Rigveda hymns

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
0 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.

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
0 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

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
0 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.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Like a brave archer, like one skilled and bold, a fierce avenger, so he shines in fight.

BRIGHT, splendid, like Dawn’s lover, he bath filled the two joined worlds as with the light of heaven.
When born, with might thou hast encompassed them: Father of Gods, and yet their Son wast thou.
Agni, the Sage, the humble, who discerns like the cow’s udder, the sweet taste of food,
Like a bliss-giver to be drawn to men, sits gracious in the middle of the house.
Born in the dwelling like a lovely son, pleased, like a strong steed, he bears on the folk.
What time the men and I, with heroes, call, may Agni then gain all through Godlike power.
None breaks these holy laws of thine when thou hast granted audience to these chieftains here.
This is thy boast, thou smotest with thy peers, and joined with heroes dravest off disgrace.
Like the Dawn’s lover, spreading light, well-known as hued like morn, may he remember me.
They, bearing of themselves, unbar the doors: they all ascend to the fair place of heaven.

COMMINGLING, restless, he ascends the sky, unveiling nights and all that stands or moves,
As he the sole God is preeminent in great. ness among all these other Gods.
All men are joyful in thy power, O God, that living from the dry wood thou art born.
All truly share thy Godhead while they keep, in their accustomed ways, eternal Law.
Strong is the thought of Law, the Law’s behest; all works have they performed; he quickens all.
Whoso will bring oblation, gifts to thee, to him, bethinking thee, vouchsafe thou wealth.
Seated as Priest with Manu’s progeny, of all these treasures he alone is Lord.
Men yearn for children to prolong their line, and are not disappointed in their hope.
Eagerly they who hear his word fulfil his wish as sons obey their sire’s behest.
He, rich in food, unbars his wealth like doors: he, the House-Friend, bath decked heaven’s vault with stars.
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VICTORIOUS in the wood, Friend among men, ever he claims obedience as a King.
Gracious like peace, blessing like mental power, Priest was he, offering-bearer, full of thought.
He, bearing in his hand all manly might, crouched in the cavern, struck the Gods with fear.
Men filled with understanding find him there, when they have sting prayers formed within their heart.
He, like the Unborn, holds the broad earth up; and with effective utterance fixed the sky.
O Agni, guard the spots which cattle love: thou, life of all, hast gone from lair to lair.
Whoso hath known him dwelling in his lair, and hath approached the stream of holy Law,-
They who release him, paying sacred rites, -truly to such doth he announce great wealth.
He who grows mightily in herbs, within each fruitful mother and each babe she bears,
Wise, life of all men, in the waters’ home,-for him have sages built as ’twere a seat.

LIKE the Sun’s glance, like wealth of varied sort, like breath which is the life, like one’s own son,
Like a swift bird, a cow who yields her milk, pure and refulgent to the wood he speeds.
He offers safety like a pleasant home, like ripened corn, the Conqueror of men.
Like a Seer lauding, famed among the folk; like a steed friendly he vouchsafes us power.
With flame insatiate, like eternal might; caring for each one like a dame at home;
Bright when he shines forth, whitish mid the folk, like a car, gold-decked, thundering to the fight.
He strikes with terror like a dart shot forth, e’en like an archer’s arrow tipped with flame;
Master of present and of future life, the maidens’ lover and the matrons’ Lord.
To him lead all your ways: may we attain the kindled God as cows their home at eve.
He drives the flames below as floods their swell: the rays rise up to the fair place of heaven

ONE-MINDED, wise, they tracked thee like a thief lurking in dark cave with a stolen cow:
Thee claiming worship, bearing it to Gods -. there nigh to thee sate all the Holy Ones.
The Gods approached the ways of holy Law; there was a gathering vast as heaven itself.
The waters feed with praise the growing Babe, born nobly in the womb, the seat of Law.
Like grateful food, like some wide dwelling place, like a fruit-bearing hill, a wholesome stream.
Like a steed urged to run in swift career, rushing like Sindhu, who may check his course?
Kin as a brother to his sister floods, he cats the woods as a King eats the rich.
When through the forest, urged by wind, he spreads, verily Agni shears the hair of earth.
Like a swan sitting in the floods he pants wisest in mind mid men he wakes at morn.
A Sage like Soma, sprung from Law, he grew like some young creature, mighty, shining far