Rigveda Mandala 1, Sukta 150: The Invocation of Agni's Protection and Subdual of the Ungenerous

📜 3 Verses

Act 1

Act I: Seeking Agni's Shelter and Vanquishing the Ungenerous

Verses 1, 2, 3

Verse 1

पु॒रु त्वा॑ दा॒श्वान्वो॑चे॒ऽरिर॑ग्ने॒ तव॑ स्वि॒दा । तो॒दस्ये॑व शर॒ण आ म॒हस्य॑ ॥

purú tvā dāśvā́nvoce’ríragne táva svidā́ ǀ todásyeva śaraṇá ā́ mahásya ǁ

Verse 2

व्य॑नि॒नस्य॑ ध॒निनः॑ प्रहो॒षे चि॒दर॑रुषः । क॒दा च॒न प्र॒जिग॑तो॒ अदे॑वयोः ॥

vyáninásya dhanínaḥ prahoṣé cidáraruṣaḥ ǀ kadā́ caná prajígato ádevayoḥ ǁ

Verse 3

स चं॒द्रो वि॑प्र॒ मर्त्यो॑ म॒हो व्राधं॑तमो दि॒वि । प्रप्रेत्ते॑ अग्ने व॒नुषः॑ स्याम ॥

sá candró vipra mártyo mahó vrā́dhantamo diví ǀ práprétte agne vanúṣaḥ syāma ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

In this powerful hymn composed by the Rishi Dirghatamas, Agni is approached not merely as a physical flame on the altar, but as a divine refuge and a force that keeps cosmic and moral order. In the opening verse, the worshipper declares that many a pious giver has praised Agni, seeking Him like the protective shade or shelter offered by a mighty lord or driver of the goad. Agni is visualized as a fortress of calm and defense for those who approach with devotion. Moving into the second verse, the Rishi addresses Agni's capacity to quell the stingy and hostile forces. Agni scatters and brings to nought the wealth of the ungenerous, of the malicious, and of those who turn away from the divine order (adevayu). These forces, though wealthy or stubborn in their opposition, can never outrun or surpass the penetrating, purifying flame of divine awareness. The final verse brings a profound aspiration: may the mortal worshipper, illuminated by Agni, become radiant like the moon and established in the heavens like the highest, growing light. The Rishi concludes with an ardent prayer that we may ever remain devoted zealously to Agni, drawing close to Him in affectionate worship.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 1: Many a pious giver has praised Thee, O Agni, as their true refuge and shelter, like the protective shade of a mighty leader.

Verse 2: Thou exhaustest and bringest to nothing the wealth of the rich man who is hostile, ungenerous, and ever estranged from the gods.

Verse 3: O inspired sage, may the mortal worshipper shine like the moon and grow into the highest light of heaven, ever devoted to Thee.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

The translation follows traditional ritualistic explanations by Sayana regarding Agni's role in protecting the sacrificer and penalizing the non-sacrificing wealthy (the panis or ararus). Esoterically, as interpreted through modern psychological lenses, Agni represents the inner divine will that burns away egoistic hoarding and illumines the mortal mind until it reaches celestial brilliance.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 1

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
पुरु	puru	much, many times
त्वा	tvā	thee
दाश्वान्	dāśvān	the pious worshipper, offerer of oblations
अग्ने	agne	O Agni
शरणे	śaraṇe	in the refuge or shelter

Verse 2

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
धनिनः	dhaninaḥ	of the wealthy man
अररुषः	araruṣaḥ	of the niggardly or hostile person
अदेवयोः	adeva-yoḥ	of those who are devoid of divine devotion

Verse 3

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
चन्द्रः	candraḥ	shining, moon-like, radiant
विप्र	vipra	O inspired sage or enlightened poet
मर्त्यः	martyaḥ	mortal human being
दिवि	divi	in the sky or heaven

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture a blazing hearth fire casting a warm, protective shield against a dark, stormy night while consuming the arrogance of the stingy—that is Agni guarding His devotee.