
The Rig-Veda - Book VII

HYMN I. Agni.
1. THE men from fire-sticks, with their hands' swift movement,
have, in deep thought, engendered glorious Agni,
Far-seen,
with pointed flame, Lord of the homestead.
2 The Vasus set
that Agni in the dwelling, fair to behold, for help from every
quarter:
Who, in the home for ever, must be honoured.
3 Shine thou before us, Agni, well-enkindled, with flame, Most
Youthful God, that never fadeth.
To thee come all our sacrificial viands.
4 Among all fires
these fires have shone most brightly, splendid with light, begirt
by noble heroes,
Where men of lofty birth sit down together.
5 Victorious Agni, grant us wealth with wisdom, wealth with
brave sons, famous and independent,
Which not a foe who deals
in magic conquers.
6 To whom, the Strong, at morn and eve
comes, maid-like, the ladle dropping oil, with its oblation.
Wealth-seeking comes to him his own devotion.
7 Burn up all
malice with those flames, O Agni, wherewith of old thou burntest
up Jarutha,
And drive away in silence pain and sickness.
8 With him who lighteth up thy splendour, Agni, excellent, pure,
refulgent, Purifier,
Be present, and with us through these
our praises.
9 Agni, the patriarchal men, the mortals who
have in many places spread thy lustre,-
Be gracious to us
here for their sake also.
10 Let these men, heroes in the
fight with foemen, prevail against all godless arts of 4magic,-
These who ipprove the noble song I sing thee.
11 Let us not
sit in want of men, O Agni, without descendants, heroleu, about
thee:
But, O House-Friend, in houses full of children.
12 By sacrifice which the Steeds' Lord ever visits, there make
our dwelling rich in seed and offspring,
Increasing still
with lineal successors.
13 Guard us, O Agni, from the hated
demon, guard us from malice of the churlish sinner:
Allied
with thee may I subdue assailants.
14 May this same fire
of mine surpass all others, this fire where offspring, vigorous
and firm-handed,
Wins, on a thousand paths, what ne'er shall
perish.
15 This is that Agni, saviour from the foeman, who
guards the kindler of the flame from sorrow:
Heroes of noble
lineage serve and tend him.
16 This is that Agni, served
in many places, whom the rich lord who brings oblation kindles,
And round him goes the priest at sacrifices.
17 Agni, may
we with riches in possession bring thee continual ofierings
in abundance,
Using both means to draw thee to our worship.
18 Agni, bear thou, Eternal, these most welcome oblations to
the Deities' assembly:
Let them enjoy our very fragrant presents.
19 Give us not up, Agni, to want of heroes, to wretched clothes,
to need, to destitution.
Yield us not, Holy One, to fiend or hunger; injure us not
at home or in the forest.
20 Give strength and power to these
my prayers, O Agni; O God, pour blessings on our chiefs and
nobles.
Grant that both we and they may share thy bounty.
Ye Gods, protect us evermore with blessings.
21 Thou Agni,
swift to hear, art fair of aspect: beam forth, O Son of Strength,
in full effulgence.
Let me not want, with thee, a son for
ever: let not a manly hero ever fail us.
22 Condemn us not
to indigence, O Agni, beside these flaming fires which Gods
have kindled;
Nor, even after fault, let thy displeasure,
thine as a God, O Son of Strength, o'ertake us.
23 O Agni,
fair of face, the wealthy mortal who to the Immortal offers
his oblation.
Hath him who wins him treasure by his Godhead,
to whom the prince, in need, goes supplicating.
24 Knowing
our chief felicity, O Agni, bring hither ample riches to our
nobles,
Wherewith we may enjoy ourselves, O Victor, with
undiminished life and hero children.
25 Give strength and
power to these my prayers, O Agni; O God, pour blessings on
bur chiefs and nobles.
Grant that both we and they may share
thy bounty. Ye Gods, protect us evermore with blessings.
HYMN II. Apris.
1. GLADLY accept, this day, our fuel, Agni: send up thy sacred
smoke and shine sublimely.
Touch the celestial summits with
thy columns, and overspread thee with the rays of Surya.
2 With sacrifice to these we men will honour the majesty of
holy Narasamsa-
To these the pure, most wise, the thought.
inspirers, Gods who enjoy both sorts of our oblations.
3
We will extol at sacrifice for ever, as men may do, Agni whom
Manu kindled,
Your very skilful Asura, meet for worship,
envoy between both worlds, the truthful speaker.
4 Bearing
the sacred grass, the men who serve him strew it with reverence,
on their knees, by Agni.
Calling him to the spotted grass,
oil-sprinkled, adorn him, ye Adhvaryus, with oblation.
5
With holy thoughts the pious have thrown open Doors fain for
chariots in the Gods' assembly.
Like two full mother cows
who lick their youngling, like maidens for the gathering, they
adorn them.
6 And let the two exalted Heavenly Ladies, Morning
and Night, like a cow good at milking,
Come, much-invoked,
and on our grass be seated ' wealthy, deserving worship, for
our welfare.
7 You, Bards and Singers at men's sacrifices,
both filled with wisdom, I incline to worship.
Send up our
offerings when we call upon you, and so among the Gods obtain
us treasures.
8 May Bharati with all her Sisters, Ila accordant
with the Gods, with mortals Agni,
Sarasvati with all her
kindred Rivers, come to this grass, Three Goddesses, and seat
them.
9 Well pleased with us do thou, O God, O Tvastar, give
ready issue to our procreant vigour,
Whence springs the hero,
powerful, skilled in action, lover of Gods, adjuster of the
press-stones.
10 Send to the Gods the oblation, Lord of Forests,
and let the Immolator, Agni, dress it.
He as the truer Priest
shall offer worship, for the God'sgenerations well he knoweth.
11 Come thou to us, O Agni, duly kindled, together with the
potent Gods and Indra.
On this our grass sit Aditi, happy
Mother, and let our Hail! delight the Gods Immortal.
HYMN III. Agni.
1. ASSOCIATE with fires, make your God Agni envoy at sacrifice,
best skilled in worship,
Established firm among mankind,
the Holy, flame-crowned and fed with oil, the Purifier.
2
Like a steed neighing eager for the pasture, when he hath stepped
forth from the great enclosure:
Then the wind following blows
upon his splendour, and, straight, the path is black which thou
hast travelled.
3 From thee a Bull but newly born, O Agni,
the kindled everlasting flames rise upward.
Aloft to heaven
thy ruddy smoke ascendeth: Agni, thou speedest to the Gods as
envoy.
4 Thou whose fresh lustre o'er the earth advanceth
when greedily with thy jaws thy food thou eatest.
Like a
host hurried onward comes thy lasso: fierce, with thy tongue
thou piercest, as 'twere barley.
5 The men have decked him
both at eve and morning, Most Youthful Agni, as they tend a
courser.
They kindle him, a guest within his dwelling: bright
shines the splendour of the worshipped Hero.
6 O fair of
face, beautiful is thine aspect when, very near at hand, like
gold thou gleamest,
Like Heaven's thundering roar thy might
approaches, and like the wondrous Sun thy light thou showest.
7 That we may worship, with your Hail to Agni! with sacrificial
cakes and fat oblations,
Guard us, O Agni, with those boundless
glories as with a hundred fortresses of iron.
8 Thine are
resistless songs for him who offers, and hero-giving hymns wherewith
thou savest;
With these, O Son of Strength, O Jatavedas,
guard us, preserve these princes and the singers.
9 When
forth he cometh, like an axe new-sharpened, pure in his form,
resplendent in his body,
Sprung, sought with eager longing,
from his Parents, for the Gods' worship, Sage and Purifier:
10 Shine this felicity on us, O Agni: may we attain to perfect
understanding.
All happiness be theirs who sing and praise
thee. Ye Gods, preserve us evermore with blessings.
HYMN IV. Agni.
1. BRING forth your gifts to his refulgent splendour, your
hymn as purest offering to Agni,
To him who goes as messenger
with knowledge between all songs of men and Gods in heaven.
2 Wise must this Agni be, though young and tender, since he
was born, Most Youthful, of his Mother;
He who with bright
teeth seizeth fast the forests, and eats his food, though plenteous,
in a moment.
3 Before his presence must we all assemble,
this God's whom men have seized in his white splendour.
This
Agni who hath brooked that men should seize him hath shone for
man with glow insufferable.
4 Far-seeing hath this Agni been
established, deathless mid mortals, wise among the foolish.
Here, O victorious God, forbear to harm us: may weforever share
thy gracious favour.
5 He who hath occupied his God-made
dwelling, Agni, in wisdom hath surpassed Immortals.
A Babe
unborn, the plants and trees support him, and the earth beareth
him the All-sustainer.
6 Agni is Lord of Amrta. in abundance,
Lord of the gift of wealth and hero valour,
Victorious God,
let us not sit about thee like men devoid of strength, beauty,
and worship.
7 The foeman's treasure may be won with labour:
may we be masters of our own possessions.
Agni, no son is
he who springs from others: lengthen not out the pathways of
the foolish.
8 Unwelcome for adoption is the stranger, one
to be thought of as another's offipring,
Though grown familiar
by continual presence. May our strong hero come, freshly triumphant.
9 Guard us from him who would assail us, Agni; preserve us O
thou Victor, from dishonour.
Here let the place of darkening
come upon thee: may wealth be ours, desirable, in thousands.
10 Shine this felicity on us, O Agni: may we attain to perfect
understanding.
All happiness be theirs who sing and praise
thee. Ye Gods, preserve us evermore with blessings.
HYMN V. Agni.
1. BRING forth your song of praise to mighty Agni, the speedy
messenger of earth and heaven,
Vaisvanara, who, with those
who wake, hath waxen great in the lap of all the Gods Immortal.
2 Sought in the heavens, on earth is Agni stablished, leader
of rivers, Bull of standing waters.
Vaisvanara when he hath
grown in glory, shines on the tribes of men with light and treasure.
3 For fear of thee forth fled the dark-hued races, scattered
abroad, deserting their possessions,
When, glowing, O Vaisvanara,
for Puru, thou Agni didst light up and rend their castles.
4 Agni Vaisvanara, both Earth and Heaven submit them to thy
threefold jurisdiction.
Refulgent in thine undecaying lustre
thou hast invested both the worlds with splendour.
5 Agni,
the tawny horses, loudly neighing our resonant hymns that drop
with oil, attend thee;
Lord of the tribes, our Charioteer
of riches, Ensign of days, Vaisvanara of mornings.
6 In thee,
O bright as Mitra, Vasus seated the might of Aduras, for they
loved thy spirit.
Thou dravest Dasyus from their home, O
Agni, and broughtest forth broad light to light the Arya.
7 Born in the loftiest heaven thou in a moment reachest, like
wind, the place where Gods inhabit.
Thou, favouring thine
offspring, roaredst loudly when giving life to creatures, Jatavedas.
8 Send us that strength, Vaisvanara, send it, Agni, that strength,
O Jatavedas, full of splendour,
Wherewith, all-bounteous
God, thou pourest riches, as fame wide-spreading, on the man
who offers.
9 Agni, bestow upon our chiefs and nobles that
famous power, that wealth which feedeth many.
Accordant with
the Vasus and the Rudras, Agni, Vaisvanara, give us sure protection.
HYMN VI. Agni.
1. PRAISE of the Asura, high imperial Ruler, the Manly One
in whom the folk shall triumph-
I laud his deeds who is as
strong as Indra, and lauding celebrate the Fort-destroyer.
2 Sage, Sing, Food, Light,-they bring him from the mountain,
the blessed Sovran of the earth and heaven.
I decorate with
songs the mighty actions which Agni, Fort-destroyer, did aforetime.
3 The foolish, faithless, rudely-speaking niggards, without
belief or sacrifice or worship,-
Far far sway hath Agni chased
those Dasytis, and, in the cast, hath turned the godless westward.
4 Him who brought eastward, manliest with his prowess, the Maids
rejoicing in the western darkness,
That Agni I extol, the
Lord of riches, unyielding tamer of assailing foemen.
5 Him
who brake down the walls with deadly weapons, and gave the Mornings
to anoble Husband,
Young Agni, who with conquering strength
subduing the tribes of Nahus made them bring their tribute.
6 In whose protection all men rest by nature, desiring to enjoy
his gracious favour-
Agni Vaisvanara in his Parents, bosom
hath found the choicest seat in earth and heaven.
7 Vaisvanara
the God, at the sun's setting, hath taken to himself deep-hidden
treasures:
Agni hath taken them from earth and heaven, from
the sea under and the sea above us.
HYMN VII. Agni.
1. I SEND forth even your God, victorious Agni, like a strong
courser, with mine adoration.
Herald of sacrifice be he who
knoweth he hath reached Gods, himself, with measured motion.
2 By paths that are thine own come hither, Agni, joyous, delighting
in the Gods' alliance,
Making the heights of earth roar with
thy fury, burning with eager teeth the woods and forests.
3 The grass is strewn; the sacrifice advances adored as Priest,
Agni is made propitious,
Invoking both All-boon-bestowing
Mothers of whom, Most Youthful! thou wast born to help us.
4 Forthwith the men, the best of these for wisdom, have made
him leader in the solemn worship.
As Lord in homes of men
is Agni stablished, the Holy One, the joyous, sweetly speaking.
5 He hath come, chosen bearer, and is seated in man's home,
Brahman, Agni, the Supporter,
He whom both Heaven anct Earth
exalt and strengthenwhom, Giver of all boons, the Hotar worships.
6 These have passed all in glory, who, the manly, have wrought
with skill the hymn of adoration;
Who, listening, have advanced
the people's welfare, and set their thoughts on this my holy
statute.
7 We, the Vasisthas, now implore thee, Agni, O Son
of Strength, the Lord of wealth and treasure.
Thou hast brought
food to singers and to nobles. Ye Gods, preserve us evermore
with blessings.
HYMN VIII. Agni
1. THE King whose face is decked with oil is kindled with
homage offered by his faithful servant.
The men, the priests
adore him with oblations. Agni hath shone forth when the dawn
is breaking.
2 Yea, he hath been acknowledged as most mighty,
the joyous Priest of men, the youthful Agni.
He, spreading
o'er the earth, made light around him, and grew among the plants
with blackened fellies..
3 How dost thou decorate our hymn,
O Agni? What power dost thou exert when thou art lauded?
When, Bounteous God, may we be lords of riches, winners of precious
wealth which none may conquer?
4 Far famed is this the Bharata's
own Agni he shineth like the Sun with lofty splendour.
He
who hath vanquished Puru in the battle, the heavenly guest hath
glowed in full refulgence.
5 Full many oblations are in thee
collected: with all thine aspects thou hast waxen gracious.
Thou art already famed as praised and lauded, yet still, O nobly
born, increase thy body.
6 Be this my song, that winneth
countless treasure, engendered with redoubled force for Agni,
That, splendid, chasing sickness, slaying demons, it may delight
our friend and bless the singers.
7 We, the Vasisthas, now
implore thee, Agni, O Son of Strength, the Lord of wealth and
riches.
Thou hast brought food to singers and to nobles.
Ye Gods, preserve us evermore with blessings.
HYMN IX. Agni.
1. ROUSED from their bosom is the Dawns' beloved, the joyous
Priest, most sapient, Purifier.
He gives a signal both to
Gods and mortals, to Gods oblations, riches to the pious.
2 Most wise is he who, forcing doors of Panis, brought the bright
Sun to us who feedeth many.
The cheerful Priest, men's Friend
and home-companion, through still night's darkness he is made
apparent.
3 Wise, ne.'er deceived, uncircumscribed, refulgent,
our gracious guest, a Friend with good attendants,
Shines
forth with wondrous light before the Mornings; the young plants
hath he entered, Child of Waters.
4 Seeking our gatherings,
he, your Jatavedas, hath shone adorable through human ages,
Who gleams refulgent with his lovely lustre: the kine have waked
to meet him when enkindled.
5 Go on thy message to the Gods,
and fail not, O Agni, with their band who pray and worship.
Bring all the Gods that they may give us riches, Sarasvati,
the Maruts, Asvins, Waters.
6 Vasistha, when enkindling thee,
O Agni, hath slain jarutha. Give us wealth in plenty.
Sing
praise in choral song, O Jatavedas. Ye Gods, preserve us evermore
with blessings.
HYMN X. Agni.
1. HE hath sent forth, bright, radiant, and refulgent, like
the Dawn's Lover, his far-spreading lustre.
Pure in his splendour
shines the golden Hero: our longing thoughts hath he aroused
and wakened.
2 He, like the Sun, hath shone while Morn is
breaking, and priests who weave the sacrifice sing praises,
Agni, the God, who knows their generations and visits Gods,
most bounteous, rapid envoy.
3 Our songs and holy hymns go
forth to Agni, seeking the God and asking him for riches,
Him fair to see, of goodly aspect, mighty, men's messenger who
carries their oblations.
4 joined with the Vasus, Agni, bring
thou Indra bring hither mighty Rudra with the Rudras,
Aditi
good to all men with Adityas, Brhaspati All-bounteous, with
the Singers.
5 Men eagerly implore at sacrifices Agni, Most
Youthful God, the joyous Herald.
For he is Lord and Ruler
over riches, and for Gods' worship an unwearied envoy.
HYMN XI. Agni.
1. GREAT art thou, Agni, sacrifice's Herald: not without
thee are deathless Gods made joyful.
Come hither with all
Deities about thee here take thy seat, the first, as Priest,
O Agni.
2 Men with oblations evermore entreat thee, the swift,
to undertake an envoy's duty.
He on whose sacred grass with
Gods thou sittest, to him, O Agni, are the days propitious.
3 Three times a day in thee are shown the treasures sent for
the mortal who presents oblation.
Bring the Gods hither like
a man, O Agni: be thou our envoy, guarding us from curses.
4 Lord of the lofty sacrifice is Agni, Agni is Lord of every
gift presented.
