Rig Veda, Book 1- Ralph T.H. Griffith

7/31/2019 Rig Veda, Book 1- Ralph T.H. Griffith

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The Rig Veda

Ralph T.H. Griffith, Translator

[1896]


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HYMN I. Agni.

1 I Laud Agni, the chosen Priest, God, minister of sacrifice,The hotar, lavishest of ealth.

! "orth# is Agni to $e %raised $# living as $# ancient seers.He shall $ring hitherard the Gods.

& Through Agni man o$taineth ealth, #ea, %lent# a'ing da# $# da#,

Most rich in heroes, glorious.( Agni, the %erfect sacrifice hich thou encom%assest a$out)eril# goeth to the Gods.

* Ma# Agni, sa%ient+minded Priest, truthful, most gloriousl# great,The God, come hither ith the Gods.

"hatever $lessing, Agni, thou ilt grant unto th# orshi%%er,That, A-giras, is indeed th# truth.

To thee, dis%eller of the night, / Agni, da# $# da# ith %ra#er0ringing thee reverence, e come

2uler of sacrifices, guard of La eternal, radiant /ne,Increasing in thine on a$ode.

3 0e to us eas# of a%%roach, even as a father to his son4Agni, $e ith us for our eal.


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HYMN II. )5#u.

1 06A7TI87L )5#u, come, for thee these 9oma dro%s have $een %re%ared4:rin; of them, hear;en to our call.

! come for our offered dainties? sa;e4The dro%s are #earning for #ou $oth.

* "ell do #e mar; li$ations, #e )5#u and Indra, rich in s%oil@9o come #e siftl# hitherard.

)5#u and Indra, come to hat the 9oma+%resser hath %re%ared49oon, Heroes, thus I ma;e m# %ra#er.

Mitra, of hol# strength, I call, and foe+destro#ing )arua,"ho ma;e the oil+fed rite com%lete.

Mitra and )arua, through La, lovers and cherishers of La,Have #e o$tained #our might %oer

3 /ur 9ages, Mitra+)arua, ide dominion, strong $# $irth,)ouchsafe us strength that or;eth ell.


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HYMN III. ABvins

1 Y6 ABvins, rich in treasure, Lords of s%lendour, having nim$le hands,Acce%t the sacrificial food.

! Ye ABvins, rich in ondrous deeds, #e heroes orth# of our %raise,Acce%t our songs ith might# thought.

& N5sat#as, onder+or;ers, #ours are these li$ations ith cli%t grass4

Come #e hose %aths are red ith flame.( / Indra marvellousl# $right, come, these li$ations long for thee,Thus $# fine fingers %urified.

* 7rged $# the hol# singer, s%ed $# song, come, Indra, to the %ra#ers,/f the li$ation+%ouring %riest.

A%%roach, / Indra, hasting thee, Lord of 0a# Horses, to the %ra#ers.In our li$ation ta;e delight.

Ye )iBvedevas, ho %rotect, reard, and cherish men, a%%roachYour orshi%%erDs drin;+offering.

Ye )iBvedevas, sift at or;, come hither Euic;l# to the draught,As milch+;ine hasten to their stalls.

3 The )iBvedevas, changing sha%e li;e ser%ents, fearless, void of guile,0earers, acce%t the sacred draught

1F "ealth# in s%oil, enriched ith h#mns, ma# $right 9arasvatdesire,"ith eager love, our sacrifice.

11 Inciter of all %leasant songs, ins%irer of all gracious thought,9arasvat acce%t our rite

1! 9arasvat, the might# flood,she ith her light illuminates,9he $rightens ever# %ious thought.
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HYMN I). Indra

1 As a good co to him ho mil;s, e call the doer of fair deeds,To our assistance da# $# da#.

! Come thou to our li$ations, drin; of 9oma> 9oma+drin;er thou@The rich /neDs ra%ture giveth ;ine.

& 9o ma# e $e acEuainted ith thine innermost $enevolence4

Neglect us not, come hitherard.( Go to the ise unconEuered /ne, as; thou of Indra, s;illed in song,Him ho is $etter than th# friends.

* "hether the men ho moc; us sa#, :e%art unto another %lace,Ye ho serve Indra and none else>

/r hether, God of ondrous deeds, all our true %eo%le call us $lest,9till ma# e dell in IndraDs care.

7nto the sift /ne $ring the sift, man+cheering, grace of sacrifice,That to the 8riend gives ings and =o#.

Thou, ata;ratu, dran;est this and ast the )Jtras? sla#er> thouHel%est the arrior in the fra#.

3 "e strengthen, ata;ratu, thee, #ea, thee the %oerful in fight,That, Indra, e ma# in us ealth.

1F To him the might# stream of ealth, %rom%t friend of him ho %ours the =uice,Yea, to this Indra sing #our song.


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HYMN ). Indra.

1 / C/M6 #e hither, sit #e don4 to Indra sing #e forth, #our song,com%anions, $ringing h#mns of %raise.

! To him the richest of the rich, the Lord of treasures e'cellent,Indra, ith 9oma =uice out%oured.

& Ma# he stand $# us in our need and in a$undance for our ealth4

Ma# he come nigh us ith his strength.( "hose %air of tan# horses #o;ed in $attles foemen challenge not4To him, to Indra sing #our song.

* Nigh to the 9oma+drin;er come, for his en=o#ment, these %ure dro%s,The 9omas mingled ith the curd.

Thou, gron at once to %erfect strength, ast $orn to drin; the 9oma =uice,9trong Indra, for %reKminence.

/ Indra, lover of the song, ma# these Euic; 9omas enter thee4Ma# the# $ring $liss to thee the 9age.

/ur chants of %raise have strengthened thee, / ata;ratu, and our lauds9o strengthen thee the songs e sing.

3 Indra, hose succour never fails, acce%t these viands thousandfold,"herein all manl# %oers a$ide.

1F / Indra, thou ho lovest song, let no man hurt our $odies, ;ee%9laughter far from us, for thou canst.


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HYMN )I. Indra.

1 The# ho stand round him as he moves harness the $right, the rudd# 9teedThe lights are shining in the s;#.

! /n $oth sides to the car the# #o;e the to $a# coursers dear to him,0old, tan#, $earers of the Chief.

& Thou, ma;ing light here no light as, and form, / men4 here form as not,

"ast $orn together ith the :ans.( Thereafter the#, as is their ont, thre off the state of $a$es un$orn,Assuming sacrificial names.

* Thou, Indra, ith the Tem%est+Gods, the $rea;ers don of hat is firm,8oundest the ;ine even in the cave.

"orshi%%ing even as the# list, singers laud him ho findeth ealth,The far+renoned, the might# /ne.

Ma#est thou veril# $e seen coming $# fearless IndraDs side40oth =o#ous, eEual in #our sheen.

"ith IndraDs ell $eloved hosts, the $lameless, hastening to heaven,The sacrificer cries aloud.

3 Come from this %lace, / "anderer, or donard from the light of heaven4/ur songs of %raise all #earn for this.

1F Indra e see; to give us hel%, from here, from heaven a$ove the earth,/r from the s%acious firmament.


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HYMN )II. Indra.

1 IN:2A the singers ith high %raise, Indra reciters ith their lauds,Indra the choirs have glorified.

! Indra hath ever close to him his to $a# steeds and ord+#o;ed car,Indra the golden, thunder+armed.

& Indra hath raised the 9un on high in heaven, that he ma# see afar4

He $urst the mountain for the ;ine.( Hel% us, / Indra, in the fra#s, #ea, fra#s, here thousand s%oils are gained,"ith aful aids, / aful /ne.

* In might# $attle e invo;e Indra, Indra in lesser fight,The 8riend ho $ends his $olt at fiends.

7nclose, our manl# Hero, thou for ever $ounteous, #onder cloud,8or us, thou irresisti$le.

9till higher, at each strain of mine, thunder+armed IndraDs %raises rise4I find no laud orth# of him.

6ven as the $ull drives on the herds, he drives the %eo%le ith his might,The 2uler irresisti$le4

3 Indra ho rules ith single sa# men, riches, and the fivefold race/f those ho dell u%on the earth.

1F 8or #our sa;e from each side e call Indra aa# from other men4/urs, and none others?, ma# he $e.


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HYMN )III. Indra.

1 IN:2A, $ring ealth that gives delight, the victorDs ever+conEuering ealth,Most e'cellent, to $e our aid>

! 0# means of hich e ma# re%el our foes in $attle hand to hand,0# thee assisted ith the car.

& Aided $# thee, the thunder+armed, Indra, ma# e lift u% the $olt,

And conEuer all our foes in fight.( "ith thee, / India, for all# ith missile+darting heroes, ma#"e conEuer our em$attled foes.

* Might# is Indra, #ea su%reme> greatness $e his, the Thunderer4"ide as the heaven e'tends his %oer

"hich aideth those to in them sons, ho come as heroes to the fight,/r singers loving hol# thoughts.

His $ell#, drin;ing dee%est draughts of 9oma, li;e an ocean sells,Li;e ide streams from the co%e of heaven.

9o also is his e'cellence, great, vigorous, rich in cattle, li;eA ri%e $ranch to the orshi%%er.

3 8or veril# th# might# %oers, Indra, are saving hel%s at once7nto a orshi%%er li;e me.

1F 9o are his lovel# gifts> let lauds and %raises $e to Indra sung,That he ma# drin; the 9oma =uice.


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HYMN I. Indra.

1 C/M6, Indra, and delight thee ith the =uice at all the 9oma feasts,Protector, might# in th# strength.

! To Indra %our #e forth the =uice, the active gladdening =uice to himThe gladdening, omnific God.

& / Lord of all men, fair of chee;, re=oice thee in the gladdening lauds,

Present at these drin;+offerings.( 9ongs have out%oured themselves to thee, Indra, the strong, the guardian Lord,And raised themselves unsatisfied.

* 9end to us $ount# manifold, / Indra, orth# of our ish,8or %oer su%reme is onl# thine.

/ Indra, stimulate thereto us emulousl# fain for ealth,And glorious, / most s%lendid /ne.

Give, Indra, ide and loft# fame, ealth# in cattle and in strength,Lasting our life+time, failing not.

Grant us high fame, / Indra, grant riches $estoing thousands, those8air fruits of earth $orne home in ains.

3 Praising ith songs the %raise+orth# ho cometh to our aid, e callIndra, the Treasure+Lord of ealth.

1F To loft# Indra, deller $# each li$ation, the %ious man9ings forth aloud a strengthening h#mn.


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HYMN . Indra.

1 TH6 chanters h#mn thee, the# ho sa# the ord of %raise magnif# thee.The %riests have raised thee u% on high, / ata;ratu, li;e a %ole.

! As u% he clom$ from ridge to ridge and loo;ed u%on the toilsome tas;,Indra o$serves this ish of his, and the 2ain hastens ith his troo%.

& Harness th# %air of strong $a# steeds, long+maned, hose $odies fill the girths,

And, Indra, 9oma+drin;er, come to listen to our songs of %raise.( Come hither, anser thou the song, sing in a%%roval, cr# aloud.Good Indra, ma;e our %ra#er succeed, and %ros%er this our sacrifice.* To Indra must a laud $e said, to strengthen him ho freel# gives,That a;ra ma# ta;e %leasure in our friendshi% and drin;+offerings. Him, him e see; for friendshi%, him for riches and heroic might.

