
The Rig Veda, Book 1, Verses 90 to 99

HYMN XC. Visvedevas.
1. MAY Varuna with guidance straight, and Mitra
lead us, he who knows,
And Aryaman in accord with Gods.
2 For they are dealers forth of wealth, and, not deluded, with
their might
Guard evermore the holy laws.
3 Shelter may they vouchsafe to us, Immortal Gods to mortal
men,
Chasing our enemies away.
4 May they mark out our paths to bliss, Indra, the Maruts, Pusan,
and Bhaga, the Gods to be adored.
5 Yea, Pusan, Visnu, ye who run your course, enrich our hymns
with kine;
Bless us with all prosperity.
6 The winds waft sweets, the rivers pour sweets for the man
who keeps the Law
So may the plants be sweet for us.
7 Sweet be the night and sweet the dawns, sweet the terrestrial
atmosphere;
Sweet be our Father Heaven to us.
8 May the tall tree be full of sweets for us, and full of sweets
the Sun:
May our milch-kine be sweet for us.
9 Be Mitra gracious unto us, and Varuna and Aryaman:
Indra, Brhaspati be kind, and Visnu of the mighty stride.
HYMN XCI Soma.
1. Thou, Soma, art preeminent for wisdom; along
the straightest path thou art our leader.
Our wise forefathers by thy guidance, Indu, dealt out among
the Gods their share of treasure.
2 Thou by thine insight art most wise, O Soma, strong by thine
energies and all possessing,
Mighty art thou by all thy powers and greatness, by glories
art thou glorious, guide of mortals.
3 Thine are King Varuna's eternal statutes, lofty and deep,
O Soma, is thy glory.
All-pure art thou like Mitra the beloved, adorable, like Aryaman,
O Soma.
4 With all thy glories on the earth, in heaven, on mountains,
in the plants, and in the waters,-
With all of these, well-pleased and not in anger, accept, O
royal Soma, our oblations.
5 Thou, Soma, art the Lord of heroes, King, yea, Vrtra-slayer
thou:
Thou art auspicious energy.
6 And, Soma, let it be thy wish that we may
live and may not die:
Praise-loving Lord of plants art thou.
7 To him who keeps the law, both old and young, thou givest
happiness,
And energy that he may live.
8 Guard us, King Soma, on all sides from him who threatens us:
never let
The friend of one like thee be harmed.
9 With those delightful aids which thou hast, Soma, for the
worshipper,-
Even with those protect thou us.
10 Accepting this our sacrifice and this our praise, O Soma,
come,
And be thou nigh to prosper us.
11 Well-skilled in speech we magnify thee, Soma, with our sacred
songs:
Come thou to us, most gracious One.
12 Enricher, healer of disease, wealth-finder, prospering our
store,
Be, Soma, a good Friend to us.
13 Soma, be happy in our heart, as milch-kine in the grassy
meads,
As a young man in his own house.
14 O Soma, God, the mortal man who in thy friendship hath delight,
Him doth the mighty Sage befriend.
15 Save us from slanderous reproach, keep us., O Soma, from
distress:
Be unto us a gracious Friend.
16 Soma, wax great. From every side may vigorous powers unite
in thee:
Be in the gathering-place of strength.
17 Wax, O most gladdening Soma, great through all thy rays of
light, and be
A Friend of most illustrious fame t6 prosper us.
16 In thee be juicy nutriments united, and powers and mighty
foe-subduing vigour,
Waxing to immortality, O Soma: win highest glories for thyself
in heaven.
19 Such of thy glories as with poured oblations men honour,
may they all invest our worship.
Wealth-giver, furtherer with troops of heroes, sparing the brave,
come, Soma, to our houses.
20 To him who worships Soma gives the milchcow, a fleet steed
and a man of active knowledge,
Skilled in home duties, meet for holy synod, for council meet,
a glory to his father.
21 Invincible in fight, saver in battles, guard of our camp,
winner of light and water,
Born amid hymns, well-housed, exceeding famous, victor, in thee
will we rejoice, O Soma.
22 These herbs, these milch-kine, and these running waters,
all these, O Soma, thou hast generated.
The spacious firmament bast thou expanded, and with the light
thou hast dispelled the darkness.
23 Do thou, God Soma, with thy Godlike spirit, victorious, win
for us a share of riches.
Let none prevent thee: thou art Lord of valour. Provide for
both sides in the fray for booty.
