Sukta 1

सोमस्य मा तवसं वक्ष्यग्ने वह्निं चकर्थ विदथे यजध्यै। देवाँ अच्छा दीद्यद्युञ्जे अद्रिं शमाये अग्ने तन्वं जुषस्व॥

somasya mā tavasaṁ vakṣyagne vahniṁ cakartha vidathe yajadhyai | devā acchā dīdyadyuñje adriṁ śamāye agne tanvaṁ juṣasva ||

THOU, Agni, who wilt have the strong, hast made me the Soma's priest, to worship in assembly. Thou shinest to the Gods, I set the pressstones. I toil; be joyful in thyself, O Agni.

प्राञ्चं यज्ञं चकृम वर्धतां गीः समिद्भिरग्निं नमसा दुवस्यन्। दिवः शशासुर्विदथा कवीनां गृत्साय चित्तवसे गातुमीषुः॥

prāñcaṁ yajñaṁ cakṛma vardhatāṁ gīḥ samidbhiragniṁ namasā duvasyan | divaḥ śaśāsurvidathā kavīnāṁ gṛtsāya cittavase gātumīṣuḥ ||

East have we turned the rite; may the hymn aid it. With wood and worship shall they honour Agni. From heaven the synods of the wise have learnt it: c'en for the quick and strong they seek advancement.

मयो दधे मेधिरः पूतदक्षो दिवः सुबन्धुर्जनुषा पृथिव्याः। अविन्दन्नु दर्शतमप्स्वन्तर्देवासो अग्निमपसि स्वसॄणाम्॥

mayo dadhe medhiraḥ pūtadakṣo divaḥ subandhurjanuṣā pṛthivyāḥ | avindannu darśatamapsvantardevāso agnimapasi svasṝṇām ||

The Prudent, he whose will is pure, brought welfare, allied by birth to Heaven and Earth in kinship. The Gods discovered in the midst of waters beautiful Agni with the Sisters' labour.

अवर्धयन्सुभगं सप्त यह्वीः श्वेतं जज्ञानमरुषं महित्वा। शिशुं न जातमभ्यारुरश्वा देवासो अग्निं जनिमन्वपुष्यन्॥

avardhayansubhagaṁ sapta yahvīḥ śvetaṁ jajñānamaruṣaṁ mahitvā | śiśuṁ na jātamabhyāruraśvā devāso agniṁ janimanvapuṣyan ||

Him, Blessed One, the Seven strong Floods augmented, him white at birth and red when waxen mighty. As mother mares run to their new-born you ling, so at his birth the Gods wondered at Agni.

शुक्रेभिरङ्गै रज आततन्वान्क्रतुं पुनानः कविभिः पवित्रैः। शोचिर्वसानः पर्यायुरपां श्रियो मिमीते बृहतीरनूनाः॥

śukrebhiraṅgai raja ātatanvānkratuṁ punānaḥ kavibhiḥ pavitraiḥ | śocirvasānaḥ paryāyurapāṁ śriyo mimīte bṛhatīranūnāḥ ||

Spreading with radiant limbs throughout the region, purging his power with wise purifications, Robing himself in light, the life of waters, lie spreads abroad his high and perfect glories.

वव्राजा सीमनदतीरदब्धा दिवो यह्वीरवसाना अनग्नाः। सना अत्र युवतयः सयोनीरेकं गर्भं दधिरे सप्त वाणीः॥

vavrājā sīmanadatīradabdhā divo yahvīravasānā anagnāḥ | sanā atra yuvatayaḥ sayonīrekaṁ garbhaṁ dadhire sapta vāṇīḥ ||

He sought heaven's Mighty Ones, the unconsuming, the unimpaired, not clothed and yet not naked. Then they, ancient and young, who dwell together, Seven sounding Rivers, as one germ received him.

स्तीर्णा अस्य संहतो विश्वरूपा घृतस्य योनौ स्रवथे मधूनाम्। अस्थुरत्र धेनवः पिन्वमाना मही दस्मस्य मातरा समीची॥

stīrṇā asya saṁhato viśvarūpā ghṛtasya yonau sravathe madhūnām | asthuratra dhenavaḥ pinvamānā mahī dasmasya mātarā samīcī ||

His piles, assuming every form, are scattered where flow sweet waters, at the spring of fatness; There stood the milch-kine with full-laden udders, and both paired Mighty Mothers of the Wondrous.

