Sukta 96

Mantra 1

स प्रत्नथा सहसा जायमानः सद्यः काव्यानि बळधत्त विश्वा । आपश्च मित्रं धिषणा च साधन्देवा अग्निं धारयन्द्रविणोदाम् ॥

He, born by force in the ancient way, at once took up all the seer-workings and set them in power. The Waters and Mitra and the forming Intelligence accomplished him; the gods held Agni, the giver of plenitude of being.

Mantra 2

स पूर्वया निविदा कव्यतायोरिमाः प्रजा अजनयन्मनूनाम् । विवस्वता चक्षसा द्यामपश्च देवा अग्निं धारयन्द्रविणोदाम् ॥

He, by the first invocation and by the seerhood of Ayu, brought forth these generations of the sons of Manu. With the eye of Vivasvat he beheld heaven and the waters; the gods sustained Agni, the giver of plenitude of being.

Mantra 3

तमीळत प्रथमं यज्ञसाधं विश आरीराहुतमृञ्जसानम् । ऊर्जः पुत्रं भरतं सृप्रदानुं देवा अग्निं धारयन्द्रविणोदाम् ॥

Him they adore first, the accomplisher of the sacrifice; the peoples have set him in front, offered, made straight and radiant. The son of Energy, the bearer, the strong-giving, the gods sustained Agni, the giver of plenitude of being.

Mantra 4

स मातरिश्वा पुरुवारपुष्टिर्विदद्गातुं तनयाय स्वर्वित् । विशां गोपा जनिता रोदस्योर्देवा अग्निं धारयन्द्रविणोदाम् ॥

He is Mātariśvan, rich in many boons; he found the path for the offspring and is a knower of the luminous world. A guardian of the peoples, a begetter of Heaven and Earth in us, the gods sustained Agni, the giver of plenitude of being.

Mantra 5

नक्तोषासा वर्णमामेम्याने धापयेते शिशुमेकं समीची । द्यावाक्षामा रुक्मो अन्तर्वि भाति देवा अग्निं धारयन्द्रविणोदाम् ॥

Night and Dawn, moving in their colours, nurse the one child in mutual accord. Between Heaven and Earth the golden light shines out within; the gods sustained Agni, the giver of plenitude of being.

Mantra 6

रायो बुध्नः संगमनो वसूनां यज्ञस्य केतुर्मन्मसाधनो वेः । अमृतत्वं रक्षमाणास एनं देवा अग्निं धारयन्द्रविणोदाम् ॥

He is the foundation of plenitude, the meeting-place of the riches; the banner of the sacrifice, the accomplisher of the work of the inspired mind. Guarding his immortality, the gods sustained Agni, the giver of plenitude of being.

Mantra 7

नू च पुरा च सदनं रयीणां जातस्य च जायमानस्य च क्षाम् । सतश्च गोपां भवतश्च भूरेर्देवा अग्निं धारयन्द्रविणोदाम् ॥

Now and from of old, the gods have upheld Agni, the giver of plenitude, as the inner seat of all felicities—of what is already born in us and of what is yet being born; as the guardian of the field of existence, of the True, and of the vast abundance that grows beyond measure.

Mantra 8

द्रविणोदा द्रविणसस्तुरस्य द्रविणोदाः सनरस्य प्र यंसत् । द्रविणोदा वीरवतीमिषं नो द्रविणोदा रासते दीर्घमायुः ॥

May Agni the giver of plenitude impel forward the rich substance of swift force and of enduring manhood; may he grant us the impulsion that is full of heroic energies, and may the giver of plenitude bestow on us a long life of widening growth.

Mantra 9

एवा नो अग्ने समिधा वृधानो रेवत्पावक श्रवसे वि भाहि । तन्नो मित्रो वरुणो मामहन्तामदितिः सिन्धुः पृथिवी उत द्यौः ॥

Thus, O Agni, growing by our kindling, shine out for our luminous renown, O purifying one rich in plenitude. And may that be enlarged for us by Mitra and Varuṇa, by Aditi, by the Oceanic Flow, by Earth, and by Heaven.