HYMN XVI. Agni: Rig Veda – Book 6 – Ralph T.H. Griffith, Translator

तवमग्ने यज्ञानां होता विश्वेषां हितः |
देवेभिर्मानुषे जने ||

स नो मन्द्राभिरध्वरे जिह्वाभिर्यजा महः |
आ देवान वक्षि यक्षि च ||

वेत्था हि वेधो अध्वनः पथश्च देवाञ्जसा |
अग्ने यज्ञेषु सुक्रतो ||

तवामीळे अध दविता भरतो वाजिभिः शुनम |
ईजे यज्ञेयत दिवि ||

तवमिमा वार्या पुरु दिवोदासाय सुन्वते |
भरद्वाजाय दाशुषे ||

तवं दूतो अमर्त्य आ वहा दैव्यं जनम |
शर्ण्वन विप्रस्य सुष्टुतिम ||

तवामग्ने सवाध्यो मर्तासो देव वीतये |
यज्ञेषु देवमीळते ||

तव पर यक्षि सन्द्र्शमुत करतुं सुदानवः |
विश्वे जुषन्त कामिनः ||

तवं होता मनुर्हितो वह्निरासा विदुष्टरः |
अग्ने यक्षिदिवो विशः ||

अग्न आ याहि वीतये गर्णानो हव्यदातये |
नि होता सत्सि बर्हिषि ||

तं तवा समिद्भिरङगिरो घर्तेन वर्धयामसि |
बर्हच्छोचा यविष्ठ्य ||

स नः पर्थु शरवाय्यमछा देव विवाससि |
बर्हदग्ने सुवीर्यम ||

तवामग्ने पुष्करादध्यथर्वा निरमन्थत |
मूर्ध्नो विश्वस्य वाघतः ||

तमु तवा दध्यंं रषिः पुत्र ईधे अथर्वणः |
वर्त्रहणं पुरन्दरम ||

तमु तवा पाथ्यो वर्षा समीधे दस्युहन्तमम |
धनंजयं रणे-रणे ||

एह्यू षु बरवाणि ते.अग्न इत्थेतरा गिरः |
एभिर्वर्धास इन्दुभिः ||

यत्र कव च ते मनो दक्षं दधस उत्तरम |
तत्रा सदः कर्णवसे ||

नहि ते पूर्तमक्षिपद भुवन नेमानां वसो |
अथा दुवो वनवसे ||

आग्निरगामि भारतो वर्त्रहा पुरुचेतनः |
दिवोदासस्य सत्पतिः ||

स हि विश्वाति पार्थिवा रयिं दाशन महित्वना |
वन्वन्नवातो अस्त्र्तः ||

स परत्नवन नवीयसाग्ने दयुम्नेन संयता |
बर्हत ततन्थभानुना ||

पर वः सखायो अग्नये सतोमं यज्ञं च धर्ष्णुया |
अर्चगाय च वेधसे ||

स हि यो मानुषा युगा सीदद धोता कविक्रतुः |
दूतश्च हव्यवाहनः ||

ता राजाना शुचिव्रतादित्यान मारुतं गणम |
वसो यक्षीह रोदसी ||

वस्वी ते अग्ने सन्द्र्ष्टिरिषयते मर्त्याय |
ऊर्जो नपादम्र्तस्य ||

करत्वा दा अस्तु शरेष्ठो.अद्य तवा वन्वन सुरेक्णाः |
मर्त आनाश सुव्र्क्तिम ||

ते ते अग्ने तवोता इषयन्तो विश्वमायुः |
तरन्तो अर्यो अरातीर्वन्वन्तो अर्यो अरातीः ||

