HYMN XXXVI. Agni.

1
WITH words sent forth in holy hymns, Agni we supplicate, the Lord Of many families who duly serve the Gods, yea, him whom others also praise.

2
Men have won Agni, him who makes their strength abound: we, with oblations, worship thee. Our gracious-minded Helper in our deeds of might, be thou, O Excellent, this day.

3
Thee for our messenger we choose, thee, the Omniscient, for our Priest. The flames of thee the mighty are spread wide around: thy splendour reaches to the sky.

4
The Gods enkindle thee their ancient messenger, - Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman. That mortal man, O Agni, gains through thee all wealth, who hath poured offerings unto thee.

5
Thou, Agni, art a cheering Priest, Lord of the House, men's messenger: All constant high decrees established by the Gods, gathered together, meet in thee.

6
In thee, the auspicious One, O Agni, youthfullest, each sacred gift is offered up: This day, and after, gracious, worship thou our Gods, that we may have heroic sons.

7
To him in his own splendour bright draw near in worship the devout. Men kindle Agni with their sacrificial gifts, victorious o'er the enemies.

8
Vrtra they smote and slew, and made the earth and heaven and firmament a wide abode. The glorious Bull, invoked, hath stood at Kanva's side: loud neighed the Steed in frays for kine.

9
Seat thee, for thou art mighty; shine, best entertainer of the Gods. Worthy of sacred food, praised Agni! loose the smoke, ruddy and beautiful to see.

10
Bearer of offerings, whom, best sacrificing Priest, the Gods for Manu's sake ordained; Whom Kanva, whom Medhyatithi made the source of wealth, and Vrsan and Upastuta.

11
Him, Agni, whom Medhyatithi, whom Kanva kindled for his rite, Him these our songs of praise, him, Agni, we extol: his powers shine out preeminent.

12
Make our wealth perfect thou, O Agni, Lord divine: for thou hast kinship with the Gods. Thou rulest as a King o'er widely-famous strength: be good to us, for thou art great.

13
Stand up erect to lend us aid, stand up like Savitar the God: Erect as strength-bestower we call aloud, with unguents and with priests, on thee.

14
Erect, preserve us from sore trouble; with thy flame burn thou each ravening demon dead. Raise thou us up that we may walk and live. so thou shalt find our worship mid the Gods.

15
Preserve us, Agni, from the fiend, preserve us from malicious wrong. Save us from him who fain would injure us or slay, Most Youthful, thou with lofty light.

16
Smite down as with a club, thou who hast fire for teeth, smite thou the wicked, right and left. Let not the man who plots against us in the night, nor any foe prevail o'er us.

17
Agni hath given heroic might to Kainva, and felicity: Agni hath helped our friends, hath helped Medhyitithi, hath helped Upastuta to win.

18
We call on Ugradeva, Yadu, Turvasa, by means of Agni, from afar; Agni, bring Navavastva and Brhadratba, Turviti, to subdue the foe.

19
Manu hath stablished thee a light, Agni, for all the race of men: Sprung from the Law, oil-fed, for Kanva hast thou blazed, thou whom the people reverence.

20
The flames of Agni full of splendour and of might are fearful, not to be approached. Consume for ever all demons and sorcerers, consume thou each devouring fiend.

HYMN XXXVII. Maruts.

