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Agni Suktam (Agnim Ile) Meaning — Line by Line

अग्नि सूक्तम् (अग्निमीळे)

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Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Agni Suktam (Agnim Ile) with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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  1. Verse 1. Om Agnim īḷe purohitaṁ yajñasya devam ṛtvijam
  2. Verse 2. Agniḥ pūrvebhir ṛṣibhir īḍyo nūtanair uta
  3. Verse 3. Agninā rayim aśnavat poṣam eva divedive
  4. Verse 4. Agne yaṁ yajñam adhvaraṁ viśvataḥ paribhūr asi
  5. Verse 5. Agnir hotā kavikratuḥ satyaś citraśravastamaḥ
  6. Verse 6. Yad aṅga dāśuṣe tvam agne bhadraṁ kariṣyasi
  7. Verse 7. Upa tvāgne divedive doṣāvastar dhiyā vayam
  8. Verse 8. Rājantam adhvarāṇāṁ gopām ṛtasya dīdivim
  9. Verse 9. Sa naḥ piteva sūnave 'gne sūpāyano bhava
Verse 1#

Om Agnim īḷe purohitaṁ yajñasya devam ṛtvijam

ॐ अग्निमीळे पुरोहितं यज्ञस्य देवमृत्विजम्। होतारं रत्नधातमम्॥

Om Agnim īḷe purohitaṁ yajñasya devam ṛtvijam Hotāraṁ ratnadhātamam

MeaningI praise Agni, the priest set before the sacrifice, the divine minister, the invoker who bestows the richest treasures.

Verse 2#

Agniḥ pūrvebhir ṛṣibhir īḍyo nūtanair uta

अग्निः पूर्वेभिर्ऋषिभिरीड्यो नूतनैरुत। स देवाँ एह वक्षति॥

Agniḥ pūrvebhir ṛṣibhir īḍyo nūtanair uta Sa devāṁ eha vakṣati

MeaningAgni, worthy to be praised by the ancient seers and by those of today — may he bring the gods here.

Verse 3#

Agninā rayim aśnavat poṣam eva divedive

अग्निना रयिमश्नवत्पोषमेव दिवेदिवे। यशसं वीरवत्तमम्॥

Agninā rayim aśnavat poṣam eva divedive Yaśasaṁ vīravattamam

MeaningThrough Agni one wins wealth and increase day by day, glory and abundance of heroic offspring.

Verse 4#

Agne yaṁ yajñam adhvaraṁ viśvataḥ paribhūr asi

अग्ने यं यज्ञमध्वरं विश्वतः परिभूरसि। स इद्देवेषु गच्छति॥

Agne yaṁ yajñam adhvaraṁ viśvataḥ paribhūr asi Sa id deveṣu gacchati

MeaningO Agni, the sacrifice and rite which you encompass on every side — that alone reaches the gods.

Verse 5#

Agnir hotā kavikratuḥ satyaś citraśravastamaḥ

अग्निर्होता कविक्रतुः सत्यश्चित्रश्रवस्तमः। देवो देवेभिरा गमत्॥

Agnir hotā kavikratuḥ satyaś citraśravastamaḥ Devo devebhir ā gamat

MeaningMay Agni the invoker, wise of will, true and of most resplendent fame, come, a god with the gods.

Verse 6#

Yad aṅga dāśuṣe tvam agne bhadraṁ kariṣyasi

यदङ्ग दाशुषे त्वमग्ने भद्रं करिष्यसि। तवेत्तत्सत्यमङ्गिरः॥

Yad aṅga dāśuṣe tvam agne bhadraṁ kariṣyasi Tavet tat satyam aṅgiraḥ

MeaningWhatever good you, O Agni, will do for your worshipper — that promise of yours comes truly to pass, O Angiras.

Verse 7#

Upa tvāgne divedive doṣāvastar dhiyā vayam

उप त्वाग्ने दिवेदिवे दोषावस्तर्धिया वयम्। नमो भरन्त एमसि॥

Upa tvāgne divedive doṣāvastar dhiyā vayam Namo bharanta emasi

MeaningTo you, O Agni, day by day, by night and by day, we come, bearing our homage in our thoughts —

Verse 8#

Rājantam adhvarāṇāṁ gopām ṛtasya dīdivim

राजन्तमध्वराणां गोपामृतस्य दीदिविम्। वर्धमानं स्वे दमे॥

Rājantam adhvarāṇāṁ gopām ṛtasya dīdivim Vardhamānaṁ sve dame

Meaningto you, the radiant lord of the sacrifices, the guardian of the cosmic order, ever growing in your own abode.

