Sukta 115

Mantra 1

चित्र इच्छिशोस्तरुणस्य वक्षथो न यो मातरावप्येति धातवे । अनूधा यदि जीजनदधा च नु ववक्ष सद्यो महि दूत्यं चरन् ॥

Wondrous indeed is the growth of the young child, who goes even beyond the two Mothers to establish (his) foundation. When he is kindled along the paths, then immediately he bears the great embassy, moving as the messenger.

Mantra 2

अग्निर्ह नाम धायि दन्नपस्तमः सं यो वना युवते भस्मना दता । अभिप्रमुरा जुह्वा स्वध्वर इनो न प्रोथमानो यवसे वृषा ॥

Agni indeed is set by name, the giver, most mighty in works; he who unites the forests, consuming them into ash. With the ladle he presses forward in the good rite, like a masterful force spreading wide, a bull for the nourishment.

Mantra 3

तं वो विं न द्रुषदं देवमन्धस इन्दुं प्रोथन्तं प्रवपन्तमर्णवम् । आसा वह्निं न शोचिषा विरप्शिनं महिव्रतं न सरजन्तमध्वनः ॥

Him we seek for you, the god seated firm, the Soma-essence swelling and surging like an ocean. Like a bearer with flame, of far-reaching power, like one of vast vow pressing on the path, he speeds onward.

Mantra 4

वि यस्य ते ज्रयसानस्याजर धक्षोर्न वाताः परि सन्त्यच्युताः । आ रण्वासो युयुधयो न सत्वनं त्रितं नशन्त प्र शिषन्त इष्टये ॥

Around your unaging blaze, when it is urged to speed, the winds as it were move, unshaken. Joyous energies, like warriors, reach the stronghold; they press forward, they train themselves for the fulfillment of the sought offering.

Mantra 5

स इदग्निः कण्वतमः कण्वसखार्यः परस्यान्तरस्य तरुषः । अग्निः पातु गृणतो अग्निः सूरीनग्निर्ददातु तेषामवो नः ॥

This indeed is Agni, most of the Kaṇvas, companion of the Kaṇvas, the noble one, the overcomer of what is beyond and what is within. May Agni guard the singer; may Agni (guard) the seer-lords; may Agni grant us their protection.

Mantra 6

वाजिन्तमाय सह्यसे सुपित्र्य तृषु च्यवानो अनु जातवेदसे । अनुद्रे चिद्यो धृषता वरं सते महिन्तमाय धन्वनेदविष्यते ॥

To the most force-ful, the conquering Power—O Agni of a good and luminous ancestry—moving through the thirsts (the inner heats), he follows Jātavedas. Even in the waterless (barren) state, he who dares and chooses the supreme boon, to that most vast One, in the field of the soul’s striving, he comes to be perfectly impelled (towards manifestation).

Mantra 7

एवाग्निर्मर्तैः सह सूरिभिर्वसुः ष्टवे सहसः सूनरो नृभिः । मित्रासो न ये सुधिता ऋतायवो द्यावो न द्युम्नैरभि सन्ति मानुषान् ॥

Thus may Agni, the bright Good (Vasu), be affirmed by mortals together with the illumined leaders; like a strong son of might among men. Like the Mitras—well-established in right understanding, travellers of Ṛta—like the heavens with their splendors, they stand over and around the human being, pressing him upward into a greater light.

Mantra 8

ऊर्जो नपात्सहसावन्निति त्वोपस्तुतस्य वन्दते वृषा वाक् । त्वां स्तोषाम त्वया सुवीरा द्राघीय आयुः प्रतरं दधानाः ॥

O child of the Force of plenitude, O mighty one—so the victorious Word bows to you, when you are rightly praised. We will affirm you; by you may we become rich in heroic powers, bearing a longer life and a more forward-going progress.

Mantra 9

इति त्वाग्ने वृष्टिहव्यस्य पुत्रा उपस्तुतास ऋषयोऽवोचन् । ताँश्च पाहि गृणतश्च सूरीन्वषड्वषळित्यूर्ध्वासो अनक्षन्नमो नम इत्यूर्ध्वासो अनक्षन् ॥

So, O Agni, the sons of Vṛṣṭihavya—the seers who have rightly praised—have spoken to you. Protect them, and protect the illumined leaders who sing; crying ‘vaṣaṭ, vaṣaṭ’, they rose upward; crying ‘obeisance, obeisance’, they rose upward again—lifting the consciousness to the heights.