn to strengthen priestly functions (Hotṛ/Neshṭṛ imagery)
- Requesting ‘noble wealth’ and right ordering (yama) as the fruit of well-performed yajña
- Concluding prayer that Agni internalize the sacrifice and make it fully fitting for all worshippers
Offerings
- Ājya (clarified butter/ghee)
- Samidh (fuel sticks)
- Havis (general oblations, as appropriate)
- Soma-related offerings when part of a soma rite
Frequently Asked Questions
Agni is praised, especially as Hotṛ—the divine priestly fire who invokes the gods and carries offerings in the sacrifice.
That Agni lead the ritual correctly, make it fitting and effective, and grant worthy gains through right order and successful offering.
It links Agni with ancestral continuity: he protects and supports the lineage of worshippers, connecting present sacrifice with the ancestral tradition and its blessings.
Ask anything about Sukta 5 of the Rig Veda
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