Rig Veda Sukta 14
Mandala 5Sukta 146 Mantras

Sukta 14

Sukta 5.14

Rishi

Atri (Ātreya) (attribution for RV 5.14 generally)

Devata

Agni

Chandas

Gāyatrī (probable)

Ang maikling himno kay Agni ni Atri ay tumatawag sa Apoy na magising sa pamamagitan ng papuri at pag-aapoy, upang kanyang dalhin ang mga handog ng nagsasakripisyo sa kapulungan ng mga diyos. Si Agni ay pinupuri bilang ang bagong-silang na liwanag na sumasakop sa kadiliman at mga puwersang kalaban, na muling nakukuha ang "mga baka/mga sinag," ang tubig, at ang maningning na langit, at pinatitibay ng mantikilya, mga himno, at tamang intensyon.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 5.14

Mantras

Mantra 1

अग्निं स्तोमेन बोधय समिधानो अमर्त्यम् । हव्या देवेषु नो दधत् ॥

Pukawin si Agni sa pamamagitan ng himno, si Agni na niningas, ang Walang Kamatayan. Nawa ay ilagay niya ang ating mga alay sa gitna ng mga diyos: na nagtatatag ng ating hangarin sa banal na kapisanan.

Mantra 2

तमध्वरेष्वीळते देवं मर्ता अमर्त्यम् । यजिष्ठं मानुषे जने ॥

Sa mga paglalakbay ng alay, ang mga mortal ay sumasamba sa diyos na iyon, ang Walang Kamatayan, si Agni, na pinakakaya sa sakripisyo sa loob ng sangkatauhan: ang tiyak na pinuno ng ating panloob na rito.

Mantra 3

तं हि शश्वन्त ईळते स्रुचा देवं घृतश्चुता । अग्निं हव्याय वोळ्हवे ॥

Sa kanya nga ang mga laging nagpupursigi ay sumasamba, ang diyos na may sandok na tumutulo ng pinaliwanag na liwanag. Si Agni ay kanilang tinatawag upang dalhin ang ating mga alay: ang tagapagdala na naglilipat ng hangarin sa mas mataas na mga kapangyarihan.

Mantra 4

अग्निर्जातो अरोचत घ्नन्दस्यूञ्ज्योतिषा तमः । अविन्दद्गा अपः स्वः ॥

Si Agni, kapag siya ay ipinanganak sa loob natin, ay nagliliwanag; tinatalo ang mga mapanghimagsik na kapangyarihan ng pagkakahati-hati, sa kanyang liwanag ay pinapatay niya ang kadiliman. Muling natatagpuan niya ang mga Sinag, ang mga Tubig ng pagkabuhay, at ang liwanag na Langit.

Mantra 5

अग्निमीळेन्यं कविं घृतपृष्ठं सपर्यत । वेतु मे शृणवद्धवम् ॥

Paglingkuran at alagan si Agni, ang kagalang-galang na Seer, na ang likod ay maliwanag sa paglilinaw ng ghee; nawa ay pumarito siya sa amin at marinig ang aking tawag, nawa ang panloob na Apoy ay tumanggap at tumugon sa alay ng hangarin.

Mantra 6

अग्निं घृतेन वावृधुः स्तोमेभिर्विश्वचर्षणिम् । स्वाधीभिर्वचस्युभिः ॥

Pinalaki nila si Agni sa paglilinaw ng ghee, sa pamamagitan ng mga himno, si Agni na para sa lahat ng mga tao; sa tamang panloob na pag-unawa at sa mga salitang nagbubuhat ng kapangyarihan ng pananalita, pinalalakas nila ang Liwayway para sa unibersal na gawain.

Inside Sukta 14

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Agni is invoked to awaken through hymn and kindling, the immortal who can seat the offering among the gods.

  2. Development

    Agni’s luminous power is praised as a force that defeats hostile powers and darkness, restoring the lost goods of life—rays/cows, waters, and heaven.

  3. Climax

    The birth of Agni as radiance: with light he slays darkness and ‘finds’ the cosmic supports (gāḥ, apaḥ, svaḥ).

  4. Where it settles

    The community strengthens Agni with ghee, hymns, and well-formed thought and speech, establishing an enduring, universal fire for right working.

The deity: Agni

  • In the VedaAgni is the immortal fire kindled among mortals—priest (hotṛ), messenger, and conveyor of offerings—whose radiance dispels darkness and establishes the sacrifice among the gods.
  • Cosmic functionMediator between earth and heaven: he transforms offerings into divine share, sustains ṛta (cosmic order) through yajña, and manifests as light that defeats obscurity and disorder.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened flame of aspiration and discernment: inner heat (tapas) that burns inertia, clarifies understanding, and carries one’s intention toward higher consciousness.

The seer

  • Atri (Ātreya)Ātreya (Atri-gotra) · One of the great Ṛgvedic seers; an archetypal priest-poet associated with luminous insight, Agni-knowledge, and the Atri family hymns of Mandala 5.

Famous verses

अग्निं स्तोमेन बोधय समिधानो अमर्त्यम् । हव्या देवेषु नो दधत् ॥
Verse 5.14.1Sets the ritual purpose: awakening Agni by praise and kindling so he may place the offering among the gods—classic Agni as mediator.Read verse 5.14.1 →
avindad gā apaḥ svaḥ
Verse 5.14.4Central revelation of Agni as newborn light that destroys darkness and hostile forces, and recovers ‘cows/rays, waters, and heaven’—a compact cosmic myth in one verse.Read verse 5.14.4 →
agniṃ ghṛtena vāvṛdhuḥ
Verse 5.14.6Shows the practical means of empowerment—ghee, hymns, and right intention/speech—presenting Agni as universal (viśvacarṣaṇi).Read verse 5.14.6 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Amṛta (immortal) though kindled by mortals
  • Hotṛ and dūta (priest and messenger) of the gods
  • Jyotis (light) that destroys tamas (darkness)
  • Protector who overcomes hostile forces (dasyu)
  • Bearer of oblations (havyavāhana)
  • Universal—belonging to all peoples (viśvacarṣaṇi)

Also by this seer

  • Large portions of Rig Veda Mandala 5 traditionally attributed to the Ātreyas (Atri lineage)
  • Atri is remembered in later Vedic-Itihāsa traditions as a foundational rishi and progenitor of the Ātreya line
  • Hymnic praise of Agni and solar/light themes across the Ātreya corpus

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/hearth and establish ritual purity
  • Kindle or rekindle Agni with samidh (fuel sticks), facing the fire
  • Recite the hymn to ‘awaken’ Agni through stoma (praise)
  • Offer ghee into the fire with appropriate formulas, requesting Agni to place the oblations among the gods
  • Conclude with an affirmation of Agni’s victory over darkness and the securing of blessings (light, waters, prosperity)

Offerings

  • Ghṛta (clarified butter/ghee)
  • Samidh (fuel sticks)
  • Optional: grains or simple havis according to household custom

Frequently Asked Questions

It invokes Agni to awaken through praise and kindling, so he can carry offerings to the gods and bring light that overcomes darkness and opposition.

These are symbolic Vedic images for restored light and abundance: ‘cows’ as rays/wealth, ‘waters’ as life-sustaining flow, and ‘svaḥ’ as the luminous heavenly realm regained by Agni’s radiance.

By practical and inner means together—ghee offerings, hymns of praise, and “good understandings” with well-powered speech—so the fire becomes effective for all.

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