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1. THE men from
fire-sticks, with their hands' swift movement, have, in deep thought,
engendered glorious Agni,
Far-seen, with pointed flame,
Lord of the homestead.
2 The Vasus
set that Agni in the dwelling, fair to behold, for help from every quarter:
Who, in the home for ever, must
be honoured.
3 Shine thou
before us, Agni, well-enkindled, with flame, Most Youthful God, that never
fadeth.
To thee come all our
sacrificial viands.
4 Among all
fires these fires have shone most brightly, splendid with light, begirt by
noble heroes,
Where men of lofty birth sit
down together.
5 Victorious
Agni, grant us wealth with wisdom, wealth with brave sons, famous and
independent,
Which not a foe who deals in
magic conquers.
6 To whom, the
Strong, at morn and eve comes, maid-like, the ladle dropping oil, with its
oblation.
Wealth-seeking comes to him his
own devotion.
7 Burn up all
malice with those flames, O Agni, wherewith of old thou burntest up Jarutha,
And drive away in silence pain
and sickness.
8 With him who
lighteth up thy splendour, Agni, excellent, pure, refulgent, Purifier,
Be present, and with us through
these our praises.
9 Agni, the
patriarchal men, the mortals who have in many places spread thy lustre, -
Be gracious to us here for
their sake also.
10 Let these
men, heroes in the fight with foemen, prevail against all godless arts of
4magic, -
These who ipprove the noble
song I sing thee.
11 Let us not
sit in want of men, O Agni, without descendants, heroleu, about thee:
But, O House-Friend, in houses
full of children.
12 By
sacrifice which the Steeds' Lord ever visits, there make our dwelling rich in
seed and offspring,
Increasing still with lineal
successors.
13 Guard us, O
Agni, from the hated demon, guard us from malice of the churlish sinner:
Allied with thee may I subdue
assailants.
14 May this
same fire of mine surpass all others, this fire where offspring, vigorous and
firm-handed,
Wins, on a thousand paths, what
ne'er shall perish.
15 This is
that Agni, saviour from the foeman, who guards the kindler of the flame from
sorrow:
Heroes of noble lineage serve
and tend him.
16 This is
that Agni, served in many places, whom the rich lord who brings oblation
kindles,
And round him goes the priest
at sacrifices.
17 Agni, may
we with riches in possession bring thee continual ofierings in abundance,
Using both means to draw thee
to our worship.
18 Agni, bear
thou, Eternal, these most welcome oblations to the Deities' assembly:
Let them enjoy our very
fragrant presents.
19 Give us not
up, Agni, to want of heroes, to wretched clothes, to need, to destitution.
Yield us not, Holy One, to
fiend or hunger; injure us not at home or in the forest.
20 Give
strength and power to these my prayers, O Agni; O God, pour blessings on our
chiefs and nobles.
Grant that both we and they may
share thy bounty. Ye Gods, protect us evermore with blessings.
21 Thou Agni,
swift to hear, art fair of aspect: beam forth, O Son of Strength, in full
effulgence.
Let me not want, with thee, a
son for ever: let not a manly hero ever fail us.
22 Condemn us
not to indigence, O Agni, beside these flaming fires which Gods have kindled;
Nor, even after fault, let thy
displeasure, thine as a God, O Son of Strength, o'ertake us.
23 O Agni,
fair of face, the wealthy mortal who to the Immortal offers his oblation.
Hath him who wins him treasure
by his Godhead, to whom the prince, in need, goes supplicating.
24 Knowing our
chief felicity, O Agni, bring hither ample riches to our nobles,
Wherewith we may enjoy
ourselves, O Victor, with undiminished life and hero children.
25 Give
strength and power to these my prayers, O Agni; O God, pour blessings on bur
chiefs and nobles.
Grant that both we and they may
share thy bounty. Ye Gods, protect us evermore with blessings.
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