HYMN VII. Maruts.

1
O MARUTS, when the sage hath poured the Trstup forth as food for you, Ye shine amid the mountain-clouds.

2
When, Bright Ones, fain to show your might ye have determined on your course, The mountain-clouds have bent them down.

3
Loud roaring with the winds the Sons of Prsni have upraised themselves: They have poured out the streaming food.

4
The Maruts spread the mist abroad and make mountains rock and reel, When with the winds they go their way

5
What time the rivers and the hills before your coming bowed them down, So to sustain your mighty force.

6
We call on you for aid by night, on you for succour in the day, On you while sacrifice proceeds.

7
These, verily, wondrous, red of hue, speed on their courses with a roar Over the ridges of the sky.

8
With might they drop the loosened rein so that the Sun may run his course, And spread themselves with beams of light.

9
Accept, ye Maruts, this my song, accept ye this mine hymn of praise, Accept, Rbhuksans, this my call.

10
The dappled Cows have poured three lakes, meath for the Thunder-wielding God, From the great cask, the watery cloud.

11
O Maruts, quickly come to us when, longing for felicity, We call you hither from the sky.

12
For, Rudras and Rbhuksans, ye, Most Bountiful, are in the house, Wise when the gladdening draught is drunk.

13
O Maruts, send us down from heaven riches distilling rapturous joy, With plenteous food, sustaining all.

14
When, Bright Ones, hither from the hills ye have resolved to take your way, Ye revel in the drops effused.

15
Man should solicit with his lauds happiness which belongs to them, So great a band invincible.

16
They who like fiery sparks with showers of rain blow through the heaven and earth, Milking the spring that never fails.

17
With chariots and tumultuous roar, with tempests and with hymns of praise The Sons of Prsni hurry forth.

18
For wealth, we think of that whereby ye aided Yadu, Turvasa, And KanVa who obtained the spoil.

19
May these our viands Bounteous Ones I that flow in streams like holy oil, With Kanva's hymns, increase your might.

20
Where, Bounteous Lords for whom the grass is trimmed, are ye rejoicing now? What Brahman is adoring you?

21
Is it not there where ye of old, supplied with sacred grass, for lauds Inspired the strong in sacrifice?

22
They brought together both the worlds, the mighty waters, and the Sun, And, joint by joint, the thunderbolt.

23
They sundered Vrtra limb from limb and split the gloomy mountain-clouds, Performing a heroic deed.

24
They reinforced the power and strength of Trita as he fought, and helped Indra in battle with the foe.

25
They deck themselves for glory, bright, celestial, lightning in their hands, And helms of gold upon their heads.

26
When eagerly ye from far away came to the cavern of the Bull, He bellowed in his fear like Heaven.

27
Borne by your golden-footed steeds, O Gods, come hither to receive The sacrifice we offer you.

28
When the red leader draws along their spotted deer yoked to the car. The Bright Ones come, and shed the rain.

29
Susoma, Saryakiavan, and Arjika full of homes, have they. These Heroes, sought with downward car.

30
When, Maruts, ye come to him, the singer who invokes you thus, With favours to your suppliant?

31
What now? where have ye still a friend since ye left Indra all alone? Who counteth on your friendship now?

32
The Kanvas sing forth Agni's praise together with our Maruts' who Wield thunder and wear swords of gold.

33
Hither for new felicity may I attract the Impetuous Ones, The Heroes with their wondrous strength

34
Before them sink the very hills deeming themselves abysses: yea, Even the mountains bend them down.

35
Steeds flying on their tortuous path through mid-air carry them, and give The man who lauds them strength and life.

36
Agni was born the first of all, like Surya lovely with his light: With lustre these have spread abroad.

HYMN VIII. Asvins.

1
WITH all the succours that are yours, O Asvins, hither come to us: Wonderful, borne on paths of gold, drink ye the meath with Soma juice.

2
Come now, ye Asvins, on your car decked with a sun-bright canopy, Bountiful, with your golden forms, Sages with depth of intellect.

3
Come hither from the Nahusas, come, drawn by pure hymns, from mid-air. O Asvins, drink the savoury juice shed in the Kanvas' sacrifice.

