
The Rig Veda Book 5 - Verses 41 to 50

HYMN XLI. Visvedevas
1. WHO, Mitra-Varuna, is your pious servant to give you gifts
from earth or mighty heaven?
Preserve us in the seat of holy
Order, and give the offerer power that winneth cattle.
2
May Mitra, Varuna, Aryaman, and Ayu, Indra Rbhuksan, and the
Maruts, love us,
And they who of one mind with bounteous
Rudra accept the hymn and laud with adorations.
3 You will
I call to feed the car-horse, Asvins, with the wind's flight
swiftest of those who travel:
Or also to the Asura of heaven,
Worshipful, bring a hymn as 'twere libation.
4 The heavenly
Victor, he whose priest is Kanva, Trta with Dyaus accordant,
Vata, Agni,
All-feeding Pusan, Bhaga sought the oblation,
as they whose steeds are fleetest seek the contest.
5 Bring ye your riches forward borne on horses: let thought
be framed for help and gain of treasure.
Blest he the priest
of Ausija through courses, the courses which are yours the fleet,
O Maruts.
6 Bring hither him who yokes the car, your Vayu,
who praises with his songs, the God and Singer;
And, praying
and devout, noble and prudent, may the Gods' Spouses in their
thoughts retain us.
7 I speed to you with powers that should
be honoured, with songs distinguishing Heaven's mighty Daughters,
Morning and Night, the Two, as 'twere all-knowing: these bring
the sacrifice unto the mortal.
8 You I extol, the nourishers
of heroes bringing you gifts, Vastospati and Tvastar-
Rich
Dhisana accords through our obeisance - andTrees and Plants,
for the swift gain of riches.
9 Ours be the Parvatas, even
they, for offspring, free-moving, who are Heroes like the Vasus.
May holy Aptya, Friend of man, exalted, strengthen our word
for ever and be near us.
10 Trta praised him, germ of the
earthly hero, with pure songs him the Offspring of the Waters.
Agn; with might neighs loudly like a charger: he of the flaming
hair destroys the forests.
11 How shall we speak to the great
might of Rudra? How speak to Bhaga who takes thought for riches?
May Plants, the Waters, and the Sky preserve us, and Woods and
Mountains with their trees for tresses.
12 May the swift
Wanderer, Lord of refreshments listen to our songs, who speeds
throuih cloudy heaven:
And may the Waters, bright like castles,
hear us, as they flow onward from the cloven mountain.
13 We know your ways, ye Mighty Ones receiving choice meed,
ye Wonderful, we will proclaim it.
Even strong birds descend
not to the mortal who strives to reach them with swift blow
and weapons.
14 Celestial and terrestrial generations, and
Waters will I summon to the feasting.
May days with bright
dawns cause my songs to prosper, and may the conquered streams
increase their waters.
15 Duly to each one hath my laud been
offered. Strong be Varutri with her powers to succour.
May
the great Mother Rasa here befriend us, straight-handed, with
the princes, striving forward.
16 How may we serve the Liberal
Ones with worship, the Maruts swift of course in invocation,
the Maruts far-renowned in invocation?
Let not the Dragon
of the Deep annoy us, and gladly may he welcome our addresses.
17 Thus thinking, O ye Gods, the mortal wins you to give him
increase of his herds of cattle: the mortal wins him, O ye Gods,
your favour.
Here he wins wholesome food to feed this body:
as for mine old age, Nirrti consume it
18 O Gods, may we
obtain from you this favour, strengthening food through the
Cow's praise, ye Vasus.
May she who gives good gifts, the
gracious Goddes. s, come speeding nigh to us for our well-being.
19 May Ila, Mother of the herds of cattle, and Urvasi with all
the streams accept us;
May Urvasi in lofty heaven accepting,
as she partakes the oblation of the living,
20 Visit us while
she shares Urjavya's food.
HYMN XLII. Visvedevas.
1. Now may our sweetest song with deep devotion reach Varuna,
Mitra, Aditi, and Bhaga.
May the Five Priests' Lord, dwelling
in oblations, bliss-giving Asura, hear, whose paths are open.
2 May Aditi welcome, even as a mother her dear heart-gladdening
son, my song that lauds her.
