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Rig Veda · 631 of 1027
Mandala 8: HYMN XI. Agni.
1.THOU Agni, God mid mortal men, art guard of sacred rites, thou art To be adored at sacrifice.
2.O Mighty Agni, thou must be glorified at our festivals, Bearing our offerings to the Gods.
3.O Jātavedas Agni, fight and drive our foes afar from us, Themand their godless enmities.
4.Thou, Jātavedas, seekest not the worship of a hostile man, However nigh itbe to thee.
5.We sages, mortals as we are, adore the mighty name oof thee, Immortal Jātavedas’ name.
6.Sages, we call the Sage to help, mortals, we call the God to aid: We call on Agni with our songs.
7.May Vatsa draw- thy mind away even from thy loftiest dwelling-place, Agni, with song that yearns for thee.
8.Thou art the same in many a place: mid all the people thou art Lord. In fray and fightt we call on thee.
9.When we are seeking strength we call Agni to help us in the strife, The giver of rich gifts in war.
10.Ancient, adorablie at sacrifices, Priest from of old, meet for our praise, thou sittest. Fill full and satisfy thy body, Agni, and win us happiness by offering worship.
Asked of Guide
Why do the sages keep calling Agni during sacrifices and battles in this hymn?
The sages call Agni because he is both ritual guardian and divine mediator: “Thou art guard of sacred rites” and “Bearing our offerings to the Gods” explains his role in carrying worship into the divine realm. The hymn repeats petitions for help—against foes, for strength, for gifts—because Agni functions as protector, war-helper, and receiver of sacrifice whose favor yields “happiness by offering worship.”
Naming Agni as Jātavedas and Priest ties cultic practice to practical needs; the rites are how the community secures divine aid in life and war. If you want a parallel, see the Iliad’s passages where singers invoke gods to grant victory, where ritual speech and battlefield success are linked.
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