Sukta 14

Mantra 1

अग्निं स्तोमेन बोधय समिधानो अमर्त्यम् । हव्या देवेषु नो दधत् ॥

Awaken Agni by the hymn—Agni who is kindled, the Immortal. May he place our offerings among the gods: establishing our aspiration in the divine company.

Mantra 2

तमध्वरेष्वीळते देवं मर्ता अमर्त्यम् । यजिष्ठं मानुषे जने ॥

In the journeys of offering, mortals adore that god, the Immortal—Agni, the most capable of sacrifice within the human kind: the sure leader of our inner rite.

Mantra 3

तं हि शश्वन्त ईळते स्रुचा देवं घृतश्चुता । अग्निं हव्याय वोळ्हवे ॥

For him indeed the ever-striving adore—the god with the ladle that drips with clarified light (ghṛta). Agni they invoke, to carry our offerings: the bearer who transports aspiration to the higher powers.

Mantra 4

अग्निर्जातो अरोचत घ्नन्दस्यूञ्ज्योतिषा तमः । अविन्दद्गा अपः स्वः ॥

Agni, when he is born within us, shines out; striking down the hostile powers of division, with his light he slays the darkness. He finds again the Rays (cows), the Waters of the being, and the luminous Heaven (svaḥ).

Mantra 5

अग्निमीळेन्यं कविं घृतपृष्ठं सपर्यत । वेतु मे शृणवद्धवम् ॥

Serve and cherish Agni, the adorable Seer, whose back is bright with the clarifying ghee; may he come to us and hear my call—may the inner Fire accept and respond to the offering of aspiration.

Mantra 6

अग्निं घृतेन वावृधुः स्तोमेभिर्विश्वचर्षणिम् । स्वाधीभिर्वचस्युभिः ॥

They have increased Agni with the clarifying ghee, with hymns—Agni who is for all peoples; with right inward understandings and with words that bear the power of utterance, they strengthen the Flame for the universal working.