अग्निं होता्रं वृणे हव्यवाहनं रोदसी प्र विचेतसं जातवेदसम् ।
agniṃ hotāraṃ vṛṇe havyavāhanaṃ rodasī pra vicetasaṃ jātavedasam ।
Study Guide to Agni Sūkta RV 6.3
Act 1
Act I: Invocation and Recognition of Agni
Verses 1, 2
यस्य व्रतं न मिनन्ति विश्वे देवाः सहसा सहन्त एतम् ।
yasya vrataṃ na minanti viśve devāḥ sahasā sahanta etam ।
📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context
In these opening verses, Ṛṣi Bharadvāja establishes the foundational attitude of the seeker. Agni is not merely physical fire, but the conscious cosmic force that perceives all things and bridges the gap between mortal striving and immortal attainment. By choosing Agni as hotā, the seeker aligns individual consciousness with the universal divine will.
💭 Flowing Translation
Verse 1: I choose Agni the priest, the carrier of offerings, all-knowing and wise.
Verse 2: Whose laws none violate, and whose dynamic power overcomes all darkness.
📝 Scholar's Reading Note
Sāyaṇa interprets these terms through ritualistic and sacrificial lenses, whereas Sri Aurobindo sees Agni as the psychological Will and Flame of aspiration in human consciousness.
📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown
Verse 1
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| अग्निम् | agnim | Agni |
| होता्रम् | hotāram | invoker, priest |
| जातवेदसम् | jātavedasam | knower of all created beings |
Verse 2
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| व्रतम् | vratam | law, vow, command |
| विश्वे देवाः | viśve devāḥ | all the gods |
| सहसा | sahasā | by might or power |
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Memory Hook
Agni as the Hotā who knows all things (Jātavedas) and whose divine rule (Vrata) is unshakeable.