Sukta 45

Mantra 1

दिवस्परि प्रथमं जज्ञे अग्निरस्मद्द्वितीयं परि जातवेदाः । तृतीयमप्सु नृमणा अजस्रमिन्धान एनं जरते स्वाधीः ॥

From the heaven he is born first—Agni; from us he is born again as Jātavedas. A third time in the waters, the will of man kindles him unceasingly; the right-minded one, ever enkindling, grows him by his own mastery.

Mantra 2

विद्मा ते अग्ने त्रेधा त्रयाणि विद्मा ते धाम विभृता पुरुत्रा । विद्मा ते नाम परमं गुहा यद्विद्मा तमुत्सं यत आजगन्थ ॥

We know, O Agni, thy threefoldness in its three forms; we know thy abodes, distributed in many places. We know thy supreme name hidden in the secret; we know the wellspring from which thou hast come forth.

Mantra 3

समुद्रे त्वा नृमणा अप्स्वन्तर्नृचक्षा ईधे दिवो अग्न ऊधन् । तृतीये त्वा रजसि तस्थिवांसमपामुपस्थे महिषा अवर्धन् ॥

In the ocean-waters the human will kindles thee within; O Agni, thou art the udder of heaven, seen by the seer-sight. In the third realm of the midspace, standing firm, in the lap of the waters the great ones increase thee.

Mantra 4

अक्रन्ददग्निः स्तनयन्निव द्यौः क्षामा रेरिहद्वीरुधः समञ्जन् । सद्यो जज्ञानो वि हीमिद्धो अख्यदा रोदसी भानुना भात्यन्तः ॥

Agni cried out like the thundering heaven; he licked the earth and clothed the plants with his touch. Born at once, kindled, he looked widely; with his beam he fills the two worlds and shines within between them.

Mantra 5

श्रीणामुदारो धरुणो रयीणां मनीषाणां प्रार्पणः सोमगोपाः । वसुः सूनुः सहसो अप्सु राजा वि भात्यग्र उषसामिधानः ॥

He is the wide giver of splendours, the support of the riches, the forward-bearing of inspirations, the guardian of Soma. The radiant one, the son of Force, king in the waters, shines forth in front, kindled before the Dawns.

Mantra 6

विश्वस्य केतुर्भुवनस्य गर्भ आ रोदसी अपृणाज्जायमानः । वीळुं चिदद्रिमभिनत्परायञ्जना यदग्निमयजन्त पञ्च ॥

The beacon of all, the womb of the world, as he is born he fills the two worlds. He cleaves even the strong rock as he goes forth—when the five peoples offered sacrifice to Agni.

Mantra 7

उशिक्पावको अरतिः सुमेधा मर्तेष्वग्निरमृतो नि धायि । इयर्ति धूममरुषं भरिभ्रदुच्छुक्रेण शोचिषा द्यामिनक्षन् ॥

The eager Flame, purifying and well-guiding, the luminous intelligence, is set within mortals as the Immortal Agni. He sends upward the ruddy smoke, bearing it aloft; and with his bright blaze he reaches and touches the heaven of consciousness.

Mantra 8

दृशानो रुक्म उर्विया व्यद्यौद्दुर्मर्षमायुः श्रिये रुचानः । अग्निरमृतो अभवद्वयोभिर्यदेनं द्यौर्जनयत्सुरेताः ॥

Seen as a golden splendour, he has shone out widely—radiant for beauty and for an indomitable life-force. Agni became immortal by his powers of growth, when Heaven, rich in creative seed, brought him forth.

Mantra 9

यस्ते अद्य कृणवद्भद्रशोचेऽपूपं देव घृतवन्तमग्ने । प्र तं नय प्रतरं वस्यो अच्छाभि सुम्नं देवभक्तं यविष्ठ ॥

Whoever today prepares for you, O fair-flaming God, the cake rich in clarified light, O Agni—lead him forward to a better and more desirable state, toward the grace that is shared by the gods, O youngest and strongest flame.

Mantra 10

आ तं भज सौश्रवसेष्वग्न उक्थौक्थ आ भज शस्यमाने । प्रियः सूर्ये प्रियो अग्ना भवात्युज्जातेन भिनददुज्जनित्वैः ॥

Take him to yourself, O Agni, among those who win true hearing, in each hymn, when he is praised. Beloved of the Sun, beloved through Agni he becomes; by the upsurging birth he breaks open, by the upsurging begettings.

Mantra 11

त्वामग्ने यजमाना अनु द्यून्विश्वा वसु दधिरे वार्याणि । त्वया सह द्रविणमिच्छमाना व्रजं गोमन्तमुशिजो वि वव्रुः ॥

O Agni, the sacrificers, day after day, have placed in you all desirable riches. Seeking the plenitude of substance together with you, the seekers of the flame have opened out a luminous enclosure rich in rays of knowledge.

Mantra 12

अस्ताव्यग्निर्नरां सुशेवो वैश्वानर ऋषिभिः सोमगोपाः । अद्वेषे द्यावापृथिवी हुवेम देवा धत्त रयिमस्मे सुवीरम् ॥

Agni, beneficent for men, the universal Fire, has been affirmed by the seers, the guardians of Soma. In peace without hostility we call Heaven and Earth: O Gods, establish in us the rayi—spiritual plenitude—rich in heroic strength.