Sukta 16

Mantra 1

त्वमग्ने यज्ञानां होता विश्वेषां हितः । देवेभिर्मानुषे जने ॥

Thou, O Agni, art the invoking priest of all sacrifices, set for the good; with the gods thou takest thy station in the human being.

Mantra 2

स नो मन्द्राभिरध्वरे जिह्वाभिर्यजा महः । आ देवान्वक्षि यक्षि च ॥

Do thou sacrifice for us in the journey-rite with thy glad tongues, O mighty one; bring the gods hither, and worship them too in our field.

Mantra 3

वेत्था हि वेधो अध्वनः पथश्च देवाञ्जसा । अग्ने यज्ञेषु सुक्रतो ॥

For thou knowest, O knower, the ways and the paths of the journey, and the gods by the straightness; O Agni of good power, in the sacrifices.

Mantra 4

त्वामीळे अध द्विता भरतो वाजिभिः शुनम् । ईजे यज्ञेषु यज्ञियम् ॥

I adore thee again and yet again; Bharata, with the forces of plenitude, seeks the happy good. He worships in the sacrifices the one who is worthy of sacrifice.

Mantra 5

त्वमिमा वार्या पुरु दिवोदासाय सुन्वते । भरद्वाजाय दाशुषे ॥

You (Agni), for Divodāsa who presses the Soma, and for Bharadvāja who gives the offering, manifest these many desirable powers—boons of inner fullness and victorious well-being.

Mantra 6

त्वं दूतो अमर्त्य आ वहा दैव्यं जनम् । शृण्वन्विप्रस्य सुष्टुतिम् ॥

You, the immortal messenger, bring here the divine peoples (powers); listening to the seer’s well-shaped praise, lead them into our awakened offering.

Mantra 7

त्वामग्ने स्वाध्यो मर्तासो देववीतये । यज्ञेषु देवमीळते ॥

O Agni, mortals who are self-disciplined kindle and adore you in the sacrifices, so that the gods may be led to us—so that the divine powers may partake in our offering and growth.

Mantra 8

तव प्र यक्षि संदृशमुत क्रतुं सुदानवः । विश्वे जुषन्त कामिनः ॥

Offer forth your power of clear vision and your effective will; may all the generous givers, desiring the true fulfilment, take delight in them and be harmonized by your flame.

Mantra 9

त्वं होता मनुर्हितो वह्निरासा विदुष्टरः । अग्ने यक्षि दिवो विशः ॥

You are the Hotṛ set in place by Manu; you are the carrying flame, the more-than-knowing guide. O Agni, perform the offering to the peoples of the Heaven—bring the luminous powers into our ordered life.

Mantra 10

अग्न आ याहि वीतये गृणानो हव्यदातये । नि होता सत्सि बर्हिषि ॥

O Agni, come here for the divine participation; being praised, come as the giver of the offering. Sit down as Hotṛ upon the sacred seat—stabilize yourself in our prepared consciousness.

Mantra 11

तं त्वा समिद्भिरङ्गिरो घृतेन वर्धयामसि । बृहच्छोचा यविष्ठ्य ॥

You—O Angiras—by our kindling sticks and by the clarified offering we increase you. Blaze with a vast flame, O youngest, so the being may widen into the Great.

Mantra 12

स नः पृथु श्रवाय्यमच्छा देव विवाससि । बृहदग्ने सुवीर्यम् ॥

So do you lead us toward wide and worthy fame—toward the clear goal, O divine one; grant, O Agni, a vast heroic force, an inner courage that prevails.

Mantra 13

त्वामग्ने पुष्करादध्यथर्वा निरमन्थत । मूर्ध्नो विश्वस्य वाघतः ॥

You, O Agni, Atharvan churned out from the lotus-lake—from the head-top of the universal sacrificer; thus the flame is born from the summit of consciousness to lead the offering.

Mantra 14

तमु त्वा दध्यङ्ङृषिः पुत्र ईधे अथर्वणः । वृत्रहणं पुरंदरम् ॥

And that you, Dadhyaṅ the seer—son of Atharvan—kindles: the slayer of obstruction and breaker of closed strongholds. O Agni, become in us the power that smashes the sealed darkness and releases the light.

Mantra 15

तमु त्वा पाथ्यो वृषा समीधे दस्युहन्तमम् । धनंजयं रणेरणे ॥

O Agni, the strong Bull of the path, I kindle you wholly—most puissant slayer of the dark obstructers—victor of the inner riches in battle after battle.

Mantra 16

एह्यू षु ब्रवाणि तेऽग्न इत्थेतरा गिरः । एभिर्वर्धास इन्दुभिः ॥

Come here, O Agni; I will speak to you these other utterances in this true manner—by these pressed luminous draughts you grow in power.

