book 1 rigveda

7/31/2019 Book 1 Rigveda

1/43

HYMN I. Agni.

1 I Laud Agni, the chosen Priest, God, minister of sacrifice,The hotar, lavishest of wealth.2 Worthy is Agni to e !raised y living as y ancient seers."e shall ring hitherward the Gods.# Through Agni man otaineth wealth, yea, !lenty wa$ing day y day,%ost rich in heroes, glorious.& Agni, the !erfect sacrifice which thou encom!assest aout'erily goeth to the Gods.( %ay Agni, sa!ient)minded Priest, truthful, most gloriously great,The God, come hither with the Gods.* Whatever lessing, Agni, thou wilt grant unto thy worshi!!er,That, A giras, is indeed thy truth.+ To thee, dis!eller of the night, Agni, day y day with !rayer-ringing thee reverence, we come

/uler of sacrifices, guard of Law eternal, radiant ne,Increasing in thine own aode.0 -e to us easy of a!!roach, even as a father to his sonAgni, e with us for our weal.

HYMN II. Vyu.

1 -A3TI43L '5yu, come, for thee these 6oma dro!s have een !re!ared7rin8 of them, hear8en to our call.2 9nowing the days, with 6oma :uice !oured forth, the singers glorifyThee, '5yu, with their hymns of !raise.

# '5yu, thy !enetrating stream goes forth unto the worshi!!er,4ar)s!reading for the 6oma draught.& These, Indra)'5yu, have een shed; come for our offered dainties< sa8eThe dro!s are yearning for you oth.( Well do ye mar8 liations, ye '5yu and Indra, rich in s!oil=6o come ye swiftly hitherward.* '5yu and Indra, come to what the 6oma)!resser hath !re!ared6oon, "eroes, thus I ma8e my !rayer.+ %itra, of holy strength, I call, and foe)destroying 'arun>a,Who ma8e the oil)fed rite com!lete. %itra and 'arun>a, through Law, lovers and cherishers of Law,

"ave ye otained your might !ower0 ur 6ages, %itra)'arun>a, wide dominion, strong y irth,'ouchsafe us strength that wor8eth well.

"?%@ III. Avins

1 ? Avins, rich in treasure, Lords of s!lendour, having nimle hands,Acce!t the sacrificial food.2 ?e Avins, rich in wondrous deeds, ye heroes worthy of our !raise,Acce!t our songs with mighty thought.# @5satyas, wonder)wor8ers, yours are these liations with cli!t grass

Bome ye whose !aths are red with flame.& Indra marvellously right, come, these liations long for thee,Thus y fine fingers !urified.


2/43

( 3rged y the holy singer, s!ed y song, come, Indra, to the !rayers,f the liation)!ouring !riest.* A!!roach, Indra, hasting thee, Lord of -ay "orses, to the !rayers.In our liation ta8e delight.+ ?e 'ivedevas, who !rotect, reward, and cherish men, a!!roach?our worshi!!erCs drin8)offering.

?e 'ivedevas, swift at wor8, come hither Duic8ly to the draught,As milch)8ine hasten to their stalls.0 The 'ivedevas, changing sha!e li8e ser!ents, fearless, void of guile,-earers, acce!t the sacred draught1E Wealthy in s!oil, enriched with hymns, may right 6arasvatFdesire,With eager love, our sacrifice.11 Inciter of all !leasant songs, ins!irer of all gracious thought,6arasvatF acce!t our rite12 6arasvatF, the mighty flood,she with her light illuminates,6he rightens every !ious thought.

"?%@ I'. Indra

1 As a good cow to him who mil8s, we call the doer of fair deeds,To our assistance day y day.2 Bome thou to our liations, drin8 of 6oma; 6oma)drin8er thou=The rich neCs ra!ture giveth 8ine.# 6o may we e acDuainted with thine innermost enevolence

@eglect us not, come hitherward.& Go to the wise unconDuered ne, as8 thou of Indra, s8illed in song,"im who is etter than thy friends.( Whether the men who moc8 us say, 7e!art unto another !lace,

?e who serve Indra and none else;* r whether, God of wondrous deeds, all our true !eo!le call us lest,6till may we dwell in IndraCs care.+ 3nto the swift ne ring the swift, man)cheering, grace of sacrifice,That to the 4riend gives wings and :oy. Thou, Hata8ratu, dran8est this and wast the 'r>tras< slayer; thou"el!est the warrior in the fray.0 We strengthen, Hata8ratu, thee, yea, thee the !owerful in fight,That, Indra, we may win us wealth.1E To him the mighty stream of wealth, !rom!t friend of him who !ours the :uice,?ea, to this Indra sing your song.

HYMN V. Indra.

1 B% ye hither, sit ye down to Indra sing ye forth, your song,com!anions, ringing hymns of !raise.2 To him the richest of the rich, the Lord of treasures e$cellent,Indra, with 6oma :uice out!oured.# %ay he stand y us in our need and in aundance for our wealth%ay he come nigh us with his strength.& Whose !air of tawny horses yo8ed in attles foemen challenge not

To him, to Indra sing your song.( @igh to the 6oma)drin8er come, for his en:oyment, these !ure dro!s,The 6omas mingled with the curd.* Thou, grown at once to !erfect strength, wast orn to drin8 the 6oma :uice,
http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rigveda/errata.htm#0http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rigveda/errata.htm#0


3/43

6trong Indra, for !reminence.+ Indra, lover of the song, may these Duic8 6omas enter thee%ay they ring liss to thee the 6age. ur chants of !raise have strengthened thee, Hata8ratu, and our lauds6o strengthen thee the songs we sing.0 Indra, whose succour never fails, acce!t these viands thousandfold,

Wherein all manly !owers aide.1E Indra, thou who lovest song, let no man hurt our odies, 8ee!6laughter far from us, for thou canst.

"?%@ 'I. Indra.

1 They who stand round him as he moves harness the right, the ruddy 6teedThe lights are shining in the s8y.2 n oth sides to the car they yo8e the two ay coursers dear to him,-old, tawny, earers of the Bhief.# Thou, ma8ing light where no light was, and form, men where form was not,

Wast orn together with the 7awns.& Thereafter they, as is their wont, threw off the state of aes unorn,Assuming sacrificial names.( Thou, Indra, with the Tem!est)Gods, the rea8ers down of what is firm,4oundest the 8ine even in the cave.* Worshi!!ing even as they list, singers laud him who findeth wealth,The far)renowned, the mighty ne.+ %ayest thou verily e seen coming y fearless IndraCs side-oth :oyous, eDual in your sheen. With IndraCs well eloved hosts, the lameless, hastening to heaven,The sacrificer cries aloud.

0 Bome from this !lace, Wanderer, or downward from the light of heavenur songs of !raise all yearn for this.1E Indra we see8 to give us hel!, from here, from heaven aove the earth,r from the s!acious firmament.

"?%@ 'II. Indra.

1 I@7/A the singers with high !raise, Indra reciters with their lauds,Indra the choirs have glorified.2 Indra hath ever close to him his two ay steeds and word)yo8ed car,Indra the golden, thunder)armed.# Indra hath raised the 6un on high in heaven, that he may see afar"e urst the mountain for the 8ine.& "el! us, Indra, in the frays, yea, frays, where thousand s!oils are gained,With awful aids, awful ne.( In mighty attle we invo8e Indra, Indra in lesser fight,The 4riend who ends his olt at fiends.* 3nclose, our manly "ero, thou for ever ounteous, yonder cloud,4or us, thou irresistile.+ 6till higher, at each strain of mine, thunder)armed IndraCs !raises riseI find no laud worthy of him.

ven as the ull drives on the herds, he drives the !eo!le with his might,The /uler irresistile0 Indra who rules with single sway men, riches, and the fivefold racef those who dwell u!on the earth.


4/43

1E 4or your sa8e from each side we call Indra away from other menurs, and none others


5/43

2 As u! he clom from ridge to ridge and loo8ed u!on the toilsome tas8,Indra oserves this wish of his, and the /ain hastens with his troo!.# "arness thy !air of strong ay steeds, long)maned, whose odies fill the girths,And, Indra, 6oma)drin8er, come to listen to our songs of !raise.& Bome hither, answer thou the song, sing in a!!roval, cry aloud.Good Indra, ma8e our !rayer succeed, and !ros!er this our sacrifice.

( To Indra must a laud e said, to strengthen him who freely gives,That Ha8ra may ta8e !leasure in our friendshi! and drin8)offerings.* "im, him we see8 for friendshi!, him for riches and heroic might.4or Indra, he is Ha8ra, he shall aid us while he gives us wealth.+ asy to turn and drive away, Indra, is s!oil estowed y thee.3nclose the stale of the 8ine, and give us wealth Thunder)armed The heaven and earth contain thee not, together, in thy wrathful mood.Win us the waters of the s8y, and send us 8ine aundantly.0 "ear, thou whose ear is Duic8, my call; ta8e to thee readily my songs Indra, let this laud of mine come nearer even than thy friend.1E We 8now thee mightiest of all, in attles hearer of our cry.

f thee most mighty we invo8e the aid that giveth thousandfold.11 Indra, 6on of 9ui8a, drin8 our liation with delight.Prolong our life anew, and cause the seer to win a thousand gifts.12 Lover of song, may these our songs on every side encom!ass thee6trengthening thee of lengthened life, may they e dear delights to thee.

"?%@ JI. Indra.

1 ALL sacred songs have magnified Indra e$!ansive as the sea,The est of warriors orne on cars, the Lord, the very Lord of strength.2 6trong in thy friendshi!, Indra, Lord of !ower and might, we have no fear.

We glorify with !raises thee, the never)conDuered conDueror.# The gifts of Indra from of old, his saving succours, never fail,When to the !raise)singers he gives the oon of sustance rich in 8ine.& Brusher of forts, the young, the wise, of strength unmeasured, was he orn6ustainer of each sacred rite, Indra, the Thunderer, much)e$tolled.( Lord of the thunder, thou didst urst the cave of 'ala rich in cows.The Gods came !ressing to thy side, and free from terror aided thee,* I, "ero, through thy ounties am come to the flood addressing thee.6ong)lover, here the singers stand and testify to thee thereof.+ The wily Hus>n>a, Indra= thou o


6/43

ur enemies whom fiends !rotect.* -y Agni Agni is inflamed, Lord of the "ouse, wise, young, who earsThe gift the ladle is his mouth.+ Praise Agni in the sacrifice, the 6age whose ways are ever true,The God who driveth grief away. God, Agni, e his strong defence who lord of sacrificial gifts,

Worshi!!eth thee the messenger.0 Whoso with sacred gift would fain call Agni to the feast of Gods, Purifier, favour him.1E 6uch, Agni, Purifier, right, ring hither to our sacrifice,To our olation ring the Gods.11 6o lauded y our newest song of !raise ring o!ulence to us,And food, with heroes for our sons.12 Agni, y effulgent flame, y all invo8ings of the Gods,6how !leasure in this laud of ours.

HYMN XIII. Agni1 AG@I, well)8indled, ring the Gods for him who offers holy gifts.Worshi! them, Purifier, Priest.2 6on of Thyself, !resent, 6age, our sacrifice to the Gods today.6weet to the taste, that they may feast.# 7ear @ar5a sa, sweet of tongue, the giver of olations, IInvo8e to this our sacrifice.& Agni, on thy most easy car, glorified, hither ring the Gods%anu a!!ointed thee as Priest.( 6trew, ye wise, the sacred grass that dri!s with oil, in order due,Where the Immortal is eheld.

