All translations of hymns to Agni from the Rig Veda and other Vedic hymns; and related writings.
On Veda
All translations of Vedic hymns to Agni; and related writings. The material includes all the contents of Hymns to the Mystic Fire (translations of hymns to Agni from the Rig Veda, with a Foreword by Sri Aurobindo) as well as translations of many other hymns to Agni, some of which are published here for the first time.
THEME/S
त्वं ह्यग्ने सदमित् समन्यवो देवासो देवमरतिं न्येरिर इति कत्वा न्येरिरे । अमर्त्यं यजत मर्त्येष्वा देवमादेवं जनत प्रचेतसं विश्वमादेवं जनत प्रचेतसम् ॥१॥
1) Thee, O Fire, ever with one passion the gods have sent inwards, the divine Traveller;1 with the will they sent thee in; O master of sacrifice, they brought to birth the immortal in mortals, the divine who brings in the divinity, the conscious thinker, they brought to birth the universal who brings in the divinity, the conscious thinker.
स भ्रातरं वरुणमग्न आ ववृत्स्व देवाँ अच्छा सुमती यज्ञवनसं ज्येष्ठं यज्ञवनसम् । ऋतावानमादित्यं चर्षणीधृतं राजानं चर्षणीधृतम् ॥२॥
2) Then do thou, O Fire, turn towards the godheads with the right thinking Varuna, thy brother who delights in the sacrifice, the eldest who delights in the sacrifice,—even him who keeps the truth, son of the infinite Mother who upholds seeing-men, the king who upholds seeing-men.
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सखे सखायमभ्या ववृत्स्वाशुं न चकं रथ्येव रंह्यास्मभ्यं दस्म रंह्या । अग्ने मृळीकं वरुणे सचा विदो मरुत्सु विश्वभानुषु । तोकाय तुजे शुशुचान शं कृध्यस्मभ्यं दस्म शं कृधि ॥३॥
3) O Friend, turn towards and to us in his motion the Friend as two rapid chariot-horses turn a swift wheel, for us, O strong worker, like galloping horses; O Fire, mayst thou be with us and find for us bliss in Varuna and in the Life-powers who carry the universal light; for the begetting of the Son, O thou flaming into lustre, create for us peace, for us, O strong worker, create the peace.
त्वं नो अग्ने वरुणस्य विद्वान् देवस्य हेळोऽव यासिसीष्ठाः । यजिष्ठो वह्नितमः शोशुचानो विश्वा द्वेषांसि प्र मुमुग्ध्यस्मत् ॥४॥
4) Do thou, O Fire, for thou knowest, labour away from us the wrath of divine Varuna; flaming into lustre, strongest to sacrifice, mightiest to bear, unloose from us all hostile powers.
स त्वं नो अग्नेऽवमो भवोती नेदिष्ठो अस्या उषसो व्युष्टौ । अव यक्ष्व नो वरुणं रराणो वीहि मृळीकं सुहवो न एधि ॥५॥
5) Do thou, O Fire, be most close to us with thy protection, be most near in the dawning of this dawn: rejoicing in us put away from us Varuna2 by the sacrifice; reach the bliss, be ready to our call.
अस्य श्रेष्ठा सुभगस्य संदृग् देवस्य चित्रतमा मर्त्येषु । शुचि घृतं न तप्तमघ्न्यायाः स्पार्हा देवस्य मंहनेव धेनोः ॥६॥
6) Most glorious is the vision of this Godhead, most richly bright in mortals; as if the pure and warm butter of the
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milch-cow that cannot be slain, her desirable gift is the vision of the Godhead.3
त्रिरस्य ता परमा सन्ति सत्या स्पार्हा देवस्य जनिमान्यग्नेः । अनन्ते अन्तः परिवीत आगाच्छुचिः शुको अर्यो रोरुचानः ॥७॥
7) Three are they, his supreme truths, the desirable births of the divine Fire; within in the infinite he is spread wide everywhere and has come to us pure and brilliant and noble, shining in his beauty.4
स दूतो विश्वेदभि वष्टि सद्या होता हिरण्यरथो रंसुजिह्वः । रोहिदश्वो वपुष्यो विभावा सदा रण्वः पितुमतीव संसत् ॥८॥
8) He is a messenger, a Priest of the call, whose yearning is towards all the planes, golden is his chariot, red are his horses, ecstatic his tongue of flame, beautiful his body,5 wide his lustre, ever is he rapturous like a banquet hall full of the wine.6
स चेतयन्मनुषो यज्ञबन्धुः प्र तं मह्या रशनया नयन्ति । स क्षेत्यस्य दुर्यासु साधन् देवो मर्तस्य सधनित्वमाप ॥९॥
9) He makes men conscious of the knowledge and is the friend of their sacrifice; they lead him on with a mighty cord; he
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dwells in the gated house of the being accomplishing his aims; divine, he accepts companionship in the riches of the mortal.
स तू नो अग्निर्नयतु प्रजानन्नच्छा रत्नं देवभक्तं यदस्य । धिया यद् विश्वे अमृता अकृण्वन् द्यौष्पिता जनिता सत्यमुक्षन् ॥१०॥
10) Let this Fire taking knowledge of all things lead us towards the ecstasy. That is enjoyed by the Gods, which all the immortals created by the thought and Father Heaven was its begetter raining the truth.7
स जायत प्रथमः पस्त्यासु महो बुध्ने रजसो अस्य योनौ । अपादशीर्षा गुहमानो अन्ताऽऽयोयुवानो वृषभस्य नीळे ॥११॥
11) He was born first and supreme in the Rivers,8 in the foundation of the vast mid-world, in his native seat; without head, without feet, concealing his two ends he joins them in the lair of the Bull.9
प्र शर्ध आर्त प्रथमं विपन्याँ ऋतस्य योना वृषभस्य नीळे । स्पार्हो युवा वपुष्यो विभावा सप्त प्रियासोऽजनयन्त वृष्णे ॥१२॥
12) He came forth with a vibrancy of light, the first and supreme force, in the native seat of Truth, in the lair of the Bull, desirable and young and beautiful of body10 and wide in lustre; the seven Beloved brought him to birth for the Bull.11
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अस्माकमत्र पितरो मनुष्या अभि प्र सेदुर्ऋतमाशुषाणाः । अश्मव्रजाः सुदुधा वव्रे अन्तरुदुस्त्रा आजन्नुषसो हुवानाः ॥१३॥
13) Here, our human fathers went forward on their way towards the Truth desiring to possess it; they drove upwards the luminous ones, the good milk-cows in their stone (rocky) pen within the hiding cave, calling to the Dawns.12
ते मर्मृजत ददृवांसो अद्रिं तदेषामन्ये अभितो वि वोचन् । पश्वयन्त्रासो अभि कारमर्चन् विदन्त ज्योतिश्चकृपन्त धीभिः ॥१४॥
14) They rent the hill, they made themselves bright and pure, others around them proclaimed that work of theirs; drivers of the herd,13 they sang the chant of illumination to the Doer of the work; they found the Light, they shone with their thoughts.14
ते गव्यता मनसा दृध्रमुब्धं गा येमानं परि षन्तमद्रिम् । दृळ्हं नरो वचसा दैव्येन व्रजं गोमन्तमुशिजो वि वव्रुः ॥१५॥
15) By a mind seeking the Rays they rent the firm massed hill which encircled and repressed the shining herds; men desiring laid open the strong pen full of the Ray-Cows by the divine word.
ते मन्वत प्रथमं नाम धेनोस्त्रिः सप्त मातुः परमाणि विन्दन् । तज्जानतीरभ्यनूषत व्रा आविर्भुवदरुणीर्यशसा गोः ॥१६॥
16) They meditated15 on the first name of the Milk-cow, they discovered the thrice seven supreme planes16 of the mother; That knowing the herds lowed towards it, the ruddy Dawn became manifest by the glory of the Cow of Light.
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नेशत् तमो दुधितं रोचत द्यौरुद् देव्या उषसो भानुरर्त । आ सूर्यो बृहतस्तिष्ठदज्राँ ऋजु मर्तेषु वृजिना च पश्यन् ॥१७॥
17) The darkness was wounded and vanished, Heaven shone out, up arose the light of the divine Dawn, the Sun entered into the fields of the Vast, looking on the straight and crooked things in mortals.
