HYMN XII. Agni – Rig Veda – Book 10

दयावा ह कषामा परथमे रतेनाभिश्रावे भवतःसत्यवाचा |
देवो यन मर्तान यजथाय कर्ण्वन सीदद्धोता परत्यं सवमसुं यन ||

देवो देवान परिभूरतेन वहा नो हव्यं परथमश्चिकित्वान |
धूमकेतुः समिधा भार्जीको मन्द्रो होता नित्योवाचा यजीयान ||

सवाव्र्ग देवस्याम्र्तं यदी गोरतो जातासो धारयन्तौर्वी |
विश्वे देवा अनु तत ते यजुर्गुर्दुहे यदेनीदिव्यं घर्तं वाः ||

अर्चामि वां वर्धायापो घर्तस्नू दयावाभूमी शर्णुतंरोदसी मे |
अहा यद दयावो.असुनीतिमयन मध्वा नो अत्रपितरा शिशीताम ||

किं सविन नो राजा जग्र्हे कदस्याति वरतं चक्र्मा को विवेद |
मित्रश्चिद धि षमा जुहुराणो देवाञ्छ्लोको नयातामपि वाजो अस्ति ||

दुर्मन्त्वत्राम्र्तस्य नाम सलक्ष्मा यद विषुरूपाभवाति |
यमस्य यो मनवते सुमन्त्वग्ने तं रष्व पाह्यप्रयुछन ||

यस्मिन देवा विदथे मादयन्ते विवस्वतः सदने धारयन्ते |
सूर्ये जयोतिरदधुर्मास्यक्तून परि दयोतनिं चरतोजस्रा ||

यस्मिन देवा मन्मनि संचरन्त्यपीच्ये न वयमस्य विद्म |
मित्रो नो अत्रादितिरनागान सविता देवो वरुणाय वोचत ||

शरुधी नो अग्ने सदने सधस्थे युक्ष्वा … ||

dyāvā ha kṣāmā prathame ṛtenābhiśrāve bhavataḥsatyavācā |
devo yan martān yajathāya kṛṇvan sīdaddhotā pratyaṃ svamasuṃ yan ||

devo devān paribhūrtena vahā no havyaṃ prathamaścikitvān |
dhūmaketuḥ samidhā bhāṛjīko mandro hotā nityovācā yajīyān ||

svāvṛgh devasyāmṛtaṃ yadī ghorato jātāso dhārayantaurvī |
viśve devā anu tat te yajurghurduhe yadenīdivyaṃ ghṛtaṃ vāḥ ||

arcāmi vāṃ vardhāyāpo ghṛtasnū dyāvābhūmī śṛṇutaṃrodasī me |
ahā yad dyāvo.asunītimayan madhvā no atrapitarā śiśītām ||

kiṃ svin no rājā jaghṛhe kadasyāti vrataṃ cakṛmā ko viveda |
mitraścid dhi ṣmā juhurāṇo devāñchloko nayātāmapi vājo asti ||

durmantvatrāmṛtasya nāma salakṣmā yad viṣurūpābhavāti |
yamasya yo manavate sumantvaghne taṃ ṛṣva pāhyaprayuchan ||

yasmin devā vidathe mādayante vivasvataḥ sadane dhārayante |
sūrye jyotiradadhurmāsyaktūn pari dyotaniṃ caratoajasrā ||

yasmin devā manmani saṃcarantyapīcye na vayamasya vidma |
mitro no atrāditiranāghān savitā devo varuṇāya vocat ||

śrudhī no aghne sadane sadhasthe yukṣvā … ||

English Translation

Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith

1. HEAVEN and Earth, first by everlasting Order, speakers of truth, are near enough to hear us,
When the God, urging men to worship. sitteth as Priest, assuming all his vital vigour.

2 As God comprising Gods by Law Eternal, bear, as the Chief who knoweth, our oblation,
Smoke-bannered with the fuel, radiant, joyous, better to praise and worship, Priest for ever.

3 When the cow’s nectar wins the God completely, men here below are heaven’s sustainers.
All the Gods came to this thy heavenly Yajus which from the motley Pair milked oil and water.

4 1 praise your work that ye may make me prosper: hear, Heaven and Earth, Twain Worlds that drop with fatness.
While days and nights go to the world of spirits, here let the Parents with sweet meath refresh us

5 Hath the King siezed us? How have we offended against his holy ordinance? Who knoweth?
For even Mitra mid the Gods is angry there are both song and strength for those who come not.

6 ’Tis hard to understand the Immortal’s nature, where she who is akin becomes astranger.
Guard ceaselessly, great Agni, him who ponders Yama’s name, easy to be comprehended.

7 They in the synod where the Gods rejoice them, where they are seated in Vivasvān’s dwelling,
Have given the Moon his beams, the Sun his splendour-the Two unweariedly maintain their brightness.

8 The counsel which the Gods meet to consider, their secret plan,—of that we have no knowledge.
There let God Savitar, Aditi, and Mitra proclaim to Varuṇa that we are sinless.

9 Hear us, O Agni, in your comninn dwell ing: harness thy rapid car, the car of Amṛta.
Bring Heaven and Earth, the Deities’ Parents, hither: stay with us here, nor from the Gods be distant.