* Thrown o!en e the 7oors 7ivine, unfailing, that assist the rite,4or sacrifice this day and now.+ I call the lovely @ight and 7awn to seat them on the holy grassAt this our solemn sacrifice. The two Invo8ers I invite, the wise, divine and sweet of tongue,To celerate this our sacrifice.0 Il>5, 6arasvatF, %ahF, three Goddesses who ring delight,-e seated, !eaceful, on the grass.1E Tvas>t>ar I call, the earliest orn, the wearer of all forms at will%ay he e ours and ours alone.11 God, 6ovran of the Wood, !resent this our olation to the Gods,And let the giver e renowned.12 With 6v5h5 !ay the sacrifice to Indra in the offererCs houseThither I call the 7eities.

HYMN XIV. Vivedevas.

1 To drin8 the 6oma, Agni, come, to our service and our songs.With all these Gods; and worshi! them.2 The 9an>vas have invo8ed thee; they, 6inger, sing thee songs of !raiseAgni, come hither with the Gods;

# Indra, '5yu, -r>has!ati, %itra, Agni, PKs>an, -haga,dityas, and the %arut host.& 4or you these :uices are !oured forth that gladden and e$hilarate,


7/43

The meath)dro!s resting in the cu!.( The sons of 9an>va fain for hel! adore thee, having strewn the grass,With offerings and all things !re!ared.* Let the swift steeds who carry thee, thought)yo8ed and dro!!ing holy oil,-ring the Gods to the 6oma draught.+ Adored, the strengtheners of Law, unite them, Agni, with their 7ames

%a8e them drin8 meath, right of tongue. Let them, Agni, who deserve worshi! and !raise drin8 with thy tongueThe meath in solemn sacrifice.0 Away, from the 6unCs realm of light, the wise invo8ing Priest shall ringAll Gods awa8ing with the dawn.1E With all the Gods, with Indra, with '5yu, and %itraCs s!lendours, drin8,Agni, the !leasant 6oma :uice.11 rdained y %anu as our Priest, thou sittest, Agni, at each rite"allow thou this our sacrifice.12 "arness the /ed %ares to thy car, the -ays, God, the flaming onesWith those ring hitherward the Gods.

"?%@ J'. />tu.

1 I@7/A drin8 the 6oma :uice with />tu; let the cheering dro!s6in8 dee! within, which settle there.2 7rin8 from the PurifierCs cu!, %aruts, with />tu; sanctifyThe rite, for ye give !recious gifts.# @es>t>ar, with thy 7ame acce!t our sacrifice; with />tu drin8,4or thou art he who giveth wealth.& -ring the Gods, Agni; in the three a!!ointed !laces set them down6urround them, and with />tu drin8.

( 7rin8 6oma after the />tus, from the -r5hman>aCs ounty undissolved, Indra, is thy friendshi!Cs ond.* %itra, 'arun>a, ye whose ways are firma Power that none deceives,With />tu ye have reached the rite.+ The 6oma)!ressers, fain for wealth, !raise the Wealth)giver in the rite,In sacrifices !raise the God. %ay the Wealth)giver grant to us riches that shall e far renowned.These things we gain, among the Gods.0 "e with the />tu fain would drin8, Wealth)giver, from the @es>t>arCs owl."aste, give your offering, and de!art.1E As we this fourth time, Wealth)giver, honour thee with the />tus, eA Giver ountiful to us.11 7rin8 ye the meath, Avins right with flames, whose acts are !ure, who with/>tus acce!t the sacrifice.12 With />tu, through the house)fire, thou, 8ind Giver, guidest sacrificeWorshi! the Gods for the !ious man.

"?%@ J'I. Indra.

1 LT thy -ay 6teeds ring thee, the 6trong, hither to drin8 the 6oma draughtThose, Indra, who are right as suns.

2 "ere are the grains edewed with oil hither let the -ay Boursers ringIndra u!on his easiest car.# Indra at early morn we call, Indra in course of sacrifice,Indra to drin8 the 6oma :uice.


8/43

& Bome hither, with thy long)maned 6teeds, Indra, to he draught we !ourWe call thee when the :uice is shed.( Bome thou to this our song of !raise, to the liation !oured for thee7rin8 of it li8e a stag athirst.* "ere are the dro!s of 6oma :uice e$!ressed on sacred grass thereof7rin8, Indra, to increase thy might.

+ Welcome to thee e this our hymn, reaching thy heart, most e$cellentThen drin8 the 6oma :uice e$!ressed. To every draught of !ressed)out :uice Indra, the 'r>tra)slayer, comes,To drin8 the 6oma for delight.0 4ulfil, Hata8ratu, all our wish with horses and with 8ineWith holy thoughts we sing thy !raise.

HYMN XVII. Indra-Varuna

1 I B/A' hel! from the Im!erial Lords, from Indra)'arun>a; may they-oth favour one of us li8e me.

2 Guardians of men, ye ever come with ready succour at the callf every singer such as I.# 6ate you, according to your wish, Indra)'arun>a, with wealth4ain would we have you nearest us.& %ay we e sharers of the !owers, sharers of the enevolencef you who give strength ounteously.( Indra and 'arun>a, among givers of thousands, meet for !raise,Are Powers who merit highest laud.* Through their !rotection may we gain great store of wealth, and hea! it u!nough and still to s!are, e ours.+ Indra)'arun >a, on you for wealth in many a form I call

6till 8ee! ye us victorious. Indra)'arun>a, through our songs that see8 to win you to ourselves,Give us at once your sheltering hel!.0 Indra)'arun>a, to you may fair !raise which I offer come,Moint eulogy which ye dignify.

HYMN XVIII. Brahmanaspati.

1 -/"%A@>A6PATI, ma8e him who !resses 6oma glorious,ven 9a8s>Fv5n Aui:a.2 The rich, the healer of disease, who giveth wealth, increaseth store,The !rom!t,may he e with us still.# Let not the foemanCs curse, let not a mortalCs onslaught fall on usPreserve us, -rahman>as!ati.& @eas!ati,And 6oma graciously ins!ire.( 7o, thou, -rahman>as!ati, and Indra, 6oma, 7a8s>in>5,Preserve that mortal from distress.* To the AssemlyCs wondrous Lord, to IndraCs lovely 4riend who givesWisdom, have I drawn near in !rayer.+ "e without whom no sacrifice, e


9/43

0 I have seen @ar5a sa, him most resolute, most widely famed,As hus with effectual !rayers, honest, with constant laour, madeTheir 6ire and %other young again.( Together came your gladdening dro!s with Indra y the %aruts girt,With the dityas, with the 9ings.* The sacrificial ladle, wrought newly y the God Tvas>t>arCs hand4our ladles have ye made thereof.+ 'ouchsafe us wealth, to him who !ours thrice seven liations, yea, to eachGive wealth, !leased with our eulogies. As ministering Priests they held, y !ious acts they won themselves,A share in sacrifice with Gods.

"?%@ JJI. Indra)Agni.

1 I@7/A and Agni I invo8e fain are we for their song of !raiseBhief 6oma)drin8ers are they oth.2 Praise ye, men, and glorify Indra)Agni in the holy rites6ing !raise to them in sacred songs.# Indra and Agni we invite, the 6oma)drin8ers, for the famef %itra, to the 6oma)draught.& 6trong Gods, we id them come to this liation that stands ready hereIndra and Agni, come to us.


10/43

( Indra and Agni, mighty Lords of our assemly, crush the fiendsBhildless e the devouring ones.* Watch ye, through this your truthfulness, there in the !lace of s!acious viewIndra and Agni, send us liss.

"?%@ JJII. Avins and thers

1 WA9@ the Avin Pair who yo8e their car at early morn may theyA!!roach to drin8 this 6oma :uice.2 We call the Avins Twain, the Gods orne in a nole car, the estf charioteers, who reach the heavens.# 7ro!!ing with honey is your whi!, Avins, and full of !leasantness6!rin8le therewith the sacrifice.& As ye go thither in your car, not far, Avins, is the homef him who offers 6oma :uice.( 4or my !rotection I invo8e the golden)handed 6avitar."e 8noweth, as a God, the !lace.

* That he may send us succour, !raise the Waters< ffs!ring 6avitar4ain are we for his holy ways.+ We call on him, distriuter of wondrous ounty and of wealth,n 6avitar who loo8s on men. Bome hither, friends, and seat yourselves 6avitar, to e !raised y us,Giving good gifts, is eautiful.0 Agni, hither ring to us the willing 6!ouses of the Gods,And Tvas>t>ar, to the 6oma draught.1E %ost youthful Agni, hither ring their 6!ouses, "otr5, -h5ratF,'arKtrF, 7his>an>5, for aid.11 6!ouses of "eroes, Goddesses, with whole wings may they come to us

With great !rotection and with aid.12 Indr5n>F, 'arun>5nF, and Agn5yF hither I invite,4or weal, to drin8 the 6oma :uice.1# %ay "eaven and arth, the %ighty Pair, edew for us our sacrifice,And feed us full with nourishments.1& Their water rich with fatness, there in the GandharvaCs steadfast !lace,The singers taste through sacred songs.1( Thornless e thou, arth, s!read wide efore us for a dwelling)!lace'ouchsafe us shelter road and sure.1* The Gods e gracious unto us even from the !lace whence 'is>n>u strodeThrough the seven regions of the earth=1+ Through all this world strode 'is>n>u; thrice his foot he !lanted, and the wholeWas gathered in his footste!Cs dust.1 'is>n>u, the Guardian, he whom none deceiveth, made three ste!s; thenceforthstalishing his high decrees.10 Loo8 ye on 'is>n>uCs wor8s, wherey the 4riend of Indra, close)allied,"ath let his holy ways e seen.2E The !rinces evermore ehold that loftiest !lace where 'is>n>u is,Laid as it were an eye in heaven.21 This, 'is>n>uCs station most sulime, the singers, ever vigilant,Lovers of holy song, light u!.

"?%@ JJIII. '5yu and thers.


11/43

1 6T/@G are the 6omas; come thou nigh; these :uices have een mi$t with mil87rin8, '5yu, the !resented draughts.2 -oth 7eities who touch the heaven, Indra and '5yu we invo8eTo drin8 of this our 6oma :uice.# The singersC for their aid, invo8e Indra and '5yu, swift as mind,The thousand)eyed, the Lords of thought.

