1 Far hath it shone abroad like gold to look on, beaming imperishable life for glory,

The fire, God's sign, which by the vital powers God gave it endured, when in heaven God brought it forth.

2 Night and Dawn, different in hue, accordant, meeting together, nourish one same infant.

Golden between the heaven and earth it shineth. God, Possessor of wealth, sustained it.

3 The sun, a sign of the All-Wise, arrays itself in every form: for quadruped and biped it hath brought forth good.

The excellent sun hath looked on heaven's high vault: it shineth after the outgoings of the Dawn.

4 Thou art the goodly-pinioned Bird: thou hast the Trivrit for thy head.

Gayatra is thine eye, thy wings are Brihat and Rathantara.

The hymn is the self, the metres are the limbs, the formulas the name.

The Vamadevya Saman is thy form, the Yajnayajniya thy tail, the fire-hearths are thy hooves.

Thou art the goodly-pinioned Bird: go skyward, soar to heavenly light.

5 Thou art the rival-overcoming stride in the pathway of God the All-Pervading. Mount the Gayatra metre: stride along the earth.

Thou art the foe-destroying stride in the pathway of the All-Pervading. Mount the Trishtup metre: stride along mid-air.

Thou art the traitor-overcoming stride in the pathway of the All-Pervading. Mount the Jagati metre: stride along the sky.

Thou art the foeman-overcoming stride in the pathway of the All-Pervading. Mount the Anushtup metre: stride along the Quarters.

6 The fire roared out like the sky what time it thunders: licking full oft the earth, round plants it flickered.

At once, when kindled, it looked about: it shineth forth between the earth and heaven.

7 O God, let the returning fire be a sign of Thy bounty:

Grant me life, lustre, progeny, and treasure, with profit, wisdom, riches, and abundance.

8 A hundred are the ways of the fire, a thousand its returns.

O God, with increment of increase bring back to us what we have lost. Again bring hitherward our wealth.

9 O God, grant again nourishment, again food and life. Again preserve us from distress.

10 O God, grant us store of wealth. Let Thy bounty overflow, feeding all on every side.

11 I brought thee: thou hast entered in. Stand steadfast and immovable.

Let all the people long for thee. Let not thy rule fall away.

12 O God the All-Seeing, release us from the upmost bond, loosen the lowest and remove the midmost.

So in Thy holy law may we, made sinless, belong to Thy boundless mercy.

13 High hath the radiant fire shone before the mornings, bringing us light out of the darkness.

Fair-shapen, with white-shining splendour, it hath filled at its kindling all human habitations.

14 The sun, a sign of God, throned in light, dwelling in mid-air, the priest beside the altar, the guest within the house,

Dwelling in noblest place, among men, in truth, in sky, risen from the flood, the rays, the truth, the mountain, is a sign of holy Law, the Great.

15 Knowing all holy ordinances, O fire, be seated in the lap of this thy mother.

Do not with heat or glowing flame consume her: shine thou within her with refulgent lustre.

16 Within this fire-pan with thy light, O fire, in thy proper seat,

Glowing with warmth, be gracious unto her.

17 Being propitious unto me, O fire, sit propitiously.

Having made all the regions blest, in thine own dwelling seat thyself.

18 First the fire sprang to life from out of heaven, the second time from us it came.

Thirdly it was in the waters. The pious kindle it and give praise to God.

19 O fire, we know thy three forms in three stations, we know thy forms in many a place divided.

We know that it is God from whom thou hast proceeded.

20 The Creator kindled thee in sea and waters, the All-Seeing kindled thee in the breast of heaven.

There as thou stoodest in the third high region the mighty ones increased thee in the waters' bosom.

21 The fire roared out, etc. (verse 6 repeated).

22 The spring of glories and support of riches, rouser of thoughts and guardian of the sacred offering,

Good son of strength, a king amid the waters, in forefront of the Dawns it shines enkindled.

23 Germ of the world, ensign of all creation, it sprang to life and filled the earth and heaven.

Even the firm rock it cleft when passing over, when the Five Tribes brought offerings for God's sake.

