Religion

Sama Veda I.5.1.4: Agni and others

by The Rishis of the Sama Veda c. 1200–1000 BCE (traditional; uncertain)

Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1895) · From Hymns of the Samaveda (1895)

Religion

1. O Agni, God, we kindle thee, refulgent, wasting not away,
That this more glorious fuel may send forth for thee its shine to heaven. Bring food to those who sing thy praise!

2. With offerings of our own we choose thee, Agni, as our Hotar priest,
Piercing and brightly shining-at your glad carouse-served with trimmed grass at sacrifice. Thou waxest great.

3. O heavenly Dawn, awaken us to ample opulence to-day,
Even as thou didst waken us with Satyasravas, Vayya's son, high born! delightful with thy steeds!

4. Send us a mind that brings delight, send energy and mental power.
Then-at your glad carouse-let men joy in thy love, sweet juice! as kine in pasturage. Thou waxest great,

5. Great, as his nature is, through power, terrible, he hath waxed in strength,
Lord of bay steeds, strong-jawed, sublime, he in joined hands for glory's sake hath grasped his iron thunderbolt.

6. He, Indra, verily will mount the powerful car that finds the kine,
Who thinks upon the well-filled bowl, the tawny coursers' harnesser. Now, Indra, yoke thy two bay steeds!

7. I think of Agni who is kind, whom, as their home, the milch-kine seek:
Whom fleet-foot coursers seek as home, and strong enduring steeds as home. Bring food to those who sing thy praise!

8. No peril, no severe distress, ye Gods, affects the mortal man
Whom Aryaman and Mitra lead, and Varuna, of one accord, beyond his foes.

MLA

Veda, The Rishis of the Sama. “Sama Veda I.5.1.4: Agni and others.” Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/samaveda-rishis/43/.

Chicago

Veda, The Rishis of the Sama. “Sama Veda I.5.1.4: Agni and others.” Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/samaveda-rishis/43/.

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