अग्निस्तिग्मेन शोचिषा यासद विश्वं नयत्रिणम |
अग्निर्नोवनते रयिम ||

सुवीरं रयिमा भर जातवेदो विचर्षणे |
जहि रक्षांसि सुक्रतो ||

तवं नः पाह्यंहसो जातवेदो अघायतः |
रक्षा णो बरह्मणस कवे ||

यो नो अग्ने दुरेव आ मर्तो वधाय दाशति |
तस्मान नः पाह्यंहसः ||

तवं तं देव जिह्वया परि बाधस्व दुष्क्र्तम |
मर्तो यो नोजिघांसति ||

भरद्वाजाय सप्रथः शर्म यछ सहन्त्य |
अग्ने वरेण्यंवसु ||

अग्निर्व्र्त्राणि जङघनद दरविणस्युर्विपन्यया |
समिद्धः शुक्र आहुतः ||

गर्भे मातुः पितुष पिता विदिद्युतानो अक्षरे |
सीदन्न्र्तस्य योनिमा ||

बरह्म परजावदा भर जातवेदो विचर्षणे |
अग्ने यद दीद अयद दिवि ||

उप तवा रण्वसन्द्र्शं परयस्वन्तः सहस्क्र्त |
अग्ने सस्र्ज्महे गिरः ||

उप छायामिव घर्णेरगन्म शर्म ते वयम |
अग्ने हिरण्यसन्द्र्शः ||

य उग्र इव शर्यहा तिग्मश्र्ङगो न वंसगः |
अग्ने पुरो रुरोजिथ ||

आ यं हस्ते न खादिनं शिशुं जातं न बिभ्रति |
विशामग्निं सवध्वरम ||

पर देवं देववीतये भरता वसुवित्तमम |
आ सवे योनौ नि षीदतु ||

आ जातं जातवेदसि परियं शिशीतातिथिम |
सयोन आ गर्हपतिम ||

अग्ने युक्ष्वा हि ये तवाश्वासो देव साधवः |
अरं वहन्ति मन्यवे ||

अछा नो याह्या वहाभि परयांसि वीतये |
आ देवान सोमपीतये ||

उदग्ने भारत दयुमदजस्रेण दविद्युतत |
शोचा वि भाह्यजर ||

वीती यो देवं मर्तो दुवस्येदग्निमीळीताध्वरे हविष्मान |
होतारं सत्ययजं रोदस्योरुत्तानहस्तो नमसा विवासेत ||

आ ते अग्न रचा हविर्ह्र्दा तष्टं भरामसि |
ते ते भवन्तूक्षण रषभासो वशा उत ||

अग्निं देवासो अग्रियमिन्धते वर्त्रहन्तमम |
येना वसून्याभ्र्ता तर्ळ्हा रक्षांसि वाजिनाषु यज्ञियम ||

