Sukta 4

Mantra 1

कृणुष्व पाजः प्रसितिं न पृथ्वीं याहि राजेवामवाँ इभेन । तृष्वीमनु प्रसितिं द्रूणानोऽस्तासि विध्य रक्षसस्तपिष्ठैः ॥

Build up thy flaming might, a wide-ranging stride like the Earth; go forth like a king with his strong elephant-force. Following the thirsty onrush, rushing on, thou art the shooter—pierce the Rakṣasas with thy most burning powers.

Mantra 2

तव भ्रमास आशुया पतन्त्यनु स्पृश धृषता शोशुचानः । तपूंष्यग्ने जुह्वा पतंगानसंदितो वि सृज विष्वगुल्काः ॥

Thy whirling flames fly swift; touch on, O bold one, blazing. O Agni, with thy ladle cast forth the burning winged ones; unbroken, send out thy firebrands in every direction.

Mantra 3

प्रति स्पशो वि सृज तूर्णितमो भवा पायुर्विशो अस्या अदब्धः । यो नो दूरे अघशंसो यो अन्त्यग्ने माकिष्टे व्यथिरा दधर्षीत् ॥

Send out the watchers against (the foe); become the swiftest, an unfailing protector of this people. Whether the ill-wisher is far or near, O Agni, let no distress that is thine assail us.

Mantra 4

उदग्ने तिष्ठ प्रत्या तनुष्व न्यमित्राँ ओषतात्तिग्महेते । यो नो अरातिं समिधान चक्रे नीचा तं धक्ष्यतसं न शुष्कम् ॥

Rise up, O Agni; stretch thyself forward in answer—drive down the foes with thy sharp weapon. Whoever has fashioned for us misfortune while thou art being kindled, burn him down low, like dry flax.

Mantra 5

ऊर्ध्वो भव प्रति विध्याध्यस्मदाविष्कृणुष्व दैव्यान्यग्ने । अव स्थिरा तनुहि यातुजूनां जामिमजामिं प्र मृणीहि शत्रून् ॥

Rise upward, O Agni, and strike back; from us make the divine powers manifest. Cast down and stretch out firm the movements of the yātu-forces; shatter utterly the enemy, whether kin-like or alien.

Mantra 6

स ते जानाति सुमतिं यविष्ठ य ईवते ब्रह्मणे गातुमैरत् । विश्वान्यस्मै सुदिनानि रायो द्युम्नान्यर्यो वि दुरो अभि द्यौत् ॥

He knows your right-minded guidance, O youngest Fire—he who has found a path for the sacred Word. For him the noble power shines forth: all bright days of plenitude and luminous triumphs, opening wide the doors.

Mantra 7

सेदग्ने अस्तु सुभगः सुदानुर्यस्त्वा नित्येन हविषा य उक्थैः । पिप्रीषति स्व आयुषि दुरोणे विश्वेदस्मै सुदिना सासदिष्टिः ॥

May he indeed be fortunate and rich in giving, O Agni—he who nourishes you with the constant offering and with hymns, who seeks to fill you in his own life and home. For him may every bright day come to sit, every fulfillment of the sacrifice.

Mantra 8

अर्चामि ते सुमतिं घोष्यर्वाक्सं ते वावाता जरतामियं गीः । स्वश्वास्त्वा सुरथा मर्जयेमास्मे क्षत्राणि धारयेरनु द्यून् ॥

I sing your right guidance aloud and near; this song, growing old, keeps sounding for you. May we polish you as having good steeds and a good chariot; and may you hold for us the powers of mastery through the days.

Mantra 9

इह त्वा भूर्या चरेदुप त्मन्दोषावस्तर्दीदिवांसमनु द्यून् । क्रीळन्तस्त्वा सुमनसः सपेमाभि द्युम्ना तस्थिवांसो जनानाम् ॥

Here may abundant strength move toward you; may it come near the self, O shining one, through nights and days. Playing with you in a happy mind, may we follow—standing in the luminous powers among men.

Mantra 10

यस्त्वा स्वश्वः सुहिरण्यो अग्न उपयाति वसुमता रथेन । तस्य त्राता भवसि तस्य सखा यस्त आतिथ्यमानुषग्जुजोषत् ॥

He who comes to you, O Agni, with good steeds and bright riches on a chariot of plenitude—of him you become the protector, of him the friend, who has accepted your hospitality in the human way again and again.

Mantra 11

महो रुजामि बन्धुता वचोभिस्तन्मा पितुर्गोतमादन्वियाय । त्वं नो अस्य वचसश्चिकिद्धि होतर्यविष्ठ सुक्रतो दमूनाः ॥

With words I break open a great kinship; this has come to me following from my father Gotama. Do you take heed of this our utterance, O Hotar, youngest, clear-willed, lord of the house.

Mantra 12

अस्वप्नजस्तरणयः सुशेवा अतन्द्रासोऽवृका अश्रमिष्ठाः । ते पायवः सध्र्यञ्चो निषद्याग्ने तव नः पान्त्वमूर ॥

Born of wakefulness, swift and full of well-being, untiring, unwolfish, least given to fatigue—may those guardians, sitting close together, O Agni, protect us; yours are they, and they protect without delusion.

Mantra 13

ये पायवो मामतेयं ते अग्ने पश्यन्तो अन्धं दुरितादरक्षन् । ररक्ष तान्त्सुकृतो विश्ववेदा दिप्सन्त इद्रिपवो नाह देभुः ॥

Those guardians of yours, O Agni, protected the son of Mamata, seeing even the blind spot, from misfortune. You, all-knowing, kept them safe by their right action; though enemies sought to harm, they did not succeed at all.

Mantra 14

त्वया वयं सधन्यस्त्वोतास्तव प्रणीत्यश्याम वाजान् । उभा शंसा सूदय सत्यतातेऽनुष्ठुया कृणुह्यह्रयाण ॥

With you we are capable of the right winning; upheld by you, by your leading may we reach the plenitudes of force. Make both our praises prosper, O child of Truth; accomplish it in right sequence, without haste or stumbling.

Mantra 15

अया ते अग्ने समिधा विधेम प्रति स्तोमं शस्यमानं गृभाय । दहाशसो रक्षसः पाह्यस्मान्द्रुहो निदो मित्रमहो अवद्यात् ॥

With this kindling-force, O Agni, we would serve thee; accept in return the hymn that is being voiced. Burn the powers of perverse darkness (rakṣas), and guard us from the deceiver and the slanderer, O thou of vast friendship, from all that is blameworthy and falls away from the Truth.