The Vasus were contented with his wisdom,
so the Gods made him their oblationbearer.
5 O Agni, bring
the Gods to taste our presents: with Indra leading, here let
them be joyful.
Convey this sacrifice to Gods in heaven.
Ye Gods, preserve us evermore with blessings.
HYMN XII. Agni.
1. WE with great reverence have approached The Youngest who
hath shone forth well-kindled in his dwelling,
With wondrous
light between wide earth and heaven, well-worshipped, looking
forth in all directions.
2 Through his great might o'ercoming
all misfortunes, praised in the house is Agni Jatavedas.
May he protect us from disgrace and trouble, both us who laud
him and our noble patrons.
3 O Agni, thou art Varuna and
Mitra: Vasisthas with their holy hymns exalt thee.
With thee
be most abundant gain of treasure. Ye Gods, preserve us evermore
with blessings.
HYMN XIII. Agni.
1. BRING song and hymn to Agni, Asura-slayer, enlightener
of all and thought-bestower.
Like an oblation on the grass,
to please him, I bring this to Vaisvanara, hymn-inspirer.
2 Thou with thy flame, O Agni, brightly glowing, hast at thy
birth filled full the earth and heaven.
TIOU with thy might,
Vaisvanara Jatavedas, settest the Gods free frodi the curse
that bound them.
3 Agni, when, born thou lookedst on all
creatures, like a brisk herdsman moving round his cattle.
The path to prayer, Vaisvanara, thou foundest. Ye Gods, preserve
us evermore with blessings.
HYMN XIV Agni.
1. WITH reverence and with offered gifts serve we the God
whose flame is bright:
Let us bring Jatavedas fuel, and adore
Agni when we invoke the Gods.
2 Agni, may we perform thy
rites with fuel, and honour thee, O Holy one, with praises:
Honour thee, Priest of sacrifice! with butter, thee, God of
blessed light! with our oblation.
3 Come, Agni, with the
Gods to our invoking, come, pleased, to offerings sanctified
with Vasat.
May we be his who pays thee, God, due honour.
Ye Gods, preserve us evermore with blessings.
HYMN XV. Agni.
1. OFFER oblations in his mouth, the bounteous God's whom
we must serve.
His who is nearest kin to us:
2 Who for
the Fivefold People's take hath seated him in every home
Wise, Youthful, Master of the house.
3 On all sides may that
Agni guard our household folk and property;
May he deliver
us from woe.
4 I have begotten this new hymn for Agni, Falcon
of the sky:
Will he not give us of his wealth?
5 Whose
lories when he glows in front of sacrite are fair to see,
Like wealth of one with hero sons.
6 May he enjoy this hallowed
gift, Agni accept our songs, who bears
Oblations, best of
worshippers.
7 Lord of the house, whom men must seek, we
set thee down, O Worshipped Onel
Bright, rich in heroes,
Agni! God
8 Shine forth at night and morn: through thee with
fires are we provided well.
Thou, rich in heroes, art our
Friend.
9 The men come near thee for their gain, the singers
with their songs of praise:
Speech, thousandfold, comes near
to thee.
10 Bright, Purifier, meet for praise, Immortal with
refulgent glow,
Agni drives Raksasas away.
11 As such,
bring us abundant wealth, young Child of Strength, for this
thou canst
May Bhaga give us what is choice.
12 Thou,
Agni, givest hero fame: Bhaga and Savitar the God,
And Did
give us what is good.
13 Agni, preserve us from distress:
consume our enemies, O God,
Eternal, with the hottest flames.
14 And, irresistible, be thou a mighty iron fort to us,
With
hundred walls for man's defence.
15 Do thou preserve us,
eve and morn, from sorrow, from the wicked men,
Infallible!
by day and night.
HYMN XVI. Agni.
1. WITH this my reverent hymn I call Agni for you, the Son
of Strength,
Dear, wisest envoy, served with noble sacrifice,
immortal messenger of all.
2 His two red horses, all-supporting,
let him yoke: let him, well-worshipped, urge them fast.
Then
hath the sacrifice good prayers and happy end, and heavenly
gift of wealth to men.
3 The flame of him the Bountiful,
the Much-invoked, hath mounted up,
And his red-coloured smoke-clouds
reach and touch the sky: the men are kindling Agni well.
4 Thee, thee Most Glorious One we make our messenger. Bring
the Gods hither to the feast.
Give us, O Son of Strength,
all food that fcedeth man: give that for which we pray to thee.
5 Thou, Agni, art the homestead's Lord, our Herald at the sacrifice.
Lord of all boons, thou art the Cleanser and a Sage. Pay worship,
and enjoy the good.
6 Give riches to the sacrificer, O Most
Wise, for thou art he who granteth wealth.
Inspire with zeal
each priest at this our solemn rite; all who are skilled in
singing praise.
7 O Agni who art worshipped well, dear let
our princes he to thee,
Our wealthy patrons who are governors
of men, who part, as gifts, their stalls of kine.
8 They
in whose home, her hand bearing the sacred oil, Ila sits down
well-satisfied-
Guard them, Victorious God, from slander
and from harm. give us a refuge famed afar.
9 Do thou, a
Priest with pleasant tongue, most wise, and very near to us,
Agni, bring riches hither to our liberal chiefs, and speed the
oflering of our gifts.
10 They who bestow as bounty plenteous
wealth of steeds, moved by desire of great renown-
Do thou
with saving help preserve them from distress, Most Youthful!
with a hundred forts.
11 The God who gives your wealth demands
a full libation poured to him.
Pour ye it forth, then fill
the vessel full again: then doth the God pay heed to you.
12 Him have the Gods appointed Priest of sacrifice, oblation-bearer,
passing wise.
Agni gives wealth and valour to the worshipper,
to folk who offer up their gifts.
HYMN XVII. Agni.
1. AGNI, be kindled well with proper fuel, and let the grass
be scattered wide about thee.
2 Let the impatient Portals
be thrown open bring thou the Gods impatient to come hither.
3 Taste, Agni: serve the Gods with our oblation. Offer good
sacrifices, Jatavedas!
4 Let Jatavedas pay fair sacrifices,
worship andgratify the Gods Immortal.
5 Wise God, win for
us things that are all-goodly, and let the prayers, we pray
today be fruitful.
6 Thee, even thee, the Son of Strength,
O Agni, those Gods have made the bearer of oblations.
7 To
thee the God may we perform our worship: do thou, besought,
grant us abundant riches.
HYMN XVIII. Indra.
1. ALL is with thee, O Indra, all the treasures which erst
our fathers won who sang thy praises.
With thee are milch-kine
good to milk, and horses: best winner thou of riches for the
pious.
2 For like a King among his wives thou dwellest: with
glories, as a Sage, surround and help us.
Make us, thy servants,
strong for wealth, and honour our songs wirth kine and steeds
and decoration.
3 Here these our holy hymns with joy and
gladness in pious emulation have approached thee.
Hitherward
come thy path that leads to riches: may we find shelter in thy
favour, Indra.
4 Vasistha hath poured forth his prayers,
desiring to milk thee like a cow in goodly pasture.
All these
my people call thee Lord of cattle: may Indra. come unto the
prayer we offer.
5 What though the floods spread widely,
Indra made them shallow and easy for Sudas to traverse.
He,
worthy of our praises, caused the Simyu, foe of our hymn, to
curse the rivers' fury.
6 Eager for spoil was Turvasa Purodas,
fain to win wealth, like fishes urged by hunger.
The Bhrgus
and the Druhyus quickly listened: friend rescued friend mid
the two distant peoples.
7 Together came the Pakthas, the
Bhalanas, the Alinas, the Sivas, the Visanins.
Yet to the
Trtsus came the Arya's Comrade, through love of spoil and heroes'
war, to lead them.
8 Fools, in their folly fain to waste
her waters, they parted inexhaustible Parusni.
Lord of the
Earth, he with his might repressed them: still lay the herd
and the affrighted herdsman.
9 As to their goal they sped
to their destruetion: they sought Parusni; e'en the swift returned
not.
Indra abandoned, to Sudas the manly, the swiftly flying
foes, unmanly babblers.
10 They went like kine unherded from
the pasture, each clinging to a friend as chance directed.
They who drive spotted steeds, sent down by Prsni, gave ear,
the Warriors and the harnessed horses.
11 The King who scattered
one-and-twenty people of both Vaikarna tribes through lust of
glory-
As the skilled priest clips grass within the chamber,
so hath the Hero Indra, wrought their downfall.
12 Thou,
thunder-armed, o'erwhelmedst in the waters famed ancient Kavasa
and then the Druhyu.
Others here claiming friendship to their
friendship, devoted unto thee, in thee were joyful.
13 Indra
at once with conquering might demolished all their strong places
and their seven castles.
The goods of Anu's son he gave to
Trtsu. May we in sacrifice conquer scorned Puru.
14 The Anavas
and Druhyus, seeking booty, have slept, the sixty hundred, yea,
six thousand,
And six-and-sixty heroes. For the pious were
all these mighty exploits done by Indra.
15 These Trtsus
under Indra's careful guidance came speeding like loosed waters
rushing downward.
The foemen, measuring exceeding closely,
abandoned to Sudas all their provisions.
16 The hero's side
who drank the dressed oblation, Indra's denier, far o'er earth
he scattered.
Indra brought down the fierce destroyer's fury.
He gave them various roads, the path's Controller.
17 E'en
with the weak he wrought this matchless exploit: e'en with a
goat he did to death a lion.
He pared the pillar's angles
with a needle. Thus to Sudas Indra gave all provisions.
18
To thee have all thine enemies submitted: e'en the fierce Bheda
hast thou made thy subject.
Cast down thy sharpened thunderbolt,
O Indra, on him who harms the men who sing thy praises.
19
Yamuna and the Trtsus aided Indra. There he stripped Bheda bare
of all his treasures.
The Ajas and the Sigrus and the Yaksus
brought in to him as tribute heads of horses.
20 Not to be
scorned, but like Dawns past and recent, O Indra, are thy favours
and thy riches.
Devaka, Manyamana's son, thou slewest, and
smotest Sambara from the lofty mountain.
21 They who, from
home, have gladdened thee, thy servants Parasara, Vasistha,
Satayatu,
Will not forget thy friendship, liberal Giver.
So shall the days dawn prosperous for the princes.
22 Priest-like,
with praise, I move around the altar, earning Paijavana's reward,
O Agni,
Two hundred cows from Devavan's descendant, two chariots
from Sudas with mares to draw them.
23 Gift of Paijavana,
four horses bear me in foremost place, trained steeds with pearl
to deck them.
Sudas's brown steeds, firmly-stepping, carry
me and my son for progeny and glory.
24 Him whose fame spreads
between wide earth and heaven, who, as dispenser, gives each
chief his portion,
Seven flowing Rivers glorify like Indra.
He slew Yudhyamadhi in close encounter.
25 Attend on him
O ye heroic Maruts as on Sudas's father Divodasa.
Further
Paijavana's desire with favour. Guard faithfully his lasting
firm dominion.
HYMN XIX. Indra.
1. HE like a bull with sharpened horns, terrific, singly
excites and agitates all the people:
Thou givest him who
largely pours libations his goods who pours not, for his own
possession.
2 Thou, verily, Indra, gavest help to Kutsa,
willingly giving car to him in battle,
When, aiding Arjuneya,
thou subduedst to him both Kuyava and the Dasa Susna.
3 O
Bold One, thou with all thine aids hast boldly holpen Sudas
whose offerings were accepted,
Puru in winning land and slaying
foemen, and Trasadasyu son of Purukutsa.
4 At the Gods' banquet,
hero-souled! with Heroes, Lord of Bay Steeds, thou slewest many
foemen.
Thou sentest in swift death to sleep the Dasyu, both
Cumuri and Dhuni, for Dabhiti.
5 These were thy mighty powers
that, Thunder-wielder, thou swiftly crushedst nine-and-ninety
castles:
Thou capturedst the hundredth in thine onslaught;
thou slewest Namuci, thou slewest Vrtra.
6 Old are the blessings,
Indra, which thou gavest Sudas the worshipper who brought oblations.
For thee, the Strong, I yoke thy strong Bay Horses: may our
prayers reach thee and win strength, Most Mighty!
7 Give
us not up, Lord of Bay Horses, Victor, in this thine own assembly,
to the wicked.
Deliver us with true and faithful succours:
dear may we be to thee among the princes.
8 May we men, Maghavan,
the friends thou lovest, near thee be joyful under thy protection.
Fain to fulfil the wish of Atithigva humble. the pride of Turvasa
and Yadva.
9 Swiftly, in truth, O Maghavan, about thee men
skilled in hymning sing their songs and praises. '
Elect
us also into their assembly who by their calls on thee despoiled
the niggards.
10 Thine are these lauds, O manliest of heroes,
lauds which revert to us and give us riches.
Favour these,
Indra, when they fight with faemen, as Friend and Hero and the
heroes' Helper.
11 Now, lauded for thine aid, Heroic Indra,
sped by our prayer, wax mighty in thy body.
Apportion to
us strength and habitations. Ye Gods, protect us evermore with
blessings.
HYMN XX. Indra.
1. STRONG, Godly-natured, born for hero exploit, man's Friend,
hedoth whatever deed he willeth.
Saving us e'en from great
transgression, Indra, the Youthful, visiteth man's home with
favour.
2 Waxing greatness Indra slayeth Vrtra: the Hero
with his aid hath helped the singer.
He gave Sudas wide room
and space, and often hath granted wealth to him who brought
oblations.
3 Soldier unchecked, war-rousing, battling Hero,
unconquered from of old, victorious ever,
Indra the very
strong hath scattered armies; yea, he hath slain each foe who
fought against him.
4 Thou with thy greatness hast filled
full, O Indra, even both the worlds with might, O thou Most
Mighty.
Lord of Bays, Indra, brandishing his thunder, is
gratified with Soma at the banquet.
5 A Bull begat the Bull
for joy of battle, and a strong Mother brought forth him the
manly.
He who is Chief of men, their armies' Leader, is strong
Hero, bold, and fain for booty.
6 The people falter not,
nor suffer sorrow, who win themselves this God's terrific spirit.
He who with sacrifices worships Indra is lord of wealth, law-born
and law's protector.
7 Whene'er the elder fain would help
the younger the greater cometh to the lesser's present.
Shall
the Immortal sit aloof' inactive? O Wondrous Indra, bring us
wondrous riches.
8 Thy dear folk, Indra, who present oblations,
are, in chief place, thy friends, O Thunder-wielder.
May
we be best content in this thy favour, sheltered by One who
slays not, but preserves us.
9 To thee the mighty hymn hath
clamoured loudly, and, Maghavan, the eloquent hath besought
thee.
Desire of wealth hath come upon thy singer: help us
then, gakra, to our share of riches.
10 Place us by food
which thou hast given, O Indra, us and the wealthy patrons who
command us.
Let thy great power bring good to him who lauds
thee. Ye Gods, preserve us evermore with blessings.
HYMN XXI. Indra.
1. PRESSED is the juice divine with milk commingled: thereto
hath Indra ever been accustomed.
We wake thee, Lord of Bays,
with sacrifices: mark this our laud in the wild joy of Soma.
2 On to the rite they move, the grass they scatter, these Soma-drinkers
eloquent in synod.
Hither, for men to grasp, are brought
the press-stones, far-thundering, famous, strong, that wait
on heroes.
3 Indra, thou settest free the many waters that
were encompassed, Hero, by the Dragon.
Down rolled, as if
on chariots borne, the rivers: through fear of thee all things
created tremble.
4 Skilled in all manly deeds the God terrific
hath with his weapons mastered these opponents.
Indra in
rapturous joy shook down their castles he slew them in his might,
the Thunder-wielder.
5 No evil spirits have impelled us,
Indra, nor fiends, O Mightiest God, with their devices.
Let
our true God subdue the hostile rabble: let not the lewd approach
our holy worship.
6 Thou in thy strength surpassest Earth
and Heaven: the regions comprehend not all thy greatness.
With thine own power and might thou slewest Vrtra: no foe hath
found the end of thee in battle.
7 Even the earlier Deities
submitted their powers to thy supreme divine dominion.
Indra
wins wealth and deals it out to other's: men in the strife for
booty call on Indra.
8 The humble hath invoked thee for protection,
thee, Lord of great felicity, O Indra.
Thou with a hundred
aids hast been our Helper: one who brings gifts like thee hath
his defender.
9 May we, O Indra, be thy friends for ever,
eagerly, Conqueror, yielding greater homage.
May, through
thy grace, the strength of us who battle quell in the shock
the onset of the foeman.
10 Place us by food which thou hast
given, O Indra, us and the wealthy patrons who command us.
Let thy great power bring good to him who lauds thee. Ye Gods,
preserve us evermore with blessings.
HYMN XXII Indra.
1. DRINK Soma, Lord of Bays, and let it cheer thee: Indra,
the stone, like a well guided courser,
Directed by the presser's
arms hath pressed it.
2 So let the draught of joy, thy dear
companion, by which, O Lord of Bays, thou slayest foemen,
Delight thee, Indra, Lord of princely treasures.
3 Mark closely,
Maghavan, the words I utter, this eulogy recited by Vasistha:
Accept the prayers I offer at thy banquet.
4 Hear thou the
call of the juice-drinking press-stone: hear thou the Brahman's
hymn who sings and lauds thee.
Take to thine inmost self
these adorations.
5 I know and ne'er forget the hymns and
praises of thee, the Conqueror, and thy strength immortal.
Thy name I ever utter. Self-Refulgent
6 Among mankind many
are thy libations, and many a time the pious sageinvokes thee.
O Maghavan, be not long distant from us.
7 All these libations
are for thee, O Hero: to thee I offer these my prayers. that
strengthen.
Ever, in every place, must men invoke thee.
8 Never do men attain, O Wonder-Worker, thy greatness, Mighty
One, who must be lauded,
Nor, Indra, thine heroic power and
bounty.
