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Rigveda · Maṇḍala 1

The Dual Radiance of Fire and Soma: Invoking Agni and Soma in Rigveda Maṇḍala 1, Sūkta 93

📜 12 Verses

Act 1

The Dual Invocation and the Pleaded Prayer

Verses 1, 2, 3

Verse 1

अग्नी॑षोमावि॒मं सु मे॑ शृणु॒तं वृ॑षणा॒ हवं॑ । प्रति॑ सू॒क्तानि॑ हर्यतं॒ भव॑तं दा॒शुषे॒ मयः॑ ॥

ágnīṣomāvimám sú me śṛṇutám vṛṣaṇā hávam ǀ práti sūktā́ni haryatam bhávatam dāśúṣe máyaḥ ǁ

Verse 2

अग्नी॑षोमा॒ यो अ॒द्य वा॑मि॒दं वचः॑ सप॒र्यति॑ । तस्मै॑ धत्तं सु॒वीर्यं॒ गवां॒ पोषं॒ स्वश्व्यं॑ ॥

ágnīṣomā yó adyá vāmidám vácaḥ saparyáti ǀ tásmai dhattam suvī́ryam gávām póṣam sváśvyam ǁ

Verse 3

अग्नी॑षोमा॒ य आहु॑तिं॒ यो वां॒ दाशा॑द्ध॒विष्कृ॑तिं । स प्र॒जया॑ सु॒वीर्यं॒ विश्व॒मायु॒र्व्य॑श्नवत् ॥

ágnīṣomā yá ā́hutim yó vām dā́śāddhavíṣkṛtim ǀ sá prajáyā suvī́ryam víśvamā́yurvyáśnavat ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

In these opening verses, the Ṛṣi addresses the divine dual deity, Agni and Soma, as vṛṣaṇā, the showerers of blessings. Agni represents the upward-aspiring flame of divine will and consciousness, while Soma embodies the flowing delight, the nectar of immortality and spiritual ecstasy. Together, they form a supreme pillar of sacrificial strength. The poet pleads with them to listen intently to this invocation and to joyfully accept the well-crafted hymns of praise. The mortal worshipper approaches them with offerings of clarified butter and pressed oblation, seeking more than material wealth. The prayer asks for su-vīryam (splendid heroic vigor), gavām poṣam (abundance of cattle, symbolizing spiritual wealth and light), and aśvyam (the power of swift movement and vital prāṇa). The sage emphasizes that the one who diligently performs the outer ritual and pours the inner devotion into the flame and the chalice shall attain full, unhindered life infused with divine progeny and unending vitality.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 1: O Agni and Soma, potent givers of grace, listen closely to this my call; receive these well-sung hymns with joy and bring bliss to the pious giver.

Verse 2: O Agni and Soma, whoever today reveres your word with praise, bestow upon him splendid heroic power, the fullness of cattle, and fine steeds.

Verse 3: O Agni and Soma, whoever offers you the oblation and the prepared offering, may he attain through offspring a heroic life of full duration.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Sāyaṇa interprets 'gavām poṣam' literally as cattle wealth, while esoteric commentators like Sri Aurobindo view 'go' as rays of spiritual illumination, making 'cattle wealth' a symbol of burgeoning inner light and divine knowledge.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 1

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
अग्नीषोमा	agnīṣomā	O Agni and Soma (dual vocative)
वृषणा	vṛṣaṇā	O mighty ones / showerers of blessings
शृणुतम्	śṛṇutam	Listen both of you
दाशुषे	dāśuṣe	To the worshipper / giver of oblations

Verse 2

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
सपर्यति	saparyati	Honors / worships
सुवीर्यम्	suvīryam	Heroic vigor / supreme vital strength
गवां पोषम्	gavām poṣam	Nourishment / increase of cattle

Verse 3

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
आहुतिम्	āhutim	Sacrificial oblation
हविष्कृतिम्	haviṣkṛtim	Preparation of the offering
प्रजया	prajayā	With progeny / spiritual offspring

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture a radiant altar where a brilliant flame (Agni) merges with a flowing chalice of shining nectar (Soma); the worshipper feeds them to ignite the fullness of life.

