HYMN XVI. Agni: Rig Veda – Book 5 – Ralph T.H. Griffith, Translator

बर्हद वयो हि भानवे ऽरचा देवायाग्नये |
यम मित्रं न परशस्तिभिर मर्तासो दधिरे पुरः ||

स हि दयुभिर जनानां होता दक्षस्य बाह्वोः |
वि हव्यम अग्निर आनुषग भगो न वारम रण्वति ||

अस्य सतोमे मघोनः सख्ये वर्द्धशोचिषः |
विश्वा यस्मिन तुविष्वणि सम अर्ये शुष्मम आदधुः ||

अधा हय अग्न एषां सुवीर्यस्य मंहना |
तम इद यह्वं न रोदसी परि शरवो बभूवतुः ||

नू न एहि वार्यम अग्ने गर्णान आ भर |
ये वयं ये च सूरयः सवस्ति धामहे सचोतैधि पर्त्सु नो वर्धे ||

bṛhad vayo hi bhānave ‘rcā devāyāghnaye |
yam mitraṃ na praśastibhir martāso dadhire puraḥ ||

sa hi dyubhir janānāṃ hotā dakṣasya bāhvoḥ |
vi havyam aghnir ānuṣagh bhagho na vāram ṛṇvati ||

asya stome maghonaḥ sakhye vṛddhaśociṣaḥ |
viśvā yasmin tuviṣvaṇi sam arye śuṣmam ādadhuḥ ||

adhā hy aghna eṣāṃ suvīryasya maṃhanā |
tam id yahvaṃ na rodasī pari śravo babhūvatuḥ ||

nū na ehi vāryam aghne ghṛṇāna ā bhara |
ye vayaṃ ye ca sūrayaḥ svasti dhāmahe sacotaidhi pṛtsu no vṛdhe ||

English Translation

Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith

1. GREAT power is in the beam of light, sing praise to, Agni, to the God
Whom men have set in foremost place like Mitra with their eulogies.

2 He by the splendour of his arms is Priest of every able man.
Agni conveys oblation straight, and deals, as Bhaga deals, his boons.

3 All rests upon the laud and love of him the rich, high-flaming God,
On whom, loud-roaring, men have laid great strength as on a faithful friend.

4 So, Agni, be the Friend of these with liberal gift of hero strength.
Yea, Heaven and Earth have not surpassed this Youthful One in glorious fame.

5 O Agni, quickly come to us, and, glorified, bring precious wealth.
So we and these our princes will assemble for the good of all. Be near in fight to prosper us.