9 Among all Rsis, Indra, old and recent, who have
engendered hymns as sacred singers,
Even with us be thine
auspicious friendships. Ye Gods, preserve us evermore with blessings.
HYMN XXIII. Indra.
1. PRAYERS have been offered up through love of glory: Vasistha,
honour Indra in the battle.
He who with might extends through
all existence hears words which I, his faithful servant, utter.
2 A cry was raised which reached the Gods, O Indra, a cry to
them to send us strength in combat.
None among men knows
his own life's duration: bear us in safety over these our troubles.
3 The Bays, the booty-seeking car I harness: my prayers have
reached him who accepts them gladly.
Indra, when he had slain
resistless foemen, forced with his might the two world-halves
asunder.
4 Like barren cows, moreover, swelled the waters:
the singen sought thy holy rite, O Indra.
Come unto us as
with his team comes Vayu: thou, through our solemn hymns bestowest
booty.
5 So may these gladdening draughts rejoice thee, Indra,
the Mighty, very bounteous to the singer.
Alone among the
Gods thou pitiest mortals: O Hero, make thee glad at this libation.
6 Thus the Vasisthas glorify with praises Indra, the Powerful
whose arm wields thunder.
Praised, may he guard our wealth
in kine and heroes. Ye Gods, preserve us evermore with blessings.
HYMN XXIV. Indra.
1. A HOME is made for thee to dwell in, Indra: O Much-invoked,
go thitherwith the heroes.
That thou, to prosper us, mayst
be our Helper, vouchsafe us wealth, rejoice with draughts of
Soma.
2 Indra, thy wish, twice-strong, is comprehended: pressed
is the Soma, poured are pleasant juices.
This hymn of praise,
from loosened tongue, made perfect, draws Indra to itself with
loud invoking.
3 Come, thou Impetuous; God, from earth or
heaven; come to our holy grass to drink the Soma.
Hither
to me let thy Bay Horses bring thee to listen to our hymns and
make thee joyful.
4 Come unto us with all thine aids, accordant,
Lord of Bay Steeds, accepting our devotions,
Fair-helmeted,
o'ercoming with the mighty, and lending us the strength of bulls,
O Indra.
5 As to the chariot pole a vigorous courser, this
laud is brought to the great strong Upholder.
This hymn solicits
wealth of thee: in heaven, as 'twere above the sky, set thou
our glory.
6 With precious things. O Indra, thus content
us: may we attain to thine exalted favour.
Send our chiefs
plenteous food with hero children. Preserve us evermore, ye
Gods, with blessings.
HYMN XXV. Indra.
WHEN with thy mighty help, O potent Indra, the armies rush
together in their fury.
When from the strong man's arm the
lightning flieth, let not the mind go forth to side with others.
2 O Indra, where the ground is hard to traverse, smite down
our foes, the mortals who assail us,
Keep far from us the
curse of the reviler: bring us accumulated store of treasures.
3 God of the fair helm, give Sudas a hundred succours, a thousand
blessings, and thy bounty.
Strike down the weapon of our
mortal foeman: bestow upon us splendid fame and riches.
4
I wait the power of one like thee, O Indra, gifts of a Helper
such as thou art, Hero.
Strong, Mighty God, dwell with me
now and ever: Lord of Bay Horses, do not thou desert us.
5 Here are the Kutsas supplicating Indra for might, the Lord
of Bays for God-sent conquest.
Make our foes ever easy to
be vanquished: may we, victorious, win the spoil, O Hero.
6 With precious things, O Indra, thus content us: may we attain
to thine exalted favour.
Send our chiefs plenteous food with
hero children. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN XXVI. Indra.
1. SOMA unpressed ne'er gladdened liberal Indra, no juices
pressed without a prayer have pleased him.
I generate a laud
that shall delight him, new and heroic, so that he may hear
us.
2 At every laud the Soma gladdens Indra: pressed juices
please him as each psalm is chanted,
What time the priests
with one united effort call him to aid, as sons invoke their
father.
3 These deeds he did; let him achieve new exploits,
such as the priests declare at their libations.
Indra hath
taken and possessed all castles, like as one common husband
doth his spouses.
4 Even thus have they declared him. Famed
is Indra as Conqueror, sole distributer of treasures;
Whose
many succours come in close succession. May dear delightful
benefits attend us.
5 Thus, to bring help to men, Vasistha
laudeth Indra, the peoples' Hero, at libation.
Bestow upon
us strength and wealth in thousands. Preserve us evermore, ye
Gods, with blessings.
HYMN XXVII. Indra.
1. MEN call on Indra in the armed encounter that he may make
the hymns they sing decisive.
Hero, rejoicing in thy might,
in combat give us a portion of the stall of cattle,
2 Grant,
Indra Maghavan, invoked of many, to these my friends the strength
which thou possessest.
Thou, Maghavan, hast rent strong places
open: unclose for us, Wise God, thy hidden bounty.
3 King
of the living world, of men, is Indra, of all in varied form
that earth containeth.
Thence to the worshipper he giveth
riches: may he enrich us also when we laud him.
4 Maghavan
Indra, when we all invoke him, bountiful ever sendeth strength
to aid us:
Whose perfect guerdon, never failing, bringeth
wealth to the men, to friends the thing they covet.
5 Quick,
Indra, give us room and way to riches, and let us bring thy
mind to grant us treasures,
That we may win us cars and Steeds
and cattle. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN XXVIII. Indra.
1. COME to our prayers, O Indra, thou who knowest: let thy
Bay Steeds be yoked and guided hither.
Though mortal men
on every side invoke thee, still give thine ear to us, O All-impeller.
2 Thy greatness reacheth to our invocation, the sages' prayer
which, Potent God, thou guardest.
What time thy hand, O Mighty,
holds the thunder, awful in strength thou hast become resistless.
3 What time thou drewest both world-halves together, like heroes
led by thee who call each other-
For thou wast born for strength
and high dominion-then e'en the active overthrew the sluggish.
4 Honour us in these present days, O Indra, for hostile men
are making expiation.
Our sin that sinless Varuna discovered,
the Wondrous-Wise hath long ago forgiven.
5 We will address
this liberal Lord, this Indra, that he may grant us gifts of
ample riches,
Best favourer of the singer's prayer and praises.
Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN XXIX Indra.
1. THIS Soma hath been pressed for thee, O Indra: come hither,
Lord of Bays, for this thou lovest.
Drink of this fair, this
well-effused libation: Maghavan, give us wealth when we implore
thee.
2 Come to us quickly with thy Bay Steeds, Hero, come
to our prayer, accepting our devotion.
Enjoy thyself aright
at this libation, and listen thou unto the prayers we offer.
3 What satisfaction do our hymns afford thee? When, Maghavan?
Now let us do thee service.
Hymns, only hymns, with love
for thee, I weave thee: then hear, O Indra, these mine invocations.
4 They, verily, were also human beings whom thou wast wont to
hear, those earlier sages.
Hence I, O Indra Maghavan, invoke
thee: thou art our Providence, even as a Father.
5 We will
address this liberal Lord, this Indra, that he may grant us
gifts of ample riches,
Best favourer of the singer's prayer
and praises. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN XXX. Indra.
1. WITH power and strength, O Mighty God, approach us: be
the augmenter, Indra, of these riches;
Strong Thunderer,
Lord of men, for potent valour, for manly exploit and for high
dominion.
2 Thee, worth invoking, in the din of battle, heroes
invoke in fray for life and sunlight.
Among all people thou
art foremost fighter: give up our enemies to easy slaughter.
3 When fair bright days shall dawn on us, O Indra, and thou
shalt bring thy banner near in battle,
Agni the Asura shall
sit as Herald, calling Gods hither for our great good fortune.
4 Thine are we, Indra, thine, both these who praise thee, and
those who give rich gifts, O God and Hero.
Grant to our princes
excellent protection, may they wax old and still be strong and
happy.
5 We will address this liberal Lord, this Indra that
he may grant us gifts of ample riches:
Best favourer of the
singer's prayer and praises. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods,
with blessings.
HYMN XXXI. Indra.
1. SING ye a song, to make him glad, to Indra, Lord of Tawny
Steeds,
The Soma-drinker, O my friends.
2 To him the Bounteous
say the laud, and let us glorify, as men May do, the Giver of
true gifts.
3 O Indra, Lord of boundless might, for us thou
winnest strength and kine,
Thou winnest gold for us, Good
Lord.
4 Faithful to thee we loudly sing, heroic Indra, songs
to thee: Mark, O Good Lord, this act of ours.
5 Give us not
up to man's reproach, to foeman's hateful calumny: In thee alone
is all my strength.
6 Thou art mine ample coat of mail, my
Champion, Vrtra-Slayer, thou:
With thee for Friend I brave
the foe.
7 Yea, great art thou whose conquering might two
independent Powers confess.
The Heaven, O India, and the
Earth.
8 So let the voice surround thee, which attends the
Maruts on their way,
Reaching thee with the rays of light.
9 Let the ascending drops attain to thee, the Wondrous God,
in heaven:
Let all the folk bow down to thee.
10 Bring
to the Wise, the Great, who waxeth mighty, your offerings, and
make ready your devotion;
To many clans he goeth, man's controller.
11 For Indra, the sublime, the far-pervading, have singers generated
prayer and praises:
The sages never violate his statutes.
12 The choirs have stablished Indra King for ever, for victory,
him whose anger is resistless:
And, for the Bays' Lord, strengthened
those he loveth.
HYMN XXXII. Indra.
1. LET none, no, not thy worshippers, delay thee far away
from us.
Even from far away come thou unto our feast, or
listen if already here.
2 For here, like flies on honey,
these who pray to thee sit by the juice that they have poured.
Wealth-craving singers have on Indra set their hope, as men
set foot upon a car.
3 Longing for wealth I call on him,
the Thunderer with the strong right hand,
As a son calleth
on his sire.
4 These Soma juices, mixed with curd, have been
expressed for Indra here.
Come with thy Bay Steeds, Thunder-wielder,
to our home, to drink them till they make thee glad.
5 May
he whose ear is open hear us. He is asked for wealth: will he
despise our prayer?
Him who bestows at once a hundred thousand
gifts none shall restrain when he would give.
6 The hero
never checked by men hath gained his strength through Indra,
he
Who presses out and pours his deep libations forth, O
Vrtra-slayer, unto thee.
7 When thou dost drive the fighting
men together be, thou Mighty One, the mighty's shield.
May
we divide the wealth of him whom thou hast slain: bring us,
Unreachable, his goods.
8 For Indra, Soma-drinker, armed
with thunder, press the Soma juice.
Make ready your dressed
meats: cause him to favour us. The Giver blesses him who gives.
9 Grudge not, ye Soma pourers; stir you, pay the rites, for
wealth, to the great Conqueror.
Only the active conquers
dwells in peace, and thrives: not for the niggard are the Gods.
10 No one hath overturned or stayed the car of him who freely
gives.
The man whom Indra and the Marut host defend comes
to a stable full of kine.
11 Indra, that man when fighting
shall obtain the spoil, whose strong defender thou wilt be.
Be thou the gracious helper, Hero I of our cars, be thou the
helper of our men.
12 His portion is exceeding great like
a victorious soldier's spoil.
Him who is Indra, Lord of Bays,
no foes subdue. He gives the Soma-pourer strength.
13 Make
for the Holy Gods a hymn that is not mean, but well-arranged
and fair of form.
Even many snares and bonds subdue not him
who dwells with Indra through his sacrifice.
14 Indra, what
mortal will attack the man who hath his wealth in thee?
The
strong will win the spoil on the decisive day through faith
in thee, O Maghavan.
15 In battles with the foe urge on our
mighty ones who give the treasures dear to thee,
And may
we with our princes, Lord of Tawny Steeds! pass through all
peril, led by thee.
16 Thine, Indra, is the lowest wealth,
thou cherishest the mid-most wealth,
Thou ever rulest all
the highest: in the fray for cattle none resisteth thee.
17 Thou art renowned as giving wealth to every one in all the
battles that are fought.
Craving protection, all these people
of the earth, O Much-invoked, implore thy name.
18 If I,
O Indra, were the Lord of riches ample as thine own,
I should
support the singer, God. who givest wealth! and not abandon
him to woe.
19 Each day would I enrich the man who sang my
praise, in whatsoever place he were.
No kinship is there
better, Maghavan, than thine: a father even is no more.
20
With Plenty for his true ally the active man will gain the spoil.
Your Indra, Much-invoked, I bend with song, as bends a wright
his wheel of solid wood.
21 A moral wins no riches by unworthy
praise: wealth comes not to the niggard churl.
Light is the
task to give, O Maghavan, to one like me on the decisive day.
22 Like kine unmilked we call aloud, Hero, to thee, and sing
thy praise,
Looker on heavenly light, Lord of this moving
world, Lord, Indra, of what moveth not.
23 None other like
to thee, of earth or of the heavens, hath been or ever will
be born.
Desiring horses, Indra Maghavan! and kine, as men
of might we call on thee.
24 Bring, Indra, the Victorious
Ones; bring, elder thou, the younger host.
For, Maghavan,
thou art rich in treasures from of old, and must be called in
every fight.
25 Drive thou away our enemies, O Maghavan:
make riches easy to be won.
Be thou our good Protector in
the strife for spoil: Cherisher of our friends be thou.
26
O Indra, give us wisdom as a sire gives wisdom to his sons.
Guide us, O Much-invoked, in this our way may we still live
and look upon the light.
27 Grant that no mighty foes, unknown,
malevolent, unhallowed, tread us to the ground.
With thine
assistance, Hero, may we ass through all the waters that are
rul`ng down.
HYMN XXXIII Vasistha.
1. THESE who wear hair-knots on the right, the movers of
holy thought, white-robed, have won me over.
I warned the
men, when from the grass I raised me, Not from afar can my Vasisthas
help you.
2 With soma they brought Indra from a distance,
Over Vaisanta, from the strong libation.
Indra preferred
Vasisthas to the Soma pressed by the son of Vayata, Pasadyumna.
3 So, verily, with these he crossed the river, in company with
these he slaughtered Bheda.
So in the fight with the Ten
Kings, Vasisthas! did Indra help Sudas through your devotions.
4 I gladly, men I with prayer prayed by our fathers have fixed
your axle: ye shall not be injured:
Since, when ye sang aloud
the Sakvari verses, Vasisthas! ye invigorated Indra.
5 Like
thirsty men they looked to heaven, in battle with the Ten Kings,
surrounded and imploring.
Then Indra heard Vasistha as he
praised him, and gave the Trtsus ample room and freedom.
6 Like sticks and staves wherewith they drive the cattle, Stripped
bare, the Bharatas were found defenceless:
Vasistha then
became their chief and leader: then widely. were the Trtsus'
clans extended.
7 Three fertilize the worlds with genial
moisture: three noble Creatures cast a light before them.
Three that give warmth to all attend the morning. All these
have they discovered, these Vasisthas.
8 Like the Sun's growing
glory is their splendour, and like the sea's is their unflathomed
greatness.
Their course is like the wind's. Your laud, Vasisthas,
can never be attained by any other.
9 They with perceptions
of the heart in secret resort to that which spreads a thousand
branches.
The Apsaras brought hither the Vasisthas wearing
the vesture spun for them by Yama.
10 A form of lustre springing
from the lightning wast thou, when Varuna and Mitra saw thee.
Tliy one and only birth was then, Vasistha, when from thy stock
Agastya brought thee hither.
11 Born of their love for Urvasi,
Vasistha thou, priest, art son of Varuna and Mitra;
And as
a fallen drop, in heavenly fervour, all the Gods laid thee on
a lotus-blossorn.
12 He thinker, knower both of earth and
heaven, endowed with many a gift, bestowing thousands,
Destined
to wear the vesture spun by Yama, sprang from the Apsaras to
life, Vasistha.
13 Born at the sacrifice, urged by adorations,
both with a common flow bedewed the pitcher.
Then from the
midst thereof there rose up Mana, and thence they say was born
the sage Vasistha.
14 He brings the bearer of the laud and
Saman: first shall he speak bringing the stone for pressing.
With grateful hearts in reverence approach him: to you, O Pratrdas,
Vasistha cometh.
HYMN XXXIV Visvedevas.
1. MAY our divine and brilliant hymn go forth, like a swift
chariot wrought and fashioned well.
2 The waters listen as
they flow along: they know the origin of heaven and earth.
3 Yea, the broad waters swell their flood ior him: of him strong
heroes think amid their foes.
4 Set ye for him the coursers
to the pole: like Indra Thunderer is the Golden-armed.
5
Arouse you, like the days, to sacrifice speed gladly like a
traveller on the way.
6 Go swift to battles, to the sacrifice:
set up a flag, a hero for the folk.
7 Up from his strength
hath risen as 'twere a light: it bears the load as earth bears
living things.
8 Agni, no demon I invoke the Gods: by law
completing it, I form a hymn.
9 Closely albout you lay your
heavenly song, and send your voice to where the Gods abide.
10 Varuna, Mighty, with a thousand eyes, beholds the paths wherein
these rivers run.
11 He, King of kings, the glory of the
floods, o'er all that liveth hath resistless sway.
12 May
he assist us among all the tribes, and make the envier's praise
devoid of light.
13 May the foes' threatening arrow pass
us by: may he put far from us our bodies' sin.
14 Agni, oblation-cater,
through our prayers aid us: to him our dearest laud is brought.
15 Accordant with the Gods choose for our Friend the Waters'
Child: may he be good to us.
16 With lauds I sing the Dragon
born of floods: he sits beneath the streams in middle air.
17 Ne'er may the Dragon of the Deep harm us: ne'er fail this
faithful servant's sacrifice.
18 To these our heroes may
they grant renown: may pious men march boldly on to wealth.
19 Leading great hosts, with fierce attacks of these, they burn
their foes as the Sun burns the earth.