The prayer they love, bliss-giving,
God-appointed, I offer unto Varuna and Mitra.
3 In spirit
him, the Sagest of the Sages; with sacrificial oil and meath
bedew him
So then let him, God Savitar, provide us excellent,
ready, and resplendent treasures.
4 With willing mind, Indra,
vouchsafe us cattle, prosperity, Lord of Bays! and pious patrons;
And, with the sacred prayer by Gods appointed, give us the holy
Deities' lovingkindness.
5 God Bhaga, Savitar who deals forth
riches, Indra, and they who conquer Vrtra's treasures,
And
Vaja and Rbhuksan and Purandhi, the Mighty and Immortal Ones,
protect us!
6 Let us declare his deeds, the undecaying unrivalled
Victor whom the Maruts follow.
None of old times, O Maghavan,
nor later, none of these days hath reached thy hero prowess.
7 Praise him the Chief who gives the boon of riches, Brhaspati
distributor of treasures,
Who, blessing most the man who
sings and praises, comes with abundant wealth to his invoker.
8 Tended, Brhaspati, with thy protections, the princes are unharmed
and girt by heroes.
Wealth that brings bliss is found among the givers of horses
and of cattle and of raiment.
9 Make their wealth flee who,
through our hymns enjoying their riches, yield us not an ample
guerdon.
Far from the sun keep those who hate devotion, the
godless, prospering in their vocation.
10 With wheelless
chariots drive down him, O Maruts, who at the feasts of Gods
regards the demons.
May he, though bathed in sweat, form
empty wishes, who blames his sacred rite who toils to serve
you.
11 Praise him whose bow is strong and sure his arrow,
him who is Lord of every balm that bealeth.
Worship thou
Rudra for his great good favour: adore the Asura, God, with
salutations.
12 May the House-friends, the cunning-handed
Artists, may the Steer's Wives, the streams carved out by Vibhvan,
And may the fair Ones honour and befriend us, Sarasvati, Brhaddiva,
and Raka.
13 My newest song, thought that now springs within
me, I offer to the Great, the Sure Protector,
Who made for
us this All, in fond love laying each varied form within his
Daughter's bosom.
14 Now, even now, may thy fair praise,
O Singer, attain Idaspati who roars and thunders,
Who, rich
in clouds and waters with his lightning speeds forth bedewing
both the earth and heaven.
15 May this my laud attain the
troop of Maruts, those who are youths in act, the Sons of Rudra.
The wish calls me to riches and well-being: praise the unwearied
Ones whose steeds are dappled.
16 May this my laud reach
earth and air's mid-region, and forest trees and plants to win
me riches.
May every Deity be swift to listen, and Mother
Earth with no ill thought regard me.
17 Gods, may we dwell
in free untroubled bliss.
18 May we obtain the Asvins' newest
favour, and gain their health-bestowing happy guidance.
Bring
riches hither unto us, and heroes, and all felicity and joy,
Immortals!
HYMN XLIII. Visvedevas.
1. MAY the Milch-cows who hasten to their object come harmless
unto us with liquid sweetness.
The Singer, lauding, calls,
for ample riches, the Seven Mighty Ones who bring enjoyment.
2 With reverence and fair praise will I bring hither, for sake
of strength, exhaustless Earth and Heaven.
Father and Mother,
sweetof speech, fairhanded, may they, far-famed, in every fight
protect us.
3 Adhvaryus, make the sweet libations ready,
and bring the beautiful bright juice to Vayu.
God, as our
Priest, be thou the first to drink it: we give thee of the mead
to make thee joyful.
4 Two arms-the Soma's dexterous immo.
lators-and the ten fingers set and fix the press-stone.
The
stalk hath poured, fair with its spreading branches, the mead's
bright glittering juice that dwells on mountains.
5 The Soma
hath been pressed for thee, its lover, to give thee power and
might and high enjoyment.
Invoked, turn hither in thy car,
O Indra, at need, thy two well-trained and dear Bay Horses.
6 Bring by God-traversed paths, accordant, Agni, the great Aramati,
Celestial Lady,
Exalted, worshipped with our gifts and homage,
who knoweth holy Law, to drink sweet Soma.
