HYMN VIII. Agni.
1. YOUR envoy who possesses all, Immortal, bearer of your gifts,
Best worshipper, I woo with song.
2. He, Mighty, knows the gift of wealth, he knows the deep recess of heaven:
He shall bring hitherward the Gods.
3. He knows, a God himself, to guide Gods to the righteous in his home:
He gives e’en treasures that we love.
4. He is the Herald: well-informed, he doth his errand to and fro,
Knowing the deep recess of heaven.
5. May we be they who gratify Agni with sacrificial gifts,
Whocherish and enkindle him.
6. Illustrious for wealth are they, and hero deeds, victorious,
Who have served Agni reverently.
7. So unto us, day after day, may riches craved by many come,
And power and might spring up for us.
8. That holy Singer in his strength shoots forth his arrows swifter than
The swift shafts of the tribes of men.
HYMN IX. Agni.
1. AGNI, show favour: great art thou who to this pious man art come,
To seat thee on the sacred grass.
2. May he the Immortal, Helper, bard to be deceived among mankind,
Become the messenger of all.
3. Around the altar is he led, welcome Chief Priest at solemn rites,
Or as the Potar sits him down.
4. Agni in fire at sacrifice, and in the house as Lord thereof,
And as a Brahman takes his seat.
5. Thou comest as the guide of folk who celebrate a sacrifice,
And to oblations brought by men.
6. Thou servest as his messenger whose sacrifice thou lovest well,
To bear the mortal’s gifts to heaven.
7. Accept our solemn rite; be pleased, Angiras, with our sacrifice:
Give ear and listen to our call.
8. May thine inviolable car, wherewith thou guardest those who give,
Come near to us from every side.
HYMN X. Agni.
I. This day with praises, Agni, we bring thee that which thou lovest.
Right judgment, like a horse, with our devotions.
2. For thou hast ever been the Car-driver, Agni, of noble
Strength, lofty sacrifice, and rightful judgment.
3. Through these our praises come thou to meet us, bright as the sunlight,
O Agni, well disposed, with all thine aspects.
4. Now may we serve thee singing these lauds this day to thee, Agni.
Loud as the voice of Heaven thy blasts are roaring.
5. just at this time of the day and the night thy look is the sweetest .
It shineth near us even as gold for glory.
6. Spotless thy body, brilliant as gold, like clarified butter:
This gleams like gold on thee, O Self. dependent.
7. All hate and mischief, yea, if committed, Agni, thou turnest,
Holy One, from the man who rightly worships.
8. Agni, with you Gods, prosperous be our friendships and kinships.
Be this our bond here by this place, thine al tar.
HYMN XI. Agni.
1. THY blessed majesty, victorious Agni, shines brightly in the n.eighbourhood of Surya.
Splendid to see, it shows even at nighttime, and food is fair to look on in thy beauty.
2. Agni, disclose his thought for him who singeth, the well, Strong God! while thou art praised with fervour.
Vouchsafe to us that powerful hymn, O Mighty, which, Radiant One! with all the Gods thou lovest.
3. From thee, O Agni, springs poetic wisdom, from thee come thoughts and hymns of praise that prosper;
From thee flows wealth, with heroes to adorn it, to the true-hearted man who gives oblation.
4. From thee the hero springs who wins the booty, bringer of help, mighty, of real courage.
From thee comes wealth, sent by the Gods, bliss-giving; Agni, from thee the fleet impetuous charger.
5. Immortal Agni, thee whose voice is pleasant, as first in rank, as God, religious mortals
Invite with hyrnns; thee who removest hatred, Friend of the Home, the household’s Lord, unerring.
6. Far from us thou removest want and sorrow, far from us all ill-will when thou protectest.
Son of Strength, Agni, blest is he at evening, whom thou as God attendest for his welfare.
HYMN XII. Agni.
