Sukta 44

Mantra 1

अग्ने विवस्वदुषसश्चित्रं राधो अमर्त्य । आ दाशुषे जातवेदो वहा त्वमद्या देवाँ उषर्बुधः ॥

O Agni, immortal, grant the many-hued fullness that comes with the Dawn’s awakening. To the giver, O Jātavedas, do you today bring the gods who wake with the light.

Mantra 2

जुष्टो हि दूतो असि हव्यवाहनोऽग्ने रथीरध्वराणाम् । सजूरश्विभ्यामुषसा सुवीर्यमस्मे धेहि श्रवो बृहत् ॥

For you are the accepted messenger, O Agni, bearer of the offering, the charioteer of the journeys of sacrifice. In one accord with the Aśvins and with Dawn, set in us heroic power of a good lineage, and a vast, uplifting fame of the soul.

Mantra 3

अद्या दूतं वृणीमहे वसुमग्निं पुरुप्रियम् । धूमकेतुं भाऋजीकं व्युष्टिषु यज्ञानामध्वरश्रियम् ॥

Today we choose as messenger the good treasure—Agni, beloved of many. The smoke-bannered, radiant-keen, he is the beauty of the sacrifice in the dawn-unfoldings, the splendour that leads the rite on its way.

Mantra 4

श्रेष्ठं यविष्ठमतिथिं स्वाहुतं जुष्टं जनाय दाशुषे । देवाँ अच्छा यातवे जातवेदसमग्निमीळे व्युष्टिषु ॥

I adore Agni, the most excellent and the youngest, the Guest well-called by our offering, gladly accepted for the people who give. He is Jātavedas who can lead the gods hither; I invoke him in the successive dawnings (of awakening).

Mantra 5

स्तविष्यामि त्वामहं विश्वस्यामृत भोजन । अग्ने त्रातारममृतं मियेध्य यजिष्ठं हव्यवाहन ॥

I will hymn you, O Agni, O immortal nourishment of all. O Agni, the immortal saviour, the purifier fit for worship, the most powerful in sacrifice, the carrier of the offerings.

Mantra 6

सुशंसो बोधि गृणते यविष्ठ्य मधुजिह्वः स्वाहुतः । प्रस्कण्वस्य प्रतिरन्नायुर्जीवसे नमस्या दैव्यं जनम् ॥

Become fully awake and auspiciously manifest to the singer, O ever-young one—sweet-tongued, well-invoked. For Praskaṇva, winning back (and extending) life for living, do thou make obeisance to the divine people (the gods) and draw them near.

Mantra 7

होतारं विश्ववेदसं सं हि त्वा विश इन्धते । स आ वह पुरुहूत प्रचेतसोऽग्ने देवाँ इह द्रवत् ॥

As the Hotar, the knower of all, the peoples indeed kindle you together. Therefore, O Agni, much-invoked and wide-conscious, bring the gods here—run swiftly (to accomplish it).

Mantra 8

सवितारमुषसमश्विना भगमग्निं व्युष्टिषु क्षपः । कण्वासस्त्वा सुतसोमास इन्धते हव्यवाहं स्वध्वर ॥

In the dawnings and the nights, (they kindle) Agni together with Savitar, with Ushas, with the Ashvins, with Bhaga—those Kaṇvas who have pressed Soma kindle you, O carrier of offerings, O master of the right-ordered rite.

Mantra 9

पतिर्ह्यध्वराणामग्ने दूतो विशामसि । उषर्बुध आ वह सोमपीतये देवाँ अद्य स्वर्दृशः ॥

For you, O Agni, are lord of the paths of sacrifice, the messenger of the peoples. O awakener with the dawn, bring the gods today for the drinking of Soma—those who see the supramental Light (svàr).

Mantra 10

अग्ने पूर्वा अनूषसो विभावसो दीदेथ विश्वदर्शतः । असि ग्रामेष्वविता पुरोहितोऽसि यज्ञेषु मानुषः ॥

O Agni, from the earliest dawns you shine forth, O radiant one, visible to all. You are the helper in the settlements; you are the one set in front, in the human sacrifices.

Mantra 11

नि त्वा यज्ञस्य साधनमग्ने होतारमृत्विजम् । मनुष्वद्देव धीमहि प्रचेतसं जीरं दूतममर्त्यम् ॥

We set you down in us as the accomplisher of the sacrifice, O Agni, as Hotar and Ritvij. In the human way, O divine one, we meditate you—wide-conscious, strong and swift, the immortal messenger.

Mantra 12

यद्देवानां मित्रमहः पुरोहितोऽन्तरो यासि दूत्यम् । सिन्धोरिव प्रस्वनितास ऊर्मयोऽग्नेर्भ्राजन्ते अर्चयः ॥

When, O friend of the gods, set in front, you move between them on the mission of mediation, then the flames of Agni shine—like the loudly sounding waves of a river.

Mantra 13

श्रुधि श्रुत्कर्ण वह्निभिर्देवैरग्ने सयावभिः । आ सीदन्तु बर्हिषि मित्रो अर्यमा प्रातर्यावाणो अध्वरम् ॥

Hear, O keen-eared Agni, together with the gods who bear the offering, your companions in the journey. Let Mitra and Aryaman, who come in the morning, sit down upon the sacred grass, (to share) the sacrifice.

Mantra 14

शृण्वन्तु स्तोमं मरुतः सुदानवोऽग्निजिह्वा ऋतावृधः । पिबतु सोमं वरुणो धृतव्रतोऽश्विभ्यामुषसा सजूः ॥

Let the Maruts—noble givers, whose tongues are flames and who increase the cosmic Truth—hear this hymn of affirmation. Let Varuṇa, firm in the law he holds, drink the Soma of inner delight, together with the Aśvins and with Uṣas (the Dawn) in a single harmony.