& %itra and 'arun>a, renowned as Gods of consecrated might,We call to drin8 the 6oma :uice.( Those who y Law u!hold the Law, Lords of the shining light of Law,%itra I call, and 'arun >a.* Let 'arun>a e our chief defence, let %itra guard us with all aids-oth ma8e us rich e$ceedingly.+ Indra, y %aruts girt, we call to drin8 the 6oma :uice may he6ate him in union with his troo!. Gods, %arut hosts whom Indra leads, distriuters of PKs>anCs gifts,"ear8en ye all unto my cry.0 With conDuering Indra for ally, stri8e 'r>tra down, ye ounteous Gods

Let not the wic8ed master us.1E We call the 3niversal Gods, and %aruts to the 6oma draught,4or !assing strong are Pr>niCs 6ons.11 4ierce comes the %aruts< thundering voice, li8e that of conDuerors, when ye go4orward to victory, %en.12 -orn of the laughing lightning. may the %aruts guard us everywhere%ay they e gracious unto 3s.1# Li8e some lost animal, drive to us, right PKs>an, him who ears u! heaven,/esting on many)coloured grass.1& PKs>an the -right has found the 9ing, concealed and hidden in a cave,Who rests on grass of many hues.1( And may he. duly ring to me the si$ ound closely, through these dro!s,As one who !loughs with steers rings corn.1* Along their !aths the %others go, 6isters of !riestly ministrants,%ingling their sweetness with the mil8.1+ %ay Waters gathered near the 6un, and those wherewith the 6un is :oined,6!eed forth this sacrifice of ours.1 I call the Waters, Goddesses, wherein our cattle Duench their thirst;lations to the 6treams e given.10 Amrit is in the Waters in the Waters there is healing alm-e swift, ye Gods, to give them !raise.

2E Within the Waters6oma thus hath told medwell all alms that heal,And Agni, he who lesseth all. The Waters hold all medicines.21 Waters, teem with medicine to 8ee! my ody safe from harm,6o that I long may see the 6un.22 Whatever sin is found in me, whatever evil I have wrought.If I have lied or falsely sworn, Waters, remove it far from me.2# The Waters I this day have sought, and to their moisture have we come Agni, rich in mil8, come thou, and with thy s!lendour cover me.2& 4ill me with s!lendour, Agni; give offs!ring and length of days; the Gods6hall 8now me even as I am, and Indra with the />s>is, 8now.

"?%@ JJI'. 'arun>a and thers.


12/43

1 W" now is he, what God among Immortals, of whose aus!icious name we may ethin8 usNWho shall to mighty Aditi restore us, that I may see my 4ather and my %otherN2 Agni the God the first among the Immortals,of his aus!icious name let us ethin8 us."e shall to mighty Aditi restore us, that I may see my 4ather and my %other.# To thee, 6avitar, the Lord of !recious things, who hel!est usBontinually, for our share we come

& Wealth, highly lauded ere re!roach hath fallen on it, which is laid,4ree from all hatred, in thy hands( Through thy !rotection may we come to even the height of affluenceWhich -haga hath dealt out to us.* @ea hath made a s!acious !athway, a !athway for the 6un wherein to travel.Where no way was he made him set his footste!, and warned afar whatea, stay thou here and e not angry; steal not our life from us, thou Wide)/uler.12 @ightly and daily this one thing they tell me, this too the thought of mine own heart re!eateth.%ay he to whom !rayed fettered Hunah>e!a, may he the 6ovran 'arun>a release us.1# -ound to three !illars ca!tured Hunah>e!a thus to the ditya made his su!!lication."im may the 6ovran 'arun>a deliver, wise, nea, that hold me, loosen the onds aove, etween, and under.6o in thy holy law may we made sinless elong to Aditi, thou ditya.

"?%@ JJ'. 'arun>a.

1 W"AT'/ law of thine, God, 'arun>a, as we are men,7ay after day we violate.2 give us not as a !rey to death, to e destroyed y thee in wrath,To thy fierce anger when dis!leased.# To gain thy mercy, 'arun>a, with hymns we ind thy heart, as indsThe charioteer his tethered horse.& They flee from me dis!irited, ent only on otaining wealth,As to their nests the irds of air.( When shall we ring, to e a!!eased, the "ero, Lord of warrior might,"im, the far)seeing 'arun>aN* This, this with :oy they oth acce!t in common never do they failThe ever)faithful worshi!!er.+ "e 8nows the !ath of irds that fly through heaven, and, 6ovran of the sea,"e 8nows the shi!s that are thereon. True to his holy law, he 8nows the twelve moons with their !rogeny"e 8nows the moon of later irth.

0 "e 8nows the !athway of the wind, the s!reading, high, and mighty wind"e 8nows the Gods who dwell aove.1E 'arun>a, true to holy law, sits down among his !eo!le; he,


13/43

%ost wise, sits there to govern all.11 4rom thence!erceivinghe eholds all wondrous things, oth what hath een,And what hereafter will e done.12 %ay that ditya, very wise, ma8e fair !aths for us all our days%ay he !rolong our lives for us.1# 'arun>a, wearing golden mail, hath clad him in a shining roe.

"is s!ies are seated found aout.1& The God whom enemies threaten not, nor those who tyranniOe o


14/43

# Lord of all life, from near; from far, do thou, Agni evermoreProtect us from the sinful man.& Agni, graciously announce this our olation to the Gods,And this our newest song of !raise.( Give us a share of strength most high, a share of strength that is elow,A share of strength that is etween.

* Thou dealest gifts, res!lendent ne; nigh, as with waves of 6indhu, thou6wift streamest to the worshi!!er.+ That man is lord of endless strength whom thou !rotectest in the fight,Agni, or urgest to the fray. "im, whosoever he may e, no man may vanDuish, mighty ne

@ay, very glorious !ower is his.0 %ay he who dwells with all man8ind ear us with war)steeds through the fight,And with the singers win the s!oil.1E "el!, thou who 8nowest lauds, this wor8, this eulogy to /udra, himAdorale in every house.11 %ay this our God, great, limitless, smo8e)annered e$cellently right,

3rge us to strength and holy thought.12 Li8e some rich Lord of men may he, Agni the anner of the Gods,/efulgent, hear us through our lauds.1# Glory to Gods, the mighty and the lesser glory to Gods the younger and the elder=Let us, if we have !ower, !ay the God worshi! no etter !rayer than this, ye Gods, ac8nowledge.

"?%@ JJ'III. Indra, tc.

1 T"/ where the road)ased stone raised on high to !ress the :uices out, Indra, drin8 with eager thirst the dro!!ings which the mortar sheds.2 Where, li8e road hi!s, to hold the :uice the !latters of the !ress are laid,

Indra, drin8 with eager thirst the dro!!ings which the mortar sheds.# There where the woman mar8s and leans the !estleCs constant rise and fall, Indra, drin8 with eager thirst the dro!!ings which the mortar sheds.& Where, as with reins to guide a horse, they ind the churning)staff with cords, Indra, drin8 with eager thirst the dro!!ings which the mortar sheds.( If of a truth in every house, %ortar thou art set for wor8,"ere give thou forth thy clearest sound, loud as the drum of conDuerors.* 6ovran of the 4orest, as the wind lows soft in front of thee,%ortar, for Indra !ress thou forth the 6oma :uice that he may drin8.+ -est strength)givers, ye stretch wide :aws, 6acrificial Im!lements,Li8e two ay horses cham!ing hers. ?e 6ovrans of the 4orest, oth swift, with swift !ressers !ress to)day6weet 6oma :uice for IndraCs drin8.0 Ta8e u! in ea8ers what remains the 6oma on the filter !our,and on the o$)hide set the dregs.

"?%@ JJIJ. Indra.

1 6%A 7/I@9/, ever true, utterly ho!eless though we e,7o thou, Indra, give us ho!e of eauteous horses and of 8ine,In thousands, most wealthy ne.

2 Lord of 6trength, whose :aws are strong, great deeds are thine, the !owerful7o thou, Indra, give us ho!e of eauteous horses and of 8ine,In thousands, most wealthy ne.# Lull thou aslee!, to wa8e no more, the !air who on each other loo8


15/43

7o thou, Indra, give us ho!e of eauteous horses and of 8ine,In thousands, most wealthy ne.& "ero, let hostile s!irits slee!, and every gentler genius wa8e7o thou, Indra, give us ho!e of eauteous horses and of 8ine,In thousands, most wealthy ne.( 7estroy this ass, Indra, who in tones discordant rays to thee

7o thou, Indra, give us ho!e of eauteous horses and of 8ine,In thousands, most wealthy ne.* 4ar distant on the forest fall the tem!est in a circling course=7o thou, Indra, give us ho!e of eauteous horses and of 8ine,In thousands, most wealthy ne.+ 6lay each reviler, and destroy him who in secret in:ures us7o thou, Indra, give us ho!e of eauteous horses and of 8ineIn thousands, most wealthy ne.

"?%@ JJJ. Indra.

1 W see8ing strength with 6oma)dro!s fill full your Indra li8e a well,%ost lieral, Lord of "undred Powers,2 Who lets a hundred of the !ure, a thousand of the mil8)lent draughts4low, even as down a de!th, to him;# When for the strong, the ra!turous :oy he in this manner hath made roomWithin his elly, li8e the sea.& This is thine own. Thou drawest near, as turns a !igeon to his mateThou carest too for this our !rayer.( "ero, Lord of -ounties, !raised in hymns, may !ower and :oyfulness-e his who sings the laud to thee.* Lord of a "undred Powers, stand u! to lend us succour in this fight

In others too let us agree.+ In every need, in every fray we call as friends to succour usIndra the mightiest of all. If he will hear us let him come with succour of a thousand 8inds,And all that strengthens, to our call.0 I call him mighty to resist, the "ero of our ancient home,Thee whom my sire invo8ed of old.1E We !ray to thee, much)invo8ed, rich in all !recious gifts, 4riend,9ind God to those who sing thy !raise.11 6oma)drin8er, Thunder)armed, 4riend of our lovely)featured damesAnd of our 6oma)drin8ing friends.12 Thus, 6oma)drin8er, may it e; thus, 4riend, who wieldest thunder, actTo aid each wish as we desire.1# With Indra s!lendid feasts e ours, rich in all strengthening things wherewith,Wealthy in food, we may re:oice.1& Li8e thee, thyself, the singersC 4riend, thou movest, as it were, esought,-old ne, the a$le of the car.1( That, Hata8ratu, thou to grace and !lease thy !raisers, as it were,6tirrest the a$le with thy strength.1* With cham!ing, neighing loudly)snorting horses Indra hath ever won himself great treasuresA car of gold hath he whose deeds are wondrous received from us, and let us too receive it.

1+ Bome, Avins, with enduring strength wealthy in horses and in 8ine,And gold, ye of wondrous deeds.1 ?our chariot yo8ed for oth ali8e, immortal, ye of mighty acts,


16/43

Travels, Avins, in the sea.10 "igh on the forehead of the -ull one chariot wheel ye ever 8ee!,The other round the s8y revolves.2E What mortal, immortal 7awn, en:oyeth theeN Where lovest thouNTo whom, radiant, dost thou goN21 4or we have had thee in our thoughts whether anear or far away,

/ed)hued and li8e a da!!led mare.22 "ither, 7aughter of the 68y, come thou with these thy strengthenings,And send thou riches down to us.

HYMN XXXI. Agni.

1 Thou, Agni, wast the earliest A giras, a 6eer; thou wast, a God thyself, the Gods< aus!icious4riend.After thy holy ordinance the %aruts, sage, active through wisdom, with their glittering s!ears, were

orn.2 Agni, thou, the est and earliest A giras, fulfillest as a 6age the holy law of Gods.

