Maṇḍala 1 Sūktam 1:
madhucchandāvaiśvāmitro viracitam
Composed by Sweet Tempo, from the Family of Universal Friendship
Oṃ I praise Agni; the Director of sacrifice; who knows the proper divine order; the offerer who holds divine jewels.
By ancient seers, and even modern ones, Agni’s to be praised. He brings the Vedic characters here!
Day by day, through Agni alone, the nourishing treasure shall be attained; the gracious, most courageous one.
Oh Agni, you surround the paths of sacrifice on every side. He moves about the Vedic Mind.
Agni, the Director of sacrifice, is the Ecstatic Poet, most distinguished Praise of truth, shall come (as) Deva with the Devas.
Which entirely, for worship, oh Agni, you will procure the auspicious; that glowing ember of truth is yours!
Day by day we approach you with reverential thought, oh Agni, oh Luminary in the dark; a gesture of respect!
(You’re the) Sovereign of sacrifice, Protector of ṛta; (you’re) the Light arisen, increasing one’s household;
Oh Agni, as a father to a son, be accessible to us! For the excellence of existence, intercede for us!
Maṇḍala 1 Sūktam 12:
medhātithiḥ kāṇvo viracitam
Composed by the Affectionately Wise Guest, from the Family of Poets
Agni, the Envoy’s who we choose; Director of all knowledge; of this yajña; the Well-equipped.
Agni! They’ve called, Agni! With constant calls for the People’s Lord; Offering Bearer, Who’s widely loved;
Oh Agni! Draw the Devas here; Born on sacred grass; for us, you’re Director to be praised!
Oh Agni, hasten those Loved ones when you proceed to take the word; on sacred grass, sit with them!
Oh Shining spoon for clear, pure thought, ever burn against the false; (against) oh Agni, the malign!
By Agni, Agni’s kindled as Poet, Lord of the abode, the Youth; Offerer whose tongue conveys.
Praise Agni, the Poet and true performer of dharma in the sacrifice; the Deva who drives pain away.
Who attentively serves you, oh Agni, the Envoy, Lord of offerings; for him indeed, be his trustee!
The Offerer who longs to win Agni’s grace for the Devas’ feast; favor him, oh Purifier!
For us, oh Shining Purifier, oh Agni, bring the Devas here, near our yajña and offerings!
Being praised with our fresh gāyatri hymn; deliver the treasure, the heroic libation.
Oh Agni, by this potent flame; by this appeal to all the Devas, be delighted with our hymn.
Maṇḍala 1 Sūktam 14:
medhātithiḥ kāṇvo viracitam
Composed by the Affectionately Wise Guest, from the Family of Poets
Oh Agni, with all the Devas come here for the soma drinking; with the Devas, come to the worship!
Oh Agni the Poets have called for you! Oh Adept singer, they praise your thought! Come, oh Agni with the Devas!
The Enkindler, the Wind of life, the Growth of soul, Divine friendship, the Divine Fire, the Nourisher, and the Opulent one; the Indivisible sons of oneness and the Band of flashing vital winds,
Streams of potent nectar poured forth, intoxicating for all your delight, dripping into the soma bowls.
The Poets beckon for your help, upon the mats of sacred grass; Offerers of heedful aim.
Backed by Clarity of thought, Yoked in mind, your flames convey the Devas here for soma drinking!
Bring those Praiseworthy, oh Agni, who thrive in what is right, along with their wives; make them drink the sweet-tongued mead.
Those deserving of adoration, those who are to be praised; let them drink of your honeyed-tongue, oh Agni, when the six-fold food call is made.
From the radiance of the Sun, the Inspired invoker strengthens here, all Devas to the waking dawn.
Oh Agni, drink of the friendly honey-sweet nectar with Indra, Vāyu, and all Vedic dwellers.
Oh Agni, who Manu appointed to sit in the yajñas as Invoker; conduct this sacrifice for us!
