Study Guide: Agni Sukta RV 4.2

🙏 Ṛṣi (Seer): Vamadeva Gautama🔥 Devatā (Deity): Agni🎵 Chandas (Meter): Trishtubh📜 2 Verses

Act 1

Act I: Establishing the Divine Presence

Verses 1, 2

Verse 1

अग्निं न मन्ये समिधा युञ्जानो होता कविर्गेहपतिर्न सूनुः । आ हुवन्तमव सेदन्तमेतं जातवेदसं मनुषो नि शेदुः ॥

agniṃ na manye samidhā yuñjāno hotā kavirgehapatirna sūnuḥ । ā huvantamava sedantametaṃ jātavedasaṃ manuṣo ni śeduḥ ॥

Verse 2

त्वमग्ने यज्ञियानां दुरोणे होता धायाः कविर्विश्वविद्वान् । स सूनुः सत्यमृताय सत्यः परि पातु विशो अग्ने त्वं नः ॥

tvamagne yajñiyānāṃ duroṇe hotā dhāyāḥ kavirviśvavidvān . sa sūnuḥ satyamṛtāya satyaḥ pari pātu viśo agne tvaṃ naḥ ॥

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

In these opening verses, Vamadeva sets the tone for Mandala 4 by establishing Agni not just as the physical flame, but as the supreme divine priest (Hotr) and seer (Kavi). The imagery of the master of the house and the beloved son highlights the intimate relationship between the human aspirant and the divine flame.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 1: Recognizing Agni as the priest, seer, and protector of man.

Verse 2: Agni as the upholder of Rta and guardian of the settlement.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Sāyaṇa interprets these terms through ritualistic sacrifice, whereas Sri Aurobindo sees Agni as the psychological Will and Divine Flame within man driving upward evolution.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 1

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
होता	hotā	invoking priest
कविः	kaviḥ	seer
जातवेदसम्	jātavedasam	knower of all born beings

Verse 2

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
विश्वविद्वान्	viśvavidvān	all-knowing
ऋताय	ṛtāya	for the sake of cosmic order
पातु	pātu	may protect

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Memory Hook

Agni is the inner Hotr and Kavi, guarding the household of the soul.