Act 2

Cosmic Victories and the Primal Gifts

Verses 4, 5, 6

Verse 4

अग्नी॑षोमा॒ चेति॒ तद्वी॒र्यं॑ वां॒ यदमु॑ष्णीतमव॒सं प॒णिं गाः । अवा॑तिरतं॒ बृस॑यस्य॒ शेषोऽविं॑दतं॒ ज्योति॒रेकं॑ ब॒हुभ्यः॑ ॥

ágnīṣomā céti tádvīryám vām yádámuṣṇītamavasám paṇím gā́ḥ ǀ ávātiratam bṛ́sayasya śéṣó’vindatam jyótirékam bahúbhyaḥ ǁ

Verse 5

यु॒वमे॒तानि॑ दि॒वि रो॑च॒नान्य॒ग्निश्च॑ सोम॒ सक्र॑तू अधत्तं । यु॒वं सिंधूँ॑र॒भिश॑स्तेरव॒द्यादग्नी॑षोमा॒वमुं॑चतं गृभी॒तान् ॥

yuvámetā́ni diví rocanā́nyagníśca soma sákratū adhattam ǀ yuvám síndhūm̐rabhíśasteravadyā́dágnīṣomāvámuñcatam gṛbhītā́n ǁ

Verse 6

आन्यं दि॒वो मा॑त॒रिश्वा॑ जभा॒राम॑थ्नाद॒न्यं परि॑ श्ये॒नो अद्रेः॑ । अग्नी॑षोमा॒ ब्रह्म॑णा वावृधा॒नोरुं य॒ज्ञाय॑ चक्रथुरु लो॒कं ॥

ā́nyám divó mātaríśvā jabhārā́mathnādanyám pári śyenó ádreḥ ǀ ágnīṣomā bráhmaṇā vāvṛdhānórúm yajñā́ya cakrathuru lokám ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

Moving from ritual petition to cosmic myth, the Ṛṣi recalls the heroic exploits of Agni and Soma. They are celebrated for their conquering might—specifically, how they stripped the miserly Paṇi of hidden treasures, wrested back the stolen cows, and shattered the stronghold of Bṛsaya, thus liberating the single true light for the many. The narrative broadens to cosmic architecture: both deities establish the shining luminaries in heaven and together sustain the rivers of divine flow, rescuing human beings from the traps of slander, evil, and inner bondage. In verse 6, the poet invokes cosmic agency: Mātariśvan brings one divine force from the heavens, while the divine eagle (Śyena) plucks the other from the mountain. Through sacred utterance (brahman), Agni and Soma expand the vast cosmic space for the eternal sacrifice.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 4: O Agni and Soma, that heroic feat of yours is known when you plundered the miserly Paṇi of his cows, struck down Bṛsaya's offspring, and found the one light for the many.

Verse 5: You two together established those shining lights in heaven, O Agni and Soma, sharing a single will; and you released the captive rivers from curse and blemish.

Verse 6: Mātariśvan brought one from heaven, the eagle snatched the other from the mountain; and growing through sacred prayer, O Agni and Soma, you made a wide room for the sacrifice.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

The bringing of the two divine entities by Mātariśvan and the eagle directly mirrors the myth of Agni and Soma being brought down from the celestial heights to earth for the sake of human sacrifice, understood by ritualists as the descent of divine grace.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 4

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
वीर्यम्	vīryam	Heroic deed / valor
पणिम्	paṇim	The miser / withholding demon
ज्योतिरेकम्	jyotirekam	The single supreme light

Verse 5

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
रोचनानि	rocanāni	Luminous realms / lights
सक्रतू	sakratū	Sharing a single will or power
अमुञ्चतम्	amuñcatam	You released / set free

Verse 6

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
मातरिश्वा	mātariśvā	Mātariśvan (wind/messenger of heaven)
श्येनः	śyenaḥ	The falcon / eagle
ब्रह्मणा	brahmaṇā	By sacred prayer or formula

🧠

Memory Hook

Imagine a soaring eagle and a rushing wind bringing celestial fire and intoxicating nectar down to earth, carving out a sacred sanctuary for humanity.

Act 3

Protection, Grace, and the Completed Rite

Verses 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Verse 7

अग्नी॑षोमा ह॒विषः॒ प्रस्थि॑तस्य वी॒तं हर्य॑तं वृषणा जु॒षेथां॑ । सु॒शर्मा॑णा॒ स्वव॑सा॒ हि भू॒तमथा॑ धत्तं॒ यज॑मानाय॒ शं योः ॥

ágnīṣomā havíṣaḥ prásthitasya vītám háryatam vṛṣaṇā juṣéthām ǀ suśármāṇā svávasā hí bhūtámáthā dhattam yájamānāya śám yóḥ ǁ

Verse 8

यो अ॒ग्नीषोमा॑ ह॒विषा॑ सप॒र्याद्दे॑व॒द्रीचा॒ मन॑सा॒ यो घृ॒तेन॑ । तस्य॑ व्र॒तं र॑क्षतं पा॒तमंह॑सो वि॒शे जना॑य॒ महि॒ शर्म॑ यच्छतं ॥

yó agnī́ṣómā havíṣā saparyā́ddevadrī́cā mánasā yó ghṛténa ǀ tásya vratám rakṣatam pātámáṃhaso viśé jánāya máhi śárma yacchatam ǁ

