
The Rig Veda Book 3 - Verses 1 to 10

HYMN I. Agni.
1. THOU, Agni, who wilt have the strong, hast made me the
Soma's priest, to worship in assembly.
Thou shinest to the
Gods, I set the pressstones. I toil; be joyful in thyself, O
Agni.
2 East have we turned the rite; may the hymn aid it.
With wood and worship shall they honour Agni.
From heaven
the synods of the wise have learnt it: c'en for the quick and
strong they seek advancement.
3 The Prudent, he whose will
is pure, brought welfare, allied by birth to Heaven and Earth
in kinship.
The Gods discovered in the midst of waters beautiful Agni
with the Sisters' labour.
4 Him, Blessed One, the Seven strong
Floods augmented, him white at birth and red when waxen mighty.
As mother mares run to their new-born you ling, so at his birth
the Gods wondered at Agni.
5 Spreading with radiant limbs
throughout the region, purging his power with wise purifications,
Robing himself in light, the life of waters, lie spreads abroad
his high and perfect glories.
6 He sought heaven's Mighty
Ones, the unconsuming, the unimpaired, not clothed and yet not
naked.
Then they, ancient and young, who dwell together,
Seven sounding Rivers, as one germ received him.
7 His piles,
assuming every form, are scattered where flow sweet waters,
at the spring of fatness;
There stood the milch-kine with
full-laden udders, and both paired Mighty Mothers of the Wondrous.
8 Carefully cherished, Son of Strength, thou shoncst assuming
lasting and refulgent beauties.
Full streams of fatness and
sweet juice descended, there where the Mighty One grew strong
by wisdom.
9 From birth he knew even his Father's bosom,
he set his voices and his streams in motion;
Knew him who
moved with blessed Friends in secret, with the young Dames of
heaven. He stayed not hidden.
10 He nursed the Infant of
the Sire and Maker: alone the Babe sucked many a teeming bosom.
Guard, for the Bright and Strong, the fellow-spouses friendly
to men and bound to him in kinship.
11 The Mighty One increased
in space unbounded; full many a glorious flood gave strength
to Agni.
Friend of the house, within the lap of Order lay
Agni, in the Sister Rivers' service.
12 As keen supporter
where great waters gather, light-shedder whom the brood rejoice
to look on;
He who begat, and will beget, the dawnlights,
most manly, Child of Floods, is youthful Agni.
13 Him, varied
in his form, the lovely Infant of floods and plants the blessed
wood hath gendered.
Gods even, moved in spirit, came around
him, and served him at his birth, the Strong, the Wondrous.
14 Like brilliant lightnings, mighty luminaries accompany
the light-diffusing Agni,
Waxen, as 'twere in secret, in
his dwelling, while in the boundless stall they milk out Amrta.
15 I sacrificing serve thee with oblations and crave with longing
thy good-will and friendship.
Grant, with the Gods, thy grace
to him who lauds thee, protect us with thy rays that guard the
homestead.
16 May we, O Agni, thou who leadest wisely, thy
followers and masters of all treasures,
Strong in the glory
of our noble offspring, subdue the godless when they seek the
battle.
17 Ensign of Gods hast thou become, O Agni, joy-giver,
knower of all secret wisdom.
Friend of the homestead, thou
hast lightened mortals: carborne thou goest to the Gods, fulfilling.
18 Within the house hath sate the King immortal of mortals,
filling full their sacred synods.
Bedewed with holy oil he
shineth widely, Agni, the knower of all secret wisdom.
19
Come unto us with thine auspicious friendship, come speeding,
Mighty, with thy mighty succours.
Grant us abundant wealth
that saves from danger, that brings a good repute, a glorious
portion.
20 To thee who art of old these songs, O Agni, have
I declared, the ancient and the later.
These great libations
to the Strong are offiered: in every birth is Jatavedas stablished.
21 Stablished in every birth is Jatavedas, kindled perpetual
by the Visvamitras.
May we rest ever in the loving-kindness,
in the auspicious grace of him the Holy.
22 This sacrifice
of ours do thou, O Mighty, O truly Wise, bear to the Gods rejoicing.
Grant us abundant food, thou priestly Herald, vouchsafe to give
us ample wealth, O Agni.
23 As holy food, Agni, to thine'invoker
give wealth in cattle, lasting, rich in marvels.
To us he
born a son, and spreading offspring. Agni, be this thy gracious
will to us-ward.
HYMN II. Agni.
1. To him, Vaisvanara, who strengthens Holy Law, to Agni
we present our praise like oil made pure.