1
SING forth, O Kanvas, to your band of Maruts unassailable, Sporting, resplendent on their car

2
They who, self-luminous, were born together, with the spotted deer, Spears, swords, and glittering ornaments.

3
One hears, as though 'twere close at hand, the cracking of the whips they hold They gather glory on their way.

4
Now sing ye forth the God-given hymn to your exultant Marut host, The fiercely-vigorous, the strong.

5
Praise ye the Bull among the cows; for 'tis the Maruts' sportive band: It strengthened as it drank the rain.

6
Who is your mightiest, Heroes, when, O shakers of the earth and heaven, Ye shake them like a garment's hem?

7
At your approach man holds him down before the fury of your wrath: The rugged-jointed mountain yields.

8
They at whose racings forth the earth, like an age-weakened lord of men, Trembles in terror on their ways.

9
Strong is their birth: vigour have they to issue from their Mother; strength, Yea, even twice enough, is theirs.

10
And these, the Sons, the Singers, in their racings have enlarged the bounds, So that the kine must walk knee-deep.

11
Before them, on the ways they go, they drop this offspring of the cloud, Long, broad, and inexhaustible.

12
O Maruts, as your strength is great, so have ye cast men down on earth, So have ye made the mountains fall.

13
The while the Maruts pass along, they talk together on the way: Doth any hear them as they speak?

14
Come quick with swift steeds, for ye have worshippers among Kanva's sons May you rejoice among them well.

15
All is prepared for your delight. We are their servants evermore, To live as long as life may last.

HYMN XXXVIII. Maruts.

2
Now whither? To what goal of yours go ye in heaven, and not on earth? Where do your cows disport themselves?

3
Where are your newest favours shown? Where, Maruts, your prosperity? Where all your high felicities?

4
If, O ye Maruts, ye the Sons whom Prsni bore, were mortal, and Immortal he who sings your praise.

5
Then never were your praiser loathed like a wild beast in pasture-land, Nor should he go on Yama's path.

6
Let not destructive plague on plague hard to be conquered, strike its down: Let each, with drought, depart from us.

7
Truly, they the fierce and mighty Sons of Rudra send their windless Rain e'en on the desert places.

8
Like a cow the lightning lows and follows, motherlike, her youngling, When their rain-flood hath been loosened.

9
When they inundate the earth they spread forth darkness e'en in day time, With the water-laden rain-cloud.

10
O Maruts, at your voice's sound this earthly habitation shakes, And each man reels who dwells therein.

11
O Maruts, with your strong-hoofed steeds, unhindered in their courses, haste Along the bright embanked streams.

12
Firm be the fellies of your wheels, steady your horses and your cars, And may your reins be fashioned well.

13
Invite thou hither with this song, for praise, Agni the Lord of Prayer, Him who is fair as Mitra is.

14
Form in thy mouth the hymn of praise expand thee like, a rainy cloud Sing forth the measured eulogy.

15
Sing glory to the Marut host, praiseworthy, tuneful, vigorous: Here let the Strong Ones dwell with us.

HYMN XXXIX Maruts.

1
WHEN thus, like flame, from far away, Maruts, ye cast your measure forth, To whom go Ye, to whom, O shakers of the earth, moved by whose wisdom, whose design?

2
Strong let your weapons be to drive away your foes, firm for resistance let them be. Yea, passing glorious must be your warrior might, not as a guileful mortal's strength.

3
When what is strong ye overthrow, and whirl about each ponderous thing, Heroes, your course is through the forest trees of earth, and through the fissures of the rocks.

4
Consumers of your foes, no enemy of yours is found in heaven or on the earth: Ye Rudras, may the strength, held in this bond, be yours, to bid defiance even now.

5
They make the mountains rock and reel, they rend the forest-kings apart. onward, ye Maruts, drive, like creatures drunk with wine, ye, Gods with all your company.

6
Ye to your chariot have yoked the spotted deer: a red deer, as a leader, draws. Even the Earth herself listened as ye came near, and men were sorely terrified.

7
O Rudras, quickly we desire your succour for this work of ours. Come to us with your aid as in the days of old, so now for frightened Kanva's sake.

8
Should any monstrous foe, O Maruts, sent by you or sent by mortals threaten us, Tear ye him from us with your power and with your might, and with the succours that are yours.

9
For ye, the worshipful and wise, have guarded Kanva perfectly. O Maruts, come to us with full protecting help, as lightning flashes seek the rain.

10
Whole strength have ye, O Bounteous Ones; perfect, earth-shakers, is your might. Maruts, against the poet's wrathful enemy send ye an enemy like a dart.

HYMN XL. Brahmanaspati

1
O BRAMANASPATI, stand up: God-serving men we pray to thee. May they who give good gifts, the Maruts, come to us. Indra, most swift, be thou with them.

2
O Son of Strength, each mortal calls to thee for aid when spoil of battle waits for him. O Maruts, may this man who loves you well obtain wealth of good steeds and hero might.

3
May Brahmanaspati draw nigh, may Sunrta the Goddess come, And Gods bring to this rite which gives the five-fold gift the Hero, lover of mankind.

