HYMN XXIII. Vayu and Others.
1 STRONG are the Somas; come thou nigh; these juices have been mixt with milk:
Drink, Vayu, the presented draughts.
2 Both Deities who touch the heaven, Indra and Vayu we invoke
To drink of this our soma juice.
3 The singers' for their aid, invoke Indra and Vayu, swift as mind,
The thousand-eyed, the Lords of thought.
4 Mitra and Varupa, renowned as Gods of consecrated might,
We call to drink the Soma juice.
5 Those who by Law uphold the Law, Lords of the shining light of Law,
Mitra I call, and Varuna.
6 Let Varuna be our chief defence, let Mitra guard us with all aids
Both make us rich exceedingly.
7 Indra, by Maruts girt, we call to drink the Soma juice: may he
Sate him in union with his troop.
8 Gods, Marut hosts whom Indra leads, distributers of Pusan's gifts,
Hearken ye all unto my cry.
9 With conquering Indra for ally, strike Vrtra down, ye bounteous Gods
Let not the wicked master us.
10 We call the Universal Gods, and Maruts to the Soma draught,
For passing strong are Prsni's Sons.
11 Fierce comes the Maruts' thundering voice, like that of conquerors, when ye
go
Forward to victory, O Men.
12 Born of the laughing lightning. may the Maruts guard us everywhere
May they be gracious unto Us.
13 Like some lost animal, drive to us, bright Pusan, him who bears up heaven,
Resting on many-coloured grass.
14 Pusan the Bright has found the King, concealed and bidden in a cave,
Who rests on grass of many hues.
15 And may he. duly bring to me the six bound closely, through these drops,
As one who ploughs with steers brings corn.
16 Along their paths the Mothers go, Sisters of priestly ministrants,
Mingling their sweetness with the milk.
17 May Waters gathered near the Sun, and those wherewith the Sun is joined,
Speed forth this sacrifice of ours.
18 I call the Waters, Goddesses, wherein our cattle quench their thirst;
Oblations to the Streams be given.
19 Amrit is in the Waters in the Waters there is healing balm
Be swift, ye Gods, to give them praise.
20 Within the Waters-Soma thus hath told me-dwell all balms that heal,
And Agni, he who blesseth all. The Waters hold all medicines.
21 O Waters, teem with medicine to keep my body safe from harm,
So that I long may see the Sun.
22 Whatever sin is found in me, whatever evil I have wrought.
If I have lied or falsely sworn, Waters, remove it far from me.
23 The Waters I this day have sought, and to their moisture have we come:
O Agni, rich in milk, come thou, and with thy splendour cover me.
24 Fill me with splendour, Agni; give offspring and length of days; the Gods
Shall know me even as I am, and Indra with the Rsis, know.
HYMN XXIV. Varuna and Others.
1 WHO now is he, what God among Immortals, of whose auspicious name we may
bethink us?
Who shall to mighty Aditi restore us, that I may see my Father and my Mother?
2 Agni the God the first among the Immortals, - of his auspicious name let us
bethink us.
He shall to mighty Aditi restore us, that I may see my Father and my Mother.
3 To thee, O Savitar, the Lord of precious things, who helpest us
Continually, for our share we come-
4 Wealth, highly lauded ere reproach hath fallen on it, which is laid,
Free from all hatred, in thy hands
5 Through thy protection may we come to even the height of affluence
Which Bhaga hath dealt out to us.
6 Ne'er have those birds that fly through air attained to thy high dominion or
thy might or spirit;
Nor these the waters that flow on for ever, nor hills, abaters of the wind's
wild fury.
7 Varuna, King, of hallowed might, sustaineth erect the Tree's stem in the
baseless region.
Its rays, whose root is high above, stream downward. Deep may they sink within
us, and be hidden.
8 King Varuna hath made a spacious pathway, a pathway for the Sun wherein to
travel.
Where no way was he made him set his footstep, and warned afar whate'er afflicts
the spirit.
9 A hundred balms are thine, O King, a thousand; deep and wide-reaching also be
thy favours.
