
Hymns to Asvins from the Rig Veda

HYMN III. Asvins
1 YE Asvins, rich in treasure, Lords of splendour,
having nimble hands,
Accept the sacrificial food.
2 Ye
Asvins, rich in wondrous deeds, ye heroes worthy of our praise,
Accept our songs with mighty thought.
3 Nisatyas, wonder-workers,
yours arc these libations with clipt grass:
Come ye whose
paths are red with flame.
4 O Indra marvellously bright,
come, these libations long for thee,
Thus by fine fingers
purified.
5 Urged by the holy singer, sped by song, come,
Indra, to the prayers,
Of the libation-pouring priest.
6 Approach, O Indra, hasting thee, Lord of Bay Horses, to the
prayers.
In our libation take delight.
7 Ye Visvedevas,
who protect, reward, and cherish men, approach
Your worshipper's
drink-offering.
8 Ye Visvedevas, swift at work, come hither
quickly to the draught,
As milch-kine hasten to their stalls.
9 The Visvedevas, changing shape like serpents, fearless, void
of guile,
Bearers, accept the sacred draught
10 Wealthy
in spoil, enriched with hymns, may bright Sarsavad desire,
With eager love, our sacrifice.
11 Inciter of all pleasant
songs, inspirer o all gracious thought,
Sarasvati accept
our rite
12 Sarasvati, the mighty flood,- she with be light
illuminates,
She brightens every pious thought.
HYMN XXII Asvins and Others
1 WAKEN the Asvin Pair who yoke their car at
early morn: may they
Approach to drink this Soma juice.
2 We call the Asvins Twain, the Gods borne in a noble car, the
best
Of charioteers, who reach the heavens.
3 Dropping
with honey is your whip, Asvins, and full of pleasantness
Sprinkle therewith the sacrifice.
4 As ye go thither in your
car, not far, O Asvins, is the home
Of him who offers Soma
juice.
5 For my protection I invoke the golden-handed Savitar.
He knoweth, as a God, the place.
6 That he may send us succour,
praise the Waters' Offspring Savitar:
Fain are we for his
holy ways.
7 We call on him, distributer of wondrous bounty
and of wealth,
On Savitar who looks on men.
8 Come hither,
friends, and seat yourselves Savitar, to be praised by us,
Giving good gifts, is beautiful.
9 O Agni, hither bring to
us the willing Spouses of the Gods,
And Tvastar, to the Soma
draught.
10 Most youthful Agni, hither bring their Spouses,
Hotra, Bharati,
Varutri, Dhisana, for aid.
11 Spouses
of Heroes, Goddesses, with whole wings may they come to us
With great protection and with aid.
12 Indrani, Varunani,
and Agnayi hither I invite,
For weal, to drink the Soma juice.
13 May Heaven and Earth, the Mighty Pair, bedew for us our sacrifice,
And feed us full with nourishments.
14 Their water rich with
fatness, there in the Gandharva's steadfast place,
The singers
taste through sacred songs.
15 Thornless be thou, O Earth,
spread wide before us for a dwelling-place:
Vouchsafe us
shelter broad and sure.
16 The Gods be gracious unto us even
from the place whence Visnu strode
Through the seven regions
of the earth!
17 Through all this world strode Visnu; thrice
his foot he planted, and the whole
Was gathered in his footstep's
dust.
18 Visnu, the Guardian, he whom none deceiveth, made
three steps; thenceforth
Establishing his high decrees.
19 Look ye on Visnu's works, whereby the Friend of Indra, close-allied,
Hath let his holy ways be seen.
20 The princes evermore behold
that loftiest place where Visnu is,
Laid as it were an eye
in heaven.
21 This, Vishnu's station most sublime, the singers,
ever vigilant,
Lovers of holy song, light up.
HYMN XXXIV. Asvins.
1 Ye who observe this day be with us even thrice:
far-stretching is you bounty, Asvins and your course.
To
you, as to a cloak in winter, we cleave close: you are to be
drawn nigh unto us by the wise.
2 Three are the fellies in
your honey-bearing car, that travels after Soma's loved one,
as all know.
Three are the pillars set upon it for support:
thrice journey ye by night, O Asvins, thrice by day.
3 Thrice
in the self-same day, ye Gods who banish want, sprinkle ye thrice
to-day our sacrifice with meath;
And thrice vouchsafe us
store of food with plenteous strength, at evening, O ye Asvins,
and at break of day.
4 Thrice come ye to our home, thrice
to the righteous folk, thrice triply aid the man who well deserves
your help.
Thrice, O ye Asvins, bring us what shall make
us glad; thrice send us store of food as nevermore to fail.
5 Thrice, O ye Asvins, bring to us abundant wealth: thrice
in the Gods' assembly, thrice assist our thoughts.
Thrice,
grant ye us prosperity, thrice grant us fame; for the Sun's
daughter hath mounted your three-wheeled car.
6 Thrice, Asvins,
grant to us the heavenly medicines, thrice those of earth and
thrice those that the waters hold,
Favour and health and
strength bestow upon my son; triple protection, Lords of Splendour,
grant to him.
7 Thrice are ye to be worshipped day by day
by us: thrice, O ye Asvins, ye travel around the earth.
