Sukta 1

अग्निं नरो दीधितिभिररण्योर्हस्तच्युती जनयन्त प्रशस्तम्। दूरेदृशं गृहपतिमथर्युम्॥

agniṁ naro dīdhitibhiraraṇyorhastacyutī janayanta praśastam | dūredṛśaṁ gṛhapatimatharyum ||

THE men from fire-sticks, with their hands' swift movement, have, in deep thought, engendered glorious Agni, Far-seen, with pointed flame, Lord of the homestead.

तमग्निमस्ते वसवो न्यृण्वन्सुप्रतिचक्षमवसे कुतश्चित्। दक्षाय्यो यो दम आस नित्यः॥

tamagnimaste vasavo nyṛṇvansupraticakṣamavase kutaścit | dakṣāyyo yo dama āsa nityaḥ ||

The Vasus set that Agni in the dwelling, fair to behold, for help from every quarter: Who, in the home for ever, must be honoured.

प्रेद्धो अग्ने दीदिहि पुरो नोऽजस्रया सूर्म्या यविष्ठ। त्वां शश्वन्त उप यन्ति वाजाः॥

preddho agne dīdihi puro no'jasrayā sūrmyā yaviṣṭha | tvāṁ śaśvanta upa yanti vājāḥ ||

Shine thou before us, Agni, well-enkindled, with flame, Most Youthful God, that never fadeth. To thee come all our sacrificial viands.

प्र ते अग्नयोऽग्निभ्यो वरं निः सुवीरासः शोशुचन्त द्युमन्तः। यत्रा नरः समासते सुजाताः॥

pra te agnayo'gnibhyo varaṁ niḥ suvīrāsaḥ śośucanta dyumantaḥ | yatrā naraḥ samāsate sujātāḥ ||

Among all fires these fires have shone most brightly, splendid with light, begirt by noble heroes, Where men of lofty birth sit down together.

दा नो अग्ने धिया रयिं सुवीरं स्वपत्यं सहस्य प्रशस्तम्। न यं यावा तरति यातुमावान्॥

dā no agne dhiyā rayiṁ suvīraṁ svapatyaṁ sahasya praśastam | na yaṁ yāvā tarati yātumāvān ||

Victorious Agni, grant us wealth with wisdom, wealth with brave sons, famous and independent, Which not a foe who deals in magic conquers.

उप यमेति युवतिः सुदक्षं दोषा वस्तोर्हविष्मती घृताची। उप स्वैनमरमतिर्वसूयुः॥

upa yameti yuvatiḥ sudakṣaṁ doṣā vastorhaviṣmatī ghṛtācī | upa svainamaramatirvasūyuḥ ||

To whom, the Strong, at morn and eve comes, maid-like, the ladle dropping oil, with its oblation. Wealth-seeking comes to him his own devotion.

विश्वा अग्नेऽप दहारातीर्येभिस्तपोभिरदहो जरूथम्। प्र निस्वरं चातयस्वामीवाम्॥

viśvā agne'pa dahārātīryebhistapobhiradaho jarūtham | pra nisvaraṁ cātayasvāmīvām ||

Burn up all malice with those flames, O Agni, wherewith of old thou burntest up Jarutha, And drive away in silence pain and sickness.

आ यस्ते अग्न इधते अनीकं वसिष्ठ शुक्र दीदिवः पावक। उतो न एभिः स्तवथैरिह स्याः॥

ā yaste agna idhate anīkaṁ vasiṣṭha śukra dīdivaḥ pāvaka | uto na ebhiḥ stavathairiha syāḥ ||

With him who lighteth up thy splendour, Agni, excellent, pure, refulgent, Purifier, Be present, and with us through these our praises.

वि ये ते अग्ने भेजिरे अनीकं मर्ता नरः पित्र्यासः पुरुत्रा। उतो न एभिः सुमना इह स्याः॥

vi ye te agne bhejire anīkaṁ martā naraḥ pitryāsaḥ purutrā | uto na ebhiḥ sumanā iha syāḥ ||

Agni, the patriarchal men, the mortals who have in many places spread thy lustre,- Be gracious to us here for their sake also.

