Sukta 26
Sukta 3.26
Viśvāmitra Gāthina / Kuśika lineage (self-referential: kuśikāsaḥ)
Agni Vaiśvānara
Jagatī (likely; long pādas; requires metrical verification)
अयं सूक्तो विश्वामित्रस्य गाथिनः कुशिकवंशस्याग्निं वैश्वानरं विश्वाग्निं समाह्वयति—यः स्वर्लोकं (स्वर्) अन्वविन्दत्, ऋतस्य सत्येन पथा हविर्निष्ठया वहति। स्तुत्यनुक्रमेण मरुद्भिः सह—तीव्रैः वर्षदीप्तैः सहायैः—अग्नेः शक्तिरभिवर्धते, यावत् स बहुधारोऽक्षयः प्रस्रवणरूपः प्रादुर्भवति—धीमान् वाचः पिता, यं द्यावापृथिव्यौ स्वयमेव धारयतः।
Mantras
Mantra 1
वैश्वानरं मनसाग्निं निचाय्या हविष्मन्तो अनुषत्यं स्वर्विदम् । सुदानुं देवं रथिरं वसूयवो गीर्भी रण्वं कुशिकासो हवामहे ॥
वयं हविष्मन्तो मनसा वैश्वानरम् अग्निं निचाय्य अनुषत्यं स्वर्विदं हवामहे। वसूयवः कुशिकासः गीर्भिः रण्वं सुदानुं देवं रथिरं हवामहे।
Mantra 2
तं शुभ्रमग्निमवसे हवामहे वैश्वानरं मातरिश्वानमुक्थ्यम् । बृहस्पतिं मनुषो देवतातये विप्रं श्रोतारमतिथिं रघुष्यदम् ॥
तम् शुभ्रम् अग्निम् अवसे हवामहे—वैश्वानरं मातरिश्वानम् उक्थ्यम्। मनुषो देवतातये बृहस्पतिं हवामहे—विप्रं श्रोतारम् अतिथिं रघुष्यदम्।
Mantra 3
अश्वो न क्रन्दञ्जनिभिः समिध्यते वैश्वानरः कुशिकेभिर्युगेयुगे । स नो अग्निः सुवीर्यं स्वश्व्यं दधातु रत्नममृतेषु जागृविः ॥
अश्वो न क्रन्दन् जनिभिः समिध्यते वैश्वानरः कुशिकेभिर्युगॆ युगॆ। स नोऽग्निः अमृतेषु जागृविः रत्नं दधातु—सुवीर्यं स्वश्व्यं च।
Mantra 4
प्र यन्तु वाजास्तविषीभिरग्नयः शुभे सम्मिश्लाः पृषतीरयुक्षत । बृहदुक्षो मरुतो विश्ववेदसः प्र वेपयन्ति पर्वताँ अदाभ्याः ॥
प्र यन्तु वाजास्तविषीभिरग्नयः शु॒भे सम्मिश्लाः पृषतीरयुक्षत। बृहदुक्षो मरुतो विश्ववेदसः प्र वेपयन्ति पर्वतानदाभ्याः।
Mantra 5
अग्निश्रियो मरुतो विश्वकृष्टय आ त्वेषमुग्रमव ईमहे वयम् । ते स्वानिनो रुद्रिया वर्षनिर्णिजः सिंहा न हेषक्रतवः सुदानवः ॥
अग्निश्रियो मरुतो विश्वकृष्टय आ त्वेषमु॒ग्रमव ईमहे वयम्। ते स्वानिनो रुद्रिया वर्षनिर्णिजः सिंहा न हेषक्रतवः सुदानवः।
Mantra 6
व्रातंव्रातं गणंगणं सुशस्तिभिरग्नेर्भामं मरुतामोज ईमहे । पृषदश्वासो अनवभ्रराधसो गन्तारो यज्ञं विदथेषु धीराः ॥
व्रातं व्रातं गणं गणं सुशस्तिभिर् वयं अग्नेर्भामं मरुतामोज ईमहे। पृषदश्वासोऽनवभ्रराधसो विदथेषु यज्ञं गन्तारो धीरा इति।
Mantra 7
अग्निरस्मि जन्मना जातवेदा घृतं मे चक्षुरमृतं म आसन् । अर्कस्त्रिधातू रजसो विमानोऽजस्रो घर्मो हविरस्मि नाम ॥
अग्निरस्मि जन्मना जातवेदा; घृतं मे चक्षुर् अमृतं म आसन्। अर्कस्त्रिधातू रजसो विमानोऽजस्रो घर्मो हविरस्मि नाम।
Mantra 8
त्रिभिः पवित्रैरपुपोद्ध्यर्कं हृदा मतिं ज्योतिरनु प्रजानन् । वर्षिष्ठं रत्नमकृत स्वधाभिरादिद्द्यावापृथिवी पर्यपश्यत् ॥
त्रिभिः पवित्रैर् अपूपोद्ध्य अर्कं हृदा मतिं ज्योतिर् अनु प्रजानन्। वर्षिष्ठं रत्नम् अकृत स्वधाभिर् आदिद् द्यावापृथिवी पर्यपश्यत्।
Mantra 9
शतधारमुत्समक्षीयमाणं विपश्चितं पितरं वक्त्वानाम् । मेळिं मदन्तं पित्रोरुपस्थे तं रोदसी पिपृतं सत्यवाचम् ॥
शतधारम् उत्सम् अक्षीयमाणं विपश्चितं पितरं वक्तॄणाम् । मेळिं मदन्तं पित्रोरुपस्थे तं रोदसी पिपृतं सत्यवाचम् ॥
Inside Sukta 26
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The Kuśikas, bearing offerings, contemplate and invoke Agni Vaiśvānara as truth-following and the finder of the luminous world (3.26.1).
