Sukta 128

अयं जायत मनुषो धरीमणि होता यजिष्ठ उशिजामनु व्रतमग्निः स्वमनु व्रतम्। विश्वश्रुष्टिः सखीयते रयिरिव श्रवस्यते। अदब्धो होता नि षददिळस्पदे परिवीत इळस्पदे॥

ayaṁ jāyata manuṣo dharīmaṇi hotā yajiṣṭha uśijāmanu vratamagniḥ svamanu vratam | viśvaśruṣṭiḥ sakhīyate rayiriva śravasyate | adabdho hotā ni ṣadadiḻaspade parivīta iḻaspade ||

By Manu's law was born this Agni, Priest most skilled, born for the holy work of those who yearn therefore, yea, born for his own holy work. All ear to him who seeks his love and wealth to him who strives for fame, Priest ne'er deceived, he sits in Ila's holy place, girt round in Ila's holy place.

तं यज्ञसाधमपि वातयामस्यृतस्य पथा नमसा हविष्मता देवताता हविष्मता। स न ऊर्जामुपाभृत्यया कृपा न जूर्यति। यं मातरिश्वा मनवे परावतो देवं भाः परावतः॥

taṁ yajñasādhamapi vātayāmasyṛtasya pathā namasā haviṣmatā devatātā haviṣmatā | sa na ūrjāmupābhṛtyayā kṛpā na jūryati | yaṁ mātariśvā manave parāvato devaṁ bhāḥ parāvataḥ ||

We call that perfecter of worship by the path or sacrifice; with reverence rich in offerings, with worship rich in offerings. Through presentation of our food he grows not old in this his from; The God whom Matarisvan brought from far away, for Manu brought from far away.

एवेन सद्यः पर्येति पार्थिवं मुहुर्गी रेतो वृषभः कनिक्रदद्दधद्रेतः कनिक्रदत्। शतं चक्षाणो अक्षभिर्देवो वनेषु तुर्वणिः। सदो दधान उपरेषु सानुष्वग्निः परेषु सानुषु॥

evena sadyaḥ paryeti pārthivaṁ muhurgī reto vṛṣabhaḥ kanikradaddadhadretaḥ kanikradat | śataṁ cakṣāṇo akṣabhirdevo vaneṣu turvaṇiḥ | sado dadhāna upareṣu sānuṣvagniḥ pareṣu sānuṣu ||

In ordered course forthwith he traverses the earth, swift-swallowing, bellowing Steer, bearing the genial seed, bearing the seed and bellowing. Observant with a hundred eyes the God is conqueror in the wood: Agni, who hath his seat in broad plains here below, and in the high lands far away.

स सुक्रतुः पुरोहितो दमेदमेऽग्निर्यज्ञस्याध्वरस्य चेतति क्रत्वा यज्ञस्य चेतति। क्रत्वा वेधा इषूयते विश्वा जातानि पस्पशे। यतो घृतश्रीरतिथिरजायत वह्निर्वेधा अजायत॥

sa sukratuḥ purohito damedame'gniryajñasyādhvarasya cetati kratvā yajñasya cetati | kratvā vedhā iṣūyate viśvā jātāni paspaśe | yato ghṛtaśrīratithirajāyata vahnirvedhā ajāyata ||

That Agni, wise High-Priest, in every house takes thought for sacrifice and holy service, yea, takes thought, with mental power, for sacrifice. Disposer, he with mental power shows all things unto him who strives; Whence he was born a guest enriched with holy oil, born as Ordainer and as Priest.

क्रत्वा यदस्य तविषीषु पृञ्चतेऽग्नेरवेण मरुतां न भोज्येषिराय न भोज्या। स हि ष्मा दानमिन्वति वसूनां च मज्मना। स नस्त्रासते दुरितादभिह्रुतः शंसादघादभिह्रुतः॥

kratvā yadasya taviṣīṣu pṛñcate'gneraveṇa marutāṁ na bhojyeṣirāya na bhojyā | sa hi ṣmā dānaminvati vasūnāṁ ca majmanā | sa nastrāsate duritādabhihrutaḥ śaṁsādaghādabhihrutaḥ ||

When through his power and in his strong prevailing flames the Maruts' gladdening boons mingle with Agni's roar, boons gladdening for the active One, Then he accelerates the gift, and by the greatness of his wealth, Shall rescue us from overwhelming misery, from curse and overwhelming woe.

विश्वो विहाया अरतिर्वसुर्दधे हस्ते दक्षिणे तरणिर्न शिश्रथच्छ्रवस्यया न शिश्रथत्। विश्वस्मा इदिषुध्यते देवत्रा हव्यमोहिषे। विश्वस्मा इत्सुकृते वारमृण्वत्यग्निर्द्वारा व्यृण्वति॥

viśvo vihāyā aratirvasurdadhe haste dakṣiṇe taraṇirna śiśrathacchravasyayā na śiśrathat | viśvasmā idiṣudhyate devatrā havyamohiṣe | viśvasmā itsukṛte vāramṛṇvatyagnirdvārā vyṛṇvati ||

Vast, universal, good he was made messenger; the speeder with his right hand hath not loosed his hold, through love of fame not loosed his hold. He bears oblations to the Gods for whosoever supplicates. Agni bestows a blessing on each pious man, and opens wide the doors for him.

स मानुषे वृजने शंतमो हितोऽग्निर्यज्ञेषु जेन्यो न विश्पतिः प्रियो यज्ञेषु विश्पतिः। स हव्या मानुषाणामिळा कृतानि पत्यते। स नस्त्रासते वरुणस्य धूर्तेर्महो देवस्य धूर्तेः॥

sa mānuṣe vṛjane śaṁtamo hito'gniryajñeṣu jenyo na viśpatiḥ priyo yajñeṣu viśpatiḥ | sa havyā mānuṣāṇāmiḻā kṛtāni patyate | sa nastrāsate varuṇasya dhūrtermaho devasya dhūrteḥ ||

That Agni hath been set most kind in camp of men, in sacrifice like a Lord victorious, like a dear Lord in sacred rites. His are the oblations of mankind when offered up at Ili's place. He shall preserve us from Varuna's chastisement, yea, from the great God's chastisement.

अग्निं होतारमीळते वसुधितिं प्रियं चेतिष्ठमरतिं न्येरिरे हव्यवाहं न्येरिरे। विश्वायुं विश्ववेदसं होतारं यजतं कविम्। देवासो रण्वमवसे वसूयवो गीर्भी रण्वं वसूयवः॥

agniṁ hotāramīḻate vasudhitiṁ priyaṁ cetiṣṭhamaratiṁ nyerire havyavāhaṁ nyerire | viśvāyuṁ viśvavedasaṁ hotāraṁ yajataṁ kavim | devāso raṇvamavase vasūyavo gīrbhī raṇvaṁ vasūyavaḥ ||

Agni the Priest they supplicate to grant them wealth: him, dear, most thoughtful, have they made their messenger, him, offering-bearer have they made, Beloved of all, who knoweth all, the Priest, the Holy one, the Sage- Him, Friend, for help, the Gods when they are fain for wealth, him, Friend, with hymns, when fain for wealth.