आदित् पश्चा बुबुधाना व्यख्यन्नादिद् रत्नं धारयन्त द्युभक्तम् । विश्वे विश्वासु दुर्यासु देवा मित्र धिये वरुण सत्यमस्तु ॥१८॥
18) Then, indeed, they awoke and saw all behind and wide around them,17 then, indeed, they held the ecstasy that is enjoyed in heaven. In all gated houses were all the gods. O Mitra, O Varuna, let there be the Truth for the Thought.
अच्छा वोचेय शुशुचानमग्निं होतारं विश्वभरसं यजिष्ठम् । शुच्यूधो अतृणन्न गवामन्धो न पूतं परिषिक्तमंशोः ॥१९॥
19) May my speech be towards the upblazing Fire, the Priest of the call, the bringer of all things, strong to sacrifice. It is as if one drank from the pure udder of the cows of light, the purified juice of the Plant of Delight poured on all sides.
विश्वेषामदितिर्यज्ञियानां विश्वेषामतिथिर्मानुषाणाम् । अग्निर्देवानामव आवृणानः सुमृळीको भवतु जातवेदाः ॥२०॥
20) The indivisibility of all the gods, the guest of all human beings, may the Fire draw to us the protection of the gods and be blissful to us, the knower of all things born.
यो मर्त्येष्वमृत ऋतावा देवो देवेष्वरतिर्निघायि । होता यजिष्ठो मह्ना शुचध्यै हव्यैरग्निर्मनुष ईरयध्यै ॥१॥
1) He who is immortal in mortals and with him is the Truth,
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who is the God in the gods, the Traveller,18 has been set within as the Priest of the call, most strong for sacrifice, to blaze out with the might of his flame, to give men speed on the way by the power of their offerings.
इह त्वं सूनो सहसो नो अद्य जातो जाताँ उभयाँ अन्तरग्ने । दूत ईयसे युयुजान ऋष्व ऋजुमुष्कान् वृषणः शुकांश्च ॥२॥
2) O Son of Force, here today art thou born for us and movest as a messenger between those born of both the Births yoking, O sublime Flame, thy males straight and massive and bright in lustre.
अत्या वृधस्नू रोहिता घृतस्नू ऋतस्य मन्ये मनसा जविष्ठा । अन्तरीयसे अरुषा युजानो युष्मांश्च देवान् विश आ च मर्तान् ॥३॥
3) I hold in thought with my mind thy two red gallopers of the Truth, swiftest, raining increase, raining light; yoking the ruddy-shining pair thou movest between you Gods and the mortal peoples.
अर्यमणं वरुणं मित्रमेषामिन्द्राविष्णू मरुतो अश्विनोत । स्वश्वो अग्ने सुरथः सुराघा एदु वह सुहविषे जनाय ॥४॥
4) Aryaman for them and Mitra and Varuna, Indra, Vishnu and the Maruts and the Ashwins do thou well-horsed, well-charioted, great in the joy of achievement, bring now, O Fire, for the giver of good offerings.
गोमाँ अग्नेऽविमाँ अश्वी यज्ञो नृवत्सखा सदमिदप्रमृष्यः । इळावाँ एषो असुर प्रजावान् दीर्घो रयिः पृथुबुघ्नः सभावान् ॥५॥
5) O Fire, ever inviolable is this sacrifice and with it is the Cow, the Sheep and the Horse, it is like a human friend,19 and
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with it, O mighty Lord, are the word and the offspring; it is a long felicity of riches with a wide foundation, and with it is the hall.
यस्त इध्मं जभरत् सिष्विदानो मूर्धानं वा ततपते त्वाया । भुवस्तस्य स्वतवाँ पायुरग्ने विश्वस्मात् सीमघायत उरुष्य ॥६॥
6) To him who brings to thee thy fuel with the sweat of his labour and heats his head with thee, be a protector in thy self-strength, O Fire, and guard him from all around that would do him evil.
यस्ते भरादन्नियते चिदन्नं निशिषन्मन्द्रमतिथिमुदीरत् । आ देवयुरिनघते दुरोणे तस्मिन् रयिर्ध्रुवो अस्तु दास्वान् ॥७॥
7) He who when thou desirest thy food brings thy food to thee, who whets thy flame and sends upwards the rapturous guest, he who as seeker of the godhead kindles thee in his gated house, in him may there be the abiding and bounteous riches.
यस्त्वा दोषा य उषसि प्रशंसात् प्रियं वा त्वा कृणवते हविष्मान् । अश्वो न स्वे दम आ हेम्यावान् तमंहसः पीपरो दाश्वांसम् ॥८॥
8) He who in the dusk, he who in the dawn would give expression to thee, or bringing his offering makes thee a beloved friend, as the Horse with golden trappings in his own home mayst thou carry that giver beyond the evil.
यस्तुभ्यमग्ने अमृताय दाशद् दुवस्त्वे कृणवते यतस्त्रुक् । न स राया शशमानो वि योषन्नैनमंहः परि वरदघायोः ॥९॥
9) He who gives to thee, O Fire, to the Immortal, and does in thee the work outstretching the Ladle, may he not in his labour be divorced from the riches, let not the sin of one who would do evil surround him.
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यस्य त्वमग्ने अघ्वरं जुजोषो देवो मर्तस्य सुधितं रराणः । प्रीतेदसद्धोत्रा सा यविष्ठाऽसाम यस्य विधतो वृधासः ॥१०॥
10) He in whose pilgrim-rite thou takest pleasure and, divine, takest delight in the well-founded work of a mortal, may the Power of the Call be pleased with him, O most young Fire, of whom worshipping may we bring about the increase.
चित्तिमचित्तिं चिनवद् वि विद्वान् पृष्ठेव वीता वृजिना च मर्तान् । राये च नः स्वपत्याय देव दितिं च रास्वादितिमुरुष्य ॥११॥
11) Let the knower discriminate the Knowledge and the Ignorance, the straight open levels and the crooked that shut in mortals; O God, for the riches, for the right birth of the Son,20 lavish on us the finite and guard the Infinite.21
कविं शशासुः कवयोऽदब्धा निधारयन्तो दुर्यास्वायोः । अतस्त्वं दृश्याँ अग्न एतान् पडि्भः पश्येरद्भुताँ अर्य एवैः ॥१२॥
12) Seers unconquered proclaimed the seer, they established him22 within in the gated house of the human being. Then, O Flame, mayst thou reach with thy journeying feet and, exalted, see those transcendent23 ones who must come into our vision.24
त्वमग्ने वाघते सुप्रणीतिः सुतसोमाय विधते यविष्ठ । रत्नं भर शशमानाय घृष्वे पृथु श्चन्द्रमवसे चर्षणिप्राः ॥१३॥
13) O Fire, ever most young, mayst thou giving thy good leading to the singer of the word who has pressed the wine and performed the sacrifice, bring to him in his labour, luminous one, an ecstasy wide in its delight, filling the seeing man for his safeguard.
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अधा ह यद् वयमग्ने त्वाया पडि्भर्हस्तेभिश्चकृमा तनूभिः । रथं न कन्तो अपसा भुरिजोर्ऋतं येमुः सुध्य आशुषाणाः ॥१४॥
14) O Fire, as we have done with our hands, with our feet, with our bodies in our desire of thee, like men who make a chariot with the toil of their two arms, so, the wise thinkers have laboured out the Truth and possess it.25
अधा मातुरुषसः सप्त विप्रा जायेमहि प्रथमा वेधसो नृन् । दिवस्पुत्रा अङ्गिरसो भवेमाऽद्रिं रुजेम धनिनं शुचन्तः ॥१५॥
15) Now may we be born as the seven illumined seers of the Dawn, the mother, supreme creators creating the Gods within us; may we become the Angirasas, sons of Heaven and, shining with light, break the hill that has within it the riches.
