Sukta 143

प्र तव्यसीं नव्यसीं धीतिमग्नये वाचो मतिं सहसः सूनवे भरे। अपां नपाद्यो वसुभिः सह प्रियो होता पृथिव्यां न्यसीददृत्वियः॥

pra tavyasīṁ navyasīṁ dhītimagnaye vāco matiṁ sahasaḥ sūnave bhare | apāṁ napādyo vasubhiḥ saha priyo hotā pṛthivyāṁ nyasīdadṛtviyaḥ ||

To Agni I present a newer mightier hymn, I bring my words and song unto the Son of Strength, Who, Offspring of the Waters, bearing precious things sits on the earth, in season, dear Invoking Priest.

स जायमानः परमे व्योमन्याविरग्निरभवन्मातरिश्वने। अस्य क्रत्वा समिधानस्य मज्मना प्र द्यावा शोचिः पृथिवी अरोचयत्॥

sa jāyamānaḥ parame vyomanyāviragnirabhavanmātariśvane | asya kratvā samidhānasya majmanā pra dyāvā śociḥ pṛthivī arocayat ||

Soon as he sprang to birth that Agni was shown forth to Matarisvan in the highest firmament. When he was kindled, through his power and majesty his fiery splendour made the heavens and earth to shine.

अस्य त्वेषा अजरा अस्य भानवः सुसंदृशः सुप्रतीकस्य सुद्युतः। भात्वक्षसो अत्यक्तुर्न सिन्धवोऽग्ने रेजन्ते अससन्तो अजराः॥

asya tveṣā ajarā asya bhānavaḥ susaṁdṛśaḥ supratīkasya sudyutaḥ | bhātvakṣaso atyakturna sindhavo'gne rejante asasanto ajarāḥ ||

His flames that wax not old, beams fair to look upon of him whose face is lovely, shine with beauteous sheen. The rays of Agni, him whose active force is light, through the nights glimmer sleepless, ageless, like the floods.

यमेरिरे भृगवो विश्ववेदसं नाभा पृथिव्या भुवनस्य मज्मना। अग्निं तं गीर्भिर्हिनुहि स्व आ दमे य एको वस्वो वरुणो न राजति॥

yamerire bhṛgavo viśvavedasaṁ nābhā pṛthivyā bhuvanasya majmanā | agniṁ taṁ gīrbhirhinuhi sva ā dame ya eko vasvo varuṇo na rājati ||

Send thou with hymns that Agni to his own abode, who rules, one Sovran Lord of wealth, like Varuna, Him, All-possessor, whom the Bhrgus with their might brought to earth's central point, the centre of the world.

न यो वराय मरुतामिव स्वनः सेनेव सृष्टा दिव्या यथाशनिः। अग्निर्जम्भैस्तिगितैरत्ति भर्वति योधो न शत्रून्स वना न्यृञ्जते॥

na yo varāya marutāmiva svanaḥ seneva sṛṣṭā divyā yathāśaniḥ | agnirjambhaistigitairatti bharvati yodho na śatrūnsa vanā nyṛñjate ||

He whom no force can stay, even as the Maruts' roar, like to a dart sent forth, even as the bolt from heaven, Agni with sharpened jaws chews up and cats the trees, and conquers them as when the warrior smites his foes.

कुविन्नो अग्निरुचथस्य वीरसद्वसुष्कुविद्वसुभिः काममावरत्। चोदः कुवित्तुतुज्यात्सातये धियः शुचिप्रतीकं तमया धिया गृणे॥

kuvinno agnirucathasya vīrasadvasuṣkuvidvasubhiḥ kāmamāvarat | codaḥ kuvittutujyātsātaye dhiyaḥ śucipratīkaṁ tamayā dhiyā gṛṇe ||

And will not Agni find enjoyment in our praise, will not the Vasu grant our wish with gifts of wealth? Will not the Inspirer speed our prayers to gain their end? Him with the radiant glance 1 laud with this my song.

घृतप्रतीकं व ऋतस्य धूर्षदमग्निं मित्रं न समिधान ऋञ्जते। इन्धानो अक्रो विदथेषु दीद्यच्छुक्रवर्णामुदु नो यंसते धियम्॥

ghṛtapratīkaṁ va ṛtasya dhūrṣadamagniṁ mitraṁ na samidhāna ṛñjate | indhāno akro vidatheṣu dīdyacchukravarṇāmudu no yaṁsate dhiyam ||

The kindler of the flame wins Agni as a Friend, promoter of the Law, whose face is bright with oil. Inflamed and keen, refulgent in our gatherings, he lifts our hymn on high clad in his radiant hues.

अप्रयुच्छन्नप्रयुच्छद्भिरग्ने शिवेभिर्नः पायुभिः पाहि शग्मैः। अदब्धेभिरदृपितेभिरिष्टेऽनिमिषद्भिः परि पाहि नो जाः॥

aprayucchannaprayucchadbhiragne śivebhirnaḥ pāyubhiḥ pāhi śagmaiḥ | adabdhebhiradṛpitebhiriṣṭe'nimiṣadbhiḥ pari pāhi no jāḥ ||

Keep us incessantly with guards that cease not, Agni, with guards auspicious, very mighty. With guards that never slumber, never heedless, never beguiled. O Helper, keep our children.