
The Rig-Veda - Book II

HYMN I. Agni.
1. THOU, Agni, shining in thy glory through the days, art
brought to life from out the waters, from the stone:
From
out the forest trees and herbs that grow on ground, thou, Sovran
Lord of men art generatad [sic] pure.
2 Thine is the Herald's
task and Cleanser's duly timed; Leader art thou, and Kindler
for the pious man.
Thou art Director, thou the ministering
Priest: thou art the Brahman, Lord and Master in our home.
3 Hero of Heroes, Agni! Thou art Indra, thou art Visnu of
the Mighty Stride, adorable:
Thou, Brahmanaspati, the Brahman
finding wealth: thou, O Sustainer, with thy wisdom tendest us.
4 Agni, thou art King Varuna whose laws stand fast; as Mitra,
Wonder-Worker, thou must be implored.
Aryaman, heroes' Lord,
art thou, enrich ing all, and liberal Amsa in the synod, O thou
God.
5 Thou givest strength, as Tvastar, to the worshipper:
thou wielding Mitra's power hast kinship with the Dames.
Thou, urging thy fleet coursers, givest noble steeds: a host
of heroes art thou with great store of wealth.
6 Rudra art
thou, the Asura of mighty heaven: thou art the Maruts' host,
thou art the Lord of food,
Thou goest with red winds: bliss
hast thou in thine home. As Pusan thou thyself protectest worshippers.
7 Giver of wealth art thou to him who honours thee; thou
art God Savitar, granter of precious things.
As Bhaga, Lord
of men! thou rulest over wealth, and guardest in his house him
who hath served thee well.
8 To thee, the people's Lord within
the house, the folk press forward to their King most graciously
inclined.
Lord of the lovely look, all things belong to thee:
ten, hundred, yea, a thousand are outweighed by thee.
9 Agni,
men seek thee as a Father with their prayers, win thee, bright-formed,
to brotherhood with holy act.
Thou art a Son to him who duly
worships thee, and as a trusty Friend thou guardest from attack.
10 A Rbhu art thou, Agni, near to be adored thou art the Sovran
Lord of foodful spoil and wealth.
Thou shinest brightly forth,
thou burnest to bestow: pervading sacrifice, thou lendest us
thine help.
11 Thou, God, art Aditi to him who offers gifts:
thou, Hotri, Bharati, art strengthened by the song.
Thou
art the hundred-wintered Ila to give strength, Lord of Wealth!
Vrtra-slayer and Sarasvati.
12 Thou, Agni, cherished well,
art highest vital power; in thy delightful hue are glories visible.
Thou art the lofty might that furthers each design: thou
art wealth manifold, diffused on every side.
13 Thee, Agni,
have the Adityas taken as their mouth; the Bright Ones have
made thee, O Sage, to be their tongue.
They who love offerings
cling to thee at solemn rites: by thee the Gods devour the duly
offered food.
14 By thee, O Agni, all the Immortal guileless
Gods cat with thy mouth the oblation that is offered them.
By thee do mortal men give sweetness to their drink. Bright
art thou born, the embryo of the plants of earth.
15 With
these thou art united, Agni; yea thou, God of noble birth, surpassest
them in majesty,
Which, through the power of good, here spreads
abroad from thee, diffused through both the worlds, throughout
the earth and heaven.
16 The princely worshippers who send
to those who sing thy praise, O Agni, guerdon graced with kine
and steeds,-
Lead thou both these and us forward to higher
bliss. With brave men in the assembly may we speak aloud.
HYMN II. Agni.
1. WITH sacrifice exalt Agni who knows all life; worship
him 'with oblation and the song of praise,
Well kindled,
nobly fed; heaven's Lord, Celestial Priest, who labours at the
pole where deeds of might are done.
2 At night and morning,
Agni, have they called to thee, like milch-kine in their stalls
lowing to meet their young.
As messenger of heaven thou lightest
all night long the families of men. Thou Lord of precious boons.
3 Him have the Gods established at the region's base, doer of
wondrous deeds, Herald of heaven and earth;
Like a most famous
car, Agni the purely bright, like Mitra. to be glorified among
the folk.
4 Him have they set in his own dwelling, in the
vault, like the Moon waxing, fulgent, in the realm of air.
Bird of the firmament, observant with his eyes, guard of the
place as 'twere, looking to Gods and men.
5 May he as Priest
encompass all the sacrifice. men throng to him with offerings
and with hymns of praise.
Raging with jaws of gold among
the growing plants, like heaven with all the stars, he quickens
earth and sky.
6 Such as thou art, brilliantly kindled for
our weal, a liberal giver, send us riches in thy shine,
For our advantage, Agni, God, bring Heaven and Earth hither
that they may taste oblation brought by man.
7 Agni, give
us great wealth, give riches thousandfold. unclose to us, like
doors, strength that shall bring renown.
Make Heaven and
Earth propitious through the power of prayer, and like the sky's
bright sheen let mornings beam on us.
8 Enkindled night by
night at every morning's dawn, may he shine forth with red flame
like the realm of light,-
Agni adored in beauteous rites
with lauds of men, fair guest of living man and King of all
our folk.
9 Song chanted by us men, O Agni, Ancient One,
has swelled unto the deathless Gods in lofty heaven-
A milch-cow
yielding to the singer in the rites wealth manifold, in hundreds,
even as he wills.
10 Agni, may we show forth our valour with
the steed or with the power of prayer beyond all other men;
And over the Five Races let our glory shine high like the realm
of light and unsurpassable.
11 Such, Conqueror! be to us,
be worthy of our praise, thou for whom princes nobly born exert
themselves;
Whose sacrifice the strong seek, Agni, when it
shines for never-failing offspring in thine own abode.
12
Knower of all that lives, O Agni may we both, singers of praise
and chiefs, be in thy keeping still.
Help us to wealth exceeding
good and glorious, abundant, rich in children and their progeny.
13 The princely worshippers who send to those who sing thy praise,
O Agni, guerdon, graced with kine and steeds,-
Lead thou
both these and us forward to higher bliss. With brave men in
the assembly may we speak aloud.
HYMN III. Apris.
1. AGNI is set upon the earth well kindled; he standeth in
the presence of all beings.
Wise, ancient, God, the Priest
and Purifier, let Agni serve the Gods for he is worthy.
2
May Narasamsa lighting up the chambers, bright in his majesty
through threefold heaven,
Steeping the gift with oil diffusing
purpose, bedew the Gods at chiefest time of worship.
3 Adored
in heart, as is thy right, O Agni, serve the Gods first to-day
before the mortal.
Bring thou the Marut host. Ye men do worship
to Indra seated on the grass, eternal.
4 O Grass divine,
increasing, rich in heroes, strewn for wealth' sake, well laid
upon this altar,-
On this bedewed with oil sit ye, O Vasus,
sit all ye Gods, ye Holy, ye Adityas.
5 Wide be the Doors,
the Goddesses, thrown open, easy to pass, invoked, through adorations,
Let them unfold, expansive, everlasting, that sanctify the class
famed, rich in heroes.
6 Good work for us, the glorious Night
and Morning, like female weavers, waxen from aforetime,
Yielders
of rich milk, interweave in concert the long-extended thread,
the web of worship.
7 Let the two heavenly Heralds, first,
most wise, most fair, present oblation duly with the sacred
verse,
Worshipping God at ordered seasons decking them at
three high places at the centre of the earth.
8 Sarasvati
who perfects our devotion, Ila divine, Bharati all surpassing,-
Three Goddesses, with power inherent, seated, protect this holy
Grass, our flawless refuge!
9 Born is the pious hero swift
of hearing, like gold in hue, well formed, and full of vigour.
May Tvastar lengthen our line and kindred, and may they reach
the place which Gods inhabit.
10 Vanaspati shall stand anear
and start us, and Agni with his arts prepare oblation.
Let
the skilled heavenly Immolator forward unto the Gods the offering
thrice anointed.
11 Oil has been mixt: oil is his habitation.
In oil he rests: oil is his proper province.
Come as thy
wont is: O thou Steer, rejoice thee; bear off the oblation duly
consecrated.
HYMN IV Agni.
1. FOR you I call theglorious refulgent Agni, the guest of
men, rich in oblations
Whom all must strive to win even as
a lover, God among godly people, Jatavedas.
2 Bhrgus who
served him in the home of waters set him of old in houses of
the living.
Over all worlds let Agni be the Sovran, the messenger
of Gods with rapid coursers.
3 Among the tribes of men the
Gods placed Agni as a dear Friend when they would dwell among
them.
Against the longing nights may he shine brightly, and
show the offerer in the house his vigour.
4 Sweet is his
growth as of one's own possessions; his look when rushing fain
to burn is lovely.
He darts his tongue forth, like a harnessed
courser who shakes his flowing tail, among the bushes.
5
Since they who honour me have praised my greatness,-he gave,
as 'twere, his hue to those who love him.
Known is he by
his bright delightful splendour, and waxing old renews his youth
for ever.
6 Like one athirst, he lighteth up the forests;
like water down the chariot ways he roareth.
On his black
path he shines in burning beauty, marked as it were the heaven
that smiles through vapour.
7 Around, consuming the broad
earth, he wanders, free roaming like an ox without a herdsman,-
Agni refulgent, burning up the bushes, with blackened lines,
as though the earth he seasoned.
8 I, in remembrance of thine
ancient favour have sung my hymn in this our third assembly.
O Agni, give us wealth with store of heroes and mighty strength
in food and noble offspring.
9 May the Grtsamadas, serving
in secret, through thee, O Agni, overcome their neighbours,
Rich in good heroes and subduing foemen. That vital power give
thou to chiefs and singers.
HYMN V. Agni.
1. HERALD and teacher was he born, a guardian for our patrons'
help,
Earner by rites of noble wealth. That Strong One may
we grasp and guide;
2 In whom, Leader of sacrifice, the seven
reins, far extended, meet;
Who furthers, man-like, eighth
in place, as Cleanser, all the work divine.
