Sukta 94
Sukta 7.94
Vasiṣṭha (Mandala 7 attribution)
Indrāgnī
Gāyatrī (probable: shorter 3-pāda structure typical of gāyatrī in some Indrāgnī hymns)
इन्द्राग्नीप्रति अयं स्तोमः प्राचीनप्रेरणारूपं स्तुतिं वर्णयति—सा मेघादिव वृष्टिरिव प्रवहति। ततः प्रेरितां वाचं रक्षणविजययोः साधनभूतां याच्ञारूपेण प्रवर्तयति। पुनःपुनर् उभौ शक्ती—बलरूपम् इन्द्रं पावकं च अग्निं—सहायेनागन्तुं, जनानां मध्ये यजमानान् सुस्थिरान् कर्तुं, तथा शत्रुवाचं दुष्टसङ्कल्पं राक्षसविघ्नं च निहन्तुं प्रार्थयते।
Mantras
Mantra 1
इयं वामस्य मन्मन इन्द्राग्नी पूर्व्यस्तुतिः । अभ्राद्वृष्टिरिवाजनि ॥
हे इन्द्राग्नी, इयं स्तुतिः मनसः गभीरात् संकल्पात् जाता, पूर्व्या प्रशस्तिः। सा अभ्राद् वृष्टिरिव उदजायत—सञ्चितात् पूर्णत्वात् अन्वेष्यम् क्षेत्रं प्रति निःस्यन्दमानः प्रवाहः।
Mantra 2
शृणुतं जरितुर्हवमिन्द्राग्नी वनतं गिरः । ईशाना पिप्यतं धियः ॥
शृणुतं जरितुर्हवम्, इन्द्राग्नी; वनतं गिरः। ईशाना पिप्यतं धियः—बुद्धिं वृद्ध्या पूरयतम्।
Mantra 3
मा पापत्वाय नो नरेन्द्राग्नी माभिशस्तये । मा नो रीरधतं निदे ॥
मा पापत्वाय नो नरेन्द्राग्नी, माभिशस्तये। मा नो रीरधतं निन्दे—पन्थानं नः पालयतम्।
Mantra 4
इन्द्रे अग्ना नमो बृहत्सुवृक्तिमेरयामहे । धिया धेना अवस्यवः ॥
इन्द्रे अग्ना नमो बृहत्; सुवृक्तिम् एरयामहे। धिया धेनाः अवस्यवः—अवो नः कुरुतम्।
Mantra 5
ता हि शश्वन्त ईळत इत्था विप्रास ऊतये । सबाधो वाजसातये ॥
तौ हि शश्वन्तो विप्राः इत्थम् ऊतये ईळते—सर्वबाधाः सबाधः अभिभूय—वाजसातये बलविजयप्रचुर्यलाभाय।
Mantra 6
ता वां गीर्भिर्विपन्यवः प्रयस्वन्तो हवामहे । मेधसाता सनिष्यवः ॥
तौ वां गीर्भिः विपन्यवः हवामहे—ये चेतः प्रबोधयितारौ—प्रयस्वन्तः; सनिṣ्यवो वयं मेधसा साता भवेम।
Mantra 7
इन्द्राग्नी अवसा गतमस्मभ्यं चर्षणीसहा । मा नो दुःशंस ईशत ॥
इन्द्राग्नी अवसा गतम् अस्मभ्यं, चर्षणीसहौ; मा नः दुशंसः ईशत।
Mantra 8
मा कस्य नो अररुषो धूर्तिः प्रणङ्मर्त्यस्य । इन्द्राग्नी शर्म यच्छतम् ॥
मा कस्यचिद् नोऽररुषो धूर्तिः प्रणङ् मर्त्यस्य; इन्द्राग्नी शर्म यच्छतम्।
Mantra 9
गोमद्धिरण्यवद्वसु यद्वामश्वावदीमहे । इन्द्राग्नी तद्वनेमहि ॥
गोमद्धिरण्यवद्वसु यद्वामश्वावदीमहे; इन्द्राग्नी तद्वनेमहि।
Mantra 10
यत्सोम आ सुते नर इन्द्राग्नी अजोहवुः । सप्तीवन्ता सपर्यवः ॥
यत्सोम आ सुते नर इन्द्राग्नी अजोहोवुः; सप्तीवन्तः सपर्यवः।
Mantra 11
उक्थेभिर्वृत्रहन्तमा या मन्दाना चिदा गिरा । आङ्गूषैराविवासतः ॥
उक्थैर्वृत्रहन्तमाः शक्तीः स्तुवन्तो दृढयन्ति; मन्दानाश्चिद् गिरा आङ्गूषैश्च सततं ताः सन्निधिं नयितुं प्रार्थयन्ते।
Mantra 12
ताविद्दुःशंसं मर्त्यं दुर्विद्वांसं रक्षस्विनम् । आभोगं हन्मना हतमुदधिं हन्मना हतम् ॥
तौ हि—दुःशंसं मर्त्यं दुर्विद्वांसं रक्षस्विनं च निघ्नीतम्; आभोगं हनुमना हतं कुरुत, उदधिं च हनुमना हतं कुरुत।
Inside Sukta 94
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The hymn opens by presenting the praise itself as a born, rain-like outpouring—an ‘ancient hymn’ arising from deep intention (manman).