Car-borne
from far away, O ye Nasatyas, come, like vital air to bodies,
come ye to the three.
8 Thrice, O ye Asvins, with the Seven
Mother Streams; three are the jars, the triple offering is prepared.
Three are the worlds, and moving on above the sky ye guard the
firm-set vault of heaven through days and nights.
9 Where
are the three wheels of your triple chariot, where are the three
seats thereto firmly fastened?
When will ye yoke the mighty
ass that draws it, to bring you to our sacrifice. Nasatyas?
10 Nasatyas, come: the sacred gift is offered up; drink the
sweet juice with lips that know the sweetness well.
Savitar
sends, before the dawn of day, your car, fraught with oil, various-coloured,
to our sacrifice.
11 Come, O Nasatyas, with the thrice-eleven
Gods; come, O ye Asvins, to the drinking of the meath.
Make
long our days of life, and wipe out all our sins: ward off our
enemies; be with us evermore.
12 Borne in your triple car,
O Asvins, bring us present prosperity with noble offspring.
I cry to you who hear me for protection be ye our helpers where
men win the booty.
HYMN XLVI. Asvins.
1 Now Morning with her earliest light shines
forth, dear Daughter of the Sky:
High, Asvins, I extol your
praise,
2 Sons of the Sea, mighty to save discoverers of
riches, ye
Gods with deep thought who find out wealth.
3 Your giant coursers hasten on over the region all in flames,
-
When your car flies with winged steeds.
4 He, liberal,
lover of the flood, Lord of the House, the vigilant,
Chiefs!
with oblations feeds you full.
5 Ye have regard unto our
hymns, Nasatyas, thinking of our words:
Drink boldly of the
Soma juice.
6 Vouchsafe to us, O Asvin Pair, such strength
as, with attendant light,
May through the darkness carry
us.
7 Come in the ship of these our hymns to bear you to
the hither shore
O Asvins, harness ye the car.
8 The heaven's
wide vessel is your own on the flood's shore your chariot waits
Drops, with the hymn, have been prepared.
9 Kanvas, the drops
are in the heaven; the wealth is at the waters' place:
Where
will ye manifest your form?
10 Light came to lighten up the
branch, the Sun appeared as it were gold:
And with its-tongue
shone forth the dark.
11 The path of sacrifice was made to
travel to the farther goal:
The road of heaven was manifest.
12 The singer of their praise awaits whatever grace the Asvins
give,
who save when Soma gladdens them.
13 Ye dwellers
with Vivasvan come, auspicious, as to Manu erst;
come to
the Soma and our praise.
14 O circumambient Asvins, Dawn
follows the brightness of your way:
Approve with beams our
solemn rites.
15 Drink ye of our libations, grant protection,
O ye Asvins Twain,
With aids which none may interrupt.
HYMN XLVlI. Asvins.
1 ASVINS, for you who strengthen Law this sweetest
Soma hath been shed.
Drink this expressed ere yesterday and
give riches to him who offers it.
2 Come, O ye Asvins, mounted
on your triple car three-seated, beautiful of form
To you
at sacrifice the Kanvas send the prayer: graciously listen to
their call.
3 O Asvins, ye who strengthen Law, drink ye this
sweetest Soma juice.
Borne on your wealth-fraught car come
ye this day to him who offers, ye of wondrous deeds.
4 Omniscient
Asvins, on the thrice-heaped grass bedew with the sweet juice
the sacrifice.
The sons of Kanva, striving heavenward, call
on you with draughts of Soma juice out-poured.
5 O Asvins,
with those aids wherewith ye guarded Kanva carefully,
Keep
us, O hords of Splendour: drink the Soma juice, ye strengtheners
of holy law.
6 O Mighty Ones, ye gave Sudas abundant food,
brought on your treasure-laden car;
So now vouchsafe to us
the wealth which many crave, either from heaven or from the
sea.
7 Nasatyas, whether ye be far away or close to Turvasa,
Borne on your lightly-rolling chariot come to us, together with
the sunbeams come.
8 So let your coursers, ornaments of sacrifice,
bring you to our libations here.
Bestowing food on him who
acts and gives aright, sit, Chiefs, upon the sacred grass.
9 Come, O Nasatyas, on your car decked with a sunbright canopy,
Whereon ye ever bring wealth to the worshipper, to drink the
Soma's pleasant juice.
10 With lauds and songs of praise
we call them down to us, that they, most rich, may succour us;
For ye have ever in the Kanvas' well-loved house, O Asvins,
drunk the Soma juice.
HYMN CXII. Asvins.
1 To give first thought to them, I worship Heaven
and Earth, and Agni, fair bright glow, to hasten their approach.
Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with those aids wherewith in
fight ye speed the war-cry to the spoil.
2 Ample, unfailing,
they have mounted as it were an eloquent car that ye may think
of us and give.
Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with those
aids wherewith ye help our thoughts to further holy acts.
3 Ye by the might which heavenly nectar giveth you are in supreme
dominion Lords of all these folk.
Come hither unto us, O
Asvins, with those aids wherewith ye, Heroes, made the barren
cow give milk.
4 The aids wherewith the Wanderer through
his offipring's might, or the Two-Mothered Son shows swiftest
mid the swift;
Wherewith the sapient one acquired his triple
lore,-Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with those aids.
