HYMN XXI. Agni. – Rig Veda – Book 10

आग्निं न सवव्र्क्तिभिर्होतारं तवा वर्णीमहे |
यज्ञायस्तीर्णबर्हिषे वि वो मदे शीरं पावकशोचिषंविवक्षसे ||

तवामु ते सवाभुवः शुम्भन्त्यश्वराधसः |
वेति तवामुपसेचनी वि वो मद रजीतिरग्न आहुतिर्विवक्षसे ||

तवे धर्माण आसते जुहूभिः सिञ्चतीरिव |
कर्ष्णारूपाण्यर्जुना वि वो मदे विश्वा अधि शरियो धिषेविवक्षसे ||

यमग्ने मन्यसे रयिं सहसावन्नमर्त्य |
तमा नोवाजसातये वि वो मदे यज्ञेषु चित्रमा भरा विवक्षसे ||

अग्निर्जातो अथर्वणा विदद विश्वानि काव्या |
भुवद दूतोविवस्वतो वि वो मदे परियो यमस्य काम्यो विवक्षसे ||

तवां यज्ञेष्वीळते.अग्ने परयत्यध्वरे |
तवं वसूनिकाम्या वि वो मदे विश्वा दधासि दाशुषे विवक्षसे ||

तवां यज्ञेष्व रत्विजं चारुमग्ने नि षेदिरे |
घर्तप्रतीकं मनुषो वि वो मदे शुक्रं चेतिष्ठमक्षभिर्विवक्षसे ||

अग्ने शुक्रेण शोचिषोरु परथयसे बर्हत |
अभिक्रन्दन्व्र्षायसे वि वो मदे गर्भं दधासि जामिषु विवक्षसे ||

āghniṃ na svavṛktibhirhotāraṃ tvā vṛṇīmahe |
yajñāyastīrṇabarhiṣe vi vo made śīraṃ pāvakaśociṣaṃvivakṣase ||

tvāmu te svābhuvaḥ śumbhantyaśvarādhasaḥ |
veti tvāmupasecanī vi vo mada ṛjītiraghna āhutirvivakṣase ||

tve dharmāṇa āsate juhūbhiḥ siñcatīriva |
kṛṣṇārūpāṇyarjunā vi vo made viśvā adhi śriyo dhiṣevivakṣase ||

yamaghne manyase rayiṃ sahasāvannamartya |
tamā novājasātaye vi vo made yajñeṣu citramā bharā vivakṣase ||

aghnirjāto atharvaṇā vidad viśvāni kāvyā |
bhuvad dūtovivasvato vi vo made priyo yamasya kāmyo vivakṣase ||

tvāṃ yajñeṣvīḷate.aghne prayatyadhvare |
tvaṃ vasūnikāmyā vi vo made viśvā dadhāsi dāśuṣe vivakṣase ||

tvāṃ yajñeṣv ṛtvijaṃ cārumaghne ni ṣedire |
ghṛtapratīkaṃ manuṣo vi vo made śukraṃ cetiṣṭhamakṣabhirvivakṣase ||

aghne śukreṇa śociṣoru prathayase bṛhat |
abhikrandanvṛṣāyase vi vo made gharbhaṃ dadhāsi jāmiṣu vivakṣase ||

English Translation

Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith

1. WITH offerings of our own we choose thee, Agni, as Invoking Priest,
For sacrifice with trimmed grass,—at your glad carouse-piercing and brightly shining. Thou art waxing great.

2 The wealthy ones adorn thee, they who bring us horses as their gift:
The sprinkling ladle, Agni,—at your glad carouse -and glowing offering taste thee. Thou art waxing great.

3 The holy statutes rest by thee, as ’twere with ladles that o’erflow.
Black and white-gleaming colours,—at your glad carouse-all glories thou assurnest. Thou art waxing great.

4 O Agni, what thou deemest wealth, Victorious and Immortal One!
Bring thou to give us vigour,—at your glad carouse -splendid at sacrifices. Thou art waxing great.

5 Skilled in all lore is Agni, he whom erst Atharvan brought to life.
He was Vivasvān’s envoy, at your glad carouse-the weIl-loved friend of Yama, Thou art waxing great.

6 At sacrifices they adore thee, Agni, when the rite proceeds.
All fair and lovely treasures-at your glad carouse-thou givest him who offers. Thou art waxing great.

7 Men, Agni, have established thee as welcome Priest at holy rites,
Thee whose face shines with butter,—at your glad carouse-bright, with eyes most observant. Thou art waxing great.

8 Wide and aloft thou spreadest thee, O Agni, with thy brilliant flame.
A Bull art thou when bellowing,—at your glad carouse-thou dost impregn the Sisters. Thou art waxing great.