
The Rig Veda Book 3 - Verses 21 to 30

HYMN XXI. Agni.
1. SET this our sacrifice among the Immortals:
be pleased with these our presents, Jatavedas.
O Priest, O Agni, sit thee down before us, and first enjoy the
drops of oil and fatness.
2 For thee, O Purifier, flow the drops of fatness rich in oil.
After thy wont vouchsafe to us the choicest boon that Gods may
feast.
3 Agni, Most Excellent! for thee the Sage are drops that drip
with oil.
Thou art enkindled as the best of Seers. Help thou the sacrifice.
4 To thee, O Agni, mighty and resistless, to thee stream forth
the drops of oil and fatness.
With great light art thou come, O praised by poets! Accept our
offering, O thou Sage.
5 Fatness exceeding rich, extracted from the midst,-this as
our gift we offer thee.
Excellent God, the drops run down upon thy skin. Deal them to
each among the Gods.
HYMN XXII. Agni.
1 THIS is that Agni whence the longing Indra
took the pressed Soma deep within his body.
Winner of spoils in thousands, like a courser, with praise art
thou exalted, Jatavedas.
2 That light of thine in heaven and earth, O Agni, in plants,
O Holy One, and in the waters,
Wherewith thou hast spread wide the air's mid-region-bright
is that splendour, wavy, man-beholding.
3 O Agni, to the sea of heaven thou goest: thou hast called
hither Gods beheld in spirit.
The waters, too, come hither, those up yonder in the Sun's realm
of light, and those beneath it.
4 Let fires that dwell in mist, combined with those that have
their home in floods,
Guileless accept our sacrifice, great viands free from all disease.
5 Agni, as holy food to thine invoker give wealth in cattle,
lasting, rich in marvels.
To us be born a son and spreading offspring. Agni, be this thy
gracious will to us-ward.
HYMN XXIII. Agni.
1. RUBBED into life, well stablished in the dwelling,
Leader of sacrifice, the Sage, the youthful,
Here in the wasting fuel Jatavedas, eternal, hath assumed immortal
being.
2 Both Bharatas, Devasravas, Devavata, have strongly rubbed
to life effectual Agni.
O Agni, look thou forth with ample riches: be, every day, bearer
of food to feed us.
3 Him nobly born of old the fingers ten produced, him whom his
Mothers counted dear.
Praise Devavata's Agni, thou Devasravas, him who shall be the
people's Lord.
4 He set thee in the earth's most lovely station, in Ila's place,
in days of fair bright weather.
On man, on Apaya, Agni! on the rivers Drsadvati, Sarasvati,
shine richly.
5 Agni, as holy food to thine invoker give wealth in cattle,
lasting, rich in marvels.
To us be born a son and spreading offspring Agni, be this thy
gracious will to us-ward
HYMN XXIV. Agni.
1. Agni, subdue opposing bands, and drive our
enemies away.
Invincible, slay godless foes: give splendour to the worshipper.
2 Lit with libation, Agni, thou, deathless, who callest Gods
to feast,
Accept our sacrifice with joy.
3 With splendour, Agni, Son of Strength, thou who art worshipped,
wakeful One.
Seat thee on this my sacred grass.
4 With all thy fires, with all the Gods, Agni, exalt the songs
we sing.
And living men in holy rites.
5 Grant, Agni, to the worshipper wealth rich in heroes, plenteous
store,
Make thou us rich with many sons.
HYMN XXV. Agni.
1. THOU art the sapient Son of Dyaus, O Agni,
yes and the Child of Earth, who knowest all things.
Bring the Gods specially, thou Sage, for worship.
2. Agni the wise bestows the might of heroes grants strengthening
food, preparing it for nectar.
Thou who art rich in food bring the Gods hither.
3 Agni, infallible, lights Earth and Heaven, immortal Goddesses
gracious to all men,-
Lord through his strength, splendid through adorations.