HYMN XCII. Dawn.
1. THESE Dawns have raised their banner; in the
eastern half of the mid-air they spread abroad their shinine
light.
Like heroes who prepare their weapons for the war, onward they
come bright red in hue, the Mother Cows.
2 Readily have the purple beams of light shot up; the Red Cows
have they harnessed, easy to be yoked.
The Dawns have brought distinct perception as before: red-hued,
they have attained their fulgent brilliancy.
3 They sing their song like women active in their tasks, along
their common path hither from far away,
Bringing refreshment to the liberal devotee, yea, all things
to the worshipper who pours the juice.
4 She, like a dancer, puts her broidered garments on: as a cow
yields her udder so she bares her breast.
Creating light for all the world of life, the Dawn hath laid
the darkness open as the cows their stall.
5 We have beheld the brightness of her shining; it spreads and
drives away the darkiorne monster.
Like tints that deck the Post at sacrifices, Heaven's Daughter
hath attained her wondrous splendour.
6 We have o'erpast the limit of this darkness; Dawn breaking
forth again brings clear perception.
She like a flatterer smiles in light for glory, and fair of
face hath wakened to rejoice
us.
7 The Gotamas have praised Heaven's radiant Daughter, the leader
of the charm of pleasant voices.
Dawn, thou conferrest on us strength with offspring and men,
conspicuous with kine and horses.
8 O thou who shinest forth in wondrous glory, urged onward by
thy strength, auspicious Lady,
Dawn, may I gain that wealth, renowned and ample, in brave sons,
troops of slaves, far-famed for horses.
9 Bending her looks on all the world, the Goddess shines, widely
spreading with her bright eye westward.
Waking to motion every living creature, she understands the
voice of each adorer.
10 Ancient of days, again again born newly, decking her beauty
with the self-same raiment.
The Goddess wastes away the life of mortals, like a skilled
hunter cutting birds in pieces.
11 She hath appeared discovering heaven's borders: to the far
distance she drives off her Sister.
Diminishing the days of human creatures, the Lady shines with
all her lover's splendour.
12 The bright, the blessed One shines forth extending her rays
like kine, as a flood rolls his waters.
Never transgressing the divine commandments, she is beheld visible
with the sunbeams.
13 O Dawn enriched with ample wealth, bestow on us the wondrous
gift
Wherewith we may support children and children's sons.
14 Thou radiant mover of sweet sounds, with wealth of horses
and of kine
Shine thou on us this day, O Dawn auspiciously.
15 O Dawn enriched with holy rites, yoke to thy car thy purple
steeds,
And then bring thou unto us all felicities.
16 O Asvins wonderful in act, do ye unanimous direct
Your chariot to our home wealthy in kine and gold.
17 Ye who brought down the hymn from heaven, a light that giveth
light to man,
Do ye, O Asvius, bring strength bither unto us.
18 Hither may they who wake at dawn bring, to drink Soma both
the Gods
Health-givers Wonder-Workers, borne on paths of gold.
HYMN XCIII. Agni-Sona.
1 Agni and Soma, mighty Pair, graciously hearken
to my call,
Accept in friendly wise my hymn, and prosper him who offers
gifts.
2 The man who honours you to-day, Agni and Soma, with this hymn,
Bestow on him heroic strength, increase of kine, and noble steeds.
3 The man who offers holy oil and burnt oblations unto you,
Agni and Soma, shall enjoy great strength, with offspring, all
his life.
4 Agni and Soma, famed is that your. prowess wherewith ye stole
the kine, his food, from Pani.
Ye caused the brood of Brsaya to perish; ye found the light,
the single light for many.
5 Agni and Soma, joined in operation ye have set up the shining
lights in heaven.
From curse and from reproach, Agni and Soma, ye freed the rivers
that were bound in fetters.
6 One of you Mitarisvan brought from heaven, the Falcon rent
the other from the mountain.
Strengthened by holy prayer Agni and Soma have made us ample
room for sacrificing.
7 Taste, Agni, Soma, this prepared oblation; accept it, Mighty
Ones, and let it please you.
Vouchsafe us good protection and kind favour: grant to the sacrificer
health and riches.
8 Whoso with oil and poured oblation honours, with God-devoted
heart, Agni and Soma,-
Protect his sacrifice, preserve him from distress, grant to
the sacrificer great felicity.
9 Invoked together, mates in wealth, AgniSoma, accept our hymns:
Together be among the Gods.
