HYMN XVI. Agni: Rig Veda – Book 7 – Ralph T.H. Griffith, Translator
एना वो अग्निं नमसोर्जो नपातमा हुवे |
परियं चेतिष्ठमरतिं सवध्वरं विश्वस्य दूतमम्र्तम ||
स योजते अरुषा विश्वभोजसा स दुद्रवत सवाहुतः |
सुब्रह्मा यज्ञः सुशमी वसूनां देवं राधो जनानाम ||
उदस्य शोचिरस्थादाजुह्वानस्य मीळ्हुषः |
उद धूमासोरुषासो दिविस्प्र्शः समग्निमिन्धते नरः ||
तं तवा दूतं कर्ण्महे यशस्तमं देवाना वीतये वह |
विश्वा सूनो सहसो मर्तभोजना रास्व तद यत तवेमहे ||
तवमग्ने गर्हपतिस्त्वं होता नो अध्वरे |
तवं पोता विश्ववार परचेता यक्षि वेषि च वार्यम ||
कर्धि रत्नं यजमानाय सुक्रतो तवं हि रत्नधा असि |
आन रते शिशीहि विश्वं रत्विजं सुशंसो यश्च दक्षते ||
तवे अग्ने सवाहुत परियासः सन्तु सूरयः |
यन्तारो ये मघवानो जनानामूर्वान दयन्त गोनाम ||
येषामिळा घर्तहस्ता दुरोण आनपि पराता निषीदति |
तांस्त्रायस्व सहस्य दरुहो निदो यछा नः शर्म दीर्घश्रुत ||
स मन्द्रया च जिह्वया वह्निरासा विदुष्टरः |
अग्ने रयिं मघवद्भ्यो न आ वह हव्यदातिं च सूदय ||
ये राधांसि ददत्यश्व्या मघा कामेन शरवसो महः |
तानंहसः पिप्र्हि पर्त्र्भिष टवं शतं पूर्भिर्यविष्ठ्य ||
देवो वो दरविणोदाः पूर्णां विवष्ट्यासिचम |
उद वा सिञ्चध्वमुप वा पर्णध्वमादिद वो देव ओहते ||
तं होतारमध्वरस्य परचेतसं वह्निं देवा अक्र्ण्वत |
दधाति रत्नं विधते सुवीर्यमग्निर्जनाय दाशुषे ||
enā vo aghniṃ namasorjo napātamā huve |
priyaṃ cetiṣṭhamaratiṃ svadhvaraṃ viśvasya dūtamamṛtam ||
sa yojate aruṣā viśvabhojasā sa dudravat svāhutaḥ |
subrahmā yajñaḥ suśamī vasūnāṃ devaṃ rādho janānām ||
udasya śocirasthādājuhvānasya mīḷhuṣaḥ |
ud dhūmāsoaruṣāso divispṛśaḥ samaghnimindhate naraḥ ||
taṃ tvā dūtaṃ kṛṇmahe yaśastamaṃ devānā vītaye vaha |
viśvā sūno sahaso martabhojanā rāsva tad yat tvemahe ||
tvamaghne ghṛhapatistvaṃ hotā no adhvare |
tvaṃ potā viśvavāra pracetā yakṣi veṣi ca vāryam ||
kṛdhi ratnaṃ yajamānāya sukrato tvaṃ hi ratnadhā asi |
āna ṛte śiśīhi viśvaṃ ṛtvijaṃ suśaṃso yaśca dakṣate ||
tve aghne svāhuta priyāsaḥ santu sūrayaḥ |
yantāro ye maghavāno janānāmūrvān dayanta ghonām ||
yeṣāmiḷā ghṛtahastā duroṇa ānapi prātā niṣīdati |
tāṃstrāyasva sahasya druho nido yachā naḥ śarma dīrghaśrut ||
sa mandrayā ca jihvayā vahnirāsā viduṣṭaraḥ |
aghne rayiṃ maghavadbhyo na ā vaha havyadātiṃ ca sūdaya ||
ye rādhāṃsi dadatyaśvyā maghā kāmena śravaso mahaḥ |
tānaṃhasaḥ pipṛhi partṛbhiṣ ṭvaṃ śataṃ pūrbhiryaviṣṭhya ||
devo vo draviṇodāḥ pūrṇāṃ vivaṣṭyāsicam |
ud vā siñcadhvamupa vā pṛṇadhvamādid vo deva ohate ||
taṃ hotāramadhvarasya pracetasaṃ vahniṃ devā akṛṇvata |
dadhāti ratnaṃ vidhate suvīryamaghnirjanāya dāśuṣe ||
English Translation
Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith
1. WITH this my reverent hymn I call Agni for you, the Son of Strength,
Dear, wisest envoy, served with noble sacrifice, immortal messenger of all.
2 His two red horses, all-supporting, let him yoke: let him, well-worshipped, urge them fast.
Then hath the sacrifice good prayers and happy end, and heavenly gift of wealth to men.
3 The flame of him the Bountiful, the Much-invoked, hath mounted up,
And his red-coloured smoke-clouds reach and touch the sky: the men are kindling Agni well.
4 Thee, thee Most Glorious One we make our messenger. Bring the Gods hither to the feast.
Give us, O Son of Strength, all food that fcedeth man: give that for which we pray to thee.
5 Thou, Agni, art the homestead’s Lord, our Herald at the sacrifice.
Lord of all boons, thou art the Cleanser and a Sage. Pay worship, and enjoy the good.
6 Give riches to the sacrificer, O Most Wise, for thou art he who granteth wealth.
Inspire with zeal each priest at this our solemn rite; all who are skilled in singing praise.
7 O Agni who art worshipped well, dear let our princes he to thee,
Our wealthy patrons who are governors of men, who part, as gifts, their stalls of kine.
8 They in whose home, her hand bearing the sacred oil, Iḷā sits down well-satisfied-
Guard them, Victorious God, from slander and from harm. give us a refuge famed afar.
9 Do thou, a Priest with pleasant tongue, most wise, and very near to us,
Agni, bring riches hither to our liberal chiefs, and speed the oflering of our gifts.
10 They who bestow as bounty plenteous wealth of steeds, moved by desire of great renown-
Do thou with saving help preserve them from distress, Most Youthful! with a hundred forts.
11 The God who gives your wealth demands a full libation poured to him.
Pour ye it forth, then fill the vessel full again: then doth the God pay heed to you.
12 Him have the Gods appointed Priest of sacrifice, oblation-bearer, passing wise.
Agni gives wealth and valour to the worshipper, to folk who offer up their gifts.