Sukta 77

Mantra 1

कथा दाशेमाग्नये कास्मै देवजुष्टोच्यते भामिने गीः । यो मर्त्येष्वमृत ऋतावा होता यजिष्ठ इत्कृणोति देवान् ॥

How shall we give ourselves to Agni, and what word, accepted by the Gods, is to be spoken to the radiant one? He who among mortals is immortal, the keeper of ṛta, the Hotṛ most skilled in sacrifice—he it is who fashions the Gods for us (makes them present and effective).

Mantra 2

यो अध्वरेषु शंतम ऋतावा होता तमू नमोभिरा कृणुध्वम् । अग्निर्यद्वेर्मर्ताय देवान्त्स चा बोधाति मनसा यजाति ॥

He who in the journeys of sacrifice is the most peace-giving, the Hotṛ who holds ṛta—make him yours with acts of homage. For when Agni truly chooses (and wins) the Gods for the mortal, he also awakens in consciousness and sacrifices with the mind.

Mantra 3

स हि क्रतुः स मर्यः स साधुर्मित्रो न भूदद्भुतस्य रथीः । तं मेधेषु प्रथमं देवयन्तीर्विश उप ब्रुवते दस्ममारीः ॥

He indeed is the will and power of discernment; he is the noble warrior-force; he is the good and straight helper—like a friend; he becomes the charioteer of the wondrous journey. Him first in the acts of consecration the God-seeking peoples call near, speaking to the skillful one from every side.

Mantra 4

स नो नृणां नृतमो रिशादा अग्निर्गिरोऽवसा वेतु धीतिम् । तना च ये मघवानः शविष्ठा वाजप्रसूता इषयन्त मन्म ॥

May that Agni, the most manly among men, the slayer of the harmful, come to us with his help and bring our inspired word to fulfillment. And may those mighty, most forceful powers, impelled by plenitude of strength, set our thought into a forward drive.

Mantra 5

एवाग्निर्गोतमेभिॠतावा विप्रेभिरस्तोष्ट जातवेदाः । स एषु द्युम्नं पीपयत्स वाजं स पुष्टिं याति जोषमा चिकित्वान् ॥

Thus Agni, the knower of births, upheld in ṛta, has been praised by the Gautamas, the inspired seers. In these (works) he increases the luminous glory; he brings the plenitude of force; he comes to growth and nourishment with glad acceptance, being the conscious knower.