FIRST PART

BOOK VI

CHAPTER I

I Agni

1. Agni,well kindled bring the Gods for him who offers holy gifts;
And worship them, pure Hotar-priest!
2. O Sage, Tanunapat, present our sacrifice to Gods to-day,
Sweet to the taste, that they may help!
3. Dear Narasansa, sweet of tongue, presenter of oblations, I
Invoke to this our sacrifice.
4. Agni, on thy most easy car, entreated, hither bring the Gods!
Manus-appointed Priest art thou.

II Adityas

1. So when the Sun hath risen to-day may sinless Mitra, Aryaman, Bhaga, and Savitar send us forth!
2. May this our home be guarded well: forward, ye bounteous, on the way, Who bear us safely o’er distress!
3. Yea, Aditi, and those great Kings whose statute is inviolate, Are sovrans of a vast domain.

III Indra

1. Let Soma juices make thee glad! Display thy bounty, Thunderer:
Drive off the enemies of prayer!
2. Crush with thy foot the niggard churls who bring no gifts! mighty art thou:
There is not one to equal thee.
3. Thou art the Lord of Somas pressed, Somas unpressed are also thine:
Thou art the Sovran of the folk.

IV Soma Pavamana

1. True object of our hymns, Sage, watchful Soma hath settled in the press as they refine him.
Him the Adhvaryus, paired and eager, follow, leaders of sacrifice and skilful-handed.
2. He, purified and bringing gifts to Surya, hath filled full heaven and earth, and hath disclosed them.
He by whose dear help heroes gain their wishes will yield the precious meed as to a victor.
3. He, being cleansed, the strengthener and increaser, bountiful Soma helped us his lustre,
Wherein our sires of old who knew the footsteps found light and sought the kine within the mountain.

V Indra

1. Glorify naught besides, O friends, so shall no sorrow trouble you!
Praise only mighty Indra, when the juice is shed, and say your lauds repeatedly!
2. Even him, the swift one, like a bull who rushes down men’s conqueror, bounteous like a cow;
Him who is cause of both, of enmity and peace, to both sides most munificent.

VI Indra

1. These songs of our exceeding sweet, these hymns of praise ascend to thee,
Like ever-conquering chariots that display their strength, gain wealth and give unfailing help.
2. The Bhrigus are like suns, like Kanvas, and have gained each thing whereon their thought was bent.
The living men of Priyamedha’s race have sun g exalting Indra with their lauds.

VII Soma Pavamana

1. Run forth to battle conquering the Vritras! thou Speedest to quell the foe like one exacting debts.
2. Thou Pavamana, didst beget the Sun with might, and rain in the supporting sky,
Hasting to us with plenty vivified with milk.
3. For, Soma, we rejoice ourselves in thee effused for great supremacy in fight;
Thou, Pavamana, enterest into mighty deeds.

VIII Soma Pavamana

1. Flow forth, O Soma, flow thou onward, sweet to Indra’s,
Mitra’s, Pushan’s, Bhaga’s taste!
2. So flow thou on as bright celestial juice, flow to the vast immortal dwelling-place!
3. Let Indra drink, O Soma, of thy juice for wisdom, and all deities for strength!

IX Soma Pavamana

1. Even as the beams of Surya, urging men to speed, they issue forth together, gladdening as they flow,
These swift outpourings in long course of holy rites: no form save only Indra shows itself so pure.
2. The thought is deeply fixed, the savoury juice is shed; the tongue with joyous sound is stirring in the mouth:
And Pavamana, like the shout of those who press, the drop, rich in sweet juice, is flowing through the fleece.
3. The bull is bellowing; the cows are coming nigh: the Goddesses approach the God’s own resting-place.
Onward hath Soma pressed through the sheep’s fair bright fleece, and hath, as ’twere, endued a garment newly washed.

X Agni

1. From the two fire-sticks have the men engendered, with thought, urged by the hand, the glorious Agni,
Far-seen, with pointed flame, Lord of the Homestead.
2. The Vasus set that Agni in the dwelling, fair to behold, for help, from every quarter:
Who, in the house for ever, must be honoured.
3. Shine thou before us, Agni, well-enkindled, with flame, most youthful God, that never fadeth!
To thee come goods and treasures all together.

XI Surya

1. This spotted Bull hath come and sat before the mother in the east,
Advancing to his father heaven.
2. As expiration from his breath, his radiance penetrates within
The Bull shines out through all the sky.
3. Song is bestowed upon the Bird: it reigns supreme through thirty realms.
Throughout the days at break of morn.

 CHAPTER II

I Agni

1. Chant we a hymn to Agni while we go to sacrifice, to him
Who hears us even from afar!
2. Who from of old, in carnage, when the folk were gathered, hath preserved.
His household for the worshipper.
3. May that most blissful Agni guard our wealth and all ourfamily.
And keep us safe from pain and grief
4. Yea, let men say, Agni is born, even he who slayeth Vritra, he,
Who winneth wealth in every fight!

II Agni

1. Harness, O Agni, O thou God, thy steeds which are most excellent!
The fleet ones bring the rapidly.
2. Come hither, bring the Gods to us to taste the sacrificial feast,
To drink the draught of Soma juice!
3. O Agni of the Bharatas, flame splendid with unfading might
Shine forth and gleam, eternal one!

III Soma Pavamana

1. Let him, as mortal, crave this speech for him who presses of the juice!
As Bhrigu’s sons chased Makha, so drive ye the niggard hound away.
2. The kinsman hath endued his robe even as a son is clasped in arms.
He went, as lover to a dame, to take his station suitor-like.
3. That hero who produces strength, he who hath propped both worlds apart,
Gold-hued, hath wrapped him in the sieve to settle, priest-like, in his place.

IV Indra

1. Still, Indra, from all ancient time rivalless ever and companionless art thou:
Thou seekest friendship but in war.
2. Thou findest not the wealthy man to be thy friend: those scorn thee who are flown with wine.
What time thou thunderest and gatherest, then thou, even as a father, art invoked.

V Indra

1. A thousand and a hundred steeds are harnessed to thy golden car:
Yoked by devotion, Indra, let the long-maned bays bring thee to drink the Soma juice!
2. Yoked to thy chariot wrought of gold, may thy two bays with, peacock tails.
Convey thee hither, steeds with their white backs, to quaff sweet juice that makes us eloquent!
3. So drink, thou lover of the song, as the first drinker, of this juice.
This the outpouring of the savoury sap prepared is good and meet to gladden thee.

VI Soma Pavamana

1. Press ye and pour him, like a steed, laud-worthy, speeding through the region and the flood,
Who swims in water, dwells in wood
2. The Steer with thousand streams who poureth out the rain, dear to the race of deities;
Who, born in Law, hath waxen mighty by the Law, King, God, and lofty ordinance.

VII Agni

1. Served with oblation, kindled, bright, through love of song, may Agni, bent
On riches, smite the Vritras dead
2. His father’s father, shining in his mother’s ever-lasting side,
Set on the seat of sacrifice!
3. O active Jatavedas, bring devotion that wins progeny, Agni, that it may shine to heaven!

VIII Soma Pavamana

1. Made pure by this man’s urgent zeal and impulse, the God hath with his juice the Gods pervaded.
Pressed, singing, to the sieve he goes, as passes the Hotar to enclosures hoiding cattle.
2. Robed in fair raiment meet to wear in combat, a mighty Sage pronouncing invocations,
Roll onward to the press-boards as they cleanse thee, far-seeing at the feast of Gods and watchful!
3. Dear, he is brightened on the fleecy summit, a prince among us, nobler than the noble.
Roar out as thou art purified, run forward! Do ye preserve us evermore with blessings!

IX Indra

1. Come now and let us glorify pure Indra with pure Sama hymn!
Let milk-blent juice delight him made stronger with pure, pure songs of praise!
2. O Indra, come thou pure to us, with pure assistance pure thyself!
Pure, send thou riches down to us, and, meet for Soma! pure, rejoice!
3. O Indra, pure, vouchsafe us wealth, and, pure enrich the worshipper!
Pure, thou dost strike the Vritras dead, and strivest pure, to win the spoil.

X Agni

1. Eager for wealth we meditate Agni’s effectual laud to-day,
Laud of the God who touches heaven.
2. May Agni who is Hotar-priest among mankind accept our songs,
And worship the celestial folk!
3. Thou, Agni, art spread widely forth, Priest dear and excellent through thee
Men make the sacrifice complete.

XI Soma Pavamana

1. To him, praiseworthy, sacred tones have sounded, Steer of the triple height, the life-bestower.
Dwelling in wood, like Varuna, a river, lavishing treasure, he distributes blessings.
2. Great conqueror, warrior girt, Lord of all heroes, flow on thy way as he who winneth riches:
With sharpened arms, with swift bow, never vanquished in battle, vanquishing in fight the foemen!
3. Giving security, Lord of wide dominion, send us both heaven and earth with all their fulness!
Striving to win the Dawns, the light, the waters, and cattle, call to us abundant booty!

XII Indra

1. O Indra, thou art far-renowned, impetuous Lord of power and might.
Alone, the never-conquered guardian of mankind, thou smitest down resistless foes.
2. As such we seek thee now, O Asura, the most wise, craving thy bounty as our share
Thy sheltering defence is like an ample cloak. So may thy favours reach to us.