4 Come to the sacrifice, Agni and Indra come to the offerer's
house who hath the Soma.
Come, friendly-minded, Gods, to drink the Soma.
5 In the floods' home art thou enkindled, Agni, O Jatavedas,
Son of Strength, eternal,
Exalting with thine help the gatheringplaces.
HYMN XXVI. Agni.
1. REVERING in our heart Agni Vaisvanara, the
finder of the light, whose promises are true,
The liberal, gladsome, car-borne God we Kusikas invoke him with
oblation, seeking wealth with songs.
2 That Agni, bright, Vaisvanara, we invoke for help, and Matarisvan
worthy of the song of praise;
Brhaspati for man's observance of the Gods, the Singer prompt
to hear, the swiftly-moving guest.
3 Age after age Vaisvanara, neighing like a horse, is kindled
with the women by the Kusikas.
May Agni, he who wakes among Immortal Gods, grant us heroic
strength and wealth in noble steeds.
4 Let them go forth, the strong, as flames of fire with might.
Gathered for victory they have yoked their spotted deer.
Pourers of floods, the Maruts, Masters of all wealth, they who
can ne'er be conquered, make the mountains shake.
5 The Maruts, Friends of men, are glorious as the fire: their
mighty and resplendent succour we implore.
Those storming Sons of Rudra clothed in robes of rain, boon-givers
of good gifts, roar as the lions roar.
6 We, band on band and troop following troop, entreat with fair
lauds Agni's splendour and the Maruts' might,
With spotted deer for steeds, with wealth that never fails,
they, wise Ones, come to sacrifice at our gatherings.
7 Agni am I who know, by birth, all creatures. Mine eye is butter,
in my mouth is nectar.
I am light threefold, measurer of the region exhaustless heat
am I, named burnt-oblation.
8 Bearing in mind a thought with light accordant, he purified
the Sun with three refinings;
By his own nature gained the highest treasure, and looked abroad
over the earth and heaven.
9 The Spring that fails not with a hundred streamlets, Father
inspired of' prayers that men should utter,
The Sparkler, joyous in his Parents' bosorn, -him, the Truth-speaker,
sate ye, Earth and Heaven.
HYMN XXVII. Agni.
1. IN ladle dropping oil your food goes in oblation
up to heaven,
Goes to the Gods in search of bliss.
2 Agni I laud, the Sage inspired, crowner of sacrifice through
song,
Who listens and gives bounteous gifts.
3 O Agni, if we might obtain control of thee the potent God,
Then should we overcome our foes.
4 Kindled at sacrifices he is Agni, hallower, meet for praise,
With flame for hair: to him we seek.
5 Immortal Agni, shining far, enrobed with oil, well worshipped,
bears
The gifts of sacrifice away.
6 The priests with ladles lifted up, worshipping here with holy
thought,
Have brought this Agni for our aid.
7 Immortal, Sacrificer, God, with wondrous power he leads the
way,
Urging the great assembly on.
8 Strong, he is set on deeds ofstrength. In sacrifices led in
front,
As Singer he completes the rite.
9 Excellent, he was made by thought. The Germ of beings have
I gained,
Yea, and die Sire of active strength.
10 Thee have I stablished, Excellent, O strengthened by the
sage's prayer,
Thee, Agni, longing, nobly bright.
11 Agni, the swift and active One, singers, at time of sacrifice,
Eagerly kindle with their food.
12 Agni the Son of Strength who shines up to the heaven in solemn
rites,
The wise of heart, I glorify.
13 Meet to be lauded and adored, showing in beauty through the
dark,
Agni, the Strong, is kindled well.
14 Agni is kindled as a bull, like a horsebearer of the Gods:
Men with oblations worship him.
15 Thee will we kindle as a bull, we who are Bulls ourselves,
O Bull.
Thee, Agni, shining mightily.
HYMN XXVIII. Agni.
1. Agni who knowest all, accept our offering
and the cake of meal,
At dawn's libation, rich in prayer!