8or Indra, he is a;ra, he shall aid us hile he gives us ealth. 6as# to turn and drive aa#, Indra, is s%oil $estoed $# thee.

7nclose the sta$le of the ;ine, and give us ealth / Thunder+armed The heaven and earth contain thee not, together, in th# rathful mood.

"in us the aters of the s;#, and send us ;ine a$undantl#.3 Hear, thou hose ear is Euic;, m# call> ta;e to thee readil# m# songs

/ Indra, let this laud of mine come nearer even than th# friend.1F "e ;no thee mightiest of all, in $attles hearer of our cr#.

/f thee most might# e invo;e the aid that giveth thousandfold.11 / Indra, 9on of


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HYMN II. Agni.

1 "6 choose Agni the messenger, the herald, master of all ealth,"ell s;illed in this our sacrifice.

! "ith callings ever the# invo;e Agni, Agni, Lord of the House,/$lation+$earer, much $eloved.

& 0ring the Gods hither, Agni, $orn for him ho stres the sacred grass4

Thou art our herald, meet for %raise.( "a;e u% the illing Gods, since thou, Agni, %erformest em$assage49it on the sacred grass ith Gods.

* / Agni, radiant /ne, to hom the hol# oil is %oured, $urn u%/ur enemies hom fiends %rotect.

0# Agni Agni is inflamed, Lord of the House, ise, #oung, ho $earsThe gift4 the ladle is his mouth.

Praise Agni in the sacrifice, the 9age hose a#s are ever true,The God ho driveth grief aa#.

God, Agni, $e his strong defence ho lord of sacrificial gifts,"orshi%%eth thee the messenger.

3 "hoso ith sacred gift ould fain call Agni to the feast of Gods,/ Purifier, favour him.

1F 9uch, Agni, Purifier, $right, $ring hither to our sacrifice,To our o$lation $ring the Gods.

11 9o lauded $# our neest song of %raise $ring o%ulence to us,And food, ith heroes for our sons.

1! / Agni, $# effulgent flame, $# all invo;ings of the Gods,9ho %leasure in this laud of ours.


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HYMN III. Agni

1 AGNI, ell+;indled, $ring the Gods for him ho offers hol# gifts."orshi% them, Purifier, Priest.

! 9on of Th#self, %resent, / 9age, our sacrifice to the Gods toda#.9eet to the taste, that the# ma# feast.

& :ear Nar5Basa, seet of tongue, the giver of o$lations, I

Invo;e to this our sacrifice.( Agni, on th# most eas# car, glorified, hither $ring the Gods4Manu a%%ointed thee as Priest.

* 9tre, / #e ise, the sacred grass that dri%s ith oil, in order due,"here the Immortal is $eheld.

Thron o%en $e the :oors :ivine, unfailing, that assist the rite,8or sacrifice this da# and no.

I call the lovel# Night and :an to seat them on the hol# grassAt this our solemn sacrifice.

The to Invo;ers I invite, the ise, divine and seet of tongue,To cele$rate this our sacrifice.

3 IO5, 9arasvat, Mah, three Goddesses ho $ring delight,0e seated, %eaceful, on the grass.

1F Tvaar I call, the earliest $orn, the earer of all forms at ill4Ma# he $e ours and ours alone.

11 God, 9ovran of the "ood, %resent this our o$lation to the Gods,And let the giver $e renoned.

1! "ith 9v5h5 %a# the sacrifice to Indra in the offererDs house4Thither I call the :eities.


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HYMN I). )iBvedevas.

1 To drin; the 9oma, Agni, come, to our service and our songs."ith all these Gods> and orshi% them.

! The the#, / 9inger, sing thee songs of %raiseAgni, come hither ith the Gods>

& Indra, )5#u, 0Jhas%ati, Mitra, Agni, PQan, 0haga,

Rdit#as, and the Marut host.( 8or #ou these =uices are %oured forth that gladden and e'hilarate,The meath+dro%s resting in the cu%.

* The sons of


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HYMN ). Stu.

1 / IN:2A drin; the 9oma =uice ith Stu> let the cheering dro%s9in; dee% ithin, hich settle there.

! :rin; from the PurifierDs cu%, Maruts, ith Stu> sanctif#The rite, for #e give %recious gifts.

& / Near, ith th# :ame acce%t our sacrifice> ith Stu drin;,

8or thou art he ho giveth ealth.( 0ring the Gods, Agni> in the three a%%ointed %laces set them don49urround them, and ith Stu drin;.

* :rin; 9oma after the Stus, from the 0r5hmaaDs $ount#4 undissolved,/ Indra, is th# friendshi%Ds $ond.

Mitra, )arua, #e hose a#s are firma Poer that none deceives,"ith Stu #e have reached the rite.

The 9oma+%ressers, fain for ealth, %raise the "ealth+giver in the rite,In sacrifices %raise the God.

Ma# the "ealth+giver grant to us riches that shall $e far renoned.These things e gain, among the Gods.

3 He ith the Stu fain ould drin;, "ealth+giver, from the NearDs $ol.Haste, give #our offering, and de%art.

1F As e this fourth time, "ealth+giver, honour thee ith the Stus, $eA Giver $ountiful to us.

11 :rin; #e the meath, / ABvins $right ith flames, hose acts are %ure, ho ithStus acce%t the sacrifice.

1! "ith Stu, through the house+fire, thou, ;ind Giver, guidest sacrifice4"orshi% the Gods for the %ious man.


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HYMN )I. Indra.

1 L6T th# 0a# 9teeds $ring thee, the 9trong, hither to drin; the 9oma draughtThose, Indra, ho are $right as suns.

! Here are the grains $edeed ith oil4 hither let the 0a# Coursers $ringIndra u%on his easiest car.

& Indra at earl# morn e call, Indra in course of sacrifice,

Indra to drin; the 9oma =uice.( Come hither, ith th# long+maned 9teeds, / Indra, to he draught e %our"e call thee hen the =uice is shed.

* Come thou to this our song of %raise, to the li$ation %oured for thee:rin; of it li;e a stag athirst.

Here are the dro%s of 9oma =uice e'%ressed on sacred grass4 thereof:rin;, Indra, to increase th# might.

"elcome to thee $e this our h#mn, reaching th# heart, most e'cellent4Then drin; the 9oma =uice e'%ressed.

To ever# draught of %ressed+out =uice Indra, the )Jtra+sla#er, comes,To drin; the 9oma for delight.

3 8ulfil, / ata;ratu, all our ish ith horses and ith ;ine4"ith hol# thoughts e sing th# %raise.


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HYMN )II. Indra+)arua

1 I C2A)6 hel% from the Im%erial Lords, from Indra+)arua> ma# the#0oth favour one of us li;e me.

! Guardians of men, #e ever come ith read# succour at the call/f ever# singer such as I.

& 9ate #ou, according to #our ish, / Indra+)arua, ith ealth4

8ain ould e have #ou nearest us.( Ma# e $e sharers of the %oers, sharers of the $enevolence/f #ou ho give strength $ounteousl#.

* Indra and )arua, among givers of thousands, meet for %raise,Are Poers ho merit highest laud.

Through their %rotection ma# e gain great store of ealth, and hea% it u%6nough and still to s%are, $e ours.

/ Indra+)arua, on #ou for ealth in man# a form I call49till ;ee% #e us victorious.

/ Indra+)arua, through our songs that see; to in #ou to ourselves,Give us at once #our sheltering hel%.

3 / Indra+)arua, to #ou ma# fair %raise hich I offer come,oint eulog# hich #e dignif#.


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HYMN )III. 0rahmaas%ati.

1 / 02RHMAUA9PATI, ma;e him ho %resses 9oma glorious,6ven


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HYMN I. Agni, Maruts.

1 To this fair sacrifice to drin; the mil;# draught thou art invo;ed4/ Agni, ith the Maruts come.

! No mortal man, no God e'ceeds th# mental %oer, / Might# one4/ Agni, ith the Maruts come4

& All Gods devoid of guile, ho ;no the might# region of mid+air4

/ Agni, ith those Maruts come.( The terri$le, ho sing their song, not to $e overcome $# might4/ Agni, ith those Maruts come.

* 0rilliant, and aful in their form, might#, devourers of their foes4/ Agni, ith those Maruts come.

"ho sit as :eities in heaven, a$ove the s;#+vaultDs luminous s%here4/ Agni, ith those Maruts come.

"ho scatter clouds a$out the s;#, aa# over the $illo# sea4/ Agni, ith those Maruts come.

"ho ith their $right $eams s%read them forth over the ocean in their might/ Agni, ith those Maruts come.

3 8or thee, to $e thine earl# draught, I %our the 9oma+mingled meath4/ Agni, ith the Maruts come.


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HYMN . S$hus.

1 8/2 the Celestial 2ace this song of %raise hich gives ealth lavishl#"as made $# singers ith their li%s.

! The# ho for Indra, ith their mind, formed horses harnessed $# a ord,Attained $# or;s to sacrifice.

& The# for the to N5sat#as rought a light car moving ever# a#4

The# formed a nectar+#ielding co.( The S$hus ith effectual %ra#ers, honest, ith constant la$our, madeTheir 9ire and Mother #oung again.

* Together came #our gladdening dro%s ith Indra $# the Maruts girt,"ith the Rdit#as, ith the


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HYMN I. Indra+Agni.

1 IN:2A and Agni I invo;e fain are e for their song of %raise4Chief 9oma+drin;ers are the# $oth.

! Praise #e, / men, and glorif# Indra+Agni in the hol# rites49ing %raise to them in sacred songs.

& Indra and Agni e invite, the 9oma+drin;ers, for the fame

/f Mitra, to the 9oma+draught.( 9trong Gods, e $id them come to this li$ation that stands read# here4Indra and Agni, come to us.

* Indra and Agni, might# Lords of our assem$l#, crush the fiends4Childless $e the devouring ones.

"atch #e, through this #our truthfulness, there in the %lace of s%acious vieIndra and Agni, send us $liss.


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HYMN II. ABvins and /thers

1 "A thrice his foot he %lanted, and the hole"as gathered in his footste%Ds dust.

1 )iu, the Guardian, he hom none deceiveth, made three ste%s> thenceforth6sta$lishing his high decrees.

13 Loo; #e on )iuDs or;s, here$# the 8riend of Indra, close+allied,Hath let his hol# a#s $e seen.

!F The %rinces evermore $ehold that loftiest %lace here )iu is,Laid as it ere an e#e in heaven.

!1 This, )iuDs station most su$lime, the singers, ever vigilant,Lovers of hol# song, light u%.


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HYMN III. )5#u and /thers.

1 9T2/NG are the 9omas> come thou nigh> these =uices have $een mi't ith mil;4:rin;, )5#u, the %resented draughts.

! 0oth :eities ho touch the heaven, Indra and )5#u e invo;eTo drin; of this our 9oma =uice.

& The singersD for their aid, invo;e Indra and )5#u, sift as mind,

The thousand+e#ed, the Lords of thought.( Mitra and )arua, renoned as Gods of consecrated might,"e call to drin; the 9oma =uice.

* Those ho $# La u%hold the La, Lords of the shining light of La,Mitra I call, and )arua.

Let )arua $e our chief defence, let Mitra guard us ith all aids0oth ma;e us rich e'ceedingl#.