- Development
From inspired speech it moves into direct petition: Indrāgnī are asked to arrive with protecting help and to safeguard the worshippers among the peoples, preventing hostile speech/intent from prevailing.
- Climax
A strong apotropaic surge: the pair are urged to strike down the evil-intending mortal and rakṣasa-tainted forces, crushing engulfing danger with decisive power.
- Where it settles
The hymn settles into the assurance that divine force joined to sacrificial fire can neutralize obstruction, leaving the worshipper protected and the rite effective.
The deity: Indrāgnī
- In the VedaA paired invocation where Indra’s conquering might and Agni’s sacrificial presence act together as allies of the worshipper—receiving praise, arriving with aid (avasaḥ), and repelling hostile forces and rakṣasas.
- Cosmic functionThey connect heaven-and-earth through victory and offering: Indra secures space, rain, and triumph over obstruction; Agni carries oblations and establishes the rite, making divine power present and effective.
- Inner significanceThe union of will-to-overcome (Indra) with purified intention and transformative fire (Agni): courage guided by clarity, and energy disciplined by sacred order—protecting the mind from ‘duḥśaṃsa’ (malicious speech/intent) and inner darkness.
The seer
- VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha gotra (Āditya/solar-affiliated seer line; Saptarṣi tradition) · Foremost among Rigvedic seers; principal voice of Maṇḍala 7, celebrated for hymns that unite royal/communal well-being with deep ritual and spiritual insight, and for the Vasiṣṭha–Viśvāmitra rivalry motif in later tradition.
Famous verses
abhrād vṛṣṭir iva ajani
mā no duḥśaṃsa īśata
ताविद्दुःशंसं मर्त्यं दुर्विद्वांसं रक्षस्विनम् । आभोगं हन्मना हतमुदधिं हन्मना हतम् ॥Attributes of the deity
- Dual power (dvandva): force + flame
- Protectors of the community (carṣaṇīsahā)
- Respond to inspired praise (stuti)
- Destroyers of hostility, evil intent, and rakṣasic disturbance
- Bringers of help (avasaḥ) and effective action in ritual
Also by this seer
- Majority of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 7 (Vasiṣṭha family book)
- Hymns to Agni, Indra, Varuṇa–Mitra, and the Ādityas emphasizing ṛta (cosmic order) and protection
- Later Vedic-Itihāsa tradition credits Vasiṣṭha with foundational roles in priestly counsel and dharmic instruction (smṛti/purāṇic reception)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the ritual ground and kindle/steady the fire (Agni) with preliminary formulas.
- State the intention: offer ‘ancient praise’ arising from mind and tradition (stuti as inspired speech).
- Invoke Indrāgnī to ‘come with help’ (ā gatam avasā) and to support the people/assembly.
- Make the principal offering while repeating protective petitions against duḥśaṃsa (hostile ill-will) and rakṣasic interference.
- Conclude with a firm apotropaic (warding) request: strike down the evil-minded/ill-knowing adversary and remove engulfing danger.
- Seal with a final oblation and a quiet moment of assent/thanksgiving.
Offerings
- Ghee/clarified butter into the fire
- Soma (where applicable)
- Grain cakes or simple food-offerings (context-dependent)
Frequently Asked Questions
Indrāgnī means Indra and Agni invoked as a single paired power—Indra’s strength and Agni’s sacrificial fire working together to protect and empower the worshipper.
It asks Indrāgnī to come with help, protect the people from hostile speech and ill-will, and destroy forces that obstruct the rite or harm the community.
The image suggests that true praise is a gathered fullness that naturally pours out—an inspired utterance that nourishes and makes divine help ‘arrive’ like rain sustaining life.
Ask anything about Sukta 94 of the Rig Veda
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