HYMN CXVIII. Agni. – Rig Veda – Book 10

अग्ने हंसि नयत्रिणं दीद्यन मर्त्येष्वा |
सवे कषयेशुचिव्रत ||

उत तिष्ठसि सवाहुतो घर्तानि परति मोदसे |
यत तवा सरुचःसमस्थिरन ||

स आहुतो वि रोचते.अग्निरीळेन्यो गिरा |
सरुचा परतीकमज्यते ||

घर्तेनाग्निः समज्यते मधुप्रतीक आहुतः |
रोचमानोविभावसुः ||

जरमाणः समिध्यसे देवेभ्यो हव्यवाहन |
तं तवा हवन्तमर्त्याः ||

तं मर्ता अमर्त्यं घर्तेनाग्निं सपर्यत |
अदाभ्यंग्र्हपतिम ||

अदाभ्येन शोचिषाग्ने रक्षस्त्वं दह |
गोपा रतस्यदीदिहि ||

स तवमग्ने परतीकेन परत्योष यातुधान्यः |
उरुक्षयेषुदीद्यत ||

तं तवा गीर्भिरुरुक्षया हव्यवाहं समीधिरे |
यजिष्ठं मानुषे जने ||

aghne haṃsi nyatriṇaṃ dīdyan martyeṣvā |
sve kṣayeśucivrata ||

ut tiṣṭhasi svāhuto ghṛtāni prati modase |
yat tvā srucaḥsamasthiran ||

sa āhuto vi rocate.aghnirīḷenyo ghirā |
srucā pratīkamajyate ||

ghṛtenāghniḥ samajyate madhupratīka āhutaḥ |
rocamānovibhāvasuḥ ||

jaramāṇaḥ samidhyase devebhyo havyavāhana |
taṃ tvā havantamartyāḥ ||

taṃ martā amartyaṃ ghṛtenāghniṃ saparyata |
adābhyaṃghṛhapatim ||

adābhyena śociṣāghne rakṣastvaṃ daha |
ghopā ṛtasyadīdihi ||

sa tvamaghne pratīkena pratyoṣa yātudhānyaḥ |
urukṣayeṣudīdyat ||

taṃ tvā ghīrbhirurukṣayā havyavāhaṃ samīdhire |
yajiṣṭhaṃ mānuṣe jane ||

English Translation

Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith

1. AGNI, refulgent among men thou slayest the devouring fiend,
Bright Ruler in thine own abode.

2 Thou springest up when worshipped well the drops of butter are thy joy
When ladies are brought near to thee.

3 Honoured with gifts he shines afar, Agni adorable with song:
The dripping ladle balms his face.

4 Agni with honey in his mouth, honoured with gifts, is balmed with oil,
Refulgent in his wealth of light.

5 Praised by our hymns thou kindlest thee, Oblation-bearer, for the Gods
As such do mortals call on thee.

6 To that Immortal Agni pay worship with oil, ye mortal men,—
Lord of the house, whom none deceives.

7 O Agni, burn the Rākṣasas with thine unconquerable flame
Shine guardian of Eternal Law.

8 So, Agni, with thy glowing face burn fierce against the female fiends,
Shining among Uruksayas.

9 Uruksayas have kindled thee, Oblation-bearer, thee, with hymns.
Best Worshipper among mankind.