
The Rig Veda Book 4 - Verses 31 to 40

HYMN XXXI. Indra.
1. WITH what help will he come to us, wonderful,
ever-waxing Friend;
With what most mighty company?
2 What
genuine and most liberal draught will spirit thee with juice
to burst
Open e'en strongly-guarded wealth?
3 Do thou
who art Protector of us thy friends who praise thee
With
hundred aids approach us.
4 Like as a courser's circling
wheel, so turn thee hitherward to us,
Attracted by the hymns
of men.
5 Thou seekest as it were thine own stations with
swift descent of powers:
I share thee even with the Sun.
6 What time thy courage and his wheels together, Indra, run
their course
With thee and with the Sun alike,
7 So even,
Lord of Power and Might, the people call thee Maghavan,
Giver,
who pauses not to think.
8 And verily to him who toils and
presses Soma juice for thee
Thou quickly givest ample wealth.
9 No, not a hundred hinderers can check thy gracious bounty's
flow,
Nor thy great deeds when thou wilt act.
10 May thine
assistance keep us safe, thy hundred and thy thousand aids:
May all thy favours strengthen us.
11 Do thou elect us this
place for friendship and prosperity,
And great celestial
opulence.
12 Favour us, Indra, evermore with overflowing
store of wealth:
With all thy succours aid thou us.
13
With new protections, Indra, like an archer, open thou forus
The stables that are filled with kine.
14 Our chariot, Indra,
boldly moves endued with splendour, ne'er repulsed,
Winning
for us both kine andsteeds.
15 O Surya, make our fame to
be most excellent among the Gods,
Most lofty as the heaven
on high.
HYMN XXXII. Indra.
1. O THOU who slewest Vrtra, come, O Indra, hither
to our side,
Mighty One with thy mighty aids.
2 Swift
and impetuous art thou, wondrous amid the well-dressed folk:
Thou doest marvels for our help.
3 Even with the weak thou
smitest down him
who is stronger, with thy strength
The
mighty, with the Friends thou hast.
4 O Indra, we are close
to thee; to thee we sing aloud our songs:
Help hnd defend
us, even us.
5 As such, O Caster of the Stone, come with
thy succours wonderful,
Blameless, and irresistible.
6
May we be friends of one like thee, O Indra, with the wealth
of kine,
Comrades for lively energy.
7 For thou, O Indra,
art alone the Lord of strength that comes from kine
So grant
thou us abundant food.
8 They turn thee not another way,
when, lauded, Lover of the Song,
Thou wilt give wealth to
those who praise.
9 The Gotamas have sung their song of praise
to thee that thou mayst give,
Indra, for lively energy.
10 We will declare thy hero deeds, what Disa forts thou brakest
down,
Attacking them in rapturous joy.
11 The sages sing
those manly deeds which, Indra, Lover of the Song,
Thou wrougbtest
when the Soma flowed.
12 Indra, the Gotamas who bring thee
praises have grown strong by thee.
Give them renown with
hero sons.
13 For, Indra, verily thou art the general treasure
even of all .
Thee, therefore, do we invocate.
14 Excellent
Indra, turn to us: glad thee among us with the juice
Of Somas,
Soma-drinker thou.
15 May praise from us who think Qn thee,
O Indra, bring thee near to us.
Turn thy two Bay Steeds hitherward.
16 Eat of our sacrificial cake: rejoice thee in the songs
we sing.
Even as a lover in his bride.
17 To India for
a thousand steeds well-trained and fleet of foot we pray,
And hundred jars of Soma juice.
18 We make a hundred of thy
kine, yea, and a thousand, hasten nigh:
So let thy bounty
come to us.
19 We have obtained, a gift from thee, ten water-ewers
wrought of gold:
Thou, Vrtra-slayer, givest much.
20 A
bounteous Giver, give us much, bring much and not a trifling
gift:
Much, Indra, wilt thou fain bestow.
21 O Vrtra-slayer,
thou art famed in many a place as bountiful
Hero, thy bounty
let us share.
22 I praise thy pair of Tawny Steeds, wise
Son of him who giveth kine
Terrify not the cows with these.
23 Like two slight images of girls, unrobed, upon a new-wrought
post,
So shine the Bay Steeds in their course.
24 For
me the Bays are ready when I start, or start not, with the dawn,
Innocuous in the ways they take.
HYMN XXXIII. Rbhus.
I. I SEND my voice as herald to the Rbhus; I
crave the white cow for the overspreading.
