Sukta 103

Mantra 1

अदर्शि गातुवित्तमो यस्मिन्व्रतान्यादधुः । उपो षु जातमार्यस्य वर्धनमग्निं नक्षन्त नो गिरः ॥

He is seen—the best finder of the path—in whom the laws are set. Our words draw near to Agni, well-born, the increaser of the Aryan soul: the flame that strengthens the noble growth toward the right order.

Mantra 2

प्र दैवोदासो अग्निर्देवाँ अच्छा न मज्मना । अनु मातरं पृथिवीं वि वावृते तस्थौ नाकस्य सानवि ॥

Forward moves Agni, the divine-giver, toward the gods with his vastness. Following the Mother Earth he spreads wide, and he stands on the ridge of heaven—establishing the link between the grounded base and the luminous summit.

Mantra 3

यस्माद्रेजन्त कृष्टयश्चर्कृत्यानि कृण्वतः । सहस्रसां मेधसाताविव त्मनाग्निं धीभिः सपर्यत ॥

From him the peoples are stirred into their works and doings. As in a thousandfold winning of intelligence, worship Agni with the self and with insights—so the many activities become ordered by the flame of discernment.

Mantra 4

प्र यं राये निनीषसि मर्तो यस्ते वसो दाशत् । स वीरं धत्ते अग्न उक्थशंसिनं त्मना सहस्रपोषिणम् ॥

Whom you lead forward into plenitude, O Agni, that mortal who offers to you, O Vasu—he wins a hero: one who proclaims the word of power, rich in self-force, nurturing a thousandfold increase.

Mantra 5

स दृळ्हे चिदभि तृणत्ति वाजमर्वता स धत्ते अक्षिति श्रवः । त्वे देवत्रा सदा पुरूवसो विश्वा वामानि धीमहि ॥

Even against what is firmly fixed, he strikes through and wins the vāja, the plenitude of force, by the power that carries us forward; he establishes an undiminishing glory. In you, O Purūvasu, ever in the divine realm, we hold and concentrate all desirable boons.

Mantra 6

यो विश्वा दयते वसु होता मन्द्रो जनानाम् । मधोर्न पात्रा प्रथमान्यस्मै प्र स्तोमा यन्त्यग्नये ॥

He who apportions all essential riches, the inspired Hotṛ of the peoples, the gladdening one—to him the first vessels, as of honey, and our hymns move forward, to Agni.

Mantra 7

अश्वं न गीर्भी रथ्यं सुदानवो मर्मृज्यन्ते देवयवः । उभे तोके तनये दस्म विश्पते पर्षि राधो मघोनाम् ॥

As men groom a chariot-horse with songs, so the god-seeking givers polish you with hymns. O wondrous lord of the clan, carry across for us the largesse of the bounteous—both for our soul’s child and for our embodied offspring.

Mantra 8

प्र मंहिष्ठाय गायत ऋताव्ने बृहते शुक्रशोचिषे । उपस्तुतासो अग्नये ॥

Sing forth to the most bountiful, to the knower and bearer of ṛta, to the Vast with bright flame; as those who draw near with praise, to Agni.

Mantra 9

आ वंसते मघवा वीरवद्यशः समिद्धो द्युम्न्याहुतः । कुविन्नो अस्य सुमतिर्नवीयस्यच्छा वाजेभिरागमत् ॥

To us comes the glorious one, bringing heroic force—kindled, invoked for luminous power. Will not his ever-new right-mindedness come to us, straight, with the vāja-forces?

Mantra 10

प्रेष्ठमु प्रियाणां स्तुह्यासावातिथिम् । अग्निं रथानां यमम् ॥

Praise the dearest of the dear, this guest who has come—Agni, the yama of the chariots: the one who yokes and governs our movements.

Mantra 11

उदिता यो निदिता वेदिता वस्वा यज्ञियो ववर्तति । दुष्टरा यस्य प्रवणे नोर्मयो धिया वाजं सिषासतः ॥

He who is set alight and set down, who knows and makes known, the rich one, the yajña-worthy, moves and turns in his working. Hard to cross are the waves in his descent; yet by illumined thought they seek the vāja, the plenitude of force.

Mantra 12

मा नो हृणीतामतिथिर्वसुरग्निः पुरुप्रशस्त एषः । यः सुहोता स्वध्वरः ॥

Let not our guest, the good-rich Agni, be offended—this one, much-praised—he who is the noble Hotṛ, the master of the right-ordered path of the sacrifice.

Mantra 13

मो ते रिषन्ये अच्छोक्तिभिर्वसोऽग्ने केभिश्चिदेवैः । कीरिश्चिद्धि त्वामीट्टे दूत्याय रातहव्यः स्वध्वरः ॥

May none injure you with crooked utterances, O Vasu, O Agni—by whatever such ways. For even a singer indeed seeks you for the work of the messenger, he who offers the oblation, he of the well-ordered path.

Mantra 14

आग्ने याहि मरुत्सखा रुद्रेभिः सोमपीतये । सोभर्या उप सुष्टुतिं मादयस्व स्वर्णरे ॥

O Agni, come, friend of the Maruts, with the Rudras for the drinking of Soma. Draw near to the well-made praise of the Sobharyās; take delight, O man of the luminous world.