1 WITH words sent forth in holy hymns, Agni we supplicate, the Lord Of many families who duly serve the Gods, yea, him whom others also praise.
jánāso agníṃ dadhire sahovŕ̥dhaṃ havíṣmanto vidhema te | sá tváṃ no adyá sumánā ihā́vitā́ bhávā vā́jeṣu santiya ||
2 Men have won Agni, him who makes their strength abound: we, with oblations, worship thee. Our gracious-minded Helper in our deeds of might, be thou, O Excellent, this day.
3 Thee for our messenger we choose, thee, the Omniscient, for our Priest. The flames of thee the mighty are spread wide around: thy splendour reaches to the sky.
4 The Gods enkindle thee their ancient messenger, —Varuṇa, Mitra, Aryaman. That mortal man, O Agni, gains through thee all wealth, who hath poured offerings unto thee.
5 Thou, Agni, art a cheering Priest, Lord of the House, men's messenger: All constant high decrees established by the Gods, gathered together, meet in thee.
tuvé íd agne subháge yaviṣṭhiya víśvam ā́ hūyate havíḥ | sá tváṃ no adyá sumánā utā́paráṃ yákṣi devā́n suvī́riyā ||
6 In thee, the auspicious One, O Agni, youthfullest, each sacred gift is offered up: This day, and after, gracious, worship thou our Gods, that we may have heroic sons.
8 Vṛtra they smote and slew, and made the earth and heaven and firmament a wide abode. The glorious Bull, invoked, hath stood at Kaṇva's side: loud neighed the Steed in frays for kine.
9 Seat thee, for thou art mighty; shine, best entertainer of the Gods. Worthy of sacred food, praised Agni! loose the smoke, ruddy and beautiful to see.
10 Bearer of offerings, whom, best sacrificing Priest, the Gods for Manu's sake ordained; Whom Kaṇva, whom Medhyātithi made the source of wealth, and Vṛṣan and Upastuta.
11 Him, Agni, whom Medhyātithi, whom Kaṇva kindled for his rite, Him these our songs of praise, him, Agni, we extol: his powers shine out preeminent.
rāyás pūrdhi svadhāvó ásti hí té ágne devéṣu ā́piyam | tuváṃ vā́jasya śrútiyasya rājasi sá no mr̥̄ḷa+ mahā́m̐ asi ||
12 Make our wealth perfect thou, O Agni, Lord divine: for thou hast kinship with the Gods. Thou rulest as a King o’er widely-famous strength: be good to us, for thou art great.
13 Stand up erect to lend us aid, stand up like Savitar the God: Erect as strength-bestower we call aloud, with unguents and with priests, on thee.
ūrdhvó naḥ pāhi áṃhaso ní ketúnā víśvaṃ sám atríṇaṃ daha | kr̥dhī́ na ūrdhvā́ñ caráthāya jīváse vidā́ devéṣu no dúvaḥ ||
14 Erect, preserve us from sore trouble; with thy flame burn thou each ravening demon dead. Raise thou us up that we may walk and live: so thou shalt find our worship mid the Gods.
15 Preserve us, Agni, from the fiend, preserve us from malicious wrong. Save us from him who fain would injure us or slay, Most Youthful, thou with lofty light.
16 Smite down as with a club, thou who hast fire for teeth, smite thou the wicked, right and left. Let not the man who plots against us in the night, nor any foe prevail o’er us.
19 Manu hath stablished thee a light, Agni, for all the race of men: Sprung from the Law, oil-fed, for Kaṇva hast thou blazed, thou whom the people reverence.
tveṣā́so agnér ámavanto arcáyo bhīmā́so ná prátītaye | rakṣasvínaḥ sádam íd yātumā́vato víśvaṃ sám atríṇaṃ daha ||
20 The flames of Agni full of splendour and of might are fearful, not to be approached. Consume for ever all demons and sorcerers, consume thou each devouring fiend.
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Maṇḍala I