इदमकर्म नमो अभ्रियाय यः पूर्वीरन्वानोनवीति । बृहस्पतिः स हि गोभिः सो अश्वैः स वीरेभिः स नृभिर्नो वयो धात्
This deed, a homage to the mighty, who follows the ancient ones anew—Bṛhaspati, with cows, with horses, with heroes, with men, grant us long life.
भद्रा अग्नेर्वध्र्यश्वस्य संदृशो वामी प्रणीतिः सुरणा उपेतयः । यदीं सुमित्रा विशो अग्र इन्धते घृतेनाहुतो जरते दविद्युतत्
Auspicious is the guidance of Agni, of Vadhryaśva, pleasing, bringing blessings; when the friendly clans kindle him at the forefront, summoned with ghee, he shines, never failing.
घृतमग्नेर्वध्र्यश्वस्य वर्धनं घृतमन्नं घृतम्वस्य मेदनम् । घृतेनाहुत उर्विया वि पप्रथे सूर्य इव रोचते सर्पिरासुतिः
Ghee is the growth of Agni, of Vadhryaśva; ghee is his food, ghee his strength and delight; kindled with ghee, he spreads wide, and his stream of clarified butter shines like the Sun.
यत्ते मनुर्यदनीकं सुमित्रः समीधे अग्ने तदिदं नवीयः । स रेवच्छोच स गिरो जुषस्व स वाजं दर्षि स इह श्रवो धाः
What Manu, what Anīka, what Sumitra offered to you, Agni, in the kindling—may this be renewed; shine forth with wealth, accept our songs, grant us strength and fame here.
यं त्वा पूर्वमीळितो वध्र्यश्वः समीधे अग्ने स इदं जुषस्व । स न स्तिपा उत भवा तनूपा दात्रं रक्षस्व यदिदं ते अस्मे
Whom Vadhryaśva of old invoked in the kindling, Agni, accept this offering; be our protector and guardian of our persons, preserve the gift that is yours among us.
भवा द्युम्नी वाध्र्यश्वोत गोपा मा त्वा तारीदभिमातिर्जनानाम् । शूर इव धृष्णुश्च्यवनः सुमित्रः प्र नु वोचं वाध्र्यश्वस्य नाम
Be glorious, O Vadhryaśva, and a guardian, let not the enmity of men overcome you; like a bold hero, ever advancing, O Sumitra, I now proclaim the name of Vadhryaśva.
समज्र्या पर्वत्या वसूनि दासा वृत्राण्यार्या जिगेथ । शूर इव धृष्णुश्च्यवनो जनानां त्वमग्ने पृतनायूँरभि ष्याः
With the noble mountain you have won the treasures, you have conquered the Dasa and Arya foes; like a bold hero, ever advancing among men, Agni, you are the leader in battle.
दीर्घतन्तुर्बृहदुक्षायमग्निः सहस्रस्तरीः शतनीथ ऋभ्वा । द्युमान्द्युमत्सु नृभिर्मृज्यमानः सुमित्रेषु दीदयो देवयत्सु
Long-threaded, of great abundance is Agni, a thousandfold, with a hundred guides, skillful; shining among the shining, purified by men, he blazes among the Sumitras, among those who worship the gods.
त्वे धेनुः सुदुघा जातवेदोऽसश्चतेव समना सबर्धुक् । त्वं नृभिर्दक्षिणावद्भिरग्ने सुमित्रेभिरिध्यसे देवयद्भिः
In you, O Jātavedas, the cow yields sweet milk, as if united, with a bellowing calf; you are kindled by men skilled in giving, O Agni, by the Sumitras, by those who worship the gods.
देवाश्चित्ते अमृता जातवेदो महिमानं वाध्र्यश्व प्र वोचन् । यत्सम्पृच्छं मानुषीर्विश आयन्त्वं नृभिरजयस्त्वावृधेभिः
The immortal gods, O Jātavedas, declared your greatness, O Vadhryashva; when you inquire, let the human clans come, for you have conquered with men who are strong in you.