4
Come to us hither from the heavens, come from mid-air, well-loved by us: Here Kanva's son hath pressed for you the pleasant meath of Soma juice.

5
Come, Asvins, to give car to us, to drink the Soma, Asvins, come. Hail, Strengtheners of the praise-song speed onward, ye Heroes, with your thoughts.

6
As, Heroes, in the olden time the Rsis called you to their aid, So now, O Asvins, come to us, come near to this mine eulogy.

7
Even from the luminous sphere of heaven come to us, ye who find the light, Carers for Vatsa, through our prayers and lauds, O ye who hear our call.

8
Do others more than we adore the Asvins with their hymns of praise? The Rsi Vatsa, Kanva's son, hath magnified you with his songs.

9
The holy singer with his hymns hath called you, Asvins, hither-ward; Best Vrtra-slayers, free from stain, as such bring us felicity.

10
What time, ye Lords of ample wealth, the Lady mounted on your car, Then, O ye Asvins, ye attained all wishes that your hearts desired.

11
Come thence, O Asvins, on your car that hath a thousand ornaments: Vatsa the sage, the sage's son, hath sung a song of sweets to you.

12
Cheerers of many, rich in goods, discoverers of opulence, The Asvins, Riders through the sky, have welcomed this my song of praise.

13
O Asvins, grant us all rich gifts wherewith no man may interfere. Make us observe the stated times: give us not over to reproach.

14
Whether, Nasatyas, ye be nigh, or whether ye be far away, Come thence, O Asvins, on your car that hath a thousand ornaments.

15
Vatsa the Rsi with his songs, Nasatyas, hath exalted you: Grant him rich food distilling oil, graced with a thousand ornaments.

16
Bestow on him, O Asvins, food that strengthens, and that drops with oil, On him who praises you for bliss, and, Lords of bounty, prays for wealth.

17
Come to us, ye who slay the foe, Lords of rich treasure, to this hymn. O Heroes, give us high renown and these good things of earth for help.

18
The Priyamedhas have invoked you with all succours that are yours, You, Asvins, Lords of solemn rites, with calls entreating you to come.

19
Come to us, Asvins, ye Who bring felicity, auspicious Ones, To Vatsa who with prayer and hymn, lovers of song, hath honoured you.

20
Aid us, O Heroes, for those hymns for which ye helped GoSarya erst, Gave Vasa, Dasavraja aid, and Kanva and Medhatithi:

21
And favoured Trasadasyu, ye Heroes, in spoil-deciding fray: For these, O Asvins, graciously assist us in acquiring strength.

22
O Asvins, may pure hymns of ours, and songs and praises, honour you: Best slayers everywhere of foes, as such we fondly yearn for you.

23
Three places of the Asvins, erst concealed, are made apparent now. Both Sages, with the flight of Law come hither unto those who live.

HYMN IX. Asvins.

1
To help and favour Vatsa now, O Asvins, come ye hitherward. Bestow on him a dwelling spacious and secure, and keep malignities away.

2
All manliness that is in heaven, with the Five Tribes, or in mid-air, Bestow, ye Asvins, upon us.

3
Remember Kanva first of all among the singers, Asvins, who Have thought upon your wondrous deeds.

4
Asvins, for you with song of praise this hot oblation is effused, This your sweet Soma juice, ye Lords of ample wealth, through which ye think upon the foe.

5
Whatever ye have done in floods, in the tree, Wonder-Workers, and in growing plants, Therewith, O Asvins, succour me.

6
What force, Nasatyas, ye exert, whatever, Gods, ye tend and heal, This your own Vatsa gains not by his hymns alone: ye visit him who offers gifts.

7
Now hath the Rsi splendidly thought out the Asvins' hymn of praise. Let the Atharvan pour the warm oblation forth, and Soma very rich in sweets.

8
Ye Asvins, now ascend your car that lightly rolls upon its way. May these my praises make you speed hitherward like a cloud of heaven.

9
When, O Nasatyas, we this day make you speed hither with our hymns, Or, Asvins, with our songs of praise, remember Kanya specially.