6!rung from two mothers, wise, through all e$istence s!read, resting in many a !lace for sa8e ofliving man.# To %5tarivan first thou, Agni, wast disclosed, and to 'ivasv5n through thy nole inward !ower."eaven and arth, 'asu= shoo8 at the choosing of the Priest the urthen thou didst ear, didstworshi! mighty Gods.& Agni thou madest heaven to thunder for man8ind; thou, yet more !ious, for !ious PurKravas.When thou art ra!idly freed from thy !arents, first eastward they ear thee round, and, after, to thewest.( Thou, Agni, art a -ull who ma8es our store increase, to e invo8ed y him who lifts the ladle u!.Well 8nowing the olation with the hallowing word, uniting all who live, thou lightenest first ourfol8

* Agni, thou savest in the synod when !ursued e


17/43

1& Thou, Agni gainest for the loudly)!raising !riest the highest wealth, the o:ect of a manCs desire.Thou art called 4ather, caring even for the wea8, and wisest, to the sim!le one thou teachest lore.1( Agni, the man who giveth guerdon to the !riests, li8e well)sewn armour thou guardest on everyside."e who with grateful food shows 8indness in his house, an offerer to the living, is the ty!e ofheaven.

1* Pardon, we !ray, this sin of ours, Agni,the !ath which we have trodden, widely straying,7ear 4riend and 4ather, caring for the !ious, who s!eedest nigh and who ins!irest mortals.1+ As erst to %anus, to ?ay5ti, A giras, so A giras= !ure Agni= come thou to our hall. -ring hither the celestial host and seat them here u!on the sacred grass, and offer what they love.1 -y this our !rayer e thou, Agni, strengthened, !rayer made y us after our !ower and8nowledge.Lead thou us, therefore, to increasing riches; endow us with thy strength)estowing favour.

"?%@ JJJII. Indra.

1 I WILL declare the manly deeds of Indra, the first that he achieved, the Thunder)wielder.

"e slew the 7ragon, then disclosed the waters, and cleft the channels of the mountain torrents.2 "e slew the 7ragon lying on the mountain his heavenly olt of thunder Tvas>t>ar fashioned.Li8e lowing 8ine in ra!id flow descending the waters glided downward to the ocean.# Im!etuous as a ull, he chose the 6oma and in three sacred ea8ers dran8 the :uices.%aghavan gras!ed the thunder for his wea!on, and smote to death this firstorn of the dragons.& When, Indra, thou hadst slain the dragonCs firstorn, and overcome the charms of the enchanters,Then, giving life to 6un and 7awn and "eaven, thou foundest not one foe to stand against thee.( Indra with his own great and deadly thunder smote into !ieces 'r>tra, worst of 'r>tras.As trun8s of trees, what time the a$e hath felled them, low on the earth so lies the !rostrate 7ragon.* "e, li8e a mad wea8 warrior, challenged Indra, the great im!etuous many)slaying "ero."e, roo8ing not the clashing of the wea!ons, crushedIndraCs foethe shattered forts in falling.

+ 4ootless and handless still he challenged Indra, who smote him with his olt etween theshoulders.masculate yet claiming manly vigour, thus 'r >tra lay with scattered lims dissevered. There as he lies li8e a an8)ursting river, the waters ta8ing courage flow aove him.The 7ragon lies eneath the feet of torrents which 'r>tra with his greatness had encom!assed.0 Then humled was the strength of 'r>traCs mother Indra hath cast his deadly olt against her.The mother was aove, the son was under and li8e a cow eside her calf lay 7anu.1E /olled in the midst of never)ceasing currents flowing without a rest for ever onward.The waters ear off 'r>traCs nameless ody the foe of Indra san8 to during dar8ness.11 Guarded y Ahi stood the thralls of 75sas, the waters stayed li8e 8ine held y the roer.-ut he, when he had smitten 'r>tra, o!ened the cave wherein the floods had een im!risoned.12 A horseCs tail wast thou when he, Indra, smote on thy olt; thou, God without a second,Thou hast won ac8 the 8ine, hast won the 6oma; thou hast let loose to flow the 6even /ivers.1# @othing availed him lightning, nothing thunder, hailstorm or mist which had s!read around himWhen Indra and the 7ragon strove in attle, %aghavan gained the victory for ever.1& Whom sawest thou to avenge the 7ragon, Indra, that fear !ossessed thy heart when thou hadstslain him;That, li8e a haw8 affrighted through the regions, thou crossedst nine)and)ninety flowing riversN1( Indra is 9ing of all that moves and moves not, of creatures tame and horned, the Thunder)wielder.ver all living men he rules as 6ovran, containing all as s!o8es within the felly.

"?%@ JJJIII. Indra.


18/43

1 Bome, fain for ooty let us see8 to Indra yet more shall he increase his care that guides us.Will not the Indestructile endow us with !erfect 8nowledge of this wealth, of cattleN2 I fly to him invisile Wealth)giver as flies the falcon to his cherished eyrie,With fairest hymns of !raise adoring Indra, whom those who laud him must invo8e in attle.# %id all his host, he indeth on the Duiver he driveth cattle from what foe he !leasethGathering u! great store of riches, Indra. e thou no traffic8er with us, most mighty.

& Thou slewest with thy olt the wealthy 7asyu, alone, yet going with thy hel!ers, Indra=4ar from the floor of heaven in all directions, the ancient riteless ones fled to destruction.( 4ighting with !ious worshi!!ers, the riteless turned and fled, Indra= with averted faces.When thou, fierce Lord of the -ay 6teeds, the 6tayer, lewest from earth and heaven and s8y thegodless.* They met in fight the army of the lameless then the @avagvas !ut forth all their !ower.They, li8e emasculates with men contending, fled, conscious, y stee! !aths from Indra, scattered.+ Whether they wee! or laugh, thou hast o


19/43

Thrice, grant ye us !ros!erity, thrice grant us fame; for the 6unCs daughter hath mounted your three)wheeled car.* Thrice, Avins, grant to us the heavenly medicines, thrice those of earth and thrice those that thewaters hold,4avour and health and strength estow u!on my son; tri!le !rotection, Lords of 6!lendour, grant tohim.

+ Thrice are ye to e worshi!!ed day y day y us thrice, ye Avins, ye travel around the earth.Bar)orne from far away, ye @5satyas, come, li8e vital air to odies, come ye to the three. Thrice, ye Avins, with the 6even %other 6treams; three are the :ars, the tri!le offering is

!re!ared.Three are the worlds, and moving on aove the s8y ye guard the firm)set vault of heaven throughdays and nights.0 Where are the three wheels of your tri!le chariot, where are the three seats thereto firmlyfastenedNWhen will ye yo8e the mighty ass that draws it, to ring you to our sacrifice. @5satyasN1E @5satyas, come the sacred gift is offered u!; drin8 the sweet :uice with li!s that 8now thesweetness well.

6avitar sends, efore the dawn of day, your car, fraught with oil, various)coloured, to our sacrifice.11 Bome, @5satyas, with the thrice)eleven Gods; come, ye Avins, to the drin8ing of themeath.%a8e long our days of life, and wi!e out all our sins ward off our enemies; e with us evermore.12 -orne in your tri!le car, Avins, ring us !resent !ros!erity with nole offs!ring.I cry to you who hear me for !rotection e ye our hel!ers where men win the ooty.

"?%@ JJJ'. 6avitar.

1 AG@I I first invo8e for our !ros!erity; I call on %itra, 'arun>a, to aid us here.I call on @ight who gives rest to all moving life; I call on 6avitar the God to lend us hel!.

2 Throughout the dus8y firmament advancing, laying to rest the immortal and the mortal,-orne in his golden chariot he cometh, 6avitar, God who loo8s on every creature.# The God moves y the u!ward !ath, the downward; with two right -ays, adorale, he :ourneys.6avitar comes, the God from the far distance, and chases from us all distress and sorrow.& "is chariot dec8ed with !earl, of various colours, lofty, with golden !ole, the God hath mounted,The many)rayed ne, 6avitar the holy, ound, earing !ower and might, for dar8some regions.( 7rawing the gold)yo8ed car his -ays, white)footed, have manifested light to all the !eo!les."eld in the la! of 6avitar, divine ne, all men, all eings have their !lace for ever.* Three heavens there are; two 6avitarCs, ad:acent in ?amaCs world is one, the home of heroes,As on a linch)!in, firm, rest things immortal he who hath 8nown it let him here declare it.+ "e, strong of wing, hath lightened u! the regions, dee!)Duivering Asura, the gentle Leader.Where now is 6Krya, where is one to tell us to what celestial s!here his ray hath wanderedN The earthCs eight !oints his rightness hath illumined, three desert regions and the 6even /ivers.God 6avitar the gold)eyed hath come hither, giving choice treasures unto him who worshi!s.0 The golden)handed 6avitar, far)seeing, goes on his way etween the earth and heaven,7rives away sic8ness, ids the 6un a!!roach us, and s!reads the right s8y through the dar8someregion.1E %ay he, gold)handed Asura, 8ind Leader, come hither to us with his hel! and favour.7riving off /58s>asas and ?5tudh5nas, the God is !resent, !raised in hymns at evening.11 6avitar, thine ancient dustless !athways are well estalished in the airCs mid)region God, come y those !aths so fair to travel, !reserve thou us from harm this day, and less us.

"?%@ JJJ'I. Agni.


20/43

1 WIT" words sent forth in holy hymns, Agni we su!!licate, the Lordf many families who duly serve the Gods, yea, him whom others also !raise.2 %en have won Agni, him who ma8es their strength aound we, with olations, worshi! thee.ur gracious)minded "el!er in our deeds of might, e thou, $cellent, this day.# Thee for our messenger we choose, thee, the mniscient, for our Priest.The flames of thee the mighty are s!read wide around thy s!lendour reaches to the s8y.

& The Gods en8indle thee their ancient messenger,'arun>a, %itra, Aryaman.That mortal man, Agni, gains through thee all wealth, who hath !oured offerings unto thee.( Thou, Agni, art a cheering Priest, Lord of the "ouse, menCs messengerAll constant high decrees estalished y the Gods, gathered together, meet in thee.* In thee, the aus!icious ne, Agni, youthfullest, each sacred gift is offered u!This day, and after, gracious, worshi! thou our Gods, that we may have heroic sons.+ To him in his own s!lendour right draw near in worshi! the devout.%en 8indle Agni with their sacrificial gifts, victorious os>an and 3!astuta.11 "im, Agni, whom %edhy5tithi, whom 9an>va 8indled for his rite,"im these our songs of !raise, him, Agni, we e$tol his !owers shine out !reeminent.12 %a8e our wealth !erfect thou, Agni, Lord divine for thou hast 8inshi! with the Gods.Thou rulest as a 9ing ohadratha, TurvFti, to sudue the foe.10 %anu hath stalished thee a light, Agni, for all the race of men6!rung from the Law, oil)fed, for 9an>va hast thou laOed, thou whom the !eo!le reverence.

2E The flames of Agni full of s!lendour and of might are fearful, not to e a!!roached.Bonsume for ever all demons and sorcerers, consume thou each devouring fiend.

"?%@ JJJ'II. %aruts.

1 6I@G forth, 9an>vas, to your and of %aruts unassailale,6!orting, res!lendent on their car2 They who, self)luminous, were orn together, with the s!otted deer,6!ears, swords, and glittering ornaments.# ne hears, as though


21/43

It strengthened as it dran8 the rain.* Who is your mightiest, "eroes, when, sha8ers of the earth and heaven,?e sha8e them li8e a garmentCs hemN+ At your a!!roach man holds him down efore the fury of your wrathThe rugged):ointed mountain yields. They at whose racings forth the earth, li8e an age)wea8ened lord of men,

Tremles in terror on their ways.0 6trong is their irth vigour have they to issue from their %other; strength,?ea, even twice enough, is theirs.1E And these, the 6ons, the 6ingers, in their racings have enlarged the ounds,6o that the 8ine must wal8 8nee)dee!.11 -efore them, on the ways they go, they dro! this offs!ring of the cloud,Long, road, and ine$haustile.12 %aruts, as your strength is great, so have ye cast men down on earth,6o have ye made the mountains fall.1# The while the %aruts !ass along, they tal8 together on the way7oth any hear them as they s!ea8N

1& Bome Duic8 with swift steeds, for ye have worshi!!ers among 9an>vaCs sons%ay you re:oice among them well.1( All is !re!ared for your delight. We are their servants evermore,To live as long as life may last.

