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Dhammapada · narration sample

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Rig Veda · 192 of 1027

Mandala 2: HYMN I. Agni.

1.THOU, Agni, shining in thy glory through the days, art brought to life from out the waters, from the stone: From out the forest trees and herbs that grow on ground, thou, Sovran Lord of men art generated pure.

2.Thine is the Herald’s task and Cleanser’s duly timed; Leader art thou, and Kindler for the pious man. Thou art Director, thou the ministering Priest: thou art the Brahman, Lord and Master in our home.

3.Hero of Heroes, Agni! Thou art Indra, thou art Viṣṇu of the Mighty Stride, adorable: Thou, Brahmaṇaspati, the Brahman finding wealth: thou, O Sustainer, with thy wisdom tendest us.

4.Agni, thou art King Varuṇa whose laws stand fast; as Mitra, Wonder-Worker, thou must be implored. Aryaman, heroes’ Lord, art thou, enriching all, and liberal Aṁśa in the synod, O thou God.

5.Thou givest strength, as Tvaṣṭar, to the worshipper: thou wielding Mitra’s power hast kinship with the Dames. Thou, urging thy fleet coursers, givest noble steeds: a host of heroes art thou with great store of wealth.

6.Rudra art thou, the Asura of mighty heaven: thou art the Maruts’ host, thou art the Lord of food, Thou goest with red winds: bliss hast thou in thine home. As Pūṣan thou thyself protectest worshippers.

7.Giver of wealth art thou to him who honours thee; thou art God Savitar, granter of precious things. As Bhaga, Lord of men! thou rulest over wealth, and guardest in his house him who hath served thee well.

8.To thee, the people’s Lord within the house, the folk press forward to their King most graciously inclined. Lord of the lovely look, all things belong to thee: ten, hundred, yea, a thousand are outweighed by thee.

9.Agni, men seek thee as a Father with their prayers, win thee, bright-formed, to brotherhood with holy act. Thou art a Son to him who duly worships thee, and as a trusty Friend thou guardest from attack.

10.A Ṛbhu art thou, Agni, near to be adored thou art the Sovran Lord of foodful spoil and wealth. Thou shinest brightly forth, thou burnest to bestow: pervading sacrifice, thou lendest us thine help.

11.Thou, God, art Aditi to him who offers gifts: thou, Hotrā, Bhāratī, art strengthened by the song. Thou art the hundred-wintered Iḷā to give strength, Lord of Wealth! Vṛtra-slayer and Sarasvatī.

12.Thou, Agni, cherished well, art highest vital power; in thy delightful hue are glories visible. Thou art the lofty might that furthers each design: thou art wealth manifold, diffused on every side.

13.Thee, Agni, have the Ādityas taken as their mouth; the Bright Ones have made thee, O Sage, to be their tongue. They who love offerings cling to thee at solemn rites: by thee the Gods devour the duly offered food.

14.By thee, O Agni, all the Immortal guileless Gods cat with thy mouth the oblation that is offered them. By thee do mortal men give sweetness to their drink. Bright art thou born, the embryo of the plants of earth.

15.With these thou art united, Agni; yea thou, God of noble birth, surpassest them in majesty, Which, through the power of good, here spreads abroad from thee, diffused through both the worlds, throughout the earth and heaven.

16.The princely worshippers who send to those who sing thy praise, O Agni, guerdon graced with kine and steeds,— Lead thou both these and us forward to higher bliss. With brave men in the assembly may we speak aloud.

Asked of Guide

Why does this hymn call Agni by so many other gods' names?

The hymn presents Agni as the single reflecting presence that “is Indra, thou art Viṣṇu,” “King Varuṇa,” “Aryaman,” and the rest: it names other deities to show Agni’s role as their mouth, priest, and mediator at the sacrifice. The line “Thee, Agni, have the Ādityas taken as their mouth” explains that in ritual terms Agni speaks for and carries the gods’ power, so invoking those names praises different aspects of that one operative force.

This is a technique found across the Vedas where a deity is identified with many divine functions to stress unity-in-function; see the Isha and Nasadiya hymns for similar moves that bind cosmic roles together. The effect is practical and theological: it locates all sacred powers in the sacrificial fire that connects humans and gods.

Guide is the guide inside the Gnosis app, where every book on these shelves is free to read. Guide is the part you pay for — your guide has read all of them, and answers about the passage you’re actually on. Ask your guide your own question.