4
He who bestows a noble guerdon on the priest wins fame that never shall decay. For him we offer sacred hero-giving food, peerless and conquering easily.

5
Now Brahmanaspati speaks forth aloud the solemn hymn of praise, Wherein Indra and Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman, the Gods, have made their dwelling place.

6
May we in holy synods, Gods! recite that hymn, peerless, that brings felicity. If you, O Heroes, graciously accept this word, may it obtain all bliss from you.

7
Who shall approach the pious? who the man whose sacred grass is trimmed? The offerer with his folk advances more and more: he fills his house with precious things.

8
He amplifies his lordly might, with kings he slays: e'en mid alarms he dwells secure In great or lesser fight none checks him, none subdues,-the wielder of the thunderbolt.

HYMN XLI. Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman.

1
NE'ER is he injured whom the Gods Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman, The excellently wise, protect.

2
He prospers ever, free from scathe, whom they, as with full hands, enrich, Whom they preserve from every foe.

3
The Kings drive far away from him his troubles and his enemies, And lead him safely o'er distress.

4
Thornless, Adityas, is the path, easy for him who seeks the Law: With him is naught to anger you.

5
What sacrifice, Adityas, ye Heroes guide by the path direct,- May that come nigh unto your thought.

6
That mortal, ever unsubdued, gains wealth and every precious thing, And children also of his own.

7
How, my friends, shall we prepare Aryaman's and Mitra's laud, Glorious food of Varuna?

8
I point not out to you a man who strikes the pious, or reviles: Only with hymns I call you nigh.

9
Let him not love to speak ill words: but fear the One who holds all four Within his hand, until they fall.

HYMN XLII. Pusan.

2
Drive, Pusan, from our road the wolf, the wicked inauspicious wolf, Who lies in Wait to injure us.

3
Who lurks about the path we take, the robber with a guileful heart: Far from the road chase him away.

4
Tread with thy foot and trample out the firebrand of the wicked one, The double-tongued, whoe'er he be.

5
Wise Pusan, Wonder-Worker, we claim of thee now the aid wherewith Thou furtheredst our sires of old.

6
So, Lord of all prosperity, best wielder of the golden sword, Make riches easy to be won.

7
Past all pursuers lead us, make pleasant our path and fair to tread: O Pusan, find thou power for this.

8
Lead us to meadows rich in grass: send on our way no early heat: O Pusan, find thou power for this.

9
Be gracious to us, fill us full, give, feed us, and invigorate: O Pusan, find thou power for this.

10
No blame have we for Pusan; him we magnify with songs of praise: We seek the Mighty One for wealth.

HYMN XLIII. Rudra.

1
WHAT shall we sing to Rudra, strong, most bounteous, excellently wise, That shall be dearest to his heart?

2
That Aditi may grant the grace of Rudra to our folk, our kine, Our cattle and our progeny;

3
That Mitra and that Varuna, that Rudra may remember us, Yea, all the Gods with one accord.

4
To Rudra Lord of sacrifice, of hymns and balmy medicines, We pray for joy and health and strength.

5
He shines in splendour like the Sun, refulgent as bright gold is he, The good, the best among the Gods.

6
May he grant health into our steeds, wellbeing to our rams and ewes, To men, to women, and to kine.

7
O Soma, set thou upon us the glory of a hundred men, The great renown of mighty chiefs.

8
Let not malignities, nor those who trouble Soma, hinder us. Indu, give us a share of strength.

9
Soma! head, central point, love these; Soma! know these as serving thee, Children of thee Immortal, at the highest place of holy law.

HYMN XLIV. Agni.

2
For thou art offering-bearer and loved messenger, the charioteer of sacrifice: Accordant with the Asvins and with Dawn grant us heroic strength and lofty fame.

3
As messenger we choose to-day Agni the good whom many love, Smoke-bannered spreader of the light, at break of day glory of sacrificial rites.

4
Him noblest and most youthful, richly worshipped guest, dear to the men who offer gifts, Him, Agni Jatavedas, I beseech at dawn that he may bring the Gods to us.

5
Thee, Agni, will I glorify, deathless nourisher of the world, Immortal, offering-bearer, meet for sacred food, preserver, best at sacrifice.