5 Wherewith
ye raised from waters, prisoned and fast bound, Rebha, and Vandana
to look upon the light;
Wherewith ye succoured Kapva as he
strove to win,-Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with those aids.
6 Wherewith ye rescued Antaka when languishing deep in the pit,
and Bhujyu with unfailing help.
And comforted Karkandhu,
Vayya, in their woe,-Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with those
aids.
7 Wherewith ye gave gucanti wealth and happy home,
and made the fiery pit friendly for Atri's sake;
Wherewith
ye guarded Purukutsa, Prsnigu, -Come hither unto us, O Agvin;,
with those aids.
8 Mighty Ones, with what powers ye gave
Paravrj aid what time ye made the blind and lame to see and
walk;
Wherewith ye set at liberty the swallowed quail,-Come
hither unto us, O Asvins, with those aids.
9 Wherewith ye
quickened the most sweet exhaustless flood, and comforted Vasistha,
ye who ne'er decay;
And to Srutarya, Kutsa, Narya gave your
help,-Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with those aids.
10
Wherewith ye helped, in battle of a thousand spoils, Vispala
seeking booty, powerless to move.
Wherewith ye guarded friendly
Vaga, Asva's son,-Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with those
aids.
11 Whereby the cloud, ye Bounteous Givers, shed sweet
rain for Dirghasravas, for the merchant Ausija,
Wherewith
ye helped Kaksivan, singer of your praise,-Come hither unto
us, O Asvins, with those aids.
12 Wherewith ye made Rasa
swell full with water-floods, and urged to victory the car without
a horse;
Wherewith Trisoka drove forth his recovered cows,-Come
hither unto us, O Asvins, with those aids.
13 Wherewith ye,
compass round the Sun when far away, strengthened Manddatar
in his tasks as lord of lands,
And to sage Bharadvija gave
protecting help,-Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with those aids.
14 Wherewith, when Sambara was slain, ye guarded well great
Atithigva, Divodisa, Kasoju,
And Trasadasyu when the forts
were shattered down,-Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with those
aids.
15 Wherewith ye honoured the great drinker Vamra, and
Upastuta and Kali when he gained his wife,
And lent to Vyasva.
and to Prthi favouring help,-Come hither unto us, O Asvins,
with those aids.
16 Wherewith, O Heroes, ye vouchsafed deliverance
to Sayu, Atri, and to Manu long ago;
Wherewith ye shot your
shafts in Syumarasmi's cause.-Come hither unto us, O Asvins,
with those aids.
17 Wherewith Patharva, in his majesty of
form, shone in his course like to a gathered kindled fire;
Wherewith ye helped Suryata in the mighty fray,-Come hither
unto us, O Asvins, with those aids.
18 Wherewith, Angirases!
ye triumphed in your heart, and onward went to liberate the
flood of milk;
Wherewith ye helped the hero Manu with new
strength,-Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with those aids.
19 Wherewith ye brought awife for Vimada to wed, wherewith ye
freely gave the ruddy cows away;
Wherewith ye brought the
host of kind Gods to Sudas-Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with
those aids.
20 Wherewith ye bring great bliss to him who
offers gifts, wherewith ye have protected Bhujyu, Adhrigu,
And good and gracious Subhara and Rtastup,-Come hither unto
us, O Asvins, with those aids.
21 Wherewith ye served Krsanu
where the shafts were shot, and helped the young man's horse
to swiftness in the race;
Wherewith ye bring delicious honey
to the bees,-Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with those aids.
22 Wherewith ye speed the hero as he fights for kine in hero
battle, in the strife for land and sons,
Wherewith ye safely
guard his horses and his car,-Come hither unto us, O Asvins
with those aids.
23 Wherewith ye, Lords of Hundred Powers,
helped Kutsa, son of Aduni, gave Turviti and Dabhiti strength,
Favoured Dhvasanti and lent Purusanti help,-Come hither unto
us, O Asvins, with those aids.
24 Make ye our speech effectual,
O ye Asvins, and this our hymn, ye mighty Wonder-Workers.
In luckless game I call on you for succour . strengthen us also
on the field of battle.
25 With, undiminished blessings,
O ye Asvins, for evermore both night and day protect us.
This prayer of ours may Varuna grant, and Mitra, and Aditi and
Sindhu, Earth and Heaven.
HYMN CXVI. Asvins.
1. I TRIM like grass my song for the Nasatyas
and send their lauds forth as the wind drives rain-clouds,
Who, in a chariot rapid as an arrow, brought to the youthful
Vimada a consort.
2 Borne on by rapid steeds of mighty pinion,
or proudly trusting in the Gods' incitements.
That stallion
ass of yours won, O Nasatyas, that thousand in the race, in
Yama's contest.
3 Yea, Asvins, as a dead man leaves his riches,
Tugra left Bhujyu in the cloud of waters.
Ye brought him
back in animated vessels, traversing air, unwetted by the billows.
4 Bhujyu ye bore with winged things, Nasatyas, which for three
nights, three days full swiftly travelled,
To the sea's farther
shore, the strand of ocean, in three cars, hundred-footed, with
six horses.
