Adhyaya 15

Mantra 1

अग्ने॑ जा॒तान् प्र णु॑दा नः स॒पत्ना॒न् प्रत्यजा॑तान् नुद जातवेदः। अधि॑ नो ब्रूहि सु॒मना॒ अहे॑डँ॒स्तव॑ स्याम॒ शर्मँ॑स्त्रि॒वरू॑थ उ॒द्भौ

O Agni, drive thou forth our rivals that are born, and drive away those that are born against us, O Jātavedas. Declare thou over us, being gracious and unangered, that we may be thine, in shelter—thou of threefold defence—uplifted (and established).

Mantra 2

सह॑सा जा॒तान् प्र णु॑दा नः स॒पत्ना॒न् प्रत्यजा॑ताञ्जातवेदो नुदस्व । अधि॑ नो ब्रूहि सुमन॒स्यमा॑नो व॒यᳪ स्या॑म॒ प्र णु॑दा नः स॒पत्ना॑न्

With might drive thou forth our rivals that are born; drive away those born against us, O Jātavedas. Pronounce thou over us, being gracious of mind, that we may be (secure); drive thou forth our rivals.

Mantra 3

षो॒ड॒शी स्तोम॒ ओजो॒ द्रवि॑णं चतुश्चत्वारि॒ᳪश स्तोमो॒ वर्चो॒ द्रवि॑णम् । अ॒ग्नेः पुरी॑षम॒स्यप्सो॒ नाम॒ तां त्वा॒ विश्वे॑ अ॒भि गृ॑णन्तु दे॒वाः । स्तोम॑पृष्ठा घृ॒तव॑ती॒ह सी॑द प्र॒जाव॑द॒स्मे द्रवि॒णा य॑जस्व

The Ṣoḍaśin-stoma is vigour, and wealth; the forty-fourfold stoma is splendour, and wealth. Thou art Agni’s ‘filling’; thy name is ‘work’: may all the Gods acclaim thee. O thou whose back is praise, rich in ghee, sit thou here; sacrifice for us wealth with offspring.

Mantra 4

एव॒श्छन्दो॒ वरि॑व॒श्छन्द॑: श॒म्भूश्छन्द॑: परि॒भूश्छन्द॑ आ॒च्छच्छन्दो॒ मन॒श्छन्दो॒ व्यच॒श्छन्द॒: सिन्धु॒श्छन्द॑: समु॒द्रश्छन्द॑:सरि॒रं छन्द॑: क॒कुप्छन्द॑स्त्रिक॒कुप्छन्द॑: का॒व्यं छन्दो॒ अङ्कु॒॒पं छन्दो॒ ऽक्षर॑पङ्क्ति॒श्छन्द॑: प॒दप॑ङ्क्ति॒श्छन्दो॑ विष्टा॒रप॑ङ्क्ति॒श्छन्द॑: क्षु॒रो भ्रज॒श्छन्द॑:

‘Evá’ is metre; ‘Varivas’ is metre; ‘Śambhū’ is metre; ‘Paribhū’ is metre; ‘Āccha’ is metre; ‘Manas’ is metre; ‘Vyacas’ is metre; ‘Sindhu’ is metre; ‘Samudra’ is metre; ‘Sarira’ is metre; ‘Kakup’ is metre; ‘Tri-kakup’ is metre; ‘Kāvya’ is metre; ‘Aṅkupa’ is metre; the ‘Syllable-row’ is metre; the ‘Word-row’ is metre; the ‘Expanded-row’ is metre; the ‘Razor, the Radiance’ is metre.

Mantra 5

आ॒च्छच्छन्द॑: प्र॒च्छच्छन्द॑: सं॒यच्छन्दो॑ वि॒यच्छन्दो॑ बृ॒हच्छन्दो॑ रथन्त॒रञ्छन्दो॑ निका॒यश्छन्दो॑ विवधश्छन्दो॒ गिर॒श्छन्दो॒ भ्रज॒श्छन्द॑: स॒ᳪस्तुप्छन्दो॑ ऽनु॒ष्टुप्छन्द॒ एव॒श्छन्दो॒ वरि॑व॒श्छन्दो॒ वय॒श्छन्दो॑ वय॒स्कृच्छन्दो॒ विष्प॑र्धा॒श्छन्दो॑ विशा॒लं छन्द॑श्छ॒दिश्छन्दो॑ दूरोह॒णं छन्द॑स्त॒न्द्रं छन्दो॑ अङ्का॒ङ्कं छन्द॑:

‘Āccha’ is metre; ‘Praccha’ is metre; ‘Saṁya’ is metre; ‘Viya’ is metre; ‘Bṛhat’ is metre; ‘Rathantara’ is metre; ‘Nikāya’ is metre; ‘Vivādha’ is metre; ‘Giras’ is metre; ‘Bhrajas’ is metre; ‘Saṁstup’ is metre; ‘Anuṣṭubh’ is metre; ‘Evá’ is metre; ‘Varivas’ is metre; ‘Vayas’ is metre; ‘Vayaskṛt’ is metre; ‘Viṣpardhas’ is metre; ‘Viśāla’ is metre; ‘Chadis’ is metre; ‘Dūrohaṇa’ is metre; ‘Tandra’ is metre; ‘Aṅkāṅka’ is metre.