20 What time our wives
draw near to us, may he, left-handed Tvastar, give us hero sons.
21 May Tvastar find our hymn acceptable, and may Aramati, seeking
wealth, be ours.
22 May they who lavish gifts bestow those
treasures: may Rodasi and Varunani listen.
May he, with the
Varutris, be our refuge, may bountiful Tvastar give us store
of riches.
23 So may rich Mountains and the liberal Waters,
so may all Herbs that grow on ground, and Heaven,
And Earth
accordant with the Forest-Sovrans, and both the World-halves
round about protect us.
24 To this may both the wide Worlds
lend approval, and Varuna in heaven, whose Friend is Indra.
May all the Maruts give consent, the Victors, that we may hold
great wealth in firm possession.
25 May Indra, Varuna, Mitra,
and Agni, Waters, Herbs, Trees accept the praise we offer.
May we find refuge in the Marut's bosom. Protect us evermore,
ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN XXXV. Visvedevas.
1. BEFRIEND us with their aids Indra and Agni, Indra and
Varuna who receive oblations!
Indra and Soma give health,
strength and comfort, Indra and Pusan be our help in battle.
2 Auspicious Friends to us be Bhaga, Sathsa, auspicious be Purandhi
aid all Riches;
The blessing of the true and well-conducted,
and Aryaman in many forms apparent.
3 Kind unto us he Maker
and Sustainer, and the far-reaching Pair with God-like natures.
Auspicious unto us be Earth and Heaven, the Mountain, and the
Gods' fair invocations.
4 Favour us Agni with his face of
splendour, and Varuva and Mitra and the Asvins.
Favour us
noble actions of the pious, impetuous vita blow on us with favour.
5 Early invoked, may Heaven and Earth be friendly, and Air's
mid-region good for us to look on.
To us may Herbs and Forest-Trees
be gracious, gracious the Lord Victorious of the region.
6 Be the God Indra with the Vasus friendly, and, with Adityas,
Varuna who blesseth.
Kind, with the Rudras, be the Healer
Rudra, and, with the Dames, may Tvastar kindly listen.
7
Blest unto us be Soma, and devotions, blest be the Sacrifice,
the Stones for pressing.
Blest be the fixing of the sacred
Pillars, blest be the tender Grass and blest the Altar.
8
May the far-seeing Sun rise up to bless us: be the four Quarters
of the sky auspicious.
Auspicious be the firmly-seated Mountains,
auspicious be the Rivers and the Waters.
9 May Adid through
holy works be gracioas, and may the Maruts, loud in song, be
friendly.
May Visnu give felicity, and Pusan, the Air that
cherisheth our life, and Vayu.
10 Prosper us Savitar, the
God who rescues, and let the radiant Mornings be propitious.
Auspicious to all creatures be Parjanya, auspicious be the field's
benign Protector.
11 May all the fellowship of Gods befriend
us, Sarasvati, with Holy Thoughts, be gracious.
Friendly
be they, the Liberal Ones who seek us, yea, those who dwell
in heaven, on earth, in waters.
12 May the great Lords of
Truth protect and aid us: blest to us be our horses and our
cattle.
Kind be the pious skilful-handed Rbhus, kind be the
Fathers at our invocations.
13 May Aja-Ekapad, the God, be
gracious, gracious the Dragon of the Deep, and Ocean.
Gracious
be he the swelling Child of Waters, gracious be Prsni who hath
Gods to guard her.
14 So may the Rudras, Vasus, and Adityas
accept the new hymn which we now are making.
May all the
Holy Ones of earth and heaven, and the Cow's offipring hear
our invocation.
15 They who of Holy Gods are very holy, Immortal,
knowing Law, whom man must worship,-
May these to-day give
us broad paths to travel. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with
blessings.
HYMN XXXVI. Visvedevas
1. LET the prayer issue from the seat of Order, for Surya
with his beams hath loosed the cattle.
With lofty ridges
earth is far extended, and Agni's flame hath lit the spacious
surface.
2 O Asuras, O Varuna and Mitra, this hymn to you,
like food, anew I offer.
One of you is a strong unerring
Leader, and Mitra, speaking, stirreth men to labour.
3 The
movements of the gliding wind come hither: like cows, the springs
are filled to overflowing.
Born in the station e'en of lofty
heaven the Bull hath loudly bellowed in this region.
4 May
I bring hither with my song, O Indra, wise Aryaman who yokes
thy dear Bay Horses,
Voracious, with thy noble car, O Hero,
him who defeats the wrath of the malicious.
5 In their own
place of sacrifice adorers worship to gain long life and win
his friendship.
He hath poured food on men when they have
praised him; be this, the dearest reverence, paid to Rudra.
6 Coming together, glorious, loudly roaring - Sarasvati, Mother
of Floods, the seventh-
With copious milk, with fair streams,
strongly flowing, full swelling with the volume of their water;
7. And may the mighty Maruts, too, rejoicing, aid our devotion
and protect our offspring.
Let not swift-moving Aksara neglect
us: they have increased our own appropriate riches,
8 Bring
ye the great Aramati before you, and Pusan as the Hero of the
synod,
Bhaga who looks upon this hymn with favour, and, as
our strength, the bountiful Purandbi.
9 May this our song
of praise reach you, O Maruts, and Visnu guardian of the future
infant.
May they vouchsafe the singer strength for offspring.
Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN XXXVII. Visvedevas.
1. LET your best-bearing car that must be lauded, ne'er injured,
bring you Vajas and Rbhuksans.
Fill you, fair-helmeted! with
mighty Soma, thrice-mixed, at our libations to delight you.
2 Ye who behold the light of heaven, Rbhuksans, give our rich
patrons unmolested riches.
Drink, heavenly-natured. at our
sacrifices, and give us bounties for the hymns we sing you.
3 For thou, O Bounteous One, art used to giving, at parting
treasure whether small or ample.
Filled full are both thine
arms with great possessions: thy goodness keeps thee not from
granting riches.
4 Indra, high-famed, as Vaja and Rbhuksans,
thou goest working, singing to the dwelling.
Lord of Bay
Steeds, this day may we Vasisthas offer our prayers to thee
and bring oblations.
5 Thou winnest swift advancement for
thy servant, through hymns, Lord of Bay Steeds, which thou hast
favoured.
For thee with friendly succour have we battled,
and when, O Indra, wilt thou grant us riches?
6 To us thy
priests a home, as 'twere, thou givest: when, Indra wilt thou
recognize our praises?
May thy strong Steed, through our
ancestral worship, bring food and wealth with heroes to our
dwelling.
7 Though Nirrti the Goddess reigneth round him,
Autumns with food in plenty come to Indra.
With three close
Friends to length of days he cometh, he whom men let not rest
at home in quiet.
8 Promise us gifts, O Savitar: may riches
come unto us in Parvata's full bounty.
May the Celestial
Guardian still attend us. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with
blessings.
HYMN XXXVIII. Savitar.
1. ON high hath Savitar, this God, extended the golden lustre
which he spreads around him.
Now, now must Bhaga be invoked
by mortals, Lord of great riches who distributes treasures.
2 Rise up, O Savitar whose hands are golden, and hear this man
while sacrifice is offered,
Spreading afar thy broad and
wide effulgence, and bringing mortal men the food that feeds
them.
3 Let Savitar the God he hymned with praises, to whom
the Vasus, even, all sing glory.
Sweet be our lauds to him
whose due is worship: may he with all protection guard our princes.
4 Even he whom Aditi the Goddess praises, rejoicing in God Savitar's
incitement:
Even he who praise the high imperial Rulers,
Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman, sing in concert.
5 They who come
emulous to our oblation, dispensing bounty, from the earth and
heaven.
May they and Ahibudhnya hear our calling: guard us
Varutri with the Ekadhenus.
6 This may the Lord of Life,
entreated, grant us,-the wealth which Savitar the God possesses.
The mighty calls on Bhaga for protection, on Bhaga calls the
weak to give him riches.
7 Bless us the Vajins when we call,
while slowly they move, strong Singers, to the Gods' assembly.
Crushing the wolf, the serpent, and the demons, may they completely
banish all affliction.
8 Deep-skilled in Law eternal, deathless,
Singers, O Vajins, help us in each fray for booty.
Drink
of this meath, he satisfied, be joyful: then go on paths which
Gods are wont to travel.
HYMN XXXIX Visvedevas.
1. AGNI, erect, hath shown enriching favour: the flame goes
forward to the Gods' assembly.
Like car-borne men the stones
their path have chosen: let the priest, quickened, celebrate
our worship.
2 Soft to the tread, their sacred grass is scattered:
these go like Kings amid the band around them,
At the folks
early call on Night and Morning,-Vayu, and Pusan with his team,
to bless us.
3 Here on their path the noble Gods proceeded:
in the wide firmament the Beauteous decked them.
Bend your
way hither, ye who travel widely: hear this our envoy who hath
gone to meet you.
4 For they are holy aids at sacrifices:
all Gods approach the place of congregation.
Bring these,
desirous, to our worship, Agni, swift the Nisatyas, Bhaga, and
Purandhi.
5 Agni, to these men's hymns, from earth, from
heaven, bring Mitra, Varuna, Indra, and Agni,
And Aryaman,
and Aditi, and Visnu. Sarasvati be joyful, and the Maruts.
6 Even as the holy wish, the gift is offered: may he, unsated,
come when men desire him.
Give never-failing ever-conquering
riches: with Gods for our allies may we be victors.
7 Now
have both worlds been praised by the Vasisthas; and holy Mitra,
Varuna, and Agni.
May they, bright Deities, make our song
supremest. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN XL. Visvedevas.
1. BE gathered all the audience of the synod: let us begin
their praise whose course is rapid.
Whate'er God Savitar
this day produces, may we be where the Wealthy One distributes.
2 This, dealt from heaven ' may both the Worlds vouchsafe us,
and Varuna, Indra, Aryaman, and Mitra.
May Goddess Aditi
assign us riches, Vayu and Bhaga make them ours for ever.
3 Strong be the man and full of power, O Maruts, whom ye, borne
on by spotted coursers, favour.
Him, too, Sarasvati and Agni
further, and there is none to rob him of his riches.
4 This
Varuna is guide of Law, he, Mitra, and Aryaman, the Kings, our
work have finished.
Divine and foeless Aditi quickly listens.
May these deliver us unharmed from trouble.
5 With offerings
I propitiate the branches of this swift-moving God, the bounteous
Visnu.
Hence Rudra gained his Rudra-strength: O Asvins, ye
sought the house that hath celestial viands.
6 Be not thou
angry here, O glowing Pusan, for what Varutri and the Bounteous
gave us.
May the swift-moving Gods protect and bless us,
and Vata send us rain, wha wanders round us.
7 Now have both
worlds been praised by the Vasisthas, and holy Mitra, Varuna,
and Agni.
May they, bright Deities, make our song supremest.
Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN XLI. Bhaga.
1. AGNI at dawn, and Indra we invoke at dawn, and Varuna
and Mitra, and the Asvins twain.
Bhaga at dawn, Pusan, and
Brahmanaspati, Soma at dawn, Rudra we will invoke at dawn.
2 We will invoke strong, early-conquering Bhaga, the Son of
Aditi, the great supporter:
Thinking of whom, the poor, yea,
even the mighty, even the King himself says, Give me Bhaga.
3 Bhaga our guide, Bhaga whose gifts are faithful, favour this
song, and give us wealth, O Bhaga.
Bhaga, augment our store
of kine and horses, Bhaga, may we be rich in men and heroes.
4 So may felicity be ours at present, and when the day approaches,
and at noontide;
And may we still, O Bounteous One, at sunset
be happy in the Deities' loving-kindness.
5 May Bhaga verily
be bliss-bestower, and through him, Gods! may happiness attend
us.
As such, O Bhaga, all with might invoke thee: as such
be thou our Champion here, O Bhaga.
6 To this our worship
may all Dawns incline them, and come to the pure place like
Dadhikravan.
As strong steeds draw a chariot may they bring
us hitherward Bhaga who discovers treasure.
7 May blessed
Mornings dawn on us for ever, with wealth of kine, of horses,
and of heroes,
Streaming with all abundance, pouring fatness.
Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN XLII Visvedevas.
1. LET Brahmans and Angirases come forward, and let the roar
of cloudy heaven surround us.
Loud low the Milch-kine swimming
in the waters: set be the stones that grace our holy service.
2 Fair, Agni, is thy long-known path to travel: yoke for the
juice tfiy bay, thy ruddy horses,
Or red steeds, Hero-bearing,
for the chamber. Seated, I call the Deities' generations.
3 They glorify your sacrifice with worship, yet the glad Priest
near them is left unequalled.
Bring the Gods hither, thou
of many aspects: turn hitherward Aramati the Holy.
4 What
time the Guest hath made himself apparent, at ease reclining
in the rich man's dwelling,
Agni, well-pleased, well-placed
within the chamber gives to a house like this wealth worth the
choosing.
5 Accept this sacrifice of ours, O Agni; glorify
it with Indra and the Maruts.
Here on our grass let Night
and Dawn be seated: bring longing Varuna and Mitra hither.
6 Thus hath Vasistha praised victorious Agni, yearning for wealth
that giveth all subsistence.
May he bestow on us food, strength,
and riches. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN XLIII Visvedevas.
1. SING out the pious at your sacrifices to move with adorations
Earth and Heaven-
The Holy Singers, whose unmatched devotions,
like a tree's branches, part in all directions.
2 Let sacrifice
proceed like some fleet courser: with one accord lift ye on
high the ladles.
Strew sacred grass meet for the solenm service:
bright flames that love the Gods have mounted upward.
3 Like
babes in arms reposing on their mother, let the Gods sit upon
the grass's summit.
Let general fire make bright the flame
of worship: scorn us not, Agni, in the Gods' assembly.
4
Gladly the Gods have let themselves be honoured, milking the
copious streams of holy Order.
The highest might to-day is
yours, the Vasits': come ye, as many as ye are, one-minded.
5 So, Agni, send us wealth among the people: may we be closely
knit to thee, O Victor,
Unharmed, and rich, and taking joy
together. Preserve us evermore, ye ods, with blessings.
HYMN XLIV. Dadhikras.
1. I CALL on Dadhikras, the first, to give you aid, the Asvins,
Bhaga, Dawn, and Agni kindled well,
Indra, and Visnu, Pusan,
Brahmanaspati, Adityas, Heaven and Earth, the Waters, and the
Light.
2 When, rising, to the sacrifice we hasten, awaking
Dadhikras with adorations.
Seating on sacred grass the Goddess
Ila. let us invoke the sage swift-hearing Asvins.
3 While
I am thus arousing Dadhikravan I speak to Agni, Earth, and Dawn,
and Surya,
The red, the brown of Varuna ever mindful: may
they ward off from us all grief and trouble.
4 Foremost is
Dadhikravan, vigorous courser; in forefront of the cars, his
way he knoweth,
Closely allied with Surya and with Morning,
Adityas, and Angirases, and Vasus.
5 May Dadhikras prepare
the way we travel that we may pass along the path of Order.
May Agni bear us, and the Heavenly Army: hear us all Mighty
Ones whom none deceiveth.
HYMN XLV. Savitar.
1. MAY the God Savitar, rich in goodly treasures, filling
the region, borne by steeds, come hither,
In his hand holding
much that makes men happy, lulling to slumber and arousing creatures.
2 Golden, sublime, and easy in their motion, his arms extend
unto the bounds of heaven.
Now shall that mightiness of his
he lauded: even Surya yields to him in active vigour.
3 May
this God Savitar, the Strong and Mighty, the Lord of precious
wealth, vouchsafe us treasures.
May he, advancing his far-spreading
lustre, bestow on us the food that feedeth mortals.
4 These
songs praise Savitar whose tongue is pleasant, praise him whose
arms are full, whose hands are lovely.
High vital strength,
and manifold, may he grant us. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods,
with blessings.
HYMN XLVI. Rudra.
1. To Rudra bring these songs, whose bow is firm and strong,
the self-dependent God with swiftly-flying shafts,
The Wise,
the Conqueror whom none may overcome, armed with sharp-pointed
weapons: may he hear our call.
2 He through his lordship
thinks on beings of the earth, on heavenly beings through his
high imperial sway.
Come willingly to our doors that gladly
welcome thee, and heal all sickness, Rudra., in our families.
3 May thy bright arrow which, shot down by thee from heaven,
flieth upon the earth, pass us uninjured by.
Thou, very gracious
God, bast thousand medicines: inflict no evil on our sons or
progeny.
4 Slay us not, nor abandon us, O Rudra let not thy
noose, when thou art angry, seize us.
Give us trimmed grass
and fame among the living. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with
blessings.
HYMN XLVII. Waters.
1. MAY we obtain this day from you, O Waters, that wave of
pure refreshment, which the pious
Made erst the special beverage
of Indra, bright, stainless, rich in sweets and dropping fatness.
2 May the Floods' Offspring, he whose course is rapid, protect
that wave most rich in sweets, O Waters,
That shall make
Indra and the Vasus joyful. This may we gain from you to-day,
we pious.
3 All-purifying, joying in their nature, to paths
of Gods the Goddesses move onward.
They never violate the
laws of Indra. Present the oil-rich offering to the Rivers.
4 Whom Surya with his bright beams hath attracted, and Indra
dug the path for them to travel,
May these Streams give us
ample room and freedom. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with
blessings.
HYMN XLVIII. Rbhus.
1. YE liberal Heroes, Vajas and Rbhuksans, come and delight
you with our flowing Soma.
May your strength, Vibhus, as
ye come to meet us, turn hitherward your car that brings men
profit.
2 May we as Rbhu with your Rbhus conquer strength
with our strength, as Vibhus with the Vibhus.
May Vaja aid
us in the fight for booty, and helped by Indra may we quell
the foeman.
3 For they rule many tribes with high dominion,
and conquer all their foes in close encounter.
May Indra,
Vibhvan, Vaja, and Rbhuksan destroy by turns the wicked foeman's
valour.
