HYMN V. Agni: Rig Veda – Book 3 – Ralph T.H. Griffith, Translator

परत्यग्निरुषसश्चेकितानो.अबोधि विप्रः पदवीः कवीनाम |
पर्थुपाजा देवयद्भिः समिद्धो.अप दवारा तमसो वह्निरावः ||

परेद वग्निर्वाव्र्धे सतोमेभिर्गीर्भि सतोतॄणां नमस्य उक्थैः |
पूर्वीर्र्तस्य सन्द्र्शश्चकानः सं दूतो अद्यौदुषसो विरोके ||

अधाय्यग्निर्मानुषीषु विक्ष्वपां गर्भो मित्र रतेन साधन |
आ हर्यतो यजतः सान्वस्थादभूदु विप्रो हव्योमतीनाम ||

मित्रो अग्निर्भवति यत समिद्धो मित्रो होता वरुणो जातवेदाः |
मित्रो अध्वर्युरिषिरो दमूना मित्रः सिन्धूनामुत पर्वतानाम ||

पाति परियं रिपो अग्रं पदं वेः पाति यज्वश्चरञंसूर्यस्य |
पाति नाभा सप्तशीर्षाणमग्निः पाति देवानामुपमादं रष्वः ||

रभुश्चक्र ईड्यं चारु नाम विश्वानि देवो वयुनानि विद्वान |
ससस्य चर्म घर्तवत पदं वेस्तदिदग्नी रक्षत्यप्रयुछन ||

आ योनिमग्निर्घ्र्तवन्तमस्थात पर्थुप्रगाणमुशन्तमुशानः |
दीद्यानः शुचिर्र्ष्वः पावकः पुनः-पुनर्मातरा नव्यसी कः ||

सद्यो जात ओषधीभिर्ववक्षे यदी वर्धन्ति परस्वो घर्तेन |
आप इव परवता शुम्भमाना उरुश्यदग्निः पित्रोरुपस्थे ||

उदु षटुतः समिधा यह्वो अद्यौद वर्ष्मन दिवो अधि नाभा पर्थिव्याः |
मित्रो अग्निरीड्यो मातरिश्वा दूतो वक्षद यजथाय देवान ||

उदस्तम्भीत समिधा नाकं रष्वो.अग्निर्भवन्नुत्तमो रोचनानाम |
यदी भर्गुभ्यः परि मातरिश्वा गुहा सन्तं हव्यवाहं समीधे ||
इळामग्ने … ||

pratyaghniruṣasaścekitāno.abodhi vipraḥ padavīḥ kavīnām |
pṛthupājā devayadbhiḥ samiddho.apa dvārā tamaso vahnirāvaḥ ||

pred vaghnirvāvṛdhe stomebhirghīrbhi stotṝṇāṃ namasya ukthaiḥ |
pūrvīrṛtasya sandṛśaścakānaḥ saṃ dūto adyauduṣaso viroke ||

adhāyyaghnirmānuṣīṣu vikṣvapāṃ gharbho mitra ṛtena sādhan |
ā haryato yajataḥ sānvasthādabhūdu vipro havyomatīnām ||

mitro aghnirbhavati yat samiddho mitro hotā varuṇo jātavedāḥ |
mitro adhvaryuriṣiro damūnā mitraḥ sindhūnāmuta parvatānām ||

pāti priyaṃ ripo aghraṃ padaṃ veḥ pāti yajvaścarañaṃsūryasya |
pāti nābhā saptaśīrṣāṇamaghniḥ pāti devānāmupamādaṃ ṛṣvaḥ ||

ṛbhuścakra īḍyaṃ cāru nāma viśvāni devo vayunāni vidvān |
sasasya carma ghṛtavat padaṃ vestadidaghnī rakṣatyaprayuchan ||

ā yonimaghnirghṛtavantamasthāt pṛthupraghāṇamuśantamuśānaḥ |
dīdyānaḥ śucirṛṣvaḥ pāvakaḥ punaḥ-punarmātarā navyasī kaḥ ||

sadyo jāta oṣadhībhirvavakṣe yadī vardhanti prasvo ghṛtena |
āpa iva pravatā śumbhamānā uruśyadaghniḥ pitrorupasthe ||

udu ṣṭutaḥ samidhā yahvo adyaud varṣman divo adhi nābhā pṛthivyāḥ |
mitro aghnirīḍyo mātariśvā dūto vakṣad yajathāya devān ||

udastambhīt samidhā nākaṃ ṛṣvo.aghnirbhavannuttamo rocanānām |
yadī bhṛghubhyaḥ pari mātariśvā ghuhā santaṃ havyavāhaṃ samīdhe ||
iḷāmaghne … ||

English Translation

Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith

1. AGNI who shines against the Dawns is wakened. The holy Singer who precedes the sages.
With far-spread lustre, kindled by the pious, the Priest hath thrown both gates of darkness open.

2 Agni hath waxen mighty by laudations, to be adored with hymns of those who praise him.
Loving the varied shows of holy Order at the first flush of dawn he shines as envoy.

3 Amid men’s homes hath Agni been established, fulfilling with the Law, Friend, germ of waters.
Loved and adored, the height he hath ascended, the Singer, object of our invocations.

4 Agni is Mitra when enkindled duly, Mitra as Priest, Varuṇa, Jātavedas;
Mitra as active minister, and House-Friend, Mitra of flowing rivers and of mountains.

5 The Earth’s, the Bird’s dear lofty place he guardeth, he guardeth in his might the course of Sūrya,
Guardeth the Seven-headed in the centre, guardeth sublime the Deities enjoyment.

6 The skilful God who knows all forms of knowledge made for himself a fair form, meet for worship.
This Agni guards with care that never ceases the Soma’s skin, the Bird’s place rich in fatness.

7 Agni hath entered longingly the longing shrine rich with fatness, giving easy access.
Resplendent, pure, sublime and purifying, again, again he renovates his Mothers.

8 Born suddenly, by plants he grew to greatness, when tender shoots with holy oil increased him,
Like waters lovely when they hasten downward may Agni in his Parents’ lap protect us.

9 Extolled, the Strong shone forth with kindled fuel to the earth’s centre, to the height of heaven.
May Agni, Friend, adorable Mātariśvan, as envoy bring the Gods unto our worship.

10 Best of all luminaries lofty Agni supported with his flame the height of heaven,
When, far from Bhṛgus, Mātariśvan kindled the oblation-bearer where he lay in secret.

11 As holy food, Agni to thine invoker give wealth in cattle, lasting, rich in marvels.
To us be born a son and spreading offspring. Agni, be this thy gracious will to us-word.