Sukta 3

Mantra 1

अग्निं वो देवमग्निभिः सजोषा यजिष्ठं दूतमध्वरे कृणुध्वम् । यो मर्त्येषु निध्रुविॠतावा तपुर्मूर्धा घृतान्नः पावकः ॥

Make for yourselves Agni the god, in one accord with the divine Fires, the most worshipful messenger in the sacrifice—he who among mortals is firmly established, the bearer of the Truth-law, with a head of burning force, fed with the luminous essence, the purifier.

Mantra 2

प्रोथदश्वो न यवसेऽविष्यन्यदा महः संवरणाद्व्यस्थात् । आदस्य वातो अनु वाति शोचिरध स्म ते व्रजनं कृष्णमस्ति ॥

He surges forth like a steed seeking its fodder, when he has stood out from the great enclosure. Then the wind follows his flame; and so indeed your moving track becomes blackened—where the Fire has gone, the darkness is burnt into a sign of passage.

Mantra 3

उद्यस्य ते नवजातस्य वृष्णोऽग्ने चरन्त्यजरा इधानाः । अच्छा द्यामरुषो धूम एति सं दूतो अग्न ईयसे हि देवान् ॥

When you are born anew, O strong Bull-Fire, your unfailing kindlings move and spread. Your ruddy smoke goes up toward heaven; as the messenger you indeed travel to the gods, joining the worlds.

Mantra 4

वि यस्य ते पृथिव्यां पाजो अश्रेत्तृषु यदन्ना समवृक्त जम्भैः । सेनेव सृष्टा प्रसितिष्ट एति यवं न दस्म जुह्वा विवेक्षि ॥

Your might is spread out upon the earth; when with your jaws you have cleared the foods among the dry places. Your forward driving goes like an army released; O wonderful one, with the offering-tongue you separate out the grain—discerning what is to be taken up into the fire.

Mantra 5

तमिद्दोषा तमुषसि यविष्ठमग्निमत्यं न मर्जयन्त नरः । निशिशाना अतिथिमस्य योनौ दीदाय शोचिराहुतस्य वृष्णः ॥

Him at night, him at dawn—the youngest Fire—men polish as one polishes a steed. Sharpening him, the guest, in his own seat, the flame of the strong one blazes when the offering has been placed within.

Mantra 6

सुसंदृक्ते स्वनीक प्रतीकं वि यद्रुक्मो न रोचस उपाके । दिवो न ते तन्यतुरेति शुष्मश्चित्रो न सूरः प्रति चक्षि भानुम् ॥

Fair to behold is your radiant face; you shine out near at hand like a golden ornament. Your force goes forth like heaven’s thunder; like a wondrous sun you look back with your beam—illumining what must be seen.

Mantra 7

यथा वः स्वाहाग्नये दाशेम परीळाभिर्घृतवद्भिश्च हव्यैः । तेभिर्नो अग्ने अमितैर्महोभिः शतं पूर्भिरायसीभिर्नि पाहि ॥

So that we may offer ‘svāhā’ to Agni with encompassing prayers and with ghee-rich oblations—by those immeasurable greatnesses, O Fire, guard us: with a hundred iron strongholds protect our being.

Mantra 8

या वा ते सन्ति दाशुषे अधृष्टा गिरो वा याभिर्नृवतीरुरुष्याः । ताभिर्नः सूनो सहसो नि पाहि स्मत्सूरीञ्जरितॄञ्जातवेदः ॥

Whatever invincible utterances you have for the giver—those speech-forces by which you widen and protect the manful energies—by them guard us, O Son of Strength: guard from us the illumined leaders and the singers, O Jātavedas.

Mantra 9

निर्यत्पूतेव स्वधितिः शुचिर्गात्स्वया कृपा तन्वा रोचमानः । आ यो मात्रोरुशेन्यो जनिष्ट देवयज्याय सुक्रतुः पावकः ॥

When he goes forth, pure like a cleansed axe—bright, shining by his own shaping body—he who, desirable, is born from the two mothers, comes for the worship of the gods: the clear-flaming one of good will and right working.

Mantra 10

एता नो अग्ने सौभगा दिदीह्यपि क्रतुं सुचेतसं वतेम । विश्वा स्तोतृभ्यो गृणते च सन्तु यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥

These felicities, O Agni, blaze for us; and may we attain the will that is luminous in understanding. Let all good things be for the praisers and the singers; do you guard us always with your harmonies of well-being.