[05-001] HYMN I. Agni

1. Agni is wakened by the people’s fuel to meet the Dawn who cometh like a milch-cow.

Like young trees shooting up on high their branches, his flames are rising to the vault of heaven.

2 For worship of the Gods the Priest was wakened: at morning gracious Agni hath arisen. Kindled, his radiant might is made apparent, and the great Deity set free from darkness.

3 When he hath stirred the line of his attendants, with the pure milk pure Agni is anointed.

The strength-bestowing gift is then made ready, which spread in front, with tongues, erect, he drinketh.

4 The spirits of the pious turn together to Agni, as the eyes of all to Surya.

He, when both Dawns of different hues have borne him, springs up at daybreak as a strong white charger.

5 The noble One was born at days’ beginning, laid red in colour mid the well-laid fuel.

Yielding in every house his seven rich treasures, Agni is seated, Priest most skilled in worship.

6 Agni hath sat him down, a Priest most skilful, on a sweet-smelling place, his Mother’s bosom. Young, faithful, sage, preeminent o’er many, kindled among the folk whom he sustaineth.

7 This Singer excellent at sacrifices, Agni the Priest, they glorify with homage.

Him who spread out both worlds by Law Eternal they balm with oil, strong Steed who never faileth.

8. He, worshipful House-Friend, in his home is worshipped, our own auspicious guest, lauded by sages.

That strength the Bull with thousand horns possesses. In might, O Agni, thou excellest others.

9 Thou quickly passest by all others, Agni, for him to whom thou hast appeared most lovely, Wondrously fair, adorable, effulgent, the guest of men, the darling of the people.

10 To thee, Most Youthful God! to thee, O Agni from near and far the people bring their tribute. Mark well the prayer of him who best extols thee. Great, high, auspicious, Agni, is thy shelter.

11 Ascend to-day thy splendid car, O Agni, in splendour, with the Holy Ones around it. Knowing the paths by mid-air’s spacious region bring hither Gods to feast on our oblation.

12 To him adorable, sage, strong and mighty we have sung forth our song of praise and homage. Gavisthira hath raised with prayer to Agni this laud far-reaching, like gold light to heaven.

[05-002] HYMN II. Agni.

1. THE youthful Mother keeps the Boy in secret pressed to her close, nor yields him to the Father. But, when he lies upon the arm, the people see his unfading countenance before them.

2 What child is this thou carriest as handmaid, O Youthful One? The Consort-Queen hath bome him. The Babe unborn increased through many autumns. I saw him born what time his Mother bare him.

3 I saw him from afar gold-toothed, bright-coloured, hurling his weapons from his habitation, What time I gave him Amrta free from mixture. How can the Indraless, the hymnless harm me?

4 I saw him moving from the place he dwells in, even as with a herd, brilliantly shining.

These seized him not: he had been born already. They who were grey with age again grow youthful.

5 Who separate my young bull from the cattle, they whose protector was in truth no stranger?

Let those whose hands have seized upon them free them. May he, observant, drive the herd to us- ward.

6 Mid mortal men godless have secreted the King of all who live, home of the people.

So may the prayers of Atri give him freedom. Reproached in turn be those who now reproach him.

7 Thou from the stake didst loose e’en Sunahsepa bound for a thousand; for he prayed with fervour. So, Agni, loose from us the bonds that bind us, when thou art seated here, O Priest who knowest.

8 Thou hast sped from me, Agni, in thine anger: this the protector of Gods’ Laws hath told me.

Indra who knoweth bent his eye upon thee: by him instructed am I come, O Agni.

9 Agni shines far and wide with lofty splendour, and by his greatness makes all things apparent. He conquers godless and malign enchantments, and sharpens both his horns to gore the Raksas.

10 Loud in the heaven above be Agni’s roarings with keen-edged weapons to destroy the demons. Forth burst his splendours in the Soma’s rapture. The godless bands press round but cannot stayhim.