6
Tell good things to thy praiser, O most youthful God, as richly worshipped, honey-tongued, And, granting to Praskanva lengthened days of life, show honour to the Heavenly Host.

7
For the men, Agni, kindle thee as all possessor and as Priest; So Agni, much-invoked, bring hither with all speed the Gods, the excellently wise,

8
At dawn of day, at night, Usas and Savitar, the Asvins, Bhaga, Agni's self: Skilled in fair rites, with Soma poured, the Kanvas light thee, the oblation-wafting God.

9
For, Agni, Lord of sacrifice and messenger of men art thou: Bring thou the Gods who wake at dawn who see the light, this day to drink the Soma juice.

10
Thou shonest forth, O Agni, after former dawns, all visible, O rich in light. Thou art our help in battle-strife, the Friend of inan, the great high priest in sacrifice.

11
Like Manu, we will stablish thee, Agni, performer of the rite, Invoker, ministering Priest, exceeding wise, the swift immortal messenger.

12
When as the Gods' High Priest, by many loved, thou dost their mission as their nearest Friend, Then, like the far-resounding billows of the flood, thy flames, O Agni, roar aloud.

Continued...

13
Heat-, Agni, who hast ears to hear, with all thy train of escort Gods; Let Mitra, Aryaman,- seeking betimes our rite, seat them upon the sacred grass.

14
Let those who strengthen Law, who bountiUly give, the life-tongued Maruts, hear our praise. May Law-supporting Varuna with the Asvins twain and Usas, drink the Soma juice.

HYMN XLV Agni.

2
Agni, the Gods who understand give ear unto the worshipper: Lord of Red Steeds, who lovest song, bring thou those Three-and-Thirty Gods.

3
O Jatavedas, great in act, hearken thou to Praskanva's call, As Priyamedha erst was heard, Atri, Virupa, Angiras.

4
The sons of Priyamedha skilled in lofty praise have called for help On Agni who with fulgent flame is Ruler of all holy rites.

5
Hear thou, invoked with holy oil, bountiful giver of rewards, These eulogies, whereby the sons of Kanva call thee to their aid.

6
O Agni, loved by many, thou of fame most wondrous, in their homes Men call on thee whose hair is flame, to be the bearer of their gifts.

7
Thee, Agni, best to find out wealth, most widely famous, quick to hear, Singers have stablished in their rites Herald and ministering Priest.

8
Singers with Soma pressed have made thee, Agni, hasten to the feast, Great light to mortal worshipper, what time they bring the sacred gift.

9
Good, bounteous, Son of Strength, this day seat here on sacred grass the Gods Who come at early morn, the host of heaven, to drink the Soma juice

10
Bring with joint invocations thou, O Agni, the celestial host: Here stands the Soma, bounteous Gods drink this expressed ere yesterday.

HYMN XLVI. Asvins.

1
Now Morning with her earliest light shines forth, dear Daughter of the Sky: High, Asvins, I extol your praise,

2
Sons of the Sea, mighty to save discoverers of riches, ye Gods with deep thought who find out wealth.

3
Your giant coursers hasten on over the region all in flames, - When your car flies with winged steeds.

4
He, liberal, lover of the flood, Lord of the House, the vigilant, Chiefs! with oblations feeds you full.

5
Ye have regard unto our hymns, Nasatyas, thinking of our words: Drink boldly of the Soma juice.

6
Vouchsafe to us, O Asvin Pair, such strength as, with attendant light, May through the darkness carry us.

7
Come in the ship of these our hymns to bear you to the hither shore O Asvins, harness ye the car.

8
The heaven's wide vessel is your own on the flood's shore your chariot waits Drops, with the hymn, have been prepared.

9
Kanvas, the drops are in the heaven; the wealth is at the waters' place: Where will ye manifest your form?

10
Light came to lighten up the branch, the Sun appeared as it were gold: And with its-tongue shone forth the dark.

11
The path of sacrifice was made to travel to the farther goal: The road of heaven was manifest.

12
The singer of their praise awaits whatever grace the Asvins give, who save when Soma gladdens them.

13
Ye dwellers with Vivasvan come, auspicious, as to Manu erst; come to the Soma and our praise.

14
O circumambient Asvins, Dawn follows the brightness of your way: Approve with beams our solemn rites.

15
Drink ye of our libations, grant protection, O ye Asvins Twain, With aids which none may interrupt.

HYMN XLVlI. Asvins.

