Sukta 4

Mantra 1

हुवे वः सुद्योत्मानं सुवृक्तिं विशामग्निमतिथिं सुप्रयसम् । मित्र इव यो दिधिषाय्यो भूद्देव आदेवे जने जातवेदाः ॥

I call to you the well-luminous Agni, the perfect in utterance, the guest of the peoples, rich in plenitude of giving. Like Mitra, he becomes the one to be firmly established; a god among those who are not yet godlike, Jātavedas born with the knowledge.

Mantra 2

इमं विधन्तो अपां सधस्थे द्वितादधुर्भृगवो विक्ष्वायोः । एष विश्वान्यभ्यस्तु भूमा देवानामग्निररतिर्जीराश्वः ॥

This Agni, the bringers of the rite set in the common seat of the Waters; the Bhṛgus established him again among the peoples of the living. May this Agni, swift in movement and with steeds of speed, become for all beings the wide ground and support of the Gods.

Mantra 3

अग्निं देवासो मानुषीषु विक्षु प्रियं धुः क्षेष्यन्तो न मित्रम् । स दीदयदुशतीरूर्म्या आ दक्षाय्यो यो दास्वते दम आ ॥

The Gods placed Agni, their beloved, among the human clans, as one fosters a friend like Mitra. He shines forth with waves of eager delight; he who is to be increased by skill comes to the giver in the home.

Mantra 4

अस्य रण्वा स्वस्येव पुष्टिः संदृष्टिरस्य हियानस्य दक्षोः । वि यो भरिभ्रदोषधीषु जिह्वामत्यो न रथ्यो दोधवीति वारान् ॥

His delight is like his own nourishment; clear to behold is the skill of him who hastens. He who bears the load spreads his tongue among the plants; like a chariot-steed he shakes out the coverings, opening the ways.

Mantra 5

आ यन्मे अभ्वं वनदः पनन्तोशिग्भ्यो नामिमीत वर्णम् । स चित्रेण चिकिते रंसु भासा जुजुर्वाँ यो मुहुरा युवा भूत् ॥

When, for me, the roaring ones moving in the woods measured out the vastness and the colour—like the eager flames—then he perceives by his many-hued radiance, delighting; ever-aging, he becomes again and again young.

Mantra 6

आ यो वना तातृषाणो न भाति वार्ण पथा रथ्येव स्वानीत् । कृष्णाध्वा तपू रण्वश्चिकेत द्यौरिव स्मयमानो नभोभिः ॥

He who, thirsting, shines not in the woods, yet is led along a path like a chariot-road, following his own sound. On the black way, his heat knows its delight; like heaven smiling with its clouds, he reveals himself.

Mantra 7

स यो व्यस्थादभि दक्षदुर्वीं पशुर्नैति स्वयुरगोपाः । अग्निः शोचिष्माँ अतसान्युष्णन्कृष्णव्यथिरस्वदयन्न भूम ॥

He who has stood apart and burned through the wide earth—no beast goes there, self-moved and unguided. Agni, full of flame, heating the fibres, makes even the black resistance taste; he works the ground into sweetness.

Mantra 8

नू ते पूर्वस्यावसो अधीतौ तृतीये विदथे मन्म शंसि । अस्मे अग्ने संयद्वीरं बृहन्तं क्षुमन्तं वाजं स्वपत्यं रयिं दाः ॥

Now, in the onward movement of thy ancient help, at the third sacred session I proclaim my inspired thought. O Agni, give us a gathered host of heroes, the Vast, the luminous plenitude, the vāja—force of victorious fullness—together with good lordship and the rayi, the wealth of inner being.

Mantra 9

त्वया यथा गृत्समदासो अग्ने गुहा वन्वन्त उपराँ अभि ष्युः । सुवीरासो अभिमातिषाहः स्मत्सूरिभ्यो गृणते तद्वयो धाः ॥

By thee, O Agni, as the Gṛtsamadas striving in the hidden places rise beyond the upper limits, so may we become rich in heroic powers, conquerors of hostile pressures; from thee, for the praising seers, establish that vital plenitude and growth.