Sukta 14
Sukta 7.14
Vasiṣṭha (traditional for Maṇḍala 7)
Agni (Jātavedas)
Gāyatrī (probable; 3 pādas feel, but verse is in RV style—meter tagging here remains probabilistic)
这首简短的瓦西什塔赞歌，是为祭祀而作的凝练阿耆尼祈请：诗人以薪柴（samidh）、颂赞与供献点燃“知生者”阇多吠陀（Jātavedas），祈求他悦纳vaṣaṭ呼号并引领诸神降临。诗中强调祭主以恭敬施与者（dāśat）的身份奉献，末尾则请求藉由阿耆尼的中介赐予持久的svasti（安泰、护佑）。
Mantras
Mantra 1
समिधा जातवेदसे देवाय देवहूतिभिः । हविर्भिः शुक्रशोचिषे नमस्विनो वयं दाशेमाग्नये ॥
我们以柴薪（samidhā）奉事生知者阇多吠陀（Jātavedas）——那位神圣者；以召请诸神的呼唤（devahūti）而行祭。以祭供（havis）献与光焰炽明者；我们怀敬礼之心，愿向阿耆尼（Agni）奉献所当奉献。
Mantra 2
वयं ते अग्ने समिधा विधेम वयं दाशेम सुष्टुती यजत्र । वयं घृतेनाध्वरस्य होतर्वयं देव हविषा भद्रशोचे ॥
阿耆尼啊，我们愿以柴薪（samidhā）点燃并奉事你；可敬受祭者（yajatra）啊，我们愿以善美的赞颂奉献。行祭之旅的祭司（Hotar）啊，我们愿以酥油（ghṛta）灌注此祭；吉焰者啊，神啊，我们愿以祭供（havis）献与你。
Mantra 3
आ नो देवेभिरुप देवहूतिमग्ने याहि वषट्कृतिं जुषाणः । तुभ्यं देवाय दाशतः स्याम यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥
阿耆尼啊，与诸神同来，临近我们这召神之呼唤（devahūti）；欣然受纳那封定祭献的“瓦沙特”（vaṣaṭ）之声。愿我们成为献与神圣之你的施与者；愿你们以安泰与吉祥（svasti）常常护佑我们。
Inside Sukta 14
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Reverent kindling and service to Jātavedas through devahūti (god-summoning calls) and offerings to the bright-flaming Agni.
- Development
The speakers repeat their intent—‘we would kindle, we would give, we would praise’—highlighting correct praise (suṣṭuti), ghṛta-offering, and Agni’s priestly role as Hotṛ of the rite.
- Climax
Agni is urged to arrive with the gods, delighting in the vaṣaṭ-call that consummates the offering and makes the invitation effective.
- Where it settles
A final ethical-ritual wish: may we remain true givers to the divine, and may the gods/Agni guard us always with svasti (well-being).
The deity: Agni
- In the VedaAgni is the bright-flaming, auspiciously shining fire (śukraśociṣ, bhadraśocis), the Hotar-priest of the adhvara, and Jātavedas—‘knower of all births’—who receives offerings and carries them to the gods.
- Cosmic functionMediator between humans and devas: he kindles the sacrifice, conveys havis through flame and smoke, and establishes the link by which divine powers are invited and sustained in the rite.
- Inner significanceThe awakened inner fire of aspiration and discernment that ‘knows births’—the power that transforms raw intention into luminous offering, turning speech (stuti) and action into a channel of grace and protection.
The seer
- VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha-gotra (Maitrāvaruṇa/Āditya-associated seer-family; traditional lineage of Maṇḍala 7) · Foremost seer of the Vasiṣṭha clan and principal voice of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 7; celebrated for hymns to Agni and Varuṇa and for articulating the sacrificial order (ṛta) through inspired praise.
Famous verses
devahūtibhiḥ
adhvarasya hotar
vaṣaṭkṛtiṃ juṣāṇaḥ
Attributes of the deity
- Hotṛ (invoking priest) of the sacrifice
- Jātavedas (all-knowing, all-origin-knowing)
- Devahūti (summoner/convener of the gods)
- Śukraśociṣ/Bhadraśocis (bright and auspicious flame)
- Accepts vaṣaṭ and oblations; bearer of offerings
- Protector granting svasti (well-being)
Also by this seer
- Rig Veda Maṇḍala 7 (many sūktas traditionally ascribed to Vasiṣṭha and his lineage)
- Notable Varuṇa hymns in RV 7 (e.g., RV 7.86–7.89, traditional attribution)
- Agni-centered ritual hymns across RV 7 emphasizing hotṛ-function and devahūti (god-summoning)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare and tend the fire-altar; establish/rekindle the sacred fire.
- Offer samidh (kindling sticks) while reciting invocatory praise to Jātavedas.
- Present havis (food oblations) with reverence (namas), affirming the sacrificer as a giver (dāśema).
- Offer ghṛta (clarified butter) into the fire, addressing Agni as Hotṛ of the adhvara.
- Utter/confirm the vaṣaṭ-cry as the sealing call of offering; invite Agni to come ‘with the gods’.
- Conclude with a prayer for ongoing protection and svasti for the community.
Offerings
- Samidh (kindling/fuel sticks)
- Havis (oblations such as grains/cakes, as appropriate)
- Ghṛta (clarified butter)
Frequently Asked Questions
To be kindled and honored through offerings, to accept the vaṣaṭ-call, and to come with the other gods to the sacrifice, granting protection and well-being.
These are the core ritual elements: samidh feeds the fire, ghṛta strengthens and brightens it, and havis is the oblation Agni carries to the gods.
It means Agni as the one who ‘knows all births/origins’—the fire that understands and conveys offerings rightly, linking human intention to divine reception.
Ask anything about Sukta 14 of the Rig Veda
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
