The Vedas –Part 31

1.1.1.1      Mantra 9: The Explanation of the Mantras in 5.8

To that deity whom the Adhvaryu and the sacrificer overlook do they fall victims; he should draw the cup of curd for Prajapati, all the gods are Prajapati; verily they make reparation to the gods. This is the foremost of cups; verily he for whom it is drawn attains a foremost place. This cup is the form of all the deities; on him for whom it is drawn all forms of cattle attend. 'Thou are taken with a support [1]; for Prajapati thee, for him full of light, (thee) full of light I take', he says; verily he makes him a light of his equals. 'For those whose tongue is Agni, who are righteous', he says; so many are the deities; verily for all of them he draws it. 'Smite away, O Indra, the mind of him who hateth us', he says, for the smiting away of foes. 'For expiration thee, for inspiration thee', he says; verily he bestows the breaths on the sacrificer. 'For that thee, for Prajapati, of bounteous gifts, full of light, (thee) full of light I offer' [2], he says; all the deities are Prajapati; verily for all the deities he offers it. He should draw the cup of butter for one who desires brilliance; butter is brilliance; verily he becomes brilliant; he should draw the cup of Soma for one who desires splendour; Soma is splendour; verily he becomes resplendent; he should draw the cup of curd for one who desires cattle; curd is strength, cattle are strength; verily by strength he wins him strength and cattle.

1.1.1.2      Mantra 10: The Atigrahya and Prana Cups at the Gavam Ayana

a All turn their minds towards thee
When these twice or thrice become helpers;
Mix with the sweet what is sweeter than sweet,
I have won with the mead the mead.
b Thou art taken with a support; to Prajapati I take thee acceptably; this is thy birthplace; for Prajapati thee!

He draws the Prana, cups; so much is there as are these cups, these Stomas, these metres, these Prstha (Stotras), these quarters; whatever there is [1] that he wins. The highest Brahmans have proclaimed these before; they have therefore won all the quarters. He for whom these are drawn attains supremacy, he conquers the quarters. Five are drawn, the quarters are five; verily they prosper in all the quarters. Nine each are drawn; nine are the vital airs in man; verily upon the sacrificers he bestows the vital airs. At the beginning and at the end they are drawn; the Prana cups are the vital airs [2]; verily they begin with the vital airs, and end with the vital airs. Now offspring leave their vital airs in that the Vamadevya (Saman) departs from its norm; on the tenth day the Vamadevya departs from its norm; in that they are drawn on the tenth day, offspring leave not their vital airs.

1.1.1.3      Mantra 11: The Mantras of the Hotr in the Animal Sacrifice

a Bring onward with meditation divine
The god, who knoweth all;
May he duly bear our sacrifices.
b He, the Hotr is led forward for the sacrifice,
The servant of the gods;
Like a covered chariot glowing
He himself knoweth health.
c This Agni rescueth
Us from the immortal race,
He that is stronger than strength,
The god made for life.
d In the place of Ida we set thee down,
On the navel of the earth,
O Agni, all-knower,
To bear the oblation [1].
e O Agni of kindly aspect, do thou with the All-gods
Sit first on the birthplace made of wool,
Nest-like, rich in ghee, for Savitr
Do thou lead well the sacrifice, for the sacrificer.
f Sit thou, O Hotr, in thine own world, wise,
Place thou the sacrifice in the birthplace of good deeds
Eager for the gods, do thou sacrifice to them with oblation;
O Agni, bestow great strength on the sacrificer.
g The Hotr hath sat him down in the place of the Hotr wise,
Glittering, shining, skilful,
With vows and foresight undeceived, most wealthy,
Bearing a thousand, pure-tongued Agni.
h Thou art the envoy, thou [2] our guardian,
Thou, O bull, leadest us to better fortune;
0 Agni, be thou the guardian of our offspring, our descendants
In their bodies, unfailing and radiant.
i To thee, O god Savitr,
Lord of things delightful,
We come for fortune, O thou of constant help.
k May the great ones, sky and earth,
Mingle for us this sacrifice,
May they sustain us with support.
l Thee, O Agni, from the lotus
Atharvan passed out,
From the head of every priest.
m Thee [3] the sage, Dadhyañc,
Son of Atharvan, doth kindle,
Slayer of Vrtra, destroyer of forts.
n Thee Pathya Vrsan doth kindle,
Best slayer of foes,
Winner of booty in every conflict.
o Let men say too,
'Agni hath been born, slayer of Vrtra,
Winning booty in every conflict.'
p Whom, like a quoit in their bands,
Like a child at birth, they bear,
Agni, fair sacrificer of the folk.
q Bring forward the god, best finder of riches,
For offering to the gods;
May he sit down in his own birthplace [4].
r In the all-knower cause to rest
The dear guest on birth,
In a pleasant place, the lord of the house.
s By Agni is Agni kindled,
The wise, the young, the lord of the house,
The bearer of the oblation, with ladle in his mouth.
t Thou, O Agni, by Agni,
The sage by the sage, the good by the good,
The comrade by the comrade, art kindled.
u Him they make bright, the wise,
Victorious in the contests,
Strong in his abodes.
v By the sacrifice the gods sacrificed the sacrifice;
These were the first ordinances;
These mighty powers frequent the vault
Where are the ancient Sadhya gods.

