
The Rig Veda Book 4 - Verses 51 to 58

HYMN LI. Dawn.
1. FORTH from the darkness in the region eastward
this most abundant splendid light hatb mounted.
Now verily
the far-refulgent Mornings, Daughters of Heaven, bring welfare
to the people.
2 The richly-coloured Dawns have mounted eastward,
like pillars planted at our sacrifices,
And, flushing far,
splendid and purifying, unbarred the portals of the fold of
darkness.
3 Dispelling gloom this day the wealthy Mornings
urge liberal givers to present their treasures.
In the unlightened
depth of darkness round them let niggard traffickers sleep unawakened.
4 O Goddesses, is this your car, I ask you, ancient this day,
or is it new, ye Mornings,
Wherewith, rich Dawns, ye seek
with wealth Navagva, Dasagva Angira, the seven-toned singer?
5 With horses harnessed by eternal Order, Goddesses, swiftly
round the worlds ye travel,
Arousing from their rest, O Dawns,
the sleeping, and all that lives, man, bird, and beast, to motion.
6 Which among these is eldest, and where is she through whom
they fixed the Rbhus' regulations?
What time the splendid
Dawns go forth for splendour, they are not known aparto alike,
unwasting.
7 Blest were these Dawns of old, shining with
succour, true with the truth that springs from holy Order;
With whom the toiling worshipper, by praises, hymning and lauding,
soon attained to riches.
8 Hither from eastward all at once
they travel, from one place spreading in the selfsame manner.
Awaking, from the seat of holy Order the Godlike Dawns come
nigh like troops of cattle.
9 Thus they go forth with undiminished
colours, these Mornings similar, in self-same fashion,
Concealing
the gigantic might of darkness with radiant bodies bright and
pure and shining.
10 O Goddesses, O Heaven's refulgent Daughters,
bestow upon us wealth with store of children.
As from our
pleasant place of rest ye rouse us may we be masters of heroic
vigour.
11 Well-skilled in lore of sacrifice, ye Daughters
of Heaven, refulgent Dawns, I thus address you.
May we be
glorious among the people. May Heaven vouchsafe us this, and
Earth the Goddess,
HYMN LIL Dawm.
1. THIS Lady, giver of delight, after her Sister
shining forth, Daughter of Heaven, hath shown herself.-
2
Unfailing, Mother of the Kine, in colour like a bright red mare,
The Dawn became the Asvins' Friend.
3 Yea, and thou art the
Asvins' Friend, the Mother of the Kine art thou:
O Dawn thou
rulest over wealth.
4 Thinking of thee, O joyous One, as
her who driveth hate away,
We woke to meet thee with our
lauds.
5 Our eyes behold thy blessed rays like troops of
cattle loosed to feed.
Dawn hath filled full the wide expanse.
6 When thou hast filled it, Fulgent One! thou layest bare the
gloom with light.
After thy nature aid us, Dawn.
7 Thou
overspreadest heaven with rays, the dear wide region of mid-air.
With thy bright shining lustre, Dawn.
HYMN LIII. Savitar.
1. OF Savitar the God, the sapient Asura, we
crave this great gift which is worthy of our choice,
Wherewith
he freely grants his worshiper defence. This with his rays the
Great God hath vouchsafed to us.
2 Sustainer of the heaven,
Lord of the whole world's life, the Sage, he putteth on his
golden-coloured mail.
Clear-sighted, spreading far, filling
the spacious realm, Savitar hath brought forth bliss that deserveth
laud.
3 He hath filled full the regions of the heaven and
earth: the God for his own strengthening waketh up the hymn.
Savitar hath stretched out his arms to cherish life, producing
with his rays and lulling all that moves.
4 Lighting all
living creatures, neer to be deceived, Savitar, God, protects
each holy ordinance.
He hath stretched out his arms to all
the folk of earth, and, with his laws observed, rules his own
mighty course.