Mantra 6

र॒श्मिना॑ स॒त्याय॑ स॒त्यं जि॑न्व॒ प्रेति॑ना॒ धर्म॑णा॒ धर्मं॑ जि॒न्वान्वि॑त्या दि॒वा दिवं॑ जिन्व स॒न्धिना॒ऽन्तरि॑क्षेणा॒न्तरि॑क्षं जिन्व प्रति॒धिना॑ पृथि॒व्या पृ॑थि॒वीं जि॑न्व विष्ट॒म्भेन॒ वृष्ट्या॒ वृष्टिं॑ जिन्व प्र॒वयाऽह्नाऽह॑र्जिन्वानु॒या रात्र्या॒ रात्रीं॑ जिन्वो॒शिजा॒ वसु॑भ्यो॒ वसू॑ञ्जिन्व प्रके॒तेना॑दि॒त्येभ्य॑ आदि॒त्याञ्जि॑न्व

With the rein, for truth, quicken thou truth; with forward impulse, with law, quicken thou law. With succession, with heaven, quicken thou heaven; with joint, with the mid-air, quicken thou the mid-air; with counter-joint, with the earth, quicken thou the earth. With support, with rain, quicken thou rain; with onward course, with day, quicken thou day; with following course, with night, quicken thou night. With eager striving, for the Vasus, quicken thou the Vasus; with clear discernment, for the Ādityas, quicken thou the Ādityas.

Mantra 7

तन्तु॑ना रा॒यस्पोषे॑ण रा॒यस्पोषं॑ जिन्व सᳪस॒र्पे॑ण श्रु॒ताय॑ श्रु॒तं जि॑न्वै॒डेनौ॑षधीभि॒रोष॑धीर्जिन्वोत्त॒मेन॑ त॒नूभि॑स्त॒नूर्जि॑न्व व॑यो॒धसाधी॑ते॒नाधी॑तं जिन्वाभि॒जिता॒ तेज॑सा॒ तेजो॑ जिन्व

With the thread, for increase of wealth, quicken thou increase of wealth; with onward creeping, for sacred hearing, quicken thou sacred hearing. With refreshment, with plants, quicken thou the plants; with the highest, with bodies, quicken thou the body. With life-giving power, with what is learnt, quicken thou what is learnt; with victorious splendour, with energy, quicken thou energy.

Mantra 8

प्रति॒पद॑सि प्रति॒पदे॑ त्वा ऽनु॒पद॑स्यनु॒पदे॑ त्वा स॒म्पद॑सि स॒म्पदे॑ त्वा तेजो॑ऽसि॒ तेज॑से त्वा

Thou art the counter-step: for the counter-step I take thee. Thou art the following step: for the following step I take thee. Thou art the complete step: for the complete step I take thee. Thou art splendour: for splendour I take thee.

Mantra 9

त्रि॒वृद॑सि त्रि॒वृते॑ त्वा प्र॒वृद॑सि प्र॒वृते॑ त्वा वि॒वृद॑सि वि॒वृते॑ त्वा स॒वृद॑सि स॒वृते॑ त्वा ऽऽक्र॒मो॒ऽस्याक्र॒माय॑ त्वा संक्र॒मो॒ऽसि संक्र॒माय॑ त्वोत्क्र॒मो॒ऽस्युत्क्र॒माय॒ त्वोत्क्रा॑न्तिर॒स्युत्क्रा॑न्त्यै॒ त्वा ऽधि॑पतिनो॒र्जोर्जं॑ जिन्व

Thou art the Trivṛt: for the Trivṛt I take thee. Thou art the Pravṛt: for the Pravṛt I take thee. Thou art the Vivṛt: for the Vivṛt I take thee. Thou art the Savṛt: for the Savṛt I take thee. Thou art the approach-step: for the approach-step I take thee. Thou art the transition-step: for the transition-step I take thee. Thou art the up-step: for the up-step I take thee. Thou art the stepping forth: for the stepping forth I take thee. Quicken the lordly vigour—vigour!

Mantra 11

राज्ञ्य॑सि॒ प्राची॒ दिग्वस॑वस्ते दे॒वा अधि॑पतयो॒ऽग्निर्हे॑ती॒नां प्र॑तिध॒र्ता त्रि॒वृत् त्वा॒ स्तोम॑: पृथि॒व्याᳪ श्र॑य॒त्वाज्य॑मु॒क्थमव्य॑थायै स्तभ्नातु रथन्त॒रᳪ साम॒ प्रति॑ष्ठित्या अ॒न्तरि॑क्ष॒ ऋष॑यस्त्वा प्रथम॒जा दे॒वेषु॑ दि॒वो मात्र॑या वरि॒म्णा प्र॑थन्तु विध॒र्ता चा॒यमधि॑पतिश्च॒ ते त्वा॒ सर्वे॑ संविदा॒ना नाक॑स्य पृ॒ष्ठे स्व॒र्गे लो॒के यज॑मानं च सादयन्तु ।। १ ०।। वि॒राड॑सि॒ दक्षि॑णा॒ दिग्रु॒द्रास्ते॑ दे॒वा अधि॑पतय॒ इन्द्रो॑ हेती॒नां प्र॑तिध॒र्ता प॑ञ्चद॒स्त्वा॒ स्तोम॑: पृथि॒व्याᳪश्र॑यतु॒ प्र उ॑गमु॒क्थमव्य॑थायै स्तभ्नातु बृ॒हत्साम॒ प्रति॑ष्ठित्या अ॒न्तरि॑क्ष॒ ऋष॑यस्त्वा प्रथम॒जा दे॒वेषु॑ दि॒वो मात्र॑या वरि॒म्णा प्र॑थन्तु विध॒र्ता चा॒यमधि॑पतिश्च॒ ते त्वा॒ सर्वे॑ संविदा॒ना नाक॑स्य पृ॒ष्ठे स्व॒र्गे लो॒के यज॑मानं च सादयन्तु

Thou art the Queenly Power, the eastern quarter: the Vasus are thy gods, Agni the warder-off of missiles. The Trivṛt is thy stoma: may it rest on the earth; may the Ājya-uktha brace it for harmlessness; the Rathantara Sāman for establishment. In the mid-air the seers, first-born among the gods, by heaven’s measure and breadth, may spread thee forth; and the Sustainer and this thy lord, all consenting, may seat the sacrificer on the back of the sky, in the heavenly world. Thou art Virāj, the southern quarter: the Rudras are thy gods, Indra the warder-off of missiles. The Pañcadaśa is thy stoma: may it rest on the earth; may the Pra-uga-uktha brace it for harmlessness; the Bṛhat Sāman for establishment. In the mid-air the seers, first-born among the gods, by heaven’s measure and breadth, may spread thee forth; and the Sustainer and this thy lord, all consenting, may seat the sacrificer on the back of the sky, in the heavenly world.

