Sukta 16

एना वो अग्निं नमसोर्जो नपातमा हुवे। प्रियं चेतिष्ठमरतिं स्वध्वरं विश्वस्य दूतममृतम्॥

enā vo agniṁ namasorjo napātamā huve | priyaṁ cetiṣṭhamaratiṁ svadhvaraṁ viśvasya dūtamamṛtam ||

WITH this my reverent hymn I call Agni for you, the Son of Strength, Dear, wisest envoy, served with noble sacrifice, immortal messenger of all.

स योजते अरुषा विश्वभोजसा स दुद्रवत्स्वाहुतः। सुब्रह्मा यज्ञः सुशमी वसूनां देवं राधो जनानाम्॥

sa yojate aruṣā viśvabhojasā sa dudravatsvāhutaḥ | subrahmā yajñaḥ suśamī vasūnāṁ devaṁ rādho janānām ||

His two red horses, all-supporting, let him yoke: let him, well-worshipped, urge them fast. Then hath the sacrifice good prayers and happy end, and heavenly gift of wealth to men.

उदस्य शोचिरस्थादाजुह्वानस्य मीळ्हुषः। उद्धूमासो अरुषासो दिविस्पृशः समग्निमिन्धते नरः॥

udasya śocirasthādājuhvānasya mīḻhuṣaḥ | uddhūmāso aruṣāso divispṛśaḥ samagnimindhate naraḥ ||

The flame of him the Bountiful, the Much-invoked, hath mounted up, And his red-coloured smoke-clouds reach and touch the sky: the men are kindling Agni well.

तं त्वा दूतं कृण्महे यशस्तमं देवाँ आ वीतये वह। विश्वा सूनो सहसो मर्तभोजना रास्व तद्यत्त्वेमहे॥

taṁ tvā dūtaṁ kṛṇmahe yaśastamaṁ devā ā vītaye vaha | viśvā sūno sahaso martabhojanā rāsva tadyattvemahe ||

Thee, thee Most Glorious One we make our messenger. Bring the Gods hither to the feast. Give us, O Son of Strength, all food that fcedeth man: give that for which we pray to thee.

त्वमग्ने गृहपतिस्त्वं होता नो अध्वरे। त्वं पोता विश्ववार प्रचेता यक्षि वेषि च वार्यम्॥

tvamagne gṛhapatistvaṁ hotā no adhvare | tvaṁ potā viśvavāra pracetā yakṣi veṣi ca vāryam ||

Thou, Agni, art the homestead's Lord, our Herald at the sacrifice. Lord of all boons, thou art the Cleanser and a Sage. Pay worship, and enjoy the good.

कृधि रत्नं यजमानाय सुक्रतो त्वं हि रत्नधा असि। आ न ऋते शिशीहि विश्वमृत्विजं सुशंसो यश्च दक्षते॥

kṛdhi ratnaṁ yajamānāya sukrato tvaṁ hi ratnadhā asi | ā na ṛte śiśīhi viśvamṛtvijaṁ suśaṁso yaśca dakṣate ||

Give riches to the sacrificer, O Most Wise, for thou art he who granteth wealth. Inspire with zeal each priest at this our solemn rite; all who are skilled in singing praise.

त्वे अग्ने स्वाहुत प्रियासः सन्तु सूरयः। यन्तारो ये मघवानो जनानामूर्वान्दयन्त गोनाम्॥

tve agne svāhuta priyāsaḥ santu sūrayaḥ | yantāro ye maghavāno janānāmūrvāndayanta gonām ||

O Agni who art worshipped well, dear let our princes he to thee, Our wealthy patrons who are governors of men, who part, as gifts, their stalls of kine.

येषामिळा घृतहस्ता दुरोण आँ अपि प्राता निषीदति। ताँस्त्रायस्व सहस्य द्रुहो निदो यच्छा नः शर्म दीर्घश्रुत्॥

yeṣāmiḻā ghṛtahastā duroṇa ā api prātā niṣīdati | tāstrāyasva sahasya druho nido yacchā naḥ śarma dīrghaśrut ||

They in whose home, her hand bearing the sacred oil, Ila sits down well-satisfied- Guard them, Victorious God, from slander and from harm. give us a refuge famed afar.

स मन्द्रया च जिह्वया वह्निरासा विदुष्टरः। अग्ने रयिं मघवद्भ्यो न आ वह हव्यदातिं च सूदय॥

sa mandrayā ca jihvayā vahnirāsā viduṣṭaraḥ | agne rayiṁ maghavadbhyo na ā vaha havyadātiṁ ca sūdaya ||

Do thou, a Priest with pleasant tongue, most wise, and very near to us, Agni, bring riches hither to our liberal chiefs, and speed the oflering of our gifts.

ये राधांसि ददत्यश्व्या मघा कामेन श्रवसो महः। ताँ अंहसः पिपृहि पर्तृभिष्ट्वं शतं पूर्भिर्यविष्ठ्य॥

ye rādhāṁsi dadatyaśvyā maghā kāmena śravaso mahaḥ | tā aṁhasaḥ pipṛhi partṛbhiṣṭvaṁ śataṁ pūrbhiryaviṣṭhya ||

They who bestow as bounty plenteous wealth of steeds, moved by desire of great renown- Do thou with saving help preserve them from distress, Most Youthful! with a hundred forts.

देवो वो द्रविणोदाः पूर्णां विवष्ट्यासिचम्। उद्वा सिञ्चध्वमुप वा पृणध्वमादिद्वो देव ओहते॥

devo vo draviṇodāḥ pūrṇāṁ vivaṣṭyāsicam | udvā siñcadhvamupa vā pṛṇadhvamādidvo deva ohate ||

The God who gives your wealth demands a full libation poured to him. Pour ye it forth, then fill the vessel full again: then doth the God pay heed to you.

तं होतारमध्वरस्य प्रचेतसं वह्निं देवा अकृण्वत। दधाति रत्नं विधते सुवीर्यमग्निर्जनाय दाशुषे॥

taṁ hotāramadhvarasya pracetasaṁ vahniṁ devā akṛṇvata | dadhāti ratnaṁ vidhate suvīryamagnirjanāya dāśuṣe ||

Him have the Gods appointed Priest of sacrifice, oblation-bearer, passing wise. Agni gives wealth and valour to the worshipper, to folk who offer up their gifts.