17. Adhyāya 17 — Agnicayana
Mantras 1–10
17.1
अश्मन्न् ऊर्जं पर्वते शिश्रियाणाम् ऽ अद्भ्य ओषधीभ्यो वनस्पतिभ्यो ऽधि सम्भृतं पयः ।
तां न ऽ इषमूर्जं धत्त मरुतः सꣳरराणाः ।
ऽ अश्मꣳस् ते क्षुत् ।
मयि त ऊर्क् ।
यं द्विष्मस् तं ते शुग् ऋच्छतु ॥
aśmann ūrjaṃ parvate śiśriyāṇām ' adbhya oṣadhībhyo vanaspatibhyo 'dhi sambhṛtaṃ payaḥ ।
tāṃ na ' iṣamūrjaṃ dhatta marutaḥ saṁrarāṇāḥ ।
' aśmaṁs te kṣut ।
mayi ta ūrk ।
yaṃ dviṣmas taṃ te śug ṛcchatu ॥
O Maruts (men and women), kind and generous powers, hold for us the energy and power contained in the mountain ranges of the clouds and the sky, and hold for us that energy and juices distilled from waters, herbs and trees, and bless us with that food and energy. Voracious eater, fire of yajna, may your hunger and energy be in me too, and may your displeasure reach someone we hate (i.e., none).
17.2
इमा मे ऽ अग्न ऽ इष्टका धेनवः सन्त्व् एका च दश च दश च शतं च शतं च सहस्रं च सहस्रं चायुतं चायुतं च नियुतं च नियुतं च प्रयुतं चार्बुदं च न्यर्बुदꣳ समुद्रश् च मध्यं चान्तश् च परार्धश् चैता मे ऽ अग्न इष्टका धेनवः सन्त्व् अमुत्रामुष्मिंल् लोके ॥
imā me ' agna ' iṣṭakā dhenavaḥ santv ekā ca daśa ca daśa ca śataṃ ca śataṃ ca sahasraṃ ca sahasraṃ cāyutaṃ cāyutaṃ ca niyutaṃ ca niyutaṃ ca prayutaṃ cārbudaṃ ca nyarbudaṁ samudraś ca madhyaṃ cāntaś ca parārdhaś caitā me ' agna iṣṭakā dhenavaḥ santv amutrāmuṣmiṃl loke ॥
Agni, fire-lord of yajna, may these bricks of my altar (vedi), wanted values of life, one and all, be generous and productive and grow ten times in geometrical progression : May one grow to ten, and ten to one hundred (shatam), and one hundred to one thousand (sahasram), and one thousand to ten thousand (ayutam), and ten thousand to hundred thousand (one lac, niyutam), and hundred thousand to a million (prayutam), and one million to hundred million (arbudam), and hundred million to a billion (arba, nyarbudam), and one billion to ten billion (one kharba), and ten billion to a hundred billion (one nikharba), and hundred billion to a trillion (mahapadma), and one trillion to ten trillion (one shanku), and ten trillion to hundred trillion (one samudra), and hundred trillion to quadrillion (one madhyam), and one madhyam to ten madhyam (anta, ten quadrillion), and one anta to ten anta (hundred quadrillion), parardha. And these bricks, wanted values, be, like cows, the givers of fulfilment to me in this life and beyond, in this world and beyond.
17.3
ऋतव स्थ ऽ ऋतावृध ऽ ऋतुष्ठा स्थ ऽ ऋतावृधः ।
घृतश्च्युतो मधुश्च्युतो विराजो नाम कामदुघा ऽ अक्षीयमाणाः ॥
ṛtava stha ' ṛtāvṛdha ' ṛtuṣṭhā stha ' ṛtāvṛdhaḥ ।
ghṛtaścyuto madhuścyuto virājo nāma kāmadughā ' akṣīyamāṇāḥ ॥
Ladies of the home brilliant as yajna fire, holy as truth and universal law, reflecting the plenty and purity
17.4
समुद्रस्य त्वावकयाग्ने परि व्ययामसि ।
पावको ऽ अस्मभ्यꣳ शिवो भव ॥
samudrasya tvāvakayāgne pari vyayāmasi ।
pāvako ' asmabhyaṁ śivo bhava ॥
Agni, brilliant power, we stand round and cover you as the shaivala grass of the sea. Cleanser and purifier of life, be good and gracious to us.
17.5
हिमस्य त्वा जरायुणाग्ने परि व्ययामसि ।
पावको ऽ अस्मभ्यꣳ शिवो भव ॥
himasya tvā jarāyuṇāgne pari vyayāmasi ।
pāvako ' asmabhyaṁ śivo bhava ॥
Agni, brilliant power, we cover you round as fire and clothing round the frosty cold of the season. Come, cleanser and purifier of life, and be kind and gracious to us.
17.6
उप ज्मन्न् उप वेतसेऽव तर नदीष्व् आ ।
अग्ने पित्तम् अपाम् असि ।
मण्डूकि ताभिर् आ गहि सेमं नो यज्ञं पावकवर्णꣳ शिवं कृधि ॥
upa jmann upa vetase'va tara nadīṣv ā ।
agne pittam apām asi ।
maṇḍūki tābhir ā gahi semaṃ no yajñaṃ pāvakavarṇaṁ śivaṃ kṛdhi ॥
Agni, clad in the brilliant flames of light, come upon the earth, descend in the midst of the earth’s abundance. Descend into the streams of life. Since you are the life and lustre of the waters, come with that life and lustre. Come and bless this yajna of our home with peace and prosperity.
17.7
अपाम् इदं न्ययनꣳ समुद्रस्य निवेशनम् ।
अन्याꣳस् ऽ ते अस्मत् तपन्तु हेतयः पावको ऽ अस्मभ्यꣳ शिवो भव ॥
apām idaṃ nyayanaṁ samudrasya niveśanam ।
anyāṁs ' te asmat tapantu hetayaḥ pāvako ' asmabhyaṁ śivo bhava ॥
This home is the abode of peace as the sky is the abode of waters. It is an abode of the depth of life as the deep ocean is. May Agni, lord of yajna and life and lustre of the waters be kind and gracious to us in this home of yajna, and may the heat of his passion and displeasure be directed elsewhere away from us.
17.8
अग्ने पावक रोचिषा मन्द्रया देव जिह्वया ।
आ देवान् वक्षि यक्षि च ॥
agne pāvaka rociṣā mandrayā deva jihvayā ।
ā devān vakṣi yakṣi ca ॥
Agni, generous lord of light, purifier and sanctifier of life, with your brilliant and exhilarating tongue of flames you call the noble yajnic devotees together and proclaim to them the truths of eternity.
17.9
स नः पावक दीदिवो ग्ने देवाꣳ ऽ इहा वह ।
उप यज्ञꣳ हविश् च नः ॥
sa naḥ pāvaka dīdivo gne devāṁ ' ihā vaha ।
upa yajñaṁ haviś ca naḥ ॥
Agni, power of light and lustre, purifier and sanctifier of life, you graciously call the noble powers of nature and humanity together here close to our yajna and let us all share the gifts of the fragrance of libations.
17.10
पावकया यश् चितयन्त्या कृपा क्षामन् रुरुच ऽ उषसो न भानुना ।
तूर्वन् न यामन्न् एतशस्य नू रण ऽ आ यो घृणे न ततृषाणो ऽ अजरः ॥
pāvakayā yaś citayantyā kṛpā kṣāman ruruca ' uṣaso na bhānunā ।
tūrvan na yāmann etaśasya nū raṇa ' ā yo ghṛṇe na tatṛṣāṇo ' ajaraḥ ॥
Agni, lord of light and power, commander of the army, with his cleansing, enlightening and splendid force, shines on the earth like the dawn blazing with the light of the sun. And young, unaging, unexhausted, hastening apace on the course of his chariot, thirsting for victory in the heat of the battle, blazes with his own glory.
Mantras 11–20
17.11
नमस् ते हरसे शोचिषे नमस् ते ऽ अस्त्व् अर्चिषे ।
अन्याꣳस् ते अस्मत् तपन्तु हेतयः पावको ऽ अस्मभ्यꣳ शिवो भव ॥
namas te harase śociṣe namas te ' astv arciṣe ।
anyāṁs te asmat tapantu hetayaḥ pāvako ' asmabhyaṁ śivo bhava ॥
Salutations to Agni, lord of light and justice, radiant and pure, divine and adorable, and saviour from pain and suffering. Lord sanctifier of life and nature, be good and gracious to us. And may the heat of your passion and punishment for sin and injustice fall upon others far from us, i.e. different from real human nature and character.
17.12
नृषदे वेट् ।
अप्सुषदे वेट् ।
बर्हिषदे वेट् ।
वनसदे वेट् ।
स्वर्विदे वेट् ॥
nṛṣade veṭ ।
apsuṣade veṭ ।
barhiṣade veṭ ।
vanasade veṭ ।
svarvide veṭ ॥
Homage to Agni, lord present in and presiding over humanity. Homage to the lord present in and ruling over the waters. Homage to the lord governing within and over the business of society. Homage to the lord present in and ruling over the forests. Homage to the lord creator and giver of the joy of life.