1.2         Kandha 4

This Mandala contains 82 Mantras (Hymns):

1.2.1       Prapathaka 1: The Placing of the Fire in the Fire-Pan

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1.2.1.1      Mantra 1: The Taking up of the Spade

a Yoking mind first,
Extending his thoughts, Savitr
Discerning the light,
Hath brought Agni from the earth.
b Yoking with mind the gods,
Going to the heaven, the sky, with thought,
Those that are to make great light,
Savitr instigates.
c With mind well yoked are we
In the instigation of god Savitr,
For strength to go to the heaven.
d They yoke their minds, they yoke their thoughts,
The priests of the mighty wise priest,
He alone, who knoweth the way, appointeth their functions [1]
Great is the praise of the god Savitr.
e I yoke with honour your ancient prayer;
The praises go like Suras on their way;
All the sons of immortality hear (it),
Who have achieved dwellings divine.
f He whose advance others followed,
Gods, of the god praising might,
He who meted out the regions of earth,
He is the brilliant god Savitr in greatness.
g O god Savitr, instigate the sacrifice, instigate the lord of the sacrifice [2] to good luck; may the divine Gandharva, who purifieth thoughts purify our thought; may the lord of speech to-day make sweet our utterance.
h This sacrifice for us, O god Savitr
Do thou instigate, serving the gods,
Finding comrades, ever victorious,
Winning booty, winning heaven.
i By the Rc make the Stoma to prosper,
By the Gayatra the Rathantara,
The Brhat with the Gayatri for its metre.
k On the impulse of the god Savitr, with the arms of the Açvins, with the hands of Pusan, with the Gayatri metre, I take thee, in the manner of Angiras.
l Thou art the spade, thou art the woman [3], from the abode of the earth I bear Agni of the dust in the manner of Angiras; with the Tristubh metre I grasp thee in the manner of Angiras.
m Thou art the bearer, thou art the woman; through thee may we be strong to dig Agni of the dust in his place; with the Jagati metre I grasp thee in the manner of Angiras.
n Grasping in thy hand, Savitr,
Bearing the spade of gold,
Therewith digging Agni
Do thou bring for us light unperishing.
With the Anustubh metre I grasp thee in the manner of Angiras.

1.2.1.2      Mantra 2: The Obtaining of the Clay

a This bond of order they grasped
At their assemblies in ages gone by, the sages;
Therewith the gods mastered the pressed (juice)--
In the Saman of order proclaiming the stream.
b Swiftly run hither, O steed,
Along the most extended space;
In the sky is thy highest birth,
In the atmosphere thy navel, on the earth thy birthplace.
c Yoke ye two the ass,
In this course, O ye of mighty wealth,
Which beareth Agni, serving us.
d In each need more strong,
In each contest, we invoke,
As friends, Indra to aid us.
e Hastening [1] come hither, trampling the enemy,
Come with wondrous skill from the leadership of Rudra;
Fare along the broad atmosphere,
With happy pastures, bestowing security.
f With Pusan as fellow, from the abode of the earth do thou approach
Agni of the dust in the manner of Angiras.
g We approach Agni of the dust in the manner of Angiras.
h We will bear Agni of the dust in the manner of Angiras.
i We bear Agni of the dust in the manner of Angiras.
k Agni gazed along the forefront of the dawns,
Along the days first, the all-knower,
And in many ways along the rays of the sun [2],
He hath extended along sky and earth.
I The steed coming from the way
Driveth every foe;
He is fain to gaze with his eye
On Agni in his great abode.
m Coming to earth, O steed,
Do thou seek Agni with thy radiance;
Turning from earth I tell us
Whence we shall dig him up.
n Thy back is the sky, thy abode earth,
Thy breath the atmosphere, thy birthplace the ocean;
Discerning with thine eye,
Do thou overcome [3] the enemy.
o Arise for great prosperity
From this abode, giving wealth, O steed;
May we enjoy the loving favour of earth,
That are about to dig fire in her lap.
p The strong steed hath stepped forward, giving wealth;
He hath made the place of earth well wrought;
Thence let us dig Agni of fair aspect,
Mounting the heaven on the top of the vault.
q The water divine do thou pour, full of sweetness
To avert diseases for men,
From their place let arise
Plants with fair leaves.
r I touch [4] Agni with mind, with ghee,
Who lordeth it over all the worlds,
Broad, vast, with pervading vital power,
Most extensive, impetuous, winning, food.
s I touch thee with speech, with ghee,
With friendly mind accept it;
With mortal glory, with engaging colour,
Agni, with body full of life may not be touched.
t Round the offerings hath Agni gone,
The sage, the lord of strength,
Bestowing jewels on the donor.
u May we set thee around us, O Agni,
The sage, O strong one, as a fort,
Of daring due, day by day,
Destroyer of that which may be broken.
v Thou, O Agni, with days, fain to shine towards us,
Thou from the waters, thou from the rock,
Thou from the woods, thou from the plants,
Thou, O lord of men, art born pure.