"?%@ JJJ'III. %aruts.

1 W"AT nowN When will ye ta8e us y oth hands, as a dear sire his son,Gods, for whom sacred grass is cli!!edN2 @ow whitherN To what goal of yours go ye in heaven, and not on earthNWhere do your cows dis!ort themselvesN

# Where are your newest favours shownN Where, %aruts, your !ros!erityNWhere all your high felicitiesN& If, ye %aruts, ye the 6ons whom Pr >ni ore, were mortal, andImmortal he who sings your !raise.( Then never were your !raiser loathed li8e a wild east in !asture)land,

@or should he go on ?amaCs !ath.* Let not destructive !lague on !lague hard to e conDuered, stri8e its downLet each, with drought, de!art from us.+ Truly, they the fierce and mighty 6ons of /udra send their windless/ain e


22/43

1( 6ing glory to the %arut host, !raiseworthy, tuneful, vigorous"ere let the 6trong nes dwell with us.

"?%@ JJJIJ %aruts.

1 W"@ thus, li8e flame, from far away, %aruts, ye cast your measure forth,

To whom go ?e, to whom, sha8ers of the earth, moved y whose wisdom, whose designN2 6trong let your wea!ons e to drive away your foes, firm for resistance let them e.?ea, !assing glorious must e your warrior might, not as a guileful mortalCs strength.# When what is strong ye overthrow, and whirl aout each !onderous thing,"eroes, your course is through the forest trees of earth, and through the fissures of the roc8s.& Bonsumers of your foes, no enemy of yours is found in heaven or on the earth?e /udras, may the strength, held in this ond, e yours, to id defiance even now.( They ma8e the mountains roc8 and reel, they rend the forest)8ings a!art.nward, ye %aruts, drive, li8e creatures drun8 with wine, ye, Gods with all your com!any.* ?e to your chariot have yo8ed the s!otted deer a red deer, as a leader, draws.ven the arth herself listened as ye came near, and men were sorely terrified.

+ /udras, Duic8ly we desire your succour for this wor8 of ours.Bome to us with your aid as in the days of old, so now for frightened 9an>vaCs sa8e. 6hould any monstrous foe, %aruts, sent y you or sent y mortals threaten us,Tear ye him from us with your !ower and with your might, and with the succours that are yours.0 4or ye, the worshi!ful and wise, have guarded 9an>va !erfectly. %aruts, come to us with full !rotecting hel!, as lightning flashes see8 the rain.1E Whole strength have ye, -ounteous nes; !erfect, earth)sha8ers, is your might.%aruts, against the !oetCs wrathful enemy send ye an enemy li8e a dart.

"?%@ JL. -rahman>as!ati

1 -/A"%A@>A6PATI, stand u! God)serving men we !ray to thee.%ay they who give good gifts, the %aruts, come to us. Indra, most swift, e thou with them.2 6on of 6trength, each mortal calls to thee for aid when s!oil of attle waits for him. %aruts, may this man who loves you well otain wealth of good steeds and hero might.# %ay -rahman>as!ati draw nigh, may 6Knr>t5 the Goddess come,And Gods ring to this rite which gives the five)fold gift the "ero, lover of man8ind.& "e who estows a nole guerdon on the !riest wins fame that never shall decay.4or him we offer sacred hero)giving food, !eerless and conDuering easily.( @ow -rahman >as!ati s!ea8s forth aloud the solemn hymn of !raise,Wherein Indra and 'arun>a, %itra, Aryaman, the Gods, have made their dwelling !lace.* %ay we in holy synods, Gods= recite that hymn, !eerless, that rings felicity.If you, "eroes, graciously acce!t this word, may it otain all liss from you.+ Who shall a!!roach the !iousN who the man whose sacred grass is trimmedNThe offerer with his fol8 advances more and more he fills his house with !recious things. "e am!lifies his lordly might, with 8ings he slays e


23/43

& Thornless, dityas, is the !ath, easy for him who see8s the LawWith him is naught to anger you.( What sacrifice, dityas, ye "eroes guide y the !ath direct,%ay that come nigh unto your thought.* That mortal, ever unsudued, gains wealth and every !recious thing,And children also of his own.

+ "ow, my friends, shall we !re!are AryamanCs and %itraCs laud,Glorious food of 'arun>aN I !oint not out to you a man who stri8es the !ious, or revilesnly with hymns I call you nigh.0 Let him not love to s!ea8 ill words ut fear the ne who holds all fourWithin his hand, until they fall.

"?%@ JLII. PKs>an.

1 6"/T@ our ways, PKs>an, move aside ostruction in the !athGo close efore us, cloud)orn God.

2 7rive, PKs>an, from our road the wolf, the wic8ed inaus!icious wolf,Who lies in wait to in:ure us.# Who lur8s aout the !ath we ta8e, the roer with a guileful heart4ar from the road chase him away.& Tread with thy foot and tram!le out the firerand of the wic8ed one,The doule)tongued, whoean, Wonder)Wor8er, we claim of thee now the aid wherewithThou furtheredst our sires of old.* 6o, Lord of all !ros!erity, est wielder of the golden sword,%a8e riches easy to e won.+ Past all !ursuers lead us, ma8e !leasant our !ath and fair to tread

PKs>an, find thou !ower for this. Lead us to meadows rich in grass send on our way no early heat PKs>an, find thou !ower for this.0 -e gracious to us, fill us full, give, feed us, and invigorate PKs>an, find thou !ower for this.1E @o lame have we for PKs>an; him we magnify with songs of !raiseWe see8 the %ighty ne for wealth.

"?%@ JLIII. /udra.

1 W"AT shall we sing to /udra, strong, most ounteous, e$cellently wise,That shall e dearest to his heartN2 That Aditi may grant the grace of /udra to our fol8, our 8ine,ur cattle and our !rogeny;# That %itra and that 'arun>a, that /udra may rememer us,?ea, all the Gods with one accord.& To /udra Lord of sacrifice, of hymns and almy medicines,We !ray for :oy and health and strength.( "e shines in s!lendour li8e the 6un, refulgent as right gold is he,The good, the est among the Gods.* %ay he grant health into our steeds, welleing to our rams and ewes,

To men, to women, and to 8ine.+ 6oma, set thou u!on us the glory of a hundred men,The great renown of mighty chiefs. Let not malignities, nor those who troule 6oma, hinder us.


24/43

Indu, give us a share of strength.0 6oma= head, central !oint, love these; 6oma= 8now these as serving thee,Bhildren of thee Immortal, at the highest !lace of holy law.

"?%@ JLI'. Agni.

1 I%%/TAL M5tavedas, thou many)hued fulgent gift of 7awn,Agni, this day to him who !ays olations ring the Gods who wa8en with the morn.2 4or thou art offering)earer and loved messenger, the charioteer of sacrificeAccordant with the Avins and with 7awn grant us heroic strength and lofty fame.# As messenger we choose to)day Agni the good whom many love,6mo8e)annered s!reader of the light, at rea8 of day glory of sacrificial rites.& "im nolest and most youthful, richly worshi!!ed guest, dear to the men who offer gifts,"im, Agni M5tavedas, I eseech at dawn that he may ring the Gods to us.( Thee, Agni, will I glorify, deathless nourisher of the world,Immortal, offering)earer, meet for sacred food, !reserver, est at sacrifice.* Tell good things to thy !raiser, most youthful God, as richly worshi!!ed, honey)tongued,

And, granting to Pras8an>va lengthened days of life, show honour to the "eavenly "ost.+ 4or the men, Agni, 8indle thee as all !ossessor and as Priest;6o Agni, much)invo8ed, ring hither with all s!eed the Gods, the e$cellently wise, At dawn of day, at night, 3s>as and 6avitar, the Avins, -haga, AgniCs self68illed in fair rites, with 6oma !oured, the 9an>vas light thee, the olation)wafting God.0 4or, Agni, Lord of sacrifice and messenger of men art thou-ring thou the Gods who wa8e at dawn who see the light, this day to drin8 the 6oma :uice.1E Thou shonest forth, Agni, after former dawns, all visile, rich in light.Thou art our hel! in attle)strife, the 4riend of man, the great high !riest in sacrifice.11 Li8e %anu, we will stalish thee, Agni, !erformer of the rite,Invo8er, ministering Priest, e$ceeding wise, the swift immortal messenger.

12 When as the Gods< "igh Priest, y many loved, thou dost their mission as their nearest 4riend,Then, li8e the far)resounding illows of the flood, thy flames, Agni, roar aloud.1# "ear, Agni, who hast ears to hear, with all thy train of escort Gods;Let %itra, Aryaman, see8ing etimes our rite, seat them u!on the sacred grass.1& Let those who strengthen Law, who ountifully give, the life)tongued %aruts, hear our !raise.%ay Law)su!!orting 'arun>a with the Avins twain and 3s>as, drin8 the 6oma :uice.

"?%@ JL'. Agni.

1 W/6"IP the 'asus, Agni= here, the /udras, the dityas, allWho s!ring from %anu, those who 8now fair rites, who !our their lessings down.2 Agni, the Gods who understand give ear unto the worshi!!erLord of /ed 6teeds, who lovest song, ring thou those Three)and)Thirty Gods.# M5tavedas, great in act, hear8en thou to Pras8an >vaCs call,As Priyamedha erst was heard, Atri, 'irK!a, A giras.& The sons of Priyamedha s8illed in lofty !raise have called for hel!n Agni who with fulgent flame is /uler of all holy rites.( "ear thou, invo8ed with holy oil, ountiful giver of rewards,These eulogies, wherey the sons of 9an >va call thee to their aid.* Agni, loved y many, thou of fame most wondrous, in their homes%en call on thee whose hair is flame, to e the earer of their gifts.

+ Thee, Agni, est to find out wealth, most widely famous, Duic8 to hear,6ingers have stalished in their rites "erald and ministering Priest. 6ingers with 6oma !ressed have made thee, Agni, hasten to the feast,Great light to mortal worshi!!er, what time they ring the sacred gift.


25/43

0 Good, ounteous, 6on of 6trength, this day seat here on sacred grass the GodsWho come at early morn, the host of heaven, to drin8 the 6oma :uice1E -ring with :oint invocations thou, Agni, the celestial host"ere stands the 6oma, ounteous Gods drin8 this e$!ressed ere yesterday.

"?%@ JL'I. Avins.

1 @ow %orning with her earliest light shines forth, dear 7aughter of the 68y"igh, Avins, I e$tol your !raise,2 6ons of the 6ea, mighty to save discoverers of riches, yeGods with dee! thought who find out wealth.# ?our giant coursers hasten on over the region all in flames,When your car flies with winged steeds.& "e, lieral, lover of the flood, Lord of the "ouse, the vigilant,Bhiefs= with olations feeds you full.( ?e have regard unto our hymns, @5satyas, thin8ing of our words7rin8 oldly of the 6oma :uice.

