सूक्त ६

ऊर्ध्व ऊ षु णो अध्वरस्य होतरग्ने तिष्ठ देवताता यजीयान्। त्वं हि विश्वमभ्यसि मन्म प्र वेधसश्चित्तिरसि मनीषाम्॥

ūrdhva ū ṣu ṇo adhvarasya hotaragne tiṣṭha devatātā yajīyān | tvaṁ hi viśvamabhyasi manma pra vedhasaścittirasi manīṣām ||

PRIEST of our rite, stand up erect, O Agni, in the Gods' service best of sacrificers, For over evei y thought thou art the Ruler: thou furtherest e'en the wisdom of the pious.

अमूरो होता न्यसादि विक्ष्वग्निर्मन्द्रो विदथेषु प्रचेताः। ऊर्ध्वं भानुं सवितेवाश्रेन्मेतेव धूमं स्तभायदुप द्याम्॥

amūro hotā nyasādi vikṣvagnirmandro vidatheṣu pracetāḥ | ūrdhvaṁ bhānuṁ savitevāśrenmeteva dhūmaṁ stabhāyadupa dyām ||

He was set down mid men as Priest unerring, Agni, wise, welcome in our holy synods. Like Savitar he hath lifted up his splendour, and like a builder raised his smoke to heaven.

यता सुजूर्णी रातिनी घृताची प्रदक्षिणिद्देवतातिमुराणः। उदु स्वरुर्नवजा नाक्रः पश्वो अनक्ति सुधितः सुमेकः॥

yatā sujūrṇī rātinī ghṛtācī pradakṣiṇiddevatātimurāṇaḥ | udu svarurnavajā nākraḥ paśvo anakti sudhitaḥ sumekaḥ ||

The glowing ladle, filled with oil, is lifted; choosing Gods' service to the right he circles. Eager he rises like the new-wrought pillar which, firmly set and fixed, anoints the victims.

स्तीर्णे बर्हिषि समिधाने अग्ना ऊर्ध्वो अध्वर्युर्जुजुषाणो अस्थात्। पर्यग्निः पशुपा न होता त्रिविष्ट्येति प्रदिव उराणः॥

stīrṇe barhiṣi samidhāne agnā ūrdhvo adhvaryurjujuṣāṇo asthāt | paryagniḥ paśupā na hotā triviṣṭyeti pradiva urāṇaḥ ||

When sacred grass is strewn and Agni kindled, the Adhvaryu rises to, his task rej o cing. Agni the Priest, like one who tends the cattle, goes three times round, as from of old he wills it.

परि त्मना मितद्रुरेति होताग्निर्मन्द्रो मधुवचा ऋतावा। द्रवन्त्यस्य वाजिनो न शोका भयन्ते विश्वा भुवना यदभ्राट्॥

pari tmanā mitadrureti hotāgnirmandro madhuvacā ṛtāvā | dravantyasya vājino na śokā bhayante viśvā bhuvanā yadabhrāṭ ||

Agni himself, the Priest, with measured motion, goes round, with sweet speech, cheerful, true to Order. His fulgent flames run forth like vigorous horses; all creatures are affrighted when he blazes.

भद्रा ते अग्ने स्वनीक संदृग्घोरस्य सतो विषुणस्य चारुः। न यत्ते शोचिस्तमसा वरन्त न ध्वस्मानस्तन्वी रेप आ धुः॥

bhadrā te agne svanīka saṁdṛgghorasya sato viṣuṇasya cāruḥ | na yatte śocistamasā varanta na dhvasmānastanvī repa ā dhuḥ ||

Beautiful and auspicious is thine aspect, O lovely Agni, terrible when spreading. Thy splendours are not covered by the darkness: detraction leaves no stain upon thy body.

न यस्य सातुर्जनितोरवारि न मातरापितरा नू चिदिष्टौ। अधा मित्रो न सुधितः पावकोऽग्निर्दीदाय मानुषीषु विक्षु॥

na yasya sāturjanitoravāri na mātarāpitarā nū cidiṣṭau | adhā mitro na sudhitaḥ pāvako'gnirdīdāya mānuṣīṣu vikṣu ||

Naught hindered his production, Bounteous Giver: his Mother and his Sire were free to send him. Then as Friend benevolent, refulgent, Agni shone forth in human habitations.

द्विर्यं पञ्च जीजनन्संवसानाः स्वसारो अग्निं मानुषीषु विक्षु। उषर्बुधमथर्यो न दन्तं शुक्रं स्वासं परशुं न तिग्मम्॥

dviryaṁ pañca jījanansaṁvasānāḥ svasāro agniṁ mānuṣīṣu vikṣu | uṣarbudhamatharyo na dantaṁ śukraṁ svāsaṁ paraśuṁ na tigmam ||

He, Agni, whom the twice-five sisters, dwelling together, in the homes of men engendered, Bright like a spear's tooth, wakened in the morning, with powerful mouth and like an axe well- sharpened.

तव त्ये अग्ने हरितो घृतस्ना रोहितास ऋज्वञ्चः स्वञ्चः। अरुषासो वृषण ऋजुमुष्का आ देवतातिमह्वन्त दस्माः॥

tava tye agne harito ghṛtasnā rohitāsa ṛjvañcaḥ svañcaḥ | aruṣāso vṛṣaṇa ṛjumuṣkā ā devatātimahvanta dasmāḥ ||

These thy Bay Coursers, Agni, dropping fatness, ruddy vigorous, speeding straightly forward, And red steeds, wonderful, of mighty muscle, are to this service of the Gods invited:

ये ह त्ये ते सहमाना अयासस्त्वेषासो अग्ने अर्चयश्चरन्ति। श्येनासो न दुवसनासो अर्थं तुविष्वणसो मारुतं न शर्धः॥

ye ha tye te sahamānā ayāsastveṣāso agne arcayaścaranti | śyenāso na duvasanāso arthaṁ tuviṣvaṇaso mārutaṁ na śardhaḥ ||

These brightly-shining games of thine, O Agni, that move for ever restless, allsubduing, Like falcons hasting eagerly to the quarry, roar loudly like the army of the Maruts.

अकारि ब्रह्म समिधान तुभ्यं शंसात्युक्थं यजते व्यू धाः। होतारमग्निं मनुषो नि षेदुर्नमस्यन्त उशिजः शंसमायोः॥

akāri brahma samidhāna tubhyaṁ śaṁsātyukthaṁ yajate vyū dhāḥ | hotāramagniṁ manuṣo ni ṣedurnamasyanta uśijaḥ śaṁsamāyoḥ ||

To thee, O flaming God, hath prayer been offered. Let the priest laud thee: give to him who worships. Men have established Agni as Invoker, fain to adore the glory of the living.