Rig Veda Sukta 3
Mandala 6Sukta 38 Mantras

Sukta 3

Sukta 6.3

Rishi

Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya

Devata

Agni (with Mitra-Varuṇa invoked as allied powers)

Chandas

Trishtubh (probable; verify)

Ang himnong ito ay nagpapuri kay Agni bilang tagapangalaga at katawang kaluluwa ng ṛta (kosmikong katotohanan), ang kapangyarihang nagpapatnubay sa naghahangad patungo sa "malawak na liwanag" at nagpoprotekta sa mortal sa paghihigpit ng paghihirap. Si Agni ay ipinagdiriwang bilang mabilis na nagniningning na puwersa na gumagalaw sa gabi tulad ng ibon at bilang kidlat na kinang na pinagpapangyarihan ng mga himno, na gumagawa alinsunod kay Mitra, Varuṇa upang itaguyod ang kaayusan at kaligtasan.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 6.3

Mantras

Mantra 1

अग्ने स क्षेषदृतपा ऋतेजा उरु ज्योतिर्नशते देवयुष्टे । यं त्वं मित्रेण वरुणः सजोषा देव पासि त्यजसा मर्तमंहः ॥

O Agni, siya ay sumasagana, bantay ng Katotohanan, ipinanganak mula sa Katotohanan, na nakakamit ang malawak na Liwanag sa landas na minamahal ng diyos. Kung sino ang iyong, O diyos, kasama si Mitra at Varuṇa sa iisang pagkakasundo, ay pinoprotektahan sa iyong mapagwawaging lakas, ang mortal na iyon ay nailigtas mula sa paghihigpit.

Mantra 2

ईजे यज्ञेभिः शशमे शमीभिॠधद्वारायाग्नये ददाश । एवा चन तं यशसामजुष्टिर्नांहो मर्तं नशते न प्रदृप्तिः ॥

Siya ay sumamba sa mga sakripisyo, siya ay naging kalmado sa mga mapagpayapang harmonya; siya ay nagbigay kay Agni ng mga pumapalawak na pinto. Kaya't walang pagtanggi mula sa mga maringal na kapangyarihan ang umaabot sa mortal na iyon, ni paghihigpit ni mayabang na kasobrahan.

Mantra 3

सूरो न यस्य दृशतिररेपा भीमा यदेति शुचतस्त आ धीः । हेषस्वतः शुरुधो नायमक्तोः कुत्रा चिद्रण्वो वसतिर्वनेजाः ॥

Tulad ng Araw ang kanyang walang-mantsang pananaw; nakapanghihina ang kaisipan kapag siya ay lumalabas sa kanyang kadalisayan ng apoy. Umaugong, mahirang pigilan, hindi siya nagpapahinga sa gabi; saan nga ba ang kaaliwalang tirahan ng kapangyarihang ito na ipinanganak sa kagubatan?

Mantra 4

तिग्मं चिदेम महि वर्पो अस्य भसदश्वो न यमसान आसा । विजेहमानः परशुर्न जिह्वां द्रविर्न द्रावयति दारु धक्षत् ॥

Matalim nga ang kanyang pagsalakay, dakila ang kanyang anyo; siya ay humihingal tulad ng kabayong umaabala sa bibig nito. Pinapalo ang kanyang dila tulad ng palakol sa kilos, tulad ng nagtatapon ng tinunaw na metal siya ay nagtutunaw, sinunog niya ang kahoy.

Mantra 5

स इदस्तेव प्रति धादसिष्यञ्छिशीत तेजोऽयसो न धाराम् । चित्रध्रजतिररतिर्यो अक्तोर्वेर्न द्रुषद्वा रघुपत्मजंहाः ॥

Siya ay nagtatayo ng kanyang sarili na parang isang humaharap sa layunin, na pinapatalas ang kanyang ningning na parang gilas ng bakal. Sa maliwanag na agos ng kilos, na hindi napapagod, sa gabi siya ay gumagalaw na parang ibon sa ibabaw ng kahoy, na may mabilis na pakpak at mabilis na paa.

Mantra 6

स ईं रेभो न प्रति वस्त उस्राः शोचिषा रारपीति मित्रमहाः । नक्तं य ईमरुषो यो दिवा नॄनमर्त्यो अरुषो यो दिवा नॄन् ॥

Siya, na parang isang bihasang kumakanta ng Salita, ay nagbibihis sa maliwanag na mga Madaling Araw, at sa kanyang liwanag ay pinagiging tunog ang mga mapagkaibigang araw. Siya ang Mapulang Isa sa gabi, at siya na sa araw ay namumuno sa mga tao, imortal, ang Mapulang Isa na sa araw ay namumuno sa mga tao.

Mantra 7

दिवो न यस्य विधतो नवीनोद्वृषा रुक्ष ओषधीषु नूनोत् । घृणा न यो ध्रजसा पत्मना यन्ना रोदसी वसुना दं सुपत्नी ॥

Siya na ang pagkabago ay nagpapanibago sa naglilingkod, na parang langit mismo, ang Toro, na nagniningning, ay nagtutulak ng kanyang lakas sa mga halaman. Na parang mainit na karangyaan, siya ay gumagalaw sa nagniningning na tulin, siya ay dumadating sa dalawang mundo, na sagana sa yaman, na parang sa isang tahanan.