3 When swift
he follows this behest, bird-like he chants the holy prayers.
He holds all knowledge in his grasp even as the felly rounds
the wheel.
4 Together with pure mental power, pure, as Director,
was he born.
Skilled in his own unchanging laws he waxes
like the growing boughs.
5 Clothing thern in his hues, the
kine of him the Leader wait on him.
Is he not better than
the Three, the Sisters who have come to us?
6 When, laden
with the holy oil, the Sitster [sic] by the Mother stands,
The Priest delights in their approach, as corn at coming of
the rain.
7 For his support let him perform as ministrant
his priestly task;
Yea, song of praise and sacrifice: we
have bestowed, let us obtain.
8 That so this man well skilled,
may pay worship to all the Holy Ones.
And, Agni, this our
sacrifice which wehave here prepared, to thee.
HYMN VI. Agni.
1. AGNI, accept this flaming brand, this waiting with my
prayer on thee:
Hear graciously these songs of praise.
2 With this hymn let us honour thee, seeker of horses, Son of
Strength,
With this fair hymn, thou nobly born.
3 As such,
lover of song, with songs, wealth-lover, giver of our wealth!
With reverence let us worship thee.
4 Be thou for us a liberal
Prince, giver and Lord of precious things.
Drive those who
hate us far away.
5 Such as thou art, give rain from heaven,
give strength which no man may resist:
Give food exceeding
plentiful.
6 To him who lauds thee, craving help, most youthful
envoy! through our song,
Most holy Herald! come thou nigh.
7 Between both races, Agni, Sage, well skilled thou passest
to and fro,
As envoy friendly to mankind.
8 Befriend us
thou as knowing all. Sage, duly worship thou the Gods,
And
seat thee on this sacred grass.
HYMN VII. Agni.
1. VASU, thou most youthful God, Bharata, Agni, bring us
wealth,
Excellent, splendid, much-desired.
2 Let no malignity
prevail against us, either God's or man's.
Save us from this
and enmity.
3 So through thy favour may we force through
all our enemies a way,
As 'twere through streaming water-floods.
4 Thou, Purifier Agni, high shinest forth, bright, adorable,
When worshipped with the sacred oil.
5 Ours art thou, Agni,
Bharata, honoured by us with barren cows,
With bullocks and
with kine in calf
6 Wood-fed, bedewed with sacred oil, ancient,
Invoker, excellent,
The Son of Strength, the Wonderful.
HYMN VIII.Agni.
1. Now praise, as one who strives for strength, the harnessing
of Agni's car,
The liberal, the most splendid One;
2 Who,
guiding worshippers aright, withers, untouched by age, the foe:
When worshipped fair to look upon;
3 Who for his glory is
extolled at eve and morning in our homes,
Whose statute is
inviolate;
4 Who shines refulgent like the Sun, with brilliance
and with fiery flame,
Decked with imperishable sheen.
5 Him Atri, Agni, have our songs Strengthened according to his
sway:
All glories hath he made his own.
6 May we with
Agni's, Indra's help, with Soma's, yea, of all the Gods,
Uninjured dwell together still, and conquer those who fight
with us.
HYMN IX. Agni.
1. ACCUSTOMED to the Herald's place, the Herald hath seated
him, bright, splendid, passing mighty,
Whose foresight keeps
the Law from violation, excellent, pure-tongued, bringing thousands,
Agni.
2 Envoy art thou, protector from the foeman, strong
God, thou leadest us to higher blessings.
Refulgent, be an
ever-heedful keeper, Agni, for us and for our seed offspring.
3 May we adore thee in thy loftiest birthplace, and, with our
praises, in thy lower station.
The place whence thou issued
forth I worship: to thee well kindled have they paid oblations.
4 Agni, best Priest, pay worship with oblation; quickly commend
the gift to be presented;
For thou art Lord of gathered wealth
and treasure. of the bright song of praise thou art inventor.
5 The twofold opulence, O Wonder-Worker, of thee new-born each
day never decreases.
Enrich with food the man who lauds thee,
Agni: make him the lord of wealth with noble offspring.
6
May he, benevolent with this fair aspect, best sacrificer, bring
the Gods to bless us.
Sure guardian, our protector from the
foemen, shine, Agni, with thine affluence and splendour.
HYMN X. Agni.
1.AGNI, first, loudly calling, like a Father, kindled by
man upon the seat of worship.
Clothed in his glory, deathless,
keen of insight, must be adorned by all, the Strong, the Famous.
2 May Agni the resplendent hear my calling through all my songs,
Immortal, keen of insight.
Dark steeds or ruddy draw his
car, or carried in sundry ways he makes them red of colour.
3 On wood supine they got the well-formed Infant: a germ in
various-fashioned plants was Agni;
And in the night, not
compassed round by darkness, he dwells exceeding wise, with
rays of splendour.
4 With oil and sacred gifts I sprinkle
Agni who makes his home in front of all things living,
Broad,
vast, through vital power o'er all expanded, conspicuous, strong
with all the food that feeds him.
5 I pour to him who looks
in all directions: may he accept it with a friendly spirit.
Agni with bridegroom's grace and lovely colour may not be touched
when all his form is fury.
6 By choice victorious, recognize
thy portion: with thee for envoy may we speak like Manu.
Obtaining wealth, I call on perfect Agni who with an eloquent
tongue dispenses sweetness.
HYMN XI. Indra.
1. HEAR thou my call, O Indra; be not heedless: thine may
we be for thee to give us treasures;
For these presented
viands, seeking riches, increase thy strength like streams of
water flowing.
2 Floods great and many, compassed by the
Dragon, thou badest swell and settest free, O Hero.
Strengthened
by songs of praise thou rentest piecemeal the Dasa, him who
deemed himself immortal.
3 For, Hero, in the lauds wherein
thou joyedst, in hymns of praise, O Indra, songs of Rudras,
These streams in which is thy delight approach thee, even as
the brilliant ones draw near to Vayu.
4 We who add strength
to thine own splendid vigour, laying within thine arms the splendid
thunder-
With us mayst thou, O Indra, waxen splendid, with
Surya overcome the Dasa races.
5 Hero, thou slewest in thy
valour Ahi concealed in depths, mysterious, great enchanter,
Dwelling enveloped deep within the waters, him who checked heaven
and stayed the floods from flowing.
6 Indra, we laud thy
great deeds wrought aforetime, we laud thine exploits later
of achievement;
We laud the bolt that in thine arms lies
eager; we laud thy two Bay Steeds, heralds of Surya.
7 Indra,
thy Bay Steeds showing forth their vigour have sent a loud cry
out that droppeth fatness.
The earth hath spread herself
in all her fulness: the cloud that was about to move hath rested.
8 Down, never ceasing, hath the rain-cloud settled: bellowing,
it hath wandered with the Mothers.
Swelling the roar in the
far distant limits, they have spread wide the blast sent forth
by Indra.
9 Indra hath hurled down the magician Vrtra who
lay beleaguering the mighty river.
Then both the heaven and
earth trembled in terror at the strong Hero's thunder when he
bellowed.
10 Loud roared the mighty Hero's bolt of thunder,
when he, the Friend of man, burnt up the monster,
And, having
drunk his fill of flowing Soma, baffled the guileful Danava's
devices.
11 Drink thou, O Hero Indra, drink the Soma; let
the joy-giving juices make thee joyful.
They, filling both
thy flanks, shall swell thy vigour. The juice that satisfies
hath helped Indra.
12 Singers have we become with thee, O
Indra: may we serve duly and prepare devotion.
Seeking thy
help we meditate thy praises: may we at once enjoy thy gift
of riches.
13 May we be thine, such by thy help, O Indra,
as swell thy vigour while they seek thy favour.
Give us,
thou God, the riches that we long for, most powerful, with stare
of noble children.
14 Give us a friend, give us an habitation;
Indra, give us the company of Maruts,
And those whose minds
accord with theirs, the Vayus, who drink the first libation
of the Soma.
15 Let those enjoy in whom thou art delighted.
Indra, drink Soma for thy strength and gladness.
Thou hast
exalted us to heaven, Preserver, in battles, through the lofty
hymns that praise thee.
16 Great, verily, are they, O thou
Protector, who by their songs of praise have won the blessing.
They who strew sacred grass to be thy dwelling, helped by thee
have got them strength, O Indra.
17 Upon the great Trikadruka
days, Hero, rejoicing thee, O Indra, drink the Soma.
Come
with Bay Steeds to drink of libation, shaking the drops from
out thy beard, contented.
18 Hero, assume the might wherewith
thou clavest Vrtra piecemeal, the Danava Aurnavabha.
Thou
hast disclosed the light to light the Arya: on thy left hand,
O Indra, sank the Dasyu.
19 May we gain wealth, subduing
with thy succour and with the Arya, all our foes, the Dasyus.
Our gain was that to Trta of our party thou gavest up Tvastar's
son Visvarupa.
20 He cast down Arbuda what time his vigour
was strengthened by libations poured by Trta.
Indra sent
forth his whirling wheel like Surya, and aided by the Angirases
rent Vala.
21 Now let that wealthy Cow of thine, O Indra,
yield in return a boon to him who lauds thee.
Give to thy
praisers: let not fortune fail us. Loud may we speak, with brave
men, in the assembly.
HYMN XII. Indra.
1. HE who, just born, chief God of lofty spirit by power
and might became the Gods' protector,
Before whose breath
through greatness of his valour the two worlds trembled, He,
O men, is Indra.
2 He who fixed fast and firm the earth that
staggered, and set at rest the agitated mountains,
Who measured
out the air's wide middle region and gave the heaven support,
He, men, is Indra.
3 Who slew the Dragon, freed the Seven
Rivers, and drove the kine forth from the cave of Vala,
Begat
the fire between two stones, the spoiler in warriors' battle,
He, O men, is Indra.
4 By whom this universe was made to
tremble, who chased away the humbled brood of demons,
Who,
like a gambler gathering his winnings seized the foe's riches,
He, O men, is Indra.
