🌐 Language:

Rigveda · Maṇḍala 1

Rigveda Maṇḍala 1, Sūkta 188: The Apri Hymn of Awakening and Divine Order

📜 11 Verses

Act 1

The Kindling of the Inner Flame and the First Offerings

Verses 1, 2, 3

Verse 1

समि॑द्धो अ॒द्य रा॑जसि दे॒वो दे॒वैः स॑हस्रजित् । दू॒तो ह॒व्या क॒विर्व॑ह ॥

sámiddho adyá rājasi devó deváiḥ sahasrajit ǀ dūtó havyā́ kavírvaha ǁ

Verse 2

तनू॑नपादृ॒तं य॒ते मध्वा॑ य॒ज्ञः सम॑ज्यते । दध॑त्सह॒स्रिणी॒रिषः॑ ॥

tánūnapādṛtám yaté mádhvā yajñáḥ sámajyate ǀ dádhatsahasríṇīríṣaḥ ǁ

Verse 3

आ॒जुह्वा॑नो न॒ ईड्यो॑ दे॒वाँ आ व॑क्षि य॒ज्ञिया॑न् । अग्ने॑ सहस्र॒सा अ॑सि ॥

ājúhvāno na ī́ḍyo devā́m̐ ā́ vakṣi yajñíyān ǀ ágne sahasrasā́ asi ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

As the sacred dawn breaks, the ritual begins with the ignition of Agni, the divine messenger and seer who bridges earth and heaven. In these opening verses, the Ṛṣi Agastya or an associated seer invokes Agni in his primordial forms: first as samiddha, the brilliantly kindled fire that conquers a thousand enemies of darkness, and then as Tanūnapāt, the fiery birth of energy that sustains the cosmic order (ṛta). Agni is not merely a physical flame here; he is the inner consciousness that carries our heartfelt aspirations and oblations directly to the luminous assembly of the gods. The poetry pulses with rhythmic intensity as the seer calls upon Agni to bring forward the divine powers (yajñiyān devān). The relationship established is deeply intimate yet cosmic—the human seeker offers the butter of devotion (madhu), and the divine flame responds by manifesting infinite abundance and grace. Through these verses, we are reminded that every spiritual journey must begin with the awakening of inner clarity and focused intent.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 1: Brilliantly kindled today, you shine forth as the divine conqueror of a thousand realms, O Agni, the messenger and wise seer who bears our oblations.

Verse 2: O Tanūnapāt, upholding the cosmic order for the striving seeker, the sacrifice is anointed with sweetness, yielding thousandfold bounty.

Verse 3: Accepting our invocation, you are worthy of praise; bring hither the divine powers, O Agni, for you are the source of a thousandfold gains.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

The translation closely follows traditional Vedic exegesis (Sāyaṇa), where names like Tanūnapāt and Agni are treated as epithets of the sacrificial fire. Sri Aurobindo's psychological interpretation views these early deities as psychological faculties—Agni representing the divine will and aspiration rising from the mortal consciousness.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 1

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
समिद्धः	samiddhaḥ	well-kindled, blazing
राजसि	rājasi	you shine, rule
सहस्रजित्	sahasrajit	conquering a thousand

Verse 2

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
तनूनपात्	tanūnapāt	son of the body, a name of Agni
ऋतम्	ṛtam	truth, cosmic law, order
मध्वा	madhvā	with honey, sweet offering

Verse 3

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
ईड्यः	īḍyaḥ	worthy of praise, adorable
यज्ञियान्	yajñiyān	worthy of sacrifice, divine
सहस्रसाः	sahasrasāḥ	bestowing a thousandfold

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture a hearth fire suddenly flaring up in the dark forest of the mind, instantly communicating with the stars above—that is Agni acting as the divine messenger.

