Part I, Book I — Hymns to Agni

COME, Agni, praised with song, to feast and sacrifi- cial offering: sit

O Agni, thou hast been ordained Hotar of every

Agni we choose as envoy, skilled performer of this

Served with oblation, kindled, bright, through love

I laud your most beloved guest like a dear friend,

Do thou, O Agni, with great might guard us from

O Agni, come; far other songs of praise will I sing

May Vatsa draw thy mind away even from thy

Agni, Atharvan brought thee forth by rubbing from

O Agni, bring us radiant light to be our mighty

O AGNI, God, the people sing reverent praise to thee for strength :

I seek with song your messenger, oblation-bearer,

Still turning to their aim in thee the sacrificed

To thee, illuminer of night, 0 Agni, day by day

Help, tLou who k no west lauls, this work, a lovely

To this fair sacrifice to drink the milky draught art

With homage will I reverence thee, Agni, like a

As Aurva and as Bhrigu called, as Apnavana called,

When he enkindles Agni, man should with his heart

Then, verily, they seethe light refulgent of primeval

HITHER, for powerful kinship, I call Agni, him who

May Agni with his pointed blaze cast down each

Agni, be gracious ; thou art great : thou hast ap-

Agni, preserve us from distress : consume our ene-

Harness, O Agni, O thou God, thy steeds which are

Lord of the tribes, whom all must seek, we, worship-

Agni is head and height of heaven, the master of the

O Agni, graciously announce this our good fortune

By song, O Agni, Angiras ! Gopavana hath brought

Agni, the Sage, the Lord of Strength, hath moved

SING to your Agni with each song, at every sacrifice

Agni, protect thou us by one, protect us by the

O Agni with thy lofty beams, with thy pure brilli-

O Agni who art worshipped well, dear let our princes

Agni, praise-singer ! Lord of men, God ! burning up

Immortal Jatavedas, thou bright-hude refulgent gift

Wonderful, with thy favouring help, send us thy

Famed art thou, Agni, far and wide, preserver,

O holy Agni, give us wealth famed among men and

To him, who dealeth out all wealth, the sweet-toned Hotar-priest of men,

WITH this mine homage I invoke Agni for you, the Son of Strength,

Thou liest in the logs that are thy mothers : mortals

He hath appeared, best prosperer, in whom men lay

Chief Priest is Agni at the laud, as stones and grass

Pray Agni of the piercing flame, with sacred songs,

Hear, Agni who hast ears to hear, with all thy train

Agni of Divodasa, God, comes forth like Indra in

Whether thou come from earth or from the lofty

If, loving well the forests, thou wentest to thy

O Agni, Manu stablished thee a light for all the race of men :

THE God who giveth wealth accept your full libation

Let Brahmanaspati come forth, let Sunrita the God-

Stand up erect to lend us aid, stand up like Savitar

The man who bringeth gifts to thee, bright God who

With hymns and holy eulogies we supplicate your

This Agni is the Lord of great prosperity and hero

Thou, Agni, art the homestead's Lord, our Hotar-

We as thy friends have chosen thee, mortals a God,

PRESENT oblations, make him splendid : set ye as Hotar in his place the Home's Lord, worshipped

Verily wondrous is the tender youngling's growth who never draweth nigh to drink his mothers' milk. As soon as she who hath no udder bore him, he, faring on his great errand, suddenly grew strong.

Here is one light for thee, another yonder : enter

For Jatavedas, worthy of our praise, will we frame

Agni Vaisvanara, born in course of Order, the

Even as the waters from the mountain ridges, so

Win, to protect you, Rudra, lord of worship, priest

The King whose face is decked with oil is kindled

Agni advanceth with his lofty banner : through earth

From the two fire-sticks have the men engendered

AGNI is wakened by the people's fuel to meet the

Set forth the gleaming one, the song-inspirer, not

Thou art like heaven: one form is bright, one holy,

As holy food, Agni, to thine invoker give wealth in

Stablished to fill the juice with vital vigour, giver

Let the song, honouring the best, with longing

In the two kindling-blocks liec Jatavedas like the

Agni, from days of old thou slayest demons : never

BRING us most mighty splendour thou, Agni, resist- less on thy way :

May the brave man, if full of zeal he serve and kindle

Thy bright cmoke lifts itself cleft, and far-extended

Thou, Agni, even as Mitra, hast a princely glory of

At dawn let Agni, much-bsloved, guest of the house,

Most moving song be Agni's : shine on high, O rich

Exerting all our strength with thoughts of power we

His beam hath lofty power of life : sing praise to

To noblest Agni, friend of man, chief Vritra-slayer,

Born as the loftiest Law commands, comrade of

WE in King S'oma place our trust, in Agni, and in Varuna,

Hence have these men gone up on high and mount-

That thou mayst send us ample wealth, O Agni,

He runs when one calls after him, This is the prayer

Shoot forth, O Agni, with thy flame ; demolish them

Worship the Vasus, Agni ! here, the Rudras and