
Hymns to Varuna from the Rig-Veda - Book I

HYMN XVII Indra-Varuna
1 I CRAVE help from the Imperial Lords, from
Indra-Varuna; may they
Both favour one of us like me.
2 Guardians of men, ye ever come with ready succour at the call
Of every singer such as I.
3 Sate you, according to your
wish, O Indra-Varuna, with wealth:
Fain would we have you
nearest us.
4 May we be sharers of the powers, sharers of
the benevolence
Of you who give strength bounteously.
5 Indra and Varuna, among givers of thousands, meet for praise,
Are Powers who merit highest laud.
6 Through their protection
may we gain great store of wealth, and heap it up
Enough
and still to spare, be ours.
7 O Indra-Varuna, on you for
wealth in many a form I call:
Still keep ye us victorious.
8 O Indra-Varuna, - through our songs that seek to win you to
ourselves,
Give us at once your sheltering help.
9 O Indra-Varuna,
to you may fair praise which I offer come,
joint eulogy which
ye dignify.
HYMN XXIV. Varuna and Others.
1 WHO now is he, what God among Immortals, of
whose auspicious name we may bethink us?
Who shall to mighty
Aditi restore us, that I may see my Father and my Mother?
2 Agni the God the first among the Immortals, - of his auspicious
name let us bethink us.
He shall to mighty Aditi restore
us, that I may see my Father and my Mother.
3 To thee, O
Savitar, the Lord of precious things, who helpest us
Continually,
for our share we come-
4 Wealth, highly lauded ere reproach
hath fallen on it, which is laid,
Free from all hatred, in
thy hands
5 Through thy protection may we come to even the
height of affluence
Which Bhaga hath dealt out to us.
6 Ne'er have those birds that fly through air attained to thy
high dominion or thy might or spirit;
Nor these the waters
that flow on for ever, nor hills, abaters of the wind's wild
fury.
7 Varuna, King, of hallowed might, sustaineth erect
the Tree's stem in the baseless region.
Its rays, whose root
is high above, stream downward. Deep may they sink within us,
and be hidden.
8 King Varuna hath made a spacious pathway,
a pathway for the Sun wherein to travel.
Where no way was
he made him set his footstep, and warned afar whate'er afflicts
the spirit.
9 A hundred balms are thine, O King, a thousand;
deep and wide-reaching also be thy favours.
Far from us,
far away drive thou Destruction. Put from us e'en the sin we
have committed.
10 Whither by day depart the constellations
that shine at night, set high in heaven above us?
Varuna's
holy laws remain unweakened, and through the night the Moon
moves on in splendor
11 I ask this of thee with my prayer
adoring; thy worshipper craves this with his oblation.
Varuna,
stay thou here and be not angry; steal not our life from us,
O thou Wide-Ruler.
12 Nightly and daily this one thing they
tell me, this too the thought of mine own heart repeateth.
May he to whom prayed fettered Sunahsepa, may he the Sovran
Varuna release us.
13 Bound to three pillars captured Sunahsepa
thus to the Aditya made his supplication.
Him may the Sovran
Varuna deliver, wise, ne'er deccived, loosen the bonds that
bind him.
14 With bending down, oblations, sacrifices, O
Varuna, we deprecate thine anger:
Wise Asura, thou King of
wide dominion, loosen the bonds of sins by us committed.
15 Loosen the bonds, O Varuna, that hold me, loosen the bonds
above, between, and under.
So in thy holy law may we made
sinless belong to Aditi, O thou Aditya.
HYMN XXV. Varuna.
I WHATEVER law of thine, O God, O Varurna, as
we are men,
Day after day we violate.
2 give us not as
a prey to death, to be destroyed by thee in wrath,
To thy
fierce anger when displeased.
3 To gain thy mercy, Varuna,
with hymns we bind thy heart, as binds
The charioteer his
tethered horse.
4 They flee from me dispirited, bent only
on obtaining wealths
As to their nests the birds of air.
5 When shall we bring, to be appeased, the Hero, Lord of warrior
might,
Him, the far-seeing Varuna?
6 This, this with joy
they both accept in common: never do they fail
The ever-faithful
worshipper.
7 He knows the path of birds that fly through
heaven, and, Sovran of the sea,
He knows the ships that are
thereon.
8 True to his holy law, he knows the twelve moons
with their progeny:
He knows the moon of later birth.
9 He knows the pathway of the wind, the spreading, high, and
mighty wind
He knows the Gods who dwell above.
10 Varuna,
true to holy law, sits down among his people; he,
Most wise,
sits there to govern. all.
