Sukta 51

Mantra 1

महत्तदुल्बं स्थविरं तदासीद्येनाविष्टितः प्रविवेशिथापः । विश्वा अपश्यद्बहुधा ते अग्ने जातवेदस्तन्वो देव एकः ॥

Great was that strong enclosing sheath; by it, invested, you entered into the Waters. You beheld all forms in many ways, O Agni Jātavedas—the one divine being taking many bodies.

Mantra 2

को मा ददर्श कतमः स देवो यो मे तन्वो बहुधा पर्यपश्यत् । क्वाह मित्रावरुणा क्षियन्त्यग्नेर्विश्वाः समिधो देवयानीः ॥

Who has seen me? Which god is he who has looked around upon my many forms? Where indeed dwell Mitra and Varuṇa? Where are all the kindlings of Agni that lead toward the Divine?

Mantra 3

ऐच्छाम त्वा बहुधा जातवेदः प्रविष्टमग्ने अप्स्वोषधीषु । तं त्वा यमो अचिकेच्चित्रभानो दशान्तरुष्यादतिरोचमानम् ॥

I sought you in many ways, O Jātavedas, entered into the waters and into the plants. You—O many-flamed—Yama recognized, shining beyond the ten boundaries, surpassing in your radiance.

Mantra 4

होत्रादहं वरुण बिभ्यदायं नेदेव मा युनजन्नत्र देवाः । तस्य मे तन्वो बहुधा निविष्टा एतमर्थं न चिकेताहमग्निः ॥

From the office of the Hotṛ, O Varuṇa, I came in fear; and the gods here did not yoke me to it. Therefore my forms were set in many places; this meaning I, Agni, did not understand.

Mantra 5

एहि मनुर्देवयुर्यज्ञकामोऽरंकृत्या तमसि क्षेष्यग्ने । सुगान्पथः कृणुहि देवयानान्वह हव्यानि सुमनस्यमानः ॥

Come, O Agni; Manú, desiring the sacrifice and yearning for the Divine, has made ready your place in the darkness. Make the paths easy to go by—the god-leading paths—and carry the offerings, taking joy in the right-mindedness of the seeker.

Mantra 6

अग्नेः पूर्वे भ्रातरो अर्थमेतं रथीवाध्वानमन्वावरीवुः । तस्माद्भिया वरुण दूरमायं गौरो न क्षेप्नोरविजे ज्यायाः ॥

The elder brothers of Agni pursued this meaning, as a charioteer follows the road. Therefore, O Varuṇa, from fear I went far away—like a wild bull startled by the cast of the thong, fleeing toward the stronger power.

Mantra 7

कुर्मस्त आयुरजरं यदग्ने यथा युक्तो जातवेदो न रिष्याः । अथा वहासि सुमनस्यमानो भागं देवेभ्यो हविषः सुजात ॥

We establish for you an unaging life, O Agni, so that yoked rightly, O Jātavedas, you do not suffer harm. Then, well-disposed, you carry to the gods their share of the offering, O well-born—fulfilling the right exchange between human and divine.

Mantra 8

प्रयाजान्मे अनुयाजाँश्च केवलानूर्जस्वन्तं हविषो दत्त भागम् । घृतं चापां पुरुषं चौषधीनामग्नेश्च दीर्घमायुरस्तु देवाः ॥

O Gods, grant to me the fore-offerings and the after-offerings—pure and filled with strength—give their due portion of the oblation. And may there be the clarified light of the waters and the essential sap of the plants; and for Agni (the divine Will in us) let there be long life—enduring power of persistence.

Mantra 9

तव प्रयाजा अनुयाजाश्च केवल ऊर्जस्वन्तो हविषः सन्तु भागाः । तवाग्ने यज्ञोऽयमस्तु सर्वस्तुभ्यं नमन्तां प्रदिशश्चतस्रः ॥

Thine be the fore-offerings and the after-offerings—pure and full of force; let the portions of the oblation be thine. O Agni, let this entire sacrifice be for thee; to thee let the four directions bow—let all the powers of the field of action turn toward the divine Will.