RIG VEDA

HYMN XXIII. Agni.

1. WORSHIP thou Jatavedas, pray to him who willingly accepts,
Whose smoke wanders at will, and none may grasp his flame.

2. Thou, all men’s friend, Visvamanas, exaltest Agni with thy song,
The Giver, and his flames with which no cars contend.

3. Whose resolute assault, to win vigour and food, deserves our praise,-
Through whose discovering power the priest obtaineth wealth.

4. Up springs the imperishable flame, the flame of the Refulgent One
Most bright, with glowing jaws and glory in his train.

5. Skilled in fair sacrifice, extolled, arise in Godlike loveliness,
Shining with lofty splendour, with effulgent light.

6. Called straight to our oblations, come, O Agni, through our eulogies,
As thou hast been our envoy bearing up our gifts.

7. I call your Agni, from of old Invoking Priest of living men:
Him with this song I laud and magnify for you.

8. Whom, wondrous wise, they animate with solemn rites and his fair form,
Kind as a friend to men who keep the holy Law.

9. Him, true to Law, who perfecteth the sacrifice,. Law-loving ones!
Ye with your song have gratified in the place of prayer.

10. May all our sacrifices go to him the truest Angiras,
Who is among mankind the most illustrious Priest.

11. Imperishable Agni, thine are all these high enkindled lights,
Like horses and like stallions showing forth their strength.

12. So give us, Lord of Power and Might, riches combined with hero strength,
And guard us with our sons and grand. sons in our frays.

13. Soon as the eager Lord of men is friendly unto Manti’s race,
Agni averteth from us all the demon host.

14. O Hero Agni, Lord of men, on hearing this new laud of mine,
Burn down the Raksasas, enchanters, with thy flame.

15. No mortal foe can e’er prevail by arts of magic over him
Who serveth Agni well with sacrificial gifts.

16. Vyasva the sage, who sought the Bull, hath won thee, finder of good things:
As such may we enkindle thee for ample wealth.

17. Usana Kavya stablished thee, O Agni, as Invoking Priest:
Thee, Jatavedas, Sacrificing Priest for man.

18. All Deities of one accord appointed thee their messenger:
Thou, God, through hearing, hadst first claim to sacrifice.

19. Him may the mortal hero make his own immortal messenger.
Far-spreading, Purifier, him whose path is black.

20. With lifted ladles let us call him splendid with his brilliant flame,
Men’s ancient Agni, wasting not, adorable.

21. The man who pays the worship due to him with sacrificial gifts
Obtains both plenteous nourishment and hero fame.

22. To Jatavedas Agni, chief in sacrifices, first of all
With homage goes the ladle rich with sacred gifts.

23. Even as Vyatya did, may we with these m
ost high and liberal hymns
Pay worship unto Agni of the splendid flame.
24. Now sing, as Sthurayupa sang, with lands to him who spreadeth far,
To Agni of the home, O Rsi, Vyasva’s son.

25. As welcome guest of human kind, as offspring of the forest kings,
The sages worship ancient Agni for his aid.

26. For men’s oblations brought to him who is the mighty Lord of all,
Sit, Agni, mid our homage, on the sacred grass.

27. Grant us abundant. treasures, grant the opulence which many crave,
With store of heroes, progeny, and high renown.

28. Agni, Most Youthful of the Gods, send evermore the gift of wealth
Unto Varosusaman and to all his folk.

29. A mighty Conqueror art thou, O Agni, so disclose to us
Food in our herds of kine and gain of ample wealth.

30. Thou, Agni, art a glorious God: bring hither Mitra, Varuna,
Imperial Sovrans, holy-minded, true to Law.


HYMN XXIV. Indra.

1. COMPANIONS, let us learn a prayer to Indra. whom the thunder arms,
To glorify your bold and most heroic Friend.

2. For thou by slaying Vrtra art the Vrtra-slayer, famed for might.
Thou, Hero, in rich gifts surpassest wealthy chiefs.

3. As such, when glorified, bring us riches of very wondrous fame,
Set in the highest rank, Wealth-giver, Lord of Bays!

4. Yea, Indra, thou disclosest that preeminent dear wealth of men:
Boldly, O Bold One, glorified, bring it to us.

5. The workers of destruction stay neither thy right hand nor thy left:
Nor hosts that press about thee, Lord of Bays, in fight.

6. O Thunder-armed, I come with songs to thee as to a stall with kine:
Fulfil the wish and thought of him who sings thy praise.

7. Chief Vrtra-slayer, through the hymn of Visvamanas think of all,
All that concerneth us, Excellent, Mighty Guide.

8. May we, O Vrtra-slayer, O Hero, find this thy newest boon, Longed-for, and excellent, thou who art much invoked!

9. O Indra, Dancer, Much-invoked! as thy great power is unsurpassed,
So be thy bounty to the worshipper unchecked.

10. Most Mighty, most heroic One, for mighty bounty fill thee full.
Though strong, strengthen thyself to win wealth, Maghavan!

11. O Thunderer, never have our prayers gone forth to any God but thee:
So help us, Maghavan, with thine assistance now.

12. For, Dancer, verily I find none else for bounty, saving thee,
For splendid wealth and power, thou Lover of the Song.

13. For Indra pour ye out the drops meath blent with Soma let him drink
With bounty and with majesty will he further us.

14. I spake to the Bay Coursers’ Lord, to him who gives ability:
Now hear the son of Asva as he praises thee.

15. Never was any Hero born before thee mightier than thou:
None certairdy like thee in goodness and in wealth.

16. O ministering priest, pour out of the sweet juice what gladdens most:
So is the Hero praised who ever prospers us.

17. Indra, whom Tawny Coursers bear, praise such as thine, preeminent,
None by his power or by his goodness hath attained.

18. We, seeking glory, have invoked this Master of all power and might
Who must be glorified by constant sacri fice.

19.Come, sing we praise to Indra, friends, the Hero who deserves the laud,
Him who with none to aid o’ercomes all tribes of men.

20. To him who wins the kine, who keeps no cattle back, Celestial God,
Speak wondrous speech more sweet than butter and than meath.

21. Whose hero powers are measureless, whose bounty ne’er may be surpassed,
Whose liberality, like light, is over all.

22. As Vyasva did, praise Indra, praise the Strong unfluctuating Guide,
Who gives the foe’s possessions to the worshipper.

23. Now, son of Vyasva, praise thou him who to the tenth time still is new,
The very Wise, whom living men must glorify

24. Thou knowest, Indra, Thunder-armed, how to avoid destructive powers,
As one secure from pitfalls each returning day.

25. O Indra, bring that aid wherewith of old, Most Wondrous! thou didst slay
His foes for active Kutsa: send it down to us.

26. So now we seek thee fresh in might, Most Wonderful in act! for gain:
For thou art he who conquers all our foes for us.

27. Who will set free from ruinous woe, or Arya on the Seven Streams:
O valiant Hero, bend the Dasa’s weapon down.

28. As to Varosusaman thou broughtest great riches, for their gain,
To Vyasva’s sons, Blest Lady, rich in ample wealth!
29. Let Narya’s sacrificial meed reach Vyasva’s Soma-bearing sons:
In hundreds and in thousands be the great reward.

30. If one should ask thee, Where is he who sacrificed? Whither lookest thou?
Like Vala he hath passed away and dwelleth now on Gomati.