Hymns to the Mystic Fire

Translations of the First Hymn of the Rig Veda

[word] - word(s) omitted by the author or lost through damage to the manuscript that are required by grammar or sense, and that could be supplied by the editors.

[1]

Hymns of the First Cycle
--
I.

A hymn of praise, welcome and prayer to Agni, Lord of Tejas, composed when the mind of the Yogin Madhuchchhanda was full of sattwic energy and illumination.

1) Agni the brilliant I adore who standeth before the Lord, the god that has the ecstasy of the truth, the fighter that fulfilleth utter bliss.

2) Agni adorable to the sages of old, adorable to the new, holds up the gods with force & might.

3) By Agni one enjoyeth strength, one enjoyeth increase day by day and a mastery full of force.

4) O Agni, the Lord below about whom thou art on every side a flame encompassing, came by the gods into this world.

5) Agni the fighter, the strong in wisdom, the true, the manifold, the high of fame, has come to us, a god meeting with gods.

6) O beloved, that to the foe who would destroy thee thou, O Agni, doest good, this is the Truth of thee, O Lord of Love.

7) O Agni, to thee yearning if day by day we embrace thee with our mind and bear the law, then thou growest in mastery and might:—

8) To thee the shining one of the gods below who guardest the energy of the nectar and increasest in thy home.

9) Do thou therefore, O Agni, become lavish of thy approach to us as a father to his child; cleave to us for our heavenly bliss.

Page 451

[2]

Agni I desire who standeth before the Lord, the god who knoweth all the law, the warrior who disposeth utterly delight.

Agni whom the ancient seers desired, the modern too adore; for in his strength he beareth all the Gods.

By Agni one getteth substance, yes, and increase day by day, and glorious success.

O Agni, that Lord here below whom thou encompassest on every side, is he that moveth in the Gods.

Agni, the warrior whose strength is wisdom, he of the Truth who has the knowledge rich, cometh, a God attended by the Gods.

O beloved, O Agni, that thou desirest to do good to him who seeks to hurt thee, this is utterly thy nature, O Lord of Love.

To thee, O Agni who protectest us in darkness day by day, if with hearts full of self-surrender we come, then thou towerest to thy height,

To thee, controller and protector of all things below, of the Immortal brilliant force, ever increasing in thy home.

So be thou easy to our approach as a father to his child, abide with us for our bliss.

[3]

१

1)अग्निमीळे पुरोहितं यज्ञस्य देवमृत्विजं । होतारं रत्नधातमं ॥१॥

Agni I adore who stands before Yajna, the god that seeth right, the offerer of the oblation, chief disposer of delight.

2) अग्निः पूर्वेभिर्ऋषिभिरीड्यो नृतनैरुत । स देवानेह वक्षति ॥२॥

Agni, adorable to the former sages, adorable to those of today, he brings here the gods.

Page 452

3) अग्निना रयिमश्नवत्पोषमेव दिवे दिवे । यशसं वीरवत्तमं ॥३॥

By Agni one getteth delight (or force) and increase too day by day, & widest victory (or most manifest or most forceful).

4) अग्ने यं यज्ञमध्वरं विश्वतः परिभूरसि । स इद्देवेषु गच्छति ॥४॥

O Agni, the Yajna here below which thou encompassest on every side is that that moveth in the gods (or goeth to the gods).

5) अग्निर्होता कविकतुः सत्यश्चित्रश्रवस्तमः । देवो देवेभिरागमत् ॥५॥

Agni, the Hota, the strong in wisdom, the true, the varied in inspired knowledge, comes a god with the gods.

6) यदंग दाशुषे त्वमग्ने भद्रं करिष्यसि । तवेत्तत्सत्यमङ्गिरः ॥६॥

That thou, O beloved, doest good to the giver, O Agni, this is the truth in thee, O lord of love.

