सुसमिद्धो न आ वह देवाँ अग्ने हविष्मते ।
होतः पावक यक्षि च ॥ १ ॥

Susamiddho na aa vaha devaam agne havishmate ।
Hotah paavaka yakshi cha ॥ 1 ॥

Meaning:

सुसमिद्धः (Susamiddhah): One who is well kindled, one who shines with great brilliance. Here, “Susamiddhah” indicates the Divine becoming manifest and glowing as the light of knowledge within our hearts. Just as the idea of “Jajnanah” in the previous mantra indicates, it refers to the state in which the Divine manifests within and awakens awareness. When the Divine light is well kindled in the heart, ignorance is removed and divine qualities naturally begin to grow.

नः (Nah): For us, for our sake. This is not merely a prayer for individual welfare; it is also a prayer for the spiritual progress of everyone. It expresses the broad-minded attitude that Divine grace should not remain confined to oneself but should spread throughout society.

आ (Aa): Here, towards us, into our midst. It indicates the prayer that Divine grace should not remain distant but should enter into our lives and become established within us. It contains the prayer that divine qualities should directly manifest within our hearts.

वह (Vaha): Bring, bring forth, cause to be received. The Divine guides human beings towards higher qualities. The inner meaning of this word is that, together with our own efforts, the Divine should bring divine treasures and noble awareness into us and establish them within our lives.

देवान् (Devaan): Divine qualities, luminous virtues, the Devas. The basic meaning of “Deva” is “one who gives.” The nature of giving, selfless attitude and high moral conduct are the marks of divine qualities. When the Divine light grows within the heart, such qualities also begin to grow.

अग्ने (Agne): O Agni! O luminous Divine Being! O One who leads us from the front! Here, Agni does not refer merely to physical fire. It refers to the Divine power that awakens knowledge, purifies the mind and leads human beings towards the path of higher living. Since Agni stands at the forefront of all divine development, He is addressed as “Agne.”

हविष्मते (Havishmate): For one who possesses the offering; for one who has the spirit of dedication; for one who possesses a charitable and giving nature. “Havis” is the offering presented in a yajna. In its inner meaning, it represents sacrifice, sharing and charity. Divine qualities grow in those who do not live merely for themselves but give and share for the benefit of others. The attitude of giving first and enjoying what remains elevates a person beyond the desire for mere enjoyment and leads towards the divine state.

होतः (Hotah): One who calls, one who connects, one who grants the divine state. The Divine connects a human being with a higher way of life. He awakens the noble awareness hidden within us and transforms us into those who are worthy of divine consciousness. Therefore, He is praised as “Hota.”

पावक (Paavaka): One who purifies, one who makes sacred. The presence of the Divine removes impurities of the mind such as ignorance, selfishness, desire and anger, and purifies life. The closer a person comes to the Divine, the more his inner being and his life become purified.

यक्षि (Yakshi): May You unite us, may You connect us, may You remain with us. This is a prayer for a close relationship with the Divine. The prayer is not merely that the Divine should make a person good, but also that the person should remain established in Divine fellowship. The closer the relationship with the Divine becomes, the more sacred life becomes; and as life becomes more sacred, closeness to the Divine also increases. There is a mutual growth between these two.

च (Cha): And, also. This expresses the additional prayer that the Divine should not merely bestow divine qualities upon us, but should also unite us with Himself. In other words, divine qualities and Divine fellowship together make life complete.

Explanation:

This mantra deeply explains how Divine light manifests within the human heart and elevates a person towards a divine life. In this mantra, the Divine, addressed by the name Agni, is praised not merely as external fire but as the Supreme Divine Power that illumines the inner being.

The word “सुसमिद्धः (Susamiddhah)” indicates that the Divine shines within our hearts as the light of knowledge, like a well-kindled lamp. That Divine light which removes ignorance, confusion and the darkness of the mind and awakens the inner being is the true beginning of human life. When the light of the Divine arises in the heart, noble thoughts and virtuous qualities naturally begin to blossom along with it.

Therefore, the mantra prays, “नः आ वह (Nah aa vaha),” meaning “Bring for us.” This is not a personal desire; it is a broad prayer that the whole of human society should be filled with Divine light. Its deeper meaning is that Divine grace should not remain distant but should manifest and become established within our very lives.

The word “देवान् (Devaan)” here refers not merely to the Devas but also to divine qualities. According to the Nirukta idea expressed through “देवो दानात् (Devo daanaat)”, one is called Deva because of the nature of giving. The mark of a divine life is therefore not selfishness but charity and sharing. When noble qualities such as compassion, sacrifice, righteousness, concern for others and helpfulness grow within the heart, a person rises towards the divine state. Therefore, the mantra prays to the Divine, “May You develop such divine qualities within our hearts.”

It is highly meaningful that the Divine is addressed as “अग्ने (Agne).” Agni is not merely physical fire; it is the light that leads a human being forward, the power that awakens knowledge, and the Divine force that guides life towards the path of higher living. Since He stands at the forefront of all divine development, He is praised as Agni.

The word “हविष्मते (Havishmate)” has great importance in this mantra. Although Havis is the substance offered in a yajna, in its inner meaning it represents the spirit of dedication, sacrifice, sharing and charity. Divine qualities do not grow in a person who lives only for selfish purposes; it is the attitude of giving and living for the benefit of others that elevates a human being. The teaching explains that the nature of the Devas is to give first and enjoy what remains. A life that rises beyond the craving for enjoyment in this manner becomes the foundation for divine growth.

Next, the Divine is called “होतः (Hotah)” and “पावक (Paavaka).” “Hota” refers to the One who connects a human being with divine consciousness and awakens noble awareness. “Paavaka” means the One who purifies. Divine grace removes impurities of the mind such as selfishness, desire, anger and ignorance, and purifies life. The closer a person comes to the Divine, the more and more purified his inner being becomes.

As the culmination of this prayer, the mantra says “यक्षि च (Yakshi cha)” — “May You unite us with Yourself.” It expresses the deep spiritual longing that the Divine should not merely grant us good qualities but should also establish a close relationship with Himself. The closer one comes to the Divine, the more sacred life becomes; and the more sacred life becomes, the greater the closeness to the Divine. These two truths mutually strengthen one another.

Therefore, the overall message of this mantra is that the Divine should shine within our hearts as the light of knowledge, develop divine qualities filled with charity and sacrifice, purify us and finally elevate us to a sacred life united with the Divine. This is not merely a hymn of praise; it is a profound spiritual prayer that guides a human being from the human state towards the divine state.

Conclusion

This mantra praises the Divine as Agni, as the light of knowledge and as the Divine power that elevates life. When the Divine shines brightly within our hearts, ignorance is removed and divine qualities naturally begin to grow. Just as “Deva” means one who possesses the nature of giving, charity, sacrifice, sharing and selfless living elevate a human being beyond the desire for mere enjoyment and lead towards the divine state. To those who live with a spirit of dedication, the Divine grants higher qualities and noble awareness and purifies them inwardly.

The Divine, who functions as Hota by connecting human beings with divine consciousness and as Paavaka by removing impurities of the mind, does not merely transform us into good human beings but also establishes us in a close relationship with Himself. Closeness to the Divine makes life more sacred, and the purity of life in turn increases closeness to the Divine.

Thus, this mantra reveals that Divine light, the growth of divine qualities, the spirit of charity, purity of the heart and Divine fellowship are spiritual truths that mutually strengthen one another. In this way, the mantra stands as a profound prayer that guides human beings towards a sacred divine life united with the Divine.