ये पायवो मामतेयं ते अग्ने पश्यन्तो अन्धं दुरितादरक्षन् । ररक्ष तान्सुकृतो विश्ववेदा दिप्सन्त इद्रिपवो नाह देभुः
Those guardians, not acting out of self-interest, O Agni, seeing the darkness, protected from evil; you, all-knowing, preserved those doers of good, and the hostile, greedy ones did not overpower them.
त्वया वयं सधन्यस्त्वोतास्तव प्रणीत्यश्याम वाजान् । उभा शंसा सूदय सत्यतातेऽनुष्ठुया कृणुह्यह्रयाण
With you as ally, with you as protector, by your guidance may we attain riches. Dispel both curses, true and false; by your support, act without hesitation.
अया ते अग्ने समिधा विधेम प्रति स्तोमं शस्यमानं गृभाय । दहाशसो रक्षसः पाह्यस्मान्द्रुहो निदो मित्रमहो अवद्यात्
With this kindling, O Agni, we perform worship; accept the praised hymn. Burn away the envious, protect us from harm, from the deceitful, from the malicious, O friend of the great.
वैश्वानराय मीळ्हुषे सजोषाः कथा दाशेमाग्नये बृहद्भाः । अनूनेन बृहता वक्षथेनोप स्तभायदुपमिन्न रोधः
With united devotion, let us worship Agni Vaiśvānara, the generous, with great praise. With unweakened, mighty words, let us support him, who upholds both worlds.
मा निन्दत य इमां मह्यं रातिं देवो ददौ मर्त्याय स्वधावान् । पाकाय गृत्सो अमृतो विचेता वैश्वानरो नृतमो यह्वो अग्निः
Do not despise the gift which the god, self-sustaining, has given to me, a mortal. For cooking, Gṛtsu, the immortal, wise, Vaiśvānara, most heroic, mighty Agni.
साम द्विबर्हा महि तिग्मभृष्टिः सहस्ररेता वृषभस्तुविष्मान् । पदं न गोरपगूळ्हं विविद्वानग्निर्मह्यं प्रेदु वोचन्मनीषाम्
He, of double height, great, with sharp flames, a bull with a thousand streams, mighty in strength—Agni, knowing the hidden track of the cow, has declared to me this inspired thought.
प्र ताँ अग्निर्बभसत्तिग्मजम्भस्तपिष्ठेन शोचिषा यः सुराधाः । प्र ये मिनन्ति वरुणस्य धाम प्रिया मित्रस्य चेततो ध्रुवाणि
Agni blazed forth with sharp jaws, with burning flame, who is bountiful. Those who diminish the domain of Varuṇa, the beloved, the steadfast order of Mitra, he destroys.
अभ्रातरो न योषणो व्यन्तः पतिरिपो न जनयो दुरेवाः । पापासः सन्तो अनृता असत्या इदं पदमजनता गभीरम्
Like women without brothers, divided, like hostile wives, mothers at odds, evil, false, untruthful—such people have created this deep path.
इदं मे अग्ने कियते पावकामिनते गुरुं भारं न मन्म । बृहद्दधाथ धृषता गभीरं यह्वं पृष्ठं प्रयसा सप्तधातु
This, O Agni, is my small, shining hymn for you—may it not be a heavy burden, like a great load. You have established the vast, firm, deep, mighty back with your sevenfold energy.
तमिन्न्वेव समना समानमभि क्रत्वा पुनती धीतिरश्याः । ससस्य चर्मन्नधि चारु पृश्नेरग्रे रुप आरुपितं जबारु
Upon this, indeed, let the same thought, the same intention, purify the hymn with its resolve. On the beautiful hide of the spotted one, in the forefront, the form is set, shining, to be proclaimed.
प्रवाच्यं वचसः किं मे अस्य गुहा हितमुप निणिग्वदन्ति । यदुस्रियाणामप वारिव व्रन्पाति प्रियं रुपो अग्रं पदं वेः
What is to be spoken of this speech of mine, which is placed in secret? The wise speak of it as hidden. As water flows away from the cows, so the beloved form, the foremost step, departs.
इदमु त्यन्महि महामनीकं यदुस्रिया सचत पूर्व्यं गौः । ऋतस्य पदे अधि दीद्यानं गुहा रघुष्यद्रघुयद्विवेद
This, indeed, is great, of vast aspect, which the cow, united with the dawn, follows as ancient. Shining on the path of truth, hidden, the swift one has swiftly perceived.
अध द्युतानः पित्रोः सचासामनुत गुह्यं चारु पृश्नेः । मातुष्पदे परमे अन्ति षद्गोर्वृष्णः शोचिषः प्रयतस्य जिह्वा
Then, shining, he accompanied his parents, and followed the hidden, beautiful one of the spotted. In the mother's place, in the highest abode, the tongue of the bull, of the shining, of the devoted, sits.
ऋतं वोचे नमसा पृच्छ्यमानस्तवाशसा जातवेदो यदीदम् । त्वमस्य क्षयसि यद्ध विश्वं दिवि यदु द्रविणं यत्पृथिव्याम्
I speak the truth, seeking with reverence, with praise, O Jātavedas, what is this? You possess all that is here, whatever wealth is in heaven or whatever is on earth.
किं नो अस्य द्रविणं कद्ध रत्नं वि नो वोचो जातवेदश्चिकित्वान् । गुहाध्वनः परमं यन्नो अस्य रेकु पदं न निदाना अगन्म
What is the wealth for us, what precious thing of his? Tell us, O Jātavedas, who knows. The highest, hidden path of his—what is that step of his, like a track, which we have not reached?