Mantra 12

स॒म्राड॑सि प्र॒तीची॒ दिगा॑दि॒त्यास्ते॑ दे॒वा अधि॑पतयो॒ वरु॑णो हेती॒नां प्र॑तिध॒र्ता स॑प्तद॒शस्त्वा॒ स्तोम॑: पृथि॒व्याᳪ श्र॑यतु मरुत्व॒तीय॑मु॒क्थमव्य॑थायै स्तभ्नातु वैरू॒पᳪसाम॒ प्रति॑ष्ठित्या अ॒न्तरि॑क्ष॒ ऋष॑यस्त्वा प्रथम॒जा दे॒वेषु॑ दि॒वो मात्र॑या वरि॒म्णा प्र॑थन्तु विध॒र्ता चा॒यमधि॑पतिश्च॒ ते त्वा॒ सर्वे॑ संविदा॒ना नाक॑स्य पृ॒ष्ठे स्व॒र्गे लो॒के यज॑मानं च सादयन्तु

Thou art the Universal Ruler, the western quarter: the Ādityas are thy gods, Varuṇa the warder-off of missiles. The Saptadaśa is thy stoma: may it rest on the earth; may the Marutvatīya-uktha brace it for harmlessness; the Vairūpa Sāman for establishment. In the mid-air the seers, first-born among the gods, by heaven’s measure and breadth, may spread thee forth; and the Sustainer and this thy lord, all consenting, may seat the sacrificer on the back of the sky, in the heavenly world.

Mantra 13

स्व॒राड॒स्युदी॒ची॒ दिङ्म॒रुत॑स्ते दे॒वा अधि॑पतय॒: सोमो॑ हेती॒नां प्र॑तिध॒र्तैक॑वि॒ᳪशस्त्वा॒ स्तोम॑: पृथि॒व्याᳪ श्र॑यतु॒ निष्के॑वल्यमु॒क्थमव्य॑थायै स्तभ्नातु वैरा॒जँ साम॒ प्रति॑ष्ठित्या अ॒न्तरि॑क्ष॒ ऋष॑यस्त्वा प्रथम॒जा दे॒वेषु॑ दि॒वो मात्र॑या वरि॒म्णा प्र॑थन्तु विध॒र्ता चा॒यमधि॑पतिश्च॒ ते त्वा॒ सर्वे॑ संविदा॒ना नाक॑स्य पृ॒ष्ठे स्व॒र्गे लो॒के यज॑मानं च सादयन्तु

Thou art the Self-ruler, the northern quarter: the Maruts are thy gods, Soma the warder-off of missiles. The Ekaviṃśa is thy stoma: may it rest on the earth; may the Niṣkevalya-uktha brace it for harmlessness; the Vairāja Sāman for establishment. In the mid-air the seers, first-born among the gods, by heaven’s measure and breadth, may spread thee forth; and the Sustainer and this thy lord, all consenting, may seat the sacrificer on the back of the sky, in the heavenly world.

Mantra 14

अधि॑पत्न्यसि बृह॒ती दिग्विश्वे॑ ते दे॒वा अधि॑पतयो॒ बृह॒स्पति॑र्हेती॒नां प्र॑तिध॒र्ता त्रि॑णवत्रयस्त्रि॒ᳪशौ त्वा॒ स्तोमौ॑ पृथि॒व्याᳪ श्र॑यतां वैश्वदेवाग्निमारु॒ते उ॒क्थे अव्य॑थायै स्तभ्नीताᳪ शाक्वररैव॒ते साम॑नी॒ प्रति॑ष्ठित्या अ॒न्तरि॑क्ष॒ ऋष॑यस्त्वा प्रथम॒जा दे॒वेषु॑ दि॒वो मात्र॑या वरि॒म्णा प्र॑थन्तु विध॒र्ता चा॒यमधि॑पतिश्च॒ ते त्वा॒ सर्वे॑ संविदा॒ना नाक॑स्य पृ॒ष्ठे स्व॒र्गे लो॒के यज॑मानं च सादयन्तु

Thou art the sovereign Lady, the mighty Quarter: all the Gods are thy overlords. Bṛhaspati is the repeller of missiles. The Trinava and the Trayastriṃśa Stomas—may those two supports rest upon the earth. In the Vaiśvadeva and Agnimāruta Uktha, for freedom from trembling, be thou propped; in the Śākvara and Raivata Sāman, for firm establishment. In the mid-air the seers, first-born among the Gods, by the measure and the breadth of heaven, may spread thee forth. And this thy overlord, and all these, being of one accord, may seat both thee and the sacrificer on the back of the sky, in the heavenly world.

Mantra 15

अ॒यं पु॒रो हरि॑केश॒: सूर्य॑रश्मि॒स्तस्य॑ रथगृ॒त्सश्च॒ रथौ॑जाश्च सेनानीग्राम॒ण्यौ॒ | पु॒ञ्जि॒क॒स्थ॒ला च॑ क्रतुस्थ॒ला चा॑प्स॒रसौ॑ द॒ङ्क्ष्णव॑: प॒शवो॑ हे॒तिः पौ॑रुषेयो व॒धः प्रहे॑ति॒स्तेभ्यो॒ नमो॑ अस्तु॒ ते नो॑ऽवन्तु॒ ते नो॑ मृडयन्तु॒ ते यं द्वि॒ष्मो यश्च॑ नो॒ द्वेष्टि॒ तमे॑षां॒ जम्भे॑ दध्मः

This, in front, is Harikeśa, the Sun-beam; his are Rathagṛtsa and Rathaujās, the two leaders, captain and headman. Puñjikāsthalā and Kratusthalā are the two Apsarases; biting beasts are the cattle; the Weapon is his, man-sent Slaughter, and the Projected Weapon. To them be reverence: may they protect us, may they be gracious unto us. Whom we hate, and whoso hateth us, him we place within their jaws.

