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.
अग्ने कदा त आनुषग्भुवद्देवस्य चेतनम् । अधा हि त्वा जगृभ्रिरे मर्तासो विक्ष्वीड्यम्
O Agni, when will your kinship with the gods be manifest? For then, mortals have taken you, worthy of praise, among the tribes.
ऋतावानं विचेतसं पश्यन्तो द्यामिव स्तृभिः । विश्वेषामध्वराणां हस्कर्तारं दमेदमे
Seeing the righteous, wise one, like the sky with coverings, the arranger of all sacrifices, the joy-bringer in every home.
आशुं दूतं विवस्वतो विश्वा यश्चर्षणीरभि । आ जभ्रुः केतुमायवो भृगवाणं विशेविशे
The swift messenger of Vivasvat, whom all peoples have embraced; the Bhrigus, skillful, have taken up the shining, illustrious one among all people.
तमीं होतारमानुषक्चिकित्वांसं नि षेदिरे । रण्वं पावकशोचिषं यजिष्ठं सप्त धामभिः
They have seated him as the human priest, wise, splendid, with pure flames, most fit for sacrifice, in seven abodes.
तं शश्वतीषु मातृषु वन आ वीतमश्रितम् । चित्रं सन्तं गुहा हितं सुवेदं कूचिदर्थिनम्
That one, in the eternal mothers, in the forest, well-invoked, has taken refuge; wondrous, present, placed in secret, well-knowing, sometimes sought after.
ससस्य यद्वियुता सस्मिन्नूधन्नृतस्य धामन्रणयन्त देवाः । महाँ अग्निर्नमसा रातहव्यो वेरध्वराय सदमिदृतावा
When separated from the plant, in him they placed the udder of truth; the gods have kindled the great Agni with reverence, the bestower of offerings, ever true to the rite.
वेरध्वरस्य दूत्यानि विद्वानुभे अन्ता रोदसी संचिकित्वान् । दूत ईयसे प्रदिव उराणो विदुष्टरो दिव आरोधनानि
Knowing the missions of the sacrificer, you, wise, have comprehended both ends of heaven and earth; as a messenger you go, wide-ranging, from the highest heaven, knowing well the doors of heaven.
कृष्णं त एम रुशतः पुरो भाश्चरिष्ण्वर्चिर्वपुषामिदेकम् । यदप्रवीता दधते ह गर्भं सद्यश्चिज्जातो भवसीदु दूतः
Black are your forms, shining are your fronts, your flame moves, unique among forms; when the unloosened ones place the embryo, you become a messenger immediately upon birth.
सद्यो जातस्य ददृशानमोजो यदस्य वातो अनुवाति शोचिः । वृणक्ति तिग्मामतसेषु जिह्वां स्थिरा चिदन्ना दयते वि जम्भैः
The strength of the newly born is seen when his flame follows the wind; he chooses his sharp tongue among the logs, even the firm foods he devours with his jaws.
तृषु यदन्ना तृषुणा ववक्ष तृषुं दूतं कृणुते यह्वो अग्निः । वातस्य मेळिं सचते निजूर्वन्नाशुं न वाजयते हिन्वे अर्वा
When, with triple food, he grows with triple force, the mighty Agni makes himself a triple messenger; he joins with the wind’s friend, ever active, he urges the swift one, he drives it forward.