Yajurveda, Book 15

¹DRIVE our born enemies away, O Agni; drive from us foes unborn, O Jâtavedas. Graciously-minded, free from anger, bless us: may we enjoy my firm thrice-guarding shelter. Drive off with might our foemen born and living: keep off these yet unborn, O Jâtavedas. Benevolent in thought and spirit bless us. May we remain alive: drive off our foemen.

³The Sixteenfold Stoma, strength and wealth. The Forty- fourth Stoma, splendour and wealth. Apsas art thou, the complement of Agni. As such may all the Gods greet thee with praises. Enriched with songs of praise, Prishthas, and butter, sit here and give us wealth with store of children.

⁴Course metre. Space metre. Happy metre, Encompassing metre. Covering metre. Mind metre. Expanse metre. River metre. Sea metre. Water metre. Kakup metre. Trikakup metre. Kâvya metre. Ankupa metre Aksharapankti metre. Padapankti metre. Vishtârapankti metre. Kshurabhrâja metre.

⁵Covering metre. Clothing metre. Collecting metre. Parting metre. Brihat metre. Rathantara metre, Group metre. Vivadhra metre. Swallower metre. Bright metre. Samstup metre. Anushtup metre. Course metre. Space metre. Vigour metre. Vigour-giving metre. Emulating metre. Spacious metre, Inaccessible metre. Slow metre. Ankânka metre.

⁶With the ray for truth quicken thou truth. With advance by duty quicken duty. With following by heaven quicken heaven. With union by middle air quicken middle air. With Pratidhi by Earth quicken Earth. With support by rain quicken rain. With blowing away by day quicken day. With following by eight quicken night. With clarified butter by the Vasus quicken the Vasus. With perception by the Âdityas quicken the Âdityas.

⁷With the thread by prosperity quicken prosperity. With the creeper by revelation quicken revelation. With refreshment by plants quicken plants. With the best by bodies quicken bodies. With the invigorating by religious study quicken religious study. With the victorious by brilliance quicken brilliance.

⁸Thou art Pratipad, for Pratipad thee. Thou art Anupad, for Anupad thee. Thou art Sampad, for Sampad thee. Thou art brilliance, for brilliance thee.

⁹Trivrit (triple) art thou, thee for Trivrit. Pravrit art thou, thee for Pravrit. Vivrit art thou, thee for Vivrit. Savrit art thou, thee for Savrit. Thou art attack, thee for attack. Thou art concurrence, thee for concurrence. Thou art ascent, thee for ascent. Thou art upstriding, thee for upstriding. With Energy as over-lord quicken food-essence.

¹⁰Thou art the Queen, the Eastern region. The bright Vasus are thine overlords. Agni is thy warder-off of hostile weapons. May the Trivrit Stoma assist thee on earth. The Âjya Uktha fix thee firmly against slipping. The Rathantara Sâman establish thee in the sky for secure station. May the first-born Rishis extend thee among the Gods by the measure and amplitude of heaven. May this Disposer and the Over-Lord extend thee. May all, concordant, settle thee on the ridge of heaven in the world of Svarga.

¹¹Thou art Far-ruling, the Southern region. The bright Rudras are thine over-lords. Indra is thy warder-off of arrows. May the Pañchadasa Stoma support thee on earth. The Praüga Uktha fix thee firmly against slipping. The Brihat Sâman establish thee in the sky, etc. (the rest as in 10).

¹²Thou art Universal Ruler, the Western region. The Âdityas are thine over-lords. Varuna is thy warder-off of missiles. The Saptadasa Stoma support thee on earth. The Marutvatîya Uktha fix thee firmly against slipping. The Vairûpa Sâman establish thee, etc. (as above).

¹³Thou art Independent Ruler, the Northern region. (The rest is identical with 12, with the substitution of Maruts . . . Soma . . . .Vimsa Stoma . . . Nishkevalya Uktha. . . . Vairâja Sâman for the corresponding names).

¹⁴Thou art Lady-Paramount, the Lofty region. (The rest as above, Visvedevas. . . Brihaspati . . .Trinava and Trayastrimsa Stomas . . .Vaisvadeva and Mâruta Ukthas . . . Sâkvara and Raivata Sâmans being substituted for the corresponding names.

