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Rigveda · Maṇḍala 1

The Invocation of Indra and Agni: Dual Sovereigns of Might and Flame

📜 13 Verses

Act 1

The Dazzling Chariot and the Vast Cosmos

Verses 1, 2

Verse 1

य इं॑द्राग्नी चि॒त्रत॑मो॒ रथो॑ वाम॒भि विश्वा॑नि॒ भुव॑नानि॒ चष्टे॑ । तेना या॑तं स॒रथं॑ तस्थि॒वांसाथा॒ सोम॑स्य पिबतं सु॒तस्य॑ ॥

yá indrāgnī citrátamo rátho vāmabhí víśvāni bhúvanāni cáṣṭe ǀ ténā́ yātam sarátham tasthivā́ṃsā́thā sómasya pibatam sutásya ǁ

Verse 2

याव॑दि॒दं भुव॑नं॒ विश्व॒मस्त्यु॑रु॒व्यचा॑ वरि॒मता॑ गभी॒रं । तावाँ॑ अ॒यं पात॑वे॒ सोमो॑ अ॒स्त्वर॑मिंद्राग्नी॒ मन॑से यु॒वभ्यां॑ ॥

yā́vadidám bhúvanam víśvamástyuruvyácā varimátā gabhīrám ǀ tā́vām̐ ayám pā́tave sómo astváramindrāgnī mánase yuvábhyām ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

The Ṛṣi opens this sūkta by summoning the inseparable divine duo, Indra and Agni, whose splendor illuminates the entire universe. Their shared chariot is described as citratama—most wondrous, multifaceted, and astonishing. It surveys all created worlds in a single, sweeping gaze. The poet implores them to mount this chariot together and descend to the sacrificial ground to partake of the freshly pressed soma juice. Expanding upon this cosmic sweep, the second verse measures the divine presence against the vastness of creation. The universe is described as deep, wide-reaching, and all-encompassing in its expanse. In direct proportion to this boundless cosmos, the Ṛṣi asks that the Soma offering be vast and adequate to satisfy the divine intellects of both deities, bringing them joy and fulfillment.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 1: O Indra and Agni, whose wondrous chariot surveys all manifest worlds, come together on that shared car and drink of the pressed Soma.

Verse 2: As vast and deep as this entire universe extends, so let this Soma be ample and fitting for the minds of you two.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Sāyaṇa interprets the vastness of the universe literally as the three worlds, while Sri Aurobindo and esoteric commentators see it as a symbol of the infinite consciousness (Brahman) into which the divine energies of force (Indra) and aspiration (Agni) expand.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 1

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
इन्द्राग्नी	indrāgnī	Indra and Agni, the dual divinity of force and divine flame.
चित्रतमः	citratamaḥ	Most wondrous, multicolored, or astonishing.
रथः	rathaḥ	Chariot or vehicle of divine movement.
सरथम्	saratham	Sharing the same chariot.

Verse 2

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
उरुव्यचा	uruvyacā	Wide-extending, spacious.
वरिमता	varimatā	By breadth or vastness.
गभीरम्	gabhīram	Deep, profound.
सोमः	somaḥ	The pressed elixir of divine ecstasy.

🧠

Memory Hook

Imagine a brilliant, sun-lit chariot crossing the entire expanse of the starry sky, carrying two luminous warriors who descend right into your heart to accept your offerings.

Act 2

The Vṛtra-Slayers and the Seated Harmony

Verses 3, 4, 5

Verse 3

च॒क्राथे॒ हि स॒ध्र्य१॒॑ङ्नाम॑ भ॒द्रं स॑ध्रीची॒ना वृ॑त्रहणा उ॒त स्थः॑ । ताविं॑द्राग्नी स॒ध्र्यं॑चा नि॒षद्या॒ वृष्णः॒ सोम॑स्य वृष॒णा वृ॑षेथां ॥

cakrā́the hí sadhryáṅnā́ma bhadrám sadhrīcīnā́ vṛtrahaṇā utá sthaḥ ǀ tā́vindrāgnī sadhryáñcā niṣádyā vṛ́ṣṇaḥ sómasya vṛṣaṇā́ vṛṣethām ǁ

Verse 4

समि॑द्धेष्व॒ग्निष्वा॑नजा॒ना य॒तस्रु॑चा ब॒र्हिरु॑ तिस्तिरा॒णा । ती॒व्रैः सोमैः॒ परि॑षिक्तेभिर॒र्वागेंद्रा॑ग्नी सौमन॒साय॑ यातं ॥

sámiddheṣvagníṣvānajānā́ yatásrucā barhíru tistirāṇā́ ǀ tīvráiḥ sómaiḥ páriṣiktebhirarvā́géndrāgnī saumanasā́ya yātam ǁ

