प्र वो देवाय अग्नये भरध्वं होताारमृत्त्यजं होतृवर्यम् । य ईमहे विशपातिं दुरोणे अमर्त्यं यजमानो वि वक्ति ॥
pra vo devāya agnaye bharadhvaṃ hotāram ṛtvijaṃ hotṛvaryam | ya īmahe viśapatiṃ duroṇe amartyaṃ yajamāno vi vakti ||
Study Guide to Rigveda Mandala 6, Sukta 1
Act 1
Act I: Invoking the Divine Fire of Consciousness
Verses 1, 2
तं त्वा वयं सुमतिभिर्नमस्वोऽग्ने दक्षैर्दुत्ये वर्धयामः । बृहन्तं क्षेष्यमृतस्य नाम्ना पर्जन्य इव ततन्थ वृष्टिभिः ॥
taṃ tvā vayaṃ sumatibhir namasvo 'gne daksair dutye vardhayāmaḥ | bṛhantaṃ kṣesyam ṛtasya nāmnā parjanya iva tatantha vṛṣṭibhiḥ ||
📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context
In these opening verses of the sixth mandala, attributed to the seer Bharadwaja, the focus turns immediately to Agni as the foundational spiritual principle. Agni is not merely the physical fire on the altar, but the divine Will and Knower situated within the human heart and the cosmos. The Rishi urges the practitioners to bring forward their highest aspirations and offerings, recognizing Agni as the ultimate priest who mediates between the mortal and the immortal realms. Furthermore, the hymns emphasize the dynamic relationship between the seeker and the divine. By nurturing Agni through purity of thought, reverence, and skillful action (daksha), the seeker enables the inner flame to grow vast and pervasive, nourishing the soul just as rain nourishes the earth.
💭 Flowing Translation
Verse 1: Bring forth for the divine Agni the supreme priest of sacrifice, the immortal lord of the settlement.
Verse 2: We magnify thee with good thoughts and reverence, O Agni, expanding like rain-bearing clouds.
📝 Scholar's Reading Note
While Sāyaṇa interprets these terms through the lens of ritual sacrifice and physical oblation, Sri Aurobindo views Agni psychologically as the divine Force and aspiration leading man upward to spiritual truth (Ṛta).
📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown
Verse 1
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| अग्नि | agni | fire, divine will |
| होताारम् | hotāram | invoker, priest |
| अमर्त्यम् | amartyam | immortal |
Verse 2
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| सुमति | sumati | good thought, benevolent mind |
| ऋतस्य | ṛtasya | of truth, cosmic order |
| पर्जन्य | parjanya | rain cloud, lord of rain |
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Memory Hook
Agni is the inner Hotar priest and rain-giver of truth, nourished by pure thoughts.