Mantra 17

यत्र क्व च ते मनो दक्षं दधस उत्तरम् । तत्रा सदः कृणवसे ॥

Wherever and however you set your mind and your higher skill, there you create a seat—there you establish your dwelling in us.

Mantra 18

नहि ते पूर्तमक्षिपद्भुवन्नेमानां वसो । अथा दुवो वनवसे ॥

For your fullness is not cast down or diminished among these, O Vasu; therefore we seek the gift of your grace and service.

Mantra 19

आग्निरगामि भारतो वृत्रहा पुरुचेतनः । दिवोदासस्य सत्पतिः ॥

Agni has come—Bharata’s flame, slayer of the Coverer, wide-awake in consciousness—true lord of the being for Divodāsa.

Mantra 20

स हि विश्वाति पार्थिवा रयिं दाशन्महित्वना । वन्वन्नवातो अस्तृतः ॥

For he, surpassing all earthly measures, gives the plenitude of spiritual wealth by his greatness—winning onward, unshaken by adverse winds, unscattered.

Mantra 21

स प्रत्नवन्नवीयसाग्ने द्युम्नेन संयता । बृहत्ततन्थ भानुना ॥

Ancient yet ever new, O Agni, by the gathered power of your luminous might you spread the Vast with your radiance.

Mantra 22

प्र वः सखायो अग्नये स्तोमं यज्ञं च धृष्णुया । अर्च गाय च वेधसे ॥

Forth, O comrades: for Agni bring the hymn and the sacrifice with daring energy; chant and sing to the Wise Disposer.

Mantra 23

स हि यो मानुषा युगा सीदद्धोता कविक्रतुः । दूतश्च हव्यवाहनः ॥

For he who sits through the human ages as the invoking Priest—seer-willed in his power—he is also the messenger who carries the offerings to the gods.

Mantra 24

ता राजाना शुचिव्रतादित्यान्मारुतं गणम् । वसो यक्षीह रोदसी ॥

O Vasu (Agni), sacrifice here to those two kings of pure law, to the Ādityas and the Marut host; bring Heaven and Earth near in the offering.

Mantra 25

वस्वी ते अग्ने संदृष्टिरिषयते मर्त्याय । ऊर्जो नपादमृतस्य ॥

O Agni, thy rich and luminous vision presses forward for the mortal, O Child of the immortal Force of plenitude.

Mantra 26

क्रत्वा दा अस्तु श्रेष्ठोऽद्य त्वा वन्वन्त्सुरेक्णाः । मर्त आनाश सुवृक्तिम् ॥

May the giver, by his discerning power, be the best today; seeking thee with a fair path of offering, may the mortal attain the well-shaped word of illumination.

Mantra 27

ते ते अग्ने त्वोता इषयन्तो विश्वमायुः । तरन्तो अर्यो अरातीर्वन्वन्तो अर्यो अरातीः ॥

Those who are helped by thee, O Agni, pressing forward, win the whole span of life; crossing beyond the hostile denials, they conquer the forces that refuse the right.

Mantra 28

अग्निस्तिग्मेन शोचिषा यासद्विश्वं न्यत्रिणम् । अग्निर्नो वनते रयिम् ॥

May Agni with his keen flame go forth and cast down every devouring darkness; may Agni win for us the plenitude of felicity.

Mantra 29

सुवीरं रयिमा भर जातवेदो विचर्षणे । जहि रक्षांसि सुक्रतो ॥

Bring to us the wealth that bears heroic powers, O Jātavedas, O wide-seeing; smite the forces of distortion, O thou of good effective will.

Mantra 30

त्वं नः पाह्यंहसो जातवेदो अघायतः । रक्षा णो ब्रह्मणस्कवे ॥

Do thou protect us from anguish and error, O Jātavedas, from the one who wills evil; guard us, O poet of the sacred word.

Mantra 31

यो नो अग्ने दुरेव आ मर्तो वधाय दाशति । तस्मान्नः पाह्यंहसः ॥

Whatever mortal of ill-will offers himself to our destruction, O Agni, from him protect us from the narrowing anguish.

Mantra 32

त्वं तं देव जिह्वया परि बाधस्व दुष्कृतम् । मर्तो यो नो जिघांसति ॥

O God, do thou with thy tongue of flame encompass and repel that evil-doer, the mortal who seeks to strike us down.

Mantra 33

भरद्वाजाय सप्रथः शर्म यच्छ सहन्त्य । अग्ने वरेण्यं वसु ॥

Grant wide shelter to Bharadvāja, O Agni, thou who canst endure and overcome; give the desirable good, the true substance of felicity.

