Verses 1, 2
अ॒यं जा॑यत॒ मनु॑षो॒ धरी॑मणि॒ होता॒ यजि॑ष्ठ उ॒शिजा॒मनु॑ व्र॒तम॒ग्निः स्वमनु॑ व्र॒तं । वि॒श्वश्रु॑ष्टिः सखीय॒ते र॒यिरि॑व श्रवस्य॒ते । अद॑ब्धो॒ होता॒ नि ष॑ददि॒ळस्प॒दे परि॑वीत इ॒ळस्प॒दे ॥
ayám jāyata mánuṣo dhárīmaṇi hótā yájiṣṭha uśíjāmánu vratámagníḥ svámánu vratám ǀ viśváśruṣṭiḥ sakhīyaté rayíriva śravasyaté ǀ ádabdho hótā ní ṣadadiḷáspadé párivīta iḷáspadé ǁ
तं य॑ज्ञ॒साध॒मपि॑ वातयामस्यृ॒तस्य॑ प॒था नम॑सा ह॒विष्म॑ता दे॒वता॑ता ह॒विष्म॑ता । स न॑ ऊ॒र्जामु॒पाभृ॑त्य॒या कृ॒पा न जू॑र्यति । यं मा॑त॒रिश्वा॒ मन॑वे परा॒वतो॑ दे॒वं भाः प॑रा॒वतः॑ ॥
tám yajñasā́dhamápi vātayāmasyṛtásya pathā́ námasā havíṣmatā devátātā havíṣmatā ǀ sá na ūrjā́mupā́bhṛtyayā́ kṛpā́ ná jūryati ǀ yám mātaríśvā mánave parāváto devám bhā́ḥ parāvátaḥ ǁ
In these opening verses, the Ṛṣi introduces Agni not merely as the ordinary fire of the hearth, but as a cosmic presence born within the foundation of human striving (dharīmaṇi). He is the most capable Hotṛ priest, fulfilling the sacred ordinances of the eager seekers (uśijām). Unconquered and wrapped in the holiness of the place of invocation (iळāspade), Agni hears all and responds to the sincere seeker just as wealth answers the call of one yearning for glory. The Sūkta then describes how the community projects this divine agency forward along the path of Ṛta, the cosmic law, offering devotion through sacred rites. Matariśvan—the wind-messenger—brings this luminous deity from the distant heavens down to humanity, establishing Agni as the ultimate fulfiller of sacrifice who never grows weary.
Verse 1: Agni was born into the support of humanity as the supreme invoking priest, fulfilling the sacred vows of the eager aspirants. Hearing all, he sits unvanquished in the holy place of invocation, like wealth to one who seeks renown.
Verse 2: We urge forward this accomplisher of sacrifice along the path of Ṛta with reverent, oblation-bearing worship. He is the energy that never tires, brought from afar by Mātariśvan down to mortal man.
Sāyaṇa interprets 'dharīmaṇi' as the foundation or holding place of man, while Aurobindo emphasizes it as the psychological plane of human holding and capacity for divine growth.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| अग्निः | agníḥ | Agni, the divine fire |
| होता | hótā | The invoking priest |
| यजिष्ठः | yájiṣṭhaḥ | Most efficient in performing sacrifice |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| यज्ञसाधम् | yajñasā́dham | Accomplisher of the sacrifice |
| ऋतस्य | ṛtásya | Of the cosmic order, truth |
| मातरिश्वा | mātaríśvā | Mātariśvan (wind/messenger) |
Picture a primordial spark descending from the stormy, distant clouds, guided by the wind straight onto the earthly altar to become the tireless priest of humanity.
