अग्निं होतारं मन्ये दाशुषो गृहपतिम.
agniṃ hotāraṃ manye dāśuṣo gṛhapatim.
Study Guide to Agni Sūkta Maṇḍala 5 Sukta 1
Act 1
Act I: Recognition of the Inner Priest
Verses 1, 2
स नो गोभिः स नो अश्वैः स वीरैर्बृहद्भासा समिध्यते.
sa no gobhiḥ sa no aśvaiḥ sa vīrairbṛhadbhāsā samidhyate.
📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context
In these opening verses, the ṛṣi establishes the foundational relationship between the human seeker and the divine principle of Agni. Agni is visualized as the supreme Hotṛ or invoking priest, mediating between earth and heaven. By recognizing Agni as the gṛhapati, or lord of the house, the seeker invites the sacred flame of awareness directly into the sanctuary of the heart.
💭 Flowing Translation
Verse 1: I hold Agni in mind as the supreme priest and protector of the household.
📝 Scholar's Reading Note
Sāyaṇa interprets the cows, horses, and heroes literally as material wealth and progeny. Sri Aurobindo views them symbolically: cows as rays of spiritual illumination (go), horses as vital dynamic energies (aśva), and heroes as spiritual strengths.
📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown
Verse 1
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| अग्निम् | agnim | Agni (Fire) |
| होतारम् | hotāram | the invoking priest |
| गृहपतिम् | gṛhapatim | lord of the house |
🧠
Memory Hook
Agni is the Hotṛ (priest) and Gṛhapati (master of the house), bridging human existence with divine illumination.