1
ASVINS, for you who strengthen Law this sweetest Soma hath been shed. Drink this expressed ere yesterday and give riches to him who offers it.

2
Come, O ye Asvins, mounted on your triple car three-seated, beautiful of form To you at sacrifice the Kanvas send the prayer: graciously listen to their call.

3
O Asvins, ye who strengthen Law, drink ye this sweetest Soma juice. Borne on your wealth-fraught car come ye this day to him who offers, ye of wondrous deeds.

4
Omniscient Asvins, on the thrice-heaped grass bedew with the sweet juice the sacrifice. The sons of Kanva, striving heavenward, call on you with draughts of Soma juice out-poured.

5
O Asvins, with those aids wherewith ye guarded Kanva carefully, Keep us, O hords [sic] of Splendour: drink the Soma juice, ye strengtheners of holy law.

6
O Mighty Ones, ye gave Sudas abundant food, brought on your treasure-laden car; So now vouchsafe to us the wealth which many crave, either from heaven or from the sea.

7
Nasatyas, whether ye be far away or close to Turvasa, Borne on your lightly-rolling chariot come to us, together with the sunbeams come.

8
So let your coursers, ornaments of sacrifice, bring you to our libations here. Bestowing food on him who acts and gives aright, sit, Chiefs, upon the sacred grass.

9
Come, O Nasatyas, on your car decked with a sunbright canopy, Whereon ye ever bring wealth to the worshipper, to drink the Soma's pleasant juice.

10
With lauds and songs of praise we call them down to us, that they, most rich, may succour us; For ye have ever in the Kanvas' well-loved house, O Asvins, drunk the Soma juice.

HYMN XLVIII. Dawn.

1
DAWN on us with prosperity, O Usas, Daughter of the Sky, Dawn with great glory, Goddess, Lady of the Light, dawn thou with riches, Bounteous One.

2
They, bringing steeds and kine, boon-givers of all wealth, have oft sped forth to lighten us. O Usas, waken up for me the sounds of joy: send us the riches of the great.

3
Usas hath dawned, and now shall dawn, the Goddess, driver forth of cars Which, as she cometh nigh, have fixed their thought on her, like glory-seekers on the flood.

4
Here Kanva, chief of Kanva's race, sings forth aloud the glories of the heroes' names,- The. princes who, O Usas, as thou comest near, direct their thoughts to liberal gifts.

5
Like a good matron Usas comes carefully tending everything: Rousing all life she stirs all creatures that have feet, and makes the birds of air fly up.

6
She sends the busy forth, each man to his pursuit: delay she knows not as she springs. O rich in opulence, after thy dawning birds that have flown forth no longer rest.

7
This Dawn hath yoked her steeds afar, beyond the rising of the Sun: Borne on a hundred chariots she, auspicious Dawn, advances on her way to Men.

8
To meet her glance all living creatures bend them down: Excellent One, she makes the light. Usas, the Daughter of the Sky, the opulent, shines foes and enmities away.

9
Shine on us with thy radiant light, O Usas, Daughter of the Sky, Bringing to us great store of high felicity, and beaming on our solemn rites.

10
For in thee is each living creature's breath and life, when, Excellent! thou dawnest forth. Borne on thy lofty car, O Lady of the Light, hear, thou of wondrous wealth, our call.

11
O Usas, win thyself the strength which among men is wonderful. Bring thou thereby the pious unto holy rites, those who as priests sing praise to thee.

12
Bring from the firmament, O Usas, all the Gods, that they may drink our Soma juice, And, being what thou art, vouchsafe us kine and steeds, strength meet for praist and hero might.

13
May Usas whose auspicious rays are seen resplendent round about, Grant us great riches, fair in form, of all good things, wealth which light labour may attain.

14
Mighty One, whom the Rsis of old time invoked for their protection and their help, O Usas, graciously answer our songs of praise with bounty and with brilliant light.

