Sukta 16

Mantra 1

एना वो अग्निं नमसोर्जो नपातमा हुवे । प्रियं चेतिष्ठमरतिं स्वध्वरं विश्वस्य दूतममृतम् ॥

By this reverence I call Agni for you—the child of plenitude—beloved, most discerning in consciousness, the sure guide of the rite, the messenger of all, the immortal: may he lead our offering and our inner journey in right order.

Mantra 2

स योजते अरुषा विश्वभोजसा स दुद्रवत्स्वाहुतः । सुब्रह्मा यज्ञः सुशमी वसूनां देवं राधो जनानाम् ॥

He who yokes the ruddy powers that enjoy all things, he—well offered—runs forward. The sacrifice becomes a noble-formulated force, a quieting harmony for the riches of the being, a divine plenitude for the peoples (the many movements in us).

Mantra 3

उदस्य शोचिरस्थादाजुह्वानस्य मीळ्हुषः । उद्धूमासो अरुषासो दिविस्पृशः समग्निमिन्धते नरः ॥

Up rises his flame—of the one who is being invoked, the bounteous giver. Up rise his smokes, ruddy and heaven-touching; thus the human powers kindle Agni together, to build the ascent of consciousness.

Mantra 4

तं त्वा दूतं कृण्महे यशस्तमं देवाँ आ वीतये वह । विश्वा सूनो सहसो मर्तभोजना रास्व तद्यत्त्वेमहे ॥

You we make our messenger, the most glorious: bring the gods for our enjoyment of the offering. O Son of Force, give us all the human nourishings—those forms of sustenance for the mortal being—which we seek from you.

Mantra 5

त्वमग्ने गृहपतिस्त्वं होता नो अध्वरे । त्वं पोता विश्ववार प्रचेता यक्षि वेषि च वार्यम् ॥

You, O Agni, are the lord of the house; you are our priest in the journey of sacrifice. You are the purifier, O all-desirable, wide-aware: sacrifice and also bring in the excellent riches (the best inner possessions).

Mantra 6

कृधि रत्नं यजमानाय सुक्रतो त्वं हि रत्नधा असि । आ न ऋते शिशीहि विश्वमृत्विजं सुशंसो यश्च दक्षते ॥

Fashion the treasure for the one who offers, O strong-willed; for you are indeed the holder of the treasure. Without you, none can be made ready: sharpen for us the whole priestly working—he who is of good affirmation and who is capable in the act.

Mantra 7

त्वे अग्ने स्वाहुत प्रियासः सन्तु सूरयः । यन्तारो ये मघवानो जनानामूर्वान्दयन्त गोनाम् ॥

In you, O Agni, rightly offered, may the beloved seers find their home—those leaders, bountiful among the peoples, who foster the wide fields of the cows: the open pastures of Light and Knowledge.

Mantra 8

येषामिळा घृतहस्ता दुरोण आँ अपि प्राता निषीदति । ताँस्त्रायस्व सहस्य द्रुहो निदो यच्छा नः शर्म दीर्घश्रुत् ॥

Those in whose home Ila, with hands of clarified light, sits down in the early dawning—protect them, O Son of Force, from the crooked hostile and from the blaming voice; grant to us shelter, O far-hearing.

Mantra 9

स मन्द्रया च जिह्वया वह्निरासा विदुष्टरः । अग्ने रयिं मघवद्भ्यो न आ वह हव्यदातिं च सूदय ॥

With the gladdening tongue and with the mouth, the bearer of the offering, most knowing—O Agni, bring to us the plenitude for the bountiful ones, and set in motion the giving of the oblation (the right exchange with the gods).

Mantra 10

ये राधांसि ददत्यश्व्या मघा कामेन श्रवसो महः । ताँ अंहसः पिपृहि पर्तृभिष्ट्वं शतं पूर्भिर्यविष्ठ्य ॥

Those who give the accomplishing graces and the swift powers of plenitude, moved by the desire for vast fame—protect them from distress; you, O youngest, guard them with protectors, with a hundred strongholds of light.

Mantra 11

देवो वो द्रविणोदाः पूर्णां विवष्ट्यासिचम् । उद्वा सिञ्चध्वमुप वा पृणध्वमादिद्वो देव ओहते ॥

The god, the giver of substance, has opened for you the full vessel. Pour it out upward, or fill it up more: then indeed the god bears you onward—he carries your becoming toward fullness.

Mantra 12

तं होतारमध्वरस्य प्रचेतसं वह्निं देवा अकृण्वत । दधाति रत्नं विधते सुवीर्यमग्निर्जनाय दाशुषे ॥

Him the gods fashioned as the illumined Hotar of the inner sacrifice, the carrier who bears the offering. Agni places the treasure—heroic plenitude of force—for the one who orders the rite, for the people who give themselves in offering.