11 From thence percerving he beholds
all wondrous things, both what hath been,
And what hereafter
will be done.
12 May that Aditya, very -wise, make fair paths
for us all our days:
May lie prolong our lives for us.
13 Varuna, wearing golden mail, hath clad him in a shining robe.
His spies are seated found about.
14 The God whom enemies
threaten not, nor those who tyrannize o'er men,
Nor those
whose minds are bent on wrong.
15 He who gives glory to mankind,
not glory that is incomplete,
To our own bodies giving it.
16 Yearning for the wide-seeing One, my thoughts move onward
unto him,
As kine unto their pastures move.
17 Once more
together let us speak, because my meath is brought: priest-like
Thou eatest what is dear to thee.
18 Now saw I him whom all
may see, I saw his car above the earth:
He hath accepted
these my songs.
19 Varuna, hear this call of mine: be gracious
unto us this day
Longing for help I cried to thee.
20
Thou, O wise God, art Lord of all, thou art the King of earth
and heaven
Hear, as thou goest on thy way.
21 Release
us from the upper bond, untie the bond between, and loose
The bonds below, that I may live.
HYMN XLI. Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman.
1 NE'ER is he injured whom the Gods Varuna, Mitra,
Aryaman,
The excellently wise, protect.
2 He prospers
ever, free from scathe, whom they, as with full hands, enrich,
Whom they preserve from every foe.
3 The Kings drive far
away from him his troubles and his enemies,
And lead him
safely o'er distress.
4 Thornless, Adityas, is the path,
easy for him who seeks the Law:
With him is naught to anger
you.
5 What sacrifice, Adityas, ye Heroes guide by the path
direct,-
May that come nigh unto your thought.
6 That
mortal, ever unsubdued, gains wealth and every precious thing,
And children also of his own.
7 How, my friends, shall we
prepare Aryaman's and Mitra's laud,
Glorious food of Varuna?
8 I point not out to you a man who strikes the pious, or reviles:
Only with hymns I call you nigh.
9 Let him not love to speak
ill words: but fear the One who holds all four
Within his
hand, until they fall.
HYMN CXXXVI. Mitra-Varuna.
1. BRING adoration ample and most excellent,
hymn, offierings, to the watchful Twain, the bountiful, your
sweetest to the bounteous Ones.
Sovrans adored with streams
of oil and praised at every sacrifice.
Their high imperial
might may nowhere be assailed, ne'er may their Godhead be assailed.
2 For the broad Sun was seen a path more widely laid, the path
of holy law hath been maintained with rays, the eye with Bhaga's
rays of light.
Firm-set in heaven is Mitra's home, and Aryaman's
and Varuna's.
Thence they give forth great vital strength
which merits praise, high power of life that men shall praise.
3 With Aditi the luminous, the celestial, upholder of the people,
come ye day by day, ye who watch sleepless, day by day.
Resplendent
might have ye obtained, Adityas, Lords of liberal gifts.
Movers of men, mild both, are Mitra, Varuna, mover of men is
Aryaman.
4 This Soma be most sweet to Mitra, Varuna: he in
the drinking-feasts, shall have a share thereof, sharing, a
God, among the Gods.
May all the Gods of one accord accept
it joyfully to-day.
Therefore do ye, O Kings, accomplish
what we ask, ye Righteous Ones, whate'er we ask.
5 Whoso,
with worship serves Mitra and VaruiIa, him guard ye carefully,
uninjured, from distress, guard from distress the liberal man.
Aryaman guards him well who acts uprightly following his law,
Who beautifies their service with his lauds, who makes it beautiful
with songs of praise.
6 Worship will I proress to lofty Dyaus,
to Heaven and Earth, to Mitra and to bounteous Varuna, the Bounteous,
the Compassionate.
Praise Indra, praise thou Agni, praise
Bhaga and heavenly Aryaman.
Long may we live and have attendant
progeny, have progeny with Soma's help.
7 With the Gods'
help, with Indra still beside us, may we be held self-splendid
with the Maruts.
May Agni, Mitra, Varuna give us shelter
this may we gain, we and our wealthy princes.
HYMN CXXXVII. Mitra-Varuna.
1. WITH stones have we pressed out: O come; these
gladdening drops are blent with milk, these Soma-drops which
gladden you.
Come to us, Kings who reach to heaven, approach
us, coming hitherward.
These milky drops are yours, Mitra
and Varuna, bright Soma juices blent with milk.
2 Here are
the droppings; come ye nigh the Soma-droppings blent with curd,
juices expressed and blent with curd.