With thoughtful
insight human priests bring him anear, our Herald from of old,
as an axe forms a car.
2 He made the heaven and earth resplendent
by his birth: Child of two Mothers he was meet to be implored,
Agni, oblation-bearer, gracious, ever-young, infallible, rich
in radiant light, the guest of men.
3 Within the range of
their surpassinq power, by might, the Gods created Agni with
inventive thought.
I, eager to win strength, address him,
like a steed, resplendent with his brilliance, with his ample
light.
4 Eager to gain, we crave from him the friendly God
strength confident, choiceworthy meet to be extolled:
The
Bhrgus' bounty, willing, strong with sages' lore, even Agni
shining forth with light that comes from heaven.
5 For happiness,
men, having trimmed the sacred grass, set Agni glorious for
his strength before them here;
Yea, with raised ladles, him
bright, dear to all the Gods, perfecting aims of works, Rudra
of solemn rites.
6 Around thy dwelling-place, O brightly-shining
Priest, are men at sacrifice, whose sacred grass is trimmed.
Wishing to do thee service, Agni, they are there, desirous of
thy friendship grant them store of wealth.
7 He hath filled heaven and earth and the great realm of
light, when at his birth the skilful held him in their hold.
He like a horse is led forth to the sacrifice Sage, graciously
inclined, that he may win us strength.
8 Honour the oblation-bearer,
him who knows fair rites, serve ye the Household Friend who
knows all things that be.
He drives the chariot of the lofty
ordinance: Agni most active, is the great High Priest of Gods.
9 They who are free from death, fain for him, purified three
splendours of the mighty Agni, circling all.
To man, for
his enjoyment, one of these they gave: the other two have passed
into the sister sphere.
10 Man's sacrificial food hath sharpened
like an axe, for brightness, him the Sage of men, the people's
Lord,
Busied with sacred rites he mounts and he descends.
He hath laid down his vital germ within these worlds.
11
He stirs with life in wombs dissimilar in kind, born as a Lion
or a loudly-bellowing Bull:
Vaisvanara immortal with wide-reaching
might, bestowing goods and wealth on him who offiers gifts.
12 Vaisvanara, as of old, mounted the cope of heaven, heaven's
ridge, well greeted, by those skilled in noble songs.
He,
as of old, producing riches for the folk, still watchful, traversesthe
common way again.
13 For new prosperity we seek to Agni,
him whose course is splendid, gold-haired, excellently bright,
Whom Matarisvan stablished, dweller in the heaven, meet for
high praise and holy, sage and true to Law.
14 As pure and
swift of course, beholder of the light, who stands in heaven's
bright sphere a sign, who wakes at dawn,
Agni, the head of
heaven, whom none may turn aside-to him the Powerful with mighty
prayer we seek.
15 The cheerful Priest, the pure, in whom
no guile is found, Friend of the House, praise-worthy, dear
to all mankind,
Fair to behold for beauty like a splendid
car,- Agni the Friend of men we ever seek for wealth.
HYMN III. Agni.
1. To him who shines afar, Vaisvanara, shall bards give precious
things that he may go on certain paths:
For Agni the Immortal
serves the Deities, and therefore never breaks their everlasting
laws.
2 He, wondrous envoy, goes between the earth and heaven,
firm seated as the Herald, great High Priest of men.
He compassethwith
rays the lofty dwelling-place, Agni, sent forward by the Gods,
enriched with piayer.
3 Sages shall glorify Agni with earnest
thoughts, ensign of sacrifice, who fills the synod full:
In whom the singers have stored up their holy acts to him the
worshipper looks for joy and happiness.
4 The Sire of sacrifice,
great God of holy bards, Agni, the measure and the symbol of
the priests,
Hath entered heaven and earth that show in varied
form: the Sage whom many love rejoiceth in his might.
5 Bright
Agni with the bright car, Lord of green domains, Vaisvanara
dweller in the floods, who finds the light,
Pervading, swift
and wild, encompassed round with powers, him very glorious have
the Gods established here.
6 Agni, together with the Gods
and Manu's folk by thought extending sacrifice in varied form,
Goes, car-borne, to and fro with those who crown each rite,
the fleet, the Household Friend, who turns the curse aside.
7 Sing, Agni, for long life to us and noble sons: teem thou
with plenty, shine upon us store of food.
Increase the great
man's strength, thou ever-vigilant: thou, longing for the Gods,
knowest their hymns full well.
8 The Mighty One, Lord of
the people and their guest, the leader of their thoughts, devoted
Friend of priests,
Our solemn rites' announcer, Jatavedas,
men with worship ever praise, with urgings for their weal.
