A one-minute narration sample. Every book in the library is narrated end to end — hear the rest in the app.
Rig Veda · 451 of 1027
Mandala 6: HYMN X. Agni.
1.INSTALL at sacrifice, while the rite advances, your pleasant, heavenly Agni, meet for praises. With hymns-for he illumines us-install him. He, Jātavedas, makes our rites successful.
2.Hear this laud, Radiant Priest of many aspects, O Agni with the fires of man enkindled, Laud which bards send forth pure as sacred butter, strength to this man, as ’twere for self-advantage.
3.Mid mortal men that singer thrives in glory who offers gifts with hymns of praise to Agni, And the God, wondrous bright, with wondrous succours helps him to win a stable filled with cattle.
4.He, at his birth, whose path is black behind him, filled heaven and earth with far-apparent splendour: And he himself hath been. through night’s thick darkness, made manifest by light, the Purifier.
5.With thy most mighty aid, confer, O Agni, wonderful wealth on us and on our princes, Who stand preeminent, surpassing others in liberal gifts, in fame, and hero virtues.
6.Agni, accept this sacrifice with gladness, which, seated here, the worshipper presenteth. Fair hymns hadst thou among the Bharadvājas, and holpest them to gain abundant vigour.
7.Scatter our foes, increase our store. May we he glad a hundred winters with brave sons.
Asked of Guide
Why does the hymn call Agni both “Jātavedas” and “Radiant Priest of many aspects”?
The hymn uses Jātavedas to name Agni as the one who knows all births and mediates between gods and humans; calling him that highlights his role as the inner-knower who makes rites succeed. “Radiant Priest of many aspects” describes Agni’s visible presence at the sacrifice and his manifold functions—he is worshipped, he enkindles rites, and he bears offerings upward.
These two titles together show the ritual logic of the hymn: Agni is an interior, cosmic knower and an exterior, functioning priest who illumines and purifies. This pairing echoes other Vedic hymns where Agni is both mediator and sacrificer, a theme developed in the Brihadaranyaka and the later discussions in the Upanishads about the inner sacrificial fire.
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.