Sukta 3: Gritsamada's Apri hymn of eleven offerings
Rishi: गृत्समद (आङ्गिरसः शौनहोत्रः पश्चाद्) भार्गवः शौनकः · Devata: आप्रीसूक्तं (१ इध्मः समिद्धोऽग्निर्वा, २ तनूनपात्, ३ इळः, ४ बर्हिः, ५ देवीर्द्वारः, ६ उषासानक्ता, ७ दैव्यौ होतारौ प्रचेतसौ, ८ तिस्रो देव्यः सरस्वतीळाभारत्यः, ९ त्वष्टा, १० वनस्पतिः, ११ स्वाहाकृतयः ) · Metre: त्रिष्टुप्, ७ जगती
11 verses · 3 of 43
What happens in this chapter
Gritsamada's Apri hymn of eleven offerings
This is Gritsamada's Apri sukta, the litany recited over the eleven fore-offerings of the animal sacrifice, in trishtubh with one jagati verse. Each verse invites its own deity: the kindled Agni, Narashamsa, Agni praised as Ila, the sacred grass spread on the vedi, the divine doors that swing open, Night and Dawn weaving the web of the yajna, the two divine hotris, the three goddesses Sarasvati, Ila and Bharati who guard the seat, Tvashtri who grants offspring, and Vanaspati who leads the offering to the devas. The last verse sings of ghee as Agni's womb and home, and calls the offering made with "svaha".