Verse 5

यानीं॑द्राग्नी च॒क्रथु॑र्वी॒र्या॑णि॒ यानि॑ रू॒पाण्यु॒त वृष्ण्या॑नि । या वां॑ प्र॒त्नानि॑ स॒ख्या शि॒वानि॒ तेभिः॒ सोम॑स्य पिबतं सु॒तस्य॑ ॥

yā́nīndrāgnī cakráthurvīryā́ṇi yā́ni rūpā́ṇyutá vṛ́ṣṇyāni ǀ yā́ vām pratnā́ni sakhyā́ śivā́ni tébhiḥ sómasya pibatam sutásya ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

Verse three highlights the joint nature of their achievements: they are both 'Vṛtra-slayers' who have forged a noble, auspicious name and always act in perfect unison. Seating themselves together upon the sacred grass, they are invited to thoroughly enjoy the intoxicating streams of the potent Soma. In the fourth verse, the earthly setting comes alive. The ritual fires are fully kindled, the priests hold the wooden ladles (sruc) with steady hands, and the sacred barhis grass is neatly spread. Bathed in this atmosphere of intense devotion, the Ṛṣi calls the deities forward toward the sweet-smelling, flowing Soma for the sake of mutual good-will and divine-human harmony (saumanasa). The fifth verse celebrates their legendary exploits. The poet invokes all their past heroic deeds, their striking cosmic forms, their surging powers of virility, and the ancient, friendly compacts they have shared with mortals, urging them to drink the Soma in light of this enduring relationship.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 3: You have made a glorious name together; as joint slayers of Vṛtra, sit down side by side and drink deep of the bubbling Soma.

Verse 4: With fires well-kindled, ladles in hand, and sacred grass spread wide, come swiftly, Indra and Agni, drawn by the pressed Soma for our harmony.

Verse 5: Remembering all your heroic deeds, your wonderful forms, your mighty powers, and your ancient friendships, drink of the pressed Soma.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Sāyaṇa focuses on the ritual mechanics—how the priests handle the ladles and the kinds of Soma offered. Psychological readings emphasize the 'ancient friendships' as the soul's eternal covenant with higher divine principles.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 3

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
चक्राथे	cakrāthe	You two have performed or made.
भद्रम्	bhadram	Auspicious, blessed, good.
वृत्रहणा	vṛtrahaṇā	Slayers of Vṛtra (the obstructive force).
वृषेथााम्	vṛṣethām	May you take pleasure in / fill yourselves with.

Verse 4

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
समिद्धेषु	samiddheṣu	Well-kindled, blazing.
अग्निषु	agniṣu	In the fires.
यतस्रुचा	yatasrucā	Holding sacrificial ladles ready.
सौमनसाय	saumanasāya	For benevolence, right-mindedness, and peace.

Verse 5

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
वीर्याणि	vīryāṇi	Heroic deeds, acts of valor.
रूपाणि	rūpāṇi	Forms, manifestations.
वृष्ण्यानि	vṛṣṇyāni	Spiritual virility or bountiful powers.
प्रत्नानि	pratnāni	Ancient, primordial.

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture two ancient brothers-in-arms sitting comfortably by a warm hearth after a great victory, sharing a cup of honeyed wine while recounting their legendary battles.

Act 3

The Truth of Faith and Omnipresent Abodes

Verses 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Verse 6

यदब्र॑वं प्रथ॒मं वां॑ वृणा॒नो॒३॒॑ऽयं सोमो॒ असु॑रैर्नो वि॒हव्यः॑ । तां स॒त्यां श्र॒द्धाम॒भ्या हि या॒तमथा॒ सोम॑स्य पिबतं सु॒तस्य॑ ॥

yádábravam prathamám vām vṛṇānó’yám sómo ásurairno vihávyaḥ ǀ tā́m satyā́m śraddhā́mabhyā́ hí yātámáthā sómasya pibatam sutásya ǁ

Verse 7

यदिं॑द्राग्नी॒ मद॑थः॒ स्वे दु॑रो॒णे यद्ब्र॒ह्मणि॒ राज॑नि वा यजत्रा । अतः॒ परि॑ वृषणा॒वा हि या॒तमथा॒ सोम॑स्य पिबतं सु॒तस्य॑ ॥

yádindrāgnī mádathaḥ své duroṇé yádbrahmáṇi rā́jani vā yajatrā ǀ átaḥ pári vṛṣaṇāvā́ hí yātámáthā sómasya pibatam sutásya ǁ

