BOOK THE THIRD.
1. SERVE Agni with the kindling-brand, with drops of butter wake the Guest. In him pay offerings to the Gods.
2. To Agni Jâtavedas, to the flame, the well-enkindled God, Offer thick sacrificial oil.
3. Thee, such, O Angiras, with brands and sacred oil we magnify, O very brilliant, Youthfullest.
4. Rich in oblations, dropping oil, to thee, sweet Agni, let them go. Accept with favour these my brands.
5. Earth! Ether! Sky! Like heaven in plenty and like earth in compass! Upon thy back, Earth, place of sacrificing to Gods, for gain of food I lay food-eating Agni.
6. This spotted Bull hath come and sat before the Mother and before The Father, mounting up to heaven.
7. As expiration from his breath his radiance penetrates within: The Bull shines out through all the sky.
8. He rules supreme through thirty realms. Song is bestowed upon the Bird Throughout the days at break of morn.
9. Agni is light, and light is Agni. Hail! Sûrya is light, and light is Sûrya. Hail! Agni is splendour, light is splendour. Hail! Sûrya is splendour, light is splendour. Hail! Light is Sûrya, Sûrya is light. Hail!
10. Accordant with bright Savitar and Night with Indra at her side, May Agni, being pleased, enjoy. All-hail!
11. Approaching sacrifice, may we pronounce a text to Agni who Heareth us even when afar.
12. Agni is head and height of heaven, the Master of the earth is he: He quickeneth the waters’ seed.
13. You two will I invoke, O Indra-Agni, will please you both together with oblation. Givers, you twain, of vigorous strength and riches, you twain do I invoke for gain of vigour.
14. This is thine ordered place of birth whence, sprung to life, thou shonest forth. Knowing this, Agni, rise thou up and cause our riches to increase.
15. Here by ordainers was this God appointed first Invoker, best at worship, to be praised at rites, Whom Apnavâna and the Bhrigus caused to shine, bright-coloured in the wood, spreading to every house.
16. After his ancient splendour they, the bold, have drawn the bright milk from The Sage who wins a thousand gifts.
17. Thou, Agni, art our bodies’ guard. Guard thou my body. Giver of life art thou, O Agni. Give me life. Giver of splendour art thou, Agni. Give me splendour. All that is wanting in my body, Agni, supply for me.
18. Enkindled we enkindle thee through hundred winters, thee the bright; We healthy, thee who givest health; we strong, thee author of our strength; We, never injured, Agni, thee uninjured injurer of foes. O rich in shining lights, may I in safety rich the end of thee.
19. Thou hast attained, O Agni, to the splendour of Sûrya, to the eulogy of Rishis, and to the habitation which thou lovest. May I attain to lengthened life, to splendour, to offspring and abundant store of riches.
20. Ye are food, may I enjoy your food. Ye are might, may I enjoy your might. Ye are energy, may I enjoy your energy. Ye are abundant riches, may I enjoy your abundant riches.
21. Sport, wealthy ones, in this abode, this fold, this spot, this dwelling-place. Remain just here, and go not hence.
22. Composed art thou of every form and colour. With sap and. ownership of kine approach me. To thee, dispeller of the night, O Agni, day by day with prayer, Bringing thee reverence, we come;
23. Ruler of sacrifices, guard of Law eternal, radiant One, Increasing in thine own abode.
24. Be to us easy of approach, even as a father to his son: Agni, be with us for our weal.
25. O Agni, be our nearest Friend; be thou a kind deliverer and gracious Friend. Excellent Agni, come thou nigh to us, and give us wealth most splendidly renowned.
26. To thee then, O most bright, O radiant God, we come with prayer for happiness for our friends. So hear us, listen to this call of ours, and keep us far from every evil man.
27. O Ida, come, O Aditi, come hither. Come hither, much-desired! From you may I obtain my heart’s desire.
28. O Brahmanaspati, make him who presses Soma glorious, Even Kakshîvân Ausija.
29. The rich, the healer of disease, who findeth wealth, increaseth store, The prompt,—may he be with us still.
30. Let not the foeman’s curse, let not a mortal’s treachery fall on us: Preserve us, Brahmanaspati!
31. Great, heavenly, unassailable, ours be the favour of the Three, Aryaman, Mitra, Varuna.
32. For over them, neither at home nor upon pathways perilous, The evil-minded foe hath power.
33. For they, the Sons of Aditi, bestow eternal light upon A mortal man that he may live.