Sukta 11

Mantra 1

त्वमग्ने व्रतपा असि देव आ मर्त्येष्वा । त्वं यज्ञेष्वीड्यः ॥

Thou, O Agni, art the guardian of the law of working; a god who comes into mortals. Thou art to be sought and adored in the sacrifices.

Mantra 2

त्वमसि प्रशस्यो विदथेषु सहन्त्य । अग्ने रथीरध्वराणाम् ॥

Thou art the one to be acclaimed in the gatherings, O strong-enduring Agni; the charioteer of the journeys of sacrifice.

Mantra 3

स त्वमस्मदप द्विषो युयोधि जातवेदः । अदेवीरग्ने अरातीः ॥

So thou, O Jātavedas, drive away from us the haters; O Agni, repel the undivine hostile powers, the mis-directions.

Mantra 4

अन्ति चित्सन्तमह यज्ञं मर्तस्य रिपोः । नोप वेषि जातवेदः ॥

Even if the sacrifice of the hostile mortal stands near, thou dost not approach it, O Jātavedas.

Mantra 5

मर्ता अमर्त्यस्य ते भूरि नाम मनामहे । विप्रासो जातवेदसः ॥

We mortals, O Jātavedas, ponder many names of thee the Immortal; we, the seers, hold them in thought.

Mantra 6

विप्रं विप्रासोऽवसे देवं मर्तास ऊतये । अग्निं गीर्भिर्हवामहे ॥

We the seers call with our words Agni, the seer-power, the god, for protection and for fostering help to us mortals.

Mantra 7

आ ते वत्सो मनो यमत्परमाच्चित्सधस्थात् । अग्ने त्वांकामया गिरा ॥

Toward thee my mind, like a calf, moves even from the highest seat of its dwelling; O Agni, desiring thee, with my word I seek thee.

Mantra 8

पुरुत्रा हि सदृङ्ङसि विशो विश्वा अनु प्रभुः । समत्सु त्वा हवामहे ॥

For in many places thou art the same in thy seeing; master following all the peoples: in the battles we call thee.

Mantra 9

समत्स्वग्निमवसे वाजयन्तो हवामहे । वाजेषु चित्रराधसम् ॥

In the battles we, seeking plenitude of force, call Agni for protection—Agni of shining gifts in the victories and fulfillments.

Mantra 10

प्रत्नो हि कमीड्यो अध्वरेषु सनाच्च होता नव्यश्च सत्सि । स्वां चाग्ने तन्वं पिप्रयस्वास्मभ्यं च सौभगमा यजस्व ॥

O Agni, you are indeed the Ancient and yet ever to be invoked in our works of offering; you sit as the priest from of old and also as the ever-new. Foster and make full your own embodied power within us, and bring down for us the felicity of a luminous good fortune by your act of sacrifice.