Translations of Rig Veda Suktas 33-121 by M.P. Pandit

HYMN 59

Rishi: NODHASA Deity: AGNI

1. All other fires are, verily, thy branches. In thee, indeed, rejoice all the Gods. Thou, Vaishyanara, art the navel of men and supportest them like a deep-founded column.

Vaishvanara: Agni who is in the form of all humans and Gods.

2. Head of heaven, centre of earth, Agni became the messenger of heaven and earth. O Vaishyanara, the Gods manifested thee as Light for the pilgrim-sacrificer.

Moving from earth to heaven and heaven to earth, Agni becomes the beacon for the sacrificer in his ascent.

3. Like the stable rays set in the sun, all treasures are vested in Vaishvanara. Thou art the monarch of all the treasures in the mountains, in herbs, waters; in men.

As the rays are firmly set in the sun, all essences – denoted by the word treasures are embedded in Agni.

4. Heaven and earth got wide extended as it were for their Son (Vaishvanara). Like a human, the discerning invoker chants (praises). Several are the flame-powers of Vaishvanara, superb leader, luminous, with truth-sustaining might.

Heaven denotes the pure domain of Mind, earth the wakeful domain of Matter. Both widen themselves in the sacrificer when Agni, born of both, manifests as Vaishvanara.

Vaishvanara performs all the functions of the Yajamana.

5. Agni Vaishvanara, knower of all existences, thy glory exceeds the great heavens. Thou art the sovereign of the striving peoples. Thou hast brought weal for Gods by battle.

6. I extol the greatness of the showerer, whom men celebrate as slayer of Vritra. He, Vaishvanara Agni slew the Dasyu, thrust the waters down (upon earth), cleaving Shambara the obstructor.

Vaishvanara being All - Gods, Agni is extolled here as Indra (in his exploits).

7. By his might Vaishvanara is all men. Lustrous, of happy truth, Agni is to be worshipped mid the Bharadvajas, multiply he praises.

Purunitha, son of Shatavani.

Bharadvaja: Sacrifices where nourishment and prosperity are aplenty.

Shatavani: he who enjoys a hundred sacrifices. His son is Purunitha.

Shatavani: leader of many.

Shatavani (of hundred sacrifices) is of many exploits, powerful; his son is a leader of excellence.

Shatavani and Purunitha, types of the said accomplishments, are historical.

Sri Aurobindo’s rendering of the hymn

A HYMN OF THE UNIVERSAL DIVINE FORCE AND WILL

1. Other flames are only branches of thy stock, O Fire. All the immortals take in thee their rapturous joy. O universal Godhead, thou art the navel-knot of the earths and their inhabitants; all men born thou controllest and supportest like a pillar.

2. The Flame is the head of heaven and the navel of the earth and he is the power that moves at work in the two worlds. O Vaishvanara, the gods brought thee to birth a god to be a light to Aryan man.

3. As the firm rays sit steadfast in the Sun, all treasures have been placed in the universal godhead and flame. King art thou of all the riches that are in the growths of the earth and the hills and the waters and all the riches that are in men.

4. Heaven and Earth grow as if vaster worlds to the Sun. He is the priest of our sacrifice and sings our words even as might a man of discerning skill. To Vaishvanara, for this most strong god who brings with him the light of the sun-world, its many mighty waters because his strength is of the truth.

5. O Universal godhead, O knower of all things born, thy excess of greatness overflows even the Great Heaven. Thou art the king of the toiling human peoples and by battle madest the supreme good for the gods.

6. This is the universal godhead who by his greatness labours in all the peoples, the lustrous master of sacrifice, the Flame with his hundred treasures. This is he who has the word of the Truth.