RIG VEDA

Translator Ralph T.H. Griffith

THE NINTH BOOK – Page 1

HYMN I. Soma Pavamana.

1. In sweetest and most gladdening stream
flow pure, O Soma, on thy way,
Pressed out for Indra, for his drink.

2. Fiend-queller, Friend of all men, he hath with the wood attained unto
His place, his iron-fashioned home.

3. Be thou best Vrtra-slayer, best granter of bliss, most liberal:
Promote our wealthy princes’ gifts.

4. Flow onward with thy juice unto the banquet of the Mighty Gods:
Flow bither for our strength and fame.

5. O Indu, we draw nigh to thee, with this one object day by day:
To thee alone our prayers are said

6. By means of this eternal fleece may Surya’s Daughter purify
Thy Soma that is foaming forth.

7. Ten sister maids of slender form seize him within the press and hold
Him firmly on the final day.

8. The virgins send him forth: they blow the the skin musician-like and fuse
The triple foe-repelling meath.

9. Inviolable milch-kine round about him blend for Indra’s drink,
The fresh young Soma with their milk.

10. In the wild raptures of this draught, Indra slays all the Vrtras: he,
The Hero, pours his wealth on us.


HYMN II. Soma Pavamana.

1. Soma, flow on, inviting Gods, speed to the purifying cloth:
Pass into Indra, as a Bull.

2. As mighty food speed hitherward, Indu, as a most splendid Steer:
Sit in thy place as one with strength.

3. The well-loved meath was made to flow, the stream of the creative juice
ne Sage drew waters to himself.

4. The mighty waters, yea, the floods accompany thee Mighty One,
When thou wilt clothe thee with the milk.

5. The lake is brightened in the floods. Soma, our Friend, heaven’s prop and stay,
Falls on the purifying cloth.

6. The tawny Bull hath bellowed, fair as mighty Mitra to behold:
He shines together with the Sun.

7. Songs, Indu, active in their might are beautified for thee, wherewith
Thou deckest thee for our delight.

8. To thee who givest ample room we pray, to win the joyous draught:
Great are the praise& due to thee.

9. Indu as, Indra’s Friend, on us pour with a stream of sweetness, like
Parjanya sender of the rain.

10. Winner of kine, Indu, art thou, winner of heroes, steeds, and strength
Primeval Soul of sacrifice.


HYMN III. Soma Pavamana.

1. HERE present this Immortal God flies, like a bird upon her wings,
To settle in the vats of wood.

2. This God, made ready with the hymn, runs swiftly through the winding ways,
Inviolable as he flows.

3. This God while flowing is adorned, like a bay steed for war, by men
Devout and skilled in holy songs.

4. He, like a warrior going forth with heroes, as he flows along
Is fain to win all precious boons.

5. This God, as he is flowing on, speeds like a car and gives his gifts:
He lets his voice be heard of all

6. Praised by the sacred bards, this God dives into waters, and bestows
Rich gifts upon the worshipper.

7. Away he rushes with his stream, across the regions, into heaven,
And roars as he is flowing on.

8. While flowing, meet for sacrifice, he hath gone up to heaven across
The regions, irresistible.

9. After the ‘way of ancient time, this God, pressed out for Deities,
Flows tawny to the straining-cloth.

10. This Lord of many Holy Laws, even at his birth engendering strength,
Effused, flows onward in a stream.


HYMN IV. Soma Pavamana.

1. O Soma flowing on thy way, win thou and conquer high renown;
And make us better than we are.

2. Win thou the light, win heavenly light, and, Soma, all felicities;
And make us better than we are.

3. Win skilful strength and mental power. O Soma, drive away our foes;
And make us better than we are.

4. Ye purifiers, purify Soma for Indra, for his drink:
Make thou us better than we are.

5. Give us our portion in the Sun through thine own mental power and aids;
And make us better than we are.

6. Through thine own mental power and aid long may we look upon the Sun;
Make thou us better than we are.

7. Well-weaponed Soma, pour to usa stream of riches doubly great;
And make us better than we are.

8. As one victorious unsubdued in battle pour forth wealth to us;
And make us better than we are.

9. By worship, Pavamana! men have strengthened thee to prop the Law:
Make thou us better than we are.

10. O Indu, bring us wealth in steeds, manifold. quickening all life;
And mate us better than we are.


HYMN V Apris.