5 Ye wrought that hero exploit in the ocean which
giveth no support, or hold or station,
What time ye carried
Bhujyu to his dwelling, borne in a ship with hundred oars, O
Asvins.
6 The white horse which of old ye gave Aghasva, Asvins,
a gift to be his wealth for ever,-
Still to be praised is
that your glorious present, still to be famed is the braye horse
of Pedu.
7 O Heroes, ye gave wisdom to Kaksivan who sprang
from Pajra's line, who sang your praises.
Ye poured forth
from the hoof of your strong charger a hundred jars of wine
as from a strainer.
8 Ye warded off with cold the fire's
fierce burning; food very rich in nouripliment ye furnished.
Atri, cast downward in the cavern, Asvins ye brought, with all
his people, forth to comfort.
9 Ye lifted up the well, O
ye Nasatyas, and set the base on high to open downward.
Streams
flowed for folk of Gotama who thirsted, like rain to bring forth
thousandfold abundance.
10 Ye from the old Cyavana, O Nasatyas,
stripped, as 'twere mail, the skin upon
his body,
Lengthened
his life when all had left him helpless, Dasras! and made him
lord of youthful maidens.
11 Worthy of praise and worth the
winning, Heroes, is that your favouring succour O Nasatyas,
What time ye, knowing well his case, delivered Vandana trom
the pit like hidden treasure.
12 That mighty deed of yours,
for gain, O Heroes, as thunder heraldeth the rain, I publish,
When, by the horse's head, Atharvan's offspring Dadhyac made
known to you the Soma's sweetness.
13 In the great rite the
wise dame called, Nasatyas, you, Lords of many treasures, to
assist her.
Ye heard the weakling's wife, as 'twere an order,
and gave to her a son Hiranyahasta.
14 Ye from the wolf's
jaws, as ye stood together, set free the quail, O Heroes, O
Nasatyas.
Ye, Lords of many treasures, gave the poet his
perfect vision as he mourned his trouble.
15 When in the
time of night, in Khela's battle, a leg was severed like a wild
bird's pinion,
Straight ye gave Vispali a leg of iron that
she might move what time the conflict opened.
16 His father
robbed Rjrasva of his eyesight who for the she-wolf slew a hundred
wethers.
Ye gave him eyes, Nasatyas, Wonder-Workers, Physicians,
that he saw with sight uninjured.
17 The Daughter of the
Sun your car ascended, first reaching as it were the goal with
coursers.
All Deities within their hearts assented, and ye,
Nasatyas, are close linked with glory.
18 When to his house
ye came, to Divodasa, hasting to Bharadvaja, O ye Asvins,
The car that came with you brought splendid riches: a porpoise
and a bull were yoked together.
19 Ye, bringing wealth with
rule, and life with offspring, life rich in noble heroes; O
Nasatyas,
Accordant came with strength to Jahnu's children
who offered you thrice every day your portion.
20 Ye bore
away at night by easy pathways Jahusa compassed round on every
quarter,
And, with your car that cleaves the toe asunder,
Nasatyas never decaying! rent the mountains.
21 One morn
ye strengthened Vaga for the battle, to gather spoils that might
be told in thousands.
With Indra joined ye drove away misfortunes,
yea foes of Prthusravas, O ye mighty.
22 From the deep well
ye raised on high the water, so that Rcatka's son, Sara, should
drink it;
And with your might, to help the weary Sayu, ye
made the barren cow yield milk, Nasatyas.
23 To Visvaka,
Nasatyas! son of Krsna, the righteous man who sought your aid
and praised you,
Ye with your powers restored, like some
lost creature, his son Visnapu for his eyes to look on.
24
Asvins, ye raised, like Soma in a ladle Rebha, who for ten days
and ten nights, fettered.
Had lain in cruel bonds, immersed
and wounded, suffering sore affliction, in the waters.
25
1 have declared your wondrous deeds, O Asvins: may this be mine,
and many kine and heroes.
May I, enjoying lengthened life,
still seeing, enter old age as 'twere the house I live in.
HYMN CXVII. Asvins.
1. ASVINS, your ancient priest invites you hither
to gladden you with draughts of meath of Soma.
Our gift is
on the grass, our song apportioned: with food and strength come
hither, O Nasatyas.
2 That car of yours, swifter than thought,
O Asvins, which drawn by brave steeds cometh to the people,
Whereon ye seek the dwelling of the pious,-come ye thereon to
our abode, O Heroes.
3 Ye freed sage Atri, whom the Five
Tribes honoured, from the strait pit, ye Heroes with his people,
Baffling the guiles of the malignant Dasyu, repelling them,
ye Mighty in succession.
4 Rebha the sage, ye mighty Heroes,
Asvins! whom, like a horse, vile men had sunk in water,-
Him, wounded, with your wondrous power ye rescued: your exploits
of old time endure for ever.
5 Ye brought forth Vandana,
ye Wonder-Workers, for triumph, like fair gold that hath been
buried,
Like one who slumbered in destruction's bosom, or
like the Sun when dwelling in the darkness.
6 Kaksivan, Pajra's
son, must laud that exploit of yours, Nasatyas, Heroes, ye who
wander!
When from the hoof of your strong horse ye showered
a hundred jars of honey for the people.
7 To Krsna's son,
to Visvaka who praised you, O Heroes, ye restored his son Visnapu.