Now for the wakening
of your Dawn together with the Sun-God's rays,
juice waits
for Mitra and for Varuna to drink, fair juice for drink, for
sacrihce.
3 As 'twere a radiant-coloured cow, they milk with
stones the stalk for you, with stones they milk the Soma-plant.
May ye come nigh us, may ye turn hither to drink the Soma juice.
The men pressed out this juice, Mitra and Varuna, pressed out
this Soma for your drink.
HYMN CLI. Mitra and Varuna
1. HEAVEN and earth trembled at the might and
voice of him, whom, loved and Holy One, helper of all mankind,
The wise who longed for spoil in fight for kine brought forth
with power, a Friend, mid waters, at the sacrifice.
2 As
these, like friends, have done this work for you, these prompt
servants of Purumilha Soma-offerer,
Give mental power to
him who sings the sacred song, and hearken, Strong Ones, to
the master ofthe house.
3 The folk have glorified your birth
from Earth and Heaven, to be extolled, ye Strong Ones, for your
mighty power.
Ye, when ye bring to singer and the rite, enjoy
the sacrifice periormed with holy praise and strength.
4
The people prospers, Asuras! whom ye dearly love: ye, Righteous
Ones, proclaim aloud the Holy Law.
That efficacious power
that comes from lofty heaven, ye bind unto the work, as to the
pole an ox.
5 On this great earth ye send your treasure down
with might: unstained by dust, the crowding kine are in the
stalls.
Here in the neighbourhood they cry unto the Sun at
morning and at evening, like swift birds of prey.
6 The flames
with curling tresses serve your sacrifice, whereto ye sing the
song, Mitra and Varuna.
Send down of your free will, prosper
our holy songs: ye are sole Masters of the singer's hymn of
praise.
7 Whoso with sacrifices toiling brings you gifts,
and worships, sage and priest, fulfilling your desire,-
To
him do ye draw nigh and taste his sacrifice. Come well-inclined
to us unto our songs and prayer.
8 With sacrifices and with
milk they deck you first, ye Righteous Ones, as if through stirrings
of the mind.
To you they bring their hymns with their collected
thought, while ye with earnest soul come to us gloriously.
9 Rich strength of life is yours: ye, Heroes, have obtained
through your surpassing powers rich far-extending might.
Not the past days conjoined with nights, not rivers, not the
Papis have attained your Godhead and your wealth.
HYMN CLII. Mitra-Varuna.
1. THE robes which ye put on abound with fatness:
uninterrupted courses are your counsels.
All falsehood, Mitra-Varuna!
ye conquer, and closely cleave unto the Law Eternal.
2 This
might of theirs hath no one comprehended. True is the crushing
word the sage hath uttered,
The fearful four-edged bolt smites
down the three-edged, and those who hate the Gods first fall
and perish.
3 The Footless Maid precedeth footed creatures.
Who marketh, Mitra-Varuna, this your doing?
The Babe Unborn
supporteth this world's burthen, fuIfilleth Law and overcometh
falsehood.
4 We look on him the darling of the Maidens, always
advancing, never falling downward,
Wearing inseparable, wide-spread
raiment, Mitra's and Varuna's delightful glory.
5 Unbridled
Courser, horn but not of horses, neighing he flieth on with
back uplifted.
The youthful love mystery thought-surpassing,
praising in Mitra-Varuna, its glory.
6 May the milch-kine
who favour Mamateya prosper in this world him who loves devotion.
May he, well skilled in rites, be food, and calling Aditi with
his lips give us assistance.
7 Gods, Mitra-Varuna, with love
and worship, let me make you delight in this oblation.
May
our prayer be victorious in battles, may we have rain from heaven
to make us prosper.
HYMN CLIII. Mitra-Varuna.
1. WE worship with our reverence and oblations
you, Mitra Varuna, accordant, mighty,
So that with us, ye
Twain whose backs are sprinkled with oil, the priests with oil
and hymns support you.
2 Your praise is like a mighty power,
an impulse: to you, Twain Gods, a well-formed hymn is offered,
As the priest decks yon, Strong Ones, in assemblies, and the
prince fain to worship you for blessings.
3 O Mitra-Varuna,
Aditi the Milch-cow streams for the rite, for folk who bring
oblation,
When in the assembly he who worships moves you,
like to a human priest, with gifts presented.
4 So may the
kine and heavenly Waters pour you sweet drink in families that
make you joyful.
Of this may he, the ancient House-Lord,
give us. Enjoy, drink of the milk the cow provideth.
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.