* 'ouchsafe to us, Avin Pair, such strength as, with attendant light,%ay through the dar8ness carry us.+ Bome in the shi! of these our hymns to ear you to the hither shore Avins, harness ye the car. The heavenCs wide vessel is your own on the floodCs shore your chariot waits7ro!s, with the hymn, have een !re!ared.0 9an>vas, the dro!s are in the heaven; the wealth is at the watersC !laceWhere will ye manifest your formN1E Light came to lighten u! the ranch, the 6un a!!eared as it were goldAnd with its tongue shone forth the dar8.11 The !ath of sacrifice was made to travel to the farther goal

The road of heaven was manifest.12 The singer of their !raise awaits whatever grace the Avins give,who save when 6oma gladdens them.1# ?e dwellers with 'ivasv5n come, aus!icious, as to %anu erst;come to the 6oma and our !raise.1& circumamient Avins, 7awn follows the rightness of your wayA!!rove with eams our solemn rites.1( 7rin8 ye of our liations, grant !rotection, ye Avins Twain,With aids which none may interru!t.

HYMN X!VII. Avins.1 AH'I@6, for you who strengthen Law this sweetest 6oma hath een shed.7rin8 this e$!ressed ere yesterday and give riches to him who offers it.2 Bome, ye Avins, mounted on your tri!le car three)seated, eautiful of formTo you at sacrifice the 9an >vas send the !rayer graciously listen to their call.# Avins, ye who strengthen Law, drin8 ye this sweetest 6oma :uice.-orne on your wealth)fraught car come ye this day to him who offers, ye of wondrous deeds.& mniscient Avins, on the thrice)hea!ed grass edew with the sweet :uice the sacrifice.The sons of 9an>va, striving heavenward, call on you with draughts of 6oma :uice out)!oured.( Avins, with those aids wherewith ye guarded 9an >va carefully,

9ee! us, Lords of 6!lendour drin8 the 6oma :uice, ye strengtheners of holy law.* %ighty nes, ye gave 6ud5s aundant food, rought on your treasure)laden car;6o now vouchsafe to us the wealth which many crave, either from heaven or from the sea.+ @5satyas, whether ye e far away or close to Turvaa,


26/43

-orne on your lightly)rolling chariot come to us, together with the suneams come. 6o let your coursers, ornaments of sacrifice, ring you to our liations here.-estowing food on him who acts and gives aright, sit, Bhiefs, u!on the sacred grass.0 Bome, @5satyas, on your car dec8ed with a sunright cano!y,Whereon ye ever ring wealth to the worshi!!er, to drin8 the 6omaCs !leasant :uice.1E With lauds and songs of !raise we call them down to us, that they, most rich, may succour us;

4or ye have ever in the 9an>vasC well)loved house, Avins, drun8 the 6oma :uice.

"?%@ JL'III. 7awn.

1 7AW@ on us with !ros!erity, 3s>as, 7aughter of the 68y,7awn with great glory, Goddess, Lady of the Light, dawn thou with riches, -ounteous ne.2 They, ringing steeds and 8ine, oon)givers of all wealth, have oft s!ed forth to lighten us. 3s>as, wa8en u! for me the sounds of :oy send us the riches of the great.# 3s>as hath dawned, and now shall dawn, the Goddess, driver forth of carsWhich, as she cometh nigh, have fi$ed their thought on her, li8e glory)see8ers on the flood.& "ere 9an>va, chief of 9an>vaCs race, sings forth aloud the glories of the heroes< names,

The. !rinces who, 3s>as, as thou comest near, direct their thoughts to lieral gifts.( Li8e a good matron 3s>as comes carefully tending everything/ousing all life she stirs all creatures that have feet, and ma8es the irds of air fly u!.* 6he sends the usy forth, each man to his !ursuit delay she 8nows not as she s!rings. rich in o!ulence, after thy dawning irds that have flown forth no longer rest.+ This 7awn hath yo8ed her steeds afar, eyond the rising of the 6un-orne on a hundred chariots she, aus!icious 7awn, advances on her way to %en. To meet her glance all living creatures end them down $cellent ne, she ma8es the light.3s>as, the 7aughter of the 68y, the o!ulent, shines foes and enmities away.0 6hine on us with thy radiant light, 3s>as, 7aughter of the 68y,-ringing to us great store of high felicity, and eaming on our solemn rites.

1E 4or in thee is each living creatureCs reath and life, when, $cellent= thou dawnest forth.-orne on thy lofty car, Lady of the Light, hear, thou of wondrous wealth, our call.11 3s>as, win thyself the strength which among men is wonderful.-ring thou therey the !ious unto holy rites, those who as !riests sing !raise to thee.12 -ring from the firmament, 3s>as, all the Gods, that they may drin8 our 6oma :uice,And, eing what thou art, vouchsafe us 8ine and steeds, strength meet for !raise and hero might.1# %ay 3s>as whose aus!icious rays are seen res!lendent round aout,Grant us great riches, fair in form, of all good things, wealth which light laour may attain.1& %ighty ne, whom the />s>is of old time invo8ed for their !rotection and their hel!, 3s>as, graciously answer our songs of !raise with ounty and with rilliant light.1( 3s>as, as thou with light to day hast o!ened the twin doors of heaven,6o grant thou us a dwelling wide and free from foes. Goddess, give us food with 8ine.1* -ring us to wealth aundant, sent in every sha!e, to !lentiful refreshing food,To all)suduing s!lendour, 3s>as, %ighty ne, to strength, thou rich in s!oil and wealth.

"?%@ JLIJ. 7awn.

1 C@ from aove the s8yCs right realm come, 3s>as, y aus!icious waysLet red steeds ear thee to the house of him who !ours the 6oma, :uice.2 The chariot which thou mountest, fair of sha!e, 3s>as light to move,Therewith, 7aughter of the 68y, aid men of nole fame today.

# -right 3s>as, when thy times return, all Duadru!eds and i!eds stir,And round aout floc8 winged irds from all the oundaries of heaven.& Thou dawning with thy eams of light illumest all the radiant realm.Thee, as thou art, the 9an>vas, fain for wealth, have called with sacred songs.


27/43

"?%@ L. 6Krya.

1 "I6 right rays ear him u! aloft, the God who 8noweth all that lives,6Krya, that all may loo8 on him.2 The constellations !ass away, li8e thieves, together with their eams,-efore the all)eholding 6un.# "is herald rays are seen afar refulgent ohus yearned to Indra strong to save, who fills mid)air, encom!assed roundwith might,/ushing in ra!ture; and otra, thou, Indra, didst raise the 6un in heaven for allto see.( With wondrous might thou lewest enchanter fiends away, with !owers celestial those who calledon thee in :est.Thou, hero)hearted, hast ro8en down Pi!ruCs forts, and hel!ed />:ivan when the 7asyus werestruc8 dead.* Thou savedst 9utsa when Hus>n>a was smitten down; to Atithigva gavest Hamara for a !rey.


28/43

9nown is the thunderolt that lies within thine arms rend off therewith all manly !rowess of ourfoe. 7iscern thou well ryas and 7asyus; !unishing the lawless give them u! to him whose grass isstrewn.-e thou the sacrificerCs strong encourager all these thy deeds are my delight at festivals.0 Indra gives u! the lawless to the !ious man, destroying y the 6trong nes those who have no

strength.'amra when glorified destroyed the gathered !iles of the still wa$ing great one who would reachthe heaven.1E The might which 3an5 hath formed for thee with might rends in its greatness and with strength

oth worlds a!art. "ero)souled, the steeds of '5ta, yo8ed y thought, have carried thee to fame while thou art filledwith !ower.11 When Indra hath re:oiced with 95vya 3an5, he mounts his steeds who swerve wider and wideryet.The 6trong hath loosed his olt with the swift rush of rain, and he hath rent in !ieces Hus>n>aCs firm)

uilt forts.

12 Thou mountest on thy car amid strong 6oma draughts H5ry5ta rought thee those in which thouhast delight.Indra, when thou art !leased with men whose 6oma flows thou risest to unchallenged glory in thes8y.1# To old 9a8s>Fv5n, 6oma)!resser, s8illed in song, Indra, thou didst give the youthful 'r>cay5.Thou, very wise, wast %en5, 'rsanvaCs child those deeds of thine must all e told at 6oma feasts.1& The good manCs refuge in his need is Indra, firm as a door!ost, !raised among the Pa:ras.Indra alone is Lord of wealth, the Giver, lover of riches, chariots, 8ine, and horses.1( To him the %ighty ne, the self)res!lendent, verily strong and great, this !raise is uttered.%ay we and all the heroes, with the !rinces, e, in this fray, Indra, in thy 8ee!ing.

"?%@ LII. Indra.

1 I GL/I4? that /am who finds the light of heaven, whose hundred noly)natured ones go forthwith him.With hymns may I turn hither Indra to mine aid,the Bar which li8e a strong steed hasteth to thecall.2 Li8e as a mountain on firm asis, unremoved, he, thousandfold !rotector, wa$ed in mightystrength,When Indra, :oying in the draughts of 6oma :uice, forced the clouds, slaying 'r>tra stayer of theirflow.# 4or he stays e


29/43

la8e.Tvas>t>ar gave yet more force to thine a!!ro!riate strength, and forged thy thunderolt ofover!owering might. When, Indra, thou whose !ower is lin8ed with thy -ay 6teeds hadst smitten 'r>tra, causing floodsto flow for man,Thou heldst in thine arms the metal thunderolt, and settest in the heaven the 6un for all to see.

0 In fear they raised the lofty self)res!lendent hymn, !raise giving and effectual, leading u! toheaven,When IndraCs hel!ers fighting for the good of men, the %aruts, faithful to man8ind, :oyed in thelight.1E Then "eaven himself, the mighty, at that 7ragonCs roar reeled ac8 in terror when, Indra, thythunderoltIn the wild :oy of 6oma had struc8 off with might the head of 'r>tra, tyrant of the earth and heaven.11 Indra, were this earth e$tended forth tenfold, and men who dwell therein multi!lied day yday,6till here thy conDuering might, %aghavan, would e famed it hath wa$ed vast as heaven inma:esty and !ower.

12 Thou, old of heart, in thine own native might, for hel!, u!on the limit of this mid)air and ofheaven,"ast made the earth to e the !attern of thy strength emracing flood and light thou reachest to thes8y.1# Thou art the counter!art of earth, the %aster of lofty heaven with all its mighty "eroesThou hast filled all the region with thy greatness yea, of a truth there is none other li8e thee.1& Whose am!litude the heaven and earth have not attained, whose ounds the waters of mid)airhave never reached,

@ot, when in :oy he fights the stayer of the rain thou, and none else, hast made all things in orderdue.1( The %aruts sang thy !raise in this encounter, and in thee all the 7eities delighted,What time thou, Indra, with thy s!i8y wea!on, thy deadly olt, smotest the face of 'r>tra.

HYMN !III. Indra.

1 W will !resent fair !raise unto the %ighty ne, our hymns to Indra in 'ivasv5nCs dwelling)!lace;4or he hath ne


30/43

"ero Lord,What time thou slewest for the singer with trimmed grass ten thousand 'r>tras, thou resistless in thymight.+ Thou goest on from fight to fight intre!idly, destroying castle after castle here with strength.Thou, Indra, with thy friend who ma8es the foe ow down, slewest from far away the guileful

@amuci.