अधा यथा नः पितरः परासः प्रत्नासो अग्न ऋतमाशुषाणाः । शुचीदयन् दीधितिमुक्थशासः क्षामा भिन्दन्तो अरुणीरप व्रन् ॥१६॥
16) Now, too, O Fire, even as our supreme and ancient fathers, desiring to possess the Truth, speakers of the word, reached the very purity, reached the splendour of the Light;26 as they broke through the earth and uncovered the ruddy herds.
सुकर्माणः सुरुचो देवयन्तोऽयो न देवा जनिमा घमन्तः । शुचन्तो अग्निं ववृधन्त इन्द्रमूर्वं गव्यं परिषदन्तो अग्मन्॥१७॥
17) Perfect in action, perfect in lustre, desiring the godhead, becoming gods, they smelted and forged the Births as one forges iron, flaming with light they made the Fire to grow, surrounding Indra they reached the wide mass of the Ray-Cows.
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आ यूथेव क्षुमति पश्वो अरुयद् देवानां यज्जनिमान्त्युग्र । मर्तानां चिदुर्वशीरकृप्रन् वृधे चिदर्य उपरस्यायोः ॥१८॥
18) There was seen as if herds of the Cows in an opulent place, that which, seen near, was the birth of the gods,27 O Forceful Fire; they both illumined the widenesses28 of mortals and were aspirants29 for the growth of the higher being.
अकर्म ते स्वपसो अभूम ऋतमवस्त्रन्नुषसो विभातीः । अनूनमग्निं पुरुधा सुश्चन्द्रं देवस्य मर्मृजतश्चारु चक्षुः ॥१९॥
19) For thee we worked and became perfect in our works, the Dawn shone out and illumined the Truth; we lit the unstinted Fire in the multitude of its kinds, in the fullness of his delight, brightening the beautiful eye of the Godhead.
एता ते अग्न उचथानि वेधोऽवोचाम कवये ता जुषस्व । उच्छोचस्व कृणुहि वस्यसो नो महो रायः पुरुवार प्र यन्धि ॥२०॥
20) These are the utterances, O creator, O Fire, we have spoken to thee the seer, in them take pleasure. Flame upwards, make us move full of possessions; O thou of many boons, give us the Great Riches.
आ वो राजानमध्वरस्य रुद्रं होतारं सत्ययजं रोदस्योः । अग्निं पुरा तनयित्नोरचित्ताद्धिरण्यरुपमवसे कृणुध्वम् ॥१॥
1) Create for yourselves the King of the pilgrim-rite, the Terrible, the Priest of the invocation who wins by sacrifice the Truth in earth and heaven,30 create Fire golden in his
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form for your protection before the outspreading of the Ignorance.31
अयं योनिश्चकृमा यं वयं ते जायेव पत्य उशती सुवासाः । अर्वाचीनः परिवीतो नि षीदेमा उ ते स्वपाक प्रतीचीः ॥२॥
2) This is thy seat which we have made for thee, even as, desiring, a wife richly robed for her lord; thou art turned towards us and wide-extended around, sit here within: O once far distant Fire,32 these are fronting thee.
आशृण्वते अदृपिताय मन्म नृचक्षसे सुमृळीकाय वेधः । देवाय शस्तिममृताय शंस ग्रावेव सोता मधुषुद् यमीळे ॥३॥
3) O ordinant of sacrifice, to Fire that hears, inviolate, the strong in vision, the happy, the immortal Godhead speak the Thought, the word expressing him, whom I pray as with the voice of the stone of the pressing when it presses out the honey-wine.
त्वं चिन्नः शम्या अग्ने अस्या ऋतस्य बोध्यृतचित् स्वाधीः । कदा त उक्था सधमाद्यानि कदा भवन्ति सख्या गृहे ते ॥४॥
4) Thou, too, O Fire, turn towards our labour, become aware of this word, in perfect answer of thy thought, Truth-Conscious, become aware of the Truth. When shall there be thy utterances that share in our ecstasy, when thy acts of companionship in the house?
कथा ह तद् वरुणाय त्वमग्ने कथा दिवे गर्हसे कन्न आगः । कथा मित्राय मीळ्हुषे पृथिव्यै ब्रवः कदर्यम्णे कद् भगाय ॥५॥
5) How dost thou blame it, O Fire, to Varuna, to Heaven, what is that sin we have done? How wouldst thou speak of us to Mitra, the bountiful, how to earth? What wilt thou say to Aryaman, what to Bhaga?
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कद् धिष्ण्यासु वृधसानो अग्ने कद् वाताय प्रतवसे शुभंये । परिज्मने नासत्याय क्षे ब्रवः कदग्ने रुद्राय नृघ्ने ॥६॥
6) What, O Fire, growing in thy abodes, wouldst thou say for us, what to the wind most forceful, to the seeker of the Good, the all-pervading, to the lord of the journey, to the earth? What, O Fire, to Rudra the slayer of men?
कथा महे पुष्टिंभराय पूष्णे कद् रुद्राय सुमखाय हविर्दे । कद् विष्णव उरुगायाय रेतो ब्रवः कदग्ने शरवे बृहत्यै ॥७॥
7) How wilt thou speak of us to Pushan, the mighty bringer of increase, what to Rudra great in sacrifice, giver of the offering? What seed of things to wide-striding Vishnu, or what, O Fire, to vast doom?
कथा शर्धाय मरुतामृताय कथा सूरे बृहते पृच्छयमानः । प्रति ब्रवोऽदितये तुराय साधा दिवो जातवेदश्चिकित्वान् ॥८॥
8) How when they question thee wouldst thou answer to the host of the Life-Gods in their Truth, or to the Sun in his vastness, to the mother indivisible, to the swift traveller? O knower of all things born, thou knowest the Heaven, for us accomplish.
ऋतेन ऋतं नियतमीळ आ गोरामा सचा मधुमत् पक्वमग्ने । कृष्णा सती रुशता धासिनैषा जामर्येण पयसा पीपाय ॥९॥
9) I ask for the truth governed by the Truth, together the unripe things of the Cow of light and that of her which is sweet and ripe, O Fire. Even black of hue, she nourishes with a luminous supporting, with a kindred milk.33
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ऋतेन हि ष्मा वृषभश्चिदक्तः पुमाँ अग्निः पयसा पृष्ठ्येन । अस्पन्दमानो अचरद् वयोधा वृषा शुकं दुदुहे पृश्निरुधः ॥१०॥
10) For the Fire the Bull, the Male, is inundated with the Truth, with milk of the heights: unstirred he ranges abroad establishing the wideness, the dappled Bull has milked out the bright udder.
ऋतेनाद्रिं व्यसन् भिदन्तः समङगिरसो नवन्त गोभिः । शुनं नरः परि षदन्नुषासमाविः स्वरभवज्जाते अग्नौ ॥११॥
11) By the Truth the Angiras-seers broke the hill, they parted it asunder, they moved34 together with the Ray-Cows; men sat happily around Dawn, the Sun-world35 was manifested when the Fire was born.36
ऋतेन देवीरमृता अमृक्ता अर्णोभिरापो मधुमद्भिरग्ने । वाजी न सर्गेषु प्रस्तुभानः प्र सदमित् स्त्रवितवे वधन्युः ॥१२॥
12) By the Truth the divine and immortal, inviolate Waters with their honied floods, like a steed of swiftness pressing forward37 in its gallopings, raced ever on to their flow.
मा कस्य यक्षं सदमिद्भुरो गा मा वेशस्य प्रमिनतो मापेः । मा भ्रातुरग्ने अनृजोर्ऋणं वेर्मा सख्युर्दक्षं रिपोर्भुजेम ॥१३॥
13) Mayst thou never pass over to the Power38 of one who is a thief, or of a neighbour or one intimate who would do us injury,39 mayst thou not incur the debt of a brother who is crooked, may we not suffer by evil thought from40 friend or foe.
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रक्षा णो अग्ने तव रक्षणेभी रारक्षाणः सुमख प्रीणानः । प्रति ष्फुर वि रुज वीड्वंहो जहि रक्षो महि चिद् वावृधानम् ॥१४॥
14) O Fire, strong in sacrifice, protect us ever guarding us with thy keepings, taking pleasure in us; burst out in flame, break the strong evil, slay the (Rakshasa) demon even when he is increasing into greatness.