इमे नरो वृत्रहत्येषु शूरा विश्वा अदेवीरभि सन्तु मायाः। ये मे धियं पनयन्त प्रशस्ताम्॥

ime naro vṛtrahatyeṣu śūrā viśvā adevīrabhi santu māyāḥ | ye me dhiyaṁ panayanta praśastām ||

Let these men, heroes in the fight with foemen, prevail against all godless arts of 4magic,- These who ipprove the noble song I sing thee.

मा शूने अग्ने नि षदाम नृणां माशेषसोऽवीरता परि त्वा। प्रजावतीषु दुर्यासु दुर्य॥

mā śūne agne ni ṣadāma nṛṇāṁ māśeṣaso'vīratā pari tvā | prajāvatīṣu duryāsu durya ||

Let us not sit in want of men, O Agni, without descendants, heroleu, about thee: But, O House-Friend, in houses full of children.

यमश्वी नित्यमुपयाति यज्ञं प्रजावन्तं स्वपत्यं क्षयं नः। स्वजन्मना शेषसा वावृधानम्॥

yamaśvī nityamupayāti yajñaṁ prajāvantaṁ svapatyaṁ kṣayaṁ naḥ | svajanmanā śeṣasā vāvṛdhānam ||

By sacrifice which the Steeds' Lord ever visits, there make our dwelling rich in seed and offspring, Increasing still with lineal successors.

पाहि नो अग्ने रक्षसो अजुष्टात्पाहि धूर्तेरररुषो अघायोः। त्वा युजा पृतनायूँरभि ष्याम्॥

pāhi no agne rakṣaso ajuṣṭātpāhi dhūrterararuṣo aghāyoḥ | tvā yujā pṛtanāyūrabhi ṣyām ||

Guard us, O Agni, from the hated demon, guard us from malice of the churlish sinner: Allied with thee may I subdue assailants.

सेदग्निरग्नीँरत्यस्त्वन्यान्यत्र वाजी तनयो वीळुपाणिः। सहस्रपाथा अक्षरा समेति॥

sedagniragnīratyastvanyānyatra vājī tanayo vīḻupāṇiḥ | sahasrapāthā akṣarā sameti ||

May this same fire of mine surpass all others, this fire where offspring, vigorous and firm-handed, Wins, on a thousand paths, what ne'er shall perish.

सेदग्निर्यो वनुष्यतो निपाति समेद्धारमंहस उरुष्यात्। सुजातासः परि चरन्ति वीराः॥

sedagniryo vanuṣyato nipāti sameddhāramaṁhasa uruṣyāt | sujātāsaḥ pari caranti vīrāḥ ||

This is that Agni, saviour from the foeman, who guards the kindler of the flame from sorrow: Heroes of noble lineage serve and tend him.

अयं सो अग्निराहुतः पुरुत्रा यमीशानः समिदिन्धे हविष्मान्। परि यमेत्यध्वरेषु होता॥

ayaṁ so agnirāhutaḥ purutrā yamīśānaḥ samidindhe haviṣmān | pari yametyadhvareṣu hotā ||

This is that Agni, served in many places, whom the rich lord who brings oblation kindles, And round him goes the priest at sacrifices.

त्वे अग्न आहवनानि भूरीशानास आ जुहुयाम नित्या। उभा कृण्वन्तो वहतू मियेधे॥

tve agna āhavanāni bhūrīśānāsa ā juhuyāma nityā | ubhā kṛṇvanto vahatū miyedhe ||

Agni, may we with riches in possession bring thee continual ofierings in abundance, Using both means to draw thee to our worship.

इमो अग्ने वीततमानि हव्याजस्रो वक्षि देवतातिमच्छ। प्रति न ईं सुरभीणि व्यन्तु॥

imo agne vītatamāni havyājasro vakṣi devatātimaccha | prati na īṁ surabhīṇi vyantu ||

Agni, bear thou, Eternal, these most welcome oblations to the Deities' assembly: Let them enjoy our very fragrant presents.