¹⁵This one in front, golden-tressed, with sunbeams; the leader of his host and his chieftain are Rathagritsa and Rathaujas, and Puñjikasthalâ: and Kratusthalâ his Apsarases. Biting animals are his weapon, homicide his missile weapon; to them be homage: may they protect us, may they have mercy upon us. In their jaws we place the man whom we hate and who hates us.

¹⁶This one on the right, the Omnific; the leader of his host and his chieftain are Rathasvana and Rathechitra, and Menakâ and Sahajanyâ his Apsarases. Yâtudhânas are his weapon, Râkshasas his missile weapon; to them be homage, etc. (as in 15).

¹⁷This one behind, the All-comprising; the leader of his host and his chieftain are Rathaprota and Asamaratha, and Pramlochantî and Anumochlantî are his Apsarases. Tigers are his weapon, Serpents his missile weapon; to them be homage, etc.

¹⁸This one on the left, Lord of uninterrupted riches; the leader of his host and his chieftain are Târkshya and Arishtanemi, and Visvâchî and Ghritâchi his Apsarases. Water is his weapon, wind his missile weapon; to them be homage, etc.

¹⁹This one above, Wealth-giver; the leader of his host and his chieftain are Senajit and Sushena, and Urvasi and Pûrvachitti his Apsarases. Thundering is his weapon and lightning his missile weapon; to them be homage, etc.

²⁰Agni is head and height of heaven, the Master of the earth is he. He quickeneth the waters’ seed.

²¹This Agni is the Master of spoil thousandfold and hundredfold, the sapient one, the head of wealth.

²²Agni, Atharvan brought thee forth by rubbing from the lotus-leaf, the head of Visva, of the Priest.

²³Guide of the rite art thou and of the region to which with thine auspicious teams thou tendest. Thy light-bestowing head to heaven thou liftest, making thy tongue oblation-bearer, Agni.

²⁴Agni is wakened by the people's fuel to meet the Dawn who cometh like a milch-cow. Like young trees shooting up on high their branches his flames are rising to the vault of heaven.

²⁵To him adorable, sage, strong and mighty we have sung forth our song of praise and homage. Gavishthira hath raised with prayer to Agni this laud far-reaching as the gold in heaven.

²⁶Here by ordainers was this God appointed first Invoker, best at worship, to be praised at rites; Whom Apnavâna and the Bhrigus caused to shine bright-coloured in the wood, spreading to every house.

²⁷The watchful Guardian of the people hath been born, Agni the very strong, for fresh prosperity. With oil upon his face, with high heaven-touching flame, he shineth splendidly, pure for the Bharatas.

²⁸Agni, Angirases discovered thee what time thou layest hidden, fleeing back from wood to wood. Thou by attrition art produced as conquering, might, and men, O Angiras, call thee the Son of Strength.

²⁹Offer to Agni, O my friends, your seemly food, your seemly praise; To him supremest o’er the folk, the Son of Strength, the Mighty Lord.

³⁰Thou, mighty Agni, gatherest up all that is precious for thy friend: Bring us all treasure as thou art enkindled in libation's place.

³¹O Agni, loved of many, thou of fame most wondrous, in their homes Men call on thee whose hair is flame to be the bearer of their gifts.

³²With this my reverent hymn I call Agni for you, the Son. of Strength, Dear, wisest envoy, served with noble sacrifice, immortal messenger of all.

³³Immortal messenger of all, immortal messenger of all, His two red steeds, all-cherishing; he harnesseth: let him, well-worshipped, urge them fast.

³⁴Let him well-worshipped urge them fast, let him well-worshipped urge them fast. Then hath the sacrifice good prayer and happy end, and heavenly gift of wealth to men.

³⁵O Agni, thou who art the Lord of wealth in kine, the Son of Strength, Vouchsafe to us, O Jâtavedas, high renown.

³⁶He, Agni, kindled, good and wise, must be exalted in our song: Shine, thou of many forms, shine radiantly on us.

³⁷O Agni, shining of thyself by night and when the morning breaks, Burn, thou whose teeth are sharp, against the Râkshasas.

³⁸May Agni, worshipped, bring us bliss, may the gift, Blessed One! and sacrifice bring bliss, Yea, may our praises bring us bliss.

