
The Rig-Veda - Book IV

HYMN I. Agni.
1, THEE Agni, have the Gods, ever of one accord, sent hither
down, a God, appointed messenger, yea, with their wisdom sent
thee down.
The Immortal, O thou Holy One, mid mortal men,
the God-devoted God, the wise, have they brought forth, brought
forth the omnipresent God-devoted Sage.
2 As such, O Agni,
bring with favour to the Gods thy Brother Varuna who loveth
sacrifice,
True to the Law, the Aditya who supporteth men, the King,
supporter of mankind.
3 Do thou, O Friend, turn hither him
who is our Friend, swift as a wheel, like two car-steeds in
rapid course, Wondrous! to us in rapid course.
O Agni, find
thou grace for us with Varuna, with Maruts who illumine all.
Bless us, thou Radiant One, for seed and progeny, yea, bless
us, O thou Wondrous God.
4 Do thou who knowest Varuna, O
Agni, put far away from us the God's displeasure.
Best Sacrificer,
brightest One, refulgent remove thou far from us all those who
hate us.
5 Be thou, O Agni, nearest us with succour, our
closest Friend while now this Morn is breaking.
Reconcile to us Varuna, be bounteous enjoy the gracious juice;
be swift to hear us.
6 Excellent is the glance, of brightest
splendour, which the auspicious God bestows on mortals-
The
God's glance, longed-for even as the butter, pure, heated, of
the cow, the milch-cow's bounty.
7 Three are those births,
the true, the most exalted, eagerly longed-for, of the God,
of Agni.
He came invested in the boundless region, pure,
radiant, friendly, mightily resplendent.
8 This envoy joyeth
in all seats of worship, borne on his golden car, sweet-tongued
Invoker:
Lovely to look on, with red steeds, effulgent, like
a feast rich in food, joyous for ever.
9 Allied by worship,
let him give man knowledge: by an extended cord they lead him
onward.
He stays, effectual in this mortal's dwelling, and
the God wins a share in his possessions.
10 Let Agni -for
he knows the way- conduct us to all that he enjoys of God-sent
riches,
What all the Immortals have prepared with wisdom,
Dyaus, Sire, Begetter, raining down true blessings.
11 In
houses first he sprang into existence, at great heaven's base,
and in this region's bosom;
Footless and headless, both his ends concealing, in his Bull's
lair drawing himself together.
12 Wondrously first he rose
aloft, defiant, in the Bull's lair, the homeof holy Order,
Longed-for, young, beautiful, and far-resplendent: and sevendear
frieuds sprang up unto the Mighty.
13 Here did our human
fathers take their places, fain to fulfil the sacred Law of
worship.
Forth drave they, with loud call, Dawn's teeming
Milch-kine bid in the mountainstable, in the cavern.
14 Splendid
were they when they had rent the mountain: others, around, shall
tell forth this their exploit.
They sang their song, prepared to free the cattle: they found
the light; with holy hymns they worshipped.
15 Eager, with
thought intent upon the booty, the men with their celestial
speech threw open,
The solid mountain firm, compact, enclosing,
confining Cows, the stable full of cattle.
16 The Milch-cow's
earliest name they comprehended: they found the Mother's thrice-seven
noblest titles.
This the bands knew, and sent forth acclamation:with
the Bull's sheen the Red One was apparent.
17 The turbid
darkness fled, the heaven was sp, endid! up rose the bright
beam of celestial Morning.
Surya ascended to the wide expanses,
beholding deeds of men both good and evil.
18 Then, afterwards
they looked around, awakened, when first they held that Heaven
allotted treasure.
Now all the Gods abide in all their dwellings.
Varuna, Mitra, be the prayer effective.
19 I will call hither
brightly-beaming Agni, the Herald, all-supporting, best at worship.
He hath disclosed, like the milch cows' pure udder, the Sorria's
juice when cleansed and poured from beakers.
20 The freest
God of all who should be worshipped, the guest who is received
in all men's houses,
Agni who hath secured the Gods' high
favour,-may he be gracious, to us Jatavedas.
HYMN II. Agni.
1. THE, Faithful One, Immortal among mortals, a God among
the Gods, appointed envoy,
Priest, best at worship, must
shine forth in glory . Agni shall be raised high with man's
oblations.
2 Born for us here this day, O Son of Vigour,
between both races of born beings, Agni,
Thou farest as an
envoy, having harnessed, Sublime One! thy strong-muscled radiant
stallions.
3 I laud the ruddy steeds who pour down blessing,
dropping oil, flectest through the thoualit of Order.
Yoking
red horses to and fro thou goest between you Deities and mortal
races.
4 Aryaman, Mitra, Varuna, and Indra with Visnu, of
the Gods, Maruts and Asvins-
These, Agni, with good car and
steeds, bring hither, most bountiful, to folk with fair oblations.
5 Agni, be this our sacrifice eternal, with brave friends, rich
in kine and sheep and horses,
Rich, Asura! in sacred food
and children, in full assembly, wealth broad-based and during.
6 The man who, sweating, brings for thee the fuel, and makes
his head to ache, thy faithful servant,-
Agni, to him be
a self-strong Protector guard him from all who seek to do him
mischief.
7 Who brings thee food, though thou hast food in
plenty, welcomes his cheerful guest and speeds him onward,
Who kindles thee devoutly in his dwelling,to him be wealth secure
and freely giving.
8 Whoso sings praise to thee at eve or
morning, and, with oblation, doth the thing thou lovest,-
In his own home, even as a goId-girt courser, rescue him from
distress, the bounteous giver.
9 Whoso brings gifts to thee
Immortal, Agni, and doth thee service with uplifted ladle,-
Let him not, sorely toiling, lose his riches; let not the sinner's
wickedness enclose him.
10 Whose well-wrought worship thou
acceptest, Agni, thou God a mortal's gift, thou liberal Giver,-
Dear be his sacrifice to thee, Most Youthful! and may we strengthen
him when he adores thee.
11 May he who knows distinguish
sense and folly of men, like straight and crooked backs of horses.
Lead us, O God, to wealth and noble offspring: keep penury afar
and grant us plenty.
12 This Sage the Sages, ne'er deceived,
commanded, setting him down in dwellings of the living.
Hence
mayst thou, friendly God, with rapid footsteps behold the Gods,
wonderful, fair to look on.
13 Good guidance hast thou for
the priest, O Agni, who, Youngest God! with outpoured Soma serves
thee.
Ruler of men, thou joyous God, bring treasure splendid
and plentiful to aid the toiler.
14 Now all that we, thy
faithful servants, Agni, have done with feet, with hands, and
with our bodies,
The wise, with toil, the holy rite have
guided, as those who frame a car with manual cunning.
15
May we, seven sages first in rank, engender, from Dawn the Mother,
men to be ordainers.
May we, Angirases, be sons of Heaven,
and, radiant, burst the wealth-containing mountain.
16 As
in the days of old our ancient Fathers, speeding the work of
holy worship, Agni,
Sought pure light and devotion, singing
praises; they cleft the ground and made red Dawns apparent.
17 Gods, doing holy acts, devout, resplendent, smelting like
ore their human generations.
Enkindling Agni and exalting
Indra, they came encompassing the stall of cattle.
18 Strong
One! he marked them-and the Gods before them-like herds of cattle
in a foodful pasture.
There they moaned forth their strong
desire for mortals, to aid the True, the nearest One, the Living.
19 We have worked for thee, we have laboured nobly-bright Dawns
have shed their light upon our worship-
Adding a beauty to
the perfect Agni, and the God's beauteous eye that shines for
ever.
20 Agni, Disposer, we have sung these praises to thee
the Wise: do thou accept them gladly.
Blaze up on high and
ever make us richer. Give us great wealth, O thou whose boons
are many.
HYMN III. Agni.
1. WIN, to assist you, Rudra, Lord of worship, Priest of
both worlds, effectual
Sacrificer,
Agni, invested with
his golden colours, before the thunder strike and lay you senseless.
2 This shrine have we made ready for thy coming, as the fond
dame attires her for her husband.
Performer of good work,
sit down before us, invested while these flames incline to meet
thee.
3 A hymn, O Priest, to him who hears, the gentle, to
him who looks on men, exceeding gracious,
A song of praise
sing to the God Immortal, whom the stone, presser of the sweet
juice, worships.
4 Even as true knower of the Law, O Agni,
to this our solemn rite he thou attentive.
When shall thy
songs of festival be sung thee? When is thy friendship shown
within our dwelling?
5 Why this complaint to Varuna, O Agni?
And why to Heaven? for what is our transgression?
How wilt
thou speak to Earth and bounteous Mitra? What wilt thou say
to Aryaman and Bhaga?
6 What, when thou blazest on the lesser
altars, what to the mighty Wind who comes tobless us,
True,
circumambient? what to Earth, O Agni, what wilt thou say to
man-destroying Rudra?
7 How to great Pusan who promotes our
welfare,- to honoured Rudra what, who gives oblations?
What
sin of ours to the far-striding Visnu, what, Agni, wilt thou
tell the Lofty Arrow.
8 What wilt thou tell the truthful
band of Maruts, how answer the great Sun when thou art questioned?
Before the Free, before the Swift, defend us: fulfil heaven's
work, all-knowing Jatavedas.
9 I crave the cow's true gift
arranged by Order: though raw, she hath the sweet ripe juice,
O Agni.
Though she is black of hue with milk she teemeth,
nutritious, brightly shining, all-sustaining.
10 Agni the
Bull, the manly, hath been sprinkled with oil upon his back,
by Law eternal.
He who gives vital power goes on unswerving.
Prsni the Bull hath milked the pure wiiite udder.
11 By Law
the Angirases cleft the rock asunder, and sang their hymns together
with the cattle.
Bringing great bliss the men encompassed
Morning: light was apparent at the birth of Agni.
12 By Law
the Immortal Goddesses the Waters, with meath-rich waves, O
Agni, and uninjured,
Like a strong courser lauded in his
running, sped to flow onward swiftly and for ever.
13 Go
never to the feast of one who harms us, the treacherous neighbour
or. unworthy kinsman.
Punish us not for a false brother's
trespass. Let us riot feel the might of friend or foeman.
14 O Agni, keep us safe with thy protection, loving us, honoured
God! and ever guarding.
Beat thou away, destory severe affliction
slay e'en the demon when he waxes mighty.
15 Through these
our songs of praise be gracious, Agni; moved by ourprayers,
O Hero, touch our viands.
Accept, O Angiras, these our devotions,
and let the praise which Gods desire address thee.
16 To
thee who knowest, Agni, thou Disposer, all these wise secret
speeches have I uttered,
Sung to thee, Sage, the charming
words of wisdom, to thee, O Singer, with. my thoughts and Praises.
HYMN IV. Agni.
1. PUT forth like a wide-spreading net thy vigour; go like
a mighty King with his attendants.
Thou, following thy swift
net, shootest arrows: transfix the fiends with darts that burn
most fiercely.
2 Forth go in rapid flight thy whirling weapons:
follow them closely, glowing in thy fury.
Spread with thy
tongue the winged flames, O Agni; unfettered, cast thy firebrands
all around thee.
3 Send thy spies forward, flectest in thy
motion; be, ne'er deceived, the guardian of this people
From
him who, near or far, is bent on evil, and let no trouble sent
from thee o'ercome us.
4 Rise up, O Agni, spread thee out
before us: burn down our foes, thou who hast sharpened arrows.
Him, blazing Agni! who hath worked us mischief, consume thou
utterly like dried-up stubble.
5 Rise, Agni, drive off those
who fight against us: make manifest thine own celestial vigour.
Slacken the strong bows of the demondriven: destroy our foemen
whether kin or stranger.
6 Most Youthful God, he knoweth
well thy favour who gave an impulse to this high devotion.
All fair days and magnificence of riches hast thou beamed forth
upon the good man's portals.
7 Blest, Agni, be the man, the
liberal giver, who with his lauds and regular oblation
Is
fain to please thee for his life and dwelling. May all his days
be bright: be this his longing.
8 I praise thy gracious favour:
sing in answer. May this my song sing like a loved one with
thee.
Lords of good steeds and cars may we adorn thee, and
day by day vouchsafe thou us dominion.
9 Here of free choice
let each one serve thee richly, resplendent day by day at eve
and morning.
So may we honour thee, content and joyous, passing
beyond the glories of the people.
10 Whoso with good steeds
and fine gold, O Agni, comes nigh thee on a car laden with trcasure,
His Friend art thou, yea, thou art his Protector whose joy it
is to entertain thee duly.