17.13
ये देवा देवानां यज्ञिया यज्ञियानाꣳ संवत्सरीणम् उप भागम् आसते ।
अहुतादो हविषो यज्ञे ऽ अस्मिन्त् स्वयं पिबन्तु मधुनो घृतस्य ॥
ye devā devānāṃ yajñiyā yajñiyānāṁ saṃvatsarīṇam upa bhāgam āsate ।
ahutādo haviṣo yajñe ' asmint svayaṃ pibantu madhuno ghṛtasya ॥
Pranas (Sanyasis, those who are the life-breath of the spirit of society), those who are noblest among the nobles, adorable among those who adore Agni in yajna, serve and receive their part of the annual sessions of yajna, and, free from the performance of yajna before
17.14
ये देवा देवेष्व् अधि देवत्वम् आयन् ये ब्रह्मणः पुरएतारो ऽ अस्य ।
येभ्यो न ऽ ऋते पवते धाम किं चन न ते दिवो न पृथिव्या ऽ अधि स्नुषु ॥
ye devā deveṣv adhi devatvam āyan ye brahmaṇaḥ puraetāro ' asya ।
yebhyo na ' ṛte pavate dhāma kiṃ cana na te divo na pṛthivyā ' adhi snuṣu ॥
Pranas, life-breath of the spirit of humanity, souls who have attained the state of divine grace among the nobles, who walk in the very presence of this Lord of the universe, without whom nowhere in the world anything moves nor is anything sanctified, they are not confined to any particular region of heaven, nor to any particular region of the earth, they are universal, everywhere.
17.15
प्राणदा ऽ अपानदा व्यानदा वर्चोदा वरिवोदाः ।
अन्याꣳस् ऽ ते अस्मत् तपन्तु हेतयः पावको ऽ अस्मभ्यꣳ शिवो भव ॥
prāṇadā ' apānadā vyānadā varcodā varivodāḥ ।
anyāṁs ' te asmat tapantu hetayaḥ pāvako ' asmabhyaṁ śivo bhava ॥
Agni, Lord of light and power, you are the giver of vital energy, means of the removal of impurity and waste, universal knowledge, lustre of life and the light of truth and Dharma. Be good and gracious to us, lord purifier and sanctifier of life and soul, and let your displeasure and punishment befall somewhere else far away from us.
17.16
अग्निस् तिग्मेन शोचिषा यासद् विश्वं न्य् अत्रिणम् ।
अग्निर् नो वनते रयिम् ॥
agnis tigmena śociṣā yāsad viśvaṃ ny atriṇam ।
agnir no vanate rayim ॥
Agni, lord giver of light, knowledge and power, with its incessant waves of light and warmth ripens and begets all good nourishing foods for us. The same agni with the power of electric energy begets all the wealth for us. (So may the man of knowledge and scientific power produce food and wealth for humanity.)
17.17
य ऽ इमा विश्वा भुवनानि जुह्वद् ऋषिर् होता न्य् असीदत् पिता नः ।
स ऽ आशिषा द्रविणम् इच्छमानः प्रथमच्छद् अवराꣳ ऽ आ विवेश ॥
ya ' imā viśvā bhuvanāni juhvad ṛṣir hotā ny asīdat pitā naḥ ।
sa ' āśiṣā draviṇam icchamānaḥ prathamacchad avarāṁ ' ā viveśa ॥
Our father, Vishvakarma, omniscient lord and cosmic sacrificer (yajamana), consumes all these worlds into His own fire of cosmic yajna and remains. And then He, self-moved by His own will to create the profuse variety of existence, projects and pervades the first evolutes and later continues the expansion and self pervasion on and on.
17.18
किꣳ स्विद् आसीद् अधिष्ठानम् आरम्भणं कतमत् स्वित् कथासीत् ।
यतो भूमिं जनयन् विश्वकर्मा वि द्याम् और्णोन् महिना विश्वचक्षाः ॥
kiṁ svid āsīd adhiṣṭhānam ārambhaṇaṃ katamat svit kathāsīt ।
yato bhūmiṃ janayan viśvakarmā vi dyām aurṇon mahinā viśvacakṣāḥ ॥
17.19
विश्वतश्चक्षुर् उत विश्वतोमुखो विश्वतोबाहुर् उत विश्वतस्पात् ।
सं बाहुभ्यां धमति सं पतत्रैर् द्यावाभूमी जनयन् देव ऽ एकः ॥
viśvataścakṣur uta viśvatomukho viśvatobāhur uta viśvataspāt ।
saṃ bāhubhyāṃ dhamati saṃ patatrair dyāvābhūmī janayan deva ' ekaḥ ॥
Vishvakarma, the one absolute self-effulgent lord of the universe, with universal eye to watch, and universal mouth to reveal the Word, and universal arms for action, and universal feet for omnipresence, having created the heaven and earth from dynamic particles of Prakriti, keeps the universe in constant motion with his mighty arms of omnipotence.
17.20
किꣳ स्विद् वनं क ऽ उ स वृक्ष ऽ आस यतो द्यावापृथिवी निष्टतक्षुः ।
मनीषिणो मनसा पृच्छतेद् उ तद् यद् अध्यतिष्ठद् भुवनानि धारयन् ॥
kiṁ svid vanaṃ ka ' u sa vṛkṣa ' āsa yato dyāvāpṛthivī niṣṭatakṣuḥ ।
manīṣiṇo manasā pṛcchated u tad yad adhyatiṣṭhad bhuvanāni dhārayan ॥
What is that original cause, that lovely tree, from which the lord maker shaped the heaven and earth and the whole dynamic world? Men of intelligence and conscientious mind ask the men of wisdom and vision: Who is that lord who holds and sustains the regions of the world and presides over all these and yet remains the sole lord above the universe?
Mantras 21–30
17.21
या ते धामानि परमाणि यावमा या मध्यमा विश्वकर्मन्न् उतेमा ।
शिक्षा सखिभ्यो हविषि स्वधावः स्वयं यजस्व तन्वं वृधानः ॥
yā te dhāmāni paramāṇi yāvamā yā madhyamā viśvakarmann utemā ।
śikṣā sakhibhyo haviṣi svadhāvaḥ svayaṃ yajasva tanvaṃ vṛdhānaḥ ॥
Vishvakarma, lord of your own omnipotence, lord of nature, heaven and earth, maker of the universe, enlighten us, your friends and devotees, about the worlds of your own creation, the highest, the lowest and youngest, and the middle ones. Lord of food and energy, expanding the material world of existence, you yourself provide for sustenance with constant inputs into the systemic growth of the universe.
17.22
विश्वकर्मन् हविषा वावृधानः स्वयं यजस्व पृथिवीम् उत द्याम् ।
मुह्यन्त्व् अन्ये ऽ अभितो सपत्ना ऽ इहास्माकं मघवा सूरिर् अस्तु ॥
viśvakarman haviṣā vāvṛdhānaḥ svayaṃ yajasva pṛthivīm uta dyām ।
muhyantv anye ' abhito sapatnā ' ihāsmākaṃ maghavā sūrir astu ॥
Vishvakarma, lord maker of the universe, exalted
17.23
वाचस् पतिं विश्वकर्माणमूतये मनोजुवं वाजे ऽ अद्या हुवेम ।
स नो विश्वानि हवनानि जोषद् विश्वशम्भूर् अवसे साधुकर्मा ॥
vācas patiṃ viśvakarmāṇamūtaye manojuvaṃ vāje ' adyā huvema ।
sa no viśvāni havanāni joṣad viśvaśambhūr avase sādhukarmā ॥
For our protection and progress in the battle of life to day we invoke Vishvakarma, lord of knowledge and speech, universal master of all karma working at speed faster than that of mind. May he, beneficent lord of unfailing action, kind and generous to all, be pleased to listen to our invocation and grant our prayers for protection and progress.
17.24
विश्वकर्मन् हविषा वर्धनेन त्रातारम् इन्द्रम् अकृणोर् अवध्यम् ।
तस्मै विशः समनमन्त पूर्वीर् अयम् उग्रो विहव्यो यथासत् ॥
viśvakarman haviṣā vardhanena trātāram indram akṛṇor avadhyam ।
tasmai viśaḥ samanamanta pūrvīr ayam ugro vihavyo yathāsat ॥
Vishvakarma, lord President of the total activity of humanity/the nation, with the growth and advancement arising from the developmental activities of the people working with yajnic dedication in unison, we pray, appoint Indra, a man of power and glory as minister for defence who should be an inviolable defender of the world/the land, so that all the people bow to him in acceptance and reverence and (with that universal support) he becomes mighty and formidable in action.
