Sukta 8

Mantra 1

पृक्षस्य वृष्णो अरुषस्य नू सहः प्र नु वोचं विदथा जातवेदसः । वैश्वानराय मतिर्नव्यसी शुचिः सोम इव पवते चारुरग्नये ॥

Now I declare the strength of the flaming Bull, the ruddy one, in the sessions of awakening (vidathā) for Jātavedas. For Vaiśvānara a new, pure thought-current is distilled; it flows like Soma—clear and delightful—toward Agni within.

Mantra 2

स जायमानः परमे व्योमनि व्रतान्यग्निर्व्रतपा अरक्षत । व्यन्तरिक्षममिमीत सुक्रतुर्वैश्वानरो महिना नाकमस्पृशत् ॥

Being born in the highest wide space, Agni the keeper of the law guarded the laws. With wise power he measured out the mid-region; Vaiśvānara by his greatness touched the heaven—bringing the human vessel into contact with the summit-plane.

Mantra 3

व्यस्तभ्नाद्रोदसी मित्रो अद्भुतोऽन्तर्वावदकृणोज्ज्योतिषा तमः । वि चर्मणीव धिषणे अवर्तयद्वैश्वानरो विश्वमधत्त वृष्ण्यम् ॥

He set firm the two worlds, wondrous like Mitra; inwardly he made the darkness by the light—turning the hidden into a field of seeing. As if spreading two skins, he widened the two inspirations; Vaiśvānara established the whole vast force of the Bull within creation.

Mantra 4

अपामुपस्थे महिषा अगृभ्णत विशो राजानमुप तस्थुॠग्मियम् । आ दूतो अग्निमभरद्विवस्वतो वैश्वानरं मातरिश्वा परावतः ॥

In the lap of the Waters the mighty ones seized him; the peoples approached their king, rich in the mantra. As messenger, Mātariśvan brought Agni from Vivasvat—from the far beyond—bringing the hidden flame into the human field of works.

Mantra 5

युगेयुगे विदथ्यं गृणद्भ्योऽग्ने रयिं यशसं धेहि नव्यसीम् । पव्येव राजन्नघशंसमजर नीचा नि वृश्च वनिनं न तेजसा ॥

Age after age, for those who sing in the gatherings, O Agni, place in us a newer wealth of glory—fullness of being. Like an axe, O King, cut down the ill-speaking force; O undecaying one, strike it low, as a tree is felled by your blazing power.

Mantra 6

अस्माकमग्ने मघवत्सु धारयानामि क्षत्रमजरं सुवीर्यम् । वयं जयेम शतिनं सहस्रिणं वैश्वानर वाजमग्ने तवोतिभिः ॥

For us, O Agni, among the possessors of light, uphold an unbroken sovereignty—undecaying—full of heroic force. May we win, O Vaiśvānara, the plenitude of power that is hundredfold and thousandfold, by your helps, O Agni.

Mantra 7

अदब्धेभिस्तव गोपाभिरिष्टेऽस्माकं पाहि त्रिषधस्थ सूरीन् । रक्षा च नो ददुषां शर्धो अग्ने वैश्वानर प्र च तारीः स्तवानः ॥

With your unfailing guardians, O desired one, protect our illumined leaders; O you who have three seats, keep them safe. Guard too our company of givers; O Agni Vaiśvānara, praised, carry us across and onward beyond the hostile crossings.