³⁹Yea, may our praises bring us bliss. Show forth the mind that brings success in war with fiends, wherewith thou conquerest in fights:

⁴⁰Wherewith thou conquerest in fights. Bring down the many firm hopes of our enemies, and let us vanquish with thine aid.

⁴¹I value Agni, that good Lord, the home to which the kind return; Whom fleet-foot coursers seek as home, and strong enduring steeds as home. Bring food to those who sing thy praise.

⁴²’Tis Agni whom we laud as good, to whom the milch-kine come in herds, To whom the coursers swift of foot, to whom our well-born princes come. Bring food to those who sing thy praise.

⁴³Thou, brilliant God, within thy mouth warmest both ladles of the oil. So fill us also in our hymns abundantly, O Lord of Strength. Bring food to those who sing thy praise.

⁴⁴Agni, with lauds this day may we bring thee that which thou lovest, Right judgment, like a horse, with our devotions.

⁴⁵For thou hast ever been the car-driver, Agni, of noble Strength, lofty sacrifice, and rightful judgment.

⁴⁶Through these our praises come thou to meet us, bright as the sunlight, O Agni, well-disposed, with all thine aspects.

⁴⁷Agni I hold as Herald, the munificent, the gracious Son of Strength who knoweth all that live, as holy singer knowing all; Lord of fair rites, a God with form erected, turning to the Gods, He, when the flame hath sprung forth from the sacred oil, the offered fatness, longeth for it with his glow.

⁴⁸O Agni, be our nearest Friend, be thou a kind deliverer and a gracious Friend. Come as good Agni, come as excellent and give us wealth most splendidly renowned. To thee then, O most bright, O radiant God, we come with prayer for happiness for our friends.

⁴⁹With what devotion, winning light, the Rishis came, kindling Agni, to the Holy session, Even with that in heaven I stablish Agni whom men call him whose sacred grass is scattered.

⁵⁰Gods, let us follow him with wives beside us, with sons, with brothers, with our gold adornments, Grasping the sky up in the world of virtue, on the third height, the luminous realm of heaven.

⁵¹This Agni mounted up to Speech's Centre, Lord of the Brave, observant, ever-active. Laid on the back of Earth, may he, resplendent, cast under foot those who would fight against us.

⁵²May this most manly Agni, strength-bestower, giver of thousands, shine with care that fails not. Resplendent in the middle of the water, make thine approach to the celestial mansions.

⁵³Make him go forth from all sides: meet, Approach ye. O Agni, make the paths for Godward travel. Making the Parents young with life's renewal, the out spun thread in thee have they extended.

⁵⁴Wake up, O Agni, thou, and keep him watchful. Wish and fruition, meet, and he, together. In this and in the loftier habitation be seated, All-Gods! and the Sacrificer.

⁵⁵Convey our sacrifice to heaven that it may reach the God with that Whereby thou, Agni, bearest wealth in thousands and all precious things. 6 56 This is thine ordered place of birth whence sprung to life thou shonest forth. Knowing this, Agni, rise thou up and cause our riches to increase.

⁵⁷Tapa, Tapasya, pair of Dewy Seasons: thou art, etc. (as in XIII. 25).

⁵⁸On the sky's back may Parameshthin lay thee, etc. (as in XIV. 14). Thy Lord is Sûrya, etc. (as in XIV. 14).

⁵⁹Repeated from XII. 54.

⁶⁰Repeated from XII. 55.

⁶¹Repeated from XII. 56.

⁶²Like a horse neighing, eager for the pasture, when he hath stepped forth from the great enclosure: Then the wind following blows upon his splendour, and, straight, the path is black which thou hast travelled.

⁶³In Âyu's seat I set thee, in the shadow of the protector in the heart of Ocean, Thee luminous, bright with eyes, thee who illumest the sky, the earth, and air's broad realm between them.

⁶⁴On the sky's back may Parameshthin set thee, etc. (as in XIV. 12, substituting sky for air and Sûrya for Vâyu).

⁶⁵Thou art the measure of a thousand. Thou art the representative of a thousand. Thou art the equivalent of a thousand. Thou art worth a thousand. Thee for a thousand.