Far from us, far away drive thou Destruction. Put from us e'en the sin we have
committed.
10 Whither by day depart the constellations that shine at night, set high in
heaven above us?
Varuna's holy laws remain unweakened, and through the night the Moon moves on in
splendor
11 I ask this of thee with my prayer adoring; thy worshipper craves this with
his oblation.
Varuna, stay thou here and be not angry; steal not our life from us, O thou
Wide-Ruler.
12 Nightly and daily this one thing they tell me, this too the thought of mine
own heart repeateth.
May he to whom prayed fettered Sunahsepa, may he the Sovran Varuna release us.
13 Bound to three pillars captured Sunahsepa thus to the Aditya made his
supplication.
Him may the Sovran Varuna deliver, wise, ne'er deceived, loosen the bonds that
bind him.
14 With bending down, oblations, sacrifices, O Varuna, we deprecate thine anger:
Wise Asura, thou King of wide dominion, loosen the bonds of sins by us
committed.
15 Loosen the bonds, O Varuna, that hold me, loosen the bonds above, between,
and under.
So in thy holy law may we made sinless belong to Aditi, O thou Aditya.
HYMN XXV. Varuna.
I WHATEVER law of thine, O God, O Varuna, as we are men,
Day after day we violate.
2 give us not as a prey to death, to be destroyed by thee in wrath,
To thy fierce anger when displeased.
3 To gain thy mercy, Varuna, with hymns we bind thy heart, as binds
The charioteer his tethered horse.
4 They flee from me dispirited, bent only on obtaining wealths
As to their nests the birds of air.
5 When shall we bring, to be appeased, the Hero, Lord of warrior might,
Him, the far-seeing Varuna?
6 This, this with joy they both accept in common: never do they fail
The ever-faithful worshipper.
7 He knows the path of birds that fly through heaven, and, Sovran of the sea,
He knows the ships that are thereon.
8 True to his holy law, he knows the twelve moons with their progeny:
He knows the moon of later birth.
9 He knows the pathway of the wind, the spreading, high, and mighty wind
He knows the Gods who dwell above.
10 Varuna, true to holy law, sits down among his people; he,
Most wise, sits there to govern. all.
11 From thence perceiving he beholds all wondrous things, both what hath been,
And what hereafter will be done.
12 May that Aditya, very -wise, make fair paths for us all our days:
May lie prolong our lives for us.
13 Varuna, wearing golden mail, hath clad him in a shining robe.
His spies are seated found about.
14 The God whom enemies threaten not, nor those who tyrannize o'er men,
Nor those whose minds are bent on wrong.
15 He who gives glory to mankind, not glory that is incomplete,
To our own bodies giving it.
16 Yearning for the wide-seeing One, my thoughts move onward unto him,
As kine unto their pastures move.
17 Once more together let us speak, because my meath is brought: priest-like
Thou eatest what is dear to thee.
18 Now saw I him whom all may see, I saw his car above the earth:
He hath accepted these my songs.
19 Varuna, hear this call of mine: be gracious unto us this day
Longing for help I cried to thee.
20 Thou, O wise God, art Lord of all, thou art the King of earth and heaven
Hear, as thou goest on thy way.
21 Release us from the upper bond, untie the bond between, and loose
The bonds below, that I may live.
HYMN XXVI. Agni.
1 O WORTHY of oblation, Lord of prospering powers, assume thy robes,
And offer this our sacrifice.
2 Sit ever to be chosen, as our Priest., most youthful, through our hymns,
O Agni, through our heavenly word.
3 For here a Father for his son, Kinsman for kinsman worshippeth,
And Friend, choice-worthy, for his friend.
4 Here let the foe-destroyers sit, Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman,
Like men, upon our sacred grass.
5 O ancient Herald, be thou glad in this our rite and fellowship:
Hearken thou well to these our songs.
6 Whate'er in this perpetual course we sacrifice to God and God,
That gift is offered up in thee
7 May he be our dear household Lord, Priest, pleasant and, choice-worthy may
We, with bright fires, be dear to him.
8 The Gods, adored with brilliant fires. have granted precious wealth to us
So, with bright fires, we pray to thee.