10
As erst Kaksivan and the Rsi Vyasva, as erst Dirghatamas invoked your presence, Or, in the sacrificial chambers, Vainya Prthi, so be ye mindful of us here, O Asvins.

11
Come as home-guardians, saving us from foemen, guarding our living creatures and our bodies, Come to the house to give us seed and offspring,

12
Whether with Indra ye be faring, Asvins, or resting in one dwelling-place with Vayu, In concord with the Rbhus or Adityas, or standing still in Visnu's striding-places.

13
When I, O Asvins, call on you to-day that I may gather strength, Or as all-conquering might in war, be that the Asvins' noblest grace.

14
Now come, ye Asvins, hitherward: here are oblations set for you; These Soma-draughts to aid Yadu and Turvasa, these offered you mid Kaniva's Sons.

15
Whatever healing balm is yours, Nisatyas, near or far away, Therewith, great Sages, grant a home to Vatsa and to Vimada.

16
Together with the Goddess, with the Asvins' Speech have I awoke. Thou, Goddess, hast disclosed the hymn, and holy gift from mortal men.

17
Awake the Asvins, Goddess Dawn! Up Mighty Lady of sweet strains! Rise, straightway, priest of sacrifice! High glory to the gladdening draught!

18
Thou, Dawn, approaching with thy light shinest together with the Sun, And to this man-protecting home the chariot of the Asvins comes.

19
When yellow stalks give forth the juice, as cows from udders pour their milk, And voices sound the song of praise, the Asvins' worshippers show first.

20
Forward for glory and for strength, protection that shall conquer men, And power and skill, most sapient Ones!

21
When Asvins, worthy of our lauds, ye seat you in the father's house. With wisdom or the bliss ye bring.

HYMN X. Asvins.

1
WHETHER ye travel far away or dwell in yonder light of heaven, Or in a mansion that is built above the sea, come thence, ye Asvins, hitherward.

2
Or if for Manu.ye prepared the sacrifice, remember also Kanva's son. I call Brhaspati, Indra, Visnu, all the gods, the Asvins borne by rapid steeds.

3
Those Asvins I invoke who work marvels, brought hither to receive, With whom our friendship is most famed, and kinship passing that of Gods.

4
On whom the solemn rites depend, whose worshippers rise without the Sun: These who foreknow the holy work of sacrifice, and by their Godhead drink the sweets of Soma juice.

5
Whether ye, Lords of ample wealth, now linger in the cast or west, With Druhyu, or with Anu, Yadu, Turvaga, I call you hither; come to me.

6
Lords of great riches, whether through the firmament ye fly or speed through heaven and earth, Or with your Godlike natures stand upon your cars, come thence, O Asvins, hitherward.

HYMN XI. Agni.

1
THOU Agni, God mid mortal men, art guard of sacred rites, thou art To be adored at sacrifice.

2
O Mighty Agni, thou must be glorified at our festivals, Bearing our offerings to the Gods.

3
O Jatavedas Agni, fight and drive our foes afar from us, Them and their godless enmities.

4
Thou, Jatavedas, seekest not the worship of a hostile man, However nigh it be to thee.

5
We sages, mortals as we are, adore the mighty name of thee, Immortal Jatavedas' name.

6
Sages, we call the Sage to help, mortals, we call the God to aid: We call on Agni with our songs.

7
May Vatsa draw- thy mind away even from thy loftiest dwelling-place, Agni, with song that yearns for thee.

8
Thou art the same in many a place: mid all the people thou art Lord. In fray and fight we call on thee.

9
When we are seeking strength we call Agni to help us in the strife, The giver of rich gifts in war.

10
Ancient, adorable at sacrifices, Priest from of old, meet for our praise, thou sittest. Fill full and satisfy thy body, Agni, and win us happiness by offering worship.

HYMN XII. Indra.

1
JOY, Mightiest Indra, known and marked, sprung most from Soma-draughts, wherewith Thou smitest down the greedy fiend, for that we long.

2
Wherewith thou bolpest [sic] Adhrigu, the great Dasagva, and the God Who stirs the sunlight, and the sea, for that we long.

