ASIAN 226: Poetries of Asia.


RV 1.1: A Vedic Hymn to Agni

(tr. by Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty)

  Aegn:m:iLð p:Øraðeht:ø           y:wsy: dðv:m:àetv:j:ø               haðt:arø rtn:D:at:m:m:Î
  Aegn:m:Î ILð p:Øraðeht:m:Î   .   y:wsy: dðv:m:Î ?etv:j:m:Î       .   haðt:arm:Î rtn:D:at:m:m:Î
  agnim     iiLe         purohitam   |  yajnasya   devam   Rtvijam          |   hotaaram ratna-dhaa-tamam
  fire.Acc praise.1sg priest.Acc | sacrifice's god.Acc ministrant.Acc | caller.Acc treasure-giver-most.Acc

1. I pray to Agni, the household priest who is the god of the sacrifice, the one who chants and invokes and brings most treasure.

2. Agni earned the prayers of ancient sages, and of those of the present, too; he will bring the gods here.

3. Through Agni one may win wealth, and growth from day to day, glorious and most abounding in heroic sons.

4. Agni, the sacrificial ritual that you encompass on all sides - only that one goes to the gods.

5. Agni, the priest with the sharp sight of a poet, the true and most brilliant, the god will come with the gods.

6. Whatever good you wish to do for the one who worships you, Agni, through you, O Angiras, that comes true.

7. To you, Agni, who shine upon darkness, we come day after day, bringing our thoughts and homage

8. to you, the king over sacrifices, the shining guardian of the Order, growing in your own house.

9. Be easy for us to reach, like a father to his son. Abide with us, Agni, for our happiness.

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