एभिर्भव सुमना अग्ने अर्कैरिमान्त्स्पृश मन्मभिः शूर वाजान् । उत ब्रह्माण्यङगिरो जुषस्व सं ते शस्तिर्देववाता जरेत ॥१५॥
15) O Fire, become great of mind by these hymns of illumination, by our thinkings touch these plenitudes, O heroic Flame, so take joy in the words of knowledge, O Angiras, let our speech expressing thee come close to thee, enjoyed by the gods.
एता विश्वा विदुषे तुभ्यं वेधो नीथान्यग्ने निण्या वचांसि । निवचना कवये काव्यान्यशंसिषं मतिभिर्विप्र उक्थैः ॥१६॥
16) Thus have I, an illumined sage, by my thoughts and utterances spoken to thee, who knowest, O Fire, O creator, secret words of guidance, seer-wisdoms that speak out their sense to the seer.41
कृणुष्व पाजः प्रसितिं न पृथ्वीं याहि राजेवामवाँ इभेन । तृष्वीमनु प्रसितिं द्रूणानोऽस्तासि विध्य रक्षसस्तपिष्ठैः ॥१॥
1) Make thy mass like a wide marching, go like a king full of
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strength with his following, running in the rapid passage of thy march; thou art the Archer, pierce the demons with thy most burning shafts.
तव भ्रमास आशुया पतन्त्यनु स्पृश धृषता शोशुचानः । तपूंष्यग्ने जुह्वा पतङ्गानसंदितो वि सृज विष्वगुल्काः ॥२॥
2) Swiftly rush thy wanderings; blazing up follow and touch with thy violence; O Fire, spread by thy tongue thy burning heats and thy winged sparks; unleashed, scatter on every side thy meteors.
प्रति स्पशो वि सृज तूर्णितमो भवा पायुर्विशो अस्या अदब्धः । यो नो दूरे अधशंसो यो अन्त्यग्ने माकिष्टे व्यथिरा दधर्षीत् ॥३॥
3) Swiftest to act, spread abroad thy scouts to their places, and become the indomitable protector of this being: he who would bring evil by speech against us from afar or one from near, let not any such bringer of anguish do violence to thee, O Fire!
उदग्ने तिष्ठ प्रत्या तनुष्व न्यमित्राँ ओषतात् तिग्महेते । यो नो अरातिं समिधान चके नीचा तं धक्ष्यतसं न शुष्कम् ॥४॥
4) Arise, O Fire, spread out towards us, consume utterly the unfriendly, O sharp-missiled Flame; O high-kindled! whoever has done enmity against us burn him down like a dry log.
ऊर्ध्वो भव प्रति विध्याध्यस्मदाविष्कृणुष्व दैव्यान्यग्ने । अव स्थिरा तनुहि यातुजूनां जामिमजामिं प्र मृणीहि शत्रून् ॥५॥
5) High-uplifted be, piercing through reveal in us the things divine, O Fire; lay low what the demon forces42 have established: companion or single, crush the foe.
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स ते जानाति सुमतिं यविष्ठ य ईवते ब्रह्मणे गातुमैरत् । विश्वान्यस्मै सुदिनानि रायो द्युम्नान्यर्यो वि दुरो अभि द्यौत् ॥६॥
6) He knows thy right-mindedness, O youngest of the Gods, who hastens the journey43 for the Word in its march. For him the high doer of works has made to shine about his doors all brightness of the day, all treasures and splendours of the light.
सेदग्ने अस्तु सुभगः सुदानुर्यस्त्वा नित्येन हविषा य उक्थैः । पिप्रीषति स्व आयुषि दुरोणे विश्वेदस्मै सुदिना सासदिष्टिः ॥७॥
7) May he, O Fire, be fortunate and munificent who with the eternal offering, who with his utterances, seeks to satisfy thee in his own life, in his gated house; may there be for him all brightnesses of the day, may such be his sacrificing.44
अर्चामि ते सुमतिं धोष्यर्वाक् सं ते वावाता जरतामियं गीः । स्वश्वास्त्वा सुरथा मर्जयेमाऽस्मे क्षत्राणि धारयेरनु द्यून् ॥८॥
8) I make to shine thy right thought in me, may this word diffused in its peal approach close to thee. Rich in horses and chariots may we make all bright and pure for thee, mayst thou hold up thy mights in us from day to day.
इह त्वा भूर्या चरेदुप त्मन् दोषावस्तर्दीदिवांसमनु द्यून् । कीळन्तस्त्वा सुमनसः सपेमाऽभि द्युम्ना तस्थिवांसो जनानाम् ॥९॥
9) Here in this world should one largely act from one's self in the presence of thee as day by day thou shinest out in morn and in dusk: right-minded may we touch thee as we play, taking our stand on the luminous inspirations45 of men.
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यस्त्वा स्वश्वः सुहिरण्यो अग्न उपयाति वसुमता रथेन । तस्य त्राता भवसि तस्य सखा यस्त आतिथ्यमानुषग् जुजोषत् ॥१०॥
10) He who comes to thee, O Fire, with strong horses, with fine gold, with his chariot full of riches, thou becomest his deliverer, his friend and comrade,—he who takes joy in thy uninterrupted guesthood.
महो रुजामि बन्धुता वचोभिस्तन्मा पितुर्गोतमादन्वियाय । त्वं नो अस्य वचसश्चिकिद्धि होतर्यविष्ठ सुकतो दमूनाः ॥११॥
11) I break great ones by my words, by my friendship with thee; that came down to me from Gotama, my father: domiciled in the house do thou become conscious of this word of ours, O youngest God! O Priest of the call! O strong Will!
अस्वप्नजस्तरणयः सुशेवा अतन्द्रासोऽवृका अश्रमिष्ठाः । ते पायवः सध्रयञ्चो निषद्याऽग्ने तव नः पान्त्वमूर ॥१२॥
12) Undreaming, ever in movement, blissful, undrowsing, untorn, untired may thy guardian powers sitting linked together guard us, O thou untouched by ignorance, O Fire!
ये पायवो मामतेयं ते अग्ने पश्यन्तो अन्धं दुरितादरक्षन् । ररक्ष तान्त्सुकृतो विश्ववेदा दिप्सन्त इद् रिपवो नाह देभुः ॥१३॥
13) Thy guardian powers, O Fire, which protected the son of Mamata from evil, for they saw and he was blind, omniscient guarded them in their good work; the foe who would have hurt them could not hurt.
त्वया वयं सधन्यस्त्वोतास्तव प्रणीत्यश्याम वाजान् । उभा शंसा सूदय सत्यतातेऽनुष्ठुया कृणुह्यह्रयाण ॥१४॥
14) By thee as thy companions, guarded by thee, by thy leading, may we win the plenitudes; impel to their way both annunciations, O builder of Truth: straightway, confident, create.
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अया ते अग्ने समिधा विधेम प्रति स्तोमं शस्यमानं गृभाय । दहाशसो रक्षसः पाह्यस्मान् द्रुहो निदो मित्रमहो अवद्यात् ॥१५॥
15) With the fuel may we do thee worship, O Fire, accept the hymn which we utter, burn the demons who speak not the word of blessing, guard us from the doer of harm, from the censurer and his blame, O friendly Light!
वैश्वानराय मीळ्हुषे सजोषाः कथा दाशेमाग्नये बृहद् भाः । अनूनेन बृहता वक्षथेनोप स्तभायदुपमित्र रोधः ॥१॥
1) How should we give, one in our joy in him, vast in light,46 to the bounteous Universal Fire? With his vast and ample upbearing he props up the firmament like a pillar.
मा निन्दत य इमां मह्यं रातिं देवो ददौ मर्त्याय स्वधावान् । पाकाय गृत्सो अमृतो विचेता वैश्वानरो नृतमो यह्वो अग्निः ॥२॥
2) Blame not him who in his self-law has given this gift, divine to me the mortal, the wise to the ignorant, the immortal, the wide in consciousness, the most strong and mighty Universal Fire.
