b. Thee, O Agni, from the lotus Atharvan pressed out From the head of every priest.
c. This Agni is lord of a thousandfold, A hundredfold, strength; The sage, the head of wealth.
d. Leader of the sacrifice and the region art thou, Where with steeds auspicious thou dost resort; Thou placest in the sky thy head winning light, Thou makest, O Agni, thy tongue to bear the oblation.
e. Agni hath been awakened by the kindling-stick of men To meet the dawn that cometh on like a cow [1]; Like young ones rising up to a branch, The rays rise towards the vault.
f. We have uttered to the sage, the worshipful, Our voice of praise, to the strong bull; Gavisthira with his homage hath raised to Agni this laud, Wide extending like brilliance in the sky.
g. He hath been born as guardian of men, wakeful, Agni, skilful, for fresh prosperity; Ghee-faced, with mighty sky-reaching (blaze) He shineth gloriously, pure for the Bharatas.
h. Thee, O Agni [2], the Angirases found When hidden in secret, resting in every wood; Thou when rubbed art born as mighty strength; Son of strength they call thee, O Angiras.
i. Banner of the sacrifice, first domestic priest, Agni men kindle in the three stations; With Indra and the gods conjoined on the strew Let him sit, as Hotr, well skilled for sacrificing.
k. Thee of most resplendent fame Men invoke in their dwellings, With flaming hair, O dear to many, O Agni, to bear the oblation. 1 O friends, together (offer) fit [3] Food and praise to Agni, Highest over the folk, The son of strength, the mighty.
m. Thou gatherest, O strong one, O Agni, all that belongeth to the niggard; Thou art kindled in the place of offering; Do thou bear us good things.
n. With this homage Agni, Son of strength, I invoke, Dear, most effectual messenger, the good sacrificer, The envoy of all, immortal.
o. He, the ruddy, shall yoke (his steeds) all cherishing, He shall hasten when well adored; The sacrifice hath good prayer and strong effort [4], Of the Vasus, the divine gift of men.
p. The radiance of the bounteous offerer Hath mounted on high, The ruddy smoke (riseth) touching the sky; Men in unison kindle Agni.
q. O Agni, lording it over strength rich in kine, Youthful son of strength, Bestow upon us, O all-knower, great fame.
r. Being kindled, bright, sage, Agni, to be praised with song, Do thou shine with wealth for us, O thou of many faces.
s. O Agni, lord of the night, And of the morning, and of the dawn, Do thou burn against the Raksases with sharp jaws [5].
t. May we kindle thee, O Agni, Radiant, O god, and unaging; When this most desirable Kindling-stick maketh radiance for thee in the sky, Do thou bear food to thy praisers.
u. With the song, O Agni, the oblation, O lord of brilliant light, Bright shining, wonderworker, lord of the people, O bearer of the oblation, is offered to thee; Do thou bear food to thy praisers.
v. O bright one, in thy mouth thou cookest Both ladles (full) of butter; Do thou make us full [6], For our hymns, O lord of strength; Do thou bear food to thy praisers.
w. O Agni to-day, let us make to prosper by praises, By devotions, for thee this (sacrifice) like a (good) steed, Like a noble resolve which toucheth the heart.
x. O Agni, thou hast become master Of noble resolve, of true inspiration, Of mighty holy order.
y. With these songs singing to thee, O Agni, This day let us pay worship; Thy strengths thunder forth as from the sky.
z. At these our hymns of praise do thou be propitious [7], Like the light of heaven, O Agni, propitious with all thy faces. aa. Agni I deem the Hotr, the generous wealth-giver, The son of strength, the all-knower, Who knoweth all as a sage,
bb. Who offereth sacrifice well, With beauty soaring aloft towards the gods, the god, Following the flames of the ghee, Of the butter of brilliant radiance when offered up.
cc. O Agni, be thou our nearest, Our protector, kindly, a shield;
dd. Thee, O shining and most radiant one, We implore for favour, for our friends.
ee. Agni, bright, of bright fame, Come hither in thy greatest splendour and give us wealth.