XIII Agni

1. Thee have we chosen, skilfullest in sacrifice, immortal, Priest, among the Gods,
Best finisher of this holy rite:
2. The Waters’ Child, the blessed brightly-shining one, Agni whose, light is excellent.
May he by sacrifice win us in heaven the grace of Mitra, Varuna, and the Floods!

XIV Agni

1. Lord of all food is he, the man whom thou protectest in the fight,
Agni, and urgest to the fray.
2. Him, whosoever he may be, no one may vanquish, mighty one!
Nay, very glorious wealth is his.
3. May he who dwells with all mankind conquer in fight with steeds of war,
With sages may he win the spoil.

XV Soma Pavamana

1. Ten sisters, pouring out the rain together, the sage’s quickly
moving thoughts, adorn him.
Hither hath run the gold-hued Child of Surya, and reached the vat like a fleet vigorous courser.
2. Even as a youngling shouting with his mothers, the bounteous Steer hath flowed along with waters.
As youth to damsel, so with milk he hastens on to the settled meeting-place, the beaker.
3. Yea, swollen is the udder of the milch-cow; thither in streams. comes very sapient Indu.
The kine make ready, as with new-washed treasures, the head and chief with milk within the vessels.

XVI Indra

1. Drink, Indra, of the savoury juice, and cheer thee, with our milky draught!
Be, for our weal, our friend and sharer of the feast, and let thy wisdom guard us well!
2. In thy kind grace and favour may we still be strong: cast us not down before the foe!
With manifold assistance guard and succour us, and stablish us in thy good-will!

XVII Soma Pavamana

1. The three-times seven milch-kine in the loftiest heaven have for this Soma poured the genuine milky draught.
Four other beauteous creatures hath he made for his adornment when he waxed in strength through holy rites.
2. Enjoying lovely Amrit by his wisdom he divided, each apart from other, earth and heaven.
He gladly wrapped himself in the most lucid floods, when through their glory they-found the God’s resting-place.
3. May those his brilliant rays be ever free from death, inviolate for both classes of created things–
Rays wherewith powers of men and Gods are purified! Yea, even for this have sages welcomed him as King.

XVIII Soma Pavamana

1. Lauded with song, to feast him, flow to Vayu, flow purified to Varuna and Mitra!
Flow to the song inspiring car-borne hero, to mighty Indra, him who wields the thunder!
2. Pour on us garments that shall clothe us meetly, send, purified, milch-kine, abundant yielders!
God Soma, send us cbariot-drawing horses that they may bring us treasures bright and golden!
3. Send to us in a stream celestial riches, send us when thou art cleansed, what earth containeth,
So that thereby we may acquire possessions and Rishihood in Jamadagni’s manner!

XIX Indra

1. When thou, unequalled Maghavan, wast born to smite the Vritras dead,
Thou spreadest out the spacious earth and didst support and prop the heavens.
2. Then was the sacrifice produced for thee, the laud, and song of joy.
In might thou art above this All, all that now is and yet shall be.
3. Raw kine thou filledst with ripe milk. Thou madest Surya rise to heaven.
Heat him as milk is heated with pure Sdma hymns, great joy to him who loves the song!

XX Indra

1. Rejoice: thy glory hath been quaffed, Lord of bay steeds! as ’twere the bowl’s enlivening mead.
Thine, Steer, is Indu, Steer, the Strong, best winner of a thousand spoils.
2. Let our strong drink, most excellent, exhilarating, come to thee,
Victorious, Indra! bringing gain, immortal conquering in fight!
3. Thou, hero, winner of the spoil, urgest to speed the car of man.
Burn, like a vessel with the flame, the riteless Dasyu, conqueror!

 CHAPTER III

I Soma Pavamana

1. Pour down the rain upon us, pour a wave of waters from the sky.
And plenteous store of wholesome foood!
2. Flow onward with that stream of thine, whereby the cows have come to us.
The kine of strangers to our home.
3. Dearest to Gods in sacred rites, pour on us fatness with thy stream,
Pour down on us a flood of rain!
4. To give as vigour, with thy stream run through the fleecy straining-cloth!
For verily the Gods will hear.
5. Onward hath Pavamana flowed and beaten off the Rakshasas.
Flashing out splendour as of old.

II Indra

1. Bring forth oblations to the God who knoweth all, who fain would drink.
The wanderer, lagging not behind the hero, coming nigh with, speed!
2. With Somas go ye nigh to him chief drinker of the Soma’s. juice:
With beakers to the impetuous God, to Indra with the flowing, drops!
3. What time with Somas, with the drops effused,, ye come beforethe God,
Full wise, he knows the hope of each, and, bold one strikes this. foe and that.
4. To him, Adhvaryu! yea, to him give offerings of the juiceexpressed!
Will he not keep us safely from the spiteful curse of each, presumptuous high-born foe?

III Soma Pavamana

1. Sing ye a song to Soma brown of hue, of independent might,
The Red, who reaches up to heaven!
2. Purify Soma when effused with stones which hands move rapidly,
And pour the sweet milk in the meath.
3. With humble homage draw ye nigh; blend the libation with the curds:
To Indra offer Indu up
4. Soma, foe-queller, strong and swift, doing the will of Gods, pour forth,
Prosperity upon our kine
5. Heart-knower, Sovran of the heart, thou art effused, O Soma, Tthat,
Indra. may drink thee and rejoice.
6. O Soma Pavamana, give us riches and heroic strength, Indu, with Indra. our ally!

IV Indra

I. Surya, thou mountest up to meet the hero famous for his wealth,
Who hurls the bolt and works for men;
2. Him who with might of both his arms broke nine-and-ninety castles down,
Slew Vritra and smote Ahi dead.
3. This Indra is our gracious friend. He sends, like a full-streaming cow,
Riches in horses, kine, and corn.

V Surya

1. May the bright God drink glorious Soma-mingled meath, giving
the sacrifices lord unbroken life
He who, wind-urged, in person guards our offspring well, nourishes them with food and shines o’er many a land.
2. Radiant, as high Truth, cherished, best at winning strength, Truth based upon the statute that supports the heavens,
He rose, a light that kills Vritras and enemies, best slayer of the Dasyus, Asuras, and foes.
3. This light, the best of lights, supreme, all conquering, winner of riches, is exalted with high laud.
All-lighting, radiant, mighty as the Sun to see, he spreadeth wide unshaken victory and strength.

VI Indra

1. O Indra, give us wisdom as a sire gives wisdom to his sons,
Guide us, O much-invoked, in this our way: may we still livc and look upon the light!
2. Grant that no mighty foes, unknown, malevolent unhallowed, tread us to the ground!
With thine assistance, hero, may we pass through all the waters that are rushing down!

VII Indra

1. Protect us, Indra, each to-day, each to morrow, and each following day!
Through all the days shalt thou, Lord of the brave, preserve our singers both by day and night!
2. A crushing warrior, passing rich, is Maghavan, endowed with all heroic strength.
Thine arms, O Satakratu, are exceeding strong, those arms,
which grasp the thunderbolt.

VIII Sarasvan

1. We call upon Sarasvan as unmarried men who long for wives,
As bounteous men who yearn for sons.

IX Sarasvati

1. Yea, she most dear amid dear streams-seven-sistered, loved with foundest love.
Sarasvati, hath earned our praise.

X Svitar. Brahmapaspati. Agni

1. May we attain that excellent glory of Savitar the God: So may he stimulate our prayers!
2. O Brahmanaspati, make thou Kakshivan Ausija a loud Chanter of flowing Soma juice!
3. Agni, thou pourest life: send down upon us food and vigorous strength;
Drive thou misfortune far away!

XI Mitra-Varuva

1. So help ye us to riches, great celestial and terrestrial wealth
Vast is your sway among the Gods!
2. Carefully tending Law with law they have attained their vigorous might:
Both Gods, devoid of guile, wax strong.
3. With rainy skies and streaming floods, Lords of the food that falls in dew,
A lofty seat have they attained.

XII Indra

I. They who stand round him as he moves harness the bright, the ruddy steed:
The lights shining in the sky.
2. On both sides to the car they yoke the two bay coursers dear to him,
Brown, bold, who bear the hero on.
3. Thou, making light where no light was, and form, O men where form was not,
Wast born together with the Dawns.

XIII Soma Pavamana

1. For thee this Soma is effused. O Indra: drink of this j uice; for thee the stream is flowing–
Soma, which thou thyself hast made and chosen, even Indu for thy special drink to cheer thee!
2. Like a capacious car hath it been harnessed, the mighty, to acquire abundant treasures.
Then in the sacrifice they shouted lauding all triumphs won by Nahus in the battle.
3. Flow onward like the potent band of Maruts, like that celestial host which none revileth!
Quickly be gracious unto us like waters, like sacrifice victorious, thousand-fashioned!

XIV Agni

1. O Agni, thou hast been ordained Hotar of every sacrifice, By Gods, among the race of men.
So with sweet-sounding tongues for us sacrifice nobly in this rite:
Bring thou the Gods and worship them
3. For, as disposer, Agni, God, most wise in sacrifices, thou Knowest straightway the roads and paths.