11 As a skilled craftsman makes a car, a singer I, Mighty One! this hymn for thee have fashioned. If thou, O Agni, God, accept it gladly, may we obtain thereby the heavenly Waters.

12 May he, the strong-necked Steer, waxing in vigour, gather the foeman’s wealth with none to check him.

Thus to this Agni have the Immortals spoken. To man who spreads the grass may he grant shelter, grant shelter to the man who brings oblation.

[05-003] HYMN III. Agni.

1. THOU at thy birth art Varuna, O Agni; when thou art kindled thou becomest Mitra.

In thee, O Son of Strength, all Gods are centred. Indra art thou to man who brings oblation.

2 Aryaman art thou as regardeth maidens mysterious, is thy name, O Self-sustainer.

As a kind friend with streams of milk they balm thee what time thou makcst wife and lord one- minded.

3 The Maruts deck their beauty for thy glory, yea, Rudra! for thy birth fair, brightly-coloured. That which was fixed as Visnu’s loftiest station-therewith the secret of the Cows thou guardest.

4 Gods through thy glory, God who art so lovely! granting abundant gifts gained life immortal.

As their own Priest have men established Agni; and serve him fain for praise from him who liveth.

5 There is no priest more skilled than thou in worship; none Self-sustainer pass thee in wisdom. Ile man within whose house as guest thou dwellest, O God, by sacrifice shall conquer mortals.

6 Aided by thee, O Agni may we conquer through our oblation, fain for wealth, awakened: May we in battle, in the days’ assemblies,O Son of Strength, by riches conquer mortals.

7 He shall bring evil on the evil-plottcr whoever turns against us sin and outrage. Destroy this calumny of him, O Agni, whoever injures us with double-dealing.

8 At this dawn’s flushing, God! our ancient fathers served thee with offerings, making thee their envoy,

When, Agni, to the store of wealth thou goest, a God cnkindled with good things by mortals.

9 Save, thou who knowest, draw thy father near thee, who counts as thine own son, O Child of

Power.

O sapient Agni, when wilt thou regard us? When, skilled in holy Law, wilt thou direct us?

10 Adoring thee he gives thee many a title, when thou, Good Lord! acceptest this as Father.

And doth not Agni, glad in strength of Godhead, gain splendid bliss when he hath waxen mighty?

11 Most Youthful Agni, verily thou bearest thy praiser safely over all his troubles.

Thieves have been seen by us and open foemen: unknown have been the plottings of the wicked.

12 To thee these eulogies have been directed: or to the Vasu hath this sin been spoken. But this our Agni, flaming high, shall never yield us to calumny, to him who wrongs us.

[05-004] HYMN IV. Agni.

1. O AGNI, King and Lord of wealth and treasures, in thee is my delight at sacrifices.

Through thee may we obtain the strength we long for, and overcome the fierce attacks of mortals.

2 Agni, Eternal Father, offering- bearer, fair to behold, far-reaching, far-refulgent,

From well-kept household fire beam food to feed us, and measure out to us abundant glory.

3 The Sage of men, the Lord of human races, pure, purifying Agni, balmed with butter,

Him the Omniscient as your Priest ye stablish: he wins among the Gods things worth the choosing.

4 Agni, enjoy, of one accord with Ila, striving in rivalry with beams of Sarya, Enjoy, O Jatavedas, this our fuel, and bring the Gods to us to taste oblations.

5 As dear House-Friend, guest welcome in the dwelling, to this our sacrifice come thou who knowest.

And, Agni, having scattered all assailants, bring to us the possessions of our foemen.

 

6 Drive thou away the Dasyu with thy weapon. As, gaining vital power for thine own body, O Son of Strength, the Gods thou satisfiest, so in fight save us, most heroic Agni.

7 May we, O Agni, with our lauds adore thee, and with our gifts, fair-beaming Purifier! Send to us wealth containing all things precious: bestow upon us every sort of riches.

8 Son of Strength, Agni, dweller in three regions, accept our sacrifice and our oblation. Among the Gods may we be counted pious: protect us with a triply-guarding shelter.