To Ghosa, living in her father's dwelling, stricken in years,
ye gave a husband, Asvins.
8 Rusati, of the mighty people,
Asvins, ye gave to Syava of the line of Kanva.
This deed
of yours, ye Strong Ones should be published, that ye gave glory
to the son of Nrsad.
9 O Asvins, wearing many forms at pleasure,
on Pedu ye bestowed a fleet-foot courser,
Strong, winner
of a thousand spoils, resistless the serpent slayer, glorious,
triumphant.
10 These glorious things are yours, ye Bounteous
Givers; prayer, praise in both worlds are your habitation.
O Asvins, when the sons of Paira call you, send strength with
nourishment to him who knoweth.
11 Hymned with the reverence
of a son, O Asvins ye Swift Ones giving booty to the singer,
Glorified by Agastya with devotion, established Vispala again,
Nasatyas.
12 Ye Sons of Heaven, ye Mighty, whither went ye,
sought ye, for his fair praise the home of Kdvya.
When, like
a pitcher full of gold, O Asvins, on the tenth day ye lifted
up the buried?
13 Ye with the aid of your great powers, O
Asvins, restored to youth the ancient man Cyavana.
The Daughter
of the Sun with all her glory, O ye Nasatyas, chose your car
to bear her.
14 Ye, ever-youthful Ones, again remembered
Tugra, according to your ancient manner:
With horses brown
of hue that flew with swift wings ye brought back Bhujyu from
the sea of billows.
15 The son of Tugra had invoked you,
Asvins; borne on he went uninjured through the ocean.
Ye
with your chariot swift as thought, well-harnessed, carried
him off, O Mighty Ones, to safety.
16 The quail had invocated
you, O Asvins, when from the wolf's devouring jaws ye freed
her.
With conquering car ye cleft the mountain's ridges:
the offspring of Visvac ye killed with poison.
17 He whom
for furnishing a hundred wethers to the she-wolf, his wicked
father blinded,
To him, Rjrasva, gave ye eyes, O Asvins;
light to the blind ye sent for perfect vision.
18 To bring
the blind man joy thus cried the she-wolf: O Asvins, O ye Mighty
Ones, O Heroes,
For me Rjrasva, like a youthful lover, hath.
cut piecemeal one and a hundred wethers.
19 Great and weal-giving
is your aid, O Asvins, ye, objects of all thought, made whole
the cripple.
Purandhi also for this cause invoked you, and
ye, O mighty, came to her with succours.
20 Ye, Wonder-Workers,
filled with milk for Sayu the milkless cow, emaciated, barren;
And by your powers the child of Purumitra ye brought to Vimada
to be his consort.
21 Ploughing and sowing barley, O ye Asvins,
milking out food for men, ye Wonder-Workers,
Blasting away
the Dasyu with your trumpet, ye gave far-spreading light unto
the Arya.
22 Ye brought the horse's head, Asvins, and gave
it unto Dadhyac the offspring of Atharvan.
True, he revealed
to you, O WonderWorkers, sweet Soma, Tvastar's secret, as your
girdle.
23 O Sages, evermore I crave your favour: be gracious
unto all my prayers, O Asvins.
Grant me, Nasatyas, riches
in abundance, wealth famous and accompanied with children.
24 With liberal bounty to the weakling's consorts ye, Heroes,
gave a son Hiranyahasta;
And Syava, cut into three several
pieces, ye brougnt to life again, O bounteous Asvins.
25
These your heroic exploits, O ye Asvins, done in the days. of
old, have men related.
May we, addressing prayer to you,
ye Mighty, speak with brave sons about us to. the synod.
HYMN CXVIII. Asvins.
1. FLYING, with falcons, may your chariot, Asvins,
most gracious, bringing friendly
help, come hither,-
Your
chariot, swifter than the mind of mortal, fleet as the wind,
three-seated O ye Mighty.
2 Come to us with your chariot
triple seated, three-wheeled, of triple form, that rolleth lightly.
Fill full our cows, give mettle to our horses, and make each
hero son grow strong, O Asvins.
3 With your well-rolling
car, descending swiftly, hear this the press-stone's song, ye
Wonder-Workers.
How then have ancient sages said, O Asvins,
that ye most swiftly come to stay affliction?
4 O Asvins,
let your falcons bear you hither, yoked to your chariot, swift,
with flying pinions,
Which, ever active, like the airy eagles,
carry you, O Nasatyas, to the banquet.
5 The youthful Daughter
of the Sun, delighting in you, ascended there your chariot,
Heroes.
Borne on their swift wings let your beauteous horses,
your birds of ruddy hue, convey you near us.
6 Ye raised
up Vandana, strong WonderWorkers! with great might, and with
power ye rescued Rebha.
From out the sea ye saved the son
of Tugra, and gave his youth again unto Cyavana.
7 To Atri,
cast down to the fire that scorched him, ye gave, O Asvins,
strengthening tbod and favour.
Accepting his fair praises
with approval, ye gave his eyes again to blinded Kanva.
8
For ancient Sayti in his sore affliction ye caused his cow to
swell with milk, O Asvins.
The quail from her great misery
ye delivered, and a new leg for Vispala provided.