XV Agni

1. Immortal, Hotar-priest, and God, with wondrous power heleads the way,
Urging the congregations on.
2. Strong, he is set on deeds of strength. He is led forth in holy rites,
Sage who completes the sacrifice.
3. Excellent, he was made by thought. The germ of beings have gained.
Yea, and the Sire of active power.

XVI Agni

1. Pour on the juice the heated milk which hasteneth to heaven and. earth;
Bestow the liquid on the Bull!
2. These know their own abiding-place: like calves beside themother cows,
They come together with their kin.
3. Devouring in their greedy jaws, they make sustaining food irb heaven,
For Indra, Agni, homage, light.

XVII Indra

1. In all the worlds That was the best and highest whence sprang the mighty one, of splendid valour,
As soon as he is born he smites his foemen, he in whom all
who lend him aid are joyful foe
2. Grown mighty in his strength, of ample vigour, he as a strikes fear into the Dasa,
Eager to win the breathing and the breathless. All sang thy praise at banquet and oblation.
3. All concentrate on thee their mental vigour, what time these, once or twice, are thine assistants.
Blend what is sweeter than the sweet with sweetness: win quickly with our meath that meath in battle.

XVIII Indra

1. At the Trikadrukas the great and strong enjoyed the barley-brew. With Vishnu did he drink the pressed-out Soma juice, even as he would.
That hath so heightened him the great, the wide, to do his mighty work. So may the God attend the God, true Indu Indra who is true!
2. Brought forth together with wisdom and potent strength thou grewest great: with hero deeds subduing the malevolent, most swift in act;
Giving prosperity and lovely wealth to him who praiseth thee.
So may the God attend the God, true Indu Indra who is true!
3. So he resplendent in the battle overcame Krivi by might. He with his majesty bath filled the earth and heaven, and waxen strong.
One share of the libation bath he swallowed down: one share he left. Enlighten us! So may the God attend the God, true Indu Indra who is true!

 

 

---

BOOK VII

CHAPTER I

I Indra

1. Praise, even as he is known, with song Indra the guardian of the kine,
The Son of Truth, Lord of the brave,
2. Hither have his bay steeds been sent, red steeds are on the sacred grass
Where we in concert sing our songs.
3. For Indra, thunder-armed, the kine have yielded mingled milk and meath,
What time he found them in the vault.

II Indra

1. Draw near unto our Indra who must be invoked in every fight!
Come, thou most mighty Vritra-slayer, meet for praise come to
libations and to hymns.
2. Thou art the best of all in sending bounteous gyifts, true art thou,, lordly in thine act.
We claim alliance with the very glorious one, yea, with the
mighty Son of Strength.

III Soma Pavamana

I. They have drained forth from out the great depth of the sky the old divine primeval milk that claims the laud:
They lifted up their voice to Indra at his birth.
2. Then, beautifully radiant, certain heavenly ones proclaimed their kinship with him as they looked thereon:
Savitar opens, as it were, the fold of heaven.
3. And now that thou, O Pavamana, art above this earth and heaven and all existence in thy might,
Thou shinest like a bull supreme among the herd.

IV Agni

1. O Agni, graciously announce this our good fortune to the Gods,
And this our newest hymn of praise!
2. Thou dealest gifts, resplendent one! nigh, as with wave of Sindhu, thou
Swift strearnest to the worshipper.
3. Give us a share of wealth most high, a share of wealth most near to us,
A share of wealth that is between.

V Indra

1. I from my Father have obtained deep knowledge of eternal Law;
I was born like unto the Sun.
2. After the ancient manner I, like Kanva, beautify my songs,
And Indra’s self gains power thereby.
3. Whatever gishis have not praised thee, Indra, or have praised thee, wax
Mighty indeed when praised by me!

VI Agni

1. Agni, produced by strength, do thou with all thy fires accept our prayer:
With those that are with Gods, with those that are with men exalt our songs!
2. Forth come to us with all his fires that Agni, whose the mighty are,
Come, fully girt about with wealth for us and for our kith and kin!
3. Do thou, O Agni, with thy fires strengthen our prayer and sacrifices:
Incite them to bestow their wealth to aid our service of the Gods!

VII Soma Pavamana

1. Some, the men of old whose grass was trimmed addressed the hymn to thee for mighty strength and for renown:
So, hero, urge us onward to heroic power’
2. All round about hast thou with glory pierced for us as ’twere a never-failing well for men to drink,
Borne on thy way as ’twere in fragments from both arms.
3. Thou didst produce him, deathless one! for mortal man, for maintenance of Law and lovely Amrita:
Thou evermore hast moved making wealth flow to us.

VIII Indra

1. Pour out the drops f or Indra; let him drink the meath of Soma Juice!
He through his majesty sends forth his bounteous gifts.
2. I spake to the bay coursers’ Lord, to him who grants the boon. of wealth:
Now hear the son of Asva as he praises thee?
3. Never was any hero born before thee mightier than thou:
None certainly like thee in riches and in praise.

IX Indra

1. Thou wishest for thy kine a bull, lord of thy cows whom none may kill,
For those who long for his approach, for those who turn away from him.

X Agni

1. The God who giveth wealth accept the full libation poured to him!
Pour ye it out, then fill the vessel full again, for so the God regardeth you!
2. The Gods made him the Hotar-priest of sacrifice, oblationbearer, passing wise.
Agni gives wealth and valour to the worshipper, to man who offers up his gifts.

XI Agni

1. He hath appeared, best prosperer, in whom men lay their holy acts:
So may our songs of praise come nigh to Agni who was born to give the Arya strength.
2. Him before whom the people shrink when he performs his glorious deeds,
Him who wins thousands at the sacrifice, himself, that Agni, reverence with songs!
3. Agni of Divoddsa, God, comes forth like Indra in his might.
Rapidly hath he moved along his mother earth; he stands in high heaven’s dwelling-place.

XII Agni

1. Agni, thou pourest life: send down upon us food and vigorous strength:
Drive thou misfortune far away!
2. Agni is Pavamana, Sage, Chief Priest of all the fivefold tribes; To him whose wealth is great we pray.
3. Skilled in thy task, O Agni, pour splendour with hero strength on us, Granting me wealth that nourishes!

XIII Agni

1. O Agni, holy and divine with splendour and thy pleasant tongue. Bring thou the Gods and worship them!
2. We pray thee bathed in butter, O bright-rayed! who lookest on the sun, Bring the Gods hither to the feast!
3. Sage, we have kindled thee, the bright, the feaster on oblation, thee, O Agni, great in sacrifice!

XIV Agni

I. Adorable in all our prayers, favour us, Agni, with thine aid.
What time the psalm is chanted forth!
2. Bring to us ever-conquering wealth, wealth, Agni, worthy of our choice,
Invincible in all our frays!
3. Grant us, O Agni, through thy grace wealth to support us evermore,
Thy favour so that we may live!

XV Agni

1. Let songs of ours speed Agni forth like a fleet courser in the race,
And we will win each prize through him
2. Agni! the host whereby we gain kine for ourselves with help from thee,-
That send us for the gain of wealth!
3. O Agni, bring us wealth secure, vast wealth in horses and in kine:
Oil thou the socket, turn the wheel!
4. O Agni, thou hast made the Sun, the eternal star, to mount the sky,
Giving the boon of light to men.
5. Thou, Agni, art the people’s light, best, dearest, seated in thy shrine
Watch for the singer, give him life!

XVI Agni

1. Agni is head and height of heaven, the master of the earth is he:
He quickeneth the waters’ seed.
2. Yea, Agni, thou as Lord of light rulest o’er choicest gifts may I,
Thy singer, find defence in thee
3. Upward, O Agni, rise thy flames, pure and resplendent, blazing high,
Thy lustres, fair effulgences.

 CHAPTER II

I Agni

1. Who, Agni, is thy kin, of men? who honours thee with sacrifice?
On whom dependent? who art thou?
2. The kinsman, Agni! of mankind, their well-beiaved friend art thou,
A friend whom friends may supplicate.
3. Bring Mitra, Varukia, bring the Gods hither to. our great sacrifice:
Bring them, O Agni, to thine home

II Agni

1. Meet to be worshipped and implored, showing in beauty through the gloom,
Agni, the strong, is kindled well.
2. Strong Agni is enkindled well, even as the horse that brings the Gods:
Men with oblations pray to him.
3. We will enkindle thee, the strong, we, hero! who axe strong ourselves,

III Agni

1. Thy mighty flames, O Agni, when thou art enkindled, rise on high,
Thy bright flames, thou refulgent one
2. Beloved! let my ladies full of sacred oil come nigh to thee.
Agni, accept our offerings!
3. I pray to Agni–may he hear!–the Hotar with sweet tones, the Priest,
Wondrously splendid, rich in light,

V Agni

1. O King, the potent and terrific envoy, kindled for strength, is
manifest in beauty.
He shines, observant, with his lofty splendour; chasing black night he comes with white-rayed morning.
2. Having o’ercome the glimmering Black with beauty, and bringing forth the Dame, the great Sire’s daughter,
Holding aloft the radiant lights of Surya, as messenger of heaven he shines with treasures.
3. Attendant on the blessed Dame the blessed hath come: the lover followeth his sister.
Agni, far-spreading with conspicuous lustre, hath covered night with whitely-shining garments.

VI Agni

1. What is the praise wherewith, O God, Angiras, Agni, Son of Strength,
We, after thine own wish and thought,
2. May serve thee, O thou Child of Power, and with what sacrifice’s plan?
What reverent word shall I speak here?