7 As on his father's
lap the son, the darling, so on the fire is set the sacred caldron,
Which holy singers deck, as if extending and heating that which
holds the fatty membrane.
8 Hither, as herald to invite the
Asvins, come the great lofty song, most sweet and pleasant!
Come in one car, joy-givers! to the banquet, like the bolt binding
pole and nave, come hither.
9 I have declared this speech
of adoration to mightiest Pusan and victorious Vayu,
Who
by their bounty are the hymns' inspirers, and of themselves
give power as a possession.
10 Invoked by us bring hither,
jatavedas the Maruts all under their names and figures.
Come
to the sacrifice with aid all Maruts, all to the songs and praises
of the singer!
11 From high heaven may Sarasvati the Holy
visit our sacrifice, and from the mountain.
Eager, propitious,
may the balmy Goddess hear our effectual speech, our invocation.
12 Set in his seat the God whose back is dusky, Brhaspati the
lofty, the Disposer.
Him let us worship, set within the dwelling,
the red, the golden-hued, the allresplendent.
13 May the
Sustainer, high in heaven, come hither, the Bounteous One, invoked,
with all his favours,
Dweller with Dames divine, with plants,
unwearied, the Steer with triple horn, the life-bestower.
14 The tuneful eloquent priests of him who liveth have sought
the Mother's bright and loftiest station.
As living men,
with offered gifts and homage they deck the most auspicious
Child to clothe him.
15 Agni, great vital power is thine,
the mighty: pairs waxing old in their devotion seek thee.
May every Deity be swift to listen, and Mother Earth with no
ill thought regard me.
16 Gods, may we dwell in free untroubled
bliss.
17 May we obtain the Asvins' newest favour, and gain
their health-bestowing happy guidance.
Bring riches hither
unto us, and heroes, and all felicity and joy, Immortals!
HYMN XLIV. Visvedevas.
1. As in the first old times, as all were wont, as now, he
draweth forth the power turned hitherward with song,
The
Princedom throned on holy grass, who findeth light, swift, conquering
in the' plants wherein he waxeth strong.
2 Shining to him
who leaves heaven's regions undisturbed, which to his sheen
who is beneath show fair in light,
Good guardian art thou,
not to be deceived, Most Wise! Far from deceits thy name dwelleth
in holy Law.
3 Truth waits upon oblation present and to come:
naught checks him in his way, this vic tory- bringing Priest:
The Mighty Child who glides along the sacred grass, the undecaying
Youth set in the midst of plants.
4 These come, well-yoked,
to you for furtherance in the rite: down come the twinborn strengtheners
of Law for him,
With reins easily guided and commanding all.
In the deep fall the hide stealeth away their names.
5 Thou,
moving beauteously in visibly pregnant ones, snatching with
trees the branching plant that grasps the juice,
Shinest,
true Singer! mid the upholders of the voice. Increase thy Consorts
thou, lively at sacrifice.
6 Like as he is beheld such is
he said to be.
They with effectual splendour in the floods
have made
Earth yield us room enough and amply wide extent,
great might invincible, with store of hero sons.
7 Surya
the Sage, as if unwedded, with a Spouse, in battle-loving spirit
moveth o'er the foes.
May he, self-excellent, grant us a
sheltering home, a house that wards the fierce heat off on every
side.
8 Thy name, sung forth by Rsis in these hymns of ours,
goes to the loftier One with this swift mover's light.
By
skill he wins the boon whereon his heart is set: he who bestirs
himself shall bring the thing to pass.
9 The chief and best
of these abideth in the sea, nor doth libation fail wherein
it is prolonged.
The heart of him who praiseth trembleth
not in fear there where the hymn is found connected with the
pure.
10 For it is he: with though to of Ksatra, Manasa,
of Yajata, and Sadhri, and Evavada,
With Avatsara's sweet
songs will we strive to win the mightiest strength which even
he who knows should gain.
11 The Hawk is their full source,
girth-stretching rapturous drink of Visvavara, of Mayin, and
Yajata.
They ever seek a fresh draught so that they may come,
know when thy time to halt and drink thy fill is near.
12
Sadaprna the holy, Tarya, Srutavit, and Bahuvrkta, joined with
you, have slain the foes.
