Canto 16Translations of the First Hymn of the Rig Veda

Book 2. cover for HMF=16.pdf

Translations of the First Hymn

of the Rig Veda

[1]

Hymns of the First Cycle

5I.

A hymn of praise, welcome and prayer to Agni, Lord of Tejas,

composed when the mind of the Yogin Madhuchchhanda was

full of sattwic energy and illumination.

1. Agni the brilliant I adore who standeth before the Lord,

10the god that has the ecstasy of the truth, the fighter that fulfilleth

utter bliss.

2. Agni adorable to the sages of old, adorable to the new,

holds up the gods with force & might.

3. By Agni one enjoyeth strength, one enjoyeth increase day

15by day and a mastery full of force.

4. O Agni, the Lord below about whom thou art on every

side a flame encompassing, came by the gods into this world.

5. Agni the fighter, the strong in wisdom, the true, the man-

ifold, the high of fame, has come to us, a god meeting with

20gods.

6. O beloved, that to the foe who would destroy thee thou,

O Agni, doest good, this is the Truth of thee, O Lord of Love.

7. O Agni, to thee yearning if day by day we embrace thee

with our mind and bear the law, then thou growest in mastery

25and might: —

8. To thee the shining one of the gods below who guardest

the energy of the nectar and increasest in thy home.

9. Do thou therefore, O Agni, become lavish of thy ap-

proach to us as a father to his child; cleave to us for our heavenly

30bliss.

Other Hymns to Agni

[2]

Agni I desire who standeth before the Lord, the god who

knoweth all the law, the warrior who disposeth utterly delight.

35Agni whom the ancient seers desired, the modern too adore;

for in his strength he beareth all the Gods.

By Agni one getteth substance, yes, and increase day by day,

and glorious success.

O Agni, that Lord here below whom thou encompassest on

40every side, is he that moveth in the Gods.

Agni, the warrior whose strength is wisdom, he of the Truth

who has the knowledge rich, cometh, a God attended by the

Gods.

O beloved, O Agni, that thou desirest to do good to him

45who seeks to hurt thee, this is utterly thy nature, O Lord of

Love.

To thee, O Agni who protectest us in darkness day by day,

if with hearts full of self-surrender we come, then thou towerest

to thy height,

50To thee, controller and protector of all things below, of the

Immortal brilliant force, ever increasing in thy home.

So be thou easy to our approach as a father to his child,

abide with us for our bliss.

[3]

551.

aEnmF0

roEht

y.y

60d

Evj

hotAr

r&DAtm

65Agni I adore who stands before Yajna, the god that seeth

right, the offerer of the oblation, chief disposer of delight.

aEn

70$

EB-

EqEBrFX

75n

#zt

80d

vAn

vEt

Agni, adorable to the former sages, adorable to those of

85today, he brings here the gods.

Translations of the First Hymn of the Rig Veda

aEnnA

rEym`vpoqm

90v

Edv

yfs

vFrv1m

95By Agni one getteth delight (or force) and increase too day

by day, & widest victory (or most manifest or most forceful).

100y.mvr

pErB

105rEs

110gQCEt

O Agni, the Yajna here below which thou encompassest on

every side is that that moveth in the gods (or goeth to the gods).

aEnho

115tA

kEv5t

syE

c2vtm

120vo

EBrAgmt

Agni, the Hota, the strong in wisdom, the true, the varied

125in inspired knowledge, comes a god with the gods.

dAf

130q

vmn

kEryEs

1351symEHr

That thou, O beloved, doest good to the giver, O Agni, this

is the truth in thee, O lord of love.

140vAn

Edv

doqAvtED

145vy

nmo

Brt

emEs

To thee, O Agni, day by day because thou protectest in the

150dimness, we with the understanding (come) bearing salutation

and thou growest to thy strength.

rAjtmvrAZA

gopAm

155ty

dFEdEv

mAn

160dm

Ruling over things below, O protector of immortality, a

splendour increasing in its home.

165n

Ept

170nv

pAyno

175Bv

scvA

vty

Therefore do thou, O Agni, be accessible to us as a father

180to his child, cleave to us for our bliss.