VII Agni

1. Agni, come hither with thy fires; we choose thee as our Hotar; let
The proffered ladle filled with offerings balm thee, best of priests, to sit on sacred grass!
2. For unto thee, O Angiras, O Son of Strength, move ladles in the sacrifice.
We pray to Agni, Child of Force, whose locks drop oil, foremost in sacrificial rites.

VIII Agni

1. Let our songs come anear to him beauteous and bright with piercing flame,
Our sacrifices with our homage unto him much-lauded, very rich, for help:
2. To Agni Jatavedas, to the Son of Strength, that he may give us precious gifts,
3. Immortal, from of old Priest among mortal men, whose tones are sweetest in the house!

X Agni

1. Invincible is Agni, he who goes before the tribes of men,
A chariot swift and ever new.
2. By bringing offerings unto him the mortal worshipper obtains
A home from him whose light is pure.
3. Inviolable power of Gods, subduing all his enemies, Agni is mightiest in fame.

XI Agni

1. May Agni, worshipped, bring us bliss: may the gift, blessed one! and sacrifice bring bliss,
Yea, may our eulogies bring bliss
2. Show forth the mind that brings success in war with fiends, wherewith thou conquerest in fight!
Bring down the many firm hopes of our enemies, and for thy victory let us win!

XII Agni

1. O Agni thou who art the Lord of wealth in kine, thou Son of Strength,
Bestow on us, O Jatavedas, high renown
2. He, Agni, kindled, good and wise, must be entreated with a. song;
Shine, thou of many forms, shine thou with wealth on us
3. And, Agni, shining of thyself by night and when the morning breaks,
Burn, thou whose teeth are sharp, against the Rakshasas

XIII Agni

1. Exerting all our strength with thoughts of power we glorify in speech,
Agni, your dear familiar friend, the darling guest of every house:
2. Whom, served with sacrificial oil, like Mitra, men presenting gifts,
Glorify with their songs of praise
3. Much-lauded Jatavedas, him who sends oblations up to heaven,
Prepared in service of the Gods.

XIV Agni

1. Agni, inflamed with fuel, in my song I sing, pure bright, and stedfast set in front at sacrifice.
Wise Jatavedas we implore with prayers for grace, the Sage, the Hotar-priest, bounteous, and void of guile.
2. Men, Agni, in each age, have made thee, deathless one, their envoy, offering-bearer, guard adorable.
With reverence Gods and mortals have established thee as everwatchful and almighty household Lord.
3. Though, Agni ordering the works and ways of both, as envoy of the Gods traversest both the realms.
When we lay claim to thy regard and gracious care, be thou to us a th rice- protecting friendly guard?

XV Agni

1. Still turning to their aim in thee the sacrificer’s sister hymns
Have come to thee before the wind.
2. Even the waters find their place in him whose three fold sacred grass
Is spread unbound, unlimited.
3. The station of the bounteous God, by his unconquerable aid,
Hath a fair aspect like the Sun.

 CHAPTER III

I Indra

1. Men with their lauds are urging thee, Indra, to drink the Soma first.
The Ribhus in accord have lifted up their voice, and Rudras sung thee as the first.
2. Indra, at sacrifice, increased his manly strength, in the wild rapture of this juice:
And living men to-day, even as of old, sing forth their praises to his majesty.

II Indra-Agni

1. Indra and Agni! singers skilled in melody, with lauds, hymn you:
I choose you both to bring me food.
2. Indra and Agni! ye shook down, together, with one mightyr deed, The ninety forts which Dasas held.
3. To Indra and to Agni prayers go forward from the holy task, Along the path of sacred Law.
4. Indra and Agni, powers are yours, yours are oblations ano abodes: Good is your zealous energy.

III Indra

1. Indra, with all thy saving helps assist us, Lord of power and might!
For after thee we follow even as glorious bliss, thee, hero, finder-out of wealth!
2. Increaser of our steeds and multiplying kine, a golden well, G God, art thou,
For no one may impair the gift laid up in thee. Bring me whatever thing I ask!

IV Indra

1. For thou–come to the worshipper!–wilt find great wealth to make us rich.
Fill thyself full, O Maghavan, for gain of kine, full, Indra, forthe gain of steeds!
2. Thou as thy gift bestowest many hundred herds, yea, many thou-sands dost thou give.
With singers’ hymns have we brought the fortrender near, singing to Indra for his grace.

V Agni

1. To him who dealeth out all wealth, the sweet-toned Hotar-priest of men,
To him, like the first vessels filled with savoury juice, to Agni let the lauds go forth!
2. Votaries, bounteous givers, deck him with their songs, even as the steed who draws the car.
To both, strong Lord of men! to kith and kin convey the bounties of our wealthy lords!

VI Varuna

1. Hear this my call, O Varuna, and show thy gracious love today:
Desiring help I long for thee!

VII Indra

1. O Hero, with what aid dost thou delight us, with what succour bring,
Riches to those who worship thee?

VIII Indra

1. Indra, for service of the Gods, Indra while sacrifice proceeds,
Indra, as worshippers, in battle-shock we call, Indra that we may win the spoil.
2. With might hath Indra spread out heaven and earth, with power hath indra lighten up the Sun. In Indra are all creatures closely held; in him meet the distilling Soma-drops.

IX Visvakarman

1. Bring, Visvakarman strengthened by oblation, thyself, thy body-’tis thine own-for worship
Let other men around us live in folly here let us have’, a rich and liberal patron!

X Soma Pavamana

1. With this his golden splendour purifying him, he with his own allies subdues all enemies. as Sura with his own allies.
Cleansing himself with stream of juice he shines forth yellow-hued and red, when with his praisers he encompasses all forms, with praisers having seven mouths.
2. He moves intelligent directed to the east. The every beauteous car rivals the beams of light, the beautiful celestial car.
Hymns, lauding manly valour, came inciting Indra to success, that ye may be unconquered, both thy bolt and thou, both be unconquered in the war.
3. That treasure of the Panis thou discoveredst. Thou with the Mothers deckest thee in thine abode, with, songs of worship in thine home.
As ’twere from far away is heard the psalm where hymns resound in joy. He, with the triple Dames red-hued, hath won life-power, he, gleaming, hath won vital strength.

XI Pusan

1. Yea, cause our hymn to gain for us cattle and steeds and store of wealth,
That it may help us manfully!

XII Maruts

1. Heroes of real strength, ye mark either the sweat of him who toils,
Or his desire who supplicates.

XIII Visvedevas

1. The Sons of immortality shall listen to our songs of praise,
And be exceeding kind to us.

XIV Heaven and Earth

1. To both of you, O Heaven and Earth, we bring our lofty song of praise,
Pure pair! to glorify you both.
2. Ye sanctify each other’s form by your own proper strength ye rule:
Further the sacrifice evermore!
3. Promoting and fulfilling, ye, mighty ones, perfect Mitra’s law:
Ye sit around our sacrifice.

XV Indra

1. This is thine own. Thou drawest near, as turns a pigeon to his mate:
Thou carest, too, for this our prayer.
2. O hero, Lord of bounties, praised in hymns, may glorious fame and might
Be his who sings the laud to thee
3. Lord of a Hundred Powers, rise up to be our succour in this fight:
In other fights let us agree

XVI Oblations

1. Ye cows, protect the fount: the two mighty ones bless the sacrifice.
The handles twain are wrought of gold.
2. The pressing-stones are set at work: the meath is poured into the tank
At the out-shedding of the fount.
3. With reverence they drain the fount that circles with its wheel above.
Exhaustless, with the mouth below.

XVII Indra

1. Let us not tire or be afraid with thee, the mighty, for our friend!
May we see Turvasa and Yadu! thy great deed, O hero, must be glorified.
2. On his left hip the hero hath reclined himself: the proffered feast offends him not.
The milk is blended with the honey of the bee: quickly come hither, haste, and drink!

XVIII Indra

1. May these my songs of praise exalt thee, Lord, who hast abundant wealth!
Men skilled in holy hymns, pure, with the hues of fire, have
sung them with their lauds to thee.
2. He, when a thousand Rishis have enhanced his might, hath like an ocean spread himself.
His majesty is praised as true at solemn rites, his power where holy singers rule.

XIX Indra

1. Good Lord of wealth is he to whom all Aryas, Dasas here belong.
Directly unto thee, the pious Rusama Paviru, is that wealth brought nigh.
2. In zealous haste the singers have sung forth a song distilling
fatness, rich in sweets.
Riches have spread among us and heroic strength, with us are flowing Soma-drops.

XX Soma Pavamana

1. Flow to us, Indu, very strong, effused, with wealth of kine and steeds,
And do thou lay above the milk thy radiant hue
2. Lord of the tawny, Indu, thou who art the Gods’ most special food,
As friend to friend, for splendour be thou good to men!
3. Drive utterly, far away from us each godless, each voracious; foe;
O Indu, overcome and drive the false afar!

XXI Soma Pavamana.

