Mandala 8

Sukta 11: Agni, keeper of vows among mortals

Rishi: वत्सः काण्वः · Devata: अग्निः · Metre: गायत्री, १ प्रतिष्ठा, २ वर्धमाना, १० त्रिष्टुप्

10 verses · 11 of 103

What happens in this chapter

Agni, keeper of vows among mortals

Vatsa Kanva calls Agni the god who guards vows among mortals, worthy of praise at every sacrifice and the charioteer of the rites. Let Jatavedas drive off hatred and godless enmity. He does not draw near even a close sacrifice of a hostile man. Mortals, the poet says, we hold many names of the immortal in our minds. Vatsa's longing words draw Agni's mind down from the highest seat. Agni is alike everywhere, lord over all peoples, and is called in battle by those who seek strength. The closing verse names him the ancient hotar, yet ever new.

11.1

त्वम॑ग्ने व्रत॒पा अ॑सि दे॒व आ मर्त्ये॒ष्वा ।
त्वं य॒ज्ञेष्वीड्य॑ः

tvamagne vratapā asi deva ā martyeṣvā |
tvaṃ yajñeṣvīḍyaḥ

11.2

त्वम॑सि प्र॒शस्यो॑ वि॒दथे॑षु सहन्त्य ।
अग्ने॑ र॒थीर॑ध्व॒राणा॑म्

tvamasi praśasyo vidatheṣu sahantya |
agne rathīradhvarāṇām

11.3

स त्वम॒स्मदप॒ द्विषो॑ युयो॒धि जा॑तवेदः ।
अदे॑वीरग्ने॒ अरा॑तीः

sa tvamasmadapa dviṣo yuyodhi jātavedaḥ |
adevīragne arātīḥ

11.4

अन्ति॑ चि॒त्सन्त॒मह॑ य॒ज्ञं मर्त॑स्य रि॒पोः ।
नोप॑ वेषि जातवेदः

anti citsantamaha yajñaṃ martasya ripoḥ |
nopa veṣi jātavedaḥ