9 A white
horse, Asvins, ye bestowed on Pedu, a serpent-slaying steed
sent down by Indra,
Loud-neighing, conquering the foe, highmettled,
firm-limbed and vigorous, winning thousand treasures.
10
Such as ye are, O nobly horn, O Heroes, we in our trouble call
on you for succour.
Accepting these our songs, for our wellbeing
come to us on your chariot treasure-laden.
11 Come unto us
combined in love, Nasatyas come with the fresh swift vigour
of the falcon.
Bearing oblations I invoke you, Asvins, at
the first break of everlasting morning.
HYMN CXIX. Asvins.
1. HITHER, that I may live, I call unto the feast
your wondrous car, thought-swift, borne on by rapid steeds.
With thousand banners, hundred treasures, pouring gifts, promptly
obedient, bestowing ample room.
2 Even as it moveth near
my hymn is lifted up, and all the regions come together to sing
praise.
I sweeten the oblations; now the helpers come. Urjani
hath, O Asvins, mounted on your car.
3 When striving man
with man for glory they have met, brisk, measurcIess, eager
for victory in fight,
Then verily your car is seen upon the
slope when ye, O Asvins, bring some choice boon to the prince.
4 Ye came to Bhujyu while he struggled in the flood, with flying
birds, self-yoked, ye bore him to his sires.
Ye went to the
far-distant home, O Mighty Ones; and famed is your great aid
to Divodisa given.
5 Asvins, the car which you had yoked
for glorious show your own two voices urged directed to its
goal.
Then she who came for friendship, Maid of noble birth,
elected you as Husbands, you to be her Lords.
6 Rebha ye
saved from tyranny; for Atri's sake ye quenched with cold the
fiery pit that compassed him.
Ye made the cow of Sayu stream
refreshing milk, and Vandana was holpen to extended life.
7 Doers of marvels, skilful workers, ye restored Vandana, like
a car, worn out with length of days.
From earth ye brought
the sage to life in wondrous mode; be your great deeds done
here for him who honours you.
8 Ye went to him who mourned
in a far distant place, him who was left forlorn by treachery
of his sire.
Rich with the light ofheaven was then the help
ye gave, and marvellous your succour when ye stood by him.
9 To you in praise of sweetness sang the honey-bee: Ausija calleth
you in Soma's rapturous joy.
Ye drew unto yourselves the
spirit of Dadhyac, and then the horse's head uttered his words
to you.
10 A horse did ye provide for Pedu, excellent, white,
O ye Asvins, conqueror of combatants,
Invincible in war by
arrows, seeking heaven worthy of fame, like Indra, vanquisher
of men.
HYMN CXX. Asvins.
1. ASVINS, what praise may win your grace? Who
may be pleasing to you both?
How shall the ignorant worship
you?
2 Here let the ignorant ask the means of you who know-for
none beside you knoweth aught -
Not of a spiritless mortal
man.
3 Such as ye: are, all-wise, we call you. Ye wise, declare
to us this day accepted prayer.
Loving you well your servant
lauds you.
4 Simply, ye Mighty Ones, I ask the Gods of that
wondrous oblation hallowed by the mystic word.
Save us from
what is stronger, fiercer than ourselves.
5 Forth go the
hymn that shone in Ghosa Bhrgu's like, the song wherewith the
son of Pajra worships you,
Like some wise minister.
6
Hear ye the song of him who hastens speedily. O Asvins, I am
he who sang your praise.
Hither, ye Lords of Splendour, hither
turn your eyes.
7 For ye were ever nigh to deal forth ample
wealth, to give the wealth that ye had gathered up.
As such,
ye Vasus, guard us well, and keep us safely from the wicked
wolf.
8 Give us not up to any man who hateth us, nor let
our milch-cows stray, whose udders give us food,
Far from
our homes without their calves.
9 May they who love you gain
you for their Friends. Prepare ye us for opulence with strengthening
food,
Prepare us for the food that floweth from our cows
10 1 have obtained the horseless car of Asvins rich in sacrifice,
And I am well content therewith.
11 May it convey me evermore:
may the light chariot pass from men
To men unto the Soma
draught.
12 It holdeth slumber in contempt. and the rich
who enjoyeth not:
Both vanish quickly and are lost.
HYMN CLVII. Asvins.
1. Agni is wakened: Surya riseth from the earth.
Mighty, refulgent Dawn hath shone with all her light.
The
Asvins have equipped their chariot for the course. God Savitar
hath moved the folk in sundry ways.
2 When, Asvins, ye equip
your very mighty car, bedew, ye Twain, our power with honey
and with oil.
To our devotion give victorious strength in
war: may we win riches in the heroes' strife for spoil.
3
Nigh to us come the Asvins' lauded three-wheeled car, the car
laden with meath and drawn by fleet-foot steeds,
Three-seated,
opulent, bestowing all delight. may it bring weal to us, to
cattle and to men.
4 Bring hither nourishment for us, ye
Asvins Twain; sprinkle us with your whip that drops with honey-dew.
Prolong our days of life, wipe out our trespasses; destroy our
foes, be our companions and our Friends.
5 Ye store the germ
of life in female creatures, ye lay it up within all living
beings.