Indra, $# Maruts girt, e call to drin; the 9oma =uice4 ma# he9ate him in union ith his troo%.

Gods, Marut hosts hom Indra leads, distri$uters of PQanDs gifts,Hear;en #e all unto m# cr#.

3 "ith conEuering Indra for all#, stri;e )Jtra don, #e $ounteous GodsLet not the ic;ed master us.

1F "e call the 7niversal Gods, and Maruts to the 9oma draught,8or %assing strong are PJBniDs 9ons.

11 8ierce comes the Maruts? thundering voice, li;e that of conEuerors, hen #e go8orard to victor#, / Men.

1! 0orn of the laughing lightning. ma# the Maruts guard us ever#hereMa# the# $e gracious unto 7s.

1& Li;e some lost animal, drive to us, $right PQan, him ho $ears u% heaven,2esting on man#+coloured grass.

1( PQan the 0right has found the give offs%ring and length of da#s> the Gods

9hall ;no me even as I am, and Indra ith the Sis, ;no.


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HYMN I). )arua and /thers.

1 "H/ no is he, hat God among Immortals, of hose aus%icious name e ma# $ethin; usV"ho shall to might# Aditi restore us, that I ma# see m# 8ather and m# MotherV

! Agni the God the first among the Immortals,of his aus%icious name let us $ethin; us.He shall to might# Aditi restore us, that I ma# see m# 8ather and m# Mother.

& To thee, / 9avitar, the Lord of %recious things, ho hel%est us

Continuall#, for our share e come( "ealth, highl# lauded ere re%roach hath fallen on it, hich is laid,8ree from all hatred, in th# hands

* Through th# %rotection ma# e come to even the height of affluence"hich 0haga hath dealt out to us.

Ne?er have those $irds that fl# through air attained to th# high dominion or th# might or s%irit>Nor these the aters that flo on for ever, nor hills, a$aters of the indDs ild fur#.

)arua, th# orshi%%er craves this ith his o$lation.)arua, sta# thou here and $e not angr#> steal not our life from us, / thou "ide+2uler.

1! Nightl# and dail# this one thing the# tell me, this too the thought of mine on heart re%eateth.Ma# he to hom %ra#ed fettered unaWBe%a, ma# he the 9ovran )arua release us.

1& 0ound to three %illars ca%tured unaWBe%a thus to the Rdit#a made his su%%lication.Him ma# the 9ovran )arua deliver, ise, ne?er deceived, loosen the $onds that $ind him.

1( "ith $ending don, o$lations, sacrifices, / )arua, e de%recate thine anger4"ise Asura, thou


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HYMN )I. Agni.

1 / "/2THY of o$lation, Lord of %ros%ering %oers, assume th# ro$es,And offer this our sacrifice.

! 9it ever to $e chosen, as our Priest, most #outhful, through our h#mns,/ Agni, through our heavenl# ord.

& 8or here a 8ather for his son,


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HYMN )II. Agni.

1 "ITH orshi% ill I glorif# thee, Agni, li;e a long+tailed steed,Im%erial Lord of sacred rites.

! Ma# the far+striding 9on of 9trength, $ringer of great felicit#,"ho %ours his gifts li;e rain, $e ours.

& Lord of all life, from near> from far, do thou, / Agni evermore

Protect us from the sinful man.( / Agni, graciousl# announce this our o$lation to the Gods,And this our neest song of %raise.

* Give us a share of strength most high, a share of strength that is $elo,A share of strength that is $eteen.

Thou dealest gifts, res%lendent /ne> nigh, as ith aves of 9indhu, thou9ift streamest to the orshi%%er.

That man is lord of endless strength hom thou %rotectest in the fight,Agni, or urgest to the fra#.

Him, hosoever he ma# $e, no man ma# vanEuish, might# /ne4Na#, ver# glorious %oer is his.

3 Ma# he ho dells ith all man;ind $ear us ith ar+steeds through the fight,And ith the singers in the s%oil.

1F Hel%, thou ho ;noest lauds, this or;, this eulog# to 2udra, himAdora$le in ever# house.

11 Ma# this our God, great, limitless, smo;e+$annered e'cellentl# $right,7rge us to strength and hol# thought.

1! Li;e some rich Lord of men ma# he, Agni the $anner of the Gods,2efulgent, hear us through our lauds.

1& Glor# to Gods, the might# and the lesser glor# to Gods the #ounger and the elder@Let us, if e have %oer, %a# the God orshi%4 no $etter %ra#er than this, #e Gods, ac;noledge.


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HYMN )III. Indra, 6tc.

1 TH626 here the $road+$ased stone raised on high to %ress the =uices out,/ Indra, drin; ith eager thirst the dro%%ings hich the mortar sheds.

! "here, li;e $road hi%s, to hold the =uice the %latters of the %ress are laid,/ Indra, drin; ith eager thirst the dro%%ings hich the mortar sheds.

& There here the oman mar;s and leans the %estleDs constant rise and fall,

/ Indra, drin; ith eager thirst the dro%%ings hich the mortar sheds.( "here, as ith reins to guide a horse, the# $ind the churning+staff ith cords,/ Indra, drin; ith eager thirst the dro%%ings hich the mortar sheds.

* If of a truth in ever# house, / Mortar thou art set for or;,Here give thou forth th# clearest sound, loud as the drum of conEuerors.

/ 9ovran of the 8orest, as the ind $los soft in front of thee,Mortar, for Indra %ress thou forth the 9oma =uice that he ma# drin;.

0est strength+givers, #e stretch ide =as, / 9acrificial Im%lements,Li;e to $a# horses cham%ing her$s.

Ye 9ovrans of the 8orest, $oth sift, ith sift %ressers %ress to+da#9eet 9oma =uice for IndraDs drin;.

3 Ta;e u% in $ea;ers hat remains4 the 9oma on the filter %our,and on the o'+hide set the dregs.


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HYMN I. Indra.

1 / 9/MA :2IN


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HYMN . Indra.

1 "6 see;ing strength ith 9oma+dro%s fill full #our Indra li;e a ell,Most li$eral, Lord of Hundred Poers,

! "ho lets a hundred of the %ure, a thousand of the mil;+$lent draughts8lo, even as don a de%th, to him>

& "hen for the strong, the ra%turous =o# he in this manner hath made room

"ithin his $ell#, li;e the sea.( This is thine on. Thou draest near, as turns a %igeon to his mate4Thou carest too for this our %ra#er.

* / Hero, Lord of 0ounties, %raised in h#mns, ma# %oer and =o#fulness0e his ho sings the laud to thee.

Lord of a Hundred Poers, stand u% to lend us succour in this fightIn others too let us agree.

In ever# need, in ever# fra# e call as friends to succour usIndra the mightiest of all.

If he ill hear us let him come ith succour of a thousand ;inds,And all that strengthens, to our call.

3 I call him might# to resist, the Hero of our ancient home,Thee hom m# sire invo;ed of old.

1F "e %ra# to thee, / much+invo;ed, rich in all %recious gifts, / 8riend, thus, 8riend, ho ieldest thunder, actTo aid each ish as e desire.

1& "ith Indra s%lendid feasts $e ours, rich in all strengthening things hereith,"ealth# in food, e ma# re=oice.

1( Li;e thee, th#self, the singersD 8riend, thou movest, as it ere, $esought,0old /ne, the a'le of the car.

1* That, ata;ratu, thou to grace and %lease th# %raisers, as it ere,9tirrest the a'le ith th# strength.

1 "ith cham%ing, neighing loudl#+snorting horses Indra hath ever on himself great treasuresA car of gold hath he hose deeds are ondrous received from us, and let us too receive it.

1 Come, ABvins, ith enduring strength ealth# in horses and in ;ine,And gold, / #e of ondrous deeds.

1 Your chariot #o;ed for $oth ali;e, immortal, #e of might# acts,Travels, / ABvins, in the sea.

13 High on the forehead of the 0ull one chariot heel #e ever ;ee%,The other round the s;# revolves.

!F "hat mortal, / immortal :an, en=o#eth theeV "here lovest thouVTo hom, / radiant, dost thou goV

!1 8or e have had thee in our thoughts hether anear or far aa#,2ed+hued and li;e a da%%led mare.

!! Hither, / :aughter of the 9;#, come thou ith these th# strengthenings,And send thou riches don to us.


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HYMN I. Agni.

1 Thou, Agni, ast the earliest A-giras, a 9eer> thou ast, a God th#self, the Gods? aus%icious 8riend.After th# hol# ordinance the Maruts, sage, active through isdom, ith their glittering s%ears, ere $orn.

! / Agni, thou, the $est and earliest A-giras, fulfillest as a 9age the hol# la of Gods.9%rung from to mothers, ise, through all e'istence s%read, resting in man# a %lace for sa;e of living man.

& To M5tariBvan first thou, Agni, ast disclosed, and to )ivasv5n through th# no$le inard %oer.

Heaven and 6arth, )asu@ shoo; at the choosing of the Priest4 the $urthen thou didst $ear, didst orshi% might# Gods.( Agni thou madest heaven to thunder for man;ind> thou, #et more %ious, for %ious PurQravas."hen thou art ra%idl# freed from th# %arents, first eastard the# $ear thee round, and, after, to the est.

* Thou, Agni, art a 0ull ho ma;es our store increase, to $e invo;ed $# him ho lifts the ladle u%."ell ;noing the o$lation ith the halloing ord, uniting all ho live, thou lightenest first our fol;

Agni, thou savest in the s#nod hen %ursued e?en him, farseeing /ne@ ho al;s in evil a#s.Thou, hen the heroes fight for s%oil hich men rush, round, sla#est in ar the man# $# the hands of fe.

8or glor#, Agni, da# $# da#, thou liftest u% the mortal man to highest immortalit#,6ven thou ho #earning for $oth races givest them great $liss, and to the %rince grantest a$undant food.

/ Agni, highl# lauded, ma;e our singer famous that he ma# in us store of riches4Ma# e im%rove the rite ith ne %erformance. / 6arth and Heaven, ith all the Gods, %rotect us.

3 / $lameless Agni l#ing in th# ParentsD la%, a God among the Gods, $e atchful for our good.8ormer of $odies, $e the singerDs Providence4 all good things hast thou son for him, aus%icious /ne@1F Agni, thou art our Providence, our 8ather thou4 e are th# $rethren and thou art our s%ring of life.In thee, rich in good heroes, guard of high decrees, meet hundred, thousand treasures, / infalli$le@

11 Thee, Agni, have the Gods made the first living /ne for living man, Lord of the house of Nahua.IO5 the# made the teacher of the sons of men, hat time a 9on as $orn to the father of m# race.

1! "orth# to $e revered, / Agni, God, %reserve our ealth# %atrons ith th# succours, and ourselves.Guard of our seed art thou, aiding our cos to $ear, incessantl# %rotecting in th# hol# a#.

1& Agni, thou art a guard close to the %ious man> ;indled art thou, four+e#ed@ for him ho is unarmed."ith fond heart thou acce%test e?en the %oor manDs %ra#er, hen he hath $rought his gift to gain securit#.

1( Thou, Agni gainest for the loudl#+%raising %riest the highest ealth, the o$=ect of a manDs desire.Thou art called 8ather, caring even for the ea;, and isest, to the sim%le one thou teachest lore.

