Sukta 11

Mantra 1

अग्निर्होता पुरोहितोऽध्वरस्य विचर्षणिः । स वेद यज्ञमानुषक् ॥

Agni, the invoking priest set in front, the wide-seeing of the sacrifice—he knows the human offering in its right sequence, and leads it by the truth of his discernment.

Mantra 2

स हव्यवाळमर्त्य उशिग्दूतश्चनोहितः । अग्निर्धिया समृण्वति ॥

He, the immortal bearer of the offering, the eager flame, the messenger set for our delight—Agni by the awakened thought brings the powers into harmony and sets the work rightly in motion.

Mantra 3

अग्निर्धिया स चेतति केतुर्यज्ञस्य पूर्व्यः । अर्थं ह्यस्य तरणि ॥

Agni by the inspired intelligence becomes conscious and awake; he is the ancient beacon of the sacrifice. For he carries across and secures its true aim—he makes the meaning and purpose of the offering effective.

Mantra 4

अग्निं सूनुं सनश्रुतं सहसो जातवेदसम् । वह्निं देवा अकृण्वत ॥

Agni, the son of the Force, famed from of old, the knower of births—him the gods made the carrier, the bearing power. Thus the divine powers establish in us the Fire that can carry the offering and the becoming.

Mantra 5

अदाभ्यः पुरएता विशामग्निर्मानुषीणाम् । तूर्णी रथः सदा नवः ॥

Agni, unconquerable, goes in front of the human clans as their leader; swift is his chariot-force, ever new—renewing our movement and advance.

Mantra 6

साह्वान्विश्वा अभियुजः क्रतुर्देवानाममृक्तः । अग्निस्तुविश्रवस्तमः ॥

All opposing pressures he overcomes; he is the unerring power of effective will among the gods—Agni, most wide-renowned, whose working cannot be thwarted.

Mantra 7

अभि प्रयांसि वाहसा दाश्वाँ अश्नोति मर्त्यः । क्षयं पावकशोचिषः ॥

By his bearing power the mortal who gives reaches the forward-goings (the progressive attainments); he wins a dwelling in the radiant purity of Agni’s flame.

Mantra 8

परि विश्वानि सुधिताग्नेरश्याम मन्मभिः । विप्रासो जातवेदसः ॥

May we, the inspired seers of Jātavedas, encompass and attain all the well-set treasures of Agni by our formed thoughts—by our illumined word and inner intention.

Mantra 9

अग्ने विश्वानि वार्या वाजेषु सनिषामहे । त्वे देवास एरिरे ॥

O Agni, may we win all desirable riches in the plenitudes of force; for in thee the gods are set in motion—toward our work and offering.