tvamaghne yajñānāṃ hotā viśveṣāṃ hitaḥ |
devebhirmānuṣe jane ||

sa no mandrābhiradhvare jihvābhiryajā mahaḥ |
ā devān vakṣi yakṣi ca ||

vetthā hi vedho adhvanaḥ pathaśca devāñjasā |
aghne yajñeṣu sukrato ||

tvāmīḷe adha dvitā bharato vājibhiḥ śunam |
īje yajñeayat divi ||

tvamimā vāryā puru divodāsāya sunvate |
bharadvājāya dāśuṣe ||

tvaṃ dūto amartya ā vahā daivyaṃ janam |
śṛṇvan viprasya suṣṭutim ||

tvāmaghne svādhyo martāso deva vītaye |
yajñeṣu devamīḷate ||

tava pra yakṣi sandṛśamuta kratuṃ sudānavaḥ |
viśve juṣanta kāminaḥ ||

tvaṃ hotā manurhito vahnirāsā viduṣṭaraḥ |
aghne yakṣidivo viśaḥ ||

aghna ā yāhi vītaye ghṛṇāno havyadātaye |
ni hotā satsi barhiṣi ||

taṃ tvā samidbhiraṅghiro ghṛtena vardhayāmasi |
bṛhacchocā yaviṣṭhya ||

sa naḥ pṛthu śravāyyamachā deva vivāsasi |
bṛhadaghne suvīryam ||

tvāmaghne puṣkarādadhyatharvā niramanthata |
mūrdhno viśvasya vāghataḥ ||

tamu tvā dadhyaṃṃ ṛṣiḥ putra īdhe atharvaṇaḥ |
vṛtrahaṇaṃ purandaram ||

tamu tvā pāthyo vṛṣā samīdhe dasyuhantamam |
dhanaṃjayaṃ raṇe-raṇe ||

ehyū ṣu bravāṇi te.aghna itthetarā ghiraḥ |
ebhirvardhāsa indubhiḥ ||

yatra kva ca te mano dakṣaṃ dadhasa uttaram |
tatrā sadaḥ kṛṇavase ||

nahi te pūrtamakṣipad bhuvan nemānāṃ vaso |
athā duvo vanavase ||

āghniraghāmi bhārato vṛtrahā purucetanaḥ |
divodāsasya satpatiḥ ||

sa hi viśvāti pārthivā rayiṃ dāśan mahitvanā |
vanvannavāto astṛtaḥ ||

sa pratnavan navīyasāghne dyumnena saṃyatā |
bṛhat tatanthabhānunā ||

pra vaḥ sakhāyo aghnaye stomaṃ yajñaṃ ca dhṛṣṇuyā |
arcaghāya ca vedhase ||

sa hi yo mānuṣā yughā sīdad dhotā kavikratuḥ |
dūtaśca havyavāhanaḥ ||

tā rājānā śucivratādityān mārutaṃ ghaṇam |
vaso yakṣīha rodasī ||

vasvī te aghne sandṛṣṭiriṣayate martyāya |
ūrjo napādamṛtasya ||

kratvā dā astu śreṣṭho.adya tvā vanvan surekṇāḥ |
marta ānāśa suvṛktim ||

te te aghne tvotā iṣayanto viśvamāyuḥ |
taranto aryo arātīrvanvanto aryo arātīḥ ||

aghnistighmena śociṣā yāsad viśvaṃ nyatriṇam |
aghnirnovanate rayim ||

suvīraṃ rayimā bhara jātavedo vicarṣaṇe |
jahi rakṣāṃsi sukrato ||

tvaṃ naḥ pāhyaṃhaso jātavedo aghāyataḥ |
rakṣā ṇo brahmaṇas kave ||

yo no aghne dureva ā marto vadhāya dāśati |
tasmān naḥ pāhyaṃhasaḥ ||

tvaṃ taṃ deva jihvayā pari bādhasva duṣkṛtam |
marto yo nojighāṃsati ||

bharadvājāya saprathaḥ śarma yacha sahantya |
aghne vareṇyaṃvasu ||

aghnirvṛtrāṇi jaṅghanad draviṇasyurvipanyayā |
samiddhaḥ śukra āhutaḥ ||

gharbhe mātuḥ pituṣ pitā vididyutāno akṣare |
sīdannṛtasya yonimā ||

brahma prajāvadā bhara jātavedo vicarṣaṇe |
aghne yad dīd ayad divi ||

upa tvā raṇvasandṛśaṃ prayasvantaḥ sahaskṛta |
aghne sasṛjmahe ghiraḥ ||

upa chāyāmiva ghṛṇeraghanma śarma te vayam |
aghne hiraṇyasandṛśaḥ ||

ya ughra iva śaryahā tighmaśṛṅgho na vaṃsaghaḥ |
aghne puro rurojitha ||

ā yaṃ haste na khādinaṃ śiśuṃ jātaṃ na bibhrati |
viśāmaghniṃ svadhvaram ||

pra devaṃ devavītaye bharatā vasuvittamam |
ā sve yonau ni ṣīdatu ||

ā jātaṃ jātavedasi priyaṃ śiśītātithim |
syona ā ghṛhapatim ||

aghne yukṣvā hi ye tavāśvāso deva sādhavaḥ |
araṃ vahanti manyave ||

achā no yāhyā vahābhi prayāṃsi vītaye |
ā devān somapītaye ||

udaghne bhārata dyumadajasreṇa davidyutat |
śocā vi bhāhyajara ||

vītī yo devaṃ marto duvasyedaghnimīḷītādhvare haviṣmān |
hotāraṃ satyayajaṃ rodasyoruttānahasto namasā vivāset ||

ā te aghna ṛcā havirhṛdā taṣṭaṃ bharāmasi |
te te bhavantūkṣaṇa ṛṣabhāso vaśā uta ||

aghniṃ devāso aghriyamindhate vṛtrahantamam |
yenā vasūnyābhṛtā tṛḷhā rakṣāṃsi vājināṣu yajñiyam ||