15
Usas, as thou with light to day hast opened the twin doors of heaven, So grant thou us a dwelling wide and free from foes. O Goddess, give us food with kine.

16
Bring us to wealth abundant, sent in every shape, to plentiful refreshing food, To all-subduing splendour, Usas, Mighty One, to strength, thou rich in spoil and wealth.

HYMN XLIX. Dawn.

1
E'EN from above the sky's bright realm come, Usas, by auspicious ways: Let red steeds bear thee to the house of him who pours the Soma, juice.

2
The chariot which thou mountest, fair of shape, O Usas light to move,- Therewith, O Daughter of the Sky, aid men of noble fame today.

3
Bright Usas, when thy times return, all quadrupeds and bipeds stir, And round about flock winged birds from all the boundaries of heaven.

4
Thou dawning with thy beams of light illumest all the radiant realm. Thee, as thou art, the Kanvas, fain for wealth, have called with sacred songs.

HYMN L. Surya.

1
HIS bright rays bear him up aloft, the God who knoweth all that lives, Surya, that all may look on him.

2
The constellations pass away, like thieves, together with their beams, Before the all-beholding Sun'

3
His herald rays are seen afar refulgent o'er the world of men, Like flames of fire that burn and blaze.

4
Swift and all beautiful art thou, O Surya, maker of the light, Illuming all the radiant realm.

5
Thou goest to the hosts of Gods, thou comest hither to mankind, Hither all light to be beheld.

6
With that same eye of thine wherewith thou lookest brilliant Varuna, Upon the busy race of men,

7
Traversing sky and wide mid-air, thou metest with thy beams our days, Sun, seeing all things that have birth.

8
Seven Bay Steeds harnessed to thy car bear thee, O thou farseeing One, God, Surya, with the radiant hair.

9
Surya hath yoked the pure bright Seven, the daughters of the car; with these, His own dear team, he goeth forth.

10
Looking upon the loftier light above the darkness we have come To Surya, God among the Gods, the light that is most excellent.

11
Rising this day, O rich in friends, ascending to the loftier heaven, Surya remove my heart's disease, take from me this my yellow hue.

12
To parrots and to starlings let us give away my yellowness, Or this my yellowness let us transfer to Haritala trees.

13
With all his conquering vigour this Aditya hath gone up on high, Giving my foe into mine hand: let me not be my foeman's prey.

HYMN LI. Indra.

1
MAKE glad with songs that Ram whom many men invoke, worthy of songs of praise, Indra, the sea of wealth; Whose gracious deeds for men spread like the heavens abroad: sing praise to him the Sage, most liberal for our good.

2
As aids the skilful Rbhus yearned to Indra strong to save, who fills mid-air, encompassed round with might, Rushing in rapture; and -o'er Satakratu came the gladdening shout that urged him on to victory.

3
Thou hast disclosed the kine's stall for the Angirases, and made a way for Atri by a hundred doors. On Vimada thou hast bestowed both food and wealth, making thy bolt dance in the sacrificer's fight.

4
Thou hast unclosed the prisons of the waters; thou hast in the mountain seized the treasure rich in gifts. When thou hadst slain with might the dragon Vrtra, thou, Indra, didst raise the Sun in heaven for all to see.

5
With wondrous might thou blewest enchanter fiends away, with powers celestial those who called on thee in jest. Thou, hero-hearted, hast broken down Pipru's forts, and helped Rjisvan when the Dasyus were struck dead.

6
Thou savedst Kutsa when Susna was smitten down; to Atithigva gavest Sambara for a prey. E'en mighty Arbuda thou troddest under foot: thou from of old wast born to strike the Dasyus dead.

7
All power and might is closely gathered up in thee; thy bounteous spirit joys in drinking Soma juice. Known is the thunderbolt that lies within thine arms: rend off therewith all manly prowess of our foe.

8
Discern thou well Aryas and Dasyus; punishing the lawless give them up to him whose grass is strewn. Be thou the sacrificer's strong encourager all these thy deeds are my delight at festivals.

9
Indra gives up the lawless to the pious man, destroying by the Strong Ones those who have no strength. Vamra when glorified destroyed the gathered piles of the still waxing great one who would reach the heaven.

