
The Rig Veda, Book 1, Verses 71 to 79

HYMN LXX. Agni.
1. MAY we, the pious, win much food by prayer,
may Agni with fair light pervade each act,-
He the observer
of the heavenly laws of Gods, and of the race of mortal man.
2 He who is germ of waters, germ of woods, germ of all things
that move not and that move,-
To him even in the rock and
in the house: Immortal One, he cares for all mankind.
3 Agni
is Lord of riches for the man who serves him readily with sacred
songs.
Protect these beings thou with careful thought, knowing
the races both of Gods and men.
4 Whom many dawns and nights,
unlike, make strong, whom, born in Law, all things that move
and stand,-
He bath been won, Herald who sits in light, making
effectual all our holy works.
5 Thou settest value on our
cows and woods: all shall bring tribute to us to the light.
men have served thee in many and sundry spots, parting, as 'twere,
an aged father's wealth.
6 Like a brave archer, like one
skilled and bold, a fierce avenger, so he shines in fight.
HYMN LXXI. Agni.
1. LOVING the loving One, as wives their husband,
the sisters of one home have urged him forward,
Bright-coloured,
even, as the cows love morning, dark, breaking forth to view,
and redly beaming.
2 Our sires with lauds burst e'en the
firmset fortress, yea, the Angirases, with roar, the mountain.
They made for us a way to reach high heaven, they found us day,
light, day's sign, beams of morning.
3 They stablished order,
made his service fruitful; then parting them among the longing
faithful,
Not thirsting after aught, they come, most active,
while with sweet food the race of Gods they strengthen.
4
Since Matarisvan, far-diffused, bath stirred him, and he in
every house grown bright and noble,
He, Bhrgu-like I hath
gone as his companion, as on commission to a greater Sovran.
5 When man poured juice to Heaven, the mighty Father, he knew
and freed himself from close embracement.
The archer boldly
shot at him his arrow, and the God threw his splendour on his
Daughter.
6 Whoso, bath flames for thee within his dwelling,
or brings the worship which thou lovest daily,
Do thou of
double might increase his substance: may he whom thou incitest
meet with riches.
7 All sacrificial viands wait on Agni as
the Seven mighty Rivers seek the ocean.
Not by our brethren
was our food discovered: find with the Gods care for us, thou
who knowest.
8 When light bath filled the Lord of men for
increase, straight from the heaven descends the limpid moisture.
Agni bath brought to light and filled with spirit the youthful
host blameless and well providing.
9 He who like thought
goes swiftly on his journey, the Sun, alone is ever Lord of
riches.
The Kings with fair hands, Varuna and Mitra, protect
the precious nectar in our cattle.
10 O Agni, break not our
ancestral friendship, Sage as thou art, endowed with deepest
knowledge.
Old age, like gathering cloud, impairs the body:
before that evil be come nigh protect me.
HYMN LXXII. Agni.
1. THOUGH holding many gifts for men, he humbleth
the higher powers of each wise ordainer.
Agni is now the
treasure-lord of treasures, for ever granting all immortal bounties.
2 The Gods infallible all searching found not him, the dear
Babe who still is round about us.
Worn weary, following his
track, devoted, they reached the lovely highest home of Agni.
3 Because with holy oil the pure Ones, Agni, served thee the
very pure three autumn seasons,
Therefore they won them holy
names for worship, and nobly born they dignified their bodies.
4 Making them known to spacious earth and heaven, the holy Ones
revealed the powers of Rudra.
The mortal band, discerning
in the distance, found Agni standing in the loftiest station.
5 Nigh they approached, one-minded, with their spouses, kneeling
to him adorable paid worship.
Friend finding in his own friend's
eye protection, they made their own the bodies which they chastened.
6 Soon as the holy beings had discovered the thrice-seven mystic
things contained within thee,
With these, one-minded., they
preserve the Amrta: guard thou the life of all their plants
and cattle.
7 Thou, Agni, knower of men's works, hast sent
us good food in constant course for our subsistence:
Thou
deeply skilled in paths of Gods becamest an envoy never wearied,
offeringbearer.
8 Knowing the Law, the seven strong floods
from heaven, full of good thought, discerned the doors of riches.
Sarama found the cattle's firm-built prison whereby the race
of man is still supported.
9 They who approached all noble
operations making a path that leads to life immortal,
To
be the Bird's support, the spacious mother, Aditi, and her great
Sons stood in power.
10 When Gods immortal made both eyes
of heaven, they gave to him the gift of beauteous glory.