Mantra 8

धायोभिर्वा यो युज्येभिरर्कैर्विद्युन्न दविद्योत्स्वेभिः शुष्मैः । शर्धो वा यो मरुतां ततक्ष ऋभुर्न त्वेषो रभसानो अद्यौत् ॥

Maging sa kanyang mga sumusuportang kapangyarihan at mga nakaharnes na himno ay kumikinang siya na parang kidlat sa kanyang sariling mga lakas, o kaya ay kanyang hinubog ang pulutong ng mga Marut, na parang isang Rbhu, na matalas at mabilis, siya ay nagningning ngayon.

Inside Sukta 3

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Agni is introduced as ṛta’s guardian who grants expansive light and saves the protected mortal from constriction, in harmony with Mitra–Varuṇa.

  2. Development

    The hymn elaborates Agni’s dynamic form—sharpened brilliance, swift motion, tireless activity through night—showing how his power operates in the world and in ritual.

  3. Climax

    Agni’s force peaks as lightning-like flashing through his own might and through “yoked hymns,” revealing him as a master power that can even ‘fashion’/marshal the Marut host.

  4. Where it settles

    The praise settles into assurance: Agni’s ordered, truth-bearing energy remains available through hymn and offering, continuing protection and illumination for the devotee.

The deity: Agni

  • In the VedaAgni is the ever-young, blazing priest and messenger, “ṛtapā/ṛtejā” (keeper and born of ṛta), who grants uru jyotis (wide light) to the godward traveler. He is depicted as sharp-edged like iron, swift and tireless, flashing like lightning through his own śuṣma (mighty energies).
  • Cosmic functionMediator between humans and gods through sacrifice; establisher and protector of ṛta; illuminator who opens the path of prosperity and safeguards life from constriction and sin/anguish (aṃhas).
  • Inner significanceThe awakened will and discernment-fire that burns away limitation, aligns the mind with truth, and leads to expansive clarity (wide light). In alliance with Mitra–Varuṇa, it also symbolizes ethical order, right relationship, and self-restraint that protect the seeker.

The seer

  • Bharadvāja BārhaspatyaBharadvāja-gotra (Āṅgirasa/Bārhaspatya line) · A principal seer of the Rig Veda’s 6th Maṇḍala, renowned for hymns to Agni that unite ritual fire with ṛta (truth/order) and protective divine governance.

Famous verses

uru jyotiḥ
Verse 6.3.1Defines the hymn’s core theology: Agni as ṛta-keeper and truth-born, leading to “wide light,” and protecting the mortal—explicitly in concert with Mitra–Varuṇa.Read verse 6.3.1 →
स इदस्तेव प्रति धादसिष्यञ्छिशीत तेजोऽयसो न धाराम् । चित्रध्रजतिररतिर्यो अक्तोर्वेर्न द्रुषद्वा रघुपत्मजंहाः ॥
Verse 6.3.5A vivid poetic portrayal of Agni’s sharpened, iron-like edge and swift night-movement, conveying both ritual fire’s intensity and the deity’s tireless agency.Read verse 6.3.5 →
vidyun na (like lightning)
Verse 6.3.8Summarizes Agni’s lightning-like epiphany powered by hymns and might; also presents him as artisan-like (Ṛbhu-comparable) and connected with the Marut energies.Read verse 6.3.8 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Ṛta-guardian (ṛtapā) and truth-born (ṛtejā)
  • Illuminator granting “wide light” (uru jyotis)
  • Protective power saving from aṃhas (distress/sin)
  • Swift-moving, tireless, night-traversing flame
  • Sharp, purified brilliance (like an iron edge)
  • Lightning-like flashing through innate might
  • Allied with Mitra–Varuṇa in maintaining order

Also by this seer

  • Large portions of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 6 are attributed to Bharadvāja seers (the Bharadvāja family book).
  • Numerous Agni hymns in Maṇḍala 6 emphasizing priestly function (hotṛ), protection, and illumination.
  • Tradition associates the Bharadvāja lineage with later Vedic learning and transmission of ritual knowledge (śrauta orientation).

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/fireplace (vedi) and kindle Agni with kindling (samidh).
  • Establish Agni as hotṛ/messenger through recitation of the hymn (Triṣṭubh verses).
  • Invoke Agni’s ṛta-protective aspect and explicitly call his accord with Mitra–Varuṇa for safeguarding the sacrificer.
  • Offer oblations into the fire while reciting selected mantras (especially RV 6.3.1 for protection and right path).
  • Conclude with praise of Agni’s flashing power and artisan-like efficacy, seeking continued illumination and protection beyond the rite.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya)
  • Kindling sticks (samidh)
  • Optional: grains or soma-related offerings depending on the larger rite context

Frequently Asked Questions

It teaches that Agni, aligned with ṛta (truth and cosmic order), leads the devotee to a broad, clear “light” and protects the person from distress and narrowing fear.

Mitra–Varuṇa represent moral and cosmic order; the hymn shows Agni working in harmony with them so protection is not just power, but power guided by truth and right law.

As a bright, sharp, fast-moving fire—active even in the night—who can flash like lightning and who carries prayers and offerings while guarding the worshipper.

Ask anything about Sukta 3 of the Rig Veda

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