पितेव पुत्रमबिभरुपस्थे त्वामग्ने वध्र्यश्वः सपर्यन् । जुषाणो अस्य समिधं यविष्ठोत पूर्वाँ अवनोर्व्राधतश्चित्
Like a father carries his son in his lap, so Vadhryashva worshipped you, O Agni; gladly accepting his kindling, youngest one, you protected the former, even from the mighty.
शश्वदग्निर्वध्र्यश्वस्य शत्रून्नृभिर्जिगाय सुतसोमवद्भिः । समनं चिददहश्चित्रभानोऽव व्राधन्तमभिनद्वृधश्चित्
Agni, ever victorious for Vadhryashva, overcame his enemies with men who have pressed Soma; even when opposed, you, of brilliant light, burned the adversary and struck down the arrogant.
अयमग्निर्वध्र्यश्वस्य वृत्रहा सनकात्प्रेद्धो नमसोपवाक्यः । स नो अजामीँरुत वा विजामीनभि तिष्ठ शर्धतो वाध्र्यश्व
This Agni of Vadhryashva, the slayer of Vritra, from ancient times is kindled with reverence and praise; whether our offspring or those of others, stand with us, O Vadhryashva, against the hostile.
इमां मे अग्ने समिधं जुषस्वेळस्पदे प्रति हर्या घृताचीम् । वर्ष्मन्पृथिव्याः सुदिनत्वे अह्नामूर्ध्वो भव सुक्रतो देवयज्या
O Agni, accept this kindling of mine; delight in the clarified butter at the sacred place; in the vastness of earth, in the good days, stand upright, O wise one, worthy of the gods’ worship.
आ देवानामग्रयावेह यातु नराशंसो विश्वरूपेभिरश्वैः । ऋतस्य पथा नमसा मियेधो देवेभ्यो देवतमः सुषूदत्
Let the herald of the gods come here first, with Narāśaṃsa and horses of all forms; by the path of truth, with reverence, let the wise one approach, most divine among the gods, eager for the offering.
शश्वत्तममीळते दूत्याय हविष्मन्तो मनुष्यासो अग्निम् । वहिष्ठैरश्वैः सुवृता रथेना देवान्वक्षि नि षदेह होता
Men, ever seeking the best messenger, offer to Agni with oblations; with the best horses, with a well-yoked chariot, carry the gods here and sit as Hotar.
वि प्रथतां देवजुष्टं तिरश्चा दीर्घं द्राघ्मा सुरभि भूत्वस्मे । अहेळता मनसा देव बर्हिरिन्द्रज्येष्ठाँ उशतो यक्षि देवान्
Let it spread wide, favored by the gods, and extend far and wide, let it be fragrant among us; with untroubled mind, O god, on the sacred grass, O Indra’s foremost, eagerly invite the gods.
दिवो वा सानु स्पृशता वरीयः पृथिव्या वा मात्रया वि श्रयध्वम् । उशतीर्द्वारो महिना महद्भिर्देवं रथं रथयुर्धारयध्वम्
Touch the summit of heaven, or, by measure, spread out over the earth; let the shining doors, by their greatness, support the divine chariot, the charioteer’s great car.
देवी दिवो दुहितरा सुशिल्पे उषासानक्ता सदतां नि योनौ । आ वां देवास उशती उशन्त उरौ सीदन्तु सुभगे उपस्थे
Let the divine daughters of heaven, skillful Ushas and Night, sit in their place; may you, O gods, shining ones, come together, and sit widely in the fortunate lap.
ऊर्ध्वो ग्रावा बृहदग्निः समिद्धः प्रिया धामान्यदितेरुपस्थे । पुरोहितावृत्विजा यज्ञे अस्मिन्विदुष्टरा द्रविणमा यजेथाम्
The stone, raised high, and Agni, brightly kindled, are dear abodes in Aditi’s lap; as priests and ritual-born, in this sacrifice, may you, knowing best, grant us wealth.