Now they flow forth like rivers set in motion: they knew the
Red Steeds coming down, O Agni.
HYMN LXXIII. Agni.
I. HE who gives food, like patrimonial riches
and guides aright like some wise man's instruction,
Loved
like a guest who lies in pleasant lodging,-may he, as Priest,
prosper his servant's dwelling.
2 He who like Savitar the
God, true-minded protecteth with his power. all acts of vigour,
Truthful, like splendourr, glorified by many, like breath joy-giving,-all
must strive to win him.
3 He who on earth dwells like a king
surrounded by faithful friends, like a God all-sustaining,
Like heroes who preside, who sit in safety: like as a blameless
dame dear to her husband.
4 Thee, such, in settlements secure,
O Agni, our men serve ever kindled in each dwelling.
On him
have they laid splendour in abundance: dear to all men, bearer
be he of riches.
5 May thy rich worshippers win food, O Agni,
and princes gain long life who bring oblation.
May we get
booty from jur foe in battle, presenting to the Gods their share
for glory.
6 The cows of holy law, sent us by Heaven, have
swelled with laden udders, loudly lowing;
Soliciting his
favour, from a distance the rivers to the rock have flowed together.
7 Agni, with thee, soliciting thy favour, the holy Ones have
gained glory in heaven.
They made the Night and Dawn of different
colours, and set the black and purple hues together.
8 May
we and those who worship be the mortals whom thou, O Agni, leadest
on to riches.
Thou hast filled earth and heaven and air's
mid-region, and followest the whole world like a shadow.
9 Aided by thee, O Agni, may we conquer steeds with steeds,
men with men, heroes with heroes,
Lords of the wealth transmitted
by our fathers: and may our princes live a hundred winters.
10 May these our hymns of praise, Agni, Ordainer, be pleasant
to thee in thy heart and spirit.
May we have power to hold
thy steeds of riches, laying on thee the God-sent gift of glory.
HYMN LXXIV. Agni.
1. As forth to sacrifice we go, a hymn to a hymn
let us say,
Who hears us even when afar;
2 Who, from of
old, in carnage, when the people gathered, hath preserved
His household for the worshipper.
3 And let men say, Agni
is born, e'en he who slayeth Vrtra, he
Who winneth wealth
in every fight.
4 Him in whose house an envoy thou lovest
to taste his offered gifts,
And strengthenest his sacrifice,
5 Him, Angiras, thou Son of Strength, all men call happy in
his God,
His offerings, and his sacred grass.
6 Hitherward
shalt thou bring these Gods to our laudation and to taste.
These offered gifts, fair-shining One.
7 When, Agni, on thine
embassage thou goest not a sound is heard of steed or straining
of thy car.
8 Aided by thee uninjured, strong, one after
other, goes he forth:
Agni, the ofterer forward steps.
9 And splendid strength, heroic, high, Agni, thou grantest from
the Gods,
Thou God, to him who offers gifts.
HYMN LXXV. Agni.
1. ACCEPT our loudest-sounding hymn, food most
delightful to the Gods,
Pouring our offerings in thy mouth.
2 Now, Agni, will we say to thee, O wisest and best Afigiras,
Our precious, much-availing prayer.
3 Who, Agni, is thy kin,
of men? who is thy worthy worshipper?
On whom dependent?
who art thou?
4 The kinsman, Agni, of mankind, their well
beloved Friend art thou,
A Friend whom friends may supplicate.
5 Bring to us Mitra, Varuna, bring the Gods to mighty sacrifice.
Bring them, O Agni, to thine home.
HYMN LXXVI. Agni.
1. How may the mind draw nigh to please thee,
Agni? What hymn of praise shall bring us greatest blessing?
Or who hath gained thy power by sacrifices? or with what mind
shall we bring thee oblations?
2 Come hither, Agni; sit thee
down as Hotar; be thou who never wast deceived our leader.
May Heaven and Earth, the all-pervading, love thee: worship
the Gods to win for us their favour.
3 Burn thou up all the
Riksasas, O Agni; ward thou off curses from our sacrifices.
Bring hither with his Bays the Lord of Soma: here is glad welcome
for the Bounteous Giver.
4 Thou Priest with lip and voice
that bring us children hast been invoked. Here with the Gods
be seated.
Thine is the task of Cleanser and Presenter: waken
us, Wealth-bestower and Producer.
5 As with oblations of
the priestly Manus thou worshippedst the Gods, a Sage with sages,
So now, O truthfullest Invoker Agni, worship this day with joy-bestowing
ladle.
HYMN LXXVII. Agni.