4 Now, Deities, give us ample room and freedom: be
all of you, one-minded, our protection.
So let the Vasus
grant us strength and vigour. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods,
with blessings.
HYMN XLIX. Waters.
1. FORTH from the middle of the flood the Waters-their chief
the Sea-flow cleansing, never sleeping.
Indra, the Bull,
the Thunderer, dug their channels: here let those Waters, Goddesses,
protect me.
2 Waters which come from heaven, or those that
wander dug from the earth, or flowing free by nature,
Bright,
purifying, speeding to the Ocean, here let those Waters. Goddesses,
protect me.
3 Those amid whom goes Varuna the Sovran, he
who discriminates men's truth and falsehood-
Distilling meath,
the bright, the purifying, here let those Waters, Goddesses,
protect me.
4 They from whom Varuna the King, and Soma, and
all the Deities drink strength and vigour,
They into whom
Vaisvanara Agni entered, here let those Waters, Goddesses, protect
Me.
HYMN L. Various Deities.
1. O MITRA-VARUNA, guard and protect me here: let not that
come to me which nests within and swells.
I drive afar the
scorpion hateful to the sight: let not the winding worm touch
me and wound my foot.
2 Eruption that appears upon the twofold
joints, and that which overspreads the ankles and the knees,
May the refulgent Agni banish far away let not the winding worm
touch me and wound my foot.
3 The poison that is formed upon
the Salmali, that which is found in streams, that which the
plants produce,
All this may all the Gods banish and drive
away: let not the winding worm touch me and wound my foot.
4 The steep declivities, the valleys, and the heights, the channels
full of water, and the waterless-
May those who swell with
water, gracious Goddesses, never afflict us with the Sipada
disease, may all the rivers keep us free from Simida.
HYMN LI. Adityas.
1 THROUGH the Adityas' most auspicious shelter, through their
most recent succour may we conquer.
May they, the Mighty,
giving ear, establish this sacrifice, to make us free and sinless.
2 Let Aditi rejoice and the Adityas, Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman,
most righteous.
May they, the Guardians of the world, protect
us, and, to show favour, drink this day our Soma.
3 All Universal
Deities, the Maruts, all the Adityas, yea, and all the Rbhus,
Indra, and Agni, and the Asvins, lauded. Preserve us evermore,
ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN LII. Adityas.
1. MAY we be free from every bond, Adityas! a castle among
Gods and men, ye Vasus.
Winning, may we win Varuna and Mitra,
and, being, may we be, O Earth and Heaven.
2 May Varuna and
Mitra grant this blessing, our Guardians, shelter to our seed
and offspring.
Let us not suffer for another's trespass.
nor do the thing that ye, O Vasus, punish.
3 The ever-prompt
Angirases, imploring riches from Savitar the God, obtained them.
So may our Father who is great and holy, and all the Gods, accordant,
grant this favour.
HYMN LIII. Heaven and Earth.
1. AS priest with solemn rites and adorations I worship Heaven
and Earth, the High and Holy.
To them, great Parents of the
Gods, have sages of ancient time, singing, assigned precedence.
2 With newest hymns set in the seat of Order, those the Two
Parents, born before all others,
Come, Heaven and Earth,
with the Celestial People, hither to us, for strong is your
protection.
3 Yea, Heaven and Earth, ye hold in your possession
full many a treasure for the liberal giver.
Grant us that
wealth which comes in free abundance. Preserve us evermore,
ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN LIV. Vastospati.
1. ACKNOWLEDGE us, O Guardian of the Homestead: bring no
disease, and give us happy entrance.
Whate'er we ask of thee,
be pleased to grant it, and prosper thou quadrupeds and bipeds.
2 Protector of the Home, be our promoter: increase our wealth
in kine and steeds, O Indu.
May we be ever-youthful in thy
friendship: be pleased in us as in his sons a father.
3 Through
thy dear fellowship that bringeth welfare, may we be victors,
Guardian of the Dwelling!
Protect our happiness in rest and
labour. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN LV. Vastospati.
1. VASTOSPATI, who killest all disease and wearest every
form,
Be an auspicious Friend to us.
2 When, O bright
Son of Sarama, thou showest, tawny-hued! thy teeth,
They
gleam like lances' points within thy mouth when thou wouldst
bite; go thou to steep.
3 Sarama's Son, retrace thy way:
bark at the robber and the thief.
At Indra's singers barkest
thou? Why dust thou seek to terrify us? Go to sleep.
4 Be
on thy guard against the boar, and let the boar beware of thee.
At Indra's singers barkest thou? Why dost thou seek to terrify
us? Go to sleep.
5 Sleep mother, let the father sleep, sleep
dog and master of the house.
Let all the kinsmen sleep, sleep
all the people who are round about.
6 The man who sits, the
man who walks, and whosoever looks on us,
Of these we closely
shut the eyes, even as we closely shut this house.
7 The
Bull who hath a thousand horns, who rises up from out the sea,-
By him the Strong and Mighty One we lull and make the people
sleep.
8 The women sleeping in the court, lying without,
or stretched on beds,
The matrons with their odorous sweetsthese,
one and all, we lull to sleep.
HYMN LVI. Maruts.
1. Wno are these radiant men in serried rank, Rudra's young
heroes borne by noble steeds?
2 Verily no one knoweth whence
they sprang: they, and they only, know each other's birth.
3 They strew each other with their blasts, these Hawks: they
strove together, roaring like the wind.
4 A sage was he who
knew these mysteries, what in her udder mighty Prsni bore.
5 Ever victorious, through the Maruts, be this band of Heroes,
nursing manly strength,
6 Most bright in splendour, flectest
on their way, close-knit to glory, strong with varied power.
7 Yea, mighty is your power and firm your strength: so, potent,
with the Maruts, be the band.
8 Bright is your spirit, wrathful
are your minds: your bold troop's minstrel is like one inspired.
9 Ever avert your blazing shaft from us, and let not your displeasure
reach us here
10 Your dear names, conquering Maruts, we invoke,
calling aloud till we are satisfied.
11 Well-armed, impetuous
in their haste, they deck themselves, their forms, with oblations:
to you, the pure, ornaments made of gold.
12 Pure, Maruts,
pure yourselves, are your oblations: to you, the pure, pure
sacrifice I offer.
By Law they came to truth, the Law's observers,
bright by their birth, and pure, and sanctifying.
13 Your
rings, O Maruts, rest upon your shoulders, and chains of gold
are twined upon your bosoms.
Gleaming with drops of rain,
like lightning-flashes, after your wont ye whirl about your
weapons.
14 Wide in the depth of air spread forth your glories,
far, most adorable, ye bear your titles.
Maruts, accept this
thousandfold allotment of household sacrifice and household
treasure.
15 If, Maruts, ye regard the praise recited here
at this mighty singer invocation,
Vouchsafe us quickly wealth
with noble heroes, wealth which no man uho hateth us may injure.
16 The Maruts, fleet as coursers, while they deck them like
youths spectators of a festal meeting,
Linger, like beauteous
colts, about the dwelling, like frisking calves, these who pour
down the water.
17 So may the Maruts help us and be gracious,
bringing free room to lovely Earth and Heaven.
Far be your
bolt that slayeth men and cattle. Ye Vasus, turn yourselves
to us with blessings.
18 The priest, when seated, loudly
calls you, Maruts, praising in song your universal bounty.
He, Bulls! who hath so much in his possession, free from duplicity,
with hymns invokes you.
19 These Maruts bring the swift man
to a stand-still, and strength with mightier strength they break
and humble
These guard the singer from the man who hates
him and lay their sore displeasure on the wicked.
20 These
Maruts rouse even the poor and needy: the Vasus love him as
an active champion.
Drive to a distance, O ye Bulls, the
darkness: give us full store of children and descendants.
21 Never, O Maruts, may we lose your bounty, nor, car-borne
Lords! be hitidmost when ye deal it.
Give us a share in that
delightful treasure, the genuine wealth that, Bulls! is your
possession.
22 What time the men in fury rush together for
running streams, for pastures, and for houses.
Then, O ye
Maruts, ye who spring from Rudra, be our protectors in the strife
with foemen.
23 Full many a deed ye did for our forefathers
worthy of lauds which, even of old, they sang you.
lle strong
man, with the Maruts, wins in battle, the charger, with the
Maruts, gains the booty.
24 Ours, O ye Maruts, be the vigorous
Hero, the Lord Divine of men, the strong Sustainer,
With
whom to fair lands we may cross the waters, and dwell in our
own home with you beside us.
25 May Indra, Mitra, Varuna
and Agni, Waters, and Plants, and Trees accept our praises.
May we find shelter in the Marut's bosom. Preserve us evermore,
ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN LVII. Maruts.
1. YEA, through the power of your sweet juice, ye Holy! the
Marut host is glad at sacrifices.
They cause even spacious
heaven and earth to tremble, they make the spring flow when
they come, the Mighty.
2 The Maruts watch the man who sings
their praises, promoters of the thought of him who worships.
Seat you on sacred grass in our assembly, this day, with friendly
minds, to share the banquet.
3 No others gleam so brightly
as these Maruts with their own forms, their golden gauds, their
weapons.
With all adornments, decking earth and heaven, they
heighten, for bright show, their common splendour.
4 Far
from us be your blazing dart, O Maruts, when we, through human
frailty, sin against you.
Let us not he exposed to that,
ye Holy! May your most loving favour still attend us.
5 May
even what we have done delight the Maruts, the blameless Ones,
the bright, the purifying.
Further us, O ye Holy, with your
kindness: advance us mightily that we may prosper.
6 And
may the Maruts, praised by all their titles, Heroes, enjoy the
taste of our oblations.
Give us of Amrta for the sake of
offspring: awake the excellent fair stores of riches.
7 Hither,
ye Maruts, praised, with all your succours, with all felicity
come to our princes,
Who, of themselves, a hundredfold increase
us. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN LVIII. Maruts.
1. SING to the troop that pours down rain in common, the
Mighty Company of celestial nature.
They make the world-halves
tremble with their greatness: from depths of earth and sky they
reach to heaven.
2 Yea, your birth, Maruts, was with wild
commotion, ye who move swiftly, fierce in wrath, terrific.
Ye all-surpassing in your might and vigour, each looker on the
light fears at your coming.
3 Give ample vital power unto
our princes let our fair praises gratify the Maruts.
As the
way travelled helpeth people onward, so further us with your
delightful succours.
4 Your favoured singer counts his wealth
by hundreds: the strong steed whom ye favour wins a thousand.
The Sovran whom ye aid destroys the foeman. May this your gift,
ye Shakers, be distinguished.
5 I call, as such, the Sons
of bounteous Rudra: will not the Maruts turn again to us-ward?
What secret sin or open stirs their anger, that we implore the
Swift Ones to forgive us.
6 This eulogy of the Bounteous
hath been spoken: accept, ye Maruts, this our hymn of praises.
Ye Bulls, keep those who hate us at a distance. Preserve us
evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN LIX. Maruts.
1. WHOMSO ye rescue here and there, whomso ye guide, O Deities,
To him give shelter, Agni, Mitra, Varuna, ye Maruts, and thou
Aryaman.
2 Through your kind favour, Gods, on some auspicious
day, the worshipper subdues his foes.
That man increases
home and strengthening ample food who brings you offerings as
ye list.
3 Vasistha will not overlook the lowliest one among
you all.
O Maruts, of our Soma juice effused to-day drink
all of you with eager haste.
4 Your succour in the battle
injures not the man to whom ye, Heroes, grant your gifts.
May your most recent favour turn to us again. Come quickly,
ye who fain would drink.
5 Come hitherward to drink the juice,
O ye whose bounties give you joy.
These offerings are for
you, these, Maruts, I present. Go not to any place but this.
6 Sit on our sacred grass, be graciously inclined to give the
wealth for which we long,
To take delight, ye Maruts, Friends
of all, with Svaha, in sweet Soma juice.
7 Decking the beauty
of their forms in secret the Swans with purple backs have flown
down hither.
Around me all the Company hath settled, like
joyous Heroes glad in our libation.
8 Maruts, the man whose
wrath is hard to master, he who would slay us ere we think,
O Vasus,
May he be tangled in the toils of mischief; smite
ye him down with your most flaming weapon.
9 O Maruts, ye
consuming Gods, enjoy this offering brought for you,
To help
us, ye who slay the foe.
10 Sharers of household sacrifice,
come, Maruts, stay not far away,
That ye may help us, Bounteous
Ones.
11 Here, Self-strong Maruts, yea, even here. ye Sages
with your sunbright skins
I dedicate your sacrifice.
12
Tryambaka we worship, sweet augmenter of prosperity.
As from
its stem the cucumber, so may I be released from death, not
reft of immortality.
HYMN LX. Mitra-Varuna.
1. WHEN thou, O Sun, this day, arising sinless, shalt speak
the truth to Varuna and Mitra,
O Aditi, may all the Deities
love us, and thou, O Aryaman, while we are singing.
2 Looking
on man, O Varuna and Mitra, this Sun ascendeth up by both the
pathways,
Guardian of all things fixt, of all that moveth,
beholding good and evil acts of mortals.
3 He from their
home hath yoked the Seven gold Coursers who, dropping oil and
fatness, carry Surya.
Yours, Varuna and Mitra, he surveyeth
the worlds and living creatures like a herdsman.
4 Your coursers
rich in store of sweets have mounted: to the bright ocean Surya
hath ascended,
For whom the Adityas make his pathway ready,
Aryaman, Mitra, Varuna, accordant.
5 For these, even Aryaman,
Varuna and Mitra, are the chastisers of all guile and falsehood.
These, Aditi's Sons, infallible and mighty, have waxen in the
home of law Eternal.
6 These, Mitra, Varuna whom none deceiveth,
with great power quicken even the fool to wisdom,
And, wakening,
moreover, thoughtful insight, lead it by easy paths o'er grief
and trouble.
7 They ever vigilant, with eyes that close not,
caring for heaven and earth, lead on the thoughtless.
Even
in the river's bed there is a shallow. across this broad expanse
may they conduct us.
8 When Aditi and Varuna and Mitra, like
guardians, give Sudas their friendly shelter,
Granting him
sons and lineal succession, let us not, bold ones! move the
Gods to anger.
9 May he with ofierings purify the altar from
any stains of Varuna's reviler.
Aryaman save us us all those
who hate us: give room and freedom to Sudas, ye Mighty.
10
Hid from our eyes is their resplendent meeting: by their mysterious
might they hold dominion.
Heroes! we cry trembling in fear
before you, even in the greatness of your power have mercy.
11 He who wins favour for his prayer by worship, that he may
gain him strength and highest riches,
That good man's mind
the Mighty Ones will follow: they have brought comfort to his
spacious dwelling.
12 This priestly task, Gods! Varuna and
Mitra! hath been performed for you at sacrifices.
Convey
us safely over every peril. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with
blessings.
HYMN LXI. Mitra-Varuna.
1. O VARUNA and Mitra, Surya spreading the beauteous light
of you Twain Gods ariseth.
He who beholdetb all existing
creatures observetb well the zeal that is in mortals.
2 The
holy sage, renowned afar, directeth his hymns to you, O Varuna
and Mitra,-
He whose devotions, sapient Gods, ye favour so
that ye fill, as 'twere, with power his autumns.
3 From the
wide earth, O Varuna and Mitra from the great lofty heaven,
ye, Bounteous Givers, -
Have in the fields and houses set
your warder-, who visit every spot and watch unceasing.
4
I praise the strength of Varuna and Mitra that strength, by
mightiness, keeps both worlds asunder.
Heroless pass the
months of the ungodly he who loves sacrifice makes his home
enduring.
5 Steers, all infallible are these your people
in whom no wondrous thing is seen, no worship.
Guile follows
close the men who are untruthful: no secrets may be hidden from
your knowledge.
6 I will exalt your sacrifice with homage:
as priest, I, Mitra-Varuna, invoke you.
May these new hymns
and prayers that I have fashioned delight you to the profit
of the singer.
7 This priestly task, Gods! Varuna and Mitra!
hath been performed for you at sacrifices.
Convey us safely
over every peril. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN LXII. Mitra-Varuna.
1. SURYA hath sent aloft his beams of splendour o'er all
the tribes of men in countless places.
Together with the
heaven he shines apparent, formed by his Makers well with power
and wisdom.
2 So hast thou mounted up before us, Surya, through
these our praises, with fleet dappled horses.
Declare us
free from all offence to Mitra, and Varuna, and Aryaman, and
Agni.
3 May holy Agni, Varuna, and Mitra send down their
riches upon us in thousands.
May they, the Bright Ones, make
our praise-song perfect, and, when we laud them, grant us all
our wishes.
4 O undivided Heaven and Earth, preserve us,
us, Lofty Ones! your nobIy-born descendants.
Let us not anger
Varuna, nor Vayu, nor him, the dearest Friend of mortals, Mitra.
5 Stretch forth your arms and let our lives be lengthened: with
fatness dew the pastures of our cattle.
Ye Youthful, make
us famed among the people: hear, Mitra-Varuna, these mine invocations.
6 Now Mitra, Varuna, Aryaman vouchsafe us freedom and room,
for us and for our children.
May we find paths all fair and
good to travel. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN LXIII. Mitra-Varuna.
1. COMMON to all mankind, auspicious Surya, he who beholdeth
all, is mounting upward;
The God, the eye of Varuna and Mitra,
who rolled up darkness like a piece of leather.
2 Surya's
great ensign, restless as the billow, that urgeth men to action,
is advancing:
Onward he still would roll the wheel well-rounded,
which Etasa, harnessed to the car-pole, moveth.
3 Refulgent
from the bosom of the Mornings, he in Whom singers take delight
ascendeth.
This Savitar, God, is my chief joy and pleasure,
who breaketh not the universal statute.
4 Golden, far-seeing,
from the heaven he riseth: far is his goal, he hasteth on resplendent.