He gains his wish in both the worlds
and brightly shines-when he adores the host with well-advancing
steeds.
13 The worshipper's defender is Sutambhara, producer
and uplifter of all holy thoughts.
The milch-cow brought,
sweet-flavoured milk was dealt around. Who speaks the bidding
text knows this, not he who sleeps.
11 The sacred hymns love
him who wakes and watches: to him who watches come the Sama
verses.
This Soma saith unto the man who watches, I rest
and have my dwelling in thy friendship.
15 Agni is watchful,
and the gcas love him; Agni is watchful, Sama verses seek him.
Agni is watchful, to him saith this Soma, I rest and have my
dwelling in thy friendship.
HYMN XLV. Visvedevas.
1. BARDS of approaching Dawn who know the heavens are come
with hymns to throw the mountain open.
The Sun hath risen
and oped the stable portals: the doors of men, too, hath the
God thrown open.
2 Surya hath spread his light as splendour:
hither came the Cows' Mother, conscious, from the stable,
To streams that flow with biting waves to deserts; and heaven
is stablished like a firm-set pillar.
3 This laud hath won
the burden of the mountain. To aid the ancient birth of mighty
waters
The mountain parted, Heaven performed his office.
The worshippers were worn with constant serving.
4 With hymns
and God-loved words will I invoke you, Indra and Agni, to obtain
your favour,
For verily sages, skilled in sacrificing, worship
the Maruts and with lauds invite them.
5 This day approach
us: may our thoughts be holy, far from us let us cast away misfortune.
Let us keep those who hate us at a distance, and haste to meet
the man who sacrifices.
6 Come, let us carry out, O friends,
the purpose wherewith the Mother threw the Cow's stall open,
That wherewith Manu conquered Visisipra, wherewith the wandering
merchant gained heaven's water.
7 Here, urged by hands, loudly
hath rung the press-stone wherewith Navagvas through ten months
sang praises.
Sarama went aright and found the cattle. Angiras
gave effect to all their labours.
8 When at the dawning of
this mighty Goddess, Angirases all sang forth with the cattle,-
Their spring is in the loftiest place of meeting,-Sarama found
the kine by Order's pathway.
9 Borne by his Coursers Seven
may Surya visit the field that spreadeth wide for his long journey.
Down on the Soma swooped the rapid Falcon. Bright was the young
Sage moving mid his cattle.
10 Surya hath mounted to the
shining ocean when he hath yoked his fair-backed Tawny Horses.
The wise have drawn him like a ship through water: the floods
obedient have descended hither.
11 I lay upon the Floods
your hymn, lightwinning, wherewith Navagvas their ten months
completed.
Through this our hymn may we have Gods to guard
us: through this our hymn pass safe beyond affliction.
HYMN XLVI. Visvedevas.
1. WELL knowing I have bound me, horselike, to the pole:
I carry that which bears as on and gives us help.
I seek
for no release, no turning back therefrom. May he who knows
the way, the Leader, guide me straight.
2 O Agni, Indra,
Varuna, and Mitra, give, O ye Gods, and Marut host, and Visnu.
May both Nasatyas, Rudra, heavenly Matrons, Pusan, Sarasvati,
Bhaga, accept us.
3 Indra and Agni, Mitra, Varuna, Aditi,
the Waters, Mountains, Maruts, Sky, and Earth and Heaven,
Visnu I call, Pusan, and Brahmanaspati, and Bhaga, Samsa, Savitar
that they may help.
4 May Visnu also and Vata who injures
none, and Soma granter of possessions give us joy;
And may
the Rbhus and the Asvins, Tvastar and Vibhvan remember us so
that we may have wealth.
5 So may the band of Maruts dwelling
in the sky, the holy, come to us to sit on sacred grass;
Brhaspati and Pusan grant us sure defence, Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman
guard and shelter us.
6 And may the Mountains famed in noble
eulogies, and the fair-gleaming Rivers keep us safe from harm.
May Bhaga the Dispenser come with power and grace, and far-pervading
Aditi listen to my call.
7 May the Gods' Spouses aid us of
their own freewill, aid us to offspring and the winning of the
spoil.
Grant us protection, O ye gracious Goddesses, ye who
are on the earth or in the waters' realm.
