Dashati 18
Agni as Hotṛ and guardian of the sacrifice
Agni
Bright urgent and protective—praise that turns into confident petition for safeguarding
The ṛg-source seer is not identifiable from the provided excerpt alone; the hymn language aligns with Agni-stotra diction often associated with priestly families (Aṅgiras/Gautama traditions) but precise attribution needs Rigvedic cross-reference.
主题：阿耆尼为祭祀的Hotṛ与守护者。祂为生知者（Jātavedas）、具祭智的圣贤（vipra），受酥油供养而火焰上腾，遍满并承载正当的祭仪（su-adhvara）。祂亦为安吉罗萨系中最先、为众民之Hotṛ；并以破障之力（druhantara）斩除敌对阻碍，使祭祀得助而获成就。
Mantras
Mantra 1
अग्निं होतारं मन्ये दास्वन्तं वसोः सूनुं सहसो जातवेदसं विप्रं य ऊर्ध्वरो स्वध्वरो देवो देवाच्या कृपा घृतस्य विभ्राष्टिमनु शुक्रशोचिष आजुह्वानस्य सर्पिषः
我以为阿耆尼（Agni）即是祭司霍特尔（Hotṛ）：慷慨施与者，财富之子；由力而生的贾塔维达斯（Jātavedas），睿智者。祂身正而祭仪端整，依神圣的定命，循着澄明酥油（ghṛta）闪耀的流光；以明亮火焰照耀，当献祭者倾注融化的供酥（sarpiṣ）而行献。
Mantra 2
यजिष्ठं त्वा यजमाना हुवेम ज्येष्ठमङ्गिरसां विप्र मन्मभिर्विप्रेभिः परिज्मानमिव द्यां होतारं चर्षणीनाम् शोचिष्केशं वृषणं यमिमा विशः प्रावन्तु जूतये विशः
最应受祭者啊，诸祭主以圣歌呼唤你——安吉罗萨族中最尊贵的，智者啊；我们以诸圣贤之颂辞、以诸婆罗门之歌辞奉请你。你是诸族之Hotṛ（祭司），周遍如天；焰鬘为冠，雄健有力。愿诸民众为救护而扶持此祭，愿诸民众扶持之。
Mantra 3
स हि पुरू चिदोजसा विरुक्मता दीद्यानो भवति द्रुहन्तरः परशुर्न द्रुहन्तरः वीडु चिद्यस्य समृतौ श्रुवद्वनेव यत्स्थिरम् निष्षहमाणो यमते नायते धन्वासहा नायते
诚然，他以威力——纵有众多（敌对者）——仍辉耀着金光般的灿烂，成为摧毁加害者者；如执斧者一般，斩灭加害者。即便在交锋中坚固者，也如林中之树般被钉定不动；他以压倒之势加以制御，使其不得近前——不得近前，纵凭弓矢之力亦不得近前。
Frequently Asked Questions
It praises Agni as the divine Hotṛ who carries offerings upward, shines with ghee-fed brilliance, and protects the sacrifice by destroying obstacles and hostile forces.
Hotṛ highlights Agni’s priestly role as the one who conveys offerings to the gods; Jātavedas emphasizes his all-knowing nature—he “knows births,” meaning he comprehends origins and the right ordering of the rite.
Agni is described as druhantara, the remover of injurers, cutting down impediments like an axe; this imagery assures the singers that opposition cannot approach when Agni is firmly established in the ritual.