The Rig Veda, 4.6

PRIEST of our rite, stand up erect, O Agni, in the Gods’ service best of sacrificers,
For over evei y thought thou art the Ruler: thou furtherest e’en the wisdom of the pious.

4.6.1

अमूरोamūro होताhotā नयny असादिasādi विक्ष्वvikṣv अग्निरaghnir मन्द्रोmandro विदथेषुvidatheṣu परचेताःpracetāḥ |

ऊर्ध्वमūrdhvam भानुंbhānuṃ सवितेवाश्रेनsavitevāśren मेतेवmeteva धूमंdhūmaṃ सतभायदstabhāyad उपupa दयामdyām ||

He was set down mid men as Priest unerring, Agni, wise, welcome in our holy synods.
Like Savitar he hath lifted up his splendour, and like a builder raised his smoke to heaven.

4.6.2

यताyatā सुजूर्णीsujūrṇī रातिनीrātinī घर्ताचीghṛtācī परदक्षिणिदpradakṣiṇid देवतातिमdevatātim उराणःurāṇaḥ |

उदud उu सवरुरsvarur नवजाnavajā नाक्रःnākraḥ पश्वोpaśvo अनक्तिanakti सुधितःsudhitaḥ सुमेकःsumekaḥ ||

The glowing ladle, filled with oil, is lifted; choosing Gods’ service to the right he circles.
Eager he rises like the new-wrought pillar which, firmly set and fixed, anoints the victims.

4.6.3

सतीर्णेstīrṇe बर्हिषिbarhiṣi समिधानेsamidhāne अग्नाaghnā ऊर्ध्वोūrdhvo अध्वर्युरadhvaryur जुजुषाणोjujuṣāṇo अस्थातasthāt |

पर्यpary अग्निःaghniḥ पशुपाpaśupā नna होताhotā तरिविष्ट्यtriviṣṭy एतिeti परदिवpradiva उराणःurāṇaḥ ||

When sacred grass is strewn and Agni kindled, the Adhvaryu rises to, his task rejoicing.
Agni the Priest, like one who tends the cattle, goes three times round, as from of old he wills it.

4.6.4

परिpari तमनाtmanā मितद्रुरmitadrur एतिeti होताग्निरhotāghnir मन्द्रोmandro मधुवचाmadhuvacā रतावाṛtāvā |

दरवन्त्यdravanty अस्यasya वाजिनोvājino नna शोकाśokā भयन्तेbhayante विश्वाviśvā भुवनाbhuvanā यदyad अभ्राटabhrāṭ ||

Agni himself, the Priest, with measured motion, goes round, with sweet speech, cheerful, true to Order.
His fulgent flames run forth like vigorous horses; all creatures are affrighted when he blazes.

4.6.5

Beautiful and auspicious is thine aspect, O lovely Agni, terrible when spreading.
Thy splendours are not covered by the darkness: detraction leaves no stain upon thy body.

4.6.6

नna यस्यyasya सातुरsātur जनितोरjanitor अवारिavāri नna मातरापितराmātarāpitarā नूnū चिदcid इष्टौiṣṭau |

अधाadhā मित्रोmitro नna सुधितःsudhitaḥ पावकोpāvako ऽगनिर'ghnir दीदायdīdāya मानुषीषुmānuṣīṣu विक्षुvikṣu ||

Naught hindered his production, Bounteous Giver: his Mother and his Sire were free to send him.
Then as Friend benevolent, refulgent, Agni shone forth in human habitations.

4.6.7

दविरdvir यमyam पञ्चpañca जीजननjījanan संवसानाःsaṃvasānāḥ सवसारोsvasāro अग्निमaghnim मानुषीषुmānuṣīṣu विक्षुvikṣu |

उषर्बुधमuṣarbudham अथर्योatharyo नna दन्तंdantaṃ शुक्रंśukraṃ सवासमsvāsam परशुंparaśuṃ नna तिग्ममtighmam ||

He, Agni, whom the twice-five sisters, dwelling together, in the homes of men engendered,
Bright like a spear's tooth, wakened in the morning, with powerful mouth and like an axe well-sharpened.

4.6.8

तवtava तयेtye अग्नेaghne हरितोharito घर्तस्नाghṛtasnā रोहितासrohitāsa रज्वञ्चःṛjvañcaḥ सवञ्चःsvañcaḥ |

अरुषासोaruṣāso वर्षणvṛṣaṇa रजुमुष्काṛjumuṣkā आā देवतातिमdevatātim अह्वन्तahvanta दस्माःdasmāḥ ||

These thy Bay Coursers, Agni, dropping fatness, ruddy vigorous, speeding straightly forward,
And red steeds, wonderful, of mighty muscle, are to this service of the Gods invited:

4.6.9

येye हha तयेtye तेte सहमानाsahamānā अयाससayāsas तवेषासोtveṣāso अग्नेaghne अर्चयशarcayaś चरन्तिcaranti |

शयेनासोśyenāso नna दुवसनासोduvasanāso अर्थंarthaṃ तुविष्वणसोtuviṣvaṇaso मारुतंmārutaṃ नna शर्धःśardhaḥ ||

These brightly-shining games of thine, O Agni, that move for ever restless, all-subduing,
Like falcons hasting eagerly to the quarry, roar loudly like the army of the Maruts.

4.6.10

अकारिakāri बरह्मbrahma समिधानsamidhāna तुभ्यंtubhyaṃ शंसात्यśaṃsāty उक्थंukthaṃ यजतेyajate वयvy धाःdhāḥ |

होतारमhotāram अग्निमaghnim मनुषोmanuṣo निni षेदुरṣedur नमस्यन्तnamasyanta उशिजःuśijaḥ शंसमśaṃsam आयोःāyoḥ ||

To thee, O flaming God, hath prayer been offered. Let the priest laud thee: give to him who worships.
Men have established Agni as Invoker, fain to adore the glory of the living.

4.6.11