Act 2

The Sacred Grass, Cosmic Doors, and the Dawns of Illumination

Verses 4, 5, 6

Verse 4

प्रा॒चीनं॑ ब॒र्हिरोज॑सा स॒हस्र॑वीरमस्तृणन् । यत्रा॑दित्या वि॒राज॑थ ॥

prācī́nam barhírójasā sahásravīramastṛṇan ǀ yátrādityā virā́jatha ǁ

Verse 5

वि॒राट् स॒म्राड्वि॒भ्वीः प्र॒भ्वीर्ब॒ह्वीश्च॒ भूय॑सीश्च॒ याः । दुरो॑ घृ॒तान्य॑क्षरन् ॥

virā́ṭ samrā́ḍvibhvī́ḥ prabhvī́rbahvī́śca bhū́yasīśca yā́ḥ ǀ dúro ghṛtā́nyakṣaran ǁ

Verse 6

सु॒रु॒क्मे हि सु॒पेश॒साधि॑ श्रि॒या वि॒राज॑तः । उ॒षासा॒वेह सी॑दतां ॥

surukmé hí supéśasā́dhi śriyā́ virā́jataḥ ǀ uṣā́sāvéhá sīdatām ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

The ritual space now expands into a grand cosmic architecture. In verse 4, the barhis (sacred strewn grass) is spread with vast spiritual power (ojas)—it is described as 'sahasra-vīram,' populated by thousands of heroes or potent energies, serving as the seat where the Ādityas (solar deities) manifest their majestic presence. The physical altar mirrors the vast universe itself. Next, the doors of the sacrificial enclosure open wide. These are not mere wooden doors; they are the cosmic portals (duraḥ) that let flow the streams of divine light and butter (ghṛta). They are described as vast, sovereign, and all-encompassing. Following them, the twin Dawns (Uṣāsā) arrive, adorned with golden ornaments and supreme radiance, taking their rightful place in the ritual arena to herald the full majesty of the divine daylight.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 4: With mighty power they have spread the eastward-facing sacred grass, rich in heroic energies, where you, O Ādityas, reign in splendor.

Verse 5: Vast, sovereign, expansive, and manifold, the cosmic doors stream forth with rivers of clarifying butter and light.

Verse 6: Wearing golden ornaments and lovely forms, shining forth in supreme beauty, may the two Dawns take their seat here.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Sāyaṇa interprets the 'doors' literally as the doors of the sacrificial hall, while Yāska and later esoteric commentators view them as the openings of the subtle body or the gates of the inner consciousness through which divine illumination enters.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 4

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
बर्हिः	barhiḥ	sacred strewn grass
सहस्रवीरम्	sahasra-vīram	rich in thousandfold heroes/powers
आदित्याः	ādityāḥ	the solar gods, sons of Aditi

Verse 5

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
विराट्	virāṭ	shining far, universal ruler
सम्राट्	samrāṭ	supreme emperor
घृतानि	ghṛtāni	clarified butter, streams of light

Verse 6

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
सुरुक्मे	surukme	beautifully adorned with gold
सुपेशसा	supeśasā	well-fashioned, exquisitely formed
उषासौ	uṣasau	the two dawns (morning and evening or dual aspect)

🧠

Memory Hook

Imagine ancient palace gates swinging open at sunrise, and streams of golden golden light pouring through into a pristine courtyard—this is the imagery of the doors and the dawns.

Act 3

The Divine Hotārs, the Goddesses, and the Divine Sculptor

Verses 7, 8, 9

Verse 7

प्र॒थ॒मा हि सु॒वाच॑सा॒ होता॑रा॒ दैव्या॑ क॒वी । य॒ज्ञं नो॑ यक्षतामि॒मं ॥

prathamā́ hí suvā́casā hótārā dáivyā kavī́ ǀ yajñám no yakṣatāmimám ǁ

Verse 8

भार॒तीळे॒ सर॑स्वति॒ या वः॒ सर्वा॑ उपब्रु॒वे । ता न॑श्चोदयत श्रि॒ये ॥

bhā́ratī́ḷe sárasvati yā́ vaḥ sárvā upabruvé ǀ tā́ naścodayata śriyé ǁ

Verse 9

त्वष्टा॑ रू॒पाणि॒ हि प्र॒भुः प॒शून्विश्वा॑न्त्समान॒जे । तेषां॑ नः स्फा॒तिमा य॑ज ॥

tváṣṭā rūpā́ṇi hí prabhúḥ paśū́nvíśvāntsamānajé ǀ téṣām naḥ sphātímā́ yaja ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

With the altar prepared and the gates open, the divine priests and presiding deities of invocation step forward. Verse 7 introduces the twin divine Hotārs (Hotārā Daivyā Kavī), the primordial master-poets of the sacrifice who articulate the prayer of humanity with perfect utterance (suvācasā). They guide our worship directly into the spiritual planes. Next, the three great goddesses—Bhāratī, Iḷā, and Sarasvatī—are invoked together. They represent the vast streams of sacred inspiration, nourishment, and fluent divine wisdom. Following them comes Tvaṣṭā, the divine cosmic architect and sculptor, who fashions the forms of all living creatures and imbues the universe with tangible manifestation. The Ṛṣi asks Tvaṣṭā to grant us the growth of our herds and spiritual abundance.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 7: May the two divine, wise Hotārs, ever foremost and eloquent in speech, perform this our sacrifice.