Men, verily, inspirited by Surya speed to their aims and do
the work assigned them.
5 Where the irrunortals have prepared
his pathway he flieth through the region like a falcon.
With
homage and oblations will we serve you, O Mitra-Varuna, when
the Sun hath risen.
6 Now Mitra, Varuna, Aryaman vouchsafe
us freedom and room, for us and for our children.
May we
find paths all fair and good to travel. Preserve us evermore,
ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN LXIV. Mitra-Varuna.
1. YE Twain who rule, in heaven and earth, the region, clothed
be your clouds in robes of oil and fatness.
May the imperial
Varuna, and Mitra, and high-born Aryaman accept our presents.
2 Kings, guards of rrtighty everlasting Order, come hitherward,
ye Princes, Lords of Rivers.
Send us from heaven, O Varuna
and Mitra, rain and sweet food, ye who pour down your bounties.
3 May the dear God, and Varuna and Mitra conduct us by the most
effective pathways,
That foes may say unto Sudas our chieftain,
May, we, too, joy in food with Gods to guard us.
4 Him who
hath wrought for you this car in spirit, who makes the song
rise upward and sustains it,
Bedew with fatness, Varuna nd
Mitra ye Kings, make glad the pleasant dwelling-places.
5
To you this laud, O Varuna and Mitra is offered like bright
Soma juice to Vayu.
Favour our songs of praise, wake thought
and spirit. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN LXV. Mitra-Varuna.
1. WITH hymns I call you, when the Sun hath risen, Mitra,
and Varuna whose thoughts are holy,
Whose Power Divine, supreme
and everlasting, comes with good heed at each man's supplication.
2 For they are Asuras of Gods, the friendly make, both of you,
our lands exceeding fruitful.
May we obtain you, Varuna and
Mitra, wherever Heaven and Earth and days may bless us.
3
Bonds of the sinner, they bear many nooses: the wicked mortal
hardly may escape them.
Varuna-Mitra, may your path of Order
bear us o'er trouble as a boat o'er waters.
4 Come, taste
our offering, Varuna and Mitra: bedew our pasture wil sweet
food and fatness.
Pour down in plenty here upon the people
the choicest of your fair celestial water.
5 To you this
laud, O Varuna and Mitra, is offered, like bright Soma juice
to Vayu.
Favour our songs of praise, wake thought and spirit.
Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN LXVI Mitra-Varuna.
1. LET our strong hymn of praise go forth, the laud of Mitra-Varuna,
With homage to that high-born Pair;
2 The Two exceeding wise,
the Sons of Daksa, whom the gods ordained
For lordship, excellently
great.
3 Such, Guardians of our homes and us, O Mitra-Varuna,
fulfil
The thoughts of those who sing your praise.
4 So
when the Sun hath risen to-day, may sinless Mitra, Aryaman,
Bhaga, and Savitar sendus forth.
5 May this our home be guarded
well forward, ye Bounteous, on the way,
Who bear us safely
o'er distress.
6. And those Self-reigning, Aditi, whose statute
is inviolate,
The Kings who rule a vast domain.
7 Soon
as the Sun hath risen, to you, to Mitra-Varuna, I sing,
And
Aryarnan who slays the foe.
8 With wealth of gold may this
my song bring unmolested power and might,
And, Brahmans,
gain the sacrifice.
9 May we be thine, God Varuna, and with
our princes, Mitra, thine.
Food and Heaven's light will we
obtain.
10 Many are they who strengthen Law, Sun-eyed, with
Agni for their tongue,
They who direct the three great gatherings
with their thoughts, yea, all things with surpassing might.
11 They who have stablished year and month and then the day,
night, sacrifice and holy verse,
Varuna, Mitra, Aryarnan,
the Kings, have won dominion which none else may gain.
12
So at the rising of the Sun we think of you with hymns to-day,
Even as Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman deserve: ye are the charioteers
of Law.
13 True to Law, born in Law the strengtheners of
Law, terrible, haters of the false,
In their felicity which
gives the best defence may we men and our princes dwell.
14 Uprises, on the slope of heaven, that marvel that attracts
die sight
As swift celestial Etasa bears it away, prepared
for every eye to see.
15 Lord of each single head, of fixt
and moving things, equally through the whole expanse,
The
Seven sister Bays bear Surya on his car, to bring us wealth
and happiness.
16 A hundred autumns may we see that bright
Eye, God-ordained, arise
A hundred autumns may we live.
17 Infallible through your wisdom, come hither, resplendent
Varuna,
And Mitra, to the Soma draught.
18 Come as the
laws of Heaven ordain, Varuna, Mitra, void of guile:
Press
near and drink the Soma juice.
19 Come, Mitra, Varuna, accept,
Heroes, our sacrificial gift:
Drink Soma, ye who strengthen
Law.
HYMN LXVII. Asvins.
1. I WITH a holy heart that brings oblation will sing forth
praise to meet your car, ye Princes,
Which, Much-desired!
hath wakened as your envoy. I call you hither as a son his parents.
2 Brightly hath Agni shone by us enkindled: the limits even
of darkness were apparent.
Eastward is seen the Banner of
the Morning, the Banner born to give Heaven's Daughter glory.
3 With hymns the deft priest is about you, Asvins, the eloquent
priest attends you now, Nasatyas.
Come by the paths that
ye are wont to travel, on car that finds the light, laden with
treasure.
4 When, suppliant for your help, Lovers of Sweetness!
I seeking wealth call you to our libation,
Hitherward let
your vigorous horses bear you: drink ye with us the well-pressed
Soma juices.
5 Bring forward, Asvins, Gods, to its fulfilment
my never-wearied prayer that asks for riches.
Vouchsafe us
all high spirit in the combat, and with your powers, O Lords
of Power, assist us.
6 Favour us in these prayers of ours,
O Asvins. May we have genial vigour, ne'er to fail us.
So
may we, strong in children and descendants, go, wealthy, to
the banquet that awaits you.
7 Lovers of Sweetness, we have
brought this treasure to you as 'twere an envoy sent for friendship.
Come unto us with spirits free from anger, in homes of men enjoying
our oblation.
8 With one, the same, intention, ye swift movers,
o'er the Seven Rivers hath your chariot travelled.
Yoked
by the Gods, your strong steeds never weary while speeding forward
at the pole they bear you.
9 Exhaustless be your bounty to
our princes who with their wealth incite the gift of riches,
Who further friendship with their noble natures, combining wealth
in kine with wealth in herses.
10 Now hear, O Youthful Twain,
mine invocation: come, Asvins, to the home where food aboundeth.
Vouchsafe us wealth, do honour to our nobles. Preserve us evermore,
ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN LXVIII. Asvins.
1. COME, radiant Asvins, with your noble horses: accept your
servant's hymns, ye Wonder-Workers:
Enjoy oblations which
we bring to greet you.
2 The gladdening juices stand prepared
before you: come quickly and partake of mine oblation.
Pass
by the calling of our foe and bear us.
3 Your chariot with
a hundred aids, O Asvins, beareth you swift as thought across
the regions,
Speeding to us, O ye whose wealth is Surya.
4 What time this stone of yours, the Gods' adorer, upraised,
sounds forth for you as Soma-presser,
Let the priest bring
you, Fair Ones, through oblations.
5 The nourishment ye have
is, truly, wondrous: ye gave thereof a quickening store to Atri,
Who being dear to you, receives your favour.
6 That gift,
which all may gain, ye gave Cyavana, when he grew old, who offered
you oblations,
When ye bestowed on him enduring beauty.
7 What time his wicked friends abandoned Bhujyu, O Asvins, in
the middle of the ocean,
Your horse delivered him, your faithful
servant.
8 Ye lent your aid to Vrka when exhausted, and listened
when invoked to Sayu's calling.
Ye made the cow pour forth
her milk like water, and, Asvins, strengthened with your strength
the barren.
9 With his fair hymns this singer, too, extols
you, waking with glad thoughts at the break of morning.
May
the cow nourish him with milk to feed llim. Preserve us evermore,
ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN LXIX. Asvins.
1. MAY your gold chariot, drawn by vigorous horses, come
to us, blocking up the earth
and heaven,
Bright with its
fellies while its way drops fatness, food-laden, rich in coursers,
man's protector.
2 Let it approach, yoked by thewill, three-seated,
extending far and wide o'er fivefold beings,
Whereon ye visit
God-adoring races, bending your course whither ye will, O Asvins.
3 Renowned, with noble horses, come ye hither: drink, Wondrous
Pair, the cup that holds sweet juices.
Your car whereon your
Spouse is wont to travel marks with its track the farthest ends
of heaven.
4 When night was turning to the grey of morning
the Maiden, Surya's Daughter, chose your splendour.
When
with your power and might ye aid the pious he comes through
heat to life by your assistance.
5 O Chariot-borne, this
car of yours invested with rays of light comes harnessed to
our dwelling.
Herewith, O Asvins, while the dawn is breaking,
to this our sacrifice bring peace and blessing.
6 Like the
wild cattle thirsty for the lightning, Heroes, come nigh this
day to our libations.
Men call on you with hymns in many
places, but let not other worshippers detain you.
7 Bhujyu,
abandoned in the midst of ocean, ye raised from out the water
with your horses,
Uninjured, winged, flagging not, undaunted,
with deeds of wonder saving him, O Asvins.
8 Now hear, O
Youthful Twain, mine invocation: come, Asvins, to the home where
food aboundeth.
Vouchsafe us wealth, do honour to our nobles.
Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN LXX. Asvins.
1. RICH in all blessings, Asvins come ye hither: this place
on earth is called your own possession,
Like a strong horse
with a fair back it standeth, whereon, as in a lap, ye seat
you firmly.
2 This most delightful eulogy awaits you in the
man's house drink-offering hath been heated,
Which bringeth
you over the seas and rivers, yoking as'twere two well-matched
shining horses.
3 Whatever dwellings ye possess, O Asvins,
in fields of men or in the streams of heaven,
Resting upon
the summit of the mountain, or bringing food to him who gives
oblation,
4 Delight yourselves, ye Gods, in plants and waters
when Rsis give them and ye find they suit You.
Enriching
us with treasures in abundance ye have looked back to former
generations.
5 Asvins, though ye have heard them oft aforetime,
regard the many prayers which Rsis offer.
Come to the man
even as his heart desireth: may we enjoy your most delightful
favour.
6 Come to the sacrifice offered you, Nasatyas, with
men, oblations, and prayer duly uttered.
Come to Vasistha
as his heart desireth, for unto you these holy hymns are chanted.
7 This is the thought, this is the song, O Asvins: accept this
hymn of ours, ye Steers, with favour.
May these our prayers
addressed to you come nigh you. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods,
with blessings.
HYMN LXXI. Asvins.
1. THE Night retireth from the Dawn her Sister; the Dark
one yieldeth to the Red her pathway.
Let us invoke you rich
in steeds and cattle - by day and night keep far from us the
arrow.
2 Bearing rich treasure in your car, O Asvins, come
to the mortal who presents oblation.
Keep at a distance penury
and sickness; Lovers of Sweetness, day and night preserve us.
3 May your strong horses, seeking bliss, bring hither your chariot
at the earliest flush of morning.
With coursers yoked by
Law drive hither, Asvins, your car whose reins are light, laden
with treasure.
4 The chariot, Princes, that conveys you,
moving at daylight, triple-seated, fraught with riches,
Even
with this come unto us, Nasatyas, that laden with all food it
may approach us.
5 Ye freed Cyavana from old age and weakness:
ye brought the courser fleet of food to Pedu.
Ye rescued
Atri from distress and darkness, and loosed for Jahusa the bonds
that bound him.
6 This is the thought, this is the song,
O Asvins: accept this hymn of ours, ye Steers, With favour.
May these our prayers addressed to you come nigh you. Preserve
us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN LXXII. Asvins.
1. COME, O Nasatyas, on your car resplendent, rich in abundant
wealth of kine and horses.
As harnessed steeds, all our laudations
follow you whose forms shine with most delightful beauty.
2 Come with the Gods associate, come ye hither to us, Nasatyas,
with your car accordant.
'Twixt you and us there is ancestral
friendship and common kin: remember and regard it.
3 Awakened
are the songs that praise the Asvins, the kindred prayers and
the Celestial Mornings.
Inviting those we long for, Earth
and Heaven, the singer calleth these Nasatyas hither.
4 What
time the Dawns break forth in light, O Asvins, to you the poets
offer their devotions.
God Savitar hath sent aloft his splendour,
and fires sing praises with the kindled fuel.
5 Come from
the west, come from the cast, Nasatyas, come, Asvins, from below
and from above us.
Bring wealth from all sides for the Fivefold
People. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN LXXIII. Asvins.
1. WE have o'erpassed the limit of this darkness while, worshipping
the Gods, we sang their praises.
The song invoketh both Immortal
Asvins far-reaching, born of old, great WonderWorkers.
2
And, O Nasatyas, man's dear Priest is seated, who brings to
sacrifice and offers worship,
Be near and taste the pleasant
juice, O Asvins: with food, I call you to the sacrifices.
3 We choosing you, have let our worship follow its course: ye
Steers, accept this hymn with favour.
Obeying you as your
appointed servant, Vasistha singing hath with lauds aroused
you.
4 And these Two Priests come nigh unto our people, united,
demon-slayers, mighty-handed.
The juices that exhilarate
are mingled. Injure us not, but come with happy fortune.
5 Come from the west, come from the cast, Nasatyas, come, Asvins,
from below and from above us.
Bring wealth from all sides
for the Fivefold People. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with
blessings.
HYMN I.XXIV. Asvins.
1. THESE morning sacrifices call you, Asvins, at the break
of day.
For help have I invoked you rich in power and might:
for, house by house ye visit all.
2 O Heroes, ye bestow wonderful
nourishment. send it to him whose songs are sweet
Accordant,
both of you, drive your car down to us, and drink the savoury
Soma juice.
3 Approach ye and be near to us. drink, O ye
Asvins, of the meath.
Draw forth the milk, ye Mighty, rich
in genuine wealth: injure us not, and come to us.
4 The horses
that convey you in their rapid flight down to the worshipper's
abode,
With these your speedy coursers, Heroes, Asvins, come,
ye Gods, come well-inclined to us.
5 Yea, verily, our princes
seek the Asvins in pursuit of food.
These shall give lasting
glory to our liberal lords, and, both Nasatyas, shelter us.
6 Those who have led the way, like cars, offending none, those
who are guardians of the men-
Also through their own might
the heroes have grown strong, and dwell in safe and happy homes.
HYMN LXXV. Dawn.
1. BORN in the heavens the Dawn hath flushed, and showing
her majesty is come as Law ordaineth.
She hath uncovered
fiends and hateful darkness; best of Angirases, hath waked the
pathways.
2 Rouse us this day to high and happy fortune:
to great felicity, O Dawn, promote us.
Vouchsafe us manifold
and splendid riches, famed among mortals, man-befriending Goddess!
3 See, lovely Morning's everlasting splendours, bright with
their varied colours, have approached us.
Filling the region
of mid-air, producing the rites of holy worship, they have mounted.
4 She yokes her chariot far away, and swiftly visits the lands
where the Five Tribes are settled,
Looking upon the works
and ways of mortals, Daughter of Heaven, the world's Imperial
Lady.
5 She who is rich in spoil, the Spouse of Surya, wondrously
opulent, rules all wealth and treasures.
Consumer of our
youth, the seers extol her: lauded by priests rich Dawn shines
out refulgent.
6 Apparent are the steeds of varied colour,
the red steeds carrying resplendent Morning.
On her all-lovely
car she comes, the Fair One, and brings rich treasure for her
faithful servant.
7 True with the True and Mighty with the
Mighty, with Gods a Goddess, Holy with the Holy,
She brake
strong fences down and gave the cattle: the kine were lowing
as they greeted Morning.
8 O Dawn, now give us wealth in
kine and heroes, and horses, fraught with manifold enjoyment.
Protect our sacred grass from man's reproaches. Preserve us
evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN LXXVI. Dawn.
1. SAVITAR God of all men hath sent upward his light, designed
for all mankind, immortal.
Through the Gods' power that Eye
was first created. Dawn hath made all the universe apparent.
2 I see the paths which Gods are wont to travel, innocuous paths
made ready by the Vasus.
Eastward the flag of Dawn hath been
uplifted; she hath come hither o'er the tops of houses.
3
Great is, in truth, the number of the Mornings which were aforetime
at the Sun's uprising.
Since thou, O Dawn, hast been beheld
repairing as to thy love, as one no more to leave him.
4
They were the Gods' companions at the banquet, the ancient sages
true to Law Eternal.
The Fathers found the light that lay
in darkness, and with effectual words begat the Morning.
5 Meeting together in the same enclosure, they strive not, ofone
mind, one with another.
They never break the Gods' eternal
statutes, and injure none, in rivalry with Vasus.
6 Extolling
thee, Blest Goddess, the Vasisthas, awake at early mom, with
lauds implore thee.
Leader of kine and Queen of all that
strengthens, shine, come as first to us, O high-born Morning.
7 She bringeth bounty and sweet charm of voices. The flushing
Dawn is sung by the Vasisthas,
Giving us riches famed to
distant places. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN LXXVIT. Dawn.
1. SHE hath shone brightly like a youthful woman, stirring
to motion every living creature.
Agni hath come to feed on
mortal? fuel. She hath made light and chased away the darkness.
2 Turned to this All, far-spreading, she hath risen and shone
in brightness with white robes about her.
She hath beamed
forth lovely with golden colours, Mother of kine, Guide of the
days she bringeth.
3 Bearing the Gods' own Eye, auspicious
Lady, leading her Courser white and fair to look on,
Distinguished
by her bean-is Dawn shines apparent, come forth to all the world
with wondrous treasure.
4 Draw nigh with wealth and dawn
away the foeman: prepare for us wide pasture free from danger.