Thou hast struc8 down in death 9ara:a, Parn>aya, in AtithigvaCs very glorious going forth.3nyielding, when />:ivan com!assed them with siege, thou hast destroyed the hundred forts of'a gr >ida.0 With all)outstri!!ing chariot)wheel, Indra, thou far)famed, hast overthrown the twice ten 9ingsof men,With si$ty thousand nine)and)ninety followers, who came in arms to fight with friendless 6uravas.1E Thou hast !rotected 6uravas with succour, and TKrvay5n>a with thine aid, Indra.Thou madest 9utsa, Atithigva, yu, su:ect unto this 9ing, the young, the mighty.11 %ay we !rotected y the Gods hereafter remain thy very !ros!erous friends, Indra.Thee we e$tol, en:oying through thy favour life long and :oyful and with store of heroes.

"?%@ LI'. Indra.

1 3/G us not, %aghavan, to this distressful fight, for none may com!rehend the limit of thystrength.Thou with fierce shout hast made the woods and rivers roar did not men run in crowds together intheir fearN2 6ing hymns of !raise to Ha8ra, Lord of !ower and might; laud thou and magnify Indra whoheareth thee,Who with his daring might, a -ull e$ceeding strong in strength, ma8eth him master of the heavenand earth.# 6ing forth to lofty 7yaus a strength)estowing song, the -old, whose resolute mind hath

inde!endent sway."igh glory hath the Asura, com!act of strength, drawn on y two -ay 6teeds a -ull, a Bar is he.& The ridges of the lofty heaven thou madest sha8e; thou, daring, of thyself smotest throughHamara,When old with gladdening :uice, thou warredst with thy olt, shar! and two)edged, against the

anded sorcerers.( When with a roar that fills the woods, thou forcest down on windCs head the stores which Hus>n>a8e!t confined,Who shall have !ower to stay thee firm and eager)souled from doing still this day what thou of oldhast doneN* Thou hel!est @arya, Turvaa, and ?adu, and 'ayyaCs son TurvFti, Hata8ratu=Thou hel!est horse and car in final attle thou rea8est down the nine)and)ninety castles.+ A hero)lord is he, 9ing of a mighty fol8, who offers free olations and !romotes the Law,Who with a ounteous guerdon welcomes hymns of !raise for him flows down the aundantstream elow the s8y. "is !ower is matchless, matchless is his wisdom; chief, through their wor8, e some who drin8the 6oma,Those, Indra, who increase the lordly !ower, the firm heroic strength of thee the Giver.0 Therefore for thee are these aundant ea8ers IndraCs drin8, stone)!ressed :uices held in ladles.Quaff them and satisfy therewith thy longing; then fi$ thy mind u!on estowing treasure.1E There dar8ness stood, the vault that stayed the waters< flow in 'r>traCs hollow side the rain)cloud

lay concealed.-ut Indra smote the rivers which the ostructer stayed, flood following after flood, down stee!declivities.


31/43

11 6o give us, Indra, liss)increasing glory give us great sway and strength that conDuers !eo!le.Preserve our wealthy !atrons, save our !rinces; vouchsafe us wealth and food with nole offs!ring.

HYMN !V. Indra.

1 T"3G" e


32/43

In the light)winning war, Indra, in ra!turous :oy, thou smotest 'r>tra dead and roughtest floods ofrain.* Thou with thy might didst gras!, the holder)u! of heaven, thou who art mighty also in the seats ofearth.Thou, gladdened y the :uice, hast set the waters free, and ro8en 'r >traCs stony fences through andthrough.

HYMN !VII. Indra.

1 To him most lieral, lofty Lord of lofty wealth, verily !owerful and strong, I ring my hymn,Whose chec8less ounty, as of waters down a slo!e, is s!read aroad for all that live, to give themstrength.2 @ow all this world, for worshi!, shall come after theethe offererCs liations li8e floods to thede!th,When the well)loved one seems to rest u!on the hill, the thunderolt of Indra, shatterer wrought ofgold.# To him the terrile, most meet for lofty !raise, li8e right 7awn, now ring gifts with reverence in

this rite,Whose eing, for renown, yea, Indra)!ower and light, have een created, li8e ay steeds, to movewith s!eed.& Thine, Indra, !raised y many, e$cellently rich= are we who trusting in thy hel! draw near to thee.Lover of !raise, none else ut thou receives our laud as earth loves all her creatures, love thou thisour hymn.( Great is thy !ower, Indra, we are thine. 4ulfil, %aghavan, the wish of this thy worshi!!er.After thee lofty heaven hath measured out its strength to thee and to thy !ower this earth hath

owed itself.* Thou, who hast thunder for thy wea!on, with thy olt hast shattered into !ieces this road massivecloud.

Thou hast sent down the ostructed floods that they may flow thou hast, thine own for ever, allvictorious might.

HYMN !VIII. Agni.

1 @


33/43

+ Agni, the seven tonguesC deftest 6acrificer, him whom the !riests elect at solemn worshi!,The "erald, messenger of all the 'asus, I serve with dainty food, I as8 for riches. Grant, 6on of 6trength, thou rich in friends, a refuge without a flaw this day to us thy !raisers. Agni, 6on of 6trength, with forts of iron !reserve thou from distress the man who lauds thee.0 -e thou a refuge, -right ne, to the singer, a shelter, -ounteous Lord, to those who worshi!.Preserve the singer from distress, Agni. %ay he, enriched with !rayer, come soon and early.

"?%@ LIJ. Agni.

1 T" other fires are, verily, thy ranches; the Immortals all re:oice in thee, Agni.Bentre art thou, 'aiv5nara, of the !eo!le, sustaining men li8e a dee!)founded !illar.2 The forehead of the s8y, earthCs centre, Agni ecame the messenger of earth and heaven.'aiv5nara, the 7eities !roduced thee, a God, to e a light unto the rya.# As in the 6un firm rays are set for ever, treasures are in 'aiv5nara, in Agni.f all the riches in the hills, the waters, the hers, among man8ind, thou art the 6ovran.& As the great World)halves, so are their 6onCs !raises; s8illed, as a man, to act, is he the "erald.'aiv5nara, celestial, truly mighty, most manly ne, hath many a youthful consort.

( ven the lofty heaven, M5tavedas 'aiv5nara, hath not attained thy greatness.Thou art the 9ing of lands where men are settled, thou hast rought comfort to the Gods in attle.* @ow will I tell the greatness of the "ero whom PKruCs sons follow as 'r>traCs slayerAgni 'aiv5nara struc8 down the 7asyu, cleave Hamara through and shattered down his fences.+ 'aiv5nara, dwelling y his might with all men, far)shining, holy mid the -haradv5:as,Is lauded, e$cellent, with hundred !raises y PurKn>Ftha, son of Hatavani.

"?%@ LJ. Agni.

1 As gu,-anner of sacrifice, the good Protector, child of two irths, the swiftly moving envoy.

2 -oth Gods and men oey this /ulerCs order, Gods who are worshi!!ed, men who yearn andworshi!.As Priest he ta8es his seat ere rea8 of morning, "ouse)Lord, adorale with men, rdainer.# %ay our fair !raise, heart)orn, most recent, reach him whose tongue, e


34/43

Wherewith he reached the vital !arts of 'r>tra, stri8ing)the vast, the mighty with the stri8er.+ As soon as, at liations of his mother, great 'is>n>u had drun8 u! the draught, he !lundered.The dainty cates, the coo8ed mess; ut ne stronger transfi$ed the wild oar, shooting through themountain. To him, to Indra, when he slew the 7ragon, the 7ames, too, Bonsorts of the Gods, wove !raises.The mighty heaven and earth hath he encom!assed thy greatness heaven and earth, comined,

e$ceed not.0 ?ea, of a truth, his magnitude sur!asseth the magnitude of earth, mid)air, and heaven.Indra, a!!roved y all men, self)res!lendent, wa$ed in his home, loud)voiced and strong for attle.1E Through his own strength Indra with olt of thunder cut !iece)meal 'r >tra, drier u! of waters."e let the floods go free, li8e cows im!risoned, for glory, with a heart inclined to ounty.11 The rivers !layed, through his im!etuous s!lendour, since with his olt he com!assed them onall sides.3sing his might and favouring him who worshi!!ed, he made a ford, victorious, for TurvFti.12 'ast, with thine am!le !ower, with eager movement, against this 'r >tra cast thy olt of thunder./end thou his :oints, as of an o$, dissevered, with olt oliDue, that floods of rain may follow.1# 6ing with new lauds his e$!loits wrought aforetime, the deeds of him, yea, him who moveth

swiftly,When, hurling forth his wea!ons in the attle, he with im!etuous wrath lays low the foemen.1& When he, yea, he, comes forth the firm. 6et mountains and the whole heaven and earth, tremlefor terror.%ay @odhas, ever !raising the !rotection of that dear 4riend, gain Duic8ly strength heroic.1( @ow unto him of these things hath een given what he who rules alone ohas!ati cleft the mountain, found the cattle the heroes shouted with the 8ine in trium!h.& %id shout, loud shout, and roar, with the @avagvas, seven singers, hast thou, heavenly, rent themountain;Thou hast, with s!eeders, with 7aagvas, Indra, Ha8ra, with thunder rent ostructive 'ala.( Praised y A girases, thou, foe)destroyer, hast, with the 7awn, 6un, rays, dis!elled the dar8ness.Thou Indra, hast s!read out the earthCs high ridges, and firmly fi$ed the region under heaven.* This is the deed most worthy of all honour, the fairest marvel of the Wonder)Wor8er,That, nigh where heaven ends down, he made four rivers flow full with waves that carry downsweet water.+ 3nwearied, won with lauding hymns, he !arted of old the ancient Pair, united ever.In highest s8y li8e -haga, he the doer of marvels set oth 7ames and earth and heaven. 6till orn afresh, young 7ames, each in her manner, unli8e in hue, the Pair in alternation/ound heaven and earth from ancient time have travelled, @ight with her dar8 lims, 7awn with

lims of s!lendour.0 /ich in good actions, s8illed in o!eration, the 6on with might maintains his !erfect friendshi!.Thou in the raw cows, lac8 of hue or ruddy, storest the ri!e mil8 glossy white in colour.


35/43

1E Their !aths, of old connected, rest unin:ured; they with great might !reserve the immortalstatutes.4or many thousand holy wor8s the 6isters wait on the haughty Lord li8e wives and matrons.11 Thoughts ancient, see8ing wealth, with adoration, with newest lauds have s!ed to thee, %ighty.As yearning wives cleave to their yearning husand, so cleave our hymns to thee, Lord most

!otent.12 6trong God, the riches which thy hands have holden from days of old have !erished not norwasted.6!lendid art thou, Indra, wise, unending strengthen us with might, Lord of Power.1# mighty Indra, GotamaCs son @odhas hath fashioned this new !rayer to thee ternal,6ure leader, yo8er of the Tawny Boursers. %ay he, enriched with !rayer, come soon and early.

"?%@ LJIII. Indra.