Verse 8: O Bhāratī, Iḷā, and Sarasvatī—all of you whom I invoke—may you urge us onward toward supreme radiance and prosperity.

Verse 9: Tvaṣṭā, the sovereign lord, has fashioned all forms and created all creatures; may he grant us increase and prosperity.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Bhāratī, Iḷā, and Sarasvatī are the classical Āprī goddesses. In esoteric readings, they represent the descending currents of Light, Truth, and Inspiration that elevate the human mind to higher states of being.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 7

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
होतारा	hotārā	the two invoking priests
दैव्या	daivyā	divine, celestial
सुवाचसा	suvācasā	eloquent, speaking well

Verse 8

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
भारती	bhāratī	goddess of vast expression (associated with rhythm)
इळे	iḷe	goddess of revelation and nourishment
सरस्वति	sarasvati	goddess of flowing inspiration and wisdom

Verse 9

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
त्वष्टा	tvaṣṭā	the divine artisan, Tvaṣṭr
रूपाणि	rūpāṇi	forms, shapes
स्फातिम्	sphātim	abundance, growth, thriving

🧠

Memory Hook

Think of a master artisan molding clay while three wise muses whisper poetry in the background—this captures the synergy of Tvaṣṭā and the goddesses.

Act 4

The Forest Lord and the Culmination in Svāhā

Verses 10, 11

Verse 10

उप॒ त्मन्या॑ वनस्पते॒ पाथो॑ दे॒वेभ्यः॑ सृज । अ॒ग्निर्ह॒व्यानि॑ सिष्वदत् ॥

úpa tmányā vanaspate pā́tho devébhyaḥ sṛja ǀ agnírhavyā́ni siṣvadat ǁ

Verse 11

पु॒रो॒गा अ॒ग्निर्दे॒वानां॑ गाय॒त्रेण॒ सम॑ज्यते । स्वाहा॑कृतीषु रोचते ॥

purogā́ agnírdevā́nām gāyatréṇa sámajyate ǀ svā́hākṛtīṣu rocate ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

The Sūkta reaches its magnificent climax. In verse 10, Vanaspati—the Lord of the Forest, representing the wooden sacrificial post or the tree of life—is asked to transmit the sweet nourishment directly to the gods, while Agni sweetens and perfects the oblations. Finally, verse 11 portrays Agni as the ultimate leader (purogāḥ) of the gods, harmonizing with the sacred Gāyatrī meter. As the oblations are offered with the mantric utterance of 'Svāhā,' Agni blazes forth in radiant delight, sealing the sacrifice in perfect unity between humanity and the divine.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 10: O Vanaspati, by your own essence, impart sweetness to the gods, and let Agni make the offerings sweet.

Verse 11: Agni, the leader of the gods, is united with the Gāyatrī meter and shines radiantly within the sacred 'Svāhā' invocations.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

The mention of the Gāyatrī meter in verse 11 highlights the structural sanctity of Vedic meters, which are viewed not merely as poetic devices, but as cosmic rhythms that sustain the creation.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 10

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
वनस्पते	vanaspate	lord of the forest, tree, sacrificial post
पाथः	pāthaḥ	dwelling, nourishment, water
सिष्वदत्	siṣvadat	made sweet, relished

Verse 11

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
पुरोगाः	puraḥgāḥ	going before, leader
गायत्रेण	gāyatreṇa	with the Gāyatrī meter/hymn
स्वाहाकृतीषु	svāhākṛtīṣu	in the sacrificial offerings accompanied by Svāhā

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture a magnificent tree offering its fruits to the fire, while the chant of Gāyatrī rises into the sky with a brilliant flash of light—the ultimate consummation of the ritual.