1. They balm him, balm him over, balm him thoroughly, caress. the mighty strength and balm it with the meath.
They seize the flying Steer at the stream’s breathing place cleansing with gold they grasp the animal herein.
2. Sing forth to Pavamana skilled in holy song! the juice is flowing onward like a mighty stream.
He glideth like a serpent from his ancient skin, and like a. playful horse the tawny Steer hath run.
3. Dweller in floods, King, foremost, he displays his might, set among living things as measure of days.
Distilling oil he flows, fair, billowy, golden-hued, borne on car of light, sharing on home with wealth.

 

 

---

 

 

BOOK VIII 

CHAPTER I

I Agni

1. With all thy fires, O Agni, find pleasure in this our sacrifice,
And this our speech, O son of Strength!
2. Whate’er, in this perpetual course, we sacrifice to God and God,
That gift is offered but in thee.
3. May he be our beloved King and excellent sweet-toned Hotar may
We with bright fires be dear to him

II Indra

1. For you from every side we call Indra away from other men
Ours, and none others, may he be!
2. Unclose, our manly hero! thou for ever bounteous, yonder cloud
For us, thou irresistible
3. As the strong bull leads on the herds, he stirs the people with his might,
The ruler irresistible.

III Agni

1. Wonderful, with thy saving help, send us thy bounties, gracious Lord!
Thou art the charioteer, Agni, of earthly wealth: find rest and safety for our seed!
2. Prosper our kith and kin with thy protecting powers inviolate, never negligent!
Keep far from us, O Agni, all celestial wrath. and wickedness of godless men!

IV Vishnu

1. What, Vishnu, is the name that thou proclaimest when thou declaredst, I am Sipivishta?
Hide not this form from us, nor keep it secret, since thou didst wear another shape in battle.
2. This offering to-day, O Sipivishta, I, skilled in rules, extol, to thee the noble.
Yea, I, the poor and weak, praise thee, the mighty, who dwellest in the realm beyond this region.
3. O Vishnu, unto thee my lips cry Vashat! Let this mine offering, Sipivishta, please thee!
May these my songs of eulogy exalt thee! Do ye preserve us evermore with blessings!

V Vayu, Indra and Vayu

I. Vayu, the bright is offered thee, best of the meath, at morning rites.
Come thou to drink the Soma juice, God, longed for on thy team-drawn car!
2. O Vayu, thou and Indra are meet drinkers of these Soma draughts,
For unto you the drops proceed like waters gathering to the vale.
3. Vayu and Indra, mighty twain, borne on one chariot, Lords of strength,
Come to ouf succour with your steeds, that ye may drink the
Soma juice!

VI Soma Pavamana

1. Then thou, made beautiful by night, enterest into mighty deeds,
When prayers impel the golden-hued to hasten from Vivasvan’s place.
2. We cleanse this gladdening drink of his, the juice which Indra chiefly drinks,
That which kine took into their mouths, oF old, and princes take it now.
3. Thy with the ancient psalm have sung to him as he is purified,
And sacred songs which bear the Dames of Gods have supplicated him.

VI Agni

1. With homage will I reverence thee, Agni, like a long-tailed steed,
Imperial Lord of holy rites.
2. May the far-striding Son of Strength, our friend who brings felicity,
Who pours his gifts like rain, be ours
3. From near and far away do thou, the everlasting, evermore
Protect us from the sinful man!

VIII Indra

1. Thou in thy battles, Indra, art subduer of all hostile bands.
Father art thou, all-conquering, cancelling the curse, thou victor of the vanquisher!
2. The earth and heaven cling close to thy victorious might, as sire and mother to their child.
When thou attackest Vritra, all the hostile bands shrink and faint, Indra, at thy wrath.

IX Indra

1. The sacrifice made Indra great when he unrolled the earth, and made
Himself a diadem in heaven.
2. In Soma’s ecstasy Indra spread the firmament and realms of light,
When he cleft Vala limb from limb.
3. Showing the hidden, he drave forth the cows for the Angirasas,
And Vala he cast headlong down.

X Indra

1. Thou speedest down to succour us this-ever-conquering God of yours,
Him who is drawn to all our songs;
2, The warrior whom none may wound, the Soma-drinker ne’er o’erthrown,
The chieftain of resistless might.
3. O Indra, send us riches, thou omniscient, worthy of our hymns:
Help us in the decisive fray!

XI Indra

1. That lofty power and might of thine, thy strength and thine intelligence,
And thy surpassing thunderbolt, the wish makes keen.
2. O Indra, heaven and earth augment thy manly force and thy renown:
The waters and the mountains stir and urge thee on:
3. Vishnu in the lofty ruling power, Varuna, Mitra sing thy praise:
In thee the Maruts’ company have great delight.

XII Agni

1. O Agni, God, the people sing reverent praise to thee for strength:
With terrors trouble thou the foe
2. Wilt thou not, Agni, lend us aid to win the cattle, win the wealth?
Maker of room, make room for us
3. In the great fight cast us not off, Agni, as one who bears a load:
Snatch up the wealth and win it all!

XIII Indra

1. Before his hot displeasure all the peoples, all the men bow down,
As rivers bow them to the sea.
2. Even fiercely-moving Vritra’s head he served with his thunderbolt,
His mighty hundred-knotted bolt.
3. That might of his shone brightly forth when Indra brought together, like
A skin, the worlds of heaven and earth.

XIV Indra

1. Kind-thoughted is the noble, gladdening, friendly one.
2. Approach, O beauteous hero, this auspicious pair that draws the car!
These two are coming near to us.
3. Bend lowly down, as ’twere, your beads: be stands amid the water-flood,
Pointing with his ten horns the way.

 CHAPTER II

I Indra

1. Pressers, blend Soma juice for him, each draugbt most excellent, for him
The brave, the: hero, for his joy!
2. The two stroing bay steeds, voked by prayer, hither shall bring to us our friend,
Indra, song-lover, through our songs.
3. The Vritra-slayer drinks the juice. May he who gives a hundred
aids
Approach, nor stay afar from us!

II Indra

1. Let the drops pass within thee as the rivers flow into the sea
O Indra, naught excelleth thee.
2. ‘Thou’ wakeful hero, by thy might hast taken food of Soma juice,
Which, Indra, is within thee now.
3. O Indra, Vritra-slayer, let Soma be ready for thy maw, The drops be ready for thy forms!

III Agni

1. Help, thou who knowest lauds, this work, a lovely hymn in Rudra’s praise,
Adorable in every house
2. May this our God, great, limitless, smoke-bannered, excellently bright,
Urge us to holy thought and wealth
3. Like soma rich lord of men, may he, Agni, the banner of the Gods,
Refulgent, hear us through our lauds!

IV Indra

1. Sing this, beside the flowing juice, to him, your hero, much invoked,
To please him as a mighty Bull!
2. He, excellent, withholdeth not his bounteous gift of wealth in kine.
When lie bath listened to our songs.
3. May he with might unclose for us the cow’s stall, whosesoe’er it be,
To which the Dasyu-slayer goes!

V Vishnu

1. Through all this world strode Vishnu: thrice his foot he planted, and the whole
Was gathered in his footstep’s dust.
2. Vishnu, the guardian, he whom none deceiveth, made three steps, thenceforth
Establishing his high decrees.
3. Look ye on Vishnu’s works whereby the friend of Indra, close allied,
Hath let his holy ways be seen
4. The princes evermore behold that loftiest place of Vishnu, like
An eye extended through the heavens.
5. This, Vishou’s station most sublime, the sages, ever-vigilant,
Lovers of holy song, light up.
6. May the Gods help and favour us out of the place whence Vishnu strode
Over the back and ridge of earth.

VI Indra

1. Let none, no, not thy worshippers, delay thee far away from us!
Even from far away come thou unto our feast, or listen it already here!
2. For here, like rites on honey, those who pray to thee sit by the juice that they have poured.
Wealth-craving singers have on Indra set their hope, as men set foot upon a car.

VII Indra

1. Sung is the song of ancient time: to Indra have ye said the prayer.
They have sung many a Brihati of sacrifice, poured forth the worshipper’s many thoughts.
2. Indra hath tossed together mighty stores of wealth, and both the worlds, yea, and the sun.
Pure, brightly-shining, mingled with the milk, the draughts of Soma have made Indra glad.

VIII Soma Pavamana

1. For Vritra-slaying Indra, thou, Soma, art poured that he may drink,
And for the guerdon-giving man, the hero sitting in his seat.
2. Friends, may the princes, ye and we, obtain this most resplendent one,
Gain him who hath the smell of strength, win him whose home is very strength!
3. Him with the fleece they purify, brown, golden-hued, beloved of all.
Who with exhilarating juice flows forth to all the deities.

IX Indra

1. Indra whose wealth is in thyself, what mortal will attack this man?
The strong will win the spoil on the decisive day through faith in thee, O Maghavan!
2. In battles with the foe urge on our mighty ones who give the treasures dear to thee
And may we with our princes, Lord of tawny steeds! pass through all peril, led by thee!

X Indra

1. Come, priest, and of the savoury juice pour forth a yet more gladdening draught!
So is the hero praised who ever prospers us.
3. Indra, whom tawny coursers bear, praise such as thine, preeminent,
None by his power or by his goodness hath attained.
3. We, seeking glory, have invoked this God of yours, the Lord of wealth,
Who must be magnified by constant sacrifice.

XI Agni

1. Sing praise to him, the Lord of light. The Gods have made the God to be their messenger,
To bear oblation to the Gods.
2. Agni, the bounteous giver, bright with varied flames, laud thou, O singer Sobhari,
Him who controls this sacred food with Soma blent, who hath first claim to sacrifice!

