An accompaniment to the preparation and presentation of a Brahmaudana

1Agni, spring forth! Here Aditi, afflicted, cooks a Brahmaudana, yearning for children. Let the Seven Rishis, World-creators, rub thee into existence here with gift of offspring.

2Raise, as I bid, the smoke, my strong companions, lovers of free-dom from deceit and malice! Victor in fight heroic, here is Agni by whom the Gods subdued the hostile demons.

3Thou, Agni, wart produced for mighty valour, to cook Brahmau-dana, O Jātavedas. Seven Rishis, makers of the world, begat thee, Grant to this woman wealth with store of heroes.

4Burn up, O Agni, kindled with the fuel. Knowing the Gods who merit worship, bring them. Cooking, for these, oblation, Jātavedas! lift up this man to heaven’s most lofty summit.

5Your portion from of old is triply parted, portion of Gods, of Fathers, and of mortals. Know, all, your shares. I deal them out among you. The portion of the Gods shall save this woman.

6Strong art thou, Agni, conquering, all-surpassing. Crush down our foemen, ruin those who hate us. So let this measure, measured, being measured, make all our kin thy tributary vassals.

7Increase with kinsmen and with all abundance: to mighty strength and power lift up this woman. Erect, rise upward to the sky’s high station, rise to the lofty world which men call Svarga.

8May this great Earth receive the skin, this Goddess Prithivī, showing us her love and favour. Then may we go unto the world of virtue.

9Fix on the skin these two joined press-stones, duly rending the fibres for the sacrificer. Strike down and slay those who assail this woman, and elevating raise on high her offspring.

10Grasp with thy hand, O man, the well-formed press-stones: the holy Gods have come unto thy worship. Three wishes of thy heart which thou electest, these happy gains for thee I here make ready.

11Here thy devotion is, here is thy birthplace. Aditi, Mother of brave sons, accept thee! Wipe away those who fight against this woman with wealth and store of goodly sons endow her.

12Rest in the roaring frame of wood: be parted from husk and chaff, ye Sacrificial Fibres. May we surpass in glory all our rivals. I cast beneath my feet the men who hate us.

13Go, Dame, and quickly come again: the waters, enclosed, have mounted thee that thou mayst bear them. Take thou of these such as are fit for service: skilfully separating. leave the others.

14Hither these Dames have come in radiant beauty. Arise and seize= upon thy strength, O woman. To thee hath sacrifice come: take the pitcher, blest with a good lord, children, children’s children.

15Instructed by the Rishis, bring those waters, the share of strength which was of old assigned you. Let this effectual sacrifice afford you protection, fortune, off-spring, men, and cattle.

16Agni, on thee the sacrificial caldron hath mounted: shining, fiercely