Sukta 79

Mantra 1

हिरण्यकेशो रजसो विसारेऽहिर्धुनिर्वात इव ध्रजीमान् । शुचिभ्राजा उषसो नवेदा यशस्वतीरपस्युवो न सत्याः ॥

Golden-maned, spreading through the mid-world, like a serpent surging, like the wind in swift impetus—pure in shining—he is as dawns ever-new, glorious, true, and eager in the work: the fire of awakening moving through our being.

Mantra 2

आ ते सुपर्णा अमिनन्तँ एवैः कृष्णो नोनाव वृषभो यदीदम् । शिवाभिर्न स्मयमानाभिरागात्पतन्ति मिहः स्तनयन्त्यभ्रा ॥

To you the strong-winged powers come, unbroken in their impulsions; the dark-bull roars as this is set in motion. With auspicious, smiling energies he has arrived; the mists fly and the clouds thunder—signs of the inner pressure that releases the waters of force.

Mantra 3

यदीमृतस्य पयसा पियानो नयन्नृतस्य पथिभी रजिष्ठैः । अर्यमा मित्रो वरुणः परिज्मा त्वचं पृञ्चन्त्युपरस्य योनौ ॥

When he, growing full with the milk of Ṛta, leads by the swiftest paths of Ṛta, then Aryaman, Mitra, Varuṇa—moving all around—anoint his skin in the womb of the upper world: they establish his luminous form in the Truth.

Mantra 4

अग्ने वाजस्य गोमत ईशानः सहसो यहो । अस्मे धेहि जातवेदो महि श्रवः ॥

O Agni, lord of the vāja that is rich in illumining rays, O might of forceful energy, place in us, O Jātavedas, a great hearing—wide fame of the soul that receives the Truth.

Mantra 5

स इधानो वसुष्कविरग्निरीळेन्यो गिरा । रेवदस्मभ्यं पुर्वणीक दीदिहि ॥

He, kindled, the good treasure, the seer—Agni worthy of invocation by the word—shine for us with abundance, O many-faced One; blaze forth in our front, leading the formation of the being.

Mantra 6

क्षपो राजन्नुत त्मनाग्ने वस्तोरुतोषसः । स तिग्मजम्भ रक्षसो दह प्रति ॥

O Agni, king of the nights and also by thine own self the lord of the dwelling and of the dawns: do thou, sharp-jawed, burn back the hostile powers of darkness that assail our becoming.

Mantra 7

अवा नो अग्न ऊतिभिर्गायत्रस्य प्रभर्मणि । विश्वासु धीषु वन्द्य ॥

Come down to us, O Agni, with thy helps; in the forward-bearing of the Gāyatrī (our inspired chant), be thou the one to be adored in all our thoughts.

Mantra 8

आ नो अग्ने रयिं भर सत्रासाहं वरेण्यम् । विश्वासु पृत्सु दुष्टरम् ॥

Bring to us, O Agni, the rayi—fullness of being—victorious in the continual battle, worthy to be chosen, hard to overcome in all conflicts.

Mantra 9

आ नो अग्ने सुचेतुना रयिं विश्वायुपोषसम् । मार्डीकं धेहि जीवसे ॥

Bring to us, O Agni, with thy clear-visioned guidance, the rayi that nourishes all our life-powers; set in us the sweetness of healing peace for our living.

Mantra 10

प्र पूतास्तिग्मशोचिषे वाचो गोतमाग्नये । भरस्व सुम्नयुर्गिरः ॥

Forth go the purified words to Agni of the Gotamas, to the keen-flaming One; bear thou our utterances, desiring the divine harmony (sumná).

Mantra 11

यो नो अग्नेऽभिदासत्यन्ति दूरे पदीष्ट सः । अस्माकमिद्वृधे भव ॥

Whoever, O Agni, assails us—whether near or far, whether he has found a footing—do thou become for our increase alone.

Mantra 12

सहस्राक्षो विचर्षणिरग्नी रक्षांसि सेधति । होता गृणीत उक्थ्यः ॥

Agni, thousand-eyed, wide-seeing among men, drives back the powers of obstruction; the invoking priest, rich in the word of revelation, gives voice (to him).