Verse 9#

Sa naḥ piteva sūnave 'gne sūpāyano bhava

स नः पितेव सूनवेऽग्ने सूपायनो भव। सचस्वा नः स्वस्तये॥

Sa naḥ piteva sūnave 'gne sūpāyano bhava Sacasvā naḥ svastaye

MeaningSo be easy of access to us, O Agni, as a father is to his son; abide with us for our well-being.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

अग्निम् ईळे
agnim īḷe
I praise / extol Agni (the sacred fire)
पुरोहितम्
purohitam
The one placed in front, the appointed priest of the sacrifice
यज्ञस्य देवम्
yajñasya devam
The divine being / god of the sacrifice
ऋत्विजम्
ṛtvijam
The officiating priest (who offers at the right season)
होतारम्
hotāram
The invoker, who calls the gods to the offering
रत्नधातमम्
ratnadhātamam
The greatest bestower of treasures / jewels
पूर्वेभिः ऋषिभिः
pūrvebhir ṛṣibhir
By the ancient seers (Rishis)
नूतनैः उत
nūtanair uta
And also by the modern / present ones
स देवान् इह वक्षति
sa devāṁ eha vakṣati
May he bring the gods here (to the sacrifice)
अग्निना रयिम् अश्नवत्
agninā rayim aśnavat
Through Agni one obtains wealth
पोषम् एव दिवेदिवे
poṣam eva divedive
And nourishment / increase, day by day
यशसं वीरवत्तमम्
yaśasaṁ vīravattamam
Glorious and most abounding in heroes (offspring)
अध्वरम्
adhvaram
The sacrifice (literally, the unharmed / non-violent rite)
विश्वतः परिभूः असि
viśvataḥ paribhūr asi
You encompass / pervade on all sides
कविक्रतुः
kavikratuḥ
Of the wisdom and will of a seer (poet-sage)
सत्यः चित्रश्रवस्तमः
satyaś citraśravastamaḥ
Truthful and of most wonderful, manifold fame
देवो देवेभिः आ गमत्
devo devebhir ā gamat
May the god come here with the gods
भद्रं करिष्यसि
bhadraṁ kariṣyasi
Whatever good you will do (for the worshipper)
तवेत् तत् सत्यम् अङ्गिरः
tavet tat satyam aṅgiraḥ
That indeed comes true, O Angiras (Agni)
नमो भरन्तः एमसि
namo bharanta emasi
Bearing our homage, we come to you
गोपाम् ऋतस्य
gopām ṛtasya
The guardian / protector of cosmic order (Ritam, truth)
स नः पिता इव सूनवे
sa naḥ piteva sūnave
Be to us as a father is to his son
सचस्व नः स्वस्तये
sacasva naḥ svastaye
Abide with us for our well-being and welfare

Origin & History

Source: Rigveda 1.1

Author: Rishi Madhuchchhandas Vaishvamitra (Madhuchhandas, son of Vishvamitra)

Period: Vedic period (c. 1500–1200 BCE)

This is the opening hymn of the entire Rigveda, and therefore of the oldest layer of the Vedas. Composed by the seer Madhuchchhandas, the youngest son of the great Rishi Vishvamitra, it sets the tone for the whole collection by invoking Agni — the sacred fire who serves as priest, messenger and treasure-giver, mediating between mortals and the gods. Because Agni is the indispensable beginning of every sacrifice, his hymn fittingly stands at the head of the Veda.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Agni Suktam?▼
It is the very first hymn (sukta) of the Rigveda — Mandala 1, Sukta 1 — comprising nine verses to Agni, the god of fire. It begins with the famous words 'Agnim ile purohitam' and was revealed to the seer Madhuchchhandas, son of Vishvamitra.
Why is Agni invoked first in the Veda?▼
Agni is the divine priest who carries every offering to the gods; no Vedic sacrifice can begin without him. Placing this hymn first signifies that all worship begins with the kindling of the sacred fire, the link between the human and the divine.
What does 'Agnim ile purohitam' mean?▼
It means 'I praise Agni, the appointed priest of the sacrifice.' Agni is hailed as the purohita (one placed in front), the ritvij and hota who bestows the richest treasures.
When should the Agni Suktam be chanted?▼
It is chanted at dawn, during the Agnihotra, and as the opening invocation of any homa, havan or yajna, sanctifying the fire and the offerings made into it.

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