HYMN XVIII. Agni: Rig Veda – Book 3 – Ralph T.H. Griffith, Translator

भवा नो अग्ने सुमना उपेतौ सखेव सख्ये पितरेव साधुः |
पुरुद्रुहो हि कषितयो जनानां परति परतीचीर्दहतादरातीः ||

तपो शवग्ने अन्तरानमित्रान तपा शंसमररुषः परस्य |
तपो वसो चिकितानो अचित्तान वि ते तिष्ठन्तामजरा अयासः ||

इध्मेनाग्न इछमानो घर्तेन जुहोमि हव्यं तरसे बलाय |
यावदीशे बरह्मणा वन्दमान इमां धियं शतसेयाय देवीम ||

उच्छोचिषा सहसस पुत्र सतुतो बर्हद वयः शशमानेषु धेहि |
रेवदग्ने विश्वामित्रेषु शं योर्मर्म्र्ज्मा ते तन्वं भूरि कर्त्वः ||

कर्धि रत्नं सुसनितर्धनानां स घेदग्ने भवसि यत समिद्धः |
सतोतुर्दुरोणे सुभगस्य रेवत सर्प्रा करस्ना दधिषे वपूंषि ||

bhavā no aghne sumanā upetau sakheva sakhye pitareva sādhuḥ |
purudruho hi kṣitayo janānāṃ prati pratīcīrdahatādarātīḥ ||

tapo śvaghne antarānamitrān tapā śaṃsamararuṣaḥ parasya |
tapo vaso cikitāno acittān vi te tiṣṭhantāmajarā ayāsaḥ ||

idhmenāghna ichamāno ghṛtena juhomi havyaṃ tarase balāya |
yāvadīśe brahmaṇā vandamāna imāṃ dhiyaṃ śataseyāya devīm ||

ucchociṣā sahasas putra stuto bṛhad vayaḥ śaśamāneṣu dhehi |
revadaghne viśvāmitreṣu śaṃ yormarmṛjmā te tanvaṃ bhūri kṛtvaḥ ||

kṛdhi ratnaṃ susanitardhanānāṃ sa ghedaghne bhavasi yat samiddhaḥ |
stoturduroṇe subhaghasya revat sṛprā karasnā dadhiṣe vapūṃṣi ||

English Translation

Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith

1. AGNI, be kind to us when we approach thee good as a friend to friend, as sire and mother.
The races of mankind are great oppressors burn up malignity that strives against us.

2 Agni, burn up the unfriendly who are near us, burn thou the foeman’s curse who pays no worship.
Burn, Vasu, thou who markest well, the foolish: let thine eternal nimble beams surround thee.

3 With fuel, Agni, and with oil, desirous, mine offering I present for strength and conquest,
With prayer, so far as I have power, adoring-this hymn divine to gain a hundred treasures.

4 Give with thy glow, thou Son of Strength, when lauded, great vital power to those who toil to serve thee.
Give richly, Agni, to the Viśvāmitras in rest and stir. Oft have we decked thy body.

5 Give us, O liberal Lord, great store of riches, for, Agni, such art thou when duly kindled.
Thou in the happy singer’s home bestowest, amply with arms extended, things of beauty.