तिस्रो देवीर्बर्हिरिदं वरीय आ सीदत चकृमा वः स्योनम् । मनुष्वद्यज्ञं सुधिता हवींषीळा देवी घृतपदी जुषन्त
Let the three goddesses sit on this sacred grass, which is most excellent; we have made it pleasant for you; may the goddesses, with clarified butter, accept the well-prepared offerings of men.
देव त्वष्टर्यद्ध चारुत्वमानड्यदङ्गिरसामभवः सचाभूः । स देवानां पाथ उप प्र विद्वाँ उशन्यक्षि द्रविणोदः सुरत्नः
O god Tvaṣṭṛ, when you took on beauty, you became associated with the Angirases; knowing the paths of the gods, bestower of wealth, grant us riches, O generous one.
वनस्पते रशनया नियूया देवानां पाथ उप वक्षि विद्वान् । स्वदाति देवः कृणवद्धवींष्यवतां द्यावापृथिवी हवं मे
O Lord of the Forest, with your girdle, lead the gods here, knowing the paths; let the god make the offerings sweet; may Heaven and Earth bring my invocation.
आग्ने वह वरुणमिष्टये न इन्द्रं दिवो मरुतो अन्तरिक्षात् । सीदन्तु बर्हिर्विश्व आ यजत्राः स्वाहा देवा अमृता मादयन्ताम्
O Agni, bring Varuṇa for the offering, Indra from heaven, the Maruts from the midspace; let all the worshipful, immortal gods sit on the sacred grass and rejoice with the Svāhā call.
बृहस्पते प्रथमं वाचो अग्रं यत्प्रैरत नामधेयं दधानाः । यदेषां श्रेष्ठं यदरिप्रमासीत्प्रेणा तदेषां निहितं गुहाविः
O Bṛhaspati, when they sent forth the first speech, giving names, what was highest and most radiant among them, that was set down hidden within them by love.
सक्तुमिव तितउना पुनन्तो यत्र धीरा मनसा वाचमक्रत । अत्रा सखायः सख्यानि जानते भद्रैषां लक्ष्मीर्निहिताधि वाचि
Purifying it as with a sieve, where the wise fashioned speech with their mind; here friends recognize the bonds of friendship, and their auspicious beauty is set upon their speech.
यज्ञेन वाचः पदवीयमायन्तामन्वविन्दन्नृषिषु प्रविष्टाम् । तामाभृत्या व्यदधुः पुरुत्रा तां सप्त रेभा अभि सं नवन्ते
By sacrifice they followed the path of speech, they found her entered among the seers; taking her up, they distributed her in many places, and the seven singers join together in her.
उत त्वः पश्यन्न ददर्श वाचमुत त्वः शृण्वन्न शृणोत्येनाम् । उतो त्वस्मै तन्वं वि सस्रे जायेव पत्य उशती सुवासाः
Indeed, one may look and not see the speech; indeed, one may listen and not hear it. Indeed, it reveals itself to him, as a radiant, well-clad wife to her husband.
उत त्वं सख्ये स्थिरपीतमाहुर्नैनं हिन्वन्त्यपि वाजिनेषु । अधेन्वा चरति माययैष वाचं शुश्रुवाँ अफलामपुष्पाम्
Indeed, they say you are steadfast in friendship; they do not harm him even among competitors. This cow wanders by illusion; he has heard speech that is fruitless and flowerless.
यस्तित्याज सचिविदं सखायं न तस्य वाच्यपि भागो अस्ति । यदीं शृणोत्यलकं शृणोति नहि प्रवेद सुकृतस्य पन्थाम्
He who abandons his companion, his friend, has no share in speech. Even if he hears, he hears in vain; he does not truly know the path of the virtuous.