24 So among mortals the fire was established as a cleansing, wise, and eager messenger.

It waves the red smoke that it lifts above it, striving to reach the heaven with radiant lustre.

25 Far hath he shone, etc. (verse 1 repeated).

26 Whoso this day, O God, whose flames are lovely, makes an offering of a cake mixed with butter, for Thy sake,

Lead thou and further him to higher fortune, to bliss bestowed by God, O Most Gracious.

27 Endow him, O God, with a share of glory, at every song of praise sung forth enrich him.

Dear let him be to the righteous, pre-eminent with son and children's children.

28 While, day by day, men worship God, they win themselves all treasures worth the wishing.

Allied with His help, eager and craving riches, they have disclosed the stable filled with cattle.

29 God, man's gracious Friend, hath been lauded by the seers.

We will call upon God, Lord of earth and heaven: O God, give us wealth with hero children.

30 Serve God with your fuel, rouse your guest, the fire, with oil:

In it present your offerings for God's sake.

31 May all the angels bear thee upward with their earnest thoughts:

Not to be looked on, rich in light, be thou propitious unto us.

32 O fire, go forth resplendent, thou with thine auspicious flames of fire.

Shining with mighty beams of light harm not my people with thy form.

33 The fire roared out, etc. (verse 21 repeated.)

34 Far famed is this fire of the Bharatas: it shineth like the sun with lofty splendour.

He who hath vanquished Puru in the battle, the heavenly guest hath shone for us benignly.

35 Receive these ashes, ye waters, and lay them in a fair place full of fragrance.

Bear this on, waters, as a mother her son.

36 O fire, thy home is in the floods: into the plants thou forcest way,

And as their child art born anew.

37 Thou art the offspring of the plants, thou art the offspring of the trees:

The offspring thou of all that is, thou, O fire, art the waters' child.

38 With ashes having reached the womb, the waters, O fire, and the earth,

United with the mothers, thou blazing hast seated thee again.

39 Seated again upon thy seat, the waters, O fire, and the earth,

In her, thou, most auspicious one, liest as in a mother's lap.

40-41 Return again, etc. (verses 9 and 10 repeated).

42 Mark this my speech, O God, offered to Thee by one who gives most freely:

One hates Thee, and another sings Thy praises. I, Thy servant, glorify Thee, O God.

43 Be Thou for us a liberal Lord, Giver and Lord of precious things.

Drive those who hate us far away.

To the Maker of all, blessed be Thy name!

44 Again let the devout with their rites kindle thee, bringer of wealth.

Increase thy flame with presented butter: effectual be the worshipper's wishes.

45 Go hence, depart, withdraw in all directions, both ancient visitors and recent comers.

A place on earth to rest in hath been given. This place for him our forefathers have provided.

46 Knowledge art thou: accomplishment of wishes. May thy wishes be fulfilled in me.

Thou art the ashes, thou the mould of the fire. Ye are enclosing stones, set in a ring around. Set upright, be ye fixed.

47 Winner of spoils in thousands like a courser, with prayer art thou exalted, O fire.

48 The splendour which is thine in heaven, O fire, in earth, in plants, in waters,

Wherewith thou hast o'erspread mid-air's broad region, that light is brilliant, billowy, man-surveying.

49 O fire, to the flood of heaven thou mountest, thou callest hither the thoughtful.

The waters, those beyond the light of the sun, and those that are beneath it here, approach thee.

50 May the fires of the earth, in accord with those that spring from floods,

May they, benevolent, accept the offering, full, wholesome draughts.

51 As holy food, O God, to Thy supplicant give wealth in cattle, lasting, rich in marvels.

To us be born a son and spreading offspring. O God, be this Thy gracious will toward us.

52 This is thine ordered place whence, sprung to life,

thou shonest forth.

Knowing this, O fire, mount on high and cause our riches to increase.

53 Steady art thou: Angiras-like sit steady in thy place by God's power.

54 Fill up the room, supply the void, then settle steady in thy place.

By the will of God, the Mighty, the Radiant, the Lord of Devotion, thou hast been set down in this abode.

