🌐 Language:

Rigveda · Maṇḍala 1

Rigveda Maṇḍala 1, Sūkta 27: The Chariot of Agni and Universal Reverence

📜 13 Verses

Act 1

Act I: Steed of the Sacrifice and Guardian of Rta

Verses 1, 2, 3

Verse 1

अश्वं॒ न त्वा॒ वार॑वंतं वं॒दध्या॑ अ॒ग्निं नमो॑भिः । स॒म्राजं॑तमध्व॒राणां॑ ॥

áśvam ná tvā vā́ravantam vandádhyā agním námobhiḥ ǀ samrā́jantamadhvarā́ṇām ǁ

Verse 2

स घा॑ नः सू॒नुः शव॑सा पृ॒थुप्र॑गामा सु॒शेवः॑ । मी॒ढ्वाँ अ॒स्माकं॑ बभूयात् ॥

sá ghā naḥ sūnúḥ śávasā pṛthúpragāmā suśévaḥ ǀ mīḍhvā́m̐ asmā́kam babhūyāt ǁ

Verse 3

स नो॑ दू॒राच्चा॒साच्च॒ नि मर्त्या॑दघा॒योः । पा॒हि सद॒मिद्वि॒श्वायुः॑ ॥

sá no dūrā́ccāsā́cca ní mártyādaghāyóḥ ǀ pāhí sádamídviśvā́yuḥ ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

In these opening verses of Sūkta 27, the Ṛṣi approaches Agni not merely as a physical flame on the altar, but as a magnificent, high-stepping steed harnessed to the divine chariot of sacrifice. The comparison of Agni to a warhorse (vāra-vantam aśvam) highlights his dynamic energy, swiftness, and capacity to carry human aspirations across the threshold of the mortal and immortal realms. He is the supreme ruler (samrāj) of the sacred rites (adhvara). Building upon this image, the Ṛṣi portrays Agni as a bountiful son of strength—wide-striding and deeply benevolent, showering gifts upon the worshipper. Because Agni is the cosmic protector, the seeker appeals to him for safety from all directions: from near and far, guarding the mortal from the malice of hostile, deceitful forces. This establishes Agni as a steadfast, lifelong companion whose presence shields the human soul from spiritual and material perils.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 1: With reverent prostrations, I approach Agni as one might yoke a powerful, high-stepping steed, the sovereign lord of all sacred rites.

Verse 2: May that very son of strength, wide-striding and infinitely kind, become the bountiful bestower of blessings upon us.

Verse 3: Protect us, O eternal life-sustainer, from malevolent mortals, both from near and from afar, now and forever.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Sāyaṇa interprets 'samrājantam adhvarāṇām' as the ruler who presides over yajñas, while psychological commentators view the 'steed' as the vital life-energy (prāṇa) harnessed through discipline to conquer inner obstacles.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 1

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
अश्वम्	aśvam	horse, steed
वारवन्तम्	vāravantam	possessing fine hair or tail, energetic
अग्निम्	agnim	Agni, the divine fire
सम्राजन्तमध्वराणाम्	samrājantamadhvarāṇām	the sovereign ruler of the sacrifices

Verse 2

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
सूनुः	sūnuḥ	son, offspring
शवसा	śavasā	by strength, might
पृथुप्रगामा	pṛthupragāmā	wide-striding, moving far and wide
सुशेवः	suśevaḥ	very benevolent, deeply comforting

Verse 3

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
दूरात्	dūrāt	from afar
आसात्	āsāt	from near
अघयोः	aghayoḥ	of the malicious, harmful person
विश्वआयुः	viśvāyuḥ	sustaining all life, enduring through all ages

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture a magnificent white warhorse saddled with gold and ready to gallop across the cosmos; that steed is Agni carrying your prayers away from harm.