1. How shall we pay oblation unto Agni? What
hymn, Godloved, is said to him refulgent?
Who, deathless,
true to Law, mid men a herald, bringeth the Gods as best of
sacrificers?
2 Bring him with reverence hither, most propitious
in sacrifices, true to Law, the herald;
For Agni, when he
seeks the Gods for mortals, knows them full well and worships
them in spirit.
3 For he is mental power, a man, and perfect;
he is the bringer, friend-,like, of the wondrous.
The pious
Aryan tribes at sacrifices address them first to him who doeth
marvels.
4 May Agni, foe-destroyer, manliest Hero, accept
with love our hymns and our devotion.
So may the liberal
lords whose strength is strongest, urged by their riches, stir
our thoughts with vigour.
5 Thus Agni Jatavedas, true to
Order, hath by the priestly Gotamas been lauded.
May he augment
in them splendour and vigour: observant, as he lists, he gathers
increase.
HYMN LXXVIII. Agni.
1. O JATAVEDAS, keen and swift, we Gotamas with
sacred song exalt thee for thy glories' sake.
2 Thee, as
thou art, desiring wealth Gotama worships with his song:
We laud thee for thy glories' sake.
3 As such, like Angiras
we call on thee best winner of the spoil:
We laud thee for
thy glories' sake.
4 Thee, best of Vrtra-slayers, thee who
shakest off our Dasyu foes:
We laud thee for thy glories'
sake.
5 A pleasant song to Agni we, sons of Rahugana, have
sung:
We laud thee for thy glories' sake.
HYMN LXXIX. Agni.
1. HE in mid-air's expanse hath golden tresses;
a raging serpent, like the rushing tempest:
Purely refulgent,
knowing well the morn. ing; like honourable dames, true, active
workers.
2 Thy well-winged flashes strengthen in their manner,
when the black Bull hath bellowed round about us.
With drops
that bless and seem to smile he cometh: the waters fall, the
clouds utter their thunder.
3 When he comes streaming with
the milk of worship, conducting by directest paths of Order
Aryaman, Mitra, Varuna, Parijman fill the hide full where lies
the nether press-stone.
4 O Agni, thou who art the lord of
wealth in kine, thou Son of Strength,
Vouchsafe to us, O
Jatavetlas, high renown.
5 He, Agni, kindled, good and wise,
must be exalted in our song:
Shine, thou of many forms, shine
radiantly on us.
6 O Agni, shining of thyself by night and
when the morning breaks,
Burn, thou whose teeth are sharp,
against the Raksasas.
7 Adorable in all our rites, favour
us, Agni, with thine.aid,
When the great hymn is chanted
forth.
8 Bring to us ever-conquering wealth, wealth, Agni,
worthy of our choice,
In all our frays invincible.
9 Give
us, O Agni, through thy grace wealth that supporteth all our
life,
Thy favour so that we may live.
10 O Gotama, desiring
bliss present thy songs composed with care
To Agni of the
pointed flames.
11 May the man fall, O Agni, who near or
afar assaileth us:
Do thou increase and prosper us.
12
Keen and swift Agni, thousand-eyed, chaseth the Raksasas afar:
He singeth, herald meet for lauds.
Suggestions for Further Reading
- The Rig Veda translation by Griffith, Introduction
- Hymns of the Sama veda translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith
- Yajur Veda: The Veda Of The Black Yajus School
- Hymns Of The Atharva-Veda
- Anugita English Translation
- THE Sanatsugâtîya, A Spiritual Dialogue
- Dharmashastras, the Sacred Law Books of Hindus
- The Hindu Dharmashastras, Subject Index
- The Grihya Sutras, The Vedic Domestic Ritual Texts
- The Sankhya Sutras of Kapila, Index page
- Translation of Upanishads by Swami Paramananda, Index
- A History Of Indian Philosophy - Chapter Index
- The Upanishads translated by Max Muller
- Vedic Reader for Students
- The Bhagavad-gita in a nutshell
- Essays On Dharma
- Esoteric Mystic Hinduism
- Introduction to Hinduism
- Hindu Way of Life
- Essays On Karma
- Hindu Rites and Rituals
- The Origin of The Sanskrit Language
- Symbolism in Hinduism
- Essays on The Upanishads
- Concepts of Hinduism
- Essays on Atman
- Hindu Festivals
- Spiritual Practice
- Right Living
- Yoga of Sorrow
- Happiness
- Mental Health
- Concepts of Buddhism
- General Essays
Source: An English translation of the Vedas by Ralph T.H. Griffith, 1896.