Mantra 16

अ॒यं द॑क्षि॒णा वि॒श्वक॑र्मा॒ तस्य॑ रथस्व॒नश्च॒ रथे॑चित्रश्च सेनानीग्राम॒ण्यौ॒ । मे॒न॒का च॑ सहज॒न्या चा॑प्स॒रसौ॑ यातुधा॒ना हे॒ती रक्षा॑ᳪसि॒ प्रहे॑ति॒स्तेभ्यो॒ नमो॑ अस्तु॒ ते नो॑ऽवन्तु॒ ते नो॑ मृडयन्तु॒ ते यं द्वि॒ष्मो यश्च॑ नो॒ द्वेष्टि॒ तमे॑षां॒ जम्भे॑ दध्मः

This, to the south, is Viśvakarman; his are Rathasvana and Rathecitra, the two leaders, captain and headman. Menakā and Sahajanyā are the two Apsarases; the Yātudhānas are the cattle; the Weapon is his, the Rakṣases, and the Projected Weapon. To them be reverence: may they protect us, may they be gracious unto us. Whom we hate, and whoso hateth us, him we place within their jaws.

Mantra 17

अ॒यं प॒श्चाद्वि॒श्वव्य॑चा॒स्तस्य॒ रथ॑प्रो॒तश्चास॑मरथश्च सेनानीग्राम॒ण्यौ॒ । प्र॒म्लोच॑न्ती चानु॒म्लोच॑न्ती चाप्स॒रसौ॑ व्या॒घ्रा हे॒तिः स॒र्पा: प्रहे॑ति॒स्तेभ्यो॒ नमो अ॑स्तु॒ ते नो॑ऽवन्तु॒ ते नो॑ मृडयन्तु॒ ते यं द्वि॒ष्मो यश्च॑ नो॒ द्वेष्टि॒ तमे॑षां॒ जम्भे॑ दध्मः

This, behind, is Viśvavyacās, the All-pervading; his are Rathaprota and Asamaratha, the two leaders, captain and headman. Pramlocantī and Anumlocantī are the two Apsarases; tigers are the cattle; the Weapon is his, the serpents, and the Projected Weapon. To them be reverence: may they protect us, may they be gracious unto us. Whom we hate, and whoso hateth us, him we place within their jaws.

Mantra 18

अ॒यमु॑त्त॒रात्सं॒यद्व॑सु॒स्तस्य॒ तार्क्ष्य॒श्चारि॑ष्टनेमिश्च सेनानीग्राम॒ण्यौ॒ । वि॒श्वाची॑ च घृ॒ताची॑ चाप्स॒रसा॒वापो॑ हे॒तिर्वात॒: प्रहे॑ति॒स्तेभ्यो॒ नमो॑ अस्तु॒ ते नो॑ऽवन्तु॒ ते नो॑ मृडयन्तु॒ ते यं द्वि॒ष्मो यश्च॑ नो॒ द्वेष्टि॒ तमे॑षां॒ जम्भे॑ दध्मः

This, from the north, is Saṁyadvasu; his are Tārkṣya and Ariṣṭanemi, the two leaders, captain and headman. Viśvācī and Ghṛtācī are the two Apsarases; the Waters are the cattle; the Weapon is his, the Wind, and the Projected Weapon. To them be reverence: may they protect us, may they be gracious unto us. Whom we hate, and whoso hateth us, him we place within their jaws.

Mantra 19

अ॒यमु॒पर्य॒र्वाग्व॑सु॒स्तस्य॑ सेन॒जिच्च॑ सु॒षेण॑श्च सेनानीग्राम॒ण्यौ॒ । उ॒र्वशी॑ च पू॒र्वचि॑त्तिश्चाप्स॒रसा॑वब॒स्फूर्ज॑न् हे॒तिर्वि॒द्युत्प्रहे॑ति॒स्तेभ्यो॒ नमो॑ अस्तु॒ ते नो॑ऽवन्तु॒ ते नो॑ मृडयन्तु॒ ते यं द्वि॒ष्मो यश्च॑ नो॒ द्वेष्टि॒ तमे॑षां॒ जम्भे॑ दध्मः

This Vasu, moving from above hitherward,—his two marshals, Senajit and Suṣeṇa, the leaders of the host and of the band; and Urvaśī and Pūrvacitti, the Apsarases; the crashing thunder, the missile, the lightning, the forward-hurled weapon,—to them be reverence! May they protect us; may they be gracious unto us! Whomsoever we hate, and whosoever hateth us, him we place within their jaws.

Mantra 20

अ॒ग्निर्मू॒र्धा दि॒वः क॒कुत्पति॑: पृथि॒व्या अ॒यम् । अ॒पाᳪ रेता॑ᳪसि जिन्वति

Agni is the head of heaven, the lord of the summit of the earth; he it is that quickeneth the generative seeds of the waters.

Mantra 21

अ॒यम॒ग्निः स॑ह॒स्रिणो॒ वाज॑स्य श॒तिन॒स्पति॑: । मू॒र्धा क॒वी र॑यी॒णाम्

This Agni is lord of the thousandfold, master of the hundredfold prize; the head, the sage, of riches.

Mantra 22

त्वाम॑ग्ने॒ पुष्क॑रा॒दध्यथ॑र्वा॒ निर॑मन्थत । मू॒र्ध्नो विश्व॑स्य वा॒घत॑:

Thee, O Agni, Atharvan churned forth from the lotus-lake, from above,—the head of every worshipper.

