Rig Veda Sukta 78
Mandala 1Sukta 785 Mantras

Sukta 78

Sukta 1.78

Rishi

Gautama (Gotama lineage; ‘Gotamāḥ’ indicates the family-seers)

Devata

Agni (Jātavedas)

Chandas

Gāyatrī (3×8 syllables)

Bài thánh ca Gāyatrī ngắn này gọi Agni Jātavedas—ngọn lửa toàn tri—được nhóm lên mạnh mẽ và được thúc đẩy tiến lên nhờ lời nói linh hứng cùng những “sức mạnh rực sáng” (dyumnaiḥ). Các hiền triết thuộc dòng Gotama (và các Rahūgaṇa được nêu tên) khẩn thỉnh Ngài, Đấng nhìn rộng và chiến thắng bậc nhất trong việc giành lấy vāja—sinh lực và sự sung mãn—để ánh sáng và năng lực của Ngài vận hành trong chính những người tế tự.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 1.78

Mantras

Mantra 1

अभि त्वा गोतमा गिरा जातवेदो विचर्षणे । द्युम्नैरभि प्र णोनुमः ॥

Hướng về Ngài—hỡi Jātavedas (Jātavedas), quyền năng nhìn thấu rộng xa—các Gotama thúc giục bằng lời thánh ca (girá). Với những sức mạnh rực sáng, chúng con thôi thúc Ngài tiến lên trong chính chúng con.

Mantra 2

तमु त्वा गोतमो गिरा रायस्कामो दुवस्यति । द्युम्नैरभि प्र णोनुमः ॥

Chính Ngài—hỡi Agni—Gotama phụng sự bằng lời linh hứng (girá), khát cầu rayi (phú túc, sự viên mãn của hữu thể). Với những quyền lực rực sáng, chúng con thôi thúc Ngài tiến lên trong chính chúng con.

Mantra 3

तमु त्वा वाजसातममङ्गिरस्वद्धवामहे । द्युम्नैरभि प्र णोनुमः ॥

Chúng tôi kêu thỉnh Ngài—đấng chiến thắng bậc nhất trong việc giành lấy vāja (sự sung mãn của lực và thế thắng), hỡi ngọn lửa tựa Aṅgiras. Với những quyền năng rực sáng, chúng tôi thúc giục Ngài tiến lên trong chính chúng tôi.

Mantra 4

तमु त्वा वृत्रहन्तमं यो दस्यूँरवधूनुषे । द्युम्नैरभि प्र णोनुमः ॥

Chúng tôi kêu thỉnh Ngài—đấng diệt Vṛtra hùng lực bậc nhất, đấng rũ bỏ các dasyu—những sức mạnh ngăn trở. Với những quyền năng rực sáng, chúng tôi thúc giục Ngài tiến lên trong chính chúng tôi.

Mantra 5

अवोचाम रहूगणा अग्नये मधुमद्वचः । द्युम्नैरभि प्र णोनुमः ॥

Chúng tôi—những Rahūgaṇa—đã thưa với Agni lời nói ngọt như mật. Với những quyền năng rực sáng, chúng tôi thúc giục Ngài tiến lên trong chính chúng tôi.

Inside Sukta 78

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The Gotamas press toward Agni with the word, addressing him as Jātavedas and wide-seeing, and immediately introduce the refrain of urging him forward with luminous strengths.

  2. Development

    Agni is further defined as the most victorious winner of vāja and as aṅgirasvat—fire in the priestly, inspired mode—making the invocation both cosmic and ritual-practical.

  3. Climax

    The seers declare their 'honeyed word' to Agni (madhumat vacaḥ), presenting speech itself as an offering that kindles divine power.

  4. Where it settles

    The repeated refrain (dyumnair abhi pra ṇonumaḥ) seals the hymn: Agni is not only called to the altar but propelled into active presence within the worshippers.

The deity: Agni

  • In the VedaAgni is the flame that is "born in many places" yet one, the knower of births (Jātavedas), wide-seeing (vicarṣaṇi), and the divine messenger who carries the offerings and the poet’s word to the gods.
  • Cosmic functionHe mediates between human and divine realms, transforms offerings into subtle nourishment, and sustains ṛta by kindling light, warmth, and sacrificial order.
  • Inner significanceAgni signifies awakened consciousness and will-power: the inner fire that digests experience, clarifies the mind, and propels aspiration when urged by truthful, honeyed speech (madhumat vacaḥ).

The seer

  • Gautama (Gotama family-seers; incl. Rahūgaṇa branch as named in 1.78.5)Gotama gotra (Gotamāḥ); Rahūgaṇa as a sub-line mentioned within the hymn · A prominent early ṛṣi-line in the Rigveda, celebrated for Agni-centered hymns and for a style that stresses inner kindling—Agni as power awakened by mantra and offering.

Famous verses

dyumnair abhi pra ṇonumaḥ
Verse 1.78.1Sets the hymn’s core: Agni Jātavedas, wide-seeing, is urged forward by the Gotamas through mantra and luminous power—an explicit link between inspired speech and inner kindling.Read verse 1.78.1 →
तमु त्वा वाजसातममङ्गिरस्वद्धवामहे । द्युम्नैरभि प्र णोनुमः ॥
Verse 1.78.3Names Agni as vājasātama (best winner of vāja) and aṅgirasvat, highlighting Agni’s victorious, priestly potency central to Vedic sacrifice and aspiration.Read verse 1.78.3 →
madhumad vacaḥ
Verse 1.78.5Introduces the striking idea of madhumat vacaḥ—'honeyed speech'—as a potent offering, while also preserving the clan memory (Rahūgaṇas) within the liturgical voice.Read verse 1.78.5 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Jātavedas (knower of all births/origins)
  • Vicarṣaṇi (wide-seeing, far-ranging vision)
  • Aṅgiras-like (priestly fire of inspired lineage)
  • Vājasātama (best at winning vāja—strength, plenty, victory)
  • Dūta (messenger) and hotṛ (invoking priest)
  • Transformer of offerings into divine reach

Also by this seer

  • Rigvedic hymns attributed to the Gotamas, especially in Mandala 1 (Agni and related deities)
  • Association with the wider Angiras tradition of fire-priests (Agni invoked as aṅgirasvat in this sukta)

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/fireplace and arrange fuel (samidh) and clarified butter (ghṛta).
  • Kindle or rekindle Agni while reciting the hymn in Gāyatrī meter with focused intention.
  • Invoke Agni as Jātavedas and vicarṣaṇi, urging him forward "with dyumna" (luminous powers).
  • Make oblations into the fire, aligning speech (vāc) with offering so the word becomes effective.
  • Conclude with a final oblation and inward recollection of Agni as the awakened force within.

Offerings

  • Ghṛta (ghee/clarified butter)
  • Samidh (fuel sticks)
  • Optional: grains or soma-substitute offerings as per śrauta/gṛhya context

Frequently Asked Questions

It calls Agni (Jātavedas) to be strongly kindled and made active through sincere mantra and offerings, so his light and strength work both in the ritual fire and within the worshipper.

The refrain emphasizes the act of “urging forward” Agni with dyumna—luminous power or brilliance—showing that the hymn is meant to intensify Agni’s presence and effectiveness.

It means “honeyed speech”—words that are pleasing, true, and spiritually effective—treated as an offering that kindles Agni and brings beneficial results.

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