1* Agni, the man ho giveth guerdon to the %riests, li;e ell+sen armour thou guardest on ever# side.He ho ith grateful food shos ;indness in his house, an offerer to the living, is the t#%e of heaven.

1 Pardon, e %ra#, this sin of ours, / Agni,the %ath hich e have trodden, idel# stra#ing,:ear 8riend and 8ather, caring for the %ious, ho s%eedest nigh and ho ins%irest mortals.

1 As erst to Manus, to Ya#5ti, A-giras, so A-giras@ %ure Agni@ come thou to our hall.0ring hither the celestial host and seat them here u%on the sacred grass, and offer hat the# love.

1 0# this our %ra#er $e thou, / Agni, strengthened, %ra#er made $# us after our %oer and ;noledge.Lead thou us, therefore, to increasing riches> endo us ith th# strength+$estoing favour.


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HYMN II. Indra.

1 I "ILL declare the manl# deeds of Indra, the first that he achieved, the Thunder+ielder.He sle the :ragon, then disclosed the aters, and cleft the channels of the mountain torrents.! He sle the :ragon l#ing on the mountain4 his heavenl# $olt of thunder Tvaar fashioned.

Li;e loing ;ine in ra%id flo descending the aters glided donard to the ocean.& Im%etuous as a $ull, he chose the 9oma and in three sacred $ea;ers dran; the =uices.

Maghavan gras%ed the thunder for his ea%on, and smote to death this first$orn of the dragons.( "hen, Indra, thou hadst slain the dragonDs first$orn, and overcome the charms of the enchanters,Then, giving life to 9un and :an and Heaven, thou foundest not one foe to stand against thee.

* Indra ith his on great and deadl# thunder smote into %ieces )Jtra, orst of )Jtras.As trun;s of trees, hat time the a'e hath felled them, lo on the earth so lies the %rostrate :ragon.

He, li;e a mad ea; arrior, challenged Indra, the great im%etuous man#+sla#ing Hero.He, $roo;ing not the clashing of the ea%ons, crushedIndraDs foethe shattered forts in falling.

8ootless and handless still he challenged Indra, ho smote him ith his $olt $eteen the shoulders.6masculate #et claiming manl# vigour, thus )Jtra la# ith scattered lim$s dissevered. There as he lies li;e a $an;+$ursting river, the aters ta;ing courage flo a$ove him.

The :ragon lies $eneath the feet of torrents hich )Jtra ith his greatness had encom%assed.3 Then hum$led as the strength of )JtraDs mother4 Indra hath cast his deadl# $olt against her.

The mother as a$ove, the son as under and li;e a co $eside her calf la# :anu.1F 2olled in the midst of never+ceasing currents floing ithout a rest for ever onard.

The aters $ear off )JtraDs nameless $od#4 the foe of Indra san; to during dar;ness.11 Guarded $# Ahi stood the thralls of :5sas, the aters sta#ed li;e ;ine held $# the ro$$er.0ut he, hen he had smitten )Jtra, o%ened the cave herein the floods had $een im%risoned.1! A horseDs tail ast thou hen he, / Indra, smote on th# $olt> thou, God ithout a second,

Thou hast on $ac; the ;ine, hast on the 9oma> thou hast let loose to flo the 9even 2ivers.1& Nothing availed him lightning, nothing thunder, hailstorm or mist hich had s%read around him4

"hen Indra and the :ragon strove in $attle, Maghavan gained the victor# for ever.1( "hom saest thou to avenge the :ragon, Indra, that fear %ossessed th# heart hen thou hadst slain him>

That, li;e a ha; affrighted through the regions, thou crossedst nine+and+ninet# floing riversV1* Indra is


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HYMN III. Indra.

1 Come, fain for $oot# let us see; to Indra4 #et more shall he increase his care that guides us."ill not the Indestructi$le endo us ith %erfect ;noledge of this ealth, of cattleV

! I fl# to him invisi$le "ealth+giver as flies the falcon to his cherished e#rie,"ith fairest h#mns of %raise adoring Indra, hom those ho laud him must invo;e in $attle.

& Mid all his host, he $indeth on the Euiver4 he driveth cattle from hat foe he %leaseth4

Gathering u% great store of riches, Indra. $e thou no traffic;er ith us, most might#.( Thou sleest ith th# $olt the ealth# :as#u, alone, #et going ith th# hel%ers, Indra@8ar from the floor of heaven in all directions, the ancient riteless ones fled to destruction.* 8ighting ith %ious orshi%%ers, the riteless turned and fled, Indra@ ith averted faces.

"hen thou, fierce Lord of the 0a# 9teeds, the 9ta#er, $leest from earth and heaven and s;# the godless. The# met in fight the arm# of the $lameless4 then the Navagvas %ut forth all their %oer.

The#, li;e emasculates ith men contending, fled, conscious, $# stee% %aths from Indra, scattered. "hether the# ee% or laugh, thou hast o?erthron them, / Indra, on the s;#Ds e'tremest limit.

The :as#u thou hast $urned from heaven, and elcomed the %ra#er of him ho %ours the =uice and lauds thee. Adorned ith their arra# of gold and =eels, the# o?er the earth a covering veil e'tended.

Although the# hastened, the# o?ercame not Indra4 their s%ies he com%assed ith the 9un of morning.3 As thou en=o#est heaven and earth, / Indra, on ever# side surrounded ith th# greatness,

9o thou ith %riests hast $lon aa# the :as#u, and those ho orshi% not ith those ho orshi%.1F The# ho %ervaded earthDs e'tremest limit su$dued not ith their charms the "ealth+$estoer4

Indra, the 0ull, made his all# the thunder, and ith its light mil;ed cos from out the dar;ness.11 The aters floed according to their nature> he raid the naviga$le streams a'ed might#.

Then Indra, ith his s%irit concentrated, smote him for ever ith his strongest ea%on.1! Indra $ro;e through Il$iBaDs strong castles, and ua ith his horn he cut to %ieces4

Thou, Maghavan, for all his might and siftness, sleest th# fighting foeman ith th# thunder1& 8ierce on his enemies fell IndraDs ea%on4 ith. his shar% $ull he rent their forts in %ieces.

He ith his thunder$olt dealt $los on )Jtra> and conEuered, e'ecuting all his %ur%ose.1( Indra, thou hel%est


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HYMN I). ABvins.

1 Ye ho o$serve this da# $e ith us even thrice4 far+stretching is #ou $ount#, ABvins and #our course.To #ou, as to a cloa; in inter, e cleave close4 #ou are to $e dran nigh unto us $# the ise.

! Three are the fellies in #our hone#+$earing car, that travels after 9omaDs loved one, as all ;no.Three are the %illars set u%on it for su%%ort4 thrice =ourne# #e $# night, / ABvins, thrice $# da#.

& Thrice in the self+same da#, #e Gods ho $anish ant, s%rin;le #e thrice to+da# our sacrifice ith meath>

And thrice vouchsafe us store of food ith %lenteous strength, at evening, / #e ABvins, and at $rea; of da#.( Thrice come #e to our home, thrice to the righteous fol;, thrice tri%l# aid the man ho ell deserves #our hel%.Thrice, / #e ABvins, $ring us hat shall ma;e us glad> thrice send us store of food as nevermore to fail.

* Thrice, / #e ABvins, $ring to us a$undant ealth4 thrice in the Gods? assem$l#, thrice assist our thoughts.Thrice, grant #e us %ros%erit#, thrice grant us fame> for the 9unDs daughter hath mounted #our three+heeled car. Thrice, ABvins, grant to us the heavenl# medicines, thrice those of earth and thrice those that the aters hold,

8avour and health and strength $esto u%on m# son> tri%le %rotection, Lords of 9%lendour, grant to him. Thrice are #e to $e orshi%%ed da# $# da# $# us4 thrice, / #e ABvins, #e travel around the earth.

Car+$orne from far aa#, / #e N5sat#as, come, li;e vital air to $odies, come #e to the three. Thrice, / #e ABvins, ith the 9even Mother 9treams> three are the =ars, the tri%le offering is %re%ared.

Three are the orlds, and moving on a$ove the s;# #e guard the firm+set vault of heaven through da#s and nights.3 "here are the three heels of #our tri%le chariot, here are the three seats thereto firml# fastenedV

"hen ill #e #o;e the might# ass that dras it, to $ring #ou to our sacrifice. N5sat#asV1F N5sat#as, come4 the sacred gift is offered u%> drin; the seet =uice ith li%s that ;no the seetness ell.

9avitar sends, $efore the dan of da#, #our car, fraught ith oil, various+coloured, to our sacrifice.11 Come, / N5sat#as, ith the thrice+eleven Gods> come, / #e ABvins, to the drin;ing of the meath.

Ma;e long our da#s of life, and i%e out all our sins4 ard off our enemies> $e ith us evermore.1! 0orne in #our tri%le car, / ABvins, $ring us %resent %ros%erit# ith no$le offs%ring.

I cr# to #ou ho hear me for %rotection $e #e our hel%ers here men in the $oot#.


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HYMN ). 9avitar.

1 AGNI I first invo;e for our %ros%erit#> I call on Mitra, )arua, to aid us here.I call on Night ho gives rest to all moving life> I call on 9avitar the God to lend us hel%.! Throughout the dus;# firmament advancing, la#ing to rest the immortal and the mortal,

0orne in his golden chariot he cometh, 9avitar, God ho loo;s on ever# creature.& The God moves $# the u%ard %ath, the donard> ith to $right 0a#s, adora$le, he =ourne#s.

9avitar comes, the God from the far distance, and chases from us all distress and sorro.( His chariot dec;ed ith %earl, of various colours, loft#, ith golden %ole, the God hath mounted,The man#+ra#ed /ne, 9avitar the hol#, $ound, $earing %oer and might, for dar;some regions.* :raing the gold+#o;ed car his 0a#s, hite+footed, have manifested light to all the %eo%les.

Held in the la% of 9avitar, divine /ne, all men, all $eings have their %lace for ever. Three heavens there are> to 9avitarDs, ad=acent4 in YamaDs orld is one, the home of heroes,

As on a linch+%in, firm, rest things immortal4 he ho hath ;non it let him here declare it. He, strong of ing, hath lightened u% the regions, dee%+Euivering Asura, the gentle Leader."here no is 9Qr#a, here is one to tell us to hat celestial s%here his ra# hath anderedV

The earthDs eight %oints his $rightness hath illumined, three desert regions and the 9even 2ivers.God 9avitar the gold+e#ed hath come hither, giving choice treasures unto him ho orshi%s.

3 The golden+handed 9avitar, far+seeing, goes on his a# $eteen the earth and heaven,:rives aa# sic;ness, $ids the 9un a%%roach us, and s%reads the $right s;# through the dar;some region.

1F Ma# he, gold+handed Asura, ;ind Leader, come hither to us ith his hel% and favour.:riving off 25;asas and Y5tudh5nas, the God is %resent, %raised in h#mns at evening.

11 / 9avitar, thine ancient dustless %atha#s are ell esta$lished in the airDs mid+region4/ God, come $# those %aths so fair to travel, %reserve thou us from harm this da#, and $less us.


37/193

HYMN )I. Agni.

1 "ITH ords sent forth in hol# h#mns, Agni e su%%licate, the Lord/f man# families ho dul# serve the Gods, #ea, him hom others also %raise.