Mantra 23

भुवो॑ य॒ज्ञस्य॒ रज॑सश्च ने॒ता यत्रा॑ नि॒युद्भि॒: सच॑से शि॒वाभि॑: । दि॒वि मू॒र्धानं॑ दधिषे स्व॒र्षां जि॒ह्वाम॑ग्ने चकृषे हव्य॒वाह॑म्

Leader of the world, and of the sacrifice, and of the airy region, wherewith thou joinest thyself with auspicious, harnessed powers,—in heaven thou settest thy head; a heaven-winning tongue, O Agni, thou hast fashioned, as the bearer of oblations.

Mantra 24

अबो॑ध्य॒ग्निः स॒मिधा॒ जना॑नां॒ प्रति॑ धे॒नुमि॑वाय॒तीमु॒षास॑म् । य॒ह्वा इव॒ प्र व॒यामु॒ज्जिहा॑ना॒: प्र भा॒नव॑: सिस्रते॒ नाक॒मच्छ॑

Agni hath been awakened by the fuel of men, advancing to meet the Dawn as one would meet a milch-cow. Like eager coursers, thrusting forth their tongues, his radiances stream forth, and speed unto the heavenly vault.

Mantra 25

अवो॑चाम क॒वये॒ मेध्या॑य॒ वचो॑ व॒न्दारु॑ वृष॒भाय॒ वृष्णे॑ । गवि॑ष्ठिरो॒ नम॑सा॒ स्तोम॑म॒ग्नौ दि॒वी॒व रु॒क्ममु॑रु॒व्यञ्च॑मश्रेत्

We have uttered speech unto the Sage, the holy, a word of praise unto the Bull, the strong. Most eager for kine, with reverence he hath set the hymn in Agni, like a golden ornament in heaven, far-shining and wide-extended.

Mantra 26

अ॒यमि॒ह प्र॑थ॒मो धा॑यि धा॒तृभि॒र्होता॒ यजि॑ष्ठो अध्व॒रेष्वीड्य॑: । यमप्न॑वानो॒ भृग॑वो विरुरु॒चुर्वने॑षु चि॒त्रं वि॒भ्वं॒ वि॒शे-वि॑शे

This one here was first established by the establishers—Hotṛ, most sacrificing, to be adored in the rites. Him the Bhṛgus, gaining him, made to shine in the woods—wondrous, all-pervading—for every clan and every folk.

Mantra 27

जन॑स्य गो॒पा अ॑जनिष्ट॒ जागृ॑विर॒ग्निः सु॒दक्ष॑: सुवि॒ताय॒ नव्य॑से । घृ॒तप्र॑तीको बृह॒ता दि॑वि॒स्पृशा॑ द्यु॒मद्वि भा॑ति भर॒तेभ्य॒: शुचि॑:

A guardian of the folk was born, the wakeful Agni, of good skill, for welfare ever new. With ghee for visage, great, and heaven-touching, bright he shineth forth—pure—for the Bharatas.

Mantra 28

त्वाम॑ग्ने॒ अङ्गि॑रसो॒ गुहा॑ हि॒तमन्व॑विन्दञ्छिश्रिया॒णं वने॑ – वने । स जा॑यसे म॒थ्यमा॑न॒: सहो॑ म॒हत्त्वामा॑हु॒: सह॑सस्पु॒त्रम॑ङ्गिरः

Thee, Agni, did the Aṅgirases find, laid in concealment, resting in each wood. Thou art born when churned; great is thy might: thee they call the Son of Strength, O Aṅgiras.

Mantra 29

सखा॑य॒: सं व॑: स॒म्यञ्च॒मिष॒ᳪ स्तोमं॑ चा॒ग्नये॑ । वर्षि॑ष्ठाय क्षिती॒नामू॒र्जो नप्त्रे॒ सह॑स्वते

O comrades, bring ye together, in one convergent act, refreshment and a hymn of praise unto Agni,—unto the most puissant among the peoples, unto the Offspring of Strength, the mighty one.

Mantra 30

सᳪस॒मिद्यु॑वसे वृष॒न्नग्ने॒ विश्वा॑न्य॒र्य आ । इ॒डस्प॒दे समि॑ध्यसे॒ स नो॒ वसू॒न्या भ॑र

Well-kindled for the youthful, O strong Agni, the noble one, come hither with all good things. At the station of Iḍā thou art kindled: do thou bring unto us riches.

Mantra 31

त्वां चि॑त्रश्रवस्तम॒ हव॑न्ते वि॒क्षु ज॒न्तव॑: । शो॒चिष्के॑शं पुरुप्रि॒याग्ने॑ ह॒व्याय॒ वोढ॑वे

The creatures among the clans call upon thee, most variously renowned,—the flame-haired, dear to many, O Agni, to be the bearer of the oblation.

Mantra 32

ए॒ना वो॑ अ॒ग्निं नम॑सो॒र्जो नपा॑त॒मा हु॑वे । प्रि॒यं चेति॑ष्ठमर॒तिᳪ स्व॑ध्व॒रं विश्व॑स्य दू॒तम॒मृत॑म्

With this (formula) and with reverence I call hither unto you Agni, the Offspring of Strength,—the dear one, the most discerning, the far-going guide, of good sacrifice, the messenger of all, the immortal.

Mantra 33

विश्व॑स्य दू॒तम॒मृतं॒ विश्व॑स्य दू॒तम॒मृत॑म् । स यो॑जते अरु॒षा वि॒श्वभो॑जसा॒ स दु॑द्रव॒त्स्वा॑हुतः

The immortal messenger of all, the immortal messenger of all: when he is yoked with his ruddy (powers), all-devouring, then, duly offered unto, he runneth forth apace.

