Sukta 2
Sukta 6.2
Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya (traditional for RV 6.2)
Agni
Gāyatrī (likely; RV 6.2 is predominantly gāyatrī-style short verses)
ऋग्वेदस्य ६.२ सूक्तं गृहस्थाश्रमस्य निश्चलस्वामिनं अग्निं स्तौति—स एव दीप्तिमान् तेजो यः श्रवः (कीर्तिं) पुष्टिं च वर्धयति। तस्य प्रत्यक्षं बलं प्रशंस्यते—धूमोऽस्य ज्वाला च स्वर्गं प्रति ऊर्ध्वं रोहन्ति। अन्ते च यजमानस्य कृते देवेṣu सुशब्दं वदतु, तथा वैरं पापं दुरितं च तरित्वा क्षेमं ध्रुवं निवासं च नयत्विति प्रार्थ्यते।
Mantras
Mantra 1
त्वं हि क्षैतवद्यशोऽग्ने मित्रो न पत्यसे । त्वं विचर्षणे श्रवो वसो पुष्टिं न पुष्यसि ॥
त्वं हि क्षैतवद्यशोऽग्ने मित्रो न पत्यसे। त्वं विचर्षणे श्रवो वसो पुष्टिं न पुष्यसि॥
Mantra 2
त्वां हि ष्मा चर्षणयो यज्ञेभिर्गीर्भिरीळते । त्वां वाजी यात्यवृको रजस्तूर्विश्वचर्षणिः ॥
त्वां हि ष्मा चर्षणयो यज्ञेभिर्गीर्भिरीळते। त्वां वाजी यात्यवृको रजस्तूर्विश्वचर्षणिः॥
Mantra 3
सजोषस्त्वा दिवो नरो यज्ञस्य केतुमिन्धते । यद्ध स्य मानुषो जनः सुम्नायुर्जुह्वे अध्वरे ॥
सजोषास्त्वा दिवो नरो यज्ञस्य केतुम् इन्धते। यदा हि मानुषो जनः सुम्नायुर् जूह्वे अध्वरे आहुतिं जुहोति, तदा त्वं केतुरिव मार्गदर्शी दीप्तो भवसि।
Mantra 4
ऋधद्यस्ते सुदानवे धिया मर्तः शशमते । ऊती ष बृहतो दिवो द्विषो अंहो न तरति ॥
हे सुदानवे! यो मर्त्यः धिया सेवया च त्वयि ऋध्यति, स शशमते—प्रभुत्वं गच्छति। बृहतो दिव ऊत्या स द्विषो यद् अंहो न तरति—न तत्र पतति।
Mantra 5
समिधा यस्त आहुतिं निशितिं मर्त्यो नशत् । वयावन्तं स पुष्यति क्षयमग्ने शतायुषम् ॥
यः मर्त्यः समिधा निशित्या च ते आहुतिं नश्नाति, स वयावन्तं क्षयम् पुष्यति—हे अग्ने—शतायुषम्।
Mantra 6
त्वेषस्ते धूम ऋण्वति दिवि षञ्छुक्र आततः । सूरो न हि द्युता त्वं कृपा पावक रोचसे ॥
त्वदीयः त्वेषः धूमो दिवि उच्छ्रायते, शुचिः प्रसृतश्च। सूर इव द्युत्या त्वं रोचसे; हे पावक, कृपया (निर्माणशक्त्या) प्रकाशयसि।
Mantra 7
अधा हि विक्ष्वीड्योऽसि प्रियो नो अतिथिः । रण्वः पुरीव जूर्यः सूनुर्न त्रययाय्यः ॥
अतः खलु जनासु त्वम् ईड्योऽसि, अस्माकं प्रियः अतिथिः। रण्यः पुरीव दृढः, जूर्यः सदा-युवा, सू्नुरिव त्रय्याय्यं वृद्धिं जनयन्।
Mantra 8
क्रत्वा हि द्रोणे अज्यसेऽग्ने वाजी न कृत्व्यः । परिज्मेव स्वधा गयोऽत्यो न ह्वार्यः शिशुः ॥
क्रत्वा हि, हे अग्ने, द्रोणे त्वम् अज्यसे—वाजीव कृत्व्यः बलसमृद्धः। स्वधया स्थितः परिज्मेव परितो गच्छन्, त्वमेव गयः (प्राणशक्तिः); अत्य इव शीघ्रः, ह्वार्यो न—दुरासदः शिशुः (शिखारूपः)।
Mantra 9
त्वं त्या चिदच्युताग्ने पशुर्न यवसे । धामा ह यत्ते अजर वना वृश्चन्ति शिक्वसः ॥
त्वम् अपि ताः शक्तीः, हे अच्युताग्ने, पशुरिव यवसे नयसि। हि ते धामानि, हे अजर, शिक्वसः प्राज्ञाः वनाभ्यः वृश्चन्ति।
Mantra 10
वेषि ह्यध्वरीयतामग्ने होता दमे विशाम् । समृधो विश्पते कृणु जुषस्व हव्यमङ्गिरः ॥
वेषि ह्यध्वरीयताम्; हे अग्ने, दमे विशां होता असि। समृधः, हे विश्पते, कृणु; हे अङ्गिरः, हव्यं जुषस्व।
Mantra 11
अच्छा नो मित्रमहो देव देवानग्ने वोचः सुमतिं रोदस्योः । वीहि स्वस्तिं सुक्षितिं दिवो नॄन्द्विषो अंहांसि दुरिता तरेम ता तरेम तवावसा तरेम ॥
अच्छा नो मित्रमहो देव, देवान् अग्ने वोचः; रोदस्योः सुमतिं नः आ वह। वीहि नः स्वस्तिं सुक्षितिं च, दिवो नॄन् प्रति। यथा वयं द्विषः अंहांसि दुरितानि च तरेम—तानि तरेम, तव अवसा तरेम।
Inside Sukta 2
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Agni is hailed as friend-like lord over a ‘settled domain’ of splendor, one who governs and increases glory, fame, and nourishment.
