Sukta 4

Mantra 1

यथा होतर्मनुषो देवताता यज्ञेभिः सूनो सहसो यजासि । एवा नो अद्य समना समानानुशन्नग्न उशतो यक्षि देवान् ॥

As thou, O Hotar, offspring of Force, establisher of the gods, sacrificest for Manu by the sacrifices, so today for us—seeking one meeting and one accord—O Agni, consenting, sacrifice to the gods who desire.

Mantra 2

स नो विभावा चक्षणिर्न वस्तोरग्निर्वन्दारु वेद्यश्चनो धात् । विश्वायुर्यो अमृतो मर्त्येषूषर्भुद्भूदतिथिर्जातवेदाः ॥

May he, our far-shining Agni, like a discerning eye at dawn, establish for us the adored and knowable (presence). He who is universal life, immortal in mortals—born with the Dawn—may Jātavedas become the guest (within us).

Mantra 3

द्यावो न यस्य पनयन्त्यभ्वं भासांसि वस्ते सूर्यो न शुक्रः । वि य इनोत्यजरः पावकोऽश्नस्य चिच्छिश्नथत्पूर्व्याणि ॥

Like the heavens, they admire his vastness; he wears his splendors like the bright Sun. He, the unaging Purifier, drives them wide; even the ancient hardness he breaks apart.

Mantra 4

वद्मा हि सूनो अस्यद्मसद्वा चक्रे अग्निर्जनुषाज्मान्नम् । स त्वं न ऊर्जसन ऊर्जं धा राजेव जेरवृके क्षेष्यन्तः ॥

For thou, O Son, art truly the dweller in our home; Agni has made by birth our food and our path. Therefore, O establisher of strength, place strength in us; like a king, victorious, dwell within us in the wolf-less (safe) space.

Mantra 5

नितिक्ति यो वारणमन्नमत्ति वायुर्न राष्ट्र्यत्येत्यक्तून् । तुर्याम यस्त आदिशामरातीरत्यो न ह्रुतः पततः परिह्रुत् ॥

He who keenly consumes the chosen food, and like the wind overpasses the nights in his mastery; the swift one who, by thy direction, circles round the hostilities—like a horse not caught, flying past all that would seize.

Mantra 6

आ सूर्यो न भानुमद्भिरर्कैरग्ने ततन्थ रोदसी वि भासा । चित्रो नयत्परि तमांस्यक्तः शोचिषा पत्मन्नौशिजो न दीयन् ॥

Like the Sun with ray-laden hymns, O Agni, thou hast stretched out the two worlds with thy light. Varied in splendor, anointed, thou leadest around the darknesses; with flame in swift motion, like Auśija, thou givest (the right passage).

Mantra 7

त्वां हि मन्द्रतममर्कशोकैर्ववृमहे महि नः श्रोष्यग्ने । इन्द्रं न त्वा शवसा देवता वायुं पृणन्ति राधसा नृतमाः ॥

For we have chosen thee, most gladdening, with mantra-flames; hear us, O Agni, for our great good. As the gods fill Indra with strength and Vayu with bounty, so do the best of men fill thee with power and fulfillment.

Mantra 8

नू नो अग्नेऽवृकेभिः स्वस्ति वेषि रायः पथिभिः पर्ष्यंहः । ता सूरिभ्यो गृणते रासि सुम्नं मदेम शतहिमाः सुवीराः ॥

Now, O Agni, lead us in safety by paths where no devourer can seize us; carry us across the tightness of sin and distress. Give to the seers who sing to you that glad grace; may we grow in the ecstasy of your force—enduring through a hundred winters, rich in heroic energies.