Mantra 34

स दु॑द्रव॒त्स्वा॒हुत॒: स दु॑द्रव॒त्स्वा॒हुतः । सु॒ब्रह्मा॑ य॒ज्ञः सु॒शमी॒ वसू॑नां दे॒वᳪ राधो॒ जना॑नाम्

Swiftly it hath sped, duly offered with the Svāhā-call; swiftly it hath sped, duly offered with the Svāhā-call. The sacrifice is of goodly sacred utterance, most gracious for the Vasus—(it is) divine bounty for men.

Mantra 35

अग्ने॒ वाज॑स्य॒ गोम॑त॒ ईशा॑नः सहसो यहो । अ॒स्मे धे॑हि जातवेदो॒ महि॒ श्रव॑:

O Agni, lord of the prize that is rich in cattle, O mighty one of strength and vigour—bestow on us, O Jātavedas, great renown.

Mantra 36

स इ॑धा॒नो वसु॑ष्क॒विर॒ग्निरी॒डेन्यो॑ गि॒रा । रे॒वद॒स्मभ्यं॑ पुर्वणीक दीदिहि

He, being kindled—Agni, the wise poet of riches, worthy of praise by our utterance—shine forth for us with wealth, O thou of primeval aspect; blaze brightly.

Mantra 37

क्ष॒पो रा॑जन्नु॒त त्मनाग्ने॒ वस्तो॑रु॒तोषस॑: । स ति॑ग्मजम्भ र॒क्षसो॑ दह॒ प्रति॑

O king of nights, and by thine own might, O Agni, (king) at daybreak and at the dawns—thou, sharp-jawed, burn back the Rākṣasas.

Mantra 38

भ॒द्रो नो॑ अ॒ग्निराहु॑तो भ॒द्रा रा॒तिः सु॑भग भ॒द्रो अ॑ध्व॒रः । भ॒द्रा उ॒त प्रश॑स्तयः

Auspicious for us is Agni when invoked; auspicious the gift, O bounteous one; auspicious the sacrifice; auspicious, moreover, the praises.

Mantra 39

भ॒द्रा उ॒त प्रश॑स्तयो भ॒द्रं मन॑: कृणुष्व वृत्र॒तूर्ये॑ । येना॑ स॒मत्सु॑ सा॒सह॑: ।

Auspicious, moreover, are the praises; make thou the mind auspicious in the smiting of Vṛtra,—whereby, in the encounters, thou art victorious.

Mantra 40

येना॑ स॒मत्सु॑ सा॒सहोऽव॑ स्थि॒रा त॑नुहि॒ भूरि॒ शर्ध॑ताम् । व॒नेमा॑ ते अ॒भिष्टि॑भिः ।

Whereby, in the encounters, thou art victorious,—stretch forth, in protection, firm (defences) against the many hosts; with thy succours may we win.

Mantra 41

अ॒ग्निं तं म॑न्ये॒ यो वसु॒रस्तं॒ यं यन्ति॑ धे॒नव॑: । अस्त॒मर्व॑न्त आ॒शवोऽस्तं॒ नित्या॑सो वा॒जिन॒ इष॑ᳪ स्तो॒तृभ्य॒ आ भ॑र ।

Agni I deem to be that good one, to whose home the milch-cows go; to whose home go the swift steeds, to whose home the ever-yoked prize-winners: bring thou nourishment hither unto the praisers.

Mantra 42

सो अ॒ग्निर्यो वसु॑र्गृ॒णे सं यमा॒यन्ति॑ धे॒नव॑: । समर्व॑न्तो रघु॒द्रुव॒: सᳪ सु॑जा॒तास॑: सू॒रय॒ इष॑ᳪ स्तो॒तृभ्य॒ आ भ॑र ।

That Agni, the good one, is praised, unto whom the milch-cows come together; together come the swift-running steeds, together the well-born patrons: bring thou nourishment hither unto the praisers.

Mantra 43

उ॒भे सु॑श्चन्द्र स॒र्पिषो॒ दर्वी॑ श्रीणीष आ॒सनि॑ । उ॒तो न॒ उत्पु॑पूर्या उ॒क्थेषु॑ शवसस्पत॒ इष॑ᳪ स्तो॒तृभ्य॒ आ भ॑र ।

Both (ladles) of ghee, O fair-shining one, thou blendest with the ladle on the seat; and do thou fill us up in the hymns, O lord of strength: bring thou nourishment hither unto the praisers.

Mantra 44

अग्ने॒ तम॒द्याश्वं॒ न स्तोमै॒ः क्रतुं॒ न भ॒द्रᳪ हृ॑दि॒स्पृश॑म् । ऋ॒ध्यामा॑ त॒ ओहै॑ः

O Agni, that one—this day—like a steed, with praises; like a goodly purpose, heart-touching: may we thrive by thy furtherances.

Mantra 45

अधा॒ ह्य॒ग्ने॒ क्रतो॑र्भ॒द्रस्य॒ दक्ष॑स्य सा॒धोः । र॒थीरृ॒तस्य॑ बृह॒तो ब॒भूथ॑

For then, O Agni, of the auspicious rite, of the skilful and successful work, thou hast become the charioteer of the great Ṛta.

Mantra 46

ए॒भिर्नो॑ अर्कै॒र्भवा॑ नो अ॒र्वाङ् स्व॒र्ण ज्योति॑: । अग्ने॒ विश्वे॑भिः सु॒मना॒ अनी॑कैः

With these our hymns be thou for us hitherward, a sun-bright light; O Agni, gracious with all thy fronts.