17.25
चक्षुषः पिता मनसा हि धीरो घृतम् एने अजनन् नम्नमाने ।
यदेद् अन्ता ऽ अददृहन्त पूर्व ऽ आद् इद् द्यावापृथिवी ऽ अप्रथेताम् ॥
cakṣuṣaḥ pitā manasā hi dhīro ghṛtam ene ajanan namnamāne ।
yaded antā ' adadṛhanta pūrva ' ād id dyāvāpṛthivī ' aprathetām ॥
When the ruler, Vishvakarma, is of calm and resolute mind, loves and protects men of vision and justice, and promotes the creation of food and wealth, and when the people bow to him in obedience and act in unison like parts of one organism, then only the people and the government strengthen each other and grow like the earth and heaven of yore together.
17.26
विश्वकर्मा विमना ऽ आद् विहाया धाता विधाता परमोत संदृक् ।
तेषाम् इष्टानि सम् इषा मदन्ति यत्रा सप्तऋषीन् पर ऽ एकम् आहुः ॥
viśvakarmā vimanā ' ād vihāyā dhātā vidhātā paramota saṃdṛk ।
teṣām iṣṭāni sam iṣā madanti yatrā saptaṛṣīn para ' ekam āhuḥ ॥
Vishvakarma is the one lord maker of the world, sole treasure-home of universal knowledge, present in
17.27
यो नः पिता जनिता यो विधाता धामानि वेद भुवनानि विश्वा ।
यो देवानां नामधा ऽ एक ऽ एव तꣳ संप्रश्नं भुवना यन्त्य् अन्या ॥
yo naḥ pitā janitā yo vidhātā dhāmāni veda bhuvanāni viśvā ।
yo devānāṃ nāmadhā ' eka ' eva taṁ saṃpraśnaṃ bhuvanā yanty anyā ॥
Vishvakarma is the lord who is our father and creator, law-giver and sustainer, who knows all the regions of the universe, who is one and absolute yet holds the names of all the powers of nature and His own potential. In Him enter all the worlds, and He is the eternal question and mystery for all the conscientious souls.
17.28
त ऽ आयजन्त द्रविणꣳ सम् अस्मा ऽ ऋषयः पूर्वे जरितारो न भूना ।
असूर्ते सूर्ते रजसि निषत्ते ये भूतानि समकृण्वन्न् इमानि ॥
ta ' āyajanta draviṇaṁ sam asmā ' ṛṣayaḥ pūrve jaritāro na bhūnā ।
asūrte sūrte rajasi niṣatte ye bhūtāni samakṛṇvann imāni ॥
They are the Rishis, visionaries of Divinity, who, like celebrants in worship, have offered songs and libations of rich materials to Lord Vishvakarma and who, residing in known as well as in unknown worlds, have directed and attracted the mind and soul of living beings to the lord.
17.29
परो दिवा पर ऽ एना पृथिव्या परो देवेभिर् असुरैर् यद् अस्ति ।
कꣳ स्विद् गर्भं प्रथमं दध्र आपो यत्र देवाः समपश्यन्त पूर्वे ॥
paro divā para ' enā pṛthivyā paro devebhir asurair yad asti ।
kaṁ svid garbhaṃ prathamaṃ dadhra āpo yatra devāḥ samapaśyanta pūrve ॥
The Lord Supreme, Brahma, is beyond the heavens, beyond this earth, beyond the gods of nature and beyond the evil and the lifeless. He is the One wherein the life-force bears the first grand and mysterious seed of the universe and whom the primordeal visionaries of divinity see directly as if face to face.
17.30
तम् इद् गर्भं प्रथमं दध्र ऽ आपो यत्र देवाः समगच्छन्त विश्वे ।
अजस्य नाभाव् अध्य् एकम् अर्पितं यस्मिन् विश्वानि भुवनानि तस्थुः ॥
tam id garbhaṃ prathamaṃ dadhra ' āpo yatra devāḥ samagacchanta viśve ।
ajasya nābhāv adhy ekam arpitaṃ yasmin viśvāni bhuvanāni tasthuḥ ॥
Therein surely the life-force bore that first seed of the universe wherein all the powers of nature and the visionary souls find their repose. He is the one sole lord
Mantras 31–40
17.31
न तं विदाथ य ऽ इमा जजानान्यद् युष्माकम् अन्तरं बभूव ।
नीहारेण प्रावृता जल्प्या चासुतृप ऽ उक्थशासश् चरन्ति ॥
na taṃ vidātha ya ' imā jajānānyad yuṣmākam antaraṃ babhūva ।
nīhāreṇa prāvṛtā jalpyā cāsutṛpa ' ukthaśāsaś caranti ॥
You don’t know Him who has created all these worlds. He is different and distant from you all, and yet within you all. People sunk in darkness roam around quoting scripture but serving their own selfish ends with empty words void of vision.
17.32
विश्वकर्मा ह्य् अजनिष्ट देव ऽ आद् इद् गन्धर्वो ऽ अभवद् द्वितीयः ।
तृतीयः पिता जनितौषधीनाम् अपां गर्भं व्यदधात् पुरुत्रा ॥
viśvakarmā hy ajaniṣṭa deva ' ād id gandharvo ' abhavad dvitīyaḥ ।
tṛtīyaḥ pitā janitauṣadhīnām apāṃ garbhaṃ vyadadhāt purutrā ॥
Lord Vishvakarma, creator of the world, self-effulgent lord of light and life, first manifested in existence. Then after that was bom the sun which holds the earth. The third was the cloud which, in its womb, holds the waters, offspring of the sky and the winds, vital air, and generates and sustains the herbs and trees in many ways.
17.33
आशुः शिशानो वृषभो न भीमो घनाघनः क्षोभणश् चर्षणीनाम् ।
संक्रन्दनोऽनिमिष ऽ एकवीरः शतꣳ सेना ऽ अजयत् साकम् इन्द्रः ॥
āśuḥ śiśāno vṛṣabho na bhīmo ghanāghanaḥ kṣobhaṇaś carṣaṇīnām ।
saṃkrandano'nimiṣa ' ekavīraḥ śataṁ senā ' ajayat sākam indraḥ ॥
He alone is Indra, worthy to be commander of the army, who is swift and instant in action and wields blazing deadly weapons in readiness, who roars with strength like a bull and strikes fear, terror and panic in the enemy force, who is constantly watchful and a fearless challenger, who is a matchless hero, rallies the force at the call and with us comes out victorious over a hundred armies of the enemy.
17.34
संक्रन्दनेनानिमिषेण जिष्णुना युत्कारेण दुश्च्यवनेन धृष्णुना ।
तद् इन्द्रेण जयत तत् सहध्वं युधो नर इषुहस्तेन वृष्णा ॥
saṃkrandanenānimiṣeṇa jiṣṇunā yutkāreṇa duścyavanena dhṛṣṇunā ।
tad indreṇa jayata tat sahadhvaṃ yudho nara iṣuhastena vṛṣṇā ॥
Ye men of war, challenge, engage and defeat that enemy force and be victorious with that commander, Indra, bold and daring, alert and watchful, thirsting for victory, master of tactical deployment and engagement of forces, informidable, fully armed and overwhelming the enemy with a rain of arrows/bullets/missiles.
17.35
स ऽ इषुहस्तैः स निषङ्गिभिर् वशी सꣳस्रष्टा स युध ऽ इन्द्रो गणेन ।
सꣳसृष्टजित् सोमपा बाहुशर्ध्य् उग्रधन्वा प्रतिहिताभिर् अस्ता ॥
sa ' iṣuhastaiḥ sa niṣaṅgibhir vaśī saṁsraṣṭā sa yudha ' indro gaṇena ।
saṁsṛṣṭajit somapā bāhuśardhy ugradhanvā pratihitābhir astā ॥
That warrior, router of the enemy, Indra, self-controlled, lover of exhilarating soma and defender of peace, creator and commander of the army, strong of arm, wielder of mighty weapons and awful marksman, supported by his well-selected and well-deployed army highly equipped with arms and armaments, defeats the collective forces of the enemies.
17.36
बृहस्पते परि दीया रथेन रक्षोहामित्राँ२ऽ अपबाधमानः ।
प्रभञ्जन्त् सेनाः प्रमृणो युधा जयन्न् अस्माकम् एध्य् अविता रथानाम् ॥
bṛhaspate pari dīyā rathena rakṣohāmitrām̐2' apabādhamānaḥ ।
prabhañjant senāḥ pramṛṇo yudhā jayann asmākam edhy avitā rathānām ॥
Brihaspati, commander of the mighty army, destroyer of the wicked, repulsing the enemy, routing his force and causing havoc all round by your chariot, you come out victorious over the violent and the evil in the battle. Be the protector and defender of our chariots and the wheels of the nation’s economy.
