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2 For thou art offering−bearer and loved messenger, the charioteer of sacrifice: 3 As messenger we choose to−day Agni the good whom many love, 4 Him noblest and most youthful, richly worshipped guest, dear to the men who offer gifts, 5 Thee, Agni, will I glorify, deathless nourisher of the world, 6 Tell good things to thy praiser, O most youthful God, as richly worshipped, honey−tongued, 7 For the men, Agni, kindle thee as all possessor and as Priest; 8 At dawn of day, at night, Usas and Savitar, the Asvins, Bhaga, Agni's self: 9 For, Agni, Lord of sacrifice and messenger of men art thou: 10 Thou shonest forth, O Agni, after former dawns, all visible, O rich in light. 11 Like Manu, we will stablish thee, Agni, performer of the rite, 12 When as the Gods' High Priest, by many loved, thou dost their mission as their nearest Friend, 13 Heat−, Agni, who hast ears to hear, with all thy train of escort Gods; 14 Let those who strengthen Law, who bountiUly give, the life−tongued Maruts, hear our praise. 2 Agni, the Gods who understand give ear unto the worshipper: 3 O Jatavedas, great in act, hearken thou to Praskanva's call, 4 The sons of Priyamedha skilled in lofty praise have called for help 5 Hear thou, invoked withholy oil, bountiful giver of rewards, 6 O Agni, loved by many, thou of fame most wondrous, in their homes 7 Thee, Agni, best to find out wealth, most widely famous, quick to hear, 8 Singers with Soma pressed have made thee, Agni, hasten to the feast, 9 Good, bounteous, Son of Strength, this day seat here on sacred grass the Gods 10 Bring with joint invocations thou, O Agni, the celestial host:

2 In love thou madest Usas glow, in love thou madest Surya shine. 3 The heaven with streams of golden hue, earth with her tints of green and gold− 4 When born to life the golden Bull illumines all the realm of light. 5 The bright, the well−loved thunderbolt, girt with the bright, Indra disclosed,

2 Asvins, ye gained that glory by your Godhead, ye Sons of Heaven, by your own might and power. 3 Who bringeth you to−day for help with offered oblation, or with hymns to drink the juices? 4 Borne on your golden car, ye omnipresent! come to this sacrifice of ours, Nasatyas. 5 Come hitherward to us from earth, from heaven, borne on your golden chariot rolling lightly. 6 Now for us both, mete out, O WonderWorkers, riches exceeding great with store of heroes, 7 Whene'er I gratified you here together, your grace was given us, O ye rich in booty.

2 Shining to him who leaves heaven's regions undisturbed, which to his sheen who is beneath show fair in 3 Truth waits upon oblation present and to come: naught checks him in his way, this vic tory− bringing 4 These come, well−yoked, to you for furtherance in the rite: down come the twinborn strengtheners of L 5 Thou, moving beauteously in visibly pregnant ones, snatching with trees the branching plant that grasps 6 Like as he is beheld such is he said to be. 7 Surya the Sage, as if unwedded, with a Spouse, in battle−loving spirit moveth o'er the foes. 8 Thy name, sung forth by Rsis in these hymns of ours, goes to the loftier One with this swift mover's ligh 9 The chief and best of these abideth in the sea, nor doth libation fail wherein it is prolonged. 10 For it is he: with though to of Ksatra, Manasa, of Yajata, and Sadhri, and Evavada, 11 The Hawk is their full source, girth−stretching rapturous drink of Visvavara, of Mayin, and Yajata. 12 Sadaprna the holy, Tarya, Srutavit, and Bahuvrkta, joined with you, have slain the foes. 13 The worshipper's defender is Sutambhara, producer and uplifter of all holy thoughts. 11 The sacred hymns love him who wakes and watches: to him who watches come the Sama verses. 15 Agni is watchful, and the gcas love him; Agni is watchful, Sama verses seek him.

