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1. THOU, Agni, who wilt have the strong,
hast made me the Soma's priest, to worship in assembly.
Thou shinest to the Gods, I set the pressstones. I toil; be
joyful in thyself, O Agni.
2 East have we turned the rite; may the
hymn aid it. With wood and worship shall they honour Agni.
From heaven the synods of the wise have learnt it: c'en for
the quick and strong they seek advancement.
3 The Prudent, he whose will is pure,
brought welfare, allied by birth to Heaven and Earth in kinship.
The Gods discovered in the midst of waters beautiful Agni
with the Sisters' labour.
4 Him, Blessed One, the Seven strong Floods
augmented, him white at birth and red when waxen mighty.
As mother mares run to their new-born you ling, so at his
birth the Gods wondered at Agni.
5 Spreading with radiant limbs throughout
the region, purging his power with wise purifications,
Robing himself in light, the life of waters, lie spreads
abroad his high and perfect glories.
6 He sought heaven's Mighty Ones, the
unconsuming, the unimpaired, not clothed and yet not naked.
Then they, ancient and young, who dwell together, Seven
sounding Rivers, as one germ received him.
7 His piles, assuming every form, are
scattered where flow sweet waters, at the spring of fatness;
There stood the milch-kine with full-laden udders, and both
paired Mighty Mothers of the Wondrous.
8 Carefully cherished, Son of Strength,
thou shoncst assuming lasting and refulgent beauties.
Full streams of fatness and sweet juice descended, there
where the Mighty One grew strong by wisdom.
9 From birth he knew even his Father's
bosom, he set his voices and his streams in motion;
Knew him who moved with blessed Friends in secret, with the
young Dames of heaven. He stayed not hidden.
10 He nursed the Infant of the Sire and
Maker: alone the Babe sucked many a teeming bosom.
Guard, for the Bright and Strong, the fellow-spouses
friendly to men and bound to him in kinship.
11 The Mighty One increased in space
unbounded; full many a glorious flood gave strength to Agni.
Friend of the house, within the lap of Order lay Agni, in
the Sister Rivers' service.
12 As keen supporter where great waters
gather, light-shedder whom the brood rejoice to look on;
He who begat, and will beget, the dawnlights, most manly,
Child of Floods, is youthful Agni.
13 Him, varied in his form, the lovely
Infant of floods and plants the blessed wood hath gendered.
Gods even, moved in spirit, came around him, and served him
at his birth, the Strong, the Wondrous.
14 Like brilliant lightnings, mighty
luminaries accompany the light-diffusing Agni,
Waxen, as 'twere in secret, in his dwelling, while in the
boundless stall they milk out Amrta.
15 I sacrificing serve thee with oblations
and crave with longing thy good-will and friendship.
Grant, with the Gods, thy grace to him who lauds thee,
protect us with thy rays that guard the homestead.
16 May we, O Agni, thou who leadest wisely,
thy followers and masters of all treasures,
Strong in the glory of our noble offspring, subdue the
godless when they seek the battle.
17 Ensign of Gods hast thou become, O Agni,
joy-giver, knower of all secret wisdom.
Friend of the homestead, thou hast lightened mortals:
carborne thou goest to the Gods, fulfilling.
18 Within the house hath sate the King
immortal of mortals, filling full their sacred synods.
Bedewed with holy oil he shineth widely, Agni, the knower of
all secret wisdom.
19 Come unto us with thine auspicious
friendship, come speeding, Mighty, with thy mighty succours.
Grant us abundant wealth that saves from danger, that brings
a good repute, a glorious portion.
20 To thee who art of old these songs, O
Agni, have I declared, the ancient and the later.
These great libations to the Strong are offiered: in every
birth is Jatavedas stablished.
21 Stablished in every birth is Jatavedas,
kindled perpetual by the Visvamitras.
May we rest ever in the loving-kindness, in the auspicious
grace of him the Holy.
22 This sacrifice of ours do thou, O
Mighty, O truly Wise, bear to the Gods rejoicing.
Grant us abundant food, thou priestly Herald, vouchsafe to
give us ample wealth, O Agni.
23 As holy food, Agni, to thine'invoker
give wealth in cattle, lasting, rich in marvels.
To us he born a son, and spreading offspring. Agni, be this
thy gracious will to us-ward.
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