17.37
बलविज्ञाय स्थविरः प्रवीरः सहस्वान् वाजी सहमान ऽ उग्रः ।
अभिवीरो ऽ अभिसत्वा सहोजा जैत्रम् इन्द्र रथम् आ तिष्ठ गोवित् ॥
balavijñāya sthaviraḥ pravīraḥ sahasvān vājī sahamāna ' ugraḥ ।
abhivīro ' abhisatvā sahojā jaitram indra ratham ā tiṣṭha govit ॥
Indra, expert of army management, veteran tactician, admirable soldier, steadfast and resolute fighter, man of patience and endurance, mighty and victorious, fast and terrible, hero of heroes, admiration of the great and intelligent, lustrous and powerful, honoured by the victorious, master of effective communication and reconnaissance of territory, take to your chariot and ride across the earth, over the seas and into the skies.
17.38
गोत्रभिदं गोविदं वज्रबाहुं जयन्तम् अज्म प्रमृणन्तम् ओजसा ।
इमꣳ सजाता ऽ अनु वीरयध्वम् इन्द्रꣳ सखायो ऽ अनु सꣳ रभध्वम् ॥
gotrabhidaṃ govidaṃ vajrabāhuṃ jayantam ajma pramṛṇantam ojasā ।
imaṁ sajātā ' anu vīrayadhvam indraṁ sakhāyo ' anu saṁ rabhadhvam ॥
Friends, countrymen, children of mother earth, with all your might and main, follow this Indra, commander of the army, hand in hand. Join him in battle and display your valour and heroism with him who is a master of tactical code of signals and reconnaissance of enemy territory, wields the thunderbolt in hand,
17.39
अभि गोत्राणि सहसा गाहमानो ऽदयो वीरः शतमन्युर् इन्द्रः ।
दुश्च्यवनः पृतनाषाड् अयुध्यो ऽस्माकꣳ सेना अवतु प्र युत्सु ॥
abhi gotrāṇi sahasā gāhamāno 'dayo vīraḥ śatamanyur indraḥ ।
duścyavanaḥ pṛtanāṣāḍ ayudhyo 'smākaṁ senā avatu pra yutsu ॥
Indra, valiant commander, relentless warrior of a hundred fold righteous ardour, penetrating deep into enemy defences with his strength of armour, irresistible, invincible, victor of enemy forces, may direct and defend our army and lead it to victory.
17.40
इन्द्र ऽ आसां नेता बृहस्पतिर् दक्षिणा यज्ञः पुर ऽ एतु सोमः ।
देवसेनानाम् अभिभञ्जतीनां जयन्तीनां मरुतो यन्त्व् अग्रम् ॥
indra ' āsāṃ netā bṛhaspatir dakṣiṇā yajñaḥ pura ' etu somaḥ ।
devasenānām abhibhañjatīnāṃ jayantīnāṃ maruto yantv agram ॥
The commander of those noble and enlightened armies which break down and conquer the forces of evil in life is Indra, a man of power and grandeur; he is Brihaspati, a man of grandeur, knowledge and magnanimity; he is Soma, the man of magnanimity, peace and joy; he is the candid expert on the right side of the nation; he is the clarion call for unity and progress, and he is the first among all to take the lead in advance in a crisis. At his call the Maruts, commandos of the first order, must storm the citadel of the enemy.
Mantras 41–50
17.41
इन्द्रस्य वृष्णो वरुणस्य राज्ञ ऽ आदित्यानां मरुताꣳ शर्ध ऽ उग्रम् ।
महामनसां भुवनच्यवानां घोषो देवानां जयताम् उद् अस्थात् ॥
indrasya vṛṣṇo varuṇasya rājña ' ādityānāṃ marutāṁ śardha ' ugram ।
mahāmanasāṃ bhuvanacyavānāṃ ghoṣo devānāṃ jayatām ud asthāt ॥
The battle cry of the bold and fierce army consisting of brilliant, stormy, magnanimous, noble and victorious soldiers of the powerful, virile and celebrated ruler should rise high to the sky shaking the enemy with fright.
17.42
उद् धर्षय मघवन्न् आयुधान्य् उत् सत्वनां मामकानां मनाꣳसि ।
उद् वृत्रहन् वाजिनां वाजिनान्य् उद् रथानां जयतां यन्तु घोषाः ॥
ud dharṣaya maghavann āyudhāny ut satvanāṃ māmakānāṃ manāṁsi ।
ud vṛtrahan vājināṃ vājināny ud rathānāṃ jayatāṃ yantu ghoṣāḥ ॥
Lord of power and glory, destroyer of the darkest enemy clouds, refine and sharpen the arms and armaments of our forces, boost the morale of our soldiers, accelerate the speed and raise the fire power of our horses and rockets, and let the roar of our victorious tanks and chariots rise to the skies and rend the clouds.
17.43
अस्माकम् इन्द्रः समृतेषु ध्वजेष्व् अस्माकं या ऽ इषवस् ता जयन्तु ।
अस्माकं वीरा ऽ उत्तरे भवन्त्व् अस्माꣳऽ उ देवा ऽ अवता हवेषु ॥
asmākam indraḥ samṛteṣu dhvajeṣv asmākaṃ yā ' iṣavas tā jayantu ।
asmākaṃ vīrā ' uttare bhavantv asmāṁ' u devā ' avatā haveṣu ॥
17.44
अमीषां चित्तं प्रतिलोभयन्ती गृहाणाङ्गान्य् अप्वे परेहि ।
अभि प्रेहि निर् दह हृत्सु शोकैर् अन्धेनामित्रास् तमसा सचन्ताम् ॥
amīṣāṃ cittaṃ pratilobhayantī gṛhāṇāṅgāny apve parehi ।
abhi prehi nir daha hṛtsu śokair andhenāmitrās tamasā sacantām ॥
Valiant women’s corps, dazzling and bewildering the mind of those enemies, engage their troops in action and overthrow them far. Advancing deep into their ranks, bum them at heart and afflict them so that they may regret and lie low covered with darkness and sorrow.
17.45
अवसृष्टा परा पत शरव्ये ब्रह्मसꣳशिते ।
गच्छामित्रान् प्र पद्यस्व मामीषां कं चनोच् छिषः ॥
avasṛṣṭā parā pata śaravye brahmasaṁśite ।
gacchāmitrān pra padyasva māmīṣāṃ kaṃ canoc chiṣaḥ ॥
Valiant women’s corps, trained by the military experts of the Vedas, commanded and exhorted by the leader, shooting like an arrow, go far and fall upon the enemies. Go deep and take them all, do not spare any one of them.
17.46
प्रेता जयता नर ऽ इन्द्रो वः शर्म यच्छतु ।
उग्रा वः सन्तु बाहवो ऽनाधृष्या यथासथ ॥
pretā jayatā nara ' indro vaḥ śarma yacchatu ।
ugrā vaḥ santu bāhavo 'nādhṛṣyā yathāsatha ॥
Valiant warriors, go, advance and win. May Indra grant you victory and joy. May your arms be strong and bold so that no one may be able to challenge you and you remain free and invincible.
17.47
असौ या सेना मरुतः परेषाम् अभ्येति न ऽ ओजसा स्पर्धमाना ।
तां गूहत तमसापव्रतेन यथामी ऽ अन्यो ऽ अन्यं न जानन् ॥
asau yā senā marutaḥ pareṣām abhyeti na ' ojasā spardhamānā ।
tāṃ gūhata tamasāpavratena yathāmī ' anyo ' anyaṃ na jānan ॥
Warriors, intelligent, bold and fierce, yonder is that army of the others, rivals, which marches upon us out of jealousy to surround and overcome us with all their might. Cover that with repellent smoke in utter darkness so that they may fail even to perceive each other.
17.48
यत्र वाणाः सम्पतन्ति कुमारा विशिखाऽइव ।
तन्न ऽ इन्द्रो बृहस्पतिर् अदितिः शर्म यच्छतु विश्वाहा शर्म यच्छतु ॥
yatra vāṇāḥ sampatanti kumārā viśikhā'iva ।
tanna ' indro bṛhaspatir aditiḥ śarma yacchatu viśvāhā śarma yacchatu ॥
17.49
मर्माणि ते वर्मणा छादयामि सोमस् त्वा राजामृतेनानु वस्ताम् ।
उरोर् वरीयो वरुणस् ते कृणोतु जयन्तं त्वानु देवा मदन्तु ॥
marmāṇi te varmaṇā chādayāmi somas tvā rājāmṛtenānu vastām ।
uror varīyo varuṇas te kṛṇotu jayantaṃ tvānu devā madantu ॥
Noble warrior, victorious hero, I cover your vital limbs with a protective armour. May Soma, lord of health and well-being, ruler of all, wrap you round in happiness and immortality. May Varuna, lord supreme, grant you honour greater than greatness itself. May all the noble powers of the earth bless you with joy, victorious one.
