Sukta 2

Mantra 1

कुमारं माता युवतिः समुब्धं गुहा बिभर्ति न ददाति पित्रे । अनीकमस्य न मिनज्जनासः पुरः पश्यन्ति निहितमरतौ ॥

A young Mother bears the Boy hidden and well-contained in the secret cave; she does not give him to the Father. His face is not diminished; yet people see him set in front, placed in the working hands: the concealed Fire is at once secret within and evident in action.

Mantra 2

कमेतं त्वं युवते कुमारं पेषी बिभर्षि महिषी जजान । पूर्वीर्हि गर्भः शरदो ववर्धापश्यं जातं यदसूत माता ॥

Who is this Boy that you, O youthful one, bear in your shaping body—this that the great Mother has brought to birth? For many seasons the embryo grew; I saw him born when the Mother brought him forth: the long-hidden flame emerges at last into sight.

Mantra 3

हिरण्यदन्तं शुचिवर्णमारात्क्षेत्रादपश्यमायुधा मिमानम् । ददानो अस्मा अमृतं विपृक्वत्किं मामनिन्द्राः कृणवन्ननुक्थाः ॥

From afar, from the field, I saw him—gold-toothed, pure in hue—measuring out his weapons. He gives him the immortal essence, pressing it forth; what can the Indra-less, the hymnless powers do to me?

Mantra 4

क्षेत्रादपश्यं सनुतश्चरन्तं सुमद्यूथं न पुरु शोभमानम् । न ता अगृभ्रन्नजनिष्ट हि षः पलिक्नीरिद्युवतयो भवन्ति ॥

From the field I saw him moving onward, like a glad herd shining in many ways. They did not seize him—indeed he was not born for them; the grey-haired ones become young again: by his presence the worn powers are renewed into youth.

Mantra 5

के मे मर्यकं वि यवन्त गोभिर्न येषां गोपा अरणश्चिदास । य ईं जगृभुरव ते सृजन्त्वाजाति पश्व उप नश्चिकित्वान् ॥

Who has driven my youthful power apart from the rays (the cows)—they who had no true herdsman, though even a harmless one might have been? Those who seized it, let them release it downward; may the knowing one bring back to us the increase of life-force and the wealth of being.

Mantra 6

वसां राजानं वसतिं जनानामरातयो नि दधुर्मर्त्येषु । ब्रह्माण्यत्रेरव तं सृजन्तु निन्दितारो निन्द्यासो भवन्तु ॥

The king of dwellings, the home of the peoples, the hostile ones have confined among mortals. Let the sacred words of Atri set him free; let the blamers become blameworthy: may the power that imprisons the inner Fire fall under its own judgment.

Mantra 7

शुनश्चिच्छेपं निदितं सहस्राद्यूपादमुञ्चो अशमिष्ट हि षः । एवास्मदग्ने वि मुमुग्धि पाशान्होतश्चिकित्व इह तू निषद्य ॥

Even Śunaḥśepa, though bound down, you released from the sacrificial post—he indeed won his desire. In the same way, O Agni, loosen for us the bonds that hold; O knowing Hotṛ, sit here within us and take your seat.

Mantra 8

हृणीयमानो अप हि मदैयेः प्र मे देवानां व्रतपा उवाच । इन्द्रो विद्वाँ अनु हि त्वा चचक्ष तेनाहमग्ने अनुशिष्ट आगाम् ॥

Ashamed, I have turned away from my own intoxication; the guardian of the gods’ law has spoken forth to me. Indra the Knower has indeed observed you; guided by that seeing, O Agni, I come here instructed.

Mantra 9

वि ज्योतिषा बृहता भात्यग्निराविर्विश्वानि कृणुते महित्वा । प्रादेवीर्मायाः सहते दुरेवाः शिशीते शृङ्गे रक्षसे विनिक्षे ॥

Agni shines out with vast light and by his greatness makes all things manifest. He overcomes the undivine deceits and the evil paths; he sharpens his two horns to strike down the Rakṣas that settles in.

Mantra 10

उत स्वानासो दिवि षन्त्वग्नेस्तिग्मायुधा रक्षसे हन्तवा उ । मदे चिदस्य प्र रुजन्ति भामा न वरन्ते परिबाधो अदेवीः ॥

And let his roaring powers be in heaven—Agni’s sharp weapons—to slay the Rakṣas. Even in his ecstasy his splendors break forth; the undivine obstructers do not hold back the encircling pressure.

Mantra 11

एतं ते स्तोमं तुविजात विप्रो रथं न धीरः स्वपा अतक्षम् । यदीदग्ने प्रति त्वं देव हर्याः स्वर्वतीरप एना जयेम ॥

This hymn for you, O wide-born Agni, the inspired one has fashioned like a chariot, the wise worker. If you, O god, accept it with delight, then by it may we conquer the waters that carry the sun—those luminous streams of realization.

Mantra 12

तुविग्रीवो वृषभो वावृधानोऽशत्र्वर्यः समजाति वेदः । इतीममग्निममृता अवोचन्बर्हिष्मते मनवे शर्म यंसद्धविष्मते मनवे शर्म यंसत् ॥

Mighty-necked, a bull growing ever stronger, the noble one without hostility, he knows the common birth. Thus the Immortals have spoken of this Agni: ‘May he grant peace and shelter to the man who spreads the sacred seat, may he grant peace and shelter to the man who bears the offering.’