धामन्ते विश्वं भुवनमधि श्रितमन्तः समुद्रे हृद्यन्तरायुषि । अपामनीके समिथे य आभृतस्तमश्याम मधुमन्तं त ऊर्मिम्
All the worlds are established in their abode, resting within the ocean, within the heart and the breath of life. In the waters, in the assembly, those who are sustained, let us approach that wave, rich with sweetness, O dark one.
अबोध्यग्निः समिधा जनानां प्रति धेनुमिवायतीमुषासम् । यह्वा इव प्र वयामुज्जिहानाः प्र भानवः सिस्रते नाकमच्छ
Agni has awakened among the people with kindling, like a cow stretching forth to her calf, like young birds rising up, the rays have streamed forth towards the sky.
अबोधि होता यजथाय देवानूर्ध्वो अग्निः सुमनाः प्रातरस्थात् । समिद्धस्य रुशददर्शि पाजो महान्देवस्तमसो निरमोचि
The priest has awakened for the worship of the gods; upright, Agni, with gracious mind, stands at dawn. The brilliance of the kindled flame is seen, the great god has dispelled the darkness.
यदीं गणस्य रशनामजीगः शुचिरङ्क्ते शुचिभिर्गोभिरग्निः । आद्दक्षिणा युज्यते वाजयन्त्युत्तानामूर्ध्वो अधयज्जुहूभिः
When you have fastened the belt of the company, pure Agni is adorned with pure cows. The right-hand offering is yoked to the victorious, upright, he has placed himself with the ladles.
अग्निमच्छा देवयतां मनांसि चक्षूंषीव सूर्ये सं चरन्ति । यदीं सुवाते उषसा विरूपे श्वेतो वाजी जायते अग्रे अह्नाम्
Let the minds of the worshippers go to Agni, as eyes move towards the sun. When he is blown upon by the two distinct dawns, the white steed is born at the beginning of the days.
जनिष्ट हि जेन्यो अग्रे अह्नां हितो हितेष्वरुषो वनेषु । दमेदमे सप्त रत्ना दधानोऽग्निर्होता नि षसादा यजीयान्
For he is indeed born at the beginning of the days, set in the appointed places, bright in the woods. Bearing these seven treasures, Agni the priest has sat down, most worthy of worship.
अग्निर्होता न्यसीदद्यजीयानुपस्थे मातुः सुरभा उ लोके । युवा कविः पुरुनिष्ठ ऋतावा धर्ता कृष्टीनामुत मध्य इद्धः
Agni the priest has settled, most worthy of worship, in the lap of the fragrant mother, in the world. Young, wise, established in many places, upholding the peoples, and kindled in the midst.
प्र णु त्यं विप्रमध्वरेषु साधुमग्निं होतारमीळते नमोभिः । आ यस्ततान रोदसी ऋतेन नित्यं मृजन्ति वाजिनं घृतेन
Now they praise that inspired one, Agni, the excellent priest, at the sacrifices, with reverence. He who has stretched out the two worlds with truth, they always cleanse the winner with ghee.
मार्जाल्यो मृज्यते स्वे दमूनाः कविप्रशस्तो अतिथिः शिवो नः । सहस्रशृङ्गो वृषभस्तदोजा विश्वाँ अग्ने सहसा प्रास्यन्यान्
The house-born is cleansed in his own abode, praised by poets, the guest, auspicious for us. With a thousand horns, the bull, that strength, O Agni, with your might you surpass all others.
प्र सद्यो अग्ने अत्येष्यन्यानाविर्यस्मै चारुतमो बभूथ । ईळेन्यो वपुष्यो विभावा प्रियो विशामतिथिर्मानुषीणाम्
Immediately, O Agni, you surpass others; you have become most beautiful for us. Worthy of praise, wondrous, shining forth, beloved guest of the peoples, of men.
तुभ्यं भरन्ति क्षितयो यविष्ठ बलिमग्ने अन्तित ओत दूरात् । आ भन्दिष्ठस्य सुमतिं चिकिद्धि बृहत्ते अग्ने महि शर्म भद्रम्
To you, youngest, the peoples bring offerings, O Agni, from near and far. Seek the favor of the generous one; grant us, O Agni, your great, splendid, auspicious protection.
आद्य रथं भानुमो भानुमन्तमग्ने तिष्ठ यजतेभिः समन्तम् । विद्वान्पथीनामुर्वन्तरिक्षमेह देवान्हविरद्याय वक्षि
Stand upon the radiant chariot, O Agni, with the worshippers all around. Knowing the paths of the wide atmosphere, bring the gods here to partake of the offering.
अवोचाम कवये मेध्याय वचो वन्दारु वृषभाय वृष्णे । गविष्ठिरो नमसा स्तोममग्नौ दिवीव रुक्ममुरुव्यञ्चमश्रेत्
We have spoken words to the wise, pure poet, to the bull, the mighty one, worthy of praise. With reverence, we offer a hymn to Agni, shining like gold in heaven, widely spread.
कुमारं माता युवतिः समुब्धं गुहा बिभर्ति न ददाति पित्रे । अनीकमस्य न मिनज्जनासः पुरः पश्यन्ति निहितमरतौ
The mother, a young woman, bears the boy, awakened, hidden, she holds him but does not give him to the father. His face is not diminished by the people; they see him placed in the front, in the chariot.
कमेतं त्वं युवते कुमारं पेषी बिभर्षि महिषी जजान । पूर्वीर्हि गर्भः शरदो ववर्धापश्यं जातं यदसूत माता
Which one are you, young woman, who bears the boy? The powerful one has begotten him. The embryo has grown through many autumns; I saw him born when the mother gave birth.