11 Through words and kinship I
destroy the miglity: this power I have from Gotama my father.
Mark thou this speech of ours, O thou Most Youthful, Friend
of the House, exceeding wise, Invoker.
12 Knowing no slumber,
speedy and propitious, alert and ever friendly, most unwearied,
May thy protecting powers, unerring Agni, taking their places
here, combined, preserve us.
13 Thy guardian rays, O Agni,
when they saw him, preserved blind Mamateya from affliction.
Lord of all riches, he preserved the pious: the fees who fain
would harm them did no mischief
14 Aided by thee with thee
may we be wealthy, may we gain strength with thee to guide us
onward.
Fulfil the words of both, O Ever Truthful: straightway
do this, thou God whom power emboldens.
15 O Agni, with this
fuel will we serve thee; accept the laud we sing to thee with
favour
Destroy the cursing Raksasas: preserve us, O rich
in friends, from guile and scorn and slander.
HYMN V. Agni.
1. How shall we give with one accord oblation to Agni, to
Vaisvanara the Bounteous?
Great light, with full high growth
hath he uplifted, and, as a pillar bears the roof, sustains
it.
2 Reproach not him who, God and selfreliant, vouchsafed
this bounty unto me a mortal,-
Deathless, discerner, wise,
to me the simple, Vaisvanara most manly, youthful Aini.
3
Sharp-pointed, powerful, strong, of boundless vigour, Agni who
knows the lofty hymn, kept secret
As the lost milch-cow's
track, the doubly Mighty,-he hath declared to me this hidden
knowledge.
4 May he with sharpened teeth, the Bounteous Giver,
Agni, consume with flame most fiercely glowing.
Those who
regard not Varuna's commandments and the dear stedfast laws
of sapient Mitra.
5 Like youthful women without brothers,
straying, like dames who hate their lords, of evil conduct,
They who are full of sin, untrue, unfaithful, they have engendered
this abysmal station.
6 To me, weak, innocent, thou, luminous
Agni, bast boldly given as 'twere a heavy burthen,
This Prstha
hymn, profound and strong and mighty, of seven elements, and
with offered dainties.
7 So may our song that purifies, through
wisdom reach in a moment him the Universal,
Established on
the height, on earth's best .station, above the beauteous grassy
skin of Prsni.
8 Of this my speech what shall I utter further?
They indicate the milk stored up in secret
When they have
thrown as 'twere the cows' stalls open. The Bird protects earths'
best and well-loved station.
9 This is the Great Ones' mighty
apparition which from of old the radiant Cow hath followed.
This, shining brightly in the place of Order, swift, hasting
on in secret, she discovered.
10 He then who shone together
with his Parents remembered Prsni's fair and secret treasure,
Which, in the Mother Cow's most lofty station, the Bull's tongue,
of the flame bent forward, tasted.
11 With reverence I declare
the Law, O Agni; what is, comes by thine order, Jatavedas.
Of this, whate'er it be, thou art the Sovran, yea, all the wealth
that is in earth or
heaven.
12 What is our wealth therefrom,
and what our treasure? Tell us O Jatavedas, for thou
knowest,
What is our best course in this secret passage: we, unreproached,
have reached a t)lace far distant.
13 What is the limit,
what the rules, the guerdon? Like fleet-foot coursers speed
we to the contest.
When will the Goddesses, the Immortal's
Spouses, the Dawns, spread over us the Sun-God's splendour?
14 Unsatisfied, with speech devoid of vigour, scanty and frivolous
and inconclusive,
Wherefore do they address thee here, O
Agni? Let these who have no weapons suffer sorrow.
15 The
majesty of him the Good, the Mighty, aflame, hath shone for
glory in the dwelling.
He, clothed in light, hath shone most
fair to look on, wealthy in boons, as a home shines with riches.
HYMN VI. Agni.
1. PRIEST of our rite, stand up erect, O Agni, in the Gods'
service best of sacrificers,
For over evei y thought thou
art the Ruler: thou furtherest e'en the wisdom of the pious.
2 He was set down mid men as Priest unerring, Agni, wise, welcome
in our holy synods.
Like Savitar he hath lifted up his splendour,
and like a builder raised his smoke to heaven.
3 The glowing
ladle, filled with oil, is lifted; choosing Gods' service to
the right he circles.
Eager he rises like the new-wrought
pillar which, firmly set and fixed, anoints the victims.
4 When sacred grass is strewn and Agni kindled, the Adhvaryu
rises to, his task rej o cing.
Agni the Priest, like one
who tends the cattle, goes three times round, as from of old
he wills it.
5 Agni himself, the Priest, with measured motion,
goes round, with sweet speech, cheerful, true to Order.
His
fulgent flames run forth like vigorous horses; all creatures
are affrighted when he blazes.
6 Beautiful and auspicious
is thine aspect, O lovely Agni, terrible when spreading.
Thy splendours are not covered by the darkness: detraction leaves
no stain upon thy body.
7 Naught hindered his production,
Bounteous Giver: his Mother and his Sire were free to send him.
Then as Friend benevolent, refulgent, Agni shone forth in human
habitations.
8 He, Agni, whom the twice-five sisters, dwelling
together, in the homes of men engendered,
Bright like a spear's
tooth, wakened in the morning, with powerful mouth and like
an axe well-sharpened.
9 These thy Bay Coursers, Agni, dropping
fatness, ruddy vigorous, speeding straightly forward,
And
red steeds, wonderful, of mighty muscle, are to this service
of the Gods invited:
10 These brightly-shining games of thine,
O Agni, that move for ever restless, allsubduing,
Like falcons
hasting eagerly to the quarry, roar loudly like the army of
the Maruts.
11 To thee, O flaming God, hath prayer been offered.
Let the priest laud thee: give to him who worships.
Men have
established Agni as Invoker, fain to adore the glory of the
living.
HYMN VII. Agni.
1. HERE by ordainers was this God appointed first Invoker,
best at worship, to be praised at rites:
Whom Apnavana, and
the Bhrgus caused to shine bright-coloured in the wood, spreading
from home to home.
2 When shall thy glory as a God, Agni,
be suddenly shown forth.
For mortal men have held thee fast,
adorable in all their homes,
3 Seeing thee faithful to the
Law, most sapient, like the starry heaven,
Illumining with
cheerful ray each solemn rite in every house.
4 Vivasvan's
envoy living men have taken as their ensign, swift,
The ruler
over all mankind, moving like Bhrgu in each home.
5 Him the
intelligent have they placed duly as Invoking Priest,
Welcome,
with sanctifying flame, best worshipper, with sevenfold might;
6 In his Eternal Mothers, in the wood, concealed and unapproached,
Kept secret though his flames are bright seekingon all sides,
quickly found.
7 That as food spreads forth in this earthly
udder, Gods may rejoice them in the home of Order,
Great
Agni, served with reverence and oblation, flies ever to the
sacrifice, the Faithful.
8 Bird of each rite, skilled in
an envoy's duties, knowing both worlds and that which lies between
them,
Thou goest from of old a willing Herald, knowing full
well heaven's innermost recesses.
9 Bright God, thy path
is black: light is before thee: thy moving splendour is the
chief of wonders.
When she, yet unimpregnate, hath conceived
thee, even when newly born thou art an envoy.
10 Yet newly
born, his vigour is apparent when the wind blows upon his fiery
splendour,
His sharpened tongue he layeth on the brushwood,
and with his teeth e'en solid food consumeth.
11 When he
hath borne off food with swift flame swiftly, strong Agni makes
himself a speedy envoy,
Follows the rustling of the wind,
consuming, and courser-like, speeds, drives the swift horse
onward.
HYMN VIII. Agni.
1. YOUR envoy who possesses all, Immortal, bearer of your
gifts,
Best worshipper, I woo with song.
2 He, Mighty,
knows the gift of wealth, he knows the deep recess of heaven:
He shall bring hitherward the Gods.
3 He knows, a God himself,
to guide Gods to the righteous in his home:
He gives e'en
treasures that we love.
4 He is the Herald: well-informed,
he doth his errand to and fro,
Knowing the deep recess of
heaven.
5 May we be they who gratify Agni with sacrificial
gifts,
Whocherish and enkindle him.
6 Illustrious for
wealth are they, and hero deeds, victorious,
Who have served
Agni reverently.
7 So unto us, day after day, may riches
craved by many come,
And power and might spring up for us.
8 That holy Singer in his strength shoots forth his arrows swifter
than
The swift shafts of the tribes of men.
HYMN IX. Agni.
1. AGNI, show favour: great art thou who to this pious man
art come,
To seat thee on the sacred grass.
2 May he the
Immortal, Helper, bard to be deceived among mankind,
Become
the messenger of all.
3 Around the altar is he led, welcome
Chief Priest at solemn rites,
Or as the Potar sits him down.
4 Agni in fire at sacrifice, and in the house as Lord thereof,
And as a Brahman takes his seat.
5 Thou comest as the guide
of folk who celebrate a sacrifice,
And to oblations brought
by men.
6 Thou servest as his messenger whose sacrifice thou
lovest well,
To bear the mortal's gifts to heaven.
7 Accept
our solemn rite; be pleased, Angiras, with our sacrifice:
Give ear and listen to our call.
8 May thine inviolable car,
wherewith thou guardest those who give,
Come near to us from
every side.
HYMN X. Agni.
I. This day with praises, Agni, we bring thee that which
thou lovest.
Right judgment, like a horse, with our devotions.
2 For thou hast ever been the Car-driver, Agni, of noble
Strength, lofty sacrifice, and rightful judgment.
3 Through
these our praises come thou to meet us, bright as the sunlight,
O Agni, well disposed, with all thine aspects.
4 Now may
we serve thee singing these lauds this day to thee, Agni.
Loud as the voice of Heaven thy blasts are roaring.
5 just
at this time of the day and the night thy look is the sweetest
.
It shineth near us even as gold for glory.
6 Spotless
thy body, brilliant as gold, like clarified butter:
This
gleams like gold on thee, O Self. dependent.
7 All hate and
mischief, yea, if committed, Agni, thou turnest,
Holy One,
from the man who rightly worships.
8 Agni, with you Gods,
prosperous be our friendships and kinships.
Be this our bond
here by this place, thine al tar.
HYMN XI. Agni.
1. THY blessed majesty, victorious Agni, shines brightly
in the neighbourhood of Surya.
Splendid to see, it shows
even at nighttime, and food is fair to look on in thy beauty.
2 Agni, disclose his thought for him who singeth, the well,
Strong God! while thou art praised with fervour.
Vouchsafe
to us that powerful hymn, O Mighty, which, Radiant One! with
all the Gods thou lovest.
3 From thee, O Agni, springs poetic
wisdom, from thee come thoughts and hymns of praise that prosper;
From thee flows wealth, with heroes to adorn it, to the true-hearted
man who gives oblation.
4 From thee the hero springs who
wins the booty, bringer of help, mighty, of real courage.
From thee comes wealth, sent by the Gods, bliss-giving; Agni,
from thee the fleet impetuous charger.
5 Immortal Agni, thee
whose voice is pleasant, as first in rank, as God, religious
mortals
Invite with hyrnns; thee who removest hatred, Friend
of the Home, the household's Lord, unerring.
6 Far from us
thou removest want and sorrow, far from us all ill-will when
thou protectest.
Son of Strength, Agni, blest is he at evening,
whom thou as God attendest for his welfare.
HYMN XII. Agni.
1. WHOSO enkindles thee, with lifted ladle, and thrice this
day offiers thee food, O Agni,
May he excel, triumphant through
thy splendours, wise through thy mental power, O Jatavedas.
2 Whoso with toil and trouble brings thee fuel, serving the
majesty of mighty Agni,
He, kindling thee at evening and
at morning, prospers, and comes to wealth, and slays his foemen.
3 Agni is Master of sublime dominion, Agni is Lord of strength
and lofty riches.
Straightway the self-reliant God, Most
Youthful, gives treasures to the mortal who adores him.
4
Most Youthful God, whatever sin, through folly, we here, as
human beings, have committed,
In sight of Aditi make thou
us sinless remit, entirely, Agni, our offences.
5 Even in
the presence of great sin, O Agni, free us from prison of the
Gods or mortals.
Never may we who are thy friends be injured:
grant health and strength unto our seed and offspring.
6
Even as ye here, Gods Excellent and Holy, have loosed the cow
that by the foot was tethered,
So also set us free from this
affliction long let our life, O Agni, be extended.