साम द्विबर्हा महि तिग्मभृष्टिः सहस्त्ररेता वृषभस्तुविष्मान् । पदं न गोरपगूळ्हं विविद्वानग्निर्मह्यं प्रेदु वोचन्मनीषाम् ॥३॥
3) In his twofold mass47 may the puissant Bull with his thousandfold seed, with his keen blaze discovering the great Possession, the deeply hidden seat of the Cow, declare to me that Mind of wisdom.
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प्र ताँ अग्निर्बभसत् तिग्मजम्भस्तपिष्ठेन शोचिषा यः सुराधाः । प्र ये मिनन्ति वरुणस्य धाम प्रिया मित्रस्य चेततो ध्रुवाणि ॥४॥
4) May the Fire sharp-tusked with his most burning flame of light, he who is full of felicity,48 consume them, they who impair the domain of Varuna and the beloved and abiding things of Mitra the conscious knower.
अभ्रातरो न योषणो व्यन्तः पतिरिपो न जनयो दुरेवाः । पापासः सन्तो अनृता असत्या इदं पदमजनता गभीरम् ॥५॥
5) Going they go on their way like women who have no brothers, like wives49 with evil movements who do hurt to50 their lord, sinful are they, untrue and full of falsehood, who brought into being this profound plane.
इदं मे अग्ने कियते पावकाऽमिनते गुरुं भारं न मन्म । बृहद् दधाथ धृषता गभीरं यह्वं पृष्ठं प्रयसा सप्तधातु ॥६॥
6) For me who howso small, impair not the heavy burden of this thought, O purifying Fire, uphold with the violence of thy delight this vast and profound and mighty sevenfold plane.51
तमिन्न्वेव समना समानमभि कत्वा पुनती धीतिरश्याः । ससस्य चर्मन्नधि चारु पृश्नेरग्रे रुप आरुपितं जबारु ॥७॥
7) Him now may the purifying Thought reach and possess by the will, like attaining to its like, in the movement52 of the peace, over the form of the dappled Mother figured out on the summit in its might and its beauty.
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प्रवाच्यं वचसः किं मे अस्य गुहा हितमुप निणिग् वदन्ति । यदुस्त्रियाणामप वारिव व्रन् पाति प्रियं रुपो अग्रं पदं वेः ॥८॥
8) What of this word do they say to me, what that has to be declared and is mysterious and hidden in the secrecy?53 What was as if a covering defence of the rays54 they have uncovered,—he guards the beloved form, the summit plane of the being.55
इदमु त्यन्महि महामनीकं यदुस्त्रिया सचत पूर्व्यं गौः । ऋतस्य पदे अधि दीद्यानं गुहा रघुष्यद् रघुयद् विवेद ॥९॥
9) This which is that great front of the Great Ones to which as its supreme place adheres the shining Cow, he came to know flaming in the plane of the Truth, hastening in its speed in the secrecy.56
अध द्युतानः पित्रोः सचासाऽमनुत गुह्यं चारु पृश्नेः । मातुष्पदे परमे अन्ति षद् गोर्वृष्णः शोचिषः प्रयतस्य जिह्वा ॥१०॥
10) Now shining in union with the two Parents, close to him, he perceived the beautiful and secret abode of the dappled Cow. There was the tongue of the Bull of flame intent on its action, it was near the Cow of Light, in the supreme plane of the Mother.
ऋतं वोचे नमसा पृच्छयमानस्तवाशसा जातवेदो यदीदम् । त्वमस्य क्षयसि यद्ध विश्वं दिवि यदु द्रविणं यत् पृथिव्याम् ॥११॥
11) Asked with obeisance I. voice the Truth, this which I have won by thy declaring of it,57 O knower of all things born; thou possesses all this that is, the treasure which is in heaven and that which is on the earth.
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किं नो अस्य द्रविणं कद्ध रत्नं वि नो वोचो जातवेदश्चिकित्वान् । गुहाध्वनः परमं यन्नो अस्य रेकु पदं न निदाना अगन्म ॥१२॥
12) What is the treasure of this Truth, what the delight of it, wholly declare to us, O knower of the births, for thou art aware. That supreme plane in the secrecy which is the highest goal of our path, which is over and above all, that we have reached, free from bondage.
का मर्यादा वयुना कद्ध वाममच्छा गमेम रघवो न वाजम् । कदा नो देवीरमृतस्य पत्नीः सूरो वर्णेन ततनन्नुषासः ॥१३॥
13) What is its boundary, its manifestation of knowledge, what the joy of it towards which we must move like gallopers towards the plenitude? When have the divine Dawns, wives of the immortal, woven it into shape by the hue of light of the sun?
अनिरेण वचसा फल्ग्वेन प्रतीत्येन कृधुनातृपासः । अधा ते अग्ने किमिहा वदन्त्यनायुधास आसता सचन्ताम् ॥१४॥
14) Those who live undelighted with the word that is languid and scanty, narrow and dependent on their belief, what now and here can they say to thee, O Fire? Uninstrumented let them remain united with the unreal.
अस्य श्रिये समिधानस्य वृष्णो वसोरनीकं दम आ रुरोच । रुशद् वसानः सुदृशीकरुपः क्षितिर्न राया पुरुवारो अद्यौत् ॥१५॥
15) For the glory and beauty of the Bull in his high burning the flame-force of the master of riches glowed in its splendour; clothing himself with brilliance in his form of perfect vision, he has shone out full of many boons like a dwelling with its treasure.
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ऊर्ध्व ऊ षु णो अध्वरस्य होतरग्ने तिष्ठ देवताता यजीयान् । त्वं हि विश्वमभ्यसि मन्म प्र वेधसश्चित् तिरसि मनीषाम् ॥१॥
1) O Fire, summoner Priest of the pilgrim-rite, stand up very high for us, strong for sacrifice in the forming of the gods: thou art the ruler over every Thought and thou carriest forward the mind of thy worshipper.
अमूरो होता न्यसादि विक्ष्वग्निर्मन्द्रो विदथेषु प्रचेताः । ऊर्ध्वं भानुं सवितेवाश्रेन्मेतेव धूमं स्तभायदुप द्याम् ॥२॥
2) Free from ignorance, Fire, the rapturous Priest of the Call has taken his seat in creatures, the conscious thinker in their findings of knowledge. He enters into a high lustre like a creator Sun, like a pillar he makes his smoke a prop to heaven.
यता सुजूर्णी रातिनी घृताची प्रदक्षिणिद् देवतातिमुराणः । उदु स्वरुर्नवजा नाकः पश्वो अनक्ति सुधितः सुमेकः ॥३॥
3) A luminous force of giving, swift and put forth into action, he widens the formation of the gods as he turns round it; new-born he stands up high58 like an arrow-shaft well-planted and firm59 and shows by his light the herds.
स्तीर्णे बर्हिषि समिधाने अग्ना ऊर्ध्वो अध्वर्युर्जुजुषाणो अस्थात् । पर्यग्निः पशुपा न होता त्रिविष्टयेति प्रदिव उराणः ॥४॥
4) When the sacred grass is strewn and kindled burns the flame, the leader of the pilgrim-rite stands up to high rejoicing in his work; Fire, the Priest of the call, like a guardian of the herds thrice moves round them, the Ancient of days, ever widening his circle.
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परि त्मना मितद्रुरेति होताऽग्निर्मन्द्रो मधुवचा ऋतावा । द्रवन्त्यस्य वाजिनो न शोका भयन्ते विश्वा भुवना यदभ्राट् ॥५॥
5) He goes round in his self-motion with measured run, Fire, the rapturous Priest of the call, sweet of word, possessing the Truth; his flames gallop like horses, all the worlds are in fear when he blazes.
भद्रा ते अग्ने स्वनीक संदृग् घोरस्य सतो विषुणस्य चारुः । न यत् ते शोचिस्तमसा वरन्त न ध्वस्मानस्तन्वी रेप आ धुः ॥६॥
6) O Fire of the fair front! happy is thy vision; even when thou art terrible and adverse great is thy beauty: for they hem not in thy flame with the darkness, for the destroyers cannot set evil in thy body.
