Sukta 127

Mantra 1

अग्निं होतारं मन्ये दास्वन्तं वसुं सूनुं सहसो जातवेदसं विप्रं न जातवेदसम् । य ऊर्ध्वया स्वध्वरो देवो देवाच्या कृपा । घृतस्य विभ्राष्टिमनु वष्टि शोचिषाजुह्वानस्य सर्पिषः ॥

I hold Agni as the priest of the offering, the giver, the rich substance, the son of Force, the knower of all births, the seer—yes, the knower of all births. He, the god whose sacrifice goes upward in its own right path, with the divine shaping (kṛpā) of the gods, follows with his flame the shining outpouring of the ghee of the one who offers, the clarified delight.

Mantra 2

यजिष्ठं त्वा यजमाना हुवेम ज्येष्ठमङ्गिरसां विप्र मन्मभिर्विप्रेभिः शुक्र मन्मभिः । परिज्मानमिव द्यां होतारं चर्षणीनाम् । शोचिष्केशं वृषणं यमिमा विशः प्रावन्तु जूतये विशः ॥

You most fit for sacrifice, we who offer call you—eldest of the Angirases, O seer—by inspired thoughts, by bright inspired thoughts. Like one who ranges the sky in circles, you are the invoking priest of the peoples; flame-haired, a strong bull-power: may these communities foster him forward for swift victory in the work.

Mantra 3

स हि पुरू चिदोजसा विरुक्मता दीद्यानो भवति द्रुहंतरः परशुर्न द्रुहंतरः । वीळु चिद्यस्य समृतौ श्रुवद्वनेव यत्स्थिरम् । निःषहमाणो यमते नायते धन्वासहा नायते ॥

For he, even with manifold power, shining with radiant gold, becomes a more formidable smiter—like an axe, a more formidable smiter. Even what is firm, like a forest tree, yields in the clash to him; he presses on, overpowering, he does not retreat—conquering the wide spaces, he does not retreat.

Mantra 4

दृळ्हा चिदस्मा अनु दुर्यथा विदे तेजिष्ठाभिररणिभिर्दाष्ट्यवसेऽग्नये दाष्ट्यवसे । प्र यः पुरूणि गाहते तक्षद्वनेव शोचिषा । स्थिरा चिदन्ना नि रिणात्योजसा नि स्थिराणि चिदोजसा ॥

Even the firm-set obstacles yield to him, and the difficult ways become knowable: with the most blazing fire-sticks he kindles Agni for our help, he kindles Agni for our help. He who drives through many coverings, he hews with his flame like one cutting wood. By his force he breaks even what is fixed as ‘food’ for the lower nature; by his force he breaks even the fixed formations.

Mantra 5

तमस्य पृक्षमुपरासु धीमहि नक्तं यः सुदर्शतरो दिवातरादप्रायुषे दिवातरात् । आदस्यायुर्ग्रभणवद्वीळु शर्म न सूनवे । भक्तमभक्तमवो व्यन्तो अजरा अग्नयो व्यन्तो अजराः ॥

We meditate on his strengthening nourishment in the upper realms: he who by night is more beautiful to see than by day, more a giver of light to the unripe life than the day itself. He seizes and holds our life like a firm grasp, a wide shelter as for a son. He distributes help to what is apportioned and what is unapportioned; the unaging fires spread forth their protection.

Mantra 6

स हि शर्धो न मारुतं तुविष्वणिरप्नस्वतीषूर्वरास्विष्टनिरार्तनास्विष्टनिः । आदद्धव्यान्याददिर्यज्ञस्य केतुरर्हणा । अध स्मास्य हर्षतो हृषीवतो विश्वे जुषन्त पन्थां नरः शुभे न पन्थाम् ॥

He indeed is like a Marut-host, loudly resounding; in the fruitful fields of works he is the desired leader, in the straits he is the desired leader. He takes up the offerings; he is the taker, the banner-sign of the sacrifice, worthy of homage. Then, when he exults and is full of glad force, all the human powers consent to his path, as to a path of the Good.

Mantra 7

द्विता यदीं कीस्तासो अभिद्यवो नमस्यन्त उपवोचन्त भृगवो मथ्नन्तो दाशा भृगवः । अग्निरीशे वसूनां शुचिर्यो धर्णिरेषाम् । प्रियाँ अपिधीँर्वनिषीष्ट मेधिर आ वनिषीष्ट मेधिरः ॥

Again and again, when the praisers with uplifted vision bow and utter the word, the Bhṛgus, churning, offer the giving. Agni rules over the riches; he, the pure one, is their bearer and foundation. May the wise one win for us the dear hidden treasures; may the wise one win them for us.

Mantra 8

विश्वासां त्वा विशां पतिं हवामहे सर्वासां समानं दम्पतिं भुजे सत्यगिर्वाहसं भुजे । अतिथिं मानुषाणां पितुर्न यस्यासया । अमी च विश्वे अमृतास आ वयो हव्या देवेष्वा वयः ॥

We call you as lord of all the peoples, the common master of all, to enjoy your sustaining presence, to enjoy the truthful bearer of the word. The guest of men, like a father by his nearness and sitting with us. And may those immortals, all of them, bring the oblations to the gods; may they bring the oblations.

Mantra 9

त्वमग्ने सहसा सहन्तमः शुष्मिन्तमो जायसे देवतातये रयिर्न देवतातये । शुष्मिन्तमो हि ते मदो द्युम्निन्तम उत क्रतुः । अध स्मा ते परि चरन्त्यजर श्रुष्टीवानो नाजर ॥

You, O Agni, by might are the most overcoming; you are born the most full of force for the becoming of the gods, like a plenitude for that becoming. For your ecstasy is the most forceful, and your light is the most luminous, and your will is the most effective. Then around you move, O unaging, the obedient powers, O unaging.

Mantra 10

प्र वो महे सहसा सहस्वत उषर्बुधे पशुषे नाग्नये स्तोमो बभूत्वग्नये । प्रति यदीं हविष्मान्विश्वासु क्षासु जोगुवे । अग्रे रेभो न जरत ऋषूणां जूर्णिर्होत ऋषूणाम् ॥

Forth for you, for the great one mighty by might, for the dawn-awakener, for the giver of increase, let the hymn become— for Agni. When the offerer calls to him in all the worlds, he answers. In front, like a singer, he does not grow old: the swift-moving Hotar of the seers, the swift-moving Hotar of the seers.

Mantra 11

स नो नेदिष्ठं ददृशान आ भराग्ने देवेभिः सचनाः सुचेतुना महो रायः सुचेतुना । महि शविष्ठ नस्कृधि संचक्षे भुजे अस्यै । महि स्तोतृभ्यो मघवन्त्सुवीर्यं मथीरुग्रो न शवसा ॥

Bring to us, O Agni, the nearest and most immediate vision, you who are seen; come with the gods by your bright intelligence, bringing the great plenitude by your bright intelligence. Make it great for us, O most strong, for our seeing together, for our enjoyment in this work. Great heroic power for the singers—churn it out, like a fierce one with strength.