9 And, O Immortal One, so may the eulogies of mortal men
Belong to us and thee alike.
10 With all thy fires, O Agni, find pleasure in this our sacrifice,
And this our speech, O Son of Strength.
HYMN XXVII. Agni.
1 WITH worship will I glorify thee, Agni, like a long-tailed steed,
Imperial Lord of sacred rites.
2 May the far-striding Son of Strength, bringer of great felicity,
Who pours his gifts like rain, be ours.
3 Lord of all life, from near; from far, do thou, O Agni evermore
Protect us from the sinful man.
4 O Agni, graciously announce this our oblation to the Gods,
And this our newest song of praise.
5 Give us a share of strength most high, a share of strength that is below,
A share of strength that is between.
6 Thou dealest gifts, resplendent One; nigh, as with waves of Sindhu, thou
Swift streamest to the worshipper.
7 That man is lord of endless strength whom thou protectest in the fight,
Agni, or urgest to the fray.
8 Him, whosoever he may be, no man may vanquish, mighty One:
Nay, very glorious power is his.
9 May he who dwells with all mankind bear us with war-steeds through the fight,
And with the singers win the spoil.
10 Help, thou who knowest lauds, this work, this eulogy to Rudra, him
Adorable in every house.
11 May this our God, great, limitless, smoke-bannered excellently bright,
Urge us to strength and holy thought.
12 Like some rich Lord of men may he, Agni the banner of the Gods,
Refulgent, hear us through our lauds.
13 Glory to Gods, the mighty and the lesser glory to Gods the younger and the
elder!
Let us, if we have power, pay the God worship: no better prayer than this, ye
Gods, acknowledge.
HYMN XXVIII Indra, Etc.
1 THERE where the broad-based stone raised on high to press the juices out,
O Indra, drink with eager thirst the droppings which the mortar sheds.
2 Where, like broad hips, to hold the juice the platters of the press are laid,
O Indra, drink with eager thirst the droppings which the mortar sheds.
3 There where the woman marks and leans the pestle's constant rise and fall,
O Indra, drink with eager thirst the droppings which the mortar sheds.
4 Where, as with reins to guide a horse, they bind the churning-staff with
cords,
O Indra, drink with eager thirst the droppings which the mortar sheds.
5 If of a truth in every house, O Mortar thou art set for work,
Here give thou forth thy clearest sound, loud as the drum of conquerors.
6 O Sovran of the Forest, as the wind blows soft in front of thee,
Mortar, for Indra press thou forth the Soma juice that he may drink.
7 Best strength-givers, ye stretch wide jaws, O Sacrificial Implements,
Like two bay horses champing herbs.
8 Ye Sovrans of the Forest, both swift, with swift pressers press to-day
Sweet Soma juice for Indra's drink.
9 Take up in beakers what remains: the Soma on the filter pour,
and on the ox-hide set the dregs.
HYMN XXIX. Indra.
1 O SOMA DRINKER, ever true, utterly hopeless though we be,
Do thou, O Indra, give us hope of beauteous horses and of kine,
In thousands, O most wealthy One.
2 O Lord of Strength, whose jaws are strong, great deeds are thine, the
powerful:
Do thou, O Indra, give us hope of beauteous horses and of kine,
In thousands, O most wealthy One.
3 Lull thou asleep, to wake no more, the pair who on each other look
Do thou, O Indra, give us, help of beauteous horses and of kine,
In thousands, O most wealthy One.
4 Hero, let hostile spirits sleep, and every gentler genius wake:
Do thou, O Indra,. give us hope of beauteous horses and of kine,
In thousands, O most wealthy One.
5 Destroy this ass, O Indra, who in tones discordant brays to thee:
Do thou, O Indra, give us hope of beauteous horses and of kine,
In thousands, O most wealthy One.
6 Far distant on the forest fall the tempest in a circling course!
Do thou, O Indra, give us hope of beauteous horses and of kine,
In thousands, O most wealthy One.
