Rig Veda · Mandala 2 · Sukta 4
Rig Veda 2.4 — HYMN IV Agni
Rishi family (Mandala 2): Gritsamada and the Bhrigu lineage. This Sukta contains 9 verses presented below in Devanagari Sanskrit, IAST romanisation, and Ralph T. H. Griffith's English translation. Click any verse to read a fuller explanation.
Verses
Rig Veda 2.4.1
हुवे वः सुद्योत्मानं सुव्र्क्तिं विशामग्निमतिथिं सुप्रयसम | मित्र इव यो दिधिषाय्यो भूद देव आदेवे जने जातवेदाः
huve vaḥ sudyotmānaṃ suvṛktiṃ viśāmaghnimatithiṃ suprayasam | mitra iva yo didhiṣāyyo bhūd deva ādeve jane jātavedāḥ
Rig Veda 2.4.2
इमं विधन्तो अपां सधस्थे दवितादधुर्भ्र्गवो विक्ष्वायोः | एष विश्वान्यभ्यस्तु भूमा देवानामग्निररतिर्जीराश्वः
imaṃ vidhanto apāṃ sadhasthe dvitādadhurbhṛghavo vikṣvāyoḥ | eṣa viśvānyabhyastu bhūmā devānāmaghniraratirjīrāśvaḥ
Bhṛgus who served him in the home of waters set him of old in houses of the living. Over all worlds let Agni be the Sovran, the messenger of Gods with rapid coursers.
Rig Veda 2.4.3
अग्निं देवासो मानुषीषु विक्षु परियं धुः कषेष्यन्तो नमित्रम | स दीदयदुशतीरूर्म्या आ दक्षाय्यो यो दास्वते दम आ
aghniṃ devāso mānuṣīṣu vikṣu priyaṃ dhuḥ kṣeṣyanto namitram | sa dīdayaduśatīrūrmyā ā dakṣāyyo yo dāsvate dama ā
Among the tribes of men the Gods placed Agni as a dear Friend when they would dwell among them. Against the longing nights may he shine brightly, and show the offerer in the house his vigour.
Rig Veda 2.4.4
अस्य रण्वा सवस्येव पुष्टिः सन्द्र्ष्टिरस्य हियानस्य दक्षोः | वि यो भरिभ्रदोषधीषु जिह्वामत्यो न रथ्यो दोधवीति वारान
asya raṇvā svasyeva puṣṭiḥ sandṛṣṭirasya hiyānasya dakṣoḥ | vi yo bharibhradoṣadhīṣu jihvāmatyo na rathyo dodhavīti vārān
Sweet is his growth as of one's own possessions; his look when rushing fain to burn is lovely. He darts his tongue forth, like a harnessed courser who shakes his flowing tail, among the bushes.
Rig Veda 2.4.5
आ यन मे अभ्वं वनदः पनन्तोशिग्भ्यो नामिमीत वर्णम | स चित्रेण चिकिते रंसु भासा जुजुर्वान यो मुहुरा युवा भूत
ā yan me abhvaṃ vanadaḥ panantośighbhyo nāmimīta varṇam | sa citreṇa cikite raṃsu bhāsā jujurvān yo muhurā yuvā bhūt
Since they who honour me have praised my greatness,—he gave, as ’twere, his hue to those who love him. Known is he by his bright delightful splendour, and waxing old renews his youth for ever.
Rig Veda 2.4.6
आ यो वना तात्र्षाणो न भाति वार्ण पथा रथ्येवस्वानीत | कर्ष्णाध्वा तपू रण्वश्चिकेत दयौरिव समयमानो नभोभिः
ā yo vanā tātṛṣāṇo na bhāti vārṇa pathā rathyevasvānīt | kṛṣṇādhvā tapū raṇvaściketa dyauriva smayamāno nabhobhiḥ
Like one athirst, he lighteth up the forests; like water down the chariot ways he roareth. On his black path he shines in burning beauty, marked as it were the heaven that smiles through vapour.
Rig Veda 2.4.7
स यो वयस्थादभि दक्षदुर्वीं पशुर्नैति सवयुरगोपाः | अग्निः शोचिष्मानतसान्युष्णन कर्ष्णव्यथिरस्वदयन न भूम
sa yo vyasthādabhi dakṣadurvīṃ paśurnaiti svayuraghopāḥ | aghniḥ śociṣmānatasānyuṣṇan kṛṣṇavyathirasvadayan na bhūma
Around, consuming the broad earth, he wanders, free roaming like an ox without a herdsman,— Agni refulgent, burning up the bushes, with blackened lines, as though the earth he seasoned.
Rig Veda 2.4.8
नू ते पूर्वस्यावसो अधीतौ तर्तीये विदथे मन्म शंसि | अस्मे अग्ने संयद्वीरं बर्हन्तं कषुमन्तं वाजं सवपत्यंरयिं दाः
nū te pūrvasyāvaso adhītau tṛtīye vidathe manma śaṃsi | asme aghne saṃyadvīraṃ bṛhantaṃ kṣumantaṃ vājaṃ svapatyaṃrayiṃ dāḥ
I, in remembrance of thine ancient favour have sung my hymn in this our third assembly. O Agni, give us wealth with store of heroes and mighty strength in food and noble offspring.
Rig Veda 2.4.9
तवया यथा गर्त्समदासो अग्ने गुहा वन्वन्त उपरानभि षयुः | सुवीरासो अभिमातिषाहः समत सूरिभ्यो गर्णते तद वयो धाः
tvayā yathā ghṛtsamadāso aghne ghuhā vanvanta uparānabhi ṣyuḥ | suvīrāso abhimātiṣāhaḥ smat sūribhyo ghṛṇate tad vayo dhāḥ
May the Gṛtsamadas, serving in secret, through thee, O Agni, overcome their neighbours, Rich in good heroes and subduing foemen. That vital power give thou to chiefs and singers.
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