HYMN XXIII. Agni.

1. RUBBED into life, well stablished in the dwelling, Leader of sacrifice, the Sage, the youthful,

Here in the wasting fuel Jatavedas, eternal, hath assumed immortal being.

2 Both Bharatas, Devasravas, Devavata, have strongly rubbed to life effectual Agni.

O Agni, look thou forth with ample riches: be, every day, bearer of food to feed us.

3 Him nobly born of old the fingers ten produced, him whom his Mothers counted dear.

Praise Devavata's Agni, thou Devasravas, him who shall be the people's Lord.

4 He set thee in the earth's most lovely station, in Ila's place, in days of fair bright weather.

On man, on Apaya, Agni! on the rivers Drsadvati, Sarasvati, shine richly.

5 Agni, as holy food to thine invoker give wealth in cattle, lasting, rich in marvels.

To us be born a son and spreading offspring Agni, be this thy gracious will to us-ward