7 Slay each reviler, and destroy him who in secret injures us:
Do thou, O Indra, give us hope of beauteous horses and of kine
In thousands, O most wealthy One.
HYMN XXX. Indra.
1 WE seeking strength with Soma-drops fill full your Indra like a well,
Most liberal, Lord of Hundred Powers,
2 Who lets a hundred of the pure, a thousand of the milk-blent draughts
Flow, even as down a depth, to him;
3 When for the strong, the rapturous joy he in this manner hath made room
Within his belly, like the sea.
4 This is thine own. Thou drawest near, as turns a pigeon to his mate:
Thou carest too for this our prayer.
Continued...
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5 O Hero, Lord of Bounties, praised in hymns, may power and joyfulness
Be his who sings the laud to thee.
6 Lord of a Hundred Powers, stand up to lend us succour in this fight
In others too let us agree.
7 In every need, in every fray we call as friends to succour us
Indra the mightiest of all.
8 If he will hear us let him come with succour of a thousand kinds,
And all that strengthens, to our call.
9 I call him mighty to resist, the Hero of our ancient home,
Thee whom my sire invoked of old.
10 We pray to thee, O much-invoked, rich in all precious gifts, O Friend,
Kind God to those who sing thy praise.
11 O Soma-drinker, Thunder-armed, Friend of our lovely-featured dames
And of our Soma-drinking friends.
12 Thus, Soma-drinker, may it be; thus, Friend, who wieldest thunder, act
To aid each wish as we desire.
13 With Indra splendid feasts be ours, rich in all strengthening things
wherewith,
Wealthy in food, we may rejoice.
14 Like thee, thyself, the singers' Friend, thou movest, as it were, besought,
Bold One, the axle of the car.
15 That, Satakratu, thou to grace and please thy praisers, as it were,
Stirrest the axle with thy strength.
16 With champing, neighing loudly-snorting horses Indra hath ever won himself
great treasures
A car of gold hath he whose deeds are wondrous received from us, and let us too
receive it.
17 Come, Asvins, with enduring strength wealthy in horses and in kine,
And gold, O ye of wondrous deeds.
18 Your chariot yoked for both alike, immortal, ye of mighty acts,
Travels, O Asvins, in the sea.
19 High on the forehead of the Bull one chariot wheel ye ever keep,
The other round the sky revolves.
20 What mortal, O immortal Dawn, enjoyeth thee? Where lovest thou?
To whom, O radiant, dost thou go?
21 For we have had thee in our thoughts whether anear or far away,
Red-hued and like a dappled mare.
22 Hither, O Daughter of the Sky, come thou with these thy strengthenings,
And send thou riches down to us.
HYMN XXXI. Agni.
1 Thou, Agni, wast the earliest Angiras, a Seer; thou wast, a God thyself, the
Gods' auspicious Friend.
After thy holy ordinance the Maruts, sage, active through wisdom, -with their
glittering spears, were born.
2 O Agni, thou, the best and earliest Angiras, fulfillest as a Sage the holy law
of Gods.
Sprung from two mothers, wise, through all existence spread, resting in many a
place for sake of living man.
3 To Matarisvan first thou, Agni, wast disclosed, and to Vivasvan through thy
noble inward power.
Heaven and Earth, Vasu! shook at the choosing of the Priest: the burden thou
didst bear, didst worship mighty Gods.
4 Agni thou makest heaven to thunder for mankind; thou, yet more pious, for
pious Pururavas.
When thou art rapidly freed from thy parents, first eastward they bear thee
round, and, after, to the west.
5 Thou, Agni, art a Bull who makes our store increase, to be invoked by him who
lifts the ladle up.
Well knowing the oblation with the hallowing word, uniting all who live, thou
lightenest first our folk
6 Agni, thou savest in the synod when pursued e'en him, farseeing One! who walks
in evil ways.
Thou, when the heroes fight for spoil which men rush, round, slayest in war the
many by the hands of few.
7 For glory, Agni, day by day, thou liftest up the mortal man to highest
immortality,
Even thou who yearning for both races givest them great bliss, and to the prince
grantest abundant food.
