HYMN CXLI. Agni: Rig Veda – Book 1 – Ralph T.H. Griffith, Translator
बळ इत्था तद वपुषे धायि दर्शतं देवस्य भर्गः सहसो यतो जनि |
यदीमुप हवरते साधते मतिर्र्तस्य धेन अनयन्त सस्रुतः ||
पर्क्षो वपुः पितुमान नित्य आ शये दवितीयमा सप्तशिवासु मात्र्षु |
तर्तीयमस्य वर्षभस्य दोहसे दशप्रमतिं जनयन्त योषणः ||
निर्यदीं बुध्नान महिषस्य वर्पस ईशानासः शवसाक्रन्त सूरयः |
यदीमनु परदिवो मध्व आधवे गुहा सन्तं मातरिश्वा मथायति ||
पर यत पितुः परमान नीयते पर्या पर्क्षुधो वीरुधो दंसु रोहति |
उभा यदस्य जनुषं यदिन्वत आदिद यविष्ठो अभवद घर्णा शुचिः ||
आदिन मातॄराविशद यास्वा शुचिरहिंस्यमान उर्वियावि वाव्र्धे |
अनु यत पूर्वा अरुहत सनाजुवो नि नव्यसीष्ववरासु धावते ||
आदिद धोतारं वर्णते दिविष्टिषु भगमिव पप्र्चानास रञ्जते |
देवान यत करत्वा मज्मना पुरुष्टुतो मर्तं संसं विश्वधा वेति धायसे ||
वि यदस्थाद यजतो वातचोदितो हवारो न वक्वा जरणा अनाक्र्तः |
तस्य पत्मन दक्षुषः कर्ष्णजंहसः शुचिजन्मनो रज आ वयध्वनः ||
रथो न यातः शिक्वभिः कर्तो दयामङगेभिररुषेभिरीयते |
आदस्य ते कर्ष्णासो दक्षि सूरयः शूरस्येव तवेषथादीषते वयः ||
तवया हयग्ने वरुणो धर्तव्रतो मित्रः शाशद्रे अर्यमा सुदानवः |
यत सीमनु करतुना विश्वथा विभुररान न नेमिः परिभूरजायथाः ||
तवमग्ने शशमानाय सुन्वते रत्नं यविष्ठ देवतातिमिन्वसि |
तं तवा नु नव्यं सहसो युवन वयं भगं न कारेमहिरत्न धीमहि ||
अस्मे रयिं न सवर्थं दमूनसं भगं दक्षं न पप्र्चासि धर्णसिम |
रश्मीन्रिव यो यमति जन्मनी उभे देवानां शंसं रत आ च सुक्रतुः ||
उत नः सुद्योत्मा जीराश्वो होता मन्द्रः शर्णवच्चन्द्ररथः |
स नो नेषन नेषतमैरमूरो.अग्निर्वामं सुवितं वस्यो अछ ||
अस्ताव्यग्निः शिमीवद्भिरर्कैः साम्राज्याय परतरं दधानः |
अमी च ये मघवानो वयं च मिहं न सूरो अतिनिष टतन्युः ||
baḷ itthā tad vapuṣe dhāyi darśataṃ devasya bharghaḥ sahaso yato jani |
yadīmupa hvarate sādhate matirṛtasya dhena anayanta sasrutaḥ ||
pṛkṣo vapuḥ pitumān nitya ā śaye dvitīyamā saptaśivāsu mātṛṣu |
tṛtīyamasya vṛṣabhasya dohase daśapramatiṃ janayanta yoṣaṇaḥ ||
niryadīṃ budhnān mahiṣasya varpasa īśānāsaḥ śavasākranta sūrayaḥ |
yadīmanu pradivo madhva ādhave ghuhā santaṃ mātariśvā mathāyati ||
pra yat pituḥ paramān nīyate paryā pṛkṣudho vīrudho daṃsu rohati |
ubhā yadasya januṣaṃ yadinvata ādid yaviṣṭho abhavad ghṛṇā śuciḥ ||
ādin mātṝrāviśad yāsvā śucirahiṃsyamāna urviyāvi vāvṛdhe |
anu yat pūrvā aruhat sanājuvo ni navyasīṣvavarāsu dhāvate ||
ādid dhotāraṃ vṛṇate diviṣṭiṣu bhaghamiva papṛcānāsa ṛñjate |
devān yat kratvā majmanā puruṣṭuto martaṃ saṃsaṃ viśvadhā veti dhāyase ||
vi yadasthād yajato vātacodito hvāro na vakvā jaraṇā anākṛtaḥ |
tasya patman dakṣuṣaḥ kṛṣṇajaṃhasaḥ śucijanmano raja ā vyadhvanaḥ ||
ratho na yātaḥ śikvabhiḥ kṛto dyāmaṅghebhiraruṣebhirīyate |
ādasya te kṛṣṇāso dakṣi sūrayaḥ śūrasyeva tveṣathādīṣate vayaḥ ||
tvayā hyaghne varuṇo dhṛtavrato mitraḥ śāśadre aryamā sudānavaḥ |
yat sīmanu kratunā viśvathā vibhurarān na nemiḥ paribhūrajāyathāḥ ||
tvamaghne śaśamānāya sunvate ratnaṃ yaviṣṭha devatātiminvasi |
taṃ tvā nu navyaṃ sahaso yuvan vayaṃ bhaghaṃ na kāremahiratna dhīmahi ||
asme rayiṃ na svarthaṃ damūnasaṃ bhaghaṃ dakṣaṃ na papṛcāsi dharṇasim |
raśmīnriva yo yamati janmanī ubhe devānāṃ śaṃsaṃ ṛta ā ca sukratuḥ ||