9 Agni the God resplendent, giver of great joy, hath on his
lovely car compassed the lands with, might.
Let us with pure
laudations in his house approach the high laws of the nourisher
of multitudes.
10 I celebrate thy glories, O Vaisvanara,
wherewith thou, O farsighted God, has found the light.
Thou
filledst at thy birth both worlds, the earth and heaven: all
this, O Agni, hast thou compassed of thyself.
11 By his great
skill the Sage alone hath brought to pass a great deed, mightier
than Vaisvanara's wondrous acts.
Agni sprang into being,
magnifying both his Parents, Heaven and Earth, rich in prolific
seed.
HYMN IV Apris.
1. BE friendly with each kindled log of fuel, with every
flash bestow the boon of riches.
Bring thou the Gods, O God,
unto our worship: serve, well-inclined, as Friend thy friends,
O Agni.
2 Agni whom daily Varuna and Mitra the Gods bring
thrice a day to this our worship,
Tanunapat, enrich with
meath our service that dwells with holy oil, that offers honour.
3 The thought that bringeth every boon proceedeth to worship
first the Priest of the libation,
That we may greet the Strong
One with our homage. Urged, may he bring the Gods, best Sacrificer.
4 On high your way to sacrifice was made ready; the radiant
flames went upward to the regions.
Full in the midst of heaven
the Priest is seated: sirew we the sacred grass where Gods may
rest them.
5 Claiming in mind the seven priests' burntoblations,
inciting all, they came in settled order.
To this our sacrifice
approach the many who show in hero beauty at assemblies.
6 Night and Dawn, lauded, hither come together, both smiling,
different are their forms in colour,
That Varuna and Mitra
may accept us, and Indra, girt by Maruts, with his glories.
7. I crave the grace of heaven's two chief Invokers: the seven
swift steeds joy in their wonted manner.
These speak of truth,
praising the truth eternal, thinking on Order as the guards
of Order.
8 May Bharati with all her Sisters, Ila accordant
with the Gods, with mortalls Agni,
Sarasvati with all her
kindred Rivers, come to this grass, Three Goddesses, and seat
them.
9 Well pleased with us do thou O God, O Tvastar, give
ready issue to our procreant vigour,
Whence springs the hero,
powerful, skilled in action, lover of Gods, adjuster of the
press-stones.
10 Send to the Gods the oblation, Lord of Forests;
and let the Immolator, Agni, dress it.
He as the truer Priest
shall offer worship, for the Gods' generations well he knoweth.
11 Come thou to us, O Agni, duly kindled, together with the
potent Gods and Indra.
On this our grass sit Aditi, happy
Mother, and let our Hail delight the Gods Immortal.
HYMN V. Agni.
1. Agni who shines against the Dawns is wakened. The holy
Singer who precedes the sages.
With far-spread lustre, kindled
by the pious, the Priest hath thrown both gates of darkness
open.
2 Agni hath waxen mighty by laudations, to be adored
with hymns of those who praise him.
Loving the varied shows
of holy Order at the first flush of dawn he shines as envoy.
3 Amid men's homes hath Agni been established, fulfilling with
the Law, Friend, germ of waters.
Loved and adored, the height
he hath ascended, the Singer, object of our invocations.
4 Agni is Mitra when enkindled duly, Mitra as Priest, Varuna,
Jatavedas;
Mitra as active minister, and House-Friend, Mitra
of flowing rivers and of mountains.
5 The Earth's, the Bird's
dear lofty place he guardeth, he guardeth in his might the course
of Surya,
Guardeth the Seven-headed in the centre, guardeth
sublime the Deities enjoyment.
6 The skilful God who knows
all forms of knowledge made for himself a fair form, meet for
worship.
This Agni guards with care that never ceases the
Sonia's skin, the Bird's place rich in fatness.
7 Agni hath
entered longingly the longing shrine rich with fatness, giving
easy access.
Resplendent, pure, sublime and purifying, again,
again he renovates his Mothers.
8 Born suddenly, by plants
he grew to greatness, when tender shoots with holy oil increased
him,
Like waters lovely when they hasten downward may Agni
in his Parents' lap protect us.
9 Extolled, the Strong shone
forth with kindled fuel to the earth's centre, to the height
of heaven.
May Agni, Friend, adorable Matarisvan, as envoy
bring the Gods unto our worship.
10 Best of all luminaries
lofty Agni supported with his flame the height of heaven,
When, far from Bhrgus, Matarisvan kindled the oblation-bearer
where he lay in secret.