हिरण्यदन्तं शुचिवर्णमारात्क्षेत्रादपश्यमायुधा मिमानम् । ददानो अस्मा अमृतं विपृक्वत्किं मामनिन्द्राः कृणवन्ननुक्थाः
I saw him from afar, with golden teeth, pure in color, measuring the fields without weapons. Giving immortality to him, the wise one, what did the blameless ones do to me, what praises?
क्षेत्रादपश्यं सनुतश्चरन्तं सुमद्यूथं न पुरु शोभमानम् । न ता अगृभ्रन्नजनिष्ट हि षः पलिक्नीरिद्युवतयो भवन्ति
I saw him moving from the field, newly born, with a splendid herd, shining greatly. They did not seize him; he was indeed born. The pale ones, these young women, become mothers.
के मे मर्यकं वि यवन्त गोभिर्न येषां गोपा अरणश्चिदास । य ईं जगृभुरव ते सृजन्त्वाजाति पश्व उप नश्चिकित्वान्
Who are my noble ones among the many with cows? Those whose guardian is even the wilderness. Those who have taken him, let them release him; the wise one knows the birth of the cattle, let him come near us.
वसां राजानं वसतिं जनानामरातयो नि दधुर्मर्त्येषु । ब्रह्माण्यत्रेरव तं सृजन्तु निन्दितारो निन्द्यासो भवन्तु
The enemies have placed the king, the sustainer of people, among mortals as a dwelling; let the prayers of Atri release him—may those who revile become themselves reviled.
शुनश्चिच्छेपं निदितं सहस्राद्यूपादमुञ्चो अशमिष्ट हि षः । एवास्मदग्ने वि मुमुग्धि पाशान्होतश्चिकित्व इह तू निषद्य
Even Śunaḥśepa, bound to the sacrificial post, was released, for he was not to be consumed; so, Agni, release us from these bonds, O wise Hotar, sitting here.
हृणीयमानो अप हि मदैयेः प्र मे देवानां व्रतपा उवाच । इन्द्रो विद्वाँ अनु हि त्वा चचक्ष तेनाहमग्ने अनुशिष्ट आगाम्
Though oppressed, he did not waver in his exhilaration; he spoke to me, the observer of the gods’ ordinances: Indra, knowing, has looked upon you—by his instruction, Agni, I have come.
वि ज्योतिषा बृहता भात्यग्निराविर्विश्वानि कृणुते महित्वा । प्रादेवीर्मायाः सहते दुरेवाः शिशीते शृङ्गे रक्षसे विनिक्षे
Agni shines forth with great light, manifesting all things in his greatness; he withstands the hostile powers of the goddesses, he sharpens his horns to scatter the demons.
उत स्वानासो दिवि षन्त्वग्नेस्तिग्मायुधा रक्षसे हन्तवा उ । मदे चिदस्य प्र रुजन्ति भामा न वरन्ते परिबाधो अदेवीः
Let Agni’s own, fierce-weaponed ones be in the sky, ready to slay the demon; even in his intoxication, his blazing ones break through, and the godless do not withstand their assault.
एतं ते स्तोमं तुविजात विप्रो रथं न धीरः स्वपा अतक्षम् । यदीदग्ने प्रति त्वं देव हर्याः स्वर्वतीरप एना जयेम
This praise, O mighty-born, the inspired one has fashioned for you, like a chariot, O wise one, skillfully made; if you, Agni, god, would accept it, may we win radiant glory by this means.
तुविग्रीवो वृषभो वावृधानोऽशत्र्वर्यः समजाति वेदः । इतीममग्निममृता अवोचन्बर्हिष्मते मनवे शर्म यंसद्धविष्मते मनवे शर्म यंसत्
The mighty-necked, ever-growing bull, the enemy-slayer, the wise, advances together with knowledge; thus the immortals have spoken of this Agni, granting protection to Manu who sits on the sacred grass, to Manu who offers with devotion.
त्वमग्ने वरुणो जायसे यत्त्वं मित्रो भवसि यत्समिद्धः । त्वे विश्वे सहसस्पुत्र देवास्त्वमिन्द्रो दाशुषे मर्त्याय
You, Agni, are Varuṇa when you are born; you become Mitra when kindled; in you, son of strength, all the gods abide; you are Indra for the worshipper, O mortal.
त्वमर्यमा भवसि यत्कनीनां नाम स्वधावन्गुह्यं बिभर्षि । अञ्जन्ति मित्रं सुधितं न गोभिर्यद्दम्पती समनसा कृणोषि
You become Aryaman when you bear the name of the younger ones, O self-sustaining one, you carry the hidden; they anoint Mitra, well-formed, with cows, when you unite a couple with one mind.
तव श्रिये मरुतो मर्जयन्त रुद्र यत्ते जनिम चारु चित्रम् । पदं यद्विष्णोरुपमं निधायि तेन पासि गुह्यं नाम गोनाम्
For your glory, the Maruts adorn themselves, O Rudra, for your birth is wondrous and beautiful; the step of Viṣṇu has been placed as your counterpart—by it you guard the hidden name of the cows.
तव श्रिया सुदृशो देव देवाः पुरू दधाना अमृतं सपन्त । होतारमग्निं मनुषो नि षेदुर्दशस्यन्त उशिजः शंसमायोः
By your splendor, O god, the radiant gods, bearing much, partake of immortality; men have established Agni as the Hotar, the inspired ones, desiring favor, praise him.
न त्वद्धोता पूर्वो अग्ने यजीयान्न काव्यैः परो अस्ति स्वधावः । विशश्च यस्या अतिथिर्भवासि स यज्ञेन वनवद्देव मर्तान्
No earlier Hotar, O Agni, is more worthy than you, nor is any other, O self-sustaining one, superior in wisdom; for whom you become the guest, he, by sacrifice, conquers mortals, O god.