Sukta 1

Mantra 1

सोमस्य मा तवसं वक्ष्यग्ने वह्निं चकर्थ विदथे यजध्यै । देवाँ अच्छा दीद्यद्युञ्जे अद्रिं शमाये अग्ने तन्वं जुषस्व ॥

Bear for me the strong delight of Soma, O Agni; you have fashioned the carrier-flame for the session of sacrifice. To bring the gods near, shining, you yoke the pressing-stone. For peace and harmony, O Agni, accept and enjoy our embodied being.

Mantra 2

प्राञ्चं यज्ञं चकृम वर्धतां गीः समिद्भिरग्निं नमसा दुवस्यन् । दिवः शशासुर्विदथा कवीनां गृत्साय चित्तवसे गातुमीषुः ॥

We have set the sacrifice moving forward; may the inspired speech increase. With kindlings we serve Agni by reverence and submission. The seers have established the sessions from the Heaven; even for the strong Gṛtsamada they sought a path of going—an opening for the force to advance.

Mantra 3

मयो दधे मेधिरः पूतदक्षो दिवः सुबन्धुर्जनुषा पृथिव्याः । अविन्दन्नु दर्शतमप्स्वन्तर्देवासो अग्निमपसि स्वसॄणाम् ॥

He has set delight within us—wise, with purified discernment, a true kin of Heaven by birth from Earth. The gods found the visible Agni hidden within the waters, in the work of the Sisters: the secret flame revealed from the depths of the life-streams.

Mantra 4

अवर्धयन्त्सुभगं सप्त यह्वीः श्वेतं जज्ञानमरुषं महित्वा । शिशुं न जातमभ्यारुरश्वा देवासो अग्निं जनिमन्वपुष्यन् ॥

The seven mighty streams increased the fortunate one—white in his birth, ruddy in his greatness. Like horses running to a newborn child, the gods hastened to Agni; they fostered his becoming and made his form grow luminous.

Mantra 5

शुक्रेभिरङ्गै रज आततन्वान्क्रतुं पुनानः कविभिः पवित्रैः । शोचिर्वसानः पर्यायुरपां श्रियो मिमीते बृहतीरनूनाः ॥

With bright limbs he stretches across the spaces; purifying the will, with the seers as his filters. Clothed in flame, he encompasses the life of the waters; he measures out their splendours—vast, undiminished plenitudes.

Mantra 6

वव्राजा सीमनदतीरदब्धा दिवो यह्वीरवसाना अनग्नाः । सना अत्र युवतयः सयोनीरेकं गर्भं दधिरे सप्त वाणीः ॥

They moved radiant, sounding, inviolable—those mighty ones of Heaven, flowing, without fire. Here from of old the young ones, sharing one womb, held a single embryo: the seven voices bore one concealed birth—one flame-seed of the truth.

Mantra 7

स्तीर्णा अस्य संहतो विश्वरूपा घृतस्य योनौ स्रवथे मधूनाम् । अस्थुरत्र धेनवः पिन्वमाना मही दस्मस्य मातरा समीची ॥

Spread out for him are the many-formed powers gathered together; in the womb of the clarified light the sweetnesses flow. Here stand the nourishing streams, swelling with increase—two great Mothers of the Wonder-Worker, moving in one accord.

Mantra 8

बभ्राणः सूनो सहसो व्यद्यौद्दधानः शुक्रा रभसा वपूंषि । श्चोतन्ति धारा मधुनो घृतस्य वृषा यत्र वावृधे काव्येन ॥

Glowing, O Son of Force, he flashes wide, bearing bright and impetuous forms. The streams drip the honey and the clarified light, where the Bull grows by the seer’s inspired art.

Mantra 9

पितुश्चिदूधर्जनुषा विवेद व्यस्य धारा असृजद्वि धेनाः । गुहा चरन्तं सखिभिः शिवेभिर्दिवो यह्वीभिर्न गुहा बभूव ॥

Even the Father’s udder he knows by birth; he has released his streams, he has set free the nourishing powers. Moving in the hidden, with his auspicious comrades, with the mighty ones of heaven—he was hidden no longer.

Mantra 10

पितुश्च गर्भं जनितुश्च बभ्रे पूर्वीरेको अधयत्पीप्यानाः । वृष्णे सपत्नी शुचये सबन्धू उभे अस्मै मनुष्ये नि पाहि ॥

He bore the embryo of the Father and of the Begetter; alone he has made the many powers drink, growing full. Two sisters, rivals yet akin, for the Bull, for the pure—both, guard for this human the right placing.

Mantra 11

उरौ महाँ अनिबाधे ववर्धापो अग्निं यशसः सं हि पूर्वीः । ऋतस्य योनावशयद्दमूना जामीनामग्निरपसि स्वसॄणाम् ॥

In the wide, the great, the unopposed, he has grown; the ancient Waters have gathered their glory into Agni. In the womb of the Truth he rests, the dweller in the home—Agni in the work of his sister-powers.

