Sukta 7
Sukta 7.7
Vasiṣṭha
Triṣṭubh
अस्य लघोः त्रिष्टुभः सूक्तस्य मध्ये वसिष्ठोऽग्निं समिध्य स्तौति—स बलवान् दिव्याश्व इव, यज्ञं देवेभ्यो वहन् विद्वान् दूतः। स मनुष्यगृहे विश्पतिरिव प्रतिष्ठितः, मधुरवाक्, ऋतस्य निष्ठावान्; स च गायकान् यजमानांश्च पोषणं प्रेरणां च दीर्घकालिकं कल्याणं दातुम् प्रार्थ्यते।
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
प्र वो देवं चित्सहसानमग्निमश्वं न वाजिनं हिषे नमोभिः । भवा नो दूतो अध्वरस्य विद्वान्त्मना देवेषु विविदे मितद्रुः ॥
नमोभिः प्र वो देवं चित्सहसानम् अग्निम् अश्वं न वाजिनं हिषे। भवा नो दूतः अध्वरस्य विद्वान् पथः; आत्मना देवेषु विविदे मितद्रुः॥
Mantra 2
आ याह्यग्ने पथ्या अनु स्वा मन्द्रो देवानां सख्यं जुषाणः । आ सानु शुष्मैर्नदयन्पृथिव्या जम्भेभिर्विश्वमुशधग्वनानि ॥
आ याह्यग्ने पथ्या अनु स्वाः, मन्द्रो देवानां सख्यं जुषाणः। आ सानु शुष्मैर्नदयन् पृथिव्याः, जम्भेभिर्विश्वम् उशधग्वनानि॥
Mantra 3
प्राचीनो यज्ञः सुधितं हि बर्हिः प्रीणीते अग्निरीळितो न होता । आ मातरा विश्ववारे हुवानो यतो यविष्ठ जज्ञिषे सुशेवः ॥
प्राचीनो यज्ञः, सुधितं हि बर्हिः; प्रीणीतेऽग्निरिळितो न होता। आ मातरा विश्ववारे हुवानो, यतो यविष्ठ जज्ञिषे सुशेवः॥
Mantra 4
सद्यो अध्वरे रथिरं जनन्त मानुषासो विचेतसो य एषाम् । विशामधायि विश्पतिर्दुरोणेऽग्निर्मन्द्रो मधुवचा ऋतावा ॥
सद्योऽध्वरे विचेतसो मानुषासोऽध्वनः रथिरं जनयन्ति। विशामधायि दुरोणे विश्पतिरग्निर्मन्द्रो मधुवचा ऋतावा॥
Mantra 5
असादि वृतो वह्निराजगन्वानग्निर्ब्रह्मा नृषदने विधर्ता । द्यौश्च यं पृथिवी वावृधाते आ यं होता यजति विश्ववारम् ॥
आसीनो वृतो वह्निराजगन्मानग्निर्ब्रह्मा नृषदने विधर्ता। द्यौश्च यं पृथिवी च वावृधाते, आ यं होता यजति विश्ववारम्॥
Mantra 6
एते द्युम्नेभिर्विश्वमातिरन्त मन्त्रं ये वारं नर्या अतक्षन् । प्र ये विशस्तिरन्त श्रोषमाणा आ ये मे अस्य दीधयन्नृतस्य ॥
एते द्युम्नेभिर्विश्वमातिरन्त, मन्त्रं ये वारं नर्या अतक्षन्। प्र ये विशस्तिरन्त श्रोषमाणा, आ ये मेऽस्य दीधयन्नृतस्य॥
Mantra 7
नू त्वामग्न ईमहे वसिष्ठा ईशानं सूनो सहसो वसूनाम् । इषं स्तोतृभ्यो मघवद्भ्य आनड्यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥
नूनं त्वामग्न ईमहे वसिष्ठा वयं, त्वं सहसः सूनो वसूनामीशानः। स्तोतृभ्यो मघवद्भ्यश्च इषं पोषणं च देहि; स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः पालय।
Inside Sukta 7
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Agni is pressed forward in praise as a divine, forceful power—like a swift steed—invoked with acts of reverence to become the sacrifice’s messenger.
- Development
Agni’s expertise is emphasized: he knows the paths, finds his seat among the gods, and is established by discerning mortals within the home as viśpati, sweet-speaking and aligned with Ṛta.
- Climax
Agni’s enthronement in the human dwelling and his identity as ṛtāvā—joyful, honey-worded, and the living center of the rite—reveals the sacrifice as a bridge of order between worlds.
- Where it settles
The Vasiṣṭhas directly seek Agni as sovereign of riches, asking for nourishment and impetus for singers and patrons, and for constant protection through svasti.
The deity: Agni
- Cosmic functionMediator between humans and gods: he receives offerings, transforms them through fire, and conveys them to the divine realm while sustaining order through Ṛta.
- Inner significanceThe awakened will and discerning heat (tapas) in the seeker—speech made luminous, aspiration carried upward, and inner offering purified into clarity and right action.
The seer
- VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha (Vasiṣṭha-gotra), the Vasiṣṭhas of Mandala 7 · Foremost among the Seven Ṛṣis; the signature seer of Rig Veda Mandala 7, renowned for hymns on Ṛta, royal prosperity, and Agni as priest and messenger.
Famous verses
bhavā no dūto adhvarasya vidvān
agnir mandro madhuvacā ṛtāvā
yūyam pāta svastibhiḥ sadā naḥ
Attributes of the deity
- Dūta (messenger) of the adhvara
- Hotṛ/priestly power in the rite
- Viśpati (lord of the people/clans) in the dwelling
- Ṛtāvā (upholder/knower of Ṛta)
- Sahasān (mighty, forceful)
- Madhuvacā (sweet/honey-worded)
Also by this seer
- Primary authorship of most of Rig Veda Mandala 7 (Vasiṣṭha family book)
- Hymns to Agni, Indra, Varuṇa–Mitra, the Maruts, and Sarasvatī across Mandala 7
- Vasiṣṭha-associated traditions in later Vedic and Itihāsa-Purāṇa literature (gotra transmission and priestly lineages)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the vedi/āhavanīya (or household hearth) and arrange kindling sticks (samidh).
- Kindle Agni with mantra-recitation, inviting him as the swift ‘steed’ of the sacrifice (dūta of the adhvara).
- Establish Agni ‘in the dwelling’ as viśpati—maintain a steady, clear flame.
- Offer oblations with reverence (namobhiḥ), asking Agni to carry them to the gods and to uphold Ṛta in the rite.
- Conclude with petitions for iṣ (nourishment/impulse), prosperity for patrons and poets, and lasting svasti (well-being/protection).
Offerings
- Ghṛta (clarified butter)
- Samidh (fuel sticks)
- Havis (simple oblations such as milk/curds/grain, according to rite)
- Optional soma-related offerings when integrated into Soma-yajña context
Frequently Asked Questions
It invokes Agni as the powerful fire who carries offerings to the gods and keeps the sacrifice aligned with Ṛta (right order), while blessing the worshippers with nourishment and well-being.
Because fire is the medium that receives offerings and ‘delivers’ them upward to the gods; the hymn says Agni knows the paths and finds his seat among the deities.
It means Agni is treated as the lord and protector of the clan/community at home—an honored presence that supports harmony, prosperity, and disciplined ritual life.
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