Sukta 87

रक्षोहणं वाजिनमा जिघर्मि मित्रं प्रथिष्ठमुप यामि शर्म। शिशानो अग्निः क्रतुभिः समिद्धः स नो दिवा स रिषः पातु नक्तम्॥

rakṣohaṇaṁ vājinamā jigharmi mitraṁ prathiṣṭhamupa yāmi śarma | śiśāno agniḥ kratubhiḥ samiddhaḥ sa no divā sa riṣaḥ pātu naktam ||

I BALM with oil the mighty Raksas-slayer; to the most famous Friend I come for shelter Enkindled, sharpened by our rites, may Agni protect us in the day and night from evil.

अयोदंष्ट्रो अर्चिषा यातुधानानुप स्पृश जातवेदः समिद्धः। आ जिह्वया मूरदेवान्रभस्व क्रव्यादो वृक्त्व्यपि धत्स्वासन्॥

ayodaṁṣṭro arciṣā yātudhānānupa spṛśa jātavedaḥ samiddhaḥ | ā jihvayā mūradevānrabhasva kravyādo vṛktvyapi dhatsvāsan ||

O Jatavedas with the teeth of iron, enkindled with thy flame attack the demons. Seize with thy longue the foolish gods' adorers: rend, put within thy mouth the raw-flesh caters.

उभोभयाविन्नुप धेहि दंष्ट्रा हिंस्रः शिशानोऽवरं परं च। उतान्तरिक्षे परि याहि राजञ्जम्भैः सं धेह्यभि यातुधानान्॥

ubhobhayāvinnupa dhehi daṁṣṭrā hiṁsraḥ śiśāno'varaṁ paraṁ ca | utāntarikṣe pari yāhi rājañjambhaiḥ saṁ dhehyabhi yātudhānān ||

Apply thy teeth, the upper and the lower, thou who hast both, enkindled and destroying. Roam also in the air, O King, around us, and with thy jaws assail the wicked spirits.

यज्ञैरिषूः संनममानो अग्ने वाचा शल्याँ अशनिभिर्दिहानः। ताभिर्विध्य हृदये यातुधानान्प्रतीचो बाहून्प्रति भङ्ध्येषाम्॥

yajñairiṣūḥ saṁnamamāno agne vācā śalyā aśanibhirdihānaḥ | tābhirvidhya hṛdaye yātudhānānpratīco bāhūnprati bhaṅdhyeṣām ||

Bending thy shafts through sacrifices, Agni, whetting their points with song as if with whetstones, Pierce to the heart therewith the Yatudhanas, and break their arms uplifed to attack thee.

अग्ने त्वचं यातुधानस्य भिन्धि हिंस्राशनिर्हरसा हन्त्वेनम्। प्र पर्वाणि जातवेदः शृणीहि क्रव्यात्क्रविष्णुर्वि चिनोतु वृक्णम्॥

agne tvacaṁ yātudhānasya bhindhi hiṁsrāśanirharasā hantvenam | pra parvāṇi jātavedaḥ śṛṇīhi kravyātkraviṣṇurvi cinotu vṛkṇam ||

Pierce through the Yatudhana's skin, O Agni; let the destroying dart with fire consume him. Rend his joints, Jatavedas, let the cater of flesh, flesh-seeking, track his mangled body.

यत्रेदानीं पश्यसि जातवेदस्तिष्ठन्तमग्न उत वा चरन्तम्। यद्वान्तरिक्षे पथिभिः पतन्तं तमस्ता विध्य शर्वा शिशानः॥

yatredānīṁ paśyasi jātavedastiṣṭhantamagna uta vā carantam | yadvāntarikṣe pathibhiḥ patantaṁ tamastā vidhya śarvā śiśānaḥ ||

Where now thou seest Agni Jatavedas, one of these demons standing still or roaming, Or flying on those paths in air's midregion, sharpen the shaft and as an archer pierce him.

उतालब्धं स्पृणुहि जातवेद आलेभानादृष्टिभिर्यातुधानात्। अग्ने पूर्वो नि जहि शोशुचान आमादः क्ष्विङ्कास्तमदन्त्वेनीः॥

utālabdhaṁ spṛṇuhi jātaveda ālebhānādṛṣṭibhiryātudhānāt | agne pūrvo ni jahi śośucāna āmādaḥ kṣviṅkāstamadantvenīḥ ||

Tear from the evil spirit, Jatavedas, what he hath seized and with his spears hath captured. Blazing before him strike him down, O Agni; let spotted carrion-eating kites devour him.

इह प्र ब्रूहि यतमः सो अग्ने यो यातुधानो य इदं कृणोति। तमा रभस्व समिधा यविष्ठ नृचक्षसश्चक्षुषे रन्धयैनम्॥

iha pra brūhi yatamaḥ so agne yo yātudhāno ya idaṁ kṛṇoti | tamā rabhasva samidhā yaviṣṭha nṛcakṣasaścakṣuṣe randhayainam ||

Here tell this forth, O Agni: whosoever is, he himself, or acteth as, a demon, Him grasp, O thou Most Youthful, with thy fuel. to the Mati-seer's eye give him as booty.