11 As holy food, Agni to thine invoker
give wealth in cattle, lasting, rich in marvels.
To us be
born a son and spreading offspring. Agni, be this thy gracious
will to us-word.
HYMN VI. Agni.
1. URGED on by deep devotion, O ye singers, bring, pious
ones, the God-approaching ladle.
Borne onward to the right
it travels eastward, and, filled with oil, to Agni bears oblation.
2 Thou at thy birth didst fill both earth and heaven, yea, Most
Adorable, thou didst exceed them.
Even through the heaven's
and through the earth's expanses let thy swift seventongued
flames roll on, O Agni.
3 Both Heaven and Earth and Gods
who should be worshipped establish thee as Priest for every
dwelling,
Whenever human families, God-devoted, bringing
oblations; laud thy splendid lustre.
4 Firm in the Gods'
home is the Mighty seated, between vast Heaven and Earth the
well-beloved-
Those Cows who yield, unharmed, their nectar,
Spouses of the Far-Strider, everyoung, united.
5 Great are
the deeds of thee, the Great, O Agni: thou by thy power hast
spread out earth and heaven.
As soon as thou wast born thou
wast an envoy, thou, Mighty One, was Leader of the people.
6 Bind to the pole with cords of holy Order the long-maned ruddy
steeds who sprinkle fatness.
Bring hithier, O thou God, all
Gods together: provide them noble worship, Jatavedas.
7 Even
from the sky thy brilliant lights shone hither: still hast thou
beamed through many a radiant morning,
That the Gods praised
their joyous Herald's labour eagerly burning, Agni, in the forests.
8 The Gods who take delight in air's wide region, or those the
dwellers in heaven's realm of brightness,
Or those, the Holy,
prompt to hear, our helpers, who, carborne, turn their horses
hither, Agni---
9 With these, borne on one ear, Agni, approach
us, or borne on many, for thy steeds are able.
Bring, witb
their Dames, the Gods, the Three and-Thirty, after thy Godlike
nature, and be joyful.
10 He is the Priest at whose repeated
worship even wide Heaven and Earth sing out for increase.
They fair and true and holy coming forward stand at his sacrifice
who springs from Order.
11 As holy food, Agni, to thine invoker
give wealth in cattle, lasting, rich in marvels.
To us be
born a son and spreading offspring. Agni, be this thy gracious
will to usward.
HYMN VII.
1. THE seven tones risen from the whitebacked viand have
made their way between the pair of Mothers.
Both circumjacent
Parents come together to yield us length of days they hasten
forward.
2 The Male who dwells in heaven hath Mares and Milchkine:
he came to Goddesses who bring sweet treasure.
To thee safe
resting in the seat of Order the Cow alone upon her way proceedeth.
3 Wise Master, wealthy finder-out of riches, he mounted those
who may with case be guided.
He, dark-backed, manifold with
varied aspect, hath made them burst forth from their food the
brush-wood.
4 Strength-giving streams bear hither him eternal,
fain to support the mighty work. of Tvastar.
He, flashing
in his home with all his members, hath entered both the worlds
as they were single.
5 They know the red Bull's blessing,
and are joyful under the flaming-coloured Lord's dominion:
They who give shine from heavenwith fair effulgence, whose lofty
song like Ila must be honoured.
6 Yea, by tradition from
the ancient sages they brought great strength from the two mighty
Parents,
To where the singer's Bull, the night's dispeller,
after his proper law hath waxen stronger.
7 Seven holy singers
guard with five Adhvaryus the Bird's beloved firmly-settled
station.
The willing Bulls, untouched by old, rejoice them:
as Gods themselves the ways of Gods they follow.
8 I crave
the grace of heaven's two chief Invokers: the seven swift steeds
joy in their wonted manner.
These speak of truth, praising
the Truth Eternal, thinking on Order as the guards of Order.
9 The many seek the great Steed as a stallion: the reins obey
the Lord of varied colour.
O heavenly Priest, most pleasant,
full of wisdom, bring the great Gods to us, and Earth and Heaven.
10 Rich Lord, the Mornings have gleamed forth in splendour,
fair-rayed, fair-speaking, worshipped with all viands,
Yea,
with the glory of the earth, O Agni. Forgive us, for our weal,
e'en sin cornmitted.
11 As holy food, Agni, to thine invoker,
give wealth in cattle, lasting, rich in marvels.
To us be
born a son, and spreading offspring Agni, be this thy gracious
will to usward.
HYMN VIII Sacrificial Post.
