तमित्पृच्छन्ति न सिमो वि पृच्छति स्वेनेव धीरो मनसा यदग्रभीत् । न मृष्यते प्रथमं नापरं वचोऽस्य क्रत्वा सचते अप्रदृपितः
They question him, but no one can fully question him; the wise one grasps with his own mind; his first and last word is not denied, he stands firm in will, unshaken.
तमिद्गच्छन्ति जुह्वस्तमर्वतीर्विश्वान्येकः शृणवद्वचांसि मे । पुरुप्रैषस्ततुरिर्यज्ञसाधनोऽच्छिद्रोतिः शिशुरादत्त सं रभः
To him the offerers come, to him the swift ones, he alone hears all my words; he is sent forth in many ways, accomplishing the sacrifice, flawless, the child, the eager one, takes up the work.
उपस्थायं चरति यत्समारत सद्यो जातस्तत्सार युज्येभिः । अभि श्वान्तं मृशते नान्द्ये मुदे यदीं गच्छन्त्युशतीरपिष्ठितम्
When he moves, attending at the place of offering, newly born, he takes up the work with those who are yoked; they touch the eager one in joy, when the shining ones approach the well-placed seat.
स ईं मृगो अप्यो वनर्गुरुप त्वच्युपमस्यां नि धायि । व्यब्रवीद्वयुना मर्त्येभ्योऽग्निर्विद्वाँ ऋतचिद्धि सत्यः
He, like a wild beast, is set in the forest, his skin placed on the altar; Agni, wise, knower of truth, truly speaks to mortals with skill.
त्रिमूर्धानं सप्तरश्मिं गृणीषेऽनूनमग्निं पित्रोरुपस्थे । निषत्तमस्य चरतो ध्रुवस्य विश्वा दिवो रोचनापप्रिवांसम्
I praise Agni, three-headed, seven-rayed, flawless, at the lap of his parents; seated in the firm, moving course, he fills all the shining regions of the sky.
उक्षा महाँ अभि ववक्ष एने अजरस्तस्थावितऊतिरृष्वः । उर्व्याः पदो नि दधाति सानौ रिहन्त्यूधो अरुषासो अस्य
The mighty bull, ever-young and exalted, has advanced with power; he sets his foot upon the summit of the broad earth; his reddish streams swell forth from his udder.
समानं वत्समभि संचरन्ती विष्वग्धेनू वि चरतः सुमेके । अनपवृज्याँ अध्वनो मिमाने विश्वान्केताँ अधि महो दधाने
The cows, moving together, circle around their common calf; everywhere the excellent milkers wander, unwearied, measuring the paths, bearing all signs upon their great bodies.
धीरासः पदं कवयो नयन्ति नाना हृदा रक्षमाणा अजुर्यम् । सिषासन्तः पर्यपश्यन्त सिन्धुमाविरेभ्यो अभवत्सूर्यो नॄन्
The wise, the poets, lead the path, each guarding the undying with diverse hearts; seeking to know, they beheld the river; for them, the sun became visible among men.
दिदृक्षेण्यः परि काष्ठासु जेन्य ईळेन्यो महो अर्भाय जीवसे । पुरुत्रा यदभवत्सूरहैभ्यो गर्भेभ्यो मघवा विश्वदर्शतः
He is to be beheld, worthy of vision among the boundaries, to be invoked for greatness, for the child to live; for he, the Sun, appeared in many places, most visible from the wombs, O generous one.
कथा ते अग्ने शुचयन्त आयोर्ददाशुर्वाजेभिराशुषाणाः । उभे यत्तोके तनये दधाना ऋतस्य सामन्रणयन्त देवाः
How, O Agni, have the shining ones served you with offerings, eager for prizes? When, in both family and offspring, the gods, upholding the song of truth, have rejoiced.
बोधा मे अस्य वचसो यविष्ठ मंहिष्ठस्य प्रभृतस्य स्वधावः । पीयति त्वो अनु त्वो गृणाति वन्दारुस्ते तन्वं वन्दे अग्ने
Hear me, youngest one, of this speech—O mighty, self-sustaining one, of the abundant offering; he drinks after you, he praises you, your worshipper—your form I worship, O Agni.
ये पायवो मामतेयं ते अग्ने पश्यन्तो अन्धं दुरितादरक्षन् । ररक्ष तान्सुकृतो विश्ववेदा दिप्सन्त इद्रिपवो नाह देभुः
Those guardians, O Agni, not of my kin, seeing the darkness, protected from harm; you preserved those righteous ones, all-knowing, while the envious, hostile ones did not prevail.
यो नो अग्ने अररिवाँ अघायुररातीवा मर्चयति द्वयेन । मन्त्रो गुरुः पुनरस्तु सो अस्मा अनु मृक्षीष्ट तन्वं दुरुक्तैः
Whoever, O Agni, opposes us—whether a wrongdoer or an enemy—let the powerful spell turn back upon him; cleanse our form from evil words.
उत वा यः सहस्य प्रविद्वान्मर्तो मर्तं मर्चयति द्वयेन । अतः पाहि स्तवमान स्तुवन्तमग्ने माकिर्नो दुरिताय धायीः
Or if some mighty, wise mortal harms another mortal with double-dealing, from him protect the one who praises and worships you, O Agni; let not harm befall us.