5 Savitar thrice surrounding with his mightiness
mid-air, three regions, and the triple sphere of light,
Sets
the three heavens in motion and the threefold earth, and willingly
protects us with his triple law.
6 Most gracious God, who
brings to life and lulls to rest, he who controls the world,
what moves not and what moves,
May he vouchsafe us shelter,
-Savitar the God,- for tranquil life, with triple bar against
distress.
7 With the year's seasons hath Savitar, God, come
nigh: may he prosper our home, give food and noble sons.
May he invigorate us through the days and nights, and may he
send us opulence with progeny.
HYMN LIV. Savitar.
1. Now must we praise and honour Savitar the
God: at this time of the day the men must call to him,
Him
who distributes wealth to Manu's progeny, that he may grant
us here riches most excellent.
2 For thou at first producest
for the holy Gods the noblest of all portions, immor-tality:
Thereafter as a gift to men, O Savitar, thou openest existence,
life succeeding life.
3 If we, men as we are, have sinned
against the Gods through want of thought, in weakness, or through
insolence,
Absolve us from the guilt and make us free from
sin, O Savitar, alike among both Gods and men.
4 None may
impede that power of Savitar the God whereby he will maintain
the universal world.
What the fair-fingered God brings forth
on earth's expanse or in the heightof heaven, that work of his
stands sure.
5 To lofty hills thou sendest those whom Indra
leads, and givest fixed abodes with houses unto these.
However
they may fly and draw themselves apart, still, Savitar, they
stand obeying thy behest.
6 May the libations poured to thee
thrice daily, day after day, O Savitar, bring us blessing.
May Indra, Heaven, Earth, Sindhu with the Waters, Aditi with
Adityas, give us shelter.
HYMN LV. Visvedevas.
1. WHO of you, Vasus, saveth? who protecteth?
O Heaven and Earth and Aditi, preserve us,
Varuna., Mitra,
from the stronger mortal. Gods, which of you at sacrifice giveth
comfort?
2 They who with laud extol the ancient statutes,
when they shine forth infallible dividers,
Have ordered as
perpetual Ordainers, and beamed as holy-thoughted WonderWorkers.
3 The Housewife Goddess, Aditi, and Sindhu, the Goddess Svasti
I implore for friendship:
And may the unobstructed Night
and Morning both, day and night, provide for our protection.
4 Aryaman, Varuna have disclosed the pathway, Agni as Lord of
Strength the road to welfare.
Lauded in manly mode may Indra-Visnu
grant us their powerful defence and shelter.
5 I have besought
the favourof the Maruts, of Parvata, of Bhaga God who rescues.
From trouble caused by man the Lord preserve us; from woe sent
by his friend let Mitra save us.
6 Agree, through these our
watery oblations, Goddesses, Heaven and Earth, with Ahibudhnya.
As if to win the sea, the Gharma-heaters have opened, as they
come anear, the rivers.
7 May Goddess Aditi with Gods defend
us, save us the saviour God with care unceasing.
We dare
not stint the sacred food of Mitra and Varuna upon the back
of Agni.
8 Agni is Sovran Lord of wealth, Agni of great prosperity:
May he bestow these gifts on us.
9 Hither to us, rich pleasant
Dawn, bring many things to be desired,
Thou who hast ample
store of wealth.
10 So then may Bhaga, Savitar, Varuna, Mitra,
Aryaman, Indra, with bounty come to us.
HYMN LVI. Heaven and Earth.
1. MAY mighty Heaven and Earth, most meet for
honour, be present here with light and gleaming splendours;
When, fixing them apart, vast, most extensive, the Steer roars
loudly in far-reaching courses.
2 The Goddesses with Gods,
holy with holy, the Two stand pouring out their rain, exhaustless:
Faithful and guileless, having Gods for children, leaders of
sacrifice with shining splendours.
