Prapāṭhaka 1

1.1 O Agni, come hither for our enjoyment, praised as you are, for the giving of oblations. Sit down, O priest, upon the sacred grass; you, O Agni, are the invoking priest of all sacrifices, placed here for the good.

1.2 Among human beings, through the gods.

1.3 We choose Agni as our messenger, as the invoking priest who knows all, the wise performer of this sacrifice.

1.4 Agni, bright and kindled, fed with offerings, strikes down all obstructions, longing for riches, with his wondrous power.

1.5 I praise your most beloved guest, dear as a friend — O Agni, like a chariot worthy of being known.

1.6 O Agni, with your great powers protect us from all ill will, and also from the hatred of mortal men.

1.7 Come, O Agni, let me now speak to you; these other hymns are here for you. Wax mighty with these Soma drops.

1.8 The calf draws your mind even from the highest resting place, O Agni; I desire you with my song.

1.9 O Agni, Atharvan rubbed you forth from the lotus blossom, from the head of every worshipping priest.

1.10 O Agni, bring us, like Vivasvat, great aid for our protection; for you are truly a god for us to behold.

1.11 Crush the ungenerous enemy.

1.12 Him who knows all, the immortal carrier of oblations, the most excellent sacrificer — you adorn your messenger with a hymn.

1.13 The related hymns, pointing toward you, prepared with oblations, have taken their stand in the presence of Vāyu.

1.14 O Agni, day by day, at dawn and dusk, we come to you with our thoughts, bringing homage.

1.15 O Ancient Awakener, distinguish this — for every clan, for the one worthy of worship — the hymn of praise, visible to Rudra.

1.16 You are invoked for the protection of that beautiful, faultless sacrifice. Come, O Agni, with the Maruts.

1.17 We would honor you, O Agni, with obeisances, like a horse with a mane — you who reign over all sacrifices.

1.18 Like Aurva and Bhṛgu, I call upon the bright one, like Apnavāna — Agni, clothed in the ocean.

1.19 The mortal who kindles Agni with his mind and thought accompanies the divine. I kindle Agni with the rays of the sun.

1.20 Then men behold the light, born of the ancient seed, as the day dawns — when it blazes far away in the sky.

1.21 Toward the mighty grandson.

1.22 May Agni with his sharp flame extend all-pervading, consuming every devourer. May Agni win riches for us.

1.23 O Agni, be gracious; you are great — come to the god-loving people. You have approached to take your seat on the sacred grass.

1.24 O Agni, O god, guard us from sin, ward off those who would harm us. With your fiercest flames, burn them, O ageless one.

1.25 O Agni, O god, yoke your swift steeds, those that are good and noble. The swift ones carry well.

1.26 We place you, O lord of the tribe, the brilliant one, O Agni fed with oblations, to grant us brave heroes.

1.27 Agni is the head of heaven, the summit, the lord of the earth. He quickens the seeds of the waters.

1.28 Do proclaim, O Agni, this our fresh Gāyatra gain, newly composed, among the gods.

1.29 Gopavana gave you birth with his song, O Agni, O Aṅgiras. You, the purifier — hear our invocation.

1.30 Agni, the lord of nourishment, the wise one, has stridden around the oblations, bestowing gems upon the worshipper.

1.31 The rays carry aloft that divine Jātavedas — the sun — to be seen by all the world.

1.32 Praise the wise Agni, the upholder of truth in the sacrifice, the god who drives away disease.

1.33 May the divine waters be auspicious for our protection, auspicious for our drinking. May they flow toward us bringing welfare and healing.

1.34 Whose thoughts do you now encompass and quicken, O lord of the good? Whose hymns do you delight in?

1.35 Let us sing forth the immortal Jātavedas, the beloved, as one praises a dear friend.

1.36 Protect us, O Agni, with one hymn; protect us also with a second. Protect us, O lord of strength, with three hymns; protect us, O generous one, with four.

1.37 O Agni, O god, with your great flames and brilliant radiance, kindled for Bharadvāja, O youngest one, O purifier rich in gifts — shine forth.

1.38 In you, O Agni, well-fed with oblations, may the worshippers be beloved — those lords of bounty who govern the people and share out the pen of cattle.

1.39 O Agni, praised singer, lord of the tribe, scorching the demons, O god — you, the tireless lord of the house, are great, the guardian of heaven, dwelling in the hall.

