Sukta 15

Mantra 1

उपसद्याय मीळ्हुष आस्ये जुहुता हविः । यो नो नेदिष्ठमाप्यम् ॥

Offer the oblation into the mouth of the bountiful one who is near at hand—he who for us is the closest intimate support and fullness.

Mantra 2

यः पञ्च चर्षणीरभि निषसाद दमेदमे । कविर्गृहपतिर्युवा ॥

He who has taken his seat over the five peoples in every dwelling— the seer, the youthful lord of the house: Agni established within each inner home.

Mantra 3

स नो वेदो अमात्यमग्नी रक्षतु विश्वतः । उतास्मान्पात्वंहसः ॥

May Agni, the knower, guard for us the faithful companion from every side; and may he also protect us from anguish and error.

Mantra 4

नवं नु स्तोममग्नये दिवः श्येनाय जीजनम् । वस्वः कुविद्वनाति नः ॥

A new hymn we have fashioned for Agni, the sky’s falcon; will the radiant one of riches perhaps win for us the good plenitudes of being?

Mantra 5

स्पार्हा यस्य श्रियो दृशे रयिर्वीरवतो यथा । अग्रे यज्ञस्य शोचतः ॥

Desirable are his splendours to behold—his rayi, as of one rich in heroic force—when he burns in front at the head of the sacrifice.

Mantra 6

सेमां वेतु वषट्कृतिमग्निर्जुषत नो गिरः । यजिष्ठो हव्यवाहनः ॥

May Agni carry forward this sealing cry of offering; may the most worshipful, the bearer of the oblation, take delight in our words.

Mantra 7

नि त्वा नक्ष्य विश्पते द्युमन्तं देव धीमहि । सुवीरमग्न आहुत ॥

We settle our thought on you, O lord of the people; O luminous god, we hold you in our inner awareness—O Agni invoked by the offering—so that the heroic force may be born in us.

Mantra 8

क्षप उस्रश्च दीदिहि स्वग्नयस्त्वया वयम् । सुवीरस्त्वमस्मयुः ॥

Shine for us through the nights and through the dawns; by you we become true kindlers of the fire within. You are the good heroic power, companioned with us in our striving.

Mantra 9

उप त्वा सातये नरो विप्रासो यन्ति धीतिभिः । उपाक्षरा सहस्रिणी ॥

Toward you, for the winning, the seer-men move with their inspired thoughts; toward you comes the thousand-streaming utterance, syllabled and luminous, to build the victory in consciousness.

Mantra 10

अग्नी रक्षांसि सेधति शुक्रशोचिरमर्त्यः । शुचिः पावक ईड्यः ॥

Agni drives back the devouring powers of disorder; immortal, with a bright flame, he stands pure—purifier and to be called and adored—guarding the path of the sacrifice within us.

Mantra 11

स नो राधांस्या भरेशानः सहसो यहो । भगश्च दातु वार्यम् ॥

Bring to us the plenitudes of accomplishment, O master of force and impetuous energy; and may Bhaga too grant what is truly choice-worthy—our share of the divine fullness.

Mantra 12

त्वमग्ने वीरवद्यशो देवश्च सविता भगः । दितिश्च दाति वार्यम् ॥

You, O Agni, give a fame that is rich in heroic force; and the divine Savitṛ, Bhaga, and Diti too bestow the choice-worthy good—each power aiding the soul’s increase in light and right fortune.

Mantra 13

अग्ने रक्षा णो अंहसः प्रति ष्म देव रीषतः । तपिष्ठैरजरो दह ॥

O Agni, protect us from anguish and sin; stand firmly against the injurer, O god. With your most burning heats, deathless one, consume the hostile formations.

Mantra 14

अधा मही न आयस्यनाधृष्टो नृपीतये । पूर्भवा शतभुजिः ॥

Then become for us the great, iron-fast stronghold, unconquered, for the guarding of our human powers; be a fortress of a hundred helps—many-armed protection around the soul’s march.

Mantra 15

त्वं नः पाह्यंहसो दोषावस्तरघायतः । दिवा नक्तमदाभ्य ॥

Guard us from constriction and wrong, through the evenings and through the dawn-openings, from the one who wills evil; by day and by night, O unfailing one, keep us in the safe wideness of your flame.