Verses 3, 4
एवे॑न स॒द्यः पर्ये॑ति॒ पार्थि॑वं मुहु॒र्गी रेतो॑ वृष॒भः कनि॑क्रद॒द्दध॒द्रेतः॒ कनि॑क्रदत् । श॒तं चक्षा॑णो अ॒क्षभि॑र्दे॒वो वने॑षु तु॒र्वणिः॑ । सदो॒ दधा॑न॒ उप॑रेषु॒ सानु॑ष्व॒ग्निः परे॑षु॒ सानु॑षु ॥
évena sadyáḥ páryeti pā́rthivam muhurgī́ réto vṛṣabháḥ kánikradaddádhadrétaḥ kánikradat ǀ śatám cákṣāṇo akṣábhirdevó váneṣu turváṇiḥ ǀ sádo dádhāna úpareṣu sā́nuṣvagníḥ páreṣu sā́nuṣu ǁ
स सु॒क्रतुः॑ पु॒रोहि॑तो॒ दमे॑दमे॒ऽग्निर्य॒ज्ञस्या॑ध्व॒रस्य॑ चेतति॒ क्रत्वा॑ य॒ज्ञस्य॑ चेतति । क्रत्वा॑ वे॒धा इ॑षूय॒ते विश्वा॑ जा॒तानि॑ पस्पशे । यतो॑ घृत॒श्रीरति॑थि॒रजा॑यत॒ वह्नि॑र्वे॒धा अजा॑यत ॥
sá sukrátuḥ puróhito dámedame’gníryajñásyādhvarásya cetati krátvā yajñásya cetati ǀ krátvā vedhā́ iṣūyaté víśvā jātā́ni paspaśe ǀ yáto ghṛtaśrī́rátithirájāyata váhnirvedhā́ ájāyata ǁ
Agni's dynamic movement across the earthly realm is vividly portrayed here as a roaring bull scattering seed across the forests. With a hundred eyes—symbolizing his all-pervading awareness—he watches over every living creation, conquering space and establishing his seat upon both lower and higher ridges of existence. He is simultaneously the celestial traveler and the terrestrial hearth-fire. In every single home (dame-dame), this same Agni is placed as the purohita—the foremost leader and domestic priest. Through his will and deliberate execution (kratvā), he perceives the unfolding sacrifice, acting as the divine architect and visionary guest who looks upon all manifested beings with grace and splendor.
Verse 3: Like a roaring bull, he swiftly moves over the earthly domain, repeatedly depositing his fiery seed. Seeing with a hundred eyes through the forests, the conquering god establishes his seat upon both lower and higher ridges.
Verse 4: Endowed with strong will, placed in every home, Agni perceives the sacrifice and the path of the rite. By his power, he is the creator who gazes upon all born things, the brilliant guest and divine carrier.
The phrase 'dame-dame' highlights the ancient domestic cult where Agni is intimately tied to household continuity, while the 'hundred eyes' denote his omnipresence in nature.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| वृषभः | vṛṣabháḥ | The bull, shedding generative power |
| शतम् चक्षाणः | śatám cákṣāṇaḥ | Seeing with a hundred eyes |
| वनेषु | váneṣu | In the woods or forests |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| सुक्रतुः | sukrátuḥ | Possessing excellent will or intelligence |
| दमेदमे | dámedame | In home after home, house by house |
| अतिथिः | átithiḥ | The divine guest |
Imagine walking through an ancient village at dusk, seeing a warm hearth fire glowing in every single doorway, tended by an unseen, watchful presence.
Verses 5, 6
क्रत्वा॒ यद॑स्य॒ तवि॑षीषु पृं॒चते॒ऽग्नेरवे॑ण म॒रुतां॒ न भो॒ज्ये॑षि॒राय॒ न भो॒ज्या॑ । स हि ष्मा॒ दान॒मिन्व॑ति॒ वसू॑नां च म॒ज्मना॑ । स न॑स्त्रासते दुरि॒ताद॑भि॒ह्रुतः॒ शंसा॑द॒घाद॑भि॒ह्रुतः॑ ॥
krátvā yádasya táviṣīṣu pṛñcáte’gnéráveṇa marútām ná bhojyéṣirā́ya ná bhojyā́ ǀ sá hí ṣmā dā́namínvati vásūnām ca majmánā ǀ sá nastrāsate duritā́dabhihrútaḥ śáṃsādaghā́dabhihrútaḥ ǁ
विश्वो॒ विहा॑या अर॒तिर्वसु॑र्दधे॒ हस्ते॒ दक्षि॑णे त॒रणि॒र्न शि॑श्रथच्छ्रव॒स्यया॒ न शि॑श्रथत् । विश्व॑स्मा॒ इदि॑षुध्य॒ते दे॑व॒त्रा ह॒व्यमोहि॑षे । विश्व॑स्मा॒ इत्सु॒कृते॒ वार॑मृण्वत्य॒ग्निर्द्वारा॒ व्यृ॑ण्वति ॥
víśvo víhāyā aratírvásurdadhe háste dákṣiṇe taráṇirná śiśrathacchravasyáyā ná śiśrathat ǀ víśvasmā ídiṣudhyaté devatrā́ havyámóhiṣe ǀ víśvasmā ítsukṛ́te vā́ramṛṇvatyagnírdvā́rā vyṛ́ṇvati ǁ
When Agni unites his supreme will with the fierce energies (taviṣī) of the Maruts, his divine force becomes irresistible, flowing forth to nourish the zealous seeker. By his majestic might, he drives the distribution of divine treasures, ensuring that the wealth of spiritual and material abundance flows directly to humanity. He shields the devotee from crooked paths, false accusations, and distress. He is the great traveler and universal agent holding wealth in his right hand like a swift runner who never tires. He reaches out to offer every sincere worker's oblation to the gods, throwing open the doors of divine abundance for the noble doer of good deeds.
