HYMN XV. Fathers.

1
MAY they ascend, the lowest, highest, midmost, the Fathers who deserve a share of Soma- May they who have attained the life of spirits, gentle and righteous, aid us when we call them.

2
Now let us pay this homage to the Fathers, to those who passed of old and those who followed, Those who have rested in the earthly region, and those who dwell among the Mighty Races.

3

1
have attained the gracious-minded Fathers, I have gained son and progeny from Visnu. They who enjoy pressed juices with oblation seated on sacred grass, come oftenest hither.

4
Fathers who sit on sacred grass, come, help us: these offerings have we made for you; accept them. So come to us with most auspicious favour, and give us health and strength without a trouble.

5
May they, the Fathers, worthy of the Soma, invited to their favourite oblations. Laid on the sacred grass, come nigh and listen: may they be gracious unto us and bless us.

6
Bowing your bended knees and seated southward, accept this sacrifice of ours with favour. Punish us not for any sin, O Fathers, which we through human frailty have committed.

7
Lapped in the bosom of the purple Mornings, give riches to the man who brings oblations. Grant to your sons a portion of that treasure, and, present, give them energy, ye Fathers.

8
Our ancient Fathers who deserve the Soma, who came, most noble, to our Soma banquet,- With these let Yama, yearning with the yearning, rejoicing eat our offerings at his pleasure.

9
Come to us, Agni, with the gracious Fathers who dwell in glowing light, the very Kavyas, Who thirsted mid the Gods, who hasten hither, oblation winners, theme of singers' praises.

10
Come, Agni, come with countless ancient Fathers, dwellers in light, primeval, God-adorers, Eaters and drinkers of oblations, truthful, who travel with the Deities and Indra.

11
Fathers whom Agni's flames have tasted, come ye nigh: ye kindly leaders, take ye each your proper place. Eat sacrificial food presented on the grass: grant riches with a multitude of hero sons.

12
Thou, Agni Jatavedas, when entreated, didst bear the offerings which thou madest fragrant, And give them to the Fathers who did cat them with Svadha. Eat, thou God, the gifts we bring thee.

13
Thou, Jatavedas, knowest well the number of Fathers who are here and who are absent, Of Fathers whom we know and whom we know not: accept the sacrifice well prepared with portions.

14
They who, consumed by fire or not cremated, joy in their offering in the midst of heaven,- Grant them, O Sovran Lord, the world of spirits and their own body, as thy pleasure wills it.

HYMN XVI. Agni.

1
Burn him not up, nor quite consume him, Agni: let not his body or his skin be scattered. O Jatavedas, when thou hast matured him, then send him on his way unto the Fathers.

2
When thou hast made him ready, Jatavedas, then do thou give him over to the Fathers. When he attains unto the life that waits him, he shall become the Deities' controller.

3
The Sun receive thine eye, the Wind thy spirit; go, as thy merit is, to earth or heaven. Go, if it be thy lot, unto the waters; go, make thine home in plants with all thy members.

4
Thy portion is the goat: with heat consume him: let thy fierce flame, thy glowing splendour, burn him With thine auspicious forms, o Jatavedas, bear this man to the region of the pious.

5
Again, O Agni, to the Fathers send him who, offered in thee, goes with our oblations. Wearing new life let him increase his offspring: let him rejoin a body, Jatavedas.

6
What wound soe'er the dark bird hath inflicted, the emmet, or the serpent, or the jackal, May Agni who devoureth all things heal it and Soma who hath passed into the Brahmans.

7
Shield thee with flesh against the flames of Agni, encompass thee about with fat and marrow, So will the Bold One, eager to attack thee with fierce glow fail to girdle and consume thee.

8
Forbear, O Agni, to upset this ladle: the Gods and they who merit Soma love it. This ladle, this which serves the Gods to drink from, in this the Immortal Deities rejoice them.

9

1
send afar flesh eating Agni, bearing off stains may he depart to Yama's subjects. But let this other Jatavedas carry oblation to the Gods, for he is skilful.

10
I choose as God for Father-worship Agni, flesh-eater, who hath past within your dwelling, While looking on this other Jatavedas. Let him light flames in the supreme assembly.