तीक्ष्णेनाग्ने चक्षुषा रक्ष यज्ञं प्राञ्चं वसुभ्यः प्र णय प्रचेतः। हिंस्रं रक्षांस्यभि शोशुचानं मा त्वा दभन्यातुधाना नृचक्षः॥

tīkṣṇenāgne cakṣuṣā rakṣa yajñaṁ prāñcaṁ vasubhyaḥ pra ṇaya pracetaḥ | hiṁsraṁ rakṣāṁsyabhi śośucānaṁ mā tvā dabhanyātudhānā nṛcakṣaḥ ||

With keen glance guard the sacrifice, O Agni: thou Sage, conduct it onward to the Vasus. Let not the fiends, O Man-beholder, harm thee burning against the Raksasas to slay them.

नृचक्षा रक्षः परि पश्य विक्षु तस्य त्रीणि प्रति शृणीह्यग्रा। तस्याग्ने पृष्टीर्हरसा शृणीहि त्रेधा मूलं यातुधानस्य वृश्च॥

nṛcakṣā rakṣaḥ pari paśya vikṣu tasya trīṇi prati śṛṇīhyagrā | tasyāgne pṛṣṭīrharasā śṛṇīhi tredhā mūlaṁ yātudhānasya vṛśca ||

Look on the fiend mid men, as Man-beholder: rend thou his three extremities in pieces. Demolish with thy flame his ribs, O Agni, the Yatudhana's root destroy thou triply.

त्रिर्यातुधानः प्रसितिं त एत्वृतं यो अग्ने अनृतेन हन्ति। तमर्चिषा स्फूर्जयञ्जातवेदः समक्षमेनं गृणते नि वृङ्धि॥

triryātudhānaḥ prasitiṁ ta etvṛtaṁ yo agne anṛtena hanti | tamarciṣā sphūrjayañjātavedaḥ samakṣamenaṁ gṛṇate ni vṛṅdhi ||

Thrice, Agni, let thy noose surround the demon who with his falsehood injures Holy Order. Loud roaring with thy flame, O Jatavedas, crush him and cast him down before the singer.

तदग्ने चक्षुः प्रति धेहि रेभे शफारुजं येन पश्यसि यातुधानम्। अथर्ववज्ज्योतिषा दैव्येन सत्यं धूर्वन्तमचितं न्योष॥

tadagne cakṣuḥ prati dhehi rebhe śaphārujaṁ yena paśyasi yātudhānam | atharvavajjyotiṣā daivyena satyaṁ dhūrvantamacitaṁ nyoṣa ||

Lead thou the worshipper that eye, O Agni, wherewith thou lookest on the hoof-armed demon. With light celestial in Atharvan's manner burn up the foot who ruins truth with falsehood.

यदग्ने अद्य मिथुना शपातो यद्वाचस्तृष्टं जनयन्त रेभाः। मन्योर्मनसः शरव्या जायते या तया विध्य हृदये यातुधानान्॥

yadagne adya mithunā śapāto yadvācastṛṣṭaṁ janayanta rebhāḥ | manyormanasaḥ śaravyā jāyate yā tayā vidhya hṛdaye yātudhānān ||

Agni, what curse the pair this day have uttered, what heated word the worshippers have spoken, Each arrowy taunt sped from the angry spirit,-pierce to the heart therewith the Yatudhanas.

परा शृणीहि तपसा यातुधानान्पराग्ने रक्षो हरसा शृणीहि। परार्चिषा मूरदेवाञ्छृणीहि परासुतृपो अभि शोशुचानः॥

parā śṛṇīhi tapasā yātudhānānparāgne rakṣo harasā śṛṇīhi | parārciṣā mūradevāñchṛṇīhi parāsutṛpo abhi śośucānaḥ ||

With fervent heat exterminate the demons; destroy the fiends with burning flame, O Agni. Destroy with fire the foolish gods' adorers; blaze and destrepy the insatiable monsters.

पराद्य देवा वृजिनं शृणन्तु प्रत्यगेनं शपथा यन्तु तृष्टाः। वाचास्तेनं शरव ऋच्छन्तु मर्मन्विश्वस्यैतु प्रसितिं यातुधानः॥

parādya devā vṛjinaṁ śṛṇantu pratyagenaṁ śapathā yantu tṛṣṭāḥ | vācāstenaṁ śarava ṛcchantu marmanviśvasyaitu prasitiṁ yātudhānaḥ ||

May Gods destroy this day the evil-doer may each hot curse of his return and blast him. Let arrows pierce the liar in his vitals, and Visva's net enclose the Yatudhana.

यः पौरुषेयेण क्रविषा समङ्क्ते यो अश्व्येन पशुना यातुधानः। यो अघ्न्याया भरति क्षीरमग्ने तेषां शीर्षाणि हरसापि वृश्च॥

yaḥ pauruṣeyeṇa kraviṣā samaṅkte yo aśvyena paśunā yātudhānaḥ | yo aghnyāyā bharati kṣīramagne teṣāṁ śīrṣāṇi harasāpi vṛśca ||

The fiend who smears himself with flesh of cattle, with flesh of horses and of human bodies, Who steals the milch-cow's milk away, O Agni,-tear off the heads of such with fiery fury.

