Verses 1, 2
द्वे विरू॑पे चरतः॒ स्वर्थे॑ अ॒न्यान्या॑ व॒त्समुप॑ धापयेते । हरि॑र॒न्यस्यां॒ भव॑ति स्व॒धावां॑छु॒क्रो अ॒न्यस्यां॑ ददृशे सु॒वर्चाः॑ ॥
dvé vírūpe carataḥ svárthe anyā́nyā vatsámúpa dhāpayete ǀ háriranyásyām bhávati svadhā́vāñchukró anyásyām dadṛśe suvárcāḥ ǁ
दशे॒मं त्वष्टु॑र्जनयंत॒ गर्भ॒मतं॑द्रासो युव॒तयो॒ विभृ॑त्रं । ति॒ग्मानी॑कं॒ स्वय॑शसं॒ जने॑षु वि॒रोच॑मानं॒ परि॑ षीं नयंति ॥
dáśemám tváṣṭurjanayanta gárbhamátandrāso yuvatáyo víbhṛtram ǀ tigmā́nīkam sváyaśasam jáneṣu virócamānam pári ṣīm nayanti ǁ
In these opening verses, the Ṛṣi introduces us to the mysterious dual nature of Agni, the divine flame who bridges heaven and earth. Two distinct forms or powers move toward a common, supreme goal, each alternately nurturing the cosmic calf—Agni himself in his fiery infancy. One aspect of the flame burns golden and ruddy like the sun, while the other shines with a pure, brilliant white radiance. They are sustained by tireless cosmic energies, youthful powers personified as divine mothers or attendants who tend to his growth. Fashioned by Tvaṣṭṛ, the divine artisan, this radiant embryo of flame is carried forth into the worlds, blazing brightly and commanding the reverence of all beings. When we contemplate Agni here, we are not looking merely at household charcoal or sacrificial firewood. The Ṛṣi is pointing to the primal spark of consciousness hidden within the dark matter of the universe. The 'two forms' represent day and night, or the earthly fire and the celestial lightning, both sustained by the mysterious laws of nature (svadhā). Tvaṣṭṛ's shaping of the embryo signifies how the divine architecture of the cosmos meticulously crafts awareness out of unmanifest potential, preparing it to illuminate human existence.
Verse 1: Two distinct yet complementary powers move toward the supreme goal, each in turn feeding the divine calf; one aspect of the flame glows radiant and ruddy, while the other shines forth with brilliant, pure light.
Verse 2: The tireless, youthful powers bring forth this divine embryo fashioned by Tvaṣṭṛ, carrying him along as a luminous treasure, sharp-faced and self-luminous among all mortals.
The translation adopts Sāyaṇa's view that 'virūpe' refers to day and night or heaven and earth, while modern mystic interpretations like Sri Aurobindo view these as the dual operations of divine light (upper and lower creation) working in harmony.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| द्वे | dve | two |
| विरूपे | virūpe | having two different forms or appearances |
| चरतः | carataḥ | they move, travel |
| स्वर्थे | svarthe | to the same good goal or true purpose |
| वत्सम् | vatsam | the calf (symbolizing Agni) |
| हरिः | hariḥ | tawny, ruddy, golden |
| शुक्रः | śukraḥ | bright, white, clear |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| दश | daśa | ten (or an intensifier indicating completion) |
| त्वष्टुः | tvaṣṭuḥ | of Tvaṣṭṛ, the divine shaper and craftsman |
| गर्भम् | garbham | the embryo, the inner child or germ |
| अतन्द्रासः | atandrāsaḥ | unwearied, tireless |
| युवतयः | yuvatayaḥ | youthful maidens (symbolizing the waters or flames) |
| तिग्मानिकम् | tigmānīkam | sharp-edged, piercing in appearance |
Picture a master metalsmith (Tvaṣṭṛ) forging a glowing, two-toned jewel in the dark—one half golden sunfire, the other pure white lightning—guarded by tireless youthful maidens.