1. T"3 art the %ighty ne; when orn, Indra, with !ower thou terrifiedst earth and heaven;When, in their fear of thee, all firm)set mountains and monstrous creatures shoo8 li8e dust efore

thee.2 When thy two wandering -ays thou drawest hither, thy !raiser laid within thine arms the thunder,Wherewith, %uch)invo8ed, in will resistless, thou smitest foemen down and many a castle.# 4aithful art thou, these thou defiest, Indra; thou art the />husC Lord, heroic, victor.Thou, y his side, for young and glorious 9utsa, with steed and car in attle slewest Hus>n>a,& That, as a friend, thou furtheredst, Indra, when, Thunderer, strong in act, thou crushedst 'r>tra;When, "ero, thou, great)souled, with easy conDuest didst rend the 7asyus in theirdistant dwelling.( This doest thou, and art not harmed, Indra, e


36/43

with their !owers.The restless sha8ers drain the udders of the s8y, and ever wandering round fill the earth full withmil8.* The ounteous %aruts with the fatness dro!!ing mil8 fill full the waters which avail in solemnrites.They lead, as


37/43

1. LI9 the 6unCs glance, li8e wealth of varied sort, li8e reath which is the life, li8e oneCs own son,Li8e a swift ird, a cow who yields her mil8, !ure and refulgent to the wood he s!eeds.2 "e offers safety li8e a !leasant home, li8e ri!ened corn, the BonDueror of men.Li8e a 6eer lauding, famed among the fol8; li8e a steed friendly he vouchsafes us !ower.# With flame insatiate, li8e eternal might; caring for each one li8e a dame at home;-right when he shines forth, whitish mid the fol8, li8e a car, gold)dec8ed, thundering to the fight.

& "e stri8es with terror li8e a dart shot forth, e


38/43

"?%@ LJJ. Agni.

1. %A? we, the !ious, win much food y !rayer, may Agni with fair light !ervade each act,"e the oserver of the heavenly laws of Gods, and of the race of mortal man.2 "e who is germ of waters, germ of woods, germ of all things that move not and that move,To him even in the roc8 and in the house Immortal ne, he cares for all man8ind.# Agni is Lord of riches for the man who serves him readily with sacred songs.Protect these eings thou with careful thought, 8nowing the races oth of Gods and men.& Whom many dawns and nights, unli8e, ma8e strong, whom, orn in Law, all things that move andstand,"e hath een won, "erald who sits in light, ma8ing effectual all our holy wor8s.( Thou settest value on our cows and woods all shall ring triute to us to the light.%en have served thee in many and sundry s!ots, !arting, as gu)li8e I hath gone as his com!anion, as on commission to a greater 6ovran.( When man !oured :uice to "eaven, the mighty 4ather, he 8new and freed himself from closeemracement.The archer oldly shot at him his arrow, and the God threw his s!lendour on his 7aughter.* Whoso, hath flames for thee within his dwelling, or rings the worshi! which thou lovest daily,7o thou of doule might increase his sustance may he whom thou incitest meet with riches.+ All sacrificial viands wait on Agni as the 6even mighty /ivers see8 the ocean.

@ot y our rethren was our food discovered find with the Gods care for us, thou who 8nowest. When light hath filled the Lord of men for increase, straight from the heaven descends the lim!idmoisture.Agni hath rought to light and filled with s!irit the youthful host lameless and well !roviding.

0 "e who li8e thought goes swiftly on his :ourney, the 6un, alone is ever Lord of riches.The 9ings with fair hands, 'arun>a and %itra, !rotect the !recious nectar in our cattle.1E Agni, rea8 not our ancestral friendshi!, 6age as thou art, endowed with dee!est 8nowledge.ld age, li8e gathering cloud, im!airs the ody efore that evil e come nigh !rotect me.

"?%@ LJJII. Agni.

1. T"3G" holding many gifts for men, he humleth the higher !owers of each wise ordainer.Agni is now the treasure)lord of treasures, for ever granting all immortal ounties.2 The Gods infallile all searching found not him, the dear -ae who still is round aout us.Worn weary, following his trac8, devoted, they reached the lovely highest home of Agni.

# -ecause with holy oil the !ure nes, Agni, served thee the very !ure three autumn seasons,Therefore they won them holy names for worshi!, and noly orn they dignified their odies.& %a8ing them 8nown to s!acious earth and heaven, the holy nes revealed the !owers of /udra.


39/43

The mortal and, discerning in the distance, found Agni standing in the loftiest station.( @igh they a!!roached, one)minded, with their s!ouses, 8neeling to him adorale !aid worshi!.4riend finding in his own friendCs eye !rotection, they made their own the odies which theychastened.* 6oon as the holy eings had discovered the thrice)seven mystic things contained within thee,With these, one)minded, they !reserve the Amr>ta guard thou the life of all their !lants and cattle.

+ Thou, Agni, 8nower of menCs wor8s, hast sent us good food in constant course for our susistenceThou dee!ly s8illed in !aths of Gods ecamest an envoy never wearied, offering)earer. 9nowing the Law, the seven strong floods from heaven, full of good thought, discerned the doorsof riches.6aram5 found the cattleCs firm)uilt !rison wherey the race of man is still su!!orted.0 They who a!!roached all nole o!erations ma8ing a !ath that leads to life immortal,To e the -irdCs su!!ort, the s!acious mother, Aditi, and her great 6ons stood in !ower.1E When Gods immortal made oth eyes of heaven, they gave to him the gift of eauteous glory.

@ow they flow forth li8e rivers set in motion they 8new the /ed 6teeds coming down, Agni.

HYMN !XXIII. Agni.1. " who gives food, li8e !atrimonial riches and guides aright li8e some wise manCs instruction,Loved li8e a guest who lies in !leasant lodging,may he, as Priest, !ros!er his servantCs dwelling.2 "e who li8e 6avitar the God, true)minded !rotecteth with his !ower. all acts of vigour,Truthful, li8e s!lendour, glorified y many, li8e reath :oy)giving,all must strive to win him.# "e who on earth dwells li8e a 8ing surrounded y faithful friends, li8e a God all)sustaining,Li8e heroes who !reside, who sit in safety li8e as a lameless dame dear to her husand.& Thee, such, in settlements secure, Agni, our men serve ever 8indled in each dwelling.n him have they laid s!lendour in aundance dear to all men, earer e he of riches.( %ay thy rich worshi!!ers win food, Agni, and !rinces gain long life who ring olation.%ay we get ooty from our foe in attle, !resenting to the Gods their share for glory.

* The cows of holy law, sent us y "eaven, have swelled with laden udders, loudly lowing;6oliciting his favour, from a distance the rivers to the roc8 have flowed together.+ Agni, with thee, soliciting thy favour, the holy nes have gained glory in heaven.They made the @ight and 7awn of different colours, and set the lac8 and !ur!le hues together. %ay we and those who worshi! e the mortals whom thou, Agni, leadest on to riches.Thou hast filled earth and heaven and airCs mid)region, and followest the whole world li8e ashadow.0 Aided y thee, Agni, may we conDuer steeds with steeds, men with men, heroes with heroes,Lords of the wealth transmitted y our fathers and may our !rinces live a hundred winters.1E %ay these our hymns of !raise, Agni, rdainer, e !leasant to thee in thy heart and s!irit.%ay we have !ower to hold thy steeds of riches, laying on thee the God)sent gift of glory.

"?%@ LJJI'. Agni.

1. As forth to sacrifice we go, a hymn to a hymn let us say,Who hears us even when afar;2 Who, from of old, in carnage, when the !eo!le gathered, hath !reserved"is household for the worshi!!er.# And let men say, Agni is orn, e


40/43

These offered gifts, fair)shining ne.+ When, Agni, on thine emassage thou goest not a sound is heard of steed or straining of thy car. Aided y thee unin:ured, strong, one after other, goes he forthAgni, the offerer forward ste!s.0 And s!lendid strength, heroic, high, Agni, thou grantest from the Gods,Thou God, to him who offers gifts.

"?%@ LJJ'. Agni.

1. ABBPT our loudest)sounding hymn, food most delightful to the Gods,Pouring our offerings in thy mouth.2 @ow, Agni, will we say to thee, wisest and est A giras,ur !recious, much)availing !rayer.# Who, Agni, is thy 8in, of menN who is thy worthy worshi!!erNn whom de!endentN who art thouN& The 8insman, Agni, of man8ind, their well eloved 4riend art thou,A 4riend whom friends may su!!licate.

( -ring to us %itra, 'arun>a, ring the Gods to mighty sacrifice.-ring them, Agni, to thine home.

HYMN !XXVI. Agni.

1. "ow may the mind draw nigh to !lease thee, AgniN What hymn of !raise shall ring us greatestlessingNr who hath gained thy !ower y sacrificesN or with what mind shall we ring thee olationsN2 Bome hither, Agni; sit thee down as "otar; e thou who never wast deceived our leader.%ay "eaven and arth, the all)!ervading, love thee worshi! the Gods to win for us their favour.# -urn thou u! all the /58s>asas, Agni; ward thou off curses from our sacrifices.

-ring hither with his -ays the Lord of 6oma here is glad welcome for the -ounteous Giver.& Thou Priest with li! and voice that ring us children hast een invo8ed. "ere with the Gods eseated.Thine is the tas8 of Bleanser and Presenter wa8en us, Wealth)estower and Producer.( As with olations of the !riestly %anus thou worshi!!edst the Gods, a 6age with sages,6o now, truthfullest Invo8er Agni, worshi! this day with :oy)estowing ladle.

"?%@ LJJ'II. Agni.

1. "ow shall we !ay olation unto AgniN What hymn, Godloved, is said to him refulgentNWho, deathless, true to Law, mid men a herald, ringeth the Gods as est of sacrificersN

2 -ring him with reverence hither, most !ro!itious in sacrifices, true to Law, the herald;4or Agni, when he see8s the Gods for mortals, 8nows them full well and worshi!s them in s!irit.# 4or he is mental !ower, a man, and !erfect; he is the ringer, friend)li8e, of the wondrous.The !ious ryan tries at sacrifices address them first to him who doeth marvels.& %ay Agni, foe)destroyer, manliest "ero, acce!t with love our hymns and our devotion.6o may the lieral lords whose strength is strongest, urged y their riches, stir our thoughts withvigour.( Thus Agni M5tavedas, true to rder, hath y the !riestly Gotamas een lauded.%ay he augment in them s!lendour and vigour oservant, as he lists, he gathers increase.

"?%@ LJJ'III. Agni.1. MTA'7A6, 8een and swift, we Gotamas with sacred song e$alt thee for thy gloriesC sa8e.2 Thee, as thou art, desiring wealth Gotama worshi!s with his song


41/43

We laud thee for thy gloriesC sa8e.# As such, li8e A giras we call on thee est winner of the s!oilWe laud thee for thy gloriesC sa8e.& Thee, est of 'r>tra)slayers, thee who sha8est off our 7asyu foesWe laud thee for thy gloriesC sa8e.( A !leasant song to Agni we, sons of /ahKga a, have sung

We laud thee for thy gloriesC sa8e.

"?%@ LJJIJ. Agni.

1. " in mid)airCs e$!anse hath golden tresses; a raging ser!ent, li8e the rushing tem!estPurely refulgent, 8nowing well the morning; li8e honourale dames, true, active wor8ers.2 Thy well)winged flashes strengthen in their manner, when the lac8 -ull hath ellowed roundaout us.With dro!s that less and seem to smile he cometh the waters fall, the clouds utter their t

book 1 rigveda

Documents