Wind-sped, the
Skillful Ones in rapid motion have in an instant compassed round
the heaven.
2 What time the Rbus had with care and marvels
done proper service to assist their Parents,
They won the
friendship of the Gods; the Sages carried away the fruit of
their devotion.
3 May they who made their Parents, who were
lying like posts that moulder, young again for ever,-
May
Vaja, Vibhvan, Rbhu, joined with Indra , protect our sacrifice,
the Soma-lovers.
4 As for a year the Rbhus kept the Milch-cow,
throughout a year fashioned and formed her body,
And through
a year's space still sustained her brightness, through these
their labours they were made immortal.
5 Two beakers let
us make,- thus said the eldest. Lct us make three,- this was
the younger's sentence.
Four beakers let us make,- thus spoke
the youngest. Tvastar approved this rede of yours, O Rbhus.
6 The men spake truth and even so they acted: this Godlike way
of theirs the Rbhus followed.
And Tvastar, when he looked
on the four beakers resplendent as the day, was moved with envy.
7 When for twelve days the Rbhus joyed reposing as guests of
him who never may be hidden,
lley made fair fertile fields,
they brought the rivers. Plants spread o'er deserts, waters
filled the hollows.
8 May they who formed the swift car,
bearing Heroes, and the Cow omniform and all-impelling,
Even
may they form wealth for us,-the Rbhus, dexterous-handed, deft
in work and gracious.
9 So in their work the Gods had satisfaction,
pondering it with thought and mental insight.
The Gods' expert
artificer was Vaja, Indra's Rbhuksan, Varuna's was Vibhvan.
10 They whol made glad with sacrifice and praises, wrought the
two Bays, his docile Steeds, for Indra,-
Rbhus, as those
who wish a friend to prosper, bestow upon us gear and growth
of riches.
11 This day have they set gladdening drink before
you. Not without toil are Gods inclined to friendship.
Therefore
do ye who are so great, O Rbhus, vouchsafe us treasures at this
third libation.
HYMN XXXIV. Rbhus.
1. To this our sacrifice come Rbhu, Vibhvan,
Vaja, and Indra with the gift of riches,
Because this day
hath Dhisana the Goddess set drink for you: the gladdening draughts
have reached you.
2 Knowing your birth and rich in gathered
treasure, Rbhus, rejoice together with the Rtus.
The gladdening
draughts and wisdom have approached you: send ye us riches with
good store of heroes.
3 For you was made this sacrifice,
O Rbhus, which ye, like men, won for yourselves aforetime.
To you come all who find in you their pleasure: ye all were-even
the two elder-Vajas.
4 Now for the mortal worshipper, O Heroes,
for him who served you, was the gift of riches.
Drink, Vajas,
Rbhus! unto you is offered, to gladden you, the third and great
libation.
5 Come to us, Heroes, Vajas and Rbhuksans, glorified
for the sake of mighty treasure.
These draughts approach
you as the day is closing, as cows, whose calves are newly-born,
their stable.
6 Come to this sacrifice of ours, ye Children
of Strength, invoked with humble adoration.
Drink of this
meath, Wealth-givers, joined with Indra with whom ye are in
full accord, ye Princes.
7 Close knit with Varuna drink the
Soma, Indra; close-knit, ilymn-lover! with the Maruts drink
it:
Close-knit with drinkers first, who drink in season;
close-knit with heavenly Dames who give us treasures.
8 Rejoice
in full accord with the Adityas, in concord with the Parvatas,
O Rbhus;
In full accord with Savitar, Divine One; in full
accord with floods that pour forth riches.
9 Rbhus, who helped
their Parents and the Asvins, who formed the Milch-cow and the
pair of horses,
Made armour, set the heaven and earth asunder,-far-
reaching Heroes, they have made good offspring.
10 Ye who
have wealth in cattle and in booty, in heroes, in rich sustenance
and treasure,
Such, O ye Rbhus, first to drink, rejoicing,
give unto us and those who laud our present.
11 Ye were not
far: we have not left you thirsting, blameless in this our sacrifice,
O Rbhus.
Rejoice you with the Maruts and with Indra, with
the Kings, Gods! that ye may give us riches.
HYMN XXXV. Rbhus.
1. Come hither, O ye Sons of Strength, ye Rbhus;
stay not afar, ye Children of Sudhanvan.
At this libation
is your gift of treasure. Let gladdening draughts approach you
after Indra's.