10 Agni and Soma, unto him who worships you with holy oil
Shine forth an ample recompense.
11 Agni and Sonia, be ye pleased with these oblations brought
to you,
And come, together, nigh to us.
12 Agni and Soma, cherish well our horses, and let our cows
be fat who yield oblations.
Grant power to us and to our wealthy patrons, and cause our
holy rites to be successful.
HYMN XCIV. Agni
1 FOR Jatavedas worthy of our praise will we
frame with our mind this eulogy as 'twere a car.
For good, in his assembly, is this care of ours. Let us not,
in thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm.
2 The man for whom thou sacrificest prospereth, dwelleth without
a foe, gaineth heroic might.
He waxeth strong, distress never approacheth him. Let us riot,
in thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm.
3 May we have power to kindle thee. Fulfil our thoughts. In
thee the Gods eat the presented offering,
Bring hither the Adityas, for we long for them. Let us not in
thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm.
4 We will bring fuel and prepare burnt offerings, reminding
thee at each successive festival.
Fulfil our thought that so we may prolong our lives. Let us
not in thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm.
5 His ministers move forth, the guardians of the folk, protecting
quadruped and biped with their rays.
Mighty art thou, the wondrous herald of the Dawn. Let us not
in thy friend. ship, Agni, suffer harm.
6 Thou art Presenter and the chief Invoker, thou Director, Purifier,
great High Priest by birth.
Knowing all priestly work thou perfectest it, Sage. Let us not
in thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm.
7 Lovely of form art thou, alike on every side; though far,
thou shinest brightly
as if close at hand.
O God, thou seest through even the dark of night. Let us not
in thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm.
8 Gods, foremost he his car who pours libations out, and let
our hymn prevail o'er evil-hearted men.
Attend to this our speech and make it prosper well. Let us not
in thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm.
9 Smite with thy weapons those of evil speech and thought, devouring
demons, whether near or tar away.
Then to the singer give free way for sacrifice. Let us not in
thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm.
10 When to thy chariot thou hadst yoked two red steeds and two
ruddy steeds, wind-sped, thy roar was like a bull's.
Thou with smoke-bannered flame attackest forest trees. Let us
not in thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm.
11 Then at thy roar the very birds are terrified, when, eating-up
the grass, thy sparks fly forth abroad.
Then is it easy for thee and thy car to pass. Let us not in
thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm.
12 He hath the Power to soothe Mitra and Varuna: wonderful is
the Maruts' wrath when they descend.
Be gracious; let their hearts he turned to us again. Let us
not in thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm.
13 Thou art a God, thou art the wondrous Friend of Gods, the
Vasu of the Vasus, fair in sacrifice.
Under, thine own most wide protection may we dwell. Let us not
in thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm.
14 This is thy grace that, kindled in thine own abode, invoked
with Soma thou soundest forth most benign,
Thou givest wealth and treasure to the worshipper. Let us not
in thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm.
15 To whom thou, Lord of goodly riches, grantest freedom from
every sin with perfect wholeness,
Whom with good strength thou quikenest, with children and wealth-may
we be they, Eternal Being.
16 Such, Agni, thou who knowest all good fortune, God, lengthen
here the days of our existence.
This prayer of ours may Varuna grant, and Mitra, and Aditi and
Sindhu, Earth and Heaven.
HYMN XCV. Agni
1. To fair goals travel Two unlike in semblance:
each in succession nourishes an infant.
One bears a Godlike Babe of golden colour; bright and fair-shining,
is he with the other.
2 Tvastar's ten daughters, vigilant and youthful, produced this
Infant borne to sundry quarters.
They bear around him whose long flames are pointed, fulgent
among mankind with native splendour.
3. Three several places of his birth they honour, in mid-air,
in the heaven, and in the waters.
Governing in the cast of earthly regions, the seasons hath he
stablished in their order.
4 Who of you knows this secret One? The Infant by his own nature
hath brought forth his Mothers.
The germ of many, from the waters' bosom he goes forth, wise
and great, of Godlike nature.
5 Visible, fair, he grows in native brightness uplifted in the
lap of waving waters.
When he was born both Tvastar's worlds were frightened: they
turn to him and reverence the Lion.
6 The Two auspicious Ones, like women, tend him: like lowing
cows they seek him in their manner.
He is the Lord of Might among the mighty; him, on the right,
they balm with their oblations.
