Sukta 71

Mantra 1

त्वं नो अग्ने महोभिः पाहि विश्वस्या अरातेः । उत द्विषो मर्त्यस्य ॥

You, O Agni, protect us by your vast powers from every lack and hostile want, and also from the hatred of the mortal.

Mantra 2

नहि मन्युः पौरुषेय ईशे हि वः प्रियजात । त्वमिदसि क्षपावान् ॥

No human anger or merely personal impulse can truly govern you, O Beloved-born. You alone are the Lord of the nights—holding the power to endure and to lead us through the dark passages.

Mantra 3

स नो विश्वेभिर्देवेभिरूर्जो नपाद्भद्रशोचे । रयिं देहि विश्ववारम् ॥

With all the gods as your companions, O Offspring of the fostering Power, O you of auspicious flame—give us the Rayi, the plenitude that carries every desirable form of well-being.

Mantra 4

न तमग्ने अरातयो मर्तं युवन्त रायः । यं त्रायसे दाश्वांसम् ॥

The hostile powers cannot deprive that mortal of his plenitude, O Agni—him whom you protect, the giver who has offered himself in the act of sacrifice.

Mantra 5

यं त्वं विप्र मेधसातावग्ने हिनोषि धनाय । स तवोती गोषु गन्ता ॥

Whom you, O Agni, drive forward—O inspired one—toward the winning of luminous intelligence and its gain, he comes into the herds of Light by your protection.

Mantra 6

त्वं रयिं पुरुवीरमग्ने दाशुषे मर्ताय । प्र णो नय वस्यो अच्छ ॥

You, O Agni, give the plenitude rich in many heroic powers to the mortal who offers; lead us forward toward the more excellent and happier state of being.

Mantra 7

उरुष्या णो मा परा दा अघायते जातवेदः । दुराध्ये मर्ताय ॥

Guard us widely, O Jātavedas; do not abandon us to the one who wishes harm—nor to the mortal who dwells in a twisted, ill-guided thinking.

Mantra 8

अग्ने माकिष्टे देवस्य रातिमदेवो युयोत । त्वमीशिषे वसूनाम् ॥

O Agni, let no ungodly force push away your divine gift from us; you are the true master of the riches—of all the powers of substance and delight.

Mantra 9

स नो वस्व उप मास्यूर्जो नपान्माहिनस्य । सखे वसो जरितृभ्यः ॥

Come to us, O Vasu—O Offspring of the fostering Power, mighty in greatness; be a friend, O Bright One, to the singers who affirm you.

Mantra 10

अच्छा नः शीरशोचिषं गिरो यन्तु दर्शतम् । अच्छा यज्ञासो नमसा पुरूवसुं पुरुप्रशस्तमूतये ॥

Let our words move toward the visible One of strong and brilliant flame; let our sacrifices, with reverence, move toward the richly-possessing Power, the much-praised, for our protection.

Mantra 11

अग्निं सूनुं सहसो जातवेदसं दानाय वार्याणाम् । द्विता यो भूदमृतो मर्त्येष्वा होता मन्द्रतमो विशि ॥

Agni—son of Force, Jātavedas—(we call) for the giving of the choicest boons: he who, though immortal, has become present among mortals as the priest of offering, the most gladdening in the people.

Mantra 12

अग्निं वो देवयज्ययाग्निं प्रयत्यध्वरे । अग्निं धीषु प्रथममग्निमर्वत्यग्निं क्षैत्राय साधसे ॥

Agni we invoke for you by the godward act of offering: Agni in the forward-moving sacrifice. Agni as the first power in the awakenings of thought; Agni in the force that bears us onward; Agni for the field of our works and for the accomplishing of the true perfection.

Mantra 13

अग्निरिषां सख्ये ददातु न ईशे यो वार्याणाम् । अग्निं तोके तनये शश्वदीमहे वसुं सन्तं तनूपाम् ॥

May Agni in the comradeship of the impulsions grant us the true increase—he who is master of the desirable riches. Agni we seek always in our home and in our becoming, the abiding Treasure who guards the being from within.

Mantra 14

अग्निमीळिष्वावसे गाथाभिः शीरशोचिषम् । अग्निं राये पुरुमीळ्ह श्रुतं नरोऽग्निं सुदीतये छर्दिः ॥

Invoke Agni for help with the hymns—Agni whose flame is keen and puissant. Invoke Agni for the plenitude of being, O men, the much-praised and widely heard; invoke Agni for the fair kindling of the sheltering peace.

Mantra 15

अग्निं द्वेषो योतवै नो गृणीमस्यग्निं शं योश्च दातवे । विश्वासु विक्ष्ववितेव हव्यो भुवद्वस्तुॠषूणाम् ॥

Agni we acclaim to drive away our hostile forces; Agni to give peace and well-being. In all the clans may he be like a protector, worthy of the offering, becoming the abiding home of the seers’ swift powers.