Verses 3, 4
त्रीणि॒ जाना॒ परि॑ भूषंत्यस्य समु॒द्र एकं॑ दि॒व्येक॑म॒प्सु । पूर्वा॒मनु॒ प्र दिशं॒ पार्थि॑वानामृ॒तून्प्र॒शास॒द्वि द॑धावनु॒ष्ठु ॥
trī́ṇi jā́nā pári bhūṣantyasya samudrá ékam divyékamapsú ǀ pū́rvāmánu prá díśam pā́rthivānāmṛtū́npraśā́sadví dadhāvanuṣṭhú ǁ
क इ॒मं वो॑ नि॒ण्यमा चि॑केत व॒त्सो मा॒तॄर्ज॑नयत स्व॒धाभिः॑ । ब॒ह्वी॒नां गर्भो॑ अ॒पसा॑मु॒पस्था॑न्म॒हान्क॒विर्निश्च॑रति स्व॒धावा॑न् ॥
ká imám vo niṇyámā́ ciketa vatsó mātṝ́rjanayata svadhā́bhiḥ ǀ bahvīnā́m gárbho apásāmupásthānmahā́nkavírníścarati svadhā́vān ǁ
Now the Ṛṣi expands our vision across the vast dimensions of existence. Agni is not confined to the earthly altar; his three births or stations are honored everywhere—one in the boundless ocean of space, one in the high heavens, and one hidden within the waters. He orders the cosmic seasons and guides the paths of earthly beings with exact precision. Yet, who among mortals truly comprehends this profound, hidden secret? Agni himself, as the great Kavi (seer) and self-sustained power, emerges from the womb of the many primordial waters, speaking the language of the divine order. This act strikes at the heart of Vedic cosmology. Agni is identified as a tri-fold reality: terrestrial fire, atmospheric lightning, and celestial sun. He is the underlying intelligence (kavi) that coordinates cyclical time (ṛtu). When the Ṛṣi asks who can truly know this hidden mystery (niṇya), it is an invitation to look past the physical flame and perceive the universal principle of consciousness operating across all planes of reality.
Verse 3: Three are his native stations: one in the ocean, one in heaven, and one within the waters. Guiding the seasons and the earthly paths with exact rule, he lays down the cosmic order.
Verse 4: Who among you truly knows this hidden mystery? The calf generates his own mothers by his innate power. As the great Kavi, self-supported, he emerges from the lap of the many flowing waters.
Traditional commentators break down the 'three births' into terrestrial, atmospheric, and celestial manifestations. The question 'Who knows this hidden mystery?' emphasizes the apauruṣeya (superhuman) nature of cosmic truths that only realized seers intuit.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| त्रीणि | trīṇi | three |
| जाना | jānā | birthplaces, native stations |
| समुद्रे | samudre | in the gathering of waters, the ocean |
| दिवि | divi | in heaven |
| अप्सु | apsu | in the waters |
| ऋतून् | ṛtūn | the seasons, cosmic rhythms |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| निण्यम् | niṇyam | secret, mystery, hidden truth |
| मातॄः | mātṝḥ | mothers (the waters or fuel) |
| स्वधाभिः | svadhābhiḥ | by innate powers or self-nourishing laws |
| गर्भः | garbhaḥ | the embryo, child |
| कविः | kaviḥ | seer, wise poet-sage |
Imagine a brilliant lighthouse whose light flashes simultaneously in three realms: deep underwater, on the open sea, and high up in the starry sky, guarding the rotation of the seasons.
Verses 5, 6, 7
आ॒विष्ट्यो॑ वर्धते॒ चारु॑रासु जि॒ह्माना॑मू॒र्ध्वः स्वय॑शा उ॒पस्थे॑ । उ॒भे त्वष्टु॑र्बिभ्यतु॒र्जाय॑मानात्प्रती॒ची सिं॒हं प्रति॑ जोषयेते ॥
āvíṣṭyo vardhate cā́rurāsu jihmā́nāmūrdhváḥ sváyaśā upásthe ǀ ubhé tváṣṭurbibhyaturjā́yamānātpratīcī́ siṃhám práti joṣayete ǁ
उ॒भे भ॒द्रे जो॑षयेते॒ न मेने॒ गावो॒ न वा॒श्रा उप॑ तस्थु॒रेवैः॑ । स दक्षा॑णां॒ दक्ष॑पतिर्बभूवां॒जंति॒ यं द॑क्षिण॒तो ह॒विर्भिः॑ ॥
ubhé bhadré joṣayete ná méne gā́vo ná vāśrā́ úpa tasthurévaiḥ ǀ sá dákṣāṇām dákṣapatirbabhūvāñjánti yám dakṣiṇató havírbhiḥ ǁ
उद्यं॑यमीति सवि॒तेव॑ बा॒हू उ॒भे सिचौ॑ यतते भी॒म ऋं॒जन् । उच्छु॒क्रमत्क॑मजते सि॒मस्मा॒न्नवा॑ मा॒तृभ्यो॒ वस॑ना जहाति ॥
údyaṃyamīti savitéva bāhū́ ubhé sícau yatate bhīmá ṛñján ǀ úcchukrámátkamajate simásmānnávā mātṛ́bhyo vásanā jahāti ǁ
Agni grows rapidly in his splendor, rising upward from the lap of the crooked, bending fuel sticks, majestic and self-radiant. Even the two great cosmic forces (heaven and earth) tremble with awe at his newborn magnificence, turning toward him as cows turn toward a roaring lion. Indeed, he stands as the undisputed Lord of Power (dakṣapati) among all skilled energies, while worshippers approach him from the right with flowing oblations. With majestic imagery, the Ṛṣi portrays Agni not as a weak spark, but as a fierce lion (siṃha) springing from the wood. The bending fuel sticks (jihmānām) represent the recalcitrant material world that straightens and elevates itself upon igniting. As Savitṛ-like, he stretches out his radiant arms of flame, casting off his dark garments of smoke to put on a brilliant, shining vesture, stepping forth fearlessly to bless the sacrificer.