2 Hither is come the Rbhus' gift of riches;
here was the drinking of the well-pressed Soma,
Since by
dexterity and skill as craftsmen ye made the single chalice
to be fourfold
3 Ye made fourfold the chalice that wag single:
ye spake these words and said, O Friend, assist us;
Then,
Vajas! gained the path of life eternal, deft-handed Rbhus, to
the Gods' assembly.
4 Out of what substance was that chalice
fashioned which ye made fourfold by your art and wisdom?
Now for the gladdening draught press out the liquor, and drink,
O Rbhus, of die meath of Soma.
5 Ye with your cunning made
your Parents youthful; the cup, for Gods to drink, ye formed
with cunning;
With cunning, Rbhus, rich in treasure, fashioned
the two swift Tawny Steeds who carry Indra.
6 Whoso pours
out for you, when days are closing, the sharp libation for your
joy, O Vajas,
For him, O mighty Rbhus, ye, rejoicing, have
fashioned wealth with plenteous store of heroes.
7 Lord of
Bay Steeds, at dawn thejuice thou drankest: thine, only thine,
is the noonday libation.
Now drink thou with the wealth-bestowing
Rbhus, whom for their skill thou madest friends, O Indra.
8 Ye, whom your artist skill hath raised to Godhead have set
you down above in heaven like falcons.
So give us riches,
Children of Sudhanvan, O Sons of Strength; ye have become immortal.
9 The third libation, that bestoweth treasure, which ye have
won by skill, ye dexterous-handed,-
This drink hath been
effused for you, O Rbhus . drink it with high delight, with
joy like Indra's.
HYMN XXXVI. Rbhus.
1. THia car that was not made for horses or for
reins, three-wheeled, worthy of lauds, rolls round the firmament.
That is the great announcement of your Deity, that, O ye Rbhus,
ye sustain the earth and heaven.
2 Ye Sapient Ones who made
the lightly-rolling car out of your mind, by thought, the car
that never errs,
You, being such, to drink of this drinkoffering,
you, O ye Vajas, and ye Rbhus, we invoke.
3 O Vajas, Rbhus,
reaching far, among the Gods this was your exaltation gloriously
declared,
In that your aged Parents, worn with length of
days, ye wrought again to youth so that they moved at will.
4 The chalice that wag single ye have made fourfold, and by
your wisdom brought the Cow forth from the hide.
So quickly,
mid the Gods, ye gained immortal life. Vajas and Rbhus, your
great work must be extolled.
5 Wealth from the Rbhus is most
glorious in renown, that which the Heroes, famed for vigour,
have produced.
In synods must be sung the car which Vibhvan
wrought: that which ye favour, Gods! is famed among mankind.
6 Strong is the steed, the man a sage in eloquence, the bowman
is a hero hard to beat in fight,
Great store of wealth and
manly power hath he obtained whom Vaja, Vibhvan, Rbhus have
looked kindly on.
7 To you hath been assigned the fairest
ornament, the hymn of praise: Vajas and Rbhus, joy therein;
For ye have lore and wisdom and poetic skill: as such, with
this our prayer we call on you to come.
8 According to the
wishes of our hearts may ye, who have full knowledge of all
the delights of men,
Fashion for us, O Rbhus, power and splendid
wealth, rich in high courage, excellent, and vital strength.
9 Bestowing on us here riches and offspring, here fashion fame
for us befitting heroes.
Vouchsafe us wealth of splendid
sort, O Rbhus, that we may make us more renowned than others.
HYMN XXXVII. Rbhus.
1. COME to our sacrifice, Vajas, Rbhuksans, Gods,
by the paths which Gods are wont to travel,
As ye, gay Gods,
accept in splendid weather the sacrifice among these folk of
Manus.
2 May these rites please you in your heart and spirit;
may the drops clothed in oil this day approach you.
May the
abundant juices bear you onward to power and strength, and,
when imbibed, delight you.
3 Your threefold going near is
God-appointed, so praise is given you, Vajas and Rbhuksans.
So, Manus-like, mid younger folk I offer, to you who are aloft
in heaven, the Soma.
4 Strong, with fair chains of gold and
jaws of iron, ye have a splendid car and well-fed horses.
Ye Sons of Strength, ye progeny of Indra, to you the best is
offered to delight you.
5 Rbhuksans! him, for handy wealth,
the mightiest comrade in the fight,
Him, Indra's equal, we
invoke, most bounteous ever, rich in steeds.
