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a Agni is the head of the sky, the height,
Lord of the earth here,
He quickeneth the seed of the waters.
b Thee, O Agni, from the lotus
Atharvan pressed out
From the head of every priest.
c This Agni is lord of a thousandfold,
A hundredfold, strength;
The sage, the head of wealth.
d Leader of the sacrifice and the region art thou,
Where with steeds auspicious thou dost resort;
Thou placest in the sky thy head winning light,
Thou makest, O Agni, thy tongue to bear the oblation.
e Agni hath been awakened by the kindling-stick of men
To meet the dawn that cometh on like a cow [1];
Like young ones rising up to a branch,
The rays rise towards the vault.
f We have uttered to the sage, the worshipful,
Our voice of praise, to the strong bull;
Gavisthira with his homage hath raised to Agni this laud,
Wide extending like brilliance in the sky.
g He hath been born as guardian of men, wakeful,
Agni, skilful, for fresh prosperity;
Ghee-faced, with mighty sky-reaching (blaze)
He shineth gloriously, pure for the Bharatas.
h Thee, O Agni [2], the Angirases found
When hidden in secret, resting in every wood;
Thou when rubbed art born as mighty strength;
Son of strength they call thee, O Angiras.
i Banner of the sacrifice, first domestic priest,
Agni men kindle in the three stations;
With Indra and the gods conjoined on the strew
Let him sit, as Hotr, well skilled for sacrificing.
k Thee of most resplendent fame
Men invoke in their dwellings,
With flaming hair, O dear to many,
O Agni, to bear the oblation.
1 O friends, together (offer) fit [3]
Food and praise to Agni,
Highest over the folk,
The son of strength, the mighty.
m Thou gatherest, O strong one,
O Agni, all that belongeth to the niggard;
Thou art kindled in the place of offering;
Do thou bear us good things.
n With this homage Agni,
Son of strength, I invoke,
Dear, most effectual messenger, the good sacrificer,
The envoy of all, immortal.
o He, the ruddy, shall yoke (his steeds) all cherishing,
He shall hasten when well adored;
The sacrifice hath good prayer and strong effort [4],
Of the Vasus, the divine gift of men.
p The radiance of the bounteous offerer
Hath mounted on high,
The ruddy smoke (riseth) touching the sky;
Men in unison kindle Agni.
q O Agni, lording it over strength rich in kine,
Youthful son of strength,
Bestow upon us, O all-knower, great fame.
r Being kindled, bright, sage,
Agni, to be praised with song,
Do thou shine with wealth for us, O thou of many faces.
s O Agni, lord of the night,
And of the morning, and of the dawn,
Do thou burn against the Raksases with sharp jaws [5].
t May we kindle thee, O Agni,
Radiant, O god, and unaging;
When this most desirable
Kindling-stick maketh radiance for thee in the sky,
Do thou bear food to thy praisers.
u With the song, O Agni, the oblation,
O lord of brilliant light,
Bright shining, wonderworker, lord of the people,
O bearer of the oblation, is offered to thee;
Do thou bear food to thy praisers.
v O bright one, in thy mouth thou cookest
Both ladles (full) of butter;
Do thou make us full [6],
For our hymns, O lord of strength;
Do thou bear food to thy praisers.
w O Agni to-day, let us make to prosper by praises,
By devotions, for thee this (sacrifice) like a (good) steed,
Like a noble resolve which toucheth the heart.
x O Agni, thou hast become master
Of noble resolve, of true inspiration,
Of mighty holy order.
y With these songs singing to thee, O Agni,
This day let us pay worship;
Thy strengths thunder forth as from the sky.
z At these our hymns of praise do thou be propitious [7],
Like the light of heaven,
O Agni, propitious with all thy faces.
aa Agni I deem the Hotr, the generous wealth-giver,
The son of strength, the all-knower,
Who knoweth all as a sage,
bb Who offereth sacrifice well,
With beauty soaring aloft towards the gods, the god,
Following the flames of the ghee,
Of the butter of brilliant radiance when offered up.
cc O Agni, be thou our nearest,
Our protector, kindly, a shield;
dd Thee, O shining and most radiant one,
We implore for favour, for our friends.
ee Agni, bright, of bright fame,
Come hither in thy greatest splendour and give us wealth.
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