Verse 5: Radiant and charming, he grows upward from the lap of the bending sticks, self-luminous. Both realms tremble at his birth, turning toward him as if he were a lion.
Verse 6: Both auspicious ones delight in him, like lowing cows approaching their calf with joyful cries. He has become the lord of all spiritual capacities, and men honor him from the right with oblations.
Verse 7: Like Savitṛ, he extends both his arms, fearful yet magnificent as he adorns the rite. He casts off his dark covering for a brilliant one, shedding his old garments like a snake its skin before his mothers.
Sāyaṇa interprets 'simasmāt' as a shedding of skin akin to a serpent, indicating how Agni transforms dark smoke into pure white flame. The comparison to Savitṛ highlights Agni's role as an activator of divine inspiration.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| वर्धते | vardhate | grows, increases |
| चारुः | cāruḥ | charming, lovely, beautiful |
| ऊर्ध्वः | ūrdhvaḥ | upward-rising |
| जिह्मानाम् | jihmānām | of the crooked or bending ones (firesticks) |
| सिंहम् | siṃham | a lion |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| भद्रे | bhadre | auspicious, blessed ones |
| गावः | gāvaḥ | cows |
| वाश्राः | vāśrāḥ | lowing, calling out affectionately |
| दक्षपतिः | dakṣapatiḥ | lord of skill, power, and mental capacity |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| सविताइव | savitā-iva | like the divine impeller Savitṛ |
| बाहू | bāhū | two arms (flames) |
| भीमः | bhīmaḥ | formidable, awe-inspiring |
| अत्कम् | atkam | garment, vesture |
Envision a powerful lion leaping out of a thicket of crooked branches, shaking off its dark mane of smoke to reveal a blazing golden body while cows low in joyous greeting.
Verses 8, 9, 10, 11
त्वे॒षं रू॒पं कृ॑णुत॒ उत्त॑रं॒ यत्सं॑पृंचा॒नः सद॑ने॒ गोभि॑र॒द्भिः । क॒विर्बु॒ध्नं परि॑ मर्मृज्यते॒ धीः सा दे॒वता॑ता॒ समि॑तिर्बभूव ॥
tveṣám rūpám kṛṇuta úttaram yátsampṛñcānáḥ sádane góbhiradbhíḥ ǀ kavírbudhnám pári marmṛjyate dhī́ḥ sā́ devátātā sámitirbabhūva ǁ
उ॒रु ते॒ ज्रयः॒ पर्ये॑ति बु॒ध्नं वि॒रोच॑मानं महि॒षस्य॒ धाम॑ । विश्वे॑भिरग्ने॒ स्वय॑शोभिरि॒द्धोऽद॑ब्धेभिः पा॒युभिः॑ पाह्य॒स्मान् ॥
urú te jráyaḥ páryeti budhnám virócamānam mahiṣásya dhā́ma ǀ víśvebhiragne sváyaśobhiriddhó’dabdhebhiḥ pāyúbhiḥ pāhyasmā́n ǁ
धन्व॒न्त्स्रोतः॑ कृणुते गा॒तुमू॒र्मिं शु॒क्रैरू॒र्मिभि॑र॒भि न॑क्षति॒ क्षां । विश्वा॒ सना॑नि ज॒ठरे॑षु धत्ते॒ऽंतर्नवा॑सु चरति प्र॒सूषु॑ ॥
dhánvantsrótaḥ kṛṇute gātúmūrmím śukráirūrmíbhirabhí nakṣati kṣā́m ǀ víśvā sánāni jaṭháreṣu dhatte’ntárnávāsu carati prasū́ṣu ǁ
ए॒वा नो॑ अग्ने स॒मिधा॑ वृधा॒नो रे॒वत्पा॑वक॒ श्रव॑से॒ वि भा॑हि । तन्नो॑ मि॒त्रो वरु॑णो मामहंता॒मदि॑तिः॒ सिंधुः॑ पृथि॒वी उ॒त द्यौः ॥
evā́ no agne samídhā vṛdhānó revátpāvaka śrávase ví bhāhi ǀ tánno mitró váruṇo māmahantāmáditiḥ síndhuḥ pṛthivī́ utá dyáuḥ ǁ