! Men have on Agni, him ho ma;es their strength a$ound4 e, ith o$lations, orshi% thee./ur gracious+minded Hel%er in our deeds of might, $e thou, / 6'cellent, this da#.

& Thee for our messenger e choose, thee, the /mniscient, for our Priest.

The flames of thee the might# are s%read ide around4 th# s%lendour reaches to the s;#.( The Gods en;indle thee their ancient messenger,)arua, Mitra, Ar#aman.That mortal man, / Agni, gains through thee all ealth, ho hath %oured offerings unto thee.

* Thou, Agni, art a cheering Priest, Lord of the House, menDs messenger4All constant high decrees esta$lished $# the Gods, gathered together, meet in thee. In thee, the aus%icious /ne, / Agni, #outhfullest, each sacred gift is offered u%4

This da#, and after, gracious, orshi% thou our Gods, that e ma# have heroic sons. To him in his on s%lendour $right dra near in orshi% the devout.Men ;indle Agni ith their sacrificial gifts, victorious o?er the enemies.

)Jtra the# smote and sle, and made the earth and heaven and firmament a ide a$ode.The glorious 0ull, invo;ed, hath stood at shine, $est entertainer of the Gods."orth# of sacred food, %raised Agni@ loose the smo;e, rudd# and $eautiful to see.

1F 0earer of offerings, hom, $est sacrificing Priest, the Gods for ManuDs sa;e ordained>"hom


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HYMN )II. Maruts.

1 9ING forth, /


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HYMN )III. Maruts.

1 "HAT noV "hen ill #e ta;e us $# $oth hands, as a dear sire his son,Gods, for hom sacred grass is cli%%edV

! No hitherV To hat goal of #ours go #e in heaven, and not on earthV"here do #our cos dis%ort themselvesV

& "here are #our neest favours shonV "here, Maruts, #our %ros%erit#V

"here all #our high felicitiesV( If, / #e Maruts, #e the 9ons hom PJBni $ore, ere mortal, andImmortal he ho sings #our %raise.

* Then never ere #our %raiser loathed li;e a ild $east in %asture+land,Nor should he go on YamaDs %ath.

Let not destructive %lague on %lague hard to $e conEuered, stri;e its don4Let each, ith drought, de%art from us.

Trul#, the# the fierce and might# 9ons of 2udra send their indless2ain e?en on the desert %laces.

Li;e a co the lightning los and follos, motherli;e, her #oungling,"hen their rain+flood hath $een loosened.

3 "hen the# inundate the earth the# s%read forth dar;ness e?en in da# time,"ith the ater+laden rain+cloud.

1F / Maruts, at #our voiceDs sound this earthl# ha$itation sha;es,And each man reels ho dells therein.

11 / Maruts, ith #our strong+hoofed steeds, unhindered in their courses, hasteAlong the $right em$an;ed streams.

1! 8irm $e the fellies of #our heels, stead# #our horses and #our cars,And ma# #our reins $e fashioned ell.

1& Invite thou hither ith this song, for %raise, Agni the Lord of Pra#er,Him ho is fair as Mitra is.

1( 8orm in th# mouth the h#mn of %raise e'%and thee li;e, a rain# cloud9ing forth the measured eulog#.

1* 9ing glor# to the Marut host, %raiseorth#, tuneful, vigorous4Here let the 9trong /nes dell ith us.


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HYMN I Maruts.

1 "H6N thus, li;e flame, from far aa#, Maruts, #e cast #our measure forth,To hom go Ye, to hom, / sha;ers of the earth, moved $# hose isdom, hose designV

! 9trong let #our ea%ons $e to drive aa# #our foes, firm for resistance let them $e.Yea, %assing glorious must $e #our arrior might, not as a guileful mortalDs strength.

& "hen hat is strong #e overthro, and hirl a$out each %onderous thing,

Heroes, #our course is through the forest trees of earth, and through the fissures of the roc;s.( Consumers of #our foes, no enem# of #ours is found in heaven or on the earth4Ye 2udras, ma# the strength, held in this $ond, $e #ours, to $id defiance even no.

* The# ma;e the mountains roc; and reel, the# rend the forest+;ings a%art./nard, #e Maruts, drive, li;e creatures drun; ith ine, #e, Gods ith all #our com%an#.

Ye to #our chariot have #o;ed the s%otted deer4 a red deer, as a leader, dras.6ven the 6arth herself listened as #e came near, and men ere sorel# terrified.

/ 2udras, Euic;l# e desire #our succour for this or; of ours.Come to us ith #our aid as in the da#s of old, so no for frightened


41/193

HYMN L. 0rahmaas%ati

1 / 02AHMAUA9PATI, stand u%4 God+serving men e %ra# to thee.Ma# the# ho give good gifts, the Maruts, come to us. Indra, most sift, $e thou ith them.

! / 9on of 9trength, each mortal calls to thee for aid hen s%oil of $attle aits for him./ Maruts, ma# this man ho loves #ou ell o$tain ealth of good steeds and hero might.

& Ma# 0rahmaas%ati dra nigh, ma# 9QnJt5 the Goddess come,

And Gods $ring to this rite hich gives the five+fold gift the Hero, lover of man;ind.( He ho $estos a no$le guerdon on the %riest ins fame that never shall deca#.8or him e offer sacred hero+giving food, %eerless and conEuering easil#.

* No 0rahmaas%ati s%ea;s forth aloud the solemn h#mn of %raise,"herein Indra and )arua, Mitra, Ar#aman, the Gods, have made their delling %lace.

Ma# e in hol# s#nods, Gods@ recite that h#mn, %eerless, that $rings felicit#.If #ou, / Heroes, graciousl# acce%t this ord, ma# it o$tain all $liss from #ou. "ho shall a%%roach the %iousV ho the man hose sacred grass is trimmedV

The offerer ith his fol; advances more and more4 he fills his house ith %recious things. He am%lifies his lordl# might, ith ;ings he sla#s4 e?en mid alarms he dells secure

In great or lesser fight none chec;s him, none su$dues,the ielder of the thunder$olt.


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HYMN LI. )arua, Mitra, Ar#aman.

1 N6?62 is he in=ured hom the Gods )arua, Mitra, Ar#aman,The e'cellentl# ise, %rotect.

! He %ros%ers ever, free from scathe, hom the#, as ith full hands, enrich,"hom the# %reserve from ever# foe.

& The


43/193

HYMN LII. PQan.

1 9H/2T6N our a#s, / PQan, move aside o$struction in the %ath4Go close $efore us, cloud+$orn God.

! :rive, PQan, from our road the olf, the ic;ed inaus%icious olf,"ho lies in ait to in=ure us.

& "ho lur;s a$out the %ath e ta;e, the ro$$er ith a guileful heart4

8ar from the road chase him aa#.( Tread ith th# foot and tram%le out the fire$rand of the ic;ed one,The dou$le+tongued, hoe?er he $e.

* "ise PQan, "onder+"or;er, e claim of thee no the aid hereithThou furtheredst our sires of old.

9o, Lord of all %ros%erit#, $est ielder of the golden sord,Ma;e riches eas# to $e on.

Past all %ursuers lead us, ma;e %leasant our %ath and fair to tread4/ PQan, find thou %oer for this.

Lead us to meados rich in grass4 send on our a# no earl# heat4/ PQan, find thou %oer for this.

3 0e gracious to us, fill us full, give, feed us, and invigorate4/ PQan, find thou %oer for this.

1F No $lame have e for PQan> him e magnif# ith songs of %raise4"e see; the Might# /ne for ealth.


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HYMN LIII. 2udra.

1 "HAT shall e sing to 2udra, strong, most $ounteous, e'cellentl# ise,That shall $e dearest to his heartV

! That Aditi ma# grant the grace of 2udra to our fol;, our ;ine,/ur cattle and our %rogen#>

& That Mitra and that )arua, that 2udra ma# remem$er us,

Yea, all the Gods ith one accord.( To 2udra Lord of sacrifice, of h#mns and $alm# medicines,"e %ra# for =o# and health and strength.

* He shines in s%lendour li;e the 9un, refulgent as $right gold is he,The good, the $est among the Gods.

Ma# he grant health into our steeds, ell$eing to our rams and ees,To men, to omen, and to ;ine.

/ 9oma, set thou u%on us the glor# of a hundred men,The great renon of might# chiefs.

Let not malignities, nor those ho trou$le 9oma, hinder us.Indu, give us a share of strength.

3 9oma@ head, central %oint, love these> 9oma@ ;no these as serving thee,Children of thee Immortal, at the highest %lace of hol# la.


45/193

HYMN LI). Agni.

1 IMM/2TAL 5tavedas, thou man#+hued fulgent gift of :an,Agni, this da# to him ho %a#s o$lations $ring the Gods ho a;en ith the morn.

! 8or thou art offering+$earer and loved messenger, the charioteer of sacrifice4Accordant ith the ABvins and ith :an grant us heroic strength and loft# fame.

& As messenger e choose to+da# Agni the good hom man# love,

9mo;e+$annered s%reader of the light, at $rea; of da# glor# of sacrificial rites.( Him no$lest and most #outhful, richl# orshi%%ed guest, dear to the men ho offer gifts,Him, Agni 5tavedas, I $eseech at dan that he ma# $ring the Gods to us.

* Thee, Agni, ill I glorif#, deathless nourisher of the orld,Immortal, offering+$earer, meet for sacred food, %reserver, $est at sacrifice.

Tell good things to th# %raiser, / most #outhful God, as richl# orshi%%ed, hone#+tongued,And, granting to Pras;ava lengthened da#s of life, sho honour to the Heavenl# Host.

8or the men, Agni, ;indle thee as all %ossessor and as Priest>9o Agni, much+invo;ed, $ring hither ith all s%eed the Gods, the e'cellentl# ise,

At dan of da#, at night, 7as and 9avitar, the ABvins, 0haga, AgniDs self49;illed in fair rites, ith 9oma %oured, the


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HYMN L). Agni.

1 "/29HIP the )asus, Agni@ here, the 2udras, the Rdit#as, all"ho s%ring from Manu, those ho ;no fair rites, ho %our their $lessings don.

! Agni, the Gods ho understand give ear unto the orshi%%er4Lord of 2ed 9teeds, ho lovest song, $ring thou those Three+and+Thirt# Gods.

& / 5tavedas, great in act, hear;en thou to Pras;avaDs call,

As Pri#amedha erst as heard, Atri, )irQ%a, A-giras.( The sons of Pri#amedha s;illed in loft# %raise have called for hel%/n Agni ho ith fulgent flame is 2uler of all hol# rites.

* Hear thou, invo;ed ith hol# oil, $ountiful giver of reards,These eulogies, here$# the sons of


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HYMN L)I. ABvins.

1 No Morning ith her earliest light shines forth, dear :aughter of the 9;#4High, ABvins, I e'tol #our %raise,

! 9ons of the 9ea, might# to save discoverers of riches, #eGods ith dee% thought ho find out ealth.

& Your giant coursers hasten on over the region all in flames,

"hen #our car flies ith inged steeds.( He, li$eral, lover of the flood, Lord of the House, the vigilant,Chiefs@ ith o$lations feeds #ou full.

* Ye have regard unto our h#mns, N5sat#as, thin;ing of our ords4:rin; $oldl# of the 9oma =uice.

)ouchsafe to us, / ABvin Pair, such strength as, ith attendant light,Ma# through the dar;ness carr# us.