Mantra 47

अ॒ग्निᳪ होता॑रं मन्ये॒ दास्व॑न्तं॒ वसु॑ᳪ सू॒नुᳪ सह॑सो जा॒तवे॑दसं॒ विप्रं॒ न जा॒तवे॑दसम् । य ऊ॒र्ध्वया॑ स्वध्व॒रो दे॒वो दे॒वाच्या॑ कृ॒पा । घृ॒तस्य॒ विभ्रा॑ष्टि॒मनु॑ वष्टि शो॒चिषा॒ऽऽजुह्वा॑नस्य स॒र्पिष॑ः

Agni as Hotṛ I deem, bountiful, a treasure—Strength’s own son—Jātavedas, yea, a sage, even Jātavedas; who, with upward course, well-rited, a god in godlike form, with his flame follows the glittering point of ghee, of the melted butter of him that offers.

Mantra 48

अग्ने॒ त्वं नो॒ अन्त॑म उ॒त त्रा॒ता शि॒वो भ॑व वरू॒थ्य॒ः । वसु॑र॒ग्निर्वसु॑श्रवा॒ अच्छा॑ नक्षि द्यु॒मत्त॑मᳪ र॒यिं दा॑ः । तं त्वा॑ शोचिष्ठ दीदिवः सु॒म्नाय॑ नू॒नमी॑महे॒ सखि॑भ्यः

O Agni, thou art our nearest, yea our protector; benign be thou, a shelterer. Agni the good, wealth-renowned, come hither; reach us, and give the most splendid wealth. Thee, O most radiant, brightly shining, for thy favour we now beseech—for our comrades.

Mantra 49

येन॒ ऋष॑य॒स्तप॑सा स॒त्रमाय॒न्निन्धा॑ना अ॒ग्निᳪ स्व॑रा॒भर॑न्तः । तस्मि॑न्न॒हं नि द॑धे॒ नाके॑ अ॒ग्निं यमा॒हुर्मन॑व स्ती॒र्णब॑र्हिषम्

Wherewith the Seers, by holy ardour, went unto the Session, kindling Agni and bearing onward the heavenly lights,—therein do I now set Agni in the firmament, even him whom the sons of Manu call the Fire with strewn sacred grass.

Mantra 50

तं पत्नी॑भि॒रनु॑ गच्छेम देवाः पु॒त्रैर्भ्रातृ॑भिरु॒त वा॒ हिर॑ण्यैः । नाकं॑ गृभ्णा॒नाः सु॑कृ॒तस्य॑ लो॒के तृ॒तीये॑ पृ॒ष्ठे अधि॑ रोच॒ने दि॒वः

Him would we follow, O ye Gods, with our wives, with sons and brethren, yea, with our gold; laying hold on heaven in the world of the well-doer, upon the third height, in the radiant realm of the sky.

Mantra 51

आ वा॒चो मध्य॑मरुहद्भुर॒ण्युर॒यम॒ग्निः सत्प॑ति॒श्चेकि॑तानः । पृ॒ष्ठे पृ॑थि॒व्या निहि॑तो॒ दवि॑द्युतद॒धस्प॒दं कृ॑णुतां॒ ये पृ॑त॒न्यव॑:

Unto the midmost seat of Speech hath mounted the swift one: this Agni, the lord of the good, made manifest. Laid on the back of Earth he hath flashed forth; let those that are contentious make for themselves a lower footing.

Mantra 52

अ॒यम॒ग्निर्वी॒रत॑मो वयो॒धाः स॑ह॒स्रियो॑ द्योतता॒मप्र॑युच्छन् । वि॒भ्राज॑मानः सरि॒रस्य॒ मध्य॒ उप॒ प्र या॑हि दि॒व्यानि॒ धाम॑

This Agni, most heroic, giver of vigour, thousandfold, let him shine unceasingly; radiant in the body’s midst, go thou onward unto the heavenly abodes.

Mantra 53

स॒म्प्रच्य॑वध्व॒मुप॑ स॒म्प्रया॒ताग्ने॑ प॒थो दे॑व॒याना॑न् कृणुध्वम् । पुन॑: कृण्वा॒ना पि॒तरा॒ युवा॑ना॒ऽन्वाता॑ᳪसी॒त् त्वयि॒ तन्तु॑मे॒तम्

Move ye together, draw nigh and go ye forth: O Agni, make ye the paths that lead unto the Gods. Renewing themselves, the Fathers, grown young again, have followed after; in thee is this thread made fast.

Mantra 54

उद्बु॑ध्यस्वाग्ने॒ प्रति॑ जागृहि॒ त्वमि॑ष्टापू॒र्ते सᳪ सृ॑जेथाम॒यं च॑ । अ॒स्मिन्त्स॒धस्थे॒ अध्युत्त॑रस्मि॒न् विस्वे॑ देवा॒ यज॑मानाश्च सीदत

Awake thou, O Agni; be thou watchful in return: may this man and (the powers of) the offered and the bestowed be joined together. On this common seat, on this higher station, let all the Gods and the sacrificers sit them down.

Mantra 55

येन॒ वह॑सि स॒हस्रं॒ येना॑ग्ने सर्ववेद॒सम् । तेने॒मं य॒ज्ञं नो॑ नय॒ स्व॒र्दे॒वेषु॒ गन्त॑वे

With that whereby thou bearest a thousand, whereby, O Agni, thou bearest all wealth,—therewith lead thou this our sacrifice, that it may go unto the gods of heaven.

Mantra 56

अ॒यं ते॒ योनि॑रृ॒त्वियो॒ यतो॑ जा॒तो अरो॑चथा । तं जा॒नन्न॑ग्न आ रो॒हाथा॑ नो वर्धया र॒यिम्

This is thy womb, O ritual Agni, whence thou wast born and didst shine forth. Knowing it, O Agni, ascend thou hither, and increase for us wealth.