5 Of whom, the Terrible, they ask, Where
is He? or verily they say of him, He is not.
He sweeps away,
like birds, the foe's possessions. Have faith in him, for He,
O men, is Indra.
6 Stirrer to action of the poor and lowly,
of priest, of suppliant who sings his praises;
Who, fair-faced,
favours him who presses Soma with stones made ready, He, O men,
is Indra.
7 He under whose supreme control are horses, all
chariots, and the villages, and cattle;
He who gave being
to the Sun and Morning, who leads the waters, He, O men, is
Indra.
8 To whom two armies cry in close encounter, both
enemies, the stronger and the weaker;
Whom two invoke upon
one chariot mounted, each for himself, He, O ye men, is Indra.
9 Without whose help our people never conquer; whom, battling,
they invoke to give them succour;
He of whom all this world
is but the copy, who shakes things moveless, He, O men, is Indra.
10 He who hath smitten, ere they knew their danger, with his
hurled weapon many grievous sinners;
Who pardons not his
boldness who provokes him, who slays the Dasyti, He, O men,
is Indra.
11 He who discovered in the fortieth autumn Sambara
as he dwelt among the mountains;
Who slew the Dragon putting
forth his vigour, the demon lying there, He, men, is Indra.
12 Who with seven guiding reins, the Bull, the Mighty, set free
the Seven great Floods to flow at pleasure;
Who, thunder-armed,
rent Rauhina in pieces when scaling heaven, He, O ye men, is
Indra.
13 Even the Heaven and Earth bow down before him,
before his very breath the mountains tremble.
Known as the
Soma-drinker, armed with thunder, who wields the bolt, He, O
ye men, is Indra.
14 Who aids with favour him who pours the
Soma and him who brews it, sacrificer, singer.
Whom prayer
exalts, and pouring forth of Soma, and this our gift, He, O
ye men, Is Indra.
15 Thou verily art fierce and true who
sendest strength to the man who brews and pours libation.
So may we evermore, thy friends, O Indra, speak loudly to the
synod with our heroes.
HYMN XIII. Indra.
1. THE Season was the parent, and when born therefrom it
entered rapidly the floods wherein it grows.
Thence was it
full of sap, streaming with milky juice: the milk of the plant's
stalk is chief and meet for lauds.
2 They come trooping together
bearing milk to him, and bring him sustenance who gives support
to all.
The way is common for the downward streams to flow.
Thou who didst these things first art worthy of our lauds.
3 One priest announces what the institutor gives: one, altering
the forms, zealously plies his task,
The third corrects the
imperfections left by each. Thou who didst these things first
art worthy of our lauds.
4 Dealing out food unto their people
there they sit, like wealth to him who comes, more than the
back can bear.
Greedily with his teeth he eats the master's
food. Thou who didst these things first art worthy of our lauds.
5 Thou hast created earth to look upon the sky: thou, slaying
Ahi, settest free the river's paths.
Thee, such, a God, the
Gods have quickened with their lauds, even as a steed with waters:
meet for praise art thou.
6 Thou givest increase, thou dealest
to us our food: thou milkest from the moist the dry, the rich
in sweets.
Thou by the worshipper layest thy precious store:
thou art sole Lord of all. Meet for our praise art thou.
7 Thou who hast spread abroad the streams by stablished law,
and in the field the plants that blossom and bear seed;
Thou
who hast made the matchless lightnings of the sky,-vast, compassing
vast realms, meet for our praise art thou.
8 Who broughtest
Narmara with all his wealth, for sake of food, to slay him that
the fiends might be destroyed,
Broughtest the face unclouded
of the strengthening one, performing much even now, worthy art
thou of praise.
9 Thou boundest up the Dasa's hundred friends
and ten, when, at one's hearing, thou belpest thy worshipper.
Thou for Dabhiti boundest Dasyus not with cords; Thou wast a
mighty help. Worthy of lauds art thou.
10 All banks of rivers
yielded to his manly might; to him they gave, to him, the Strong,
gave up their wealth.
The six directions hast thou fixed,
a five-fold view: thy victories reached afar. Worthy of lauds
art thou.
11 Meet for high praise, O Hero, is thy power,
that with thy single wisdom thou obtainest wealth,
The life-support
of conquering Jatusthira. Indra, for all thy deeds, worthy of
lauds art thou.
12 Thou for Turviti heldest still the flowing
floods, the river-stream for Vayya easily to pass
Didst raise
the outcast from the depths, and gavest fame unto the halt and
blind. Worthy of lauds art thou.
13 Prepare thyself to grant
us that great bounty, O Vasu, for abundant is thy treasure.
Snatch up the wonderful, O Indra, daily. Loud may we speak,
with heroes, in assembly.
HYMN XIV. Indra.
1. MINISTERS, bring the Soma juice for Indra, pour forth
the gladdening liquor with the beakers.logeth ever
To drink
of this the Hero offer it to the Bull, for this he willeth.
2 Ye ministers, to him who with the lightning smote, like a
tree, the rain-withholding Vrtra-
Bring it to him, him who
is fain to taste it, a draught of this which Indra here deserveth.
3 Ye ministers, to him who smote Drhhikas who drove the kine
forth, and discovered Vala,
Offer this draught, like Vita
in the region: clothe him with Soma even as steeds with trappings.
4 Him who did Urana to death, Adhvaryus! though showing arms
ninety-and-nine in number;
Who cast down headlong Arbuda
and slew him,-speed ye that Indra to our offered Soma.
5
Ye ministers, to him who struck down Svasna, and did to death
Vyamsa and greedy Susna,
And Rudhikras and Namuci and Pipru,-
to him, to Indra, pour ye forth libation.
6 Ye ministers,
to him who as with thunder demolished Sambara's hundred ancient
castles;
Who cast down Varcin's sons, a hundred thousand,-to
him, to Indra, offer ye the Soma.
7 Ye ministers, to him
who slew a hundred thousand, and cast them down upon earth's
bosom;
Who quelled the valiant men of Atithigva, Kutsa, and
Ayu,-bring to him the Soma.
8 Ministers, men, whatever thing
ye long for obtain ye quickly bringing gifts to Indra.
Bring
to the Glorious One what bands have cleansed; to Indra bring,
ye pious ones, the Soma.
9 Do ye, O ministers, obey his order:
that purified in wood, in wood uplift ye.
Well pleased he
longs for what your hands have tended: offer the gladdening
Soma juice to Indra.
10 As the cow's udder teems with milk,
Adhvaryus, so fill with Soma Indra, liberal giver.
I know
him: I am sure of this, the Holy knows that I fain would give
to him more largely.
11 Him, ministers, the Lord of heavenly
treasure and all terrestrial wealth that earth possesses,
Him, Indra, fill with Soma as a garner is filled with barley
full: be this your labour.
12 Prepare thyself to grant us
that great booty, O Vasu, for abundant is thy treasure.
Gather
up wondrous wealth, O Indra, daily. Loud may we speak, with
heroes, in assembly.
HYMN XV. Indra
1. Now, verily, will I declare the exploits, mighty and true,
of him the True and Mighty.
In the Trikadrukas he drank the
Soma then in its rapture Indra slew the Dragon.
2 High heaven
unsupported in space he stablished: he filled the two worlds
and the air's mid-region.
Earth he upheld, and gave it wide
expansion. These things did Indra in the Soma's rapture.
3 From front, as 'twere a house, he ruled and measured; pierced
with his bolt the fountains of the rivers,
And made them
flow at ease by paths far-reaching, These things did Indra in
the Soma's rapture.
4 Compassing those who bore away Dabhiti,
in kindled fire he burnt up all their weapons.
And made him
rich with kine and cars and horses. These things did Indra in
the Soma's rapture.
5 The mighty roaring flood he stayed
from flowing, and carried those who swam not safely over.
They having crossed the stream attained to riches. These things
did Indra in the Soma's rapture.
6 With mighty power he made
the stream flow upward, crushed with his thunderbolt the car
of Usas,
Rending her slow steeds with his rapid coursers.
These things did Indra in the Soma's rapture.
7 Knowing the
place wherein the maids were hiding, the outcast showed himself
and stood before them.
The cripple stood erect, the blind
beheld them. These things did Indra in the Soma's rapture.
8 Praised by the Angirases he slaughtered Vala, and burst apart
the bulwarks of the mountain.
He tore away their deftly-built
defences. These things did Indra in the Soma's rapture.
9
Thou, with sleep whelming Cumuri and Dhuni, slewest the Dasyu,
keptest safe Dabhiti.
There the staff-bearer found the golden
treasure. These things did Indra in the Soma's rapture.
10
Now let that wealthy Cow of thine, O Indra , yield in return
a boon to him who lauds thee.
Give to thy praisers: let not
fortune fail us. Loud may we speak, with brave men, in assembly.
HYMN XVI. Indra.
1. To him, your own, the best among the good, I bring eulogy,
like oblation in the kindled fire.
We invocate for help Indra
untouched by eld, who maketh all decay, strengthened, for ever
young.
2 Without whom naught exists, Indra the Lofty One;
in whom alone all powers heroic are combined.
The Soma is
within him, in his frame vast strength, the thunder in his hand
and wisdom in his head.
3 Not by both worlds is thine own
power to be surpassed, nor may thy car be stayed by mountains
or by seas.
None cometh near, O Indra, to thy thunderbolt,
when with swift steeds thou fliest over many a league.
4
For all men bring their will to him the Resolute, to him the
Holy One, to him the Strong they cleave.
Pay worship with
oblation, strong and passing wise. Drink thou the Soma, Indra,
through the mighty blaze.
5 The vessel of the strong flows
forth, the flood of meath, unto the Strong who feeds upon the
strong, for drink,
Strong are the two Adhvaryus, strong are
both the stones. They press the Soma that is strong for him
the Strong.
6 Strong is thy thunderbolt, yea, and thy car
is strong; strong are thy Bay Steeds and thy weapons powerful.
Thou, Indra, Bull, art Lord of the strong gladdening drink.
with the strong Soma, Indra, satisfy thyself.