- Development
Agni’s beneficence and swift power are expanded through allied forces—especially the Maruts, who carry Agni’s splendor and provide fierce protection (3.26.5).
- Climax
Agni is unveiled as an inexhaustible, hundred-streaming fountain—the wise father of uttered words—joyous in the Father’s lap and upheld by Heaven and Earth (3.26.9).
- Where it settles
The hymn resolves in assurance: the cosmic order supports this Fire, and truthful speech and prosperity flow from aligning with him through offering and praise.
The deity: Agni Vaiśvānara
- In the VedaAgni is the divine Fire present in all peoples (vaiśvānara), the delighting priest and messenger who receives oblations, awakens inspiration, and leads the sacrificer toward the radiant realm (svar). He is praised as swift-moving, bountiful, truth-following, and as the wise source from whom ordered speech and insight arise.
- Cosmic functionMediator between gods and humans; transformer of offerings into divine nourishment; establisher of ṛta through the sacrificial flame; opener of the luminous world and supporter of cosmic order together with Heaven and Earth.
- Inner significanceThe awakened will and clarity in the human being—an inner fire that digests experience, kindles aspiration, and gives birth to true speech (vāc) and right discernment (vipra/vipaścitatva).
The seer
- Viśvāmitra GāthinaKuśika (Kuśikāsaḥ) · A principal seer of Maṇḍala 3, renowned for hymns that unite ritual precision with visionary theology—especially Agni as the mediator of ṛta and the opener of the path to svar.
Famous verses
svarvidam
अग्निश्रियो मरुतो विश्वकृष्टय आ त्वेषमुग्रमव ईमहे वयम् । ते स्वानिनो रुद्रिया वर्षनिर्णिजः सिंहा न हेषक्रतवः सुदानवः ॥pitaram vaktvānām
Attributes of the deity
- Universal (Vaiśvānara)
- Carrier of offerings (havyavāhana)
- Finder/opener of svar (svarvid)
- Truth-aligned (anuṣatya/ṛta-following)
- Bountiful giver (sudānu)
- Swift/advancing (rathira)
- Source and father of utterances (pitaram vaktvānām)
- Allied with the Maruts’ fierce protection and rain-bright energy
Also by this seer
- Rig Veda Maṇḍala 3 (many sūktas attributed to Viśvāmitra and the Viśvāmitras)
- Prominent Agni and Indra hymns in RV 3 that establish Viśvāmitra’s poetic style and ritual authority
- Tradition associates the Gāthina/Kuśika seer-family with foundational priestly functions (hotṛ/ṛṣi roles) in early Vedic ritual culture
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar and fuel; establish ritual purity and intention (saṃkalpa).
- Kindle Agni and seat him as Vaiśvānara; begin praise with mindful contemplation (manasā nicāyyā).
- Offer oblations while reciting the hymn, affirming Agni’s truth-path and his role as svar-finder.
- Invoke the Maruts for fierce protection and energizing support to Agni’s working (as in 3.26.5).
- Conclude with an affirmation of Agni as inexhaustible source of inspired utterance and cosmic nourishment (as in 3.26.9), sealing the rite with final offerings and quiet reverence.
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya)
- Milk/curds (payas/dadhi) where customary
- Grain cakes or simple food offerings (puroḍāśa/anna) depending on rite
- Soma-related offerings if embedded in Soma liturgy
Frequently Asked Questions
The hymn primarily praises Agni as Vaiśvānara, the “universal Fire” present among all peoples, who carries offerings and opens the way to the luminous realm (svar).
The Maruts are invoked as powers that bear Agni’s splendor and provide fierce, energizing protection. They strengthen Agni’s work in the sacrifice and symbolize storm-like force that supports growth and victory.
It means Agni is seen as the source of inspired, truthful speech (vāc) and insight. As the sacrificial fire is kindled, it ‘kindles’ clarity and right expression in the worshiper as well.
Ask anything about Sukta 26 of the Rig Veda
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