1.2.1.3      Mantra 3: The Digging up of the Clay

a On the impulse of the god Savitr, with the arms of the Açvins, with the hands of Pusan, in the abode of earth, I dig Agni of the dust in the manner of Angiras.
b Full of light, thou, O Agni; of fair aspect,
Shining with unaging radiance,
Auspicious and harmless to offspring,
In the abode of earth, I dig Agni of the dust in the manner of Angiras.
c Thou art the back of the waters, expansive, wide,
About to bear Agni, least to be laid aside;
Growing to might as the lotus-flower,
Do thou extend in width with the measure of heaven.
d Ye two are protectors [1] and a help,
Unbroken, both expansive;
Do ye expanding be united;
Bear Agni of the dust.
e Be ye united, that win the heaven,
In union of heart and self;
Who shall bear within Agni
Full of light and unaging.
f Thou art of the dust, all-supporting; Atharvan first pressed out thee, O Agni.
g Thee, O Agni, from the lotus
Atharvan pressed out,
From the head of every priest.
h Thee the sage, Dadhyañc,
Son [2] of Atharvan, doth kindle,
Slayer of Vrtra, destroyer of foes.
i Thee Pathya Vrsan doth kindle,
Best slayer of foes,
Winner of booty in every conflict.
k Sit thou, O Hotr, in thine own world, wise,
Place thou the sacrifice in the birthplace of good deeds,
Eager for the gods, do thou sacrifice to them with oblation;
O Agni, bestow great strength on the sacrificer.
l The Hotr hath sat him down in the place of the Hoty, wise,
Glittering, shining, skilful,
With vows and foresight undeceived, most wealthy,
Bearing a thousand, pure-tongued Agni.
m Sit thou down, thou art great,
Burn [3] best servant of the gods;
O Agni, pure one, send forth the ruddy smoke,
O famous one, that can be seen afar.
n Be born noble in the forefront of the days,
Kind to the kindly, red in the woods;
Bestowing seven jewels in every home
Hath Agni sat him down as Hotr.

1.2.1.4      Mantra 4: The Taking of the Clay

a May I Vayu, Matariçvan, unite
The broken heart of thee that art outstretched
To him who moveth with the expiration of the gods,
With thee, O goddess, be Vasat.
b Wellborn, with light,
Guard and protector, thou hast sat on the heaven;
O Agni, thy garment of many hues,
Put on, O thou that dost abound in light.
c Arise, thou of fair sacrifice,
Aid us with thy divine radiance;
Brilliant to behold, with mighty blaze,
Do thou come hither, O Agni, in response to our prayers [1].
d Arise erect to aid us,
Like Savitr, the god;
Erect to win the booty,
When in contest we call on thee with the shining praisers.
e Born, thou art the child of the two worlds,
O Agni; a brilliant child distributed among the plants;
A beauteous babe beyond the darkness outspread,
Thou didst come thundering from thy mothers.
f Be firm, of strong limbs,
Swift, a mighty steed;
Be broad, of kindly seat,
Thou art the carrier of dust for Agni.
g Be auspicious [2], for offspring
Of men, O Angiras;
Scorch not sky and earth,
Nor the atmosphere, nor the trees.
h Let the steed advance, thundering
And resounding, the ass, the flier;
Bearing Agni of the dust
May he fall not before his day.
i The ass, well yoked to your chariot,
O ye strong ones, that thundereth,
May he as swift envoy
Bear hence Agni of the dust.
k The strong, bearing the strong Agni,
Germ of the waters, him of the ocean,
O Agni, come hither, for enjoyment [3],
As holy order and truth.
l O plants, do ye accept Agni here
Who cometh auspicious towards you;
Casting aside all hostilities, all evil imaginings,
Sitting down, may he smite away from us misfortune.
m O plants, do ye rejoice in him,
O ye that are rich in flowers, and have fair berries;
This germ of yours, of due season,
Hath sat him in his ancient seat.

1.2.1.5      Mantra 5: The Fashioning of the Pan

a Radiant with extending blaze,
Do thou repel the enemy, the Raksas's hostility;
May I enjoy the protection of the great protector,
May I enjoy the leadership of Agni, easy to invoke.
b Ye, waters, are healing;
Further us to strength,
To see great joy.
c The most auspicious flavour that is yours,
Accord to us here,
Like eager mothers.
d To him may we come with satisfaction,
To whose dwelling ye quicken us,
O waters, and propagate us.
e Mitra [1], having united the earth
And the ground with light,
Agni well-born, all-knower,
Common to all men, the wide extending.
f For health I unite thee, for offspring; may the All-gods, common to all men, unite thee with the Anustubh metre, in the manner of Angiras.
g The Rudras, having gathered together the earth,
Kindled a great light;
Their ray undying
Shineth clear among the gods.
h United by the Vasus, the cunning Rudras,
The mud fit for the rite,
Making it smooth with her hands,
May Sinivali fashion [2] this (pan).
i Sinivali, of fair braids,
Of fair head-dress, with fair locks,
May she, O Aditi, O great one,
Place within thy hands the pan.
k Let Aditi fashion the pan with might,
With her arms , with wisdom,
Let her bear Agni in her womb
As a mother a child in her lap.
I Thou art the head of Makha.
m Ye are the two feet of the sacrifice.
n May the Vasus fashion thee with the Gayatri metre, in the manner of Angiras. Thou art the earth; may the Rudras fashion thee with the Tristubh metre, in the manner of Angiras. Thou art the atmosphere [3]; may the Adityas fashion thee with the Jagati metre in the manner of Angiras. Thou art the sky; may the All-gods, common to all men, fashion thee with the Anustubh metre, in the manner of Angiras. Thou art the quarters; thou art the fixed (quarter); fix in me offspring, increase of wealth, richness in cattle, richness in heroes, (subject) his fellows to the sacrificer.
o Thou art the girdle of Aditi.
p Let Aditi seize thy hole with the Pankti metre, in the manner of Angiras.
q Having made the great pan,
Wrought of clay, as a birthplace for Agni,
Aditi gave it to her sons,
(Saying), 'Let them cook it.'