1. ENKINDLED, Pavamana, Lord, sends forth his light on, every side
In friendly show, the bellowing Bull.

2. He, Pavamana, Self-produced, speeds onward sharpening his horns:
He glitters through the firmament.

3. Brilliant like wealth, adorable, with splendour Pavamana shines,
Mightily with the streams of meath.

4. The tawny Pavamana, who strews from of old the grass with might,
Is worshipped, God amid the Gods.

5. The golden, the Celestial Doors are lifted with their frames on high,
By Pavamana glorified.

6. With passion Pavamana longs for the great lofty pair, well-formed
Like beauteous maidens, Night and Dawn

7. Both Gods who look on men I call, Celestial Heralds: Indra’s Self
Is Pavamana, yea, the Bull.

8. This, Pavamana’s sacrifice, shall the three beauteous Goddesses,
Sarasvati and Bharati and Ila, Mighty One, attend.

9. 1 summon Tvastar hither, our protector, champion, earliest-born,
Indu is Indra, tawny Steer; Pavamana is Prajapati.

10. O Pavamana, with the meath in streams anoint Vanaspati,
The ever-green. the golden-hued, refulgent, with a thousand boughs.

11. Come to the consecrating rite of Pavamana, all ye Gods,-
Vayu, Surya, Brhaspati, Indra, and Agni, in accord.


HYMN VI. Soma Pavamana.

1. SOMA, flow on with pleasant stream, a Bull devoted to the Gods,
Our Friend, unto the woollen sieve.

2. Pour hitherward, as Indra’s Self, Indu, that gladdening stream of thine,
And send us coursers full of strength.

3. Flow to the filter hitherward, pouring that ancient gladdening juice,
Streaming forth power and high renown.

4. Hither the sparkling drops have flowed, like waters down a steep descent
They have reached Indra purified.

5. Whom, having passed the filter, ten dames cleanse, as ’twere a vigorous steed,
While he disports him in the wood,-

6. The steer-strong juice with milk pour forth, for feast and service of the Gods,
To him who bears away the draught.

7. Effused, the God flows onward with his stream to Indra, to the God,
So that his milk may strengthen him.

8. Soul of the sacrifice, the juice effused flows quickly on: he keeps
His ancient wisdom of a Sage.

9. So pouring forth, as Indra’s Friend, strong drink, best Gladdener! for the feast,
Thou, even in secret, storest hymns.


HYMN VII. Soma Pavamana.

1. FORTH on their way the glorious drops have flowed for maintenance of Law,
Knowing this sacrifice’s course.

2. Down in the mighty waters sinks the stream of meath, most excellent,
Oblation best of all in worth.

3. About the holy place, the Steer true, guileless, noblest, hath sent forth
Continuous voices in the wood.

4. When, clothed in manly strength, the Sage flows in celestial wisdom round,
The Strong would win the light of heaven.

5. When purified, he sits as King above the hosts, among his folk,
What time the sages bring him nigh.

6. Dear, golden-coloured, in the fleece he sinks and settles in the wood:
The Singer shows his zeal in hymns.

7. He goes to Indra, Vayu, to the Asvins, as his custom is,
With gladdening juice which gives them joy.

8. Tle streams of pleasant Soma flow to Bhaga, Mitra-Varuna,-
Well-knowing through his mighty powers.
Heaven and Earth, riches of meath to win us wealth:
Gain for us treasures and renown.


HYMN VIII. Soma Pavamana.

1. OBEYING Indra’s dear desire these Soma juices have flowed forth,
Increasing his heroic might.

2. Laid in the bowl, pure-flowing on to Vayu and the Asvins, may
These give us great heroic strength.

3. Soma, as thou art purified, incite to bounty Indra’s heart,
To sit in place of sacrifice.

4. The ten swift fingers deck thee forth, seven ministers impel thee on:
The sages have rejoiced in thee.

5. When through the filter thou art poured, we clothe thee with a robe of milk
To be a gladdening draught for Gods.

6. When purified within the jars, Soma, brightred and golden-hued,
Hath clothed him with a robe of milk.

7. Flow on to us and make us rich. Drive all our enemies away.
O Indu, flow into thy Friend.
Send down the rain from heaven, a stream of opulence from earth. Give us,
O Soma, victory in war.

9. May we obtain thee, Indra’s drink, who viewest men and findest light,
Gain thee, and progeny and food.


HYMN IX. Soma Pavamana.

I. THE Sage of Heaven whose heart is wise, when laid between both hands and pressed,
Sends us delightful powers of life.

2. On, onward to a glorious home; dear to the people void of guile,
With excellent enjoyment, flow.

3. He, the bright Son, when born illumed his Parents who had sprung to life,
Great Son great Strengtheners of Law.

4. Urged by the seven devotions he hath stirred the guileless rivers which
Have magnified the Single Eye.

5. These helped to might theYouthful One, high over all, invincible,
Even Indu, Indra! in thy law.

6. The immortal Courser, good to draw, looks down upon the Seven: the fount
Hath satisfied the Goddesses

7. Aid us in holy rites, O Man: O Pavamana, drive away
Dark shades that must be met in fight.

8. Make the paths ready for a hymn newer and newer evermore:
Make the lights shine as erst they shone.

9. Give, Pavamana, high renown, give kine and steeds and hero sons:
Win for us wisdom, win the light.