HYMN XIII. Agni.
1. AGNI hath looked, benevolently-minded, on the wealth-giving
spring of radiant Mornings.
Come, Asvins, to the dwelling
of the pious: Surya the God is rising with his splendour.
2 Savitar, God, hath spread on high his lustre, waving his flag
like a spoil-seeking hero.
Their stablished way go Varuna
and Mitra, what time they make the Sun ascend the heaven.
3 Him whom they made to drive away the darkness, Lords of sure
mansions, constant to their object,
Him who beholds the universe,
the Sun-God, seven strong and youthful Coursers carry onward.
4 Spreading thy web with mightiest Steeds thou comest, rending
apart, thou God, the black-hued mantle.
The rays of Surya
tremulously shining sink, like a hide, the darkness in the waters.
5 How is it that, unbound and not supported, he falleth not
although directed downward?
By what self power moves he?
Who liath seen it? He guards the vault of heaven, a close-set
pillar.
HYMN XIV. Agni.
1. THE God hath looked, even Agni Jatavedas, to meet the
Dawns refulgent in their glories.
Come on your chariot, ye
who travel widely, come to this sacrifice of ours, Nasatyas.
2 Producing light for all the world of creatures, God Savitar
hath raised aloft his banner.
Making his presence known by
sunbeams, Surya hath filled the firmament and earth and heaven.
3 Red Dawn.is come, riding with brightness onward, distinguished
by her beams, gay-hued and mighty.
Dawn on her nobly-harnessed
car, the Goddess, awaking men to happiness, approacheth.
4 May those most powerful steeds and chariot bring you, O Asvins,
hither at the break of morning.
Here for your drauglit of
meath are Soma juices: at this our sacrifice rejoice, ye Mighty.
5 How is it that, unbound and unsupported, he falleth not although
directed downward?
By what self-power moves he? Who hath
seen it? He guards the vault of heaven, a close-set pillar?
HYMN XV. Agni.
1. AGNI the Herald, like a horse, is led forth at our solemn
rite,
God among Gods adorable.
2 Three times unto our
solemn rite comes Agni like a charioteer,
Bearing the viands
to the Gods.
3 Round the oblations hath he paced, Agni the
Wise, the Lord of Strength,
Giving the offerer precious boons.
4 He who is kindled eastward for Srnjaya, Devavata's son,
Resplendent, tamer of the foe.
5 So mighty be the Agni whom
the mortal hero shall command,
With sharpened teeth and bountiful.
6 Day after day they dress him, as they clean a horse who wins
the prize.
Dress the red Scion of the Sky.
7 When Sahadeva's
princely son with two bay horses thought of me,
Summoned
by him I drew not back.
8 And truly those two noble bays
I straightway took when offered me,
From Sahadeva's princely
son.
9 Long, O ye Asvins, may he live, your care, ye Gods,
the princely son.
Of Sahadeva, Somaka.
10 Cause him the
youthful prince, the son of Sahadeva, to enjoy
Long life,
O Asvins, O ye Gods.
HYMN XVI. Indra.
1. IMPETUOUS, true, let Maghavan come hither, and let his
Tawny Coursers speed to reach us.
For him have we pressed
juice exceeding potent: here, praised with song, let him effect
his visit.
2 Unyoke, as at thy journey's end, O Hero, to
gladden thee today at this libation.
Like Usana, the priest
a laud shall utter, a hymn to thee, the Lord Divine, who markest.
3 When the Bull, quaffing, praises our Iibation, as a sage paying
holy rites in secret,
Seven singers here from heaven hath
he begotten, who e'en by day have wrought their works while
singing.
4 When heaven's fair light by hymns was made apparent
(they made great splendour shine at break of morning),
He
with his succour, best of Heroes, scattered the blinding darkness
so that men saw clearly.
5 Indra, Impetuous One, hath waxed
immensely: he with his vastness hath filled earth and heaven.
E'en beyond this his majesty extendeth who hath exceeded all
the worlds in greatness.
6 Sakra who knoweth well all human
actions hath with his eager Friends let loose the waters.
They with their songs cleft e'en the mountain open and willingly
disclosed the stall of cattle.
7 He smote away the floods'
obstructer, Vrtra; Earth, conscious, lent her aid to speed thy
thunder.
Thou sentest forth the waters of the ocean, as Lord
through power and might, O daring Hero.
8 When, Much-invoked!
the water's rock thou cleftest, Sarama showed herself and went
before thee.
Hymned by Angirases, bursting the cowstalls,
much strength thou foundest for us as our leader.
9 Come,
Maghavan, Friend of Man, to aid the singer imploring thee in
battle for the sunlight.
Speed him with help in his irypired
invokings: down sink the sorcerer, the prayerless Dasyu.
10 Come to our home resolved to slay the Dasyu: Kutsa longed
eagerly to win thy friendship.
Alike in form ye both sate
in his dwelling the faithful Lady was in doubt between you.
11 Thou comest, fain to succour him, with Kutsa,-a goad that
masters both the Wind-God's horses,
That, holding the brown
steeds like spoil for capture, the sage may on the final day
be present.
12 For Kutsa, with thy thousand, thou at day-break
didst hurl down greedy Susna, foe of harvest.
Quickly with
Kutsa's friend destroy the Dasyus, and roll the chariot-wheel
of Sarya near us.
13 Thou to the son of Vidathin, Rjisvan,
gavest up mighty Mrgaya and Pipru.
Thou smotest down the
swarthy fifty thousand, and rentest forts as age consumes a
garment.
14 What time thou settest near the Sun thy body,
thy form, Immortal One, is seen expanding:
Thou a wild elephant
with might invested. like a dread lion as thou wieldest weapons.
15 Wishes for wealth have gone to Indra, longing for him in
war for light and at libation,
Eager for glory, labouring
with praisesongs: he is like home, like sweet and fair nutrition.
16 Call we for you that Indra, prompt to listen, him who hath
done so much for men's advantage;
Who, Lord of envied bounty,
to a singer like me brings quickly booty worth the capture.
17 When the sharp-pointed arrow, O thou Hero, flieth mid any
conflict of the people,
When, Faithful One, the dread encounter
cometh, then be thou the Protector of our body.
18 Further
the holy thoughts of Vamadeva be thou a guileless Friend in
fight for booty.
We come to thee whose providence protects
us: wide be thy sway for ever for thy singer.
19 O Indra,
with these men who love thee truly, free givers, Maghavan, in
every battle,
May we rejoice through many autumns, quelling
our foes, as days subdue the nights with splendour.
20 Now,
as the Bhrgus wrought a car, for Indra the Strong, the Mighty,
we our prayer have fashioned,
That he may, ne'er withdraw
from us his friendship, but be our bodies' guard and strong
defender.
21 Now, Indra! lauded, glorified with praises,
let power swell. high like rivers for the singer.
For thee
a new hymn, Lord of Bays, is fashioned. May we, car-borne, through
song be victors ever.
HYMN XVII. Indra.
1. GREAT art thou, Indra; yea, the earth, with gladness,
and heaven confess to thee thine high dominion.
Thou in thy
vigour having slaughtered Vrtra didst free the floods arrested
by the Dragon.
2 Heaven trembled at the birth of thine effulgence;
Earth trembled at the fear of thy displeasure.
The stedfast
mountains shook in agitation . the waters flowed, and desert
spots were flooded.
3 Hurling his bolt with might he cleft
the mountain, while, putting forth his strength, he showed his
vigour.
He slaughtered Vrtra with his bolt, exulting, and,
their lord slain, forth flowed the waters swiftly.
4 Thy
Father Dyaus esteemed himself a hero: most noble was the work
of Indra's Maker,
His who begat the strong bolt's Lord who
roareth, immovable like earth from her foundation.
5 He who
alone o'erthrows the world of creatures, Indra the peoples'
King, invoked of many-
Verily all rejoice in him, extolling
the boons which Maghavan the God hath sent them.
6 All Soma
juices are his own for ever, most gladdening draughts are ever
his, the Mighty,
Thou ever wast the Treasure-Lord of treasures:
Indra, thou lettest all folk share thy bounty.
7 Moreover,
when thou first wast born, O Indra, thou struckest terror into
all the people.
Thou, Maghavan, rentest with thy bolt the
Dragon who lay against the waterfloods of heaven.
8 The ever-slaying,
bold and furious Indra, the bright bolt's Lord, infinite, strong
and mighty,
Who slayeth Vrtra and acquireth booty, giver
of blessings, Maghavan the bounteous:
9 Alone renowned as
Maghavan in battles, he frighteneth away assembled armies.
He bringeth us the booty that he winneth may we, well-loved,
continue in his friendship.
10 Renowned is he when conquering
and when slaying: 'fis he who winneth cattle in the combat.
When Indra hardeneth his indignation all that is fixed and all
that moveth fear him.
11 Indra hath won all kine, all gold,
all horses,-Maghavan, he who breaketh forts in pieces;
Most
manly with these men of his who help him, dealing out wealth
and gathering the treasure.
12 What is the care of Indra
for his Mother, what cares he for the Father who begat him?
His care is that which speeds his might in conflicts, like wind
borne onward by the clouds that thunder.
13 Maghavan makes
the settled man unsettled: he scatters dust that he hath swept
together,
Breaking in pieces like Heaven armed with lightning:
Maghavan shall enrich the man who lauds h;m.
14 He urged
the chariot-wheel of Surya forward: Etasa, speeding on his way,
he rested.
Him the black undulating cloud bedeweth, in this
mid-air's depth, at the base of darkness,
15 As in the night
the sacrificing priest.
16 Eager for booty, craving strength
and horses, we-singers stir Indra, the strong, for friendship,
Who gives the wives we seek, whose succour fails not, to hasten,
like a pitcher to the fountain.
17 Be thou our guardian,
show thyself our kinsman, watching and blessing those who pour
the Soma;
As Friend, as Sire, most fatherly of fathers giving
the suppliant vital strength and freedom.
18 Be helping Friend
of those who seek thy friendship . give life, when lauded, Indra,
to the singer.
For, Indra, we the priests have paid thee
worship, exalting thee with these our sacrifices.
19 Alone,
when Indra Maghavan is lauded, he slayeth many ne'er-resisted
Vrtras.
Him in whose keeping is the well-loved singer never
do Gods or mortals stay or hinder.
20 E en so let Maghavan,
the loud-voiced Indra, give us true blessings, foeless, men's
upholder.
King of all creatures, give us glory amply, exalted
glory due to him who lauds thee.
21 Now, Indra! lauded, glorified
with praises, let power swell high like rivers for the singer.
For thee a new hymn, Lord of Bays! is fashioned. May we, car-borne,
through song be victors ever.
HYMN XVIII. Indra and Others.
1. THIS is the ancient and accepted pathway by which all
Gods have come into existence.
Hereby could one be born though
waxen mighty. Let him not, otherwise, destroy his Mother.
2 Not this way go I forth: hard is the passage. Forth from the
side obliquely will I issue.
Much that is yet undone must
I accomplish; one must I combat and the other question.
3
He bent his eye upon the dying Mother: My word I now withdraw.
That way I follow.
In Tvastar's dwelling India drank the
Soma, a hundredworth of juice pressed from the mortar.
4
What strange act shall he do, he whom his Mother bore for a
thousand months and many autumns?
No peer hath he among those
born already, nor among those who shall be born hereafter.
5 Deeming him a reproach, his mother hid him, Indra, endowed
with all heroic valour.
Then up he sprang himself, assumed
his vesture, and filled, as soon as born, the earth and heaven.
6 With lively motion onward flow these waters, the Holy Ones,
shouting, as 'twere, together.
Ask them to. tell thee what
the floods are saying, what girdling rock the waters burst asunder.
7 Are they addressing him with words of welcome? Will the floods
take on them the shame of Indra?
With his great thunderbolt
my Son hath slaughtered Vrtra, and set these rivers free to
wander.
8 I cast thee from me, mine,-thy youthful mother:
thee, mine own offspring, Kusava hath swallowed.
To him,
mine infant, were the waters gracious. Indra, my Son, rose up
in conquering vigour.
9 Thou art mine own, O Maghavan, whom
Vyamsa struck to the ground and smote thy jaws in pieces.
But, smitten through, the mastery thou wonnest, and with thy
bolt the Dasa's head thou crushedst.
10 The Heifer hath brought
forth the Strong, the Mighty, the unconquerable Bull, the furious
Indra.
The Mother left her unlicked Calf to wander, seeking
himself, the path that he would follow.