7 I, bold by
prayer, come near thee in thy sacred rites, thee like a saving
ship, thee shouting in the war.
Verily he will hear and mark
this word of ours: we will pour Indra forth as 'twere a spring
of wealth.
8 Turn thee unto us ere calamity come nigh, as
a cow full of pasture turns her to her calf.
Lord of a Hundred
Powers, may we once firmly cling to thy fair favours even as
husbands to their wives.
9 Now let that wealthy Cow of thine,
O Indra, yield in return a boon to him who lauds thee.
Give
to thy praisers: let not fortune fail us. Loud may we speak,
with heroes, in assembly.
HYMN XVII. Indra.
1. LIKE the Angirases, sing this new song forth to him, for,
as in ancient days, his mighty powers are shown,
When in
the rapture of the Soma he unclosed with strength the solid
firm-shut stables of the kine.
2 Let him be even that God
who, for the earliest draught measuring out his power, increased
his majesty;
Hero who fortified his body in the wars, and
through his greatness set the heaven upon his head.
3 Thou
didst perform thy first great deed of hero might what time thou
showedst power, through prayer, before this folk.
Hurled
down by thee the car-borne Lord of Tawny Steeds, the congregated
swift ones fled in sundry ways.
4 He made himself by might
Lord of all living things, and strong in vital power waxed great
above them all.
He, borne on high, o'erspread with light
the heaven and earth, and, sewing up the turbid darkness, closed
it in.
5 He with his might made firm the forward-bending
hills, the downward rushing of the waters he ordained.
Fast
he upheld the earth that nourisheth all life, and stayed the
heaven from falling by his wondrous skill.
6 Fit for the
grasping of his arms is what the Sire hath fabricated from all
kind of precious wealth.
The thunderbolt, wherewith, loud-roaring,
he smote down, and striking him to death laid Krivi on the earth.
7 As she who in her parents' house is growing old, I pray to
thee as Bhaga from the seat of all.
Grant knowledge, mete
it out and bring it to us here: give us the share wherewith
thou makest people glad.
8 May we invoke thee as a liberal
giver thou givest us, O Indra, strength and labours.
Help
us with manifold assistance, Indra: Migthy One, Indra, make
us yet more wealthy.
9 Now may that weaithy Cow of thine,
O Indra, give in return a boon to him who lauds thee.
Give
to thy praisers: let not fortune fail us. Loud may we speak,
with heroes, in assembly.
HYMN XVIII. Indra
1. THE rich new car hath been equipped at morning; four yokes
it hath, three whips, seven reins to guide it:
Ten-sided,
friendly to mankind, light-winner, that must be urged to speed
with prayers and wishes.
2 This is prepared for him the first,
the second, and the third time: he is man's Priest and Herald.
Others get offspring of another parent he goeth, as a noble
Bull, with others.
3 To Indra's car the Bay Steeds have I
harnessed, that new well-spoken words may bring him hither.
Here let not other worshippers detain thee, for among us are
many holy singers.
4 Indra, come hitherward with two Bay
Coursers, come thou with four, with six when invocated.
Come
thou with eight, with ten, to drink the Soma. Here is the juice,
brave Warrior: do not scorn it.
5 O Indra, come thou hither
having harnessed thy car with twenty, thirty, forty horses.
Come thou with fifty well trained coursers, Indra, sixty or
seventy, to drink the Soma.
6 Come to us hitherward, O Indra,
carried by eighty, ninety, or an hundred horses.
This Soma
juice among the Sunahotras hath been poured out, in love, to
glad thee, Indra.
7 To this my prayer, O Indra, come thou
hither: bind to thy car's pole all thy two Bay Coursers.
Thou art to be invoked in many places Hero, rejoice thyself
in this libation.
8 Ne'er be my love from Indra disunited
still may his liberal Milch-cow yield us treasure.
So may
we under his supreme protection, safe in his arms, succeed in
each forth-going.
9 Now may that wealthy Cow Of thine, O
Indra, give in return a boon to him who lauds thee.
Give
to thy praisers: let not fortune fail us. Loud may we speak,
with heroes, in assembly.
HYMN XIX. Indra.
1. DRAUGHTS of this sweet juice have been drunk for rapture,
of the wise Soma-presser's offered dainty,
Wherein, grown
mighty in the days aforetime, Indra hath found delight, and
men who worship.
2 Cheered by this meath Indra, whose hand
wields thunder, rent piecemeal Ahi who barred up the waters,
So that the quickening currents of the rivers flowed forth like
birds unto their resting-places.
3 Indra, this Mighty One,
the Dragon's slayer, sent forth the flood of waters to the ocean.
He gave the Sun his life, he found the cattle, and with the
night the works of days completed.
4 To him who worshippeth
hath Indra given many and matchless gifts. He slayeth Vrtra.
Straight was he to be sought with supplications by men who struggled
to obtain the sunlight.
5 To him who poured him gifts he
gave up Surya,-Indra, the God, the Mighty, to the mortal;
For Etasa with worship brought him riches that keep distress
afar, as 'twere his portion.
6 Once to the driver of his
chariot, Kutsa, he gave up greedy Surya, plague of harvest;
And Indra, for the sake of Divodasa demolished Sambara's nine-and-ninety
castles.
7 So have we brought our hymn to thee, O Indra,
strengthening thee and fain ourselves for glory.
May we with
best endeavours gain this friendship, and mayst thou bend the
godless scorner's weapons.
8 Thus the Grtsamadas for thee,
O Hero, have wrought their hymn and task as seeking favour.
May they who worship thee afresh, O Indra, gain food and strength,
bliss, and a happy dwelling.
9 Now may that wealthy Cow of
thine, O Indra, give in return a boon to him who lauds thee,
Give to thy praisers: let not fortune fail us. Loud may we speak,
with heroes, in assembly.
HYMN XX. Indra.
1. As one brings forth his car when fain for combat, so bring
we power to thee- regard us, Indra-
Well skilled in song,
thoughtful in spirit, seeking great bliss from one like thee
amid the Heroes.
2 Indra, thou art our own with thy protection,
a guardian near to men who love thee truly,
Active art thou,
the liberal man's defender, his who draws near to thee with
right devotion.
3 May Indra, called with solemn invocations.
the young, the Friend, be men's auspicious keeper,
One who
will further with his aid the singer, the toiler, praiser, dresser
of oblations.
4 With laud and song let me extol that Indra
in whom of old men prospered and were mighty.
May he, implored,
fulfil the prayer for plenty of him who worships, of the living
mortal.
5 He, Indra whom the Angirases' praise delighted,
strengthened their prayer and made their goings prosper.
Stealing away the mornings with the sunlight, he, lauded, crushed
even Asna's ancient powers.
6 He verily, the God, the glorious
Indra, hath raised him up for man, best Wonder-Worker.
He,
self-reliant, mighty and triumphant, brought low the dear head
of the wicked Dasa.
7 Indra theVrtra-slayer, Fort-destroyer,
scattered the Dasa hosts who dwelt in darkness.
For men hath
he created earth and waters, and ever helped the prayer of him
who worships.
8 To him in might the Gods have ever yielded,
to Indra in the tumult of thebattle.
When in his arms they
laid the bolt, he slaughtered the Dasyus and cast down their
forts of iron.
9 Now may that wealthy Cow of thine, O Indra,
give in return a boon to him who lauds thee.
Give to thy
praisers: let not fortune fail us. Loud may we speak, with heroes,
in assembly.
HYMN XXI.
1. To him the Lord of all, the Lord of wealth, of light;
him who is Lord for ever, Lord of men and tilth,
Him who
is Lord of horses, Lord of kine,of floods, to Indra, to the
Holy bring sweet Soma juice.
2 To him the potent One, who
conquers and breaks down, the Victor never vanquished who disposes
all,
The migbty-voiced, the rider, unassailable, to Indra
everconquering speak your reverent prayer.
3 Still Victor,
loved by mortals, ruler over men, o'erthrower, warrior, he hath
waxen as he would;
Host-gatherer, triumphant, honoured mid
the folk. Indra's heroic deeds will I tell forth to all.
4 The strong who never yields, who slew the furious fiend, the
deep, the vast, of wisdom unattainable;
Who speeds the good,
the breaker-down, the firm, the vast,-Indra whose rites bring
joy hath made the light of Dawn.
5 By sacrifice the yearning
sages sending forth their songs found furtherance from him who
speeds the flood.
In Indra seeking help with worship and
with hymn, they drew him to themselves and won them kine and
wealth.
6 Indra, bestow on us the best of treasures, the
spirit of ability and fortune;
Increase of riches, safety
of our bodies, charm of sweet speech, and days of pleasant weather.
HYMN XXII. Indra.
I. At the Trikadrukas the Great and Strong hath drunk drink
blent with meal. With Visnu hath he quaffed the poured out Soma
juice, all that he would.
That hath so heightened him the
Great, the Wide, to do his mighty work.
So may the God attain
the God, true Indu Indra who is true.
2 So he resplendent
in the battle overcame Krivi by might. He with his majesty hath
filled the earth and heaven, and waxen strong.
One share
of the libation hath he swallowed down: one share he left.
So may the God attend the God, true Indu Indra who is true.
3 Brought forth together with wisdom and mighty power thou grewest
great; with hero deeds subduing the malevolent, most swift in
act;
Giving prosperity, and lovely wealth to him who praiseth
thee. So may the God attend the God, true Indu Indra who is
true.
4 This, Indra, was thy hero deed, Dancer, thy first
and ancient work, worthy to be told forth in heaven,
What
time thou sentest down life with a God's own power, freeing
the floods.
All that is godless may he conquer with his might,
and, Lord of Hundred Powers, find for us strength and food.
HYMN XXIII. Brahmanaspati.
1. WE call thee, Lord and Leader of the heavenly hosts, the
wise among the wise, the famousest of all,
The King supreme
of prayers, O Brahmanaspati: hear us with help; sit down in
place of sacrifice.