9 Over all woes and dangers, Jatavedas, bear us as in a boat across a river.

Praised with our homage even as Atri praised thee, O Agni, be the guardian of our bodies.

10 As I, remembering thee with grateful spirit, a mortal, call with might on thee Immortal, Vouchsafe us high renown, O Jatavedas, and may I be immortal by my children.

11 The pious man, O Jatavedas Agni, to whom thou grantest ample room and pleasure, Gaineth abundant wealth with sons and horses, with heroes and with kine for his well-being.

[05-005] HYMN V. Apris.

1. To Agni, Jatavedas, to the flame, the well-enkindled God, Offer thick sacrificial oil.

2 He, Narasamsa, ne’er beguiled, inspiriteth this sacrifice: For sage is he, with sweets in hand.

3 Adored, O Agni, hither bring Indra the Wonderful, the Friend, On lightly-rolling car to aid.

4 Spread thyself out, thou soft as wool The holy hymns have sung to thee. Bring gain to us, O beautiful!

5 Open yourselves, ye Doors Divine, easy of access for our aid: Fill, more and more, the sacrifice.

6 Fair strengtheners of vital power, young Mothers of eternal Law, Morning and Night we supplicate.

7 On the wind’s flight come, glorified, ye two celestial Priests of man

Come ye to this our sacrifice.

8 l! Sarasvati, Mahl, three Goddesses who tring us weal, Be seated harmless on the grass.

9 Rich in all plenty, Tvastar, come auspicious of thine own accord

Help us in every sacrifice.

10 Vanaspati, wherever thou knowest the Gods’ mysterious names, Send our oblations thitherward.

11 To Agni and to Varuna, Indra, the Maruts, and the Gods, With Svaha be oblation brought.

[05-006] HYMN VI. Agni.

1. I VALUE Agni that good Lord, the home to which the kine return:

Whom fleet-foot coursers seek as home, and strong enduring steeds as home. Bring food to those who sing thy praise.

2 ‘Tis Agni whom we laud as good, to whom the milch-kine come in herds,

To whom the chargers swift of foot, to whom our well-born princes come. Bring food to those who sing thy praise.

3 Agni the God of all mankind, gives, verily, a steed to man.

Agni gives precious gear for wealth, treasure he gives when he is pleased. Bring food to those who sing thy praise.

4 God, Agni, we will kindle thee, rich in thy splendour, fading not,

So that this glorious fuel may send forth by day its light for thee. Bring food to those who sing thy praise.

5 To thee the splendid, Lord of flame, bright, wondrous, Prince of men, is brought.

Oblation with the holy verse, O Agni, bearer of our gifts. Bring food to those who sing thy praise.

6 These Agnis in the seats of the fire nourish each thing most excellent.

They give delight, they spread abroad, they move themselves continually. Bring food to those who sing thy praise.

7 Agni, these brilliant flames of thine wax like strong chargers mightily,

Who with the treadings of their hoofs go swiftly to the stalls of kine. Bring food to those who sing thy praise.

8 To us who laud thee, Agni, bring fresh food and safe and happy homes.

May we who have sung hymns to thee have thee for envoy in each house. Bring food to those who sing thy praise.

9 Thou, brilliant God, within thy mouth warmest both ladies of the oil.

So fill us also, in our hymns, abundantly, O Lord of Strength,Bring food to those who sing thy praise.

10 Thus Agni have we duly served with sacrifices and with hymns.

So may he give us what we crave, store of brave sons and fleet-foot steeds. Bring food to those who sing thy praise.

[05-007] HYMN VII. Agni.

1. OFFER to Agni, O my friends, your seemly food, your seemly praise; To him supremest o’er the folk, the Son of Strength, the mighty Lord:

2 Him in whose presence, when they meet in full assembly, men rejoice; Even him whom worthy ones inflame, and living creatures bring to life.

3 When we present to him the food and sacrificial gifts of men, He by the might of splendour grasps the holy Ordinance’s rein.