2 Agni, the sacrificial cake hath been prepared and dressed
for thee:
Accept it, O Most Youthful God.
3 Agni, enjoy the cake of meal and our oblation three days old:
Thou, Son of Strength, art stablished at our sacrifice.
4 Here at the midday sacrifice enjoy thou the sacrificial cake,
wise, Jatavedas!
Agni, the sages in assemblies never minish the portion due to
thee the Mighty.
5 O Agni, at the third libation takewith joy the offered cake
of sacrifice, thou, Son of Strength.
Through skill in song bear to the Gods our sacrifice, watchful
and fraught with riches, to Immortal God.
6 O waxing Agni, knower, thou, of all, accept our gifts, the
cake,
And that prepared ere yesterday.
HYMN XXIX. Agni.
1. HERE is the gear for friction, here tinder
made ready for the spark.
Bring thou the Matron: we will rub Agni in ancient fashion forth.
2 1n the two fire-sticks Jatavedas lieth, even as the well-set
germ in pregnant women,
Agni who day by day must be exalted by men who watch and worship
with oblations.
3 Lay this with care on that which lies extended: straight hath
she borne the Steerwhen made prolific.
With his red pillar-radiant is his splendour -in our skilled
task is born the Son of Ila.
4 In Ila's place we set thee down, upon the central point of
earth,
That, Agni Jatavedas, thou mayst bear our offerings to the Gods.
5 Rub into life, ye men, the Sage, the guileless, Immortal,
very wise and fair to look on.
O men, bring forth the most propitious Agni, first ensign of
the sacrifice to eastward.
6 When with their arms they rub him straight he shineth forth
like a strong courser, red in colour, in the wood.
Bright, checkless, as it were upon the Atvins' path, lie passeth
by the stones and burneth up the grass.
7 Agni shines forth when born, observant, mighty, the bountiful,
the Singar praised by sages;
Whom, as adorable and knowing all things, Gods set at solemn
rites as offeringbearer.
8 Set thee, O Priest, in, thine own place, observant: lay down
the sacrifice in the home of worship.
Thou, dear to Gods, shalt serve them with oblation: Agni, give
long life to the sacrificer.
9 Raise ye a mighty smoke, my fellow-workers! Ye shall attain
to wealth without obstruction.
This Agni is the battle-winning Hero by whom the Gods have overcome
the Dasyus.
10 This is thine ordered place of birth whence sprung to life
thou shonest forth.
Knowing this, Agni, sit thee down, and prosper thou the songs
we sing.
11 As Germ Celestial he is called Tanunapat, and Narasamsa born
diffused in varied shape.
Formed in his Mother he is Matarisvan; he hath, in his course,
become the rapid flight of wind.
12 With strong attrition rubbed to life, laid down with careful
hand, a Sage,
Agni, make sacrifices good, and for the pious bring the Gods.
13 Mortals have brought to life the God Immortal, the Conqueror
with mighty jaws, unfailing.
The sisters ten, unwedded and united, together grasp the Babe,
the new-born Infant.
14 Served by the seven priests, he shone forth from ancient
time, when in his Mother's bosom, in her lap, he glowed.
Giving delight each day he closeth not his eye, since from the
Asura's body hewas brought to life.
15 Even as the Maruts, onslaughts who attack the foe, those
born the first of all knew the full power of prayer.
The Kusikas have made the glorious hymn ascend, and, each one
singly in his home, have kindled fire.
16 As we, O Priest observant, have elected thee this day, what
time the solemn sacrifice began,
So surely hast thou worshipped, surely hast thou toiled: come
thou unto the Soma, wise and knowing all.
HYMN XXX. Indra.
1. THE friends who offer Soma long to find thee:
they pour forth Soma and present their viands.
They bear unmoved the cursing of the people, for all our wisdom
comes from thee, O Indra.
2 Not far for thee are mid-air's loftiest regions: start hither,
Lord of Bays, with thy Bay Horses.
