Awaken Agni, the immortal one, with songs of praise and hymns. May he carry our offerings to the gods.

This verse is a fervent invocation to Agni, the divine fire, urging him to be awakened by praise and hymns. It highlights his immortal nature and his crucial role as a messenger, capable of carrying human offerings to the gods. The stanza emphasizes the importance of devotion in establishing a connection with the divine.

Meter: Gayatri

• A. अग्निम् स्तोमेन बोधय agním stómena bodhaya (8 syllables)
• B. समि fiind अमर्त्यम् samidhānáḥ ámartyam (8 syllables)
• C. हव्या देवेषु नः दधत् havyā́ devéṣu naḥ dadhat (8 syllables)

Mortals praise him, the immortal god, in their sacrifices, recognizing him as the best among men.

This verse describes how humans, referred to as mortals, honor and worship Agni, recognizing him as the best among sacrificers. Despite being immortal, he is praised by mortals in their sacred rituals (adhvaréṣu), highlighting his central role in connecting the earthly and divine realms.

Meter: Gayatri

• A. तम् अध्वरेषु ईळते tám adhvaréṣu īḷate (8 syllables)
• B. देवम् अमर्त्यम् devám mártāḥ ámartyam (8 syllables)
• C. यजिष्ठम् मानुषे जने yájiṣṭham mā́nuṣe jáne (8 syllables)

Indeed, all praise him, the god Agni, with the ghee-dripping ladle, so that he may carry the offerings.

This stanza explains the reason for praising Agni: he is the one who carries the offerings to the divine realm. The verse describes the act of worship using a sacrificial ladle ('srucā') that is overflowing with ghee ('ghr̥taścútā'), emphasizing the richness and abundance of the offerings made to Agni.

Meter: Gayatri

• A. तम् हि शश्वन्त ईळते tám hí śáśvantaḥ ī́ḷate (8 syllables)
• B. स्रुचा देवम् घृतश्चुता srucā́ devám ghr̥taścútā (8 syllables)
• C. अग्निम् हव्याय वोळ्हवे agním havyā́ya vóḷhave (8 syllables)

When Agni was born, he shone brightly, killing the Dasyus and darkness with his light. He found the cows, the waters, and the sun.

This verse celebrates the birth and radiant power of Agni. Upon his emergence, he illuminates the world, dispelling darkness and defeating the 'Dasyus' (often interpreted as enemies or non-believers). Agni's power is so great that he is credited with finding and releasing essential elements of prosperity: cows (wealth), waters (life-giving resources), and the sun (light and energy).

Meter: Gayatri

• A. अग्निः जातः अरोचत agníḥ jātáḥ arocata (8 syllables)
• B. घ्नन् दस्यून् ज्योतिषा तमः ghnán dásyūn jyótiṣā támaḥ (8 syllables)
• C. अविन्दत् गाः अपः स्वः ávindat gā́ḥ apáḥ svàr (8 syllables)

Worship Agni, the adorable sage with a ghee-covered back. May he come and hear my call.

This verse is a direct plea for worship and communion with Agni. The speaker asks the worshippers ('saparyata') to serve Agni, who is described as adorable, wise ('kavi'), and radiant with ghee ('ghr̥tapr̥ṣṭha'). The ultimate desire is for Agni to approach and heed their calls and prayers.

Meter: Gayatri

• A. अग्निम् ईळन्यम् कविम् agním īḷényam kavím (8 syllables)
• B. घृतपृष्ठम् सपर्यत ghr̥tápr̥ṣṭham saparyata (8 syllables)
• C. वेतु मे शृणवत् हवम् vétu me śr̥ṇávat hávam (8 syllables)

They have nourished Agni, the one who sees all, with ghee and with hymns and eloquent prayers.

This verse describes the worshippers' actions in elevating Agni. They have nourished him with ghee ('ghr̥téna') and praised him with hymns ('stómebhiḥ') and thoughtful, eloquent words ('svādhī́bhiḥ vacasyúbhiḥ'). This collective act of devotion aims to strengthen and make Agni grow, recognizing him as a deity who oversees all people ('viśvacarṣaṇim').

Meter: Gayatri

• A. अग्निम् घृतेन वावृधुः agním ghr̥téna vāvr̥dhuḥ (8 syllables)
• B. स्तोमेभिः विश्वचर्षणिम् stómebhiḥ viśvácarṣaṇim (8 syllables)
• C. स्वाधीभिः वचस्युभिः svādhī́bhiḥ vacasyúbhiḥ (8 syllables)