Sukta 84

Mantra 1

प्रेष्ठं वो अतिथिं स्तुषे मित्रमिव प्रियम् । अग्निं रथं न वेद्यम् ॥

I praise for you the dearest Guest, beloved like a friend—Agni, like a chariot fit to be known and used for the journey of the sacrifice within.

Mantra 2

कविमिव प्रचेतसं यं देवासो अध द्विता । नि मर्त्येष्वादधुः ॥

Like a seer of inspired vision, of wide and luminous consciousness, him the Gods have again and again established within mortals—so that the divine seeing may be seated in the human vessel.

Mantra 3

त्वं यविष्ठ दाशुषो नॄँ: पाहि शृणुधी गिरः । रक्षा तोकमुत त्मना ॥

Thou, youngest (ever-new) Flame, protect the men who give; hear our words. Guard the child-soul and the growth of being, and also protect us by thy own self-existent force.

Mantra 4

कया ते अग्ने अङ्गिर ऊर्जो नपादुपस्तुतिम् । वराय देव मन्यवे ॥

By what approach of consciousness, O Agni—O Angiras, child of the plenitude—may we rightly bring thee the near-praise, for thy chosen delight, O god, for thy mighty ardour?

Mantra 5

दाशेम कस्य मनसा यज्ञस्य सहसो यहो । कदु वोच इदं नमः ॥

To whom, with what mind, shall we offer this sacrifice, O Power of forceful energy? And when indeed shall I be able to utter this bowing of the being—this true submission of the soul?

Mantra 6

अधा त्वं हि नस्करो विश्वा अस्मभ्यं सुक्षितीः । वाजद्रविणसो गिरः ॥

Therefore thou indeed shalt make for us all fair and right dwellings—states of harmonious being; and our words shall become bearers of plenitude of force and richness of substance.

Mantra 7

कस्य नूनं परीणसो धियो जिन्वसि दम्पते । गोषाता यस्य ते गिरः ॥

Whose abundant and rounded thoughts dost thou now quicken, O lord of the house?—he whose words for thee are winners of the Light-rays (the cows of illumination).

Mantra 8

तं मर्जयन्त सुक्रतुं पुरोयावानमाजिषु । स्वेषु क्षयेषु वाजिनम् ॥

Him they brighten and make pure—him of good and right will, the forerunner in the battles; the strong one of plenitude of force in his own settled realms of being.

Mantra 9

क्षेति क्षेमेभिः साधुभिर्नकिर्यं घ्नन्ति हन्ति यः । अग्ने सुवीर एधते ॥

He dwells with secure safeties and right harmonies; none can strike down him whom thou protectest. O Agni, he grows into a rich heroism—into a soul full of strong powers.