Sama Veda

FIRST PART

BOOK I

Chapter I

Decade III Agni

1

Hither, for powerful kinship, I call Agni, him who prospers you,
Most frequent at our solemn rites.

2

May Agni with his pointed blaze cast down each fierce devouring fiend:
May Agni win us wealth by war!

3

Agni, be gracious; thou art great: thou hast approached the pious man,
Hast come to sit on sacred grass.

4

Agni, preserve us,from distress consume our enemies, O God,
Eternal, with thy hottest flames

5

Harness, O Agni, O thou God, thy steeds which are most excellent!
The fleet ones bring thee rapidly.

6

Lord of the tribes, whom all must seek, we worshipped Agni set thee down,
Refulgent, rich in valiant men.

7

Agni is head and height of heaven, the master of the earth is he
He quickeneth the waters' seed.

8

O Agni, graciously announce this our good fortune of the Gods,
And this our newest hymn of praise!

9

By song, O Agni, Angiras! Gopavana hath brought thee forth
Hear thou my call, refulgent one!

10

Agni, the Sage, the Lord of Strength, hath moved around the sacred gifts,
Giving the offerer precious things.

11

His heralds bear him up aloft, the God who knoweth all that lives,
The Sun, that all may look on him.

12

Praise Agni in the sacrifice, the Sage whose holy laws are true
The God who driveth grief away.

13

Kind be the Goddesses to lend us help, and kind that we may drink:
May their streams bring us health and wealth

14

Lord of the brave, whose songs dost thou in thine abundance now inspire,
Thou whose hymns help to win the kine?