Act 2

Act II: The New Song and the Flowing Riches

Verses 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Verse 4

इ॒ममू॒ षु त्वम॒स्माकं॑ स॒निं गा॑य॒त्रं नव्यां॑सं । अग्ने॑ दे॒वेषु॒ प्र वो॑चः ॥

imámū ṣú tvámasmā́kam saním gāyatrám návyāṃsam ǀ ágne devéṣu prá vocaḥ ǁ

Verse 5

आ नो॑ भज पर॒मेष्वा वाजे॑षु मध्य॒मेषु॑ । शिक्षा॒ वस्वो॒ अंत॑मस्य ॥

ā́ no bhaja paraméṣvā́ vā́jeṣu madhyaméṣu ǀ śíkṣā vásvo ántamasya ǁ

Verse 6

वि॒भ॒क्तासि॑ चित्रभानो॒ सिंधो॑रू॒र्मा उ॑पा॒क आ । स॒द्यो दा॒शुषे॑ क्षरसि ॥

vibhaktā́si citrabhāno síndhorūrmā́ upāká ā́ ǀ sadyó dāśúṣe kṣarasi ǁ

Verse 7

यम॑ग्ने पृ॒त्सु मर्त्य॒मवा॒ वाजे॑षु॒ यं जु॒नाः । स यंता॒ शश्व॑ती॒रिषः॑ ॥

yámagne pṛtsú mártyamávā vā́jeṣu yám junā́ḥ ǀ sá yántā śáśvatīríṣaḥ ǁ

Verse 8

नकि॑रस्य सहंत्य पर्ये॒ता कय॑स्य चित् । वाजो॑ अस्ति श्र॒वाय्यः॑ ॥

nákirasya sahantya paryetā́ káyasya cit ǀ vā́jo asti śravā́yyaḥ ǁ

Verse 9

स वाजं॑ वि॒श्वच॑र्षणि॒रर्व॑द्भिरस्तु॒ तरु॑ता । विप्रे॑भिरस्तु॒ सनि॑ता ॥

sá vā́jam viśvácarṣaṇirárvadbhirastu tárutā ǀ víprebhirastu sánitā ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

Here, the Ṛṣi offers a fresh, newly minted song of praise (navyāṃsam gāyatram), asking Agni to present it before the assembly of the gods. This act emphasizes Agni's role as the divine messenger and priest who bridges human utterance with celestial hearing. The poet implores Agni to allot them shares in the highest, middle, and earthly treasures (vāja), teaching us that divine grace operates across all planes of existence. Further developing this theme, Agni is described as a distributor of wealth, flowing like the currents of a great river near the shore, ever ready to pour abundance upon the liberal giver (dāśuṣe). Whether in the clash of battles (pṛtsu) or in the pursuit of spiritual vigor, Agni is the ultimate guide and sustainer. No one can circumvent his supreme bounty, and his victorious energy is driven forward by swift horses and inspired sages.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 4: Do you, O Agni, now proclaim this fresh and vibrant hymn of ours among the gathered gods.

Verse 5: Grant us a share in supreme and middle boons, and bestow upon us the treasures closest at hand.

Verse 6: O master of wondrous light, you are the distributor, flowing close by the waves of the river, ever ready to pour upon the donor.

Verse 7: That mortal whom you protect in battles, O Agni, and whom you spur on toward victory, becomes the wielder of perpetual light and sustenance.

Verse 8: O formidable one, no one can bypass his wealth, nor can anyone evade the prize that is truly worthy of renown.

Verse 9: May that all-observing Agni be the victor of prizes through swift steeds, and may he be the conqueror alongside inspired sages.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Yāska connects 'vāja' not just to physical food or prize horses, but to dynamic spiritual energy and divine illumination that triumphs over inner darkness.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 4

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
अस्माकम्	asmākam	our
सनित्	sanit	gain, acquisition
गायत्रम्	gāyatram	song, sacred hymn
नव्यांसम्	navyāṃsam	newer, fresher

Verse 5

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
परमेषु	parameṣu	in the highest (planes/treasures)
वाजेषु	vājeṣu	in vigor, prizes, wealth
मध्यमेषु	madhyameṣu	in middle realms
वस्वः	vasvaḥ	of wealth, riches

Verse 6

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
विभक्ता	vibhaktā	distributor, allotter
चित्रभानो	citrabhāno	O one of wondrous brilliance
सिन्धोः	sindhoḥ	of the river, ocean
क्षरसि	kṣarasi	you flow, stream forth

Verse 7

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
पृत्सु	pṛtsu	in battles, conflicts
अवाः	avāḥ	you protect, favor
जुनाः	junāḥ	you impel, urge on
यन्ता	yantā	controller, guide, wielder

Verse 8

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
सहन्त्य	sahantya	O mighty, conquering one
परिएता	parietā	one who goes around, evaluator
वाजः	vājaḥ	prize, treasure, vigor
श्रवाय्यः	śravāyyaḥ	worthy of fame, glorious

Verse 9

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
विश्वचर्षणिः	viśvacarṣaṇiḥ	beholding all men, universal
अर्वद्भिः	arvadbhiḥ	with steeds/horses
तरुता	tarutā	overcomer, victor
सनिता	sanitā	gain-getter, bestower

🧠

Memory Hook

Imagine a rushing river of molten gold fed by mountain springs, symbolizing Agni's ceaseless flow of blessings to those who sing new hymns of praise.