1.2.1.6      Mantra 6: The Preparing of the Pan

a May the Vasus fumigate thee with the Gayatri metre, in the manner of Angiras; may the Rudras fumigate thee with the Tristubh metre, in the manner of Angiras; may the Adityas fumigate thee with the Jagati metre, in the manner of Angiras; may the All-gods, common to all men, fumigate thee with the Anustubh metre, in the manner of Angiras; may Indra fumigate thee in the manner of Angiras; may Visnu fumigate thee in the manner of Angiras; may Varuna fumigate thee in the manner of Angiras.
b May Aditi, connected with the All-gods, the goddess, dig thee on the abode of earth, in the manner of Angiras, O trench.
c May the wives of the gods [1], the goddesses, connected with the All-gods, place thee on the abode of earth, in the manner of Angiras, O pan.
d May the Dhisanas, the goddesses connected with the All-gods, kindle thee on the abode of earth, in the manner of Angiras, O pan; may the wives, the goddesses, connected with the All-gods, prepare thee on the abode of earth, in the manner of Angiras, O pan; may the protectors, the women, the goddesses, connected with the All-gods, cook thee on the abode of earth, in the manner of Angiras, O pan.
e O Mitra, cook this pan; may it not break.
f This I place around thee, to prevent breaking.
g Mitra, extending, compasseth
This sky in greatness [2],
And the earth with his fame.
h The fame of Mitra, supporter of the people,
Of the god is eternal,
True, and most varied in fame.
i May the god Savitr dig thee out,
With fair hands, fair fingers,
Fair arms, with his might.
k Breaking not, O earth,
Do thou fill the regions, the quarters;
Arise, become great,
Stand upright, be thou firm.
l May the Vasus fill thee with the Gayatri metre, in the manner of Angiras: may the Rudras fill thee with the Tristubh metre, in the manner of Angiras; may the Adityas fill thee with the Jagati metre, in the manner of Angiras; may the All-gods, common to all men, fill thee with the Anustubh metre, in the manner of Angiras.

1.2.1.7      Mantra 7: The Samidheni Verses with the Offering of Five Victims

a Let the half-years, the seasons, increase thee, O Agni,
The years, the Rsis, and what truths there are;
Shine with thy heavenly lustre,
Illuminate all the quarters of the earth.
b Be kindled, O Agni, and awake him;
Arise for great good fortune;
May he that waiteth on thee, O Agni, be not harmed;
May thy priests be famous, not the others.
c These Brahmans, O Agni, choose thee;
Be thou propitious, O Agni [1], to us in the sanctuary;
Slaying our rivals, conquering the foes,
Do thou watch unfailing in thine own home.
d Here, O Agni, do thou grant wealth;
May not the overcomers, anticipating (us); overcome thee;
May the lordly power be easily wielded by thee, O Agni
Let him who waiteth on thee prosper, unassailed.
e With good life, O Agni, unite thee with the lordly power;
O Agni, vie with Mitra in friendlihood;
Be thou the midmost of thine equals;
O Agni, shine forth here to be invoked by kings.
f (Be thou) over the [2] enemy, the obstructor,
Unwisdom, niggardliness, O Agni,
All obstacles do thou overcome,
And bestow upon us wealth with heroes.
g Unassailable, all-knower, unoverpowered,
Ruling, O Agni, supporting the lordly power, do thou shine here;
Through all the regions, freeing men from fear,
Do thou this day guard us for increase with kindliness.
h O Brhaspati, instigator, awake him;
The sharp do thou more thoroughly sharpen;
Increase him to great prosperity [3]
Let the All-gods rejoice in him.
i What time, O Brhaspati, thou didst free
From life yonder, from Yama's enmity,
The Açvins removed death from him,
O Agni, the physicians of the gods with their powers.
k We from the darkness,
Gazing on the higher light,
Surya a god among the gods,
Have come to the highest light.