मथीद्यदीं विष्टो मातरिश्वा होतारं विश्वाप्सुं विश्वदेव्यम् । नि यं दधुर्मनुष्यासु विक्षु स्वर्ण चित्रं वपुषे विभावम्
When Mātariśvan churned him out, the all-divine Hotar, pervading all waters, men placed him among the tribes, shining, radiant, splendid in form.
ददानमिन्न ददभन्त मन्माग्निर्वरूथं मम तस्य चाकन् । जुषन्त विश्वान्यस्य कर्मोपस्तुतिं भरमाणस्य कारोः
Giving, yet not exhausting, my thoughts, Agni, are for your protection and for mine; may all your deeds be accepted, as the poet bears up the praise.
नित्ये चिन्नु यं सदने जगृभ्रे प्रशस्तिभिर्दधिरे यज्ञियासः । प्र सू नयन्त गृभयन्त इष्टावश्वासो न रथ्यो रारहाणाः
Even in the eternal dwelling, they have held him; the worshipful ones have established him with praises; they lead forth the streams, they hold the desired, like horses eager for the chariot.
पुरूणि दस्मो नि रिणाति जम्भैराद्रोचते वन आ विभावा । आदस्य वातो अनु वाति शोचिरस्तुर्न शर्यामसनामनु द्यून्
The wondrous one breaks through many things with his jaws; he shines forth in the forest, radiant; his flame follows after the wind, like a sharpened spear, extending to the days.
न यं रिपवो न रिषण्यवो गर्भे सन्तं रेषणा रेषयन्ति । अन्धा अपश्या न दभन्नभिख्या नित्यास ईं प्रेतारो अरक्षन्
Neither rivals nor adversaries, though dwelling in the womb, can stir him; the blind, the unseeing, do not harm him by their approach; the eternal guardians have protected him.
महः स राय एषते पतिर्दन्निन इनस्य वसुनः पद आ । उप ध्रजन्तमद्रयो विधन्नित्
He, lord of great wealth, seeks the path of the generous, of the treasure; the stones approach him as he comes to the place of pressing.
स यो वृषा नरां न रोदस्योः श्रवोभिरस्ति जीवपीतसर्गः । प्र यः सस्राणः शिश्रीत योनौ
He, the bull among men, is renowned in both worlds, living, full of praise; he, moving forward, settles in the womb.
आ यः पुरं नार्मिणीमदीदेदत्यः कविर्नभन्यो नार्वा । सूरो न रुरुक्वाञ्छतात्मा
He, who has come forth from the stronghold, has shone, the wise one, like a cloud, not far away; like the sun, he has moved with a hundredfold strength.
अभि द्विजन्मा त्री रोचनानि विश्वा रजांसि शुशुचानो अस्थात् । होता यजिष्ठो अपां सधस्थे
The twice-born one, shining, has stood in all three luminous realms, in all the spaces; the most fitting Hotar in the seat of the waters.
अयं स होता यो द्विजन्मा विश्वा दधे वार्याणि श्रवस्या । मर्तो यो अस्मै सुतुको ददाश
He is that Hotar, twice-born, who has established all desirable things for glory; the mortal who offers to him with pressed Soma finds delight.
पुरु त्वा दाश्वान्वोचेऽरिरग्ने तव स्विदा । तोदस्येव शरण आ महस्य
Many times have I spoken to you, O Agni, as one who gives, for you are indeed ours; like a shelter from the strong, come to our greatness.
व्यनिनस्य धनिनः प्रहोषे चिदररुषः । कदा चन प्रजिगतो अदेवयोः
Not even the loud, wealthy, or angry one can overcome you; never do you abandon those who seek you, nor the godless.
स चन्द्रो विप्र मर्त्यो महो व्राधन्तमो दिवि । प्रप्रेत्ते अग्ने वनुषः स्याम
That wise mortal, shining, most powerful in the heavens, O Agni, may we become followers of your favor.
मित्रं न यं शिम्या गोषु गव्यवः स्वाध्यो विदथे अप्सु जीजनन् । अरेजेतां रोदसी पाजसा गिरा प्रति प्रियं यजतं जनुषामवः
Like Mitra, whom the wise have generated among cows for the wealth of cattle, in assemblies, and in the waters; may the two worlds, trembling in strength and voice, respond to the beloved, worshipful support of beings.
यद्ध त्यद्वां पुरुमीळ्हस्य सोमिनः प्र मित्रासो न दधिरे स्वाभुवः । अध क्रतुं विदतं गातुमर्चत उत श्रुतं वृषणा पस्त्यावतः
When, indeed, you two, much-invoked by the Soma-pouring worshipper, like Mitras, have taken your place by your own nature, then you grant wisdom, you are praised for the path, and you, mighty ones, are renowned as guardians of the home.
आ वां भूषन्क्षितयो जन्म रोदस्योः प्रवाच्यं वृषणा दक्षसे महे । यदीमृताय भरथो यदर्वते प्र होत्रया शिम्या वीथो अध्वरम्
To you, the peoples, the birth of heaven and earth, the mighty ones, must be declared for great skill; when you bear the immortal and the righteous, you, the Hotars, guide the worship with wisdom.