2 Brhaspati, God immortal! verily the
Gods have gained from thee, the wise, a share in holy rites.
As with great light the Sun brings forth the rays of morn, so
thou alone art Father of all sacred prayer.
3 When thou hast
chased away revilers and the gloom, thou mountest the refulgent
car of sacrifice;
The awful car, Brhaspati, that quells the
foe, slays demons, cleaves the stall of kine, and finds the
light.
4 Thou leadest with good guidance and preservest men;
distress o'ertakes not him who offers gifts to thee.
Him
who hates prayer thou punishest, Brhaspati, quelling his wrath:
herein is thy great mightiness.
5 No sorrow, no distress
from any side, no foes, no creatures double-tongued have overcome
the man,-
Thou drivest all seductive fiends away from him
whom, careful guard, thou keepest Brahmanaspati.
6 Thou art
our keeper, wise, preparer of our paths: we, for thy service,
sing to thee with hymns of praise.
Brhaspati, whoever lays
a snare for us, him may his evil fate, precipitate, destroy.
7 Him, too, who threatens us without offence of ours, the evilminded,
arrogant, rapacious man,-
Him turn thou from our path away,
Brhaspati: give us fair access to this banquet of the Gods.
8 Thee as protector of our bodies we invoke, thee, saviour,
as the comforter who loveth us.
Strike, O Brhaspati, the
Gods' revilers down, and let not the unrighteous come to highest
bliss.
9 Through thee, kind -prosperer, O Brahmanaspati,
may we obtain the wealth of Men which all desire:
And all
our enemies, who near or far away prevail against us, crush,
and leave them destitute.
10 With thee as our own rich and
liberal ally may we, Brhaspati, gain highest power of life.
Let not the guileful wicked man be lord of us:-still may we
prosper, singing goodly hymns of praise.
11 Strong, never
yielding, hastening to the battle-cry, consumer of the foe,
victorious in the strife,
Thou art sin's true avenger, Brahmanaspati,
who tamest e'en the fierce, the wildly passionate.
12 Whoso
with mind ungodly seeks to do us harm, who, deeming him a man
of might mid lords, would slay,-
Let not his deadly blow
reach us, Brhaspati; may we humiliate the strong ill-doer's
wrath.
13 The mover mid the spoil, the winner of all wealth,
to be invoked in fight and reverently adored,
Brhaspati hath
overthrown like cars of war all wicked enemies who fain would
injure us.
14 Burn up the demons with thy fiercest flaming
brand, those who have scorned thee in thy manifested might.
Show forth that power that shall deserve the hymn of praise:
destroy the evil speakers, O Brhaspati.
15 Brhaspati, that
which the foe deserves not which shines among the folk effectual,
splendid,
That, Son of Law I which is with might refulgent-that
treasure wonderful bestow thou on us.
16 Give us not up to
those who, foes in ambuscade, are greedy for the wealth of him
who sits at ease,
Who cherish in their heart abandonment
of Gods. Brhaspati, no further rest shall they obtain.
17
For Tvastar, he who knows each sacred song, brought thee to
life, preeminent o'er all the things that be.
Guilt-scourger,
guilt-avenger is Brhaspati, who slays the spoiler and upholds
the mighty Law.
18 The mountain, for thy glory, cleft itself
apart when, Angiras! thou openedst the stall of kine.
Thoul
O Brhaspati, with Indra for ally didst hurl down water-floods
which gloom had compa-sed round.
19 O Brahmanaspati, be thou
controller of this our hymn and prosper thou our children.
All that the Gods regard with love is blessed. Loud may we speak,
with heroes, in assembly.
HYMN XXIV. Brahmanaspati.
1. BE pleased with this our offering, thou who art the Lord;
we will adore thee with this new and mighty song.
As this
thy friend, our liberal patron, praises thee, do thou, Brhaspati,
fulfil our hearts' desire.
2 He who with might bowed down
the things that should be bowed, and in his fury rent the holds
of Sambara:
Who overthrew what shook not, Brahmapaspati,-he
made his way within the mountain stored with wealth.
3 That
was a great deed for the Godliest of the Gods: strong things
were loosened and the firmly fixed gave way.
He drave the
kine forth and cleft Vala through by prayer, dispelled the darkness
and displayed the light of heaven.
4 The well with mouth
of stone that poured a flood of meath, which Brahmapaspati hath
opened with his might-
All they who see the light have drunk
their fill thereat: together they have made the watery fount
flow forth.
5 Ancient will be those creatures, whatsoe'er
they be; with moons, with autumns, doors unclose themselves
to you.
Effortless they pass on to perfect this and that,
appointed works which Brahmanaspati ordained.
6 They who
with much endeavour searching round obtained the Panis' noblest
treasure hidden in the cave,-
Those sages, having marked
the falsehoods, turned them back whence they had come, and sought
again to enter in.
7 The pious ones when they had seen the
falsehoods turned them back, the sages stood again upon the
lofty ways.
Cast down with both their arms upon the rock
they left the kindled fire, and said, No enemy is he.
8 With
his swift bow, strung truly, Brahmanaspati reaches the mark
whate'er it be that he desires.
Excellent are the arrows
wherewithal he shoots, keen-eyed to look on men and springing
from his ear.
9 He brings together and he parts, the great
High Priest; extolled is he, in battle Brahmapaspati.
When,
gracious, for the hymn he brings forth food and wealth, the
glowing Sun untroubled sends forth fervent heat.
10 First
and preeminent, excelling all besides are the kind gifts of
liberal Brhaspati.
These are the boons of him the Strong
who should be loved, whereby both classes and the people have
delight.
11 Thou who in every way supreme in earthly power,
rejoicing, by thy mighty strength hast waxen great,-
He is
the God spread forth in breadth against the Gods: he, Brahmanaspati,
encompasseth this All.
12 From you, twain Maghavans, all
truth proceedeth: even the waters break not your commandment.
Come to us, Brahmanaspati and Indra, to our oblation Iiie yoked
steeds to fodder.
13 The sacrificial flames most swiftly
hear the call: the priest of the assembly gaineth wealth for
hymns.
Hating the stern, remitting at his will the debt,
strong in the shock of fight is Brahmanaspati.
14 The wrath
of Brahmanaspati according to his will had full effect when
he would do a mighty deed.
The kine he drave forth and distributed
to heaven, even as a copious flood with strength flows sundry
ways.
15 O Brahmanaspati, may we be evermore masters of wealth
well-guided, full of vital strength.
Heroes on heroes send
abundantly to us, when thou omnipotent through prayer seekest
my call.
16 O Brahmanaspati, be thou controller of this our
hymn, and prosper thou our children.
All that the Gods regard
with love is blessed. Loud may we speak, with heroes, in assembly.
HYMN XXV. Brahmanaspati.
1. HE lighting up the flame shall conquer enemies: strong
shall he be who offers prayer and brings his gift.
He with
his seed spreads forth beyond another's seed, whomever Brahmanaspati
takes for his friend.
2 With heroes he shall overcome his
hero foes, and spread his wealth by kine wise by himself is
be.
His children and his children's children
grow in strength,
whomever Brahmanaspati takes for his friend.
3 He, mighty
like a raving river's billowy flood, as a bull conquers oxen,
overcomes with strength.
Like Agni's blazing rush he may
not be restrained, whomever Brahmanaspati takes for his friend.
4 For him the floods of heaven flow never failing down: first
with the heroes he goes forth to war for kine.
He slays in
unabated vigour with great might, whomever Brahmanaspati takes
for his friend.
5 All roaring rivers pour their waters down
for him, and many a flawless shelter hath been granted him.
Blest with the happiness of Gods he prospers well, whomever
Brahmanaspati takes for his friend.
HYMN XXVI. Brahmanaspati.
1. THE righteous singer shall o'ercome his enemies, and he
who serves the Gods subdue the godless man.
The zealous man
shall vanquish the invincible, the worshipper share the food
of him who worships not.
2 Worship, thou hero, chase the
arrogant afar: put on auspicious courage for the fight with
foes.
Prepare oblation so that thou mayst have success. we
crave the favouring help of Brahmanaspati.
3 He with his
folk, his house, his family, his sons, gains booty for himself,
and, with the heroes, wealth,believing
Who with oblation
and a true heart serves Brahmanaspati the Father of the Gods.
4 Whoso hath honoured him with offerings rich in oil, him Brahmanaspati
leads forward on his way,
Saves him from sorrow, frees him
from his enemy, and is his wonderful deliverer from woe.
HYMN XXVII. Adityas.
1. THESE hymns that drop down fatness, with the ladle I ever
offer tothe Kings Adityas.
May Mitra, Aryanian, and Bhaga
hear us, the mighty Varuna Daksa, and Amsa.
2 With one accord
may Aryaman and Mitra and Varuna this day accept this praise-song-
Adityas bright and pure as streams of water, free from all guile
and falsehood, blameless, perfect.
3 These Gods, Adityas,
vast, profound, and faithful, with many eyes, fain to deceive
the wicked,
Looking within behold the good and evil near
to the Kings is even the thing most distant.
4 Upholding
that which moves and that which moves not, Adityas, Gods, protectors
of all being,
Provident, guarding well the world of spirits,
true to eternal Law, the debt-exactors.
5 May I, Adityas,
share m this your favour which, Aryaman, brings profit e'en
in danger.
Under your guidance, Varuna and Mitra, round troubles
may I pass, like rugged places.
6 Smooth is your path, O
Aryaman and Mitra; excellent is it, Varuna, and thornless.
Thereon, Adityas, send us down your blessing: grant us a shelter
hard to be demolished.
7 Mother of Kings, may Aditi transport
us, by fair paths Aryaman, beyond all hatred.
May we uninjured,
girt by many heroes, win Varuna's and Mitra's high protection.
8 With their support they stay three earths, three heavens;
three are their functions in the Gods' assembly.
Mighty through
Law, Adityas, is your greatness; fair is it, Aryaman, Varuna,
and Mitra.
9 Golden and splendid, pure like streams of water,
they hold aloft the three bright heavenly regions.