XII Soma Pavamana

1. Expressed by stones, O Soma, and urged through the long wool of the sheep,
Thou, entering the press-boards, even as men a fort, goldbued, hast settled in the vats.
2. He beautifies himself through the sheep’s long fine wool, the bounteous, like the racing steed,
Even Soma Pavamana who shall be the joy of sages and of holy bards.

XIII Indra

1. Here, verily, yesterday we let the Thunder-wielder drink his fill.
Bring him the juice poured forth in sacrifice to-day! Now range you by the glorious one!
2. Even the wolf, the savage beast that rends the sheep, follows the path of his decrees.
So graciously accepting, Indra, this our praise, with wondrous thought come forth to us!

XIV Indra-Agni

1. Indra and Agni, in your deeds of might ye deck heaven’s lucid realms:
Famed is that hero strength of yours.
2. To Indra and to Agni prayers go forward from the holy task.
Along the path of sacred Law.
3. Indra and Agni, powers are yours, yours are oblations and abodes:
Good is your zealous energy.

XV Indra

1. Who knows what vital power he wins, drinking beside the flowing juice?
This is the fair-cheeked God who, joying in the draught, breaks down the castles in his strength.
2. As a wild elephant rushes on, this way and that way mad with
heat,
None may restrain thee, yet come hither to the draught! Thou, movest mighty in thy power.
3. When he, the terrible, ne’er o’erthrown, stedfast, made ready for the fight–
When Indra Maghavan lists to his praiser’s call, he will not stand aloof, but come.

XVI Soma Pavamana

1. The Pavamanas have been poured, the brilliant drops of Soma juice,
For holy lore of every kind.
2. From heaven, from out the firmament hath PavamAna been effused
Upon the back and ridge of earth.
3. The Pavamanas have been shed, the beautified swift Somadrops,
Driving all enemies afar.

XVII Indra-Agni

I. Indra and Agni I invoke, joint-victors, bounteous, unsubdued,
Foe-slayers, best to win the spoil.
2. Indra and Agni, singers skilled in melody hymn you bringing lauds:
I choose you both to bring me food.
3. Together, with one mighty deed, Indra and Agni, ye shook down.
The ninety forts which Dasas held.

XVIII Agni

1. O Child of Strength, to thee whose look is lovely, with oblations we,
O Agni, have poured forth our songs.
2. To thee for shelter are we come, as to the shade from fervent heat,
Agni, who glitterest like gold
3. Mighty as one who slays with shafts, or like a bull with sharpened horn,
Agni, thou brakest down the forts.

XIX Agni

1. To give eternal glow, we pray Vaisvanara the holy one, Lord of the light of sacrifice.
2. Who, furthering the light of Law, hath spread himself to meet this work:
He sends the seasons, mighty one.
3. Love of what is and what shall be, Agni, in his beloved forms,
Shines forth alone as sovran Lord.

CHAPTER III

I Agni

1.Wise Agni, in the ancient way, making his body beautiful,
Hath been exalted by the sage.
2. I invocate the Child of Strength, Agni whose glow is bright and pure,
In this well-ordered sacrifice.
3. So, Agni, rich in many friends, with fiery splendour seat thyself.
With Gods upon our sacred grass!

II Soma Pavamana

1. O thou with stones for arms, thy powers, rending the fiends, have raised themselves:
Drive off the foes who compass us
2. Hence conquering with might when car meets car, and when the prize is staked,
With fearless heart will I sing praise.
3. None, evil-minded, may assail this Pavamana’s holy laws
Crush him who fain would fight with thee!
4. For Indra to the streams they urge the tawny rapture-dropping steed,
Indu, the bringer of delight.

III Indra

1. Come hither, Indra, with bay steeds, joyous, with tails like peacocks’ plumes!
Let no men check thy course as fowlers stay the bird: pass o’er them as o’er desert lands!
2. Vritra’s devourer, he who burst the cloud, brake forts, and drave the floods,
Indra, who mounts his chariot at his bay steeds’ cry, shatters e’en things that stand most firm.
3. Like pools of water deep and full, like kine thou cherishest thy might;
Like the milch-cows that go well-guarded to the mead, like water-brooks that reach the lake.

IV Indra

1. Even as the wild bull, when he thirsts, goes to the desert’s watery pool,
Come hither quickly both at morning and at eve, and with the Kanvas drink thy fill!
2. May the drops gladden thee, Lord Indra, and obtain bounty for him who pours the juice!
Soma, shed in the press, thou stolest and didst drink, and hence hast won surpassing might.

V Indra

I. Thou as a God. O mightiest, verily blessest mortal man.
O Maghavan, there is no comforter but thou: Indra, I speak my words to thee.
2. Let not thy bounteous gifts, let not thy saving help all fail us good Lord, at any time!
And measure out to us, thou lover of man-kind, all riches hitherward from men

VI Dawn

I. This Lady, excellent and kind, after her sister shining forth, Daughter of Heaven, hath shown herself.
2. Red, like a mare, and beautiful, holy, the mother of the kine, The Dawn became the Asvins’ friend.
3. Yea, and thou art the Asvins’, friend the mother of the cows art thou: O Dawn, thou rules over wealth

VII Asvins

1. Now Morning with her earliest light shines forth, dear daughter of the Sky:
High, Asvins, I extol your praise
2. Children of Ocean, mighty ones, discoverers of riches, Gods,
Finders of treasure through our prayer!
3. Your lofty coursers hasten over the everlasting realm, whea your car flies with winged steeds.

VIII Dawn

1. O Dawn who hast a store of wealth, bring unto us that splendid gift
Wherewith we may support children and children’s sons
2. Thou radiant Lady of sweet strains, with wealth of horses and of kine
Shine thou on us this day, O Dawn, auspiciously
3. O Dawn who hast a store of wealth, yoke red steeds to thy car to-day.
Then bring us all delight and all felicities

IX Asvins

1. O Asvins, wonderful in act, do ye unanimous direct
Your chariot to our home wealthy in kine and gold!
2. Hither may they who wake at dawn bring, to drink Soma, both the Gods,
Health-givers, wonder-workers, borne on paths of gold!
3. Ye who brought down the hymn from heaven, a light that giveth light to men,
Do ye, O Asvins, bring strength hither unto us!

X Agni

1. I think of Agni who is kind, whom, as their home, the milch-kine seek;
Whom fleet-foot coursers seek as home, and strong enduring, steeds as home.
Bring food to those who sing thy praise!
2. For Agni, God of all mankind, gives the strong courser to theman.
Agni gives ready gear for wealth, he gives the best when he ix pleased.
Bring food to those who sing thy praise!
3. The Agni who is praised as kind, to whom the milch-kine come. in herds,
To whom the racers, swift of foot, to whom our wellborn princes come. Bring food to those who sing thy praise!

XI Dawn

1. O heavenly Dawn, awaken us to ample opulence today,
Even as thou didst waken us with Satyasravas, Vayya’s, Son, high-born! delightful with thy steeds!
2. Daughter of heaven, thou dawnedst of Sunitha, Suchadratha’s son;
So dawn thou on one mightier still, on Satyasravas, Vayya’s son, high-born! delightful with thy steeds!
3. So bringing treasure, shine to-day on us, thou daughter, of the Sky,
As on one mightier thou hast dawned, on Satyasravas, Vayya’s son, high-born! delightful with thy steeds!

XII Asvins

1. To meet your treasure-bringing car, the car that is most dear to us,
Asvins the Rishi is prepared, your worshipper with, songs of praise. Lovers of sweetness, hear my call
2. Pass, Asvins, over all away. May I obtain you for myself,
Wonderful, with your golden paths, most gracious, bringers of the flood! Lovers of sweetness, hear my call!
3. Come to us, O ye Asvins twain, bringing your precious treasures, come
Ye Rudras, on your paths of gold, rejoicing, with your store of wealth! Lovers of sweetness, hear my call!

XIII Agni

1. Agni is wakened by the people’s fuel to meet the Dawn who cometh like a milch-cow.
Like young trees shooting up on high their branches, his flames mounting to the vault of heaven.
2. For the Gods’ worship hath the priest been wakened: kind Agni hath arisen erect at morning.
Kindled, his radiant might is made apparent, and the great God hath been set free from darkness.
3. When he hath roused the line of his attendants, with the bright milk bright Agni is anointed.
Then is prepared the effectual oblation, which spread in front, with tongues, erect, he drinketh,

XIV Dawn

1. This light is come, amid all lights the fairest: born is the brilliant, far-extending brightness.
Night, sent away for Savitar’s uprising, hath yielded up a birthplace for the morning.
2. The fair, the bright is come with her white offspring to her the Dark one hath resigned her dwelling.
Akin, immortal, following each other, changing their colours both the heavens move onward.
3. Common, unending is the sisters’ pathway: taught by the Gods alternately they travel,
Fair-formed, of different hues and yet one-minded, Night and Dawn clash not, neither do they tarry.