3
Wherewith thou dravest forth like cars Sindhu and all the mighty floods To go the way ordained by Law, for that we long.

4
Accept this laud for aid, made pure like oil, thou Caster of the Stone, Whereby even in a moment thou hast waxen great.

5
Be pleased, Song-lover, with this song it flows abundant like the sea. Indra, with all thy succours thou hast waxen great.

6
The God who from afar hath sent gifts to maintain our friendship's bond, Thou. spreading them like rain from heaven, hast waxen great.

7
The beams that mark him have grown strong, the thunder rests between his arms, When, like the Sun, he hath increased both Heaven and Earth.

8
When, Mighty Lord of Heroes, thou didst cat a thousand buffaloes, Then grew and waxed exceeding great thine Indra-power.

9
Indra consumeth with the rays of Surya the malicious man: Like Agni conquering the woods, he hath grown strong.

10
This newest thought of ours that suits the time approaches unto thee: Serving, beloved in many a place it metes and marks.

11
The pious germ of sacrifice directly purifies the soul. By Indra's lauds it waxes great, it metes and marks.

12
Indra who wins the friend hath spread himself to drink the Soma-draught: Like worshipper's dilating praise; it metes and marks.

13
He whom the sages, living men, have gladdened, offering up their hymns, Hath swelled like oil of sacrifice in Agni's mouth.

14
Aditi also hath brought forth a hymn for Indra, Sovran Lord: The work of sacrifice for help is glorified.

15
The ministering priests have sung their songs for aid and eulogy: God, thy Bays turn not from the rite which Law ordains.

16
If, Indra, thou drink Soma by Visnu's or Trta Aptya's side, Or with the Maruts take delight in flowing drops;

17
Or, Sakra, if thou gladden thee afar or in the sea of air, Rejoice thee in this juice of ours, in flowing drops.

Continued...

18
Or, Lord of Heroes if thou aid the worshipper who shed; the, juice, Or him whose laud delights thee, and his flowing drops.

19
To magnify the God, the God, Indra, yea, Indra for your help, And promptly end the sacrifice-this have they gained.

20
With worship, him whom men adore, with Soma, him who drinks it most, Indra with lauds have they increased this have they gained.

21
His leadings are with power and might and his instructions manifold: He gives the worshipper all wealth: this have they gained.

22
For slaying Vrtra have the Gods set Indra in the foremost place. Indra the choral bands have sung, for vigorous strength.

23
We to the Mighty with our might, with lauds to him who hears our call, With holy hymns have sung aloud, for vigorous strength.

24
Not earth, nor heaven, nor firmaments contain the Thunder-wielding God: They shake before his violent rush and vigorous strength.

25
What time the Gods, O Indra, get thee foremost in the furious fight, Then thy two beautiful Bay Steeds carried thee on.

26
When Vrtra, stayer of the floods, thou siest [sic], Thundeicr [sic] with might, Then thy two beautiful Bay Steeds carried thee on.

27
When Visnu, through thine energy, strode wide those three great steps of his, Then thy two beautiful Bay Steeds carried thee on.

28
When thy two beautiful Bay Steeds grew great and greater day by day, Even then all creatures that had life bowed down to thee.

29
When, Indra, all the Marut folk humbly submitted them to thee, Even then all creatures that had life bowed down to thee.

30
When yonder Sun, that brilliant light, thou settest in the heaven above, Even then all creatures that had life bowed down to thee.

31
To thee, O Indra, with this thought the sage lifts up this eulogy, Akin and leading as on foot to sacrifice.

32
When in thine own dear dwelling all gathered have lifted up the voice Milk-streams at worship's central spot, for sacrifice,

33
As Priest, O Indra, give us wealth in brave men and good steeds and kine That we may first remember thee for sacrifice.

HYMN XIII. Indra.

1
INDRA, when Soma juices flow, makes his mind pure and meet for lauds. He gains the power that brings success, for great is he.

2
In heaven's first region, in the seat of Gods, is he who brings success, Most glorious, prompt to save, who wins the water-floods.

3
Him, to win strength, have I invoked, even Indra mighty for the fray. Be thou most near to us for bliss, a Friend to aid.