Mantra 12

अक्रो न बभ्रिः समिथे महीनां दिदृक्षेयः सूनवे भाऋजीकः । उदुस्रिया जनिता यो जजानापां गर्भो नृतमो यह्वो अग्निः ॥

Like a swift courser, tawny in the great battle, he is to be beheld, the radiant Son. He has uplifted the shining herds; he who is their begetter, the embryo of the Waters—Agni, most manly, the mighty mover.

Mantra 13

अपां गर्भं दर्शतमोषधीनां वना जजान सुभगा विरूपम् । देवासश्चिन्मनसा सं हि जग्मुः पनिष्ठं जातं तवसं दुवस्यन् ॥

The visible embryo of the Waters, the growth of the plants—heaven’s woods have brought forth the fortunate, the many-formed. Even the gods came together in mind to serve the most wondrous-born, the strong one.

Mantra 14

बृहन्त इद्भानवो भाऋजीकमग्निं सचन्त विद्युतो न शुक्राः । गुहेव वृद्धं सदसि स्वे अन्तरपार ऊर्वे अमृतं दुहानाः ॥

The vast beams cleave to Agni the radiant, like bright lightnings. As one grown in a secret chamber within his own seat, they milk the immortal in the boundless wideness.

Mantra 15

ईळे च त्वा यजमानो हविर्भिरीळे सखित्वं सुमतिं निकामः । देवैरवो मिमीहि सं जरित्रे रक्षा च नो दम्येभिरनीकैः ॥

I adore you with offerings, O Agni; I adore your friendship, desiring the right-minded grace. With the gods, measure out for the singer your help, and guard us with your house-born faces of power.

Mantra 16

उपक्षेतारस्तव सुप्रणीतेऽग्ने विश्वानि धन्या दधानाः । सुरेतसा श्रवसा तुञ्जमाना अभि ष्याम पृतनायूँरदेवान् ॥

May we be dwellers near you, O Agni, under your good leading, holding all the felicities. Pressing forward with noble seed of force and with fame, may we overcome the battle-seekers who are without the divine.

Mantra 17

आ देवानामभवः केतुरग्ने मन्द्रो विश्वानि काव्यानि विद्वान् । प्रति मर्ताँ अवासयो दमूना अनु देवान्रथिरो यासि साधन् ॥

O Agni, you have become the signal-flame and luminous sign of the gods; blissful in your force, knowing all the inspired word and secret wisdom. You set mortals facing the divine habitation; and as a sure charioteer you go following the gods, accomplishing the work.

Mantra 18

नि दुरोणे अमृतो मर्त्यानां राजा ससाद विदथानि साधन् । घृतप्रतीक उर्विया व्यद्यौदग्निर्विश्वानि काव्यानि विद्वान् ॥

In the home he has sat down, the Immortal within mortals, a king accomplishing the works of the assemblies. With a face of clarified light he has shone out widely; Agni, knower of all inspired wisdoms.

Mantra 19

आ नो गहि सख्येभिः शिवेभिर्महान्महीभिरूतिभिः सरण्यन् । अस्मे रयिं बहुलं संतरुत्रं सुवाचं भागं यशसं कृधी नः ॥

Come to us with friendships that are benign, O mighty one, with great and vast help that leads us safely. For us create a rich plenitude of being, victorious through all crossings, a share that is well-spoken and luminous with glory.

Mantra 20

एता ते अग्ने जनिमा सनानि प्र पूर्व्याय नूतनानि वोचम् । महान्ति वृष्णे सवना कृतेमा जन्मञ्जन्मन्निहितो जातवेदाः ॥

These are your births, O Agni, ancient ones; and I proclaim also the new ones for the primal One. Great are the pressings made for the Bull; in birth after birth Jātavedas is placed within, hidden to be kindled.

Mantra 21

जन्मञ्जन्मन्निहितो जातवेदा विश्वामित्रेभिरिध्यते अजस्रः । तस्य वयं सुमतौ यज्ञियस्यापि भद्रे सौमनसे स्याम ॥

In birth after birth Jātavedas is hidden within, and by the Viśvāmitras he is kindled without cease. May we belong to the good will of that adorable flame; may we be also in the happy, luminous harmony of the heart.

Mantra 22

इमं यज्ञं सहसावन्त्वं नो देवत्रा धेहि सुक्रतो रराणः । प्र यंसि होतर्बृहतीरिषो नोऽग्ने महि द्रविणमा यजस्व ॥

This sacrifice, O powerful one, establish for us in the divine direction, rejoicing, O clear-willed. As Hotar, send forth to us the vast impulsions of abundance; O Agni, sacrifice and bring down the great treasure of being.

Mantra 23

इळामग्ने पुरुदंसं सनिं गोः शश्वत्तमं हवमानाय साध । स्यान्नः सूनुस्तनयो विजावाग्ने सा ते सुमतिर्भूत्वस्मे ॥

O Agni, accomplish for the caller Ila—rich in many works—an eternal winning of the Cow (the Ray). Let there be for us a son, a child, bringing victory in birth; O Agni, may that be your good will toward us.