Mandala 1; Hymn 141

To Agni
Rishi: dīrghatamas aucathya
Meters: jagatī; nicṛjjagatī; svarāṭtriṣṭup; bhuriktriṣṭup; bhurikpaṅkti; svarāṭpaṅkti

1 – So, in truth, this splendor of the superb form of the god has been established: he was born of Force. Even when it deviates, the hymns achieve their objectives: they have brought the floods of Light of Truth.
2 – Wonderful, rich in Force, he lives permanently in the juice of soma, in sleep, then, in the seven gracious Mothers¹. Third, he milks Bull delicately with his ten fingers, generating a hymn.
3 – When, coming from the depths, in the form of the great ox, the Rich and powerful became great wises, when Mâtarishvan shook what was hidden², he caused the sweet soma to flow from Heaven.
4 – When the juice, the best among plants, comes from nearby, it guides and makes you grow wonderfully in battle³. As the two⁴ rush to birth him, the younger one⁵ glows in the Light of the Sun.
5 – Then he entered the Mothers, and in them, he grew, shining from afar and without injury. So the first one⁶ grew up, still fast, so now he’s running in the deep.
6 – This is why he was chosen as a priest in the sacrifices. He stands like Bhaga, who brings Happiness by drinking it⁷. When, honored by many, with the intentions of the gods, he goes on every occasion with mortal to strengthen the hymn⁸.
7 – When the Sublime, driven by the wind, rose, like a snake coiling in the old grass, uncontrollable. Dust lies in the path of the one who burns, eating everything, Luminous from birth, blackening everything.
8 – Like a fast chariot built by skillful people, it appears with its reddish limbs⁹ in Heaven. He violently burns your wise men until they turn black, he flies like mighty birds.
9 – Through you, O Agni, Varuna who maintains the law, Mitra and Aryaman, the generous, triumph. Because, like the rim that holds the spokes of a wheel, you were born with the protective intention that surrounds them¹⁰, making them indestructible.
10 – You Agni, to the one who works hard and presses the soma, you, the youngest, you lead the Riches and the troop of the gods. So, like Bhaga, we will refurbish, child of the Force, the Great Jewel¹¹.
11 – You give us Wealth for a laudable purpose, luck in the house and intelligence, you make a mixture filled with spirit, which you stretch like rays of Light. The fathers of both worlds find Truth in the invocation of the gods and good intention.
12 – Let him, the resplendent, joyful Summoner, hear us in his shining chariot, drawn by swift Horses. May Agni, the wise, with the best directions towards Beauty, with the greatest guidance for Beauty, lead us towards great Wealth.
13 – With powerful Lights, Agni was transported to universal sovereignty. May our generous princes, may we ourselves strengthen ourselves like the sun above the rain cloud.

1The seven rivers.

2Light, Enlightenment.

3In the inner battles between Light and Darkness.

4The two pieces of Arani wood.

5Agni.

6Agni.

7The soma.

8By drinking soma.

9Flames.

10Which surrounds men.

11The Brahman.