Come in the shi% of these our h#mns to $ear #ou to the hither shore/ ABvins, harness #e the car.

The heavenDs ide vessel is #our on on the floodDs shore #our chariot aits:ro%s, ith the h#mn, have $een %re%ared.

3 the ealth is at the atersD %lace4"here ill #e manifest #our formV

1F Light came to lighten u% the $ranch, the 9un a%%eared as it ere gold4And ith its tongue shone forth the dar;.

11 The %ath of sacrifice as made to travel to the farther goal4The road of heaven as manifest.

1! The singer of their %raise aaits hatever grace the ABvins give,ho save hen 9oma gladdens them.

1& Ye dellers ith )ivasv5n come, aus%icious, as to Manu erst>come to the 9oma and our %raise.

1( / circumam$ient ABvins, :an follos the $rightness of #our a#4A%%rove ith $eams our solemn rites.

1* :rin; #e of our li$ations, grant %rotection, / #e ABvins Tain,"ith aids hich none ma# interru%t.


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HYMN L)II. ABvins.

1 A)IN9, for #ou ho strengthen La this seetest 9oma hath $een shed.:rin; this e'%ressed ere #esterda# and give riches to him ho offers it.

! Come, / #e ABvins, mounted on #our tri%le car three+seated, $eautiful of formTo #ou at sacrifice the


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HYMN L)III. :an.

1 :A"N on us ith %ros%erit#, / 7as, :aughter of the 9;#,:an ith great glor#, Goddess, Lad# of the Light, dan thou ith riches, 0ounteous /ne.! The#, $ringing steeds and ;ine, $oon+givers of all ealth, have oft s%ed forth to lighten us.

/ 7as, a;en u% for me the sounds of =o#4 send us the riches of the great.& 7as hath daned, and no shall dan, the Goddess, driver forth of cars

"hich, as she cometh nigh, have fi'ed their thought on her, li;e glor#+see;ers on the flood.( Here


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HYMN LI. :an.

1 6D6N from a$ove the s;#Ds $right realm come, 7as, $# aus%icious a#s4Let red steeds $ear thee to the house of him ho %ours the 9oma, =uice.

! The chariot hich thou mountest, fair of sha%e, / 7as light to move,Thereith, / :aughter of the 9;#, aid men of no$le fame toda#.

& 0right 7as, hen th# times return, all Euadru%eds and $i%eds stir,

And round a$out floc; inged $irds from all the $oundaries of heaven.( Thou daning ith th# $eams of light illumest all the radiant realm.Thee, as thou art, the


51/193

HYMN L. 9Qr#a.

1 HI9 $right ra#s $ear him u% aloft, the God ho ;noeth all that lives,9Qr#a, that all ma# loo; on him.

! The constellations %ass aa#, li;e thieves, together ith their $eams,0efore the all+$eholding 9un.

& His herald ra#s are seen afar refulgent o?er the orld of men,

Li;e flames of fire that $urn and $laXe.( 9ift and all $eautiful art thou, / 9Qr#a, ma;er of the light,Illuming all the radiant realm.

* Thou goest to the hosts of Gods, thou comest hither to man;ind,Hither all light to $e $eheld.

"ith that same e#e of thine hereith thou loo;est $rilliant )arua,7%on the $us# race of men,

Traversing s;# and ide mid+air, thou metest ith th# $eams our da#s,9un, seeing all things that have $irth.

9even 0a# 9teeds harnessed to th# car $ear thee, / thou farseeing /ne,God, 9Qr#a, ith the radiant hair.

3 9Qr#a hath #o;ed the %ure $right 9even, the daughters of the car> ith these,His on dear team, he goeth forth.

1F Loo;ing u%on the loftier light a$ove the dar;ness e have comeTo 9Qr#a, God among the Gods, the light that is most e'cellent.

11 2ising this da#, / rich in friends, ascending to the loftier heaven,9Qr#a remove m# heartDs disease, ta;e from me this m# #ello hue.

1! To %arrots and to starlings let us give aa# m# #elloness,/r this m# #elloness let us transfer to Harit5la trees.

1& "ith all his conEuering vigour this Rdit#a hath gone u% on high,Giving m# foe into mine hand4 let me not $e m# foemanDs %re#.


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HYMN LI. Indra.

1 MA"hose gracious deeds for men s%read li;e the heavens a$road4 sing %raise to him the 9age, most li$eral for our good.

! As aids the s;ilful S$hus #earned to Indra strong to save, ho fills mid+air, encom%assed round ith might,2ushing in ra%ture> and o?er ata;ratu came the gladdening shout that urged him on to victor#.

& Thou hast disclosed the ;ineDs stall for the A-girases, and made a a# for Atri $# a hundred doors.

/n )imada thou hast $estoed $oth food and ealth, ma;ing th# $olt dance in the sacrificerDs fight.( Thou hast unclosed the %risons of the aters> thou hast in the mountain seiXed the treasure rich in gifts."hen thou hadst slain ith might the dragon )Jtra, thou, Indra, didst raise the 9un in heaven for all to see.

* "ith ondrous might thou $leest enchanter fiends aa#, ith %oers celestial those ho called on thee in =est.Thou, hero+hearted, hast $ro;en don Pi%ruDs forts, and hel%ed S=iBvan hen the :as#us ere struc; dead.

Thou savedst to Atithigva gavest am$ara for a %re#.6?en might# Ar$uda thou troddest under foot4 thou from of old ast $orn to stri;e the :as#us dead.

All %oer and might is closel# gathered u% in thee> th# $ounteous s%irit =o#s in drin;ing 9oma =uice. %unishing the laless give them u% to him hose grass is stren.0e thou the sacrificerDs strong encourager all these th# deeds are m# delight at festivals.

3 Indra gives u% the laless to the %ious man, destro#ing $# the 9trong /nes those ho have no strength.)amra hen glorified destro#ed the gathered %iles of the still a'ing great one ho ould reach the heaven.

1F The might hich 7Ban5 hath formed for thee ith might rends in its greatness and ith strength $oth orlds a%art./ Hero+souled, the steeds of )5ta, #o;ed $# thought, have carried thee to fame hile thou art filled ith %oer.

11 "hen Indra hath re=oiced ith


53/193

HYMN LII. Indra.

1 I GL/2I8Y that 2am ho finds the light of heaven, hose hundred no$l#+natured ones go forth ith him."ith h#mns ma# I turn hither Indra to mine aid,the Car hich li;e a strong steed hasteth to the call.! Li;e as a mountain on firm $asis, unremoved, he, thousandfold %rotector, a'ed in might# strength,"hen Indra, =o#ing in the draughts of 9oma =uice, forced the clouds, sla#ing )Jtra sta#er of their flo.

& 8or he sta#s e?en the sta#ers, s%read o?er laden cloud, rooted in light, strengthened in ra%ture $# the ise.

Indra ith thought, ith s;illed activit#, I call, most li$eral giver, for he sates him ith the =uice.( "hom those that flo in heaven on sacred grass, his on assistants, no$l#+natured, fill full li;e the sea,0eside that Indra hen he smote don )Jtra stood his hel%ers, straight in form, might#, invinci$le.

* To him, as in ild =o# he fought ith him ho sta#ed the rain, his hel%ers s%ed li;e sift streams don a slo%e,"hen Indra, thunder+armed, made $old $# 9oma draughts, as TJta cleaveth )alaDs fences, cleft him through.

9%lendour encom%assed thee, forth shone th# arrior might4 the rain+o$structer la# in mid+airDs loest dee%,"hat time, / Indra, thou didst cast th# thunder don u%on the =as of )Jitra hard to $e restrained.

The h#mns hich magnif# thee, Indra, reach to thee even as ater+$roo;s flo don and fill the la;e.Tvaar gave #et more force to thine a%%ro%riate strength, and forged th# thunder$olt of over%oering might.

"hen, Indra, thou hose %oer is lin;ed ith th# 0a# 9teeds hadst smitten )Jtra, causing floods to flo for man,Thou heldst in thine arms the metal thunder$olt, and settest in the heaven the 9un for all to see.

3 In fear the# raised the loft# self+res%lendent h#mn, %raise giving and effectual, leading u% to heaven,"hen IndraDs hel%ers fighting for the good of men, the Maruts, faithful to man;ind, =o#ed in the light.

1F Then Heaven himself, the might#, at that :ragonDs roar reeled $ac; in terror hen, Indra, th# thunder$oltIn the ild =o# of 9oma had struc; off ith might the head of )Jtra, t#rant of the earth and heaven.

11 / Indra, ere this earth e'tended forth tenfold, and men ho dell therein multi%lied da# $# da#,9till here th# conEuering might, Maghavan, ould $e famed4 it hath a'ed vast as heaven in ma=est# and %oer.

1! Thou, $old of heart, in thine on native might, for hel%, u%on the limit of this mid+air and of heaven,Hast made the earth to $e the %attern of th# strength4 em$racing flood and light thou reachest to the s;#.

1& Thou art the counter%art of earth, the Master of loft# heaven ith all its might# Heroes4Thou hast filled all the region ith th# greatness4 #ea, of a truth there is none other li;e thee.

1( "hose am%litude the heaven and earth have not attained, hose $ounds the aters of mid+air have never reached,Not, hen in =o# he fights the sta#er of the rain4 thou, and none else, hast made all things in order due.

1* The Maruts sang th# %raise in this encounter, and in thee all the :eities delighted,"hat time thou, Indra, ith th# s%i;# ea%on, th# deadl# $olt, smotest the face of )Jtra.


54/193

HYMN LIII. Indra.

1 "6 ill %resent fair %raise unto the Might# /ne, our h#mns to Indra in )ivasv5nDs delling+%lace>8or he hath ne?er found ealth in those ho seem to slee%4 those ho give ealth to men acce%t no %altr# %raise.

! Giver of horses, Indra, giver, thou, of ;ine, giver of $arle#, thou art Lord and guard of ealth4ManDs hel%er from of old, not disa%%ointing ho%e, 8riend of our friends, to thee as such e sing this %raise.

& Indra, most s%lendid, %oerful, rich in might# deeds, this treasure s%read around is ;non to $e thine on.

Gather therefrom, / ConEueror, and $ring to us4 fail not the ho%e of him ho loves and sings to thee.( "ell %leased ith these $right flames and ith these 9oma dro%s, ta;e thou aa# our %overt# ith seeds and ;ine."ith Indra scattering the :as#u through these dro%s, freed from their hate ma# e o$tain a$undant food.* Let us o$tain, / Indra, %lenteous ealth and food, ith strength e'ceeding glorious, shining to the s;#4

Ma# e o$tain the Goddess Providence, the strength of heroes, s%ecial source of cattle, rich in steeds. These our li$ations strength+ins%iring, 9oma draughts, gladdened thee in the fight ith )Jtra, Hero Lord,"hat time thou sleest for the singer ith trimmed grass ten thousand )Jtras, thou resistless in th# might.

Thou goest on from fight to fight intre%idl#, destro#ing castle after castle here ith strength.Thou, Indra, ith th# friend ho ma;es the foe $o don, sleest from far aa# the guileful Namuci.

Thou hast struc; don in death


55/193

HYMN LI). Indra.

