Sukta 29

अस्तीदमधिमन्थनमस्ति प्रजननं कृतम्। एतां विश्पत्नीमा भराग्निं मन्थाम पूर्वथा॥

astīdamadhimanthanamasti prajananaṁ kṛtam | etāṁ viśpatnīmā bharāgniṁ manthāma pūrvathā ||

HERE is the gear for friction, here tinder made ready for the spark. Bring thou the Matron: we will rub Agni in ancient fashion forth.

अरण्योर्निहितो जातवेदा गर्भ इव सुधितो गर्भिणीषु। दिवेदिव ईड्यो जागृवद्भिर्हविष्मद्भिर्मनुष्येभिरग्निः॥

araṇyornihito jātavedā garbha iva sudhito garbhiṇīṣu | divediva īḍyo jāgṛvadbhirhaviṣmadbhirmanuṣyebhiragniḥ ||

1n the two fire-sticks Jatavedas lieth, even as the well-set germ in pregnant women, Agni who day by day must be exalted by men who watch and worship with oblations.

उत्तानायामव भरा चिकित्वान्सद्यः प्रवीता वृषणं जजान। अरुषस्तूपो रुशदस्य पाज इळायास्पुत्रो वयुनेऽजनिष्ट॥

uttānāyāmava bharā cikitvānsadyaḥ pravītā vṛṣaṇaṁ jajāna | aruṣastūpo ruśadasya pāja iḻāyāsputro vayune'janiṣṭa ||

Lay this with care on that which lies extended: straight hath she borne the Steerwhen made prolific. With his red pillar-radiant is his splendour -in our skilled task is born the Son of Ila.

इळायास्त्वा पदे वयं नाभा पृथिव्या अधि। जातवेदो नि धीमह्यग्ने हव्याय वोळ्हवे॥

iḻāyāstvā pade vayaṁ nābhā pṛthivyā adhi | jātavedo ni dhīmahyagne havyāya voḻhave ||

In Ila's place we set thee down, upon the central point of earth, That, Agni Jatavedas, thou mayst bear our offerings to the Gods.

मन्थता नरः कविमद्वयन्तं प्रचेतसममृतं सुप्रतीकम्। यज्ञस्य केतुं प्रथमं पुरस्तादग्निं नरो जनयता सुशेवम्॥

manthatā naraḥ kavimadvayantaṁ pracetasamamṛtaṁ supratīkam | yajñasya ketuṁ prathamaṁ purastādagniṁ naro janayatā suśevam ||

Rub into life, ye men, the Sage, the guileless, Immortal, very wise and fair to look on. O men, bring forth the most propitious Agni, first ensign of the sacrifice to eastward.

यदी मन्थन्ति बाहुभिर्वि रोचतेऽश्वो न वाज्यरुषो वनेष्वा। चित्रो न यामन्नश्विनोरनिवृतः परि वृणक्त्यश्मनस्तृणा दहन्॥

yadī manthanti bāhubhirvi rocate'śvo na vājyaruṣo vaneṣvā | citro na yāmannaśvinoranivṛtaḥ pari vṛṇaktyaśmanastṛṇā dahan ||

When with their arms they rub him straight he shineth forth like a strong courser, red in colour, in the wood. Bright, checkless, as it were upon the Atvins' path, lie passeth by the stones and burneth up the grass.

जातो अग्नी रोचते चेकितानो वाजी विप्रः कविशस्तः सुदानुः। यं देवास ईड्यं विश्वविदं हव्यवाहमदधुरध्वरेषु॥

jāto agnī rocate cekitāno vājī vipraḥ kaviśastaḥ sudānuḥ | yaṁ devāsa īḍyaṁ viśvavidaṁ havyavāhamadadhuradhvareṣu ||

Agni shines forth when born, observant, mighty, the bountiful, the Singar praised by sages; Whom, as adorable and knowing all things, Gods set at solemn rites as offeringbearer.

सीद होतः स्व उ लोके चिकित्वान्सादया यज्ञं सुकृतस्य योनौ। देवावीर्देवान्हविषा यजास्यग्ने बृहद्यजमाने वयो धाः॥

sīda hotaḥ sva u loke cikitvānsādayā yajñaṁ sukṛtasya yonau | devāvīrdevānhaviṣā yajāsyagne bṛhadyajamāne vayo dhāḥ ||

Set thee, O Priest, in, thine own place, observant: lay down the sacrifice in the home of worship. Thou, dear to Gods, shalt serve them with oblation: Agni, give long life to the sacrificer.