संवत्सरीणं पय उस्रियायास्तस्य माशीद्यातुधानो नृचक्षः। पीयूषमग्ने यतमस्तितृप्सात्तं प्रत्यञ्चमर्चिषा विध्य मर्मन्॥

saṁvatsarīṇaṁ paya usriyāyāstasya māśīdyātudhāno nṛcakṣaḥ | pīyūṣamagne yatamastitṛpsāttaṁ pratyañcamarciṣā vidhya marman ||

The cow gives milk each year, O Man-regarder: let not the Yatudhana ever taste it. If one would glut him with the biesting, Agni, pierce with thy flame his vitals as he meets thee.

विषं गवां यातुधानाः पिबन्त्वा वृश्च्यन्तामदितये दुरेवाः। परैनान्देवः सविता ददातु परा भागमोषधीनां जयन्ताम्॥

viṣaṁ gavāṁ yātudhānāḥ pibantvā vṛścyantāmaditaye durevāḥ | paraināndevaḥ savitā dadātu parā bhāgamoṣadhīnāṁ jayantām ||

Let the fiends drink the poison of the cattle; may Aditi cast off the evildoers. May the God Savitar give them up to ruin, and be their share of plants and herbs denied them.

सनादग्ने मृणसि यातुधानान्न त्वा रक्षांसि पृतनासु जिग्युः। अनु दह सहमूरान्क्रव्यादो मा ते हेत्या मुक्षत दैव्यायाः॥

sanādagne mṛṇasi yātudhānānna tvā rakṣāṁsi pṛtanāsu jigyuḥ | anu daha sahamūrānkravyādo mā te hetyā mukṣata daivyāyāḥ ||

Agni, from days of old thou slayest demons: never shall Raksasas in fight o'ercome thee. Burn up the foolish ones, the flesh-devourers: let none of them escape thine heavenly arrow.

त्वं नो अग्ने अधरादुदक्तात्त्वं पश्चादुत रक्षा पुरस्तात्। प्रति ते ते अजरासस्तपिष्ठा अघशंसं शोशुचतो दहन्तु॥

tvaṁ no agne adharādudaktāttvaṁ paścāduta rakṣā purastāt | prati te te ajarāsastapiṣṭhā aghaśaṁsaṁ śośucato dahantu ||

Guard us, O Agni, from above and under, protect us fl-om behind us and before us; And may thy flames, most fierce and never wasting, glowing with fervent heat, consume the sinner.

पश्चात्पुरस्तादधरादुदक्तात्कविः काव्येन परि पाहि राजन्। सखे सखायमजरो जरिम्णेऽग्ने मर्ताँ अमर्त्यस्त्वं नः॥

paścātpurastādadharādudaktātkaviḥ kāvyena pari pāhi rājan | sakhe sakhāyamajaro jarimṇe'gne martā amartyastvaṁ naḥ ||

From rear, from front, from under, from above us, O King, protect us as a Sage with wisdom. Guard to old age thy friend, O Friend, Eternal: O Agni, as Immortal, guard us mortals.

परि त्वाग्ने पुरं वयं विप्रं सहस्य धीमहि। धृषद्वर्णं दिवेदिवे हन्तारं भङ्गुरावताम्॥

pari tvāgne puraṁ vayaṁ vipraṁ sahasya dhīmahi | dhṛṣadvarṇaṁ divedive hantāraṁ bhaṅgurāvatām ||

We set thee round us as a fort, victorious Agni, thee a Sage, Of hero lineage, day by day, destroyer of our treacherous foes.

विषेण भङ्गुरावतः प्रति ष्म रक्षसो दह। अग्ने तिग्मेन शोचिषा तपुरग्राभिरृष्टिभिः॥

viṣeṇa bhaṅgurāvataḥ prati ṣma rakṣaso daha | agne tigmena śociṣā tapuragrābhirṛṣṭibhiḥ ||

Burn with thy poison turned against the treacherous brood of Raksasas, O Agni, with thy sharpened glow, with lances armed with points of flame.

प्रत्यग्ने मिथुना दह यातुधाना किमीदिना। सं त्वा शिशामि जागृह्यदब्धं विप्र मन्मभिः॥

pratyagne mithunā daha yātudhānā kimīdinā | saṁ tvā śiśāmi jāgṛhyadabdhaṁ vipra manmabhiḥ ||

Burn thou the paired Kimidins, brun, Agni, the Yatudhana pairs. I sharpen thee, Infallible, with hymns. O Sage, be vigilant.

प्रत्यग्ने हरसा हरः शृणीहि विश्वतः प्रति। यातुधानस्य रक्षसो बलं वि रुज वीर्यम्॥

pratyagne harasā haraḥ śṛṇīhi viśvataḥ prati | yātudhānasya rakṣaso balaṁ vi ruja vīryam ||

Shoot forth, O Agni, with thy flame demolish them on every side. Break thou the Yatudhana's strength, the vigour of the Raksasa.