बभ्राणः सूनो सहसो व्यद्यौद्दधानः शुक्रा रभसा वपूंषि। श्चोतन्ति धारा मधुनो घृतस्य वृषा यत्र वावृधे काव्येन॥

babhrāṇaḥ sūno sahaso vyadyauddadhānaḥ śukrā rabhasā vapūṁṣi | ścotanti dhārā madhuno ghṛtasya vṛṣā yatra vāvṛdhe kāvyena ||

Carefully cherished, Son of Strength, thou shoncst assuming lasting and refulgent beauties. Full streams of fatness and sweet juice descended, there where the Mighty One grew strong by wisdom.

पितुश्चिदूधर्जनुषा विवेद व्यस्य धारा असृजद्वि धेनाः। गुहा चरन्तं सखिभिः शिवेभिर्दिवो यह्वीभिर्न गुहा बभूव॥

pituścidūdharjanuṣā viveda vyasya dhārā asṛjadvi dhenāḥ | guhā carantaṁ sakhibhiḥ śivebhirdivo yahvībhirna guhā babhūva ||

From birth he knew even his Father's bosom, he set his voices and his streams in motion; Knew him who moved with blessed Friends in secret, with the young Dames of heaven. He stayed not hidden.

पितुश्च गर्भं जनितुश्च बभ्रे पूर्वीरेको अधयत्पीप्यानाः। वृष्णे सपत्नी शुचये सबन्धू उभे अस्मै मनुष्ये नि पाहि॥

pituśca garbhaṁ janituśca babhre pūrvīreko adhayatpīpyānāḥ | vṛṣṇe sapatnī śucaye sabandhū ubhe asmai manuṣye ni pāhi ||

He nursed the Infant of the Sire and Maker: alone the Babe sucked many a teeming bosom. Guard, for the Bright and Strong, the fellow-spouses friendly to men and bound to him in kinship.

उरौ महाँ अनिबाधे ववर्धापो अग्निं यशसः सं हि पूर्वीः। ऋतस्य योनावशयद्दमूना जामीनामग्निरपसि स्वसॄणाम्॥

urau mahā anibādhe vavardhāpo agniṁ yaśasaḥ saṁ hi pūrvīḥ | ṛtasya yonāvaśayaddamūnā jāmīnāmagnirapasi svasṝṇām ||

The Mighty One increased in space unbounded; full many a glorious flood gave strength to Agni. Friend of the house, within the lap of Order lay Agni, in the Sister Rivers' service.

अक्रो न बभ्रिः समिथे महीनां दिदृक्षेयः सूनवे भाऋजीकः। उदुस्रिया जनिता यो जजानापां गर्भो नृतमो यह्वो अग्निः॥

akro na babhriḥ samithe mahīnāṁ didṛkṣeyaḥ sūnave bhāṛjīkaḥ | udusriyā janitā yo jajānāpāṁ garbho nṛtamo yahvo agniḥ ||

As keen supporter where great waters gather, light-shedder whom the brood rejoice to look on; He who begat, and will beget, the dawnlights, most manly, Child of Floods, is youthful Agni.

अपां गर्भं दर्शतमोषधीनां वना जजान सुभगा विरूपम्। देवासश्चिन्मनसा सं हि जग्मुः पनिष्ठं जातं तवसं दुवस्यन्॥

apāṁ garbhaṁ darśatamoṣadhīnāṁ vanā jajāna subhagā virūpam | devāsaścinmanasā saṁ hi jagmuḥ paniṣṭhaṁ jātaṁ tavasaṁ duvasyan ||

Him, varied in his form, the lovely Infant of floods and plants the blessed wood hath gendered. Gods even, moved in spirit, came around him, and served him at his birth, the Strong, the Wondrous.

बृहन्त इद्भानवो भाऋजीकमग्निं सचन्त विद्युतो न शुक्राः। गुहेव वृद्धं सदसि स्वे अन्तरपार ऊर्वे अमृतं दुहानाः॥

bṛhanta idbhānavo bhāṛjīkamagniṁ sacanta vidyuto na śukrāḥ | guheva vṛddhaṁ sadasi sve antarapāra ūrve amṛtaṁ duhānāḥ ||

Like brilliant lightnings, mighty luminaries accompany the light-diffusing Agni, Waxen, as 'twere in secret, in his dwelling, while in the boundless stall they milk out Amrta.

ईळे च त्वा यजमानो हविर्भिरीळे सखित्वं सुमतिं निकामः। देवैरवो मिमीहि सं जरित्रे रक्षा च नो दम्येभिरनीकैः॥

īḻe ca tvā yajamāno havirbhirīḻe sakhitvaṁ sumatiṁ nikāmaḥ | devairavo mimīhi saṁ jaritre rakṣā ca no damyebhiranīkaiḥ ||

I sacrificing serve thee with oblations and crave with longing thy good-will and friendship. Grant, with the Gods, thy grace to him who lauds thee, protect us with thy rays that guard the homestead.