Ne'er
do they slumber, never close their eyelids, faithful, far-ruling
for the righteous mortal.
10 Thou over all, O Varuna, art
Sovran, be they Gods, Asura! or be they mortals.
Grant unto
us to see a hundred autumns ours be the blest long lives of
our forefathers.
11 Neither the right nor left do I distinguish,
neither the cast nor yet the west, Adityas.
Simple and guided
by your wisdom, Vasus!
may I attain the light that brings
no danger.
12 He who bears gifts unto the Kings, true Leaders,
he whom their everlasting blessings prosper,
Moves with his
chariot first in rank and wealthy, munificent and lauded in
assemblies.
13 Pure, faithful, very strong, with heroes round
him, he dwells beside the waters rich with pasture.
None
slays, from near at hand or from a distance, him who is under
the Adityas' guidance.
14 Aditi, Mitra, Varuna, forgive us
however we have erred and sinned against you.
May I obtain
the broad light free from peril: O Indra, let not during darkness
seize us.
15 For him the Twain united pour their fulness,
the rain from heaven: he thrives most highly favoured.
He
goes to war mastering both the mansions: to him both portions
of the world are gracious.
16 Your guiles, ye Holy Ones,
to quell oppressors, your snares spread out against the foe,
Adityas,
May I car-borne pass like a skilful horseman: uninjured
may we dwell in spacious shelter.
17 May1 not live, O Varuna,
to witness my wealthy, liberal, dear friend's destitution.
King, may1 never lack well-ordered riches. Lond may we speak,
with heroes, in assembly.
HYMN XXVIII. Varuna
1. THIS laud of the self-radiant wise Aditya shall be supreme
o'er all that is in greatness.
1 beg renown of Varuna the
Mighty, the God exceeding kind to him who worships.
2, Having
extolled thee. Varuna, with thoughtful care may we have high
fortune in thy service,
Sinffing thy praises like the fires
at coming, day after day, of mornings rich in cattle.
3 May
we be in thy keeping, O thou Leader wide-ruling Varuna, Lord
of many heroes.
O sons of Aditi, for ever faithful, pardon
us, Gods, admit us to your friendship.
4 He made them flow,
the Aditya, the Sustainer: the rivers run by Varuna's commandment.
These feel no weariness, nor cease from flowing: swift have
they flown like birds in air around us.
5 Loose me from sin
as from a bond that binds me: may we swell, Varuna, thy spring
of Order.
Let not my thread, while I weave song, be severed,
nor my work's sum, before the time, be shattered.
6 Far from
me, Varuna, remove all danger accept me graciously, thou Holy
Sovran.
Cast off, like cords that hold a calf, my troubles:
I am not even mine eyelid's lord without thee.
7 Strike us
not, Varuna, with those dread weapons which, Asura, at thy bidding
wound the sinner.
Let us not pass away from light to exile.
Scatter, that we may live, the men who hate us
8 O mighty
Varuna, now and hereafter, even as of old, will we speak forth
our worship.
For in thyself, invincible God, thy statutes
ne er to be moved are fixed as on a mountain.
9 Move far
from me what sins I have committed: let me not suffer, King,
for guilt of others.
Full many a morn remains to dawn upon
us: in these, O Varuna, while we live direct us.
10 O King,
whoever, be he friend or kinsman, hath threatened me affrighted
in my slumber-
If any wolf or robber fain would harm us,
therefrom, O Varuna, give thou us protection.
11May I not
live O Varuna, to witness my wealthy, liberal dear friend's
destitution.
King, may I never lack well-ordered riches.
Loud may we speak, with heroes, in assembly.
HYMN XXIX. Visvedevas.
I. UPHOLDERS of the Law, ye strong Adityas, remove my sin
like her who bears in secret.
You, Varuna, Mitra and all
Gods who listen, I call to help me, I who know your goodness.
2 Ye, Gods, are providence and ye are power: remove ye utterly
all those who hate us.
As givers of good things deal with
us kindly: this day be gracious to us and hereafter.
3 What
service may we do you with our future, what service, Vasus,
with our ancient friendship?
O Aditi, and VaruVa and Mitra,
Indra and Maruts, make us well and happy.
4 Ye, O ye Gods,
are verily our kinsmen as such be kind to me who now implore
you.
Let not your car come slowly to our worship: of kinsmen
such as you ne'er let us weary.
5 I singly have sinned many
a sin against you, and ye chastised me as a sire the gambler.
Far be your nets, far, Gods, be mine offences: seize me not
like a bird upon her offspring.
6 Turn yourselves hitherward
this day, ye Holy, that fearing in my heart I may approach you.
Protect us, God; let not the wolf destroy us. Save us, ye Holy,
from the pit and falling.
7 May I not live, O Varuna, to
witness my wealthy, liberal, dear friend's destitution.
King,
may I never lack well-ordered riches. Loud may we speak, with
heroes, in assembly.
HYMN XXX. Indra and Others.
1. THE streams unceasing flow to Indra, slayer of Ahi, Savitar,
God, Law's fulfiller,
Day after day goes on the sheen of
waters. What time hath past since they were first set flowing?
2 His Mother-for she knew-spake and proclaimed him who was about
to cast his bolt at Vrtra.
Cutting their paths according
to his pleasure day after day flow to their goal the rivers.
3 Aloft he stood above the airy region, and against Vrtra shot
his deadly missile.
Enveloped in a cloud he rushed upon him.
Indra subdued the foe with sharpened weapons.
4 As with a
bolt, Brhaspati, fiercely flaming, pierce thou Vrkadvaras',
the Asura's, heroes.
Even as in time of old with might thou
slewest, so slay even now our enemy, O Indra.
5 Cast down
from heaven on high thy bolt of thunder wherewith in joy thou
smitest dead the foeman.
For gain of children make us thine,
O Indra, of many children's children and of cattle.
6 Whomso
ye love, his power ye aid and strengthen; ye Twain are the rich
worshipper's advancers.
Graciously favour us, Indra and Soma;
give us firm standing in this time of danger.
7 Let it not
vex me, tire me, make me slothful, and never let us say, Press
not the Soma;
For him who cares for me, gives gifts, supports
me, who comes with kine to me who pour libations.
8 Sarasvati,
protect us: with the Maruts allied thou boldly conquerest our
foemen,
While Indra does to death the daring chieftain of
Sandikas exulting in his prowess.
9 Him who waylays, yea,
him who would destroy us,-aim at him, pierce him with thy sharpened
weapon.
Brhaspati, with arms thou slayest foemen O King,
give up the spoiler to destruction.
10 Perform, O Hero, with
our valiant heroes the deeds heroic which thou hast to finish.
Long have they been inflated with presumption: slay them, and
bring us hither their possessions.
11 I craving joy address
with hymn and homage your heavenly host, the company of Maruts,
That we may gain wealth with full store of heroes, each day
more famous, and with troops of children.
HYMN XXXI. Visvedevas.
1. HELP, Varuna and Mitra, O ye Twain allied with Vasus,
Rudras, and Adityas, help our car,
That, as the wild birds
of the forest from their home, our horses may fly forth, glad,
eager for renown.
2 Yea, now ye Gods of one accord speed
on our car what time among the folk it seeks an act of might;
When, hasting through the region with the stamp of hoofs, our
swift steeds trample on the ridges of the earth.
3 Or may
our Indra here, the Friend of all mankind, coming from heaven,
most.wise, girt by the Marut host,
Accompany, with aid untroubled
by a foe, our car to mighty gain, to win the meed of strength.
4 Or may this Tvastar, God who rules the world with power, one-minded
with the Goddesses speed forth our car;
Ila and Bhaga the
celestial, Earth and Heaven, Pusan, Purandhi, and the Asvins,
ruling Lords.
5 Or, seen alternate, those two blessed Goddesses,
Morning and Night who stir all living things to act:
While
with my newest song I praise you both, O Earth, that from what
moves not ye may spread forth threefold food.
6 Your blessing
as a boon for suppliants we desire: the Dragon of the Deep,
and Aja-Ekapad,
Trita, Rbhuksan, Savitar shall joy in us,
and ihe Floods' swift Child in our worship and our prayer.
7 These earnest prayers I pray to you, ye Holy: to pay you honour,
living men have formed them,
Men fain to win the prize and
glory. May they win, as a car-horse might the goal, your notice.
HYMN XXXII. Various Deities.
1. GRACIOUSLY further, O ye Heaven and Earth, this speech
striving to win reward, of me your worshipper.
First rank
I give to you, Immortal, high extolled! I, fain to win me wealth,
to you the migbty Pair.
2 Let not man's guile annoy us, secret
or by day: give not us up a prey to these calamities.
Sever
not thou our friendship: think thereon for us. This, with a
heart that longs for bliss, we seek from thee.
3 Bring hither
with benignant mind the willing Cow teeming with plenteous milk,
full, inexhaustible.
O thou invoked by many, day by day I
urge thee with my word, a charger rapid in his tread.
4 With
eulogy I call on Raka swift to hear may she, auspicious, hear
us, and herself observe.
With never-breaking needle may she
sew her work, and give a hero son most wealthy, meet for praise.
5 All thy kind thoughts, O Raka, lovely in their form, wherewith
thou grantest wealth to him who offers gifts-
With these
come thou to us this day benevolent, O Blessed One, bestowing
food of thousand sorts.
6 O broad-tressed Sinivali, thou
who art the Sister of the Gods,
Accept the offered sacrifice,
and, Goddess, grant us progeny.
7 With lovely fingers, lovely
arms, prolific Mother of many sons-
Present the sacred gifts
to her, to Sinlivali Queen of men.
8 Her, Sinivali, her,
Gungu, her, Raka, her, Sarasvati, Indrani to mine aid I call,
and Vartunani for my weal.
HYMN XXXIII. Rudra.
1. FATHER of Maruts, let thy bliss approach us: exclude us
not from looking on the sunlight.
Gracious to our fleet courser
be the Hero may we transplant us, Rudra, in our children.