17.50
उद् एनम् उत्तरां नयाग्ने घृतेनाहुत ।
रायस्पोषेण सꣳ सृज प्रजया च बहुं कृधि ॥
ud enam uttarāṃ nayāgne ghṛtenāhuta ।
rāyaspoṣeṇa saṁ sṛja prajayā ca bahuṃ kṛdhi ॥
Agni, lord of life and progress, invoked and worshipped with libations of ghee and fragrant materials, take this yajamana, ruler, victor, to higher and higher states of honour and glory. Bless him with the wealth of life and good health. Let him rise and grow with a good family and noble children.
Mantras 51–60
17.51
इन्द्रेमं प्रतरां नय सजातानाम् असद्वशी ।
सम् एनं वर्चसा सृज देवानां भागदा ऽ असत् ॥
indremaṃ pratarāṃ naya sajātānām asadvaśī ।
sam enaṃ varcasā sṛja devānāṃ bhāgadā ' asat ॥
Indra, lord of power and glory, take this warrior victor to that high state of ethics and policy whereby he may rise to organise, control and rule over his fellow citizens, children of the mother land. Bless him with the light and lustre of life and learning so that he is able to do his duty to the noble people, powers of nature and God.
17.52
यस्य कुर्मो गृहे हविस् तम् अग्ने वर्धया त्वम् ।
तस्मै देवा ऽ अधि ब्रुवन्न् अयं च ब्रह्मणस्पतिः ॥
yasya kurmo gṛhe havis tam agne vardhayā tvam ।
tasmai devā ' adhi bruvann ayaṃ ca brahmaṇaspatiḥ ॥
Agni, lord of light and learning, lead the man in whose home we perform the yajna to the high road of progress and prosperity. Let the noblest people speak high of him and to him. And so may this scholar of the Vedas speak to him and about him.
17.53
उद् उ त्वा विश्वे देवा ऽ अग्ने भरन्तु चित्तिभिः ।
स नो बह्व शिवस् त्वꣳ सुप्रतीको विभावसुः ॥
ud u tvā viśve devā ' agne bharantu cittibhiḥ ।
sa no bahva śivas tvaṁ supratīko vibhāvasuḥ ॥
Agni, lord of power and glory, may all the noble people of the land with their heart and soul accept, approve, support and raise you to the heights. And you too, so high and noble, a very image of nobility and magnanimity, be good and kind to us.
17.54
पञ्च दिशो दैवीर् यज्ञम् अवन्तु देवीर् अपामतिं दुर्मतिं बाधमानाः ।
रायस्पोषे यज्ञपतिम् आभजन्ती रायस्पोषे ऽ अधि यज्ञो ऽ अस्थात् ॥
pañca diśo daivīr yajñam avantu devīr apāmatiṃ durmatiṃ bādhamānāḥ ।
rāyaspoṣe yajñapatim ābhajantī rāyaspoṣe ' adhi yajño ' asthāt ॥
May all the five directions of space replete with the celestial generosity of nature protect and promote yajna. May the intelligent and pious women, brahmacharinis and wives of saints and scholars, preventing and dispelling ignorance and evil genius, supporting and serving the yajnapati in the growth of health and wealth, protect and promote yajna in the household. May the yajna and the household be established in good health, wealth and progress in well-being.
17.55
समिद्धे ऽ अग्नाव् अधि मामहान ऽ उक्थपत्र ऽ ईड्यो गृभीतः ।
तप्तं घर्मं परिगृह्यायजन्तोर्जा यद् यज्ञम् अयजन्त देवाः ॥
samiddhe ' agnāv adhi māmahāna ' ukthapatra ' īḍyo gṛbhītaḥ ।
taptaṃ gharmaṃ parigṛhyāyajantorjā yad yajñam ayajanta devāḥ ॥
That yajna, adorable, praiseworthy, flying high on the wings of Vaidic verses, accepted and honoured of yore, which the ancient sages performed with libations of boiled ghee into the flaming fire, that same yajna, noble people, you also accept and perform with the same devotion and enthusiasm.
17.56
दैव्याय धर्त्रे जोष्ट्रे देवश्रीः श्रीमनाः शतपयाः ।
परिगृह्य देवा यज्ञम् आयन् देवा देवेभ्यो ऽ अध्वर्यन्तो ऽ अस्थुः ॥
daivyāya dhartre joṣṭre devaśrīḥ śrīmanāḥ śatapayāḥ ।
parigṛhya devā yajñam āyan devā devebhyo ' adhvaryanto ' asthuḥ ॥
Noble people sit with the noble people round the fire, performing yajna for the noble people in honour of the divine powers. Let the noble people take to the noble yajamana, a man endowed with wealth of virtue, generosity of heart and plenty of sumptuous food and drink, and let them perform the yajna in honour of the heavenly lord, sustainer of the world and loving father of his children.
17.57
वीतꣳ हविः शमितꣳ शमिता यजध्यै तुरीयो यज्ञो यत्र हव्यम् एति ।
ततो वाका ऽ आशिषो नो जुषन्ताम् ॥
vītaṁ haviḥ śamitaṁ śamitā yajadhyai turīyo yajño yatra havyam eti ।
tato vākā ' āśiṣo no juṣantām ॥
17.58
सूर्यरश्मिर् हरिकेशः पुरस्तात् सविता ज्योतिर् उद् अयाꣳऽ अजस्रम् ।
तस्य पूषा प्रसवे याति विद्वान्त् सम्पश्यन् विश्वा भुवनानि गोपाः ॥
sūryaraśmir harikeśaḥ purastāt savitā jyotir ud ayāṁ' ajasram ।
tasya pūṣā prasave yāti vidvānt sampaśyan viśvā bhuvanāni gopāḥ ॥
Savita, lord creator, clothed in sun-rays, radiating the golden-green emanations (waves) of light is the light that arose at the dawn of creation. Lord omniscient, protector and sustainer, He goes on and on watching the worlds of existence. In His creation, the man of science too goes on watching and watching, collecting the endless light of knowledge about the worlds of the universe.
17.59
विमान ऽ एष दिवो मध्य ऽ आस्त ऽ आपप्रिवान् रोदसी ऽ अन्तरिक्षम् ।
स विश्वाचीर् अभि चष्टे घृताचीर् अन्तरा पूर्वम् अपरं च केतुम् ॥
vimāna ' eṣa divo madhya ' āsta ' āpaprivān rodasī ' antarikṣam ।
sa viśvācīr abhi caṣṭe ghṛtācīr antarā pūrvam aparaṃ ca ketum ॥
This sun, traversing like a divine car, remains in the midst of the regions of light and illuminates the heaven, the earth and the sky. It is the sustainer of the world, source treasure of waters, and watches and illuminates before, after and in-between (past, present and future).
17.60
उक्षा समुद्रो ऽ अरुणः सुपर्णः पूर्वस्य योनिं पितुर् आ विवेश ।
मध्ये दिवो निहितः पृश्निर् अश्मा वि चक्रमे रजसस् पात्य् अन्तौ ॥
ukṣā samudro ' aruṇaḥ suparṇaḥ pūrvasya yoniṃ pitur ā viveśa ।
madhye divo nihitaḥ pṛśnir aśmā vi cakrame rajasas pāty antau ॥
The sun, seminal fertilizer of life, ocean of spatial waters, scarlet red at dawn, lord of manifold splendour, illuminator of the firmament, sustained in the midst of heaven, travels in space sustaining and binding the ends of the spheres and moving towards the womb of its original mother, eternal energy, from whence it came into being.
Mantras 61–70
17.61
इन्द्रं विश्वा ऽ अवीवृधन्त् समुद्रव्यचसं गिरः ।
रथीतमꣳ रथीनां वाजानाꣳ सत्पतिं पतिम् ॥
indraṃ viśvā ' avīvṛdhant samudravyacasaṃ giraḥ ।
rathītamaṁ rathīnāṃ vājānāṁ satpatiṃ patim ॥
17.62
देवहूर् यज्ञ ऽ आ च वक्षत् सुम्नहूर् यज्ञ ऽ आ च वक्षत् ।
यक्षद् अग्निर् देवो देवाꣳऽ आ च वक्षत् ॥
devahūr yajña ' ā ca vakṣat sumnahūr yajña ' ā ca vakṣat ।
yakṣad agnir devo devāṁ' ā ca vakṣat ॥
Yajna is the divine power which calls forth the noblest powers and people to the congregation. May it raise the voice of truth and give us the divine message and save us from untruth. Yajna stimulates life with pleasure and well-being. May it inspire us with pleasure and well-being. The fire of yajna and the lord of light feeds the powers of nature. May it augment and enrich the treasures of the environment and bless us with the same divine gifts.
17.63
वाजस्य मा प्रसव ऽ उद्ग्राभेणोद् अग्रभीत् ।
अध सपत्नान् इन्द्रो मे निग्राभेणाधराꣳऽ अकः ॥
vājasya mā prasava ' udgrābheṇod agrabhīt ।
adha sapatnān indro me nigrābheṇādharāṁ' akaḥ ॥
May Indra, lord creator of nourishment and energy and giver of knowledge, elevate me to the heights of virtue with inspiration and ambition. And may he, for me, devalue the negative forces of jealousy and enmity with depression to the lowest depths towards elimination.
