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Rigveda · Maṇḍala 1

Invoking the Thirty-Three: Agni as the Divine Host and Priest

📜 10 Verses

Act 1

Summoning the Cosmic Host and the Thirty-Three Gods

Verses 1, 2

Verse 1

त्वम॑ग्ने॒ वसूँ॑रि॒ह रु॒द्राँ आ॑दि॒त्याँ उ॒त । यजा॑ स्वध्व॒रं जनं॒ मनु॑जातं घृत॒प्रुषं॑ ॥

tvámagne vásūm̐rihá rudrā́m̐ ādityā́m̐ utá ǀ yájā svadhvarám jánam mánujātam ghṛtaprúṣam ǁ

Verse 2

श्रु॒ष्टी॒वानो॒ हि दा॒शुषे॑ दे॒वा अ॑ग्ने॒ विचे॑तसः । तान्रो॑हिदश्व गिर्वण॒स्त्रय॑स्त्रिंशत॒मा व॑ह ॥

śruṣṭīvā́no hí dāśúṣe devā́ agne vícetasaḥ ǀ tā́nrohidaśva girvaṇastráyastriṃśatamā́ vaha ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

In these opening verses of Sūkta 45, the Ṛṣi Praśaṁsa or Praskaṇva turns to Agni with an expansive vision of the divine hierarchy. Agni is not merely the terrestrial flame on the altar; he is the great cosmic coordinator who knows how to reach across the realms. The Ṛṣi asks Agni to bring hither the Vasus, the Rudras, and the Ādityas—the foundational archetypes of light, storm, and boundless space that constitute the universal order. Furthermore, Agni is implored to transport the entire assembly of the thirty-three divine entities to the sacrifice. The imagery of Agni as a charioteer whose steed is red (rohit-aśva) underscores his swift and fiery transport. He is the divine priest who bridges the gap between human invocation and celestial presence, ensuring that the sacred rite is attended by the full majesty of the cosmos.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 1: O Agni, do thou sacrifice here for the well-conducted rite, bringing the Vasus, the Rudras, and the Ādityas—the human-born race that distills the sacred butter.

Verse 2: For the gods are yielding to the pious worshipper, O Agni, ever-wise and wondrous; do thou, whose steed is red, bring hither the thirty-three, O praised of singers.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

The translation adheres closely to Sāyaṇa's commentary regarding the 'thirty-three' gods (the 8 Vasus, 11 Rudras, 12 Ādityas, plus Dyaus and Pṛthivī or Indra and Prajāpati). Symbolically, Sri Aurobindo views these numbers as psychological states of consciousness that Agni integrates within the human seeker.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 1

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
त्वम्	tvam	thou
अग्ने	agne	O Agni
वसून्	vasūn	the Vasus (luminous deities)
रुद्रान्	rudrān	the Rudras (roarers, storm deities)
आदित्यान्	ādityān	the Ādityas (sons of Aditi, solar gods)
घृतप्रुषम्	ghṛta-pruṣam	sprinkling or dripping with clarified butter

Verse 2

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
श्रुष्टीवानः	śruṣṭī-vānaḥ	obedient, compliant, yielding
दाशुषे	dāśuṣe	to the giver of offerings, the pious worshipper
विचेतसः	vi-cetasaḥ	wise, discerning, all-knowing
रोहितअश्व	rohit-aśva	having red or ruddy horses
त्रयस्त्रिंशतम्	trayaḥ-triṃśatam	thirty-three (the total number of Vedic deities)

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture Agni as a celestial bus driver with a fiery red chariot, rounding up all thirty-three cosmic deities from across the universe and delivering them straight to the earthly firepit.

