Sukta 2

Mantra 1

त्वं हि क्षैतवद्यशोऽग्ने मित्रो न पत्यसे । त्वं विचर्षणे श्रवो वसो पुष्टिं न पुष्यसि ॥

For you, O Agni, are a lord like a friend over a settled domain of splendour; you govern the glory. You, O wide-seeing one, increase the luminous hearing and the fullness of substance, as one fosters nourishment itself.

Mantra 2

त्वां हि ष्मा चर्षणयो यज्ञेभिर्गीर्भिरीळते । त्वां वाजी यात्यवृको रजस्तूर्विश्वचर्षणिः ॥

For the peoples indeed adore you with sacrifices and inspired words. To you comes the vājī, the force that wins, unharmed and wolf-less, traversing the midspaces—O you who belong to all the races of men.

Mantra 3

सजोषस्त्वा दिवो नरो यज्ञस्य केतुमिन्धते । यद्ध स्य मानुषो जनः सुम्नायुर्जुह्वे अध्वरे ॥

In one accord the men of heaven kindle you, the banner-light of the sacrifice; and when the human people, desiring your grace, pour the offering in the unbroken rite, you blaze forth as the guiding sign.

Mantra 4

ऋधद्यस्ते सुदानवे धिया मर्तः शशमते । ऊती ष बृहतो दिवो द्विषो अंहो न तरति ॥

He who grows in his being by thought and service to you, O generous giver—he, a mortal, comes to mastery. By the vast help of the high heaven he does not cross into the distress that the hostile would bring.

Mantra 5

समिधा यस्त आहुतिं निशितिं मर्त्यो नशत् । वयावन्तं स पुष्यति क्षयमग्ने शतायुषम् ॥

The mortal who reaches your offering with kindling and with the keen, directed act, he fosters a home that is full of life-force—O Agni—a dwelling of a hundred life-spans.

Mantra 6

त्वेषस्ते धूम ऋण्वति दिवि षञ्छुक्र आततः । सूरो न हि द्युता त्वं कृपा पावक रोचसे ॥

Your fierce smoke surges and ranges in heaven, bright and spread out. For you shine with a solar blaze; O Pāvaka, with the forming power you illumine.

Mantra 7

अधा हि विक्ष्वीड्योऽसि प्रियो नो अतिथिः । रण्वः पुरीव जूर्यः सूनुर्न त्रययाय्यः ॥

Therefore, among the peoples thou art worthy of our aspiration and praise; thou art our beloved guest. Delightful, like a stronghold, ever-young in thy power of growth, thou art like a son bringing a threefold increase (of the being).

Mantra 8

क्रत्वा हि द्रोणे अज्यसेऽग्ने वाजी न कृत्व्यः । परिज्मेव स्वधा गयोऽत्यो न ह्वार्यः शिशुः ॥

For by thy conscious power thou art anointed in the bowl, O Agni, like a winner rich in force. Self-sustained, moving all around like a circling steed, thou art the life-energy; like a swift horse, like a flame-child hard to assail.

Mantra 9

त्वं त्या चिदच्युताग्ने पशुर्न यवसे । धामा ह यत्ते अजर वना वृश्चन्ति शिक्वसः ॥

Thou, O unfailing Agni, even those (powers) thou leadest as a beast to pasture. For the wise cut out for thee, O unaging one, thy abiding places from the forests (of material nature).

Mantra 10

वेषि ह्यध्वरीयतामग्ने होता दमे विशाम् । समृधो विश्पते कृणु जुषस्व हव्यमङ्गिरः ॥

Thou leadest indeed the march of the sacrifice; O Agni, thou art the Hotṛ in the home of the peoples. Make the communities a full prosperity, O lord of the house; accept and enjoy the offering, O Angiras.

Mantra 11

अच्छा नो मित्रमहो देव देवानग्ने वोचः सुमतिं रोदस्योः । वीहि स्वस्तिं सुक्षितिं दिवो नॄन्द्विषो अंहांसि दुरिता तरेम ता तरेम तवावसा तरेम ॥

Speak for us, O god Agni, to the gods, thou friend of great might, bringing the right mind of Heaven and Earth. Lead us to well-being and a good dwelling, to the luminous men of the heights; so may we cross beyond the hatreds, the constrictions and the wrong paths—yes, cross them by thy help, cross them by thy protecting power.