Sukta 3

Mantra 1

वैश्वानराय पृथुपाजसे विपो रत्ना विधन्त धरुणेषु गातवे । अग्निर्हि देवाँ अमृतो दुवस्यत्यथा धर्माणि सनता न दूदुषत् ॥

For Vaiśvānara, wide in his radiance, the seers fashion the treasures and the firm foundations for our going. For Agni, immortal, truly serves the gods; therefore the eternal laws of the Truth do not fail nor fall into disorder.

Mantra 2

अन्तर्दूतो रोदसी दस्म ईयते होता निषत्तो मनुषः पुरोहितः । क्षयं बृहन्तं परि भूषति द्युभिर्देवेभिरग्निरिषितो धियावसुः ॥

As the inward messenger between the two worlds, the wonderful one moves; the invoker, seated within man, set in front as the guiding priest. He adorns all around the vast home with the luminous powers; Agni, impelled by the gods, rich in the wealth of inspired thought.

Mantra 3

केतुं यज्ञानां विदथस्य साधनं विप्रासो अग्निं महयन्त चित्तिभिः । अपांसि यस्मिन्नधि संदधुर्गिरस्तस्मिन्त्सुम्नानि यजमान आ चके ॥

The seers magnify Agni with their awakenings of thought—Agni, the beacon of the sacrifices, the accomplisher of the sacred session. He is the one in whom they set their works and join their utterances; in him the sacrificer comes to the glad graces and harmonies.

Mantra 4

पिता यज्ञानामसुरो विपश्चितां विमानमग्निर्वयुनं च वाघताम् । आ विवेश रोदसी भूरिवर्पसा पुरुप्रियो भन्दते धामभिः कविः ॥

Agni is the father of the sacrifices, a lord of power for the seers of vision; he is their measure and their discerning method. With abundant radiance he has entered the two worlds; the seer, beloved of many, shines forth through his manifold dwellings of light.

Mantra 5

चन्द्रमग्निं चन्द्ररथं हरिव्रतं वैश्वानरमप्सुषदं स्वर्विदम् । विगाहं तूर्णिं तविषीभिरावृतं भूर्णिं देवास इह सुश्रियं दधुः ॥

The shining Agni, with a shining chariot, faithful to the luminous law—Vaiśvānara seated in the waters, knower of the supramental world—plunging forward, swift, wrapped in his powers: him, the whirling force, the gods have set here for a beautiful splendour.

Mantra 6

अग्निर्देवेभिर्मनुषश्च जन्तुभिस्तन्वानो यज्ञं पुरुपेशसं धिया । रथीरन्तरीयते साधदिष्टिभिर्जीरो दमूना अभिशस्तिचातनः ॥

Agni, with the gods and with men and all living beings, extends the sacrifice with the inspired thought, making it richly formed. Like a charioteer he moves within by perfect accomplishings; swift in his dwelling, he drives away the assaults of hostile affirmation.

Mantra 7

अग्ने जरस्व स्वपत्य आयुन्यूर्जा पिन्वस्व समिषो दिदीहि नः । वयांसि जिन्व बृहतश्च जागृव उशिग्देवानामसि सुक्रतुर्विपाम् ॥

O Agni, grow in us for a good mastery and a long course; strengthen us by the delighting energy, and kindle our harmonies. Increase our powers of flight, and awaken to the Vast; you are the eager flame of the gods, the good-willed intelligence of the seers.

Mantra 8

विश्पतिं यह्वमतिथिं नरः सदा यन्तारं धीनामुशिजं च वाघताम् । अध्वराणां चेतनं जातवेदसं प्र शंसन्ति नमसा जूतिभिर्वृधे ॥

Men ever proclaim with reverence and swift offerings Jātavedas—lord of the clan, the strong pilgrim-guest, the driver of inspired thoughts, the eager flame of the singers; the awakener of the paths of sacrifice, for his increase.

Mantra 9

विभावा देवः सुरणः परि क्षितीरग्निर्बभूव शवसा सुमद्रथः । तस्य व्रतानि भूरिपोषिणो वयमुप भूषेम दम आ सुवृक्तिभिः ॥

Agni, the luminous One, the god of noble delight, has encompassed the worlds by his force, a chariot of good thought and right movement. May we in our dwelling draw near and adorn his ordinances that foster abundant growth, by our well-fashioned words.

Mantra 10

वैश्वानर तव धामान्या चके येभिः स्वर्विदभवो विचक्षण । जात आपृणो भुवनानि रोदसी अग्ने ता विश्वा परिभूरसि त्मना ॥

O Vaiśvānara, thou hast fashioned thy seats of power by which thou becamest the knower of the luminous heaven, the wide-seeing. Born, thou didst fill the worlds and the two firmaments; O Agni, by thy own self-being thou encompassest and surpassest all these.

Mantra 11

वैश्वानरस्य दंसनाभ्यो बृहदरिणादेकः स्वपस्यया कविः । उभा पितरा महयन्नजायताग्निर्द्यावापृथिवी भूरिरेतसा ॥

From the mighty workings of Vaiśvānara the One was born vast, the seer by his perfect skill. Magnifying the two Parents, Agni came to birth—Heaven and Earth—rich in the seed of abundance.