1.2.1.8      Mantra 8: The Apri Verses for the Fire Sacrifices

a Uplifted are his kindling-sticks,
Uplifted and pure are the rays of Agni,
Most brilliant (are they) of the son of fair countenance.
b The son of self, the Asura, all-knower,
God, god among gods,
Anointeth the ways with mead and ghee.
c With mead thou attainest the sacrifice,
Delighting, as Naraçansa, O Agni,
The kindly god Savitr, with every boon.
d Hither he cometh, with might, with ghee,
The priest implored with adoration;
To Agni the ladles (move) when the rites proceed.
e Worship let him pay to the greatness of him, of Agni;
He [1] indeed is pre-eminent among the delightful,
The wealthy, the wisest, best bestower of wealth.
f The divine doors--all--preserve
The rules of him, of Agni,
Of wide expanse, lording it with dominion.
g May day and night
Like heavenly maidens in his birthplace
Protect this our sacrifice and offering.
h O ye divine Hotrs, sing ye
To our uplifted sacrifice, to Agni's tongue,
Make for us good offering.
i May the three goddesses sit on this strew,
Ida, Sarasvati [2], Bharati, the great, being sung.
k That seminal fluid of ours, wondrous,
Abundant, may Tvastr release
As increase of wealth with good heroes, as offspring to us.
l O tree, let free,
Bestowing with thyself among the gods;
Let Agni as queller make ready the oblation.
m O Agni, utter 'Hail!' O all-knower, over the oblation for Indra;
May all the gods rejoice in this offering.
n The golden germ first arose;
Born he was the only lord of creation;
He supporteth the earth and the sky [3]
To what god shall we offer with oblation?
o He that alone by his might is king
Of the breathing, the winking world,
Who is lord of these bipeds and quadrupeds;
To what god shall we offer with oblation?
p He who is giver of breath, giver of strength,
Upon whose bidding all, even the gods, wait,
Whose shadow is immortality and death;
To what god shall we offer with oblation?
He whose are these snowy mountains through his might,
Whose they call the ocean with the Rasa [4],
Whose two arms are these quarters;
To what god shall we offer with oblation?
r To whom the armies stablished
Through his aid gazed with minds disturbed,
Over whom on the rising of the sun it goeth;
To what god shall we offer with oblation?
s He by whom the dread earth and the sky were made firm,
By whom the heaven was established, by whom the vault,
Who is the measure of the region in the atmosphere;
To what god shall we offer with oblation?
t When the waters, the great ones, went
Bearing all [5] strength, begetting Agni,
Then one breath of the gods arose;
To what god shall we offer with oblation?
u He who in his might beheld the waters
Bearing strength, begetting Agni,
Who was the god alone over the gods;
To what god shall we offer with oblation?

1.2.1.9      Mantra 9: The Kindling of the Fire in the Pan

a Purpose, Agni, impulse, hail! Mind, intellect, Agni, impulse, hail! Thought, knowledge, Agni, impulse, hail! Discrimination of speech, Agni, impulse, hail! To Manu, lord of creatures, hail! To Agni Vaiçvanara hail!
b Let every man choose the companionship
Of the god who leadeth;
Every man prayeth for wealth;
Let him choose glory that he may prosper; hail!
e Be not broken, nor come to harm;
Be firm and enduring;
O mother, daringly show thy heroism [1];
With Agni wilt thou do this deed.
d Be firm, O goddess earth, for prosperity;
Thou art the wile of the Asura, made with power;
Let this oblation be pleasing to the gods;
Do thou emerge uninjured at this our sacrifice.
e O Mitra, heat this pan; may it not break.
f This I place around thee, to prevent breaking.
g Feeding on wood, sipping clarified butter,
The ancient desirable Hotr,
Son of strength, the wondrous.
h From a far region
Come hither to these lower ones [2]
Favour those in the region where I am.
i From a far distance
Do thou of ruddy steeds come hither;
Of the dust, dear to many,
O Agni, do thou overcome obstructions.
k Do thou sit down in the lap of this mother,
O Agni, knowing all the ways;
Consume her not with light nor with heat,
Within her shine with pure radiance.
l O Agni, with glow
Within thine own seat of the pan,
Heating with her blaze,
Be thou, O all-knower, auspicious.
m Becoming auspicious to me, O Agni,
Do thou sit down auspicious;
Having made all the quarters auspicious
Sit here on thine own birthplace.

1.2.1.10  Mantra 10: The Carrying of the Fire

a Whatever logs we place
In thee, O Agni,
Be that ghee for thee;
Accept it, O youngest one.
b What the insect eateth,
What the ant climbeth over,
All that be ghee for thee;
Accept it, O youngest one.
c Mighty by night, unfailingly bearing (food)
For him as fodder to a stalled horse,
May we, O Agni, thy neighbours, be not harmed,
Rejoicing in increase of wealth, in food.
d Kindled on earth's navel [1], Agni
We invoke for great increase of wealth,
Delighting in drink, recipient of great praise, worthy of offering,
The victor, Agni, sustainer in battles.
e The hosts that attack,
That pierce, the trooping,
The thieves and the robbers,
Them, O Agni, do I place in thy mouth.
f With thy tusks the burglars,
With thy teeth the robbers,
With thy jaws the thieves, O blessed one,
Do thou chew, well chewed.
g The burglars among men,
The thieves and robbers in the forest,
The [2] mischief-workers in the thickets,
Them I place within thy jaws.
h The man who is hostile to us,
And him who hateth us,
Him who revileth us, and him who seeketh to hurt,
Every one of them do thou crush to atoms.
i Sharpened is my holy power,
Sharpened the strength and might,
Sharpened the conquering lordly power of him
Whose domestic priest I am.
k Their arms have I uplifted,
Their radiance, their might;
With holy power I waste the foes,
I support [3] my own.
I Shining like gold, he hath become widely resplendent,
For glory shining with immortal life;
Agni became immortal in his strength
What time prolific Dyaus begat him.
m The sage showeth all forms;
He hath produced bliss for biped and quadruped;
Savitr, the desirable, hath discerned the vault;
After the moving forward of the dawn he shineth.
n Night and the dawn, one-minded but of various form,
United suckle one child;
The radiant one shineth between sky and earth [4]
The gods, granters of wealth, support Agni.
o Thou art the bird of fair feathers; thy head the Trivrt (Stoma), thy eye the Gayatra, thy breath the Stoma, thy body the Vamadevya Saman, thy wings the Brhat and the Rathantara, thy tail the Yajñayajñiya, thy limbs the metres, thy hoofs the altars, thy name the Yajus formulae.
p Thou art the bird of fair feathers; go to the sky, fly to the heaven.

