Sukta 3

Mantra 1

अग्ने स क्षेषदृतपा ऋतेजा उरु ज्योतिर्नशते देवयुष्टे । यं त्वं मित्रेण वरुणः सजोषा देव पासि त्यजसा मर्तमंहः ॥

O Agni, he prospers—guardian of the Truth, born of the Truth—who attains the wide Light in the god-beloved (path). Whom thou, O god, with Mitra and Varuṇa in one accord, dost protect by thy victorious strength, that mortal is saved from constriction.

Mantra 2

ईजे यज्ञेभिः शशमे शमीभिॠधद्वारायाग्नये ददाश । एवा चन तं यशसामजुष्टिर्नांहो मर्तं नशते न प्रदृप्तिः ॥

He has worshipped with sacrifices, he has grown calm with pacifying harmonies; he has given to Agni of the widening doors. Thus no rejection by the glorious powers reaches that mortal—neither constriction nor arrogant excess.

Mantra 3

सूरो न यस्य दृशतिररेपा भीमा यदेति शुचतस्त आ धीः । हेषस्वतः शुरुधो नायमक्तोः कुत्रा चिद्रण्वो वसतिर्वनेजाः ॥

Like the Sun is his stainless seeing; formidable is the thought when he goes forth in his flame-purity. Roaring, hard to check, he does not rest in the night; where indeed is the delightful dwelling of this forest-born power?

Mantra 4

तिग्मं चिदेम महि वर्पो अस्य भसदश्वो न यमसान आसा । विजेहमानः परशुर्न जिह्वां द्रविर्न द्रावयति दारु धक्षत् ॥

Sharp indeed is his onset, great is his form; he pants like a horse straining with its mouth. Lashing his tongue like an axe in motion, like a smelter he melts—he has burned the wood.

Mantra 5

स इदस्तेव प्रति धादसिष्यञ्छिशीत तेजोऽयसो न धाराम् । चित्रध्रजतिररतिर्यो अक्तोर्वेर्न द्रुषद्वा रघुपत्मजंहाः ॥

He sets himself like one facing the goal; sharpening his blaze like an iron edge. With bright streaming movement, untiring, in the night he moves like a bird upon the wood—swift-winged, rapid-footed.

Mantra 6

स ईं रेभो न प्रति वस्त उस्राः शोचिषा रारपीति मित्रमहाः । नक्तं य ईमरुषो यो दिवा नॄनमर्त्यो अरुषो यो दिवा नॄन् ॥

He, like a skilled singer of the Word, clothes himself in the luminous Dawns; with his flame he makes the friendly days resound. He who is the Ruddy One by night, and he who by day leads men—immortal, the Ruddy One who by day leads men.

Mantra 7

दिवो न यस्य विधतो नवीनोद्वृषा रुक्ष ओषधीषु नूनोत् । घृणा न यो ध्रजसा पत्मना यन्ना रोदसी वसुना दं सुपत्नी ॥

He whose newness renews the one who serves, like heaven itself; the Bull, shining, drives his force into the plants. Like warm splendor, he moves with blazing speed; he comes to the two worlds, rich in plenty, as to a home—those two good-consorted powers.

Mantra 8

धायोभिर्वा यो युज्येभिरर्कैर्विद्युन्न दविद्योत्स्वेभिः शुष्मैः । शर्धो वा यो मरुतां ततक्ष ऋभुर्न त्वेषो रभसानो अद्यौत् ॥

Whether by his sustaining powers and yoked hymns he flashes like lightning with his own mights; or whether he has fashioned the host of the Maruts—like an Ṛbhu, keen and swift, he has shone forth today.