10
The might which Usana hath formed for thee with might rends in its greatness and with strength both worlds apart. O Hero-souled, the steeds of Vata, yoked by thought, have carried thee to fame while thou art filled with power.

11
When Indra hath rejoiced with Kavya Usana, he mounts his steeds who swerve wider and wider yet. The Strong hath loosed his bolt with the swift rush of rain, and he hath rent in pieces Susna's firm-built forts.

12
Thou mountest on thy car amid strong Soma draughts: Saryata brought thee those in which thou hast delight. Indra, when thou art pleased with men whose Soma flows thou risest to unchallenged glory in the sky.

13
To old Kaksivin, Soma-presser, skilled in song, O Indra, thou didst give the youthful Vrcaya. Thou, very wise, wast Mena, Vrsanaiva's child: those deeds of thine must all be told at Soma feasts.

14
The good man's refuge in his need is Indra, firm as a doorpost, praised among the Pajras. Indra alone is Lord of wealth, the Giver, lover of riches, chariots, kine, and horses.

15
To him the Mighty One, the self-resplendent, verily strong and great, this praise is uttered. May we and all the heroes, with the princes, be, in this fray, O Indra, in thy keeping.

HYMN LII. Indra.

1
I GLORIFY that Ram who finds the light of heaven, whose hundred nobly-natured ones go forth with him. With hymns may I turn hither Indra to mine aid,-the Car which like a strong steed hasteth to the call.

2
Like as a mountain on firm basis, unremoved, he, thousandfold protector, waxed in mighty strength, When Indra, joying in the draughts of Soma juice, forced the clouds, slaying Vrtra stayer of their flow.

3
For he stays e'en the stayers, spread o'er laden cloud, rooted in light, strengthened in rapture by the wise. Indra with thought, with skilled activity, I call, most liberal giver, for he sates him with the juice.

4
Whom those that flow in heaven on sacred grass, his own assistants, nobly-natured, fill full like the sea,- Beside that Indra when he smote down Vrtra stood his helpers, straight in form, mighty, invincible.

5
To him, as in wild joy he fought with him who stayed the rain, his helpers sped like swift streams down a slope, When Indra, thunder-armed, made bold by Soma draughts, as Trta cleaveth Vala's fences, cleft him through.

6
Splendour encompassed thee, forth shone thy warrior might: the rain-obstructer lay in mid-air's lowest deep, What time, O Indra, thou didst cast thy thunder down upon the jaws of Vritra hard to be restrained.

7
The hymns which magnify thee, Indra, reach to thee even as water-brooks flow down and fill the lake. Tvastar gave yet more force to thine appropriate strength, and forged thy thunderbolt of overpowering might.

8
When, Indra, thou whose power is linked with thy Bay Steeds hadst smitten Vrtra, causing floods to flow for man, Thou heldst in thine arms the metal thunderbolt, and settest in the heaven the Sun for all to see.

9
In fear they raised the lofty self-resplendent hymn, praise giving and effectual, leading up to heaven, When Indra's helpers fighting for the good of men, the Maruts, faithful to mankind, joyed in the light.

10
Then Heaven himself, the mighty, at that Dragon's roar reeled back in terror when, Indra, thy thunderbolt In the wild joy of Soma had struck off with might the head of Vrtra, tyrant of the earth and heaven.

11
O Indra, were this earth extended forth tenfold, and men who dwell therein multiplied day by day, Still here thy conquering might, Maghavan, would be famed: it hath waxed vast as heaven in majesty and power.

12
Thou, bold of heart, in thine own native might, for help, upon the limit of this mid-air and of heaven, Hast made the earth to be the pattern of thy strength: embracing flood and light thou reachest to the sky.

13
Thou art the counterpart of earth, the Master of lofty heaven with all its mighty Heroes: Thou hast filled all the region with thy greatness: yea, of a truth there is none other like thee.

14
Whose amplitude the heaven and earth have not attained, whose bounds the waters of mid-air have never reached,- Not, when in joy he fights the stayer of the rain: thou, and none else, hast made all things in order due.

15
The Maruts sang thy praise in this encounter, and in thee all the Deities delighted, What time thou, Indra, with thy spiky weapon, thy deadly bolt, smotest the face of Vrtra.

Back to Top