Yoke to your chariot, indeed, oh Agni, the horses blond and ruddy; oh Deva, bring the Devas here!
Maṇḍala 1 Sūktam 19:
medhātithiḥ kāṇvo viracitam
Composed by the Affectionately Wise Guest, from the Family of Poets
You’re invoked forth to protect this dearest sacrifice; oh Agni, with the Maruts, come!
No Deva nor human outshines the greatness of your will to give; oh Agni, with the Maruts, come!
Those who know the greatness of the cloudy realm; all the guileless Devas; oh Agni, with the Maruts, come!
Those mighty singers who praise with passion unrestrained; oh Agni, with the Maruts, come!
Those dazzling, fearsome to behold, excellent warriors, destroyers of violence; oh Agni, with the Maruts, come!
Those Devas who are shining in the vaulted heavens’ abode above; oh Agni, with the Maruts, come!
They who cause the mountains to sway, like waves across the sea; oh Agni, with the Maruts, come!
They who stretch with their reins across the sea with vital power; oh Agni, with the Maruts, come!
Towards you, for drinking first, I pour forth the honey-sweet nectar; oh Agni, with the Maruts, come!
Maṇḍala 1 Sūktam 65:
parāśaraḥ śāktyo viracitam
Composed by the Cream on the Top, from the Family of the Capable
Like a thief hiding in a secret cave with a domestic beast; a salutation of preparation, a salutation to the passage.
By footsteps, composed minds fall into harmony, following your path; all the worthy of worship sit near you.
The Devas followed the waters of intelligence, covering, as it were, the earth with heavens.
The waters grow with admiring praise, swelling in the lovely womb; the Excellent-born one of truth.
Delightfully nourishing, as it were, Earth’s lands in her mountains and fertile valleys; the rushing of Peace manifested.
As a swift steed advances in battle; as a sacred river courses forth; who can stop it?
Kindred to rivers, as brother with sisters, though still a king, eating the forests as food.
As when driven by wind, spread through the forest; the Divine Fire shears the hairs of the Earth.
He breathes upon the waters, seated as a swan; by attentive sacrifice, the people wake to dawn.
Like nectar, he's Creator, born of the flowing structure of truth; like splendrous roaming cows with their calves, shining far and wide.
Maṇḍala 1 Sūktam 97:
kutsa āṅgiraso viracitam
Composed by the Thunderbolt, from the Family of Luminous Invocation
Shine your cleansing light for us, oh Agni; shed your splendid treasure! Shine out your cleansing light for us!
Desiring the excellent prosperous field, for wealth, we sacrifice! Shine out your cleansing light for us.
So the best praiser of these sages may emerge in our space; Shine out your cleansing light for us!
So we, oh Agni, and our sages may be born and sired through you! Shine out your cleansing light for us!
As Agni’s potent rays stream wide across the vast expanse, shine out your cleansing light for us!
Everywhere, you face indeed, you encompass everything! Shine out your cleansing light for us!
Oh Face of all, bear us as a ship across the hostile sea! Shine out your cleansing light for us!
Take us like a boat across the violent ocean to excellence! Shine out your cleansing light for us!
Maṇḍala 2 Sūktam 4:
somāhutir bhārgavo viracitam
Composed by the Offering of Nectar, from the Family of the Crackling Fire
I call on you, the Well-illumined with lavish gifts and well-churned praise; Agni, the Guest of humanity, who, like a friend has become the one to be sought among the people as Issuer of wisdom.
Having done this praise, altogether, immersed in the waters, the Bhṛgus have set the two-fold churning of life into motion. May the Abundant one overcome all these realms near and wide; Agni, the swift-horsed charioteer of the Devas!
The Devas have set Agni in communities of man; they will dwell with him, the Beloved friend. Throughout the desirous nights, he shines, for the generous indweller, his skill satisfies.
