Sukta 23

Mantra 1

निर्मथितः सुधित आ सधस्थे युवा कविरध्वरस्य प्रणेता । जूर्यत्स्वग्निरजरो वनेष्वत्रा दधे अमृतं जातवेदाः ॥

Churned forth and well-founded, he comes to the seat of the rite; the young seer, the leader of the journey of sacrifice. In the growing woods the unaging Agni—Jātavedas—has here placed the immortality (nectar of deathless being).

Mantra 2

अमन्थिष्टां भारता रेवदग्निं देवश्रवा देववातः सुदक्षम् । अग्ने वि पश्य बृहताभि रायेषां नो नेता भवतादनु द्यून् ॥

The Bharatas have churned out the radiant Agni—Devaśravas, Devavāta—well-skilled in the work. O Agni, look wide with the Vast; become our leader towards these plenitudes of being, day after day.

Mantra 3

दश क्षिपः पूर्व्यं सीमजीजनन्त्सुजातं मातृषु प्रियम् । अग्निं स्तुहि दैववातं देवश्रवो यो जनानामसद्वशी ॥

Ten swift kindlings have brought him to birth, the ancient one—well-born, dear among the Mothers. Praise Agni, O Devaśravas, the god-inspired, who sits as master of the peoples.

Mantra 4

नि त्वा दधे वर आ पृथिव्या इळायास्पदे सुदिनत्वे अह्नाम् । दृषद्वत्यां मानुष आपयायां सरस्वत्यां रेवदग्ने दिदीहि ॥

I set thee down in the chosen place upon Earth, in the seat of Iḷā, for the bright felicity of the days. In Dṛṣadvatī, in the human realm, in Āpayā, in Sarasvatī—shine forth, O radiant Agni.

Mantra 5

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

O Agni, accomplish for the one who calls thee the Ila—full of luminous insight—rich in manifold workings, the ever-enduring winning of the Rays (go); may there be for us a son, a child, victorious in births and growth. May that be thy happy-minded grace for us.