Sukta 79

अपश्यमस्य महतो महित्वममर्त्यस्य मर्त्यासु विक्षु। नाना हनू विभृते सं भरेते असिन्वती बप्सती भूर्यत्तः॥

apaśyamasya mahato mahitvamamartyasya martyāsu vikṣu | nānā hanū vibhṛte saṁ bharete asinvatī bapsatī bhūryattaḥ ||

I HAVE beheld the might of this Great Being. Immortal in the midst of tribes of mortals. His jaws now open and now shut together: much they devour, insatiately chewing.

गुहा शिरो निहितमृधगक्षी असिन्वन्नत्ति जिह्वया वनानि। अत्राण्यस्मै पड्भिः सं भरन्त्युत्तानहस्ता नमसाधि विक्षु॥

guhā śiro nihitamṛdhagakṣī asinvannatti jihvayā vanāni | atrāṇyasmai paḍbhiḥ saṁ bharantyuttānahastā namasādhi vikṣu ||

His eyes are turned away, his head is hidden: unsated with his tongue he eats the fuel. With hands upraised, with reverence in the houses, for him they quickly bring his food together.

प्र मातुः प्रतरं गुह्यमिच्छन्कुमारो न वीरुधः सर्पदुर्वीः। ससं न पक्वमविदच्छुचन्तं रिरिह्वांसं रिप उपस्थे अन्तः॥

pra mātuḥ prataraṁ guhyamicchankumāro na vīrudhaḥ sarpadurvīḥ | sasaṁ na pakvamavidacchucantaṁ ririhvāṁsaṁ ripa upasthe antaḥ ||

Seeking, as 'twere, his Mother's secret bosom, he, like a child, creeps on through wide-spread bushes. One he finds glowing like hot food made ready, and kissing deep within the earth's recmes.

तद्वामृतं रोदसी प्र ब्रवीमि जायमानो मातरा गर्भो अत्ति। नाहं देवस्य मर्त्यश्चिकेताग्निरङ्ग विचेताः स प्रचेताः॥

tadvāmṛtaṁ rodasī pra bravīmi jāyamāno mātarā garbho atti | nāhaṁ devasya martyaściketāgniraṅga vicetāḥ sa pracetāḥ ||

This holy Law I tell you, Earth and Heaven: the Infant at his birth dovours his Parents. No knowledge of the God have I, a mortal. Yea, Agni knoweth best, for he hath wisdom.

यो अस्मा अन्नं तृष्वादधात्याज्यैर्घृतैर्जुहोति पुष्यति। तस्मै सहस्रमक्षभिर्वि चक्षेऽग्ने विश्वतः प्रत्यङ्ङसि त्वम्॥

yo asmā annaṁ tṛṣvādadhātyājyairghṛtairjuhoti puṣyati | tasmai sahasramakṣabhirvi cakṣe'gne viśvataḥ pratyaṅṅasi tvam ||

This man who quickly gives him food, who offers his gifts of oil and butter and supports him, - Him with his thousand eyes he closely looks on: thou showest him thy face from all sides, Agni.

किं देवेषु त्यज एनश्चकर्थाग्ने पृच्छामि नु त्वामविद्वान्। अक्रीळन्क्रीळन्हरिरत्तवेऽदन्वि पर्वशश्चकर्त गामिवासिः॥

kiṁ deveṣu tyaja enaścakarthāgne pṛcchāmi nu tvāmavidvān | akrīḻankrīḻanharirattave'danvi parvaśaścakarta gāmivāsiḥ ||

Agni, hast thou committed sin or treason among the Gods? In ignorance I ask thee. Playing, not playing, he gold-hued and toothless, hath cut his food up as the knife a victim.

विषूचो अश्वान्युयुजे वनेजा ऋजीतिभी रशनाभिर्गृभीतान्। चक्षदे मित्रो वसुभिः सुजातः समानृधे पर्वभिर्वावृधानः॥

viṣūco aśvānyuyuje vanejā ṛjītibhī raśanābhirgṛbhītān | cakṣade mitro vasubhiḥ sujātaḥ samānṛdhe parvabhirvāvṛdhānaḥ ||

He born in wood hath yoked his horses rushing in all directions, held with reins that glitter. The well-born friend hath carved his food with Vasus: in all his limbs he hath increased and prospered.