1 72G6 us not, Maghavan, to this distressful fight, for none ma# com%rehend the limit of th# strength.Thou ith fierce shout hast made the oods and rivers roar4 did not men run in crods together in their fearV

! 9ing h#mns of %raise to a;ra, Lord of %oer and might> laud thou and magnif# Indra ho heareth thee,"ho ith his daring might, a 0ull e'ceeding strong in strength, ma;eth him master of the heaven and earth.

& 9ing forth to loft# :#aus a strength+$estoing song, the 0old, hose resolute mind hath inde%endent sa#.

High glor# hath the Asura, com%act of strength, dran on $# to 0a# 9teeds4 a 0ull, a Car is he.( The ridges of the loft# heaven thou madest sha;e> thou, daring, of th#self smotest through am$ara,"hen $old ith gladdening =uice, thou arredst ith th# $olt, shar% and to+edged, against the $anded sorcerers.* "hen ith a roar that fills the oods, thou forcest don on indDs head the stores hich ua ;e%t confined,"ho shall have %oer to sta# thee firm and eager+souled from doing still this da# hat thou of old hast doneV

Thou hel%est Nar#a, TurvaBa, and Yadu, and )a##aDs son Turvti, ata;ratu@Thou hel%est horse and car in final $attle thou $rea;est don the nine+and+ninet# castles.

A hero+lord is he,


56/193

HYMN L). Indra.

1 TH/7GH e?en this heavenDs ide s%ace and earth have s%read them out, nor heaven nor earth ma# $e in greatness IndraDsmatch.

Aful and ver# might#, causing oe to men, he hets his thunder$olt for shar%ness, as a $ull.! Li;e as the ater# ocean, so doth he receive the rivers s%read on all sides in their am%le idth.

He $ears him li;e a $ull to drin; of 9oma =uice, and ill, as "arrior from of old, $e %raised for might.

& Thou sa#est, Indra, all ;inds of great manl# %oer, so as to $end, as?t ere, even that famed mountain don.8oremost among the Gods is he through hero might, set in the van, the 9trong /ne, for each arduous deed.( He onl# in the ood is %raised $# orshi%%ers, hen he shos forth to men his on fair Indra+%oer.

A friendl# 0ull is he, a 0ull to $e desired hen Maghavan aus%iciousl# sends forth his voice.* Yet veril# the "arrior in his vigorous strength stirreth u% ith his might great $attles for man;ind>

And men have faith in Indra, the res%lendent /ne, hat time he hurleth don his $olt, his dart of death. Though, fain for glor#, and ith strength increased on earth, he ith great might destro#s the dellings made ith art,

He ma;es the lights of heaven shine forth secure, he $ids, e'ceeding ise, the floods flo for his orshi%%er. :rin;er of 9oma, let th# heart incline to give> $ring th# 0a#s hitherard, / thou ho hearest %raise.Those charioteers of thine, $est s;illed to dra the rein, the ra%id sun$eams, Indra, lead thee not astra#.

Thou $earest in $oth hands treasure that never fails> the famed /ne in his $od# holds unvanEuished might./ Indra, in th# mem$ers man# %oers a$ide, li;e ells surrounded $# the ministering %riests.


57/193

HYMN L)I. Indra.

1 8/2 this manDs full li$ations held in ladles, he hath roused him, eager, as a horse to meet the mare.He sta#s his golden car, #o;ed ith 0a# Horses, sift, and drin;s the 9oma =uice hich strengthens for great deeds.

! To him the guidance+folloing songs of %raise flo full, as those ho see; gain go in com%an# to the flood.To him the Lord of %oer, the hol# s#nodDs might, as to a hill, ith s%eed, ascend the loving ones.

& )ictorious, great is he> in manl# $attle shines, unstained ith dust, his might, as shines a mountain %ea;>

"hereith the iron one, fierce e?en against the strong, in ra%ture, fettered il# usha fast in $onds.( "hen 9trength the Goddess, made more strong for hel% $# thee, aits u%on Indra as the 9un attends the :an,Then. he ho ith his might unflinching ;ills the gloom stirs u% the dust aloft, ith =o# and trium%hing.

* "hen thou ith might, u%on the frameor; of the heaven, didst fi', across, airDs region firml#, unremoved,In the light+inning ar, Indra, in ra%turous =o#, thou smotest )Jtra dead and $roughtest floods of rain.

Thou ith th# might didst gras%, the holder+u% of heaven, thou ho art might# also in the seats of earth.Thou, gladdened $# the =uice, hast set the aters free, and $ro;en )JtraDs ston# fences through and through.


58/193


59/193

HYMN L)III. Agni.

1 N6?62 a'eth faint the Immortal, 9on of 9trength, since he, the Herald, hath $ecome )ivasv5nDs messenger./n %aths most e'cellent he measured out mid+air4 he ith o$lation calls to service of the Gods.

! Never deca#ing, seiXing his a%%ro%riate food, ra%idl#, eagerl# through the dr# ood he s%reads.His $ac;, as he is s%rin;led, glistens li;e a horse4 loud hath he roared and shouted li;e the heights of heavenV

& 9et high in %lace o?er all that )asus, 2udras do, immortal, Lord of riches, seated as High Priest>

Hastening li;e a car to men, to those ho live, the God ithout dela# gives $oons to $e desired.( 7rged $# the ind $e s%reads through dr# ood as he lists, armed ith his tongues for sic;les, ith a might# roar.0lac; is th# %ath, Agni, changeless, ith glittering aves@ hen li;e a $ull thou rushest eager to the trees.

* "ith teeth of flame, ind+driven, through the ood he s%eeds, trium%hant li;e a $ull among the herd of cos,"ith $right strength roaming to the everlasting air4 things fi'ed, things moving Eua;e $efore him as he flies.

The 0hJgus esta$lished thee among man;ind for men, li;e as a treasure, $eauteous, eas# to invo;e>Thee, Agni, as a herald and choice+orth# guest, as an aus%icious 8riend to the Celestial 2ace.

Agni, the seven tonguesD deftest 9acrificer, him hom the %riests elect at solemn orshi%,The Herald, messenger of all the )asus, I serve ith daint# food, I as; for riches.

Grant, 9on of 9trength, thou rich in friends, a refuge ithout a fla this da# to us th# %raisers./ Agni, 9on of 9trength, ith forts of iron %reserve thou from distress the man ho lauds thee.3 0e thou a refuge, 0right /ne, to the singer, a shelter, 0ounteous Lord, to those ho orshi%.Preserve the singer from distress, / Agni. Ma# he, enriched ith %ra#er, come soon and earl#.


60/193

HYMN LI. Agni.

1 TH6 other fires are, veril#, th# $ranches> the Immortals all re=oice in thee, / Agni.Centre art thou, )aiBv5nara, of the %eo%le, sustaining men li;e a dee%+founded %illar.

! The forehead of the s;#, earthDs centre, Agni $ecame the messenger of earth and heaven.)aiBv5nara, the :eities %roduced thee, a God, to $e a light unto the Rr#a.

& As in the 9un firm ra#s are set for ever, treasures are in )aiBv5nara, in Agni.

/f all the riches in the hills, the aters, the her$s, among man;ind, thou art the 9ovran.( As the great "orld+halves, so are their 9onDs %raises> s;illed, as a man, to act, is he the Herald.)aiBv5nara, celestial, trul# might#, most manl# /ne, hath man# a #outhful consort.* 6ven the loft# heaven, / 5tavedas )aiBv5nara, hath not attained th# greatness.

Thou art the


61/193

HYMN L. Agni.

1 As ?tere 9ome goodl# treasure M5tariBvan $rought, as a gift, the glorious Priest to 0hJgu,0anner of sacrifice, the good Protector, child of to $irths, the siftl# moving envo#.

! 0oth Gods and men o$e# this 2ulerDs order, Gods ho are orshi%%ed, men ho #earn and orshi%.As Priest he ta;es his seat ere $rea; of morning, House+Lord, adora$le ith men, /rdainer.

& Ma# our fair %raise, heart+$orn, most recent, reach him hose tongue, e?en at his $irth, is seet as hone#>

"hom mortal %riests, men, ith their strong endeavour, su%%lied ith daint# viands, have created.( Good to man;ind, the #earning Purifier hath among men $een %laced as Priest choice+orth#.Ma# Agni $e our 8riend, Lord of the Household, %rotector of the riches in the delling.* As such e Gotamas ith h#mns e'tol thee, / Agni, as the guardian Lord of riches,

:ec;ing thee li;e a horse, the sift %riXeinner. Ma# he, enriched ith %ra#er, come soon and earl#.


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HYMN LI. Indra.

1 6)6N to him, sift, strong and high. e'alted, I $ring m# song of %raise as daint# viands,M# thought to him resistless, %raise+deserving, %ra#ers offered most es%eciall# to Indra.! Praise, li;e o$lation, I %resent, and utter aloud m# song, m# fair h#mn to the )ictor.

8or Indra, ho is Lord of old, the singers have dec;ed their lauds ith heart and mind and s%irit.& To him then ith m# li%s mine adoration, inning heavenDs light, most e'cellent, I offer,

To magnif# ith songs of invocation and ith fair h#mns the Lord, most $ounteous Giver.( 6ven for him I frame a laud, as fashions the right a chariot for the man ho needs it,Praises to him ho gladl# hears our %raises, a h#mn ell+formed, all+moving, to ise Indra.

* 9o ith m# tongue I dec;, to %lease that Indra, m# h#mn, as ?tere a horse, through love of glor#,To reverence the Hero, $ounteous Giver, famed far and ide, destro#er of the castles.

6ven for him hath Tvaar forged the thunder, most deftl# rought, celestial, for the $attle,"hereith he reached the vital %arts of )Jtra, stri;ing+the vast, the might# ith the stri;er. As soon as, at li$ations of his mother, great )iu had drun; u% the draught, he %lundered.

The daint# cates, the coo;ed mess> $ut /ne stronger transfi'ed the ild $oar, shooting through the mountain. To him, to Indra, hen he sle the :ragon, the :ames, too, Consorts of the Gods, ove %raises.

The might# heaven and earth hath he encom%assed4 th# greatness heaven and earth, com$ined, e'ceed not.3 Yea, of a truth, his magnitude sur%asseth the magnitude of earth, mid+air, and heaven.

Indra, a%%roved $# all men, self+res%lendent, a'ed in his home, loud+voiced and strong for $attle.1F Through his on strength Indra ith $olt of thunder cut %iece+meal )Jtra, drier u% of aters.

He let the floods go free, li;e cos im%risoned, for glor#, ith a heart inclined to $ount#.11 The rivers %la#ed, through his im%etuous s%lendour, since ith his $olt he com%assed them on all sides.

7sing his might and favouring him ho orshi%%ed, he made a ford, victorious, for Turvti.1! )ast, ith thine am%le %oer, ith eager movement, against this )Jtra cast th# $olt of thunder.

2end thou his =oints, as of an o', dissevered, ith $olt o$liEue, that floods of rain ma# follo.1& 9ing ith ne lauds his e'%loits rought aforetime, the deeds of him, #ea, him ho moveth siftl#,

"hen, hurling forth his ea%ons in the $attle, he ith im%etuous rath la#s lo the foemen.1( "hen he, #ea, he, comes forth the firm. 9et mountains and the hole heaven and earth, trem$le for terror.

Ma# Nodhas, ever %raising the %rotection of that dear 8riend, gain Euic;l# strength heroic.1* No unto him of these things hath $een given hat he ho rules alone o?er much, electeth.