4
Indra, Song -lover, here for thee the worshipper's libation flows. Rejoicing in this sacred grass thou shinest forth.

5
Even now, O Indra, give us that which, pressing juice, we crave of thee. Bring us wealth manifold which finds the light of heaven.

6
What time the zealous worshipper hath boldly sung his songs to thee, Like branches of a tree up-grows what they desire.

7
Generate songs even as of old, give car unto the singer's call. Thou for the pious hast grown great at each carouse.

8
Sweet strains that glorify him play like waters speeding down a slope, Yea, him who in this song is called the Lord of Heaven;

9
Yea, who alone is called the Lord, the single Ruler of the folk, By worshippers seeking aid: may he joy in the draught.

10
Praise him, the Glorious, skilled in song, Lord of the two victorious Bays: They seek the worshipper's abode who bows in prayer.

11
Put forth thy strength: with dappled Steeds come, thou of mighty intellect, With swift Steeds to the sacrifice, for 'tis thy joy.

12
Grant wealth to those who praise thee, Lord of Heroes, Mightiest Indra: give Our princes everlasting fame and opulence.

13
I call thee when the Sun is risen, I call thee at the noon of day: With thy car-horses, Indra, come wellpleased to us.

14
Speed forward hither, come to us, rejoice thee in the milky draught: Spin out the thread of ancient time, as well is known.

15
If, Sakra, Vrtra-slayer, thou be far away or near to us. Or in the sea, thou art the guard of Soma juice.

16
Let songs we sing and Soma-drops expressed by us make Indra strong: The tribes who bring oblations find delight in him.

17
Him sages longing for his aid, with offerings brought in eager haste, Him. even as branches, all mankind have made to grow.

18
At the Trkadrukas the Gods span sacrifice that stirred the mind: May our songs strengthen him who still hath strengthened us.

19
When, true to duty, at due times the worshipper offers lauds to thee, They call him Purifier, Pure, and Wonderful.

20
That mind of Rudra, fresh and strong, moves conscious in the ancient ways, With reference whereto the wise have ordered this.

21
If thou elect to be my Friend drink of this sacrificial juice, By help whereof we may subdue all enemies.

22
O Indra, Lover of the song, when shall thy praiser be most blest? When wilt thou grant us wealth in herds of kine and steeds?

23
And thy two highly-lauded Bays, strong stallions, draw thy car who art Untouched by age, most gladdening car for which we pray.

24
With ancient offerings we implore the Young and Strong whom many praise. He from of old hath sat upon dear sacred grass.

25
Wax mighty, thou whom many laud for aids which Rsis have extolled. Pour down for us abundant food and guard us well.

26
O Indra, Caster of the Stone, thou helpest him who praises thee: From sacrifice I send to thee a mind yoked hymn.

27
Here, yoking for the Soma-draught these Horses, sharers of thy feast, Thy Bay Steeds, Indra, fraught with weal tb, [sic] consent to come.

28
Attendants on thy glory, let the Rudras roar assent to thee, And all the Marut companies come to the feast.

29
These his victorious followers bold in the heavens the place they love, Leagued in the heart of sacrifice, as well we know.

30
That we may long behold the light, what time the ordered rite proceeds, He duly measures, as he views, the sacrifice.

31
O Indra, strong is this thy car, and strong are these Bay Steeds of thine: O Satakratu, thou art strong, strong is our call.

32
Strong is the press-stone, strong thy joy, strong is the flowing Soma juice: Strong is the rite thou furtherest, strong is our call.

33
As strong I call on thee the Strong, O Thunderer with thy thousand aids: For thou hast won the hymn of praise. Strong is our call.

HYMN XIV. Indra.