4 He gives a signal in the night even to him who is afar,

When he, the Bright, unchanged by eld, consumes the sovrans of the wood.

5 He in whose service on the ways they offer up their drops of sweat, On him is their high kin have they mounted, as ridges on the earth.

6 Whom, sought of many, mortal man hath found to be the Stay of all; He who gives flavour to our food, the home of every man that lives.

7 Even as a herd that crops the grass he shears the field and wilderness, With flashing teeth and beard of gold, deft with his unabated might.

8 For him, to whom, bright as an axe he, as to Atri, hath flashed forth, Hath the well-bearing Mother borne, producing when her time is come.

9 Agni to whom the oil is shed by him thou lovest to support, Bestow upon these mortals fame and splendour and intelligence.

10 Such zeal hath he, resistless one: he gained the cattle given by thee.

Agni, may Atri overcome the Dasyus who bestow no gifts, subdue the men who give no food.

[05-008] HYMN VIII. Agni.

1. O AGNI urged to strength, the men of old who loved the Law enkindled thee, the Ancient, for their aid,

Thee very bright, and holy, nourisher of all, most excellent, the Friend and Master of the home.

2 Thee, Agni, men have stablished as their guest of old, as Master of the household, thee, with hair of flame;

High-bannered, multiform, distributor of wealth, kind helper, good protector, drier of the floods.

3 The tribes of men praise thee, Agni, who knowest well burnt offerings, the Discerner, lavishest of wealth,

Dwelling in secret, Blest One! visible to all, loud-roaring, skilled in worship, glorified with oil.

4 Ever to thee, O Agni, as exceeding strong have we drawn nigh with songs and reverence singing hymns.

So be thou pleased with us, Angiras! as a God enkindled by the noble with man’s goodly light.

5 Thou, Agni! multiform, God who art lauded much! givest in every house subsistence as of old. Thou rulest by thy might o’er food of many a sort: that light of thine when blazing may not be

opposed.

6 The Gods, Most Youthful Agni, have made thee, inflamed, the bearer of oblations and the messenger.

Thee, widely-reaching, homed in sacred oil, invoked, effulgent, have they made the Eye that stirs the thought.

7 Men seeking joy have lit thee worshipped from of old, O Agni, with good fuel and with sacred oil. So thou, bedewed and waxing mighty by the plants, spreadest thyself abroad over the realms of

earth.

[05-009] HYMN IX. Agni.

1. BEARING; oblations mortal men, O Agni, worship thee the God. I deem thee Jatavedas: bear our offerings, thou, unceasingly.

2 In the man’s home who offers gifts, where grass is trimmed, Agni is Priest, To whom all sacrifices come and strengthenings that win renown.

3 Whom, as an infant newly-born, the kindling-sticks have brought to life, Sustainer of the tribes of men, skilled in well-ordered sacrifice.

4 Yea, very hard art thou to grasp, like offspring of the wriggling snakes, When thou consumest many woods like an ox, Agni, in the mead.

5 Whose flames, when thou art sending forth the smoke, completely reach the mark,

When Trta in the height of heaven, like as a smelter fanneth thee, e’en as a smelter sharpeneth thee.

6 O Agni, by thy succour and by Mitra’s friendly furtherance, May we, averting hate, subbue the wickedness of mortal men.

7 O Agni, to our heroes bring such riches, thou victorious God.

May he protect and nourish us, and help in aining strength: be thou near us in 6rht for our success.

[05-010] HYMN X. Agni.

1. BRING us most mighty splendour thou, Agni, resistless on thy way. With overflowing store of wealth mark out for us a path to strength.

2 Ours art thou, wondrous Agni, bywisdom and bounteousness of power. The might of Asuras rests on thee, like Mitra worshipful in act.

3 Agni, increase our means of life, increase the house and home of these,

The men, the princes who have won great riches through our hymns of praise.

4 Bright Agni, they who deck their songs for thee have horses as their meed.

The men are mighty in their might, they whose high laud, as that of heaven, awakes thee of its own accord.