English Translation

Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith

1. PRIEST of all sacrifices hast thou been appointed by the Gods,
Agni, amid the race of man.

2 So with thy joyous tongues for us sacrifice nobly in this rite.
Bring thou the Gods and worship them.

3 For well, O God, Disposer, thou knowest, straight on, the paths and ways,
Agni, most wise in sacrifice.

4 Thee, too, hath Bhārata of old, with mighty men, implored for bliss.
And worshipped thee the worshipful.

5 Thou givest these abundant boons to Divodāsa pouring forth,
To Bharadvāja offering gifts.

6 Do thou, Immortal Messenger, bring hither the Celestial Folk;
Hearing the singer’s eulogy.

7 Mortals with pious thought implore thee, Agni, God, at holy rites,
To come unto the feast of Gods.

8 I glorify thine aspect and the might of thee the Bountilul.
All those who love shall joy in thee,

9 Invoker placed by Manus, thou, Agni, art near, the wisest Priest:
Pay worship to the Tribes of Heaven.

10 Come, Agni, lauded, to the feast; come to the offering of the gifts.
As Priest be seated on the grass.

11 So, Aṅgiras, we make thee strong with fuel and with holy oil.
Blaze high, thou youngest of the Gods.

12 For us thou winnest, Agni, God, heroic strength exceeding great,
Far-spreading and of high renown.

13 Agni, Atharvan brought thee forth, by rubbing, from the lotus-flower,
The head of Visva, of the Priest.

14 Thee. Vṛtra’s slayer, breaker down of castles, hath Atharvan’s son,
Dadhyac the Ṛṣi, lighted up.

15 The hero Pathya kindled thee the Dasyus’. most destructive foe,
Winner of spoil in every fight.

16 Come, here, O Agni, will I sing verily other songs to thee,
And with these drops shalt thou grow strong.

17 Where’er thy mind applies itself, vigour preeminent hast thou:
There wilt thou gain a dwelling-place.

18 Not for a moment only lasts thy bounty, good to many a one!
Our service therefore shalt thou gain.

19 Agni, the Bhārata, hath been sought, the Vṛtra-slayer, marked of all,
Yea, Divodāsa’s Hero Lord.

20 For he gave riches that surpass in greatness all the things of earth,
Fighting untroubled, unsubdued.

21 Thou, Agni, as in days of old, with recent glory, gathered light,
Hast overspread the lofty heaven.

22 Bring to your Agni, O my friends, boldly your laud and sacrifice:
Give the Disposer praise and song.

23 For as sagacious Herald he hath sat through every age of man,
Oblation-bearing messenger.

24 Bring those Two Kings whose ways are pure, Ādityas, and the Marut host,
Excellent God! and Heaven and Earth.

25 For strong and active mortal man, excellent, Agni, is the look Of thee Immortal, Son of Strength

26 Rich through his wisdom, noblest be the giver serving thee to-day:
The man hath brought his hymn of praise.

27 These, Agni, these are helped by thee, who strong and active all their lives,
O’ercome the malice of the foe, fight down the malice ofthe foe.

28 May Agni with his pointed blaze cast down each fierce devouring fiend
May Agni win us wealth by war.

29 O active Jātavedas, bring riches with store of hero sons:
Slay thou the demons, O Most Wise.

30 Keep us, O Jātavedas, from the troubling of the man of sin:
Guard us thou Sage who knowest prayer.

31 Whatever sinner, Agni, brings oblations to procure our death,
Save us from woe that he would work.

32 Drive from us with thy tongue, O God, the man who doeth evil deeds,
The mortal who would strike us dead.

33 Give shelter reaching far and wide to Bharadvāja, conquering Lord!
Agni, send wealth most excellent.

34 May Agni slay the Vṛtras,—fain for riches, through the lord of song,
Served with oblation, kindled, bright.

35 His Father’s Father, shining in his Mother’s everlasting side,
Set on the seat of holy Law.

36 O active Jātavedas, bring devotion that wins progeny, Agni, that it may shine to heaven.

37 O Child of Strength, to thee whose look is lovely we with dainty food,
O Agni, have poured forth our songs.

38 To thee for shelter are we come, as to the shade from fervent heat
Agni, who glitterest like gold.

39 Mighty as one who slays with shafts, or like a bull with sharpened horn,
Agni, thou breakest down the forts.

40 Whom, like an infant newly born, devourer, in their arms they bear,
Men’s Agni, skilled in holy rites.

41 Bear to the banquet of the Gods the God best finder-out of wealth,
Let him he seated in his place.

42 In Jātavedas kindle ye the dear guest who hath now appeared
In a soft place, the homestead’s Lord.

43 Harness, O Agni, O thou God, thy steeds which are most excellent:
They bear thee as thy spirit wills.

44 Come hither, bring the Gods to us to taste the sacrificial feast,
To drink the draught of Soma juice.

45 O Agni of the Bharatas, blaze high with everlasting might,
Shine forth and gleam, Eternal One.

46 The mortal man who serves the God with banquet, and, bringing gifts at sacrifice, lauds Agni,
May well attract, with prayer and hands uplifted, the Priest of Heaven and Earth, true Sacrificer.

47 Agni, we bring thee, with our hymn, oblation fashioned in the heart.
Let these be oxen unto thee, let these be bulls and kine to thee.

48 The Gods enkindle Agni, best slayer of Vṛtra, first in rank,
The Mighty, One who brings us wealth and crushes down the Rākṣasas.