Sukta 4

प्र ते यक्षि प्र त इयर्मि मन्म भुवो यथा वन्द्यो नो हवेषु। धन्वन्निव प्रपा असि त्वमग्न इयक्षवे पूरवे प्रत्न राजन्॥

pra te yakṣi pra ta iyarmi manma bhuvo yathā vandyo no haveṣu | dhanvanniva prapā asi tvamagna iyakṣave pūrave pratna rājan ||

To thee will send praise and bring oblation, as thou hast merited lauds when we invoked thee. A fountain in the desert art thou, Agni, O Ancient King, to man who fain would worship,

यं त्वा जनासो अभि संचरन्ति गाव उष्णमिव व्रजं यविष्ठ। दूतो देवानामसि मर्त्यानामन्तर्महाँश्चरसि रोचनेन॥

yaṁ tvā janāso abhi saṁcaranti gāva uṣṇamiva vrajaṁ yaviṣṭha | dūto devānāmasi martyānāmantarmahāścarasi rocanena ||

Thou unto whom resort the gathered people, as the kine seek the warm stall, O Most Youthful. Thou art the messenger of Gods and mortals, and goest glorious with thy light between them.

शिशुं न त्वा जेन्यं वर्धयन्ती माता बिभर्ति सचनस्यमाना। धनोरधि प्रवता यासि हर्यञ्जिगीषसे पशुरिवावसृष्टः॥

śiśuṁ na tvā jenyaṁ vardhayantī mātā bibharti sacanasyamānā | dhanoradhi pravatā yāsi haryañjigīṣase paśurivāvasṛṣṭaḥ ||

Making thee grow as 'twere some noble infant, thy Mother nurtures thee with sweet affection. Over the desert slopes thou passest longing, and seekest, like some beast set free, thy fodder.

मूरा अमूर न वयं चिकित्वो महित्वमग्ने त्वमङ्ग वित्से। शये वव्रिश्चरति जिह्वयादन्रेरिह्यते युवतिं विश्पतिः सन्॥

mūrā amūra na vayaṁ cikitvo mahitvamagne tvamaṅga vitse | śaye vavriścarati jihvayādanrerihyate yuvatiṁ viśpatiḥ san ||

Foolish are we, O Wise and free from error: verily, Agni, thou dost know thy grandeur. There lies the form: he moves and licks, and swallows, and, as House-Lord, kisses the Youthful Maiden.

कूचिज्जायते सनयासु नव्यो वने तस्थौ पलितो धूमकेतुः। अस्नातापो वृषभो न प्र वेति सचेतसो यं प्रणयन्त मर्ताः॥

kūcijjāyate sanayāsu navyo vane tasthau palito dhūmaketuḥ | asnātāpo vṛṣabho na pra veti sacetaso yaṁ praṇayanta martāḥ ||

He rises ever fresh in ancient fuel: smoke-bannered, gray, he makes the wood his dwelling. No swimmer, Steer, he presses through the waters, and to his place accordant mortals bear him.

तनूत्यजेव तस्करा वनर्गू रशनाभिर्दशभिरभ्यधीताम्। इयं ते अग्ने नव्यसी मनीषा युक्ष्वा रथं न शुचयद्भिरङ्गैः॥

tanūtyajeva taskarā vanargū raśanābhirdaśabhirabhyadhītām | iyaṁ te agne navyasī manīṣā yukṣvā rathaṁ na śucayadbhiraṅgaiḥ ||

Like thieves who risk their lives and haunt the forest, the twain with their ten girdles have secured him. This is a new hymn meant for thee, O Agni: yoke as it were thy car with parts that glitter.

ब्रह्म च ते जातवेदो नमश्चेयं च गीः सदमिद्वर्धनी भूत्। रक्षा णो अग्ने तनयानि तोका रक्षोत नस्तन्वो अप्रयुच्छन्॥

brahma ca te jātavedo namaśceyaṁ ca gīḥ sadamidvardhanī bhūt | rakṣā ṇo agne tanayāni tokā rakṣota nastanvo aprayucchan ||

Homage and prayer are thine, O Jatavedas, and this my song shall evermore exalt thee. Agni, protect our children and descendants, and guard with ever-watcliful care our bodies.