Verse 9

अग्नी॑षोमा॒ सवे॑दसा॒ सहू॑ती वनतं॒ गिरः॑ । सं दे॑व॒त्रा ब॑भूवथुः ॥

ágnīṣomā sávedasā sáhūtī vanatam gíraḥ ǀ sám devatrā́ babhūvathuḥ ǁ

Verse 10

अग्नी॑षोमाव॒नेन॑ वां॒ यो वां॑ घृ॒तेन॒ दाश॑ति । तस्मै॑ दीदयतं बृ॒हत् ॥

ágnīṣomāvanéna vām yó vām ghṛténa dā́śati ǀ tásmai dīdayatam bṛhát ǁ

Verse 11

अग्नी॑षोमावि॒मानि॑ नो यु॒वं ह॒व्या जु॑जोषतं । आ या॑त॒मुप॑ नः॒ सचा॑ ॥

ágnīṣomāvimā́ni no yuvám havyā́ jujoṣatam ǀ ā́ yātamúpa naḥ sácā ǁ

Verse 12

अग्नी॑षोमा पिपृ॒तमर्व॑तो न॒ आ प्या॑यंतामु॒स्रिया॑ हव्य॒सूदः॑ । अ॒स्मे बला॑नि म॒घव॑त्सु धत्तं कृणु॒तं नो॑ अध्व॒रं श्रु॑ष्टि॒मंतं॑ ॥

ágnīṣomā pipṛtámárvato na ā́ pyāyantāmusríyā havyasū́daḥ ǀ asmé bálāni maghávatsu dhattam kṛṇutám no adhvarám śruṣṭimántam ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

The final movement of the Sūkta settles into a tender blessing and reiteration of devotion. The Ṛṣi invites Agni and Soma to taste the prepared oblation, asking them to be protectors offering supreme shelter and true grace (śam yoḥ) to the sacrificer. Anyone who approaches them with a heart turned toward the divine and an offering steeped in clarity receives an impenetrable shield against evil and distress. The hymn closes with warm intimacy: the poet calls upon the two deities to listen to these songs of praise, to accept the flowing oblations, and to manifest close at hand. They are beseeched to nourish the sacrificial steeds, cause the milk-yielding waters and cows to swell with abundance, bestow strength upon the generous patrons, and render the entire sacrificial path obedient and smooth.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 7: O Agni and Soma, delight in this prepared oblation, accept it joyfully, O mighty ones. Be givers of secure shelter and gracious aid, and grant to the sacrificer peace and weal.

Verse 8: Whoever attends upon you, O Agni and Soma, with oblation, with a heart turned to the gods, and with sacred butter—guard his sacred vow, protect him from distress, and grant to the people great shelter.

Verse 9: O Agni and Soma, rich in wealth, together accept our songs of praise; you have become united among the gods.

Verse 10: O Agni and Soma, whosoever honors you both with this butter offering, shine forth greatly for him.

Verse 11: O Agni and Soma, do you two delight in these our oblations; come near to us in close companionship.

Verse 12: O Agni and Soma, cherish our steeds, let the milk-yielding streams swell with abundance; place strength within our patrons, and make our sacrifice smooth-flowing and obedient.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

The closing prayer uses 'śruṣṭimantam adhvaram,' which traditional commentators explain as a sacrifice that yields smooth results and attentive responsiveness from the gods, ensuring that every outer gesture of devotion successfully opens the inner gates of consciousness.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 7

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
प्रस्थितस्य	prasthitasya	Set forth / prepared
सुशर्माणा	suśarmāṇā	Bestowing good shelter
शं योः	śaṃ yoḥ	Peace and bliss / well-being

Verse 8

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
देवद्रीचा	devadrīcā	Turned toward the gods
व्रतम्	vratam	Sacred observance / vow
अंहसः	aṃhasaḥ	From narrowness / sin / distress

Verse 9

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
सवेदसा	savedasā	Possessing wealth / treasures
सहूती	sahūtī	With a joint invocation
देवत्रा	devatrā	Among the gods

Verse 10

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
अनेन	anena	With this (offering)
दाशति	dāśati	Worships / offers
दीदयतम्	dīdayatam	Shine forth / illuminate

Verse 11

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
जुजोषतम्	jujoṣatam	Enjoy greatly / relish
यातम्	yātam	Come / approach
सचा	sacā	Together / closely accompanying

Verse 12

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
पिपृतम्	pipṛtam	Cherish / nourish / fill
उस्रियाः	usriyāḥ	Radiant cows / morning streams
श्रुष्टिमंतम्	śruṣṭimantam	Accomplishing / yielding obedience and success

🧠

Memory Hook

Envision a glowing hearth surrounded by overflowing vessels of milk and golden butter, where the divine twins step down to wrap the household in a warm mantle of peace.