5 O Agni, those resplendent flames of thine go valorously forth,

Like lightnings flashing round us, like a rattling car that seeks the spoil.

6 Now, Agni, come to succour us; let priests draw nigh to offer gifts; And let the patrons of our rites subdue all regions of the earth.

7 Bring to us, Agni, Angiras, lauded of old and lauded now,

Invoker! wealth to quell the strong, that singers may extol thee. Be near us in fight for our success.

[05-011] HYMN XI. Agni.

1. THE watchful Guardian of the people hath been born, Agni, the very strong, for fresh prosperity. With oil upon his face, with high heaventouching flame, he shineth splendidly, pure, for the Bharatas.

2 Ensign of sacrifice, the earliest Household-Priest, the. men have kindled Agni in his threefold seat, With Indra and the Gods together on the grass let the wise Priest sit to complete the sacrifice.

3 Pure , unadorned, from thy two Mothers art thou born: thou camest fromVivasvan as a charming

Sage.

With oil they strengthened thee, O Agni, worshipped God: thy banner was the smoke that mounted to the sky.

4 May Agni graciously come to our sacrifice. The men bear Agni here and there in every house. He hath become an envoy, bearer of our gifts: electing Agni, men choose one exceeding wise.

5 For thee, O Agni, is this sweetest prayer of mine: dear to thy spirit be this product of my thought. As great streams fill the river so our song of praise fill thee, and make thee yet more mighty in thy

strength.

6 O Agni, the Angirases discovered thee what time thou layest hidden, fleeing back from wood to wood.

Thou by attrition art produced as conquer.ing might, and men, O Angiras, call thee the Son of

Strength.

[05-012] HYMN XII. Agni.

I. To Agni, lofty Asura, meet for worship, Steer of eternal Law, my prayer I offer; I bring my song directed to the Mighty like pure oil for his mouth at sacrifices.

2 Mark the Law, thou who knowest, yea, observe it: send forth the full streams of eternal Order. I use no sorcery with might or falsehood the sacred Law of the Red Steer I follow.

3 How hast thou, follower of the Law eternal, become the knower of a new song, Agni?

The God, the Guardian of the seasons, knows me: the Lord of him who won this wealth I know not.

4 Who, Agni, in alliance with thy foeman, what splendid helpers won for them their riches? Agni, who guard the dwelling-place of falsehood? Who are protectors of the speech of liars?

5 Agni, those friends of thine have turned them from thee: gracious of old, they have become ungracious.

They have deceived themselves by their own speeches, uttering wicked words against the righteous.

6 He who pays sacrifice to thee with homage, O Agni, keeps the Red Steer’s Law eternal; Wide is his dwelling. May the noble offipring of Nahusa who wandered forth come hither.

[05-013] HYMN XIII. Agni.

1. WITH songs of praise we call on thee, we kindle thee with songs of praise, Agni, -with songs of praise, for help.

2 Eager for wealth, we meditate Agni’s effectual praise to-day, Praise of the God who touches heaven.

3 May Agni, Priest among mankind, take pleasure in our songs of praise, And worship the Celestial Folk.

4 Thou, Agni, art spread widely forth, Priest dear and excellent; through thee

Men make the sacrifice complete.

5 Singers exalt thee, Agni, well lauded, best giver of our strength: So grant thou us heroic might.

6 Thou Agni, as the felly rings the spokes, encompassest the Gods.

1 yearn for bounty manifold.

[05-014] HYMN XIV. Agni.

1. ENKINDLING the Immortal, wake Agni with song of praise: may he bear our oblations to the Gods.

2 At high solemnities mortal men glorify him the Immortal, best

At sacrifice among mankind.

3 That he may bear their gifts to heaven, all glorify him Agni, God, With ladle that distilleth oil.

4 Agni shone bright when born, with light killing the Dasyus and the dark: He found the Kine, the Floods, the Sun.

5 Serve Agni, God adorable, the Sage whose back is balmed with oil:

Let him approach, and hear my call.