1.2.1.11  Mantra 11: The Mantras for the Offerings at the Vaiçvadeva

a O Agni, that sacrifice, that offering,
Which on all sides thou dost encircle,
It of a truth goeth to the gods.
b O Soma, the wondrous aids
That there are of thine for the generous man,
With these be thou our helper.
c Agni the, head.
d Be.
e Thou, O Soma.
f These abodes of thine.
g That excellent glory of Savitr,
The god, we meditate,
That he may stimulate our prayers.
h What we have done in thoughtlessness against the host divine,
With feeble insight, with violence as is man's way [1],
Among gods and men, do thou, O Savitr,
There instigate us to sinlessness.
i Impeller of righteousness,
Instigator of devotions,
Sarasvati hath established the sacrifice.
k May the maiden of the lightning, the one of varied life,
Sarasvati, wife of a hero, inspire our devotion;
In accord with the ladies, may she accord to the singer
Protection uninjured, and guardianship unsurpassable.
I May Pusan follow the cows for us,
May he guard our horses;
May Pusan win booty for us.
m Bright is part of thee, worthy of offering another [2],
Like day and night of various hue, like the sky art thou;
All magic thou dost further, O powerful one;
Propitious here, O Pusan, be thy bounty.
n They grew in might with their own power;
They mounted the vault, they made a broad seat;
When Visnu helped the strong one who causeth gladness,
Like birds they sat on the dear strew.
o Bear ye variegated praise to the strong singer,
The host of the Maruts, which hath strength;
Who with might endure might [3],
For the jocund ones, O Agni, the earth shakes.
p The All-gods.
q O All-gods.
r May sky and earth this day
Place among the gods this sacrifice,
Successful, touching the sky.
s Bring forward the parents born of old with now songs,
In the seat of holy order,
Come to us, O sky and earth, with the host divine;
Great is your protection.
t Awaken Agni with the praise,
Kindling the immortal;
May he place our oblations among the gods.
u Bearing the oblation, immortal,
The eager messenger, well-inclined,
Agni uniteth with our prayer.
v Health be they.
w For each prize.

1.2.2       Prapathaka 2: The Preparation of the Ground for the Fire

Enter text here

1.2.2.1      Mantra 1: The Placing of the Fire-pan on the Throne

a Thou art the step of Visnu, overcoming hostility, mount the Gayatri metre, step along the earth, excluded is he whom we hate. Thou art the step of Visnu, overcoming imprecations, mount the Tristubh metre, step along the atmosphere, excluded is he whom we hate. Thou art the step of Visnu, overcomer of the enemy, mount the Jagati metre, step along the sky, excluded is he whom we hate. Thou art the stop of Visnu [1], overcomer of the foe, mount the Anustubh metre, step along the quarters, excluded is he whom we hate.
b Agni hath cried, like Dyaus thundering,
Licking the earth, devouring the plants
Straightway on birth he shone aflame,
He blazeth with his light within the firmaments.
c O Agni, returner, to us return
With life, with radiance, with gain, with wisdom, with offspring, with wealth.
d O Agni [2], O Angiras, a hundred be thy returns,
A thousand thy movements;
With the increase of their increase
Do thou bring back for us what is lost,
Bring back to us wealth.
e Return with strength,
Return, O Agni, with food and life;
Again guard us on all sides.
f Return with wealth,
O Agni, fatten with the stream,
All-gaining on every side.
g Unloose from us, O Varuna, the highest,
The lowest, the midmost knot [3];
Then may we, O Aditya, in thy rule,
Be guiltless before Aditi.
h I have drawn thee, thou hast become within,
Be thou firm and motionless,
Lot all the folk desire thee;
In him establish the kingship.
i In greatness hath he arisen erect in the van of the dawns;
Emerging from the darkness, he hath come with the light;
Agni, with radiant brilliance, fair limbed,
On birth hath filled every seat.
k Do thou sit down in the lap of this mother [4],
O Agni, knowing all the ways;
Consume her not with light nor with heat,
Within her shine with pure radiance.
1 O Agni, with glow
Within thine own seat of the pan,
Heating with her blaze,
Be thou, O all-knower, auspicious.
m Becoming auspicious to me, O Agni,
Do thou sit down auspicious;
Having made all the quarters auspicious,
Sit here on thine own birthplace.
n The gander seated in purity, the bright one seated in the atmosphere,
The Hotr seated at the altar, the guest seated in the house,
Seated among men, seated in the highest, seated in holy order, seated in the firmament,
Born of the waters, born of the cows, born of holy order, born of the mountain, the great holy order.

