RIG VEDA

Translator Ralph T.H. Griffith

THE FIRST BOOK – Page 6

HYMN CXXI, Indra.

1. WHEN Will men’s guardians hasting hear with favour the song of Angiras’s pious
childern?
When to the people of the home he cometh he strideth to the sacrifice, the Holy.

2. He stablished heaven; he poured forth, skilful worker, the wealth of kine, for strength, that nurtures heroes.
The Mighty One his self-born host regarded, the horse’s mate, the mother of the heifer.

3. Lord of red dawns, he came victorious, daily to the Angirases’ former invocation.
His bolt and team hath he prepared, and stablished the heaven for quadrupeds and men two-footed.

4. In joy of this thou didst restore, for worship, the lowing company of hidden cattle.
When the three-pointed one descends with onslaught he opens wide the doors that cause man trouble.

5. Thine is that milk which thy swift-moving Parents brought down, a strengthening genial gift for conquest;
When the pure treasure unto thee they offered, the milk shed from the cow who streameth nectar.

6. There is he born. May the Swift give us rapture, and like the Sun shine forth from yonder dawning,
Indu, even us who drank, whose toils are offerings, poured from the spoon, with praise, upon the altar.

7. When the wood-pile, made of good logs, is ready, at the Sun’s worship to bind fast the Bullock,
Then when thou shinest forth through days of action for the Car-borne, the Swift, tile Cattle-seeker.

8. Eight steeds thou broughtest down from mighty heaven, when fighting for the well that giveth splendour,
That men might press with stones the gladdening yellow, strengthened with milk, fermenting, to exalt thee.

9. Thou hurledst forth from heaven the iron missile, brought by the Skilful, from the sling of leather,
When thou, O Much-invoked, assisting Kutsa with endless deadly darts didst compass Susna.

10. Bolt-armed, ere darkness overtook the sunlight, thou castest at the veiling cloud thy weapon,
Thou rentest, out of heaven, though firmly knotted, the might of Susna that was thrown around him.

11. The mighty Heaven and Earth, those bright expanses that have no wheels, joyed, Indra, at thine exploit.
Vrtra, the boar who lay amid the waters, to sleep thou sentest with thy mighty thunder.

12. Mount Indra, lover of the men thou guardest, the well-yoked horses of the wind, best bearers.
The bolt which Kavya Usana erst gave thee, strong, gladdening, Vrtra-slaying, hath he fashioned *

13. The strong Bay Horses of the Sun thou stayedst: this Etasa drew not the wheel, O Indra.
Casting them forth beyond the ninety rivers thou dravest down into the pit the godless.

14. Indra, preserve thou us from this affliction Thunder-armed, save us from the misery near us.
Vouchsafe us affluence in chariots, founded on horses, for our food and fame and gladness.

15. Never may this thy loving-kindness fail us; mighty in strength, may plenteous food surround us.
Maghavan, make us share the foeman’s cattle: may we be thy most liberal feast companions.


HYMN CXXII Visvadevas.

1. SAY, bringing sacrifice to bounteous Rudra, This juice for drink to you whose wrath is fleeting!
With Dyaus the Asura’s Heroes I have lauded the Maruts as with prayer to Earth and Heaven.

2. Strong to exalt the early invocation are Night and Dawn who show with varied aspect.
The Barren clothes her in wide-woven raiment, and fair Morn shines with Surya’s golden splendour.

3. Cheer us the Roamer round, who strikes at morning, the Wind delight us, pourer forth of waters!
Sharpen our wits, O Parvata and Indra. May all the Gods vouchsafe to us this favour.

4. And Ausija shall call for me that famous Pair who enjoy and drink, who come to brighten.
Set ye the Offspring of the Floods before you; both Mothers of the Living One who beameth.

5. For you shall Ausija call him who thunders, as, to win Arjuna’s assent, cried Ghosa.
I will invoke, that Pusan may be bounteous to you, the rich munificence of Agni.

6. Hear, Mitra-Varuna, these mine invocations, hear them from all men in the hall of worship.
Giver of famous gifts, kind hearer, Sindhu who gives fair fields, listen with all his waters 1

7. Praised, Mitra, Varuna! is your gift, a hundred cows to the Prksayamas and the Pajra.
Presented by car-famous Priyaratha, supplying nourishment, they came directly.

8. Praised is the gift of him the very wealthy: may we enjoy it, men with hero children:
His who hath many gifts to give the Pajras, a chief who makes me rich in cars and horses.

9. The folk, O Mitra-Varuna, who hate you, who sinfully hating pour you no libations,
Lay in their hearts, themselves, a wasting sickness, whereas the righteous gaineth all by worship.

10. That man, most puissant, wondrously urged onward, famed among heroes, liberal in giving,
Moveth a warrior, evermore undaunted in all encounters even with the mighty.

11. Come to the man’s, the sacrificer’s calling: hear, Kings of Immortality, joy-givers!
While ye who speed through clouds decree your bounty largely, for fame, to him the chariot rider.

12. Vigour will we bestow on that adorer whose tenfold draught we come to taste, so spake they.
May all in whom rest splendour and great riches obtain refreshment in these sacrifices.

13. We will rejoice to drink the tenfold present when the twicefive come bearing sacred viands.
What can he do whose steeds and reins are choicest? These, the all-potent, urge brave men to conquest.

14. The sea and all the Deities shall give us him with the golden car and neck bejewelled.
Dawns, hasting to the praises otthe pious, be pleased with us. both offerers and singers.

15. Four youthful sons of Masarsara vex me, three, of the king, the conquering Ayavasa.
Now like the Sun, O Varuna and Mitra, your car hath shone, long-shaped and reined with splendour.


HYMN CXXIII. Dawn.