न यस्य सातुर्जनितोरवारि न मातरापितरा नू चिदिष्टौ । अधा मित्रो न सुधितः पावकोऽग्निर्दीदाय मानुषीषु विक्षु ॥७॥
7) He is the begetter of things and his conquest cannot be held back, not even the father and the mother can stay him any longer in his impulsion. Now like a friend well-established, the purifying Fire has shone out in the human peoples.
द्विर्यं पञ्च जीजनन्त्संवसानाः स्वसारो अग्निं मानुषीषु विक्षु । उषर्बुधमथर्यो न दन्तं शुकं स्वासं परशुं न तिग्मम् ॥८॥
8) The twice five sisters who dwell together have given birth to the Fire in the human peoples, the waker in the dawn, like a tusk of flame, brilliant and fair of face, like a sharp axe.
तव त्ये अग्ने हरितो घृतस्ना रोहितास ऋज्वञ्चः स्वञ्चः । अरुषासो वृषण ऋजुमुष्का आ देवतातिमह्वन्त दस्माः ॥९॥
9) Bay-coloured are those horses of thine, dripping light, or they are red, straight is their motion, swift is their going, males, ruddy-shining, straight and massive, great in their deeds they are called to our forming of the Gods.
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ये ह त्ये ते सहमाना अयासस्त्वेषासो अग्ने अर्चयश्चरन्ति । श्येनासो न दुवसनासो अर्थं तुविष्वणसो मारुतं न शर्धः ॥१०॥
10) These are thy rays, O Fire, that put forth overwhelming force, moving, impetuous in their blaze, they move towards the goal like hawks in their action, with many voices of storm like an army of the life-god.
अकारि ब्रह्म समिधान तुभ्यं शंसात्युक्थं यजते व्यू धाः । होतारमग्निं मनुषो नि षेदुर्नमस्यन्त उशिजः शंसमायोः ॥११॥
11) O high-kindled Fire, the Word has been formed for thee, one voices the utterance, one sacrifices,—now ordain: men set the Fire within as the Priest of the call, making to him their prostration of surrender, aspirants to the self-expression of the human being.
अयमिह प्रथमो धायि धातृभिर्होता यजिष्ठो अध्वरेष्वीड्यः । यमप्नवानो भृगवो विरुरुचुर्वनेषु चित्रं विभ्वं विशेविशे ॥१॥
1) This is he who was established as chief and first by the Founders of things, the Priest of the call, most strong for sacrifice, to be prayed in the pilgrim-rites,—he whom the doer of works and the flame-seers60 set shining wide in the forests, rich in light, all-pervading, for man and man.
अग्ने कदा त आनुषग् भुवद् देवस्य चेतनम् । अधा हि त्वा जगृभ्रिरे मर्तासो विक्ष्वीड्यम् ॥२॥
2) O Fire, when shall the conscious waking of thy godhead become uninterrupted? For, now mortals have laid hold on thee as one desirable in human creatures.
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ऋतावानं विचेतसं पश्यन्तो द्यामिव स्तृभिः । विश्वेषामध्वराणां हस्कर्तारं दमेदमे ॥३॥
3) For they see thee, possessor of the Truth and wide in knowledge like waking heaven with its stars, the smile of light of all these pilgrim-sacrifices in house and house,—
आशुं दूतं विवस्वतो विश्वा यश्चर्षणीरभि । आ जभ्रुः केतुमायवो भृगवाणं विशेविशे ॥४॥
4) The swift messenger of the illumining Sun who comes to all the seeing people; men hold him as the ray of intuition and he shines as the Bhrigu-flame-seer for each being.
तमीं होतारमानुषक् चिकित्वांसं नि षेदिरे । रण्वं पावकशोचिषं यजिष्ठं सप्त धामभिः ॥५॥
5) This is the Priest of the call whom they set within, who uninterruptedly wakes to knowledge, rapturous with his purifying flame, most strong to sacrifice by his seven seats.61
तं शश्वतीषु मातृषु वन आ वीतमश्रितम् । चित्रं सन्तं गुहा हितं सुवेदं कूचिदर्थिनम् ॥६॥
6) Him in the many mothers linked together, wide-spread and unapproached in the forest, abiding in the secret Cave and rich with many lights, full of knowledge or moving to some unknown goal.
ससस्य यद् वियुता सस्मिन्नूधन्नृतस्य धामन् रणयन्त देवाः । महाँ अग्निर्नमसा रातहव्यो वेरध्वराय सदमिदृतावा ॥७॥
7) When in the separation from sleep the Gods have joy in that udder of the Cow, in the plane of the Truth, great becomes the Fire by the offering given with prostration and journeys for the pilgrim-sacrifice and the Truth is ever with him.
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वेरध्वरस्य दूत्यानि विद्वानुभे अन्ता रोदसी संचिकित्वान् । दूत ईयसे प्रदिव उराणो विदुष्टरो दिव आरोधनानि ॥८॥
8) He journeys knowing the embassies of the pilgrim-sacrifice between both the firmaments, utterly awakened to knowledge. A messenger, the Ancient of days, ever widening, ever greater in knowledge, thou travellest the mounting slopes of heaven.62
कृष्णं त एम रुशतः पुरो भाश्चरिष्ण्वर्चिर्वपुषामिदेकम् । यदप्रवीता दधते ह गर्भं सद्युश्चिज्जातो भवसीदु दूतः ॥९॥
9) Black is the path of thy shining, thy light goes in front, a journeying ray, the one supreme of all thy bodies; when one unimpregnated bears thee as the child of her womb, in the sudden moment of thy birth thou art already the messenger.
सद्यो जातस्य ददृशानमोजो यदस्य वातो अनुवाति शोचिः । वृणक्ति तिग्मामतसेषु जिह्वां स्थिरा चिदन्ना दयते वि जम्भैः ॥१०॥
10) The moment he is born his might becomes visible when the wind blows behind his flame; he turns his sharp tongue round the trunks and tears his firm food with his jaws of flame.
तृषु यदन्ना तृषुणा ववक्ष तृषुं दूतं कृणुते यह्वो अग्निः । वातस्य मेळिं सचते निजूर्वन्नाशुं न वाजयते हिन्वे अर्वा ॥११॥
11) When quickly he carries his foods on his rapid tongue, this mighty Fire fashions himself into a swift messenger; consuming all he clings to the mad course63 of the wind, as a driver a swift horse he sets it to gallop for the seeker of the plenitude.
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दूतं वो विश्ववेदसं हव्यवाहममर्त्यम् । यजिष्ठमृञ्जसे गिरा ॥१॥
1) Array with your word the messenger, the carrier of your offerings, most strong to sacrifice, the omniscient, the Immortal.
स हि वेदा वसुधितिं महाँ आरोधनं दिवः । स देवाँ एह वक्षति ॥२॥
2) For, he knows the place of the possession of the riches, he knows the ascending slope of heaven, he shall bring here the gods.
स वेद देव आनमं देवाँ ऋतायते दमे । दाति प्रियाणि चिद् वसु ॥३॥
3) A God, he knows for the seeker of the Truth his way of submission to the gods in the house of Truth, and he gives the beloved treasures.
स होता सेदु दूत्यं चिकित्वाँ अन्तरीयते । विद्वाँ आरोधनं दिवः ॥४॥
4) He is the Priest of the call, it is he who travels between, aware of his embassy, knowing the ascending slope of heaven.
ते स्याम ये अग्नये ददाशुर्हव्यदातिभिः । य ईं पुष्यन्त इन्धते ॥५॥
5) May we be of those who have given to the Fire with the gift of their offerings, who kindle him and increase.
ते राया ते सुवीर्यैः ससवांसो वि शृण्विरे । ये अग्ना दधिरे दुवः ॥६॥
6) They by the treasure, by the hero-strengths have conquered
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and have heard who have upheld their work in the Fire.
अस्मे रायो दिवेदिवे सं चरन्तु पुरुस्पृहः । अस्मे वाजास ईरताम् ॥७॥
7) In us may the riches move from day to day bringing the multitude of our desires, may we receive the impulsion of the plenitudes.
