Canto 4Kanwa Ghaura · Sukta 36
Book 2. Part Two: Other Hymns to Agni
1. The master of many peoples who labour towards the god-
head, we seek for you with words of perfect expression,
Agni whom others also everywhere desire.
2. Men hold Agni in them as the increaser of strength. With
5offerings we dispose the sacrifice for thee, do thou then
become today to us perfect-minded and our keeper here in
our havings, O thou who art of the truth of being.
Mandala One
vA
10d
$
t
v
ZFmh
15hotAr
Ev
vv
dsm
mht
20sto
Ev
cryc
yo
EdEv
25p
fEt
BAnv
3. Thee we choose out for our messenger, the priest of offering
who hast universal knowledge; when thou art greatened
30in thy being thy flames range wide, thy lustres touch the
heavens.
d
vAsvA
vzZo
35Emo
ay
mA
s
d
40$
t
&EmDt
Ev
v
45so
an
jyEt
vyA
Dn
50yt
ddAf
my
4. The gods even Varuna and Mitra and Aryaman light thee ut-
terly, the ancient messenger; all wealth that mortal conquers
55by thee, O Agni, who to thee has given.
md
o
hotA
g
60hpEtrn
d
$
to
EvfAmEs
65v
Ev
vA
s
gtAEn
70v
tA
D
vA
yAEn
75d
vA
ak
@vt
5. Thou art the rapturous priest of the sacrifice and master
80of this house and the envoy of creatures; in thee are met
together all the steadfast laws of action which the gods have
made.
v
idn
85s
Bg
yEvS
y
Ev
90vmA
h
$
yt
hEv
95s
v
no
a
s
100mnA
utApr
yE
d
vAs
105vFyA
6. It is in thee, O Agni, young and mighty, because thou art
rich in joy that every offering is cast, therefore do thou today
and hereafter, perfect of mind, offer to the gods perfected
energies.
110t
G
EmTA
nmEvn
up
115vrAjmAst
hoAEBrEn
mn
q
sEmDt
120EtEtvA
so
aEt
E*D
7. He it is, whom as the self-ruler men who have attained
125submission adore; by the queens of the oblation men light
entirely Agni when they have broken through their op-
posers.
Other Hymns to Agni
to
130v
mtrn
rodsF
ap
uz
135yAy
cE5r
B
vt
k@v
140v
qA
MyAh
t
5dd
145vo
gEvEq
8. They smite Vritra the Coverer and pass beyond the two
firmaments, they make the wide kingdom their home. May
the mighty One become in Kanwa a luminous energy fed
150with the offerings, the Steed of Life neighing in the stations
of the kine.
s
sFdv
mhA
155;
aEs
focv
d
vvFtm
160Ev
D
$
mmn
azq
165Emy
y
s
j
ft
170df
tm
9. Take thy established seat; wide art thou, shine in thy pu-
rity revealing utterly the godhead; pour forth, O thou of
the sacrifice, thy red-active smoke of passion, thou wide-
175manifested, that full of vision; —
y
vA
d
vAso
180mnv
dD
Erh
yEjS
h yvAhn
185y
k@vo
m
yAEtETD
np
190t
y
v
qA
ym
195pt
t
/
10. Even thou whom the gods have set here for man most strong
for the sacrifice, O bearer of the offering, whom Kanwa
200Medhyatithi has established as a seizer for him of his desired
wealth, whom the mighty Indra and all who establish him
by the song of praise;
ymEn
m
205yAEtET
k@v
ID
-tAdED
ty
210qo
dFEdy
tEmmA
-ctmEn
vD
215yAmEs
11. Even that Agni whom Medhyatithi Kanwa has kindled high
upon the Truth, may his impulses blaze forth, him may these
fulfilling Words, him, even Agni, may we increase.
rAyp
220$
ED
vDAvo'Et
Eh
t
225'n
d
v
vAJym
v
230vAjy
yy
rAjEs
s
no
235m
mhA
;
aEs
12. Complete our felicities, O thou who hast the self-fixity; for
240with thee, O Agni, is effectivity in the gods; thou rulest over
Mandala One
the wealth of inspired knowledge. Show thou then favour
to us, great art thou.
Uv
245U
q
Z
Uty
EtSA
250d
vo
n
sEvtA
Uvo
255vAjy
sEntA
ydE)jEBvA
GEYEv
4yAmh
26013. Utterly high-uplifted stand for our growth, like the god Sav-
itri; ’tis from these heights that thou becomest the saviour
of our store when we call on thee with [
]
Uvo
265n
pAV
hso
En
k
270t
nA
Ev
v
smEZ
275dh
k
DF
n
UvA
280)crTAy
jFvs
EvdA
d
v
285q
no
d
v
14. High-raised protect us from the evil by the perceiving mind,
290burn utterly every eater of our being; raise us too on high
for action, for life; distribute among the gods our activity.
pAEh
no
an
295rs
pAEh
D
$
t
300rrA Z
pAEh
rFqt
ut
vA
305EjGA
sto
b
hYAno
yEvS
310y
15. Protect us, O Agni, from the Rakshasa, protect us from the
harm of the undelighting, protect us from him who assails
and him who would slay us, O vast of lustre, O mighty and
young.
315Gn
v
Evvg
Ev
jVrA Ztp
320j
MB
yo
amD
k
325yo
my
EffFt
ay8t
EBmA
330n
s
Erp
rFft
16. As with thick falling blows scatter utterly (or scatter like
335clouds to every side) all the powers of undelight, O devourer
of their force (or O destroyer of affliction), and him who
would do us harm; whatsoever mortal being exceeds us in
keenness by his actions, may he not as our enemy have
mastery over us.
340Other Hymns to Agni
aEnv
s
vFy
345mEn
k@vAy
sOBgm
aEn
Avn
350Emot
m
yAEtETmEn
sAtA
upt
355tm
17. Agni has won perfected energy for Kanwa and has won per-
fected enjoyment; Agni protects for him all friendly things,
Agni keeps ever in safe being Medhyatithi who has con-
firmed him by the song of praise.
360aEnnA
t
v
f
yd
365prAvt
ug
Ad
v
hvAmh
370aEnn
y3vvAv
b
hd
T
375t
vF
Et
dyv
sh
38018. By Agni we call Turvasha and Yadu from the upper king-
doms; Agni has led to a new dwelling Brihadratha and
Turviti (or Turviti of wide delight), a power against the
foe.
En
385vAmn
mn
d
D
6yoEtj
390nAy
f
vt
dFd
T
395k@v
-tjAt
uEto
y
nmyEt
400k
y
19. Man establisheth thee within, O Agni, as a light for the
eternal birth; mayst thou burn brightly in Kanwa manifested
in the Truth and increased in being, thou to whom the doers
405of action bow down.
v
qAso
an
rmvto
410ac
yo
BFmAso
n
tFty
415rEvn
sdEmd
yAt
mAvto
Ev
420v
smEZ
dh
/
20. Impetuous, O Agni, and forceful are thy flames, terrible
425and not to be approached; always thou do burn utterly
the powers who detain and the powers who are vessels of
suffering, yea, every devourer.