Drive away those who hate us, bring us riches: pour bounty,
opulent Lady, on the singer.
5 Send thy most excellent beams
to shine and light us, giving us lengthened days, O Dawn, O
Goddess,
Granting us food, thou who hast all things precious,
and bounty rich in chariots, kine, and horses.
6 O Usas,
nobly-born, Daughter of Heaven, whom the Vasisthas with their
hymns make mighty,
Bestow thou on us vast and glorious riches.
Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN LXXVIII. Dawn.
1. WE have beheld her earliest lights approaching: her many
glories part, on high, asunder.
On car sublime, refulgent,
wending hither, O Usas, bring the Wealth that makes us happy.
2 The fire well-kindIed sings aloud to greet her, and with their
hymns the priests are chaming welcome.
Usas approaches in
her splendour, driving all evil darkness far away, the Goddess.
3 Apparent eastward are those lights of Morning, sending out
lustre, as they rise, around them.
She hath brought forth
Sun, sacrifice, and Agni, and far away hath fled detested darkness.
4 Rich Daughter of the Sky, we all behold her, yea, all men
look on Dawn as she is breaking.
fler car that moves self-harnessed
hath she mounted, the car drawn onward by her well-yoked horses.
5 Inspired with loving thoughts this day to greet thee, we and
our wealthy nobles have awakened.
Show yourselves fruitful,
Dawns, as ye are rising. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with
blessings.
HYMN LXXIX. Dawn.
1. ROUSING the lands where men's Five Tribes are settled,
Dawn hath disclosed the pathways of the people.
She hath
sent out her sheen with beauteous oxen. The Sun with light hath
opened earth and heaven.
2 They paint their bright rays on
the sky's far limits. the Dawns come on like tribes arrayed
for battle.
Thy cattle, closely shutting up the darkness,
as Savitar spreads his arms, give forth their lustre.
3 Wealthy,
most like to Indra, Dawn hath risen, and brought forth lauds
that shall promote our welfare.
Daughter of Heaven, a Goddess,
she distributes, best of Angirases, treasures to the pious.
4 Bestow on us, O Dawn, that ample bounty which thou didst send
to those who sang thy praises;
Thou whom with bellowings
of a bull they quickened: thou didst unbar the firm-set mountain's
portals.
5 Impelling every God to grant his bounty sending
to us the charm of pleasant voices,
Vouchsafe us thoughts,
for profit, as thou breakest. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods,
with blessings.
HYMN LXXX. Dawn.
1 THE priests, Vasisthas, are the first awakened to welcome
Usas with their songs and praises,
Who makes surrounding
regions part asunder,and shows apparent all existing creatures.
2 Giving fresh life when she hath hid the darkness, this Dawn
hath wakened there with new-born lustre.
Youthful and unrestrained
she cometh forward: she hath turned thoughts to Sun and fire
and worship.
3 May blessed Mornings shine on us for ever,
with wealth of kine, of horses, and of heroes,
Streaming
with all abundance, pouring fatness. Preserve us evermore, ye
Gods, with blessings.
HYMN LXXXI. Dawn.
1. ADVANCING, sending forth her rays, the Daughter of the
Sky is seen.
Uncovering, that we may see, the mighty gloom,
the friendly Lady makes the light.
2 The Sun ascending, the
refulgent Star, pours down his beams together with the Dawn.
O Dawn, at thine arising, and the Sun's, may we attain the share
allotted us.
3 Promptly we woke to welcome thee, O Usas,
Daughter of the Sky,
Thee, Bounteous One, who bringest all
we long to have, and to the offerer health and wealth.
4
Thou, dawning, workest fain to light the great world, yea, heaven,
Goddess! that it may be seen.
We yearn to be thine own, Dealer
of Wealth: may we be to this Mother like her sons.
5 Bring
us that wondrous bounty, Dawn, that shall be famed most far
away.
What, Child of Heaven, thou hast of nourishment for
man, bestow thou on us to enjoy.
6 Give to our princes opulence
and immortal fame, and strength in herds of kine to us.
May
she who prompts the wealthy, Lady of sweet strains, may Usas
dawn our foes away.
HYMN LXXXIT. Indra-Varuna
1. GRANT us your strong protection, IndraVaruna, our people,
and our family, for sacrifice.
May we subdue in fight our
evil-hearted foes, him who attacks the man steadfast in lengthened
rites.
2 O Indra-Varuna, mighty and very rich One of you
is called Monarch and One Autocrat.
All Gods in the most
lofty region of the air have, O ye Steers, combined all power
and might in you.
3 Ye with your strength have pierced the
fountains of the floods: the Sun have ye brought forward as
the Lord in heaven.
Cheered by this magic draught ye, Indra-Varuna,
made the dry places stream, made songs of praise flow forth.
4 In battels and in frays we ministering priests, kneeling upon
our knees for furtherance of our weal,
Invoke you, only you,
the Lords of twofold wealth, you prompt to hear, we bards, O
Indra-Varuna.
5 O Indra-Varuna, as ye created all these creatures
of the world by your surpassing might,
In peace and quiet
Mitra waits on Varuna, the Other, awful, with the Maruis seeks
renown.
6 That Varuna's high worth may shine preeminent,
these Twain have measured each his proper power and might.
The One subdueth the destructive enemy; the Other with a few
furthereth many a man.
7 No trouble, no misfortune, Indra-Varuna,
no woe from any side assails the mortal man
Whose sacrifice,
O Gods, ye visit and enjoy: ne'er doth the crafty guile of mortal
injure him.
8 With your divine protection, Heroes, come to
us: mine invncation hear, if ye be pleased therewith.
Bestow
ye upon us, O Indra-Varuna, your friendship and your kinship
and your favouring grace.
9 In battle after battle, Indra-Varuna,
be ye our Champions, ye who are the peoples' strength,
When
both opposing bands invoke you for the fight, and men that they
may gain offspring and progeny.
10 May Indra, Varuna, Mitra,
and Aryaman vouchsafe us glory and great shelter spreading far.
We think of the beneficent light of Aditi, and Savitar's song
of praise, the God who strengthens Law.
HYMN LXXXIII. Indra-Varuna.
1. LOOKING to you and your alliance, O ye Men, armed with
broad axes they went forward, fain for spoil.
Ye smote and
slew his Dasa and his Aryan enemies, and helped Sudas with favour,
Indra-Varuna.
2 Where heroes come together with their banners
raised, in the encounter where is naught for us to love,
Where all things that behold the light are terrified, there
did ye comfort us, O Indra-Varuna.
3 The boundaries of earth
were seen all dark with dust: O Indra-Varuna, the shout went
up to heaven.
The enmities of the people compassed me about.
Ye heard my calling and ye came to me with help.
4 With your
resistless weapons, Indra-Varuna, ye conquered Bheda and ye
gave Sudas your aid.
Ye heard the prayers of these amid the
cries of war: effectual was the service of the Trtsus' priest.
5 O Indra-Varuna, the wickedness of foes and mine assailants'
hatred sorely trouble me.
Ye Twain are Lords of riches both
of earth and heaven: so grant to us your aid on the decisive
day.
6 The men of both the hosts invoked you in the fight,
Indra and Varuna, that they might win the wealth,
What time
ye helped Sudas, with all the Trtsu folk, when the Ten Kings
had pressed him down in their attack.
7 Ten Kings who worshipped
not, O Indra-Varuna, confederate, in war prevailed not o'er
Sudas.
True was the boast of heroes sitting at the feast:
so at their invocations Gods were on their side.
8 O Indra-Varuna,
ye gave Sudas your aid when the Ten Kings in battle compassed
him about,
There where the white-robed Trtsus with their
braided hair, skilled in song worshipped you with homage and
with hymn.
9 One of you Twain destroys the Vrtras in the
fight, the Other evermore maintains his holy Laws.
We call
on you, ye Mighty, with our hymns of praise. Vouchsafe us your
protection, Indra-Varuna.
10 May Indra, Varuna, Mitra, and
Aryaman vouchsafe us glory and great shelter spreading far.
We think of the beneficent light of Aditi, and Savitar's song
of praise, the God who strengthens Law.
HYMN LXXXIV. Indra-Varuna.
1. KINGS, Indra-Varuna, I would turn you hither to this our
sacrifice with gifts and homage.
Held in both arms the ladle,
dropping fatness, goes of itself to you whose forms are varied.
2 Dyaus quickens and promotes your high dominion who bind with
bonds not wrought of rope or cordage.
Far from us still be
Varuna's displeasure may Indra give us spacious room to dwell
in.
3 Make ye our sacrifice fair amid the assemblies: make
ye our prayers approved among our princes.
May God-sent riches
come for our possession: further ye us with your delightful
succours.
4 O Indra-Varuna, vouchsafe us riches with store
of treasure, food, and every blessing;
For the Aditya, banisher
of falsehood, the Hero, dealeth wealth in boundless plenty.
5 May this my song reach Varuna and Indra, and, strongly urging,
win me sons and offspring.
To the Gods' banquet may we go
with riches. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN LXXXV. Indra-Varuna.
1. FOR you I deck a harmless hymn, presenting the Soma juice
to Varuna and Indra-
A hymn that shines like heavenly Dawn
with fatness. May they be near us on the march and guard us.
2 Here where the arrows fall amid the banners both hosts invoke
the Gods in emulation.
O Indra-Varuna, smite back those-our
foemen,yea, smite them withyour shaft to every quarter.
3
Self-lucid in their seats, e'en heavenly Waters endowed with
Godhead Varuna and Indra.
One of these holds the folk distinct
and sundered, the Other smites and slays resistless foemen.
4 Wise be the priest and skilled in Law Eternal, who with his
sacred gifts and oration.
Brings you to aid us with your
might, Adityas: let him have viands to promote his welfare.
5 May this my song reach Varuna and Indra, and, strongly urging,
win me sons and offspring.
To the Gods' banquet may we go
with riches. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods with blessings.
HYMN LXXXVI. Varuna.
1. WISE, verily, are creatures through his greatness who
stayed ever, spacious heaven and earth asunder;
Who urged
the high and mighty sky to motion, the Star of old, and spread
the earth before him.
2 With mine own heart I commune on
the question how Varuna and I may be united.
What gift of
mine will he accept unangered? When may I calmly look and find
him gracious?
3 Fain to know this in in I question others:
I seek the wise, O Varuna, and ask them.
This one same answer
even the sages gave me, "Surely this Varuna is angry with
thee."
4 What, Varuna, hath been my chief transgression,
ihat thou wouldst slay the friend who sings thy praises?
Tell me, Unconquerable Lord, and quickly sinless will I approach
thee with mine homage.
5 Free us from sins committed by our
fathers, from those wherein we have ourselves offended.
O
King, loose, like a thief who feeds the cattle, as from the
cord a calf, set free Vasistha.
6 Not our own will betrayed
us, but seduction, thoughtlessness, Varuna wine, dice, or anger.
The old is near to lead astray the younger: even sleep removeth
not all evil-doing.
7 Slavelike may I do service to the Bounteous,
serve, free from sin, the God inclined to anger.
This gentle
Lord gives wisdom to the simple: the wiser God leads on the
wise to riches.
8 O Lord, O Varuna, may this laudation come
close to thed and lie within thy spirit.
May it be well with
us in rest and labour. Preserve us ever-more, ye Gods, with
blessings.
HYMN LXXXVII. Varuna.
1. VARUNA cut a pathway out for Surya, and led the watery
floods of rivers onward.
The Mares, as in a race, speed on
in order. He made great channels for the days to follow.
2 The wind, thy breath, hath sounded through the region like
a wild beast that seeks his food in pastures.
Within these
two, exalted Earth and Heaven, O Varuna, are all the forms thou
lovest.
3 Varuna's spies, sent forth upon their errand, survey
the two world-halves well formed and fashioned.
Wise are
they, holy, skilled in sacrifices, the furtherers of the praise-songs
of the prudent.
4 To me who understand hath Varuna spoken,
the names borne by the Cow are three times seven.
The sapient
God, knowing the place's secret, shall speak as 'twere to teach
the race that cometh.
5 On him three heavens rest and are
supported, and the three earths are there in sixfold order.
The wise King Varuna hath made in heaven that Golden Swing to
cover it with glory.
6 Like Varuna from heaven he sinks in
Sindhu, like a white-shining spark, a strong wild creature.
Ruling in depths and meting out the region, great saving power
hath he, this world's Controller.
7 Before this Varuna may
we be sinless him who shows mercy even to the sinner-
While
we are keeping Aditi's ordinances. Preserve us evermore, ye
Gods, with blessings.
HYMN LXXXVIII. Varuna.
1. PRESENT to Varuna thine hymn, Vasistha, bright, most delightful
to the Bounteous Giver,
Who bringeth on to us the Bull, the
lofty, the Holy, laden with a thousand treasures.
2 And now,
as I am come before his presence, I take the face of Varuna
for Agni's.
So might he bring-Lord also of the darkness-the
light in heaven that I may see its beauty!
3 When Varuna
and I embark together and urge our boat into the midst of ocean,
We, when we ride o'er ridges of the waters, will swing within
that swing and there be happy.
4 Varuna placed Vasistha in
the vessel, and deftly with his niight made him a Rsi.
When
days shone bright the Sage made him a singer, while the heavens
broadened and the Dawns were lengthened.
5 What hath become
of those our ancient friendships, when without enmity we walked
together?
I, Varuna, thou glorious Lord, have entered thy
lofty home, thine house with thousand portals.
6 If he, thy
true ally, hath sinned against thee, still, Varuna, he is the
friend thou lovedst.
Let us not, Living One, as sinners I
know thee: give shelter, as a Sage, to him who lauds thee.
7 While we abide in these fixed habitations, and from the lap
of Aditi win favour,
May Varuna untie the bond that binds
us. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN LXXXIX Varuna.
1. LET me not yet, King Varuna, enter into the house of clay:
Have mercy, spare me, Mighty Lord.
2 When, Thunderer! I move
along tremulous like a wind-blown skin,
Have mercy, spare
me, Mighty Lord.
3 O Bright and Powerful God, through want
of strength I erred and went astray
Have mercy, spare me,
Mighty Lord.
4 Thirst found thy worshipper though he stood
in the midst of water-fijods:
Have mercy, spare me, Mighty
Lord.
5 O Varuna, whatever the offence may be which we as
men commit against the heavenly host,
When through our want
of thought we violate thy laws, punish us not, O God, for that
iniquity.
HYMN XC. Vayu.
1. To you pure juice, rich in meath, are offered by priest:
through longing for the Pair of Heroes.
Drive, Vayu, bring
thine harnessed horses hither: drink the pressed Soma till it
make thee joyful.
2 Whoso to thee, the Mighty, brings oblation,
pure Soma unto thee, pure-drinking Vayu,
That man thou makest
famous among mortals: to him strong sons are born in quick succession.
3 The God whom both these worlds brought forth for riches, whom
heavenly Dhisana for our wealth appointeth,
His team of harnessed
horses waits on Vayu, and, foremost, on the radiant Treasure-bearer.
4 The spotless Dawns with fair bright days have broken; they
found the spacious light when they were shining.
Eagerly
they disclosed the stall of cattle: floods streamed for them
as in the days aforetime.
5 These with their truthful spirit,
shining brightly, move on provided with their natural insight.
Viands attend the car that beareth Heroes, your car, ye Sovran
Pair, Indra and Vayu.
6 May these who give us heavenly light,
these rulers, with gifts of kine and horses, gold and treasures.
These princes, through full life, Indra and Vayu! o'ercome in
battle with their steeds and heroes.
7 Like coursers seeking
fame will we Vasisthas, O Indra-Vayu, with our fair laudations.
Exerting all our power call you to aid us. Preserve us evermore,
ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN XCI. Vayu.
1. WERE not in sooth, the Gods aforetime blameless, whose
pleasure was increased by adoration?
For Vayu and for man
in his affliction they caused the Morning to arise with Surya.
2 Guardians infallible, eager as envoys' preserve us safe through
many months and autumns.
Addressed to you, our fair praise,
Indra-Vayu, implores your favour and renewed well-being.
3 Wise, bright, arranger of his teams, he. seeketh men with
rich food whose treasures are abundant.
They have arranged
them of one mind with Vayu: the men have wrought all noble operations.
4 So far as native power and strength permit you, so far as
men behold whose eyes have vision,
O ye pure-drinkers, drink
with us pure Soma: sit on this sacred grass, Indra and Vayu.
5 Driving down teams that bear the lovely Heroes, hitherward,
Indra-Vayu, come together.
To you this prime of savoury juice
is offered: here loose your horses and be friendly-minded.
6 Your hundred and your thousand teams, O Indra and Vayu, all-munificent,
which attend you,
With these most gracious-minded come ye
hither, and drink, O Heroes of the meath we offer.
7 Like
coursers seeking fame will we Vasisthas, O Indra-Vayu, with
our fair laudations,
Exerting all our powe-,, call you to
aid us. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN XCII. Vayu
1. O VAYU, drinker of the pure, be near us: a thousand teams
are thine, Allbounteous Giver.
To thee the rapture-bringing
juice is offered, whose first draught, God, thou takest as thy
portion.
2 Prompt at the holy rites forth came the presser
with Soma-draughts for Indra and for Vayu,
When ministering
priests with strong devotion bring to you Twain the first taste
of the Soma.
3 The teams wherewith thou seekest him who offers,
within his home, O Viyu, to direct him,
Therewith send wealth:
to us with full enjoyment, a hero son and gifts of kine and
horses.
4 Near to the Gods and making Indra joyful, devout
and ofFering precious gifts to Vayu,
Allied with princes,
smiting down the hostile, may we with heroes conquer foes in
battle.
5 With thy yoked teams in hundreds and in thousands
come to our sacrifice and solemn worship.
Come, Vayu, make
thee glad at this libation. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with
blessings.
HYMN XCIII. Indra-Agni.
1. SLAYERS of enemies, Indra and Agni, accept this day our
new-born pure laudation.
