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Sukta 5.18
Vasiṣṭha (Book 5 attribution)
Agni (as Atithi, the Guest)
Triṣṭubh (likely)
Yeh mantra subah ke waqt Agni ko Atithi ke roop mein bulata hai. Atithi matlab wo mehman jo hamare ghar aata hai. Agni ko aag aur havan se swagat karte hain. Wo amar hai lekin insaan ki bhavon se khush hota hai. Agni rath ki tarah safe aage badhta hai. Jo log daan dete hain unki badhai aur shakti badhata hai.
Mantra 1
प्रातरग्निः पुरुप्रियो विशः स्तवेतातिथिः । विश्वानि यो अमर्त्यो हव्या मर्तेषु रण्यति ॥
Subah hone par Agni ki puja karo. Woh sabko pyara hai aur mehman ki tarah aata hai. Woh marne wala nahi hai, woh amar hai. Log jo bhi chadhawa chadhate hain usme khush hota hai. Yeh agni insaan ke ghar khushi laati hai.
Mantra 2
द्विताय मृक्तवाहसे स्वस्य दक्षस्य मंहना । इन्दं। स धत्त आनुषक्स्तोता चित्ते अमर्त्य ॥
Bar-bar tumhare liye jo saaf chadhawa le kar aata hai. Tumhari apni samajh aur shakti se woh denewala pujari Soma ki khushi tum mein rakh ta hai. He amar agni, yeh chalta rahe taaki agni sacchai ki khushi le kar badhe.
Mantra 3
तं वो दीर्घायुशोचिषं गिरा हुवे मघोनाम् । अरिष्टो येषां रथो व्यश्वदावन्नीयते ॥
Main us agni ko pukarta hoon jo lambi umar tak jalta hai aur chamakta hai. Woh jo log dete hain unke liye main use bulata hoon. Unki rath kisi cheez se tooti nahi, ghode use aage le jaate hain.
Mantra 4
चित्रा वा येषु दीधितिरासन्नुक्था पान्ति ये । स्तीर्णं बर्हिः स्वर्णरे श्रवांसि दधिरे परि ॥
Jin logon mein alag-alag rangon jaisi roshni basti hai. Jo log geeton ki raksha karte hain. Jinhone aasman ke malik ke liye aasan bichhaya hai. Jinke kaan sab taraf se sunne ki shakti hain.
Mantra 5
ये मे पञ्चाशतं ददुरश्वानां सधस्तुति । द्युमदग्ने महि श्रवो बृहत्कृधि मघोनां नृवदमृत नृणाम् ॥
Jinhone mujhe pacchas ghode diye the, woh log bahut bade dil wale hain. Agni, tu hamare saath hai jab hum stuti karte hain. Tu unki badai aur shakti ko aur bada kar de. Woh log insaanon mein sabse bade hain. Tu amar hai, unke liye kuch aisa kar jo logon tak pahunche.
Because the sacred fire is welcomed into the home like an honored guest. Through kindling and offering, Agni ‘arrives,’ is praised, and receives hospitality in the form of oblations.
Protection and successful forward movement, along with increased splendor and lasting fame (śravas) for those who give generously and support the rite.
At dawn, when lighting or renewing the fire for morning worship, since the hymn explicitly invokes Agni “in the morning” and frames him as the first guest of the day’s sacrifice.
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