8 O Agni, highly lauded, make our singer famous that he may win us store of
riches:
May we improve the rite with new performance. O Earth and Heaven, with all the
Gods, protect us.
9 O blameless Agni lying in thy Parents' lap, a God among the Gods, be watchful
for our good.
Former of bodies, be the singer's Providence: all good things hast thou sown for
him, auspicious One!
10 Agni, thou art our Providence, our Father thou - we are thy brethren and thou
art our spring of life. in thee, rich in good heroes, guard of high decrees,
meet hundred, thousand treasures, O infallible!
11 Thee, Agni, have the Gods made the first living One for living man, Lord of
the house of Nahusa.
Ila they made the teacher of the sons of men, what time a Son was born to the
father of my race.
12 Worthy to be revered, O Agni, God, preserve our wealthy patrons with thy
succours, and ourselves.
Guard of our seed art thou, aiding our cows to bear, incessantly protecting in
thy holy way.
13 Agni, thou art a guard close to the pious man; kindled art thou, four-eyed!
for him who is unarmed.
With fond heart thou acceptest e'en the poor man's prayer, when he hath brought
his gift to gain security.
14 Thou, Agni gainest for the loudly-praising priest the highest wealth, the
object of a man's desire.
Thou art called Father, caring even for the weak, and wisest, to the simple one
thou teachest lore.
15 Agni, the man who giveth guerdon to the priests, like well-sewn armour thou
guardest on every side.
He who with grateful food shows kindness in his house, an offerer to the living,
is the type of heaven.
16 Pardon, we pray, this sin of ours, O Agni, -- the path which we have trodden,
widely straying,
Dear Friend and Father, caring for the pious, who speedest nigh and who
inspirest mortals.
17 As erst to Manus, to Yayiti, Angiras, so Angiras! pure Agni! come thou to our
hall
Bring hither the celestial host and seat them here upon the sacred grass, and
offer what they love.
18 By this our prayer be thou, O Agni, strengthened, prayer made by us after our
power and knowledge.
Lead thou us, therefore, to increasing riches; endow us with thy
strength-bestowing favour.
HYMN XXXII. Indra.
1 I WILL declare the manly deeds of Indra, the first that he achieved, the
Thunder-wielder.
He slew the Dragon, then disclosed the waters, and cleft the channels of the
mountain torrents.
2 He slew the Dragon lying on the mountain: his heavenly bolt of thunder Tvastar
fashioned.
Like lowing kine in rapid flow descending the waters glided downward to the
ocean.
3 Impetuous as a bull, he chose the Soma and in three sacred beakers drank the
juices.
Maghavan grasped the thunder for his weapon, and smote to death this firstborn
of the dragons.
4 When, Indra, thou hadst slain the dragon's firstborn, and overcome the charms
of the enchanters,
Then, giving life to Sun and Dawn and Heaven, thou foundest not one foe to stand
against thee.
5 Indra with his own great and deadly thunder smote into pieces Vrtra, worst of
Vrtras.
As trunks of trees, what time the axe hath felled them, low on the earth so lies
the prostrate Dragon.
6 He, like a mad weak warrior, challenged Indra, the great impetuous
many-slaying Hero.
He. brooking not the clashing of the weapons, crushed-Indra's foe-the shattered
forts in falling.
7 Footless and handless still he challenged Indra, who smote him with his bolt
between the shoulders.
Emasculate yet claiming manly vigour, thus Vrtra lay with scattered limbs
dissevered.
8 There as he lies like a bank-bursting river, the waters taking courage flow
above him.
The Dragon lies beneath the feet of torrents which Vrtra with his greatness had
encompassed.
9 Then humbled was the strength of Vrtra's mother: Indra hath cast his deadly
bolt against her.
The mother was above, the son was under and like a cow beside her calf lay Danu.
10 Rolled in the midst of never-ceasing currents flowing without a rest for ever
onward.
The waters bear off Vrtra's nameless body: the foe of Indra sank to during
darkness.
11 Guarded by Ahi stood the thralls of Dasas, the waters stayed like kine held
by the robber.
