Sukta 5

Mantra 1

वैश्वानराय मीळ्हुषे सजोषाः कथा दाशेमाग्नये बृहद्भाः । अनूनेन बृहता वक्षथेनोप स्तभायदुपमिन्न रोधः ॥

To Vaiśvānara, the bountiful, in one accord—how shall we give our offering to Agni of the vast radiance? With an undiminished, wide-bearing power he has propped up the obstruction, as it were a measured limit, so the path may stand open to the growing Light.

Mantra 2

मा निन्दत य इमां मह्यं रातिं देवो ददौ मर्त्याय स्वधावान् । पाकाय गृत्सो अमृतो विचेता वैश्वानरो नृतमो यह्वो अग्निः ॥

Do not blame the God who has given me this gift, to a mortal who bears his own law of power. For the ripening soul, Agni—eager, most manly, Vaiśvānara—becomes the discerning immortal, the inspired seeker who knows the paths of consciousness.

Mantra 3

साम द्विबर्हा महि तिग्मभृष्टिः सहस्ररेता वृषभस्तुविष्मान् । पदं न गोरपगूळ्हं विविद्वानग्निर्मह्यं प्रेदु वोचन्मनीषाम् ॥

A chant of harmony, double-based, mighty, with sharp-bright edge, a bull of abundant seed and puissant force—Agni, knowing the hidden step of the Cow (the ray), spoke forth to me the inspired understanding.

Mantra 4

प्र ताँ अग्निर्बभसत्तिग्मजम्भस्तपिष्ठेन शोचिषा यः सुराधाः । प्र ये मिनन्ति वरुणस्य धाम प्रिया मित्रस्य चेततो ध्रुवाणि ॥

Agni, with keen jaws, blazes against them with his most burning flame—he of perfect workings. He smites those who impair Varuṇa’s law-abode and disturb the dear, firm harmonies of Mitra that awaken the conscious being.

Mantra 5

अभ्रातरो न योषणो व्यन्तः पतिरिपो न जनयो दुरेवाः । पापासः सन्तो अनृता असत्या इदं पदमजनता गभीरम् ॥

Like women without brothers, they wander unprotected; like wives of a hostile master, they move in evil ways. Being sinners—untrue, not founded in the Real—they cannot beget this deep station (pada) of consciousness.

Mantra 6

इदं मे अग्ने कियते पावकामिनते गुरुं भारं न मन्म । बृहद्दधाथ धृषता गभीरं यह्वं पृष्ठं प्रयसा सप्तधातु ॥

This, O Agni, is what my purifying flame cannot fully carry—my thought is like a heavy load. Do thou set it wide, deep, and daring; make it the eager back-bone of the journey, with thy plenitude establishing it in sevenfold foundation.

Mantra 7

तमिन्न्वेव समना समानमभि क्रत्वा पुनती धीतिरश्याः । ससस्य चर्मन्नधि चारु पृश्नेरग्रे रुप आरुपितं जबारु ॥

Him indeed, ever the same in the common meeting, the purifying thought reaches by its will. Upon the hide of the growing being, upon the fair-spotted (field of nature), in the forefront the form is set in beauty—an outward sign (jabāru) of the inner shaping.

Mantra 8

प्रवाच्यं वचसः किं मे अस्य गुहा हितमुप निणिग्वदन्ति । यदुस्रियाणामप वारिव व्रन्पाति प्रियं रुपो अग्रं पदं वेः ॥

What is to be spoken of this word of mine, which they say is hidden in the secret cave? When the wound is opened like a gate of wide space, then the beloved Form guards the foremost step of the Rays, the leading station of vision.

Mantra 9

इदमु त्यन्महि महामनीकं यदुस्रिया सचत पूर्व्यं गौः । ऋतस्य पदे अधि दीद्यानं गुहा रघुष्यद्रघुयद्विवेद ॥

This indeed is that great, vast Face of power, when the primeval Cow consorts with the Rays. Flaming upon the station of Ṛta, hidden in the cave, the swift-moving seeker discovers it by swift advance—finding the Truth’s seat of light.

Mantra 10

अध द्युतानः पित्रोः सचासामनुत गुह्यं चारु पृश्नेः । मातुष्पदे परमे अन्ति षद्गोर्वृष्णः शोचिषः प्रयतस्य जिह्वा ॥

Then the Shining One, close to the two Parents, perceived the secret and beautiful (working) of Pr̥śni. In the supreme seat of the Mother he sat near: the tongue of the impelling Flame of the Bull within the Cow—(Agni) the radiant power set in right motion.

Mantra 11

ऋतं वोचे नमसा पृच्छ्यमानस्तवाशसा जातवेदो यदीदम् । त्वमस्य क्षयसि यद्ध विश्वं दिवि यदु द्रविणं यत्पृथिव्याम् ॥

I speak the R̥ta with reverence, questioning in the hope that is thine, O Jātavedas, about this (mystery). For thou dwellest as the master of it all—whatever is in heaven, and whatever wealth of being is on earth.

Mantra 12

किं नो अस्य द्रविणं कद्ध रत्नं वि नो वोचो जातवेदश्चिकित्वान् । गुहाध्वनः परमं यन्नो अस्य रेकु पदं न निदाना अगन्म ॥

What is for us his true wealth, what indeed his treasure? Declare it to us, O Jātavedas, thou who knowest. For we have come as seekers, not as mere arguers, to that highest step hidden in the cave of the path—his radiant station.

Mantra 13

का मर्यादा वयुना कद्ध वाममच्छा गमेम रघवो न वाजम् । कदा नो देवीरमृतस्य पत्नीः सूरो वर्णेन ततनन्नुषासः ॥

What boundary, what right discernment, what truly desirable good will bring us straight to it, swift as to plenitude of force? When for us shall the divine Dawns, spouses of Immortality, spread out their radiance by the Sun’s hue?

Mantra 14

अनिरेण वचसा फल्ग्वेन प्रतीत्येन कृधुनातृपासः । अधा ते अग्ने किमिहा वदन्त्यनायुधास आसता सचन्ताम् ॥

With speech that lacks sap, with a paltry and misconceived understanding, the unsatisfied move about. Then what can they say here to thee, O Agni? Let the weaponless sit down and cling (only) to their own helplessness.

Mantra 15

अस्य श्रिये समिधानस्य वृष्णो वसोरनीकं दम आ रुरोच । रुशद्वसानः सुदृशीकरूपः क्षितिर्न राया पुरुवारो अद्यौत् ॥

For his splendour, for the Bull as he is kindled, the face of the Vast One shone out in the house. Wearing radiance, of a form made perfectly visible, he blazed—like a dwelling-place rich with plenitude, wide-doored with abundance.