Ye have sent forth, O Asvins passing mighty, the
fire, the sovrans of the wood, the waters,
6 Leeches are
ye with medicines to heal us, and charioteers are ye with skill
in driving.
Ye Strong, give sway to him who brings oblation
and with his heart pours out his gift before you.
HYMN CLVIII. Asvins.
1. YE Vasus Twain, ye Rudras full of counsel,
grant us, Strong Strengtheners, when ye stand beside us,
What wealth Aucathya craves of you, great Helpers when ye come
forward with no niggard succour.
2 Who may give you aught,
Vasus, for your favour, for what, at the Cow's place, ye grant
through worship?
Wake for us understanding full of riches,
come with a heart that will fulfil our longing.
3 As erst
for Tugra's son your car, sea-crossing, strong, was equipped
and set amid the waters,
So may I gain your shelter and protection
as with winged course a hero seeks his army.
4 May this my
praise preserve Ucathya's offispring: let not these Twain who
fly with wings exhaust me.
Let not the wood ten times up-piled
consume me, when fixed for you it bites the ground it stands
on.
5 The most maternal streams, wherein the Dilsas cast
me securely bound, have not devoured me.
When Traitana would
cleave my head asunder, the Dasa wounded his own breast and
shoulders.
6 Dirghatamas the son of Mamati hath come to length
of days in the tenth age of human kind.
He is the Brahman
of the waters as they strive to reach their end and aim: their
charioteer is he.
HYMN CLXXX. Asvins.
1. LIGHTLY your coursers travel through the regions
when round thesea of air your car is flying.
Your golden
fellies scatter drops of moisture: drinking the sweetness ye
atend the Mornings.
2 Ye as ye travel overtake the Courser
who flies apart, the Friend of man, most holy.
The prayer
is that the Sister may convey you, all praised, meath-drinkers!
to support and strengthen.
3 Ye have deposited, matured within
her, in the raw cow the first milk of the milch-cow,
Which
the bright offerer, shining like a serpent mid trees, presents
to you whose form is perfect.
4 Ye made the fierce heat to
be full of sweetness for Atri at his wish, like streaming water.
Fire-offering thence is yours, O Asvins, Heroes: your car-wheels
speed to us like springs of honey.
5 Like Tugra's ancient
son may I, ye Mighty, bring you to give your gifts with milk-oblations.
Your greatness compasseth Earth, Heaven, and Waters: decayed
for you is sorrow's net, ye Holy.
6 When, Bounteous Ones,
ye drive your yoked team downward, ye send, by your own natures,
understanding.
Swift as the wind let the prince please and
feast you: he, like a pious man, gains strength for increase.
7 For verily we truthful singers praise you the niggard trafficker
is here excluded.
Now, even now do ye O blameless Advins,
ye Mighty, guard the man whose God is near him.
8 You of
a truth day after day, O Asvins, that he might win the very
plenteous torrent,
Agastya, famous among mortal heroes, roused
with a thousand lauds like sounds of music.
9 When with the
glory of your car ye travel, when we go speeding like the priest
of mortals,
And give good horses to sacrificers, may we,
Nasatyas! gain our share of riches.
10 With songs of praise
we call to-day, O Asvins, that your new chariot, for our own
well-being,
That circles heaven with never-injured fellies.
May we find strengthening food in full abundance.
HYMN CLXXXI. Asvins
1. WHAT, dearest Pair, is this in strength and
riches that ye as Priests are bring from the waters?
This
sacrifice is your glorification, ye who protect mankind and
give them treasures.
2 May your pure steeds, rain-drinkers,
bring you hither, swift as the tempest, your celestial coursers,
Rapid as thought, with fair backs, full of vigour, resplendent
in their native light, O Asvins.
3 Your car is like a torrent
rushing downward: may it come nigh, broad-seated, for our welfare,-
Car holy, strong, that ever would be foremost, thought-swift,
which ye, for whom we long, have mounted.
4 Here sprung to
life, they both have sung together, with bodies free from stain,
with signs that mark them;
One of you Prince of Sacrifice,
the Victor, the other counts as Heaven's auspicious offspring.
5 May your car-seat, down-gliding, golden-coloured, according
to your wish approach our dwellings.
Men shall feed full
the bay steeds of the other, and, Asvins they with roars shall
stir the regions.
6 Forth comes your strong Bull like a cloud
of autumn, sending abundant food of liquid sweetness.
Let
them feed with the other's ways and vigour: the upper streams
have come and do us service.
7 Your constant song hath been
sent forth, Disposers! that flows threefold in mighty strength,
O Asvins.
Thus lauded, give the suppliant protection moving
or resting hear mine invocation.
8 This song of bright contents
for you is swelling in the men's hall where three-fold grass
is.ready.
Your strong rain-cloud, ye Mighty Ones, hath swollen,
honouring men as 'twere with milk's outpouring.
9 The prudent
worshipper, like Pusan, Asvins! praises you as he praises Dawn
and Agni,
When, singing with devotion, he invokes you. May
we find strengthening food in full abundance.
HYMN CLXXXII. Asvins.
1. THIS was the task. Appear promptly, ye prudent
Ones. Here is the chariot drawn by strong steeds: be ye glad.
Heart-stirring, longed for, succourers of Vispala, here are
Heaven's Sons whose sway blesses the pious man.
