Sukta 1

अबोध्यग्निः समिधा जनानां प्रति धेनुमिवायतीमुषासम्। यह्वा इव प्र वयामुज्जिहानाः प्र भानवः सिस्रते नाकमच्छ॥

abodhyagniḥ samidhā janānāṁ prati dhenumivāyatīmuṣāsam | yahvā iva pra vayāmujjihānāḥ pra bhānavaḥ sisrate nākamaccha ||

Agni is wakened by the people's fuel to meet the Dawn who cometh like a milch-cow. Like young trees shooting up on high their branches, his flames are rising to the vault of heaven.

अबोधि होता यजथाय देवानूर्ध्वो अग्निः सुमनाः प्रातरस्थात्। समिद्धस्य रुशददर्शि पाजो महान्देवस्तमसो निरमोचि॥

abodhi hotā yajathāya devānūrdhvo agniḥ sumanāḥ prātarasthāt | samiddhasya ruśadadarśi pājo mahāndevastamaso niramoci ||

For worship of the Gods the Priest was wakened: at morning gracious Agni hath arisen. Kindled, his radiant might is made apparent, and the great Deity set free from darkness.

यदीं गणस्य रशनामजीगः शुचिरङ्क्ते शुचिभिर्गोभिरग्निः। आद्दक्षिणा युज्यते वाजयन्त्युत्तानामूर्ध्वो अधयज्जुहूभिः॥

yadīṁ gaṇasya raśanāmajīgaḥ śuciraṅkte śucibhirgobhiragniḥ | āddakṣiṇā yujyate vājayantyuttānāmūrdhvo adhayajjuhūbhiḥ ||

When he hath stirred the line of his attendants, with the pure milk pure Agni is anointed. The strength-bestowing gift is then made ready, which spread in front, with tongues, erect, he drinketh.

अग्निमच्छा देवयतां मनांसि चक्षूंषीव सूर्ये सं चरन्ति। यदीं सुवाते उषसा विरूपे श्वेतो वाजी जायते अग्रे अह्नाम्॥

agnimacchā devayatāṁ manāṁsi cakṣūṁṣīva sūrye saṁ caranti | yadīṁ suvāte uṣasā virūpe śveto vājī jāyate agre ahnām ||

The spirits of the pious turn together to Agni, as the eyes of all to Surya. He, when both Dawns of different hues have borne him, springs up at daybreak as a strong white charger.

जनिष्ट हि जेन्यो अग्रे अह्नां हितो हितेष्वरुषो वनेषु। दमेदमे सप्त रत्ना दधानोऽग्निर्होता नि षसादा यजीयान्॥

janiṣṭa hi jenyo agre ahnāṁ hito hiteṣvaruṣo vaneṣu | damedame sapta ratnā dadhāno'gnirhotā ni ṣasādā yajīyān ||

The noble One was born at days' beginning, laid red in colour mid the well-laid fuel. Yielding in every house his seven rich treasures, Agni is seated, Priest most skilled in worship.

अग्निर्होता न्यसीदद्यजीयानुपस्थे मातुः सुरभा उ लोके। युवा कविः पुरुनिष्ठ ऋतावा धर्ता कृष्टीनामुत मध्य इद्धः॥

agnirhotā nyasīdadyajīyānupasthe mātuḥ surabhā u loke | yuvā kaviḥ puruniṣṭha ṛtāvā dhartā kṛṣṭīnāmuta madhya iddhaḥ ||

Agni hath sat him down, a Priest most skilful, on a sweet-smelling place, his Mother's bosom. Young, faithful, sage, preeminent o'er many, kindled among the folk whom he sustaineth.

प्र णु त्यं विप्रमध्वरेषु साधुमग्निं होतारमीळते नमोभिः। आ यस्ततान रोदसी ऋतेन नित्यं मृजन्ति वाजिनं घृतेन॥

pra ṇu tyaṁ vipramadhvareṣu sādhumagniṁ hotāramīḻate namobhiḥ | ā yastatāna rodasī ṛtena nityaṁ mṛjanti vājinaṁ ghṛtena ||

This Singer excellent at sacrifices, Agni the Priest, they glorify with homage. Him who spread out both worlds by Law Eternal they balm with oil, strong Steed who never faileth.

मार्जाल्यो मृज्यते स्वे दमूनाः कविप्रशस्तो अतिथिः शिवो नः। सहस्रशृङ्गो वृषभस्तदोजा विश्वाँ अग्ने सहसा प्रास्यन्यान्॥

mārjālyo mṛjyate sve damūnāḥ kavipraśasto atithiḥ śivo naḥ | sahasraśṛṅgo vṛṣabhastadojā viśvā agne sahasā prāsyanyān ||

He, worshipful House-Friend, in his home is worshipped, our own auspicious guest, lauded by sages. That strength the Bull with thousand horns possesses. In might, O Agni, thou excellest others.

प्र सद्यो अग्ने अत्येष्यन्यानाविर्यस्मै चारुतमो बभूथ। ईळेन्यो वपुष्यो विभावा प्रियो विशामतिथिर्मानुषीणाम्॥

pra sadyo agne atyeṣyanyānāviryasmai cārutamo babhūtha | īḻenyo vapuṣyo vibhāvā priyo viśāmatithirmānuṣīṇām ||

Thou quickly passest by all others, Agni, for him to whom thou hast appeared most lovely, Wondrously fair, adorable, effulgent, the guest of men, the darling of the people.

तुभ्यं भरन्ति क्षितयो यविष्ठ बलिमग्ने अन्तित ओत दूरात्। आ भन्दिष्ठस्य सुमतिं चिकिद्धि बृहत्ते अग्ने महि शर्म भद्रम्॥

tubhyaṁ bharanti kṣitayo yaviṣṭha balimagne antita ota dūrāt | ā bhandiṣṭhasya sumatiṁ cikiddhi bṛhatte agne mahi śarma bhadram ||

To thee, Most Youthful God! to thee, O Agni from near and far the people bring their tribute. Mark well the prayer of him who best extols thee. Great, high, auspicious, Agni, is thy shelter.

आद्य रथं भानुमो भानुमन्तमग्ने तिष्ठ यजतेभिः समन्तम्। विद्वान्पथीनामुर्वन्तरिक्षमेह देवान्हविरद्याय वक्षि॥

ādya rathaṁ bhānumo bhānumantamagne tiṣṭha yajatebhiḥ samantam | vidvānpathīnāmurvantarikṣameha devānhaviradyāya vakṣi ||

Ascend to-day thy splendid car, O Agni, in splendour, with the Holy Ones around it. Knowing the paths by mid-air's spacious region bring hither Gods to feast on our oblation.

अवोचाम कवये मेध्याय वचो वन्दारु वृषभाय वृष्णे। गविष्ठिरो नमसा स्तोममग्नौ दिवीव रुक्ममुरुव्यञ्चमश्रेत्॥

avocāma kavaye medhyāya vaco vandāru vṛṣabhāya vṛṣṇe | gaviṣṭhiro namasā stomamagnau divīva rukmamuruvyañcamaśret ||

To him adorable, sage, strong and mighty we have sung forth our song of praise and homage. Gavisthira hath raised with prayer to Agni this laud far-reaching, like gold light to heaven.