Sukta 13

Mantra 1

प्र वो देवायाग्नये बर्हिष्ठमर्चास्मै । गमद्देवेभिरा स नो यजिष्ठो बर्हिरा सदत् ॥

Bring forward your highest hymn to Agni the Divine; sing it for him. May he come here with the gods, and may he, the most perfect in sacrifice, take his seat upon the sacred wideness (barhis) within us.

Mantra 2

ऋतावा यस्य रोदसी दक्षं सचन्त ऊतयः । हविष्मन्तस्तमीळते तं सनिष्यन्तोऽवसे ॥

He is the keeper of Ṛta: for him Heaven and Earth join their skill and their help. Those who bear the offering adore him, seeking to win him for protection and the right guidance.

Mantra 3

स यन्ता विप्र एषां स यज्ञानामथा हि षः । अग्निं तं वो दुवस्यत दाता यो वनिता मघम् ॥

He is the guide, the seer of these workings; he is indeed the leader of the sacrifices. Serve that Agni: he is the giver who wins for us the plenitude of delight and power.

Mantra 4

स नः शर्माणि वीतयेऽग्निर्यच्छतु शंतमा । यतो नः प्रुष्णवद्वसु दिवि क्षितिभ्यो अप्स्वा ॥

May Agni grant us the most peace-giving shelters for our enjoyment; from him may there come to us the shining wealth—here on earth, in the heaven above, and in the waters within—so our being is made full.

Mantra 5

दीदिवांसमपूर्व्यं वस्वीभिरस्य धीतिभिः । ऋक्वाणो अग्निमिन्धते होतारं विश्पतिं विशाम् ॥

The singers kindle Agni, the ever-shining and unaging, with rich inspirations; they awaken him as the priest of offering and as the lord of the peoples within the ordered life.

Mantra 6

उत नो ब्रह्मन्नविष उक्थेषु देवहूतमः । शं नः शोचा मरुद्वृधोऽग्ने सहस्रसातमः ॥

And protect our mantric word, O Agni, most powerful in calling the gods in our hymns. Shine for our peace; O increaser of the Maruts, O winner of a thousand gains, widen in us the victorious flame.

Mantra 7

नू नो रास्व सहस्रवत्तोकवत्पुष्टिमद्वसु । द्युमदग्ने सुवीर्यं वर्षिष्ठमनुपक्षितम् ॥

Now grant to us, O Agni, the wealth that is thousand-powered, rich in the soul’s offspring and in the growth of being; give us the luminous hero-force, the most abundant, that does not diminish nor fail in its increase.