1. GOD-SERVING men, O Sovran of the Forest, with heavenly
meath at sacrifice anoint thee.
Grant wealth to us when thou
art standing upright as when reposing on this Mother's bosom.
2 Set up to eastward of the fire enkindled, accepting prayer
that wastes not, rich in hero.
Driving far from us poverty
and famine, lift thyself up to bring us great good fortune.
3 Lord of the Forest, raise. thyself up on the loftiest spot
of earth.
Give splendour, fixt and measured well, to him
who brings the sacrifice.
4 Well-robed, enveloped he is come,
the youthful: springing to life his glory waxeth greater.
Contemplative in mind and God-adoring, sages of high intelligence
upraise him.
5 Sprung up he rises in the days' fair weather,
increasing in the men-frequented synod.
With song the wise
and skilful consecrate him: his voice the God-adoring singer
utters.
6, Ye whom religious men have firmly planted; thou
Forest Sovran whom the axe hath fashioned,-
Let those the
Stakes divine which here are standing be fain to grant us wealth
with store of children.
7 O men who lift the ladles up, these
hewn and planted in the ground,
Bringing a blessing to the
field, shall bear our precious gift to Gods.
8 Adityas, Rudras,
Vasus, careful leaders, Earth, Heaven, and Prthivi and Air's
mid-region,
Accordant Deities shall bless our worship and
make our sacrifice's ensign lofty.
9 Like swan's that flee
in lengthened line, the Pillars have come to us arrayed in brilliant
coIour.
They, lifted up on high, by sages, eastward, go forth
as Gods to the God's dwelling-places.
10 Those Stakes upon
the earth with rings that deck them seem to the eye like horns
of horned creatures;
Or, as upraised by priests in invocation,
let them assist us in the rush to battle.
11 Lord of the
Wood, rise with a hundred branches. with thousand branches may
we rise to greatness,
Tlou whom this hatchct, with an edge
well whetted for great felicity, hath brought before us.
HYMN IX.
1. WE as thy friends have chosen thee, mortals a God, to
be our help,
The Waters' Child, the blessed, the resplendent
One, victorious and beyond compare.
2 Since thou delighting
in the woods hast gone unto thy mother streams,
Not to be
scorned, Agni, is that return of thine when from afar thou now
art here.
3 O'er pungent smoke host thou prevailed, and thus
art thou benevolent.
Some go before, and others round about
thee sit, they in whose friendship thou hast place.
4 Him
who had passed beyond his foes, beyond continual pursuits, Him
the unerring Ones, observant, found in floods, couched like
a lion in his lair.
5 Him wandering at his own free will,
Agni here hidden from our view,
Him Matarisvan brought to
us from far away produced by friction, from the Gods.
6 O
Bearer of Oblations, thus mortals received thee from the Gods,
Whilst thou, the Friend of man, guardest each sacrifice with
thine own power, Most Youthful One.
7 Amid thy wonders this
is good, yea, to the simple is it clear,
When gathered round
about thee, Agni, lie the herds where thou art kindled in the
morn.
8 Offer to him who knows fair rites, who burns with
purifying glow,
Swift envoy, active, ancient, and adorable:
serve ye the God attentively.
9 Three times a hundred Gods
and thrice a thousand, and three times ten and nine have worshipped
Agni,
For him spread sacred grass, with oil bedewed him,
and stablished him as Priest and Sacrificer.
HYMN X. Agni.
1. THEE Agni, God, Imperial Lord of all mankind, do mortal
men
With understanding kindle at thesacrifice.
2 They
laud thee in their solemn rites, Agni, as Minister and Priest,
Shine forth in thine own home as guardian of the Law.
3 He,
verily, who honours thee with fuel, Knower of all life,
He,
Agni! wins heroic might, he prospers well.
4 Ensign of sacrifices,
he, Agni, with Gods is come to us,
Decked by the seven priests,
to him who bringeth gifts.
5 ToAgni, the Invoking Priest,
offer your best, your lofty speech,
To him Ordainer-like
who brings the light of songs.
6 Let these our hymns make
Agni grow, whence, meet for laud, he springs to life,
To
mighty strength and great possession, fair to see.
7 Best
Sacrificer, bring the Gods, O Agni, to the pious man:
A joyful
Priest, thy splendour drive our foes afar
8 As such, O Purifier,
shine on us heroic glorious might:
Be nearest Friend to those
who laud thee, for their weal.
9 So, wakeful, versed in sacred
hymns, the holy singers kindly thee.
Oblation-bearer, deathless,
cherisher of strength.
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.