11 Then to her mighty
Child the Mother turned her, saying, My son, these Deities forsake
thee.
Then Indra said, about to slaughter Vrtra, O my friend
Vrtra, stride full boldly forward.
12 Who was he then who
made thy Mother widow? Who sought to stay thee lying still or
moving?
What God, when by the foot thy Sire thou tookest
and slewest, was at hand to give thee comfort?
13 In deep
distress I cooked a dog's intestines. Among the Gods I found
not one to comfort.
My consort I beheld in degradation. The
Falcon then brought me the pleasant Soma.
HYMN XIX. Indra.
1. THEE, verily, O Thunder-wielding Indra, all the Gods here,
the Helpers swift to listen,
And both the worlds elected,
thee the Mighty, High, waxen strong, alone to slaughter Vrtra.
2 The Gods, as worn witheld, relaxed their efforts: thou, Indra,
born of truth, wast Sovran Ruler.
Thou slewest Ahi who besieged
the waters, and duggest out their all-supporting channels.
3 The insatiate one, extended, hard to waken, who slumbered
in perpetual sleep, O Indra,-
The Dragon stretched against
the seven prone rivers, where no joint was, thou rentest with
thy thunder.
4 Indra with might shook earth and her foundation
as the wind stirs the water with its fury.
Striving, with
strength he burst the firm asunder, and tore away the summits
of the mountains.
5 They ran to thee as mothers to their
offspring: the clouds, like chariots, hastened forth together.
Thou didst refresh the streams and force the billows: thou,
Indra, settest free obstructed rivers.
6 Thou for the sake
of Vayya and Turviti didst stay the great stream, flowing, allsustaining:
Yea, at their prayer didst check the rushing river and make
the floods easy to cross, O Indra.
7 He let the young Maids
skilled in Law, unwedded, like fountains, bubbling, flow forth
streaming onward.
He inundated thirsty plains and deserts,
and milked the dry Cows of the mighty master.
8 Through many
a morn and many a lovely autumn, having slain Vrtra, lie set
free the rivers.
Indra hath set at liberty to wander on earth
the streams encompassed pressed together.
9 Lord of Bay Steeds,
thou broughtest from the ant-hill the unwedded damsel's son
whom ants were eating.
The blind saw clearly, as he grasped
the serpent, rose, brake the jar: hisjoints again united.
10 To the wise man, O Sage and Sovran Ruler, the man who knoweth
all thine ancient exploits.
Hath told these deeds of might
as thou hast wrought them, great acts, spontaneous, and to man's
advantage.
11 Now, Indra! lauded, glorified with praises,
let powers swell high, like rivers, for the singer.
For thee
a new hymn, Lord of Bays! is fashioned. May we, car-borne, through
song be victors ever.
HYMN XX. Indra.
1. FROM near or far away may mighty Indra giver of succour,
come for our protection
Lord of men, armed with thunder,
with the Strongest, slaying his foes in conflict, in the battles.
2 May Indra come to us with Tawny Coursers, inclined to us,
to favour and enrich us.
May Maghavan, loud-voiced and wielding
thunder, stand by us at this sacrifice, in combat.
3 Thou,
honouring this our sacrifice, O Indra, shalt give us strength
and fill us full of courage.
To win the booty, Thunder-armed!
like hunters may we with thee subdue in fight our foemen.
4 Loving us well, benevolent, close beside us, drink, Godlike
Indra, of the wellpressed Soma.
Drink of the meath we offer,
and delight thee with food that cometh from the mountain ridges.
5 Him who is sung aloud by recent sages, like a ripe-fruited
tree, a scythe-armed victor,-
I, like a bridegroom thinking
of his consort, call hither Indra, him invoked of many;
6
Him who in native strength is like a mountain, the lofty Indra
born or old for conquest,
Terrific wielder of the ancient
thunder. filled full with splendour as a jar with water.
7 Whom from of old there is not one to hinder, none to curtail
the riches of his bounty.
Pouring forth freely, O thou Strong
and Mighty, vouchsafe us riches, God invoked of many!
8 Of
wealth and homes of men thou art the ruler, and opener of the
stable of the cattle.
Helper of men, winner of spoil in combats,
thou leadest to an ample heap of riches.
9 By what great
might is he renowned as strongest, wherewith the Lofty One stirs
up wild battles?
Best soother of the worshipper's great sorrow,
he gives possessions to the man who lauds him.
10 Slay us
not; bring, bestow onus the ample gift which thou hast to give
to him who offers.
At this new gift, with this laud sung
before thee, extolling thee, we, Indra, will declare it.
11 Now, Indra! lauded, glorified with praises, let power swell
high, like rivers, for the singer.
A new hymn, Lord of Bays!
for thee is fashioned. May we, car-born, through song be victors
ever.
HYMN XXI. Indra.
1. MAY Indra come to us for our protection; here be the Hero,
praised, our feast-companion.
May he whose powers are many,
waxen mighty, cherish, like Dyaus, his own supreme dominion.
2 Here magnify his great heroic exploits, most glorious One,
enriching men with bounties,
Whose will is like a Sovran
in assembly, who rules the people, Conqueror, all-surpassing.
3 Hither let Indra come from earth or heaven, hither with speech
from firmament or ocean;
With Maruts, from the realm of light
to aid us, or from a distance, from the seat of Order.
4
That Indra will we laud in our assemblies, him who is Lord of
great and lasting riches,
Victor with Vayu where the herds
are gathered, who leads with boldness on to higher fortune.
5 May the Priest, Lord of many blessings, striving,-who fixing
reverence on reverence, giving
Vent to his voice, inciteth
men to worshipwith lauds bring Indra hither to our dwellings.
6 When sitting pondering in deep devotion in Ausija's abode
they ply the press-stone,
May he whose wrath is fierce, the
mighty bearer, come as the house-lord's priest within our chambers.
7 Surely the power of Bharvara the mighty for ever helpeth to
support the singer;
That which in Ausija's abode lies hidden,
to come forth for delight and for devotion.
8 When he unbars
the spaces of the mountains, and quickens with his floods the
water-torrents,
He finds in lair the buffalo and wild-ox
when the wise lead him on to vigorous exploit.
9 Auspicious
are thy hands, thine arms wellfashioned which proffer bounty,
Indra, to thy praiser.
What sloth is this? Why dost thou
not rejoice thee? Why dost thou not delight thyself with giving?
10 So Indra is the truthful Lord of treasure. Freedom he gave
to man by slaying Vrtra.
Much-lauded! help us with thy power
to riches: may I be sharer of thy Godlike favour.
11 Now,
Indra! lauded, glorified with praises, let power swell high,
like rivers, for,the singer.
For thee a new hymn, Lord of
Bays! is fashioned. May we, care-borne, through song be victqrs
ever.
HYMN XXII. Indra.
1. THAT gift of ours which Indra loves and welcomes, even
that he makes for us, the Great and Strong One.
He who comes
wielding in his might the thunder, Maghavan, gives prayer, praise,
and laud, and Soma.
2 Bull, hurler of the four-edged rain-producer
with both his arms, strong, mighty, most heroic;
Wearing
as wool Parusni for adornment, whose joints for sake of friendship
he hath covered.
3 God who of all the Gods was born divinest,
endowed with ample strength and mighty powers,
And bearing
in his arrns the yearning thunder, with violent rush caused
heaven and earth to tremble.
4 Before the High God, at his
birth, heaven trembled, earth, many floods and all the precipices.
The Strong One bringeth nigh the Bull's two Parents: loud sing
the winds, like men, in air's mid-region.
5 These are thy
great deeds, Indra, thine, the Mighty, deeds to be told aloud
at all libations,
That thou, O Hero, bold and boldly daring,
didst with thy bolt, by strength, destroy the Dragon.
6 True
are all these thy deeds, O Most Heroic. The Milch-kine issued
from the streaming udder.
In fear of thee, O thou of manly
spirit, the rivers swiftly set themselves in motion.
7 With
joy, O Indra, Lord of Tawny Coursers, the Sisters then, these
Goddesses, extolled thee,
When thou didst give the prisoned
ones their freedom to wander at their will in long succession.
8 Pressed is the gladdening stalk as 'twere a river: so let
the rite, the toiler's power, attract thee
To us-ward, of
the Bright One, as the courser strains his. exceedingly strong
leather bridle.
9 Ever by us perform thy most heroic, thine
highest, best victorious deeds, O Victor.
For us make Vrtras
easy to be conquered: destroy the weapon of our mortal foeman.
10 Graciously listen to our prayer, O Indra, and strength of
varied sort bestow thou on us.
Send to us all intelligence
arid wisdom O Maghavan, be he who gives us cattle.
11 Now,
Indra! lauded, glorified with praises, let wealth swell hiah
like rivers to the singer.
For thee a new hymn, Lord of Bays,
is fashioned. May we, car-borne, through song be victors ever.
HYMN XXIII. Indra.
1. How, what priest's sacrifice hath he made mighty, rejoicing
in the Soma and its fountain?
Delighting in juice, eagerly
drinking, the Lofty One hath waxed for splendid riches.
2
What hero hath been made his feast-companion? Who hath been
partner in his loving-kindness?
What know we of his wondrous
acts? How often comes he to aid and speed the pious toiler?
3 How heareth Indra offered invocation? How, hearing, marketh
he the invoker's wishes?
What are his ancient acts of bounty?
Wherefore call they him One who filleth full the singer?
4 How doth the priest who laboureth, ever longing, win for himself
the wealth which he possesseth?
May he, the God, mark well
my truthful praises, having received the homage which he loveth.
5 How, and what bond of friendship with a mortal hath the God
chosen as this morn is breaking?
How, and what love hath
he for those who love him, who have entwined in him their firm
affection?
6 Is then thy friendship with thy friends most
mighty? Thy brotherhood with us, -when may we tell it?
The
streams of milk move, as most wondrous sunlight, the beauty
of the Lovely One for glory.
7 About to stay the Indra-less
destructive spirit he sharpens his keen arms to strike her.
Whereby the Strong, although our debts' exactor, drives in the
distant mornings that we know not.
8 Eternal Law hath varied
food that strengthens; thought of eternal Law, removes transgressions.
The praise-hymn of eternal Law, arousing, glowing, hath oped
the deaf ears of the living.
9 Firm-seated are eternal Law's
foundations in its fair form are many splendid beauties.
By holy Law long lasting food they bring us; by holy Law have
cows come to our worship.
10 Fixing eternal Law he, too,
upholds it swift moves the might of Law and wins the booty.
To Law belong the vast deep Earth and Heaven: Milch-kine supreme,
to Law their milk they render.
11 Now, Indra! lauded,- glorified
with praises, let power swell high like rivers to the singer.
For thee a new hymn, Lord of Bays, is fashioned. May we, car-borne,
through song be victors ever.
HYMN XXIV. Indra.
1. WHAT worthy praise will bring before us Indra, the Son
of Strength, that he may grant us riches;
For he the Hero,
gives the singer treasures: he is the Lord who sends us gifts,
ye people.
2 To be invoked and hymned in fight with Vrtra,
that well-praised Indra gives us real bounties.
That Maghavan
brings comfort in the foray to the religious man who pours libations.
3 Him, verily, the men invoke in combat; risking their lives
they make him their protector,
When heroes, foe to foe, give
up their bodies, fighting, each side, for children and their
offspring.
4 Strong God! the folk at need put forth their
vigour, striving together in the whirl of battle.
When warrior
bands encounter one another some in the grapple quit themselves
like Indra.
5 Hence many a one worships the might of Indra:
hence let the brew succeed the meal-oblation.
Hence let the
Soma banish those who pour not: even hence I joy to pay the
Strong One worship.
6 Indra gives comfort to the man who
truly presses, for him who longs fot it, the Soma,
Not disaffected,
with devoted spirit this man he takes to be his friend in battles.
7 He who this day for Indra presses Soma, prepares the brew
and fries the grains of barley-
Loving the hymns of that
devoted servant, to him may Indra give heroic vigour.
8 When
the impetuous chief hath sought the confliet, and the lord looked
upon the long-drawn battle,
The matron calls to the Strong
God whom pressers of Soma have encouraged int the dwelling.
9 He bid a small price for a thing of value: I was content,
returning, still unpurchased.
He heightened not his insufficient
offer. Simple and clever, both milk out the udder.
10 Who
for ten milch-kine purchaseth from rne this Indra who is mine?
When he hath slain the Vrtras let the buyer give him back to
me.
