RV IV.3, hymn to Agni, is the source for the tale of Aṅgirases as pathikṛt. The ṛṣi who uttered it is Vāmadeva Gautama. This is from the Jamison and Brereton 2014 translation.
- Make him here, the king, the Rudra of your ceremony, the Hotar (invoking priest) whose sacrifice comes true in the two world-halves, Agni of golden form— for help for you in the face of unexpected thundering.
- Here is the womb that we made for you. Like an eager wife, richly dressed, for her husband. Enveloped, sit down facing our way: here are facing you, o very knowing one.
- To him who listens undistracted to the thought (Agni), to the one drawing the gaze of men, the very gracious one—o ritual adept— to the god, the immortal, chant the chant, the god whom the presser (I think this is vipraḥ) invokes like the honey-pressing pressing stone.
- Agni, at least become aware of this labour of ours, of truth, o perceiver of truth, as one who is very concerned. When will our solemn words become your feasting companions? When will your fellowship be in our house?
- How will you complain about this to Varuṇa, o Agni, how to Heaven? What is our offense? How will you speak to Mitra the rewarder, to Earth? What to Aryaman, to Fortune?
- What, Agni, having grown strong on the holy places, what to the Wind projecting strength, charging to beauty, to the earth-circling of the Nāsatyas, for it to appear? What will you say, Agni, to man-smiting Rudra?
- How to great Pūṣan who brings prosperity, what to Rudra, the good combatant, for him to give the oblation, what to wide-striding Viṣṇu, (for him to give) semen? What will you say, Agni, to lofty arrow?
- How to the troop of Maruts, for truth? How to the lofty Sun? When you are asked, will you answer to Aditi, to powerful? Send to its goal, all the way to heaven— the observant one, o Jātavedas (Agni).
- With truth I reverently invoke the truth set down from the cow (Aditi): the raw one and the cooked, honeyed belong together, Agni. Though she is black, she is swollen with the gleaming gush, with milk for nourishing offspring.
- Because by truth even the bull Agni, was anointed with the milk on the top, not bucking, he went about conferring vigor: the bull as Pr̥śni milked gleaming from his udder.
- By truth they threw open the rock, having split it. The Aṅgirases roared along with the cows. For blessing the men besieged the dawn; the sun became visible when the fire was born.
- By truth the immortal, unharmable goddesses, the waters with their honeyed floods, o Agni—
like a competitor beating a tattoo at the start—should set to running, to stream forever. - Don’t ever chase after the specter of a nobody, a crooked man—neither of a tricky neighbour, nor of a friend. Do not pursue the debt of a dishonest brother, Agni. May we not pay for the “skill” of a cheating partner.
- Guard us, Agni, with your guards, ever guarding when you are gratified, you good combatant. Spring toward rigid constraint and break it apart; smash demonic force, even though it has grown great.
- By reason of these recitations become well disposed, Agni; by reason of our thoughts caress these prizes, o champion. And enjoy the sacred formulations, Aṅgiras. May the chant favored by the gods bring harmony to you.
- All these devices, the secret words, are for you who know, o ritual adept, Agni— the enigmas, the poetic compositions are for you, the wise poet. I, the inspired one, have pronounced them in composed thoughts and solemn speeches.