|
1. WITH this
my song I strive to reach this guest of yours, who wakes at early morn, the
Lord of all the tribes.
Each time he comes from heaven,
the Pure One from of old: from ancient days the Child cats everlasting food.
2 Whom,
well-dis sed, the Blirgus stablished as a rriend, whom men must glorify,
high-flaming in the wood.
As such, most friendly, thou
art every day extolled in lauds by Vitahavya, O thou wondrous God.
3 Be thou the
foeless helper of the skilful man, subduer of the enemy near or far away.
Bestow a wealthy home on men, O
Son of Strength. Give Vitahavya riches spreading far and wide, give Bharadvaja
wide-spread wealth.
4 Him, your
refulgent guest, Agni who comes from heaven, the Herald of mankind,
well-skilled in sacred rites,
Who, like a holy singer, utters
heavenly words, oblation-bearer, envoy, God, I seek with hymns.
5 Who with his
purifying, eye-attracting form hath shone upon the earth as with the light of
Dawn;
Who speeding on, as in the
fight of Etaia, cometh, untouched by age, as one athirst in heat.
6 Worship ye
Agni, Agni, with your log of wood; praise your beloved, your beloved guest with
songs.
Invite ye the Immortal hither
with your hymns. A God among the Gods, he loveth what is choice, loveth our
service, God mid Gods.
7 Agni
inflamed with fuel in my song I sing, pure, Cleanser, steadlast, set in tront
at sacrifice.
Wise Jatavedas we implore with
prayers for bliss the Priest, the holy Singer, bounteous, void of guile.
8 Men, Agni,
in each age have made thee, Deathiess One, their envoy, offering-bearer, guard
adorable.
With reverence Gods and mortals
have established thee, the ever-watchful, omnipresent Household Lord.
9 Thou, Agni,
ordering the works and ways of both, as envoy of the Gods traversest both the
worlds.
When we lay claim to thy regard
and gracious fare, be thou to us a thriceprotecting friendly guard.
10 Him fair of
face, rapid, and fair to look on, him very wise may we who know not follow.
Let him who knows all rules
invite for worship, Agru announce our offering to the Immortals.
11 Him, Agni,
thou deliverest and savest who brings him prayer to thee the Wise, O Hero,
The end of sacrifice or its
inception; yea, thou endowest him with power and riches.
12 Guard us
from him who would assail us, Agni; preserve us, O thou Victor, from dishonour.
Here let the place of darkening
come upon thee: may wealth be ours, desirable in thousands.
13 Agni, the
Priest, is King, Lord of the homestead, he, Jatayedas, knows all generations.
Most skilful worshipper mid
Gods and mortals, may he begin the sacrifice, the Holy.
14 Whate'er
to-day thou, bright-flamed Priest, enjoyest from the man's rite-for thou art
sacrificer -
Worship, for duly dost thou
spread in greatness: bear off thine ofrerings of to-day, Most Youthful.
15 Look thou
upon the viands duly laid for thee. Fain would he set thee here to worship
Heaven and,Earth.
Help us, O liberal Agni, in the
strife for spoil, so that we may o'ercome all things that trouble us, o'ercome,
o'ercome them with thy help.
16 Together
with all Gods, O fair-faced Agni, be seated first upon the woollined altar,
Nest-like, bedewed with oil.
Bear this our worship to Savitar who sacrifices rightly.
17 Here the
arranging priests, as did Atharvan, rub this Agni forth,
Whom, not bewildered, as he
moved in winding ways, they brought from gloom.
18 For the
Gods' banquet be thou born, for full perfection and for weal.
Bring the Immortal Gods who
strengthen holy Law: so let our sacrifice reach the Gods.
19 O Agni, Lord
and Master of men's homesteads, with kindled fuel we have made thee mighty.
Let not our household gear be
found defective. Sharpen us with thy penetrating splendour.
|