Act 2

Ancestral Lineage and the Ancient Fire-Seers

Verses 3, 4

Verse 3

प्रि॒य॒मे॒ध॒वद॑त्रि॒वज्जात॑वेदो विरूप॒वत् । अं॒गि॒र॒स्वन्म॑हिव्रत॒ प्रस्क॑ण्वस्य श्रुधी॒ हवं॑ ॥

priyamedhavádatrivájjā́tavedo virūpavát ǀ aṅgirasvánmahivrata práskaṇvasya śrudhī hávam ǁ

Verse 4

महि॑केरव ऊ॒तये॑ प्रि॒यमे॑धा अहूषत । राजं॑तमध्व॒राणा॑म॒ग्निं शु॒क्रेण॑ शो॒चिषा॑ ॥

máhikerava ūtáye priyámedhā ahūṣata ǀ rā́jantamadhvarā́ṇāmagním śukréṇa śocíṣā ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

The Ṛṣi now anchors his current invocation in the profound heritage of the ancient seers. He calls upon Agni as Jātavedas—the Knower of all births and all created things—by invoking the spiritual lineages of Priyamedha, Atri, Virūpa, and the Aṅgirases. This is not mere name-dropping; it is an appeal to the vibrational resonance established by past masters who successfully dialed into the divine frequency. In the fourth verse, the descendants of Priyamedha raise their collective voice (mahīkeravaḥ) for divine protection. They perceive Agni shining brilliantly upon the altars of sacrifice, illuminating the ritual space with his pure, cleansing light. The fire is recognized as the supreme monarch of all devotional acts, bridging human aspiration with transcendent illumination.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 3: Like Priyamedha, like Atri, O Knower of all births, like Virūpa, like an Aṅgiras, O Lord of mighty vows, hearken to the call of Praskaṇva.

Verse 4: Loud-shouting for help, the Priyamedhas have called upon thee, O Agni, who shinest brightly with pure radiance as the king of sacrifices.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Yāska in the Nirukta notes that these ancient names (Atri, Aṅgiras, Priyamedha) represent both historical families of Ṛṣis and psychological qualities of spiritual illumination and mental sharpness.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 3

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
प्रियमेधवत्	priyamedha-vat	like Priyamedha (ancient seer)
अत्रिवत्	atri-vat	like Atri (ancient seer)
जातवेदः	jāta-vedaḥ	O Knower of all created beings
अङ्गिरस्वत्	aṅgirasvat	like the Aṅgirases (primeval fire-priests)
प्रस्कण्वस्य	praskaṇvasya	of Praskaṇva (the Ṛṣi of this hymn)

Verse 4

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
महीकेरवः	mahī-keravaḥ	shouting loudly, roaring with praise
ऊतये	ūtaye	for help, for aid or protection
प्रियमेधाः	priya-medhāḥ	the Priyamedha clan of poets
राजन्तम्	rājantam	shining, reigning as king
शुक्रेण	śukreṇa	with bright, pure, white light

🧠

Memory Hook

Imagine a long relay race where the baton of fire is passed down from Atri and the Aṅgirases straight into the hands of Praskaṇva, keeping the flame burning bright across generations.

Act 3

The Sūnavḥ of Kaṇva: Honeyed Chants and Divine Listening

Verses 5, 6

Verse 5

घृता॑हवन संत्ये॒मा उ॒ षु श्रु॑धी॒ गिरः॑ । याभिः॒ कण्व॑स्य सू॒नवो॒ हवं॒तेऽव॑से त्वा ॥

ghṛ́tāhavana santyemā́ u ṣú śrudhī gíraḥ ǀ yā́bhiḥ káṇvasya sūnávo hávanté’vase tvā ǁ

Verse 6

त्वां चि॑त्रश्रवस्तम॒ हवं॑ते वि॒क्षु जं॒तवः॑ । शो॒चिष्के॑शं पुरुप्रि॒याग्ने॑ ह॒व्याय॒ वोळ्ह॑वे ॥

tvā́m citraśravastama hávante vikṣú jantávaḥ ǀ śocíṣkeśam purupriyā́gne havyā́ya vóḷhave ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

Turning directly to the immediate lineage of the Kaṇva family, the verses overflow with affectionate devotion. Agni is addressed as 'Ghṛtāhavana'—one who is invoked with clarified butter—and 'Santya', the true and steadfast reality. The sons of Kaṇva plead for Agni to incline his ear to their songs, recognizing that prayer is not just talking into the void, but a precise tuning of human consciousness to the divine receiver. Verse six paints a gorgeous portrait of Agni as 'Citraśravastama'—the one most rich in wondrous glories—and 'Śociḥkeśa', whose hair is flame. Across all human settlements (vikṣu jantavaḥ), mortals call upon him because he is the great carrier of oblations (havyāya voḷhave), translating human love and butter into divine nourishment.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 5: O thou who art invoked with ghee, O steadfast one, do thou listen well to these hymns, by which the sons of Kaṇva call upon thee for help.

