Rig Veda
tvam agne prathamo aṅgirā ṛṣir devo devānām abhavaḥ śivaḥ sakhā tava vrate kavayo vidmanāpaso 'jāyanta maruto bhrājadṛṣṭayaḥ
Thou, Agni, wast the earliest Angiras, a Seer; thou wast, a God thyself, the Gods' auspicious Friend. After thy holy ordinance the Maruts, sage, active through wisdom, with their glittering spears, were born.
tvam agne prathamo aṅgirastamaḥ kavir devānām pari bhūṣasi vratam vibhur viśvasmai bhuvanāya medhiro dvimātā śayuḥ katidhā cid āyave
O Agni, thou, the best and earliest Angiras, fulfillest as a Sage the holy law of Gods. Sprung from two mothers, wise, through all existence spread, resting in many a place for sake of living man.
tvam agne prathamo mātariśvana āvir bhava sukratūyā vivasvate arejetāṃ rodasī hotṛvūrye 'saghnor bhāram ayajo maho vaso
To Matarisvan first thou, Agni, wast disclosed, and to Vivasvan through thy noble inward power. Heaven and Earth, Vasu! shook at the choosing of the Priest: the burthen thou didst bear, didst worship mighty Gods.
tvam agne manave dyām avāśayaḥ purūravase sukṛte sukṛttaraḥ śvātreṇa yat pitror mucyase pary ā tvā pūrvam anayann āparam punaḥ
Agni thou madest heaven to thunder for mankind; thou, yet more pious, for pious Pururavas. When thou art rapidly freed from thy parents, first eastward they bear thee round, and, after, to the west.
tvam agne vṛṣabhaḥ puṣṭivardhana udyatasruce bhavasi śravāyyaḥ ya āhutim pari vedā vaṣaṭkṛtim ekāyur agre viśa āvivāsasi
Thou, Agni, art a Bull who makes our store increase, to be invoked by him who lifts the ladle up. Well knowing the oblation with the hallowing word, uniting all who live, thou lightenest first our folk
tvam agne vṛjinavartaniṃ naraṃ sakman piparṣi vidathe vicarṣaṇe yaḥ śūrasātā paritakmye dhane dabhrebhiś cit samṛtā haṃsi bhūyasaḥ
Agni, thou savest in the synod when pursued e'en him, farseeing One! who walks in evil ways. Thou, when the heroes fight for spoil which men rush, round, slayest in war the many by the hands of few.
tvaṃ tam agne amṛtatva uttame martaṃ dadhāsi śravase dive dive yas tātṛṣāṇa ubhayāya janmane mayaḥ kṛṇoṣi praya ā ca sūraye
For glory, Agni, day by day, thou liftest up the mortal man to highest immortality, Even thou who yearning for both races givest them great bliss, and to the prince grantest abundant food.
tvaṃ no agne sanaye dhanānāṃ yaśasaṃ kāruṃ kṛṇuhi stavānaḥ ṛdhyāma karmāpasā navena devair dyāvāpṛthivī prāvataṃ naḥ
O Agni, highly lauded, make our singer famous that he may win us store of riches: May we improve the rite with new performance. O Earth and Heaven, with all the Gods, protect us.
tvaṃ no agne pitror upastha ā devo deveṣv anavadya jāgṛviḥ tanūkṛd bodhi pramatiś ca kārave tvaṃ kalyāṇa vasu viśvam opiṣe
O blameless Agni lying in thy Parents' lap, a God among the Gods, be watchful for our good. Former of bodies, be the singer's Providence: all good things hast thou sown for him, auspicious One!
tvam agne pramatis tvam pitāsi nas tvaṃ vayaskṛt tava jāmayo vayam saṃ tvā rāyaḥ śatinaḥ saṃ sahasriṇaḥ suvīraṃ yanti vratapām adābhya
Agni, thou art our Providence, our Father thou: we are thy brethren and thou art our spring of life. In thee, rich in good heroes, guard of high decrees, meet hundred, thousand treasures, O infallible!
tvām agne prathamam āyum āyave devā akṛṇvan nahuṣasya viśpatim iḍām akṛṇvan manuṣasya śāsanīm pitur yat putro mamakasya jāyate
Thee, Agni, have the Gods made the first living One for living man, Lord of the house of Nahusa. Ila they made the teacher of the sons of men, what time a Son was born to the father of my race.
tvaṃ no agne tava deva pāyubhir maghono rakṣa tanvaś ca vandya trātā tokasya tanaye gavām asy animeṣaṃ rakṣamāṇas tava vrate
Worthy to be revered, O Agni, God, preserve our wealthy patrons with thy succours, and ourselves. Guard of our seed art thou, aiding our cows to bear, incessantly protecting in thy holy way.
tvam agne yajyave pāyur antaro 'niṣaṅgāya caturakṣa idhyase yo rātahavyo 'vṛkāya dhāyase kīreś cin mantram manasā vanoṣi tam
Agni, thou art a guard close to the pious man; kindled art thou, four-eyed! for him who is unarmed. With fond heart thou acceptest e'en the poor man's prayer, when he hath brought his gift to gain security.
tvam agna uruśaṃsāya vāghate spārhaṃ yad rekṇaḥ paramaṃ vanoṣi tat ādhrasya cit pramatir ucyase pitā pra pākaṃ śāssi pra diśo viduṣṭaraḥ
Thou, Agni gainest for the loudly-praising priest the highest wealth, the object of a man's desire. Thou art called Father, caring even for the weak, and wisest, to the simple one thou teachest lore.
tvam agne prayatadakṣiṇaṃ naraṃ varmeva syūtam pari pāsi viśvataḥ svādukṣadmā yo vasatau syonakṛj jīvayājaṃ yajate sopamā divaḥ
Agni, the man who giveth guerdon to the priests, like well-sewn armour thou guardest on every side. He who with grateful food shows kindness in his house, an offerer to the living, is the type of heaven.
imām agne śaraṇim mīmṛṣo na imam adhvānaṃ yam agāma dūrāt āpiḥ pitā pramatiḥ somyānām bhṛmir asy ṛṣikṛn martyānām
Pardon, we pray, this sin of ours, O Agni,—the path which we have trodden, widely straying, Dear Friend and Father, caring for the pious, who speedest nigh and who inspirest mortals.
manuṣvad agne aṅgirasvad aṅgiro yayātivat sadane pūrvavacchuce accha yāhy ā vahā daivyaṃ janam ā sādaya barhiṣi yakṣi ca priyam
As erst to Manus, to Yayati, Angiras, so Angiras! pure Agni! come thou to our hall Bring hither the celestial host and seat them here upon the sacred grass, and offer what they love.
etenāgne brahmaṇā vāvṛdhasva śaktī vā yat te cakṛmā vidā vā uta pra ṇeṣy abhi vasyo asmān saṃ naḥ sṛja sumatyā vājavatyā
By this our prayer be thou, O Agni, strengthened, prayer made by us after our power and knowledge. Lead thou us, therefore, to increasing riches; endow us with thy strength-bestowing favour.