XV Asvins

1. Agni, the bright face of the Dawns, is shining: the singers’ pious voices have ascended.
Borne on your chariot, Asvins, turn you hither, and come unto our brimming warm libation!
2. Most frequent guests, they scorn not what is ready: even now the lauded Asvins are beside us.
With promptest aid they come at morn and evening, the worshipper’s most healthful guards from trouble.
3. Yea, come at milking-time, at early morning, at noon of day, and when the Sun is setting,
By day, at night, with most auspicious favour! Not only now the draught hath drawn the Asvins.

XVI Dawn

1. These Dawns have raised their banner: in the eastern half of middle air they spread abroad their shining light.
Like heroes who prepare their weapons for the fray, the cows are coming on, the mothers, red of hue.
2. Rapidly have the ruddy beams of light shot up: the red cows have they harnessed, easy to be yoked.
The Dawns have made their pathways as in former times: redhued, they have attained refulgent brilliancy.
3. They sing their song like women active in their tasks, along their common path hither from far away,
Bringing refreshment to the liberal devotee, yea, all things to the worshipper who pours the juice.

XVII Asvins

1. Agni is wakened: Surya riseth from the earth. Bright Dawn hath opened out the mighty twain with light.
The Asvins have equipped their chariot for the course. God Savitar hath roused the world in sundry ways.
2. When, O ye Asvins, ye equip your mighty car, with fatness and with honey balm, ye twain, our power!
To our devotion give victorious strength in war: may we win riches in the heroes’ strife for spoil!
3. Nigh to us come the Asvins’ lauded three wheeled car, the car laden with meath and drawn by fleet-foot steeds,
Three-seated, opulent, bestowing all delight: may it bring weal to us, to cattle and to men!

XVIII Soma Pavamana

1. Thy streams that never fail or waste flow forth like showers of rain from heaven,
To bring a thousand stores of wealth.
2. He, flows beholding on his way all well-beloved sacred lore,
Green-tinted, brandishing his arms.
3. He, when the people deck him like a docile king of elephants,
Sits as a falcon in the wood.
4. So bring thou hitherward to us, Indu, while thou art purified.
All treasures both of heaven and earth!

 

---

BOOK IX

CHAPTER I

I Soma Pavamana

1. Forward have flowed the streams of power, of this the mighty one effused,
Of him who waits upon the Gods.
2. The singers praise him with their song, and learned priests adorn the steed
Born as thelight that merits laud.
3. These things thou winnest quickly, while men cleanse thee, Soma, nobly rich!

II Indra

1. This Brahman, comer at the due time, named Indra, is renowned and praised.
2. To thee alone, O Lord of Strength, go, as it were, all songs of praise.
3. Like streams of water on their way, let bounties, Indra, flow from thee!

III Indra

1. Even as a car to give us aid, we draw thee nigh to favour us,
Strong in thy deeds, quelling attack, Indra, Lord, mightiest! of the brave.
2. Great in thou power and wisdom, strong, with thought that comprehendeth all!
Wide hast thou spread in majesty.
3. Thou very mighty one, whose hands by virtue of thy greatness wield
The golden bolt that beaks its way!

IV Agni

1. He who hath lighted up the joyous castle, wise courser like the steed of cloudy heaven,
Bright like the Sun with hundredfold existence
2. He, doubly born, hath spread in his effulgence through the three luminous realms, through all the regions,
Best sacrificing Priest where waters gather.
3. Priest doubly born, he through his love of glory hath in his keeping all things worth the choosing.
The man who brings him gifts hath noble offspring.

V Agni

1. Agni, with hymns may we now accomplish that which thou lovest,
Strength, like a horse auspicious, with service!
2. For, Agni, thou art now the promoter of strength auspicious,
Lofty sacrifice, power effective.
3. Through these our praises, come thou to meet us, bright as the sunlight,
Agni, kindly with all thy faces!

VI Agni

1. Immortal Jatavedas, thou bright-hued refulgent gift of Dawn.
Agni, this day to him who pays oblations bring the Gods who waken with the morn!
2. For thou art offering-bearer, well-loved messenger, and charioteer of holy rites.
Accordant with the Asvins and with Dawn grant us heroic strength and lofty fame!

VII Indra

1. The old hath waked the young Moon from his slumber who runs his circling course with many round him
Behold the God’s high wisdom in its greatness: he who died yesterday to-day is living.
2. Strong is the red Bird in his strength, great hero, who from of old bath had no nest to dwell in.
That which he knows is truth and never idle: he wins and gives the wealth desired of many.
3. Through these Thunderer gained strong manly vigour, through whom he waxed in stren gth to slaughter Vritra;
These who through might of actual operation sprang forth as Gods in course of Law and Order.

VIII Maruts

1. Here is the Soma ready pressed: of this the Maruts, yea, of this
Self-luminous, the Asvins, drink.
2. Of this, moreover, purified, set in three places, procreant,
Drink Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman.
3. Yea, Indra, like the Hotar-priest, will in the early morning
drink,
At pleasure, of the milky juice:

IX Surya

1. Verily, Surya, thou art great; truly, Aditya, thou art great.
O most admired for greatness of thy majesty, God, by thy greatn.ess thou art great.
2. Yea, Surya, thou art great in fame: thou evermore, O God, art great.
Thou by thy greatness art the Gods’ High-Priest, divine, farspread unconquerable light.

X Indra

1. Come, Lord of rapturous joys, to our libations with thy bay steeds, come
With bay steeds to our flowing juice!
2. Known as best Vritra-slayer erst, as Indra $atakratu, come
With bay steeds to our flowing juice!
3. For, Vritra-slayer, thou art he who drinks these drops of Soma come
With bay steeds to our flowing juice!

XI Indra

1. Bring to the wise, the great, who waxeth mighty your offerings and make ready your devotion.
Go forth to many tribes as man’s controller!
2. For Indra the sublime, the far-pervading, have singers generateo prayer and praises;
The sages never violate his statutes.
3. The choirs have established Indra King for ever for victory him, whose anger is resistless:
And for the bays’ Lord strengthened those he loveth.

XII Indra

1. If I, O Indra, were the lord of riches ample as thine own,
I would support the singer, God who scatterest wealth! and, not abandon him to woe.
2. Each day would I enrich the man who sang my praise, in whatsoever place he were.
No kinship is there better, Maghavan, than thine: a father even, is no more.

XIII Indra

1. Here thou the call of the juice-drinking press-stone: mark thou the sage’s hymn who sings and lauds thee!
Take to thine inmost self these adorations!
2. I know and ne’er forget the hymns and praises of thee, theconqueror, of thy power immortal.
Thy name I ever utter, self-refulgent!
3. Among mankind many are thy libations, and many a time the pious sage invokes thee.
O Maghavan, be not long distant from us!

XIV Indra

1. Sing strength to Indra that shall. set his chariot in the foremost
place!
Giver of room in closest fight, slayer of foes in shock of war, be thou our great encorager! Let the weak bowstrings break upon the bows of our weak mies!
2. Thou didst destroy the Dragon: thou sentest the rivers down to Earth.
Foeless, O Indra, wast thou born. Thou tendest well each choicest thing. Therefore we draw us close to thee. Let the weak bowstrings break upon the bows of our weak enemies!
Destroyed be all malignitics and all our enemy’s designs!
3. Thy bolt thou castest at the foe, O Indra, who would smite us dead: thy liberal bounty gives us wealth. Let the weak bowstrings break upon the bows of our weak enemies!

XV Indra

1. Rich be the praiser of one rich and liberal, Lord of days! like thee:
High rank be his who lauds the juice!
2. His wealth who hath no store of kine hath ne’er found out recited laud,
Nor song of praises that is sung.
3. Give us not, Indra, as a prey unto the scornful or the proud:
Help, mighty one, with power and might!

XVI Indra

1. Come hither, Indra, with thy bays, come thou to Kanva’s eulogy!
Ye by command of yonder Dyaus, God bright by day! have gone to heaven.
2. The stones’ rim shakes the Soma here like a wolf worrying a sheep.
Ye by command of yonder Dyaus, God bright by day I have gone to heaven.
3. May the stone bring thee as it speaks, the Soma-stone with ringing voice!
Ye by command of yonder Dyaus, God bright by day! have gone to heaven.

XVII Soma Pavamana

1. For Indra flow most rich in sweets, O Soma, bringing him delight!
2. Bright, meditating sacred song, these juices have sent Vayu forth.
3. They were sent forth to feast the Gods, like chariots speeding in the race.

XVIII Agni

1. Agni I deem our Hotar priest, munificent wealth-giver, Son of Strength, who knoweth all that is even as the Sage who knoweth all.
Lord of fair rites, a God with form erected turning to the Gods, he when the flame hath sprung forth from the holy oil, the offered fatness, longs for it as it grows bright.
2. We, sacrificing, call on the best worshipper thee eldest of Angirasas, singer! with hyrnns, thee, brilliant one! with singers’ hymn;
Thee, wandering round, as ’twere the sky, thee who art Hotar-priest of men, whom, Bull with hair of flame, the people must observe, tile people that he speed them on.
3. He with his blazing Power refulgent far and wide, he verily it iswho conquers demon foes, conquers the demons like an axe:
At whose close touch things solid partg and what is stable yields he keeps his ground and flinches not,like trees. Subduing all from the skilled archer flinches not.