का मर्यादा वयुना कद्ध वाममच्छा गमेम रघवो न वाजम् । कदा नो देवीरमृतस्य पत्नीः सूरो वर्णेन ततनन्नुषासः
What is the boundary, what the work, what the favor, that we may swiftly reach, like racers, the prize? When will the goddesses, wives of the immortal, the shining dawns, extend their color to us?
अनिरेण वचसा फल्ग्वेन प्रतीत्येन कृधुनातृपासः । अधा ते अग्ने किमिहा वदन्त्यनायुधास आसता सचन्ताम्
With words that are untrue, feeble, and deceptive, those who are not satisfied by the offering speak here, O Agni; what do they say in this place? Let those without weapons sit together in counsel.
अस्य श्रिये समिधानस्य वृष्णो वसोरनीकं दम आ रुरोच । रुशद्वसानः सुदृशीकरूपः क्षितिर्न राया पुरुवारो अद्यौत्
For the glory of this kindled, mighty, and generous one, the face of the house shines forth; clad in bright garments, of beautiful form, he blazes like a lord of wealth, bestowing many gifts.
ऊर्ध्व ऊ षु णो अध्वरस्य होतरग्ने तिष्ठ देवताता यजीयान् । त्वं हि विश्वमभ्यसि मन्म प्र वेधसश्चित्तिरसि मनीषाम्
Rise up, O Agni, priest of our sacrifice, stand upright for the rite, most worthy of worship; for you comprehend all our hymns, O wise one, you are the inspirer of our thoughts.
अमूरो होता न्यसादि विक्ष्वग्निर्मन्द्रो विदथेषु प्रचेताः । ऊर्ध्वं भानुं सवितेवाश्रेन्मेतेव धूमं स्तभायदुप द्याम्
The unerring priest has sat down among the tribes—Agni, gentle, wise in the assemblies; he raised his light upward like the sun, like smoke he stretched forth to the sky.
यता सुजूर्णी रातिनी घृताची प्रदक्षिणिद्देवतातिमुराणः । उदु स्वरुर्नवजा नाक्रः पश्वो अनक्ति सुधितः सुमेकः
As the generous, well-offering, ghee-anointed one, moving rightward for the gods, he advances; the new-born, mighty bull rises up, the well-fed, splendid one prepares the cattle.
स्तीर्णे बर्हिषि समिधाने अग्ना ऊर्ध्वो अध्वर्युर्जुजुषाणो अस्थात् । पर्यग्निः पशुपा न होता त्रिविष्ट्येति प्रदिव उराणः
On the strewn grass, when Agni is kindled, the upright priest, delighting in the rite, stands; Agni, like a herdsman, circles as the priest, ascending the threefold seat, moving widely to the gods.
परि त्मना मितद्रुरेति होताग्निर्मन्द्रो मधुवचा ऋतावा । द्रवन्त्यस्य वाजिनो न शोका भयन्ते विश्वा भुवना यदभ्राट्
With his own form, friendly, the priest Agni moves around, gentle, speaking sweetly, true to the rite; his flames run like swift horses, all beings are afraid when he blazes forth.
भद्रा ते अग्ने स्वनीक संदृग्घोरस्य सतो विषुणस्य चारुः । न यत्ते शोचिस्तमसा वरन्त न ध्वस्मानस्तन्वी रेप आ धुः
Blessed are you, Agni, with beautiful face and clear vision, lovely amid the terrible and the varied; your flame is not hindered by darkness, nor do ashes or smoke stain your body.
न यस्य सातुर्जनितोरवारि न मातरापितरा नू चिदिष्टौ । अधा मित्रो न सुधितः पावकोऽग्निर्दीदाय मानुषीषु विक्षु
He whose birth no one can restrain—not by begetter, nor mother, nor father, not even now; then, like Mitra, the well-offering, the pure Agni shines among the human tribes.
द्विर्यं पञ्च जीजनन्संवसानाः स्वसारो अग्निं मानुषीषु विक्षु । उषर्बुधमथर्यो न दन्तं शुक्रं स्वासं परशुं न तिग्मम्
Twice five sisters, dwelling together, have produced Agni among the human tribes; like a tooth for the sharp, like a bright axe, he is stirred, the quick one, the keen-edged.
तव त्ये अग्ने हरितो घृतस्ना रोहितास ऋज्वञ्चः स्वञ्चः । अरुषासो वृषण ऋजुमुष्का आ देवतातिमह्वन्त दस्माः
Yours, O Agni, are those tawny, ghee-anointed, red ones, straight and goodly; the ruddy, mighty ones with straight manes, O wondrous one, have called you to the gods.
ये ह त्ये ते सहमाना अयासस्त्वेषासो अग्ने अर्चयश्चरन्ति । श्येनासो न दुवसनासो अर्थं तुविष्वणसो मारुतं न शर्धः
Those who are your companions, strong and tireless, O Agni, move with shining light; like eagles, clothed in splendor, seeking their aim, roaring, like a host of Maruts.
अकारि ब्रह्म समिधान तुभ्यं शंसात्युक्थं यजते व्यू धाः । होतारमग्निं मनुषो नि षेदुर्नमस्यन्त उशिजः शंसमायोः
A hymn has been composed, kindling for you, praise and song are offered, the rites are set in order; men have seated Agni as the priest, worshipping, the inspired ones, singing your praise.
अयमिह प्रथमो धायि धातृभिर्होता यजिष्ठो अध्वरेष्वीड्यः । यमप्नवानो भृगवो विरुरुचुर्वनेषु चित्रं विभ्वं विशेविशे
Here, the first priest is established by the creators, most fit for sacrifice, worthy of praise at the rites; whom the Bhrigus, skillful, have kindled, shining in the forests, wondrous among all people.