1
IF I, O Indra, were, like thee, the single Sovran of all wealth, My worshipper should be rich in kine.

2
I should be fain, O Lord of Power, to strengthen and enrich the sage, Were I the Lord of herds of kine.

3
To worshippers who press the juice thy goodness, Indra, is a cow Yielding in plenty kine and steeds.

4
None is there, Indra, God or man, to hinder thy munificence, The wealth which, lauded, thou wilt give.

5
The sacrifice made Indra strong when he unrolled the earth, and made Himself a diadem in heaven.

6
Thine aid we claim, O Indra, thine who after thou hast waxen great Hast won all treasures for thine own.

7
In Soma's ecstasy Indra spread the firmament and realms of light, When he cleft Vala limb from limb.

8
Showing the hidden he drave forth the cows for the Angirases, And Vala he cast headlong down.

9
By Indra were the luminous realms of heaven established and secured, Firm and immovable from their place.

10
Indra, thy laud moves quickly like a joyous wave of water-floods: Bright shine the drops that gladden thee.

11
For thou, O Indra, art the God whom hymns and praises magnify: Thou blessest those who worship thee.

12
Let the two long-maned Bay Steeds bring Indra to drink the Soma juice, The Bountiful to our sacrifice.

13
With waters' foam thou torest off, Indra, the head of Namuci, Subduing all contending hosts.

14
The Dasyus, when they fain would climb by magic arts and mount to heaven, Thou, Indra, castest down to earth.

15
As Soma-drinker conquering all, thou scatteredst to every side Their settlement who poured no gifts.

HYMN XV. Indra.

1
SING forth to him whom many men invoke, to him whom many laud. Invite the powerful Indra with your songs of praise.

2
Whose lofty might-for doubly strong is he-supports the heavens and earth, And hills and plains and floods and light with manly power.

3
Such, Praised by many! thou art King alone thou smitest Vrtras dead, To gain, O Indra, spoils of war and high renown.

4
We sing this strong and wild delight of thine which conquers in the fray, Which, Caster of the Stone! gives room and shines like gold.

5
Wherewith thou also foundest lights for Ayu and for Manu's sake: Now joying in this sacred grass thou beamest forth.

6
This day too singers of the hymn praise, as of old, this might of thine: Win thou the waters day by day, thralls of the strong.

7
That lofty Indra-power of thine, thy strength and thine intelligence, Thy thunderbolt for which we long, the wish makes keen.

8
O Indra, Heaven and Earth augment thy manly power and thy renown; The waters and thy mountains stir and urge thee on.

9
Visnu the lofty ruling Power, Varuna, Mitra sing thy praise: In thee the Marut3' company have great delight.

10
O Indra, thou wast born the Lord of men, most liberal of thy gifts: Excellent deeds for evermore are all thine own.

11
Ever, alone, O highly-praised, thou sendest Vrtras to their rest: None else than Indra executes the mighty deed.

12
Though here and there, in varied hymns, Indra, men call on thee for aid, Still with our heroes fight and win the light of heaven.

13
Already have all forms of him entered our spacious dwelling-place: For victory stir thou Indra, up, the Lord of Might.

HYMN XVI. Indra.

1
PRAISE Indra whom our songs must laud, sole Sovran of mankind, the Chief Most liberal who controlleth men.

2
In whom the hymns of praise delight, and all the glory-giving songs. Like the floods' longing for the sea.

3
Him I invite with eulogy, best King, effective in the fight, Strong for the gain of mighty spoil.

4
Whose perfect ecstasies are wide, profound, victorious, and give joy in the field where heroes win.

5
Him, when the spoils of war are staked, men call to be their advocate: They who have Indra win the day.

6
Men honour him with stirring songs and magnify with solemn rites: Indra is he who giveth case.

7
Indra is priest and Rsi, he is much invoked by many men, And mighty by his mighty powers.

8
Meet to be lauded and invoked, true Hero with his deeds of might, Victorious even when alone.

9
The men, the people magnify that Indra with their Slina [sic]. songs, With hymns and sacred eulogies

10
Him who advances them to wealth, sends light to lead them in the war, And quells their foemen in the fray.

11
May he, the saviour much-invoked, may Indra bear us in a ship Safely beyond all enemies.

12
As such, O Indra, honour us with gifts of booty, further us, And lead us to felicity.

HYMN XVII Indra.