1.40 O Agni, like Vivasvat, the bright reward of the dawns, O immortal, O Jātavedas — bring today the gods to the worshipper, you who rise with the dawn.

1.41 O bright one, O generous one, with your wonderful aid urge on the gifts. O Agni, you are the charioteer of these riches; find us a firm footing and a safe path for us.

1.42 You alone, O Agni, have this fame — guardian of the cosmic order, wise one. The inspired sages, the creators of wisdom, kindle you bright and seek your favor.

1.43 O Agni, O purifier, bring us riches that augment our strength, worthy of praise. And grant us, O matchless one, wealth longed for by many, with good guidance, bringing greater glory.

1.44 He who distributes all goods, the cheerful invoking priest of the people — as honey fills the first cups, let praises flow to Agni.

1.45 The most beloved, the most perceptive one, the minister of the perfect sacrifice, the immortal messenger of all.

1.46 You rest in the forests, among the mothers; the mortals kindle you together. Untiring, you carry the oblation, O receiver of offerings, and then you reign among the gods.

1.47 He has been seen, the best knower of the way, in whom they have placed their vows. May our hymns go forth to Agni, born and nourished, the increaser of the noble.

1.48 Agni is the household priest established in the hymn; the pressing stones and sacred grass are in the sacrifice. With a verse I invoke the Maruts, Brahmaṇaspati, and the gods — the most excellent protection.

1.49 Praise Agni with hymns for protection, him of the sharp flame. Praise Agni for wealth, O much-praised one; O men, the celebrated Agni is a shelter for brilliant shining.

1.50 Hear, O Agni of the heard ear, with the gods who bear offerings and who travel together. Let Mitra and Aryaman take their seat on the sacred grass at the sacrifice with those who travel at dawn.

1.51 Agni, the son of the divine gift, blazes forth like the god Indra in his greatness. He has turned after his mother Earth and stood in the shelter of heaven's vault.

1.52 From the earth or from the bright expanse of the vast heaven — grow with this body and this hymn of mine; fulfil what has been born, O Agni of good understanding.

1.53 Blazing, you went through the forests when you reached your mothers, the waters. I shall not forget your turning back, O Agni, though you were far away and yet came close.

1.54 Manu established you, O Agni, as a light for people for all time. You shine, O Kanva; born of cosmic order, nourished, you are the one whom the peoples revere.

1.55 Let the god who gives wealth wish for you a full ladle. Pour it out upward or fill it up — then the god will carry you forward.

1.56 Let Brahmaṇaspati go forward; let the divine, joyful word go forward. May the gods lead our sacrifice toward the heroic, manly, bountiful one, the lord of the fivefold verse.

1.57 Stand upright for our help, like the god Savitṛ. Stand upright to win the prize when we invoke you with anointed worshippers.

1.58 The mortal who desires to lead toward wealth, who worships you, O Vasu — he gains a hero, O Agni, a reciter of hymns, a nourisher of thousands by his own power.

1.59 We choose for you the great Agni of the many peoples, of the clans devoted to the gods — with well-spoken words and hymns — him whom no other kindles at the same time.

1.60 This Agni is master of heroic valor and of good fortune. He is master of wealth with fine offspring, master of riches with cattle, master of the slaying of Vṛtra.

1.61 You, O Agni, are the lord of the house; you are the Hotṛ priest at our sacrifice. You are the Potar, all-desired, all-knowing — you cut through and also win what is desirable.

1.62 We mortals have chosen you, the god, as a friend for help — child of the waters, bringer of good fortune, rich in fine deeds, with excellent swiftness, without blemish.

1.63 At the seat of Iḷā, with reverence and with offerings freely given, worship the adorable lord of the homesteads.

1.64 Wondrous is the swelling of the young sprouting one, like one who follows the two mothers to give suck. When he was born without a teat yet he grew strong — at once he goes performing his great mission.

1.65 This one light is yours, and another beyond — enter in union with the third light. Being a dweller together, become beautiful in body; be dear to the gods at the highest birthplace.

1.66 Let us fashion this hymn of praise for worthy Jātavedas, like a chariot, with intelligence. For blessed is the guidance of this one in his assembly — O Agni, may we not be harmed in your friendship.

1.67 Agni Vaiśvānara, the head of heaven, the pillar of the earth, born of cosmic order — the gods who were near generated the vessel: the wise one, the sovereign, the guest of peoples.