6 They have exalted Agni, God of all mankind, with oil and hymns

Of praise, devout and eloquent.

[05-015] HYMN XV. Agni.

1. To him, the far-renowned, the wise Ordainer, ancient and glorious, a song I offer. Enthroned in oil, the Asura, bliss-giver, is Agni, firm support of noble, riches.

2 By holy Law they kept supporting Order, by help of sacrifice, in loftiest heaven,-

They who attained with born men to the unborn, men seated on that stay, heaven’s firm sustainer.

3 Averting woe, they labour hard to bring him, the ancient, plenteous food as power resistless. May he, born newly, conquer his assailants: round him they stand as round an angry lion.

4 When, like a mother, spreading forth to nourish, to cherish and regard each man that liveth,- Consuming all the strength that thou hast gotten, thou wanderest round, thyself,

in varied fashion.

5 May strength preserve the compass of thy vigour, God! that broad stream of thine that beareth riches.

Thou, like a thief who keeps his refuge secret, hast holpen Atri to great wealth, by teaching.

[05-016] HYMN XVI. Agni.

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.

[05-017] HYMN XVII. Agni.

1. GOD, may a mortal call the Strong hither, with solemn rites, to aid, A man call Agni to protect when sacrifice is well prepared.

2 Near him thou seemest mightier still in native glory, set to hold

Apart yon flame-hued vault of heaven, lovely beyond the thought of man.

3 Yea, this is by the light of him whom powerful siong hath bound to act,

Whose bearns of splendour flash on high as though they sprang from heavenly seed.

4 Wealth loads the Wonder-Worker’s car through his, the very wise One’s power. Then, meet to be invoked among all tribes, is Agni ghorified.

5 Now, too, the princes shall obtain excellent riches by our lips.

Protect us for our welfare: lend thy succour, O thou Son of Strength. Be near in fight to prosper us.

[05-018] HYMN XVIII. Agni.

1. AT dawn let: Agni, much-beloved guest of the house, be glorified; Immortal who delights in all oblations brought by mortal men.

2 For Dvita who receives through wealth of native strength maimed offerings, Thy praiser even gains at once the Soma-drops, Immortal Gods!

3 Nobles, with song I call that car of yours that shines with lengthened life, For, God who givest steeds! that car hither and thither goes unharmed.

4 They who have varied ways of thought, who guard, the lauds within their lips,

And strew the grass before the light, have decked themselves with high renown.

5 Immortal Agni, give the chiefs, heroes who institute the rite,

Heroes’ illustrious, lofty fame, who at the synod met for praise presented me with fifty steeds.

[05-019] HYMN XIX. Agni.

1. ONE state begets another state: husk is made visible from husk: Within his Mother’s side he speaks.

2 Discerning, have they offered gifts: they guard the strength that never wastes. To a strong fort have they pressed in.

3 Svaitreya’s people, all his men, have gloriously increased in might.

A gold chain Brhaduktha wears, as, through this Soma, seeking spoil.

4 I bring, as ’twere, the longed-for milk, the dear milk of the Sister-Pair. Like to a caldron filled with food is he, unconquered, conquering all.

5 Beam of light, come to us in sportive fashion, finding thyself close to the wind that fans thee. These flames of his are wasting flames, like arrows keen-pointed, sharpened, on his breast.

[05-020] HYMN XX. Agni.

1. AGNI, best winner of the spoil, cause us to praise before the Gods

As our associate meet for lauds, wealth which thou verily deemest wealth.

2 Agni, the great who ward not off the anger of thy power and might

Stir up the wrath and hatred due to one who holds an alien creed.

3 Thee, Agni, would we choose as Priest, the perfecter of strength and skill; We who bring sacred food invoke with song thee Chief at holy rites.

4 Here as is needful for thine aid we toil, O Conqueror, day by day,

For wealth, for Law. May we rejoice, Most Wise One! at the feast, with kine, rejoice, with heroes, at the feast.