1 FOR Jatavedas worthy of our praise will
we frame with our mind this eulogy as 'twere a car.
For good, in his assembly, is this care of ours. Let us not,
in thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm.
2 The man for whom thou sacrificest prospereth,
dwelleth without a foe, gaineth heroic might.
He waxeth strong, distress never approacheth him. Let us
riot, in thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm.
3 May we have power to kindle thee. Fulfil our
thoughts. In thee the Gods eat the presented offering,
Bring hither the Adityas, for we long for them. Let us not
in thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm.
4 We will bring fuel and prepare burnt
offerings, reminding thee at each successive festival.
Fulfil our thought that so we may prolong our lives. Let us
not in thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm.
5 His ministers move forth, the guardians
of the folk, protecting quadruped and biped with their rays.
Mighty art thou, the wondrous herald of the Dawn. Let us not
in thy friend. ship, Agni, suffer harm.
6 Thou art Presenter and the chief Invoker,
thou Director, Purifier, great High Priest by birth.
Knowing all priestly work thou perfectest it, Sage. Let us
not in thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm.
7 Lovely of form art thou, alike on every
side; though far, thou shinest brightly
as if close at hand.
O God, thou seest through even the dark of night. Let us not
in thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm.
8 Gods, foremost he his car who pours
libations out, and let our hymn prevail o'er evil-hearted men.
Attend to this our speech and make it prosper well. Let us
not in thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm.
9 Smite with thy weapons those of evil
speech and thought, devouring demons, whether near or tar away.
Then to the singer give free way for sacrifice. Let us not
in thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm.
10 When to thy chariot thou hadst yoked two
red steeds and two ruddy steeds, wind-sped, thy roar was like a bull's.
Thou with smoke-bannered flame attackest forest trees. Let
us not in thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm.
11 Then at thy roar the very birds are
terrified, when, eating-up the grass, thy sparks fly forth abroad.
Then is it easy for thee and thy car to pass. Let us not in
thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm.
12 He hath the Power to soothe Mitra and
Varuna: wonderful is the Maruts' wrath when they descend.
Be gracious; let their hearts he turned to us again. Let us
not in thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm.
13 Thou art a God, thou art the wondrous
Friend of Gods, the Vasu of the Vasus, fair in sacrifice.
Under, thine own most wide protection may we dwell. Let us
not in thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm.
14 This is thy grace that, kindled in thine
own abode, invoked with Soma thou soundest forth most benign,
Thou givest wealth and treasure to the worshipper. Let us
not in thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm.
15 To whom thou, Lord of goodly riches,
grantest freedom from every sin with perfect wholeness,
Whom with good strength thou quikenest, with children and
wealth-may we be they, Eternal Being.
16 Such, Agni, thou who knowest all good
fortune, God, lengthen here the days of our existence.
This prayer of ours may Varuna grant, and Mitra, and Aditi
and Sindhu, Earth and Heaven.
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