His nourishment, like one's own wealth, grows with this delight; indeed, his altogether look is of a blazing leader. He flickers his tongue about, wielding it here and there, spreading through vegetation like a chariot steed tossing his hair.
A mighty cloud comes from the clarified desires of my praise and he showed, as it were, his shape; he was delightful, distinct with variegated brilliance; he, who, spent with old age is renewed to youth again.
Like a thirsty one, he lights the forest; like a chariot's roar, or coursing water; from darkness he is the Dark-path goer, burning hot with boundless thought; like heaven smiling through the clouds.
He who roams about, consuming the earth, moving like free-range livestock unattended; Agni the radiant, Impassioner of souls, Who takes the dark path; the Enjoyer of the world!
Reflecting upon your previous outpouring, a song of praise has been made in this third gathering; oh Agni, unite us with courage, abundance, nourishment, strength, good progeny and wealth!
May the gṛtsamadāsas, oh Agni, by you, through the heart, overcome those below; for that singer to instill vitality for those wise and courageous in conquering oppressors.
Maṇḍala 3 Sūktam 26:
viśvāmitro gāthino viracitam
Composed by the Friend of All, from the Family of Singers
Heartfully, the offerers long for Agni, the Universal man; He who’s followed by truth; He who is knowledge of the solar-realm. Longing for wealth, we who serve the Key unlocking divinity call with songs of praise the Euphoric charioteer, the Deva who pours forth the bounty!
For solace, we call to the splendrous Agni, the Universal being, Who swells within the mother’s womb accompanied by praise; the Expansive one for divinity within the audience; the Excellent praiser and Listener, the Guest who is Swift-gliding.
Like a neighing horse, the Son of universal being, from age to age, is kindled by the mothers, who unlock divinity. May he, the Divine Fire, the Wakefully attentive among the undying ones, grant us valiant heroes, good steeds and valuables.
May the spirited flames climb heartily, yoking the various passions to excellence; sprinkling wide, causing mountains to tremble, the reliable, all-knowing Winds of vigor.
For their intense brilliance, their favor we seek; the Cultivators of all, the Winds of vigor, adorning Agni; Rudra's turbulent brood who brings the cleansing rains with their mighty lion-like roar pouring forth the bounty.
From labor to labor, group to group, with excellent songs of praise, we approach the Divine Fire's flashing splendor and the Winds of vigor's bodily strength; those Undiminished in abundance along with their various passions; those Keen to wisdom who make the journey to these gatherings of sacrifice.
I’m Agni, Issuer of wisdom by birth; illumined thought is my eye; immortal nectar, my mouth; the Three-fold praise traversing the atmosphere; the Conveyance, the Cauldron; the Offering I am named!
Through the three-fold praise, indeed, purified by three filters, through the heart, the Knower came to light and to remembrance. He mined the most-sought after jewel, then, through his inherent powers, he beheld the heavens and earth circumspect, indeed, all around and beyond.
He is a spring with a hundred streams ever-welling forth, inspired wisdom, the Father of sacred speech to be poured forth; preserve him, the Delightful crackle; the Spoken word of truth; he’s in the lap of his parents, oh Heaven and Earth, preserve him, both of you!
Maṇḍala 4 Sūktam 13:
vāmadevo gautamo viracitam
Composed by the Shining one of Love, from the Family of Light Bearers
The Divine Fire known as the Graciously minded is to have given jewels; the tip of the dawns shining rays; oh Aśvins, proceed to the home of virtuous; Sūrya Deva rises with his light (of day)!
The Sun’s splendor rises up like a banner, fluttering, supported by the Vedic character; like a warrior (surrounded by his) cattle; following, performing their sacred vow is Varuṇa and Mitra lifting the Sun into the day, into the heavens.
Made by them to ever scatter darkness; those Peaceful ones, immovable, ceaselessly pursuing the goal. Seven swift tawny horses pull him, the Sun who looks upon the existence of all.