[4]

Rigveda

Hymns of Madhuchchhand´a Vaisv´amitra

Mandala I. Hymns I–XI.

185I

Agni I adore, the representative priest of the sacrificial act, the

god who is the Adept of the sacrifice, the offerer of the action

Other Hymns to Agni

who disposeth utterly delight. Agni adorable to the seers of old,

190is adorable always to the new, he beareth here the gods. By Agni

one getteth energy and increase also day by day and effective

strength of highest forcefulness. O Agni, whatso material action

of sacrifice thou encompassest on every side, that verily moveth

in the gods. Agni, the offering priest whose might is knowledge,

195the true, the exceeding rich in inspiration, cometh a god with the

gods. That thou, O friend, O Agni, wilt surely effect the weal

of the giver, that is the nature & truth of thee, O lord of love.

To thee, O Agni, day by day, O dweller in the twilight, we with

the discerning mind bring our submission when thy strength is

200at its height, to thee the ruler of all here below, guardian of

Immortality, a high splendour increasing in its home. Therefore

do thou be easy of approach to us as a father to his son; be thou

strong for our felicity.

[5]

205A Hymn to Agni. I.1.

Agni I adore, the representative priest of the Sacrifice, the god

who sacrifices aright, the priest of the offering who disposes

utterly delight. Agni adorable to the seers of old, is adorable

also [to the] new, for he brings hither the gods. By Agni one gets

210him energy and an increase day by day full of success and full

of power. Agni, the material sacrifice which thou encompassest

with thy being on every side, that indeed goeth to the gods. Agni

the priest of the offering, who has the force of the wisdom, the

true, the full of rich inspiration, comes to us a god with the

215gods. That thou, O beloved Agni, wilt do good to the giver, this

is the truth of thee, O lord of love. To thee, O Agni, day by day,

by night & by day, we by the understanding come bringing to

thee our submission, who governest all things below, protector

of the Truth, a brilliant flame increasing in its home. Therefore

220do thou be easy of approach to us as a father to his child, cleave

to us for our weal.

Translations of the First Hymn of the Rig Veda

[6]

Rigveda.

225Mandala I,

Hymns of Madhuchchhand´a Vaisv´amitra.

Hymn to Agni

1. Agni I adore, the priest who stands forward for the sac-

230rifice, the god who acts in the truth of things, the giver of the

oblation who disposes utterly delight.

2. Agni adored by the ancient seers is adorable still to the

new, for he brings here the gods.

3. By Agni one gets day by day energy & increase victorious

235and full of force.

4. O Agni, whatsoever material sacrifice thou encompassest

with thy being on every side, that goes to the gods.

5. Agni, he that offers the oblation, whose strength is in

wisdom, the true, the rich in various inspiration, comes a god

240with the gods.

6. That thou, O Agni, wilt surely bring about good for the

giver, that is the truth of thee, O lord of love.

7. To thee, O Agni, day by day, in darkness and in light we

come in our minds bearing our submission, —

2458. To thee, who rulest over all below, guardian of immor-

tality, a brilliance increasing in its home.

9. Therefore do thou be easy of approach to us as a father

to his child, cleave to us for our weal.

[7]

250I.1

The Strength I seek who is set in front as our divine repre-

sentative in the sacrifice and offers in the order of the Truth,

the priest of our oblation who disposes utterly delight.

The

255Strength [was] desirable to the ancient sages and they of today

Other Hymns to Agni

must seek him too, for ’tis he that brings hither the gods.

the Strength one attains a wealth of felicity that increases from

260day to day and, full of hero mights, victoriously attains.

Strength, the sacrifice in its march that thou encompassest with

thy being on every side, that reaches to the gods.

Strength is

265the priest of our oblation, he has the seer-will and is true in his

being and is rich in varied inspirations; may he come to us, a god

with the gods.

O Strength, that thou wilt create for the giver

of the offering his weal, that is the truth in thee, O Puissance.

270To thee, O Agni, we approach day after day, in the light and in

the darkness, bringing thee submission by the thought,

To thee

that rulest the march of the sacrifices, the protector of the Truth

and its outshining, increasing in thine own home.