Again, again I call you prompt to
listen, best to give quickly strength to him who craves it.
2 For ye were strong to gain, exceeding mighty, growing together,
waxing in your vigour.
Lords of the pasture filled with ample
riches, bestow upon us strength both fresh and lasting.
3
Yea when the strong have entered our assembly, and singers seeking
with their hymns your favour,
They are like steeds who come
into the race-course, those men who call aloud on Indra-Agni.
4 The singer, seeking with his hymns your favour, begs splendid
riches of their first possessor.
Further us with new bounties,
Indra-Agni, armed with strong thunder, slayers of the foeman.
5 When two great hosts, arrayed against each other, meet clothed
with brightness, in the fierce encounter
Stand ye beside
the godly, smite the godless; and still assist the men who press
the Soma.
6 To this our Soma-pressing, Indra-Agni, come ye
prepared to show your loving-kindness,
For not at any time
have ye despised us. So may I draw you with all strengthenings
hither.
7 So Agni, kindled mid this adoration, invite thou
Mitra, Varuna, and Indra.
Forgive whatever sin we have committed
may Aryaman and Aditi remove it.
8 While we accelerate these
our sacrifices, may we win strength from both of you, O Agni:
Ne'er may the Maruts, Indra, Visnu slight us. Preserve us evermore,
ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN XCIV. Indra-Agni.
1. As rain from out the cloud, for you, Indra and Agni, from
my soul
This noblest praise hath been produced.
2 Do ye,
O Indra-Agni, hear the singer's call: accept his songs.
Ye
Rulers, grant his heart's desire.
3 Give us not up to poverty,
ye Heroes, Indra-Agni, nor
To slander and reproach of men.
4 To Indra and to Agni we bring reverence, high and holy hymn,
And, craving help, softwords with prayer.
5 For all these
holy singers here implore these Twain to succour them,
And
priests that they may win them strength.
6 Eager to laudyou,
we with songs invoke you, bearing sacred food,
Fain for success
in sacrifice.
7 Indra and Agni, come to us with favour, ye
who conquer men:
Let not the wicked master us.
8 At no
time let the injurious blow of hostile mortal fall on us:
O Indra-Agni, shelter us.
9 Whatever wealth we crave of you,
in gold, in cattle, or in steeds,
That, Indra-Agni, let us
gain;
10 When heroes prompt in worship call Indra and Agni,
Lords of steeds,
Beside the Soma juice effused.
11 Call
hither with the song and lauds those who best slay the foemen,
those
Who take delight in hymns of praise.
12 Slay ye
the wicked man whose thought is evil of the demon kind.
Slay
him who stays the waters, slay the Serpent with your deadly
dart.
HYMN XCV. Sarasvati.
1. THIS stream Sarasvati with fostering current comes forth,
our sure defence, our fort of iron.
As on a car, the flood
flows on, surpassing in majesty and might all other waters.
2 Pure in her course from mountains to the ocean, alone of streams
Sarasvati hath listened.
Thinking of wealth and the great
world of creatures, she poured for Nahusa her milk and fatness.
3 Friendly to man he grew among the women, a strong young Steer
amid the Holy Ladies.
He gives the fleet steed to our wealthy
princes, and decks their bodies for success in battle.
4
May this Sarasvati be pleased and listen at this our sacrifice,
auspicious Lady,
When we with reverence, on our knees, implore
her close-knit to wealth, most kind to those she loveth.
5 These offerings have ye made with adoration: say this, Sarasvati,
and accept our praises;
And, placing us under thy dear protection,
may we approach thee, as a tree, for shelter.
6 For thee,
O Blest Sarasvati, Vasistha hath here unbarred the doors d sacred
Order.
Wax, Bright One, and give strength to him who lauds
thee. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN XCVI. Sarasvati.
1. I SING a lofty song, for she is mightiest, most divine
of Streams.
Sarasvati will I exalt with hymns and lauds,
and, O Vasistha, Heaven and Earth.
2 When in the fulness
of their strength the Purus dwell, Beauteous One, on thy two
grassy banks,
Favour us thou who hast the Maruts for thy
friends: stir up the bounty of our chiefs.
3 So may Sarasvati
auspicious send good luck; she, rich in spoil, is never niggardly
in thought,
When praised in jamadagni's way and lauded as
Vasistha lauds.
4 We call upon Sarasvan, as unmarried men
who long for wives,
As liberal men who yearn for sons.
5 Be thou our kind protector, O Sarasvan, with those waves of
thine
Laden with sweets and dropping oil.
6 May we enjoy
Sarasvan's breast, all-beautiful, that swells with streams,
May we gain food and progeny.
HYMN XCVIL Brhaspati.
1. WHERE Heaven and Earth combine in men's assembly, and
ttose who love the Gods delight in worship,
Where the libations
are effused for Indra, may he come first to drink and make him
stronger.
2 We crave the heavenly grace of Gods to guard
us-so may Brhaspati, O friends, exalt us-
That he, the Bounteous
God, may find us sintess, who giveth from a distance like a
father.
3 That Brahmanaspati, most High and Gracious, I glorify
with offerings and with homage.
May the great song of praise
divine, reach Indra who is the King of prayer the Gods' creation.
4 May that Brhaspati who brings all blessings, most dearly loved,
be seated by our altar.
Heroes and wealth we crave; may he
bestow them, and bear us safe beyond the men who vex us.
5 To us these Deathless Ones, erst born, have granted this laud
of ours which gives the Immortal pleasure.
Let us invoke
Brhaspati, the foeless, the clear-voiced God, the Holy One of
households
6 Him, this Brhaspati, his red-hued horses, drawing
together, full of strength, bring hither.
Robed in red colour
like the cloud, they carry the Lord of Might whose friendship
gives a dwelling.
7 For he is pure, with hundred wings, refulgent,
with sword of gold, impetuous, winning sunlight.
Sublime
Brhaspati, easy of access granteth his friends most bountiful
refreshment.
8 Both Heaven and Earth, divine, the Deity's
Parents, have made Brhaspati increase in grandeur.
Glorify
him, O friends, who merits glory: may he give prayer fair way
and easy passage.
9 This, Brahmanaspati, is your laudation
prayer hath been made to thunderwielding Indra.
Favour our
songs, wake up our thought and spirit: destroy the godless and
our foemen's malice.
10 Ye Twain are Lords of wealth in earth
and heaven, thou, O Brhaspati, and thou, O Indra.
Mean though
he be, give wealth to him who lauds you. Preserve us evermore,
ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN XCVIII. Indra.
1. PRIESTS, offer to the Lord of all the people the milked-out
stalk of Soma, radiant-coloured.
No wild-bull knows his drinking-place
like Indra who ever seeks him who hath pressed the Soma,
2 Thou dost desire to drink, each day that passes, the pleasant
food which thou hast had aforetime,
O Indra, gratified in
heart and spirit, drink eagerly the Soma set before thee.
3 Thou, newly-born, for strength didst drink the Soma; the Mother
told thee of thy future greatness.
O Indra, thou hast filled
mid-air's wide region, and given the Gods by battle room and
freedom.
4 When thou hast urged the arrocrant to combat,
proud in their strength of arm, we will subdue them.
Or,
Indra, when thou fightest girt by heroes, we in the glorious
fray with thee will conquer.
5 I will declare the earliest
deeds of Indra, and recent acts which Maghavan hath accomplished.
When he had conquered godless wiles and magic, Soma became his
own entire possession.
6 Thine is this world of flocks and
herds around thee, which with the eye of Surya thou beholdest.
Thou, Indra, art alone the Lord of cattle; may we enjoy the
treasure which thou givest.
7 Ye Twain are Lords of wealth
in earth and heaven, thou, O Brhaspati, and thou, O Indra.
Mean though he be, give wealth to him who lauds you. Preserve
us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN XCIX. Visnu.
1. MEN come not nigh thy majesty who growest beyond all bound
and measure with thy body.
Both thy two regions of the earth,
O Visnu, we know: thou God, knowest the highest also.
2 None
who is born or being born, God Visnu, hath reached the utmost
limit of thy grandeur.
The vast high vault of heaven hast
thou supported, and fixed earth's eastern pinnacle securely.
3 Rich in sweet food be ye, and rich in milch-kine, with fertile
pastures, fain to do men service.
Both these worlds, Visnu,
hast thou stayed asunder, and firmly fixed the earth with pegs
around it.
4 Ye have made spacious room for sacrificing by
generating Surya, Dawn, and Agni.
O Heroes, ye have conquered
in your battles even the bull-jawed Dasa's wiles and magic.
5 Ye have destroyed, thou, Indra, and thou Visnu, Sambara's
nine-and-ninety fenced castles.
Ye Twain smote down a hundred
times a thousand resistless heroes of the royal Varcin.
6
This is the lofty hymn of praise, exalting the Lords of Mighty
Stride, the strong and lofty.
I laud you in the solemn synods,
Visnu: pour ye food on us in our camps, O Indra.
7 O Visnu,
unto thee my lips cry Vasat! Let this mine offering, Sipivista,
please thee.
May these my songs of eulogy exalt thee. Preserve
us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN C. Visnu.
1 NE'ER doth the man repent, who, seeking profit, bringeth
his gift to the far-striding Visnu.
He who adoreth him with
all his spirit winneth himself so great a benefactor.
2 Thou,
Visnu, constant in thy courses, gavest good-will to all men,
and a hymn that lasteth,
That thou mightst move us to abundant
comfort of very splendid wealth with store of horses.
3 Three
times strode forth this God in all his grandeur over this earth
bright with a hundred splendours.
Foremost be Visnu, stronger
than the strongest: for glorious is his name who lives for ever.
4 Over this earth with mighty step strode Visnu, ready to give
it for a home to Manu.
In him the humble people trust for
safety: he, nobly born, hath made them spacious dwellings.
5 To-day I laud this name, O gipivista, I, skilled in rules,
the name of thee the Noble.
Yea, I the poor and weak praise
thee the Mighty who dwellest in the realm beyond this region.
6 What was there to be blamed in thee, O Visnu, when thou declaredst,
I am Sipivista?
Hide not this form from us, nor keep it secret,
since thou didst wear another shape in battle.
7 O Visnu,
unto thee my lips cry Vasat! Let this mine offering, Sipivista,
please thee.
May these my songs of eulogy exalt thee. Preserve
us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN CI. Parjanya.
1 SPEAK forth three words, the words which light precedeth,
which milk this udder that produceth nectar.
Quickly made
manifest, the Bull hath bellowed, engendering the germ of plants,
the Infant.
2 Giver of growth to plants, the God who ruleth
over the waters and all moving creatures,
Vouchsafe us triple
shelter for our refuge, and threefold light to succour and befriend
us.
3 Now he is sterile, now begetteth offspring, even as
he willeth doth he change his figure.
The Father's genial
flow bedews the Mother; therewith the Sire, therewith the son
is nourished.
4 In him all living creatures have their being,
and the three heavens with triplyflowing waters.
Three reservoirs
that sprinkle down their treasure shed their sweet streams around
him with a murmur.
5 May this my song to Sovran Lord Parjanya
come near unto his heart and give him pleasure.
May we obtain
the showers that bring enjoyment, and God-protected plants with
goodly fruitage.
6 He is the Bull of all, and their impregner
lie holds the life of all things fixed and moving.
May this
rite save me till my hundredth autumn. Preserve us evermore,
ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN CII Parjanya.
1 SING forth and laud Parjanya, son of Heaven, who sends
the gift of rain
May he provide our pasturage.
2 Parjanya
is the God who forms in kine, in mares, in plants of earth,
And womankind, the germ of life.
3 Offer and pour into his
mouth oblation rich in savoury juice:
May he for ever give
us food.
HYMN CIII. Frogs.
1. THEY who lay quiet for a year, the Brahmans who fulfil
their vows,
The Frogs have lifted up their voice, the voice
Parjanya hath inspired.
2 What time on these, as on a dry
skin lying in the pool's bed, the floods of heaven descended,
The music of the Frogs comes forth in concert like the cows
lowing with their calves beside them.
3 When at the coming
of the Rains the water has poured upon them as they yearned
and thirsted,
One seeks another as he talks and greets him
with cries of pleasure as a son his father.
4 Each of these
twain receives the other kindly, while they are revelling in
the flow of waters,
When the Frog moistened by the rain springs
forward, and Green and Spotty both combine their voices.
5 When one of these repeats the other's language, as he who
learns the lesson of the teacher,
Your every limb seems to
be growing larger as ye converse with eloquence on the waters.
6 Onc is Cow-bellow and Goat-bleat the other, one Frog is Green
and one of them is Spotty.
They bear one common name, and
yet they vary, and, talking, modulate the voice diversely.
7 As Brahmans, sitting round the brimful vessel, talk at the
Soma-rite of Atiratra,
So, Frogs, ye gather round the pool
to honour this day of all the year, the first of Rain-time.
8 These Brahmans with the Soma juice, performing their year-long
rite, have lifted up their voices;
And these Adhvaryus, sweating
with their kettles, come forth and show themselves, and none
are hidden.
9 They keep the twelve month's God-appointed
order, and never do the men neglect the season.
Soon as the
Rain-time in the year returneth, these who were heated kettles
gain their freedom.
10 Cow-bellow and Goat-bleat have granted
riches, and Green and Spotty have vouchsafed us treasure.
The Frogs who give us cows in hundreds lengthen our lives in
this most fertilizing season.
HYMN CIV. Indra-Soma.
1. INDRA and Soma, burn, destroy the demon foe, send downward,
O ye Bulls, those who add gloom to gloom.
Annihilate the
fools, slay them and burn them up: chase them away from us,
pierce the voracious ones.
2 Indra and Soma, let sin round
the wicked boil like as a caldron set amid the flames of fire.
Against the foe of prayer, devourer of raw flesh, the vile fiend
fierce of eye, keep ye perpetual hate.
3 Indra and Soma,
plunge the wicked in the depth, yea, cast them into darkness
that hath no support,
So that not one of them may ever thence
return: so may your wrathful might prevail and conquer them.
4 Indra and Soma, hurl your deadly crushing bolt down on the
wicked fiend from heaven and from the earth.
Yea, forge out
of the mountains your celestial dart wherewith ye burn to death
the waxing demon race.
5 Indra and Soma, cast ye downward
out of heaven your deadly darts of stone burning with fiery
flame,
Eternal, scorching darts; plunge the voracious ones
within the depth, and let them sink without a sound.
6 Indra
and Soma, let this hymn control you both, even as the girth
encompasses two vigorous steeds-
The song of praise which
I with wisdom offer you: do ye, as Lords of men, animate these
my prayers.
7 In your impetuous manner think ye both thereon:
destroy these evil beings, slay the treacherous fiends.
Indra
and Soma, let the wicked have no bliss who evermore assails
us with malignity.
8 Whoso accuses me with words of falsehood
when I pursue my way with guileless spirit,
May he, the speaker
of untruth, be, Indra, like water which the hollowed hand compresses.
9 Those who destroy, as is their wont, the simple, and with
their evil natures barm the righteous,
May Soma give them
over to the serpent, or to the lap of Nirrti consign them.
10 The fiend, O Agni, who designs to injure the essence of our
food, kine, steeds, or bodies,
May he, the adversary, thief,
and robber, sink to destruction, both himself and offipring.
11 May he be swept away, himself and children: may all the three
earths press him down beneath them.
May his fair glory, O
ye Gods, be blighted, who in the day or night would fain destroy
us.
12 The prudent finds it easy to distinguish the true
and false: their words oppose each other.
Of these two that
which is the true and honest, Soma protects, and brings the
false to nothing.
13 Never doth Soma aid and guide the wicked
or him who falsely claims the Warrior's title.
He slays the
fiend and him who speaks untruly: both lie entangled in the
noose of Indra.
14 As if I worshipped deities of falsehood,
or thought vain thoughts about the Gods, O Agni.
Why art
thou angry with us, Jatavedas? Destruction fall on those who
lie against thee!
15 So may I die this day if I have harassed
any man's life or if I be a demon.
Yea, may he lose all his
ten sons together who with false tongue hath called me Yatudhana.
16 May Indra slay him with a mi weapon, and let the vilest ofghty
all creatures perish,
The fiend who says that he is pure,
who calls me a demon though devoid of demon nature.
17 She
too who wanders like an owl at night-time, hiding her body in
her guile and malice,
May she fall downward into endless
caverns. May press-stones with loud ring destroy the demons.
18 Spread out, ye Maruts, search among the people: seize ye
and grind the Raksasas to pieces,
Who fly abroad, transformed
to birds, at night-time, or sully and pollute our holy worship.
19 Hurl down from heaven thy bolt of stone, O Indra: sharpen
it, Maghavan, made keen by Soma.
Forward, behind, and from
above and under, smite down the demons with thy rocky weapon.
20 They fly, the demon dogs, and, bent on mischief, fain would
they harm indomitable Indra.
Sakra makes sharp his weapon
for the wicked: now, let him cast his bolt at fiendish wizards.
21 Indra hath ever been the fiends' destroyer who spoil oblations
of the Gods' invokers:
Yea, Sakra, like an axe that spilts
the timber, attacks and smashes them like earthen vessels.
22 Destroy the fiend shaped like an owl or owlet, destroy him
in the form of dog or cuckoo.
Destroy him shaped as eagle
or as vulture as with a stone, O Indra, crush the demon.
23 Let not the fiend of witchcraft-workers reach us: may Dawn
drive off the couples of Kimidins.
Earth keep us safe from
earthly woe and trouble: from grief that comes from heaven mid-air
preserve us.
24 Slay the male demon, Indra! slay the female,
joying and triumphing in arts of magic.
Let the fools' gods
with bent necks fall and perish, and see no more the Sun when
he arises.
25 Look each one hither, look around Indra and
Soma, watch ye well.
Cast forth your weapon at the fiends
against the sorcerers hurt your bolt.
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.