11 Now, Indra! lauded, glorified with praises, let wealth
swell high like rivers for the singer.
For thee a new hymn,
Lord of Bays, is fashioned. May we, car-borne, through song
be victors ever.
HYMN XXV. Indra.
1. WHAT friend of man, God-loving, hath delighted, yearning
therefor, this day in Indra's friendship?
Who with enkindled
flame and flowing Soma laudeth him for his great protecting
favour?
2 Who hath with prayer bowed to the Soma-lover? What
pious man endues the beams of morning?
Who seeks bond, fritridship,
brotherhood with Indra? Who hath recourse unto the Sage for
succour?
3 Who claims to-day the Deities' protection, asks
Aditi for light, or the Adityas?
Of whose pressed stalk of
Soma drink the Asvins, Indra, and Agni, well-inclined in spirit?
4 To him shall Agni Bharata give shelter: long shall he look
upon the Sun up-rising,
Who sayeth, Let us press the juice
for Indra, man's Friend, the Hero manliest of heroes.
5 Him
neither few men overcome, nor many to him shall Aditi give spacious
shelter.
Dear is the pious, the devout, to Indra dear is
the zealous, dear the Soma-bringer.
6 This Hero curbs the
mighty for the zealous: the presser's brew Indra possesses solely:
No brother, kin, or friend to him who pours not, destroyer of
the dumb who would resist him.
7 Not with the wealthy churl
who pours no Soma doth Indra, Soma-drinker, bind alliance.
He draws away his wealth and slays him naked, own Friend to
him who offers, for oblation.
8 Highest and lowest, men who
stand between diem, going, returning, dwelling in contentment,
Those who show forth their strength when urged to battle-these
are the men who call for aid on Indra.
HYMN XXVI. Indra.
1. I WAS aforetime Manu, I was Surya: I am the sage Kaksivan,
holy singer.
Kutsa the son of Arjuni I master. I am the sapient
Usana behold me.
2 I have bestowed the earth upon the Arya,
and rain upon the man who brings oblation.
I guided forth
the loudly-roaring waters, and the Gods moved according to my
pleasure.
3 In the wild joy of Soma I demolished Sambara's
forts, ninety-and-nine, together;
And, utterly, the hundredth
habitation, when helping Divodasa Atithigva.
4 Before all
birds be ranked this Bird, O Maruts; supreme of falcons be this
fleet-winged Falcon,
Because, strong- pinioned, with no car
to bear him, he brought to Manu the Godloved oblation.
5
When the Bird brought it, hence in rapid motion sent on the
wide path fleet as thought he hurried.
Swift he returned
with sweetness of the Soma, and hence the Falcon hath acquired
his glory.
6 Bearing the stalk, the Falcon speeding onward,
Bird bringing from afar the draught that gladdens,
Friend
of the Gods, brought, grasping fast, the Soma which be bad taken
from yon loftiest heaven.
7 The Falcon took and brought the
Soma, bearing thousand libations with him, yea, ten thousand.
The Bold One left Malignities behind him, wise, in wild joy
of Soma, left the foolish.
HYMN XXVII. The Falcon.
1. I, As I lay within the womb, considered all generations
of these Gods in order.
A hundred iron fortresses confined
me but forth I flew with rapid speed a Falcon.
2 Not at his
own free pleasure did he bear me: he conquered with his strength
and manly courage.
Straightway the Bold One left the fiends
behind him and passed the winds as he grew yet more mighty.
3 When with loud cry from heaven down sped the Falcon, thence
hasting like the wind he bore the Bold One.
Then, wildly
raging in his mind, the archer Krsanu aimed and loosed the string
to strike him.
4 The Falcon bore him from heaven's lofty
summit as the swift car of Indra's Friend bore Bhujyu.
Then
downward bither fell a flying feather of the Bird hasting forward
in his journey.
5 And now let Maghavan accept the beaker,
white, filled with milk, filled with the shining liquid;
The best of sweet meath which the priests have offered: that
Indra to his joy may drink, the Hero, that he may take and drink
it to his rapture.
HYMN XXVIII. Indra-Soma.
1. ALLIED with thee, in this thy friendship, Soma, Indra
for man made waters flow together,
Slew Ahi, and sent forth
the Seven Rivers, and opened as it were obstructed fountains.
2 Indu, with thee for his confederate, Indra swiftly with might
pressed down the wheel of Surya.
What rolled, all life's
support, on heaven's high summit was separated from the great
oppressor.
3 Indra smote down, Agni consumed, O Indu, the
Dasyus ere the noontide in the conflict.
Of those who gladly
sought a hard-won dwelling he cast down many a thousand with
his arrow.
4 Lower than all besides hast thou, O Indra, cast
down the Dasyus, abject tribes of Dasas.
Ye drave away, ye
put to death the foemen, and took great vengeance with your
murdering weapons.
5 So, of a truth, Indra and Soma, Heroes,
ye burst the stable of the kine and horses,
The stable which
the bar or stone obstructed; and piercing through set free the
habitations.
HYMN XXIX. Indra.
1. COME, lauded, unto us with powers and succours, O Indra,
with thy Tawny Steeds; exulting,
Past even the foeman's manifold
libations, glorified with our hymns, true Wealth-bestower.
2 Man's Friend, to this our sacrifice he cometh marking how
he is called by Soma-pressers.
Fearless, and conscious that
his Steeds are noble, he joyeth with the Soma-pouring heroes.
3 Make his cars hear, that he may show his vigour and may be
joyful in the way he loveth.
May mighty Indra pouring forth
in bounty bestow on us good roads and perfect safety;
4 He
who with succour comes to his implorer, the singer here who
with his song invites him;
He who himself sets to the pole
swift Coursers, he who hath hundreds, thousands, Thunder-wielder.
5 O Indra Maghavan, by thee protected may we be thine, princes
and priests and singers,
Sharing the riches sent from lofty
heaven which yields much food, and all desire its bounty.
HYMN XXX. Indra.
1. O INDRA, Vrtra-slayer, none is better, mightier than thou:
Verily there is none like thee.
2 Like chariot-wheels these
people all together follow after thee:
Thou ever art renowned
as Great.
3 Not even all the gathered Gods conquered thee,
Indra, in the war,
When thou didst lengthen days by night.
4 When for the sake of those oppressed, and Kutsa as he battled,
Thou stolest away the Sun's car-wheel.
5 When, fighting singly,
Indra. thou o'ercamest all the furious Gods, thou slewest those
who strove with thee.
6 When also for a mortal man, Indra,
thou speddest forth the Sun,
And holpest Etasa with might.
7 What? Vrtra-slayer, art not thou, Maghavan, fiercest in thy
wrath?
So hast thou quelled the demon too.
8 And this
heroic deed of might thou, Indra, also hast achieved,
That
thou didst smite to death the Dame, Heaven's Daughter, meditating
ill.
9 Thou, Indra, Mighty One, didst crush Usas, though
Daughter of the Sky.
When lifting up herself in pride.
10 Then from her chariot Usas fled, affrighted, from her ruined
car.
When the strong God had shattered it.
11 So there
this car of Usas lay, broken to pieces, in Vipas,
And she
herself fled far away.
12 Thou, Indra, didst. with magic
power resist the overflowing stream
Who spread her waters
o'er the land.
13 Valiantly didst thou seize and take the
store which Susna had amassed,
When thou didst crush his
fortresses.
14 Thou, Indra, also smotest down Kulitara's
son Sambara,
The Dasa, from the lofty hill.
15 Of Dasa
Varcin's thou didst slay the hundred thousand and the five,
Crushed like the fellies, of a car.
16 So Indra, Lord of
Heroes, Powers, caused the unwedded damsel's son,
The castaway,
to share the lauds.
17 So sapient Indra, Lord of Might, brought
Turvaga and Yadu, those
Who feared the flood, in safel o'er.
18 Arpa and Citraratha, both Aryas, thou, Indra, slewest swift,
On yonder side of Sarayu,
19 Thou, Vrtra-slayer, didst conduct
those two forlorn, the blind, the lame.
None may attain this
bliss of thine.
20 For Divodasa, him who brought oblationt,
1ndra overthrew
A hundred fortresses of stone.
21 The
thirty thousand Disas he with magic power and weapons sent
To slumber, for Dabhiti's sake.
22 As such, O Vrtra-slayer,
thou art general Lord of kine for all,
Thou Shaker of all
things that be.
23 Indra, whatever deed of might thou hast
this day to execute,
None be there now to hinder it.
24
O Watchful One, may Aryaman the God give thee all goodly things.
May Risan, Bhaga, and the God Karulati give all things fair.
HYMN XXXI. Indra.
1. WITH what help will he come to us, wonderful, ever-waxing
Friend;
With what most mighty company?
2 What genuine
and most liberal draught will spirit thee with juice to burst
Open e'en strongly-guarded wealth?
3 Do thou who art Protector
of us thy friends who praise thee
With hundred aids approach
us.
4 Like as a courser's circling wheel, so turn thee hitherward
to us,
Attracted by the hymns of men.
5 Thou seekest as
it were thine own stations with swift descent of powers:
I share thee even with the Sun.
6 What time thy courage and
his wheels together, Indra, run their course
With thee and
with the Sun alike,
7 So even, Lord of Power and Might, the
people call thee Maghavan,
Giver, who pauses not to think.
8 And verily to him who toils and presses Soma juice for thee
Thou quickly givest ample wealth.
9 No, not a hundred hinderers
can check thy gracious bounty's flow,
Nor thy great deeds
when thou wilt act.
10 May thine assistance keep us safe,
thy hundred and thy thousand aids:
May all thy favours strengthen
us.
11 Do thou elect us this place for friendship and prosperity,
And great celestial opulence.
12 Favour us, Indra, evermore
with overflowing store of wealth:
With all thy succours aid
thou us.
13 With new protections, Indra, like an archer,
open thou forus
The stables that are filled with kine.
14 Our chariot, Indra, boldly moves endued with splendour, ne'er
repulsed,
Winning for us both kine andsteeds.
15 O Surya,
make our fame to be most excellent among the Gods,
Most lofty
as the heaven on high.
HYMN XXXII. Indra.
1. O THOU who slewest Vrtra, come, O Indra, hither to our
side,
Mighty One with thy mighty aids.
2 Swift and impetuous
art thou, wondrous amid the well-dressed folk:
Thou doest
marvels for our help.
3 Even with the weak thou smitest down
him
who is stronger, with thy strength
The mighty, with
the Friends thou hast.
4 O Indra, we are close to thee; to
thee we sing aloud our songs:
Help hnd defend us, even us.
5 As such, O Caster of the Stone, come with thy succours wonderful,
Blameless, and irresistible.
6 May we be friends of one like
thee, O Indra, with the wealth of kine,
Comrades for lively
energy.
7 For thou, O Indra, art alone the Lord of strength
that comes from kine
So grant thou us abundant food.
8
They turn thee not another way, when, lauded, Lover of the Song,
Thou wilt give wealth to those who praise.
9 The Gotamas
have sung their song of praise to thee that thou mayst give,
Indra, for lively energy.
10 We will declare thy hero deeds,
what Disa forts thou brakest down,
Attacking them in rapturous
joy.
11 The sages sing those manly deeds which, Indra, Lover
of the Song,
Thou wrougbtest when the Soma flowed.
12
Indra, the Gotamas who bring thee praises have grown strong
by thee.
Give them renown with hero sons.
13 For, Indra,
verily thou art the general treasure even of all .
Thee,
therefore, do we invocate.
14 Excellent Indra, turn to us:
glad thee among us with the juice
Of Somas, Soma-drinker
thou.
15 May praise from us who think Qn thee, O Indra, bring
thee near to us.
Turn thy two Bay Steeds hitherward.
16
Eat of our sacrificial cake: rejoice thee in the songs we sing.
Even as a lover in his bride.
17 To India for a thousand
steeds well-trained and fleet of foot we pray,
And hundred
jars of Soma juice.
18 We make a hundred of thy kine, yea,
and a thousand, hasten nigh:
So let thy bounty come to us.
19 We have obtained, a gift from thee, ten water-ewers wrought
of gold:
Thou, Vrtra-slayer, givest much.
20 A bounteous
Giver, give us much, bring much and not a trifling gift:
Much, Indra, wilt thou fain bestow.
21 O Vrtra-slayer, thou
art famed in many a place as bountiful
Hero, thy bounty let
us share.
22 I praise thy pair of Tawny Steeds, wise Son
of him who giveth kine
Terrify not the cows with these.