uta naḥ sudyotmā jīrāśvo hotā mandraḥ śṛṇavaccandrarathaḥ |
sa no neṣan neṣatamairamūro.aghnirvāmaṃ suvitaṃ vasyo acha ||
astāvyaghniḥ śimīvadbhirarkaiḥ sāmrājyāya prataraṃ dadhānaḥ |
amī ca ye maghavāno vayaṃ ca mihaṃ na sūro atiniṣ ṭatanyuḥ ||
English Translation
Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith
1. YEA, verily, the fair effulgence of the God for glory was established, since he sprang from strength.
When he inclines thereto successful is the hymn: the songs of sacrifice have brought him as they flow
2 Wonderful, rich in nourishment, he dwells in food; next, in the seven auspicious Mothers is his home.
Thirdly, that they might drain the treasures of the Bull, the maidens brought forth him for whom the ten provide.
3 What time from out the deep, from the Steer’s wondrous form, the Chiefs who had the power produced him with their strength;
When Mātariśvan rubbed forth him who lay concealed, for mixture of the sweet drink, in the days of old.
4 When from the Highest Father he is brought to us, amid the plants he rises hungry, wondrously.
As both together join to expedite his birth, most youthful he is born resplendent in his light.
5 Then also entered he the Mothers, and in them pure and uninjured he increased in magnitude.
As to the first he rose, the vigorous from of old, so now he runs among the younger lowest ones.
6 Therefore they choose him Herald at the morning rites, pressing to him as unto Bhaga, pouring gifts,
When, much-praised, by the power and will of Gods, he goes at all times to his mortal worshipper to drink.
7 What time the Holy One, wind-urged, hath risen up, serpent-like winding through the dry grass unrestrained,
Dust lies upon the way of him who burneth all, black-winged and pure of birth who follows sundry paths.
8 Like a swift chariot made by men who know their art, he with his red limbs lifts himself aloft to heaven.
Thy worshippers become by burning black of hue: their strength flies as before a hero’s violence.
9 By thee, O Agni, Varuṇa who guards the Law, Mitra and Aryaman, the Bounteous, are made strong;
For, as the felly holds the spokes, thou with thy might pervading hast been born encompassing them round.
10 Agni, to him who toils and pours libations, thou, Most Youthful! sendest wealth and all the host of Gods.
Thee, therefore, even as Bhaga, will we set anew, young Child of Strength, most wealthy! in our battle-song.
11 Vouchsafe us riches turned to worthy ends, good luck abiding in the house, and strong capacity,
Wealth that directs both worlds as they were guiding-reins, and, very Wise, the Gods’ assent in sacrifice.
12 May he, the Priest resplendent, joyful, hear us, he with the radiant car and rapid horses.
May Agni, ever wise, with best directions to bliss and highest happiness conduct us.
13 With hymns of might hath Agni now been lauded, advanced to height of universal kingship.
Now may these wealthy chiefs and we together spread forth as spreads the Sun above the rain-clouds.