Rig Veda
kumāram mātā yuvatiḥ samubdhaṃ guhā bibharti na dadāti pitre anīkam asya na minaj janāsaḥ puraḥ paśyanti nihitam aratau
The youthful Mother keeps the Boy in secret pressed to her close, nor yields him to the Father. But, when he lies upon the arm, the people see his unfading countenance before them.
kam etaṃ tvaṃ yuvate kumāram peṣī bibharṣi mahiṣī jajāna pūrvīr hi garbhaḥ śarado vavardhāpaśyaṃ jātaṃ yad asūta mātā
What child is this thou carriest as handmaid, O Youthful One? The Consort-Queen hath bome him. The Babe unborn increased through many autumns. I saw him born what time his Mother bare him.
hiraṇyadantaṃ śucivarṇam ārāt kṣetrād apaśyam āyudhā mimānam dadāno asmā amṛtaṃ vipṛkvat kim mām anindrāḥ kṛṇavann anukthāḥ
I saw him from afar gold-toothed, bright-coloured, hurling his weapons from his habitation, What time I gave him Amrita free from mixture. How can the Indraless, the hymnless harm me?
kṣetrād apaśyaṃ sanutaś carantaṃ sumad yūthaṃ na puru śobhamānam na tā agṛbhrann ajaniṣṭa hi ṣaḥ paliknīr id yuvatayo bhavanti
I saw him moving from the place he dwells in, even as with a herd, brilliantly shining. These seized him not: he had been born already. They who were grey with age again grow youthful.
ke me maryakaṃ vi yavanta gobhir na yeṣāṃ gopā araṇaś cid āsa ya īṃ jagṛbhur ava te sṛjantv ājāti paśva upa naś cikitvān
Who separate my young bull from the cattle, they whose protector was in truth no stranger? Let those whose hands have seized upon them free them. May he, observant, drive the herd to us-ward.
vasāṃ rājānaṃ vasatiṃ janānām arātayo ni dadhur martyeṣu brahmāṇy atrer ava taṃ sṛjantu ninditāro nindyāso bhavantu
Mid mortal men godless have secreted the King of all who live, home of the people. So may the prayers of Atri give him freedom. Reproached in turn be those who now reproach him.
śunaś cicchepaṃ niditaṃ sahasrād yūpād amuñco aśamiṣṭa hi ṣaḥ evāsmad agne vi mumugdhi pāśān hotaś cikitva iha tū niṣadya
Thou from the stake didst loose e'en Sunahsepa bound for a thousand; for he prayed with fervour. So, Agni, loose from us the bonds that bind us, when thou art seated here, O Priest who knowest.
hṛṇīyamāno apa hi mad aiyeḥ pra me devānāṃ vratapā uvāca indro vidvāṁ anu hi tvā cacakṣa tenāham agne anuśiṣṭa āgām
Thou hast sped from me, Agni, in thine anger: this the protector of Gods' Laws hath told me. Indra who knoweth bent his eye upon thee: by him instructed am I come, O Agni.
vi jyotiṣā bṛhatā bhāty agnir āvir viśvāni kṛṇute mahitvā prādevīr māyāḥ sahate durevāḥ śiśīte śṛṅge rakṣase vinikṣe
Agni shines far and wide with lofty splendour, and by his greatness makes all things apparent. He conquers godless and malign enchantments, and sharpens both his horns to gore the Rakshas.
uta svānāso divi ṣantv agnes tigmāyudhā rakṣase hantavā u made cid asya pra rujanti bhāmā na varante paribādho adevīḥ
Loud in the heaven above be Agni's roarings with keen-edged weapons to destroy the demons. Forth burst his splendours in the Soma's rapture. The godless bands press round but cannot stayhim.
This verse is not included in this edition.
As a skilled craftsman makes a car, a singer I, Mighty One! this hymn for thee have fashioned. If thou, O Agni, God, accept it gladly, may we obtain thereby the heavenly Waters.
tuvigrīvo vṛṣabho vāvṛdhāno 'śatrv aryaḥ sam ajāti vedaḥ itīmam agnim amṛtā avocan barhiṣmate manave śarma yaṃsad dhaviṣmate manave śarma yaṃsat
May he, the strong-necked Steer, waxing in vigour, gather the foeman's wealth with none to check him. Thus to this Agni have the Immortals spoken. To man who spreads the grass may he grant shelter, grant shelter to the man who brings oblation.