23 Like two slight images of girls, unrobed, upon a new-wrought
post,
So shine the Bay Steeds in their course.
24 For
me the Bays are ready when I start, or start not, with the dawn,
Innocuous in the ways they take.
HYMN XXXIII. Rbhus.
I. I SEND my voice as herald to the Rbhus; I crave the white
cow for the overspreading.
Wind-sped, the Skillful Ones in
rapid motion have in an instant compassed round the heaven.
2 What time the Rbus had with care and marvels done proper service
to assist their Parents,
They won the friendship of the Gods;
the Sages carried away the fruit of their devotion.
3 May
they who made their Parents, who were lying like posts that
moulder, young again for ever,-
May Vaja, Vibhvan, Rbhu,
joined with Indra , protect our sacrifice, the Soma-lovers.
4 As for a year the Rbhus kept the Milch-cow, throughout a year
fashioned and formed her body,
And through a year's space
still sustained her brightness, through these their labours
they were made immortal.
5 Two beakers let us make,- thus
said the eldest. Lct us make three,- this was the younger's
sentence.
Four beakers let us make,- thus spoke the youngest.
Tvastar approved this rede of yours, O Rbhus.
6 The men spake
truth and even so they acted: this Godlike way of theirs the
Rbhus followed.
And Tvastar, when he looked on the four beakers
resplendent as the day, was moved with envy.
7 When for twelve
days the Rbhus joyed reposing as guests of him who never may
be hidden,
lley made fair fertile fields, they brought the
rivers. Plants spread o'er deserts, waters filled the hollows.
8 May they who formed the swift car, bearing Heroes, and the
Cow omniform and all-impelling,
Even may they form wealth
for us,-the Rbhus, dexterous-handed, deft in work and gracious.
9 So in their work the Gods had satisfaction, pondering it with
thought and mental insight.
The Gods' expert artificer was
Vaja, Indra's Rbhuksan, Varuna's was Vibhvan.
10 They whol
made glad with sacrifice and praises, wrought the two Bays,
his docile Steeds, for Indra,-
Rbhus, as those who wish a
friend to prosper, bestow upon us gear and growth of riches.
11 This day have they set gladdening drink before you. Not without
toil are Gods inclined to friendship.
Therefore do ye who
are so great, O Rbhus, vouchsafe us treasures at this third
libation.
HYMN XXXIV. Rbhus.
1. To this our sacrifice come Rbhu, Vibhvan, Vaja, and Indra
with the gift of riches,
Because this day hath Dhisana the
Goddess set drink for you: the gladdening draughts have reached
you.
2 Knowing your birth and rich in gathered treasure,
Rbhus, rejoice together with the Rtus.
The gladdening draughts
and wisdom have approached you: send ye us riches with good
store of heroes.
3 For you was made this sacrifice, O Rbhus,
which ye, like men, won for yourselves aforetime.
To you
come all who find in you their pleasure: ye all were-even the
two elder-Vajas.
4 Now for the mortal worshipper, O Heroes,
for him who served you, was the gift of riches.
Drink, Vajas,
Rbhus! unto you is offered, to gladden you, the third and great
libation.
5 Come to us, Heroes, Vajas and Rbhuksans, glorified
for the sake of mighty treasure.
These draughts approach
you as the day is closing, as cows, whose calves are newly-born,
their stable.
6 Come to this sacrifice of ours, ye Children
of Strength, invoked with humble adoration.
Drink of this
meath, Wealth-givers, joined with Indra with whom ye are in
full accord, ye Princes.
7 Close knit with Varuna drink the
Soma, Indra; close-knit, ilymn-lover! with the Maruts drink
it:
Close-knit with drinkers first, who drink in season;
close-knit with heavenly Dames who give us treasures.
8 Rejoice
in full accord with the Adityas, in concord with the Parvatas,
O Rbhus;
In full accord with Savitar, Divine One; in full
accord with floods that pour forth riches.
9 Rbhus, who helped
their Parents and the Asvins, who formed the Milch-cow and the
pair of horses,
Made armour, set the heaven and earth asunder,-far-
reaching Heroes, they have made good offspring.
10 Ye who
have wealth in cattle and in booty, in heroes, in rich sustenance
and treasure,
Such, O ye Rbhus, first to drink, rejoicing,
give unto us and those who laud our present.
11 Ye were not
far: we have not left you thirsting, blameless in this our sacrifice,
O Rbhus.
Rejoice you with the Maruts and with Indra, with
the Kings, Gods! that ye may give us riches.
HYMN XXXV. Rbhus.
1. Come hither, O ye Sons of Strength, ye Rbhus; stay not
afar, ye Children of Sudhanvan.
At this libation is your
gift of treasure. Let gladdening draughts approach you after
Indra's.
2 Hither is come the Rbhus' gift of riches; here
was the drinking of the well-pressed Soma,
Since by dexterity
and skill as craftsmen ye made the single chalice to be fourfold
3 Ye made fourfold the chalice that wag single: ye spake these
words and said, O Friend, assist us;
Then, Vajas! gained
the path of life eternal, deft-handed Rbhus, to the Gods' assembly.
4 Out of what substance was that chalice fashioned which ye
made fourfold by your art and wisdom?
Now for the gladdening
draught press out the liquor, and drink, O Rbhus, of die meath
of Soma.
5 Ye with your cunning made your Parents youthful;
the cup, for Gods to drink, ye formed with cunning;
With
cunning, Rbhus, rich in treasure, fashioned the two swift Tawny
Steeds who carry Indra.
6 Whoso pours out for you, when days
are closing, the sharp libation for your joy, O Vajas,
For
him, O mighty Rbhus, ye, rejoicing, have fashioned wealth with
plenteous store of heroes.
7 Lord of Bay Steeds, at dawn
thejuice thou drankest: thine, only thine, is the noonday libation.
Now drink thou with the wealth-bestowing Rbhus, whom for their
skill thou madest friends, O Indra.
8 Ye, whom your artist
skill hath raised to Godhead have set you down above in heaven
like falcons.
So give us riches, Children of Sudhanvan, O
Sons of Strength; ye have become immortal.
9 The third libation,
that bestoweth treasure, which ye have won by skill, ye dexterous-handed,-
This drink hath been effused for you, O Rbhus . drink it with
high delight, with joy like Indra's.
HYMN XXXVI. Rbhus.
1. THia car that was not made for horses or for reins, three-wheeled,
worthy of lauds, rolls round the firmament.
That is the great
announcement of your Deity, that, O ye Rbhus, ye sustain the
earth and heaven.
2 Ye Sapient Ones who made the lightly-rolling
car out of your mind, by thought, the car that never errs,
You, being such, to drink of this drinkoffering, you, O ye Vajas,
and ye Rbhus, we invoke.
3 O Vajas, Rbhus, reaching far,
among the Gods this was your exaltation gloriously declared,
In that your aged Parents, worn with length of days, ye wrought
again to youth so that they moved at will.
4 The chalice
that wag single ye have made fourfold, and by your wisdom brought
the Cow forth from the hide.
So quickly, mid the Gods, ye
gained immortal life. Vajas and Rbhus, your great work must
be extolled.
5 Wealth from the Rbhus is most glorious in
renown, that which the Heroes, famed for vigour, have produced.
In synods must be sung the car which Vibhvan wrought: that which
ye favour, Gods! is famed among mankind.
6 Strong is the
steed, the man a sage in eloquence, the bowman is a hero hard
to beat in fight,
Great store of wealth and manly power hath
he obtained whom Vaja, Vibhvan, Rbhus have looked kindly on.
7 To you hath been assigned the fairest ornament, the hymn of
praise: Vajas and Rbhus, joy therein;
For ye have lore and
wisdom and poetic skill: as such, with this our prayer we call
on you to come.
8 According to the wishes of our hearts may
ye, who have full knowledge of all the delights of men,
Fashion
for us, O Rbhus, power and splendid wealth, rich in high courage,
excellent, and vital strength.
9 Bestowing on us here riches
and offspring, here fashion fame for us befitting heroes.
Vouchsafe us wealth of splendid sort, O Rbhus, that we may make
us more renowned than others.
HYMN XXXVII. Rbhus.
1. COME to our sacrifice, Vajas, Rbhuksans, Gods, by the
paths which Gods are wont to travel,
As ye, gay Gods, accept
in splendid weather the sacrifice among these folk of Manus.
2 May these rites please you in your heart and spirit; may the
drops clothed in oil this day approach you.
May the abundant
juices bear you onward to power and strength, and, when imbibed,
delight you.
3 Your threefold going near is God-appointed,
so praise is given you, Vajas and Rbhuksans.
So, Manus-like,
mid younger folk I offer, to you who are aloft in heaven, the
Soma.
4 Strong, with fair chains of gold and jaws of iron,
ye have a splendid car and well-fed horses.
Ye Sons of Strength,
ye progeny of Indra, to you the best is offered to delight you.
5 Rbhuksans! him, for handy wealth, the mightiest comrade in
the fight,
Him, Indra's equal, we invoke, most bounteous
ever, rich in steeds.
6 The mortal man whom, Rbhus, ye and
Indra favour with your help,
Must be successful, by his thoughts,
at sacrifice and with the steed.
7 O Vajas and Rbhuksans,
free for us the paths to sacrifice,
Ye Princes, lauded, that
we may press forward to each point of heaven.
8 O Vajas and
Rbhuksans, ye Nasatyas, Indra, bless this wealth,
And, before
other men's, the steed, that ample riches may be won.
HYMN XXXVIII. Dadhikris.
1. FROM you two came the gifts in days aforetime which Trasadasyu
granted to the Purus.
Ye gave the winner of our fields and
plough-lands, and the strong smiter who subdued the Dasytis.
2 And ye gave mighty Dadhikras, the giver of many gifts, who
visiteth all people,
Impetuous hawk, swift and of varied
colour, like a brave King whom each true man must honour.
3 Whom, as 'twere down a precipice, swift rushing, each Puru
praises and his heart rejoices,-
Springing forth like a hero
fain for battle, whirling the car and flying like the tempest.
4 Who gaineth precious booty in the combats and moveth, winning
spoil, among the cattle;
Shown in bright colour, looking
on the assemblies, beyond the churl, to worship of the living.
5 Loudly the folk cry after him in battles, as 'twere a thief
who steals away a garment;
Speeding to glory, or a herd of
cattle, even as a hungry falcon swooping downward.
6 And,
fain to come forth first amid these armies, this way and that
with rows of cars he rushes,
Gay like a bridesman, making
him a garland, tossing the dust, champing the rein that holds
him.
7 And that strong Steed, victorious and faithful, obedient
with his body in the combat,
Speeding straight on amid the
swiftly ressing, casts o'er his brows the dust he tosses upward.
8 And at his thunder, like the roar of heaven, those who attack
tremble and are affrighted;
For when he fights against embattled
thousands, dread is he in his striving; none may stay him.
9 The people praise the overpowering swiftness of this fleet
Steed who giveth men abundance.
Of him they say when drawing
back from battle. Dadhikras hath sped forward with his thousands.
10 Dadhikras hath o'erspread the Fivefold People with vigour,
as the Sun lightens the waters.
May the strong Steed who
winneth bundreds, thousands, requite with sweetness these my
words and praises.
HYMN XXXIX Dadhikras.
1. Now give we praise to Dadhikras the rapid, and mention
in our laud the Earth and Heaven.
May the Dawns flushing
move me to exertion, and bear me safely over every trouble.
2 I praise the mighty Steed who fills my spirit, the Stallion
Dadhikravan rich in bounties,
Whom, swift of foot aind shining
bright as Agni, ye, Varuna and Mitra, gave to Purus.
3 Him
who hath honoured, when the flame is kindled at break of dawn,
the Courser Dadhikrivan,
Him, of one mind with Varuna and
Mitra may Aditi make free from all transgression.
4 When
we remember mighty Dadhikravan our food and strength, then the
blest name of Maruts,
Varuna, Mitra, we invoke for welfare,
and Agni, and the thunder-wielding Indra.
5 Both sides invoke
him as they call on Indra when they stir forth and turn to sacrificing.
To us have Varuna and Mitra granted the Courser Dadhikris, a
guide for mortals.
6 So have I glorified with praise strong
Dadhikravan, conquering Steed.
Sweet may he make our mouths;
may he prolong the days we have to live.
HYMN XL. Dadhikravan.
1. LET us recite the praise of Dadhikravan: may all the Mornings
move me to exertion;
Praise of the Lord of Waters, Dawn,
and Agni, Brhaspati Son of Angiras, and Surya.