Mantra 34

अग्निर्वृत्राणि जङ्घनद्द्रविणस्युर्विपन्यया । समिद्धः शुक्र आहुतः ॥

Agni has shattered the coverers, desiring the riches by the inspired delight of praise; kindled, bright, he is the invoked and offered flame.

Mantra 35

गर्भे मातुः पितुष्पिता विदिद्युतानो अक्षरे । सीदन्नृतस्य योनिमा ॥

In the womb of the Mother, the Father of the father, flashing forth into manifestation, he takes his seat in the imperishable—he settles into the womb of Ṛta (the Truth-Order).

Mantra 36

ब्रह्म प्रजावदा भर जातवेदो विचर्षणे । अग्ने यद्दीदयद्दिवि ॥

Bring to us the inspired Word that is rich in soul-children, O Jātavedas, O wide-seeing Agni—when you blaze aloft in the heaven of the mind.

Mantra 37

उप त्वा रण्वसंदृशं प्रयस्वन्तः सहस्कृत । अग्ने ससृज्महे गिरः ॥

To you, delightful in vision, we draw near—bringing our offering-impulse, O doer of might; O Agni, we set flowing our inspired utterances.

Mantra 38

उप च्छायामिव घृणेरगन्म शर्म ते वयम् । अग्ने हिरण्यसंदृशः ॥

We have come near your shelter, as to a shade from the burning glare; O Agni, golden in vision, we seek your peace and protection.

Mantra 39

य उग्र इव शर्यहा तिग्मशृङ्गो न वंसगः । अग्ने पुरो रुरोजिथ ॥

You who are fierce like a slayer of the hostile, sharp-horned like a charging bull—O Agni, you have broken open the strongholds before us.

Mantra 40

आ यं हस्ते न खादिनं शिशुं जातं न बिभ्रति । विशामग्निं स्वध्वरम् ॥

Him whom they bear in the hand like a devouring infant newly born—Agni of the peoples, the one of good sacrifice: bring him here, uphold him within us.

Mantra 41

प्र देवं देववीतये भरता वसुवित्तमम् । आ स्वे योनौ नि षीदतु ॥

Bring forward the god for the gods’ enjoyment—him who is the best finder of plenitude; let him sit down in his own womb, in his rightful seat.

Mantra 42

आ जातं जातवेदसि प्रियं शिशीतातिथिम् । स्योन आ गृहपतिम् ॥

In Jātavedas, nurture the newly born beloved guest; bring him into a happy ease—Agni, the lord of the house (the master of the inner dwelling).

Mantra 43

अग्ने युक्ष्वा हि ये तवाश्वासो देव साधवः । अरं वहन्ति मन्यवे ॥

O Agni, yoke your horses—for your steeds, O god, are perfect in their working; they carry swiftly for the soul’s ardor (manyu) toward its victorious act.

Mantra 44

अच्छा नो याह्या वहाभि प्रयांसि वीतये । आ देवान्त्सोमपीतये ॥

Come to us; bring with you the offerings for the divine enjoyment; bring the gods here for the drinking of Soma—so the higher powers may be filled with the delight of immortality within us.

Mantra 45

उदग्ने भारत द्युमदजस्रेण दविद्युतत् । शोचा वि भाह्यजर ॥

Rise upward, O Agni of the Bharatas, luminous with unbroken brilliance; blaze forth and shine wide, O unaging Fire—spreading the light of the inner seeing.

Mantra 46

वीती यो देवं मर्तो दुवस्येदग्निमीळीताध्वरे हविष्मान् । होतारं सत्ययजं रोदस्योरुत्तानहस्तो नमसा विवासेत् ॥

He who, a mortal, would serve the Divine, should adore Agni in the sacrifice, bearing the offering—Agni the Hotar, the true in the act of sacrifice, the mediator of the two worlds; with hands uplifted he should bow and open himself in reverence.

Mantra 47

आ ते अग्न ऋचा हविर्हृदा तष्टं भरामसि । ते ते भवन्तूक्षण ऋषभासो वशा उत ॥

To you, O Agni, with the inspired chant we bring the offering shaped by the heart; may these become for you strong powers of increase—bull forces and yielding energies as well.

Mantra 48

अग्निं देवासो अग्रियमिन्धते वृत्रहन्तमम् । येना वसून्याभृता तृळ्हा रक्षांसि वाजिना ॥

The gods kindle Agni, the foremost leader, the most puissant slayer of the Coverer; by him the riches are brought in, and by the plenitude of force the resistant powers of darkness are crushed.