In this magnificent climax, Agni assumes his highest form. He clothes himself in a supreme, vibrating splendor as he mingles intimately with the waters and the offering-butter in the sacrificial seat. The wise seer polishes his inner realization, making this divine encounter a true meeting place (samiti) of gods and men. His vast stride encompasses the foundation of the universe, and kindled with unassailable guardians, he shields the seeker from all harm. Moving across the dry land, he carves out rivers of grace and bathes the earth in his bright waves, cradling all ancient treasures within his fiery belly while dwelling deep within new births. The Sūkta concludes with a fervent prayer: 'O Agni, radiant and purifying, grow by our fuel and shine forth with abundant wealth! May Mitra, Varuṇa, Aditi, Sindhù, Earth, and Heaven all magnify this prayer and bestow grace upon us!' The Ṛṣi seamlessly blends physical sacrifice with spiritual purification. Agni is the cosmic engine that circulates energy through dry deserts and flowing waters alike. By invoking the great cosmic deities at the close, the poet anchors individual transformation within the harmony of the entire cosmos, assuring the seeker of total divine protection.
Verse 8: He puts on a higher, vibrant form as he blends with the waters and the oblations in the sacred seat. The wise sage polishes his insight; this devotion has become the true meeting place of gods and mortals.
Verse 9: Your wide stride encompasses the foundational depth, O Agni, and the shining domain of the great cosmic power. Kindled with all unassailable, self-luminous guardians, protect us!
Verse 10: Across the dry land he carves out a stream and a pathway, reaching the earth with his bright waves. He holds all ancient treasures in his belly and dwells deep within the newly born shoots.
Verse 11: Thus, O Agni, growing by our fuel, shine forth brilliantly with wealth for our glory. May Mitra, Varuṇa, Aditi, the Sindhu, Earth, and Heaven magnify this prayer for us!
The final verse is a classic Vedic universal benediction (viśvadeva), invoking not just Agni but the collective pantheon (Mitra, Varuṇa, Aditi, Sindhu, Pṛthivī, Dyauḥ) to seal the protective efficacy of the hymn.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| त्वेषम् | tveṣam | agitated, brilliant, vehement |
| रूपम् | rūpam | form, shape |
| गोभिः | gobhiḥ | with milk or rays of light |
| अद्भिः | adbhiḥ | with waters |
| समितिः | samitiḥ | assembly, meeting place, concord |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| ज्रयः | jrayaḥ | speed, sweep, expanse |
| बुध्नम् | budhnam | bottom, foundation, abyss |
| महिषस्य | mahiṣasya | of the mighty one or buffalo |
| अदब्धेभिः | adabdhebhiḥ | unharmed, unassailable, infallible |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| धन्वन् | dhanvan | across the desert or dry land |
| स्रोतः | srotaḥ | current, stream |
| गातुम् | gātum | path, way, safe passage |
| जठरेषु | jaṭhareṣu | in the bellies or wombs |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| समिधा | samidhā | by the kindling fuel or inner illumination |
| पावक | pāvaka | O purifier |
| श्रवसे | śravase | for glory, fame, divine hearing |
| ममहन्ताम् | mamahantām | may they magnify, honor, or gladden |
Picture a cosmic king walking across desert sands and oceans alike, his body glowing with immortal shields, while all the great gods of nature gather round to cheer his radiant victory.