1
COME, we have pressed the juice for thee; O Indra, drink this Soma here Sit thou on this my sacred grass.

2
O Indra, let thy long-maned Bays, yoked by prayer, bring thee hitherward Give car and listen to our prayers.

3
We Soma-bearing Brahmans call thee Soma-drinker with thy friend, We, Indra, bringing Soma juice.

4
Come unto us who bring the juice, come unto this our eulogy, Fair-visored! drink thou of the juice.

5
I pour it down within thee, so through all thy members let it spread: Take with. thy tongue the pleasant drink.

6
Sweet to thy body let it be, delicious be the savoury juice: Sweet be the Soma to thine heart.

7
Like women, let this Soma-draught, invested with its robe, approach, O active Indra, close to thee.

8
Indra, transported with the juice, vast in his bulk, strong in his neck And stout arms, smites the Vrtras down.

9
O Indra, go thou forward, thou who rulest over all by might: Thou Vrtra-slayer slay the fiends,

10
Long be thy grasping-hook wherewith thou givest ample wealth to him Who sheds the juice and worships thee.

11
Here, Indra, is thy Soma-draught, made pure upon the sacred grass: Run hither, come and drink thereof.

12
Famed for thy radiance, worshipped well this juice is shed for thy delight Thou art invoked, Akhandala!

13
To Kundapayya, grandson's son, grandson of Srngavrs! to thee, To him have I addressed my thought.

14
Strong pillar thou, Lord of the home armour of Soma-offerers: The drop of Soma breaketh all the strongholds down, and Indra is the Rsis' Friend.

15
Holy Prdikusanu, winner of the spoil, one eminent o'er many men, Lead on the wild horse Indra with his vigorous grasp forward to drink the Soma juice.

HYMN XVIII. Adityas.

1
Now let the mortal offer prayer to win the unexampled grace Of these Adityas and their aid to cherish life.

2
For not an enemy molests the paths which these Adityas tread: Infallible guards, they strengthen us in happiness.

3
Now soon may Bhaga, Savitar, Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman Give us the shelter widely spread which we implore.

4
With Gods come thou whose fostering care none checks, O Goddess Aditi: Come, dear to many, with the Lords who guard us well.

5
For well these Sons of Aditi know to keep enmities aloof, Unrivalled, giving ample room, they save from woe.

6
Aditi guard our herd by day, Aditi, free from guile, by night, Aditi, ever strengthening, save us from grief!

7
And in the day our hymn is this: May Aditi come nigh to help, With loving-kindness bring us weal and chase our foes.

8
And may the Asvins, the divine Pair of Physicians, send us health: May they remove iniquity and chase our foes.

9
May Agni bless us with his fires, and Surya warm us pleasantly: May the pure Wind breathe sweet on us, and chase our foes.

10
Drive ye disease and strife away, drive ye away malignity: Adityas, keep us ever far from sore distress.

11
Remove from us the arrow, keep famine, Adityas! far away: Keep enmities afar from us, Lords of all wealth!

12
Now, O Adityas, grant to us the shelter that lets man go free, Yea, even the sinner from his sin, ye Bounteous Gods 1

13
Whatever mortal with the power of demons fain would injure us, May he, impetuous, suffer harm by his own deeds.

14
May sin o'ertake our human foe, the man who speaketh evil thing, Him who would cause our misery, whose heart is false.

15
Gods, ye are with the simple ones, ye know each mortal in your hearts; Ye, Vasus, well discriminate the false and true.

16
Fain would we have the sheltering aid of mountains and of water-floods: Keep far from us iniquity, O Heaven and Earth.

17
So with auspicious sheltering aid do ye, O Vasus, carry us Beyond all trouble and distress, borne in your ship.

18
Adityas, ye Most Mighty Ones, grant to our children and their seed Extended term of life that they may live long days.

19
Sacrifice, O Adityas, is your inward monitor: be kind, For in the bond of kindred we are bound to you.

20
The Maruts' high protecting aid, the Asvins, and the God who saves, Mitra and Varuna for weal we supplicate.

21
Grant us a home with triple guard, Aryaman, Mitra, Varuna! Unthreatened, Maruts! meet for praise, and filled with men.

22
And as we human beings, O Adityas, are akin to death, Graciously lengthen ye our lives that we may live.

Back to Top