एवा महान्बृहद्दिवो अथर्वावोचत्स्वां तन्वमिन्द्रमेव । स्वसारो मातरिभ्वरीररिप्रा हिन्वन्ति च शवसा वर्धयन्ति च
Thus the great Bṛhaddiva, descendant of Atharvan, has spoken of you, Indra, as his very self; the sisters, Mātarishvan's daughters, approach without enmity, and by your might they both incite and strengthen you.
हिरण्यगर्भः समवर्तताग्रे भूतस्य जातः पतिरेक आसीत् । स दाधार पृथिवीं द्यामुतेमां कस्मै देवाय हविषा विधेम
In the beginning arose the Golden Embryo; he was the one lord of all that exists, born as the ruler; he established the earth and the heavens—unto which god shall we offer our oblation?
य आत्मदा बलदा यस्य विश्व उपासते प्रशिषं यस्य देवाः । यस्य छायामृतं यस्य मृत्युः कस्मै देवाय हविषा विधेम
He who gives soul and strength, whom all the gods obey, whose command they follow; whose shadow is immortality, and whose shadow is death—unto which god shall we offer our oblation?
यः प्राणतो निमिषतो महित्वैक इद्राजा जगतो बभूव । य ईशे अस्य द्विपदश्चतुष्पदः कस्मै देवाय हविषा विधेम
He who by his greatness is the sole king of all that breathes and blinks, who rules over both bipeds and quadrupeds—unto which god shall we offer our oblation?
यस्येमे हिमवन्तो महित्वा यस्य समुद्रं रसया सहाहुः । यस्येमाः प्रदिशो यस्य बाहू कस्मै देवाय हविषा विधेम
He whose greatness the snowy mountains declare, and the ocean with the river, he whose arms are these directions—unto which god shall we offer our oblation?
येन द्यौरुग्रा पृथिवी च दृळ्हा येन स्वः स्तभितं येन नाकः । यो अन्तरिक्षे रजसो विमानः कस्मै देवाय हविषा विधेम
By whom the mighty heavens and the firm earth were made firm, by whom the sky was established, by whom the vault was fixed, who measures out the midspace—unto which god shall we offer our oblation?
यं क्रन्दसी अवसा तस्तभाने अभ्यैक्षेतां मनसा रेजमाने । यत्राधि सूर उदितो विभाति कस्मै देवाय हविषा विधेम
He whom the two wide worlds, trembling, looked upon with their mind as he upheld them by his power; where the sun rises and shines—unto which god shall we offer our oblation?
आपो ह यद्बृहतीर्विश्वमायन्गर्भं दधाना जनयन्तीरग्निम् । ततो देवानां समवर्ततासुरेकः कस्मै देवाय हविषा विधेम
When the mighty waters, bearing the universal germ, brought forth Agni, from them arose the one god of the gods—unto which god shall we offer our oblation?
यश्चिदापो महिना पर्यपश्यद्दक्षं दधाना जनयन्तीर्यज्ञम् । यो देवेष्वधि देव एक आसीत्कस्मै देवाय हविषा विधेम
He who in his greatness beheld the waters, bearing creative power, generating sacrifice; he who alone is the god above the gods—unto which god shall we offer our oblation?
मा नो हिंसीज्जनिता यः पृथिव्या यो वा दिवं सत्यधर्मा जजान । यश्चापश्चन्द्रा बृहतीर्जजान कस्मै देवाय हविषा विधेम
May he not harm us, the creator of the earth, who brought forth the true law in the heavens, who also created the shining and mighty waters—unto which god shall we offer our oblation?
प्रजापते न त्वदेतान्यन्यो विश्वा जातानि परि ता बभूव । यत्कामास्ते जुहुमस्तन्नो अस्तु वयं स्याम पतयो रयीणाम्
O Lord of Progeny, none but you encompasses all these created things; may that desire of yours, for which we offer, be fulfilled; may we become masters of riches.
वसुं न चित्रमहसं गृणीषे वामं शेवमतिथिमद्विषेण्यम् । स रासते शुरुधो विश्वधायसोऽग्निर्होता गृहपतिः सुवीर्यम्
I praise Agni, the radiant, wondrous in might, gracious, auspicious, a guest to be welcomed, free from enmity; he bestows wealth, attentive to all, Agni the priest, lord of the house, giver of heroic strength.
जुषाणो अग्ने प्रति हर्य मे वचो विश्वानि विद्वान्वयुनानि सुक्रतो । घृतनिर्णिग्ब्रह्मणे गातुमेरय तव देवा अजनयन्ननु व्रतम्
Accept, O Agni, my words with favor; you, wise in all paths, knowing all deeds; with clarified butter as your stream, lead the song for the priest; the gods have established you according to the law.
सप्त धामानि परियन्नमर्त्यो दाशद्दाशुषे सुकृते मामहस्व । सुवीरेण रयिणाग्ने स्वाभुवा यस्त आनट् समिधा तं जुषस्व
The immortal one moves through seven abodes, granting to the worshipper, to the doer of good, may you be gracious; with heroic wealth, O Agni, self-born, accept him who kindles you with the offering.
यज्ञस्य केतुं प्रथमं पुरोहितं हविष्मन्त ईळते सप्त वाजिनम् । शृण्वन्तमग्निं घृतपृष्ठमुक्षणं पृणन्तं देवं पृणते सुवीर्यम्
They seek Agni, the sign of sacrifice, the first priest, the seven-horsed, rich in offerings; they listen to Agni, whose back is smeared with ghee, the generous god who fills with heroic strength.