स विप्रश्चर्षणीनां शवसा मानुषाणाम् । अति क्षिप्रेव विध्यति ॥८॥
8) An illumined seer, by the might of seeing human beings he pierces beyond like a swift arrow.
अग्ने मूळ महाँ असि य ईमा देवयुं जनम् । इयेथ बर्हिरासदम् ॥१॥
1) O Flame, be gracious, for great art thou who comest to the seeker of the godheads to sit on his seat of sacrifice.
स मानुषीषु दूळभो विक्षु प्रावीरमर्त्यः । दूतो विश्वेषां भुवत् ॥२॥
2) He becomes manifest in human beings,64 invincible,65 immortal, the messenger of all.
स सद्म परि णीयते होता मन्द्रो दिविष्टिषु । उत पोता नि षीदति ॥३॥
3) He is borne round the house, a rapturous Priest of the call in our heavenward urges; he takes his seat as the Priest of the purification.
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उत ग्ना अग्निरध्वर उतो गृहपतिर्दमे । उत ब्रह्मा नि षीदति ॥४॥
4) The Fire is the Goddess-powers in the pilgrim-rite and he is the master of the house in his home, he sits too as the Priest of the word.
वेषि ह्यध्वरीयतामुपवक्ता जनानाम् । हव्या च मानुषाणाम् ॥५॥
5) Thou comest to the offerings as the speaker of the sanction for human beings when they would perform the pilgrim-sacrifice.
वेषीद्वस्य दूत्यं यस्य जुजोषो अध्वरम् । हव्यं मर्तस्य वोळ्हवे ॥६॥
6) Thou comest to be his envoy to him in whose sacrifice thou takest pleasure to carry the offerings of the mortal.
अस्माकं जोष्यध्वरमस्माकं यज्ञमङ्गिरः । अस्माकं शृणुघी हवम् ॥७॥
7) Take pleasure in our pilgrim-rite, in our sacrifice, O Angiras, hear our call.
परि ते दूळभो रथोऽस्माँ अश्नोतु विश्वतः । येन रक्षसि दाशुषः ॥८॥
8) Let thy invincible car reach us and move round us on every side by which thou guardest the givers of the offering.
अग्ने तमद्याऽश्वं न स्तोमैः कतुं न भद्रम् । हृदिस्पृशमृध्यामा त ओहैः ॥१॥
1) O Fire, let us today make thee affluent with our lauds as thy
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vehicles to bear thee,—even that of thee which is as if the Horse, as if a happy will touching the heart.
अधा ह्यग्ने कतोर्भद्रस्य दक्षस्य साधोः । रथीर्ऋतस्य बृहतो बभूथ ॥२॥
2) For now, O Fire, thou hast become the charioteer of a happy Will, of an all-accomplishing Discernment, of the Vast Truth.
एभिर्नो अर्कैर्भवा नो अर्वाङ् स्वर्ण ज्योतिः । अग्ने विश्वेभिः सुमना अनीकैः ॥३॥
3) Become close to us, O Fire, by these hymns of illumination, right-minded with all thy flame-powers, thy light like the sun-world.
आभिष्टे अद्य गीर्भिर्गृणन्तोऽग्ने दाशेम । प्र ते दिवो न स्तनयन्ति शुष्माः ॥४॥
4) Today uttering thee with these utterances may we give to thee, O Fire; thy strengths thunder forth like the heavens.66
तव स्वादिष्ठाऽग्ने संदृष्टिरिदा चिदह्न इदा चिदक्तोः । श्रिये रुक्मो न रोचत उपाके ॥५॥
5) Most sweet is thy vision, now in the day, now in the night; it shines out close to us like gold for its beauty and splendour.
घृतं न पूतं तनूररेपाः शुचि हिरण्यम् । तत् ते रुक्मो न रोचत स्वधावः ॥६॥
6) Free from evil is thy body; it is like pure clarified butter, it is pure gold; that in thee is golden in its shining, for such is thy self-law.
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कृतं चिद्धि ष्मा सनेमि द्वेषोऽग्न इनोषि । मर्तादित्था यजमानादृतावः ॥७॥
7) Even the lasting hostility done, O thou who possessesst the Truth, thou drivest away perfectly from the mortal sacrificer.67
शिवा नः सख्या सन्तु भ्रात्राग्ने देवेषु युष्मे । सा नो नाभिः सदने सस्मिन्नूधन् ॥८॥
8) O Fire, auspicious may be all our friendship and brotherhood with you Gods. That is our centre, where is our home, where is that udder of the Cow of Light.
भद्रं ते अग्ने सहसिन्ननीकमुपाक आ रोचते सूर्यस्य । रुशद् दृशे ददृशे नक्तया चिदरुक्षितं दृश आ रुपे अन्नम् ॥१॥
1) Happy is that flame-power of thine, O forceful Fire; it shines close to the Sun, glowing to vision it is seen even in the night, it is as if in its beauty68 there were an unarid feast for the eye.
वि षाह्यग्ने गृणते मनीषां खं वेपसा तुविजात स्तवानः । विश्वेभिर्यद् वावनः शुक देवैस्तन्नो रास्व सुमहो भूरि मन्म ॥२॥
2) O Fire, O thou with thy many births, even as we hymn thee force open the heavens69 with thy quivering lustre70 for him who utters the mind of wisdom; O brilliant, O glorious Flame, what thou with all the gods hast won, that give to us, that mighty thought.
त्वदग्ने काव्या त्वन्मनीषास्त्वदुक्था जायन्ते राध्यानि । त्वदेति द्रविणं वीरपेशा इत्थाधिये दाशुषे मर्त्याय ॥३॥
3) O Fire, from thee are born the seer-wisdoms, from thee the mind of knowledge, from thee the utterances that achieve; from thee come the riches that take the hero's form to the mortal giver who has the true thought.
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त्वद् वाची वाजंभरो विहाय अभिष्टिकृज्जायते सत्यशुष्मः । त्वद् रयिर्देवजूतो मयोभुस्त्वदाशुर्जूजुवाँ अग्ने अर्वा ॥४॥
4) From thee is born the steed of swiftness that carries the plenitude, that has the force of Truth, that makes the great approach, that has the vastness; from thee is the treasure sent by the gods that creates the bliss, from thee the rapid speeding war-horse, O Fire.
त्वामग्ने प्रथमं देवयन्तो देवं मर्ता अमृत मन्द्रजिह्वम् । द्वेषोयुतमा विवासन्ति धीभिर्दमूनसं गृहपतिममूरम् ॥५॥
5) Thee, O Fire, O immortal, first and chief of the godheads, mortals who are seekers of the godheads illumine by their thoughts. Fire with the rapturous tongue who pushest away the hostiles, the one domiciled within, the master of our house untouched by ignorance.
आरे अस्मदमतिमारे अहं आरे विश्वां दुर्मतिं यन्निपासि । दोषा शिवः सहसः सूनो अग्ने यं देव आ चित् सचसे स्वस्ति ॥६॥
6) Far from us all unconsciousness, sin and evil mind when thou art on guard, a benignant Power in the night, O Fire, O son of force, over him to whom thou cleavest for his weal.
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यस्त्वामग्न इनधते यतस्त्रुक् त्रिस्ते अन्नं कृणवत् सस्मिन्नहन् । स सु द्युम्नैरभ्यस्तु प्रसक्षत् तव कत्वा जातवेदश्चिकित्वान् ॥१॥
1) He who kindles thee, O Fire, and with his ladle in action creates food for thee thrice in the day, may he, awakened to knowledge, be ever with thy illuminations and wholly put forth his force and overcome by thy will, O knower of all things born.
इध्मं यस्ते जभरच्छश्रमाणो महो अग्ने अनीकमा सपर्यन् । स इधानः प्रति दोषामुषासं पुष्यन् रयिं सचते घ्नन्नमित्रान् ॥२॥
2) He who labours and brings to thee thy fuel serving the flame-force of thy greatness, O Fire, he kindling thee every day and night ever grows and cleaves to the Treasure slaying the unfriendly Powers.