Mantra 57

तप॑श्च तप॒स्य॒श्च शैशि॒रावृ॒तू अ॒ग्नेर॑न्तः श्ले॒षो॒ऽसि॒ कल्पे॑तां॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी कल्प॑न्ता॒माप॒ ओष॑धय॒: कल्प॑न्ताम॒ग्नय॒: पृथ॒ङ्मम॒ ज्यैष्ठ्या॑य॒ सव्र॑ताः। ये अ॒ग्नय॒: सम॑नसोऽन्त॒रा द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी इ॒मे| शै॒शि॒रावृ॒तू अ॑भि॒कल्प॑माना॒ इन्द्र॑मिव दे॒वा अ॑भि॒संवि॑शन्तु॒ तया॑ दे॒वत॑याऽङ्गिर॒स्वद्ध्रु॒वे सी॑दतम्

Tapas and that which is of Tapas, the two cold seasons—thou art the inward cohesion of Agni. Let Heaven and Earth be duly ordered; let the Waters, let the Plants be duly ordered; let the Fires, each apart, of one observance, be duly ordered for my supremacy. Those Fires that are of one mind between this Heaven and Earth—let them, as the two cold seasons are being duly ordered, enter in concord, as the Gods (enter) Indra. With that deity, O Angiras-like (powers), sit ye down upon the Firm (seat).

Mantra 58

प॒र॒मे॒ष्ठी त्वा॑ सादयतु दि॒वस्पृ॒ष्ठे ज्योति॑ष्मतीम् । विश्व॑स्मै प्रा॒णाया॑पा॒नाय॑ व्या॒नाय॒ विश्वं॒ ज्योति॑र्यच्छ । सूर्य॒स्तेऽधि॑पति॒स्तया॑ दे॒वत॑याऽङ्गिर॒स्वद् ध्रु॒वा सी॑द

May Parameṣṭhin cause thee to sit upon the back of heaven, luminous. For the whole (world)—for the in-breath, the out-breath, and the pervading breath—grant thou universal light. The Sun is thy overlord: with that deity, O Angiras-like (power), sit thou down, O Dhruvā.

Mantra 59

लो॒कं पृ॑ण छि॒द्रं पृ॒णाथो॑ सीद ध्रु॒वा त्वम् । इ॒न्द्रा॒ग्नी त्वा॒ बृह॒स्पति॑र॒स्मिन्योना॑वसीषदन्

Fill thou the world; fill up the breach; and then sit down, thou steadfast one. Indra and Agni, and Bṛhaspati, have caused thee to settle in this womb (seat).

Mantra 60

ता अ॑स्य॒ सूद॑दोहस॒: सोम॑ᳪ श्रीणन्ति॒ पृश्न॑यः । जन्म॑न्दे॒वानां॒ विश॑स्त्रि॒ष्वा रो॑च॒ने दि॒वः

Those speckled (cows), rich in milking, temper for him the Soma. (It is) the birth-place of the gods’ companies in the three luminous regions of heaven.

Mantra 61

इन्द्रं॒ विश्वा॑ अवीवृधन्त्समु॒द्रव्य॑चसं॒ गिर॑: । र॒थीत॑मᳪ र॒थीनां॒ वाजा॑ना॒ᳪ सत्प॑तिं॒ पति॑म्

All songs have magnified Indra, ocean-wide in his expanse,—the best of charioteers among charioteers, the lord, the good lord, of prizes.

Mantra 62

प्रोथ॒दश्वो॒ न यव॑सेऽवि॒ष्यन्य॒दा म॒हः सं॒वर॑णा॒द्वयस्था॑त् । आद॑स्य॒ वातो॒ अनु॑वाति शो॒चिरध॑ स्म ते॒ व्रज॑नं कृ॒ष्णम॑स्ति

Forth sprang the steed, as if to the pasture, when from the great enclosure he took his stand. Thereupon the wind bloweth after his flame; and then, for thee, the track is dark.

Mantra 63

आ॒योष्ट्वा॒ सद॑ने सादया॒म्यव॑तश्छा॒याया॑ᳪ समु॒द्रस्य॒ हृद॑ये । र॒श्मी॒वतीं॒ भास्व॑ती॒मा या द्यां भास्यापृ॑थि॒वीमोर्व॒न्तरि॑क्षम्

In Āyu’s seat I cause thee to sit, in the downward shade, in the heart of the ocean,—the ray-bearing, the radiant one, who shinest unto heaven, unto broad earth, (and) unto the mid-air.

Mantra 64

प॒र॒मे॒ष्ठी त्वा॑ सादयतु दि॒वस्पृ॒ष्ठे व्यच॑स्वतीं॒ प्रथ॑स्वतीं॒ दिवं॑ यच्छ॒ दिवं॑ दृᳪह॒ दिवं॒ मा हि॑ᳪसीः । विश्व॑स्मै प्रा॒णाया॑पा॒नाय॑ व्या॒नायो॑दा॒नाय॑ प्रति॒ष्ठायै॑ च॒रित्रा॑य । सूर्य॑स्त्वा॒ऽभि पा॑तु म॒ह्या स्व॒स्त्या छ॒र्दिषा॒ शन्त॑मेन॒ तया॑ दे॒वत॑याऽङ्गिर॒स्वद् ध्रु॒वे सी॑दतम्

May the Most-High (Prajāpati) cause thee to be seated on the back of heaven—spreading wide, expanding far. Hold fast to heaven; make heaven firm; do not injure heaven. For the whole world—unto the in-breath, the out-breath, the pervading breath, the up-breath; for firm establishment and for ordered course. May Sūrya guard thee from above with mighty welfare, with a shelter most benign; with that deity, Aṅgiras-like, sit ye down in the steadfast (place).

Mantra 65

स॒हस्र॑स्य प्र॒माऽसि॑ स॒हस्र॑स्य प्रति॒माऽसि॑ स॒हस्र॑स्यो॒न्माऽसि॑ साह॒स्रो॒ऽसि स॒हस्रा॑य त्वा

Thou art the measure of the thousand; thou art the counter-measure of the thousand; thou art the up-measure of the thousand; thousandfold art thou: for the thousand I take thee.