Verse 6: Thee, most rich in wondrous fame, do mortals in their dwellings call upon—the flame-haired, much-loved Agni, to bear the sacred offerings.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Sāyaṇa explains 'Santya' as 'sat-svarūpa' (one whose nature is true existence). The psychological interpretation highlights how the 'sons of Kaṇva' represent disciplined mental faculties born of spiritual insight seeking divine grace.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 5

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
घृताहवन	ghṛta-āhavana	invoked with or residing in clarified butter
सन्त्य	santya	real, true, steadfast, existing
श्रुधि	śrudhi	hear, listen
कण्वस्य	kaṇvasya	of Kaṇva
सूनवः	sūnavaḥ	sons, descendants

Verse 6

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
चित्रश्रवस्तम	citra-śravastama	most rich in brilliant or wondrous renown
जन्तवः	jantavaḥ	living beings, men, creatures
शोचिष्केशम्	śociḥ-keśam	flame-haired (having hair of fire)
पुरुप्रिय	puru-priya	dear to many, much-loved
वोळ्हवे	voḷhave	to carry, to convey

🧠

Memory Hook

Visualize a campfire with golden sparks dancing like hair in the wind (Śociḥkeśa), while a circle of devoted chanters pours liquid gold (ghee) into the blaze.

Act 4

Establishing the Hotṛ: The Priest with the Wide Ear

Verses 7, 8

Verse 7

नि त्वा॒ होता॑रमृ॒त्विजं॑ दधि॒रे व॑सु॒वित्त॑मं । श्रुत्क॑र्णं स॒प्रथ॑स्तमं॒ विप्रा॑ अग्ने॒ दिवि॑ष्टिषु ॥

ní tvā hótāramṛtvíjam dadhiré vasuvíttamam ǀ śrútkarṇam sapráthastamam víprā agne díviṣṭiṣu ǁ

Verse 8

आ त्वा॒ विप्रा॑ अचुच्यवुः सु॒तसो॑मा अ॒भि प्रयः॑ । बृ॒हद्भा बिभ्र॑तो ह॒विरग्ने॒ मर्ता॑य दा॒शुषे॑ ॥

ā́ tvā víprā acucyavuḥ sutásomā abhí práyaḥ ǀ bṛhádbhā́ bíbhrato havírágne mártāya dāśúṣe ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

The community of sages now formally establishes Agni in their midst. They set him down as the Hotṛ (invoker) and Ṛtvij (sacrificial priest) supreme. He is 'Vasuvittama'—the best finder of treasures—and 'Śrutkarṇa', possessing an ear tuned to hear even the softest whisper of prayer from afar. He is 'Saprathastama', wonderfully broad and expansive in his presence during every sacred ritual (diviṣṭiṣu). In verse eight, the Soma-pressers excite and urge Agni forward with their hymns. They approach him bearing radiant streams of pressed Soma and the shining oblations (bṛhadbhā bibhrato havir), offering these gifts on behalf of the mortal worshipper who seeks divine connection.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 7: The wise sages have set thee down as Hotṛ and Ṛtvij, the best finder of wealth, quick-eared and most expansive, O Agni, at their divine gatherings.

