HYMN XCI. Agni. – Rig Veda – Book 8

कन्या वारवायती सोममपि सरुताविदत |
अस्तं भरन्त्यब्रवीदिन्द्राय सुनवै तवा शक्राय सुनवै तवा ||

असौ य एषि वीरको गर्हं-गर्हं विचाकशद |
इमं जम्भसुतं पिब धानावन्तं करम्भिणमपूपवन्तमुक्थिनम ||

आ चन तवा चिकित्सामो.अधि चन तवा नेमसि |
शनैरिव शनकैरिवेन्द्रायेन्दो परि सरव ||

कुविच्छकत कुवित करत कुविन नो वस्यसस करत |
कुवित पतिद्विषो यतीरिन्द्रेण संगमामहै ||

इमानि तरीणि विष्टपा तानीन्द्र वि रोहय |
शिरस्ततस्योर्वरामादिदं म उपोदरे ||

असौ च या न उर्वरादिमां तन्वं मम |
अथो ततस्य यच्छिरः सर्वा ता रोमशा कर्धि ||

खे रथस्य खे.अनसः खे युगस्य शतक्रतो |
अपालामिन्द्रत्रिष पूत्व्यक्र्णोः सूर्यत्वचम ||

kanyā vāravāyatī somamapi srutāvidat |
astaṃ bharantyabravīdindrāya sunavai tvā śakrāya sunavai tvā ||

asau ya eṣi vīrako ghṛhaṃ-ghṛhaṃ vicākaśad |
imaṃ jambhasutaṃ piba dhānāvantaṃ karambhiṇamapūpavantamukthinam ||

ā cana tvā cikitsāmo.adhi cana tvā nemasi |
śanairiva śanakairivendrāyendo pari srava ||

kuvicchakat kuvit karat kuvin no vasyasas karat |
kuvit patidviṣo yatīrindreṇa saṃghamāmahai ||

imāni trīṇi viṣṭapā tānīndra vi rohaya |
śirastatasyorvarāmādidaṃ ma upodare ||

asau ca yā na urvarādimāṃ tanvaṃ mama |
atho tatasya yacchiraḥ sarvā tā romaśā kṛdhi ||

khe rathasya khe.anasaḥ khe yughasya śatakrato |
apālāmindratriṣ pūtvyakṛṇoḥ sūryatvacam ||

English Translation

Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith

1. LORD of the house, Sage, ever young, high power of life, O Agni, God,
Thou givest to thy worshipper.

2 So with our song that prays and serves, attentive, Lord of spreading light,
Agni, bring hitherward the Gods.

3 For, Ever-Youthful One, with thee, best Furtherer, as our ally,
We overcome, to win the spoil.

4 As Aurva Bhṛgu used, as Apnavāna used, I call the pure
Agni who clothes him with the sea.

5 1 call the Sage who sounds like wind, the Might that like Parjanya roars,
Agni who clothes him with the sea.

6 As Savitar’s productive Power, as him who sends down bliss, I call
Agni who clothes him with the sea.

7 Hither, for powerful kirship, I call Agni, him Who prospers you,
Most frequent at our solemn rites

8 That through this famed One’s power, he may stand by us even as Tvaṣṭar comes
Unto the forms that must he shaped.

9 This Agni is the Lord supreme above all glories mid the Gods:
May he come nigh to us with strength.

10 Here praise ye him the most renowned of all the ministering Priests,
Agni, the Chief at sacrifice;

11 Piercing, with purifying flame, enkindled in our homes, most high,
Swiftest to hear from far away.

12 Sage, laud the Mighty One who wins the spoil of victory like a steed,
And, Mitra like, unites the folk.

13 Still turning to their aim in thee, the oblation-bearer’s sister hymns
Have come to thee before the wind.

14 The waters find their place in him, for whom the threefold sacred grass
Is spread unbound, unlimited.

15 The station of the Bounteous God hath, through his aid which none impair,
A pleasant aspect like the Sun.

16 Blazing with splendour, Agni, God, through pious gifts of sacred oil,
Bring thou the Gods and worship them.

17 The Gods as mothers brought thee forth, the Immortal Sage, O Aṅgiras,
The bearer of our gifts to heaven.

18 Wise Agni, Gods established thee, the Seer, noblest messenger,
As bearer of our sacred gifts.

19 No cow have I to call mine own, no axe at hand wherewith to work,
Yet what is here I bring to thee.

20 O Agni, whatsoever be the fuel that we lay for thee,
Be pleased therewith, Most Youthful God

21 That which the white-ant cats away, that over which the emmet crawls-
May all of this be oil to thee.

22 When he enkindles Agni, man should with his heart attend the song:
I with the priests have kindled him.