2 Brave, seeking
war and booty, dwelling with the good and with the swift, may
he hasten the food of Dawn.
May he the true, the fleet, the
lover of the course, the bird-like Dadhikravan, bring food,
strength, and light.
3 His pinion, rapid runner, fans him
m his way, as of a bird that hastens onward to its aim,
And,
as it were a falcon's gliding through the air, strikes Dadhikravan's
side as he speeds on with might.
4 Bound by the neck and
by the flanks and by the mouth, the vigorous Courser lends new
swiftness to his speed.
Drawing himself together, as his
strength allows, Dadhikras springs along the windings of the
paths.
5 The Hamsa homed in light, the Vasu in mid-air, the
priest beside the altar, in the house the guest,
Dweller
in noblest place, mid men, in truth, in sky, born of flood,
kine, truth, mountain, he is holy Law.
HYMN XLI. Indra-Varuna.
1. WHAT laud, O Indra-Varuna, with oblation, hath like the
Immortal Priest obtained your favour?
Hath our effectual
laud, addressed with homage, touched you, O Indra-Varuna, in
spirit?
2 He who with dainty food hath won you, Indra and
Varuna, Gods, as his allies to friendship,
Jayeth the Vrtras
and his foes in battles, and through your mighty favours is
made famous.
3 Indra and Varuna are most liberal givers of
treasure to the men who toil to serve them,
When they, as
Friends inclined to friendship, honoured with dainty food, delight
in flowing Soma.
4 Indra and Varuna, ye hurl, O Mighty, on
him your strongest flashing bolt of thunder
Who treats us
ill, the robber and oppressor: measure on him your overwhelming
vigour.
5 O Indra-Varuna, be ye the lovers of this my song,
as steers who love the milch-Cow.
Milk may it yield us as,
gone forth to pasture, the great Cow pouring out her thousand
rivers.
6 For fertile fields, for worthy sons and grandsons,
for the Sun's beauty and for steer-like vigour,
May Indra-Varuna
with gracious favours work marvels for us in the stress of battle.
7 For you, as Princes, for your ancient kindness, good comrades
of the man who seeks for booty,
We choose to us for the dear
bond of friendship, most liberal Heroes bringing bliss like
parents.
8 Showing their strength, these hymns for grace,
Free-givers I have gone to you, devoted, as to battle.
For
glory have they gone, as milk to Soma, to Indra-Varuna my thoughts
and praises.
9 To Indra and to Varuna, desirous of gaining
wealth have these my thoughts proceeded.
They have come nigh
to you as treasurelovers, like mares, fleet-footed, eager for
the glory.
10 May we ourselves be lords of during riches,
of ample sustenance for car and hones.
So may the Twain who
work with newest succours bring yoked teams hitherward to us
and riches.
11 Come with your mighty succours, O ye Mighty;
come, Indra-Varuna, to us in battle.
What time the flashing
arrows play in combat, may we through you be winners in the
contest.
HYMN XLIL Indra-Varuna.
1. I AM the royal Ruler, mine is empire, as mine who sway
all life are all Immortals.
Varuna's will the Gods obey and
follow. I am the King of men's most lofty cover.
2 I am King
Varuna. To me were given these first existinghigh celestial
powers.
Varuna's will the Gods obey and follow. I am the
King of men's most lofty cover.
3 I Varuna am Indra: in their
greatness, these the two wide deep fairly-fashioned regions,
These the two world-halves have I, even as Tvastar knowing all
beings, joined and held together.
4 I made to flow the moisture-shedding
waters, and set the heaven firm in the scat of Order.
By
Law the Son of Aditi, Law Observer, hath spread abroad the world
in threefold measure.
5 Heroes with noble horses, fain for
battle, selected warriors, call on me in combat.
I Indra
Maghavan, excite the conflict; I stir the dust, Lord of surpassing
vigour.
6 All this I did. The Gods' own conquering power
never impedeth me whom none opposeth.
When lauds and Soma
juice have made me joyful, both the unbounded regions are affrighted.
7 All beings know these deeds of thine thou tellest this unto
Varuna, thou great Disposer!
Thou art renowned as having
slain the Vrtras. Thou madest flow the floods that were obstructed.
8 Our fathers then were these, the Seven his, what time the
son of Durgaha was captive.
For her they gained by sacrifice
Trasadasyu, a demi-god, like Indra, conquering foemen.
9
The spouse of Purukutsa gave oblations to you, O Indra-Varuna,
with homage.
Then unto her ye gave King Trasadasyu, the demi-god,
the slayer of the foeman.
10 May we, possessing much, delight
in riches, Gods in oblations and the kine in pasture;
And
that Milch-cow who ahrinks not from the milking, O Indra-Varuna,
give to us daily.
HYMN XLIII. Asvins.
1. WHO will hear, who of those who merit worship, which of
all Gods take pleasure in our homage?
On whose heart shall
we lay this laud celestial, rich with fair offerings, dearest
to Immortals?
2 Who will be gracious? Who will come most
uickly of all the Gods? Who will
bring liss most largely?
What car do they call swift with rapid coursers? That which
the Daughter of the Sun elected.
3 So many days do ye come
swiftly hither, as Indra to give help in stress of battle.
Descended from the sky, divine, strong-pinioned, by which of
all your powers are ye most mighty?
4 What is the prayer
that we should bring you, Asvins, whereby ye come to us when
invocated?
Whether of you confronts e'en great betrayal?
Lovers of sweetness, Dasras, help and save us.
5 In the wide
space your chariot reacheth heaven, what time it turneth hither
from the ocean.
Sweets from your sweet shall drop, lovers
of sweetness! These have they dressed for you as dainty viands.
6 Let Sindhu with his wave bedew your horses: in fiery glow
have the red birds come hither.
Observed of all was that
your rapid going, whereby ye were the Lords of Siirya's Daughter.
7 Whene'er I gratified you here together, your grace was given
us, O ye rich in booty.
Protect, ye Twain, the singer of
your praises: to you, Nasatyas, is my wish directed.
HYMN XLIV. Asvins.
1. WE will invoke this day your car, farspreading, O Asvins,
even the gathering, of the sunlight,-
Car praised in hymns,
most ample, rich in treasure, fitted with seats, the car that
beareth Surya.
2 Asvins, ye gained that glory by your Godhead,
ye Sons of Heaven, by your own might and power.
Food followeth
close upon your bright appearing when stately horses in your
chariot draw you.
3 Who bringeth you to-day for help with
offered oblation, or with hymns to drink the juices?
Who,
for the sacrifice's ancient lover, turneth you hither, Asvins,
offering homage?
4 Borne on your golden car, ye omnipresent!
come to this sacrifice of ours, Nasatyas.
Drink of the pleasant
liquor of the Soma give riches to the people who adore you.
5 Come hitherward to us from earth, from heaven, borne on your
golden chariot rolling lightly.
Suffer not other worshippers
to stay you here are ye bound by earlier bonds of friendship.
6 Now for us both, mete out, O WonderWorkers, riches exceeding
great with store of heroes,
Because the men have sent you
praise, O Asvins, and Ajamilhas come to the laudation.
7
Whene'er I gratified you here together, your grace was given
us, O ye rich in booty.
Protect, ye Twain, the singer of
your praises: to you, Nasatyas, is my wish directed.
HYMN XLV. Asvins
1. YONDER goes up that light: your chariot is yoked that
travels round upon the summit of this heaven.
Within this
car are stored three kindred shares of food, and a skin filled
with meath is rustling as the fourth.
2 Forth come your viands
rich with store of pleasant meath, and cars and horses at the
flushing of the dawn,
Stripping the covering from the surrounded
gloom, and spreading through mid-air bright radiance like the
Sun.
3 Drink of the meath with lips accustomed to the draught;
harness for the meath's sake the chariot that ye love.
Refresh
the way ye go, refresh the paths with meath: hither, O Asvins,
bring the skin that holds the meath.
4 The swans ye have
are friendly, rich in store of mcath, gold-pinioned, strong
to draw, awake at early morn,
Swimming the flood, exultant,
fain for draughts that cheer: ye come like flies to our libations
of-the meath.
5 Well knowing solemn rites and rich in meath,
the fires sing to the morning Asvins at the break of day,
When with pure hands the prudent energetic priest hath with
the stones pressed out the Soma rich in meath.
6 The rays
advancing nigh, chasing with day the gloom, spread through the
firmament bright radiance like the Sun;
And the Sun harnessing
his horses goeth forth: ye through your Godlike nature let his
paths be known.
7 Devout in thought I have declared, O Asvins,
your chariot with good steeds, which lasts for ever,
Wherewith
ye travel swiftly through the regions to the prompt worshipper
who brings oblation.
HYMN XLVI. Vayu. Indra-Vayu
1. DRINK the best draught of Soma-juice, O Vayu, at our holy
rites:
For thou art he who drinketh first.
2 Come, team-drawn,
with thy hundred helps, with Indra, seated in the car,
Vaya,
and drink your fill of juice.
3 May steeds a thousand bring
you both, Indra. and Vayu, hitherward
To drink the Soma,
to the feagt.
4 For ye, O Indra-Vayu, mount the goldenseated
car that aids
The sacrifice, that reaches heaven.
5 On
far-refulgent chariot come unto the man who offers gifts:
Come, Indra-Vayu, hitherward.
6 Here, Indra-Vayu, is the
juice: drink it, accordant with the Gods,
Within the giver's
dwelling-place.
7 Hither, O Indra-Vayu, be your journey here
unyoke your steeds,
Here for your draught of Soma juice.
HYMN XLVIL Vayu. Indra-Vayu.
1. Vayu, the bright is offered thee, best of the meath at
holy rites.
Come thou to drink the Soma juice, God, longed-for,
on thy team-drawn car.
2 O Vayu, thou and Indra are meet
drinkers of these Soma-draughts,
For unto you the drops proceed
as waters gather to the vale.
3 O Indra-Vayu, mighty Twain,
speeding together, Lords of Strength,
Come to our succour
with your team, that ye may drink the Soma juice.
4 The longed-for
teams which ye possess, O Heroes, for the worshipper,
Turn
to us, Indra-Vayu, ye to whom the sacrifice is paid.
HYMN XLVIII. Vayu.
1. TASTE offerings never tasted yet, as bards enjoy the foeman's
wealth.
O Vayu, on refulgent car come to the drinking of
the juice.
2 Removing curses, drawn by teams, with 1ndra,
seated by thy side,
O Vayu, on refulgent car come to the
drinking of the juice.
3 The two dark treasuries of wealth
that wear
all beauties wait on thee.
O Vayu, on refulgent
car come to the drinking of the juice.
4 May nine-and-ninety
harnessed steeds who yoke them at thy will bring thee.
O
Vayu, on refulgent car come to the drinking of the juice.
5 Harness, O Vayu, to thy car a hundred well-fed tawny steeds,
Yea, or a thousand steeds, and let thy chariot come to us with
might.
HYMN XLIX. Indra-Brhaspati.
1. DEAR is this offering in your mouth, O Indra and Brhaspati:
Famed is the laud, the gladdening draught.
2 This lovely
Soma is effused, O Indra and Brhaspati,
For you, to drink
it and rejoice.
3 As Soma-drinkers to our house come, Indra
and Brhaspati-and Indra-to drink Soma juice.
4 Vouchsafe
us riches hundredfold, O Indra, and Brhaspati,
With store
of horses, thousandfold.
5 O Indra. and Brhaspati, we call
you when the meath is shed,
With songs, to drink the Soma
juice.
6 Drink, Indra and Brhaspati, the Soma in the giver's
house:
Delight yourselves abiding there.
HYMN L. Brhaspati.
1. Him who with might hath propped earth's ends, who sitteth
in threefold seat, Brhaspati, with thunder,
Him of the pleasant
tongue have ancient sages, deep-thinking, holy singers, set
before them.
2 Wild in their course, in well-marked wise
rejoicing were they, Brhaspati, who pressed around us.
Preserve
Brhaspati, the stall uninjured, this company's raining, ever-moving
birthplace.
3 Brhaspati, from thy remotest distance have
they sat down who love the law eternal.
For thee were dug
wells springing from the mountain, which murmuring round about
pour streams of sweetness.
4 Brhaspati, when first he had
his being from mighty splendour in supremest heaven,
Strong,
with his sevenfold mouth, with noise of thunder, with his seven
rays, blew and dispersed the darkness.
5 With the loud-shouting
band who sang his praises, with thunder, he destroyed obstructive
Vala.