But he, when he had smitten Vrtra, opened the cave wherein the floods had been
imprisoned.
12 A horse's tail wast thou when he, O Indra, smote on thy bolt; thou, God
without a second,
Thou hast won back the kine, hast won the Soma; thou hast let loose to flow the
Seven Rivers.
13 Nothing availed him lightning, nothing thunder, hailstorm or mist which had
spread around him:
When Indra and the Dragon strove in battle, Maghavan gained the victory for
ever.
14 Whom sawest thou to avenge the Dragon, Indra, that fear possessed thy heart
when thou hadst slain him;
That, like a hawk affrighted through the regions, thou crossedst nine-and-ninety
flowing rivers?
15 Indra is King of all that moves and moves not, of creatures tame and horned,
the Thunder-wielder.
Over all living men he rules as Sovran, containing all as spokes within the
felly.
HYMN XXXIII. Indra.
1 Come, fain for booty let us seek to Indra: yet more shall he increase his care
that guides us.
Will not the Indestructible endow us with perfect knowledge of this wealth, of
cattle?
2 I fly to him invisible Wealth-giver as flies the falcon to his cherished
eyrie,
With fairest hymns of praise adoring Indra, whom those who laud him must invoke
in battle.
3 Mid all his host, he bindeth on the quiver he driveth cattle from what foe he
pleaseth:
Gathering up great store of riches, Indra. be thou no trafficker with us, most
mighty.
4 Thou slewest with thy bolt the wealthy Dasyu, alone, yet going with thy
helpers, Indra!
Far from the floor of heaven in all directions, the ancient riteless ones fled
to destruction.
5 Fighting with pious worshippers, the riteless turned and fled, Indra! with
averted faces.
When thou, fierce Lord of the Bay Steeds, the Stayer, blewest from earth and
heaven and sky the godless.
6 They met in fight the army of the blameless. then the Navagvas put forth all
their power.
They, like emasculates with men contending, fled, conscious, by steep paths from
Indra, scattered.
7 Whether they weep or laugh, thou hast o'erthrown them, O Indra, on the sky's
extremest limit.
The Dasyu thou hast burned from heaven, and welcomed the prayer of him who pours
the juice and lauds thee.
8 Adorned with their array of gold and jewels, they o'er the earth a covering
veil extended.
Although they hastened, they o'ercame not Indra: their spies he compassed with
the Sun of morning.
9 As thou enjoyest heaven and earth, O Indra, on every side surrounded with thy
greatness,
So thou with priests bast blown away the Dasyu, and those who worship not with
those who worship.
10 They who pervaded earth's extremest limit subdued not with their charms the
Wealth-bestower:
Indra, the Bull, made his ally the thunder, and with its light milked cows from
out the darkness.
11 The waters flowed according to their nature; he raid the navigable streams
waxed mighty.
Then Indra, with his spirit concentrated, smote him for ever with his strongest
weapon.
12 Indra broke through Ilibisa's strong castles, and Suspa with his horn he cut
to pieces:
Thou, Maghavan, for all his might and swiftness, slewest thy fighting foeman
with thy thunder
13 Fierce on his enemies fell Indra's weapon: with. his sharp bull he rent their
forts in pieces.
He with his thunderbolt dealt blows on Vrtra; and conquered, executing all his
purpose.
14 Indra, thou helpest Kutsa whom thou lovedst, and guardedst brave Dagadyu when
he battled,
The dust of trampling horses rose to heaven, and Svitri's son stood up again for
conquest.
15 Svitra's mild steer, O Maghavan thou helpest in combat for the land, mid
Tugra's houses.
Long stood they there before the task was ended: thou wast the master of the
foemen's treasure.
HYMN XXXIV. Asvins.
1 Ye who observe this day be with us even thrice: far-stretching is you bounty,
Asvins and your course.
To you, as to a cloak in winter, we cleave close: you are to be drawn nigh unto
us by the wise.
2 Three are the fellies in your honey-bearing car, that travels after Soma's
loved one, as all know.
Three are the pillars set upon it for support: thrice journey ye by night, O
Asvins, thrice by day.
