HYMN IV. Agni: Rig Veda – Book 7 – Ralph T.H. Griffith, Translator

पर वः शुक्राय भानवे भरध्वं हव्यं मतिं चाग्नये सुपूतम |
यो दैव्यानि मानुषा जनूंष्यन्तर्विश्वानि विद्मना जिगाति ||

स गर्त्सो अग्निस्तरुणश्चिदस्तु यतो यविष्ठो अजनिष्ट मातुः |
सं यो वना युवते शुचिदन भूरि चिदन्ना समिदत्ति सद्यः ||

अस्य देवस्य संसद्यनीके यं मर्तासः शयेतं जग्र्भ्रे |
नि यो गर्भं पौरुषेयीमुवोच दुरोकमग्निरायवे शुशोच ||

अयं कविरकविषु परचेता मर्तेष्वग्निरम्र्तो नि धायि |
स मा नो अत्र जुहुरः सहस्वः सदा तवे सुमनसः सयाम ||

आ यो योनिं देवक्र्तं ससाद करत्वा हयग्निरम्र्तानतारीत |
तमोषधीश्च वनिनश्च गर्भं भूमिश्च विश्वधायसं बिभर्ति ||

ईशे हयग्निरम्र्तस्य भूरेरीशे रायः सुवीर्यस्य दातोः |
मा तवा वयं सहसावन्नवीरा माप्सवः परि षदाम मादुवः ||

परिषद्यं हयरणस्य रेक्णो नित्यस्य रायः पतयः सयाम |
न शेषो अग्ने अन्यजातमस्त्यचेतानस्य मा पथो वि दुक्षः ||

नहि गरभायारणः सुशेवो.अन्योदर्यो मनसा मन्तवा उ |
अधा चिदोकः पुनरित स एत्या नो वाज्यभीषाळ एतु नव्यः ||
तवमग्ने वनुष्यतो … ||
एता नो अग्ने सौभगा … ||

pra vaḥ śukrāya bhānave bharadhvaṃ havyaṃ matiṃ cāghnaye supūtam |
yo daivyāni mānuṣā janūṃṣyantarviśvāni vidmanā jighāti ||

sa ghṛtso aghnistaruṇaścidastu yato yaviṣṭho ajaniṣṭa mātuḥ |
saṃ yo vanā yuvate śucidan bhūri cidannā samidatti sadyaḥ ||

asya devasya saṃsadyanīke yaṃ martāsaḥ śyetaṃ jaghṛbhre |
ni yo ghṛbhaṃ pauruṣeyīmuvoca durokamaghnirāyave śuśoca ||

ayaṃ kavirakaviṣu pracetā marteṣvaghniramṛto ni dhāyi |
sa mā no atra juhuraḥ sahasvaḥ sadā tve sumanasaḥ syāma ||

ā yo yoniṃ devakṛtaṃ sasāda kratvā hyaghniramṛtānatārīt |
tamoṣadhīśca vaninaśca gharbhaṃ bhūmiśca viśvadhāyasaṃ bibharti ||

īśe hyaghniramṛtasya bhūrerīśe rāyaḥ suvīryasya dātoḥ |
mā tvā vayaṃ sahasāvannavīrā māpsavaḥ pari ṣadāma māduvaḥ ||

pariṣadyaṃ hyaraṇasya rekṇo nityasya rāyaḥ patayaḥ syāma |
na śeṣo aghne anyajātamastyacetānasya mā patho vi dukṣaḥ ||

nahi ghrabhāyāraṇaḥ suśevo.anyodaryo manasā mantavā u |
adhā cidokaḥ punarit sa etyā no vājyabhīṣāḷ etu navyaḥ ||
tvamaghne vanuṣyato … ||
etā no aghne saubhaghā … ||

English Translation

Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith

1. BRING forth your gifts to his refulgent splendour, your hymn as purest offering to Agni,
To him who goes as messenger with knowledge between all songs of men and Gods in heaven.

2 Wise must this Agni be, though young and tender, since he was born, Most Youthful, of his Mother;
He who with bright teeth seizeth fast the forests, and eats his food, though plenteous, in a moment.

3 Before his presence must we all assemble, this God’s whom men have seized in his white splendour.
This Agni who hath brooked that men should seize him hath shone for man with glow insufferable.

4 Far-seeing hath this Agni been established, deathless mid mortals, wise among the foolish.
Here, O victorious God, forbear to harm us: may weforever share thy gracious favour.

5 He who hath occupied his God-made dwelling, Agni, in wisdom hath surpassed Immortals.
A Babe unborn, the plants and trees support him, and the earth beareth him the All-sustainer.

6 Agni is Lord of Amṛta. in abundance, Lord of the gift of wealth and hero valour,
Victorious God, let us not sit about thee like men devoid of strength, beauty, and worship.

7 The foeman’s treasure may be won with labour: may we be masters of our own possessions.
Agni, no son is he who springs from others: lengthen not out the pathways of the foolish.

8 Unwelcome for adoption is the stranger, one to be thought of as another’s offipring,
Though grown familiar by continual presence. May our strong hero come, freshly triumphant.

9 Guard us from him who would assail us, Agni; preserve us O thou Victor, from dishonour.
Here let the place of darkening come upon thee: may wealth be ours, desirable, in thousands.

10 Shine this felicity on us, O Agni: may we attain to perfect understanding.
All happiness be theirs who sing and praise thee. Ye Gods, preserve us evermore with blessings.