6 The mortal
man whom, Rbhus, ye and Indra favour with your help,
Must
be successful, by his thoughts, at sacrifice and with the steed.
7 O Vajas and Rbhuksans, free for us the paths to sacrifice,
Ye Princes, lauded, that we may press forward to each point
of heaven.
8 O Vajas and Rbhuksans, ye Nasatyas, Indra, bless
this wealth,
And, before other men's, the steed, that ample
riches may be won.
HYMN XXXVIII. Dadhikris.
1. FROM you two came the gifts in days aforetime
which Trasadasyu granted to the Purus.
Ye gave the winner
of our fields and plough-lands, and the strong smiter who subdued
the Dasytis.
2 And ye gave mighty Dadhikras, the giver of
many gifts, who visiteth all people,
Impetuous hawk, swift
and of varied colour, like a brave King whom each true man must
honour.
3 Whom, as 'twere down a precipice, swift rushing,
each Puru praises and his heart rejoices,-
Springing forth
like a hero fain for battle, whirling the car and flying like
the tempest.
4 Who gaineth precious booty in the combats
and moveth, winning spoil, among the cattle;
Shown in bright
colour, looking on the assemblies, beyond the churl, to worship
of the living.
5 Loudly the folk cry after him in battles,
as 'twere a thief who steals away a garment;
Speeding to
glory, or a herd of cattle, even as a hungry falcon swooping
downward.
6 And, fain to come forth first amid these armies,
this way and that with rows of cars he rushes,
Gay like a
bridesman, making him a garland, tossing the dust, champing
the rein that holds him.
7 And that strong Steed, victorious
and faithful, obedient with his body in the combat,
Speeding
straight on amid the swiftly ressing, casts o'er his brows the
dust he tosses upward.
8 And at his thunder, like the roar
of heaven, those who attack tremble and are affrighted;
For
when he fights against embattled thousands, dread is he in his
striving; none may stay him.
9 The people praise the overpowering
swiftness of this fleet Steed who giveth men abundance.
Of
him they say when drawing back from battle. Dadhikras hath sped
forward with his thousands.
10 Dadhikras hath o'erspread
the Fivefold People with vigour, as the Sun lightens the waters.
May the strong Steed who winneth bundreds, thousands, requite
with sweetness these my words and praises.
HYMN XXXIX Dadhikras.
1. Now give we praise to Dadhikras the rapid,
and mention in our laud the Earth and Heaven.
May the Dawns
flushing move me to exertion, and bear me safely over every
trouble.
2 I praise the mighty Steed who fills my spirit,
the Stallion Dadhikravan rich in bounties,
Whom, swift of
foot aind shining bright as Agni, ye, Varuna and Mitra, gave
to Purus.
3 Him who hath honoured, when the flame is kindled
at break of dawn, the Courser Dadhikrivan,
Him, of one mind
with Varuna and Mitra may Aditi make free from all transgression.
4 When we remember mighty Dadhikravan our food and strength,
then the blest name of Maruts,
Varuna, Mitra, we invoke for
welfare, and Agni, and the thunder-wielding Indra.
5 Both
sides invoke him as they call on Indra when they stir forth
and turn to sacrificing.
To us have Varuna and Mitra granted
the Courser Dadhikris, a guide for mortals.
6 So have I glorified
with praise strong Dadhikravan, conquering Steed.
Sweet may
he make our mouths; may he prolong the days we have to live.
HYMN XL. Dadhikravan.
1. LET us recite the praise of Dadhikravan: may
all the Mornings move me to exertion;
Praise of the Lord
of Waters, Dawn, and Agni, Brhaspati Son of Angiras, and Surya.
2 Brave, seeking war and booty, dwelling with the good and with
the swift, may he hasten the food of Dawn.
May he the true,
the fleet, the lover of the course, the bird-like Dadhikravan,
bring food, strength, and light.
3 His pinion, rapid runner,
fans him m his way, as of a bird that hastens onward to its
aim,
And, as it were a falcon's gliding through the air,
strikes Dadhikravan's side as he speeds on with might.
4
Bound by the neck and by the flanks and by the mouth, the vigorous
Courser lends new swiftness to his speed.
Drawing himself
together, as his strength allows, Dadhikras springs along the
windings of the paths.
5 The Hamsa homed in light, the Vasu
in mid-air, the priest beside the altar, in the house the guest,
Dweller in noblest place, mid men, in truth, in sky, born of
flood, kine, truth, mountain, he is holy Law.
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.