Brhaspati thundering drave forth the cattle, the lowing
cows who make oblations ready.
6 Serve we with sacrifices,
gifts, and homage even thus the Steer of all the Gods, the Father.
Brhaspati, may we be lords of riches, with noble progeny and
store of heroes.
7 Surely that King by power and might heroic
hath made him lord of all his foes' posses-ions,
Who cherishes
Brhaspati well-tended, adorns and worships him as foremost sharer.
8 In his own house he dwells in peace and comfort: to him for
ever holy food flows richly.
To him the people with free
will pay homage-the King with whom the Brahman hatb precedence.
9 He, unopposed, is master of the riches.of his own subjects
and of hostile people.
The Gods uphold that King with their
protection who helps the Brahman when he seeks his favour.
10 Indra, Brhaspati, rainers of treasure, rejoicing at this
sacrifice drink the Soma.
Let the abundant drops sink deep
within you: vouchsafe us riches with full store of heroes.
11 Brhaspati and Indra, make us prosper may this be your benevolence
to usward.
Assist our holy thoughts, wake up our spirit:
weaken the hatred of our foe and rivals.
HYMN LI. Dawn.
1. FORTH from the darkness in the region eastward this most
abundant splendid light hatb mounted.
Now verily the far-refulgent
Mornings, Daughters of Heaven, bring welfare to the people.
2 The richly-coloured Dawns have mounted eastward, like pillars
planted at our sacrifices,
And, flushing far, splendid and
purifying, unbarred the portals of the fold of darkness.
3 Dispelling gloom this day the wealthy Mornings urge liberal
givers to present their treasures.
In the unlightened depth
of darkness round them let niggard traffickers sleep unawakened.
4 O Goddesses, is this your car, I ask you, ancient this day,
or is it new, ye Mornings,
Wherewith, rich Dawns, ye seek
with wealth Navagva, Dasagva Angira, the seven-toned singer?
5 With horses harnessed by eternal Order, Goddesses, swiftly
round the worlds ye travel,
Arousing from their rest, O Dawns,
the sleeping, and all that lives, man, bird, and beast, to motion.
6 Which among these is eldest, and where is she through whom
they fixed the Rbhus' regulations?
What time the splendid
Dawns go forth for splendour, they are not known aparto alike,
unwasting.
7 Blest were these Dawns of old, shining with
succour, true with the truth that springs from holy Order;
With whom the toiling worshipper, by praises, hymning and lauding,
soon attained to riches.
8 Hither from eastward all at once
they travel, from one place spreading in the selfsame manner.
Awaking, from the seat of holy Order the Godlike Dawns come
nigh like troops of cattle.
9 Thus they go forth with undiminished
colours, these Mornings similar, in self-same fashion,
Concealing
the gigantic might of darkness with radiant bodies bright and
pure and shining.
10 O Goddesses, O Heaven's refulgent Daughters,
bestow upon us wealth with store of children.
As from our
pleasant place of rest ye rouse us may we be masters of heroic
vigour.
11 Well-skilled in lore of sacrifice, ye Daughters
of Heaven, refulgent Dawns, I thus address you.
May we be
glorious among the people. May Heaven vouchsafe us this, and
Earth the Goddess,
HYMN LIL Dawm.
1. THIS Lady, giver of delight, after her Sister shining
forth, Daughter of Heaven, hath shown herself.-
2 Unfailing,
Mother of the Kine, in colour like a bright red mare,
The
Dawn became the Asvins' Friend.
3 Yea, and thou art the Asvins'
Friend, the Mother of the Kine art thou:
O Dawn thou rulest
over wealth.
4 Thinking of thee, O joyous One, as her who
driveth hate away,
We woke to meet thee with our lauds.
5 Our eyes behold thy blessed rays like troops of cattle loosed
to feed.
Dawn hath filled full the wide expanse.
6 When
thou hast filled it, Fulgent One! thou layest bare the gloom
with light.
After thy nature aid us, Dawn.
7 Thou overspreadest
heaven with rays, the dear wide region of mid-air.
With thy
bright shining lustre, Dawn.
HYMN LIII. Savitar.
1. OF Savitar the God, the sapient Asura, we crave this great
gift which is worthy of our choice,
Wherewith he freely grants
his worshiper defence. This with his rays the Great God hath
vouchsafed to us.
2 Sustainer of the heaven, Lord of the
whole world's life, the Sage, he putteth on his golden-coloured
mail.
Clear-sighted, spreading far, filling the spacious
realm, Savitar hath brought forth bliss that deserveth laud.
3 He hath filled full the regions of the heaven and earth: the
God for his own strengthening waketh up the hymn.
Savitar
hath stretched out his arms to cherish life, producing with
his rays and lulling all that moves.
4 Lighting all living
creatures, neer to be deceived, Savitar, God, protects each
holy ordinance.
He hath stretched out his arms to all the
folk of earth, and, with his laws observed, rules his own mighty
course.
5 Savitar thrice surrounding with his mightiness
mid-air, three regions, and the triple sphere of light,
Sets
the three heavens in motion and the threefold earth, and willingly
protects us with his triple law.
6 Most gracious God, who
brings to life and lulls to rest, he who controls the world,
what moves not and what moves,
May he vouchsafe us shelter,
-Savitar the God,- for tranquil life, with triple bar against
distress.
7 With the year's seasons hath Savitar, God, come
nigh: may he prosper our home, give food and noble sons.
May he invigorate us through the days and nights, and may he
send us opulence with progeny.
HYMN LIV. Savitar.
1. Now must we praise and honour Savitar the God: at this
time of the day the men must call to him,
Him who distributes
wealth to Manu's progeny, that he may grant us here riches most
excellent.
2 For thou at first producest for the holy Gods
the noblest of all portions, immor-tality:
Thereafter as
a gift to men, O Savitar, thou openest existence, life succeeding
life.
3 If we, men as we are, have sinned against the Gods
through want of thought, in weakness, or through insolence,
Absolve us from the guilt and make us free from sin, O Savitar,
alike among both Gods and men.
4 None may impede that power
of Savitar the God whereby he will maintain the universal world.
What the fair-fingered God brings forth on earth's expanse or
in the heightof heaven, that work of his stands sure.
5 To
lofty hills thou sendest those whom Indra leads, and givest
fixed abodes with houses unto these.
However they may fly
and draw themselves apart, still, Savitar, they stand obeying
thy behest.
6 May the libations poured to thee thrice daily,
day after day, O Savitar, bring us blessing.
May Indra, Heaven,
Earth, Sindhu with the Waters, Aditi with Adityas, give us shelter.
HYMN LV. Visvedevas.
1. WHO of you, Vasus, saveth? who protecteth? O Heaven and
Earth and Aditi, preserve us,
Varuna., Mitra, from the stronger
mortal. Gods, which of you at sacrifice giveth comfort?
2
They who with laud extol the ancient statutes, when they shine
forth infallible dividers,
Have ordered as perpetual Ordainers,
and beamed as holy-thoughted WonderWorkers.
3 The Housewife
Goddess, Aditi, and Sindhu, the Goddess Svasti I implore for
friendship:
And may the unobstructed Night and Morning both,
day and night, provide for our protection.
4 Aryaman, Varuna
have disclosed the pathway, Agni as Lord of Strength the road
to welfare.
Lauded in manly mode may Indra-Visnu grant us
their powerful defence and shelter.
5 I have besought the
favourof the Maruts, of Parvata, of Bhaga God who rescues.
From trouble caused by man the Lord preserve us; from woe sent
by his friend let Mitra save us.
6 Agree, through these our
watery oblations, Goddesses, Heaven and Earth, with Ahibudhnya.
As if to win the sea, the Gharma-heaters have opened, as they
come anear, the rivers.
7 May Goddess Aditi with Gods defend
us, save us the saviour God with care unceasing.
We dare
not stint the sacred food of Mitra and Varuna upon the back
of Agni.
8 Agni is Sovran Lord of wealth, Agni of great prosperity:
May he bestow these gifts on us.
9 Hither to us, rich pleasant
Dawn, bring many things to be desired,
Thou who hast ample
store of wealth.
10 So then may Bhaga, Savitar, Varuna, Mitra,
Aryaman, Indra, with bounty come to us.
HYMN LVI. Heaven and Earth.
1. MAY mighty Heaven and Earth, most meet for honour, be
present here with light and gleaming splendours;
When, fixing
them apart, vast, most extensive, the Steer roars loudly in
far-reaching courses.
2 The Goddesses with Gods, holy with
holy, the Two stand pouring out their rain, exhaustless:
Faithful and guileless, having Gods for children, leaders of
sacrifice with shining splendours.
3 Sure in the worlds he
was a skilful Craftsman, he who produced these Twain the Earth
and Heaven.
Wise, with his power he brought both realms,
together spacious and deep, wellfashioned, unsupported.
4
O Heaven and Earth, with one accord promoting, with high protection
as of Queens, our welfare,
Far-reaching, universal, holy,
guard us. May we, car-borne, through song be victors ever.
5 To both of you, O Heaven and Earth, we bring our lofty song
of praise,
Pure Ones! to glorify you both.
6 Ye sanctify
each other's form, by your own proper might ye rule,
And
from of old observe the Law.
7 Furthering and fulfilling,
ye, O Mighty, perfect Mitra's Law.
Ye sit around our sacrifice.
HYMN LVII. Ksetrapati, Etc.
1. WE through the Master of the Field, even as through a
friend, obtain
What nourisheth our kine and steeds. In such
may he be good to us.
2 As the cow yieldeth milk, pour for
us freely, Lord of the Field, the wave that beareth sweetness,
Distilling meath, well-purified like butter, and let the. Lords
of holy Law be gracious.
3 Sweet be the plants for us. the
heavens, the waters, and full of sweets for us be air's mid-region.
May the Field's Lord for us be full of sweetness, and may we
follow after him uninjured.
4 Happily work our steers and
men, may the plough furrow happily.
Happily be the traces
bound; happily may he ply the goad.
5 Suna and Sira, welcome
ye this laud, and with the milk which ye have made in heaven
Bedew ye both this earth of ours.
6 Auspicious Sita, come
thou near: we venerate and worship thee
That thou mayst bless
and prosper us and bring us fruits abundantly.
7 May Indra
press the furrow down, may Pusan guide its course aright.
May she, as rich in milk, be drained for us through each succeeding
year.
8 Happily let the shares turn up the ploughland, happily
go the ploughers with the oxen.
With meath and milk Parjanya
make us happy. Grant us prosperity, Suna and Sira.
HYMN LVIII. Ghrta.
1. FORTH from the ocean sprang the wave of sweetness: together
with the stalk it turned to Amrta,
That which is holy oil's
mysterious title: but the Gods' tongue is truly Amrta's centre.
2 Let us declare aloud the name of Ghrta, and at this sacrifice
hold it up with homage.
So let the Brahman hear the praise
we utter. This hath the four-horned Buffalo emitted.
3 Four
are his horns, three are the feet that bear him; his heads are
two, his hands are seven in number.
Bound with a triple bond
the Steer roars loudly: the mighty God hath entered in to mortals.
4 That oil in triple shape the Gods discovered laid down within
the Cow, concealed by Panis.
Indra produced one shape, Surya
another: by their own power they formed the third from Vena.
5 From inmost reservoir in countless channels flow down these
rivers which the foe beholds not.
I look upon the streams
of oil descending, and lo! the Golden Reed is there among them.
6 Like rivers our libations flow together, cleansing themselves
in inmost heart and spirit.
The streams of holy oil pour
swiftly downward like the wild beasts that fly before the bowman.
7 As rushing down the rapids of a river, flow swifter than the
wind the vigorous currents,
The streams of oil in swelling
fluctuation like a red courser bursting through the fences.
8.Like women at a gathering fair to look on and gently smiling,
they incline to Agni.
The streams of holy oil attain the
fuel, and Jatavedas joyfully receives them.
9 As maidens
dock themselves with gay adornment to join the bridal feast,
I now behold them.
Where Soma flows and sacrifice is ready,
thither the streams of holy oil are running.
10 Send to our
eulogy a herd of cattle bestow upon us excellent possessions.
Bear to the Gods the sacrifice we offer the streams of oil flow
pure and full of sweetness.
11 The universe depends upon
thy power and might within the sea, within the heart, within
all life.
May we attain that sweetly-flavoured wave of thine,
brought, at its gathering, o'er the surfaceof the floods.
Suggestions for Further Reading
- 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.