11
With offerings meet let Agni bring the Fathers who support the Law. Let him announce oblations paid to Fathers and to Deities.

12
Right gladly would we set thee down, right gladly make thee burn and glow. Gladly bring yearning Fathers nigh to cat the food of sacrifice.

13
Cool, Agni, and again refresh the spot which thou hast scorched and burnt. Here let the water-lily grow, and tender grass and leafy herb.

14
O full of coolness, thou cool Plant, full of fresh moisture, freshening Herb, Come hither with the female frog: fill with delight this Agni here.

HYMN XVII. Various Deities.

1
TVASTAR prepares the bridal of his Daughter: all the world hears the tidings and assembles. But Yama's Mother, Spouse of great Vivasvan, vanished as she was carried to her dwelling.

2
From mortal men they hid the Immortal Lady, made one like her and gave her to Vivasvan. Saranyu brought to him the Asvin brothers, and then deserted both twinned pairs of children.

3
Guard of the world, whose cattle ne'er are injured, may Pusan bear thee hence, for he hath knowledge. May he consign thee to these Fathers' keeping, and to the gracious Gods let Agni give thee.

4
May Ayu, giver of all life, protect thee, and bear thee forward on the distant pathway. Thither let Savitar the God transport thee, where dwell the pious who have passed-before thee.

5
Pusan knows all these realms: may he conduct us by ways that are most free from fear and danger. Giver of blessings, glowing, all-heroic, may he, the wise and watchful, go before us.

6
Pusan was born to move on distant pathways, on the road far from earth and far from heaven. To both most wonted places of assembly he travels and returns with perfect knowledge.

7
The pious call Sarasvati, they worship Sarasvati while sacrifice proceedeth. The pious called Sarasvati aforetime. Sarasvati send bliss to him who giveth.

8
Sarasvati, who camest with the Fathers, with them rejoicing thee in our oblations, Seated upon this sacred grass be joyful, and give us strengthening food that brings no sickness.

9
Thou, called on as Sarasvati by Fathers who come right forward to our solemn service, Give food and wealth to present sacrificers, a portion, worth a thousand, of refreshment.

10
The Mother Floods shall make us bright and shining, cleansers of holy oil, with oil shall cleanse us: For, Goddesses, they bear off all defilement: I, rise up from them purified and brightened.

11
Through days of earliest date the Drop descended on this place and on that which was before it. I offer up, throughout the seven oblations, the Drop which still to one same place is moving.

12
The Drop that falls, thy stalk which arms have shaken, which from the bosom of the press hath fallen, Or from the Adhvaryu's purifying filter, I offer thee with heart and cry of Vasat!

13
That fallen Drop of thine, the stalk which from the ladle fell away, This present God Brhaspati shall pour it forth to make us rich.

14
The plants of earth are rich in milk, and rich in milk is this my speech; And rich in milk the essence of the Waters: make me pure therewith.

HYMN XVIII. Various Deities.

1
Go hence, O Death, pursue thy special pathway apart from that which Gods are wont to travel. To thee I say it who hast eyes and hearest: Touch not our offspring, injure not our heroes.

2
As ye have come effacing Mrtyu's footstep, to further times prolonging your existence, May ye be rich in children and possessions. cleansed, purified, and meet for sacrificing.

3
Divided from the dead are these, the living: now be our calling on the Gods successful. We have gone forth for dancing and for laughter, to further times prolonging our existence.

4
Here I erect this rampart for the living; let none of these, none other, reach this limit. May they survive a hundred lengthened autumns, and may they bury Death beneath this mountain.

5
As the days follow days in close succession, as with the seasons duly come the seasons, As each successor fails not his foregoer, so form the lives of these, O great Ordainer.

6
Live your full lives and find old age delightful, all of you striving one behind the other. May Tvastar, maker of fair things, be gracious and lengthen out the days of your existence.

7
Let these unwidowed dames with noble husbands adorn themselves with fragrant balm and unguent. Decked with fair jewels, tearless, free from sorrow, first let the dames go up to where he lieth.