Verse 5: When his will mingles with the powers of the Maruts, his vital bounty flows to the zealous seeker. Indeed, by his majesty, he drives the distribution of treasures, shielding us from crooked distress and malicious blame.
Verse 6: All-pervading, restless, and wealthy, he holds riches in his right hand like a swift runner, never tiring in his quest for glory. He conveys every seeker's oblation to the gods and flings open the gates of treasure for the righteous doer.
Sāyaṇa explains 'right hand' as the direction of active giving, while modern esoteric readings view it as the embodiment of divine efficacy and direct grace.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| तविषीषु | táviṣīṣu | In vigorous strengths or powers |
| मरुताम् | marútām | Of the Maruts (storm-gods) |
| वसूनाम् | vásūnām | Of goods, treasures, wealth |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| विहायः | víhāyāḥ | Far-striding, expansive |
| दक्षिणे | dákṣiṇe | In the right hand |
| इषुध्यते | íṣudhyate | For the one who strives or desires |
Picture a generous monarch standing at the city gates with open arms and a heavy pouch of gold in his right hand, ready to reward every industrious citizen.
Verses 7, 8
स मानु॑षे वृ॒जने॒ शंत॑मो हि॒तो॒३॒॑ऽग्निर्य॒ज्ञेषु॒ जेन्यो॒ न वि॒श्पतिः॑ प्रि॒यो य॒ज्ञेषु॑ वि॒श्पतिः॑ । स ह॒व्या मानु॑षाणामि॒ळा कृ॒तानि॑ पत्यते । स न॑स्त्रासते॒ वरु॑णस्य धू॒र्तेर्म॒हो दे॒वस्य॑ धू॒र्तेः ॥
sá mā́nuṣe vṛjáne śáṃtamo hitó’gníryajñéṣu jényo ná viśpátiḥ priyó yajñéṣu viśpátiḥ ǀ sá havyā́ mā́nuṣāṇāmiḷā́ kṛtā́ni patyate ǀ sá nastrāsate váruṇasya dhūrtérmahó devásya dhūrtéḥ ǁ
अ॒ग्निं होता॑रमीळते॒ वसु॑धितिं प्रि॒यं चेति॑ष्ठमर॒तिं न्ये॑रिरे हव्य॒वाहं॒ न्ये॑रिरे । वि॒श्वायुं॑ वि॒श्ववे॑दसं॒ होता॑रं यज॒तं क॒विं । दे॒वासो॑ र॒ण्वमव॑से वसू॒यवो॑ गी॒र्भी र॒ण्वं व॑सू॒यवः॑ ॥
agním hótāramīḷate vásudhitim priyám cétiṣṭhamaratím nyérire havyavā́ham nyérire ǀ viśvā́yum viśvávedasam hótāram yajatám kavím ǀ devā́so raṇvámávase vasūyávo gīrbhī́ raṇvám vasūyávaḥ ǁ
In these final verses, Agni is celebrated as the ultimate peace-bringer and master of the human settlement (viśpati), cherished in every gathering like a beloved tribal lord. He takes possession of all the sacred offerings prepared by human hands, mastering the divine accord between mortals and immortals. More than that, he acts as an impenetrable shield, guarding the community from the overwhelming wrath or harm of great deities like Varuṇa. Thus, the glowing collective invokes Agni as the bearer of oblations, the all-knowing seer, and the beloved guest. Adorned with hymns by seekers of wealth, the very gods themselves awaken Agni to radiant action, securing his joyful presence for their own protection and grace.
Verse 7: He is placed within the human settlement as the greatest bringer of peace, victor in sacrifices like a beloved lord of the people. He takes charge of human oblations made with devotion, and he guards us from the harming wrath of great Varuṇa.
Verse 8: They invoke Agni as the Hotṛ priest, the giver of wealth, beloved, most observant, the conveyor of oblations. All-knowing and wise, the gods themselves awaken this joyful seer with hymns, seeking his protection.
The mention of Varuṇa's 'dhūrti' (harm/stroke) refers to the awe-inspiring, binding judgment of cosmic law that mortals naturally fear, from which Agni's mediation offers loving sanctuary.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| शंतमः | śáṃtamaḥ | Most auspicious, bringing highest peace |
| विश्पतिः | viśpátiḥ | Lord of the clan or people |
| वरुणस्य | váruṇasya | Of Varuṇa (god of moral law and cosmic bounds) |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| वसुधितिम् | vásudhitim | Bestower or holder of wealth |
| हव्यवाहम् | havyavā́ham | Bearer of the oblations |
| कविम् | kavím | The seer, wise poet |
Envision a grand community circle gathered around a towering central fire, singing praises together while the smoke carries their unified prayers straight to the starry heavens.