7) उप त्वाग्ने दिवे दिवे दोषावस्तर्धिया वयं । नमो भरन्त एमसि ॥७॥

To thee, O Agni, day by day because thou protectest in the dimness, we with the understanding (come) bearing salutation and thou growest to thy strength.

8) राजन्तमध्वराणां गोपामृतस्य दीदिविं । वर्धमानं स्वे दमे ॥८॥

Ruling over things below, O protector of immortality, a splendour increasing in its home.

9) स नः पितेव सूनवे अग्ने सूपायनो भव । सचस्वा नः स्वस्तये ॥९॥

Therefore do thou, O Agni, be accessible to us as a father to his child, cleave to us for our bliss.

[4]

Rigveda
Hymns of Madhuchchhandá Vaisvámitra
Mandala I. Hymns I–XI.

I

Agni I adore, the representative priest of the sacrificial act, the god who is the Adept of the sacrifice, the offerer of the action

Page 453

who disposeth utterly delight. Agni adorable to the seers of old, is adorable always to the new, he beareth here the gods. By Agni one getteth energy and increase also day by day and effective strength of highest forcefulness. O Agni, whatso material action of sacrifice thou encompassest on every side, that verily moveth in the gods. Agni, the offering priest whose might is knowledge, the true, the exceeding rich in inspiration, cometh a god with the gods. That thou, O friend, O Agni, wilt surely effect the weal of the giver, that is the nature & truth of thee, O lord of love. To thee, O Agni, day by day, O dweller in the twilight, we with the discerning mind bring our submission when thy strength is at its height, to thee the ruler of all here below, guardian of Immortality, a high splendour increasing in its home. Therefore do thou be easy of approach to us as a father to his son; be thou strong for our felicity.

[5]

A Hymn to Agni. I.1.

Agni I adore, the representative priest of the Sacrifice, the god who sacrifices aright, the priest of the offering who disposes utterly delight. Agni adorable to the seers of old, is adorable also [to the] new, for he brings hither the gods. By Agni one gets him energy and an increase day by day full of success and full of power. Agni, the material sacrifice which thou encompassest with thy being on every side, that indeed goeth to the gods. Agni the priest of the offering, who has the force of the wisdom, the true, the full of rich inspiration, comes to us a god with the gods. That thou, O beloved Agni, wilt do good to the giver, this is the truth of thee, O lord of love. To thee, O Agni, day by day, by night & by day, we by the understanding come bringing to thee our submission, who governest all things below, protector of the Truth, a brilliant flame increasing in its home. Therefore do thou be easy of approach to us as a father to his child, cleave to us for our weal.

Page 454

[6]

Rigveda.
Mandala I, Hymns of Madhuchchhandá Vaisvámitra

I Hymn to Agni

1) Agni I adore, the priest who stands forward for the sacrifice, the god who acts in the truth of things, the giver of the oblation who disposes utterly delight.

2) Agni adored by the ancient seers is adorable still to the new, for he brings here the gods.

3) By Agni one gets day by day energy&increase victorious and full of force.

4) O Agni, whatsoever material sacrifice thou encompassest with thy being on every side, that goes to the gods.

5) Agni, he that offers the oblation, whose strength is in wisdom, the true, the rich in various inspiration, comes a god with the gods.

6) That thou, O Agni, wilt surely bring about good for the giver, that is the truth of thee, O lord of love.

7) To thee, O Agni, day by day, in darkness and in light we come in our minds bearing our submission,—

8) To thee, who rulest over all below, guardian of immortality, a brilliance increasing in its home.

9) Therefore do thou be easy of approach to us as a father to his child, cleave to us for our weal.