8
Rise, come unto the world of life, O woman: come, he is lifeless by whose side thou liest. Wifehood with this thy husband was thy portion, who took thy hand and wooed thee as a lover.

9
From his dead hand I take the bow be carried, that it may be our power and might and glory. There art thou, there; and here with noble heroes may we o'ercome all hosts that fight against us.

10
Betake thee to the lap of Earth the Mother, of Earth far-spreading, very kind and gracious. Young Dame, wool-soft unto the guerdongiver, may she preserve thee from Destruction's bosom.

11
Heave thyself, Earth, nor press thee downward heavily: afford him easy access, gently tending him. Cover him, as a mother wraps her skirt about her child, O Earth.

12
Now let the heaving earth be free from motion: yea,- let a thousand clods remain above him. Be they to him a home distilling fatness, here let them ever be his place of refuge.

13
I stay the earth from thee, while over thee I place this piece of earth. May I be free from injury. Here let the Fathers keep this pillar firm for thee, and there let Yama make thee an abiding-place.

14
Even as an arrow's feathers, they have set me on a fitting day. The fit word have I caught and held as 'twere a courser with the rein.

HYMN XIX. Waters or Cows.

1
TURN, go not farther on your way: visit us, O ye Wealthy Ones. Agni and Soma, ye who bring riches again, secure us wealth.

2
Make these return to us again, bring them beside us once again. May. Indra give them back to us, and Agni drive them hither-ward.

3
Let them return to us again: under this herdsman let them feed. Do thou, O Agni, keep them here, and let the wealth we have remain.

4

1
call upon their herdsman, him who knoweth well their coming nigh, Their parting and their home-return, and watcheth their approach and rest.

5
Yea, let the herdsman, too, return, who marketh well their driving-forth; Marketh their wandering away, their turning back and coming home.

6
Home-leader, lead them home to us; Indra, restore to us our kine: We will rejoice in them alive.

7

1
offer you on every side butter and milk and strengthening food. May all the Holy Deities pour down on us a flood of wealth.

8
O thou Home-leader, lead them home, restore them thou who bringest home. Four are the quarters of the earth; from these bring back to us our kine,

HYMN XX. Agni.

1
SEND unto us a good and happy mind.

2

1
worship Agni, Youthfullest of Gods, resistless, Friend of laws; Under whose guard and heavenly light the Spotted seek the Mother's breast:

3
Whom with their mouth they magnify, bannered with flame and homed in light. He glitters with his row of teeth.

4
Kind, Furtherer of men, he comes, when he hath reached the ends of heaven, Sage, giving splendour to the clouds.

5
To taste man's offerings, he, the Strong, hath risen erect at sacrifice: Fixing his dwelling he proceeds.

6
Here are oblation, worship, rest: rapidly comes his furtherance. To sword-armed Agni come the Gods.

7
With service for chief bliss I seek the Lord of Sacrifice, Agni, whom They call the Living, Son of Cloud.

8
Blest evermore be all the men who come from us, who magnify Agni with sacrificial gifts.

9
The path he treads is black and white and red, and striped, and brown, crimson, and glorious. His sire begat him bright with hues of gold.

10
Thus with his thoughts, O Son of Strength, O Agni, hath Vimada, accordant with the Immortals, Offered thee hymns, soliciting thy favour. Thou hast brought all food, strength, a prosperous dwelling.

Continued...

HYMN XXI. Agni.

1
WITH offerings of our own we choose thee, Agni, as Invoking Priest, For sacrifice with trimmed grass,-at your glad carouse-piercing and brightly shining. Thou art waxing great.

2
The wealthy ones adorn thee, they who bring us horses as their gift: The sprinkling ladle, Agni,-at your glad carouse -and glowing offering taste thee. Thou art waxing great.

3
The holy statutes rest by thee, as 'twere with ladles that o'erflow. Black and white-gleaming colours,-at your glad carouse-all glories thou assumest. Thou art waxing great.

4
O Agni, what thou deemest wealth, Victorious and Immortal One! Bring thou to give us vigour,-at your glad carouse -splendid at sacrifices. Thou art waxing great.