Oh Shining one, carried by the swiftest of horses, unraveling the threads; disrobing the garment of darkness; by the Sun’s rays that quiver, the lethargy’s immersed, as if shedding skin into the waters.
How is this, that he hasn't fallen, (being) unled, yet unbound? By what does he move, what inherent power? Who has seen it; the fixed heavenly pillar, protecting the heavenly vault?
Passages from a Wonderfully Mystic Ṛg Vedic Hymn
न वि जा॑नामि॒ यदि॑वे॒दमस्मि॑ नि॒ण्यः संन॑द्धो॒ मन॑सा चरामि ।
य॒दा माग॑न्प्रथम॒जा ऋ॒तस्यादिद्वा॒चो अ॑श्नुवे भा॒गम॒स्याः
na vi jānāmi yadivedamasmi niṇyaḥ saṃnaddho manasā carāmi ।
yadā māganprathamajā ṛtasyādidvāco aśnuve bhāgamasyāḥ
I know not what I am; mysterious, I move about, mind-bound. When the first born of the structure of truth approached, I received a portion of his speech.
RV.1.164.37
अपा॒ङ्प्राङे॑ति स्व॒धया॑ गृभी॒तोऽम॑र्त्यो॒ मर्त्ये॑ना॒ सयो॑निः ।
ता शश्व॑न्ता विषू॒चीना॑ वि॒यन्ता॒ न्यन्यं चि॒क्युर्न नि चि॑क्युर॒न्यम् ॥
apāṅprāṅeti svadhayā gṛbhīto-martyo martyenā sayoniḥ ।
tā śaśvantā viṣūcīnā viyantā nyanyaṃ cikyurna ni cikyuranyam ॥
Back and forth he goes of his own accord, the immortal born brother of mortals. Endlessly they move in discordant directions; sometimes cognizant and other times not.
RV.1.164.38
ऋ॒चो अ॒क्षरे॑ पर॒मे व्यो॑म॒न्यस्मि॑न्दे॒वा अधि॒ विश्वे॑ निषे॒दुः ।
यस्तन्न वेद॒ किमृ॒चा क॑रिष्यति॒ य इत्तद्वि॒दुस्त इ॒मे समा॑सते ॥
ṛco akṣare parame vyomanyasmindevā adhi viśve niṣeduḥ ।
yastanna veda kimṛcā kariṣyati ya ittadvidusta ime samāsate ॥
Upon what syllable of sacred praise are they conveyed through lethargic obstruction? Who knows, and is able to perform that sacred praise? Those who know it well sit here in attendance.
RV.1.164.39
इन्द्रं॑ मि॒त्रं वरु॑णम॒ग्निमा॑हु॒रथो॑ दि॒व्यः स सु॑प॒र्णो ग॒रुत्मा॑न् ।
एकं॒ सद्विप्रा॑ बहु॒धा व॑दन्त्य॒ग्निं य॒मं मा॑त॒रिश्वा॑नमाहुः ॥
indraṃ mitraṃ varuṇamagnimāhuratho divyaḥ sa suparṇo garutmān ।
ekaṃ sadviprā bahudhā vadantyagniṃ yamaṃ mātariśvānamāhuḥ ॥
They call him Indra, Mitra, Varuṇa, Agni; he is the excellent-winged, shining Garutmān. It is one, but knowers of truth call it by many names; they call it Agni, Yama and Mātariśvān.
RV.1.164.46
कृ॒ष्णं नि॒यानं॒ हर॑यः सुप॒र्णा अ॒पो वसा॑ना॒ दिव॒मुत्प॑तन्ति ।
त आव॑वृत्र॒न्सद॑नादृ॒तस्यादिद्घृ॒तेन॑ पृथि॒वी व्यु॑द्यते ॥
kṛṣṇaṃ niyānaṃ harayaḥ suparṇā apo vasānā divamutpatanti ।
ta āvavṛtransadanādṛtasyādidghṛtena pṛthivī vyudyate ॥
The excellent winged, golden birds traverse the dark path, flying through the heavens, clothed in the waters. Again, they descend from the structure of truth, giving voice on Earth to clarified consciousness.
