Book 6: Hymn 49: In praise of Agni

HYMN XLIX

In praise of Agni

1O Agni, in thy body man hath never found a wounded part.
The Ape devours the arrow's shaft as a cow eats her after-
birth.
2Thou like a fleece contractest and expandest thee what time the
upper stone and that below devour.
Closely compressing head with head and breast with breast he
crunches up the tendrils with his yellow jaws.
3The Eagles have sent forth their voice aloud to heaven: in the
sky's vault the dark impetuous ones have danced.
When they come downward to repair the lower stone, they,
dwellers with the Sun, have gained abundant seed.