RIG VEDA

HYMN LXIX. Agni.

1. Auspicious is the aspect of Vadhryasva’s fire good is its guidance, pleasant are its visitings.
When first the people Of Sumitra kindle it, with butter poured thercon it crackles and shines bright.

2. Butter is that which makes Vadhryaiva’s fire growstrong: the butter is its food, the butter makes it fat.
It spreads abroad when butter hath been offered it, and balmed with streams of butter shines forth like the Sun.

3. Still newest is this face of thine, O Agni, which Manu and Sumitra have enkindled.
So richly shine, accept our songs with favour, so give us strengthening food, so send us glory.

4. Accept this offering, Agni, whom aforetime Vadhryasva, hath entreated and enkindled.
Guard well our homes and ople, guard our bodies, protect thy girt to us which thou hast granted.

5. Be splendid, guard us Kinsman of Vadhryasva: let not the enmity of men o’ercome thee,
Like the bold hero Cyavana, I Sumitra tell forth the title of Vadhryaiva’s Kinsman.

6. All treasures hast thou won, of plains and mountains, and quelled the Dasas’ and Aryas’ hatred.
Like the bold hero Cyavana, O Agni, mayst thou subdue the men who long for battle.

7. Deft Agni hath a lengthened thread, tall oxen, a thousand heifers, numberless devices.
Decked by the men, splendid among the splendid, shine brightly forth amid devout Sumitras.

8. Thine is the teeming cow, O Jatavedas, who pours at once her ceaseless flow, Sabardhuk,
Thou. art lit up by men enriched with guerdon, O Agni, by the pious-souled Sumitras.

9. Even Immortal Gods, O Jatavedas, Vadhryasva’s Kinsman, have declared thy grandeur.
When human tribes drew near with supplication thou conqueredst with men whom thou hadst strengthened.

10. Like as a father bears his son, O Agni, Vadhryasva bare thee in his lap and served thee.
Thou, Youngest God, having enjoyed his fuel, didst vanquish those of old though they were mighty.

11. Vadhryasva’s Agni evermore hath vanquished his foes with heroes who had pressed the Soma.
Lord of bright rays, thou burntest up the battle, subduing, as our help, e’en mighty foemen.

12. This Agni of Vadhryasva, Vrtra-slayer, lit from of old, must be invoked with homage.
As such assail our enemies, Vadhryasva, whether the foes be strangers or be kinsmen.

HYMN LXX. Apris.

1. ENJOY, O Agni, this my Fuel, welcome the oil-filled ladle where we pour libation.
Rise up for worship of the Gods, wise Agni, on the earth’s height, while days are bright with beauty.

2. May he who goes before the Gods come hither with steeds whose shapes are varied, Narasarhsa.
May he, most Godlike, speed our offered viands with homage God-ward on the path of Order.

3. Men with oblations laud most constant Agni, and pray him to perform an envoy’s duty.
With lightly-rolling car and best draught-horses, bring the Gods hither and sit down as Hotar.

4. May the delight of Gods spread out transversely: may it be with us long in length and fragrant.
O Holy Grass divine, with friendly spirit bring thou the willing Gods whose Chief is Indra.

5. Touch ye the far-extending height of heaven or spring apart to suit the wide earth’s measure.
Yearning, ye Doors, with those sublime in greatness, seize eagerly the heavenly Car that cometh.

6. Here in this shrine may Dawn and Night, the Daughters of Heaven, the skilful Goddesses, be seated.
In your wide lap, auspicious, willing Ladies may the Gods seat them with a willing spirit.

7. Up stands the stone, high burns the fire enkindled: Aditi’s lap contains the Friendly Natures
Ye Two Chief Priests who serve at this our worship, may ye, more skilled, win for us rich possessions.

8. On our wide grass, Three Goddesses be seated: for you have we prepared and made it pleasant.
May Ila, she whose foot drops oil, the Goddess, taste, man-like, sacrifice and well-set presents.

9. Since thou, God Tvastar, hast made beauty perfect, since hou hast been the Angirases’ Companion,
Willing, most wealthy, Giver of possessions, grant us the Gods’ assembly, thou who knowest.

10. Well-knowing, binding with thy cord, bring hither, Lord of the Wood, the Deities’ assembly.
The God prepare and season our oblations may Heaven and Earth be gracious to my calling.

11. Agni, bring hither Varuna to help us, Indra from heaven, from air’s mid-realm the Maruts.
On sacred grass all Holy ones be seated and let the Immortal Gods rejoice in Svaha.


HYMN LXXI. Jnanam

1. WHEN-men, Brhaspati, giving names to objects, sent out Vak’s first and earliest utterances,
All that was excellent and spotless, treasured within them, was disclosed through their affection.

2. Where, like men cleansing corn-flour in a cribble, the wise in spirit have created language,
Friends see and recognize the marks of friendship: their speech retains the blessed sign imprinted.

3. With sacrifice the trace of Vak they foIlowed, and found her harbouring within the Rsis.
They brought her, dealt her forth in many places: seven singers make her tones resound in concert.

4. One man hath ne’er seen Vak, and yet he seeth: one man hath hearing but hath never heard her.
But to another hath she shown her beauty as a fond well-dressed woman to her husband.

5. One man they call a laggard, dull in friendship: they never urge him on to deeds of valour.
He wanders on in profitless illusion: the Voice he heard yields neither fruit,nor blossom.

