HYMN III. Āprīs: Rig Veda – Book 2 – Ralph T.H. Griffith, Translator

समिद्धो अग्निर्निहितः पर्थिव्यां परत्यं विश्वानि भुवनान्यस्थात |
होता पावकः परदिवः सुमेधा देवो देवान यजत्वग्निरर्हन ||

नराशंसः परति धामान्यञ्जन तिस्रो दिवः परति मह्ना सवर्चिः |
घर्तप्रुषा मनसा हव्यमुन्दन मूर्धन यज्ञस्य समनक्तु देवान ||

ईळितो अग्ने मनसा नो अर्हन देवान यक्षि मानुषात पूर्वो अद्य |
स आ वह मरुतां शर्धो अच्युतमिन्द्रं नरो बर्हिषदं यजध्वम ||

देव बर्हिर्वर्धमानं सुवीरं सतीर्णं राये सुभरं वेद्यस्याम |
घर्तेनाक्तं वसवः सीदतेदं विश्वे देवा आदित्या यज्ञियासः ||

वि शरयन्तामुर्विया हूयमाना दवारो देवीः सुप्रायणा नमोभिः |
वयचस्वतीर्वि परथन्तामजुर्या वर्णं पुनानायशसं सुवीरम ||

साध्वपांसि सनता न उक्षिते उषासानक्ता वय्येव रण्विते |
तन्तुं ततं संवयन्ती समीची यज्ञस्य पेशः सुदुघे पयस्वती ||

दैव्या होतारा परथमा विदुष्टर रजु यक्षतः सं रचावपुष्टरा |
देवान यजन्ताव रतुथा समञ्जतो नाभा पर्थिव्या अधि सानुषु तरिषु ||

सरस्वती साधयन्ती धियं न इळा देवी भारती विश्वतूर्तिः |
तिस्रो देवीः सवधया बर्हिरेदमछिद्रं पान्तुशरणं निषद्य ||

पिशङगरूपः सुभरो वयोधाः शरुष्टी वीरो जायते देवकामः |
परजां तवष्टा वि षयतु नाभिमस्मे अथा देवानामप्येतु पाथः ||

वनस्पतिरवस्र्जन्नुप सथादग्निर्हविः सूदयाति पर धीभिः |
तरिधा समक्तं नयतु परजानन देवेभ्यो दैव्यः शमितोप हव्यम ||

घर्तं मिमिक्षे घर्तमस्य योनिर्घ्र्ते शरितो घर्तं वस्य धाम |
अनुष्वधमा वह मादयस्व सवाहाक्र्तं वर्षभ वक्षि हव्यम ||

samiddho aghnirnihitaḥ pṛthivyāṃ pratyaṃ viśvāni bhuvanānyasthāt |
hotā pāvakaḥ pradivaḥ sumedhā devo devān yajatvaghnirarhan ||

narāśaṃsaḥ prati dhāmānyañjan tisro divaḥ prati mahnā svarciḥ |
ghṛtapruṣā manasā havyamundan mūrdhan yajñasya samanaktu devān ||

īḷito aghne manasā no arhan devān yakṣi mānuṣāt pūrvo adya |
sa ā vaha marutāṃ śardho acyutamindraṃ naro barhiṣadaṃ yajadhvam ||

deva barhirvardhamānaṃ suvīraṃ stīrṇaṃ rāye subharaṃ vedyasyām |
ghṛtenāktaṃ vasavaḥ sīdatedaṃ viśve devā ādityā yajñiyāsaḥ ||

vi śrayantāmurviyā hūyamānā dvāro devīḥ suprāyaṇā namobhiḥ |
vyacasvatīrvi prathantāmajuryā varṇaṃ punānāyaśasaṃ suvīram ||

sādhvapāṃsi sanatā na ukṣite uṣāsānaktā vayyeva raṇvite |
tantuṃ tataṃ saṃvayantī samīcī yajñasya peśaḥ sudughe payasvatī ||

daivyā hotārā prathamā viduṣṭara ṛju yakṣataḥ saṃ ṛcāvapuṣṭarā |
devān yajantāv ṛtuthā samañjato nābhā pṛthivyā adhi sānuṣu triṣu ||

sarasvatī sādhayantī dhiyaṃ na iḷā devī bhāratī viśvatūrtiḥ |
tisro devīḥ svadhayā barhiredamachidraṃ pāntuśaraṇaṃ niṣadya ||

piśaṅgharūpaḥ subharo vayodhāḥ śruṣṭī vīro jāyate devakāmaḥ |
prajāṃ tvaṣṭā vi ṣyatu nābhimasme athā devānāmapyetu pāthaḥ ||

vanaspatiravasṛjannupa sthādaghnirhaviḥ sūdayāti pra dhībhiḥ |
tridhā samaktaṃ nayatu prajānan devebhyo daivyaḥ śamitopa havyam ||

ghṛtaṃ mimikṣe ghṛtamasya yonirghṛte śrito ghṛtaṃ vasya dhāma |
anuṣvadhamā vaha mādayasva svāhākṛtaṃ vṛṣabha vakṣi havyam ||

English Translation

Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith

1. AGNI is set upon the earth well kindled; he standeth in the presence of all beings.
Wise, ancient, God, the Priest and Purifier, let Agni serve the Gods for he is worthy.

2 May Narāśaṁsa lighting up the chambers, bright in his majesty through threefold heaven,
Steeping the gift with oil diffusing purpose, bedew the Gods at chiefest time of worship.

3 Adored in heart, as is thy right, O Agni, serve the Gods first to-day before the mortal.
Bring thou the Marut host. Ye men do worship to Indra seated on the grass, eternal.

4 O Grass divine, increasing, rich in heroes, strewn for wealth’s sake, well laid upon this altar,—
On this bedewed with oil sit ye, O Vasus, sit all ye Gods, ye Holy, ye Ādityas.

5 Wide be the Doors, the Goddesses, thrown open, easy to pass, invoked, through adorations,
Let them unfold, expansive, everlasting, that sanctify the class famed, rich in heroes.

6 Good work for us, the glorious Night and Morning, like female weavers, waxen from aforetime,
Yielders of rich milk, interweave in concert the long-extended thread, the web of worship.

7 Let the two heavenly Heralds, first, most wise, most fair, present oblation duly with the sacred verse,
Worshipping God at ordered seasons decking them at three high places at the centre of the earth.

8 Sarasvatī who perfects our devotion, Iḷā divine, Bhāratī all surpassing,—
Three Goddesses, with power inherent, seated, protect this holy Grass, our flawless refuge!

9 Born is the pious hero swift of hearing, like gold in hue, well formed, and full of vigour.
May Tvaṣṭar lengthen our line and kindred, and may they reach the place which Gods inhabit.

10 Vanaspati shall stand anear and start us, and Agni with his arts prepare oblation.
Let the skilled heavenly Immolator forward unto the Gods the offering thrice anointed.

11 Oil has been mixt: oil is his habitation. In oil he rests: oil is his proper province.
Come as thy wont is: O thou Steer, rejoice thee; bear off the oblation duly consecrated.