Plain text of Book The Eighth · HYMN XLIX. The Radiant (Agni)
1 O Radiant One, come hither with Thy fires; we choose Thee as Caller to the truth. Let the extended ladle full of oil
balm Thee, best Guide, to be present on the sacred grass.
2 For unto Thee, O Guide, O Son of Strength, move ladles in the worship.
To the Child of Force, whose locks drop oil, we seek, foremost in rites of devotion.
3 O Lord, Thou art Disposer, Sage, Herald, bright God! and worshipful,
Best giver, cheerful, to be praised in holy rites, pure Lord! by singers with their hymns.
4 Most Youthful and Eternal, bring us the guileless blessings for the feast.
Come, Bountiful, to the banquet that is well-prepared: rejoice, gracious, with our songs.
5 Famed art Thou, O Lord, far and wide, Preserver, righteous, and a Sage.
The holy singers, O refulgent kindled God! arrangers, call on Thee to come-
6 Shine, Most Resplendent! blaze, send bliss unto the folk, and to Thy worshipper
Great art Thou.
So may my princes, with good fires, subduing foes, rest in the keeping of God.
7 O Lord, as Thou burnest down to earth even high-grown underwood,
So, bright as the Friend is, burn him who injures us, him who plots ill against Thy friend.
8 Give us not as a prey to mortal enemy, nor to the wicked friend of fiends.
With conquering guards, auspicious, unassailable, protect us, O Most Youthful God.
9 Protect us, O Lord, through the first, protect us through the second hymn,
Protect us through three hymns, O Lord of Power and Might, through four hymns, Bountiful One, guard Thou us.
10 Preserve us from each fiend who brings no gift to God, preserve Thou us in deeds of strength:
For we possess in Thee the nearest Friend of all, for service of God and weal.
11 Holy One, give us wealth renowned with men and strengthening life.
Bestow on us, O Helper, that which many crave, more glorious still by righteousness;
12 Wherewith we may o'ercome our rivals in the war, o'erpowering the foe's designs.
So wax Thou by our food, O Excellent in strength. Quicken our thoughts that find out wealth.
13 The Radiant One is even as a bull who whets and brandishes his horns.
Well-sharpened are His jaws which may not be withstood: the Child of Strength hath powerful teeth.
14 Not to be stayed, O Bull, are Thy teeth when Thou art spreading far and wide.
Make our offerings duly offered up, and give us store of precious things.
15 Thou liest in the wood: from both the fire-sticks mortals kindle Thy flame.
Unweariedly Thou bearest up the offerer's gifts, then shinest bright.
16 And so the seven priests, O Lord, worship Thee, Free-giver, Everlasting One.
Thou cleavest through the rock with heat and fervent glow. Rise up above the men.
17 For you let us whose grass is trimmed call upon the Radiant, the restless God.
Let us whose food is offered call to all the tribes the Radiant One, the Caller of men.
18 With noble psalm that tells his wish he dwells, thinking on Thee who guardest him.
Speedily bring us strength of many varied sorts to be most near to succour us.
19 Praise-singer! Lord of men, God burner-up of evildoers,
Mighty art Thou, the ever-present Household-Lord, Home-friend and Guardian from the sky.
20 Let no fiend come among us, O Thou rich in light, no spell of those who deal in spells.
To distant pastures drive faint hunger: far away, O Lord, chase the demons' friends.