17.64
उद्ग्राभं च निग्राभं च ब्रह्म देवा ऽ अवीवृधन् ।
अधा सपत्नान् इन्द्राग्नी मे विषूचीनान् व्यस्यताम् ॥
udgrābhaṃ ca nigrābhaṃ ca brahma devā ' avīvṛdhan ।
adhā sapatnān indrāgnī me viṣūcīnān vyasyatām ॥
May the powers of life strengthen and expand our capacity to rise high, and our capability to resist depression toward the fall. And may Indra, divine power, and Agni, divine light, throw out far off our dispersive tendencies and our jealousies and enmities.
17.65
क्रमध्वम् अग्निना नाकम् उख्यꣳ हस्तेषु बिभ्रतः ।
दिवस् पृष्ठꣳ स्वर् गत्वा मिश्रा देवेभिर् आध्वम् ॥
kramadhvam agninā nākam ukhyaṁ hasteṣu bibhrataḥ ।
divas pṛṣṭhaṁ svar gatvā miśrā devebhir ādhvam ॥
By virtue of Agni, lord of knowledge, light and energy, act and rise to the heights of joy, holding the gifts of yajna in your hands. In the company of the noblest people, favoured by the generous powers of nature, reach the heavens of bliss and establish yourselves in the regions of light.
17.66
प्राचीम् अनु प्रदिशं प्रेहि विद्वान् अग्नेर् अग्ने पुरो ऽ अग्निर् भवेह ।
विश्वा ऽ आशा दीद्यानो वि भाह्य् ऊर्जं नो धेहि द्विपदे चतुष्पदे ॥
prācīm anu pradiśaṃ prehi vidvān agner agne puro ' agnir bhaveha ।
viśvā ' āśā dīdyāno vi bhāhy ūrjaṃ no dhehi dvipade catuṣpade ॥
Agni, man of knowledge and power, go ahead and move eastward to the rising sun. In front of Agni, lord of light and power, be agni yourself, a brilliant man of the front rank here and now. Shine, and around yourself illuminate the environment and create food and energy for our fellow humans and our animals.
17.67
पृथिव्या ऽ अहम् उद् अन्तरिक्षम् आरुहम् अन्तरिक्षाद् दिवम् आरुहम् ।
दिवो नाकस्य पृष्ठात् स्वर् ज्योतिर् अगाम् अहम् ॥
pṛthivyā ' aham ud antarikṣam āruham antarikṣād divam āruham ।
divo nākasya pṛṣṭhāt svar jyotir agām aham ॥
(With the knowledge of science and the discipline of yoga) I rise from the earth to the skies. From the skies, I rise to the regions of light, the sun. From the regions of the sun, lord of life and joy, I rise to the heavens, the regions of eternal bliss and light divine.
17.68
स्वर् यन्तो नापेक्षन्त ऽ आ द्याꣳ रोहन्ति रोदसी ।
यज्ञं ये विश्वतोधारꣳ सुविद्वाꣳसो वितेनिरे ॥
svar yanto nāpekṣanta ' ā dyāṁ rohanti rodasī ।
yajñaṃ ye viśvatodhāraṁ suvidvāṁso vitenire ॥
Those virtuous men of knowledge who perform yajna and expand it, yajna which sustains the whole world, they expect nothing of the material world and, through yoga, rise above the earth and heaven and ascend to the regions of bliss and light divine.
17.69
अग्ने प्रेहि प्रथमो देवयतां चक्षुर् देवानाम् उत मर्त्यानाम् ।
इयक्षमाणा भृगुभिः सजोषाः स्वर् यन्तु यजमानाः स्वस्ति ॥
agne prehi prathamo devayatāṃ cakṣur devānām uta martyānām ।
iyakṣamāṇā bhṛgubhiḥ sajoṣāḥ svar yantu yajamānāḥ svasti ॥
Agni, man of knowledge and yajna, you are the first among men on way to godliness. You are the eye for the average humans as you have the vision of the men of divinity. May the people of faith and love full of devotion dedicated to yajna and performing yajna with men of knowledge and vision of divinity enjoy peace and happiness and ascend to the heaven of bliss and life divine.
17.70
नक्तोषासा समनसा विरूपे धापयेते शिशुम् एकꣳ समीची ।
द्यावाक्षामा रुक्मो ऽ अन्तर् वि भाति देवा ऽ अग्निं धारयन् द्रविणोदाः ॥
naktoṣāsā samanasā virūpe dhāpayete śiśum ekaṁ samīcī ।
dyāvākṣāmā rukmo ' antar vi bhāti devā ' agniṃ dhārayan draviṇodāḥ ॥
Just as the mother and the nurse, different of character and status but of equal mind and common
Mantras 71–80
17.71
अग्ने सहस्राक्ष शतमूर्धञ् छतं ते प्राणाः सहस्रं व्यानाः ।
त्वꣳ साहस्रस्य राय ऽ ईशिषे तस्मै ते विधेम वाजाय स्वाहा ॥
agne sahasrākṣa śatamūrdhañ chataṃ te prāṇāḥ sahasraṃ vyānāḥ ।
tvaṁ sāhasrasya rāya ' īśiṣe tasmai te vidhema vājāya svāhā ॥
Agni, lord of a thousand eyes and hundred heads, hundred fold are your pranic energies of life, thousand-fold are your energies of action and volition in living beings and in nature. Thousand-fold is the wealth of the world you create and govern. To this generous lord of life and energy we offer our homage with libations into the fire with total dedication, without reservation.
17.72
सुपर्णो ऽसि गरुत्मान् पृष्ठे पृथिव्याः सीद ।
भासान्तरिक्षम् आ पृण ज्योतिषा दिवम् उत् तभान तेजसा दिश ऽ उद् दृꣳह ॥
suparṇo 'si garutmān pṛṣṭhe pṛthivyāḥ sīda ।
bhāsāntarikṣam ā pṛṇa jyotiṣā divam ut tabhāna tejasā diśa ' ud dṛṁha ॥
Agni, lord of light and life, magnanimous of nature, settle on the face of the earth and bless it with life. Fill the sky with light. Illuminate the heaven with light and glory. Enrich the directions of space with life and splendour.
17.73
आजुह्वानः सुप्रतीकः पुरस्ताद् अग्ने योनिम् आ सीद साधुया ।
अस्मिन्त्सधस्थे ऽ अध्य् उत्तरस्मिन् विश्वे देवा यजमानश् च सीदत ॥
ājuhvānaḥ supratīkaḥ purastād agne yonim ā sīda sādhuyā ।
asmintsadhasthe ' adhy uttarasmin viśve devā yajamānaś ca sīdata ॥
Agni, lord of light and life, invoked and invited in yajna, splendid and gracious in form, come and settle in your own seat in front, in the east. The yajamana and all the noble souls may sit and grace this home now as well as later. May Agni shower divine grace upon us, the yajamana, and all the noble souls in this life and hereafter.
17.74
तꣳ सवितुर् वरेण्यस्य चित्राम् आहं वृणे सुमतिं विश्वजन्याम् ।
याम् अस्य कण्वो अदुहत् प्रपीनाꣳ सहस्रधारां पयसा महीं गाम् ॥
taṁ savitur vareṇyasya citrām āhaṃ vṛṇe sumatiṃ viśvajanyām ।
yām asya kaṇvo aduhat prapīnāṁ sahasradhārāṃ payasā mahīṃ gām ॥
I dedicate myself to this chosen Lord Savita’s rich, generous and wonderful divine intelligence which gives a thousand showers of universal knowledge and which the man of vision distils from the mother knowledge of the Vedas just like milk from the great mother cow.
17.75
विधेम ते परमे जन्मन्न् अग्ने विधेम स्तोमैर् अवरे सधस्थे ।
यस्माद् योनेर् उदारिथा यजे तं प्र त्वे हवीꣳषि जुहुरे समिद्धे ॥
vidhema te parame janmann agne vidhema stomair avare sadhasthe ।
yasmād yoner udārithā yaje taṃ pra tve havīṁṣi juhure samiddhe ॥
Agni, supreme of manifestation in the highest region of existence, we honour and worship you. In this world, in this home, this side of that supreme region we celebrate and worship you. The place you emerge from, and the state whence you arise, we sanctify and love to join. And when you are ablaze in flames of glory, we offer fragrant libations in honour and homage to you.