Indra hath hel%ed 6taBa, 9oma+%resser, contending in the race of steeds ith 9Qr#a.1 Thus to thee, Indra, #o;er of 0a# Coursers, the Gotamas have $rought their %ra#ers to %lease thee.

0esto u%on them thought, dec;ed ith all $eaut#. Ma# he, enriched ith %ra#er, come soon and earl#.


63/193

HYMN LII. Indra.

1. LI


64/193

HYMN LIII. Indra.

1. TH/7 art the Might# /ne> hen $orn, / Indra, ith %oer thou terrifiedst earth and heaven>"hen, in their fear of thee, all firm+set mountains and monstrous creatures shoo; li;e dust $efore thee.

! "hen th# to andering 0a#s thou draest hither, th# %raiser laid ithin thine arms the thunder,"hereith, / Much+invo;ed, in ill resistless, thou smitest foemen don and man# a castle.

& 8aithful art thou, these thou defiest, Indra> thou art the S$husD Lord, heroic, victor.

Thou, $# his side, for #oung and glorious "hen, Hero, thou, great+souled, ith eas# conEuest didst rend the :as#us in their

distant delling.* This doest thou, and art not harmed, / Indra, e?en in the anger of the strongest mortal.

La# thou the race+course o%en for our horses4 as ith a clu$, sla#, Thunder+armed@ our foemen. Hence men invo;e thee, Indra, in the tumult of $attle, in the light+$estoing conflict.This aid of thine, / Godli;e /ne, as ever to $e im%lored in deeds of might in com$at.

"arring for Puru;utsa thou, / Indra, Thunder+armed@ $rea;est don the seven castles>6asil#, for 9ud5s, li;e grass didst rend them, and out of need,


65/193

HYMN LI). Maruts.

1. 02ING for the manl# host, ise and ma=estical, / Nodhas, for the Maruts $ring thou a %ure gift.I dec; m# songs as one deft+handed, ise in mind %re%ares the ater that hath %oer in solemn rites.

! The# s%ring to $irth, the loft# /nes, the 0ulls of Heaven, divine, the #ouths of 2udra, free from s%ot and stain>The %urifiers, shining $rightl# even as suns, aful of form li;e giants, scattering rain+dro%s don.

& Young 2udras, demon+sla#ers, never groing old, the# have a'ed, even as mountains, irresisti$le.

The# ma;e all $eings trem$le ith their might# strength, even the ver# strongest, $oth of earth and heaven.( "ith glittering ornaments the# dec; them forth for sho> for $eaut# on their $reasts the# $ind their chains of gold.The lances on their shoulders %ound to %ieces> the# ere $orn together, of themselves, the Men of Heaven.

* Loud roarers, giving strength, devourers of the foe, the# ma;e the inds, the# ma;e the lightnings ith their %oers.The restless sha;ers drain the udders of the s;#, and ever andering round fill the earth full ith mil;. The $ounteous Maruts ith the fatness dro%%ing mil; fill full the aters hich avail in solemn rites.

The# lead, as ?tere, the 9trong Horse forth, that it ma# rain4 the# mil; the thundering, the never+failing s%ring. Might#, ith ondrous %oer and marvellousl# $right, selfstrong li;e mountains, #e glide siftl# on #our a#.

Li;e the ild ele%hants #e eat the forests u% hen #e assume #our strength among the $right red flames. 6'ceeding ise the# roar li;e lions mightil#, the#, all+%ossessing, are $eauteous as antelo%es>

9tirring the dar;ness ith lances and s%otted deer, com$ined as %riests, ith ser%entsD fur# through their might.3 Heroes ho march in com%anies, $efriending man, ith ser%entsD ire through strength, #e greet the earth and heaven.

7%on the seats, / Maruts, of #our chariots, u%on the cars stands lightning visi$le as light.1F Lords of all riches, delling in the home of ealth, endoed ith might# vigour, singers loud of voice,

Heroes, of %oers infinite, armed ith strong menDs rings, the archers, the# have laid the arro on their arms.11 The# ho ith golden fellies ma;e the rain increase drive forard the $ig clouds li;e anderers on the a#.9elf+moving, $ris;, unearied, the# o?erthro the firm> the Maruts ith $right lances ma;e all things to reel.

1! The %rogen# of 2udra e invo;e ith %ra#er, the $ris;, the $right, the orshi%ful, the active /nesTo the strong $and of Maruts cleave for ha%%iness, the chasers of the s;#, im%etuous, vigorous.

1& Maruts, the man hom #e have guarded ith #our hel%, he veril# in strength sur%asseth all man;ind.9%oil ith his steeds he gaineth, treasure ith his men> he inneth honoura$le strength and %ros%ereth.1( / Maruts, to the orshi%%ers give glorious strength invinci$le in $attle, $rilliant, $ringing ealth,

Praiseorth#, ;non to all men. Ma# e foster ell, during a hundred inters, son and %rogen#.1* "ill #e then, / #e Maruts, grant us riches, dura$le, rich in men, def#ing onslaught.

A hundred, thousandfold, ever increasingV Ma# he, enriched ith %ra#er, come soon and earl#.


66/193

HYMN L). Agni.

1. /N6+MIN:6:, ise, the# trac;ed thee li;e a thief lur;ing in dar; cave ith a stolen co4Thee claiming orshi%, $earing it to Gods4 there nigh to thee sate all the Hol# /nes.

! The Gods a%%roached the a#s of hol# La> there as a gathering vast as heaven itself.The aters feed ith %raise the groing 0a$e, $orn no$l# in the om$, the seat of La.

& Li;e grateful food, li;e some ide delling %lace, li;e a fruit+$earing hill, a holesome stream.

Li;e a steed urged to run in sift career, rushing li;e 9indhu, ho ma# chec; his courseV(


67/193

HYMN L)I. Agni.

1. LI li;e a steed friendl# he vouchsafes us %oer.

& "ith flame insatiate, li;e eternal might> caring for each one li;e a dame at home>

0right hen he shines forth, hitish mid the fol;, li;e a car, gold+dec;ed, thundering to the fight.( He stri;es ith terror li;e a dart shot forth, e?en li;e an archerDs arro ti%%ed ith flame>Master of %resent and of future life, the maidens? lover and the matrons? Lord.

* To him lead all #our a#s4 ma# e attain the ;indled God as cos their home at eve.He drives the flames $elo as floods their sell4 the ra#s rise u% to the fair %lace of heaven.


68/193

HYMN L)II. Agni.

1. )ICT/2I/79 in the ood, 8riend among men, ever he claims o$edience as a and ith effective utterance fi'ed the s;#.

/ Agni, guard the s%ots hich cattle love4 thou, life of all, hast gone from lair to lair.( "hoso hath ;non him delling in his lair, and hath a%%roached the stream of hol# La,The# ho release him, %a#ing sacred rites,trul# to such doth he announce great ealth.* He ho gros mightil# in her$s, ithin each fruitful mother and each $a$e she $ears,

"ise, life of all men, in the aters? home,for him have sages $uilt as ?tere a seat.


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HYMN L)III. Agni.

1. C/MMINGLING, restless, he ascends the s;#, unveiling nights and all that stands or moves,As he the sole God is %reeminent in greatness among all these other Gods.

! All men are =o#ful in th# %oer, / God, that living from the dr# ood thou art $orn.All trul# share th# Godhead hile the# ;ee%, in their accustomed a#s, eternal La.

& 9trong is the thought of La, the LaDs $ehest> all or;s have the# %erformed> he Euic;ens all.

"hoso ill $ring o$lation, gifts to thee, to him, $ethin;ing thee, vouchsafe thou ealth.( 9eated as Priest ith ManuDs %rogen#, of all these treasures he alone is Lord.Men #earn for children to %rolong their line, and are not disa%%ointed in their ho%e.

* 6agerl# the# ho hear his ord fulfil his ish as sons o$e# their sireDs $ehest.He, rich in food, un$ars his ealth li;e doors4 he, the House+8riend, hath dec;ed heavenDs vault ith stars.


70/193

HYMN LI. Agni.

1. 02IGHT, s%lendid, li;e :anDs lover, he hath filled the to =oined orlds as ith the light of heaven."hen $orn, ith might thou hast encom%assed them4 8ather of Gods, and #et their 9on ast thou.

! Agni, the 9age, the hum$le, ho discerns li;e the coDs udder, the seet taste of food,Li;e a $liss+giver to $e dran to men, sits gracious in the middle of the house.

& 0orn in the delling li;e a lovel# son, %leased, li;e a strong steed, he $ears on the fol;.

"hat time the men and I, ith heroes, call, ma# Agni then gain all through Godli;e %oer.( None $rea;s these hol# las of thine hen thou hast granted audience to these chieftains here.This is th# $oast, thou smotest ith th# %eers, and =oined ith heroes dravest off disgrace.

* Li;e the :anDs lover, s%reading light, ell+;non as hued li;e morn, ma# he remem$er me.The#, $earing of themselves, un$ar the doors4 the# all ascend to the fair %lace of heaven.


71/193

HYMN L. Agni.

1. MAY e, the %ious, in much food $# %ra#er, ma# Agni ith fair light %ervade each act,He the o$server of the heavenl# las of Gods, and of the race of mortal man.

! He ho is germ of aters, germ of oods, germ of all things that move not and that move,To him even in the roc; and in the house4 Immortal /ne, he cares for all man;ind.

& Agni is Lord of riches for the man ho serves him readil# ith sacred songs.

Protect these $eings thou ith careful thought, ;noing the races $oth of Gods and men.( "hom man# dans and nights, unli;e, ma;e strong, hom, $orn in La, all things that move and stand,He hath $een on, Herald ho sits in light, ma;ing effectual all our hol# or;s.

* Thou settest value on our cos and oods4 all shall $ring tri$ute to us to the light.Men have served thee in man# and sundr# s%ots, %arting, as ?tere, an aged fatherDs ealth.

Li;e a $rave archer, li;e one s;illed and $old, a fierce avenger, so he shines in fight.


72/193

HYMN LI. Agni.

1. L/)ING the loving /ne, as ives their hus$and, the sisters of one home have urged him forard,0right+coloured, even, as the cos love morning, dar;, $rea;ing forth to vie, and redl# $eaming.! /ur sires ith lauds $urst e?en the firm+set fortress, #ea, the A-girases, ith roar, the mountain.

The# made for us a a# to reach high heaven, the# found us da#, light, da#Ds sign, $eams of morning.& The# sta$lished order, made his service fruitful> then %arting them among the longing faithful,

Not thirsting after aught, the# come, most active, hile ith seet food the race of Gods the# strengthen.( 9ince M5tariBvan, far+diffused, hath stirred him, and he in ever# house gron $right and no$le,He, 0hJgu+li;e I hath gone as his com%anion, as on commission to a greater 9ovran.

* "hen man %oured =uice to Heaven, the might# 8ather, he ;ne and freed himself from close em$racement.The archer $oldl# shot at him his arro, and the God thre his s%lendour on his :aughter.

"hoso, hath flames for thee ithin his delling, or $rings the orshi% hich thou lovest dail#,:o thou of dou$le might increase his su$stance4 ma# he hom thou incitest meet ith riches.

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Rig Veda, Book 1- Ralph T.H. Griffith