56 All sacred songs have magnified God the Mighty, expansive as the sea,

The Champion, the Lord, the very Lord of Strength.

57 Combine ye two and harmonize together, dear to each other, brilliant, friendly-minded,

Abiding in one place for food and vigour.

58 Together have I brought your minds, your ordinances, and your thoughts.

O fire of the earth, be of service to us; give food and vigour to the worshippers.

59 Thou art the fire of the earth, thou art wealthy, thou art prosperous.

Having made all the regions blest, here seat thee in thine own abode.

60 Be ye one-minded unto us, both of one thought, free from deceit.

Harm not the worship, harm not the patron of the worship.

Be gracious unto us to-day.

61 Even as a mother bears her son, the pan hath borne within her womb the fire of the earth.

May God, Maker of all, release her in accord with the seasons.

62 May misfortune pass from us: it seeks him who pours not, offers not; it follows the going of the thief and robber.

This is thy way; leave us and seek some other.

63 O God, loose and detach this iron bond of sin that binds him.

By Thy mercy uplift him to the sublimest vault of heaven.

65 The binding noose of misfortune that hath been fastened on thy neck that none may loose it,

I loose for thee, as from the midst of life. Sped forward now, partake of the food we offer.

66 The gatherer of treasures establishes himself, he looks with might on every form and figure.

Like the sun, God's sign, whose laws are constant, like one mighty he hath stood where meet the pathways.

67 Wise, through desire of the bliss that God gives, the skilful bind the traces fast, and lay the yokes on either side.

68 Lay on the yokes and fasten well the traces: formed is the furrow, sow the seed within it.

Through song may we find hearing fraught with plenty: near to the ripened grain approach the sickle.

69 Happily let the shares turn up the ploughland, happily go the ploughers with the oxen!

May God, pleased with our offering, cause our plants to bear abundant fruitage.

70 Approved by the angels who serve God, balmed be the furrow with sweet-flavoured fatness.

Succulent, teeming with thy milky treasure, turn hitherward to us with milk, O Furrow.

71 The keen-shared plough that bringeth bliss, good for the need of him who is in want,

Shear out for me a cow, a sheep, a rapid drawer of the car, and strength and plenty!

72 O Furrow, productive as the cow of plenty, yield the wish of the people and of the plants, by God's grace.

73 Be loosed, inviolable ones, ye who serve God! We have attained the limit of this darkness: we have won the light.

74 The year together with the darksome fortnights; the dawn with the ruddy-coloured cows about her; the two angels of healing with their wonderful achievements; the sun together with its dappled courser; the fire with the offering and with butter: all these are Thy signs, O God. Blessed be it!

75 Herbs that sprang up in time of old, three ages before us,

Of these, whose hue is brown, will I declare the hundred powers and seven.

76 Ye Plants have a hundred homes, yea, and a thousand are your growths.

Do ye who have a thousand powers, by God's leave, free this my patient from disease.

77 Be glad and joyful in the Plants, both blossoming and bearing fruit,

Plants that will lead us to success like mares who conquer in the race.

78 Plants, by this name I speak to you, mothers of healing:

Steed, cow, and garment may I win, win back thy very self, O man.

79 The Holy Fig tree is your home, your mansion is the Parna tree:

Winners of cattle shall ye be if ye regain for me this man.

80 He who hath store of Herbs at hand like kings amid a crowd of men,

Physician is that sage's name, slayer of ill, chaser of disease.

81 Herbs rich in sap, rich in steeds, in nourishment, in strengthening power,

All these have I provided here, that this man may be whole again.

82 The healing virtues of the Plants stream forth like cattle from the stall,

Plants that shall win me store of wealth, and save thy vital breath, O man.

83 Reliever is your mother's name, and hence Restorers are ye called.

Rivers are ye with wings that fly: keep far whatever brings disease.

84 Over all fences have they passed, as steals a thief into the fold.

The Plants have driven from the frame whatever malady was there.

85 When, bringing back the vanished strength, I hold these herbs within my hand,

The disease departs ere it can seize upon the life.