अग्निरीशे बृहतः क्षत्रियस्याऽग्निर्वाजस्य परमस्य रायः । दधाति रत्नं विधते यविष्ठो व्यानुषङमर्त्याय स्वधावान् ॥३॥
3) The Fire is the master of the vast might, the Fire is master of the supreme plenitude and riches; ever young, faithful to his self-law, he founds wholly, uninterruptedly the ecstasy for the mortal who worships him.
यच्चिद्धि ते पुरुषत्रा यविष्ठाऽचित्तिभिश्चकृमा कच्चिदागः । कृधी ष्वस्माँ अदितेरनागान् व्येनांसि शिश्रथो विष्वगग्ने ॥४॥
4) If at all in our humanity by our movements of ignorance we have done any evil against thee, O Fire, make us wholly sinless before the mother indivisible; O Fire, mayst thou loosen from us the bonds of our sins to every side.
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महश्चिदग्न एनसो अभीक ऊर्वाद् देवानामुत मर्त्यानाम् । मा ते सखायः सदमिद् रिषाम यच्छा तोकाय तनयाय शं योः ॥५॥
5) Even though our sin be great before gods and men, even though it be wide, O Fire, may we not come ever to harm from it who are thy friends and comrades; give to our Son, our begotten, the peace and the well-doing.
यथा ह त्यद् वसवो गौर्यं चित् पदि षिताममुञ्चता यजत्राः । एवो ष्वस्मन्मुञ्चता व्यंहः प्र तार्यग्ने प्रतरं न आयुः ॥६॥
6) Even as that was done when the Masters of Riches, the Lords of sacrifice released the bright cow tethered by her foot, so release us utterly from evil; mayst thou carry forward our life so that it crosses beyond, O Fire.
प्रत्यग्निरुषसामग्रमख्यद् विभातीनां सुमना रत्नधेयम् । यातमश्विना सुकृतो दुरोणमुत् सूर्यो ज्योतिषा देव एति ॥१॥
1) The Fire facing the front of the dawns as they shine out has revealed the founding of ecstasy; the two Riders of the horse are coming to the gated house of the doer of good works; the divine Sun is rising up with its light.
ऊर्ध्वं भानुं सविता देवो अश्रेद् द्रप्सं दविध्वद् गविषो न सत्वा । अनु व्रतं वरुणो यन्ति मित्रो यत् सूर्यं दिव्यारोहयन्ति ॥२॥
2) The divine creator Sun has reached his high shining, he is like a warrior seeker of the Light brandishing his flag. There is Varuna, there is Mitra, all follow the working of the Law when they make the Sun to rise up in heaven.
यं सीमकृण्वन् तमसे विपृचे ध्रुवक्षेमा अनवस्यन्तो अर्थम् । तं सूर्यं हरितः सप्त यह्वीः स्पशं विश्वस्य जगतो वहन्ति ॥३॥
3) Him Whom, firm in their foundation, never ceasing from
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their aim they have made for the removing of the darkness, this Sun seven mighty brilliant mares bear as the scouts of the whole world.
वहिष्ठेभिर्विहरन् यासि तन्तुमवव्ययन्नसितं देव वस्म । दविध्वतो रश्मयः सूर्यस्य चर्मेवावाधुस्तमो अप्स्वन्तः ॥४॥
4) O God, thou goest with steeds most strong to bear separating the weft woven, unweaving the black garment; the streaming rays of the Sun cast the darkness like a covering skin down within the waters.
अनायतो अनिबद्धः कथायं न्यङ्ङुत्तानेऽव पद्यते न । कया याति स्वधया को ददर्श दिवः स्कम्भः समृतः पाति नाकम् ॥५॥
5) Unextended, unbound, facing downwards, facing upwards, how does he not sink? By what self-law does he go on his journey? Who has seen when he joins heaven and is its pillar and guards the firmament?
प्रत्यग्निरुषसो जातवेदा अख्यद् देवो रोचमाना महोभिः । आ नासत्योरुगाया रथेनेमं यज्ञमुप नो यातमच्छ ॥१॥
1) Fire, the godhead has been revealed, the knower of all things born, fronting the dawns as they gleam with the greatness of their lustres; wide-moving, lords of the journey, come moving in their chariot towards this our sacrifice.
ऊर्ध्वं केतुं सविता देवो अश्रेज्ज्योतिर्विश्वस्मै भुवनाय कृण्वन् । आप्रा द्यावापृथिवी अन्तरिक्षं वि सूर्यो रश्मिभिश्चेकितानः ॥२॥
2) The creator Sun is lodged in his high Ray of intuition fashioning the light for the whole world; the Sun in his universal knowledge has filled earth and heaven and the mid-world with his rays.
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आवहन्त्यरुणीर्ज्योतिषागान्मही चित्रा रश्मिभिश्चेकिताना । प्रबोधयन्ती सुविताय देव्युषा ईयते सुयुजा रथेन ॥३॥
3) The Dawn bearing him has come with the Light, Dawn vast and rich in her lustres, knowing all by her rays; the divine Dawn awakening to the happy path is journeying in her well-yoked chariot.
आ वां वहिष्ठा इह ते वहन्तु रथा अश्वास उषसो व्युष्टौ । इमे हि वां मधुपेयाय सोमा अस्मिन् यज्ञे वृषणा मादयेथाम् ॥४॥
4) May these horses and chariots, strong to bear, bring you both in the shining out of the dawn: for, here for you are the juices of the Wine for the drinking of the sweetness; O strong Ones, may you take rapture of them in this sacrifice.
अनायतो अनिबद्धः कथायं न्यङ्ङुत्तानोऽव पद्यते न । कया याति स्वधया को ददर्श दिवः स्कम्भः समृतः पाति नाकम् ॥५॥
5) Unextended, unbound, facing downwards, facing upwards how does he not sink? By what self-law does he go on his journey? Who has seen when he joins heaven and is its pillar and guards the firmament?
अग्निर्होता नो अध्वरे वाजी सन् परि णीयते । देवो देवेषु यज्ञियः ॥१॥
1) The Fire is our Priest of the call in the pilgrim-sacrifice; he is led around as the horse, he is the godhead in the gods who is lord of the sacrifice.
परि त्रिविष्टयध्वरं यात्यग्नी रथीरिव । आ देवेषु प्रयो दधत् ॥२॥
2) The Fire goes thrice around the pilgrim-sacrifice and is like one driving a chariot, he founds our delight in the gods.
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परि वाजपतिः कविरग्निर्हव्यान्यकमीत् । दषद् रत्नानि दाशुषे ॥३॥
3) The Fire moves around the offerings, a seer, a master of the plenitudes and founds for the giver the ecstasies.
अयं यः सृञ्जये पुरो दैववाते समिध्यते । द्युमाँ अमित्रदम्भनः ॥४॥
4) This is he who is kindled in the front in Srinjaya, son of Devavata, he is luminous and a destroyer of foes.
अस्य धा वीर ईवतोऽग्नेरीशीत मर्त्यः । तिग्मजम्भस्य मीळ्हुषः ॥५॥
5) The mortal who is a hero can have mastery over the Fire in its march, the sharp-tusked bountiful Fire.
तमर्वन्तं न सानसिमरुषं न दिवः शिशुम् । मर्मृज्यन्ते दिवेदिवे ॥६॥
6) They make him bright from day to day like a conquering war-horse, like a shining babe of heaven.
बोधद् यन्मा हरिभ्यां कुमारः साहदेव्यः । अच्छा न हूत उदरम् ॥७॥
7) When the prince, the son of Sahadeva, woke me with his two bay horses, though called towards him I was not ready to rise.
उत त्या यजता हरी कुमारात् साहदेव्यात् । प्रयता सद्य आ ददे ॥८॥
8) Even so, I took at once from the prince, the son of Sahadeva, those two sacred horses he gave.
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एष वां देवावश्विना कुमारः साहदेव्यः । दीर्घायुरस्तु सोमकः ॥९॥
9) O divine Riders, here before you is the prince Somaka, son of Sahadeva; long-lived may he be!
तं युवं देवावश्विना कुमारं साहदेव्यम् । दीर्घायुषं कृणोतन ॥१०॥
10) Even him the prince, the son of Sahadeva, O divine Riders, make long of life.
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