Sukta 45

Mantra 1

त्वमग्ने वसूँरिह रुद्राँ आदित्याँ उत । यजा स्वध्वरं जनं मनुजातं घृतप्रुषम् ॥

You, O Agni, bring here the Vasus, the Rudras, and the Ādityas; perform the offering. Sacrifice for the rightly-ordered human community born of Manu, sprinkled with the clarity of ghee—so that the inner rite becomes a straight path.

Mantra 2

श्रुष्टीवानो हि दाशुषे देवा अग्ने विचेतसः । तान्रोहिदश्व गिर्वणस्त्रयस्त्रिंशतमा वह ॥

For the gods, O Agni, are eager to listen for the giver; they are powers of discerning consciousness. Bring them here—O singer-praised one with ruddy horses—bring the thrice-eleven (the full company of the gods) into our offering-field.

Mantra 3

प्रियमेधवदत्रिवज्जातवेदो विरूपवत् । अङ्गिरस्वन्महिव्रत प्रस्कण्वस्य श्रुधी हवम् ॥

O Jātavedas, as you heard Priyamedha, as you heard Atri, as you heard Virūpa, as you heard the Angirases—O you of the mighty law—so hear now the call of Praskaṇva (the seer within), and answer it with your flame of assent.

Mantra 4

महिकेरव ऊतये प्रियमेधा अहूषत । राजन्तमध्वराणामग्निं शुक्रेण शोचिषा ॥

The great-voiced Priyamedhas called him for help—Agni, the king of the offerings, shining with a clear and radiant flame. May that sovereign Fire rule our inner rite and lead it to its luminous perfection.

Mantra 5

घृताहवन सन्त्येमा उ षु श्रुधी गिरः । याभिः कण्वस्य सूनवो हवन्तेऽवसे त्वा ॥

O you whose call is with clarified light (ghee), these words are here—hear them well. With these utterances the sons of Kaṇva invoke you for help: come as the sustaining Fire that carries the offering upward and the consciousness inward.

Mantra 6

त्वां चित्रश्रवस्तम हवन्ते विक्षु जन्तवः । शोचिष्केशं पुरुप्रियाग्ने हव्याय वोळ्हवे ॥

You, most radiant in fame, the peoples in the settlements invoke—O Agni with hair of flame, beloved of many. Come as the carrier of the offering: bear our oblation upward and bear our consciousness beyond its limits.

Mantra 7

नि त्वा होतारमृत्विजं दधिरे वसुवित्तमम् । श्रुत्कर्णं सप्रथस्तमं विप्रा अग्ने दिविष्टिषु ॥

The seers have set you in place as the Hotṛ, the priest of the right season—most finder of true riches. O Agni, wide in your expansion and with ear that truly hears, you are established in the divine strivings of the soul.

Mantra 8

आ त्वा विप्रा अचुच्यवुः सुतसोमा अभि प्रयः । बृहद्भा बिभ्रतो हविरग्ने मर्ताय दाशुषे ॥

Toward you the seers have impelled themselves, having pressed the Soma, bearing the offering and a wide light. O Agni, for the mortal who gives, become the shining mediator: let the vast radiance be held in the act of offering.

Mantra 9

प्रातर्याव्णः सहस्कृत सोमपेयाय सन्त्य । इहाद्य दैव्यं जनं बर्हिरा सादया वसो ॥

O power of might, arriving in the early advance, ready for the Soma-drinking—seat here today the divine host upon the barhis. O Vasu (bright one), establish in us the ordered presence of the higher powers so the dawn of the work may be fulfilled.

Mantra 10

अर्वाञ्चं दैव्यं जनमग्ने यक्ष्व सहूतिभिः । अयं सोमः सुदानवस्तं पात तिरोअह्न्यम् ॥

O Agni, turn hither and sacrifice for the divine folk with the supporting summons. This Soma is here, O givers of good bounty; drink of it, the Soma that passes beyond the day—carrying us through the limits of our ordinary time-consciousness.