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1. THOU at thy birth art Varuna, O Agni;
when thou art kindled thou becomest Mitra.
In thee, O Son of Strength, all Gods are centred. Indra art
thou to man who brings oblation.
2 Aryaman art thou as regardeth maidens
mysterious, is thy name, O Self-sustainer.
As a kind friend with streams of milk they balm thee what
time thou makcst wife and lord one-minded.
3 The Maruts deck their beauty for thy
glory, yea, Rudra! for thy birth fair, brightly-coloured.
That which was fixed as Visnu's loftiest station-therewith the
secret of the Cows thou guardest.
4 Gods through thy glory, God who art so
lovely! granting abundant gifts gained life immortal.
As their own Priest have men established Agni; and serve him
fain for praise from him who liveth.
5 There is no priest more skilled than thou
in worship; none Self-sustainer pass thee in wisdom.
Ile man within whose house as guest thou dwellest, O God, by
sacrifice shall conquer mortals.
6 Aided by thee, O Agni may we conquer through
our oblation, fain for wealth, awakened:
May we in battle, in the days' assemblies,O Son of Strength,
by riches conquer mortals.
7 He shall bring evil on the evil-plottcr
whoever turns against us sin and outrage.
Destroy this calumny of him, O Agni, whoever injures us with
double-dealing.
8 At this dawn's flushing, God! our ancient
fathers served thee with offerings, making thee their envoy,
When, Agni, to the store of wealth thou goest, a God
cnkindled with good things by mortals.
9 Save, thou who knowest, draw thy father
near thee, who counts as thine own son, O Child of Power.
O sapient Agni, when wilt thou regard us? When, skilled in
holy Law, wilt thou direct us?
10 Adoring thee he gives thee many a title,
when thou, Good Lord! acceptest this as Father.
And doth not Agni, glad in strength of Godhead, gain
splendid bliss when he hath waxen mighty?
11 Most Youthful Agni, verily thou bearest
thy praiser safely over all his troubles.
Thieves have been seen by us and open foemen: unknown have
been the plottings of the wicked.
12 To thee these eulogies have been
directed: or to the Vasu hath this sin been spoken.
But this our Agni, flaming high, shall never yield us to
calumny, to him who wrongs us.
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