17.76
प्रेद्धो ऽ अग्ने दीदिहि पुरो नो ऽजस्रया सूर्म्या यविष्ठ ।
त्वाꣳ शश्वन्त ऽ उप यन्ति वाजाः ॥
preddho ' agne dīdihi puro no 'jasrayā sūrmyā yaviṣṭha ।
tvāṁ śaśvanta ' upa yanti vājāḥ ॥
Agni, brilliant and most youthful power, arise in flames and blaze with incessant waves of light right in front of us. And may a perpetual line of worshipful devotees and a continuous flow of fragrant food come to you in homage.
17.77
अग्ने तम् अद्याश्वं न स्तोमैः क्रतुं न भद्रꣳ हृदिस्पृशम् ।
ऋध्यामा त ऽ ओहैः ॥
agne tam adyāśvaṃ na stomaiḥ kratuṃ na bhadraṁ hṛdispṛśam ।
ṛdhyāmā ta ' ohaiḥ ॥
Agni, like a beautiful horse, like a darling ambition nursed in the heart, like a blissful yajna sustained with holy chants, we celebrate you in the fire and perpetuate you with homage, and we pray we too may advance in life and virtue.
17.78
चित्तिं जुहोमि मनसा घृतेन यथा देवा ऽ इहागमन् वीतिहोत्रा ऽ ऋतावृधः ।
पत्ये विश्वस्य भूमनो जुहोमि विश्वकर्मणे विश्वाहादाभ्यꣳ हवि ॥
cittiṃ juhomi manasā ghṛtena yathā devā ' ihāgaman vītihotrā ' ṛtāvṛdhaḥ ।
patye viśvasya bhūmano juhomi viśvakarmaṇe viśvāhādābhyaṁ havi ॥
With concentrated mind and thought I offer homage to Agni with libations in the fire, so that the noblest people, lovers of yajna and promoters of truth, come here (and join in homage for advancement. And in company) every day I offer sacred and intrepidable libations of havi to Vishvakarma, lord maker and sustainer of the great good universe.
17.79
सप्त ते ऽ अग्ने समिधः सप्त जिह्वाः सप्त ऽ ऋषयः सप्त धाम प्रियाणि ।
सप्त होत्राः सप्तधा त्वा यजन्ति सप्त योनीर् आ पृणस्व घृतेन स्वाहा ॥
sapta te ' agne samidhaḥ sapta jihvāḥ sapta ' ṛṣayaḥ sapta dhāma priyāṇi ।
sapta hotrāḥ saptadhā tvā yajanti sapta yonīr ā pṛṇasva ghṛtena svāhā ॥
Agni, seven are the samidhas (sticks of sacred
17.80
शुक्रज्योतिश् च चित्रज्योतिश् च सत्यज्योतिश् च ज्योतिष्माꣳश् च ।
शुक्रश् च ऽ ऋतपाश् चात्यꣳहाः ॥
śukrajyotiś ca citrajyotiś ca satyajyotiś ca jyotiṣmāṁś ca ।
śukraś ca ' ṛtapāś cātyaṁhāḥ ॥
Lord of pure light, and lord of wondrous light, and lord of the light of truth, and lord of light and the lord light itself, lord pure and immaculate, and the lord protector of truth, the Law and the cosmic yajna of existence and the lord sinless of infinite virtue is He. (May the Maruts, heroes of the speed of lightning, grace our yajna).
Mantras 81–90
17.81
ईदृङ् चान्यदृङ् च सदृङ् च प्रतिसदृङ् च ।
मितश् च संमितश् च सभराः ॥
īdṛṅ cānyadṛṅ ca sadṛṅ ca pratisadṛṅ ca ।
mitaś ca saṃmitaś ca sabharāḥ ॥
Men of single vision, men of others’ (objective) vision, men of comprehensive vision, men of discreet vision, men of measure, men measured around by all, and men who support and sustain all — they are the men, they are the Maruts who succeed at top speed.
17.82
ऋतश् च सत्यश् च ध्रुवश् च धरुणश् च ।
धर्ता च विधर्ता च विधारयः ॥
ṛtaś ca satyaś ca dhruvaś ca dharuṇaś ca ।
dhartā ca vidhartā ca vidhārayaḥ ॥
The man of the knowledge of truth and law, the man of reality dedicated to truth, the man stable and steadfast, the man support-column of the stable and steadfast, the man who bears and forbears, the man who bears and forbears the variety of reality, and the man of versatility who faces all and bears all in a variety of ways — this man is one of the Maruts who move at top speed.
17.83
ऋतजिच् च सत्यजिच् च सेनजिच् च सुषेणश् च ।
अन्तिमित्रश् च दूरेऽअमित्रश् च गणः ॥
ṛtajic ca satyajic ca senajic ca suṣeṇaś ca ।
antimitraś ca dūre'amitraś ca gaṇaḥ ॥
The man master of the Law and reality, master of the truth of reality, master of his forces, the man with close friends around and the man whose enemies are few and far — this is the man, one of the Maruts, who wins at top speed, with his comrades.
17.84
ईदृक्षास ऽ एतादृक्षास ऽ ऊ षु णः सदृक्षासः प्रतिसदृक्षास ऽ एतन ।
मितासश् च संमितासो नो ऽ अद्य सभरसो मरुतो यज्ञे ऽ अस्मिन् ॥
īdṛkṣāsa ' etādṛkṣāsa ' ū ṣu ṇaḥ sadṛkṣāsaḥ pratisadṛkṣāsa ' etana ।
mitāsaś ca saṃmitāso no ' adya sabharaso maruto yajñe ' asmin ॥
Men of this character and vision, men of similar character and vision, men of comprehensive character and vision, men of equal character and vision for everyone, men of balanced mind and men of definiteness and ascertainment in all matters — these are the Maruts among humanity who may, to-day, come and join this yajna of ours.
17.85
स्वतवाꣳश् च प्रघासी च सांतपनश् च गृहमेधी च ।
क्रीडी च शाकी चोज्जेषी ॥
svatavāṁś ca praghāsī ca sāṃtapanaś ca gṛhamedhī ca ।
krīḍī ca śākī cojjeṣī ॥
The man inherently valiant and firmly rooted, who maintains good health with nourishments, who endures and gives a hot pursuit to the enemy, who is dedicated to the home, who loves sports, is powerful, and who is ambitious to win, such a man is Marut, a live wire. May the Maruts join our yajna.
17.86
उग्रश् च भीमश् च ध्वान्तश् च धुनिश् च ।
सासह्वाꣳश् चाभियुग्वा च विक्षिपः स्वाहा ।
इन्द्रं दैवीर् विशो मरुतो ऽनुवर्त्मानो ऽभवन् यथेन्द्रं दैवीर् विशो मरुतो ऽनुवर्त्मानो ऽभवन् ।
एवम् इमं यजमानं दैवीश् च विशो मानुषीश् चानुवर्त्मानो भवन्तु ॥
ugraś ca bhīmaś ca dhvāntaś ca dhuniś ca ।
sāsahvāṁś cābhiyugvā ca vikṣipaḥ svāhā ।
indraṃ daivīr viśo maruto 'nuvartmāno 'bhavan yathendraṃ daivīr viśo maruto 'nuvartmāno 'bhavan ।
evam imaṃ yajamānaṃ daivīś ca viśo mānuṣīś cānuvartmāno bhavantu ॥
The noble scholars of virtue and wisdom, the distinguished citizens and the smartest warriors should follow Indra, in the manner in which all noble scholars, noble citizens and smart warriors ought to follow Indra, the ruler of the land. All the noble scholars, noble citizens and the smartest warriors should follow Indra, the ruler of the universe. Similarly all the noble scholars, distinguished citizens and the average people should follow this yajamana. (The ruler too should act and behave in a noble manner so that all the noble scholars, distinguished citizens and the average people follow him spontaneously and faithfully.)
17.87
इमꣳ स्तनमूर्जस्वन्तं धयापां प्रपीनम् अग्ने सरिरस्य मध्ये ।
उत्सं जुषस्व मधुमन्तम् अर्वन्त् समुद्रियꣳ सदनम् आ विशस्व ॥
imaṁ stanamūrjasvantaṃ dhayāpāṃ prapīnam agne sarirasya madhye ।
utsaṃ juṣasva madhumantam arvant samudriyaṁ sadanam ā viśasva ॥
Agni, lord of light and power, in the midst of this world, drink of this nature’s motherly breast of energy replete with the nectar of life. Foremost among the fastest heroes, drink deep at this fountain head of honey-
17.88
घृतं मिमिक्षे घृतम् अस्य योनिर् घृते श्रितो घृतम् व् अस्य धाम ।
अनुष्वधम् आ वह मादयस्व स्वाहाकृतं वृषभ वक्षि हव्यम् ॥
ghṛtaṃ mimikṣe ghṛtam asya yonir ghṛte śrito ghṛtam v asya dhāma ।
anuṣvadham ā vaha mādayasva svāhākṛtaṃ vṛṣabha vakṣi havyam ॥
I wish to mix and go deep into water/ghee for offering it into the fire. Fire arises from water/ghee, which is its birth-place. It is latent in water/ghee. Water/ ghee is its place of rest. Prepare the materials for the libation and call up Agni. Generous power of rain shower, prepare the materials for the offering and make us all rejoice. (The indication is to prepare the waters and produce fire/energy from this rich source.)