उपक्षेतारस्तव सुप्रणीतेऽग्ने विश्वानि धन्या दधानाः। सुरेतसा श्रवसा तुञ्जमाना अभि ष्याम पृतनायूँरदेवान्॥

upakṣetārastava supraṇīte'gne viśvāni dhanyā dadhānāḥ | suretasā śravasā tuñjamānā abhi ṣyāma pṛtanāyūradevān ||

May we, O Agni, thou who leadest wisely, thy followers and masters of all treasures, Strong in the glory of our noble offspring, subdue the godless when they seek the battle.

आ देवानामभवः केतुरग्ने मन्द्रो विश्वानि काव्यानि विद्वान्। प्रति मर्ताँ अवासयो दमूना अनु देवान्रथिरो यासि साधन्॥

ā devānāmabhavaḥ keturagne mandro viśvāni kāvyāni vidvān | prati martā avāsayo damūnā anu devānrathiro yāsi sādhan ||

Ensign of Gods hast thou become, O Agni, joy-giver, knower of all secret wisdom. Friend of the homestead, thou hast lightened mortals: carborne thou goest to the Gods, fulfilling.

नि दुरोणे अमृतो मर्त्यानां राजा ससाद विदथानि साधन्। घृतप्रतीक उर्विया व्यद्यौदग्निर्विश्वानि काव्यानि विद्वान्॥

ni duroṇe amṛto martyānāṁ rājā sasāda vidathāni sādhan | ghṛtapratīka urviyā vyadyaudagnirviśvāni kāvyāni vidvān ||

Within the house hath sate the King immortal of mortals, filling full their sacred synods. Bedewed with holy oil he shineth widely, Agni, the knower of all secret wisdom.

आ नो गहि सख्येभिः शिवेभिर्महान्महीभिरूतिभिः सरण्यन्। अस्मे रयिं बहुलं संतरुत्रं सुवाचं भागं यशसं कृधी नः॥

ā no gahi sakhyebhiḥ śivebhirmahānmahībhirūtibhiḥ saraṇyan | asme rayiṁ bahulaṁ saṁtarutraṁ suvācaṁ bhāgaṁ yaśasaṁ kṛdhī naḥ ||

Come unto us with thine auspicious friendship, come speeding, Mighty, with thy mighty succours. Grant us abundant wealth that saves from danger, that brings a good repute, a glorious portion.

एता ते अग्ने जनिमा सनानि प्र पूर्व्याय नूतनानि वोचम्। महान्ति वृष्णे सवना कृतेमा जन्मञ्जन्मन्निहितो जातवेदाः॥

etā te agne janimā sanāni pra pūrvyāya nūtanāni vocam | mahānti vṛṣṇe savanā kṛtemā janmañjanmannihito jātavedāḥ ||

To thee who art of old these songs, O Agni, have I declared, the ancient and the later. These great libations to the Strong are offiered: in every birth is Jatavedas stablished.

जन्मञ्जन्मन्निहितो जातवेदा विश्वामित्रेभिरिध्यते अजस्रः। तस्य वयं सुमतौ यज्ञियस्यापि भद्रे सौमनसे स्याम॥

janmañjanmannihito jātavedā viśvāmitrebhiridhyate ajasraḥ | tasya vayaṁ sumatau yajñiyasyāpi bhadre saumanase syāma ||

Stablished in every birth is Jatavedas, kindled perpetual by the Visvamitras. May we rest ever in the loving-kindness, in the auspicious grace of him the Holy.

इमं यज्ञं सहसावन्त्वं नो देवत्रा धेहि सुक्रतो रराणः। प्र यंसि होतर्बृहतीरिषो नोऽग्ने महि द्रविणमा यजस्व॥

imaṁ yajñaṁ sahasāvantvaṁ no devatrā dhehi sukrato rarāṇaḥ | pra yaṁsi hotarbṛhatīriṣo no'gne mahi draviṇamā yajasva ||

This sacrifice of ours do thou, O Mighty, O truly Wise, bear to the Gods rejoicing. Grant us abundant food, thou priestly Herald, vouchsafe to give us ample wealth, O Agni.

इळामग्ने पुरुदंसं सनिं गोः शश्वत्तमं हवमानाय साध। स्यान्नः सूनुस्तनयो विजावाग्ने सा ते सुमतिर्भूत्वस्मे॥

iḻāmagne purudaṁsaṁ saniṁ goḥ śaśvattamaṁ havamānāya sādha | syānnaḥ sūnustanayo vijāvāgne sā te sumatirbhūtvasme ||

As holy food, Agni, to thine'invoker give wealth in cattle, lasting, rich in marvels. To us he born a son, and spreading offspring. Agni, be this thy gracious will to us-ward.