Verse 8

यदिं॑द्राग्नी॒ यदु॑षु तु॒र्वशे॑षु॒ यद्द्रु॒ह्युष्वनु॑षु पू॒रुषु॒ स्थः । अतः॒ परि॑ वृषणा॒वा हि या॒तमथा॒ सोम॑स्य पिबतं सु॒तस्य॑ ॥

yádindrāgnī yáduṣu turváśeṣu yáddruhyúṣvánuṣu pūrúṣu stháḥ ǀ átaḥ pári vṛṣaṇāvā́ hí yātámáthā sómasya pibatam sutásya ǁ

Verse 9

यदिं॑द्राग्नी अव॒मस्यां॑ पृथि॒व्यां म॑ध्य॒मस्यां॑ पर॒मस्या॑मु॒त स्थः । अतः॒ परि॑ वृषणा॒वा हि या॒तमथा॒ सोम॑स्य पिबतं सु॒तस्य॑ ॥

yádindrāgnī avamásyām pṛthivyā́m madhyamásyām paramásyāmutá stháḥ ǀ átaḥ pári vṛṣaṇāvā́ hí yātámáthā sómasya pibatam sutásya ǁ

Verse 10

यदिं॑द्राग्नी पर॒मस्यां॑ पृथि॒व्यां म॑ध्य॒मस्या॑मव॒मस्या॑मु॒त स्थः । अतः॒ परि॑ वृषणा॒वा हि या॒तमथा॒ सोम॑स्य पिबतं सु॒तस्य॑ ॥

yádindrāgnī paramásyām pṛthivyā́m madhyamásyāmavamásyāmutá stháḥ ǀ átaḥ pári vṛṣaṇāvā́ hí yātámáthā sómasya pibatam sutásya ǁ

Verse 11

यदिं॑द्राग्नी दि॒वि ष्ठो यत्पृ॑थि॒व्यां यत्पर्व॑ते॒ष्वोष॑धीष्व॒प्सु । अतः॒ परि॑ वृषणा॒वा हि या॒तमथा॒ सोम॑स्य पिबतं सु॒तस्य॑ ॥

yádindrāgnī diví ṣṭhó yátpṛthivyā́m yátpárvateṣvóṣadhīṣvapsú ǀ átaḥ pári vṛṣaṇāvā́ hí yātámáthā sómasya pibatam sutásya ǁ

Verse 12

यदिं॑द्राग्नी॒ उदि॑ता॒ सूर्य॑स्य॒ मध्ये॑ दि॒वः स्व॒धया॑ मा॒दये॑थे । अतः॒ परि॑ वृषणा॒वा हि या॒तमथा॒ सोम॑स्य पिबतं सु॒तस्य॑ ॥

yádindrāgnī úditā sū́ryasya mádhye diváḥ svadháyā mādáyethe ǀ átaḥ pári vṛ́ṣaṇāvā́ hí yātámáthā sómasya pibatam sutásya ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

In verse six, the Ṛṣi recalls a foundational declaration: this Soma is worthy of being invoked even amidst competing worldly forces (asuras), and pleads that this initial, true commitment of faith (śraddhā) be honored by the deities' arrival. Verses seven through eleven form a magnificent litany of omnipresence. The Ṛṣi asks Indra and Agni to come regardless of where they might be residing—whether in their own divine home, within the domain of the brahman (priest) or rājan (king), among the ancient Vedic tribes (Yadus, Turvaśas, Druhyus, Anus, Pūrus), in the lowest, middle, or highest strata of the earth, or across the sky, mountains, plants, and waters. Verse twelve adds a temporal anchor, invoking them right at the rising of the sun and the midpoint of heaven, where they revel in their own self-law (svadhā). This extensive scanning of geography and status emphasizes that no matter how distant or hidden the divine presence seems, the call of the ritual pulls them instantly to the present moment.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 6: When I first declared that this Soma is to be invoked by us even among rivals, honor that true faith and come to drink.

Verse 7: Whether you are rejoicing in your own home, or with the priest or the king, come from there, O mighty ones, and drink the Soma.

Verse 8: Whether among the Yadus, Turvaśas, Druhyus, Anus, or Pūrus, come from there, O mighty ones, and drink the Soma.

