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1. DEAR, ageless sacrificial
drink is offered in light-discovering, heaven-pervading Agni.
The Gods spread forth through his Celestial
Nature, that he might bear the world up and sustain it.
2 The world was swallowed and
concealed in darkness: Agni was born, and light became apparent.
The Deities, the broad earth, and the heavens,
and plants, and waters gloried in his friendship.
3 Inspired by Gods who claim our
adoration, I now will laud Eternal Lofty Agni,
Him who hath spread abroad the earth with
lustre, this heaven, and both the worlds, and air's mid-region.
4 Earliest Priest whom all the
Gods accepted, and chose him, and anointed him with butter,
He swiftly made all things that fly, stand,
travel, all that hath motion, Agni Jatavedas.
5 Because thou, Agni,
Jatavedas, stoodest at the world's head with thy refulgent splendour,
We sent thee forth with hymns and songs and
praises: thou filledst heaven and earth, God meet for worship.
6 Head of the world is Agni in
the night-time; then, as the Sun, at morn springs up and rises.
Then to his task goes the prompt Priest
foreknowing the wondrous power of Gods who must be honoured.
7 Lovely is he who, kindled in
his greatness, hath shone forth, seated in the heavens, refulgent.
With resonant hymns all Gods who guard our
bodies have offered up oblation in this Agni.
8 First the Gods brought the
hymnal into being; then they engendered Agni, then oblation.
He was their satrifice that guards our bodies:
him the heavens know, the earth, the waters know him.
9 He, Agni, whom the Gods have
generated, in whom they offered up all worlds and creatures,
He with his bright glow heated earth and
heaven, urging himself right onward in his grandeur.
10 Then by the laud the Gods
engendered Agni in heaven, who fills both worlds through strength and vigour.
They made him to appear in threefold essence:
he ripens plants of every form and nature.
11 What time the Gods, whose
due is worship, set him as Surya, Son of Aditi, in heaven,
When the Pair, ever wandering, sprang to being,
all creatures that existed looked upon them.
12 For all the world of life
the Gods made Agni Vaisvanara to be the days' bright Banner, -
Him who hath spread abroad the radiant
Mornings, and, coming with his light, unveils the darkness.
13 The wise and holy Deities
engendered Agni Vaisvanara whom age ne'er touches.
The Ancient Star that wanders on for ever,
lofty and. strong, Lord of the Living Being.
14 We call upon the Sage with
holy verses, Agni Vaisvanara the ever-beaming,
Who hath surpassed both heaven and earth in
greatness: lie is a God below, a God above us.
15 I have heard mention of two
several pathways, ways of the Fathers and of Gods and mortals.
On these two paths each moving creature
travels, each thing between the Father and the Mother.
16 These two united paths bear
him who journeys born from the head and pondered with the spirit
He stands directed to all things existing,
hasting, unresting in his fiery splendour.
17 Which of us twain knows
where they speak together, upper and lower of the two rite-leaders?
Our friends have helped to gather our assembly.
They came to sacrifice; who will announce it?
18 How many are the Fires and
Suns in number? What is the number of the Dawns and Waters?
Not jestingly I speak to you, O Fathers. Sages,
I ask you this for information.
19 As great as is the
fair-winged Morning's presence to him who dwells beside us, matarisvan!
Is what the Brahman does when he approaches to
sacrifice and sits below the Hotar.
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