2 With the most saving medicines which thou givest, Rudra, may
I attain a hundred winters.
Far from us banish enmity and
hatred, and to all quarters maladies and trouble.
3 Chief
of all born art thou in glory, Rudra, armed with the thunder,
mightiest of the mighty.
Transport us over trouble to well-being
repel thou from us all assaults of mis. chief.
4 Let us not
anger thee with worship, Rudra, ill praise, Strong God! or mingled
invocation.
Do thou with strengthening balms incite our heroes:
I hear thee famed as best of all physicians.
5 May I with
praise-songs win that Rudra's favour who is adored with gifts
and invocations.
Ne'er may the tawny God, fair-checked, and
gracious, swifthearing, yield us to this evil purpose.
6
The Strong, begirt by Maruts, hath refreshed me, with most invigorating
food, imploring.
As he who finds a shade in fervent sunlight
may I, uninjured, win the bliss of Rudra.
7 Where is that
gracious hand of thine, O Rudra, the hand that giveth health
and bringeth comfort,
Remover of the woe that Gods have sent
us? O Strong One, look thou on me with compassion.
8 To him
the strong, great, tawny, fair-complexioned, I utter forth a
mighty hymn of praises.
We serve the brilliant God with adorations,
we glorify, the splendid name of Rudra.
9 With firm limbs,
multiform, the strong, the tawny adorns himself with bright
gold decorations:
The strength of Godhead ne'er departs from
Rudra, him who is Sovran of this world, the mighty.
10 Worthy,
thou carriest thy bow and arrows, worthy, thy manyhued and honoured
necklace.
Worthy, thou cuttest here each fiend to pieces:
a mightier than thou there is not, Rudra.
11 Praise him the
chariot-borne, the young, the famous, fierce, slaying like a
dread beast of the forest.
O Rudra, praised, be gracious
to the singer. let thy hosts spare us and smite down another.
12 I bend to thee as thou approachest, Rudra, even as a boy
before the sire who greets him.
I praise thee Bounteous Giver,
Lord of heroes: give medicines to us as thou art lauded.
13 Of your pure medicines, O potent Martits, those that are
wholesomest and healthbestowing,
Those which our father Manu
hath selected, I crave from. Rudra for our gain and welfare.
14 May Rudra's missile turn aside and spare us, the great wrath
of the impetuous One avoid us.
Turn, Bounteous God, thy strong
bow from our princes, and be thou gracious to our seed and offspring.
15 O tawny Bull, thus showing forth thy nature, as neither to
be wroth, O God, nor slay us.
Here, Rudra, listen to our
invocation. Loud may we speak, with heroes, in assembly.
HYMN XXXIV. Maruts
1. THE Maruts of resistless might who love the rain, resplendent,
terrible like wild beasts in their strength,
Glowing like
flames of fire, impetuous in career, blowing the wandering raincloud,
have disclosed the kine.
2 They gleam with armlets as the
heavens are decked with stars, like cloud-born lightnings shine
the torrents of their rain.
Since the strong Rudra, O Maruts
with brilliant chests, sprang into life for you in Prsni's radiant
lap.
3 They drip like horses in the racings of swift steeds;
with the stream's rapid cars they hasten on their way.
Maruts
with helms of gold, ye who make all things shake, con e with
your spotted deer, one-minded, to our food.
4 They have bestowed
of Mitra all that live, to feed, they who for evermore cause
their swift drops to flow;
Whose steeds are spotted deer,
whose riches never fail, like horses in full speed, bound to
the pole in work.
5 With brightly-flarning kine whose udders
swell with milk, idth glittering lances on your unobstructed
paths,
O Maruts, of one mind, like swans who seek their nests,
come to the rapturous enjoyment of the meath.
6 To these
our prayers, O Maruts, come unanimous, come ye to our libations
like the praise of men.
Make it swell like a mare, in udder
like a cow, and for the singer grace the song with plenteous
strength.
7 Give us a steed, O Maruts migbty in the car;
prevailing prayer that brings remembrance day by day;
Food
to your praisers, to your bard in deeds of might give winning
wisdom, power uninjured, unsurpassed.
8 When the bright-chested
Maruts, lavish of their gifts, bind at the time bliss their
horses to the cars,
Then, as the milch-cow feeds her calf
within the stalls, they pour forth food for all oblation-bringing
men.
9 Save us, O Maruts, Vasus, from the injurer, the mortal
foe who makes us looked upon as wolves.
With chariot all
aflame compass him round about: O Rudras, cast away the foeman's
deadly bolt.
10 Well-known, ye Maruts, is that wondrous course
of yours, when they milked Prsni's udder, close akin to her.
Or when to shame the bard who lauded, Rudra's Sons, ye O infallible
brought Trita to decay.
11 We call youi such, great Maruts,
following wonted ways, to the oblation paid to Visnu Speeder-on.
With ladles lifted up, with prayer, we seek of them preeminent,
golden-hued, the wealth which all extol.
12 They, the Dasagvas,
first of all brought sacrifice: they at the break of mornings
shall inspirit us.
Dawn with her purple beams uncovereth
the nights, with great light glowing like a billowy sea of milk.
13 The Rudras have rejoiced thern in the gathered bands at seats
of worship as in purple ornaments.
They with impetuous vigour
sending down the rain have taken to themselves a bright and
lovely hue.
14 Soliciting their high protection for our help,
with this our adoration we sing praise to them,
Whom, for
assistance, like the five terrestrial priests. Trita hath brought
to aid us hither on his car.
15 So may your favouring help
be turned to us-ward, your kindness like a Iowing cow approach
us,
Wherewith ye bear your servant over trouble, and free
your worshipper from scoff and scorning.
HYMN XXXV. Son of Waters.
1. EAGER for spoil my flow of speech I utter: may the Floods'
Child accept my songs with favour.
Will not the rapid Son
of Waters make them lovely, for he it is who shall enjoy them?
2 To him let us address the song well-fashioned, forth from
the heart. Shall he not understand it'
The friendly Son of
Waters by the greatness of Godhead hath produced all things
existing.
3 Some floods unite themselves and others join
them: die sounding rivers fill one common storehouse.
On
every side the bright Floods have encompassed the bright resplendent
Offspring of the Waters.
4 The never-sullen waters, youthful
Maidens, carefully decking, wait on him the youthful.
He
with bright rays shines forth in splendid beauty, unfed with
wood. in waters, oil-enveloped.
5 To him three Dames are
oftering food to feed him, Goddesses to the God whom none may
injure.
Within the waters hath he pressed, as hollows, and
drinks their milk who now are first made mothers.
6 Here
was the horse's birth; his was the sunlight. Save thou our princes
from the oppressor's onslaught.
Him, indestructible, dwelling
at a distance in forts unwrought lies and ill spirits reach
not.
7 He, in whose mansion is the teeming Milch-cow, swells
the Gods' nectar and cats noble viands.
lle Son of Waters,
gathering strength in waters, shines for his worshipper to give
him treasures.
8 He who in waters with his own pure Godhead
shines widely, law-abiding, everlasting-
The other worlds
are verily his branches, and plants are born of him with all
their offspring.
9 The Waters' Son hath risen, and clothed
in lightning ascended up unto the curled cloud's bosom;
And
bearing with them his supremest glory the Youthful Ones, gold-coloured,
move around him.
10 Golden in form is he, like gold to look
on, his colour is like gold, the Son of Waters.
When he is
seated fresh from golden birthplace those who present their
gold give food to feed him.
11 This the fair name and this
the lovely aspect of him the Waters' Son increase in secret.
Whom here the youthful Maids together kindle, his food is sacred
oil of golden colour.
12 Him, nearest Friend of many, will
we worship with sacrifice. and reverence and oblation.
I
make his back to shine, with chips provide him; t offer food
and with my songs exalt him.
13 The Bull hath laid his own
life-germ Within them. He sucks them as an infant, and they
kiss him.
He, Son of Waters, of unfading colour, hadi entered
here as in another's body.
14 While here he dwelleth in sublimest
station, resplendent with the rays that never perish,
The
Waters, bearing oil to feed their ofispring, flow, Youthful
Ones, in wanderings about him.
15 Agni, I gave good shelter
to the people, and to the princes goodly preparation.
Blessed
is all that Gods regard with favour. Loud may we speak, with
heroes, in assembly.
HYMN XXXVI Various Gods.
1. WATER and milk hath he endued, sent forth to thee: the
men have drained him with the filters and the stones.
Drink,
Indra, from the Hotar's bowlfirst right is thine-Soma hallowed
and poured with Vasat and Svaha.
2 Busied with sacrifice,
with spotted deer and spears, gleaming upon your way with ornaments,
yea, our Friends,
Sitting on sacred grass, ye Sons of Bharata,
drink Soma from the Potar's bowl, O Men of heaven.
3 Come
unto us, ye swift to listen: as at home upon the sacred grass
sit and enjoy yourselves.
And, Tvastar, well-content be joyful
in the juice with Gods and Goddesses in gladsome company.
4 Bring the Gods hither, Sage, and offer sacrifice: at the three
altars seat thee willingly, O Priest.
Accept for thy delight
the proffered Soma meath: drink from the Kindler's bowl and
fill thee with thy share.
5 This is the strengthener of thy
body's manly might: strength, victory for all time are placed
within thine arms.
Pressed for thee, Maghavan, it is offered
unto thee: drink from the chalice of this Brahman, drink thy
fill.
6 Accept the sacrifice; mark both of you, my call:
the Priest hath seated him after the ancient texts.
My prayer
that bids them come goes forth to both the Kings: drink ye the
Soma meath from the Director's bowl.
HYMN XXXVII. Various Gods.
1. Enjoy thy fill of meath out of the Hotar's cup: Adhvaryus
he desires a full draught poured for him.
Bring it him: seeking
this he gives. Granter of Wealth, drink Sorna with the Rtus
from the Hotar's cup.
2 He whom of old I called on, him I
call on now. He is to be invoked; his name is He who Gives,
Here brought by priests is Soma meath. Granter of Wealth, drink
Soma with the Rtus from the Potar's cup.