3 Sure in the worlds he
was a skilful Craftsman, he who produced these Twain the Earth
and Heaven.
Wise, with his power he brought both realms,
together spacious and deep, wellfashioned, unsupported.
4
O Heaven and Earth, with one accord promoting, with high protection
as of Queens, our welfare,
Far-reaching, universal, holy,
guard us. May we, car-borne, through song be victors ever.
5 To both of you, O Heaven and Earth, we bring our lofty song
of praise,
Pure Ones! to glorify you both.
6 Ye sanctify
each other's form, by your own proper might ye rule,
And
from of old observe the Law.
7 Furthering and fulfilling,
ye, O Mighty, perfect Mitra's Law.
Ye sit around our sacrifice.
HYMN LVII. Ksetrapati, Etc.
1. WE through the Master of the Field, even as
through a friend, obtain
What nourisheth our kine and steeds.
In such may he be good to us.
2 As the cow yieldeth milk,
pour for us freely, Lord of the Field, the wave that beareth
sweetness,
Distilling meath, well-purified like butter, and
let the. Lords of holy Law be gracious.
3 Sweet be the plants
for us. the heavens, the waters, and full of sweets for us be
air's mid-region.
May the Field's Lord for us be full of
sweetness, and may we follow after him uninjured.
4 Happily
work our steers and men, may the plough furrow happily.
Happily
be the traces bound; happily may he ply the goad.
5 Suna
and Sira, welcome ye this laud, and with the milk which ye have
made in heaven
Bedew ye both this earth of ours.
6 Auspicious
Sita, come thou near: we venerate and worship thee
That thou
mayst bless and prosper us and bring us fruits abundantly.
7 May Indra press the furrow down, may Pusan guide its course
aright.
May she, as rich in milk, be drained for us through
each succeeding year.
8 Happily let the shares turn up the
ploughland, happily go the ploughers with the oxen.
With
meath and milk Parjanya make us happy. Grant us prosperity,
Suna and Sira.
HYMN LVIII. Ghrta.
1. FORTH from the ocean sprang the wave of sweetness:
together with the stalk it turned to Amrta,
That which is
holy oil's mysterious title: but the Gods' tongue is truly Amrta's
centre.
2 Let us declare aloud the name of Ghrta, and at
this sacrifice hold it up with homage.
So let the Brahman
hear the praise we utter. This hath the four-horned Buffalo
emitted.
3 Four are his horns, three are the feet that bear
him; his heads are two, his hands are seven in number.
Bound
with a triple bond the Steer roars loudly: the mighty God hath
entered in to mortals.
4 That oil in triple shape the Gods
discovered laid down within the Cow, concealed by Panis.
Indra produced one shape, Surya another: by their own power
they formed the third from Vena.
5 From inmost reservoir
in countless channels flow down these rivers which the foe beholds
not.
I look upon the streams of oil descending, and lo! the
Golden Reed is there among them.
6 Like rivers our libations
flow together, cleansing themselves in inmost heart and spirit.
The streams of holy oil pour swiftly downward like the wild
beasts that fly before the bowman.
7 As rushing down the
rapids of a river, flow swifter than the wind the vigorous currents,
The streams of oil in swelling fluctuation like a red courser
bursting through the fences.
8.Like women at a gathering
fair to look on and gently smiling, they incline to Agni.
The streams of holy oil attain the fuel, and Jatavedas joyfully
receives them.
9 As maidens dock themselves with gay adornment
to join the bridal feast, I now behold them.
Where Soma flows
and sacrifice is ready, thither the streams of holy oil are
running.
10 Send to our eulogy a herd of cattle bestow upon
us excellent possessions.
Bear to the Gods the sacrifice
we offer the streams of oil flow pure and full of sweetness.
11 The universe depends upon thy power and might within the
sea, within the heart, within all life.
May we attain that
sweetly-flavoured wave of thine, brought, at its gathering,
o'er the surfaceof the floods.
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.