Sukta 4

हुवे वः सुद्योत्मानं सुवृक्तिं विशामग्निमतिथिं सुप्रयसम्। मित्र इव यो दिधिषाय्यो भूद्देव आदेवे जने जातवेदाः॥

huve vaḥ sudyotmānaṁ suvṛktiṁ viśāmagnimatithiṁ suprayasam | mitra iva yo didhiṣāyyo bhūddeva ādeve jane jātavedāḥ ||

FOR you I call theglorious refulgent Agni, the guest of men, rich in oblations Whom all must strive to win even as a lover, God among godly people, Jatavedas.

इमं विधन्तो अपां सधस्थे द्वितादधुर्भृगवो विक्ष्वायोः। एष विश्वान्यभ्यस्तु भूमा देवानामग्निररतिर्जीराश्वः॥

imaṁ vidhanto apāṁ sadhasthe dvitādadhurbhṛgavo vikṣvāyoḥ | eṣa viśvānyabhyastu bhūmā devānāmagniraratirjīrāśvaḥ ||

Bhrgus who served him in the home of waters set him of old in houses of the living. Over all worlds let Agni be the Sovran, the messenger of Gods with rapid coursers.

अग्निं देवासो मानुषीषु विक्षु प्रियं धुः क्षेष्यन्तो न मित्रम्। स दीदयदुशतीरूर्म्या आ दक्षाय्यो यो दास्वते दम आ॥

agniṁ devāso mānuṣīṣu vikṣu priyaṁ dhuḥ kṣeṣyanto na mitram | sa dīdayaduśatīrūrmyā ā dakṣāyyo yo dāsvate dama ā ||

Among the tribes of men the Gods placed Agni as a dear Friend when they would dwell among them. Against the longing nights may he shine brightly, and show the offerer in the house his vigour.

अस्य रण्वा स्वस्येव पुष्टिः संदृष्टिरस्य हियानस्य दक्षोः। वि यो भरिभ्रदोषधीषु जिह्वामत्यो न रथ्यो दोधवीति वारान्॥

asya raṇvā svasyeva puṣṭiḥ saṁdṛṣṭirasya hiyānasya dakṣoḥ | vi yo bharibhradoṣadhīṣu jihvāmatyo na rathyo dodhavīti vārān ||

Sweet is his growth as of one's own possessions; his look when rushing fain to burn is lovely. He darts his tongue forth, like a harnessed courser who shakes his flowing tail, among the bushes.

आ यन्मे अभ्वं वनदः पनन्तोशिग्भ्यो नामिमीत वर्णम्। स चित्रेण चिकिते रंसु भासा जुजुर्वाँ यो मुहुरा युवा भूत्॥

ā yanme abhvaṁ vanadaḥ panantośigbhyo nāmimīta varṇam | sa citreṇa cikite raṁsu bhāsā jujurvā yo muhurā yuvā bhūt ||

Since they who honour me have praised my greatness,-he gave, as 'twere, his hue to those who love him. Known is he by his bright delightful splendour, and waxing old renews his youth for ever.

आ यो वना तातृषाणो न भाति वार्ण पथा रथ्येव स्वानीत्। कृष्णाध्वा तपू रण्वश्चिकेत द्यौरिव स्मयमानो नभोभिः॥

ā yo vanā tātṛṣāṇo na bhāti vārṇa pathā rathyeva svānīt | kṛṣṇādhvā tapū raṇvaściketa dyauriva smayamāno nabhobhiḥ ||

Like one athirst, he lighteth up the forests; like water down the chariot ways he roareth. On his black path he shines in burning beauty, marked as it were the heaven that smiles through vapour.

स यो व्यस्थादभि दक्षदुर्वीं पशुर्नैति स्वयुरगोपाः। अग्निः शोचिष्माँ अतसान्युष्णन्कृष्णव्यथिरस्वदयन्न भूम॥

sa yo vyasthādabhi dakṣadurvīṁ paśurnaiti svayuragopāḥ | agniḥ śociṣmā atasānyuṣṇankṛṣṇavyathirasvadayanna bhūma ||

Around, consuming the broad earth, he wanders, free roaming like an ox without a herdsman,- Agni refulgent, burning up the bushes, with blackened lines, as though the earth he seasoned.

नू ते पूर्वस्यावसो अधीतौ तृतीये विदथे मन्म शंसि। अस्मे अग्ने संयद्वीरं बृहन्तं क्षुमन्तं वाजं स्वपत्यं रयिं दाः॥

nū te pūrvasyāvaso adhītau tṛtīye vidathe manma śaṁsi | asme agne saṁyadvīraṁ bṛhantaṁ kṣumantaṁ vājaṁ svapatyaṁ rayiṁ dāḥ ||

I, in remembrance of thine ancient favour have sung my hymn in this our third assembly. O Agni, give us wealth with store of heroes and mighty strength in food and noble offspring.

त्वया यथा गृत्समदासो अग्ने गुहा वन्वन्त उपराँ अभि ष्युः। सुवीरासो अभिमातिषाहः स्मत्सूरिभ्यो गृणते तद्वयो धाः॥

tvayā yathā gṛtsamadāso agne guhā vanvanta uparā abhi ṣyuḥ | suvīrāso abhimātiṣāhaḥ smatsūribhyo gṛṇate tadvayo dhāḥ ||

May the Grtsamadas, serving in secret, through thee, O Agni, overcome their neighbours, Rich in good heroes and subduing foemen. That vital power give thou to chiefs and singers.