1.68 The gods generated you with hymns, O Agni, like waters from the back of a mountain. The well-praised songs speed you to win the prize — as prize-bearing horses have won a race.

1.69 Make Agni, the Rudra of the sacrifice, the Hotṛ who truly sacrifices for the two worlds, the gold-formed one — make him your refuge, before the unnoticed thunder, for help.

1.70 The lord, the mortal's own, is kindled with reverences, whose face is poured with ghee. Men praise him with offerings together in pressing — Agni shines at the forefront of the dawns.

1.71 Agni goes forth with his great banner; the bull roars as he fills both worlds. He has lifted up what is highest even from the end of heaven; the great buffalo has grown in the lap of the waters.

1.72 Men have generated the praised Agni, hidden in the two fire-sticks, with their thoughts — seen from afar, the lord of the house, the unwearied one.

1.73 Like great birds spreading their wings upward, his rays stream forth toward the vault of heaven.

1.74 Proclaim the great conquering one, the widely inspiring, the wise among the unwise, the breaker of strongholds — lead him with hymns through the forests; fix thought — he who shines with yellow beard like one clad in armor, brilliant with wealth.

1.75 One of your faces is bright, another is adorable — you are like heaven with your two differently-formed days. For you, self-sustaining one, protect all magic arts — may your bountiful gift be here, O Pūṣan.

1.76 O Agni, accomplish for the one who calls the refreshing, much-wondrous winning of cows, ever-lasting. May there be for us a son, an offspring bearing descendants — O Agni, may that gracious thought of yours be for us.

1.77 The Hotṛ, being born great, has pierced heaven; the man-seated one has taken his place in the expanse of waters. He who placed himself at the pressed soma dispenses vigor — he who guides riches to the worshipper is a protector of bodies.

1.78 Let the praising doors wish forward the sovereign, the praised one of the asura power, the laudable male of the peoples — let them wish forward the heroic deeds done, as those of Indra.

1.79 Jātavedas is hidden in the two fire-sticks, like an embryo well carried by pregnant mothers. Agni is to be praised day by day by the wakeful, the offering-bearing human beings.

1.80 From of old, O Agni, you crush the sorcerers; the demons have not conquered you in battles. Burn them along with the stupid ones, the flesh-eaters — may they not escape from your divine weapon.

1.81 Speed for us the path to most praiseworthy wealth, to the prize.

1.82 If a hero were to follow and a mortal were to kindle Agni — pouring the offering continually, he would enjoy the divine shelter.

1.83 Your impetuous smoke moves in heaven, blazing bright and spread wide. For you, O Pāvaka, shine with splendor like the sun, with radiance.

1.84 You, O Agni, possess fame like a ruler; you govern like Mitra. You, the wide-seeing one, O Vasu, nourish renown as one nourishes prosperity.

1.85 In the morning, Agni, the much-beloved guest, should be praised throughout the settlements — he in whom, the immortal, mortals kindle the offering.

1.86 What is most to be borne — that goes to Agni of the great hymn, the widely-shining one. Like a great cow, wealth springs from you; prizes spring from you.

1.87 Striving for the prize, I praise Agni, the much-loved guest of each and every clan, with the thoughts of the powerful hymn — for you, the praise worthy of a house.

1.88 With a great swelling hymn of praise to the divine Agni of the light — him whom mortals have placed in front for praise, like a Mitra.

1.89 We have come to the most Vṛtra-slaying, the greatest, the human Agni — who, the famous one, is kindled in the Nārkṣa asterism with a great visage.

1.90 Born by the higher law, when he came into being together with those who grow together — when Agni was the father of Kaśyapa, Faith was the mother, Manu the sage.

1.91 Āditya, Viṣṇu, Sūrya, Brahmā, and Bṛhaspati —

1.92 From here they rose up, climbing the back of heaven, climbing upward. Like the many victorious ones, along the path, the Aṅgirases traveled to the sky.

1.93 O Agni, we kindle you for great wealth, for gift-giving. Praise the great bull for the great priestly calling — heaven and earth.

1.94 He runs forward when one speaks the word 'brahman' to him — they call it that. He has gone around all poetic wisdom like the felly of a wheel.

1.95 O Agni, with your flame strike flame, hear from all around — bend down and break the strength, the might, of the sorcerer demon.

1.96 You, O Agni, sacrifice here to the Vasus, to the Rudras, and to the Ādityas. Sacrifice for the people of the perfect rite, the people born of Manu, those who sprinkle ghee.