To splendid Agni seated by the altar, loving well his home, I bring the food as 'twere his place of birth. I clothe the bright One with my hymn as with a robe, him with the car of light, bright-hued, dispelling gloom.
Child of a double birth he grasps at triple food; in the year's course what he hath swallowed grows anew. He, by another's mouth and tongue a noble Bull, with other, as an elephant, consumes the trees.
The pair who dwell together, moving in the dark bestir themselves: both parents hasten to the babe, Impetuous-tongued, destroying, springing swiftly forth, one to be watched and cherished, strengthener of his sire.
For man, thou Friend of men, these steeds of thine are yoked, impatient, lightly running, ploughing blackened lines, Discordant-minded, fleet, gliding with easy speed, urged onward by the wind and rapid in their course.
ād asya te dhvasayanto vṛtherate kṛṣṇam abhvam mahi varpaḥ karikrataḥ | yat sīm mahīm avanim prābhi marmṛśad abhiśvasan stanayann eti nānadat ||
Dispelling on their way the horror of black gloom, making a glorious show these flames of his fly forth, When o'er the spacious tract he spreads himself abroad, and rushes panting on with thunder and with roar.
भूषन् न यो ऽधि बभ्रूषु नम्नते वृषेव पत्नीर् अभ्य् एति रोरुवत् । ओजायमानस् तन्वश् च शुम्भते भीमो न शृङ्गा दविधाव दुर्गृभिः ॥
bhūṣan na yo 'dhi babhrūṣu namnate vṛṣeva patnīr abhy eti roruvat | ojāyamānas tanvaś ca śumbhate bhīmo na śṛṅgā davidhāva durgṛbhiḥ ||
Amid brown plants he stoops as if adorning them, and rushes bellowing like a bull upon his wives. Proving his might, he decks the glory of his form, and shakes his horns like one terrific, hard to stay.
sa saṃstiro viṣṭiraḥ saṃ gṛbhāyati jānann eva jānatīr nitya ā śaye | punar vardhante api yanti devyam anyad varpaḥ pitroḥ kṛṇvate sacā ||
Now covered, now displayed he grasps as one who knows his resting-place in those who know him well. A second time they wax and gather Godlike power, and blending both together change their Parents' form.
tam agruvaḥ keśinīḥ saṃ hi rebhira ūrdhvās tasthur mamruṣīḥ prāyave punaḥ | tāsāṃ jarām pramuñcann eti nānadad asum paraṃ janayañ jīvam astṛtam ||
The maidens with long, tresses hold him in embrace; dead, they rise up again to meet the Living One. Releasing them from age with a loud roar he comes, filling them with new spirit, living, unsubdued.
adhīvāsam pari mātū rihann aha tuvigrebhiḥ satvabhir yāti vi jrayaḥ | vayo dadhat padvate rerihat sadānu śyenī sacate vartanīr aha ||
Licking the mantle of the Mother, far and wide he wanders over fields with beasts that flee apace. Strengthening all that walk, licking up all around, a blackened path, forsooth, he leaves where'er he goes.
O Agni, shine resplendent with our wealthy chiefs, like a loud-snorting bull, accustomed to the house. Thou casting off thine infant wrappings blazest forth as though thou hadst put on a coat of mail for war.
इदम् अग्ने सुधितं दुर्धिताद् अधि प्रियाद् उ चिन् मन्मनः प्रेयो अस्तु ते । यत् ते शुक्रं तन्वो रोचते शुचि तेनास्मभ्यं वनसे रत्नम् आ त्वम् ॥
idam agne sudhitaṃ durdhitād adhi priyād u cin manmanaḥ preyo astu te | yat te śukraṃ tanvo rocate śuci tenāsmabhyaṃ vanase ratnam ā tvam ||
May this our perfect prayer be dearer unto thee than an imperfect prayer although it please thee well. With the pure brilliancy that radiates from thy form, mayest thou grant to us abundant store of wealth.
रथाय नावम् उत नो गृहाय नित्यारित्राम् पद्वतीं रास्य् अग्ने । अस्माकं वीरां उत नो मघोनो जनांश् च या पारयाच् छर्म या च ॥
rathāya nāvam uta no gṛhāya nityāritrām padvatīṃ rāsy agne | asmākaṃ vīrāṃ uta no maghono janāṃś ca yā pārayāc charma yā ca ||
Grant to our chariot, to our house, O Agni, a boat with moving feet and constant oarage, One that may further well our wealthy princes and all the folk, and be our certain refuge.
अभी नो अग्न उक्थम् इज् जुगुर्या द्यावाक्षामा सिन्धवश् च स्वगूर्ताः । गव्यं यव्यं यन्तो दीर्घाहेषं वरम् अरुण्यो वरन्त ॥
abhī no agna uktham ij juguryā dyāvākṣāmā sindhavaś ca svagūrtāḥ | gavyaṃ yavyaṃ yanto dīrghāheṣaṃ varam aruṇyo varanta ||
Welcome our laud with thine approval, Agni. May earth and heaven and freely flowing rivers Yield us long life and food and corn and cattle, and may the red Dawns choose for us their choicest.