Rig Veda 10.88

haviṣpāntam ajaraṃ svarvidi divispṛśy āhutaṃ juṣṭam agnau tasya bharmaṇe bhuvanāya devā dharmaṇe kaṃ svadhayā paprathanta

Dear, ageless sacrificial drink is offered in light-discovering, heaven-pervading Agni. The Gods spread forth through his Celestial Nature, that he might bear the world up and sustain it.

gīrṇam bhuvanaṃ tamasāpagūḍham āviḥ svar abhavaj jāte agnau tasya devāḥ pṛthivī dyaur utāpo 'raṇayann oṣadhīḥ sakhye asya

The world was swallowed and concealed in darkness: Agni was born, and light became apparent. The Deities, the broad earth, and the heavens, and plants, and waters gloried in his friendship.

devebhir nv iṣito yajñiyebhir agniṃ stoṣāṇy ajaram bṛhantam yo bhānunā pṛthivīṃ dyām utemām ātatāna rodasī antarikṣam

Inspired by Gods who claim our adoration, I now will laud Eternal Lofty Agni, Him who hath spread abroad the earth with lustre, this heaven, and both the worlds, and air's mid-region.

yo hotāsīt prathamo devajuṣṭo yaṃ samāñjann ājyenā vṛṇānāḥ sa patatrītvaraṃ sthā jagad yacchvātram agnir akṛṇoj jātavedāḥ

Earliest Priest whom all the Gods accepted, and chose him, and anointed him with butter, He swiftly made all things that fly, stand, travel, all that hath motion, Agni Jatavedas.

yaj jātavedo bhuvanasya mūrdhann atiṣṭho agne saha rocanena taṃ tvāhema matibhir gīrbhir ukthaiḥ sa yajñiyo abhavo rodasiprāḥ

Because thou, Agni, Jatavedas, stoodest at the world's head with thy refulgent splendour, We sent thee forth with hymns and songs and praises: thou filledst heaven and earth, God meet for worship.

mūrdhā bhuvo bhavati naktam agnis tataḥ sūryo jāyate prātar udyan māyām ū tu yajñiyānām etām apo yat tūrṇiś carati prajānan

Head of the world is Agni in the night-time; then, as the Sun, at morn springs up and rises. Then to his task goes the prompt Priest foreknowing the wondrous power of Gods who must be honoured.

dṛśenyo yo mahinā samiddho 'rocata diviyonir vibhāvā tasminn agnau sūktavākena devā havir viśva ājuhavus tanūpāḥ

Lovely is he who, kindled in his greatness, hath shone forth, seated in the heavens, refulgent. With resonant hymns all Gods who guard our bodies have offered up oblation in this Agni.

sūktavākam prathamam ād id agnim ād iddhavir ajanayanta devāḥ sa eṣāṃ yajño abhavat tanūpās taṃ dyaur veda tam pṛthivī tam āpaḥ

First the Gods brought the hymnal into being; then they engendered Agni, then oblation. He was their sacrifice that guards our bodies: him the heavens know, the earth, the waters know him.

yaṃ devāso 'janayantāgniṃ yasminn ājuhavur bhuvanāni viśvā so arciṣā pṛthivīṃ dyām utemām ṛjūyamāno atapan mahitvā

He, Agni, whom the Gods have generated, in whom they offered up all worlds and creatures, He with his bright glow heated earth and heaven, urging himself right onward in his grandeur.

stomena hi divi devāso agnim ajījanañchaktibhī rodasiprām tam ū akṛṇvan tredhā bhuve kaṃ sa oṣadhīḥ pacati viśvarūpāḥ

Then by the laud the Gods engendered Agni in heaven, who fills both worlds through strength and vigour. They made him to appear in threefold essence: he ripens plants of every form and nature.

yaded enam adadhur yajñiyāso divi devāḥ sūryam āditeyam yadā cariṣṇū mithunāv abhūtām ād it prāpaśyan bhuvanāni viśvā

What time the Gods, whose due is worship, set him as Surya, Son of Aditi, in heaven, When the Pair, ever wandering, sprang to being, all creatures that existed looked upon them.

viśvasmā agnim bhuvanāya devā vaiśvānaraṃ ketum ahnām akṛṇvan ā yas tatānoṣaso vibhātīr apo ūrṇoti tamo arciṣā yan

For all the world of life the Gods made Agni Vaisvanara to be the days' bright Banner,- Him who hath spread abroad the radiant Mornings, and, coming with his light, unveils the darkness.

vaiśvānaraṃ kavayo yajñiyāso 'gniṃ devā ajanayann ajuryam nakṣatram pratnam aminac cariṣṇu yakṣasyādhyakṣaṃ taviṣam bṛhantam

The wise and holy Deities engendered Agni Vaisvanara whom age ne'er touches. The Ancient Star that wanders on for ever, lofty and. strong, Lord of the Living Being.

vaiśvānaraṃ viśvahā dīdivāṃsam mantrair agniṃ kavim acchā vadāmaḥ yo mahimnā paribabhūvorvī utāvastād uta devaḥ parastāt

We call upon the Sage with holy verses, Agni Vaisvanara the ever-beaming, Who hath surpassed both heaven and earth in greatness: lie is a God below, a God above us.

dve srutī aśṛṇavam pitṝṇām ahaṃ devānām uta martyānām tābhyām idaṃ viśvam ejat sam eti yad antarā pitaram mātaraṃ ca

I have heard mention of two several pathways, ways of the Fathers and of Gods and mortals. On these two paths each moving creature travels, each thing between the Father and the Mother.

dve samīcī bibhṛtaś carantaṃ śīrṣato jātam manasā vimṛṣṭam sa pratyaṅ viśvā bhuvanāni tasthāv aprayucchan taraṇir bhrājamānaḥ

These two united paths bear him who journeys born from the head and pondered with the spirit He stands directed to all things existing, hasting, unresting in his fiery splendour.

yatrā vadete avaraḥ paraś ca yajñanyoḥ kataro nau vi veda ā śekur it sadhamādaṃ sakhāyo nakṣanta yajñaṃ ka idaṃ vi vocat

Which of us twain knows where they speak together, upper and lower of the two rite-leaders? Our friends have helped to gather our assembly. They came to sacrifice; who will announce it?

katy agnayaḥ kati sūryāsaḥ katy uṣāsaḥ katy u svid āpaḥ nopaspijaṃ vaḥ pitaro vadāmi pṛcchāmi vaḥ kavayo vidmane kam

How many are the Fires and Suns in number? What is the number of the Dawns and Waters? Not jestingly I speak to you, O Fathers. Sages, I ask you this for information.

yāvanmātram uṣaso na pratīkaṃ suparṇyo vasate mātariśvaḥ tāvad dadhāty upa yajñam āyan brāhmaṇo hotur avaro niṣīdan

As great as is the fair-winged Morning's presence to him who dwells beside us, Matarisvan! Is what the Brahman does when he approaches to sacrifice and sits below the Hotar.