 CHAPTER II

I Agni

1. O Agni, strength and fame are thine: thy fires blaze forth on high, O thou refulgent God!
Sage, passing bright, thou givest to the worshipper with power, the wealth that merits laud.
2. With brilliantg purifying sheen, with perfect sheen thou liftest up thyself in light.
Thou, visiting both thy mothers, aidest them as son; thou joinest close the earth and heaven.
3. O Jatavedas, Son of Strength, rejoice thyself, gracious, in our fair hymns and songs!
In thee have they heaped viands various, many formed; wealthborn, of wondrous help are they.
4. Agni, spread forth, as ruler, over living things: give wealth, to
us, immortal God!
Thou shinest out from beauty fair to look upon: thou leadest
us to beauteous Power.
5. I laud the Sage, who orders sacrifice, who hath great riches under his control.
Thou givest blest award of good, and plenteous food, thou givest wealth that wins success.
6. The men have set before them, for his favour, Agni, strong, visible to all, the holy.
Thee, Lord divine, with ears to hear, most famous, mens’ generations magnify with praise-songs.

II Agni

1. Agni, he conquers by thine aid that brings him store of valiant sons and does great deeds,
Whose bond of friendship is thy choice.
2. Thy spark is black and crackling; kindled in due time, O bounteous, it is taken up.
Thou art the dear friend of the mighty Mornings: thou shinest in glimmerings of the night.

III Agni

1. Him, duly coming, as their germ have plants received: this Agni have maternal Waters brought to life.
So, in like manner, do the forest trees and plants bear him within them and produce him evermore.

IV Agni

1. Agni grows bright for Indra: he shines far resplendent in the sky:
He sends forth offspring like a queen.

V Agni

1. The sacred hymns love him who wakes and watches: to him who watches the holy verses.
This Soma saith to him Who wake my dwelling in thy friendship.

VI Agni

1. Agni is watchful, and the Richas love him: Agni is watchful, Sama hymns approach him.
Agni is watchful, to him saith this Soma, I rest and have my dwelling in thy friendship.

VII Gods

1. Praise to the friends who sit in front! to those seated together,praise
I use the hundred-footed speech speech.
2. I use the hundred-footed speech, I sing what hath a thousand paths,
Gayatra, Trishtup, Jagat hymn.
3. Gayatra, Trishtup, Jagat hymn,the forms united and complete,
Have the Gods made familiar friends.

VIII Agni

1. Agni, is light, light is Agni, Indra is light, light is Indra
Surya is light, light is Surya.
2. O Agni, turn again with strength, turn thou again with food and life:
Save us again from grief and woe!
3. O Agni, turn again with wealth sprinkle thou us from everyside.
With thine own all-supporting stream!

IX Indra

1. If I, O Indra, were like thee, the single ruler over wealth.
My worshipper should be rich in kine.
2. I should be fain, O Lord of power, to strengthen and enrich thesage,
Where I the ford of herds of kine.
3. Thy goodness, Indra, is a cow yielding in plenty kine and steeds.
To worshippers who press the juice.

X The Waters

1. Yea, Waters, ye bring health and bliss: so help ye us to energy.
That we may look on great delight!
2. Give us a portion of the dew, the most auspicious that ye have,
Like mothers in their longing love!
3. For you we gladly go to hirn to whose abode ye speed us on,
And, Waters, give us procreant strength!

XI Vata

1. May Vata breathe his balm on us, healthful, delightful to our heart:
May he prolong our days of life!
2. Thou art our father, Vata, yea, thou art our brother and our friend:
So give us strength that we may live!
3. The store of Amrit that laid away yonder, O Vata, in thine home–
Give us strength that we may live!

XII Agni

1. The fleet steed wearing divers forms, the eagle bearing his golden raiment to his birthplace,
Clothed in due season with the light of Surya, red, hath begot the sacrifice in person.
2. Multiform seed he laid in waters, lustre which gathered on the earth and there developed.
In the mid-air establishing his greatness, he cries aloud, seed of the vigorous courser.
3. He hath, enduing thousand robes that suit him, as sacrifice upheld the light of Surya,
Giver of ample gifts in hundreds, thousands, supporter of the heavens, earth’s Lord and ruler.

XIII Vena

1. They gaze on thee with longing in their spirit, as on a strong-winged bird that mounteth sky-ward;
On thee with wings of gold, Varuna’s envoy, the Bird that hasteneth to the home of Yama.
2. Erect, to heaven hath the Gandharva mounted, pointing at us his many-coloured weapons:
Clad in sweet raiment beautiful to look on, for he, as light, produceth forms that please us..
3. When as a spark he cometh ilear the ocean, looking with vulture’s eye as Law commandeth,
His lustre, joying in its own bright splendour, maketh dear glories in the loftiest region.

 CHAPTER III

I Indra

1. Swift, rapidly striking, like a bull who sharpens his horns, terrific, stirring up the people.
With eyes that close not, bellowing, sole hero, Indra subdued at once a hundred armies.
2. With him loud-roaring, ever watchful victcr, bold, hard to overthrow, rouser of battle,
Indra. the strong, whose hand bears arrows, conquer, ye heroes, now, now vanquish in the combat!
3. He rules with those who carry shafts and quivers, Indra who with his band brings hosts together,
Foe-conquering strong of arm the Soma-drinker, with mighty bow, shooting with well-laid arrows.

II Brihaspati. Indra

1. Brihaspati, fly with thy chariot hither, slayer of demons, driving off our foemen!
Be thou protector of our cars, destroyer, victor in battle, breaker-up of armies!
2, Conspicuous. by thy strength, firm, foremost fighter, mighty and
fierce, victorious, all-subduing,
The Son of Conquest, passing men and heroes, kinewinner, mount thy conquering car, O Indra!
3. Cleaver of stalls, kine-winner, armed with thunder, who quells an army and with might destroys it–
Follow him, brothers! quit yourselves like heroes, and like this Indra show your zeal and courage!

III Indra. Brihaspati

1. Piercing with conquering strength the cow-stalls, Indra, pitiless hero with unbounded anger,
Victor in fight, unshaken and resistless–may he protect our armies in our battles!
2. Indra guide these! Brihaspati, and Soma, the guerdon and the sacrifice precede them;
And let the banded Maruts march in forefront of heavenly hosts that conquer and demolish!
3. Ours be the potent host of mighty Indra, King Varuna the Maruts, and Adityas!
Uplifted is the shout of Gods who conquer, hightninded Gods who cause the worlds to tremble.

IV Indra.Maruts

1. Bristle thou up, O Maghavan, our weapons: excite the spirits, of my warring heroes!
Urge on the strong steed’s might, O Vyitra-slayer, and let the din of conquering cars go upward
2. May Indra aid us when our flags are gathered: victorious be ther arrows of our army!
May our brave men of war prevail in battle. Ye Gods, protect us in the shout of onset!
3. That army of the foemen, O ye Maruts, which, striving in its. mighty strength, approaches,
Hide ye and bury it in pathless darkness that not a man oF them may know the other!

V Agha

1. Bewildering the senses of our foemen, seize thou their bodies, and depart, O Agha!
Attack them, set their hearts on fare with sorrows; so let our foes abide in utter darkness!
2. Advance, O heroes, win the day, May Indra be your sure defence!
Mighty and awful be your arms, that none may wound or injure you!
3. Loosed from the bowstring fly away, thou arrows sharpened by
our prayer!
Go to the foemen, strike them home, and let not one be left alive!

VI Indra and others

1. Let ravens and strong-pinioned birds pursue them: yea, let that army be the food of vultures!
Indra, let none escape, no sin-remover: behind them all let following birds be gathered!
2. This host of foemen Maghavan! that cometh on in warlike show–
Meet it, O Vritra-slayer, thou, Indra, and Agni, with your flames!
3. There where the flights of arrows fall like boys whose locks are yet unshorn.
Even there may Brahmanaspati, may Aditi protect us well, protect us well through all our days!

VII Indra

1. Drive Rakshasas and foes away, break thou in pieces Vritra’s jaws:
O Vritra-slaying Indra, quell the foeman’s wrath who threatens us!
2. O Indra, beat our foes away, humble the men who challenge us:
Send down to nether darkness him who seeks to do us injury!
3. Strong, ever-youthful are the arms of Indra, fair unassailable, never to be vanquished:
These first let him employ when need hath come on us, wherewith the Asuras’ great might was overthrown.

VIII Soma, Varuna

1. Thy vital parts I cover with thine armour: with immortality King Soma clothe thee!
Varuna give thee what is more than ample, and in thy victory may Gods be joyful!
2. Blind, O my foemen, shall ye be, even as headless serpents are
May Indra slay each best of you when Agni’s flame hath struck you down!
3. Whoso would kill us, whether he be a stranger foe or one of us,
May all the Gods discomfit him! My nearest, closest mail is prayer, my closest armour and defence.

IX Indra. All-Gods

1. Like a dread wild beast roaming on the mountain thou hast approached us from the farthest distance.
Whetting thy bolt and thy sharp blade, O Indra, crush thou the foe and scatter those who hate us!
2. Gods, may our ears hear that which is auspicious, may our eyes see that which is good, ye holy!
Extolling you with still strong limbs and bodies, may we attain the age by Gods appointed!
3. Illustrious far and wide, may Indra bless us, may Pushan bless us, master of all riches!
May Tarkshya with uninjured fellies bless us! Brihaspati bestow on us his favour! Brihaspati bestow on us his favour!