1.2.2.2      Mantra 2: The Adoration of the Fire

a From the sky was Agni first born,
From us secondly he who knoweth all,
In the waters thirdly the manly,
The pious man singeth of him, the undying, as he kindleth him.
b We know thy three places threefold, O Agni,
We know thy seat that is established in many places;
We know thy highest name in secret;
We know the spring whence thou hast come.
c The manly souled kindleth thee in the ocean, in the waters,
In the breast of the sky, O Agni, he who gazeth on men;
Thee standing in the third region [1],
In the birthplace of holy order, the steers inspirited.
d Agni hath cried, like Dyaus thundering,
Licking the earth, devouring the plants;
Straightway on birth he shone aflame,
He blazeth with his light within the firmaments.
e Eager, purifying, the envoy, the wise one,
Agni, the immortal, hath been established among men;
He beareth and darteth forward his ruddy smoke;
The sky he attaineth with his pure radiance.
f The banner of the whole world, the germ [2],
Filled on birth the firmaments;
Even the firm mountain he cleft passing over,
When the five peoples sacrificed to Agni.
g Receptacle of prosperity, supporter of riches,
Granter of thoughts, guardian of the Soma,
Son of the bright one, of strength, the king
Is resplendent within the waters, kindled before the dawns.
h He who first maketh for thee to-day, O thou of wondrous radiance,
A cake rich in ghee, O god Agni;
Do thou bear him ever on to the better,
To glory allotted by the gods, O youngest one [3].
i Give him portion, O Agni, in praises;
Give him portion in every hymn that is sung,
Dear shall he be before Surya, dear before Agni
With what is born, what is to be born shall he be victorious.
k Thee, O Agni, the sacrificers through the days
Bear as many riches desirable;
With thee desiring wealth,
Eagerly they revealed the stall rich in kine.
l Shining like gold, he hath become widely resplendent,
For glory shining with immortal life;
Agni became immortal in his strength,
What time prolific Dyaus begat him.

1.2.2.3      Mantra 3: The Taking of the Fire to the Place of Piling

a O Lord of food, accord us food,
Uninjurious, impetuous;
Do thou further the donor,
Bestow strength on our bipeds, our quadrupeds.
b May the All-gods thee,
O Agni, bear up with their thoughts;
Be thou to us most propitious,
With kindly face, abounding in light,
c Come forward, O Agni, rich in light,
With auspicious rays;
Shining with great radiance,
Harm not our offspring with thy body.
d With kindling-wood serve Agni,
Awaken the guest with ghee;
In him [1] offer oblations.
e Far-famed is this Agni of Bharata,
Since his great light shineth like the sun;
He who overcame Puru in battle
Hath shone forth, the heavenly guest, propitious for us.
f O ye waters divine, accept these ashes;
Place them on a resting-place, in the fragrant region
To him may the ladies with noble spouses bow;
Like a mother her son, do ye kindly bear him.
g In the waters, O Agni, is thy seat [2],
Thou enterest the plants;
Being in the germ thou art born again.
h Thou art the germ of plants,
The germ of trees,
The germ of all things,
O Agni, thou art the germ of the waters.
i With ashes having satisfied thy birthplace
And the waters, on the earth, O Agni,
In unison with thy mothers,
Full of light hast thou again taken thy seat.
k Having again come to thy seat,
And to the waters, to the earth, O Agni,
Within her thou liest, most auspicious,
As on the lap of a mother.
l Return with strength [3],
Return, O Agni, with food and life;
Again guard us on all sides.
m Return with wealth,
O Agni, fatten with the stream,
All-gaining on every side.
n May the Adityas, the Rudras, the Vasus, kindle thee again;
The Brahmans again with offerings, O bringer of wealth;
With ghee do thou increase our bodies;
May the wishes of the sacrificer become true.
o Hearken to this our call, that is offered, O youngest one,
Of the most generous one, O thou that hast power;
One hateth, one praiseth.
As praiser I praise thy body, O Agni.
p Be thou a bounteous patron,
Giver of riches, lord of riches;
Repel from us the foes.

1.2.2.4      Mantra 4: The Piling of the Garhapatya

a Go hence depart, creep away, hence,
Ye that are here of old and ye that are new,
Yama hath given this resting-place of earth,
The Pitrs have made this world for him.
b Thou art the ash of Agni, thou art the dust of Agni.
c Thou art accord, fulfilling love; in me be the fulfilling of thy love.
d Be united your dear bodies,
Be united your dear hearts,
Be your breath united [1],
United my body.
e This is that Agni in whom as a belly
Indra placed the pressed Soma eagerly;
Thou art praised, O all-knower, for winning
Booty a thousandfold, like a swift steed.
f O Agni, thou comest to the wave of the sky,
To the gods thou speakest, those of the altar;
The waters above in the realm of the sun,
And those below wait (on thee).
g O Agni, thy radiance in the sky, the earth,
The plants [2], or the waters, O holy one,
That whereby thou didst outspread the broad atmosphere,
Glittering is thy gleam, moving and men espying.
h May the Agnis of the dust
In unison with those of the floods
Accept the oblation offered,
The rich healthful viands.
i As food, O Agni, accord to the sacrificer
The gain of a cow, wondrous enduring;
Be to us a son, a scion, full of life;
This, O Agni, be thy lovingkindness towards us.
k This is thy due place of birth,
Whence born thou didst shine,
Mount it, O Agni, knowing it [3],
And make our wealth increase.
l Thou art a piler; in the manner of Angiras be firm with that deity.
m Thou art a piler round; in the manner of Angiras be firm with that deity.
n Fill the world, fill the hole, do thou sit down auspicious;
Indra and Agni and Brhaspati
Have placed thee on this birthplace
o The dappled kine, streaming with milk,
Mix the Soma,
Clans in the birthplace of the gods,
In the three realms of sky.