1. THE Daksina’s broad chariot hath been harnessed: this car the Gods Immortal have ascended.
Fain to bring light to homes of men the noble and active Goddess hath emerged from darkness.

2. She before all the living world hath wakened, the Lofty One who wins and gathers treasure.
Revived and ever young on high she glances. Dawn hath come first unto our morning worship.

3. If, Dawn, thou Goddess nobly born, thou dealest fortune this day to all the race of mortals,
May Savitar the God, Friend of the homestead, declare before the Sun that we are sinless.

4. Showing her wonted form each day that passeth, spreading the light she visiteth each dwelling.
Eager for conquest, with bright sheen she cometh. Her portion is the best of goodly treasures.

5. Sister of Varuna, sister of Bhaga, first among all sing forth, O joyous Morning.
Weak be the strength of him who worketh evil – may we subdue him with our car the guerdon.

6. Let our glad hymns and holy thoughts rise upward, for the flames brightly burning have ascended.
The far-refulgent Mornings make apparent the lovely treasures which the darkness covered.

7. The one departeth and the other cometh: unlike in hue day’s, halves march on successive.
One hides the gloom of the surrounding Parents. Dawn on her shining chariot is resplendent.

8. The same in form to-day, the same tomorrow, they still keep Varuna’s eternal statute.
Blameless, in turn they traverse thirty regions, and dart across the spirit in a moment.

9. She who hath knowledge Of the first day’s nature is born refulgent white from out the darkness.
The Maiden breaketh not the law of Order, day by day coming to the place appointed.

10. In pride of beauty like a maid thou goest, O Goddess, to the God who longs to win thee,
And smiling youthful, as thou shinest brightly, before him thou discoverest thy bosom.

11. Fair as a bride embellished by her mother thou showest forth thy form that all may see it.
Blessed art thou O Dawn. Shine yet more widely. No other Dawns have reached what thou attainest.

12. Rich in kine, horses, and all goodly treasures, in constant operation with the sunbeams,
The Dawns depart and come again again assuming their wonted forms that promise happy fortune.

13. Obedient to the rein of Law Eternal give us each thought that more and more shall bless us.
Shine thou on us to-day, Dawn, swift to listen. With us be riches and with chiefs who worship.


HYMN CXXIV. Dawn.

1. THE Dawn refulgent when the fire is kindled, and the Sun rising, far diffuse their brightness.
Savitar, God, hath sentus forth to labour, each quadruped, each biped, to be active.

2. Not interrupting heavenly ordinances, although she minisheth human generations.
The last of endless morns that have departed, the first of those that come, Dawn brightly shineth.

3. There in the eastern region she, Heaven’s Daughter, arrayed in garments all of light, appeareth.
Truly she fo1loweth the path of Order, nor faileth, knowing well, the heavenly quarters.

4. Near is she seen, as ’twere the Bright One’s bosom: she showeth sweet things like a new song-singer.
She cometh like a fly awaking sleepers, of all. returning dames most true and constant.

5. There in the east half of the watery region the Mother of the Cows hath shown her ensign.
Wider and wider still she spreadeth onward, and filleth full the laps of both heir Parents.

6. She, verily, exceeding vast to look on debarreth from her light nor kin nor stranger.
Proud of her spotless form she, brightly shiming, turneth not from the high nor froom the humble.

7. She seeketh men, as she who hath no brother, mounting her car, as ’twere to gather riches.
Dawn, like a loving matron for her husband, smiling and well attired, unmasks her beauty.

8. The Sister quitteth, for the elder Sister, her place, and having looked on her departeth.
She decks her beauty, shining forth with sunbeams, like women trooping to the festal meeting.

9. To all these Sisters who ere now have vanished a later one each day in course succeedeth.
So, like the past, with days of happy fortune, may the new Dawns shine forth on us with riches.

10. Rouse up, O Wealthy One, the liberal givers; let niggard traffickers sleep on unwakened:
Shine richly, Wealthy One, on those who worship, richly, glad.
Dawn while wasting, on the singer.

11. This young Maid from the east hath shone upon us; she harnesseth her team of bright red oxen.
She will beam forth, the light will hasten hither, and Agni will be present in each dwelling.

12. As the birds fly forth from their resting places, so men with store of food rise at thy dawning.
Yea, to the liberal mortal who remaineth at home, O Goddess Dawn, much good thou bringest.

13. Praised through my prayer be ye who should be lauded. Ye have increased our wealth, ye Dawns who love us.
Goddesses, may we win by your good favour wealth to be told by hundreds and by thousands.


HYMN CXXV. Svanaya.

1. COMING at early morn he gives his treasure; the prudent one receives and entertains him.
Thereby increasing still his life and offspring, he comes with brave sons to abundant riches.

2. Rich shall he be in gold and kine and horses. Indra bestows on him great vital power,
Who stays thee, as thou comest, with his treasure, like game caught in the net, O early comer.

3. Longing, I came this morning to the pious, the son of sacrifice, with car wealth. laden.
Give him to drink juice of the stalk that gladdens; prosper with pleasant hymns the Lord of Heroes.

4. Health-bringing streams, as milch-cows, flow to profit him who hath worshipped, him who now will worship.
To him who freely gives and fills on all sides full streams of fatness flow and make him famous.

5. On the high ridge of heaven he stands exalted, yea, to the Gods he goes, the liberal giver.
The streams, the waters flow for him with fatness: to him this guerdon ever yields abundance.

6. For those who give rich meeds are all these splendours, for those who give rich meeds suns shine in heaven.
The givers of rich meeds are made immortal; the givers of rich fees prolong their lifetime.

7. Let not the liberal sink to sin and sorrow, never decay the pious -chiefs who worship!
Let every man besides be their protection, and let affliction fall upon the niggard.