Sukta 72

Mantra 1

नि काव्या वेधसः शश्वतस्कर्हस्ते दधानो नर्या पुरूणि । अग्निर्भुवद्रयिपती रयीणां सत्रा चक्राणो अमृतानि विश्वा ॥

The ever-lasting Formator sets down the inspired works; holding in his hand many humanly helpful powers. Agni becomes the lord of plenitudes, continuously fashioning all the immortal things within us.

Mantra 2

अस्मे वत्सं परि षन्तं न विन्दन्निच्छन्तो विश्वे अमृता अमूराः । श्रमयुवः पदव्यो धियंधास्तस्थुः पदे परमे चार्वग्नेः ॥

Here, seeking, all the undeluded immortals did not find the calf that was hidden all around. The young in labour, the path-finders, the holders of the thought, stood at the highest lovely station of Agni.

Mantra 3

तिस्रो यदग्ने शरदस्त्वामिच्छुचिं घृतेन शुचयः सपर्यान् । नामानि चिद्दधिरे यज्ञियान्यसूदयन्त तन्वः सुजाताः ॥

For three autumns, O Agni, the pure ones sought you, the pure, and served you with clarified delight. They even set in place the names that belong to the sacrifice; and the well-born bodies of power were driven awake into activity.

Mantra 4

आ रोदसी बृहती वेविदानाः प्र रुद्रिया जभ्रिरे यज्ञियासः । विदन्मर्तो नेमधिता चिकित्वानग्निं पदे परमे तस्थिवांसम् ॥

To the two vast worlds, awakened into knowledge, the consecrated ones brought forward the Rudra-force. The mortal, knowing, with firm placing of the measure, discovered Agni standing in the highest station.

Mantra 5

संजानाना उप सीदन्नभिज्ञु पत्नीवन्तो नमस्यं नमस्यन् । रिरिक्वांसस्तन्वः कृण्वत स्वाः सखा सख्युर्निमिषि रक्षमाणाः ॥

United in one understanding, they sat near the intimate Knower; endowed with the powers that are their consorts, they bowed to what is worthy of adoration. Becoming purified and faultless, they shaped their own bodies into their true form—friend guarding friend in the moment of inner vigilance.

Mantra 6

त्रिः सप्त यद्गुह्यानि त्वे इत्पदाविदन्निहिता यज्ञियासः । तेभी रक्षन्ते अमृतं सजोषाः पशूञ्च स्थातॄञ्चरथं च पाहि ॥

When the thrice-seven secret things were set within you, the men of the sacrifice discovered them by the steps. By those, in one accord, they guard the immortal; do you also protect our powers of increase, our stable foundations, and our movement on the journey.

Mantra 7

विद्वाँ अग्ने वयुनानि क्षितीनां व्यानुषक्छुरुधो जीवसे धाः । अन्तर्विद्वाँ अध्वनो देवयानानतन्द्रो दूतो अभवो हविर्वाट् ॥

Knowing, O Agni, the workings of the human habitations, you set in order—thread by thread—the wide gates for our living. Knowing inwardly the paths that lead to the Gods, untiring you became the messenger, the bearer of the offering-impulse.

Mantra 8

स्वाध्यो दिव आ सप्त यह्वी रायो दुरो व्यृतज्ञा अजानन् । विदद्गव्यं सरमा दृळ्हमूर्वं येना नु कं मानुषी भोजते विट् ॥

Self-mastered, the seven mighty ones from Heaven knew and opened wide the doors of plenitude by the truth they carried. Saramā found the strong enclosure of the Light—by which now the human community comes to its share of delight and substance.

Mantra 9

आ ये विश्वा स्वपत्यानि तस्थुः कृण्वानासो अमृतत्वाय गातुम् । मह्ना महद्भिः पृथिवी वि तस्थे माता पुत्रैरदितिर्धायसे वेः ॥

Those who established all the noble becomings, shaping a path for immortality—by their vastness the Earth stood wide. The Mother Aditi, with her sons, came to the act of sustaining and nourishing the worlds within us.

Mantra 10

अधि श्रियं नि दधुश्चारुमस्मिन्दिवो यदक्षी अमृता अकृण्वन् । अध क्षरन्ति सिन्धवो न सृष्टाः प्र नीचीरग्ने अरुषीरजानन् ॥

They set the lovely splendour firmly in this being when the immortals made the two eyes of Heaven. Then the rivers flow as if released—O Agni—downward the ruddy currents came into knowledge.