5
Skilled in all lore is Agni, he whom erst Atharvan brought to life. He was Vivasvan's envoy, at your glad carouse-the well-loved friend of Yama, Thou art waxing great.

6
At sacrifices they adore thee, Agni, when the rite proceeds. All fair and lovely treasures-at your glad carouse-thou givest him who offers. Thou art waxing great.

7
Men, Agni, have established thee as welcome Priest at holy rites, Thee whose face shines with butter,-at your glad carouse-bright, with eyes most observant. Thou art waxing great.

8
Wide and aloft thou spreadest thee, O Agni, with thy brilliant flame. A Bull art thou when bellowing,-at your glad carouse-thou dost impregn the Sisters. Thou art waxing great.

HYMN XXII. Indra.

1
WHERE is famed Indra heard of? With what folk is he renowned to-day as Mitra is,- Who in the home of Rsis and in secret is extolled with song?

2
Even here is Indra famed, and among us this day the glorious Thunderer is praised, He who like Mitra mid the folk hath won complete and full renown.

3
He who is Sovran Lord of great and perfect strength, exerter of heroic might, Who bears the fearless thunder as a father bears his darling son.

4
Harnessing to thy car, as God, two blustering Steeds Of the Wind-God, O Thunderer, That speed along the shining path, thou making ways art glorified.

5
Even to these dark Steeds of Wind thou of thyself hast come to ride, Of which no driver may be found, none, be he God or mortal man.

6
When ye approach, men ask you, thee and Usana: Why come ye to our dwelling-place? Why are ye come to mortal man from distant realms of earth and heaven?

7
O Indra, thou shalt speak us fair: our holy prayer is offered up. We pray to thee for help as thou didst strike the monster Susna dead.

8
Around us is the Dasyu, riteless, void of sense, inhuman, keeping alien laws. Baffle, thou Slayer of the foe, the weapon which this Dasa wields.

9
Hero with Heroes, thou art ours: yea, strong are they whom thou dost help. In many a place are thy full gifts, and men, like vassals, sing thy praise.

10
Urge thou these heroes on to slay the enemy, brave Thunderer! in the fight with swords. Even when hid among the tribes of Sages numerous as stars.

11
Swift come those gifts of thine whose hand is prompt to rend and burn, O Hero Thunder-armed: As thou with thy Companions didst destroy the whole of Susnia's brood.

12
Let not thine excellent assistance come to us, O Hero Indra, profitless. May we, may we enjoy the bliss of these thy favours, Thunderer!

13
May those soft impulses of thine, O Indra, be fruitful and innocent to us. May we know these whose treasures are like those of milch-kine, Thunderer!

14
That Earth, through power of knowing things that may be known, handless and footless yet might thrive, Thou slewest, turning to the right, gu;na [sic] for every living man.

15
Drink, drink the Soma, Hero Indra; be not withheld as thou art good, O Treasure-giver. Preserve the singers and our liberal princes, and make us wealthy with abundant riches.

HYMN XXIII. Indra.

1
INDRA, whose right hand wields the bolt, we worship, driver of Bay Steeds seeking sundered courses. Shaking his beard with might he hath arisen, casting his weapons forth and dealing bounties.

2
The treasure which his Bay Steeds found at sacrifice,-this wealth made opulent Indra slayer of the foe. Rbhu, Rbhuksan, Vaja-he is Lord of Might. The Dasa's very name I utterly destroy.

3
When, with the Princes, Maghavari, famed of old, comes nigh the thunderbolt of gold, and the Controller's car Which his two Tawny Coursers draw, then Indra is the Sovran Lord of power whose glory spreads afar.

4
With him too is this rain of his that comes like herds: Indra throws drops of moisture on his yellow beard. When the sweet juice is shed he seeks the pleasant place, and stirs the worshipper as wind disturbs the wood.

5
We laud and praise his several deeds of valour who, fatherlike, with power hath made us stronger; Who with his voice slew many thousand wicked ones who spake in varied manners with contemptuous cries.

6
Indra, the Vimadas have formed for thee a laud, copious, unparalleled, for thee Most Bountiful. We know the good we gain from him the Mighty One when we attract him as a herdsman calls the kine.