1. WHOSO enkindles thee, with lifted ladle, and thrice this day offiers thee food, O Agni,
May he excel, triumphant through thy splendours, wise through thy mental power, O Jatavedas.
2. Whoso with toil and trouble brings thee fuel, serving the majesty of mighty Agni,
He, kindling thee at evening and at morning, prospers, and comes to wealth, and slays his foemen.
3. Agni is Master of sublime dominion, Agni is Lord of strength and lofty riches.
Straightway the self-reliant God, Most Youthful, gives treasures to the mortal who adores him.
4. Most Youthful God, whatever sin, through folly, we here, as human beings, have committed,
In sight of Aditi make thou us sinless remit, entirely, Agni, our offences.
5. Even in the presence of great sin, O Agni, free us from prison of the Gods or mortals.
Never may we who are thy friends be injured: grant health and strength unto our seed and offspring.
6. Even as ye here, Gods Excellent and Holy, have loosed the cow that by the foot was tethered,
So also set us free from this affliction long let our life, O Agni, be extended.
HYMN XIII. Agni.
1. AGNI hath looked, benevolently-minded, on the wealth-giving spring of radiant Mornings.
Come, Asvins, to the dwelling of the pious: Surya the God is rising with his splendour.
2. Savitar, God, hath spread on high his lustre, waving his flag like a spoil-seeking hero.
Their stablished way go Varuna and Mitra, what time they make the Sun ascend the heaven.
3. Him whom they made to drive away the darkness, Lords of sure mansions, constant to their object,
Him who beholds the universe, the Sun-God, seven strong and youthful Coursers carry onward.
4. Spreading thy web with mightiest Steeds thou comest, rending apart, thou God, the black-hued mantle.
The rays of Surya tremulously shining sink, like a hide, the darkness in the waters.
5. How is it that, unbound and not supported, he falleth not although directed downward?
By what self power moves he? Who liath seen it? He guards the vault of heaven, a close-set pillar.
HYMN XIV. Agni.
1. THE God hath looked, even Agni Jatavedas, to meet the Dawns refulgent in their glories.
Come on your chariot, ye who travel widely, come to this sacrifice of ours, Nasatyas.
2. Producing light for all the world of creatures, God Savitar hath raised aloft his banner.
Making his presence known by sunbeams, Surya hath filled the firmament and earth and heaven.
3. Red Dawn.is come, riding with brightness onward, distinguished by her beams, gay-hued and mighty.
Dawn on her nobly-harnessed car, the Goddess, awaking men to happiness, approacheth.
4. May those most powerful steeds and chariot bring you, O Asvins, hither at the break of morning.
Here for your drauglit of meath are Soma juices: at this our sacrifice rejoice, ye Mighty.
5. How is it that, unbound and unsupported, he falleth not although directed downward?
By what self-power moves he? Who hath seen it? He guards the vault of heaven, a close-set pillar?
HYMN XV. Agni.
1. AGNI the Herald, like a horse, is led forth at our solemn rite,
God among Gods adorable.
2. Three times unto our solemn rite comes Agni like a charioteer,
Bearing the viands to the Gods.
3. Round the oblations hath he paced, Agni the Wise, the Lord of Strength,
Giving the offerer precious boons.
4. He who is kindled eastward for Srnjaya, Devavata’s son,
Resplendent, tamer of the foe.
5. So mighty be the Agni whom the mortal hero shall command,
With sharpened teeth and bountiful.
6. Day after day they dress him, as they clean a horse who wins the prize.
Dress the red Scion of the Sky.
7. When Sahadeva’s princely son with two bay horses thought of me,
Summoned by him I drew not back.
8. And truly those two noble bays I straightway took when offered me,
From Sahadeva’s princely son.
9. Long, O ye Asvins, may he live, your care, ye Gods, the princely son.
Of Sahadeva, Somaka.
10. Cause him the youthful prince, the son of Sahadeva, to enjoy
Long life, O Asvins, O ye Gods.