275Therefore

be easy of approach to us, O Strength, as a father to his child;

cleave to us for our blissful state.

[8]

I.1

2801. The God-will I seek with adoration, divine priest of the

sacrifice who is set in front and sacrifices in the seasons of the

Law, giver of oblation who most ordains the ecstasy.

2. The Flame adored by the ancient finders of knowledge

must be sought also by the new, for it is he that shall bring hither

285the godheads.

3. By the flame of the Will man enjoys a treasure of felicity

that grows day by day and is a splendour of attainment and rich

in hero-energies.

4. O Will, around whatsoever sacrifice travelling to its goal

290thou comest into being on its every side, that reaches truly the

gods (or goes truly to the gods).

5. God-will is the priest of the oblation, for his is the Seer-

will (or who has the will of the seer) true in its being, with a

most rich and varied inspiration; let him come to us, a god with

295the gods.

Translations of the First Hymn of the Rig Veda

6. The Good that thou wilt create for the giver of the

sacrifice, thine is that Truth, O Will, O Seer-Puissance.

7. To the God-will we come day by day, in the night & in

300the light, carrying by our thought our offering of submission,

8. To the Ruler of our pilgrim sacrifices and shining guard-

ian of the truth, increasing in his own home.

9. Therefore do thou, O Will, be as easy of approach to us

as a father to his child, cleave to us for that happy state of our

305being.

[9]

I.1

The Will I seek with adoration, divine priest of our sacrifice

who is set in its front and sacrifices in the seasons of the Truth

310and offers the oblation and establishes in us wholly the Bliss;

Will, the object of their adoration to the seers of old and

to the seers who are now, for he brings into this world the

godheads.

By the Will man attains to wealth of the felicity and it in-

315creases day by day and is victorious in attainment and full of

hero powers.

That sacrifice which in its journey on the path thou en-

compassest with thy being on its every side, that travels to the

gods.

320Will the priest, the seer-will, the true in being, richest in his

shining inspirations of the truth, may he come divine with all

the divine powers.

O Will, in that thou wilt surely create his good for the giver

of the sacrifice, thine is that truth, O Seer-Puissance.

325To thee, O Will, day by day, we come both in the light and in

the night bringing the offering of our submission by the thought;

To thee, who rulest our sacrifices in their march, to the

shining guardian of the Truth who increases in his own home.

Do thou be easy of access as is a father to his child, cleave

330to us for the bliss.

Other Hymns to Agni

[10]

Hymns of Madhuchchhandas

son of Viswamitra.

335A Hymn to Agni, the Divine Flame

A hymn to Agni the divine Flame, priest of the sacrifice, bringer

of the gods to man, giver of the treasures, protector and leader

and king of the sacrifice of the path, inspired seer will in works,

giver of the supreme good and truth and its shining guardian.

340I adore the Flame, divine vicar of sacrifice, Ritwik and

offering priest who most founds the Delight.

The Flame adored by the ancient sages is adorable too by

the new. He brings on earth the gods.

Man can get by the Flame a treasure that increases day by

345day, splendid and full of heroes’ strengths.

O Flame, alone the sacrifice of the path which thou sur-

roundest with thy being on every side, goes among the gods.

The Flame is a priest, a seer will to acts, true and rich in

many lights of inspiration, and shall come to us a god with the

350gods.

O Flame, that happiness thou wilt create for the giver of

sacrifice, is thine only and is that Truth, O Angiras.1

To thee day by day, O Flame, in night and in light we come

carrying to thee by the thought our adoration,

355To the ruler of the sacrifices of the path, the luminous

guardian of the Truth, who increases in his own home!

O Fire, be thou easy of access to us like a father to his son,

cling to us for our happy ease.

1 The seven Angiras seers, sons of the Flame, discovered, says the Veda, that Truth,

360the sun that was lodged in the darkness. This inconscient darkness is figured as the

cave of the Panis; Indra and the Angiras seers enter and find the shining cows of the

Dawn, the Dawn herself, the Day, the Sun, the vision of knowledge and man’s path to

immortality. This is the day said in the next hymn to be discovered or known by the

adorers of Vayu. The name Angiras is given also to the gods as finders of the Truth.

