Sukta 8

Mantra 1

इन्धे राजा समर्यो नमोभिर्यस्य प्रतीकमाहुतं घृतेन । नरो हव्येभिरीळते सबाध आग्निरग्र उषसामशोचि ॥

The King is kindled, the noble Aryan, by acts of reverence—he whose face is offered with clarified light. Men adore him with the oblations, pressing close; Agni has shone out in front of the Dawns.

Mantra 2

अयमु ष्य सुमहाँ अवेदि होता मन्द्रो मनुषो यह्वो अग्निः । वि भा अकः ससृजानः पृथिव्यां कृष्णपविरोषधीभिर्ववक्षे ॥

This one indeed, the greatly vast, has been made known—the priest of man, the gladdening, the impetuous Agni. He has made the radiances spread out, being poured forth upon the earth; with his dark-edged force he has clothed himself in the plants (the forms of life).

Mantra 3

कया नो अग्ने वि वसः सुवृक्तिं कामु स्वधामृणवः शस्यमानः । कदा भवेम पतयः सुदत्र रायो वन्तारो दुष्टरस्य साधोः ॥

By what path, O Agni, will you open for us the perfect utterance, and by what desire will you grant the self-law, as we are being praised? When shall we become masters, O good giver, enjoyers of the riches—conquerors of the difficult-to-cross achievement?

Mantra 4

प्रप्रायमग्निर्भरतस्य शृण्वे वि यत्सूर्यो न रोचते बृहद्भाः । अभि यः पूरुं पृतनासु तस्थौ द्युतानो दैव्यो अतिथिः शुशोच ॥

Forth, forth this Agni is heard for Bharata, when he shines wide with a great light like the Sun. He who stood for Pūru in the battles—shining, the divine Guest—has blazed out.

Mantra 5

असन्नित्त्वे आहवनानि भूरि भुवो विश्वेभिः सुमना अनीकैः । स्तुतश्चिदग्ने शृण्विषे गृणानः स्वयं वर्धस्व तन्वं सुजात ॥

Many are the callings that are in you; you become gracious with all the faces (forms) of the powers. Even when praised, O Agni, you hear the singer; grow by yourself in your body, O well-born.

Mantra 6

इदं वचः शतसाः संसहस्रमुदग्नये जनिषीष्ट द्विबर्हाः । शं यत्स्तोतृभ्य आपये भवाति द्युमदमीवचातनं रक्षोहा ॥

This word, hundred-powered, thousand-fold, let it be born upward for Agni, O double-bearing one. May it become peace and fullness for the singers to drink—luminous, a driving-away of disease, a slayer of the hostile darkness (rakṣas).

Mantra 7

नू त्वामग्न ईमहे वसिष्ठा ईशानं सूनो सहसो वसूनाम् । इषं स्तोतृभ्यो मघवद्भ्य आनड्यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥

Now we seek you, O Agni— we, the Vasiṣṭhas— you the sovereign, O son of Force, of all riches. Give the impulsion and nourishment to the singers, to the bounteous; and may you protect us always with well-being.