3 Fat may the horses
be wherewith thou specdest on: Lord of the Wood, unharming,
strengthen thou thyself.
Drawing and seizing, Bold One, thou
who grantest wealth, drink Soma with the Rtus from the Nestar's
cup.
4 From Hotar's cup and Potar's he hath drunk and joyed:
the proffered food hath pleased him from the Nestar's bowl.
The fourth cup undisturbed, immortal, let him drink who giveth
wealth, the cup of the wealth-giving God.
5 Yoke, O ye Twain,
to-day your hero-bearing car, swift-moving hitherward: your
loosing-place is here.
Mix the oblations, then come hither
with the meath, and drink the Soma, ye rich in abundant strength.
6 Agni, accept the fuel and our offered gift: accept the prayer
of man, accept our eulogy,
Do thou with all, with Rtu, O
thou Excellent, fain, make the great Gods all fain taste the
gift we bring.
HYMN XXXVIII. Savitar.
1. UPRISEN is Savitar, this God, to quicken, Priest who neglects
not this most constant duty.
To the Gods, verily, he gives
rich treasure, and blesses him who calls them to the banquet.
2 Having gone up on high, the God broadhanded spreads his arms
widely forth that all may mark him.
Even the waters bend
them to his service: even this wind rests in the circling region.
3 Though borne by swift steeds he will yet unyoke them: e'en
the fleet chariot hath he stayed from going.
He hath checked
e'en their haste who glide like serpents. Night closely followed
Savitar's dominion.
4 What was spread out she weaves afresh,
re-weaving: the skilful leaves his labour half-completed.
He hath arisen from rest, and parted seasons: Savitar hath approached,
God, holy-minded.
5 Tlirough various dwellings, through entire
existence, spreads, manifest, the household light of Agni.
The Mother gives her Son the goodliest portion, and Savitar
hath sped to meet his summons.
6 He comes again, unfolded,
fain for conquest: at home was he, the love of all things moving.
Each man hath come leaving his evil doings, after the Godlike
Savitar's commandment.
7 The wild beasts spread through desert
places seeking their watery share which thou hast set in waters.
The woods are given to the birds. These statutes of the God
Savitar none disobeyeth.
8 With utmost speed, in restless
haste at sunset Varuna seeks his watery habitation.
Then
seeks each bird his nest, each beast his lodging. In due place
Savitar hath set each creature.
9 Him whose high law not
Varuna nor Indra, not Mitra, Aryaman, nor Rudra breaketh,
Nor evil-hearted fiends, here for my welfare him I invoke, God
Savitar, with worship.
10 May they who strengthen bliss,
and thought and wisdom, and the Dames' Lord and Narasamsa aid
us.
That good may come to us and wealth be gathered, may
we be Savitar the God's beloved.
11 So come to us our hearts'
desire, the bounty bestowed by thee, from heaven and earth and
waters,
That it be well with friends and those who praise
thee, and, Savitar, with the loud-lauding singer.
HYMN XX Asvins.
1. SING like the two press-stones for this same purpose;
come like two misers to the tree of treasure;
Like two laud-singing
Brahmans in the assembly, like the folk's envoys called in many
places.
2 Moving at morning like two chr-borne heroes, like
to a pair of goats ye come electing;
Like two fair dames
embellishing their bodies, like a wise married pair among the
people.
3 Like to a pair of horns come first to usward, like
to a pair of hoofs with rapid motion;
Come like two Cakavas
in the grey of morning, come like two chariot wheels at dawn,
ye Mighty.
4 Bear us across the rivers like two vessels,
save us as ye were yokes, naves, spokes and fellies.
Be like
two dogs that injure not our bodies; preserve us, like two crutches,
that we fall not.
5 Like two winds ageing not, two confluent
rivers, come with quick vision like two eyes before us.
Come
like two hands most helpful to the body, and guide us like two
feet to what is precious.
6 Even as two lips that with the
mouth speak honey, even as two breasts that nourish our existence,
Like the two nostrils that protect our being, be to us as our
ears that hear distinctly.
7 Like two hands give ye us increasing
vigour; like heaven and earth constrain the airy regions.
Asvins, these hymns that struggle to approach you, sharpen ye
like an axe upon a whetstone.
8 These prayers of ours exalting
you, O Asvins, have the GrtSamadas, for a laud, made ready.
Welcome them, O ye Heroes, and come bither. Loud may we speak.
with brave men, in assembly.
HYMN XL. Soma and Pusan.
1 SOMA and Pusan, Parents of all riches, Parents of earth
and Parents of high heaven,
You Twain, brought forth as the
whole world's protectors, the Gods have made centre of life
eternal.
2 At birth of these two Gods all Gods are joyful:
they have caused darkness, which we hate, to vanish.
With
these, with Soma and with Pusan, India generates ripe warm milk
in the raw milch-cows.
3 Soma and Pusan, urge your chariot
hither, the seven-wheeIed car that measures out the region,
That stirs not all, that moves to every quarter, fivc-reined
and harnessed by the thought, ye Mighty.
4 One in the heaven
on high hath made his dwelling, on earth and in the firmament
the other.
May they disclose to us great store of treasure,
much-longed for, rich in food, source of enjoyment.
5 One
of you Twain is Parent of all creatures, the otherjourneys onward
all-beholding.
Soma and Pusan, aid my thought with favour:
with you may we o'ercome in all encounters.
6 May Pusan stir
our thought, the all-impelling, may Soma Lord of riches grant
us riches.
May Aditi the perfect Goddess aid us. Loud may
we speak, with heroes, in assembly.
HYMN XLI. Various Deities.
1. O VAYU, come to us with all the thousand chariots that
are thine,
Team-borne, to drink the Soma juice.
2 Drawn
by thy team, O Vayu, come; to thee is offered this, the pure.
Thou visitest the presser's house.
3 Indra and Vayu, drawn
by teams, ye Heroes, come today and drink.
Of the bright
juice when blent with milk.
4 This Soma hath been shed for
you, Lawstrengtheners, Mitra-Varuna!
Listen ye here to this
my call.
5 Both Kings who never injure aught seat them in
their supremest home,
The thousand-pillared, firmly-based.
6 Fed with oblation, Sovran Kings, Adityas, Lords of liberal
gifts.
They wait on him whose life is true.
7 With kine,
Nasatyas, and with steeds, come, Asvins, Rudras, to the house
That will protect its heroes well;
8 Such, wealthy Gods!
as none afar nor standing nigh to us may harm,
Yea, no malicious
mortal foe.
9 As such, O longed-far Asvins, lead us on to
wealth of varied sort,
Wealth that shall bring us room and
rest.
10 Verily Indra, conquering all, driveth e'en mighty
fear away,
For firm is he and swift to act.
11 Indra be
gracious unto us: sin shall not reach us afterward,
And good
shall be before us still.
12 From all the regions of the
world let Indra send security,
The foe-subduer, swift to
act.
13 O all ye Gods, come hitherward: hear this mine invocation,
seat
Yourselves upon this sacred grass.
14 Among ihe gunahotras
strong for you is this sweet gladdening draught.
Drink ye
of this delightsome juice.
15 Ye Martus led by Indra, Gods
with Pri an for your bounteousest,
Hear all of you this call
of mine.
16 Best Mother, best of Rivers, best of Goddesses,
Sarasvati, We are, as 'twere, of no repute and dear Mother,
give thou us renown.
17 In thee, Sarasvati, divine, all generations
have their stay.
Be, glad with Sunahotra's sons: O Goddess
grant us progeny.
18 Enriched with sacrifice, accept Sarasvati,
these prayers of ours,
Thoughts which GrtSamadas beloved
of Gods bring, Holy One,to thee.
19 Ye who bless sacrifice,
go forth, for verily we choose you both,
And Agni who conveys
our gifts.
20 This our.effectual sacrifice, reaching the
sky, shall Heaven and Earth
Present unto the Gods to-day.
21 In both your laps, ye guileless Ones, the Holy Gods shall
sit them down
To-day to drink the Soma here.
HYMN XLII Kapinjala.
1. TELLING his race aloud with cries repeated, he sends his
voice out as his boat a steersman.
O Bird, be ominous of
happy fortune from no side may calamity befall thee.
2 Let
not the falcon kill thee, nor the eagle let not the arrow-bearing
archer reach thee.
Still crying in the region of the Fathers,
speak here auspicious, bearing joyful tidings.
3 Bringing
good tidings, Bird of happy omen, call thou out loudly southward
of our dwellings,
So that no thief, no sinner may oppress
us. Loud may we speak, with heroes, in assembly.
HYMN XLIII. Kapinjala.
1. HERE on the right sing forth chanters of hymns of praise,
even the winged birds that in due season speak.
He, like:
a Sama-chanter utters both the notes, skilled in the mode of
Trstup and of Gayatri.
2 Thou like the chanter-priest chantest
the Sama, Bird; thou singest at libations like a Brahman's son.
Even as a vigorous horse when he comes near the mare, announce
to us good forturue, Bird, on every side, proclaim in all directions
happy luck, O Bird.
3 When singing here, O Bird. announce
good luck to us, and when thou sittest still think on us with
kind thoughts.
When flying off thou singest thou art like
a lute. With brave sons in assembly may we speak aloud.
Suggestions for Further Reading
- Rig Veda translation by Griffith
- Rig Veda translation by Griffith Book 2
- Rig Veda translation by Griffith, Book 3
- Rig Veda translation by Griffith Book 4
- Rig Veda translation by Griffith, Book 5
- Rig Veda translation by Griffith Book 6
- Rig Veda translation by Griffith, book 7
- Rig Veda translation by Griffith, book 8
- Rig Veda translation by Griffith, book 9
- Rig Veda translation by Griffith, book 10
- Hymns of the Sama veda translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith
- Hymns Of The Atharva-Veda
- Yajur Veda: The Veda Of The Black Yajus School
- 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: This is a translation by Ralph T.H. Griffith, 1896.