Act 3

Act III: The Awakening of Rudra-Agni and Universal Obeisance

Verses 10, 11, 12, 13

Verse 10

जरा॑बोध॒ तद्वि॑विड्ढि वि॒शेवि॑शे य॒ज्ञिया॑य । स्तोमं॑ रु॒द्राय॒ दृशी॑कं ॥

járābodha tádviviḍḍhi viśéviśe yajñíyāya ǀ stómam rudrā́ya dṛ́śīkam ǁ

Verse 11

स नो॑ म॒हाँ अ॑निमा॒नो धू॒मके॑तुः पुरुश्चं॒द्रः । धि॒ये वाजा॑य हिन्वतु ॥

sá no mahā́m̐ animānó dhūmáketuḥ puruścandráḥ ǀ dhiyé vā́jāya hinvatu ǁ

Verse 12

स रे॒वाँ इ॑व वि॒श्पति॒र्दैव्यः॑ के॒तुः शृ॑णोतु नः । उ॒क्थैर॒ग्निर्बृ॒हद्भा॑नुः ॥

sá revā́m̐ iva viśpátirdáivyaḥ ketúḥ śṛṇotu naḥ ǀ uktháiragnírbṛhádbhānuḥ ǁ

Verse 13

नमो॑ म॒हद्भ्यो॒ नमो॑ अर्भ॒केभ्यो॒ नमो॒ युव॑भ्यो॒ नम॑ आशि॒नेभ्यः॑ । यजा॑म दे॒वान्यदि॑ श॒क्नवा॑म॒ मा ज्याय॑सः॒ शंस॒मा वृ॑क्षि देवाः ॥

námo mahádbhyo námo arbhakébhyo námo yúvabhyo náma āśinébhyaḥ ǀ yájāma devā́nyádi śaknávāma mā́ jyā́yasaḥ śáṃsamā́ vṛkṣi devāḥ ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

In the concluding movement of the Sūkta, the Ṛṣi invokes Agni under profound epithets, connecting him to Rudra—the fierce, healing roar of divinity. The poet calls upon the chanter (jarābodha) to clearly articulate the brilliant praise for every clan and for the sacrificial deity. Agni is visualized as great, measureless, smoke-bannered (dhūmaketu), and manifoldly shining, urging us toward higher wisdom and vigor. The final verse is a masterpiece of universal humility and inclusion. The Ṛṣi bows down to the elders, the young, the children, and the dependents, recognizing the divine spark in every strata of community. The hymn closes with a prayer that human sacrifice and aspiration may reach the gods without trespassing upon the high cosmic order.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 10: O waker of dawn songs, make this brilliant hymn manifest for every single clan to honor the sacrificial Rudra.

Verse 11: May that great, immeasurable, smoke-bannered Agni of manifold splendor impel us toward insight and vital energy.

Verse 12: Like a wealthy lord of the clan, may that divine banner, Agni of vast radiance, hear us amidst our spoken hymns.

Verse 13: Obeisance to the elders, obeisance to the juniors, obeisance to the youths, obeisance to the children; we worship the gods as best as we can—may we not injure the lofty praise of the mighty ones, O gods!

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Sāyaṇa explains the transition to Rudra here as an identification of Agni's terrifying yet healing aspect. Sri Aurobindo highlights the final verse as an early articulation of democratic spiritual reverence where all levels of human life share equally in the divine heritage.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 10

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
जराबोध	jarābodha	awakener through praise
विविढ्ढि	viviḍḍhi	pervade, accomplish, manifest
विशेविशे	viśeviśe	to clan and clan, for every settlement
रुद्राय	rudrāya	to Rudra (the roaring/healing god)

Verse 11

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
अनिमानः	animānaḥ	immeasurable, boundless
धूमकेतुः	dhūmaketuḥ	smoke-bannered
पुरुचन्द्रः	purucandraḥ	shining brightly in many ways
हिन्वतु	hinvatu	may he impel, urge on

Verse 12

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
रेवानिव	revāniva	like a wealthy, opulent man
विश्पतिः	viśpatiḥ	lord of the settlement/people
दैव्यः केतुः	daivyaḥ ketuḥ	divine beacon/banner
बृहद्भानुः	bṛhadbhānuḥ	of vast brilliance

Verse 13

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
महद्भ्यः	mahatbhyaḥ	to the great ones, elders
अर्भकेभ्यः	arbhakebhyaḥ	to the small ones, children
युवभ्यः	yuvabhyaḥ	to the youths
शक्नवाम	śaknavāma	we may be able

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture a community sitting around a great hearth fire at night, bowing respectfully to every generation from infant to sage, while smoke carries their unified prayer to the stars.