Sukta 5

Mantra 1

प्रत्यग्निरुषसश्चेकितानोऽबोधि विप्रः पदवीः कवीनाम् । पृथुपाजा देवयद्भिः समिद्धोऽप द्वारा तमसो वह्निरावः ॥

Agni, facing the Dawn and becoming conscious, has awakened—the inspired one, the path-finder of the seers. Wide in force, kindled by those who seek the Divine, the carrier has opened the doors of darkness.

Mantra 2

प्रेद्वग्निर्वावृधे स्तोमेभिर्गीर्भिः स्तोतॄणां नमस्य उक्थैः । पूर्वीॠतस्य संदृशश्चकानः सं दूतो अद्यौदुषसो विरोके ॥

Forward indeed Agni has grown by hymns, by songs, by the recitations of the worshippers. Delighting in the ancient visions of ṛta, the messenger has shone forth together in the wide light of the Dawn.

Mantra 3

अधाय्यग्निर्मानुषीषु विक्ष्वपां गर्भो मित्र ऋतेन साधन् । आ हर्यतो यजतः सान्वस्थादभूदु विप्रो हव्यो मतीनाम् ॥

Then Agni was established among the human clans, the embryo of the Waters, the Friend accomplishing by ṛta. From the golden (radiant) one, the adorable, he stood upon the summit; he became the inspired one, the offering-worthy power of our thoughts.

Mantra 4

मित्रो अग्निर्भवति यत्समिद्धो मित्रो होता वरुणो जातवेदाः । मित्रो अध्वर्युरिषिरो दमूना मित्रः सिन्धूनामुत पर्वतानाम् ॥

Agni becomes Mitra when he is kindled: he is Mitra as the Hotṛ, Varuṇa as Jātavedas. He is Mitra as the Adhvaryu, swift and master of the house; Mitra of the rivers and also of the mountains.

Mantra 5

पाति प्रियं रिपो अग्रं पदं वेः पाति यह्वश्चरणं सूर्यस्य । पाति नाभा सप्तशीर्षाणमग्निः पाति देवानामुपमादमृष्वः ॥

He guards the beloved, the foremost station from the assailant; the mighty one guards the course of the Sun. Agni guards the navel, the seven-headed (power); the lofty one guards the gods’ near-joy (their intimate delight in the offering).

Mantra 6

ऋभुश्चक्र ईड्यं चारु नाम विश्वानि देवो वयुनानि विद्वान् । ससस्य चर्म घृतवत्पदं वेस्तदिदग्नी रक्षत्यप्रयुच्छन् ॥

R̥bhu fashioned a lovely name worthy of adoration, the god who knows all the workings. He made for Vena the hide of the bull, a station rich with ghee (luminous sweetness); that indeed Agni guards without failing.

Mantra 7

आ योनिमग्निर्घृतवन्तमस्थात्पृथुप्रगाणमुशन्तमुशानः । दीद्यानः शुचिॠष्वः पावकः पुनःपुनर्मातरा नव्यसी कः ॥

Agni has taken his stand in the womb rich with clarified light; wide in his forward-chant, he desires and is himself the desiring flame. Shining, pure, lofty, the purifier, he again and again makes the two Mothers ever new—who indeed can measure that?

Mantra 8

सद्यो जात ओषधीभिर्ववक्षे यदी वर्धन्ति प्रस्वो घृतेन । आप इव प्रवता शुम्भमाना उरुष्यदग्निः पित्रोरुपस्थे ॥

New-born at once, he grows by the powers of the herbs, when they increase his forward swell with clarified light. Like waters along a slope adorning themselves, Agni widens and guards in the lap of the two Parents.

Mantra 9

उदु ष्टुतः समिधा यह्वो अद्यौद्वर्ष्मन्दिवो अधि नाभा पृथिव्याः । मित्रो अग्निरीड्यो मातरिश्वा दूतो वक्षद्यजथाय देवान् ॥

Praised, he has blazed upward with the kindling—this impetuous one—on the height of heaven, on the navel of earth. Agni, the Friend, worthy of adoration, Mātariśvan, the messenger, will carry the gods for the offering of sacrifice.

Mantra 10

उदस्तम्भीत्समिधा नाकमृष्वोऽग्निर्भवन्नुत्तमो रोचनानाम् । यदी भृगुभ्यः परि मातरिश्वा गुहा सन्तं हव्यवाहं समीधे ॥

With the kindling he has propped up the heaven; lofty Agni, becoming the highest of the luminous worlds. When Mātariśvan, for the Bhṛgus, kindled the oblation-bearer who was hidden in secrecy.

Mantra 11

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

O Agni, accomplish for the caller the abundant Iḷā—rich in works—an enduring gain of the Cow (the rays of knowledge). May there be for us a son, a child, a vigorous offspring; O Agni, may that be your good will toward us.