Sukta 3

Mantra 1

त्वमग्ने वरुणो जायसे यत्त्वं मित्रो भवसि यत्समिद्धः । त्वे विश्वे सहसस्पुत्र देवास्त्वमिन्द्रो दाशुषे मर्त्याय ॥

You, O Agni, are born as Varuṇa; you become Mitra when you are kindled. In you, O son of Strength, all the gods are; you are Indra for the mortal who gives—power and victory to the offering soul.

Mantra 2

त्वमर्यमा भवसि यत्कनीनां नाम स्वधावन्गुह्यं बिभर्षि । अञ्जन्ति मित्रं सुधितं न गोभिर्यद्दम्पती समनसा कृणोषि ॥

You become Aryaman when you bear, O self-lawed one, the secret name of the young powers. They anoint Mitra as with well-placed rays; when you make the two lords of the house one in mind, you establish harmony in the being.

Mantra 3

तव श्रिये मरुतो मर्जयन्त रुद्र यत्ते जनिम चारु चित्रम् । पदं यद्विष्णोरुपमं निधायि तेन पासि गुह्यं नाम गोनाम् ॥

For your splendor the Maruts make themselves bright, O Rudra, because your birth is lovely and wonderful. When the unsurpassed step of Viṣṇu is set down, by that you guard the hidden name of the Rays (the cows of light).

Mantra 4

तव श्रिया सुदृशो देव देवाः पुरू दधाना अमृतं सपन्त । होतारमग्निं मनुषो नि षेदुर्दशस्यन्त उशिजः शंसमायोः ॥

By your splendor, O god, the gods become fair to behold, taking on many forms of immortality. The human beings have seated Agni the Hotṛ within; the eager ones, seeking the right praise, serve him for the gain of plenitude.

Mantra 5

न त्वद्धोता पूर्वो अग्ने यजीयान्न काव्यैः परो अस्ति स्वधावः । विशश्च यस्या अतिथिर्भवासि स यज्ञेन वनवद्देव मर्तान् ॥

None is a priest of offering before you, O Agni, none more worthy of sacrifice, none higher even among the seer-poets, O self-powered one. The mortal for whose peoples you become the welcomed Guest—he wins by the sacrifice, O divine Power, the human forces (into right order and possession).

Mantra 6

वयमग्ने वनुयाम त्वोता वसूयवो हविषा बुध्यमानाः । वयं समर्ये विदथेष्वह्नां वयं राया सहसस्पुत्र मर्तान् ॥

May we, O Agni, win by your protection—seeking the riches of being, awakening with the offering. May we in the common struggle, in the gatherings of the days, may we by the plenitude (rayi) win the mortal powers, O son of Might.

Mantra 7

यो न आगो अभ्येनो भरात्यधीदघमघशंसे दधात । जही चिकित्वो अभिशस्तिमेतामग्ने यो नो मर्चयति द्वयेन ॥

Whoever brings upon us sin and guilt, and fastens evil on the evil-speaker—slay, O discerning Agni, this hostile imprecation; whoever strikes at us in the double way (open and hidden), crush him back.

Mantra 8

त्वामस्या व्युषि देव पूर्वे दूतं कृण्वाना अयजन्त हव्यैः । संस्थे यदग्न ईयसे रयीणां देवो मर्तैर्वसुभिरिध्यमानः ॥

You, in the dawning of this (world or day), the ancients made the divine messenger and worshipped with offerings. When, O Agni, you move in the established seat of the riches, kindled by mortals with the good substances, then the god grows manifest in the human vessel.

Mantra 9

अव स्पृधि पितरं योधि विद्वान्पुत्रो यस्ते सहसः सून ऊहे । कदा चिकित्वो अभि चक्षसे नोऽग्ने कदाँ ऋतचिद्यातयासे ॥

Strive downward against the Father, do battle as the knowing Son—(you) who are the child of Might, O Agni, in the hidden working. When, O discerning one, will you look upon us with your seeing? When will you drive forward (our path), even by the Truth itself?

Mantra 10

भूरि नाम वन्दमानो दधाति पिता वसो यदि तज्जोषयासे । कुविद्देवस्य सहसा चकानः सुम्नमग्निर्वनते वावृधानः ॥

The one who bows in adoration establishes abundant (good) in the name—if you accept that, O Father of the good. Surely, rejoicing in the god’s might, Agni—growing—wins the grace (sumná), the inner felicity.

Mantra 11

त्वमङ्ग जरितारं यविष्ठ विश्वान्यग्ने दुरिताति पर्षि । स्तेना अदृश्रन्रिपवो जनासोऽज्ञातकेता वृजिना अभूवन् ॥

You indeed, O youngest (most fresh) Agni, carry the singer across all difficult passages. The thieves became visible; the hostile men—unknown in their intention—were found as crooked forces.

Mantra 12

इमे यामासस्त्वद्रिगभूवन्वसवे वा तदिदागो अवाचि । नाहायमग्निरभिशस्तये नो न रीषते वावृधानः परा दात् ॥

These goings (courses) have turned toward you—toward the Good (Vasu); that indeed is spoken as our fault. Yet this Agni is not for our imprecation; growing, he is not harmed—he drives it away from us.