7 Like Savitar his arms with might he stretches; awful, he strives
grasping the world's two borders.
He forces out from all a brilliant vesture, yea, from his Mothers
draws he forth new raiment.
8 He makes him a most noble form of splendour, decking him in
his home with milk and waters.
The Sage adorns the depths of air with wisdom . this is the
meeting where the Gods are worshipped.
9 Wide through the firmament spreads forth triumphant the far-resplendent
strength of' thee the Mighty.
Kindled by us do thou preserve us, Agni, with all thy self-bright
undiminished succours.
10 In dry spots he makes stream, and course, and torrent, and
inundates the earth with floods that glisten.
All ancient things within his maw he gathers, and moves among
the new fresh-sprouting grasses.
11 Fed with our fuel, purifying Agni, so blaze to us auspiciously
for glory.
This prayer of ours may Varuna grant, and Mitra, and Aditi and
Sindhu, Earth and Heaven.
HYMN XCVI. Agni.
1. HE in the ancient way by strength engendered,
lo! straight hath taken to himself all wisdom.
The waters and the bowl have made him friendly. The Gods possessed
the wealth bestowing Agni.
2 At Ayu's ancient call he by his wisdom gave all this progeny
of men their being,
And, by refulgent light, heaven and the waters. The Gods possessed
the wealth. bestowing Agni.
3 Praise him, ye Aryan folk, as chief performer of sacrifice
adored and ever toiling,
Well-tended, Son of Strength, the Constant Giver. The Gods possessed
the wealth bestowing Agni.
4 That Matarisvan rich in wealth and treasure, light-winner,
finds a pathway for his offispring.
Guard of our folk, Father of earth and heaven. The Gods possessed
the wealth bestowing Agni.
5 Night and Dawn, changing each the other's colour, meeting
together suckle one same Infant:
Golden between the heaven and earth he shineth. The Gods possessed
the wealth bestowing Agni.
6 Root of wealth, gathering-place of treasures, banner of sacrifice,
who grants the suppliant's wishes:
Preserving him as their own life immortal, the Gods possessed
the wealth-bestowing Agni.
7 Now and of old the home of wealth, the mansion of what is
born and what was born aforetime,
Guard of what is and what will be hereafter,-the Gods possessed
the wealth bestowing Agni.
8 May the Wealth-Giver grant us conquering riches; may the Wealth-Giver
grant us wealth with heroes.
May the Wealth-Giver grant us food with offspring, and length
of days may the Wealth-Giver send us.
9 Fed with our fuel, purifying Agni, so blaze to us auspiciously
for glory.
This prayer of ours may Varuna grant, and Mitra, and Aditi and
Sindhu, Earth and Heaven.
HYMN XCVII. Agni.
1. CHASING with light our sin away, O Agni, shine
thou wealth on us.
May his light chase our sin away.
2 For goodly fields, for pleasant homes, for wealth we sacrifice
to thee.
May his light chase our sin away.
3 Best praiser of all these be he; foremost, our chiefs who
sacrifice.
May his light chase our sin away.
4 So that thy worshippers and we, thine, Agni, in our sons may
live.
May his light chase our sin away.
5 As ever- conquering Agni's beams of splendour go to every
side,
May his light chase our sin away.
6 To every side thy face is turned, thou art triumphant everywhere.
May his light chase our sin away.
7 O thou whose face looks every way, bear us past foes as in
a ship.
May his light chase our sin away.
8 As in a ship, convey thou us for our advantage o'er the flood.
May his light chase our sin away.
HYMN XCVIII Agni.
1. STILL in Vaisvanara's grace may we continue:
yea, he is King supreme o'er all things living.
Sprung hence to life upon this All he looketh. Vaisvanara hath
rivalry with Surya.
2 Present in heaven, in earth, all-present Agni,-all plants
that grow on ground hath he pervaded.
May Agni, may Vaisvanara with vigour, present, preserve us day
and night from foemen.
3 Be this thy truth, Vaisvanara, to us-ward: let wealth in rich
abundance gather round us.
This prayer of ours may Varuna grant, and Mitra, and Aditi and
Sindhu, Earth and Heaven.
HYMN XCIX. Agni.
1. FOR Jatavedas let us press the Soma: may he
consume the wealth of the malignant.
May Agni carry us through all our troubles, through grief as
in a boat across the river.
by Griffith 1896
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
- 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.