Sukta 69

Mantra 1

भद्रा अग्नेर्वध्र्यश्वस्य संदृशो वामी प्रणीतिः सुरणा उपेतयः । यदीं सुमित्रा विशो अग्र इन्धते घृतेनाहुतो जरते दविद्युतत् ॥

Auspicious are the visions of Agni for Vadhryaśva—his gracious leading, his noble approaches. When the peoples, in good friendship, kindle him in the front, then, offered with clarified light, he grows and shines out with a vivid brilliance.

Mantra 2

घृतमग्नेर्वध्र्यश्वस्य वर्धनं घृतमन्नं घृतम्वस्य मेदनम् । घृतेनाहुत उर्विया वि पप्रथे सूर्य इव रोचते सर्पिरासुतिः ॥

Clarified brightness is Agni’s increase for Vadhryaśva; clarified brightness is his food, clarified brightness his right opening. Offered with that clarity, he expands wide; like the Sun he shines—pressed out as the stream of luminous delight.

Mantra 3

यत्ते मनुर्यदनीकं सुमित्रः समीधे अग्ने तदिदं नवीयः । स रेवच्छोच स गिरो जुषस्व स वाजं दर्षि स इह श्रवो धाः ॥

What Manu once kindled for you, and what Sūmitra kindled—O Agni—this too is made new. Shine with plenitude; accept our words; grant the vāja, the fullness of force, and here establish fame that endures.

Mantra 4

यं त्वा पूर्वमीळितो वध्र्यश्वः समीधे अग्ने स इदं जुषस्व । स नः स्तिपा उत भवा तनूपा दात्रं रक्षस्व यदिदं ते अस्मे ॥

You whom Vadhryaśva formerly praised and kindled, O Agni—accept this too. Be for us a firm protector, a guardian of our embodied being; guard the gift, this offering that is yours among us.

Mantra 5

भवा द्युम्नी वाध्र्यश्वोत गोपा मा त्वा तारीदभिमातिर्जनानाम् । शूर इव धृष्णुश्च्यवनः सुमित्रः प्र नु वोचं वाध्र्यश्वस्य नाम ॥

Become luminous, O Vādhryaśva, and be a guardian of the Rays; let not the hostile will of men overtake you. Like a hero, forceful and steadfast, a good friend to the right-minded, I now proclaim the name and soul-sign of Vādhryaśva.

Mantra 6

समज्र्या पर्वत्या वसूनि दासा वृत्राण्यार्या जिगेथ । शूर इव धृष्णुश्च्यवनो जनानां त्वमग्ने पृतनायूँरभि ष्याः ॥

With the swift-moving and mountain-strong force you have won the treasures; the Arya has conquered the obstructing powers of the Dasa. Like a hero, vehement and unshaken among men, be thou, O Agni, the overcomer of the battle-hosts.

Mantra 7

दीर्घतन्तुर्बृहदुक्षायमग्निः सहस्रस्तरीः शतनीथ ऋभ्वा । द्युमान्द्युमत्सु नृभिर्मृज्यमानः सुमित्रेषु दीदयो देवयत्सु ॥

This Agni, long-threaded in his workings, great in his outpouring, crossing a thousand barriers, founding a hundred paths, the skilled one—radiant among the radiant—being purified by the strong sons of men, shines in the communities of good friendship that seek the Divine.

Mantra 8

त्वे धेनुः सुदुघा जातवेदोऽसश्चतेव समना सबर्धुक् । त्वं नृभिर्दक्षिणावद्भिरग्ने सुमित्रेभिरिध्यसे देवयद्भिः ॥

In thee is the richly yielding Cow of plenty, O Jātavedas—inseparable, moving in one harmony, giving the full milk of force. Thou, O Agni, art kindled by men who bear the right offering, by good friends who seek the Divine.

Mantra 9

देवाश्चित्ते अमृता जातवेदो महिमानं वाध्र्यश्व प्र वोचन् । यत्सम्पृच्छं मानुषीर्विश आयन्त्वं नृभिरजयस्त्वावृधेभिः ॥

Even the immortals, O Jātavedas, have proclaimed thy greatness, O Vādhryaśva. When the human clans came to question and seek, thou didst win with men who grow by thee—strengthened by thy increase.

Mantra 10

पितेव पुत्रमबिभरुपस्थे त्वामग्ने वध्र्यश्वः सपर्यन् । जुषाणो अस्य समिधं यविष्ठोत पूर्वाँ अवनोर्व्राधतश्चित् ॥

As a father bears his son upon his lap, so Vādhryaśva, serving thee, bears thee, O Agni, in the seat of the being. Accepting his kindling, O youngest, thou hast guarded even the former ones—yes, even those who had fallen away from the right.

Mantra 11

शश्वदग्निर्वध्र्यश्वस्य शत्रून्नृभिर्जिगाय सुतसोमवद्भिः । समनं चिददहश्चित्रभानोऽव व्राधन्तमभिनद्वृधश्चित् ॥

Ever does Agni win for Vādhryaśva the foes, with men who are rich in the pressed Soma. O flame of varied radiance, thou hast burned even the fixed stronghold; thou hast struck down the opposer, even though he was grown and mighty.

Mantra 12

अयमग्निर्वध्र्यश्वस्य वृत्रहा सनकात्प्रेद्धो नमसोपवाक्यः । स नो अजामीँरुत वा विजामीनभि तिष्ठ शर्धतो वाध्र्यश्व ॥

This Agni of Vādhryaśva is the slayer of the Enveloper; from of old he is kindled, invoked by obeisance and inward call. Let him stand over us against the near and the far adversaries, against the pressing hordes, O Vādhryaśva.