Sukta 128

Mantra 1

अयं जायत मनुषो धरीमणि होता यजिष्ठ उशिजामनु व्रतमग्निः स्वमनु व्रतम् । विश्वश्रुष्टिः सखीयते रयिरिव श्रवस्यते । अदब्धो होता नि षददिळस्पदे परिवीत इळस्पदे ॥

This one is born for Man, in the firm support: the Hotar, most fit to sacrifice, following the law of the eager ones—Agni following his own law. Universal in obedience, he becomes our comrade; like plenitude he is to be made famed. The unbetrayable Hotar sits down in the seat of Ila, encompassed, in the seat of Ila.

Mantra 2

तं यज्ञसाधमपि वातयामस्यृतस्य पथा नमसा हविष्मता देवताता हविष्मता । स न ऊर्जामुपाभृत्यया कृपा न जूर्यति । यं मातरिश्वा मनवे परावतो देवं भाः परावतः ॥

Him, the accomplisher of the sacrifice, we fan into flame along the path of Ṛta, with adoration and with the offering, for the becoming of the gods—with the offering. He brings to us the nourishing force and sets it near; by this protective care he does not decay. He whom Mātariśvan brought to Manu from the far distance, the god, the shining one from the far distance.

Mantra 3

एवेन सद्यः पर्येति पार्थिवं मुहुर्गी रेतो वृषभः कनिक्रदद्दधद्रेतः कनिक्रदत् । शतं चक्षाणो अक्षभिर्देवो वनेषु तुर्वणिः । सदो दधान उपरेषु सानुष्वग्निः परेषु सानुषु ॥

By this impulsion he swiftly moves all around the earthly field; again and again the Bull of power cries out, bearing the seed of luminous force. The god, seeing with a hundred eyes, the victorious one, works in the forest-depths. Ever establishing his seat on the higher ridges and on the farther summits, Agni takes his station in the ascending levels of our being.

Mantra 4

स सुक्रतुः पुरोहितो दमेदमेऽग्निर्यज्ञस्याध्वरस्य चेतति क्रत्वा यज्ञस्य चेतति । क्रत्वा वेधा इषूयते विश्वा जातानि पस्पशे । यतो घृतश्रीरतिथिरजायत वह्निर्वेधा अजायत ॥

He of bright will, set in front in every dwelling, Agni becomes conscious of the sacrifice and the straight offering by his power of intention; by that power he becomes conscious of the sacrifice. By the same mastery the Knower shoots forth his impulse and beholds all beings that are born. From him is born the guest radiant with ghee—born the carrier-flame, the wise disposer.

Mantra 5

क्रत्वा यदस्य तविषीषु पृञ्चतेऽग्नेरवेण मरुतां न भोज्येषिराय न भोज्या । स हि ष्मा दानमिन्वति वसूनां च मज्मना । स नस्त्रासते दुरितादभिह्रुतः शंसादघादभिह्रुतः ॥

When by his will his mights are yoked and filled—by Agni’s protection—like the Maruts for the enjoyer, like powers for the impeller, not for a lesser use. For he indeed drives forward the giving of riches and, by his greatness, their increase. He protects us from the crookedness that strikes from without, from hostile speech, from sin that strikes from without.

Mantra 6

विश्वो विहाया अरतिर्वसुर्दधे हस्ते दक्षिणे तरणिर्न शिश्रथच्छ्रवस्यया न शिश्रथत् । विश्वस्मा इदिषुध्यते देवत्रा हव्यमोहिषे । विश्वस्मा इत्सुकृते वारमृण्वत्यग्निर्द्वारा व्यृण्वति ॥

Universal in his wide-moving reach, the envoy of right action sets the treasure in the right hand; he does not slacken, like a swift runner, he does not slacken for the sake of glory. For all indeed he arms his impulse, to carry the offering to the gods. For all who do well, Agni opens the enclosure; he opens wide the doors.

Mantra 7

स मानुषे वृजने शंतमो हितोऽग्निर्यज्ञेषु जेन्यो न विश्पतिः प्रियो यज्ञेषु विश्पतिः । स हव्या मानुषाणामिळा कृतानि पत्यते । स नस्त्रासते वरुणस्य धूर्तेर्महो देवस्य धूर्तेः ॥

He, most peace-giving, is placed in the human community; Agni in the sacrifices is to be won like a beloved lord of the people. He becomes master of the human offerings and of the works well-made and consecrated. He protects us from the guile and constraint of Varuṇa, from the mighty god’s oppressive net.

Mantra 8

अग्निं होतारमीळते वसुधितिं प्रियं चेतिष्ठमरतिं न्येरिरे हव्यवाहं न्येरिरे । विश्वायुं विश्ववेदसं होतारं यजतं कविम् । देवासो रण्वमवसे वसूयवो गीर्भी रण्वं वसूयवः ॥

They adore Agni the priest of the offering, the holder of riches, the beloved, the most discerning messenger; they have set him down, the carrier of oblations, they have set him down. The all-life, the all-knowing, the priest to be worshipped, the seer-poet—him the gods desiring plenitude call with their songs for protection, the gods desiring plenitude call the delightful one.