7
Ne'er may this bond of friendship be dissevered, the Rsi Vimada's and thine, O Indra. We know thou carest for us as a brother with us, O God, be thine auspicious friendship.

HYMN XXIV. Indra. Asvins.

1
O INDRA, drink this Soma, pressed out in the mortar, full of sweets. Send down to us great riches,-at your glad carouse-in thousands, O Most healthy. Thou art waxing great.

2
To thee with sacrifices, with oblations, and with lauds we come. Lord of all strength and power, grant-at your glad carouse-the best choiceworthy treasure. Thou art waxing great.

3
Thou who art Lord of precious boons, inciter even of the churl. Guardian of singers, Indra,-at your glad carouse-save us from woe and hatred. Thou art waxing great.

4
Strong, Lords of Magic power, ye Twain churned the united worlds apart, When ye, implored by Vimada, Nasatyas, forced apart the pair.

5
When the united pair were rent asunder all the Gods complained. The Gods to the Nasatyas cried, Bring these together once again.

6
Sweet be my going forth, and rich in sweets be my approach to home. So, through your Deity, both Gods, enrich us with all pleasantness.

HYMN XXV. Soma.

1
SEND us a good and happy mind, send energy and mental power. Then-at your glad carouse-let men joy in thy love, Sweet juice! as kine in pasture. Thou. art waxing great.

2
rn [sic] all thy forms, O Soma, rest thy powers that influence the heart. So also these my longings-at your glad carouse-spread themselves seeking riches. Thou art waxing great.

3
Even if, O Soma, I neglect thy laws through my simplicity, Be gracious-at your glad carouse-as sire to son. Preserve us even from slaughter. T'hou. art waxing great.

4
Our songs in concert go to thee as streams of water to the wells. Soma, that we may live, grant-at your glad carouse-full powers of mind, like beakers. Thou art waxing great.

5
O Soma, through thy might who art skilful and strong, these longing men, These sages, have thrown open-at your glad carouse-the stall of kine and horses. Thou art waxing great

6
Our herds thou guardest, Soma, and the moving world spread far and wide. Thou fittest them for living,-at your glad carouse-looking upon all beings. Thou art waxing great.

7
On all sides, Soma, be to us a Guardian ne'er to be deceived. King, drive away our foemen-at your glad carouse:-let not the wicked rule us. Thou art waxing great.

8
Be watchful, Soma, passing wise, to give us store of vital strength. More skilled than man to guide us,-at your glad carouse-save us from harm and sorrow. Thou art waxing great.

9
Chief slayer of our foemen, thou, Indu, art Indra's gracious Friend, When warriors invoke him-at your glad carouse -in fight, to win them offspring. Thou art waxing great.

10
Victorious is this gladdening drink: to Indra dear it grows in strength. This-at your glad carouse -enhanced the mighty hymn of the great sage Kaksivan. Thou art waxing great.

11
This to the sage who offers gifts brings power that comes from wealth in kine. This, better than the seven, hath-at your glad carouse-furthered the blind, the cripple. Thou art waxing great.

HYMN XXVI. Pusan.

1
FORWARD upon their way proceed the ready teams, the lovely songs. Further them glorious Pusan with yoked chariot, and the Mighty Twain!

2
With sacred hymns let this man here, this singer, win the God to whom Belong this majesty and might. He hath observed our eulogies.

3
Pusan the Strong hath knowledge of sweet praises even as Indu hath. He dews our corn with moisture, he bedews the pasture of our kine.

4
We will bethink ourselves of thee, O Pusan, O thou God, as One. Who brings fulfilment of our hymns, and stirs the singer and the sage.

5
joint-sharer of each sacrifice, the driver of the chariot steeds; The Rsi who is good to man, the singer's Friend and faithful Guard.

6
One who is Lord of Suca, Lord of Suca caring for herself: Weaving the raiment of the sheep and making raiment beautiful.

7
The mighty Lord of spoil and wealth, Strong Friend of all prosperity; He with light movement shakes his beard, lovely and ne'er to be deceived.

8
O Pusan, may those goats of thine turn hitherward thy chariot-pole. Friend of all suppliants; art thou, born in old time, and arm and sure.