365Translations of the First Hymn of the Rig Veda

[11]

Mandala 1, Sukta 1

1. I adore the Flame, the Vicar, the divine Ritwik of the sacri-

fice, the summoner who most founds the ecstasy.

3702. The Flame, adorable by the ancient sages, is adorable too

by the new; he brings here the gods.

3. By the Flame one enjoys a treasure that verily increases day

by day, glorious, most full of hero-powers.

4. O Flame, the pilgrim sacrifice on every side of which thou

375art with thy environing being, that truly goes among the

gods.

5. The Flame, the Summoner, the Seer-Will, true and most full

of richly varied listenings, may he come, a god with the

gods.

3806. O Flame, the happy good which thou shalt create for the

giver is That Truth and verily thine, O Angiras!

7. To thee, O Flame, we day by day, in the night and in the

light, come carrying by our thought the obeisance,

8. To thee who reignest over our pilgrim sacrifices, luminous

385guardian of the truth, increasing in thy own home.

9. Therefore be easy of access to us as a father to his son; cling

to us for our happy state.

[12]

First Mandal

390I.

1. Fire I pray, the priest set in front of the sacrifice, the god

Ritwik, the flamen of the call, who gives most the ecstasies.

2. Fire, desirable by the ancient sages and by the new, is he

that brings here the gods.

3953. By the Fire man enjoys a treasure that grows day by day,

riches glorious, (most) armed with the heroes (to which most

are joined the heroes).

Other Hymns to Agni

4. O Fire, the pilgrim sacrifice around which thou comest into

400being on every side, that alone goes to the gods.

5. May the Fire, the priest of the call, the Seer Will true and

most full of rich inspirations, come to us a god with the

gods.

6. The happiness that thou wilt make for him that gives is That

405Truth of thee, O Flame-Seer.

7. To thee, O Fire, day by day, in the light and in the night we

come bearing by the thought our surrender, —

8. To the luminous guardian of the Truth ruling over the

(pilgrim) rites increasing in his own home.

4109. Then be thou easy of approach to us like a father to his son,

O Fire, — cling to us for our weal.

[13]

1. The Flame I pray, the divine vicar of the sacrifice, the ordi-

nant of the ritual, the Summoner who founds the ecstasy.

4152. The Flame, desirable by the ancient seers and by the new,

may he come hither with the gods.

3. By the Flame is won an energy that surely increases day by

day, glorious and full of warrior-power.

4. O Flame, the pilgrim sacrifice that thou encompassest from

420every side, goes to the gods.

5. The Flame is our priest of the call, the seer-will true and

brilliant in inspiration; may he come, a god with the gods.

6. The good that thou wilt create for the giver, O Flame, is that

truth of thee, O Angiras.

4257. To thee we come, O Flame, day by day in the dark and in

the light bringing by the thought our obeisance; —

8. To thee, the ruler of our pilgrim-sacrifices, the shining

Guardian of the Truth, growing in thy own home.

9. O Flame, be easy of access to us like a father to his son,

430cleave to us for our weal.

Translations of the First Hymn of the Rig Veda

[14]

Hymns of Madhuchchhandas

I. Hymn to the Fire.

4351. The Fire I pray, the divine vicar of the sacrifice and ordinant

of the rite, the Summoner (or, priest of the offering) who

most founds the ecstasy.

2. The Fire, desirable to the ancient seers, so even to the new,

— may he come to us with the gods.

4403. By the Fire one obtains a wealth that increases day by day,

glorious and full of hero-powers.

4. O Fire, the pilgrim sacrifice which thou encompassest on

every side, reaches the gods.

5. Fire, priest of the call, the seer-will rich in brilliant inspira-

445tions, may he come to us, a god with the gods.

6. O Fire, the happy good that thou wilt create for the giver, is

That Truth of thee, O Angiras.

7. To thee, O Fire, day by day, in the dawn and in the dusk,

we come bringing to thee by the thought our obeisance,

4508. To thee, who rulest the sacrifices of the Way, the shining

Guardian of the Truth, growing in thy own home.

9. O Fire, be easy of access to us like a father to his son; cleave

to us for our weal.