RV.1.164.47
द्वाद॑श प्र॒धय॑श्च॒क्रमेकं॒ त्रीणि॒ नभ्या॑नि॒ क उ॒ तच्चि॑केत ।
तस्मि॑न्सा॒कं त्रि॑श॒ता न श॒ङ्कवो॑ऽर्पि॒ताः ष॒ष्टिर्न च॑लाच॒लासः॑ ॥
dvādaśa pradhayaścakramekaṃ trīṇi nabhyāni ka u tacciketa ।
tasminsākaṃ triśatā na śaṅkavo-rpitāḥ ṣaṣṭirna calācalāsaḥ ॥
Though the energetic vortex is one, it has twelve sections and three fulcrums; who has understood it? Within all that is mobile and immobile, there are three hundred and sixty fixed spokes.
RV.1.164.48
यस्ते॒ स्तनः॑ शश॒यो यो म॑यो॒भूर्येन॒ विश्वा॒ पुष्य॑सि॒ वार्या॑णि ।
यो र॑त्न॒धा व॑सु॒विद्यः सु॒दत्रः॒ सर॑स्वति॒ तमि॒ह धात॑वे कः ॥
yaste stanaḥ śaśayo yo mayobhūryena viśvā puṣyasi vāryāṇi ।
yo ratnadhā vasuvidyaḥ sudatraḥ sarasvati tamiha dhātave kaḥ ॥
That chest of yours, endlessly flowing with delight; you nourish the treasures of the universe. Oh Sarasvati, come here and make that trove of wealth and knowledge pour forth.
RV.1.164.49
य॒ज्ञेन॑ य॒ज्ञम॑यजन्त दे॒वास्तानि॒ धर्मा॑णि प्रथ॒मान्या॑सन् ।
ते ह॒ नाकं॑ महि॒मानः॑ सचन्त॒ यत्र॒ पूर्वे॑ सा॒ध्याः सन्ति॑ दे॒वाः ॥
yajñena yajñamayajanta devāstāni dharmāṇi prathamānyāsan ।
te ha nākaṃ mahimānaḥ sacanta yatra pūrve sādhyāḥ santi devāḥ ॥
By means of sacrifice, the Vedic characters gave birth to sacrifice and the first ideals of truth. Those who live according to that way attain to that state of greatness, where those ancient divine beings shine in eternal perfection.
RV.1.164.50
स॒मा॒नमे॒तदु॑द॒कमुच्चैत्यव॒ चाह॑भिः ।
भूमिं॑ प॒र्जन्या॒ जिन्व॑न्ति॒ दिवं॑ जिन्वन्त्य॒ग्नयः॑ ॥
samānametadudakamuccaityava cāhabhiḥ ।
bhūmiṃ parjanyā jinvanti divaṃ jinvantyagnayaḥ ॥
As the days pass, the waters rise and fall in equilibrium. The rains refresh the Earth as the Divine Fires animate the heavens.
RV.1.164.51
दि॒व्यं सु॑प॒र्णं वा॑य॒सं बृ॒हन्त॑म॒पां गर्भं॑ दर्श॒तमोष॑धीनाम् ।
अ॒भी॒प॒तो वृ॒ष्टिभि॑स्त॒र्पय॑न्तं॒ सर॑स्वन्त॒मव॑से जोहवीमि ॥
divyaṃ suparṇaṃ vāyasaṃ bṛhantamapāṃ garbhaṃ darśatamoṣadhīnām ।
abhīpato vṛṣṭibhistarpayantaṃ sarasvantamavase johavīmi ॥
The large excellent-winged bird of the heavens; the vast womb, the beautiful vegetation; For the timely, pleasing showers I call upon Sarasvān for his help.
RV.1.164.52