9
May the majestic Pusan speed our chariot with his power and might. May he increase our store of wealth and listen to this call of ours.

HYMN XXVII. Indra.

1
THIS, singer, is my firm determination, to aid the worshipper who pours the Soma. I slay the man who brings no milk oblation, unrighteous, powerful, the truth's perverter.

2
Then Will I, when I lead my friends to battle against the radiant persons of the godless, Prepare for thee at home a vigorous bullock, and pour for thee the fifteen-fold strong juices.

3
I know not him who sayeth and declareth that he hath slain the godless in the battle. Soon as they see the furious combat raging, men speak forth praises of my vigorous horses.

4
While yet my deeds of might were unrecorded, all passed for Maghavans though I existed. The potent one who dwelt in peace I conquered, grasped by the foot and slew him on the mountain.

5
None hinder me in mine heroic exploits, no, not the mountains when I will and purpose. Even the deaf will tremble at my roaring, and every day will dust be agitated.

6
To see the Indraless oblation-drinkers, mean offerers, o'ertaken by destruction! Then shall the fellies of my car pass over those who have blamed my joyous Friend and scorned him.

7
Thou wast, thou grewest to full vital vigour: an earlier saw, a later one shall see thee. Two canopies, as 'twere, are round about him who reacheth to the limit of this region.

8
The freed kine eat the barley of the pious.

1
saw them as they wandered with the herdsman. The calling of the pious rang around them. What portion will these kine afford their owner?

9
When we who cat the grass of men are gathered I am with barley-eaters in the corn-land. There shall the captor yoke the yokeless bullock, and he who hath been yoked seek one to loose him.

10
There wilt thou hold as true my spoken purpose, to bring together quadrupeds. and bipeds. I will divide, without a fight, his riches who warreth here, against the Bull, with women.

11
When a man's daughter hath been ever eyeless, who, knowing, will be wroth with her for blindness? Which of the two will loose on him his anger-the man who leads her home or he who woos her?

12
How many a maid is pleasing to the suitor who fain would marry for her splendid riches? If the girl be both good and fair of feature, she finds, herself, a friend among the people.

13
His feet have grasped: he eats the man who meets him. Around his head he sets the head for shelter. Sitting anear and right above he smites us, and follows earth that lies spread out beneath him.

14
High, leafless, shadowless, and swift is Heaven: the Mother stands, the Youngling, loosed, is feeding. Loud hath she lowed, licking Another's offspring. In what world hath the Cow laid down her udder?

15
Seven heroes from the nether part ascended, and from the upper part came eight together. Nine from behind came armed with winnowing-baskets: ten from the front pressed o'er the rock's high ridges.

16
One of the ten, the tawny, shared in common, they send to execute their final purpose. The Mother carries on her breast the Infant of noble form and soothes it while it knows not.

17
The Heroes dressed with fire the fatted wether [sic]: the dice were thrown by way of sport and gaming. Two reach the plain amid the heavenly waters, hallowing and with means of purifying.

18
Crying aloud they ran in all directions: One half of them will cook, and not the other. To me hath Savitar, this God, declared it: He will perform, whose food is wood and butter.

19
I saw a troop advancing from the distance moved, not by wheels but their own God-like nature. The Friendly One seeks human generations, destroying, still new bands of evil beings.

20
These my two Bulls, even Pramara's, are harnessed: drive them not far; here let them often linger. The waters even shall aid him to his object, and the all-cleansing Sun who is above us.

21
This is the thunderbolt which often whirleth down from the lofty misty realm of Surya. Beyond this realm there is another glory so through old age they pass and feel no sorrow.

22
Bound fast to,every tree the cow is lowing, and thence the man-consuming birds are flying, Then all this world, though pressing juice for Indra and strengthening the Rsi, is affrighted.

23
In the Gods' mansion stood the first-created, and from their separation came the later. Three warm the Earth while holding stores of water, and Two of these convey the murmuring moisture.

24
This is thy life: and do thou mark and know it. As such, hide not thyself in time of battle. He manifests the light and hides the vapour: his foot is never free from robes that veil it.

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