Sukta 74

Mantra 1

विशोविशो वो अतिथिं वाजयन्तः पुरुप्रियम् । अग्निं वो दुर्यं वचः स्तुषे शूषस्य मन्मभिः ॥

O you of every clan, fostering the plenitudes of force, you set forward your Guest—Agni, beloved of many. Him, your indwelling flame, I affirm with the word, with thought-formations of ardent power.

Mantra 2

यं जनासो हविष्मन्तो मित्रं न सर्पिरासुतिम् । प्रशंसन्ति प्रशस्तिभिः ॥

Him whom the offerers among men acclaim with their affirmations—like a friend—him whose libation is clarified richness: Agni is praised by praises.

Mantra 3

पन्यांसं जातवेदसं यो देवतात्युद्यता । हव्यान्यैरयद्दिवि ॥

Adorable Jātavedas—he who, uplifted toward the godhead, sets the offerings in motion in the luminous heights.

Mantra 4

आगन्म वृत्रहन्तमं ज्येष्ठमग्निमानवम् । यस्य श्रुतर्वा बृहन्नार्क्षो अनीक एधते ॥

We have come to the most Vṛtra-slaying, the eldest Agni, the ancient-new one; whose vast, far-hearing force grows in the forefront of manifestation.

Mantra 5

अमृतं जातवेदसं तिरस्तमांसि दर्शतम् । घृताहवनमीड्यम् ॥

Immortal Jātavedas, visible beyond the darknesses; the one called by clarified offerings—adorable, to be sought by aspiration.

Mantra 6

सबाधो यं जना इमेऽग्निं हव्येभिरीळते । जुह्वानासो यतस्रुचः ॥

Without division, these peoples adore that Agni with their offerings—pouring out with the ladle held true: disciplined in the act of giving.

Mantra 7

इयं ते नव्यसी मतिरग्ने अधाय्यस्मदा । मन्द्र सुजात सुक्रतोऽमूर दस्मातिथे ॥

This newest thought of ours has been set in you, O Agni. O rapturous one, well-born, of luminous will—unbewildered, wondrous Guest—come near.

Mantra 8

सा ते अग्ने शंतमा चनिष्ठा भवतु प्रिया । तया वर्धस्व सुष्टुतः ॥

May that—most peace-giving—be dear to you, O Agni, the nearest and most intimate; by it grow, well-praised, increasing in your force.

Mantra 9

सा द्युम्नैर्द्युम्निनी बृहदुपोप श्रवसि श्रवः । दधीत वृत्रतूर्ये ॥

May that inspiration, luminous with luminances, set a vast glory ever nearer in our hearing—may it hold firm the victorious force in the battle with obstruction.

Mantra 10

अश्वमिद्गां रथप्रां त्वेषमिन्द्रं न सत्पतिम् । यस्य श्रवांसि तूर्वथ पन्यम्पन्यं च कृष्टयः ॥

He grants the steed-force, the cow of light, the forward-driving chariot—fierce like Indra, a true lord of the path; whose glories, O Tūrvatha, the peoples celebrate as ever admirable.

Mantra 11

यं त्वा गोपवनो गिरा चनिष्ठदग्ने अङ्गिरः । स पावक श्रुधी हवम् ॥

O Agni, the Angiras, the guardian of the luminous herds, has kindled you by the word; O Purifier, hear the call—enter our inner offering and make it flame with clarity.

Mantra 12

यं त्वा जनास ईळते सबाधो वाजसातये । स बोधि वृत्रतूर्ये ॥

You whom the peoples adore, irresistible in the winning of plenitude of force—awaken in us; become conscious and active in the battle that breaks the cover of obstruction (Vṛtra).

Mantra 13

अहं हुवान आर्क्षे श्रुतर्वणि मदच्युति । शर्धांसीव स्तुकाविनां मृक्षा शीर्षा चतुर्णाम् ॥

I, calling in the Eagle’s (sun-bird’s) wide flight, in the heard-moving surge that releases delight, break the clustered resistances—like crushing the heads of the fourfold forces that block the way.

Mantra 14

मां चत्वार आशवः शविष्ठस्य द्रवित्नवः । सुरथासो अभि प्रयो वक्षन्वयो न तुग्र्यम् ॥

Four swift powers of the Most Mighty, rich in the impetus of movement, well-yoked like noble chariots, bear me toward the nourishing plenitude—like strong steeds carrying one who seeks the far goal.

Mantra 15

सत्यमित्त्वा महेनदि परुष्ण्यव देदिशम् । नेमापो अश्वदातरः शविष्ठादस्ति मर्त्यः ॥

Truly, I have made you blaze forth, O great River Paruṣṇī; and among mortal men there is none—no giver of horses—stronger than you, O Most Mighty power.