Tr. Who reignest over pilgrim-sacrifices, luminous guardian of the Truth, increasing in Thy own home.
In the previous Mantra it was said, "Agni, we approach Thee.” “ Thou” of what kind ? The seer describes in three adjectival phrases: adhvatārām rājantam the master of sacrifices denoted by the term adhvara, path. journey ; ſtasya di divim gopām luminous guardian of the Truth ; sve dame vardhamānam increasing in his own home.
It is not proper to take gopām with adhvarānām when the terms yield meaning as they stand. Thought has to be bestowed upon the meaning in stasya gopāḥ (guardian of Truth), sa ca di diviḥ (and he is shining), sve dame vardhate (increases in his own home). In this one hymn itself is affirmed twice the Truth-nature of Agni by the expression satyah (Rik 5) and tavet tat satyam (Rik 6). In this Rik he is described as the guardian of Truth and as increasing in his own home. What else but Truth could be the own Home of Agni? The Truth, the Right, the Vast, alone is the abode of Agni. And his Truth, the supreme station is to be attained by the Yajamana; sacrifice is the means therefor. The one who performs is the Seer-Will, the Truth, one whose nature is the Truth, who is the guardian of Truth and whose dwelling place is the Truth : he is only Agni. In the Rik (1.75.5), Rishi Rahugana, son of Gotama, prays to Agni: “Sacrifice to Mitra and Varuna for us ; sacrifice to the other Gods; sacrifice to the Truth, the Vast, the Own Home.” From this Rik it is clear that Agni's office of carrying out the sacrifice is not for the sake of the Yajamana only, but that the Vast Truth which is the own home of Agni is the supreme object of sacrifice. We hear the same in 3.10.2 where it is said : "Shine out guardian of the Truth, in thy own home.”
Such is the profound Mantra which has been given a commonplace meaning by the ritualist interpretation which has it thus: “The hall of sacrifice is the own home of Agni; there is Agni, who increases by consuming the ghee offering worshipped morning and evening by the practicants of Agni-sacrifice.”