HYMN VIII. Agni. – Rig Veda – Book 10

पर केतुना बर्हता यात्यग्निरा रोदसी वर्षभो रोरवीति |
दिवश्चिदन्तानुपमानुदानळ अपामुपस्थे महिषोववर्ध ||

मुमोद गर्भो वर्षभः ककुद्मानस्रेमा वत्सः शिमीवानरावीत |
स देवतात्युद्यतानि कर्ण्वन सवेषु कषयेषुप्रथमो जिगाति ||

आ यो मूर्धानं पित्रोररब्ध नयध्वरे दधिरे सूरोर्णः |
अस्य पत्मन्नरुषीरश्वभुध्ना रतस्य योनौतन्वो जुषन्त ||

उष-उषो हि वसो अग्रमेषि तवं यमयोरभवो विभावा |
रताय सप्त दधिषे पदानि जनयन मित्रं तन्वे सवायै ||

भुवश्चक्षुर्मह रतस्य गोपा भुवो वरुणो यद रतायवेषि |
भुवो अपां नपाज्जातवेदो भुवो दूतो यस्यहव्यं जुजोषः ||

भुवो यज्ञस्य रजसश्च नेता यत्रा नियुद्भिः सचसेशिवाभिः |
दिवि मूर्धानं दधिषे सवर्षां जिह्वामग्नेचक्र्षे हव्यवाहम ||

अस्य तरितः करतुना वव्रे अन्तरिछन धीतिं पितुरेवैःपरस्य |
सचस्यमानः पित्रोरुपस्थे जामि बरुवाणायुधानि वेति ||

स पित्र्याण्यायुधनि विद्वनिन्द्रेषित आप्त्यो अभ्ययुध्यत |
तरिशीर्षाणं सप्तरश्मिं जघन्वान तवाष्ट्रस्य चिन्निः सस्र्जे तरितो गाः ||

भूरीदिन्द्र उदिनक्षन्तमोजो.अवाभिनत सत्पतिर्मन्यमानम |
तवाष्ट्रस्य चिद विश्वरूपस्य गोनामाचक्रणस्त्रीणि शीर्षा परा वर्क ||

pra ketunā bṛhatā yātyaghnirā rodasī vṛṣabho roravīti |
divaścidantānupamānudānaḷ apāmupasthe mahiṣovavardha ||

mumoda gharbho vṛṣabhaḥ kakudmānasremā vatsaḥ śimīvānarāvīt |
sa devatātyudyatāni kṛṇvan sveṣu kṣayeṣuprathamo jighāti ||

ā yo mūrdhānaṃ pitrorarabdha nyadhvare dadhire sūroarṇaḥ |
asya patmannaruṣīraśvabhudhnā ṛtasya yonautanvo juṣanta ||

uṣa-uṣo hi vaso aghrameṣi tvaṃ yamayorabhavo vibhāvā |
ṛtāya sapta dadhiṣe padāni janayan mitraṃ tanve svāyai ||

bhuvaścakṣurmaha ṛtasya ghopā bhuvo varuṇo yad ṛtāyaveṣi |
bhuvo apāṃ napājjātavedo bhuvo dūto yasyahavyaṃ jujoṣaḥ ||

bhuvo yajñasya rajasaśca netā yatrā niyudbhiḥ sacaseśivābhiḥ |
divi mūrdhānaṃ dadhiṣe svarṣāṃ jihvāmaghnecakṛṣe havyavāham ||

asya tritaḥ kratunā vavre antarichan dhītiṃ piturevaiḥparasya |
sacasyamānaḥ pitrorupasthe jāmi bruvāṇaāyudhāni veti ||

sa pitryāṇyāyudhani vidvanindreṣita āptyo abhyayudhyat |
triśīrṣāṇaṃ saptaraśmiṃ jaghanvān tvāṣṭrasya cinniḥ sasṛje trito ghāḥ ||

bhūrīdindra udinakṣantamojo.avābhinat satpatirmanyamānam |
tvāṣṭrasya cid viśvarūpasya ghonāmācakraṇastrīṇi śīrṣā parā vark ||

English Translation

Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith

1. AGNI advances with his lofty banner: the Bull is bellowing to the earth and heavens.
He hath attained the sky’s supremest limits. the Steer hath waxen in the lap of waters.

2 The Bull, the youngling with the hump, hath frolicked, the strong and never-ceasing Calf hath bellowed.
Bringing our offerings to the God’s assembly, he moves as Chief in his own dwelling-places.

3 Him who hath grasped his Parents’ head, they stablished at sacrifice a wave of heavenly lustre.
In his swift flight the red Dawns borne by horses refresh their bodies in the home of Order.

4 For, Vasu thou precedest every Morning, and still hast been the Twins’ illuminator.
For sacrifice, seven places thou retainest while for thine own self thou engenderest Mitra.

5 Thou art the Eye and Guard of mighty Order, and Varuṇa when to sacrifice thou comest.
Thou art the Waters’ Child O Jātavedas, envoy of him whose offering thou acceptest.

6 Thou art the Leader of the rite and region, to which with thine auspicious teams thou teadest,
Thy light-bestowing head to heaven thou liftest, making thy tongue the oblationbearer, Agni.

7 Through his wise insight Trita in the cavern, seeking as ever the Chief Sire’s intention,
Carefully tended in his Parents’ bosom, calling the weapons kin, goes forth to combat.

8 Well-skilled to use the weapons of his Father, Āptya, urged on by Indra, fought the battle.
Then Trita slew the foe seven-rayed, three-headed, and freed the cattle of the Son of Tvaṣṭar.

9 Lord of the brave, Indra cleft him in pieces who sought to gain much strength and deemed him mighty.
He smote his three heads from his body, seizing the cattle of the oniniform Son of Tvaṣṭar.