2 Longed
for, most Indra-like, mighty, most Marut-like, most w6nderful
in deed, car-borne, best charioteers,
Bring your full chariot
hither heaped with liquid sweet: thereon, ye Mvins, come to
him who offers gifts.
3 What make ye there, ye Mighty? Wherefore
linger ye with folk who, offering not, are held in high esteem?
Pass over them; make ye the niggard's life decay: give light
unto the singer eloquent in praise.
4 Crunch up on. every
side the dogs who bark at us: slay ye our foes, O Asvins this
ye understand.
Make wealthy every word of him who praises
you: accept with favour, both Nasatyas, this my laud.
5 Ye
made for Tugra's son amid the water-floods that animated ship
with wings to fly withal,
Whereon with God-devoted mind ye
brought him forth, and fled with easy flight from out the mighty
surge.
6 Four ships most welcome in the midst of ocean, urged
by the Asvins, save the son of Tugra,
Him who was cast down
headlong in the waters, plunged in the thick inevitable darkness.
7 What tree was that which stood fixed in surrounding sea to
which the son of Tugra supplicating clung?
Like twigs, of
which some winged creature may take hold, ye, Asvins, bore him
off safely to your renown.
8 Welcome to you be this the hymn
of praises uttered by Manas, O Nasatyas, Heroes,
From this
our gathering where we offer Soma. May we find strengthening
food in full abundance.
HYMN CLXXXIII. Asvins.
1. MAKE ready that which passes thought in swiftness,
that hath three wheels and triple seat, ye Mighty,
Whereon
ye seek the dwelling of the pious, whereon, threefold, ye fly
like birds with pinions.
2 Light rolls your easy chariot
faring earthward, what time, for food, ye, full of wisdom, mount
it.
May this song, wondrous fair, attend your glory: ye,
as ye travel, wait on Dawn Heaven's Daughter.
3 Ascend your
lightly rolling car, approaching the worshipper who turns him
to his duties,-
Whereon ye come unto the house to quicken
man and his offspring, O Nasatyas, Heroes.
4 Let not the
wolf, let not the she-wolf harm you. Forsake me not, nor pass
me by or others.
Here stands your share, here is your hymn,
ye Mighty: yours are these vessels, full of pleasant juices.
5 Gotama, Purumilha, Atri bringing oblations all invoke you
for protection.
Like one who goes strai ht to the point directed,
ye Nasatyas, to mine invocation.
6 We have passed o'er the
limit of this darkness: our praise hath been bestowed on you,
O Asvins.
Come hitherward by paths which Gods have travelled.
May we find strengthening food in full abundance.
HYMN CLXXXIV Asvins.
1. LET us invoke you both this day and after
the priest is here with lauds when morn is breaking:
Nasatyas,
wheresoe'er ye be, Heaven's Children, for him who is more liberal
than the godless.
2 With us, ye Mighty, let yourselves be
joyful, glad in our stream of Soma slay the niggards.
Graciously
hear my hymns and invitations, marking, O Heroes, with your
cars my longing.
3 Nasatyas, Pusans, ye as Gods for glory
arranged and set in order Surya's bridal.
Your giant steeds
move on, sprung from the waters, like ancient times of Varuna
the Mighty.
4 Your grace be with us, ye who love sweet juices:
further the hymn sung by the poet Mana,
When men are joyful
in your glorious actions, to win heroic strength, ye Bounteous
Givers.
5 This praise was made, O liberal Lords, O Asvins,
for you with fair adornment by the Manas.
Come to our house
for us and for our children, rejoicing, O Nasatyas, in Agastya.
6 We have passed o'er the limit of this darkness: our praise
hath been'bestowed on you, O Asvins.
Come hitherward by paths
which Gods have travelled. may we find strengthening food in
full abundance.
Suggestions for Further Reading
- The Rig Veda translation by Griffith, Introduction
- Hymns of the Sama veda translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith
- Yajur Veda: The Veda Of The Black Yajus School
- Hymns Of The Atharva-Veda
- Anugita English Translation
- THE Sanatsugâtîya, A Spiritual Dialogue
- Dharmashastras, the Sacred Law Books of Hindus
- The Hindu Dharmashastras, Subject Index
- The Grihya Sutras, The Vedic Domestic Ritual Texts
- The Sankhya Sutras of Kapila, Index page
- Translation of Upanishads by Swami Paramananda, Index
- A History Of Indian Philosophy - Chapter Index
- The Upanishads translated by Max Muller
- Vedic Reader for Students
- The Bhagavad-gita in a nutshell
- Kapila and the Samkhya yoga
- Advaita Vedanta As It Exists
- Essays On Dharma
- Esoteric Mystic Hinduism
- Introduction to Hinduism
- Hindu Way of Life
- Essays On Karma
- Hindu Rites and Rituals
- The Origin of The Sanskrit Language
- Symbolism in Hinduism
- Essays on The Upanishads
- Concepts of Hinduism
- Essays on Atman
- Hindu Festivals
- Spiritual Practice
- Right Living
- Yoga of Sorrow
- Happiness
- Mental Health
- Concepts of Buddhism
- General Essays
Source: An English translation of the Vedas by Ralph T.H. Griffith, 1896.