3 Thrice in the self-same day, ye Gods who banish want, sprinkle ye thrice
to-day our sacrifice with meath;
And thrice vouchsafe us store of food with plenteous strength, at evening, O ye
Asvins, and at break of day.
4 Thrice come ye to our home, thrice to the righteous folk, thrice triply aid
the man who well deserves your help.
Thrice, O ye Asvins, bring us what shall make us glad; thrice send us store of
food as nevermore to fail.
5 Thrice, O ye Asvins, bring to us abundant wealth: thrice in the Gods'
assembly, thrice assist our thoughts.
Thrice, grant ye us prosperity, thrice grant us fame; for the Sun's daughter
hath mounted your three-wheeled car.
6 Thrice, Asvins, grant to us the heavenly medicines, thrice those of earth and
thrice those that the waters hold,
Favour and health and strength bestow upon my son; triple protection, Lords of
Splendour, grant to him.
7 Thrice are ye to be worshipped day by day by us: thrice, O ye Asvins, ye
travel around the earth.
Car-borne from far away, O ye Nasatyas, come, like vital air to bodies, come ye
to the three.
8 Thrice, O ye Asvins, with the Seven Mother Streams; three are the jars, the
triple offering is prepared.
Three are the worlds, and moving on above the sky ye guard the firm-set vault of
heaven through days and nights.
9 Where are the three wheels of your triple chariot, where are the three seats
thereto firmly fastened?
When will ye yoke the mighty ass that draws it, to bring you to our sacrifice.
Nasatyas?
10 Nasatyas, come: the sacred gift is offered up; drink the sweet juice with
lips that know the sweetness well.
Savitar sends, before the dawn of day, your car, fraught with oil,
various-coloured, to our sacrifice.
11 Come, O Nasatyas, with the thrice-eleven Gods; come, O ye Asvins, to the
drinking of the meath.
Make long our days of life, and wipe out all our sins: ward off our enemies; be
with us evermore.
12 Borne in your triple car, O Asvins, bring us present prosperity with noble
offspring.
I cry to you who hear me for protection be ye our helpers where men win the
booty.
HYMN XXXV. Savitar.
1 AGNI I first invoke for our prosperity; I call on Mitra, Varuna, to aid us
here.
I call on Night who gives rest to all moving life; I call on Savitar the God to
lend us help.
2 Throughout the dusky firmament advancing, laying to rest the immortal and the
mortal,
Borne in his golden chariot he cometh, Savitar, God who looks on every creature.
3 The God moves by the upward path, the downward; with two bright Bays,
adorable, he journeys.
Savitar comes, the God from the far distance, and chases from us all distress
and sorrow.
4 His chariot decked with pearl, of various colours, lofty, with golden pole,
the God hath mounted,
The many-rayed One, Savitar the holy, bound, bearing power and might, for
darksome regions.
5 Drawing the gold-yoked car his Bays, white-footed, have manifested light to
all the peoples.
Held in the lap of Savitar, divine One, all men, all beings have their place for
ever.
6 Three heavens there are; two Savitar's, adjacent: in Yama's world is one, the
home of heroes,
As on a linch-pin, firm, rest things immortal: he who hath known it let him here
declare it.
7 He, strong of wing, hath lightened up the regions, deep-quivering Asura, the
gentle Leader.
Where now is Surya, where is one to tell us to what celestial sphere his ray
hath wandered?
8 The earth's eight points his brightness hath illumined, three desert regions
and the Seven Rivers.
God Savitar the gold-eyed hath come hither, giving choice treasures unto him who
worships.
9 The golden-handed Savitar, far-seeing, goes on his way between the earth and
heaven,
Drives away sickness, bids the Sun approach us, and spreads the bright sky
through the darksome region.
10 May he, gold-handed Asura, kind Leader, come hither to us with his help and
favour.
Driving off Raksasas and Yatudhanas, the God is present, praised in hymns at
evening.
11 O Savitar, thine ancient dustless pathways are well established in the air's
midregion:
O God, come by those paths so fair to travel, preserve thou us from harm this
day, and bless us.
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