Made for the Firm and Strong are these libations. The pressing-stones
are set and fire is kindled.
3 Fair cheeks hath Indra, Maghavan, the Victor, Lord of a great
host, Stormer, strong in action.
What once thou didst in might when mortals vexed thee,-where
now, O Bull, are those thy hero exploits?
4 For, overthrowing what hath ne'er been shaken, thou goest
forth alone destroying Vrtras.
For him who followeth thy Law the mountains and heaven and earth
stand as if firmly stablished.
5 Yea, Much-invoked! in safety through thy glories alone thou
speakest truth as Vrtra's slayer.
E'en these two boundless worlds to thee, O Indra, what time
thou graspest them, are but a handful.
6 Forthwith thy Bay steeds down the steep, O Indra, forth, crushing
foemen, go thy bolt of thunder!
Slay those who meet thee, those who flee, who follow: make all
thy promise true; be all completed.
7 The man to whom thou givest as Provider enjoys domestic plenty
undivided.
Blest, Indra, is thy favour dropping fatness: thy worship, Much-invoked!
brings gifts in thousands.
8 Thou, Indra, Much-invoked! didst crush to pieces Kunaru handless
fiend who dwelt with Danu.
Thou with might, Indra, smotest dead the scorner, the footless
Vrtra as he waxed in vigour.
9 Thou hast established in her seat, O Indra, the level earth,
vast, vigorous, unbounded.
The Bull hath propped the heaven and air's mid-region. By thee
sent onward let the floods flow hither.
10 He who withheld the kine, in silence I yielded in fear before
thy blow, O Indra.
He made paths easy to drive forth the cattle. Loud-breathing
praises helped the Much-invoked One.
11 Indra alone filled full the earth and heaven, the Pair who
meet together, rich in treasures.
Yea, bring thou near us from the air's mid-region strength,
on thy car, and wholesome food, O Hero.
12 Surya transgresses not the ordered limits set daily by the
Lord of Tawny Coursers.
When to the goal he comes, his journey ended, his Steeds he
looses: this is Indra's doing.
13 Men gladly in the course of night would look on the broad
bright front of the refulgent Morning;
And all acknowledge, when she comes in glory, the manifold and
goodly works of Indra.
14 A mighty splendour rests upon her bosom: bearing ripe milk
the Cow, unripe, advances.
All sweetness is collected in the Heifer, sweetness which Indra
made for our enjoyment.
15 Barring the way they come. Be firm, O Indra; aid friends
to sacrifice and him who singeth.
These must be slain by thee, malignant mortals, armed with ill
arts, our quiverbearing foemen.
16 A cry is beard from enemies most near us: against them send
thy fiercest-flaming weapon.
Rend them from under, crush them and subdue them. Slay, Maghavan,
and make the fiends our booty.
17 Root up the race of Raksasas, O Indra rend it in front and
crush it in the middle.
How long hast thou bebaved as one who wavers? Cast thy hot dart
at him who hates devotion:
18 When borne by strong Steeds for our weal, O Leader, thou
seatest thee at many noble viands.
May we be winners of abundant riches. May Indra be our wealth
with store of children.
19 Bestow on us resplendent wealth. O Indra let us enjoy thine
overflow of bounty.
Wide as a sea our longing hath expanded, fulfil it, O thou Treasure-Lord
of treasures.
20 With kine and horses satisfy this longing with very splendid
bounty skill extend it.
Seeking the light, with hymns to thee, O Indra, Kusikas have
brought their gift, the singers.
21 Lord of the kine, burst the kine's stable open: cows shall
be ours, and strength that wins the booty.
Hero, whose might is true, thy home is heaven: to us, O Maghavan,
grant gifts of cattle.
22 Call we on Maghavan, auspicious Indra, best Hero in this
fight where spoil is gathered,
The Strong who listens, who gives aid in battles, who slays
the Vrtras, wins and gathers riches.
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.