[7]

I.1

The Strength I seek who is set in front as our divine representative in the sacrifice and offers in the order of the Truth, the priest of our oblation who disposes utterly delight.    The Strength [was] desirable to the ancient sages and they of today

Page 455

must seek him too, for 'tis he that brings hither the gods. By the Strength one attains a wealth of felicity that increases from day to day and, full of hero mights, victoriously attains.    O Strength, the sacrifice in its march that thou encompassest with thy being on every side, that reaches to the gods. Strength is the priest of our oblation, he has the seer-will and is true in his being and is rich in varied inspirations; may he come to us, a god with the gods.    O Strength, that thou wilt create for the giver of the offering his weal, that is the truth in thee, O Puissance. To thee, O Agni, we approach day after day, in the light and in the darkness, bringing thee submission by the thought, To thee that rulest the march of the sacrifices, the protector of the Truth and its outshining, increasing in thine own home. Therefore be easy of approach to us, O Strength, as a father to his child; cleave to us for our blissful state.

[8]

I.1

1) The God-will I seek with adoration, divine priest of the sacrifice who is set in front and sacrifices in the seasons of the Law, giver of oblation who most ordains the ecstasy.

2) The Flame adored by the ancient finders of knowledge must be sought also by the new, for it is he that shall bring hither the godheads.

3) By the flame of the Will man enjoys a treasure of felicity that grows day by day and is a splendour of attainment and rich in hero-energies.

4) O Will, around whatsoever sacrifice travelling to its goal thou comest into being on its every side, that reaches truly the gods (or goes truly to the gods).

5) God-will is the priest of the oblation, for his is the Seer-will (or who has the will of the seer) true in its being, with a most rich and varied inspiration; let him come to us, a god with the gods.

Page 456

6) The Good that thou wilt create for the giver of the sacrifice, thine is that Truth, O Will, O Seer-Puissance.

7) To the God-will we come day by day, in the night & in the light, carrying by our thought our offering of submission,

8) To the Ruler of our pilgrim sacrifices and shining guardian of the truth, increasing in his own home.

9) Therefore do thou, O Will, be as easy of approach to us as a father to his child, cleave to us for that happy state of our being.

[9]

I.1

The Will I seek with adoration, divine priest of our sacrifice who is set in its front and sacrifices in the seasons of the Truth and offers the oblation and establishes in us wholly the Bliss;

Will, the object of their adoration to the seers of old and to the seers who are now, for he brings into this world the godheads.

By the Will man attains to wealth of the felicity and it increases day by day and is victorious in attainment and full of hero powers.

That sacrifice which in its journey on the path thou encompassest with thy being on its every side, that travels to the gods.

Will the priest, the seer-will, the true in being, richest in his shining inspirations of the truth, may he come divine with all the divine powers.

O Will, in that thou wilt surely create his good for the giver of the sacrifice, thine is that truth, O Seer-Puissance.

To thee, O Will, day by day, we come both in the light and in the night bringing the offering of our submission by the thought;

To thee, who rulest our sacrifices in their march, to the shining guardian of the Truth who increases in his own home.

Do thou be easy of access as is a father to his child, cleave to us for the bliss.

Page 457

[10]

Hymns of Madhuchchhandas
son of Viswamitra.

A Hymn to Agni, the Divine Flame

A hymn to Agni the divine Flame, priest of the sacrifice, bringer of the gods to man, giver of the treasures, protector and leader and king of the sacrifice of the path, inspired seer will in works, giver of the supreme good and truth and its shining guardian.

I adore the Flame, divine vicar of sacrifice, Ritwik and offering priest who most founds the Delight.

The Flame adored by the ancient sages is adorable too by the new. He brings on earth the gods.

Man can get by the Flame a treasure that increases day by day, splendid and full of heroes' strengths.

O Flame, alone the sacrifice of the path which thou surroundest with thy being on every side, goes among the gods.

The Flame is a priest, a seer will to acts, true and rich in many lights of inspiration, and shall come to us a god with the gods.

O Flame, that happiness thou wilt create for the giver of sacrifice, is thine only and is that Truth, O Angiras.¹

To thee day by day, O Flame, in night and in light we come carrying to thee by the thought our adoration,

To the ruler of the sacrifices of the path, the luminous guardian of the Truth, who increases in his own home!

O Fire, be thou easy of access to us like a father to his son, cling to us for our happy ease.