Verse 9: Whether you dwell on the lowest earth, the middle earth, or the highest, come from there, O mighty ones, and drink the Soma.

Verse 10: Whether you dwell on the highest earth, the middle, or the lowest, come from there, O mighty ones, and drink the Soma.

Verse 11: Whether you are in heaven, on earth, in the mountains, among plants, or in the waters, come from there and drink.

Verse 12: When at the rising of the sun, in the middle of heaven, you take your delight by your own law, come from there and drink.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

The listing of tribal names (Yadu, Turvaśa, etc.) reflects the early Indo-Aryan sociopolitical landscape, while the spatial verses demonstrate an early Vedic intuition of omnipresence that transcends physical geography.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 6

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
श्रद्धाम्	śraddhām	Faith, trust, the heart's truth.
असुरैः	asuraiḥ	Among lords, powers, or rival factions.
विहव्यः	vihavyaḥ	Worthy of invocation by all.

Verse 7

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
दुरोणे	duroṇe	In the home or dwelling.
ब्रह्मणि	brahmaṇi	In the domain of the priest/scholar.
राजनि	rājani	In the domain of the king/ruler.

Verse 8

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
यदुषु	yaduṣu	Among the Yadu tribe.
तुर्वशेषु	turvaśeṣu	Among the Turvaśa tribe.
पूरुषु	pūruṣu	Among the Pūru tribe.

Verse 9

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
अवमस्याम्	avamasyām	In the lowest/bottom.
मध्यमस्याम्	madhyamasyām	In the middle.
परमस्याम्	paramasyām	In the highest.

Verse 10

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
पृथिव्याम्	pṛthivyām	On earth / ground.

Verse 11

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
दिवि	divi	In the sky / heaven.
पर्वतेषु	parvateṣu	In the mountains.
ओषधीषु	oṣadhīṣu	In the herbs/plants.
अप्सु	apsu	In the waters.

Verse 12

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
उदिता	uditā	At the arising.
सूर्यस्य	sūryasya	Of the sun.
स्वधया	svadhayā	By their own inherent law or native power.

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture a homing beacon flashing across every corner of the universe—oceans, mountains, palaces, and tribes—instantly pulling two golden rays of light into a single focal point.

Act 4

The Overflowing Blessing and Cosmic Guardianship

Verses 13

Verse 13

ए॒वेंद्रा॑ग्नी पपि॒वांसा॑ सु॒तस्य॒ विश्वा॒स्मभ्यं॒ सं ज॑यतं॒ धना॑नि । तन्नो॑ मि॒त्रो वरु॑णो मामहंता॒मदि॑तिः॒ सिंधुः॑ पृथि॒वी उ॒त द्यौः ॥

evéndrāgnī papivā́ṃsā sutásya víśvāsmábhyam sám jayatam dhánāni ǀ tánno mitró váruṇo māmahantāmáditiḥ síndhuḥ pṛthivī́ utá dyáuḥ ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

The sūkta concludes with a magnificent benediction in verse thirteen. Having partaken of the pressed Soma, Indra and Agni are asked to conquer all treasures and bounties on behalf of the worshipper. Furthermore, the Ṛṣi broadens the circle of grace, calling upon a grand assembly of cosmic guardians—Mitra, Varuṇa, Aditi, Sindhū (the rivers), Pṛthivī (Earth), and Dyaus (Heaven)—to honor, protect, and amplify this prosperity.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 13: Thus having drunk of the pressed Soma, O Indra and Agni, win all treasures for us. Let Mitra, Varuṇa, Aditi, Sindhu, Earth, and Heaven bless us.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Sāyaṇa views this final verse as a standard closing formula invoking universal deities for material and spiritual welfare. Modern scholars highlight how the transition from dual deities (Indra-Agni) to the broader pantheon (Mitra, Varuṇa, Aditi, etc.) encapsulates the holistic worldview of the Ṛgveda.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 13

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
पपિवांसौ	papivāṃsā	Having drunk.
धनानि	dhanāni	Treasures, prizes, wealth.
मित्रः	mitraḥ	Mitra (deity of harmony and contracts).
वरुणः	varuṇaḥ	Varuṇa (deity of cosmic law and vast waters).
अदितिः	aditiḥ	Aditi, the undivided mother of the gods.

🧠

Memory Hook

Visualize a river of golden light overflowing the altar, rushing out to fill the entire cosmos while Heaven, Earth, and the great guardians nod in loving agreement.