8 May the Dames,
wives of Gods, enjoy our presents, Rat, Asvini, Agnayi, and
Indrani.
May Rodasi and Varunani hear us, and Goddesses come
at the Matrons' season.
HYMN XLVII. Visvedevas.
1. URGING to toil and making proclamation, seeking Heaven's
Daughter comes the Mighty Mother:
She comes, the youthful
Hymn, unto the Fathers, inviting to her home and loudly calling.
2 Swift in their motion, hasting to their duty, reaching the
central point of life immortal,
On every side about the earth
and heaven go forth the spacious paths without a limit.
3
Steer, Sea, Red Bird with strong wings, he hath entered the
dwelling-place of the Primeval Father.
A gay-hued Stone set
in the midst of heaven, he hath gone forth and guards mid-air's
two limits.
4 Four bear him up and give him rest and quiet,
and ten invigorate the Babe for travel.
His kine most excellent,
of threefold nature, pass swiftly round the boundaries of heaven.
5 Wondrous, O people, is the mystic knowledge that while the
waters stand the streams are flowing:
That, separate from
his Mother, Two support him, closely-united, twins, here made
apparent.
6 For him they lenghten prayers and acts of worship:
the Mothers weave garments for him their offspring.
Rejoicing,
for the Steer's impregning contact, his Spouses move on paths
or heaven to meet him.
7 Be this our praise, O Varuna and
Mitra may this be health and force to us, O Agni.
May we
obtain firm ground and room for resting: Glory to Heaven, the
lofty habitation!
HYMN XLVIII. Visvedevas.
1. WHAT may we meditate for the beloved Power, mighty in
native strength and glorious in itself,
Which as a magic
energy seeking waters spreads even to theimmeasurable middle
region's cloud?
2 O'er all the region with their uniform
advance these have spread out the lore that giveth heroes strength.
Back, with their course reversed, the others pass away: the
pious lengthens life with those that are before.
3 With pressing-stones
and with the bright beams of the day he hurls his broadest bolt
against the Guileful One.
Even he whose hundred wander in
his own abode, driving the days afar and bringing them again.
4 I, to enjoy the beauty of his form, behold that rapid rush
of his as 'twere an axe's edge,
What time he gives the man
who calls on him in fight wealth like a dwelling-house filled
full with store of food.
5 Four-faced and nobly clad, Varuna,
urging on the pious to his task, stirs himself with the tongue.
Naught by our human nature do we know of him, him from whom
Bhaga Savitar bestows the boon.
HYMN XLIX. Visvedevas.
1. THIS day I bring God Savitar to meet you, and Bhaga who
allots the wealth of mortals.
You, Asvins, Heroes rich in
treasures, daily seeking your friendship fain would I turn hither.
2 Knowing full well the Asura's time of coming, worship God
Savitar with hymns and praises.
Let him who rightly knoweth
speak with homage to him who dealeth out man's noblest treasure.
3 Not for reward doth Pusan send his blessings, Bhaga, or Aditi:
his garb is splendour.
May Indra, Visniu, Varuna, Mitra,
Agni produce auspicious days, the Wonder-Workers.
4 Sending
the shelter which we ask, the foeless Savitar and the Rivers
shall approach us.
When I, the sacrifice's priest, invite
them, may we he lords of wealth and rich possessions.
5 They
who devote such worship to the Vasus, singing their hymns to
Varuna and Mitra,
Vouchsafe them ample room, far off be danger.
Through grace of Heaven and Earth may we be happy.
HYMN L. Visvedevas.
1. LET every mortal man elect the friendship of the guiding
God.
Each one solicits him for wealth and seeks renown to
prosper him.
2 These, leading God, are thine, and these here
ready to speak after us.
As such may we attain to wealth
and wait with services on thee.
3 So further honour as our
guests the Hero Gods and then the Dames.
May he remove and
keep afar our foes and all who block our path.
4 Where fire
is set, and swiftly runs the victim dwelling in the trough,
He wins, with heroes in his home, friendly to man, like constant
streams.
5 May these thy riches, Leader God! that rule the
car, be blest to us,
Yea, blest to us for wealth and weal.
This will we ponder praising strength, this ponder as we praise
the God.
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.