Verse 8: The wise ones, pressing the Soma, have stirred thee up toward the feast of fatness, bearing aloft their bright oblation for the mortal worshipper, O Agni.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Traditional commentators emphasize 'Vasuvittama' not merely as physical wealth, but as the dispenser of spiritual riches (knowledge and bliss). Modern esoteric readings see the 'pressing of Soma' as the extraction of pure inner delight from the physical senses.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 7

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
होतारम्	hotāram	the invoking priest
ऋत्विजम्	ṛtvijam	the seasonal priest, master of ritual timing
वसुवित्तमम्	vasu-vittamam	the best finder or bestower of treasures
श्रुत्कर्णम्	śrut-karṇam	quick-eared, attentive to hearing
सप्रथस्तमम्	saprathaḥ-tamam	most expansive, extending far and wide

Verse 8

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
अचुच्यवुः	acucyavuḥ	have caused to move, stirred up, excited
सुतसोमाः	suta-somāḥ	having pressed the Soma juice
बृहद्भाः	bṛhat-bhāḥ	shining brightly, of great radiance
बिभ्रतः	bibhrataḥ	bearing, carrying
दाशुषे	dāśuṣe	to the pious donor, the worshipper

🧠

Memory Hook

Think of Agni as a cosmic satellite dish with giant ears (Śrutkarṇa) and glowing solar panels, perfectly positioned to capture every single prayer beamed from earth.

Act 5

The Dawn Journey and the Banquet of the Gods

Verses 9, 10

Verse 9

प्रा॒त॒र्याव्णः॑ सहस्कृत सोम॒पेया॑य संत्य । इ॒हाद्य दैव्यं॒ जनं॑ ब॒र्हिरा सा॑दया वसो ॥

prātaryā́vṇaḥ sahaskṛta somapéyāya santya ǀ ihā́dyá dáivyam jánam barhírā́ sādayā vaso ǁ

Verse 10

अ॒र्वांचं॒ दैव्यं॒ जन॒मग्ने॒ यक्ष्व॒ सहू॑तिभिः । अ॒यं सोमः॑ सुदानव॒स्तं पा॑त ति॒रोअ॑ह्न्यं ॥

arvā́ñcam dáivyam jánamágne yákṣva sáhūtibhiḥ ǀ ayám sómaḥ sudānavastám pāta tiróahnyam ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

The hymn culminates in a magnificent morning scene. Agni is addressed as 'Prātaryāvṇan'—traveler at dawn—and 'Sahaskṛta', born of strength or friction. He is entreated to seat the entire divine company upon the sacred grass (barhiṣi) today for the Soma-drinking ceremony. The divine hosts arrive with the morning light, ready to partake in the spiritual feast. In the concluding verse, Agni is urged to bring the divine folk close (arvāñcam daivyam janam) accompanied by all their mutual invocations (sahūtibhiḥ). The hymn ends with a joyous blessing over the pressed Soma: 'This Soma is rich in bounty; do ye drink of it, transcending even the passing of the day!'

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 9: O traveler at dawn, born of power, O steadfast one, seat the divine host today upon the sacred grass here for the drinking of Soma, O Vasu.

Verse 10: Bring hither the divine folk, O Agni, with their joint invocations; this Soma is abundant in gifts—do ye drink it across the days!

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Sāyaṇa interprets 'tiraḥ-ahnyam' as Soma that remains potent across multiple days or overcomes the darkness of night. Sri Aurobindo translates the deeper essence as the immortal ecstasy that transcends ordinary mortal time.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 9

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
प्रातर्याव्णः	prātaryāvṇaḥ	traveling early at dawn
सहस्कृत	sahaskṛta	produced by strength or friction
सोमपेयाय	somapeyāya	for drinking the Soma
बर्हिः	barhiḥ	sacred strewn grass seat for the gods
सादय	sādaya	cause to sit down, establish

Verse 10

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
अर्वाञ्चम्	arvāñcam	turned hitherward, approaching close
यक्ष्व	yakṣva	sacrifice, invoke, worship
सहूतिभिः	sahūti-bhiḥ	with joint calls or collective invocations
सुदानवः	su-dānavaḥ	bountiful, generous givers
तिरोह्न्यम्	tiraḥ-ahnyam	spanning across days, everlasting

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture a grand morning banquet spread out on a lush green lawn (barhis), where Agni plays the ultimate maitre d', ushering all the glowing gods to their seats for an endless toast of Soma.