Mandala 3

Sukta 11: Agni the purohita who knows the rite

Rishi: गाथिनो विश्वामित्रः · Devata: अग्निः · Metre: गायत्री

9 verses · 11 of 62

What happens in this chapter

Agni the purohita who knows the rite

Nine gayatri verses of Vishvamitra to Agni. Agni is hotar and purohita of the rite, the one who sees widely and knows the yajna in its proper order. Immortal, eager, the messenger who carries offerings, he is the ancient banner of the sacrifice, son of strength, Jatavedas, whom the devas made their conveyor. He is the leader of the human clans who cannot be deceived, a swift chariot ever new, the overcomer of all assailants. The mortal who gives gains a home with Agni of the purifying flame. Through their prayers the rishis hope to win all choice goods from him.

11.1

अ॒ग्निर्होता॑ पु॒रोहि॑तोऽध्व॒रस्य॒ विच॑र्षणिः ।
स वे॑द य॒ज्ञमा॑नु॒षक्

agnirhotā purohito'dhvarasya vicarṣaṇiḥ |
sa veda yajñamānuṣak

11.2

स ह॑व्य॒वाळम॑र्त्य उ॒शिग्दू॒तश्चनो॑हितः ।
अ॒ग्निर्धि॒या समृ॑ण्वति

sa havyavāḻamartya uśigdūtaścanohitaḥ |
agnirdhiyā samṛṇvati

11.3

अ॒ग्निर्धि॒या स चे॑तति के॒तुर्य॒ज्ञस्य॑ पू॒र्व्यः ।
अर्थं॒ ह्य॑स्य त॒रणि॑

agnirdhiyā sa cetati keturyajñasya pūrvyaḥ |
arthaṃ hyasya taraṇi

11.4

अ॒ग्निं सू॒नुं सन॑श्रुतं॒ सह॑सो जा॒तवे॑दसम् ।
वह्निं॑ दे॒वा अ॑कृण्वत

agniṃ sūnuṃ sanaśrutaṃ sahaso jātavedasam |
vahniṃ devā akṛṇvata