Verses 1, 2
नि काव्या॑ वे॒धसः॒ शश्व॑तस्क॒र्हस्ते॒ दधा॑नो॒ नर्या॑ पु॒रूणि॑ । अ॒ग्निर्भु॑वद्रयि॒पती॑ रयी॒णां स॒त्रा च॑क्रा॒णो अ॒मृता॑नि॒ विश्वा॑ ॥
ní kā́vyā vedhásaḥ śáśvataskarháste dádhāno náryā purū́ṇi ǀ agnírbhuvadrayipátī rayīṇā́m satrā́ cakrāṇó amṛ́tāni víśvā ǁ
अ॒स्मे व॒त्सं परि॒ षंतं॒ न विं॑दन्नि॒च्छंतो॒ विश्वे॑ अ॒मृता॒ अमू॑राः । श्र॒म॒युवः॑ पद॒व्यो॑ धियं॒धास्त॒स्थुः प॒दे प॑र॒मे चार्व॒ग्नेः ॥
asmé vatsám pári ṣántam ná vindannicchánto víśve amṛ́tā ámūrāḥ ǀ śramayúvaḥ padavyó dhiyaṃdhā́stasthúḥ padé paramé cā́rvagnéḥ ǁ
In these opening verses, the Ṛṣi introduces us to Agni not merely as a physical flame, but as the masterly craftsman of divine works and cosmic order. The inspired seers (vedhasaḥ) continuously shape and fashion divine truths in their minds, holding manifold wondrous powers in their hands. Agni emerges here as the true lord of all spiritual and material wealth, holding within himself all immortal principles. Yet, this divine flame is initially hidden. The immortal, un-deluded gods and seekers search everywhere for Agni, desiring to find him as one searches for a newborn calf that has strayed into the hidden pastures. Those who toil in spiritual austerity (śramayuvaḥ), who walk the sacred paths (padavyaḥ) and establish sacred thoughts (dhiyamdhāḥ), finally discover him in the highest, most beloved station of divine realization.
Verse 1: The wise seers ever fashion the divine works anew, holding in their hands manifold wondrous powers; Agni has become the lord of all treasures, making all immortal principles his own.
Verse 2: All the undeluded immortals, desiring him, found him hidden as a calf; toiling with exertion, walking the ancient tracks, and establishing the sacred mind, they stood in the highest and most beloved state of Agni.
Sāyaṇa interprets the hidden calf literally as Agni hidden by the gods or demons, whereas Sri Aurobindo sees the 'calf' as the symbol of the emerging divine light (Jyoti) found through dedicated yogic discipline (śramayuvaḥ).
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| वेधसः | vedhasaḥ | wise seers or arrangers |
| काव्या | kāvyā | poetic or wise works, creative insights |
| रयिपतिः | rayipatiḥ | lord of riches or treasures |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| वत्सम् | vatsam | a calf, symbolizing the young flame or divine spark |
| श्रमयुवः | śramayuvaḥ | those devoted to spiritual labor or austerity |
| पदपरमे | pade parame | in the highest footstep or supreme station |
Picture searching through a dense, dark forest for a lost golden calf, only to find it radiating a pure, warm flame in a secret clearing.
Verses 3, 4, 5
ति॒स्रो यद॑ग्ने श॒रद॒स्त्वामिच्छुचिं॑ घृ॒तेन॒ शुच॑यः सप॒र्यान् । नामा॑नि चिद्दधिरे य॒ज्ञिया॒न्यसू॑दयंत त॒न्वः१॒॑ सुजा॑ताः ॥
tisró yádagne śarádastvā́mícchúcim ghṛténa śúcayaḥ saparyā́n ǀ nā́māni ciddadhire yajñíyānyásūdayanta tanváḥ sújātāḥ ǁ
आ रोद॑सी बृह॒ती वेवि॑दानाः॒ प्र रु॒द्रिया॑ जभ्रिरे य॒ज्ञिया॑सः । वि॒दन्मर्तो॑ ने॒मधि॑ता चिकि॒त्वान॒ग्निं प॒दे प॑र॒मे त॑स्थि॒वांसं॑ ॥
ā́ ródasī bṛhatī́ vévidānāḥ prá rudríyā jabhrire yajñíyāsaḥ ǀ vidánmárto nemádhitā cikitvā́nagním padé paramé tasthivā́ṃsam ǁ
सं॒जा॒ना॒ना उप॑ सीदन्नभि॒ज्ञु पत्नी॑वंतो नम॒स्यं॑ नमस्यन् । रि॒रि॒क्वांस॑स्त॒न्वः॑ कृण्वत॒ स्वाः सखा॒ सख्यु॑र्नि॒मिषि॒ रक्ष॑माणाः ॥
saṃjānānā́ úpa sīdannabhijñú pátnīvanto namasyám namasyan ǀ ririkvā́ṃsastanváḥ kṛṇvata svā́ḥ sákhā sákhyurnimíṣi rákṣamāṇāḥ ǁ
The Ṛṣi now speaks of a profound period of maturation—three winters (tisraḥ śaradaḥ) during which the pure worshippers faithfully tend to Agni with clarified butter (ghṛta). Through this sustained devotion, the secret, sacrificial names of Agni are fully comprehended, and their own bodily forms are perfected and sweetened into a state of divine nobility. Following this inner refinement, the great gods associated with Rudra and the expansive realms of heaven and earth take hold of this divine mystery. The awakened mortal, endowed with true insight, perceives Agni stationed firmly in his highest abode. They approach him with deep reverence, bowing low, perfectly united in intent, guarding their spiritual bodies like faithful companions watching over a sacred trust.