1.2.2.5      Mantra 5: The Ploughing of the Earth for the Ahavaniya

a Be united, be in harmony, in affection,
Radiant, with kindly thought,
Clothed in food and strength,
United have I made your minds, your ordinances, your hearts.
b O Agni of the dust be overlord for us;
Bestow food and strength on the sacrificer.
c Thou, O Agni, art of the dust,
Rich, full of increase,
Making all the regions propitious
Thou hast sat down on thine own birthplace.
d Be ye of one mind for us,
One dwelling [1], spotless;
Harm not the sacrifice, nor the lord of the sacrifice, O all-knowers;
Be ye two auspicious to-day unto us.
e As a mother her son, the earth,
The pan, hath borne Agni of the dust in his own birthplace
In unison with the All-gods, the seasons,
Let Prajapati, all-worker, release it.
f The bright light
Born beyond this firmament,
May that convey us beyond our foes,
O Agni Vaiçvanara, hail!
g Homage to thee, O Nirrti of every form [2],
Loosen ye this bond made of iron;
Do thou in accord with Yama and Yami
Mount this highest vault.
h The bond that Nirrti, the goddess,
Bound on thy neck, not to be loosened,
This I loosen for thee as from the middle of life;
Then living, let loose, do thou eat the food.
i Thee in whose cruel mouth here I make offering,
For the loosening of these bonds,
As 'earth' men know thee,
As 'Nirrti' [3], I know thee on every side.
k Seek the man who poureth not offering nor sacrifices;
The road of the thief and robber thou followest;
Seek another than us, that is thy road;
Homage be to thee, O Nirrti, O goddess.
l Praising Nirrti, the goddess,
Like a father his son, I weary her with my words;
She who knoweth all that is born,
Discerneth, the lady, every head.
m Abode and collector of riches,
Every form she discerneth with might [4],
Like the god Savitr of true laws,
Like Indra, she standeth at the meeting of the ways.
n Make firm the straps,
Fasten the buckets;
We shall drain the well full of water,
That never is exhausted, never faileth.
o The well with buckets fastened,
With strong straps, that yieldeth abundantly,
Full of water, unexhausted, I drain.
p The sages yoke the ploughs;
They stretch apart the yokes,
Wise with goodwill among the gods.
q Yoke the ploughs, stretch apart the yokes,
Here sow in the womb made ready the seed [5]
Through our song be there audience with profit for us;
May the ripe (grain) be brought low by the sickle.
r The plough, of keen share,
Propitious, with well-polished handle,
Plougheth up a cow, a sheep,
And a fat blooming maid,
A chariot support with a platform.
s With prosperity may our ploughs cleave the ground,
With prosperity may the ploughers go round the yokes;
Prosperity (may) Parjanya (give) with honey and milk,
And do ye, O Çuna and Sira, accord prosperity to us.
t Wishes, O milker of wishes, do thou milk
To Mitra and Varuna;
To Indra, to Agni, to Pusan,
To the plants, and to offspring.
u The furrow anointed with ghee, with honey,
Approved by the All-gods, the Maruts,
Full of strength, swelling with milk,
Do thou, O furrow, turn towards us with milk.

1.2.2.6      Mantra 6: The Sowing of the Earth

a The plants born
Three generations before the gods,
Of the brown ones I celebrate
The seven and a hundred abodes.
b A hundred, O mother, are your abodes,
A thousand too your shoots,
Therefore do ye, with a hundred powers,
Make him whole for me.
c With flowers, with shoots,
Fruit-bearing and without fruit,
Like steeds victorious
The plants are strong to help.
d 'Plants', O ye mothers,
I hail you, O goddesses;
Go bearing away defilement,
Defilement [1] destroying.
e In the Açvattha is your seat,
In the Parna is your dwelling made;
Cows shall in truth be your share
If ye shall gain this man.
f In that in strength I seize
These plants in my hand,
The soul of the disease perisheth,
As before one that taketh alive.
g When the plants come together
Like princes at the assembly,
Sage is the physician called,
Slayer of Raksases, overpowerer of diseases.
h Remover is your mother by name,
And ye are helpers;
Ye are winged streams [2];
Remove whatever is unwell.
i Let one of you aid another,
Let one be of assistance to another;
All the plants in unison
Do ye further this speech of mine.
k The strength of the plants hath arisen
Like cows from the pasturage,
Of them that are fain to win gain,
To the self of thee, O man.
I Beyond all obstacles,
Like the thief the pen, they have strode,
The plants have shaken away
Every defilement in the body.
m Those [3] that have mounted thy self,
That have entered every limb,
May they repel thy disease,
Like a dread intercessor.
n O disease, do thou fly forth
With the eagle, the blue jay (kikidivi)
With the rush of the wind,
With the whirlwind do thou disappear.
o Rich in steeds, rich in Soma,
Full of strength, full of power,
I have found all the plants
For his safety.
p The fruitful, the fruitless,
The flowering, the flowerless,
Impelled by Brhaspati,
May they free us from tribulation.
q The [4] plants whose king is Soma,
And which have entered the earth,
Of them thou art the highest,
Impel us to long life.
r Falling from the sky
The plants said,
'He, whom we reach while in life,
Shall not come to ill.'
s Those that hear now
And those that are gone far away,
Coming all together here
Give ye him healing.
t May the digger of you come to no ill,
Nor he for whom I dig you;
May all our bipeds and quadrupeds
Be free from disease.
u The plants hold converse
With Soma, the king,
'The man for whom the Brahman prepares (us),
We, O king, bring to safety.'

Om Tat Sat

(Continued ..)

My humble salutations to Swamyjis, Philosophic scholars , dharmicscriptures dot org

for the collection)