6 To seat your Indra, I will spread abroad with power this song of praise. 7 A recent Friend, he found the skilful priest: he drank, and showed forth treasure from the Gods. 8 In course of Law the sapient juice was quaffed: the Deities to glory turned their mind. 9 Bestow on us the most illustrious strength ward off men's manifold malignities. 10 We turn to thee as Giver, liberal Indra. Lord of the Bay Steeds, be not thou ungracious. 11 Give us not up, Strong Hero! to the hungry: unharmed be we whom thou, so rich, befriendest. 12 As Indra thundering impels the rain−clouds, so doth he send us store of kine and horses. 13 Adbyaryu, hero, bring to mighty Indrafor he is King thereof−the pressed−out juices; 14 In the wild joy of this hath Indra, knowing full many a form, struck down resistless Vrtras. 15 May Indra drink this Soma poured to please him, and cheered therewith slay Vrtra with his thunder. 16 The cup whence Indra drinks the draught is present: the Amrta dear to Indra hath been drunken, 17 Therewith enraptured, Hero, slay our foemen, the unfriendly, Maghavan be they kin or strangers, 18 O Indra Maghavan, in these our battles win easy paths for us and ample freedom. 19 Let thy Bay Stallions, harnessed, bring thee hither, Steeds with strong chariot and strong reins to hold 20 Beside the vat, Strong God! stand thy strong Horses, shining with holy oil, like waves exulting. 21 Thou art the Bull of earth, the Bull of heaven, Bull of the rivers, Bull of standing waters. 22 This God, with might, when first he had his being, with Indra for ally, held fast the Pani. 23 The Dawns he wedded to a glorious Consort, and set within the Sun the light that lights him. 24 He stayed and held the heaven and earth asunder: the chariot with the sevenfold reins he harnessed.

2 When, rising, to the sacrifice we hasten, awaking Dadhikras with adorations. 3 While I am thus arousing Dadhikravan I speak to Agni, Earth, and Dawn, and Surya, 4 Foremost is Dadhikravan, vigorous courser; in forefront of the cars, his way he knoweth, 5 May Dadhikras prepare the way we travel that we may pass along the path of Order.

2 Agni, do thou accept my laud, be magnified by this my song: 3 Agni, envoy, I place in front; the oblation−bearer I address: 4 Agni, the lofty flames of' thee enkindled have gone up on high, 5 Beloved! let my ladles full of sacred oil come near to thee: 6 I worship Agni−may he hear!−the cheerful, the Invoker, Priest, 7 Ancient Invoker, meet for praise, beloved Agni, wise and strong, 8 Agni, best Angiras, accept straightway these offerings, and guide 9 Excellent God, with brilliant flames, enkindled bring thou hitherward, 10 Him, Sage and Herald, void of guile, ensign of sacrifices, him 11 O Agni, be our Guardian thou, God, against those who injure us: 12 Making his body beautiful, Agni the Sage hath waxen by 13 I invocate the Child of Strength, Agni with purifying flame, 14 So Agni, rich in many friends, with fiery splendour, seat thyself 15 The mortal man who serves the God Agni within his own abode, 16 Agni is head and height of heaven, the Master of the earth is he: 17 Upward, O Agni, rise thy flames, pure and resplendent, blazing high, 18 For, Agni, thou as Lord of Light rulest o'er choicest gifts: may I, 19 O Agni, they who understand stir thee to action with their thoughts: 20 We ever claim the friendship of Agni, the singing messenger, 21 Agni who bears most holy sway, the holy Singer, holy Sage, 22 Yea, let my meditations, let my songs exalt thee evermore. 23 If I were thou and thou wert I, O Agni, every prayer of thine 24 For Excellent and Lord of wealth. art thou O Agni, rich in light: 25 Agni, to thee whose laws stand fast our resonant songs of praise speed forth, 26 Agni, the Youthful Lord of men, who stirreth much and eateth all, 27 To Agni let us haste with lauds, the Guide of sacrificial rites, 28 And let this man, good Agni, be with thee the singer of thy praise: 29 For thou art sharer of our feast, wise, ever watchful as a Sage: 30 O Agni, Sage, before our foes, before misfortunes fall on us,

2 Pleased with the hymn, impelled by prayer, Soma is hurried far away, 3 Watchful among the. gods, this juice advances to the cleansing sieve 4 Flow onward, seeking strength for us, embellishing the sacrifice: 5 May Soma, ever bringing power to Bhaga and to Vayu, Sage 6 So, to increase our wealth to−day, Inspirer, best of Furtherers,

2 Firm−seated is thy car, thy Steeds are docile; thy hand, O King, holds, firmly grasped, the thunder. 3 Let strong and mighty Steeds who bear this Mighty Indra, the Lord of men, whose arm wields thunder, 4 So like a Bull thou rushest to the Lord who loves the trough, the Sage, the prop of vigour, in the vat, 5 May precious treasures come to us−so will I pray. Come to the votary's gift offered with beauteous laud. 6 Far went our earlist invocation of the Gods, and won us glories that can never be surpassed. 7 So be the others, evil−hearted, far away, whose horses, difficult to harness, have been yoked. 8 He firmly fixed the plains and mountains as they shook. Dyaus thundered forth and made the air's 9 I bear this deftly−fashioned goad of thine, wherewith thou, Maghavan, shalt break the strikers with the 10 O Much−invoked, may we subdue all famine and evil want with store of grain and cattle. 11 Brhaspati protect us from the rearward, and from above, and from below, from sinners.