Verse 3: For three winters, O Agni, pure worshippers served thee with clarified butter; they attained thy sacred names, and their well-born bodies grew sweet and radiant.
Verse 4: The radiant gods of Rudra's host grasped him, comprehending the vast heaven and earth; and the enlightened mortal with partial insight found Agni established in his supreme station.
Verse 5: In full harmony, bending the knee, with their consorts, they approached the adorable one with reverence; laying aside their mortal limitations, they made their forms divine, protecting each other like true friends.
Tradition views the 'three winters' as a specific duration of ritual apprenticeship, while esoteric commentators view it as the passage through difficult lower planes of consciousness before the dawn of true spiritual light.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| शरदः | śaradaḥ | autumns or years (winters/seasons of struggle) |
| घृतेन | ghṛtena | with clarified butter, symbolizing brilliant illuminations |
| यज्ञियानि | yajñiyāni | worthy of sacrifice or divine attunement |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| रुद्रियाः | rudriyāḥ | pertaining to Rudra, the fierce storm-gods of healing and power |
| वेविदानाः | vevidānāḥ | thoroughly knowing or finding |
| चिकित्वान् | cikitvān | the awakened, conscious thinker |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| अभिज्ञु | abhijñu | down to the knees, in deep humility |
| पत्नीवन्तः | patnīvantaḥ | accompanied by their divine consorts (powers of realization) |
| सखा | sakhā | friend, companion |
Imagine a circle of devoted seekers kneeling in unison around a glowing hearth, their postures reflecting absolute harmony and reverence.
Verses 6, 7
त्रिः स॒प्त यद्गुह्या॑नि॒ त्वे इत्प॒दावि॑द॒न्निहि॑ता य॒ज्ञिया॑सः । तेभी॑ रक्षंते अ॒मृतं॑ स॒जोषाः॑ प॒शूंच॑ स्था॒तॄंच॒रथं॑ च पाहि ॥
tríḥ saptá yádgúhyāni tvé ítpadā́vidanníhitā yajñíyāsaḥ ǀ tébhī rakṣante amṛ́tam sajóṣāḥ paśū́ñca sthātṝ́ñcarátham ca pāhi ǁ
वि॒द्वाँ अ॑ग्ने व॒युना॑नि क्षिती॒नां व्या॑नु॒षक्छु॒रुधो॑ जी॒वसे॑ धाः । अं॒त॒र्वि॒द्वाँ अध्व॑नो देव॒याना॒नतं॑द्रो दू॒तो अ॑भवो हवि॒र्वाट् ॥
vidvā́m̐ agne vayúnāni kṣitīnā́m vyā́nuṣákchurúdho jīváse dhāḥ ǀ antarvidvā́m̐ ádhvano devayā́nānátandro dūtó abhavo havirvā́ṭ ǁ
The Ṛṣi unveils a profound secret: the ritualists discovered the three times seven hidden mysteries (triḥ sapta guhyāni) residing within Agni himself. Armed with this realization, they guard the immortal principle in complete unison, praying for the protection of their herds, their moving hosts, and their journeying chariots of life. Agni is celebrated here as the supreme knower of all paths and cosmic laws (vayunāni) across all human settlements. Without fatigue, he threads his way through existence, serving as the tireless divine messenger who carries human oblations to the gods, bridging heaven and earth with his luminous presence.
Verse 6: The worthy sacrificers found the thrice-seven hidden steps located within thee; with these they guard the immortal essence in harmony. Protect our cattle, our heroes, and our moving paths!
Verse 7: Knowing all the ways of settlements, O Agni, thou hast widely distributed life-sustenance; knowing inwardly the paths that lead to the gods, untiring, thou hast become the messenger who carries the oblation.