त्वं दूतः प्रथमो वरेण्यः स हूयमानो अमृताय मत्स्व । त्वां मर्जयन्मरुतो दाशुषो गृहे त्वां स्तोमेभिर्भृगवो वि रुरुचुः
You are the first messenger, most excellent, be pleased when invoked for immortality; the Maruts, worshippers, have cleansed you in their house, the Bhṛgus have adorned you with hymns.
इषं दुहन्सुदुघां विश्वधायसं यज्ञप्रिये यजमानाय सुक्रतो । अग्ने घृतस्नुस्त्रिरृतानि दीद्यद्वर्तिर्यज्ञं परियन्सुक्रतूयसे
Milking out nourishment, ever-yielding, beloved of sacrifice, for the worshipper, O wise Agni; ghee-anointed, shining in threefold order, you circle the sacrifice for the sake of wisdom.
त्वामिदस्या उषसो व्युष्टिषु दूतं कृण्वाना अयजन्त मानुषाः । त्वां देवा महयाय्याय वावृधुराज्यमग्ने निमृजन्तो अध्वरे
At these dawns, people have worshipped you, making you their messenger; O Agni, the gods have exalted you for greatness, purifying you with ghee at the sacrifice.
नि त्वा वसिष्ठा अह्वन्त वाजिनं गृणन्तो अग्ने विदथेषु वेधसः । रायस्पोषं यजमानेषु धारय यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः
The inspired Vasiṣṭhas have called upon you, Agni, as the bestower of strength, praising you in the gatherings; grant prosperity to the sacrificers—may you all always protect us with blessings.
अयं वेनश्चोदयत्पृश्निगर्भा ज्योतिर्जरायू रजसो विमाने । इममपां संगमे सूर्यस्य शिशुं न विप्रा मतिभी रिहन्ति
This Vena, born from the spotted one, has set in motion the light in the vessel of the sky; at the meeting of waters and the sun, the sages seek him with their thoughts, like a child.
समुद्रादूर्मिमुदियर्ति वेनो नभोजाः पृष्ठं हर्यतस्य दर्शि । ऋतस्य सानावधि विष्टपि भ्राट् समानं योनिमभ्यनूषत व्राः
Vena rises as a wave from the ocean, ascending to the back of the shining one in the sky; reaching the summit of truth, the clans have sought the same origin.
समानं पूर्वीरभि वावशानास्तिष्ठन्वत्सस्य मातरः सनीळाः । ऋतस्य सानावधि चक्रमाणा रिहन्ति मध्वो अमृतस्य वाणीः
The many ancient mothers, eager, stand close to the calf, nourishing him; moving to the summit of truth, they seek the streams of honey and immortality.
जानन्तो रूपमकृपन्त विप्रा मृगस्य घोषं महिषस्य हि ग्मन् । ऋतेन यन्तो अधि सिन्धुमस्थुर्विदद्गन्धर्वो अमृतानि नाम
Knowing his form, the sages did not harm him; they heard the bellow of the bull, the cry of the stag; journeying by truth, they stood by the river—Gandharva discovered the immortal names.
अप्सरा जारमुपसिष्मियाणा योषा बिभर्ति परमे व्योमन् । चरत्प्रियस्य योनिषु प्रियः सन्सीदत्पक्षे हिरण्यये स वेनः
The Apsaras approaches her lover, the maiden bears him in the highest heaven; the beloved moves among the beloved abodes, Vena settles on the golden wing.
नाके सुपर्णमुप यत्पतन्तं हृदा वेनन्तो अभ्यचक्षत त्वा । हिरण्यपक्षं वरुणस्य दूतं यमस्य योनौ शकुनं भुरण्युम्
When the eagle, golden-winged, was flying in the sky, those who longed for Vena beheld you with their hearts—Varuṇa’s messenger, the bird, the swift one, in Yama’s abode.
ऊर्ध्वो गन्धर्वो अधि नाके अस्थात्प्रत्यङ्चित्रा बिभ्रदस्यायुधानि । वसानो अत्कं सुरभिं दृशे कं स्वर्ण नाम जनत प्रियाणि
The Gandharva stood upright in the sky, bearing the bright weapons of this one; wearing a fragrant garment for all to see, he generated the dear golden names.
द्रप्सः समुद्रमभि यज्जिगाति पश्यन्गृध्रस्य चक्षसा विधर्मन् । भानुः शुक्रेण शोचिषा चकानस्तृतीये चक्रे रजसि प्रियाणि
When the drop moves toward the ocean, observing with the vulture’s eye, the radiant one shines with pure brilliance, making dear things in the third region of space.
इमं नो अग्न उप यज्ञमेहि पञ्चयामं त्रिवृतं सप्ततन्तुम् । असो हव्यवाळुत नः पुरोगा ज्योगेव दीर्घं तम आशयिष्ठाः
O Agni, come to this our sacrifice, fivefold, three-stranded, seven-threaded; you, bringer of offerings, lead us forward—like the sun, may you drive away the long darkness.
अदेवाद्देवः प्रचता गुहा यन्प्रपश्यमानो अमृतत्वमेमि । शिवं यत्सन्तमशिवो जहामि स्वात्सख्यादरणीं नाभिमेमि
As a god, I depart from the ungodly, secretly perceiving, I attain immortality; I abandon what is unblessed, though it seems blessed, and from my own friendship I do not approach the fire-stick’s navel.
पश्यन्नन्यस्या अतिथिं वयाया ऋतस्य धाम वि मिमे पुरूणि । शंसामि पित्रे असुराय शेवमयज्ञियाद्यज्ञियं भागमेमि
Seeing the guest of another, I, swift as a bird, have measured many abodes of truth; I proclaim to the father, the mighty lord, that I come to the worthy share, not the unworthy.