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1
Thou, Agni, wast the earliest Angiras, a Seer; thou wast, a God thyself, the
Gods' auspicious Friend.
After thy
holy ordinance the Maruts, sage, active through wisdom, -with their glittering
spears, were born.
2
O Agni, thou, the best and earliest Angiras, fulfillest as a Sage the holy law
of Gods.
Sprung from
two mothers, wise, through all existence spread, resting in many a place for
sake of living man.
3
To Matarisvan first thou, Agni, wast disclosed, and to Vivasvan through thy
noble inward power.
Heaven and
Earth, Vasu! shook at the choosing of the Priest: the burthen thou didst bear,
didst worship mighty Gods.
4
Agni thou madest heaven to thunder for mankind; thou, yet more pious, for pious
Pururavas.
When thou
art rapidly freed from thy parents, first eastward they bear thee round, and,
after, to the west.
5
Thou, Agni, art a Bull who makes our store increase, to be invoked by him who
lifts the ladle up.
Well
knowing the oblation with the hallowing word, uniting all who live, thou
lightenest first our folk
6
Agni, thou savest in the synod when pursued e'en him, farseeing One! who walks
in evil ways.
Thou, when
the heroes fight for spoil which men rush, round, slayest in war the many by
the hands of few.
7
For glory, Agni, day by day, thou liftest up the mortal man to highest
immortality,
Even thou
who yearning for both races givest them great bliss, and to the prince grantest
abundant food.
8
O Agni, highly lauded, make our singer famous that he may win us store of
riches:
May we
improve the rite with new performance. O Earth and Heaven, with all the Gods,
protect us.
9
O blameless Agni lying in thy Parents' lap, a God among the Gods, be watchful
for our good.
Former of
bodies, be the singer's Providence: all good things hast thou sown for him,
auspicious One!
10
Agni, thou art our Providence, our Father thou - we are thy brethren and thou
art our spring of life. in thee, rich in good heroes, guard of high decrees,
meet hundred, thousand treasures, O infallible!
11
Thee, Agni, have the Gods made the first living One for living man, Lord of the
house of Nahusa.
Ila they
made the teacher of the sons of men, what time a Son was born to the father of
my race.
12
Worthy to be revered, O Agni, God, preserve our wealthy patrons with thy
succours, and ourselves.
Guard of
our seed art thou, aiding our cows to bear, incessantly protecting in thy holy
way.
13
Agni, thou art a guard close to the pious man; kindled art thou, four-eyed! for
him who is unarmcd.
With fond
heart thou acceptest e'en the poor man's prayer, when he hath brought his gift
to gain security.
14
Thou, Agni gainest for the loudly-praising priest the highest wealth, the
object of a man's desire.
Thou art
called Father, caring even for the weak, and wisest, to the simple one thou
teachest lore.
15
Agni, the man who giveth guerdon to the priests, like well-sewn armour thou
guardest on every side.
He who with
grateful food shows kindness in his house, an offerer to the living, is the
type of heaven.
16
Pardon, we pray, this sin of ours, O Agni, -- the path which we have trodden,
widely straying,
Dear Friend
and Father, caring for the pious, who speedest nigh and who inspirest mortals.
17
As erst to Manus, to Yayiti, Angiras, so Angiras! pure Agni! come thou to our
hall
Bring
hither the celestial host and seat them here upon the sacred grass, and offer
what they love.
18
By this our prayer be thou, O Agni, strengthened, prayer made by us after our
power and knowledge.
Lead thou
us, therefore, to increasing riches; endow us with thy strength-bestowing
favour.
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