86 He through whose frame, O Plants, ye creep member by member, joint by joint,

From him ye drive away disease like some strong arbiter of strife.

87 Fly, disease, begone, with the blue jay and kingfisher.

Fly, with the wind's impetuous speed, vanish together with the storm.

88 Help every one the other, lend assistance each of you to each,

All of you be accordant, give furtherance to this speech of mine.

89 Let fruitful Plants, and fruitless, those that blossom, and the blossomless,

Urged onward by God's command, release us from our pain and grief.

90 Release me from the curse's plague and woe;

Free me from the fetter of sin and offence against God.

91 What time, descending from the sky, the Plants flew earthward, thus they spake:

No evil shall befall the man whom while he liveth we pervade.

92 Of all the many Plants, plants of hundred forms,

Thou art the Plant most excellent, prompt to the wish, sweet to the heart.

93 O all ye various Herbs that o'erspread the earth,

Urged onward by God's command, combine your virtue in this Plant.

94 All Plants that hear this speech, and those that have departed far away,

Come all assembled and confer your healing power upon this Herb.

95 Unharmed be he who digs you up, unharmed the man for whom I dig:

And let no malady attack biped or quadruped of ours.

96 The Plants hold colloquy and say:

O King, we deliver from death, by God's leave, the man whose cure a learned physician undertakes.

97 Most excellent of all art thou, O Plant: thy vassals are the trees.

Let him be subject to our power, the man who seeks to injure us.

98 Banisher of catarrh art thou, of tumours and of hemorrhoids;

Thou banishest Pakaru and Consumption in a hundred forms.

99 Thee did the skilled dig from earth.

The sovereign, knowing thee, O Plant, was made free from his consumption.

100 Conquer mine enemies, the men who challenge me do thou subdue.

Conquer thou all unhappiness: victorious art thou, O Plant.

101 Long-lived be he who digs thee, Plant, and he for whom I dig thee up.

So mayst thou also, grown long-lived, rise upward with a hundred shoots.

102 Most excellent of all art thou, O Plant: thy vassals are the trees.

Let him be subject to our power, the man who seeks to injure us.

103 May He not harm me who is earth's Creator, nor He whose laws are faithful, who pervades the sky in knowledge;

Not He who first brought forth the lucid waters. To God the Creator let us present our offering.

104 Turn thyself hitherward, O Earth, to us with offerings and milk.

The fire, urged forth, hath mounted thy covering skin.

105 All, O fire, that in thee is bright, pure, cleansed, and meet for offering,

That do we offer for the sake of God.

106 I from this place have fed on strength and vigour, the womb of holy Law, stream of the mighty.

In cows let it possess me and in bodies. I quit decline and lack of food, and sickness.

107 O God the Radiant, life-power and fame are Thine; Thy fires blaze mightily, Thou rich in wealth of beams!

Sage, passing bright, Thou givest to the worshipper, with strength, the food that merits praise.

108 With brilliant, purifying sheen, with perfect sheen thou liftest up thyself in light.

Thou, visiting both thy mothers, aidest them as a son: thou joinest close the earth and heaven.

109 O Knower of all that is born, Son of Strength, rejoice thyself, gracious, in our fair hymns and songs.

In Thee are treasured various forms of strengthening food, born nobly and of wondrous help.

110 O God, spread forth, as Ruler, over living things: give wealth to us, Immortal God.

Thou shinest out from beauty fair to look upon: Thou leadest us to conquering power.

111 To him, the wise, who orders worship, who hath great riches under his control,

Thou givest blest award of good, and plenteous food, givest him wealth that conquers all.

112 The men have set before them for their welfare the fire, strong, visible to all, the holy.

Thee, O God, who hearest, most famous, men's generations magnify with praise-songs.

116 May the song of Vatsa, yearning for Thee, draw Thy mercy to us, O God, even from the loftiest heights.

117 O God, to Thee all people who have pleasant homes

Apart have turned to gain their wish.

118 In dear homes, O God, the desire of all that is and is to be,

Thou art the One Imperial Lord.