कृणोत धूमं वृषणं सखायोऽस्रेधन्त इतन वाजमच्छ। अयमग्निः पृतनाषाट् सुवीरो येन देवासो असहन्त दस्यून्॥

kṛṇota dhūmaṁ vṛṣaṇaṁ sakhāyo'sredhanta itana vājamaccha | ayamagniḥ pṛtanāṣāṭ suvīro yena devāso asahanta dasyūn ||

Raise ye a mighty smoke, my fellow-workers! Ye shall attain to wealth without obstruction. This Agni is the battle-winning Hero by whom the Gods have overcome the Dasyus.

अयं ते योनिरृत्वियो यतो जातो अरोचथाः। तं जानन्नग्न आ सीदाथा नो वर्धया गिरः॥

ayaṁ te yonirṛtviyo yato jāto arocathāḥ | taṁ jānannagna ā sīdāthā no vardhayā giraḥ ||

This is thine ordered place of birth whence sprung to life thou shonest forth. Knowing this, Agni, sit thee down, and prosper thou the songs we sing.

तनूनपादुच्यते गर्भ आसुरो नराशंसो भवति यद्विजायते। मातरिश्वा यदमिमीत मातरि वातस्य सर्गो अभवत्सरीमणि॥

tanūnapāducyate garbha āsuro narāśaṁso bhavati yadvijāyate | mātariśvā yadamimīta mātari vātasya sargo abhavatsarīmaṇi ||

As Germ Celestial he is called Tanunapat, and Narasamsa born diffused in varied shape. Formed in his Mother he is Matarisvan; he hath, in his course, become the rapid flight of wind.

सुनिर्मथा निर्मथितः सुनिधा निहितः कविः। अग्ने स्वध्वरा कृणु देवान्देवयते यज॥

sunirmathā nirmathitaḥ sunidhā nihitaḥ kaviḥ | agne svadhvarā kṛṇu devāndevayate yaja ||

With strong attrition rubbed to life, laid down with careful hand, a Sage, Agni, make sacrifices good, and for the pious bring the Gods.

अजीजनन्नमृतं मर्त्यासोऽस्रेमाणं तरणिं वीळुजम्भम्। दश स्वसारो अग्रुवः समीचीः पुमांसं जातमभि सं रभन्ते॥

ajījanannamṛtaṁ martyāso'sremāṇaṁ taraṇiṁ vīḻujambham | daśa svasāro agruvaḥ samīcīḥ pumāṁsaṁ jātamabhi saṁ rabhante ||

Mortals have brought to life the God Immortal, the Conqueror with mighty jaws, unfailing. The sisters ten, unwedded and united, together grasp the Babe, the new-born Infant.

प्र सप्तहोता सनकादरोचत मातुरुपस्थे यदशोचदूधनि। न नि मिषति सुरणो दिवेदिवे यदसुरस्य जठरादजायत॥

pra saptahotā sanakādarocata māturupasthe yadaśocadūdhani | na ni miṣati suraṇo divedive yadasurasya jaṭharādajāyata ||

Served by the seven priests, he shone forth from ancient time, when in his Mother's bosom, in her lap, he glowed. Giving delight each day he closeth not his eye, since from the Asura's body hewas brought to life.

अमित्रायुधो मरुतामिव प्रयाः प्रथमजा ब्रह्मणो विश्वमिद्विदुः। द्युम्नवद्ब्रह्म कुशिकास एरिर एकएको दमे अग्निं समीधिरे॥

amitrāyudho marutāmiva prayāḥ prathamajā brahmaṇo viśvamidviduḥ | dyumnavadbrahma kuśikāsa erira ekaeko dame agniṁ samīdhire ||

Even as the Maruts, onslaughts who attack the foe, those born the first of all knew the full power of prayer. The Kusikas have made the glorious hymn ascend, and, each one singly in his home, have kindled fire.

यदद्य त्वा प्रयति यज्ञे अस्मिन्होतश्चिकित्वोऽवृणीमहीह। ध्रुवमया ध्रुवमुताशमिष्ठाः प्रजानन्विद्वाँ उप याहि सोमम्॥

yadadya tvā prayati yajñe asminhotaścikitvo'vṛṇīmahīha | dhruvamayā dhruvamutāśamiṣṭhāḥ prajānanvidvā upa yāhi somam ||

As we, O Priest observant, have elected thee this day, what time the solemn sacrifice began, So surely hast thou worshipped, surely hast thou toiled: come thou unto the Soma, wise and knowing all.