6. No part in Vak hath he who hath abandoned his own dear friend who knows the truth of friendship.
Even if he hears her still in vain he listens: naught knows he of the path of righteous action.

7. Unequal in the quickness of their spirit are friends endowed alike with eyes and hearing.
Some look like tanks that reach the mouth or shoulder, others like pools of water fit to bathe in.

8. When friendly Brahmans sacrifice together with mental impulse which the heart hath fashioned,
They leave one far behind through their attainments, and some who count as Brahmans wander elsewhere.

9. Those men who step not back and move not forward, nor Brahmans nor preparers of libations,
Having attained to Vak in sinful fashion spin out their thread in ignorance like spinsters.

10. All friends are joyful in the friend who cometh in triumph, having conquered in assembly.
He is their blame-averter, food-provider prepared is he and fit for deed of vigour.

11. One plies his constant task reciting verses. one sings the holy psalm in Sakvari measures.
One more, the Brahman, tells the lore of being, and one lays down the rules of sacrificing.


HYMN LXXII. The Gods.

1. LET US with tuneful skill proclaim these generations of the Gods,
That one may see them when these hymns are chanted in a future age.

2. These Brahmanaspati produced with blast and smelting, like a Smith,
Existence, in an earlier age of Gods, from Non-existence sprang.

3. Existence, in the earliest age of Gods, from Non-existence sprang.
Thereafter were the regions born. This sprang from the Productive Power.

4. Earth sprang from the Productive Power the regions from the earth were born.
Daksa was born of Aditi, and Aditi was Daksa’s Child.

5. For Aditi, O Daksa, she who is thy Daughter, was brought forth.
After her were the blessed Gods born sharers of immortal life.

6. When ye, O Gods, in yonder deep closeclasping one another stood,
Thence, as of dancers, from your feet a thickening cloud of dust arose.

7. When, O ye Gods, like Yatis, ye caused all existing things to grow,
Then ye brought Surya forward who was lying hidden in the sea.

8. Eight are the Sons of Adid who from her body sprang to life.
With seven she went to meet the Gods she cast Martanda far away.

9. So with her Seven Sons Aditi went forth to meet the earlier age.
She brought Martanda thitherward to spring to life and die again.


HYMN LXXIII. Indra.

1. THOU wast born mighty for victorious valour, exulting, strongest, full of pride and courage.
There, even there, the Maruts strengthened Indra when. his most rapid Mother stirred the Hero.

2. There with fiend’s ways e’en Prsni was seated: with much laudation they exalted Indra.
As if encompassed by the Mighty-footed, from darkness, near at hand, forth came the Children.

3. High are thy feet when on thy way thou goest: the strength thou foundest here hath lent thee vigour.
Thousand hyenas in thy mouth thou holdest. O Indra, mayst thou turn the Asvins hither.

4. Speeding at once to sacrifice thou comest for friendship thou art bringing both Nasatyas.
Thou hadst a thousand treasures in possession. The Asvins, O thou Hero, gave thee riches.

5. Glad, for the race that rests on holy Order, with friends who hasten to their goal, hath Indra
With these his magic powers assailed the Dasyu: he cast away the gloomy mists, the darkness.

6.Two of like name for him didst thou demolish, as Indra striking down the car of Usas.
With thy beloved lofty Friends thou camest, and with the assurance of thine heart thou slewest.

7. War-loving Namuci thou smotest, robbing the Dasa of his magic for the Rsi.
For man thou madest ready pleasant pathways, paths leading as it were directly God-ward.

8. These names of thine thou hast fulfilled completely: as Lord, thou boldest in thine arm, O Indra.
In thee, through thy great might, the Gods are joyful: the roots of trees hast thou directed upward.

9. May the sweet Soma juices make him happy to cast his quoit that lies in depth of waters.
Thou from the udder which o’er earth is fastened hast poured the milk into the kine and herbage.

10. When others call him offspring of the Courser, my meaning is that Mighty Power produced him.
He came from Manyu and remained in houses: whence he hath sprung is known to Indra only.

11. Like birds of beauteous wing the Priyamedhas, Rsis, imploring, have come nigh to Indra:
Dispel the darkness and fill full our vision deliver us as men whom snares entangle.


HYMN LXXIV. Indra.

1. I AM prepared to laud with song or worship the Noble Ones who are in earth and heaven,
Or Coursers who have triumphed in, the contest, or those who famed, have won the prize with glory.

2. Their call, the call of Gods, went up to heaven: they kissed the ground with glory-seeking spirit,
There where the Gods look on for happy fortune, and like the kindly heavens bestow their bounties.

3. This is the song of those Immortal Beings who long for treasures in their full perfection.
May these, completing prayers and sacrifices, bestow upon us wealth where naught is wanting.

4. Those living men extolled thy deed, O Indra, those who would fain burst through the stall of cattle,
Fain to milk her who bare but once, great, lofty, whose Sons are many and her streams past number.

5. Sacivan, win to your assistance Indra who never bends, who overcomes his foemen.
Rbhuksan, Maghavan, the hymn’s upholder, who, rich in food, bears man’s kind friend, the thunder.

6. Since he who won of old anew hath triumphed, Indra hath earned his name of Vrtra-slaycr.
He hath appeared, the mighty Lord of Conquest. What we would have him do let him accomplish.