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1. THOU, Agni, shining in thy glory through
the days, art brought to life from out the waters, from the stone:
From out the forest trees and herbs that grow on ground,
thou, Sovran Lord of men art generatad [sic] pure.
2 Thine is the Herald's task and Cleanser's
duly timed; Leader art thou, and Kindler for the pious man.
Thou art Director, thou the ministering Priest: thou art the
Brahman, Lord and Master in our home.
3 Hero of Heroes, Agni! Thou art Indra,
thou art Visnu of the Mighty Stride, adorable:
Thou, Brahmanaspati, the Brahman finding wealth: thou, O
Sustainer, with thy wisdom tendest us.
4 Agni, thou art King Varuna whose laws
stand fast; as Mitra, Wonder-Worker, thou must be implored.
Aryaman, heroes' Lord, art thou, enrich ing all, and liberal
Amsa in the synod, O thou God.
5 Thou givest strength, as Tvastar, to the
worshipper: thou wielding Mitra's power hast kinship with the Dames.
Thou, urging thy fleet coursers, givest noble steeds: a host
of heroes art thou with great store of wealth.
6 Rudra art thou, the Asura of mighty
heaven: thou art the Maruts' host, thou art the Lord of food,
Thou goest with red winds: bliss hast thou in thine home. As
Pusan thou thyself protectest worshippers.
7 Giver of wealth art thou to him who
honours thee; thou art God Savitar, granter of precious things.
As Bhaga, Lord of men! thou rulest over wealth, and guardest
in his house him who hath served thee well.
8 To thee, the people's Lord within the
house, the folk press forward to their King most graciously inclined.
Lord of the lovely look, all things belong to thee: ten,
hundred, yea, a thousand are outweighed by thee.
9 Agni, men seek thee as a Father with
their prayers, win thee, bright-formed, to brotherhood with holy act.
Thou art a Son to him who duly worships thee, and as a
trusty Friend thou guardest from attack.
10 A Rbhu art thou, Agni, near to be adored
thou art the Sovran Lord of foodful spoil and wealth.
Thou shinest brightly forth, thou burnest to bestow:
pervading sacrifice, thou lendest us thine help.
11 Thou, God, art Aditi to him who offers
gifts: thou, Hotri, Bharati, art strengthened by the song.
Thou art the hundred-wintered Ila to give strength, Lord of
Wealth! Vrtra-slayer and Sarasvati.
12 Thou, Agni, cherished well, art highest
vital power; in thy delightful hue are glories visible.
Thou art the lofty might that furthers each design: thou art
wealth manifold, diffused on every side.
13 Thee, Agni, have the Adityas taken as
their mouth; the Bright Ones have made thee, O Sage, to be their tongue.
They who love offerings cling to thee at solemn rites: by
thee the Gods devour the duly offered food.
14 By thee, O Agni, all the Immortal
guileless Gods cat with thy mouth the oblation that is offered them.
By thee do mortal men give sweetness to their drink. Bright
art thou born, the embryo of the plants of earth.
15 With these thou art united, Agni; yea
thou, God of noble birth, surpassest them in majesty,
Which, through the power of good, here spreads abroad from
thee, diffused through both the worlds, throughout the earth and heaven.
16 The princely worshippers who send to
those who sing thy praise, O Agni, guerdon graced with kine and steeds, -
Lead thou both these and us forward to higher bliss. With
brave men in the assembly may we speak aloud.
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