Rig Veda
ayam iha prathamo dhāyi dhātṛbhir hotā yajiṣṭho adhvareṣv īḍyaḥ yam apnavāno bhṛgavo virurucur vaneṣu citraṃ vibhvaṃ viśe viśe
Here by ordainers was this God appointed first Invoker, best at worship, to be praised at rites: Whom Apnavana, and the Bhrigus caused to shine bright-coloured in the wood, spreading from home to home.
agne kadā ta ānuṣag bhuvad devasya cetanam adhā hi tvā jagṛbhrire martāso vikṣv īḍyam
When shall thy glory as a God, Agni, be suddenly shown forth. For mortal men have held thee fast, adorable in all their homes,
ṛtāvānaṃ vicetasam paśyanto dyām iva stṛbhiḥ viśveṣām adhvarāṇāṃ haskartāraṃ dame dame
Seeing thee faithful to the Law, most sapient, like the starry heaven, Illumining with cheerful ray each solemn rite in every house.
āśuṃ dūtaṃ vivasvato viśvā yaś carṣaṇīr abhi ā jabhruḥ ketum āyavo bhṛgavāṇaṃ viśe viśe
Vivasvan's envoy living men have taken as their ensign, swift, The ruler over all mankind, moving like Bhrigu in each home.
tam īṃ hotāram ānuṣak cikitvāṃsaṃ ni ṣedire raṇvam pāvakaśociṣaṃ yajiṣṭhaṃ sapta dhāmabhiḥ
Him the intelligent have they placed duly as Invoking Priest, Welcome, with sanctifying flame, best worshipper, with sevenfold might;
taṃ śaśvatīṣu mātṛṣu vana ā vītam aśritam citraṃ santaṃ guhā hitaṃ suvedaṃ kūcidarthinam
In his Eternal Mothers, in the wood, concealed and unapproached, Kept secret though his flames are bright seeking on all sides, quickly found.
sasasya yad viyutā sasminn ūdhann ṛtasya dhāman raṇayanta devāḥ mahāṁ agnir namasā rātahavyo ver adhvarāya sadam id ṛtāvā
That as food spreads forth in this earthly udder, Gods may rejoice them in the home of Order, Great Agni, served with reverence and oblation, flies ever to the sacrifice, the Faithful.
ver adhvarasya dūtyāni vidvān ubhe antā rodasī saṃcikitvān dūta īyase pradiva urāṇo viduṣṭaro diva ārodhanāni
Bird of each rite, skilled in an envoy's duties, knowing both worlds and that which lies between them, Thou goest from of old a willing Herald, knowing full well heaven's innermost recesses.
kṛṣṇaṃ ta ema ruśataḥ puro bhāś cariṣṇv arcir vapuṣām id ekam yad apravītā dadhate ha garbhaṃ sadyaś cij jāto bhavasīd u dūtaḥ
Bright God, thy path is black: light is before thee: thy moving splendour is the chief of wonders. When she, yet unimpregnate, hath conceived thee, even when newly born thou art an envoy.
sadyo jātasya dadṛśānam ojo yad asya vāto anuvāti śociḥ vṛṇakti tigmām ataseṣu jihvāṃ sthirā cid annā dayate vi jambhaiḥ
Yet newly born, his vigour is apparent when the wind blows upon his fiery splendour, His sharpened tongue he layeth on the brushwood, and with his teeth e'en solid food consumeth.
tṛṣu yad annā tṛṣuṇā vavakṣa tṛṣuṃ dūtaṃ kṛṇute yahvo agniḥ vātasya meﾱiṃ sacate nijūrvann āśuṃ na vājayate hinve arvā
When he hath borne off food with swift flame swiftly, strong Agni makes himself a speedy envoy, Follows the rustling of the wind, consuming, and courser-like, speeds, drives the swift horse onward.