मा नो अग्नेऽवीरते परा दा दुर्वाससेऽमतये मा नो अस्यै। मा नः क्षुधे मा रक्षस ऋतावो मा नो दमे मा वन आ जुहूर्थाः॥

mā no agne'vīrate parā dā durvāsase'mataye mā no asyai | mā naḥ kṣudhe mā rakṣasa ṛtāvo mā no dame mā vana ā juhūrthāḥ ||

Give us not up, Agni, to want of heroes, to wretched clothes, to need, to destitution. Yield us not, Holy One, to fiend or hunger; injure us not at home or in the forest.

नू मे ब्रह्माण्यग्न उच्छशाधि त्वं देव मघवद्भ्यः सुषूदः। रातौ स्यामोभयास आ ते यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः॥

nū me brahmāṇyagna ucchaśādhi tvaṁ deva maghavadbhyaḥ suṣūdaḥ | rātau syāmobhayāsa ā te yūyaṁ pāta svastibhiḥ sadā naḥ ||

Give strength and power to these my prayers, O Agni; O God, pour blessings on our chiefs and nobles. Grant that both we and they may share thy bounty. Ye Gods, protect us evermore with blessings.

त्वमग्ने सुहवो रण्वसंदृक्सुदीती सूनो सहसो दिदीहि। मा त्वे सचा तनये नित्य आ धङ्मा वीरो अस्मन्नर्यो वि दासीत्॥

tvamagne suhavo raṇvasaṁdṛksudītī sūno sahaso didīhi | mā tve sacā tanaye nitya ā dhaṅmā vīro asmannaryo vi dāsīt ||

Thou Agni, swift to hear, art fair of aspect: beam forth, O Son of Strength, in full effulgence. Let me not want, with thee, a son for ever: let not a manly hero ever fail us.

मा नो अग्ने दुर्भृतये सचैषु देवेद्धेष्वग्निषु प्र वोचः। मा ते अस्मान्दुर्मतयो भृमाच्चिद्देवस्य सूनो सहसो नशन्त॥

mā no agne durbhṛtaye sacaiṣu deveddheṣvagniṣu pra vocaḥ | mā te asmāndurmatayo bhṛmācciddevasya sūno sahaso naśanta ||

Condemn us not to indigence, O Agni, beside these flaming fires which Gods have kindled; Nor, even after fault, let thy displeasure, thine as a God, O Son of Strength, o'ertake us.

स मर्तो अग्ने स्वनीक रेवानमर्त्ये य आजुहोति हव्यम्। स देवता वसुवनिं दधाति यं सूरिरर्थी पृच्छमान एति॥

sa marto agne svanīka revānamartye ya ājuhoti havyam | sa devatā vasuvaniṁ dadhāti yaṁ sūrirarthī pṛcchamāna eti ||

O Agni, fair of face, the wealthy mortal who to the Immortal offers his oblation. Hath him who wins him treasure by his Godhead, to whom the prince, in need, goes supplicating.

महो नो अग्ने सुवितस्य विद्वान्रयिं सूरिभ्य आ वहा बृहन्तम्। येन वयं सहसावन्मदेमाविक्षितास आयुषा सुवीराः॥

maho no agne suvitasya vidvānrayiṁ sūribhya ā vahā bṛhantam | yena vayaṁ sahasāvanmademāvikṣitāsa āyuṣā suvīrāḥ ||

Knowing our chief felicity, O Agni, bring hither ample riches to our nobles, Wherewith we may enjoy ourselves, O Victor, with undiminished life and hero children.

नू मे ब्रह्माण्यग्न उच्छशाधि त्वं देव मघवद्भ्यः सुषूदः। रातौ स्यामोभयास आ ते यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः॥

nū me brahmāṇyagna ucchaśādhi tvaṁ deva maghavadbhyaḥ suṣūdaḥ | rātau syāmobhayāsa ā te yūyaṁ pāta svastibhiḥ sadā naḥ ||

Give strength and power to these my prayers, O Agni; O God, pour blessings on bur chiefs and nobles. Grant that both we and they may share thy bounty. Ye Gods, protect us evermore with blessings.