- Development
His manifest power is described: fierce smoke ranging in heaven and solar-like radiance; Agni is both visible fire and far-reaching cosmic light that supports human flourishing.
- Climax
Agni is explicitly asked to act as mediator—speaking to the gods for the worshipper—bringing the ‘right mind’ (sumati) of Heaven and Earth.
- Where it settles
A closing guidance-prayer: Agni is asked to lead to well-being and good dwelling, enabling the worshipper to cross hatreds, constrictions, and misfortunes by his protective power.
The deity: Agni
- In the VedaAgni is the bright, wide-seeing fire-principle—kindled in the home and altar—whose smoke and radiance climb to heaven; he is addressed as friend-like lord (mitro na patyase), purifier (pāvaka), and messenger who can “speak” to the gods on behalf of humans.
- Cosmic functionMediator between earth and heaven: he carries offerings to the devas, sustains ṛta through sacrifice, and manifests as terrestrial fire, atmospheric lightning, and solar brilliance.
- Inner significanceThe awakened flame of consciousness and will: discernment that ‘cooks’ experience into clarity, purifies motives, and leads the seeker across inner obstacles (fear, hostility, error) toward steadiness and right dwelling.
The seer
- Bharadvāja BārhaspatyaBharadvāja (Āṅgirasa) gotra; traditionally connected with Bṛhaspati/Brāhmaṇaspati as ancestral power · Foremost composer of Mandala 6, celebrated for hymns to Agni that unite domestic ritual precision with expansive cosmic symbolism (Agni as mediator, protector, and giver of śravas and puṣṭi).
Famous verses
mitro na patyase
sūro na hi dyutā
tavāvasā tarema
Attributes of the deity
- Hotṛ (priest) and dūta (messenger) of the gods
- Pāvaka (purifier) and rocamāna (radiant)
- Vi-carṣaṇi (wide-seeing, discerning)
- Protector and guide to svasti (well-being)
- Giver/increaser of śravas (renown) and puṣṭi (nourishment, prosperity)
Also by this seer
- Rigveda Mandala 6 (many sūktas traditionally ascribed to Bharadvāja and his line)
- Agni and Indra hymns emphasizing protection, victory, and right guidance
- Later tradition associates the Bharadvāja lineage with transmission of Vedic learning and ritual expertise (śrauta and gṛhya praxis)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar/hearth and ritually clean the space (outer and inner purity).
- Kindle Agni (ādhāna/ignition) and seat him as household lord and divine envoy.
- Recite the hymn while offering oblations, visualizing Agni’s smoke and light reaching the gods.
- Request Agni to ‘speak’ auspiciously to the devas and to lead the sacrificer to svasti and sukṣiti.
- Conclude with a protective prayer to cross beyond hostility, sin, and wrong paths by Agni’s avas (guardianship).
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya) oblations
- Samidh (fuel sticks)
- Grain/cakes in simple domestic usage (as available)
- Aromatic substances where customary (resins/herbs)
Frequently Asked Questions
It asks Agni to increase fame and prosperity, to act as a mediator who speaks well of the worshipper to the gods, and to lead them safely beyond harm, hatred, and wrongdoing.
Because Agni is not only the household fire but a cosmic power—his smoke and radiance symbolize his ability to reach the gods and carry offerings and prayers upward.
It can be recited at a simple homa or lamp-lighting as an Agni invocation, focusing on purification, right guidance (sumati), and a prayer for well-being (svasti) and secure living (sukṣiti).
Ask anything about Sukta 2 of the Rig Veda
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