Page 458

[11]

Mandala 1, Sukta 1

1) I adore the Flame, the Vicar, the divine Ritwik of the sacrifice, the summoner who most founds the ecstasy.

2) The Flame, adorable by the ancient sages, is adorable too by the new; he brings here the gods.

3) By the Flame one enjoys a treasure that verily increases day by day, glorious, most full of hero-powers.

4) O Flame, the pilgrim sacrifice on every side of which thou art with thy environing being, that truly goes among the gods.

5) The Flame, the Summoner, the Seer-Will, true and most full of richly varied listenings, may he come, a god with the gods.

6) O Flame, the happy good which thou shalt create for the giver is That Truth and verily thine, O Angiras!

7) To thee, O Flame, we day by day, in the night and in the light, come carrying by our thought the obeisance,

8) To thee who reignest over our pilgrim sacrifices, luminous guardian of the truth, increasing in thy own home.

9) Therefore be easy of access to us as a father to his son; cling to us for our happy state.

[12]

First Mandal
I.

1) Fire I pray, the priest set in front of the sacrifice, the god Ritwik, the flamen of the call, who gives most the ecstasies.

2) Fire, desirable by the ancient sages and by the new, is he that brings here the gods.

3) By the Fire man enjoys a treasure that grows day by day, riches glorious, (most) armed with the heroes (to which most are joined the heroes).

Page 459

4) O Fire, the pilgrim sacrifice around which thou comest into being on every side, that alone goes to the gods.

5) May the Fire, the priest of the call, the Seer Will true and most full of rich inspirations, come to us a god with the gods.

6) The happiness that thou wilt make for him that gives is That Truth of thee, O Flame-Seer.

7) To thee, O Fire, day by day, in the light and in the night we come bearing by the thought our surrender,—

8) To the luminous guardian of the Truth ruling over the (pilgrim) rites increasing in his own home.

9) Then be thou easy of approach to us like a father to his son, O Fire,—cling to us for our weal.

[13]

1) The Flame I pray, the divine vicar of the sacrifice, the ordinant of the ritual, the Summoner who founds the ecstasy.

2) The Flame, desirable by the ancient seers and by the new, may he come hither with the gods.

3) By the Flame is won an energy that surely increases day by day, glorious and full of warrior-power.

4) O Flame, the pilgrim sacrifice that thou encompassest from every side, goes to the gods.

5) The Flame is our priest of the call, the seer-will true and brilliant in inspiration; may he come, a god with the gods.

6) The good that thou wilt create for the giver, O Flame, is that truth of thee, O Angiras.

7) To thee we come, O Flame, day by day in the dark and in the light bringing by the thought our obeisance;—

8) To thee, the ruler of our pilgrim-sacrifices, the shining Guardian of the Truth, growing in thy own home.

9) O Flame, be easy of access to us like a father to his son, cleave to us for our weal.

Page 460

[14]

Hymns of Madhuchchhandas
I. Hymn to the Fire.

1) The Fire I pray, the divine vicar of the sacrifice and ordinant of the rite, the Summoner (or, priest of the offering) who most founds the ecstasy.

2) The Fire, desirable to the ancient seers, so even to the new,—may he come to us with the gods.

3) By the Fire one obtains a wealth that increases day by day, glorious and full of hero-powers.

4) O Fire, the pilgrim sacrifice which thou encompassest on every side, reaches the gods.

5) Fire, priest of the call, the seer-will rich in brilliant inspirations, may he come to us, a god with the gods.

6) O Fire, the happy good that thou wilt create for the giver, is That Truth of thee, O Angiras.

7) To thee, O Fire, day by day, in the dawn and in the dusk, we come bringing to thee by the thought our obeisance,

8) To thee, who rulest the sacrifices of the Way, the shining Guardian of the Truth, growing in thy own home.

9) O Fire, be easy of access to us like a father to his son; cleave to us for our weal.

Page 461