HYMN LXIII. Agni – Rig Veda – Book 8

स पूर्व्यो महानां वेनः करतुभिरानजे |
यस्य दवारा मनुष पिता देवेषु धिय आनजे ||

दिवो मानं नोत सदन सोमप्र्ष्ठासो अद्रयः |
उक्था बरह्मच शंस्या ||

स विद्वानङगिरोभ्य इन्द्रो गा अव्र्णोदप |
सतुषे तदस्यपौंस्यम ||

स परत्नथा कविव्र्ध इन्द्रो वाकस्य वक्षणिः |
शिवो अर्कस्य होमन्यस्मत्रा गन्त्ववसे ||

आदू नु ते अनु करतुं सवाहा वरस्य यज्यवः |
शवात्रमर्का अनूषतेन्द्र गोत्रस्य दावने ||

इन्द्रे विश्वानि वीर्या कर्तानि कर्त्वानि च |
यमर्का अध्वरं विदुः ||

यत पाञ्चजन्यया विशेन्द्रे घोषा अस्र्क्षत |
अस्त्र्णाद बर्हणा विपो.अर्यो मानस्य स कषयः ||

इयमु ते अनुष्टुतिश्चक्र्षे तानि पौंस्या |
परावश्चक्रस्य वर्तनिम ||

अस्य वर्ष्णो वयोदन उरु करमिष्ट जीवसे |
यवं न पश्वा ददे ||

तद दधाना अवस्यवो युष्माभिर्दक्षपितरः |
सयाम मरुत्वतो वर्धे ||

बळ रत्वियाय धाम्न रक्वभिः शूर नोनुमः |
जेषामेन्द्र तवया युजा ||

अस्मे रुद्रा मेहना पर्वतासो वर्त्रहत्ये भरहूतौ सजोषाः |
यः शंसते सतुवते धायि पज्र इन्द्रज्येष्ठा अस्मानवन्तु देवाः ||

 

sa pūrvyo mahānāṃ venaḥ kratubhirānaje |
yasya dvārā manuṣ pitā deveṣu dhiya ānaje ||

divo mānaṃ not sadan somapṛṣṭhāso adrayaḥ |
ukthā brahmaca śaṃsyā ||

sa vidvānaṅghirobhya indro ghā avṛṇodapa |
stuṣe tadasyapauṃsyam ||

sa pratnathā kavivṛdha indro vākasya vakṣaṇiḥ |
śivo arkasya homanyasmatrā ghantvavase ||

ādū nu te anu kratuṃ svāhā varasya yajyavaḥ |
śvātramarkā anūṣatendra ghotrasya dāvane ||

indre viśvāni vīryā kṛtāni kartvāni ca |
yamarkā adhvaraṃ viduḥ ||

yat pāñcajanyayā viśendre ghoṣā asṛkṣata |
astṛṇād barhaṇā vipo.aryo mānasya sa kṣayaḥ ||

iyamu te anuṣṭutiścakṛṣe tāni pauṃsyā |
prāvaścakrasya vartanim ||

asya vṛṣṇo vyodana uru kramiṣṭa jīvase |
yavaṃ na paśvaā dade ||

tad dadhānā avasyavo yuṣmābhirdakṣapitaraḥ |
syāma marutvato vṛdhe ||

baḷ ṛtviyāya dhāmna ṛkvabhiḥ śūra nonumaḥ |
jeṣāmendra tvayā yujā ||

asme rudrā mehanā parvatāso vṛtrahatye bharahūtau sajoṣāḥ |
yaḥ śaṃsate stuvate dhāyi pajra indrajyeṣṭhā asmānavantu devāḥ ||

English Translation

Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith

1. EXERTING all our strength with thoughts of power we glorify in speech
Agni your dear familiar Friend, the darling Guest in every home.

2 Whom, served with sacrificial oil like Mitra, men presenting gifts
Eulogize with their songs of praise

3 Much-lauded Jātavedas, him who bears oblations up to heaven
Prepared in service of the Gods.

4 To noblest Agni, Friend of man, best Vṛtra-slayer, are we come,
Him in whose presence Rksa’s son, mighty Srutarvan, waxes great;

5 To deathless Jātavedas, meet for praise, adored, with sacred oil,
Visible through the gloom of night

6 Even Agni whom these priestly men worship with sacrificial gifts,
With lifted ladles offering them.

7 O Agni, this our newest hymn hath been addressed from us to thee,
O cheerful Guest, well-born, most wise, worker of wonders, ne’er deceived.

8 Agni, may it be dear to thee, most grateful, and exceeding sweet:
Grow mightier, eulogized therewith.

9 Splendid with splendours may it be, and in the battle with the foe
Add loftier glory to thy fame.

10 Steed, cow, a lord of heroes, bright like Indra, who shall fill the car.
Whose high renown ye celebrate, and people praise each glorious deed.

11 Thou whom Gopavana made glad with song, O Agni Aṅgiras,
Hear this my call, thou Holy One.

12 Thou whom the priestly folk implore to aid the gathering of the spoil,
Such be thou in the fight with foes.

13 I, called to him who reels with joy, Srutarvan, Rksa’s son, shall stroke
The heads of four presented steeds, like the long wool of fleecy rams.

14 Four coursers with a splendid car, Savistha’s horses, fleet of foot,
Shall bring me to the sacred feast, as flying steeds brought Tugra’s son.

15 The very truth do I declare to thee, Paruṣṇī, mighty flood.
Waters! no man is there who gives more horses than Savistha gives.