17.89
समुद्राद् ऊर्मिर् मधुमाꣳऽ उद् आरद् उपाꣳशुना सम् अमृतत्वम् आनट् ।
घृतस्य नाम गुह्यं यद् अस्ति जिह्वा देवानाम् अमृतस्य नाभिः ॥
samudrād ūrmir madhumāṁ' ud ārad upāṁśunā sam amṛtatvam ānaṭ ।
ghṛtasya nāma guhyaṃ yad asti jihvā devānām amṛtasya nābhiḥ ॥
Honey waves of energy arise from the sea/vedi and, mixing with the rays of the sun, ascend to a state of divine vitality. These rising waves are tongues of the gods (divine powers of nature), and the central birthplace of nectar. These are the mystical names of the mysterious but still scientific powers of ghrta/the sea through the process of yajna.
17.90
वयं नाम प्र ब्रवामा घृतस्यास्मिन् यज्ञे धारयामा नमोभिः ।
उप ब्रह्मा शृणवच् छस्यमानं चतुःशृङ्गो ऽवमीद् गौर एतत् ॥
vayaṃ nāma pra bravāmā ghṛtasyāsmin yajñe dhārayāmā namobhiḥ ।
upa brahmā śṛṇavac chasyamānaṃ catuḥśṛṅgo 'vamīd gaura etat ॥
In this yajna we chant and meditate upon the mystical name of ‘yajna’, of ghee, waters and the spirit of fertility, and with all reverence, salutations, faith and holy offerings, observe, perform and internalize yajna as name and as the creative act that it is. May Brahma, the presiding priest, man of the Vedas and generous teacher, hear the celebrated name and expound its meaning and value to others.
Mantras 91–99
17.91
चत्वारि शृङ्गा त्रयो ऽ अस्य पादा द्वे शीर्षे सप्त हस्तासो ऽ अस्य ।
त्रिधा बद्धो वृषभो रोरवीति महो देवो मर्त्याꣳ ऽ आ विवेश ॥
catvāri śṛṅgā trayo ' asya pādā dve śīrṣe sapta hastāso ' asya ।
tridhā baddho vṛṣabho roravīti maho devo martyāṁ ' ā viveśa ॥
(i). Yajna is a purusha, a living person, a metaphor. Just as a person is a living human being, and he/she has a name which is identical with the person, so is yajna, a living act and a name, and the name-word is identical with the act. (1) This person, the living act of yajna, has four heads, the four Vedas. It has three legs/sessions: morning, mid-day and evening. It has two heads, the prayaniya ceremony (inauguration), and the udayaniya
17.92
त्रिधा हितं पणिभिर् गुह्यमानं गवि देवासो घृतम् अन्व् अविन्दन् ।
इन्द्र ऽ एकꣳ सूर्य ऽ एकं जजान वेनाद् एकꣳ स्वधया निष्टतक्षुः ॥
tridhā hitaṃ paṇibhir guhyamānaṃ gavi devāso ghṛtam anv avindan ।
indra ' ekaṁ sūrya ' ekaṃ jajāna venād ekaṁ svadhayā niṣṭatakṣuḥ ॥
The mystique of yajna/ghee/waters, three-way hidden and three-way studied in quietude by knowledgeable people, the visionaries sought and found it in the cow, the Veda and nature. One was found and revealed by Indra, specialist of electric energy, one by the specialist of solar energy, and one was received from the scholars of the Vedas and enacted with oblations by the devotees of yajna.
17.93
एता ऽअर्षन्ति हृद्यात् समुद्राच् छतव्रजा रिपुणा नावचक्षे ।
घृतस्य धारा ऽ अभि चाकशीमि हिरण्ययो वेतसो मध्य ऽ आसाम् ॥
etā 'arṣanti hṛdyāt samudrāc chatavrajā ripuṇā nāvacakṣe ।
ghṛtasya dhārā ' abhi cākaśīmi hiraṇyayo vetaso madhya ' āsām ॥
These waves of cosmic energy, these vibrations of the cosmic boom of the Word, issue from the oceanic depths of the Eternal Mind. In countless streams they flow all round, not even an enemy can deny them. And I, a soul wrapped in golden hue, stand in the midst of these waves like a reed and feel the power and the beatitude blowing through me.
17.94
सम्यक् स्रवन्ति सरितो न धेना ऽ अन्तर् हृदा मनसा पूयमानाः ।
एते ऽ अर्षन्त्य् ऊर्मयो घृतस्य मृगा ऽइव क्षिपणोर् ईषमाणाः ॥
samyak sravanti sarito na dhenā ' antar hṛdā manasā pūyamānāḥ ।
ete ' arṣanty ūrmayo ghṛtasya mṛgā 'iva kṣipaṇor īṣamāṇāḥ ॥
17.95
सिन्धोर् इव प्राध्वने शूघनासो वातप्रमियः पतयन्ति यह्वाः ।
घृतस्य धारा ऽ अरुषो न वाजी काष्ठा भिन्दन्न् ऊर्मिभिः पिन्वमानः ॥
sindhor iva prādhvane śūghanāso vātapramiyaḥ patayanti yahvāḥ ।
ghṛtasya dhārā ' aruṣo na vājī kāṣṭhā bhindann ūrmibhiḥ pinvamānaḥ ॥
The mighty streams of ghrita, waves of cosmic energy and vibrations of yajnic voice, issue forth (from the divine) and flow incessantly (into the universe) as the turbulent streams of a river blown upon by the wind hasten through their course and fall into the sea, or, as a fearless troop of horse breaking through the enemy defences goes forth to victory winning over the field with the speed of its motion in the heat of action.
17.96
अभि प्रवन्त समनेव योषाः कल्याण्यः स्मयमानासो ऽ अग्निम् ।
घृतस्य धाराः समिधो नसन्त ता जुषाणो हर्यति जातवेदाः ॥
abhi pravanta samaneva yoṣāḥ kalyāṇyaḥ smayamānāso ' agnim ।
ghṛtasya dhārāḥ samidho nasanta tā juṣāṇo haryati jātavedāḥ ॥
Just like young women of equal mind and pleasing, noble and generous, smiling in festive mood, the streams of ghrita (ghee) flow from all round and join Agni to feed the holy fuel. And Agni, pleased with the offering, blazes with heat and light. So do the waves of energy and the vibrations of the divine voice of yajna meet the dedicated man who happily receives them and shines with the light of knowledge.
17.97
कन्या ऽइव वहतुम् एतवा ऽ उ ऽ अञ्ज्य् अञ्जाना ऽ अभि चाकशीमि ।
यत्र सोमः सूयते यत्र यज्ञो घृतस्य धारा ऽ अभि तत् पवन्ते ॥
kanyā 'iva vahatum etavā ' u ' añjy añjānā ' abhi cākaśīmi ।
yatra somaḥ sūyate yatra yajño ghṛtasya dhārā ' abhi tat pavante ॥
Just as a lovely maiden dressed in luxurious finery at her wedding goes to meet her groom, so do the streams of ghrita flow from all sides to meet Agni where yajna is performed and soma is generated for the light and energy of life. I perceive the flow of light and energy and I feel blest.
17.98
अभ्य् अर्षत सुष्टुतिं गव्यम् आजिम् अस्मासु भद्रा द्रविणानि धत्त ।
इमं यज्ञं नयत देवता नो घृतस्य धारा मधुमत् पवन्ते ॥
abhy arṣata suṣṭutiṃ gavyam ājim asmāsu bhadrā draviṇāni dhatta ।
imaṃ yajñaṃ nayata devatā no ghṛtasya dhārā madhumat pavante ॥
Powers of Divinity, bless us with creditable praise, plenty of food and drink and knowledge, and victory in the battles of life. Bless us with auspicious and excellent wealths of the world. Carry this yajna of ours to a noble finale. Let the honey streams of ghrita
17.99
धामन् ते विश्वं भुवनम् अधि श्रितम् अन्तः समुद्रे हृद्यन्तर् आयुषि ।
अपाम् अनीके समिथे य ऽ आभृतस् तम् अश्याम मधुमन्तं त ऽ ऊर्मिम् ॥
dhāman te viśvaṃ bhuvanam adhi śritam antaḥ samudre hṛdyantar āyuṣi ।
apām anīke samithe ya ' ābhṛtas tam aśyāma madhumantaṃ ta ' ūrmim ॥
Yajna Purusha, Agni, Lord of the universe, in your domain, under your law and power rests the entire world of existence. In this domain, whatever is contained in the oceans of space, in the splendour of the skies, in the heart, in life, in yajna, to that we may attain. May we have the taste of the honey-sweets of that cosmic yajna, may we have the feel of that universal energy.