Sukta 6

Mantra 1

ऊर्ध्व ऊ षु णो अध्वरस्य होतरग्ने तिष्ठ देवताता यजीयान् । त्वं हि विश्वमभ्यसि मन्म प्र वेधसश्चित्तिरसि मनीषाम् ॥

Rise up indeed for us, O Hotṛ of the sacrifice; stand, O Agni, establisher of the gods, most worthy of offering. For thou encompassest all our thought and art the discerning insight of the inspired—thou bearest forward the power of understanding.

Mantra 2

अमूरो होता न्यसादि विक्ष्वग्निर्मन्द्रो विदथेषु प्रचेताः । ऊर्ध्वं भानुं सवितेवाश्रेन्मेतेव धूमं स्तभायदुप द्याम् ॥

The unbewildered Hotṛ has taken his seat among the peoples; Agni, the rapturous one, is wide-awake in the gatherings. He lifted his ray upward like Savitṛ, and like a measurer he propped his smoke up toward heaven.

Mantra 3

यता सुजूर्णी रातिनी घृताची प्रदक्षिणिद्देवतातिमुराणः । उदु स्वरुर्नवजा नाक्रः पश्वो अनक्ति सुधितः सुमेकः ॥

Moving there, well-speeding, the giver with ghee for her course, he circles to the right the host of the gods in his ardour. He lifts up the kindling-stick, newborn, as a strong steed; the well-set, well-joined (fire) anoints and brightens the creature (the embodied life).

Mantra 4

स्तीर्णे बर्हिषि समिधाने अग्ना ऊर्ध्वो अध्वर्युर्जुजुषाणो अस्थात् । पर्यग्निः पशुपा न होता त्रिविष्ट्येति प्रदिव उराणः ॥

On the strewn sacred grass, when Agni is kindled, the Adhvaryu rises up, accepting and serving. Agni moves around as the guardian of the life-force, as Hotṛ; he goes to the triple seat, ardent, to the heights of heaven.

Mantra 5

परि त्मना मितद्रुरेति होताग्निर्मन्द्रो मधुवचा ऋतावा । द्रवन्त्यस्य वाजिनो न शोका भयन्ते विश्वा भुवना यदभ्राट् ॥

He moves all around by his own self-law, Agni the Priest, the rapturous one with honeyed speech, the bearer of the Truth. For him the griefs flee away like beaten steeds; all the worlds are made to fear when he blazes forth.

Mantra 6

भद्रा ते अग्ने स्वनीक संदृग्घोरस्य सतो विषुणस्य चारुः । न यत्ते शोचिस्तमसा वरन्त न ध्वस्मानस्तन्वी रेप आ धुः ॥

Auspicious is thy own-faced vision, O Agni—fair even amid the dreadful and the sundered. When thy flame is not hemmed in by darkness, the crumbling powers do not cast their defilement upon the body.

Mantra 7

न यस्य सातुर्जनितोरवारि न मातरापितरा नू चिदिष्टौ । अधा मित्रो न सुधितः पावकोऽग्निर्दीदाय मानुषीषु विक्षु ॥

None has barred his winning movement, neither begetter nor even the parents in their chosen act; then, like Mitra well-established, the purifying Agni has shone out among the human clans.

Mantra 8

द्विर्यं पञ्च जीजनन्त्संवसानाः स्वसारो अग्निं मानुषीषु विक्षु । उषर्बुधमथर्यो न दन्तं शुक्रं स्वासं परशुं न तिग्मम् ॥

Twice the five sisters, clothed in one accord, brought Agni to birth among the human clans—him who wakes with the Dawn; like an Atharvan’s tooth, bright, well-mouthed, like a sharp axe keen-edged.

Mantra 9

तव त्ये अग्ने हरितो घृतस्ना रोहितास ऋज्वञ्चः स्वञ्चः । अरुषासो वृषण ऋजुमुष्का आ देवतातिमह्वन्त दस्माः ॥

Thine, O Agni, are those bay steeds, bathed in ghee—ruddy, straight-going and rightly-turned. The tawny, puissant ones with firm virility call the host of the gods; wondrous are they in their action.

Mantra 10

ये ह त्ये ते सहमाना अयासस्त्वेषासो अग्ने अर्चयश्चरन्ति । श्येनासो न दुवसनासो अर्थं तुविष्वणसो मारुतं न शर्धः ॥

Those indeed—thine—enduring without weariness, O Agni, fierce, move as flames of praise. Like falcons pressing toward the goal, loud-roaring like a Marut host, they seek the intended gain.

Mantra 11

अकारि ब्रह्म समिधान तुभ्यं शंसात्युक्थं यजते व्यू धाः । होतारमग्निं मनुषो नि षेदुर्नमस्यन्त उशिजः शंसमायोः ॥

The Word has been fashioned for thee as thou art kindled; the hymn of praise declares and the sacrificer sets it forth in due order. Men have sat down before Agni the Priest, bowing in adoration, the eager ones seeking the laud of Ayu.