The 'thrice-seven steps' are traditionally linked by Sāyaṇa to the various metres, sacrificial months, or divine realms, while psychological interpreters see them as levels of conscious integration.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| त्रिसप्त | triḥ sapta | thrice seven, twenty-one (symbol of complete cosmic realms) |
| गुह्यानि | guhyāni | hidden mysteries or secret planes |
| पाहि | pāhi | protect, guard |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| वयुनानि | vayunāni | forms of knowledge, paths, or cosmic laws |
| अतन्द्रः | atandraḥ | unwearied, tireless |
| हविर्वाट् | havirvāṭ | bearer of the oblation |
Visualize a celestial map containing twenty-one secret gateways, with a tireless courier running swiftly back and forth carrying messages of light.
Verses 8, 9, 10
स्वा॒ध्यो॑ दि॒व आ स॒प्त य॒ह्वी रा॒यो दुरो॒ व्यृ॑त॒ज्ञा अ॑जानन् । वि॒दद्गव्यं॑ स॒रमा॑ दृ॒ळ्हमू॒र्वं येना॒ नु कं॒ मानु॑षी॒ भोज॑ते॒ विट् ॥
svādhyó divá ā́ saptá yahvī́ rāyó dúro vyṛ́tajñā́ ajānan ǀ vidádgávyam sarámā dṛḷhámūrvám yénā nú kam mā́nuṣī bhójate víṭ ǁ
आ ये विश्वा॑ स्वप॒त्यानि॑ त॒स्थुः कृ॑ण्वा॒नासो॑ अमृत॒त्वाय॑ गा॒तुं । म॒ह्ना म॒हद्भिः॑ पृथि॒वी वि त॑स्थे मा॒ता पु॒त्रैरदि॑ति॒र्धाय॑से॒ वेः ॥
ā́ yé víśvā svapatyā́ni tasthúḥ kṛṇvānā́so amṛtatvā́ya gātúm ǀ mahnā́ mahádbhiḥ pṛthivī́ ví tasthe mātā́ putráiráditirdhā́yase véḥ ǁ
अधि॒ श्रियं॒ नि द॑धु॒श्चारु॑मस्मिंदि॒वो यद॒क्षी अ॒मृता॒ अकृ॑ण्वन् । अध॑ क्षरंति॒ सिंध॑वो॒ न सृ॒ष्टाः प्र नीची॑रग्ने॒ अरु॑षीरजानन् ॥
ádhi śríyam ní dadhuścā́rumasmindivó yádakṣī́ amṛ́tā ákṛṇvan ǀ ádha kṣaranti síndhavo ná sṛṣṭā́ḥ prá nī́cīragne áruṣīrajānan ǁ
In this magnificent climax, the wise seers of heaven—knowing the cosmic Truth (ṛtajñāḥ)—open the seven great rivers and doors of light. Saramā, the divine hound of intuition, discovers the solid corral of the hidden cows of light, allowing the mortal human race to partake in this infinite bounty. All beings that stand firmly in noble offspring strive toward immortality as their ultimate goal. Mother Aditi, the boundless consciousness, expands across the earth in her immense greatness along with her divine sons, nurturing all creation. Finally, the immortal gods place supreme beauty within Agni as the very eye of heaven, causing the life-giving rivers of grace to flow downward in their brilliant, ruddy splendor.
Verse 8: With wise minds, knowing the Truth, the seven mighty ones of heaven opened the doors of radiance; Saramā found the firm, hidden pen of cows, whereby the human race now enjoys its feast.
Verse 9: They who stand in all noble creations, making a pathway for immortality—the earth spreads wide through her greatness and that of the mighty ones; Mother Aditi with her sons nourishes all for sustenance.
Verse 10: The immortals placed supreme and lovely beauty within him when they made him the eye of heaven; then the rivers flow forth like released streams, and Agni knows the forward-flowing, ruddy Dawns.
Sri Aurobindo emphasizes that the 'cows' (gavyam) and 'rivers' (sindhavaḥ) are symbolic of higher states of illumination and energy, whereas ritualists connect them directly to rain, clouds, and sacrificial prosperity.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| ऋतज्ञाः | ṛtajñāḥ | knowers of the cosmic Truth or Order (Ṛta) |
| सरमा | saramā | the divine intuition finder (hound of Indra) |
| ऊर्वम् | ūrvam | the vast pen or enclosure of light/cows |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| अमृतत्वाय | amṛtatvāya | for the state of immortality |
| अदितिः | aditiḥ | the undivided Mother, infinite consciousness |
| धायसे | dhāyase | for nourishment or enjoyment |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| दिवोअक्षी | divo akṣī | the eye of heaven |
| सिन्धवः | sindhavaḥ | rivers, flowing waters of consciousness |
| अरुषीः | aruṣīḥ | the reddish or ruddy lights of Dawn |
Picture the massive gates of a heavenly dam bursting open at dawn, releasing golden rivers of light and life across the entire earth.