Sukta 52

Mantra 1

विश्वे देवाः शास्तन मा यथेह होता वृतो मनवै यन्निषद्य । प्र मे ब्रूत भागधेयं यथा वो येन पथा हव्यमा वो वहानि ॥

O All-Gods, instruct me so that here—when I sit down as the chosen Hotṛ for man—I may know. Tell me clearly my rightful share of the offering, and the path by which I may carry your oblation to you: the true way of the inner sacrifice.

Mantra 2

अहं होता न्यसीदं यजीयान्विश्वे देवा मरुतो मा जुनन्ति । अहरहरश्विनाध्वर्यवं वां ब्रह्मा समिद्भवति साहुतिर्वाम् ॥

I, the Hotṛ, have sat down—the more fit to sacrifice; the All-Gods and the Maruts impel me. Day by day, O Aśvins, the priestly act for you becomes kindling in the Word; and that kindling becomes your true offering—an ever-renewed flame of aspiration.

Mantra 3

अयं यो होता किरु स यमस्य कमप्यूहे यत्समञ्जन्ति देवाः । अहरहर्जायते मासिमास्यथा देवा दधिरे हव्यवाहम् ॥

This Hotṛ—who is he? I ponder even the mystery of Yama: for the Gods anoint and prepare him. Day by day he is born, month by month; thus the Gods established the Carrier of the offering—ever new in manifestation, yet one in essence.

Mantra 4

मां देवा दधिरे हव्यवाहमपम्लुक्तं बहु कृच्छ्रा चरन्तम् । अग्निर्विद्वान्यज्ञं नः कल्पयाति पञ्चयामं त्रिवृतं सप्ततन्तुम् ॥

The Gods established me as the Carrier of the offering—unfaltering, moving through many difficulties. Agni, the Knower, fashions for us the sacrifice: fivefold in its movements, triple-woven in its form, seven-threaded in its continuity—an ordered work of consciousness.

Mantra 5

आ वो यक्ष्यमृतत्वं सुवीरं यथा वो देवा वरिवः कराणि । आ बाह्वोर्वज्रमिन्द्रस्य धेयामथेमा विश्वाः पृतना जयाति ॥

I will sacrifice to you for immortality and a hero-force, so that, O Gods, I may make wide room for you within me. I will set in my arms the thunder-power of Indra; then may all these battles be won—every struggle where Light must prevail over the resisting darkness.

Mantra 6

त्रीणि शता त्री सहस्राण्यग्निं त्रिंशच्च देवा नव चासपर्यन् । औक्षन्घृतैरस्तृणन्बर्हिरस्मा आदिद्धोतारं न्यसादयन्त ॥

Three hundred and three thousand, and thirty and nine—the Gods served Agni. They anointed him with the clarified light and spread the sacred seat for him; then indeed they made the Hotṛ sit down—establishing the priest-flame firmly in the field of the work.