Sukta 6

Mantra 1

प्र कारवो मनना वच्यमाना देवद्रीचीं नयत देवयन्तः । दक्षिणावाड्वाजिनी प्राच्येति हविर्भरन्त्यग्नये घृताची ॥

Go forth, O singers, forming the thought and shaping the word; lead it godward, you who seek the gods. The gift-bearing power moves eastward, bringing the oblation to Agni—she whose course is of clarified brightness.

Mantra 2

आ रोदसी अपृणा जायमान उत प्र रिक्था अध नु प्रयज्यो । दिवश्चिदग्ने महिना पृथिव्या वच्यन्तां ते वह्नयः सप्तजिह्वाः ॥

At your birth you filled the two worlds, and you have gone forth to your inheritance—now as the one who leads the offering-work. O Agni, by your greatness beyond even heaven and earth, may your bearers, the seven-tongued powers, be voiced into action.

Mantra 3

द्यौश्च त्वा पृथिवी यज्ञियासो नि होतारं सादयन्ते दमाय । यदी विशो मानुषीर्देवयन्तीः प्रयस्वतीरीळते शुक्रमर्चिः ॥

Heaven and Earth, worthy of sacrifice, seat you as the Hotar in the home, when the human peoples, seeking the gods, rich in offering-substance, adore your bright flame.

Mantra 4

महान्त्सधस्थे ध्रुव आ निषत्तोऽन्तर्द्यावा माहिने हर्यमाणः । आस्क्रे सपत्नी अजरे अमृक्ते सबर्दुघे उरुगायस्य धेनू ॥

Great, firm in the common seat, he is set within the two heavens, moving with vast power. The two unfailing, unaging, uninjured, rival-less milch-cows of the wide-going One yield together their flowing milk.

Mantra 5

व्रता ते अग्ने महतो महानि तव क्रत्वा रोदसी आ ततन्थ । त्वं दूतो अभवो जायमानस्त्वं नेता वृषभ चर्षणीनाम् ॥

Great are your laws, O Agni, mighty indeed; by your power you have stretched out the two worlds. You became the messenger at your birth; you are the leader, O Bull, of the human kindreds.

Mantra 6

ऋतस्य वा केशिना योग्याभिर्घृतस्नुवा रोहिता धुरि धिष्व । अथा वह देवान्देव विश्वान्त्स्वध्वरा कृणुहि जातवेदः ॥

Yoke to the shaft the two ruddy steeds, streaming with the clarified light, with the harnessings of the Truth. Then, O divine Jātavedas, bring all the gods; make our path of sacrifice a good and unbroken journey of the inner offering.

Mantra 7

दिवश्चिदा ते रुचयन्त रोका उषो विभातीरनु भासि पूर्वीः । अपो यदग्न उशधग्वनेषु होतुर्मन्द्रस्य पनयन्त देवाः ॥

Even the luminous spaces of heaven kindle their shining for you; O Dawn, you follow with your many early radiances. When, O Agni, among the woods the waters are awakened, the gods take delight in the gladness of the priestly flame within.

Mantra 8

उरौ वा ये अन्तरिक्षे मदन्ति दिवो वा ये रोचने सन्ति देवाः । ऊमा वा ये सुहवासो यजत्रा आयेमिरे रथ्यो अग्ने अश्वाः ॥

Whether they take delight in the wide mid-world, or whether the gods dwell in the luminous heaven—those adorable powers, easy to call: for them, O Agni, the chariot-horses have come into harness, ready for the journey of the offering.

Mantra 9

ऐभिरग्ने सरथं याह्यर्वाङ्नानारथं वा विभवो ह्यश्वाः । पत्नीवतस्त्रिंशतं त्रीँश्च देवाननुष्वधमा वह मादयस्व ॥

With these, O Agni, come hither in one accorded chariot—or in many chariots, for your horses have manifold powers. Bring here the thrice ten and three gods together with their Shaktis (patnīs), according to their own right delight; and rejoice in the fulfilled offering.

Mantra 10

स होता यस्य रोदसी चिदुर्वी यज्ञंयज्ञमभि वृधे गृणीतः । प्राची अध्वरेव तस्थतुः सुमेके ऋतावरी ऋतजातस्य सत्ये ॥

He is the Hotṛ whom even the wide Heaven-and-Earth increase by their acclaim in every sacrifice. Like two advancing pillars they stand in the rite, beautifully paired—guardians of Ṛta—established in the Truth of him who is born of Ṛta.

Mantra 11

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

O Agni, accomplish for the caller the Ila—rich in manifold powers—an enduring gain of the Cow, the steady attainment of Light. May there be for us a son, a growing offspring, victorious in the battle of life. O Agni, let that be your good-minded grace in us.